Being Brave: A novel and a guide

By Hester Leung and Sema Musson

What do you do when the voice inside tells you you’re wrong? You can’t do that? Or you say something silly and the other kids laugh at you?
Ellie and Alyssa have been best friends since pre-school. One chatty, one shy, one adventurous, the other considered, one Australian, one with Chinese heritage, both supportive and giving.

• Language: English
• Publisher: The Being Brave Girls Pty Ltd
• Release date: Sep 9, 2019
• ISBN: 9781925921182

Hester Leung

Sema and Hester live with their families in neighbouring suburbs of Sydney. With their life and work experiences, Sema and Hester know that developing a personal tool kit helps to provide support in whatever girls choose to do in their lives. When Sema is not writing, she leads a team of professionals improving governance and conduct in a leading financial services organisation. She is the deputy chair and director of one of Australia's largest not-for-profit providers of childcare and early education services. Sema is also an executive coach on ethics. As for Hester, previously a corporate and financial services lawyer, she is now working on developing disability and social housing. Hester is also on the governing body of a women and children's shelter located in south-east Sydney. Sema and Hester understand the essence of motherhood and parenting and being a crucial example to their children, families and communities. Through their life experiences and their friendship, they are now inspiring girls to stand up for what they think is right and to be confident and courageous through their books.

Book preview

Why do people pick on people?

Ellie

Thank goodness it’s Thursday. No one ever looks forward to a Thursday, but I do. I look forward to Thursday every week because it means soccer practice with Alyssa (or Lys as I call her), my best friend. I need soccer and Lys more than ever since we both started at different schools this year.

I’m early at the soccer ground so I stand by myself on the side, leaning against the white picket fence that wraps around the soccer pitch, watching the younger kids train. I don’t even notice Lys slip up behind me until I feel my backpack slide off my shoulders and hear Lys giggle.

Hey, that’s one heavy backpack! Lys says, passing it back to me.

I smile. Well, you know me, always like to have my things with me. Especially today. I fish a chocolate bar out of my backpack. Here, half each.

My favourite! How was your week? Lys asks me, snapping off half the chocolate bar.

Well, Lucy is being her annoying five-year-old self instead of her cute five-year-old self and yesterday she got me into trouble with Mum who yelled at me. She told me to stop daydreaming in ‘Ellieland’ and start being a responsible big sister. Then Mum and Dad ended up arguing about something, and we were all late to school and work. And at school, I wasn’t in the same group as Sophia and Bea for our geography project so they were all laughing together while I was stuck in a group with kids who don’t even care about the project. I sigh. Why does it have to be so hard all of a sudden?

Lys doesn’t have time to answer me as Daniel, one of the kids in our team, runs past and deliberately bumps into her.

Hey, four eyes. Still wearing those ugly glasses? He sneers. You know, you’d think those things would actually help you see the ball, but no, you still keep missing.

He turns his back to look over at where our coach, Mark, has just showed up. Losers! You coming or what? he yells over his shoulder. Not that you make any difference, he mutters under his breath as he runs off.

Hey! I call out to him, but he’s already out of reach. Typical Daniel, he thinks he can say mean things and boss us around at training because he’s the best player. He never, ever misses a goal so Coach Mark loves him.

We watch him head towards Coach Mark, but then he changes his mind and runs over to a group of little kids. He grabs a kid from behind, who screams in fright as Daniel yells, Boo! Gotcha!

Daniel sniggers and runs off. Lys frowns. She pushes up her glasses self-consciously but doesn’t say anything to me.

Let’s go, Lys, I say gently, as we make our way onto the pitch.

Our team is the Ninjas, which I really like because ninjas are fast and stealthy. And I like to be fast and stealthy! Not really, I’m actually tall and clumsy, or at least I think so. I’m always clumping around, tripping over or stubbing my toe. Last year, I stubbed my toe seven times! I’m pretty tall. Sometimes I wish I was smaller and more coordinated like Lys.

Our soccer team has boys and girls in it. But next year, we’ll be separated into girls’ or boys’ teams. There’s a rule that the soccer organisers split up the boys and girls unless they think your stamina and physical ability mean you can play at the same level. I don’t know how I feel about that. Girls can be strong and fast and think on their feet to get the ball. It’s not just about your physical ability.

Today, Coach Mark tells us to split into two teams so we can practise against each other. Daniel automatically assumes he’s one of the captains and starts choosing his team – this totally sucks because I don’t want to be chosen last, and I usually am. Coach Mark makes Daniel and Steph, the other captain, choose boy, girl, boy, girl.

When it’s time for Daniel to choose a girl, he chooses Lys. And you know what she does?

At first, she stands there and looks at him for a while, a bit nervously. Then Daniel rolls his eyes and says Lys’ name again, but in this ‘hello, listen to me, the most important person in the world’ voice. Once he uses that tone, I can tell Lys makes up her mind on what she’s about to do next. She does the most amazing thing.

She says, I don’t want to be on your side.

What? says Daniel.

Lys answers him. I know you’re our best player and I know if I’m on your side we’ll win. But I’d rather lose or not play than be part of your team.

She then sits down on the ground.

We all stand there watching, surprised and a little shocked at her response. She’s not looking at anyone and I can tell she’s uncomfortable with the attention. Her face is flushed and she’s pressing her hands together. I just want to give her a big hug. So I go and sit next to her, then to my amazement, so does Sam, Jack, Hugo and Erika.

Coach Mark’s eyes are darting around, and they stop on Daniel’s parents who are watching the practice. They’re big supporters of the soccer club. It seems he doesn’t want a scene.

He says weakly, Well, okay then, if you don’t want to join in the fun, I can’t make you.

He quickly splits the rest of the team up and gets the practice going. Daniel glares at Lys before running over to the game. This leaves the six of us sitting on the side of the soccer field, wondering if anything will change for the rest of the season. Maybe Daniel doesn’t care, maybe it’ll be the same next week.

But Lys was really brave. You don’t have to be the best player to be a leader.

This is me

Alyssa

After my soccer stand, Ellie and I hang out for a bit while we wait for our parents to pick us up from training.

You were so amazing! Ellie tells me again.

I just had it with him. Calling me four eyes and scaring little kids, it’s not on. He’s so full of himself. It felt stupid at first, then I was glad I did it when you and the others sat with me. It helps to have friends when you’re trying to do something brave, I answer.

I know, that’s why changing school was so hard – because you weren’t there, says Ellie.

Daniel walks past to his parents’ car but doesn’t look at us. His parents are waiting for him in the car, both wearing matching hats with our soccer team logo on them.

Maybe things will change at training now, I say.

Maybe, Ellie says, but she seems distant, like she’s thinking of something else.

Hey, are you alright? I ask her. You said you had a bad week earlier.

Yeah, I think there are so many changes going on. You know, new school, new friends. It’s not like you and me, where I can tell you everything and you just get it.

I nod. I know. There’s a new girl at school, Hannah, and I’m trying to be friendly with her, but it’d be so much easier if you were with me because you’re just really brave, talking to people first and trying out new things.

Ellie laughs but it’s kind of a sad laugh. I don’t feel like being brave at the moment.

Both our parents pull into the car park at the same time. Ellie gives me a big hug and jumps into her car with her dad and little sister, Lucy.

I’ll message you later, I call after her. And see you on Saturday for the match!

Mum’s waiting for me in the car. I’m sorry I’m a few minutes late. I’m glad Ellie was there to keep you company.

I lean over and give her a kiss. Well, if I had a mobile phone, you could text me when you’re running late.

Mum raises her eyebrows. Not now, Alyssa. Let’s go home. Por Por’s cooking us dinner. Your favourite.

My Por Por, my grandmother, lives in a little unit around the corner from us and is always around to help out. Since Dad doesn’t live with us any more, we’re really a ‘girl family’ now. I still see him heaps, though.

Por Por’s chicken soup is delicious. I wish I could send some of this comfort food to Ellie.

From: Alyssa Tan

To: Ellie Jones

Re: School this week

Friday 2 August at 4:45pm

Hey Ellie, how’s school going? Not much to report on except I tried to be friendly to Hannah, the new girl. She seems shy because when I asked her to join us at recess, she just shook her head and went to the library on her own. I felt bad, but didn’t know what to do.

Can you believe it’s been six months since we started year 6? I finally don’t feel so new. I’ve stopped feeling disappointed that Mum wanted me to go to this private school when a place came up suddenly and your parents moved house so you changed schools too. Arghh!

Remember that GIANT pencil case my Dad got me with the talking cats? Well, I really thought everyone was looking at me and laughing at my pencil case when I first started here. Funny though, I don’t mind that pencil case anymore. In fact, I sort of like it now. It’s certainly big enough for all my stuff! That reminds me, we weighed it in maths last week and it was the closest to 1kg. So proud.

Luckily Rosie started at the same time with me, so I could hang out with her. We were both in the same boat. Otherwise, I seriously think I would be friendless. I just can’t seem to be the first one to talk to people. Since Hannah started in the middle of the term, it must be so hard for her. I know how she feels to be the new girl.

Do you think I should try talking to Hannah again? How do you do it? You talk to people you don’t know all the time, you even talk to animals! I’m so bad at it … maybe she really likes books and I should leave her alone …

Lys x

From: Ellie Jones

To: Alyssa Tan

Re: School this week

Friday 2 August at 6:05pm

School was boring today. Not much happening for me either … But I think I’d rather have boring than terrifying. My first day at this new school was terrifying – well, I didn’t know anyone. And changing schools in year 6 just before high school was a crazy year to change! But then Sophia took me around and was