of them?”
“Yes.”
“This one is for acceleration, this is your brake and this one is your clutch. You have to put your foot on the clutch every time you want to change gear. These are the gears. This is first, second, third and fourth,” he said, demonstrating before turning the engine on. “I’m going to put the car into reverse, this is reverse.” He started up the car. “But see I’m not in gear when I start the car,” he said, moving the gear stick around easily.
“Got it.”
“OK, so now I’m putting the car in reverse, so I’ve got my foot on the clutch, but when I want to move backwards, I take my foot off the clutch a little, it’s a balance, you need to get the balance right.” He reversed out of the car park and then stopped. “Right now I want to go forward, so I’ve got my foot on the brake and on the clutch because I need to put the car into first gear.”
“All right, that seems easy enough.”
“It is once you do it several times. In the beginning you need to focus on getting the balance, it takes time and patience.” He turned right out of the school and came to an intersection. “Right, now I am breaking and going into first gear.” He turned into mild traffic when it was clear to do so and revved the beastly V8 engine musically in anticipation. “Now I’m putting my foot on the clutch and going into second gear because we want to go faster. Then I’ll change into third and fourth gear as we get faster and faster.”
Johnny dropped me off at Branner’s giving me a small kiss on the lips and reminded me to come and see him at The Boxer as soon as I had finished. I got out of the car and waved as I watched him drive off.
I did a normal day’s work, helping Mr Branner with some accounts, changing the display window to create renewed interest and served a few regular customers. When my shift was finished I totalled up the earnings, paid myself and had a half hour singing lesson with Mr Branner.
I walked down Russell Street until I reached The Boxer. I could see Johnny helping someone train by holding a boxing bag tight and encouraging the client to hit harder. I waited by the counter until he noticed me.
“Jen, I’ll be another fifteen,” he said.
“That’s fine, I’ll just wait here,” I said, pointing at the chairs in the reception area.
“Why don’t you come to mine, Jen? I’ll make you something this time,” Johnny said as we drove home twenty minutes later.
“All right”.
“Let me drop off at the store then and I’ll pick up something to cook.”
We parked at the supermarket and Johnny got out and returned before I could think about what I felt like eating. “What are you making me?”
“Garlic prawns, rice and salad.”
“Well, that sounds perfect.” And certainly not something I would normally make for myself.
After dinner we found ourselves alone in Johnny’s house. I didn’t even go home, my parents always thought I was either at home or at Johnny’s and given I always make my own food for dinner, they didn’t have to feel an ounce of responsibility for me. We hung out in Johnny’s room, putting the radio on and cuddling up on his double bed. We stayed fully clothed talking about the future and we made a pact that we would always be together, no matter what. Even with Johnny leaving this summer, we would call each other, write and he would visit when he could. I couldn’t go with him, with two more years of important education, and with my grades I might be in with a chance for a scholarship. We both had paths that we needed to follow, but we would make it so that we would be together, no matter what. We knew we were meant for each other.
CHAPTER NINE
The time went quickly and we spent every free moment together. Johnny taught me to drive his Trans-Am, giving me lessons a couple of times a week. We both continued to work and go to school – the rest of the time we were together. It was never a concern for either of
“Yes.”
“This one is for acceleration, this is your brake and this one is your clutch. You have to put your foot on the clutch every time you want to change gear. These are the gears. This is first, second, third and fourth,” he said, demonstrating before turning the engine on. “I’m going to put the car into reverse, this is reverse.” He started up the car. “But see I’m not in gear when I start the car,” he said, moving the gear stick around easily.
“Got it.”
“OK, so now I’m putting the car in reverse, so I’ve got my foot on the clutch, but when I want to move backwards, I take my foot off the clutch a little, it’s a balance, you need to get the balance right.” He reversed out of the car park and then stopped. “Right now I want to go forward, so I’ve got my foot on the brake and on the clutch because I need to put the car into first gear.”
“All right, that seems easy enough.”
“It is once you do it several times. In the beginning you need to focus on getting the balance, it takes time and patience.” He turned right out of the school and came to an intersection. “Right, now I am breaking and going into first gear.” He turned into mild traffic when it was clear to do so and revved the beastly V8 engine musically in anticipation. “Now I’m putting my foot on the clutch and going into second gear because we want to go faster. Then I’ll change into third and fourth gear as we get faster and faster.”
Johnny dropped me off at Branner’s giving me a small kiss on the lips and reminded me to come and see him at The Boxer as soon as I had finished. I got out of the car and waved as I watched him drive off.
I did a normal day’s work, helping Mr Branner with some accounts, changing the display window to create renewed interest and served a few regular customers. When my shift was finished I totalled up the earnings, paid myself and had a half hour singing lesson with Mr Branner.
I walked down Russell Street until I reached The Boxer. I could see Johnny helping someone train by holding a boxing bag tight and encouraging the client to hit harder. I waited by the counter until he noticed me.
“Jen, I’ll be another fifteen,” he said.
“That’s fine, I’ll just wait here,” I said, pointing at the chairs in the reception area.
“Why don’t you come to mine, Jen? I’ll make you something this time,” Johnny said as we drove home twenty minutes later.
“All right”.
“Let me drop off at the store then and I’ll pick up something to cook.”
We parked at the supermarket and Johnny got out and returned before I could think about what I felt like eating. “What are you making me?”
“Garlic prawns, rice and salad.”
“Well, that sounds perfect.” And certainly not something I would normally make for myself.
After dinner we found ourselves alone in Johnny’s house. I didn’t even go home, my parents always thought I was either at home or at Johnny’s and given I always make my own food for dinner, they didn’t have to feel an ounce of responsibility for me. We hung out in Johnny’s room, putting the radio on and cuddling up on his double bed. We stayed fully clothed talking about the future and we made a pact that we would always be together, no matter what. Even with Johnny leaving this summer, we would call each other, write and he would visit when he could. I couldn’t go with him, with two more years of important education, and with my grades I might be in with a chance for a scholarship. We both had paths that we needed to follow, but we would make it so that we would be together, no matter what. We knew we were meant for each other.
CHAPTER NINE
The time went quickly and we spent every free moment together. Johnny taught me to drive his Trans-Am, giving me lessons a couple of times a week. We both continued to work and go to school – the rest of the time we were together. It was never a concern for either of
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