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very quiet for the rest of the school week. As part of his punishment, Crispin had to walk home every afternoon to his aunt’s farm. It was a very long walk up the hill and over a couple of valley ridges. It took him about an hour and a half. By Saturday morning, his aunt had softened a bit. When Tessa, at Mat’s urging, rang to invite Crispin to spend the day, she relented. ‘He may stay from 10am to 3pm precisely,’ she told Tessa.
    â€˜Can you ask her to let me speak to him for a sec?’ whispered Mat to her mother.
    â€˜Mat would like a word with Crispin, if that’s okay,’ said Tessa. She handed the phone to Mat.
    â€˜Hey, Crispin. Just in case you need to prepare for your tests or bring any essential equipment, I thought I’d sum them up for you,’ said Mat. ‘Nan will get you to eat something disgusting, then Bill and I are getting you to do an Athlon . . .’
    Mat paused to listen to something Crispin was saying.
    â€˜You see,’ explained Mat, ‘we were going to get you to do a triathlon, but your aunt’s time restrictions mean we have to cut it down from three athletic challenges to one – an Athlon.’
    Mat paused to listen to Crispin’s reply. ‘Good,’ she said, ‘I’m glad you’re feeling more positive about your chances of passing. Anyway, the third test is to scare this bully called Freckles McCann. He’s a big kid from the local high school who hangs around Dewey Creek Primary on weekends with his mates. A total creep. Doesn’t play by the rules. I thought you should at least have a chance to think about what strategies you might use against him.’
    An hour later, Aunt Victoria delivered Crispin to the front door. Mat and Bill greeted them.
    â€˜Morning, children. I’ll be back after the sheep drenching,’ she announced.
    Nan heard Aunt Victoria’s voice from all the way down in the family room. ‘Come in and have a cuppa, Aunty!’ she called.
    â€˜I’d love to Nan!’ Aunt Victoria called back. ‘But I have a man waiting to help with the sheep.’ She turned to Crispin. ‘I have a dirty, stinky job ahead of me. I won’t be looking fit to walk into the house, so make sure you’re waiting here.’
    â€˜Certainly will, Aunt Victoria,’ said Crispin politely.
    Once his aunt had marched off, Crispin turned to his friends and said, ‘Well, let’s get cracking!’
    Mat and Bill led Crispin through the house to the family room. Nan was sitting in her rocker, crocheting as usual.
    â€˜So the sacrificial lamb has arrived!’ she laughed.
    â€˜You’re going to get me to eat something disgusting, apparently,’ said Crispin. ‘But nothing could be as disgusting as an oyster, so I’m ready.’
    Nan put aside the rug she was working on and stood up. ‘Come with me,’ she said.
    Mat, Bill and Crispin followed Nan onto the verandah. Uncle Len, sensing an adventure, bounded out with them. They walked down the steps, past the bath, the vegetable garden, the chook shed, the fruit trees and down a hill to the very back of the Grubs’ property. Some scrubby wattles grew here and behind them towered a clump of tall eucalyptus trees. Crispin was looking confused. Mat and Bill were trying not to smile. Nan walked up to one of the trees, took a penknife from her cardigan pocket and started digging away at the bark. Very soon she had a huge white grub in her hand. It was about four centimetres long.
    â€˜Good heavens!’ exclaimed Crispin. ‘What on earth is that?’
    â€˜A witchety grub,’ said Nan.
    â€˜Please, no,’ said Crispin, shaking his red, curly head. ‘It looks dreadfully poisonous.’
    â€˜You couldn’t be more wrong,’ said Nan, looking affectionately at the grub. ‘It’s very high in protein. My people have always regarded these dear things as a most important part