Read Dropping In for Free Online Page B

after school. Ranga is meeting me out the front by the bus stand,’ I say.
    James nods.
    I’ve got no idea why I have to learn French but the next hour passes quickly and, at home time, we meet out the front, load up James’ wheelchair with our bags and head off home. At first we talk about the day at school but then we run out of things to talk about and James motors on ahead. Our bags swing off the back of his chair as he bumps over the uneven paving.
    When we’re nearly home, as we come around the corner at the bottom of the hill, he stops and calls back. ‘You’ve got a visitor.’ He points towards Ranga’s house. There’s a car in the driveway.
    Ranga stares, frowning.
    â€˜Is your dad visiting?’ I say.
    He shakes his head, still frowning. ‘Dad’s still up north. He won’t have his access visit until next weekend.’
    By the time we’re halfway up the hill we can see the writing on the side of the car — Department of Community Services.
    â€˜I bet it’s that social worker from school,’ I say.
    Ranga is freaking out. ‘Shit!’ he says. ‘Oh shit.’ Hekeeps repeating it, over and over again under his breath. I’ve got second-hand butterflies in my stomach.
    We’re walking slower now but before we get to the house, two people come out and get in the car. One is that Ms Broadacre and the other person is in jeans that look wrong on him. He should be in a suit.
    Ranga’s mum is standing in the doorway watching them leave. She looks angry and she’s been crying. Even from here, I can see her panda eyes. Ranga grabs his bag off the back of James’ chair. ‘See you guys,’ he says. He doesn’t even look at the social workers in the car as he walks up to his mum. She grabs him in her arms and hugs him, tight, like she’d just found him after he was lost.
    They both stand there watching as the social workers drive off. When the car goes around the corner at the bottom of the hill, Ranga’s mum kind of shrivels up. Ranga turns her around and steers her into the house. He gives a little low wave as he shuts the door.
    â€˜Do you wanna play my new computer game?’ James says. ‘It’s a skateboarding one.’
    I look at Ranga’s house, and then mine. There’s nothing much else I can do so I nod and off we go.
    The skateboard game is cool, but it’s not like the real thing. Nothing is as good as the real thing.
    James can’t play this game that well, but he keeps trying and trying, even when his avatar gets injured almost straightaway every time. He’s never going to get any good. He just can’t work the controls properly. His hands won’t do it.
    â€˜Why’d you get this game?’ I ask. ‘All your other games are puzzle ones.’
    â€˜I like skateboarding,’ he says.
    Then I put my foot in it. ‘Yes, but you can’t skateboard. And this game doesn’t work for you either.’
    As soon as the words are out of my mouth I want to take them back. I meant to point out that this game didn’t suit him, because it was a reflex, handling sort of game, but I know that’s not what James hears. Just for a second he looks like I’ve slapped him, but then he gets this determined look on his face. ‘I just want to do it, that’s all.’
    â€˜But it’s too hard,’ I say. I’m trying to explain what I meant.
    â€˜Everything is too hard,’ James says. ‘If I didn’t just try stuff anyway, I’d never do anything.’
    I try to change the subject. ‘What do you reckon will happen to Ranga and his mum?’
    â€˜Some things you can’t do anything about. You’ve justgot to keep going and see what happens.’
    He looks sad and I wonder who he’s talking about: Ranga or himself.

10
    Outside, the street looks just the same as it did last term but it’s not. It’s