One Perfect Pirouette

One Perfect Pirouette by Sherryl Clark Page B

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Authors: Sherryl Clark
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‘You don’t need to worry about me. I’ve already fixed it.’
    I’d never heard Tam talk like this before. He’d always been a bit short-tempered, but now he was burning with rage. His hands were clenched as if he was ready to punch one of us. My stomach tightened into a giant knot and I held my breath.
    â€˜I hope you’re not going to do something silly,’ Mum said. She sent Dad a pleading glance – the meeting was getting away from her. He frowned, but didn’t say anything; just waited to hear what Tam said.
    â€˜I’m going back to Bendigo,’ Tam choked out, ‘back to my own school. I’ve already rung Uncle Tony and he said I can stay with them.’
    â€˜But –’ Mum tried and Tam kept talking.
    â€˜There’s no use you arguing about it, because that’s what I’m doing. I might not be old enough to leave school yet, but I know where I want to be. I’d rather die than stay here and go to that school again.’
    â€˜You shouldn’t have asked Tony – you’re not his responsibility,’ Mum said.
    â€˜Well, you weren’t going to! You were going to let me rot – all so Miss Ballet Star here could follow her dream.’ Tam sneered at me. ‘No one else in this family is allowed to have a dream, from what I can see. So I’ll work my own out.’
    I was speechless, but at last Dad said something. ‘What is your dream, Tam?’
    â€˜To stay alive’d be nice,’ he said. ‘But I want to be a blacksmith, like Old Teddy Allen. He said if I finished school, he’d take me on as an apprentice.’
    â€˜Did he?’ Dad raised his eyebrows. ‘When did he say that?’
    â€˜Before we came down to this stupid place. I would’ve told you, but it’s pretty obvious no one gives a stuff about what I might want.’
    â€˜What about you, Orrin?’ Dad said. ‘What’s your dream?’
    â€˜Professional football player.’ Orrin nodded. ‘I’m happy down here because I reckon I’ll get a better chance at trying out for the Juniors. I’m going over to the Bulldogs camp next week to talk to someone.’
    â€˜Are you?’ Dad’s eyebrows were about to jump right off his head, but I couldn’t even raise a smile. What Tam had said sat in my stomach.
    â€˜I don’t want our family to be split up,’ said Mum.
    â€˜That’s too bad, because I’m going to Uncle Tony’s, no matter what you say.’ Tam charged out of the room and the front door slammed.
    Mum tried to stand up, but Dad waved her down. ‘He won’t go far – not after today.’ He sighed. ‘He’s right, Jen. He could’ve been badly injured. If this has happened after only two days at that school, he’s better out of it.’
    â€˜But we can’t afford to pay Tony his board and keep.’
    â€˜We won’t have to,’ Dad said. ‘Tam can earn his own way by working for Tony after school and on weekends. It’ll keep him out of trouble as well. I’ll ring him and sort it out.’
    â€˜Well, I don’t like it,’ Mum said. ‘It’s not right.’
    â€˜Maybe not for us, but for Tam … he’s not stupid, you know. He’s thought it through, at least, and knows where he’s going.’ Dad shook his head. ‘Blacksmithing, eh?’
    â€˜So is that it?’ Orrin stood up. ‘I’m going for a run.’ He left and it was just me at the table. I picked at the pattern on the cloth, wishing I could slink down and hide under my chair.
    â€˜Now, Brynna, we need to talk about the hall,’ said Mum.
    I opened my mouth, wanting to explain, wanting to tell her I was sorry. Instead, tears flooded my eyes and rolled down my face; before I knew it, I was sobbing, my hands over my mouth. Dad shook his head and escaped, leaving Mum to deal with me. She came around

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