/ cheeks flapping in breeze.”’ He bursts out laughing again.
Mr Rogers places a forceful hand on his shoulder, seating him. ‘We should have known it would be toilet humour. At least you’re consistent in your approach. Who’s next?’
Barbara stands and clears her throat. ‘“Small town sheltered down. / Days merge with one another. / We watch for the end.”’
‘Thank you, Barbara. Now, everyone, haikus are traditionally descriptive. For example, they may describe something as simple as a leaf, a flower, an insect or the sky. Through describing something simple, complexity is revealed. Do we have any descriptive haikus?’
‘Mine might be.’
‘OK, Laura, let’s hear it.’
‘“Dead tree, oh, dead tree, / Your eerie hands touch the sky, / Reaching for dear life.”’
‘Very nice, Laura. I think, for some reason, I prefer it to Jeremy’s poem.’ Laughter fills the room. Someone throws a paper ball at Jeremy. ‘OK, who’s next?’
I rise from my seat. ‘“Beautiful round eyes, / Within your face they reside, / Window to your soul.”’
‘Nice. Thank you, Stan. We’ll have another.’
Brenton stands. ‘“Surfing killer waves, / Bikini babes on the beach, / Long hot summer nights.”’ Brenton drags out the last line of the poem. As he resumes his seat, his mate high-fives him.
‘Interesting, Brenton. One more?’
Steve rises. ‘“One puff on a joint, / I’m driving through the heavens / On a motor-cloud.”’ Once again the classroom erupts.
‘Well, Steve, that, at least, explains many things. Now what I want you all to do is produce two more haikus for your homework. Think about a feeling or an image that you want to describe. Going to a park might help if you need inspiration. Otherwise, just focus on something simple. Remember, simplicity is the key.’
Hours later, I’m relieved to hear the final siren of the day. My attention has been waning since English class. I can’t get a certain girl out of my head. I pack my books into my bag and head for the school exit. Rhonda is hanging about with a group of her friends. When she sees me, she says her goodbyes and approaches me with a big smile on her fresh young face. It dawns on me that youth is beautiful. Without warning, an image of Nanna’s face flashes through my mind. It’s lined with history and wears the mask of death. My heart starts thumping. I feel Bruce edging in. But he’s not needed now. There’s no threat. The only thing that is causing me any distress is the thought of Bruce turning up at an inopportune time. I close my eyes for a second. I will Bruce to not appear. Don’t you dare show up now. I don’t want you. It’s not how it’s meant to work, Bruce. Stay away! I feel Bruce retreat. He’s not happy. I can sense it. I’m going to have to give him a talking to – remind him how it is. I’ve never had to do that. He used to understand. He used to know to be there only when the time was right. But that’s clearly changing. It sure as hell isn’t acceptable for him to chuck a sad when he wants in and I’m not having it. Rhonda is standing right before me. I hope I haven’t said anything out loud. I glance around quickly to make sure Bruce has behaved himself and has kept away. He’s nowhere to be seen.
‘Can I walk you home?’ My question needs no answer. We fall into step beside one another and make our way across the oval.
‘I liked your haiku today.’
‘Thanks.’ I take Rhonda’s soft little hand in mine and we walk together in silence. We pass the cricket pitch where I first met her; it seems like a century ago. Not being able to shake the feeling that Bruce might intervene, I scan the trees that surround the oval. But he’s not sitting on any of the branches, waiting for the perfect moment to jump down in front of us and mess things up. I push him from my mind. We continue off the school grounds and enter a small playground.
‘You want a swing?’ I ask. Rhonda gives me a
Mr Rogers places a forceful hand on his shoulder, seating him. ‘We should have known it would be toilet humour. At least you’re consistent in your approach. Who’s next?’
Barbara stands and clears her throat. ‘“Small town sheltered down. / Days merge with one another. / We watch for the end.”’
‘Thank you, Barbara. Now, everyone, haikus are traditionally descriptive. For example, they may describe something as simple as a leaf, a flower, an insect or the sky. Through describing something simple, complexity is revealed. Do we have any descriptive haikus?’
‘Mine might be.’
‘OK, Laura, let’s hear it.’
‘“Dead tree, oh, dead tree, / Your eerie hands touch the sky, / Reaching for dear life.”’
‘Very nice, Laura. I think, for some reason, I prefer it to Jeremy’s poem.’ Laughter fills the room. Someone throws a paper ball at Jeremy. ‘OK, who’s next?’
I rise from my seat. ‘“Beautiful round eyes, / Within your face they reside, / Window to your soul.”’
‘Nice. Thank you, Stan. We’ll have another.’
Brenton stands. ‘“Surfing killer waves, / Bikini babes on the beach, / Long hot summer nights.”’ Brenton drags out the last line of the poem. As he resumes his seat, his mate high-fives him.
‘Interesting, Brenton. One more?’
Steve rises. ‘“One puff on a joint, / I’m driving through the heavens / On a motor-cloud.”’ Once again the classroom erupts.
‘Well, Steve, that, at least, explains many things. Now what I want you all to do is produce two more haikus for your homework. Think about a feeling or an image that you want to describe. Going to a park might help if you need inspiration. Otherwise, just focus on something simple. Remember, simplicity is the key.’
Hours later, I’m relieved to hear the final siren of the day. My attention has been waning since English class. I can’t get a certain girl out of my head. I pack my books into my bag and head for the school exit. Rhonda is hanging about with a group of her friends. When she sees me, she says her goodbyes and approaches me with a big smile on her fresh young face. It dawns on me that youth is beautiful. Without warning, an image of Nanna’s face flashes through my mind. It’s lined with history and wears the mask of death. My heart starts thumping. I feel Bruce edging in. But he’s not needed now. There’s no threat. The only thing that is causing me any distress is the thought of Bruce turning up at an inopportune time. I close my eyes for a second. I will Bruce to not appear. Don’t you dare show up now. I don’t want you. It’s not how it’s meant to work, Bruce. Stay away! I feel Bruce retreat. He’s not happy. I can sense it. I’m going to have to give him a talking to – remind him how it is. I’ve never had to do that. He used to understand. He used to know to be there only when the time was right. But that’s clearly changing. It sure as hell isn’t acceptable for him to chuck a sad when he wants in and I’m not having it. Rhonda is standing right before me. I hope I haven’t said anything out loud. I glance around quickly to make sure Bruce has behaved himself and has kept away. He’s nowhere to be seen.
‘Can I walk you home?’ My question needs no answer. We fall into step beside one another and make our way across the oval.
‘I liked your haiku today.’
‘Thanks.’ I take Rhonda’s soft little hand in mine and we walk together in silence. We pass the cricket pitch where I first met her; it seems like a century ago. Not being able to shake the feeling that Bruce might intervene, I scan the trees that surround the oval. But he’s not sitting on any of the branches, waiting for the perfect moment to jump down in front of us and mess things up. I push him from my mind. We continue off the school grounds and enter a small playground.
‘You want a swing?’ I ask. Rhonda gives me a
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