BooksBarbecue
Back The Orchardist's Daughter
Chapters (57)
  1. COVER PAGE
  2. PRAISE
  3. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  4. DEDICATION
  5. PROLOGUE
  6. PART I SEEDS
  7. 1
  8. 2
  9. 3
  10. 4
  11. 5
  12. 6
  13. 7
  14. 8
  15. PART II GERMINATION
  16. 9
  17. 10
  18. 11
  19. 12
  20. 13
  21. 14
  22. 15
  23. 16
  24. 17
  25. 18
  26. 19
  27. 20
  28. PART III GROWTH
  29. 21
  30. 22
  31. 23
  32. 24
  33. 25
  34. 26
  35. 27
  36. 28
  37. 29
  38. 30
  39. 31
  40. 32
  41. PART IV UNDERSTOREY
  42. 33
  43. 34
  44. 35
  45. 36
  46. 37
  47. 38
  48. 39
  49. 40
  50. 41
  51. 42
  52. 43
  53. 44
  54. 45
  55. 46
  56. EPILOGUE
  57. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The door banged behind Dad. ‘It’ll be takeaway then,’ he yelled.

‘Save some money and cook instead.’

‘I’m saving money by fixing the chainsaw.’

‘I suppose you’ll still be fixing it tomorrow.’ Mum was screeching now, and Max covered his ears. He hated them arguing. Always about money. That’s why Max liked hanging out with Rosie. Dogs didn’t make you do jobs or argue or tell you what to do. They were warm and happy and fun. The more he thought about it, the more he liked dogs better than people.

‘Your dad’s bone-lazy,’ Mum muttered. ‘Always tomorrow.’ She pointed at Max. ‘Don’t you grow up like that.’

‘I don’t want to do the lawns,’ Max moaned. If he sounded sad enough, maybe Mum would do it for him.

She shrugged. ‘No one else to do it. You’d better pick up those bikes first. I don’t want a patchy job like last time. And don’t forget to tidy your room.’

Max finished his sausage and went to his room. He stuffed his pyjamas under the pillow then tossed some toys in the cupboard and shut the door. Hopefully Mum wouldn’t look in there. If the floor was clear, that might be enough. He took some pocket money out of the drawer before fetching Rosie’s lead. They would go down to the shop and buy lollies. That would make him feel better.

But Dad had the mower out and was checking the fuel. ‘Empty,’ he said. He pulled the fuel can from the shelf and shook it, but it was empty too. He shoved the can at Max. ‘Go and get it filled up at the servo.’

‘It’s too heavy,’ Max said.

‘Take Suzie’s pram. You can wheel it back in that.’

‘Please, Dad, can you fill it up? Kids aren’t allowed.’ Max didn’t want to be seen with Suzie’s pram. Everyone would laugh. Suzie shouldn’t have a pram anyway—she was big enough to walk.

Dad opened his pack of cigarettes and took one out. ‘Haven’t got time to get fuel today,’ he said. ‘We’ll do it tomorrow.’

That sounded good. Mum might not like it, but Max hoped Dad would forget and then Max wouldn’t have to do the lawns. He grabbed Rosie’s lead, and she trotted up, ready to go. He snapped the lead onto her collar.

‘What are you doing?’ Dad said.

‘Taking Rosie for a walk.’

‘Make sure you’re back in time for the game.’

‘I don’t want to go.’

‘Bad luck. You’re coming. You can watch the big blokes and learn.’

3

3