AUTHOR'S NOTE:

I thought up this extra chapter for Kyle the other day. Yay!

Sorry if it seems rushed. I'm pretty happy with it though, so I hope you all enjoy it to. :)

Chapter 79: Wise realisations

Kyle walked into the main house of the caravan park throwing his bag on the table. "Hey settle down fella. Why all the stomping around like a flamin' galah?" Alf asked.

Kyle sighed, he was in his final year of high school, and after studying so hard for his trial HSC exams he got the results back and he had failed all his subjects, even music, receiving a high score of 48%.

"It doesn't matter." Kyle replied grabbing a left over sausage from the fridge from a barbeque the night before and put it on a sandwich.

"Now I won't have you moping around here. Grab us the rest of the leftover tucker. I'm going to take you out fishing." Alf went to gather his rod and reel.

"No thanks Mr Stewart. I'd just rather stay here." Kyle replied.

"I didn't say it was a question young fella and its Alf to you. Now come on." Alf ordered.

Kyle sighed and got up, packing the food in a bag and followed Alf out the door.

Alf and Kyle stood on the docks. Alf had his fishing rod in his hand while Kyle stood next to him.

"So young fella, what's the problem?" Kyle didn't say anything.

"Start talkin'." Alf pushed.

Kyle sighed. "I got my trial HSC exam results back and I failed every subject. I tried so hard but I'll never get anywhere in life being a failure."

"Stone the flamin' crows boy! It's just a bunch of exams not the end of the world."

Kyle stood shocked as Alf's outburst. "Yeah, but..."

"Now you listen here young fella. I've seen you work at your hardest, and I picked you up from the streets all those years ago and now look at ya. You have a job, an education and you write and play your own music." Alf explained.

Kyle looked surprised at Alf, he had no idea he knew about that.

"That's right, I've heard you play and you could make something out of that. What difference do a few exams in life make? You've made a life for yourself. When my daughter Roo was doing her HSC she was the same, a tear-away teen but she passed her final exams. They always make the trial exams harder so you kids can prepare yourselves, not set yourselves up for failure. You are not a failure Kyle. I knew that the first time I saw you and I know that now. You just need guidance."

Kyle took in what Alf said, it was the first time in his life he really felt someone believed in him and it made him realise it didn't matter about exams, all that mattered was he had achieved something in his life and most importantly made something of himself he could be proud of.

Kyle gave an understanding smile and Alf nodded, realising he had gotten through to Kyle. Alf packed away his fishing gear and Kyle stood confused.

"Why are you packing your things away? You didn't catch anything." Alf turned to Kyle.

"You didn't think I came out here for my benefit did ya? Besides the fish took the bait." Alf replied slapping Kyle's arm.

Kyle shook his head surprised at how Alf had tricked him into coming out on the docks to talk about his problems, he was the fish.

"You did all this for me?" Kyle asked surprised.

"Who else? I told ya you got potential kid, you just need to see it. Don't give up." Alf smiled.

Kyle watched Alf gather up his things, thinking to himself how much of a wise old owl Alf really was, he knew exactly what he was doing to make Kyle see sense.

Alf tapped Kyle's arm again. "Come on young fella, better be getting home before dark." Kyle shook his head in disbelief and followed Alf.

When they reached back home Alf put his fishing gear down. "I've been thinking with your proper HSC exams coming up and you need time to study as well as free time for yourself to go out, you can take some time off from working at the bait shop."

"I can't do that, what will you do without the help?" Kyle said.

"I'll manage, besides I've been running that place by myself long before you. I hired you because I wanted you to learn about responsibility and stand on your own two feet." Alf replied.

Kyle realised Alf had done it again, he didn't need someone to work at the bait shop, but he knew Kyle needed help and he gave him a job.

"After you finish your HSC you go out and you make your own life for yourself."

Kyle smiled. "Thank you Mr Stewart. You have no idea how much your faith in me has helped me."

"Alf. And I can see it kid."

"Alf." Kyle corrected and smiled before heading off to his room.