Outback by Robin Stevenson

Chapter One
    My uncle Mel believes in learning through experience. When I was five, he threw me off his boat. He figured swimming was instinctive and thought he could save my mom the cost of lessons. Turned out he was wrong. I swallowed half the lake before he finally fished me back out. I guess his version of events was a little different from mine, because instead of being mad, Mom gave him the credit for saving my life.
    Mel has always taken an interest in my education. Still, I am surprised when Mom tells me that he has invited me to go to Australia with him. I am even more surprised that she thinks it is a good idea.
    â€œSeriously?” I stare at her. “What about school?” As soon as the words are out of my mouth, I regret having said them.
    â€œJayden, please.” Mom’s forehead creases. “You’ve skipped more classes than you’ve been to this year. And that’s not including the times you’ve been suspended.”
    I look away from her, out the window. The sky is gray. Half-frozen rain is falling at a steep angle, tapping against the window like a thousand ghostly fingertips. I hate school. You read about stuff, you listen to people talk about stuff, you write about stuff…and you never actually get to do anything. I used to go just to see Anna, but since she dumped me, I couldn’t see the point in school.
    Actually, I couldn’t see the point in anything at all. “It’s just so…”
    Mom blows a stray lock of blond hair out of her eyes and tucks it behind her ear. “I know. That’s why I thought this trip might be a good idea.”
    I don’t care much either way. Going to Australia sounds like it would take more energy than I have. On the other hand, maybe Mom wants me out of her hair.
    â€œIt’ll be summer in Australia,” Mom says. “Sunshine. Beaches. No school.”
    No having to watch Anna walking around with her friends and laughing, obviously doing fine without me. “When’s Mel going?” I ask.
    â€œHe’s already there. He’s been doing some research at the university in Adelaide for the last couple of months.”
    â€œI don’t know,” I say.
    â€œCome on, Jayden. Kangaroos. Koalas. Gum trees and blue skies. You could take your camera. Get some great wildlife shots.”
    â€œI guess.” I haven’t taken any photographs for months.
    She sighs. “Think about it, okay?”
    â€œYou want to get rid of me, huh?” It’s supposed to be a joke but it comes out sounding all wrong. Angry and bitter instead of funny.
    â€œOh, Jay. Of course I don’t. I just… You’ve been moping around for months and you won’t go to school and you won’t see a doctor and you won’t even talk to me.”
    I look at her and look away quickly. Her green eyes are shiny with tears. I feel a hot spreading sense of shame, like I’ve done something awful, messed something up, and I don’t even know what. “Fine,” I say. “I’ll go then.”
    â€œAre you sure?” She hesitates. “I don’t mean to pressure you. I just thought maybe…well, maybe it would help.”
    It seems like an awfully long shot to me, but it’s not like I have any better ideas. “It’s fine,” I say again. “I’ll go.”
    â€œYou’d have to fly down in the next couple of weeks.” She sounds hesitant now, like she isn’t so sure of this idea after all. “Mel says he could use your help with his research.”
    â€œWhat kind of research?”
    â€œI don’t know. Bugs of some kind.
    Or maybe it was frogs.” She makes a face. “I tuned out a bit. You know how he can be.”
    I do know. If you met Uncle Mel walking down the street, you’d probably think he was a crazy homeless guy or something, all scruffy-looking and always talking a mile a minute about weird stuff that sounds like