the drop of a hat.
It had all started on the first day of high school. Unlike the other boys, Michael had arrived alone and without his parents (or at least without his dad) for the 'family orientation morning'. He had hated the school even before he saw it and, as he sat there in the big school hall watching all the other boys looking both nervous and excited and listening to one boring teacher after another talking about 'what a wonderful school it was' and 'how the boys were expected to do their best' or, 'we have a great sporting tradition', Michael had decided that he was having no part of it.
When the teachers had finally stopped droning on and invited the parents to 'stay and enjoy a morning tea with the new students and other parents', Michael had gone outside and wandered around the building and lit a smoke. He had taken a few puffs when one of the other mothers had suddenly appeared. He had remembered seeing her walk in earlier. She was really hot looking and Micheal remembered how lots of the fathers had spent more time sneaking looks at her than watching the presentation, many of the mothers too, although they had all seemed to be looking at her for a different reason than the dads.
Micheal had been about to stub his cigarette out when the lady spoke to him.
'Oh god darling, I'm gasping for a ciggy too. Have you got a light?
Michael remembered how his hands had shaken as he had offered her a light and how she had placed her long elegant hand on his to steady them. She had continued talking as though she had known him for ever.
'Isn't this the most boring bit of drivel you have ever had to listen to?' Micheal had been about to reply 'Shit Yeah!' when a tall, dark haired boy had come up to them. He assumed this was the ladies son as he had seen them sitting together inside. He hadn't seen the boy's face until now though. He had his mothers angular but attractive face and the same big, deep green eyes, only the boy had darker, almost bronze skin, whereas the mother had fair, almost white skin. His lips seemed almost painted on. Full and dark pink. Like a girls Michael thought.
'Oh Ben darling, you don't mind if I go after this ciggy do you? I mean it must be embarrassing for you having your mother hanging around. Jean Pratt even straightened John's tie during the speeches. Did you see her? God if I have to stay any longer I might just do that to you!'
The boy, Ben, had laughed and said 'Sure Mum', before leaving the two of them alone to finish their cigarette.
'Your parents had the right idea not coming darling.' Micheal knew she was just making him feel better and he thought she was even hotter because of that.
Finally, after all the boring speeches were over and the parents had left, the boys were taken outside and divided up into roll classes before being left alone in the school quadrangle for lunch. Nervous first year boys huddled together waiting for the lunch bell to ring and the dreaded 'first year initiation' to begin.
Michael knew all about initiation. It happened in every school and it happened every year. If you didn't have an older brother or friends in another year, or if you were fat, had glasses, or were a wog or a chink, then you knew that you were going to be a target.
Wedgied, tie pulled so tight you thought you were going to choke, held around the neck and pulled down while some fat guy farted in your face. Dragged off to the toilets and your head flushed it you cried.....
Michael didn't have an older brother at the school and he didn't know anyone else there. He knew he would be a target. He waited until the first group of older boys approached him.
'Hey Goldilocks!' One of the boys taunted him as the other boys laughed and looked menacing.
Michael didn't reply. He looked at the boy and smashed his fist into the boys nose, knocking him to the ground. The other boys drew back to the shouts and cheers of all who had seen. Michael waited for the boy to get up and hit him back. He didn't. When he finally stood he looked sheepishly at Micheal, rubbing his now bleeding nose and said.
'Hey man, stay cool, only having fun'. He left with his mates.
Michael started walking away. Off to have a smoke with the older boys. He knew before he got there his reputation would have preceded him. He was safe now. The years of having to defend himself against his older brothers had paid off.
Walking away he was aware of the hushed but admiring stares of the rest of the boys. He felt strangely pleased when he saw that Ben boy smiling at him.
Nine
The following morning Hope was awake early. She made a pot of coffee and sat out on the verandah. The rising suns rays reflecting off the raindrops which still clung to the leaves on the gum trees. Somewhere deep in the bush she could hear the long musical echo of the Whip birds, claiming their territory anew. Closer the melodious chimes of the Currawongs reverberated. Familiar, beautiful sounds.
She felt as fresh and clear as the new morning. She decided against a second cup of coffee and instead went into the guest bedroom, throwing open the sliding doors to let the fresh, crisp morning air in. She had always liked this room with its expansive views of the bush and of the houses dotted between the trees as the road wound back along and up the valley.
Originally they had designed the house with this room as the master bedroom, sharing the floor with the open living areas at the back of the house, and the main bathroom and study which lay at either end facing the road. They had quickly seen the issues of leaving Ben, then seven years old, all alone downstairs by himself at night and plans had changed.
This bedroom became the guest room with the stroke of a pen, and with some plan modifications their bedroom had been moved downstairs, complete with an en-suite bathroom, at the opposite end of the building from Ben's room. In between an open 'family room' connected the two and opened on to the stairway at the back and the first of many terraced garden levels at the front.
She had decided last night, and Mrs T had agreed, that if she was going to stay in the house that she should move to the upstairs bedroom. She had hardly slept in their bedroom since the accident. Most nights falling into intoxicated slumber on the lounge as she drank yet another glass trying to summon up the courage to sleep in her and Peter's bed. It was time to start afresh and this was the first step in facing her new world.
By the time Ben had woken, an hour or so later, Hope had moved all of her clothes upstairs and into their new home. Her toiletries were now filling the bathroom next door and only a large pile of books and magazines lay strewn on the floor. She would have to buy a new book stand or get some shelves put up. Plenty of time for that.
As Ben made a pot of tea and cooked toast Hope sat at the breakfast bar watching him, smoking a cigarette and justifying her decision.
'Honestly darling, I can't sleep in that other room and besides you will be able to have the whole downstairs to yourself now. If you want we can get a door put into the en-suite so you wont have to go through my old room to use it. You can do what you want in there. Maybe you could use it as a study?"
'It's alright mum. I think it will be good for you to move up here. Not that I want your room or anything, but I know it must be hard for you to go in there. Let's just make it the new guest room and I can use the upstairs bathroom when we have people over to stay.'
'Darling, is it okay to leave things in there as they are for a while? I honestly can't face having to sort through your father's things yet.'
'Mum, whatever you need to do just do it. If you need help just ask. I was thinking last night maybe I should take these last two weeks off school and stick around at home with you. We've finished all our subjects and they are only doing revision with us. It's kind of a bore anyway.'
'Oh Ben, I want you to do what you think is best. I'm okay honestly. I would love to have you here, but I really am okay. I promise I wont fall back on my wicked ways. It was selfish of me and I can't imagine how hard I have made things for you. I'm so sorry, I was only thinking of myself. You poor darling."
'I wasn't saying