Read Online Drowning in Her Eyes by Patrick Ford - Free Book Online Page B

road. We ’ll have a head start on our neighbours when it ’s time to sell. Clean up and come have a beer. We ’ve some serious talking in front of us tonight. ” The legal drinking age was still twenty- one, but Paddy, although he banned Jack from the pubs, was quite happy to share a drink with him after work. That way he could keep an eye on him and not let things get out of hand. After dinner, they convened in the large living room. Jack had noticed that his father ate only a meagre meal and looked as if he may have lost some weight recently.
    Helen began their conversation. “Jack, I know you want to join the army but I ’m afraid that won ’t be possible. ”
    â€œBut, Mum … ” Jack interjected.
    â€œDon ’t interrupt me, my boy. You ’ll get your say later! ” She continued: “As I said, the army ’s out of the question. You are too young and we won ’t sign your application an y way. There is another reason as well. Your father will pr o test, but he is not a well man. We have been seeing all kinds of specialists, and it appears that he has a problem with his heart. He will not be able to work hard ever again. There will be no more long days in the saddle or on the tractor. Ollie and Mick can cope as long as you are home from time to time, especially in the busy periods. ”
    Jack looked at his father. Paddy said “Sorry, mate. We ’ve known for a while now but we didn ’t want you to worry too much while you were doing your exams. I ’ll be all right as long as I take it easy. ”
    Helen cut in. “Your version of easy is very different from mine. ”
    Paddy shook his head ruefully. “Bloody women, ” he muttered.
    â€œLet ’s press on, ” said Helen, “If you go to university, you will be home about ten or twelve weeks a year. You will be finished each year in time for the wheat harvest. You should be here in May to help with the planting, provided we have sufficient rain. We can move shearing to August to a c commodate your term break then. Denni is going to Bri s bane. Perhaps you could study agricultural science at the same time and share a flat. ”
    Paddy said, “Are you sure he needs to go away to un i versity? ”
    Helen rounded on him. “Paddy, ” she said fiercely, “We ’ve had that conversion a hundred times. You know we need a well- educated manager to take over Ballinrobe . Jack is clever but he needs to expand on his knowledge. Things happen fast nowadays, and he has not the time to gather e x perience like you did. You have given him a great start, but science and economics are going to be more important in the future than knowing how to drive a tractor or skin a roo. ”
    Obviously, Jack was off to university, like it or not. He did not like the idea of living in Brisbane, with or without Denni. He had had enough of big cities. Four years in Sy d ney had seen to that. He said as much. It was a stalemate.
    A couple of days later, Paddy said at breakfast, “I had an idea yesterday and rang Lillian in Armidale . ” Lillian was Paddy ’s sister. “ She says they have a good university there, with special courses in agriculture. Apparently, all the st u dents live in colleges and have their own rooms. I was thin k ing that we could take a run down there after Christmas and look the place over. Lil has a heap of kids, and they could look after our little wide- eyed boy from the bush until he finds his feet. It ’s time he got to know his cousins anyway. What do you th ink? ”
    They all thought it was a good idea. Jack shot off a letter to the University for Course Information. Denni said she was pleased Jack would not be in Brisbane anyway. She did not want him disrupting her social life, mucking up the bat h room, and trying to seduce all her friends. “Can you imagine all that wet and smelly Rugby gear lying around? Ugh. ”
    On