(Warning: Please read until the final paragraph to discover the heartbreaking question the child asked her teacher when handing in the artwork.)
Brisbane, QLD – They say that children are the most honest observers in the world. They see what adults try to hide, and they record it with brutal simplicity.
While the media speculates on timelines and text messages, a heartbreaking piece of evidence has emerged from the most innocent of places: a kindergarten classroom.
A source claiming to be a former educator at the exclusive daycare attended by the Neale children has come forward with a story that chills the blood.
It involves a simple class assignment, a box of crayons, and a drawing that revealed the truth long before Jules Neale knew her marriage was over.
The Assignment: “My Family”
The incident reportedly took place three months ago, well before the scandal broke publicly.
The class was asked to draw a picture titled “My Family on the Weekend.”
Usually, these drawings are standard: a mom, a dad, siblings, and a pet, all standing in a row.
But the drawing produced by Lachie Neale’s daughter was different. And it set off alarm bells for the teaching staff immediately.
The Composition of Betrayal
In the center of the page, drawn in bright colors, were two large stick figures holding hands.
One was labeled “Daddy.” The other was labeled “Auntie Tess.”
Standing between them, holding both their hands, was the child herself.
The figures were drawn close together, smiling, depicted in what looked like a park setting.
Where Was Mom?
The most devastating detail, however, was the placement of Jules.
In the drawing, the figure representing the mother was not in the center circle of happiness.
She was drawn in the far top corner of the page, much smaller than “Auntie Tess,” and colored in grey.
She was watching from a distance, separated from the family unit by a large green expanse.
A Child’s Reality
“Children draw proximity based on emotional connection and time spent,” a child psychologist explained when shown a description of the image.
“If a child draws ‘Auntie Tess’ holding Daddy’s hand in the center of the page, it means that in the child’s mind, this is the primary family unit.”
“It implies that Tess was present during ‘family time’ so frequently that the child viewed her as a co-parent, not just a visitor.”
The Teacher’s Dilemma
The anonymous source claims the drawing was so concerning that they considered calling home.
“We thought, ‘Maybe the parents are separated already?'” the teacher revealed.
“We didn’t know they were still married. The drawing looked like a picture of a dad and his new partner. We had no idea Jules was still living in the house.”
Jules Never Saw It
Tragically, it appears this artwork never made it home to the refrigerator door.
Sources suggest the drawing was quietly filed away or “lost” before pickup time, perhaps to avoid an awkward conversation.
If Jules had seen that paper three months ago, she would have seen her own erasure from her family’s life, drawn in wax crayon by her own flesh and blood.
The “Auntie” Trap
The use of the term “Auntie” is particularly twisting for those following the saga.
It suggests that Tess Crosley was introduced to the children under the guise of a safe, familial figure.
She wasn’t a stranger; she was “Auntie Tess,” a trusted adult who slowly, methodically took the mother’s place in the park, in the car, and eventually, in the drawings.
The Final Twist
But the true horror of the story lies in what the child said when she handed the paper to her teacher.
According to the source, the teacher pointed to the grey figure in the corner and asked, “What is Mommy doing over there?”
The child looked up, shrugged innocently, and replied:
“Mommy stays at home. Auntie Tess is for the fun days with Daddy.”