White Ute Dreaming by Scot Gardner Page B

her squealing. Carolyn and her mate were holding Angie’s arms and jumping up and down.
    Den said that Richo told him not to burn too many bridges. Whatever that meant. They couldn’t agree on a suitable punishment so Den sucked up big-time and Richo asked whether his mum and dad knew that he smoked. Den just said yes. He wouldn’t get a caning if his mum and dad really knew but he’d get a lecture that would go on for six months. Not sure which I’d prefer.
    It didn’t slow him down at all. One of the year eights kicked a soccer ball onto the roof and he volunteered to be hoisted up to get it. He did a little dance over the top of the science rooms and someone growled at him from the quadrangle. He apologised loudly and when he was out of sight from them stuck his middle finger up. A group of year-nine girls came to say goodbye. I didn’t know any of them by name but they all had to hug my skinny little mate. I think I worked out why he doesn’t have a girlfriend. He’s a bit like Uncle Don and instead of narrowing his options down to one girl, he hugs the lot. I guess that’s got a bit going for it.
    Angie tracked me down towards the end of lunch. I offered her a smoke and to my surprise she accepted. She drew back a huge lungful on her first drag and rolled it between her fingers to get the ash off. She’d done that before. The smoke gave her a look of confidence that made me want to sit down.
    â€˜Rod Holloway’s parents are going up to Sydney next week and Rod’s having a party on Thursday.’
    Her hand was shaking as she said the words and she nearly dropped her smoke. Was that an invitation? Rod had gone to Fairleigh primary and we’d been in year five together. Ended up going to Chisholm Catholic. His parents are a bit religious. He was an awesome footy player then and he plays for the seniors now.
    â€˜Is Rod still living on Ashburn Street?’ I asked.
    She nodded.
    â€˜Cool.’
    She felt in her pocket. ‘Have you got a pen?’
    I didn’t have one but Hendo handed her one before I had a chance to ask.
    â€˜What’s your phone number?’ she asked, and paused with the pen ready to scrawl on her upturned wrist. I told her and she said it was easy to remember. Her phone number had two different numbers on the end, otherwise it was exactly the same as mine. Freaky. I wrote her number on my stump and she told me to have a nice holiday.
    â€˜Yeah, you too,’ I said, and watched her bum as she walked off. Hendo and Den were watching, too.
    Hendo shook his head. ‘Mate, she’s hot.’
    I chuckled and looked at her number.
    â€˜What is it with you, Wayne? How do you do it? You always have chicks hanging off you,’ Hendo said, and pushed me in the arm.
    â€˜I dunno,’ I said, and smiled.
    â€˜I might cut my hand off and see if that helps,’ Hendo grumbled.
    â€˜Nothing could help you, sleazebag,’ Den said.
    â€˜Thanks, mate,’ Hendo said, and crossed his arms.
    Den was right though; Hendo is a sleazebag. He’ll be talking to a woman—like Jenny that morning—and he won’t look at her face, he’ll just stare at her tits until it’s so obvious she’ll cross her arms or something. Don’t get me wrong, I like eye-lollies too, but Hendo missed out on the politeness gene.
    Kerry was waiting out the front for me when school exploded that afternoon and she wanted a dink.
    â€˜Are you crazy?’ I asked.
    â€˜Nah,’ she said. ‘Might be the last time I get to risk my life like this for ages. Some people go to theme parks, you know, and go on all the scary rides. They’re nothing.’
    We rode up to the caravan park and grabbed the crazy yellow dog. Dad made a few limp jokes and Kerry laughed when she was supposed to. I told Dad we were taking Ernie for a walk to the flat to pick up some stuff. He said tea would be ready around six.
    The sky was heavy