Read Online Three's a Crowd by Margaret Pearce - Free Book Online

enjoy the bliss of life without him.
    Louise, Julie, and I lingered to talk after school and someone suggested that we drift around to the local tennis courts to check out Drew’s tennis. I was a bit diffident about it, but Julie gave me a thoughtful look, and anyway, there was safety in numbers, so I joined them.
    The courts were set in parkland. That particular tennis club was for people who took their game seriously. We didn’t go inside, just propped on the grass outside to watch. Louise tried to catch Drew’s attention but he ignored us. He hurtled around the court returning balls. He was good! I reminded myself never to be on the receiving end of his bullet fast serves. You could see he took his training seriously. The coach was a nuggetty, irritable guy with a loud voice and a mean backhand.
    â€œIan says Drew’s one of the best players he’s ever played against,” Julie murmured.
    â€œOld McVitty is the best coach around. Dad recommended Drew try him,” Louise explained, letting us know she had the inside running.
    We watched for a while. I started to get bored. We had checked Drew out and so what! Wendy and Louise had these rapt expressions on their faces. I admit that Drew looked pretty good in his shorts and top as he zipped around the court, but there is not much interest in just watching someone fielding balls.
    I nudged Julie. She nodded. We collected our bags and left the other two watching Drew slam the ball down the court like kids outside a lolly shop. We went back to Julie’s place to have something to eat and listen to one of Geordie’s new CDs.
    â€œOld McVitty charges the earth for his sessions,” Julie volunteered as she produced jam doughnuts and poured chocolate milk into glasses. “Ian can’t afford him, and he’s working.”
    â€œRich parents must solve a few problems,” I agreed.
    A little while later Geordie’s van roared in, signalling it was time to go home. As I walked down towards our street, I noticed the houses getting smaller, shabbier and closer together. I looked at our little house with new eyes. What had Drew thought of it, especially after Louise’s magnificent home and Julie’s spacious house on the double block? Our house was shabby and ordinary looking with its narrow front yard. It looked like a hovel! Mum’s car was parked in the driveway – we didn’t even have a carport. Then I noticed that the lawn had been neatly cut and I had a twinge of guilt. That was supposed to be my job.
    Mum was still working at her drawing board. Jeebie was squatting on the floor playing cards with Brat, whose face had a lot more colour in it. There were a pile of five cent pieces beside him. Brat was cheating at cards again. He was an unnaturally good card player for a small kid.
    â€œYou’re late,” Mum said.
    â€œWent around to Julie’s,” I replied. “Who did the lawns?’
    â€œJeebie did it with his Gran’s new mower,” Brat yelled. “And I’m teaching him to play poker.”
    â€œAn expensive lesson,” Jeebie chuckled. He still wore his ragged cut-off jeans and the same floral shirt. “Want to play?”
    â€œI’ve got homework to do,” I snapped and kept on going to my bedroom.
    I stayed there until I heard Brat yell his farewell to Jeebie, and then emerged to help Mum get dinner. I had to wait until Brat was safely in the bathroom before I could complain about Jeebie.
    â€œThat guy is a dork, a dork, a bogan and a pain in the neck. What was he doing here?”
    â€œThe lawns and keeping your little brother amused so that I could finish my figures.” Mum’s voice was wistful. “Pity you can’t be as thoughtful and sensible, or at least remember your manners.”
    â€œSensible!” I exclaimed. I wondered what Mum would have said if she had seen Jeebie loping up the street after me on all fours, howling like a wolf.