Crossfire by James Moloney Read Free Book Online

With Doggitt for a surname, he’d been called a lot worse, but none of it penetrated his thick skin and ready smile.
    â€˜Yeah, speak up if you want us to change the date, Wayne,’ said Jacko. ‘My boss is pretty good. I could still put it off a week or two if I ring him tonight.’
    â€˜No, Jacko, don’t put it off. It’s all right. Don’t worry.’
    They were all looking at Wayne now, which was not a situation Wayne disliked. He made a show of appearing thoughtful for a moment, then, winking at Luke and CT, he said: ‘Might have to be seriously ill for a day or two.’
    â€˜Geez, Luke, I tell you what,’ said CT, not being one to keep his ideas to himself. ‘You could go too, seein’ that you don’t have to go to school this week.’
    Naturally enough, this didn’t make sense to Wayne and the others. The topic of Luke’s suspension had not been raised all afternoon but that seemed about to change. There was a reprieve, though, for the moment at least, because Jacko shot Wayne a glance which from the stony set of his jaw and his darting eyes sent an unmistakable signal to Wayne. It read: ‘ Don’t you saddle us with this kid of yours, Aldridge.’
    Wayne received the message as though it was written in the cigarette smoke that lingered around the group. He turned to his son and quickly put the notion to rest. ‘Sorry, Luke. This is big blokes only. Perhaps when you’re older,’ he offered. As long as the things he didn’t want to deal with were shoved into the future, Wayne could be comfortable. It was a pity though—he’d vaguely thought about taking Luke along with him on one of these hunting trips. Still, Jacko was probably right.
    Wayne hadn’t counted on Dave and Doggy, however. From the row behind, Dave urged, ‘Go on, Aldridge, bring him along. He’ll have a great time. We’ll make a man out of him.’
    â€˜Yeah,’ echoed Doggy. ‘Teach him how to shoot, Wayne. He won’t have to work hard to be better than Jacko over there.’ Laughter all round. Encouraged, Doggy added, ‘Come to think of it, once he’s learnt, he can show Jacko how to shoot. He’s the man who can miss a roo even when he’s close enough to shake hands with it.’
    They all laughed again — everyone except Jacko.
    Wayne Aldridge thought he’d better come to the rescue of his mate Jacko. It was, unfortunately, true he was a poor shot. But he did own the four wheel drive which they used on their hunting trips, and despite the ribbing he received, he was undoubtedly the keenest member of the group. So Wayne deepened his voice, trying to sound like a preacher delivering a sermon. ‘Guns are a serious business,’ he declared.
    Before he could go further, Dave and Doggy shouted him down.
    â€˜Listen to it, would you! You should know how serious they are, Wayne. You’re the one who shot a hole in the roof of Jacko’s truck!’
    The crowd around were roaring and rocking with laughter now, at Wayne’s expense rather than Jacko’s. Wayne’s face set tight and hard, the odd man out amongst all the beaming faces. He did not like having that tale recalled. It had happened, of course. A simple accident. One of the group’s favourite stories, which need just be mentioned to set off the entire crowd. Wayne’s discomfort lasted until a hand forced a fresh can of beer into his fist; then, to take attention away from his own former disgrace, he turned to Luke. ‘How come you don’t have to go to school this week? It’s not holidays, is it?’
    Luke was embarrassed. ‘Not exactly,’ he began tentatively.
    â€˜Not exactly,’ laughed a voice beside him. ‘That’s a joke, Luke. You and I are suspended, or did you forget.’
    Luke had almost forgotten that CT was sitting next to him. He was gripped by sudden alarm. Any second now,