Read Online Billy Mack's War by James Roy - Free Book Online

Freddy, and he’ll still be your dad. Isn’t that right, Billy?’
    â€˜That’s right, Ma,’ I said as I felt my eyes start to sting.
    She left two days later, early, before breakfast, just as the currawongs were waking up. She hugged the twins half to death, and after she’d let them go so they could start wiping the kisses off their faces, she turned to me. She straightened up and patted the front of her skirt down. ‘Billy, you be good now,’ she said.
    â€˜Of course I will, Ma,’ I replied.
    â€˜And pay attention to your Nan, and to Aunty Margaret as well, who’s coming up in a couple of days to help with the twins.’
    â€˜Yes, Ma.’
    I’m not sure how long I’ll be, but I’ll send you a telegram just as soon as I know.’
    â€˜As soon as you get there, love,’ Nan said.
    â€˜Yes, all right,’ Ma replied. ‘So you look after your sisters, Billy, you hear?’
    â€˜Yes, Ma,’ I said, wishing she’d get going. Granddad had the truck running and her bags loaded in the back, so her standing on the front porch looking like she was about to melt into tears was only delaying her leaving. And that was only delaying her getting on the boat, which was delaying her getting to Sydney. And the sooner she got to Sydney the sooner she’d be home in Evansbridge with my dad. ‘Granddad’s waiting,’ I said.
    â€˜Yes, all right,’ she said, giving me a kiss on the cheek and quickly hugging Nan. I’ll be back as soon as I can,’ she called, as she climbed up into the truck next to Granddad.
    â€˜See you tomorrow,’ he called. Then he gave us a quick wave and they drove off down the long driveway. Soon they’d disappeared over the hill, and me and Nan were left standing alone on the porch.
    â€˜Will then, Billy, how about something to eat?’
    â€˜I’m not hungry.’ Then, knowing that she was about to use the line about growing boys, I added, ‘But I’d love some porridge.’
    She slipped an arm around me and led me inside. ‘Good boy,’ she said.
    That night the twins and I slept in the big house. They were sleeping top-to-tail in the bedroom closest to Nan’s, and I slept alone in the next room, the one which had been my mother’s when she was still living at home. I lay there for a long time, trying to go to sleep. I heard Nan humming to herself as she finished off in the kitchen for the night. She didn’t seem at all worried about spending the night in that great big house without Granddad, and I was able to convince myself that she felt safe because I was there.
    Granddad had left me a list of chores to do while he was away. Basically they were the same ones I usually had to do, plus a coup le that he’d normally have done himself, but Ma thought it was enough to earn me the day off school. I didn’t have to worry too much, because Stan Whittaker from the next farm over dropped by just after breakfast to see how I was doing.
    I was at the kitchen table eating eggs on toast and drinking warm mills when we heard a knock at the back door. Through the screen door I could see Stan’s tall, thin frame.
    â€˜Oh, hell o! Come on in, Stan, love,’ Nan said, and Stan tools off his hat, opened the door and stepped into the kitchen, lowering his head as he came through the doorway. He didn’t need to do that — it was just something he always did. Granddad said it was because he’d grown up in England, where doorways were lower and people had to duck their heads as they went from room to room. I asked him why they didn’t just build houses with higher doorways, and he said he wasn’t sure.
    â€˜Morning, Melva,’ Stan said. ‘Morning there, Billy-o.’
    â€˜Morning, Mr Whittaker,’ I replied. ‘What’s up?’
    He looked a bit surprised to hear me ask this. I suppose I was bit surprised to hear myself