Read Spinner for Free Online Page B

grandfather who sat at the table looking at an empty tea mug. He’d never seen him like this; like he was soft, empty of his woodiness.
    The back door opened and Uncle Michael stood looking at the grey light of pre-dawn. ‘Will you look at that? Not a cloud in the sky. It’s gunna be a hot one. Any particular horse you’d rather I took, George?’
    His grandfather shrugged. His uncle did too as he went out towards the sheds.
    â€˜Grandad, what’s happening?’
    David watched his grandfather suck in the air in one long, strong breath until he filled and became himself, full of tree once again. ‘Just as your uncle said. You’re going down to Perth so you can improve your cricket.’
    â€˜But ... now?’
    David and his grandfather had talked of Perth, and of eventually going down there to the city to play for a team. When David was older, and a better bowler, it would betime to try out for Western Districts or Fremantle and show what he could do. That’s what his grandfather had done when he was a young man.
    â€˜I’m not ready.’
    His grandfather got up from the table but stayed a moment holding it, before he took another big breath and went over to the stove to prod the embers. ‘Maybe. And maybe not. I think your technique is very strong. No, it is better than very strong. You are the best spin bowler I have ever seen. Technically. But I don’t know whether your game is strong. It’s what’s between the ears that makes the bowler.’ He turned from the fire and looked at David. ‘You’ve got a very young head on young shoulders even for twelve, so that’s why you might not be ready. On the other hand, there is only one way to get experience and that is to get it.’
    â€˜Grandad, I don’t know him.’
    â€˜He knows his way around the city and he knows the game. He knows cricket people so they’ll take a look. It’s about time you bowled to real batsmen.’
    â€˜Can’t you come?’
    â€˜Course I can’t come. I have to look after the farm.’
    â€˜But I help you. What about the animals? Who will turn the taps on the pump by the river? The eggs. Who’ll get the eggs?’ David was panting, and he had to blink a sting in his eyes.
    â€˜Don’t you cry, boy.’ It was an order, his grandfather’s voice all hard again. ‘You think you can stay here forever?’
    David gulped, but he couldn’t stop the first gasp coming up, loud and pained. He was going to cry and he knew it, so he ran.
    Outside the sun was coming up. His uncle was hitching up the rig. David ran out past the other shed, Jess chasing him and barking. David growled at her, but she kept at him as he tried to outrun her. When she nipped his leg he stopped, not far from the dam.
    â€˜Ow, you bloody dog.’
    Jess crouched, her ears down and tail still, confused that the game had turned out wrong.
    He pulled up his pants leg and saw that she’d drawn blood. ‘You bloody dog. I’ll fix you.’ David grabbed up a lump of quartz ready to throw, but she got all excited again thinking he had something for her to catch and she danced back and forward and then turned around ready for the throw. She was not afraid of the rock because he’d never thrown anything at her. He wanted to pat her and didn’t care if he spoiled her because he was going. It would serve his grandfather right to have a spoiled dog.
    David took a piss, watching it steam and burrow into the dry ground. Jess inched forward until she could smell where he’d been. He went down to the dam, and looked at the water. It was black.
    â€˜You gunna go for a swim?’ His uncle limped down towards him.
    David didn’t say anything. He kept looking into the dam.
    â€˜It’s all a bit sudden, eh?’ he said gently. ‘It’s always sudden, when it’s time to grow up. Well, so they say. Wouldn’t know