Sue Anne sat on top of the hill looking out over the suburbs of Granville from her favorite place of retreat when bored at home. She could make out certain landmarks familiar to her in the distance and there was one building particularly she could recognize instantly because of her familiarity with the building. Her father Adam Dressler owned the legal practice which occupied the complete second floor of that building and she’d spent many school vacations working there running errands for her father who encouraged his children to find gainful employment during school time off to earn money for themselves and learn what it was like to be part of the business world. She’d become familiar with many of the town notables delivering messages around the commercial area and they always gave her warm greetings meeting her on the streets.

Her spacious home was only minutes away from where she was sitting and from the roof deck enjoyed the same scenic outlook Sue Anne was enjoying her time of reflection on the hill. She was glad to be alone. She resented her sister Kate and brother Alex intruding on her space when she was in this reflective mood. It was not because she didn’t like them but because there was an age gap, they were younger than her and had different interests.

Her brother Alex liked to help Andy Miles who was employed by Adam Dressler to look after the large acreage out of town where they lived. Alex tended the fruit trees and vegetable gardens and looked after general maintenance along with the little private zoo the children loved. He was a busy man and the children loved him as he taught them many things about care for animals and plants, they found interesting. He also drove them to school each morning and picked them up during the school year when Adam’s wife Fran was unable to care for this. So, while Andy Miles was not related to the Dressler’s he was treated as one of the family and had an apartment built on top of the barn which was supplied with all modern conveniences.

Adam Dressler the lawyer had been raised on a rural property and attended the little country school closest to his father’s property. The Miles family had worked for them, and Adam grew up enjoying the company of the Miles children. When grandfather Dressler grew older, he turned the rural property over to his eldest son and saw the rest of his children settled in life in professions of their choice. Adam’s sisters had married and settled in other cities; one brother had chosen to study for a teaching career boarding in Granville and on graduating found a job in the state capital. Adam had chosen a career in law and after serving his apprenticeship on graduation had commenced practice in Granville and soon found his services in demand and a need to take partners and expand into the premises he now occupied.

Adam Dressler happened to be at the court in connection with a case he was handling when he saw someone coming in his direction who looked familiar. It had been thirty-five years since his childhood, but the face was unmistakable. It looked like this person was about to pass him by, but Adam confronted him.

“Andy Miles?”

Andy paused and studied Adam closely.

“Adam?”

Both men laughed. They remembered times exploring the farm as children together. Skinny dipping in the river that ran by the property, fishing and tending to property needs together with their parents. So, the natural feeling was of wanting to renew that acquaintance. Adam had to leave the Granville area to pursue his legal studies, so they’d lost touch and the Miles children had also gone in different directions in life so had lost touch with the Dressler family. As Adam had urgent matters to attend to, they made an appointment to meet that evening at the café near Dressler Legal to catch up before Adam returned home for the evening.

In their brief encounter later reminiscing over coffee Adam learned Andy was looking for work and Adam toying with the idea of buying the property his family now occupied with its large acreage. If he bought the property would Andy be willing to manage it for him. So, Andy became part of the Dressler family again and found pleasure in being part of a family. He’d been married for a time, but his wife had left him for someone with more to offer than Andy could financially afford and after that betrayal he never looked for another woman to share his life. Adam never regretted the invitation as the property was a showpiece admired by those who passed by on the road to town. It was all a result of Andy’s skills.

Kate Dressler, the youngest, loved to cook and keep house so stayed close to her mother learning to cook and learn. She also loved the animals in their little zoo and constantly quizzed Andy Miles as he cared for the animals and showed her what to do.

Her mother Fran watched her children as they grew out of childhood and speculated on what their pathway in life would be and what careers each would choose for themselves as they matured.

Sue Anne was their problem child. Restless and intelligent. Adam had noted this and sought to gauge her interests by exposing her to the business world and it appeared this was something she was drawn to. The money she earned on vacations was obviously a huge drawing card for her and rather than spend it she hoarded it in her bank account and read books on money management. But her parents also noted she needed time to go off on her own preferring her own company and this raised some concerns for them. They asked Andy to see she was safe when off on her own and he kept an eye on her but knew not to interrupt her.

Fran had inquired from teachers at school how Sue Anne got on with those her age. She was active in sports and not a loner. Fit enough to handle any girls, or boys who tried to bully her but were not interested in the things her peers seemed to favor at their age. She had no interest in video games or movies or dating and consumed books at an impressive rate. The teachers said her grades would get her into any university so parents should not worry. Finally, Fran determined it was just a different manifestation of the early teen dysfunction years and she would make a success of her life when she chose her profession.

It was too early to guess what Alex would eventually settle on as a career. His grades were average, and he was into any kind of sports and outdoor activities. That explained his wanting to follow Andy Miles around and watch the way he handled management of the property maintenance and care of the fruit trees vegetable gardens and animals. Andy had qualifications in plumbing and the work of an electrician, and the quality of this work was superb. He was a patient teacher and Alex blossomed in his understanding of this talented man’s work. Andy was also keen on sports and nurtured Alex in ball games, sometimes taking the boy with him when a competition was being held in town.

Kate was too young to even hazard a guess about her future, but Fran imagined it might include something to do with animal care.

The parents were not the only ones speculating on their children’s future. That was the purpose of Sue Anne’s frequent retreats to her favorite viewing spot. She was not only viewing the town but her future. School was only a means to an end. She went there to learn and appreciated the good learning she received in this private school that she knew cost her father dearly for her to enjoy. She loved her parents but gravitated more to her father. She knew his story back to front. His rural upbringing did not inhibit him from success in his chosen career and the respect of all who knew him. She admired his intelligence and had viewed him at work in courts pleading the causes of his clients. She appreciated he’d allowed a young girl to come to his offices and while only being a messenger she knew he’d provided this vantage point to observe professionals in action because he’d recognized her intelligence at such an early age.

Her mother Fran had graduated in social work from university and that is where Adam Dressler had met and fell in love with her. Fran was still active with charities around the town. It had started as an employee of the county but now Fran had confined her activities to committee work organizing and fund raising but dedicating the bulk of her time to be with her children during their formulative years. She’d return to her profession once her children had matured and were able to cope with their chosen careers.

Sue Anne thought through her upbringing and the opportunities given her to grow at her own pace and intellect. The students around her at school were not as fortunate in their upbringing and many were from broken or dysfunctional homes even though their parents were rich enough to put them into this highly regarded private school. There was a waiting list to get in even among the rich and favored of the town. She had little in common with peer group interests as she could plainly see with little support in the home, they turned to other things to try and keep the hurt at bay. Drugs, sex, and the parties that got police attention only made things worse for them and they had no love for parents who somehow bought them out of trouble when police were involved or resorted to top lawyers to get their kids out of trouble.

Young as she was Sue Anne decided as she sat looking out over the town with all the problems she knew existed there while she sat in peace and protected. She was intelligent enough to know that Andy hung around within sight just to make sure she was OK and that made her grateful to belong to such a family as the Dressler’s who loved and cared for her though setting boundaries as to what behavior was expected in the home and community. And she loved her brother and sister despite not having common interests. But someday she would have to take responsibility for herself and leave this happy environment to make her own way in the world and when she did, she wanted to bring up her family the same way her parents had modelled.

The sun was beginning to set over town and Sue Anne lingered just long enough to see the sun on the horizon begin to paint the clouds in the sky in different colors as it peeped on its journey to the other side of the world. She turned and headed for home and noted Andy found work in the further reaches of the property. She smiled and headed in his direction. He looked up in surprise as she approached wondering what she wanted.

“Thank you, Andy, for looking after us and for watching over me as I sit quietly appreciating the beauty around me. We love you.”

The older man looked at her incredulously, then tears began to stream down his face.

“Thank you, Sue Anne. That means a lot to me. You are like the daughter I never had, and I’d give my life for all of you.”

He turned away in embarrassment at his tears and reached for his handkerchief then busied himself with the task at hand.

Sue Anne sped home happy she’d thought to express appreciation to Andy for his work and devotion. She could see from his reaction just how loyal he was to all of them.

Tonight, she’d ask her father if he’d help her experiment with online stock market investments with a small part of her money so she could learn from the experience. She knew her father would be proud of her for asking and would set up an online account for her to play with under his guidance.

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