Slugger was already busy pushing the wheel barrow in the yard, long before the others had either woken up or had arrived to help him. In fact Slugger was like the early bird that wanted to catch the first worm- on this particularly fresh and very special morning!
Meanwhile, Dora was sound asleep in her favourite little room in the cottage- it's window directly faced out onto the farm, whilst in one of the opposite bedrooms that faced out onto the green fields and trees in the distance, Hazel was 'far away', lost in a wonderfull dream that involved a white shinning knight-about to rescue her on his beautifull black stallion! Steve was likewise asleep, snoring quietly in the upstairs hay loft, that had now been converted into a very comfy, barn bedroom.
Slugger began to whistle aloud, just like the early dawn chorus which was beginning to echo around the farm and had muttered to himself, 'Looks like I'm onto a real winner here my ole' son', as he began to take the wheelbarrow up towards the hay pile. A broad smile had remained on Slugger's face ever since he got out of bed because yesterday he had recieved a letter by hand (via the Colonel) that had initially been addressed to the mansion, rather than to the cottage instead. Slugger had only just opened it- before he had just gone to bed- having forgotten that he had left it on the mantlepiece above the fire. When he had finally read it, in fact quite a few times, he had simply been unable to sleep a wink all night!
Apparently, unknown to the others (including the Colonel) the letter was in fact from a solicitor firm, based in Sidney Australia-'Of all places', thought Slugger aloud to himself- that had specifically mentioned and refered in it's contents, that he- 'Ole Slugger himself'-again he muttered aloud, was the sole beneficiary of a very large house and prime real estate in the posh suburbs of Sidney! Slugger by all accounts (in writing at least) was now, officially a millionaire-and no-one else knew! 'Not even the Colonel knows', Slugger thought aloud. Just then a lone fox ran across the yard and back down through the gap in the main gate- 'Blinkin fox-I'll have 'im one of these days'- muttered Slugger as he dropped the wheelbarrow down with a clatter. He picked up the fork and duly stuck it in the hay and dung pile-his thoughts were now firmly focused on his newly found, wealthy status!
The reason in a nutshell, was quite simple, during his war days, fighting alongside the Colonel, Slugger had on a particular occasion bravely risked his own life to save a fallen comrade whom had been shot by an enemy sniper (hidden, somewhere in a large group of trees nearby). The Colonel had warned his men to stay back and remain alert until the sniper could be 'flushed out' but Slugger had decided there an' then that he was not going to let his best mate -an Aussie (who had been living in England) -to be used as 'target practice'- and had delibrately rushed out to him-grabbed the injured soldier and carried him back to safety, but in the process, unfortunately Slugger (or 'slugs' as he was later known to his comrades) had recieved a stray rifle bullet from the enemy, that had very painfully lodged in his (you-know-where)! Slugger had been unable to sit down properly for many weeks thereafter!
Slugger's Aussie mate had recoperated in a hospital and was eventually allowed to go back and carry on with the war effort. Sadly, he was later killed in action but the young soldier's mother (a widow) had remembered Slugger's earlier brave actions in saving her only son's life and had wished to repay Slugger in some way for her eternal gratefullness.
It turned out that the woman had been a cleaner for over 25 years for a very wealthy family, who owned several factories in Sidney. The owner of the house (in her last days) had fallen out with the younger members of her family (her husband had long passed away) and whilst on her death bed, had changed a main part of the will to let her favourite cleaner-Sluggers mate's mother-a share of her wealth! However bizzarely, in a twist of fate she herself had passed away soon after but had already decided Slugger should recieve the estate in a signed will upon her own death.
Slugger was still mullling all this over in his mind, when a familiar sound of a motorbike could be heard approaching Follyfoot. 'My- he's early for once', muttered Slugger, 'An he's goin' to wake 'em all up too'.......