Judd Hogan vs The World

'His name's Judd Hogan. Please call him that so I can find him,' Judd's mother calls as she carefully places the newborn boy on a chair in the McDonald Boys' Home, near Brisbane. But she never reappears and Judd's battles begin. He is unwelcome at the Home which wants only boys who can work in the potato fields, but he survives all the cruelties, becoming a rapidly growing and very strong boy in the process. He's also very intelligent and is soon a top student at the local State school where he's befriended by Mata Molnar, a pretty girl of his age. Her parents, bothered by the conditions at the Home, take Judd into their home as a brother for Mata and he and Mata become close. When Judd and Mata reach an age where their love is obvious, her parents spirit her to relatives in Hungary, away from Judd.At University Judd, angered, feverishly works on his studies so he can get a job, save money and look for Mata. He obtains a sensitive position at the Government betting agency and begins to embezzle money. When his Recover Mata Fund is complete and he prepares for Europe, but finds that a young married friend has also been thieving. When the Police come, Judd confesses and returns all the money he stole, covering his friend's theft. He is in prison for four years and quickly learns to defend himself and soon becomes king of the yard.His cellmate is a big Samoan who's dying, and Judd forgoes parole to help him.In prison he gets word that Mata has married in England so gives up on her. On release,he goes to a small country town and there meets a cattle heiress, Madonna Bellamy, and they quickly marry and have an idyllic life, travelling and trying to have a child. After two years, Madonna tells him she's pregnant and they celebrate at dinner at the small local pub that night. Judd has a minor run-in with a former beau of Madonna.They're happily driving home when Judd sees a car approaching on the wrong side of the road. He calls to Madonna and puts out a hand to her.......

'His name's Judd Hogan.Please call him that so I can find him again,' Judd's mother calls as she gently puts the newborn baby on a chair in the vestibule of the McDonald Boys' Home, outside Brisbane, and dashes out the door. And so Judd's battles begin. He's not welcome at the Home where they house only boys who can earn their keep by working in the potato fields surrounding the Home. But they are made to keep him and a kindly screw, Miss Smackie, takes on the extra task of rearing the neglected baby. He is bronchial and is fed oxygen which helps him develop into a very strong little boy. He is also an excellent student and is soon sent to the local school where he's befriended by pretty Mata Molnar. Conditions at the home get worse and Judd receives a beating because of what he tells Mr. Molnar about the Home. Concerned, the Molnars take the boy into their home as a brother for Mata but, as they grow, Judd and Mata realize that they're in love. The Molnars see this and when Judd and Mata get to university age, spirit Mata to relatives in Hungary and away from Judd. Angered,he speeds through his University studies in record time and gets a job at the Government betting agency. Judd is a skilled computer specialist and he immediately begins embezzling funds for his Recover Mata Fund. He reaches his goal and is ready for Europe when he finds that a young married friend, with children, has been thieving also but not as skilfully as Judd. When the Police arrive Judd confesses to his theft and returns his hoarded money, covering his friend's theft. He is jailed for four years and, while there, learns that Mata has been married in England so gives up on her. Judd is under threat in prison because of the money but, by now, is a very strong and a skilled fighter, so fights off the threats and becomes king of the yard. His big Samoan cellmate protected him in the jail at first but becomes ill and asks Judd to help him conceal it. Judd looks after him, passing up parole to care for him until he dies. He is then sent to a prison farm where he learns some rural skills and, on release, goes to a small country town seeking work. He finds work at a pub and quickly meets a beautiful young cattle heiress, Madonna Bellamy. They fall in love and are soon married. They have a loving two years travelling and trying to have a baby and, on their second anniversary, Madonna tells Judd that she's pregnant at last. They go out to dinner to celebrate and have a small run-in with a former beau of Madonna. He is always around but wary of Judd. They head happily home but Judd sees a car approaching on the wrong side of the road. He puts out a hand to protect Madonna, calling to her...

R.L.Humphries is a retired journalist who lives by the sea in Queensland, Australia where he grew up and undertook his training as a daily newspaper reporter before setting off to city journalism and eventually international reporting. Among other places he worked in Papua/New Guinea where he covered the search for Michael Rockefeller, the son of(then) Governor Nelson Rockefeller, of New York. He was also in Dutch West Papua when Indonesian paratroopers invaded that country and was also there when the United Nations handed over the Papuans to Indonesia. He eventually joined the Queensland State Government and became head of administration in one of the biggest departments. He now fishes and writes.