The Banksia House Breakout by James Roxburgh, Ventura
Ruth, 81, stands in her garden as the auctioneer sells her house – “a chance to snap up a delightful little renovator”. Son Michael has rushed his widowed mother into moving to a room at Banksia House Aged Care. She ponders that had Ray not been so weak in his final months, their house wouldn’t need fixing. She still remembers him carrying her over the threshold. She grabs her wedding photo and the picture with best friend Gladys with their new babies. Michael nags her to hurry, before driving at breakneck speed to the home. There Ruth makes a friend in Beryl, who helps plan a derring-do dash to dying Gladys in Brisbane … with stops on the way!