The Outback Heart by Fiona Palmer

survive.’
    ‘You’re probably right, Trev,’ she said with a laugh. Since spending time with Trevor, Indi had realised just how important the older generation was in a community, and in life. So much wisdom. Sure, Trevor could be vague at times or even get upset at the weirdest things, but he still had so much to give; he’d already given her so much without realising it.
    ‘Are they going to win today?’ he asked as Indi sped through the back streets.
    She laughed. ‘What do you think, Trev? I think they’ll be lucky to keep their pants on.’
    The juniors game was still playing. There was no reserves team – hadn’t had one for years.
    Helping Trevor from the ute, she held out one arm for him and slung her kit bag over the other.
    It wasn’t a big crowd. A few of the Hyden diehards were there, and a good crowd for the away team, Southern Cross. Indi saw Jenny talking with Mary from the local IGA. They were both dressed in jeans and pretty tops. Beside them she noticed Kingy in his tattered trackpants and shearing singlet. He didn’t have his dogs with him but she was sure there would be a bottle in that brown paper bag he was gripping. Indi felt sorry for him. Kingy wouldn’t know what standing straight meant – he was leaning so far forward that Indi thought he might topple. He’d been this way for years. It was Indi’s mum who’d pointed out the Colin of old. In the clubhouse was a photo of an old Saints Premiership team from before Indi was born. Kingy, or Colin Bradshaw as he was then, sat in the front row. A handsome young lad. Indi didn’t know how or why he’d become the ‘Kingy’ of today, but it was difficult to reconcile the two men. He never missed a game, though – he probably had nothing better to do, Indi realised.
    ‘Hi Jen, Mary. Can you guys help Trevor get settled? I’ve still gotta get changed.’
    ‘No worries, Indi. How are you, Trevor? Got your lucky scarf on. I hope it helps,’ said Mary.
    Jenny gestured to the clubhouse. ‘The team’s already in there, Indi. There’s only ten minutes left of this game,’ she said. ‘If that.’
    ‘Bugger.’ She touched Trevor’s arm. ‘I’d better go, mate. I’ll see you after the game.’
    ‘Go on, get. I’m fine,’ he said with cheeky smile. He’d have been a devilish young man in his day.
    ‘Behave,’ she warned before heading around the back of the club to the ladies change rooms. She ripped off her fluoros and changed into her shorts, team shirt and running shoes. She normally braided her hair back but it’d have to stay in a ponytail today. Stuffing her dirty clothes into her bag, she headed back outside, threw the bag onto her ute and made for the team change room.
    She walked straight in. ‘I’m here, I’m here. Who needs me?’
    One of the Kiwis spun around, yanking up his shorts, while the Pommie guy, called Pom, covered his bits and went bright pink. The new blokes hadn’t been expecting her but the others thought nothing of it. After a few late night drinks they all seemed keen to take their clothes off. Indi always assumed it was some male team-bonding thing. In the change rooms they seemed to take delight in being naked around her too, trying to make her uncomfortable as she went about strapping up their bodies or massaging tight muscles. She’d seen it all before.
    ‘My shoulder needs strapping,’ said Louie.
    ‘My groin does too,’ said Huey, with a chuckle.
    That wasn’t even worth an eye roll. Indi opened her kit and began to strap up Louie’s bad shoulder. She’d nearly finished when Troy walked in.
    ‘Good to see you made it. Was starting to think I’d have to strap them myself.’ He was dressed up today, jeans and his black Saints jacket. She could smell his aftershave, so much better than the litres of deodorant the players had drenched themselves in.
    Indi wasn’t sure if he was being sarcastic, so she moved on to strap Jasper’s ankle that he’d twisted at training.
    ‘Is Dad