Bleakboy and Hunter Stand Out in the Rain by Steven Herrick Page B

lesson.’
    â€˜You can do that too, Dad, if you want.’
    â€˜I’m not a banker, Jesse. No, we’ll work this out ourselves.’ He looks at me. ‘Let me get this straight. You donated fifty dollars to CARE Australia using my credit card.’
    I nod. ‘I’m going to write a letter to Kelifa to apologise for not being able to sponsor him. But fifty dollars should help.’
    â€˜Not to mention the other money,’ adds Dad.
    I don’t know why, but my lip starts to quiver and without meaning to, or wanting to, I start crying. I’m so embarrassed I hide my face in Dad’s chest, sobbing. Dad wraps his arms around me and says my name.
    We stay like this for a few minutes before I feel strong enough to show my face again. Dad smiles. ‘It’s okay, son. I cried after telling my dad too.’
    â€˜Really?’
    â€˜Well, yes, but that’s because Grandpa hit me around the legs with his strap a few times.’ Dad’s voice deepens, as he imitates Grandpa. ‘To teach me a lesson. As if the interest charge wasn’t bad enough.’ Dad’s face is serious. ‘Things were different when I was young, Jesse. Grandpa was a good dad, just a little old-fashioned.’
    I reach across and hug Dad to let him know he’s a good dad too.
    â€˜And now comes the hard part. Telling your mum,’ Dad says.
    â€˜Dad?’
    â€˜Yeah?’
    â€˜We haven’t decided on a punishment.’
    â€˜Yes, I’ve been thinking about that, and maybe Grandpa was right.’
    I gulp, thinking Dad’s suggesting a few straps across the back of the legs. Dad sees me cringing and adds, quickly, ‘No, not that!’ He laughs. ‘It wasn’t the strap that made me cry. It was knowing I’d done something wrong.’ He looks at me keenly. ‘And I suspect you’ve learned your lesson, Jesse. That awful feeling in your stomach, that’s punishment enough.’ He stands up. ‘Don’t do it again. Okay? Stealing is …’
    â€˜Wrong?’ I suggest.
    He nods.
    I hug him tightly once more and leave.
    Beth is sitting on the back step. ‘Not too painful?’
    I shake my head, scared I might start blubbering again if I try to speak.
    Beth’s phone beeps when I walk past her.
    She reads the text and smiles.
    â€˜Ryan?’ I ask.
    â€˜He’s helping me with homework,’ she says.
    The drill-like sound starts again in Dad’s workshop.
    Beth asks, ‘What’s he doing in there?’
    â€˜Building a cage,’ I say, ‘to keep Ryan out!’
    We both giggle.

15
    HUNTER
    Hunter sits in front of the computer in his room and types ‘Queenstown’ into Google Images. The screen fills with pictures of snow-capped mountains looming over a vibrant blue lake; a cable car full of smiling people waving from the windows; a man standing on a mountain top wearing a backpack, raising his arms in celebration; and apple trees blooming pink and white in a green field.
    It looks like a place where people go for holidays, where only rich people live. Everyone seems happy. But there are no children. His dad will enjoy that.
    He closes Google and looks out of his own window. The house next door has a light on, above the front door. Mrs Ainsworth walks out onto the verandah and calls for her dog, Charlie. She holds a biscuit in her hand. Charlie bounds up the stairs, his tail wagging.
    Hunter gets up from his chair and flops onto his bed, closing his eyes. He remembers the last time he saw his dad. It was a Sunday, four months ago.
    All morning, he’d been excited, wondering what they’d do. He checked the times of the football games at both stadiums, wondering which one his dad would choose. He googled the weather and decided to pack a towel and swimmers, just in case. Maybe his dad would buy him a boogie board? He jumped up as soon as he heard the car horn. Mum tried to convince him to take