Chapter 22
Endless Summer
Rob and I set up the marquee in the garden, as well as the screen and sound system inside it. We’re slick and fast. It’s all our practice working together. Mum keeps coming out with drinks. She’s the support crew.
Next job is the barbecue. Rob’s onto it and it’s a miracle. It’s working. Puppy has been banned to the shed since he wee-ed on Rob’s shoe. He gets too excited. Ollie’s in there too, keeping him company.
Mum and Nanna are in a cooking frenzy. There’re going to be a lot of banana cakes.
Rob collects Leo from the train station. He arrives just in time to join ‘Operation Balloon’. He chucks his backpack into my room, puts on his Hawaiian shirt, waves to everyone and gets on board. Anna and Samantha have blown up so many balloons that the backyard looks like an overfed-confetti explosion. Anna and Samantha are now twisting ribbons on the last of the balloons. Leo’s slotted in. His job is to hand the ready-to-go balloons to me. My job is to not fall off the ladder while I hang them. I’m not doing a bad job knotting the balloons under the shed awning.
Rob calls out to all of us. ‘Great work.’
Mr Tran has just dropped off Christopher. He’s looking good in his ‘hang five’ T-shirt. I clamber down the ladder and help Mrs Tran with the bread rolls she’s brought. Enough for the whole street.
Ping. Ping. I dig my phone out of my pocket. Message from George Hamel. What’s he want?
George Hamel: it’s yur birthday mate. Hav a good one. C ya at the surf.
I hold my phone for a while.
Jack: Thanx. C ya there.
I look up. Puppy and Ollie have been let out of the shed and found a balloon. It’s going to burst. I’m right. It does. They run for cover. Surfing songs rock through the backyard. The Endless Summer is playing. Rob’s put up the fairy lights. Mum hula dances onto the porch in a pink sarong and top. No snapdragons, luckily. Rob whistles. She does a quick star jump.
‘Better get ready myself.’ I clear three steps in one go and race to my bedroom. Mum bought me an orange surfer T-shirt. It’s bright. You need sunglasses just to wear it. I drag it over my head. It’ll make Mum happy. My board shorts look good. ‘Hey, Hector, maybe you should be giving me a crumb today, since it’s my birthday.’ Ponto’s starting to be a real vegetable. Never know, I could be a real scientist one day. What do ya think, Einstein? I glance at his photo. Reckon he’s nodding his head. Anna’s beautiful eyes stare at me from my photo wall. Hope she likes the shirt.
I look at the bottom of the wall. I unpin the photo of my father and us. Staring at it, I flop onto my bed. I hold the one card without a return address and with the postmark ‘Genoa Caves’. I was waiting to open it today. I look around my room, at Grandad’s medals, my camera, telescope, my soccer ball, my experiments on the windowsill. I tear the envelope. It’s an ordinary card. There’s a photo of a football, sports car and a teenage guy. I look inside.
To Jack—Happy 13th birthday. Dad.
An envelope falls out. Tearing the corners, I lift the flap. There’s a photo of him and Matt, and some money.
‘Dad.’ I say it aloud, repeating it. ‘Dad. Dad. Dad.’ He doesn’t feel like a dad. I’m going to have to tell Mum I’ve seen him. But not now. It’s my party. I run my fingers through my hair, straighten my shirt, look in the mirror. I dash down the hallway to my family. Rob and Mum turn around.
‘Wow.’ Rob jumps back. ‘That’s bright.’
‘Mum bought it for me.’
Rob glances at Mum. ‘It’s fantastic.’ We look at each other and splutter.
‘You can laugh, but I love the T-shirt.’ Her eyes go teary. ‘I can’t believe you’re thirteen. Thank you for wearing it, darling.’
‘Mum, don’t call me darl—’ I stop. Then smile. ‘It’s going to be a great party.’
Anna floats towards me in a misty-blue sarong, her dark curls threaded with white frangipanis. ‘Can I show you something?’ I nod, following her across the grass, past the flowerbeds and garden chairs. Under the fairy lights behind the marquee she hands me a small blue box. ‘For your birthday, Jack.’
I lift the lid. The round silver medal shines on the navy velvet bed. Peace, Paix, Pax is written in tiny letters inside the circle of doves of a 1971 United Nations Peace Medal. I look into her dark eyes. I take her soft hands and hold them in mine. She looks up at me. I bend my head towards her and we kiss in the moonlight.
Chapter 23
Thirteen
‘People coming,’ Samantha shouts from the back verandah. Nanna smiles comfortably in her chair, patting Puss. She’s got the best seat in the house.
Oh, it’s Paul. He swings through the front gate and saunters towards me. I race up with Leo tagging along. ‘Hey, Paul. Oh, here’s Leo. He’s come down from the north for the party. He’s not a bad surfer.’
‘Can’t have too many surfers.’
I see Rob from the corner of my eye. ‘Right. And he’s my stepbrother.’
Maggie and a heap of girls suddenly arrive from nowhere. Anna runs over to them. ‘You look fantastic, Anna. Your sarong!’ Maggie squeals.
‘You look great too. Those bangles are amazing. I love the green spangles. The pink ones are gorgeous. Oh, the gold ones . . .’ Anna’s working up Maggie’s arm.
Girl talk. I’m out of here. I skim past the pile of presents on the table set up by Mum. ‘Hey Rob, like your hat.’ Yep, he’s wearing his World’s Greatest Cook hat. And the apron too. ‘Burning the sausages?’
‘No way.’ He’s seriously concentrating on turning them.
There’s a major watermelon basket in the middle of the table decorated with frangipanis and hibiscus. Mum’s majorly proud of it. She has a second one in the kitchen. I grab a chunk of watermelon.
I check out Christopher, who’s taken on the role of DJ. There’re girls hanging around him. ‘Turning from nerd to girl magnet, hey. What happened?’
He shrugs, smiling. ‘Don’t know, but I’m keeping this job.’ He puts on ‘Limbo Rock’ and the party’s on.
The limbo stick gets lower and lower as everyone bends back far enough to get under it. Lots of collapses. Maggie crashes onto the grass, giggling. Oh, Leo’s grabbed her hand to pull her up. Oh no, Mum’s dragging Rob into the line. ‘Go on, Rob.’ Mum flounces around. ‘Hmmm. OK for you, babe.’ Rob stretches, then bends backwards. Clapping erupts and he throws his arms in the air. ‘The old surfer’s got a bit of life in him yet.’ He laughs.
‘Do it again, Dad, but lower.’ Leo shoves him. There’s jumping and yelling.
‘Yeah, Dad.’ I flinch. ‘I mean Rob.’ Rob turns to me. ‘Yeah,’ I pause. ‘Dad.’ It feels hard to say that, but all right. It’s all right.
‘OK, I’ll show you clowns how it’s really done.’ There’re cheers and jeers. He bends back low and shuffles towards the limbo stick.
I take out my camera and crouch down. Click. The back of Rob’s head bobbing low to the ground.
Click. Sammy, jumping up and down. ‘Come on, Dad. You can do it.’
Click. Everyone pumping their arms in time to ‘Surfin’ USA’.
Click. Rob giving a winner yell and pumping his arms with them.
The sausages are a hit. Rob’s king of the barbecue. The watermelon basket’s a hit. Mum’s in heaven. Then the drum roll. Christopher hits ‘Happy Birthday’.
In a blaze of candles, Mum’s face shines as she carries the birthday cake outside. Yep, it’s a surfboard cake. Rob and Leo walk behind her carrying a brand-new surfboard. Rob gives me the thumbs up. ‘Happy birthday, Jack.’
The singing is loud. Paul leads the second verse of ‘Happy Birthday to You’, finishing with:
You look like a monkey
and you smell like one too.
I blow out the candles with one massive breath. Cut the cake. My knife touches the plate and comes out covered in cake.
‘That means you’ve got to kiss the girl nearest you,’ Mum sings. I give Mum a don’t-do-this sta
re. Mum couldn’t care less and takes a step further away from me.
‘Oooohhhhh. Get movin’, Jack,’ Paul yells. Anna’s standing there looking beautiful and trying not to laugh.
‘What are you waiting for? Next birthday?’
‘Whoah.’
‘She won’t bite.’
‘Hahahahahahaha.’
‘Shut up, everyone.’ I give Anna a quick kiss.
Cheering erupts and I glance over at the verandah. Nanna’s eyes are soft and twinkling. Beside her is Grandad.
I take Anna’s hand and she presses mine. I look around. Yeah, being Jack’s OK. I smile.
About the Author
Sydney’s my home with the harbour, beaches, Centennial Parklands and my two kids. My ‘I am Jack’ series is inspired by my family, friends, community and real stuff that happens. Nanna buys everyone underpants and socks, even though we wish she wouldn’t. Jack’s sister loves dogs and doing her hair. She’s got a big heart. Rob is a maniac dish washer. We visit Grandad’s grave and share secrets with him. It’s important to us. Jack is my son and he’s very funny, or thinks he is. He’s such a great kid.
But life gets complicated sometimes, with blending families, bullying, getting sick, school work. Jack made it through bullying and stands up for himself and others now. However, books are a safe place to find friends and work out answers. Jack likes his books. I do too. That’s why I support libraries, literacy and Room to Read.
I love that my ‘I am Jack’ books are published and translated all over the world and that I am Jack has been adapted into a play by Monkey Baa Theatre. I hope Jack is your friend. He’s mine.
Website: www.sgervay.com
Blog: www.sgervay.com/blog
Room to Read: www.roomtoread.org
Monkey Baa Theatre: www.monkeybaa.com.au
About Susanne Gervay and Room to Read
Susanne Gervay OAM is a committed writer ambassador for Room to Read, an innovative global non-profit that seeks to transform the lives of millions of children in ten developing countries in Asia and Africa through its holistic literacy and girls’ education programs.
Working in collaboration with local communities, partner organisations and governments, Room to Read focuses its efforts on developing reading skills in primary school-aged children because literacy is the foundation for all future learning. Since it was founded in 2000, Room to Read has impacted the lives of over 9 million children by establishing school libraries, publishing original children’s books in more than 25 local languages, constructing child-friendly classrooms and supporting educators with training and resources to teach reading, writing and active listening.
As Susanne says, ‘With a dedication that I have rarely seen, with an organisational structure that has integrity and is collaborative with families and communities, Room to Read changes the future of kids trapped in poverty. Through education and books, Room to Read gives disenfranchised children a precious gift, so they can move out of poverty to be all they can be. It changes their lives and the world.’
For more information, visit www.roomtoread.org.
Praise for I am Jack
‘Gervay deals with a sensitive topic with insight and gentle humour. I am Jack should be compulsory reading for every parent, teacher, and child aged 8 to 12. It is a truly wonderful book.’
Aussie Reviews
‘Bullying is a significant issue yet Jack’s story is accessible and hilarious and his relationship with his mother and the rest of the family is touching and revealing. An absolute must.’
Good Reading magazine
‘Susanne Gervay is rare in her ability to place common problems for children within the spectrum of normal family life. The result is that she makes it OK for the children to talk about them.’
The Age
‘I am Jack celebrates kids. Unique, valuable kids who deserve the right to take pride in their own special qualities.’
Life Education
‘Susanne Gervay’s I am Jack is a significant resource for parents, students and teachers. School bullying can have a devastating effect on a child and the school community. It can happen to anyone. Through story journey, I am Jack emotionally engages the bullied, bully, other children, teachers, parents exploring important ways to create a safer place.’
The Alannah and Madeline Foundation
‘I am Jack is a wonderful book recognising the importance of kids, reading and literacy.’
John Wood, founder of Room to Read
Also by Susanne Gervay
I am Jack
Super Jack
Always Jack
Butterflies
The Cave
Jamie’s a Hero
Next Stop the Moon
Shadows of Olive Trees
That’s Why I Wrote This Song
Daisy Sunshine
Picture books
Ships in the Field
Gracie and Josh
Elephants Have Wings
Copyright
Angus&Robertson
An imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, Australia
First published in Australia in 2014
by HarperCollinsPublishers Australia Pty Limited
ABN 36 009 913 517
harpercollins.com.au
BEING JACK. Copyright © Susanne Gervay 2014. Illustrations copyright © Cathy Wilcox 2014. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
The right of Susanne Gervay to be identified as the author and Cathy Wilcox as the illustrator of this work has been asserted by them under the Copyright Amendment (Moral Rights) Act 2000.
This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced, copied, scanned, stored in a retrieval system, recorded, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
HarperCollinsPublishers
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National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication data:
Gervay, Susanne.
Being Jack / Susanne Gervay ; illustrator, Cathy Wilcox.
ISBN: 978 0 7322 9614 8 (pbk.)
EPub Edition July 2014 ISBN 9781743097984
For primary school age.
Wilcox, Cathy, 1963-
A823.3
Cover design by Jane Waterhouse
Cover and internal illustrations by Cathy Wilcox
Typeset in Berkeley Book 13/16pt Kirby Jones
Printed and bound in Australia by Griffin Press
The papers used by HarperCollins in the manufacture of this book are a natural, recyclable product made from wood grown in sustainable plantation forests.
The fibre source and manufacturing processes meet recognised international environmental standards, and carry certification.
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