Feeling vaguely sophisticated, Janelle sipped her chilled Chablis in Sydney Airport’s business lounge.
Life is good. Basically it’s just a series of decisions… and consistently making the right ones, she mused, recalling the roller coaster of the last six years.
Decision 1 – Small Town Exit
Her sliding doors moment was leaving Bourke, where ambition died like the wilting waratah plants in the summer heat. She had given a hard pass to the normie life there: married with three kids at twenty-five, working part-time in the supermarket (if you were lucky). Why stay when the bright lights of Paris, New York and Hong Kong beckoned?
The only things here precious to her were her ten-year old half-sibling twins Bronte and Jarrad. One day she would return to rescue them from her violent stepfather and gin-soaked mother.
The ‘Burnt Stump’ pub, home since her father had passed, faded into a swirling cloud of red dust as the bus weaved between the potholes puckering the road
Decision 2 – The Clinic
Banjo was cute, but not cute enough to be a dad. “We’ll make it work”, he pleaded. Janelle was not for turning. Life in the Sydney squat was deffo fun. But the fug of weed and reggae vibes rising through the cracked floorboards, combined with zero hours bar work and no support system meant her situation did not scream parenthood.
The clinic was cold and reeked of cheap disinfectant. The job was completed efficiently. Je ne regrette rien, thought Janelle.
Decision 3 – The Yazeedis
Ali Yazeedi was a regular at the Penthouse bar. Her low cut top and too many malts led to a housekeeping job at his stunning harbourside home. Crikey, so much cleaning and polishing! Topped up by the endless demands of Ali’s, rightly suspicious, wife.
The gold bracelet on the floor was studded with rubies, emeralds and sapphires. Coming from a mining town, Janelle recognised the most expensive of the semi-precious stones
Decision 3 – The Pawn Shop
Janelle knew the bracelet was her escape route from menial work, damp squats and lecherous bar customers. The cash from the Jewish jeweller was swiftly spent on a one-way ticket to Thailand.
Decision 4 – The Escape Plan
Her new friend Sirindhorn promised to meet her in Bangkok. They had only met on a message board, but hey, she seemed sincere and on board with Janelle’s plan for an Ozzie brunch bar on Koh Samet. Avocado toast and iced flat white MUST be on the menu…
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The thud of boots echoed behind her and a flash of navy cut Janelle’s trance short.
“Ms Janelle Houghton, I am arresting you on…”
…images of the twins, the bracelet and palm trees flashed vividly before Janelle collapsed and cold metal handcuffs closed on her wrists.
Semi-Precious by Janelle Houghton was released in December 2023 to critical acclaim and a listing on the New York Times bestseller list.
Guards at Gundagai Prison quickly established a lucrative sideline in signed copies.
