The Saddler Boys by Fiona Palmer

corner of his eye, he saw Nat reach for something to hold. Billy whooped with joy as if he were on a rollercoaster.
    Drew stopped not far from the water’s edge, where the dam levelled out at the run-off entry point. ‘Let’s go catch our lunch.’ Jumping out, he reached for the big bucket while Billy carried the sorting tray.
    Nat followed them to the water. ‘I see why my shoes would be a problem.’
    Billy laughed, dropped the trays and reached for her hand. ‘I’ll help you. We can do the first one together.’
    Drew was half expecting Nat to decline but, like a child who was curious about how everything worked, she went along. Billy showed her how to pull on the rope, which was lying in the mud, and bring forth the net from the dam in a rush of water, covering their boots. Nat’s were encased in mud as she struggled with the heavy net.
    â€˜Oh, there’s lots. What do we do with them?’
    She held the net away from herself awkwardly, but, to her credit, she didn’t drop it.
    â€˜Here, I’ll show you,’ said Billy, taking it from her. He dumped the yabbies into the white sorting tray that Drew held over the large bucket. ‘See, now Dad will shake them through so we don’t eat any that are too small. We put them back in the dam along with any with eggs.’ Billy emptied out the tube with the dog kibbles in it and rolled up the rope while Drew threw the small ones back in.
    â€˜Oh, no,’ said Nat. She was shaking her foot, trying to dislodge the big pile of mud on the end of the boot.
    Drew glanced at Billy and they began to smile.
    â€˜It’s all dirty,’ she added.
    Drew and Billy broke into laughter. She shot them a concerned look and they laughed even harder.
    Nat threw her hands on her hips. ‘What’s so funny?’ she demanded, while fighting to keep a smile from her face.
    â€˜Miss Wright,’ said Billy. ‘They’re boots. They’re meant to get dirty. That’s why we wear them.’ He giggled again.
    â€˜You think that’s bad – wait till I show you the photos of Billy playing in the mud, or the time he helped me in the shed and covered himself in grease,’ said Drew.
    Nat raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow. ‘I don’t think I ever got dirty as a kid. Maybe in the sandpit or from eating, but I never did get to play in mud.’
    â€˜It’s a shame you’re wearing that top,’ said Drew just as he felt the first few drops of rain. He looked up. It was going to bucket down soon.
    â€˜Why?’
    â€˜â€™Cos I’d have grabbed a handful of mud and covered you in it,’ he said with a mischievous glint in his eye. ‘Every kid should get dirty at some point. Quick, Billy, grab the other net, I think it’s about to pour.’
    Billy did as he was told while Nat held out her hands as the drops fell faster. ‘Should we run to the ute?’ she asked.
    â€˜You can,’ said Drew. ‘But it’s only water and I want my lunch,’ he added teasingly.
    For a second she watched him sort yabbies while the rain got heavier. Then she tilted her head back and held her hands out again. ‘Yes, you’re right. It’s only water.’ Then she laughed and laughed.
    â€˜Dad, is Miss Wright okay?’ whispered Billy. He stood by Drew with the next full yabby net, his face screwed up in concern.
    â€˜Yeah, son. She’s fine.’
    Drew wondered what was going on inside her head. Something was making her feel happy and he didn’t think it was wearing his mum’s boots, or the rain . . . But it didn’t matter because the smile on his son’s face was worth it. It was nice to have something different to think about. Except he couldn’t help thinking just how much his mum would have loved meeting Natalie. She would have been someone to get to know and figure out. Alice always had to put her nose in other