‘Yeah,’ Leon said flatly. ‘They’re a footy team from Perth.’

‘Not talking West Coast eagles, Parkie. I’m talking wedgetailed eagles.’ And the rest of the team laughed.

Max wondered why this was so funny. Hadn’t he heard Dad and Mum talking about eagles the other day? Now it seemed everybody was talking about them. The men were out of hearing range then, but Max saw Mooney jostling up against Leon. Instead of shoving him, Leon turned his shoulder and dodged out of the way. Max would have liked to see Leon hit Mooney because Mooney wasn’t a nice man; Max had heard him yelling at his kids and their mum. Somebody should stop him being such a bully. But maybe it was best for Leon not to get into a fight. If he slugged Mooney all the men might lay into him. So maybe Leon was smart.

Dad was over near the clubhouse, organising the water bottles for the team. Last week, Max had hung out near the goalposts and chatted to the goal umpire, but he couldn’t today because Jaden was there. Max wanted to stay away because he was sure the big boy would ask him to nick something else. Jaden kept catching Max’s eye and pointing at the clubrooms, so Max knew he wanted him to go there. But Max was safe with Mum, so he acted dumb and pretended he didn’t understand. He was relieved when the siren went and the game got under way.

All through the first half, Max tried to focus on the game, but Jaden’s eyes made him itchy. He kept trying to distract himself by drinking more Coke, and by half-time he needed to pee. He didn’t want to go to the loos because Jaden would follow him, but he had a stomach ache from a full bladder.

The loos were empty, and he had a pee, shooting it at the yellow balls and dead flies in the urinal. Then Jaden was beside him, having a pee too. ‘Get more cigarettes and bring them to me after school on Monday,’ Jaden said.

Max thought fast. ‘Mum said I have to come straight home from school for a doctor’s appointment.’

‘Bad luck.’

‘What if she picks me up and takes me in the car to the doctor’s?’

‘Then I’ll steal one of your pups and feed it to Prince.’ Jaden smirked, leaned forward and dribbled piss on Max’s shoes. Then he zipped up his pants and said, ‘See you on Monday.’