The Road Back by Di Morrissey Page A

quietly in a folding chair.
    â€˜They’ve asked us to join them and their friends on New Year’s Eve,’ he heard Megan tell Susan.
    â€˜Lovely. Where are you going?’ she asked.
    â€˜There’s a group of us going to the river to see the fireworks. We’re taking music and stuff,’ said one of the boys.
    â€˜You’re Jake Timmons’s boy, aren’t you?’ Susan said, peering at him. ‘That sounds like a good idea, girls. You two could walk home when it’s over, if need be. Speak to your dad, Megan. I’m sure it will be fine.’
    *
    Chris found himself feeling just a little concerned on New Year’s Eve as midnight came and went. He and Susan had celebrated the New Year quietly together. Then his mother had gone to bed but he had stayed up, sitting on the verandah with a drink and his book, his phone beside him in case Megan called him to fetch her and Ruby. The girls had insisted on being independent and walking home the short distance from the river by themselves, but Chris knew he would not relax until they arrived safely.
    Just before 1 am, he heard muffled giggles as the girls came tiptoeing down the driveway.
    â€˜Hey, Dad, you still up? Happy New Year!’ called Megan, and went over and kissed him.
    â€˜You too. And you, Ruby. How was it, have a good time?’
    â€˜Yeah, we did. Met some nice people, some stupid guys. Got a few kisses,’ said Megan.
    â€˜One serious one,’ laughed Ruby.
    â€˜Ah, it was just fun.’
    â€˜A couple of people came along who sang and they were pretty good,’ said Ruby. ‘It wasn’t a wild night. But that’s a good thing,’ she added as an afterthought.
    â€˜We met the son of your friend Shaun French. Troy. He’s nice,’ said Megan. ‘He might call us to go somewhere tomorrow. I mean later today.’
    â€˜Great. Well, you girls had better get to bed.’ Chris stood up and put his arm around Megan’s shoulders. ‘Did you wish your mother a Happy New Year?’
    â€˜Yep. Ages ago. She was at a party. Thanks for waiting up, Dad.’
    â€˜No problem. Sleep tight, you two.’
    Chris took his glass to the kitchen and turned off the lights, but suddenly there was a piercing scream from the family bathroom at the back of the house. Chris raced down the hall.
    â€˜What is it? Ruby?’
    â€˜In here! Quick!’ squealed Ruby.
    Chris pushed the door open to find Ruby in her pyjamas in a corner of the bathroom, pointing at the toilet seat.
    There, perched on the edge, sat a large green tree frog.
    â€˜It’s okay, Ruby. It’s only a frog. It’s harmless,’ Chris said, suppressing a laugh.
    â€˜What is going on?’ called out Susan from her bedroom.
    â€˜Nothing, Mum. It’s only a frog,’ replied Chris.
    â€˜It’s hideous! Take it away! Don’t put it down the toilet! I’ll never go again!’
    â€˜Oh, yuck! How horrible! How did it get in the house?’ said Megan, who had joined them. ‘Oh, this is so embarrassing.’
    â€˜Rubbish. Frogs are part of the rich tapestry of country life,’ said Chris as he grabbed a hand towel, scooped up the fat little creature and marched outside.
    â€˜Don’t let it go in the garden, Dad. Or we’ll never go out there either!’
    Chris rolled his eyes. ‘Megan, don’t be so squeamish. You used to play with frogs when you were little.’
    â€˜I did not,’ said Megan indignantly.
    â€˜Yes, you did. Ask Bunny. You scooped them out of her fishpond.’
    â€˜Well, they were little ones. Not huge like this.’
    â€˜God, Megan, how can you bear all these creepy-crawly jumpy slithery beasts?’ shuddered Ruby. ‘I couldn’t stand to live with them.’
    â€˜We don’t actually live with them,’ said Chris. ‘Our lives just overlap occasionally. Who knows, if you’d kissed him Happy New Year he