The Saddler Boys

by Fiona Palmer

  She smiled. ‘Well, let’s get the crate on, slacker.’

  ‘Slave driver.’

  ‘Dumb arse.

  Together they lifted the metal crate from the shed, carried it to the tray of Kim’s ute and bolted it on. It was a special shooting crate with an old car bench seat that she’d made for him years ago, to stop them falling off the tray. Kim or Drew would drive, the other had the gun, and Billy aimed the spotlight. Billy took his job seriously, banging the top of the ute roof and shouting out directions when he caught sight of a fox or a wild cat.

  Drew strode off to unlock his gun cabinet hidden in the shed, retrieved some ammo and carried it back to the ute along with his .243 Winchester gun and scope. Kim would have her .223 Remington in the ute on the holder behind the seat.

  ‘Can I sit on the back now, Dad?’ asked Billy as he appeared by his side.

  Drew put the ammo in the special box to stop it rolling around the tray and sat his gun down. ‘Righto.’ As Billy climbed up, Drew poked his head into the ute, where Kim was now sitting. ‘Gonna do your place first?’ he asked.

  ‘Yeah, I’ve seen a few around the top block.’

  ‘Sounds like a plan.’ Drew went to climb on the tray but swung back to the open window. ‘Hey, can we swing past and see how your new creation is going?’

  She frowned. ‘No! It won’t be a birthday surprise then, will it?’

  ‘Matty told me it’s huge. Said it’s looking like your best yet.’

  She rolled her eyes but her face flushed pink from the praise. ‘I’ll bust his balls if he ruins the surprise. My shed is off limits to both of you now.’

  ‘Will it be ready in time? My birthday is only —’

  ‘I know when your bloody birthday is, Sadds. Don’t worry, I’ve got it covered. Now get on the back and let’s go. I’ve got a bet to win.’ She started the ute and put it into gear before shooting him a ‘hurry up’ glare.

  ‘I’m going,’ he mouthed before hauling himself onto the back, where Billy sat patiently. He knew he was never allowed to touch the guns, ever. Drew had strict rules around the farm, which had been in place from day one. Originally because Alice had been a stickler for safety, but it had become even more important now that it was just Drew and Billy.

  ‘How many will we get, Dad?’ Billy yelled into the wind as the ute drove off towards Lake View Farm. Kim drove on her land and Drew would drive on his – that way no one would accidentally drive over a culvert or hit holes they didn’t know about.

  ‘How many do you think?’

  ‘Eleven.’ Billy’s voice was sure and his denim-coloured eyes twinkled like a pair of Mallory’s glittery jeans. His hair was cut short: Alice used to trim it nicely but now it was left up to Drew and they didn’t have time for hair salons and such. So it was the clippers for both of them. Drew felt his own locks blow up in the rushing wind and knew it was probably time to get Billy to wield the clippers.

  When they reached the top paddock, Kim stopped as the sun was disappearing into the earth. ‘God, we live in an awesome place,’ she said as she got out to join them on the tray. She burst into chuckles when she saw Drew.

  ‘What?’

  Billy laughed too.

  ‘What?’ Drew asked again. ‘Do I have bugs stuck to my teeth? I did feel a few hit my face.’ He raked his tongue over his teeth, which only made them laugh harder.

  ‘Cool hairstyle, Dad,’ Billy managed to get out. He reached up to touch it.

  ‘The spiked look is in,’ said Kim. ‘You look like one of those fancy guys advertising men’s hair product.’

  Drew frowned and felt the top of his head. It was standing up after having the wind blow it around like a hairdryer. ‘Hey, people pay big bucks to look like this.’ He waved them off and turned to watch the sunset, something they always tried to make time for.

  They were all quiet as they sat on the old car bench seat on the back of the tray.

  Kim broke the silence when the bright yellow circle of sun disappeared. ‘I was talking to Lozzy yesterday. She was telling me most of the single blokes turned up to that meet and greet last week.’

  ‘Oh, no,’ Drew groaned. ‘Who turned up? No, let me guess. Wazza, Pansy, Dicko, Trotta and Donkey?’

  ‘Haha, yep. Lucky you have more sense than that.’

  ‘Luck’s got nothing to do with it. I’m just not interested. I don’t have the time. I start shearing in a few days. Already put it off longer than I wanted.’ Drew leant back on the seat and Billy snuggled into his side. ‘She wouldn’t be interested in any of them anyway. She’s too citified.’ Drew wasn’t sure why he felt compelled to state this. But he felt it was true. No one seemed good enough for the new city teacher.

  ‘They didn’t even stand a chance. Lozzy said she told Dicko she had a boyfriend but you know Dicko. He doesn’t give up that easy. Anyway, Loz said she came back from the city engaged now.’

  ‘Oh, right.’ Drew crossed his arms. Well, it was bound to happen, someone as gorgeous as Natalie wouldn’t be single for long.

  ‘Loz said she has a big fancy knuckleduster. Sounds like she comes from money.’

  ‘Yep. I got that impression.’

  ‘Can we go shooting now?’ said Billy. ‘This is boring.’

  Kim stood up and saluted. ‘Yes, sir, captain sir.’ She jumped down and got in the ute.

  Billy grinned and reached for the spotty. He placed a red cover over it and then wrapped his free arm around the metal bar, hanging on tight.

  Drew collected some bullets for his pocket and loaded the gun, making sure the safety was on. It took half an hour before they saw their first fox.

  The night air came in cool, heightening the smells of the bush and paddock stubble. Even the dirt they kicked up lingered in the still night and each shot fired cracked out like lightening.

  Drew had shot three foxes before it was time to swap drivers and do his farm.

  ‘You can do it, Kim,’ Billy cheered.

  An hour later Billy signalled by banging on the roof. ‘Stop, Dad. There’s a fox on the right,’ he said.

  ‘You got him?’ yelled Drew.

  ‘Yep,’ said Kim. ‘He’s stopped. Got him in my sights.’

  Nobody moved a muscle and Drew wondered if Kim was feeling the pressure. This would be fox number three for her if she got it.

  The shot rang out. Billy whooped. ‘I think you got him, Kimmy. Dad, quick, let’s check.’

  They found the fox where Kim had shot him cleanly.

  ‘You got the same as Dad,’ said Billy in awe. He began to dig a hole with his little shovel. He believed it was only fair that they gave them a proper burial, vermin or not.

  ‘Do you want help with this one?’ asked Drew.

  ‘Yeah, thanks, Dad. My arms hurt.’ He passed over the shovel and bent down to the fox. His little hand reached out and brushed its tail. ‘He was a well-fed fox. Look at how shiny his fur is.’ Billy squatted, sitting on his heels, his face a mixture of sadness and wonder as he patted the departed animal.

  Drew finished digging the hole while Billy slid his hands under the fox and popped him in.

  ‘Bye, Mr Fox.’ They covered it over and Billy patted the dirt down then brushed his hands on his jeans.

  ‘All done?’ Drew asked.

  ‘Yep.’ Billy ran back to the ute, they watched him go.

  ‘He’s got such a huge heart. A real gentle soul,’ Kim whispered.

  ‘Yeah. He makes me a better person for it too.’ After a moment Drew glanced at his watch. ‘Well, would you look at that. It’s ten, so that’s it – time’s up. It was a draw,’ said Drew. He held out his hand and she shook it. ‘Guess we get to share that carton of beer.’

  Kim laughed. ‘I’m going to have more than half. I’m calling this a win. I’m getting closer to you, Sadds. Better watch your back.’

  ‘Ah, Kimberly. Just this time, I’ll let that slide.’

  Chapter 7

  PUTTING down her marking pen, Nat gazed over the roo
m, watching the children with their heads down as they concentrated on the maths sheets she’d given them. It was the last week in February and Nat was starting to feel settled. The kids were used to her little routine and the classroom looked amazing decorated with this term’s theme of ‘under the sea’. There were underwater paintings on the walls, and fish of all shapes and colours hanging from a fishing line strung across the room, with green crepe paper for seaweed. Work was pinned to each wall, and the chalkboard at the front had a big sea mural that Natalie had stayed behind to draw a few weeks earlier. With only a quiet house to go home to most afternoons, she enjoyed staying at the school and catching up on marking or organising the next lesson. And doing things like the mural was a lot of fun. She loved seeing the expressions on the kids’ faces when they came to school and saw what she’d created. Their smiles and excitement were like caffeine to her bloodstream.

  Noah was chewing on the end of his pencil again. ‘Noah,’ she called out softly. He glanced up and she shook her head. Noah would have nothing left to write with if he kept chewing his pencils as if they were strips of liquorice.

  All the kids were concentrating so hard. She got up to see if anyone was struggling. The Year 1s were using coloured counters. Lucy had to separate her counters into colour groups before she would use them.

  ‘You’ve all been working so wonderfully,’ she said, drawing their attention. ‘It’s time to finish up now. Put your name on your sheets, and Isaac, would you please collect them and leave them on my desk? I think we have enough time before the bell for something fun.’ And she literally meant the bell: one of the senior room kids had the job of ringing the handheld bell kept in the office. It was much better than the siren one she was used to as a kid. ‘Shall we read some more of Harry Potter?’

  The kids whooped in excitement and there was a flurry of papers and pencils being put away. Quickly, as if worried they would miss out, the kids gathered on the mat by her reading chair.

  Nat picked up the soft skirt of her mushroom-pink dress and sat with the book in her lap. She wore a fine black belt around her waist, simple black heels and matching black jewellery to set off her dress. The material was so soft it fell from her shoulders and swished like butterfly wings as she walked. More than once she’d caught Mallory playing with the hem as it draped down from the chair. Mallory was a princess in the making.

  ‘So, where did we get up to? Can anyone remember?’

  Liam shot his hand up, wiggling on the spot as if busting for the toilet. ‘Hagrid gave Dudley a pig’s tail.’ A few laughed as they remembered this.

  ‘Harry got his letter,’ said Zara.

  Natalie let them all have a go at remembering what they’d read last time. They didn’t know it yet but next term they would be turning their classroom into Hogwarts. Nat had just started drawing a picture of the Hogwarts castle for the classroom door. She was planning on making a sorting hat and putting the kids into houses, which they could earn points for. She had Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin colours to hang in the room and a black cloak that the best worker of the week would get to wear on Fridays.

  To say Nat was more excited about this than the kids would be was probably true. Wanting to be a teacher her whole life had meant she’d dreamt up many special activities.

  Nat opened the marked book. ‘Chapter five, Diagon Alley,’ she said softly, which caused the kids to hush, their little ears straining to hear what came next.

  A few days a week Natalie had a teacher’s aide, Emily, who also worked in the senior room. She was a local, not much older than Natalie, married to the town mechanic and four months pregnant. If Nat was behind with her work then she’d ask Emily to read, but today she was glad the class was all hers. She loved having their attention: twelve bright little faces, so full of innocence, all so happy to please her. In the month she’d been with them she’d forged a bond with each of them, learning about every little individual and the unique ways they saw the world. Their characters were blossoming before her eyes.

  Being a kid was a joyous time. Friends, fun, laughter and no huge responsibilities. Just how it should be. And then you grow up. Natalie was only twenty-two, yet she felt as if her life was all planned out for her. After she got married she would probably need to quit teaching and get fully involved in the joint family business, especially the social functions. Maybe she could teach part time – that would be okay, wouldn’t it?

  Looking up from the page she glanced at these darling children and vowed to make this one year with them as memorable as she could. And she wasn’t going to miss a moment.

  ‘Let’s begin.’

  The bell rang ten minutes later and Nat had to rush to finish the last page. The kids were fidgety, wanting to run to the buses but also wanting to hear the last bit of the chapter.

  She shut the book. ‘Good afternoon, class.’

  ‘Good afternoon, Miss Wright,’ the kids chorused as they ran from the room, rushing for their bags and hurrying to the bus lines outside.

  Nat tidied up before collecting her things. She wasn’t going to stay behind to work this Friday night. Instead she was going to the shop to buy some groceries and a nice wine and then she was going to enjoy her first weekend in Lake Biddy. Gary was away, taking board members around a new resort he was interested in, so she had no need to drive back to the city for the weekend. She was surprised at how excited she felt to be having this weekend on her own.

  Nat walked out to find Billy by the bag rack in tears. ‘Billy, what’s wrong?’

  ‘I can’t find my hat,’ he said through sobs.

  ‘Don’t worry, sweetie, it can’t be far away.’

  Billy’s blue eyes flashed towards the window. ‘I need it for the weekend.’

  Kath came out from the office, wondering what the sobs were about.

  ‘Where did you last see it?’ Nat asked him calmly. ‘Don’t worry about the bus. I’ll make sure it won’t leave without you.’

  The poor kid seemed to settle a little after that. ‘I left it near my bag.’

  ‘It’s his red one with the neck cover for the sun. Alice got it for him,’ said Kath, filling in the blanks.

  ‘Oh.’ Nat had a quick look around and couldn’t see it. She bent down to Billy’s level. ‘Let’s go and find out if anyone may have seen it.’ She put her arm around him and hugged his little frame. He needed some reassurance and understanding, and whether it was allowed through a hug or not, Nat didn’t care. ‘Come on.’ She held out her hand and Billy slid his into it. Together they walked out to the south bus, which was waiting for him.

  Nat poked her head in and got everyone’s attention. ‘Has anyone seen Billy’s red hat?’

  Seth jumped up. ‘I know.’ He pushed his way down the aisle and out of the bus, and ran towards the school. Near the steps he bent down, then waved the hat like a flag as he ran back. ‘Here, Billy. It might have got caught on someone’s bag.’ Seth wedged it on Billy’s head.

  ‘Gosh, we must have walked right past it,’ Nat said as Billy’s face lit up. ‘All better?’

  He nodded and wiped his face. ‘Thank you, Seth. Thank you, Miss Wright,’ he said politely before following Seth onto the bus.

  Nat waved the bus off and then headed back inside. The school had an eerie quiet like an empty stadium hours after a noisy music show.

  Kath came out of the office with a forlorn look and a letter in her hand.

  ‘Found it, thankfully.’ Nat grimaced. ‘I’d hate to know what he’d be like if we couldn’t find it.’

  ‘Hmm,’ said Kath. She was looking down the corridor sadly, her hand on her lips. It looked as if she was about to cry.

  ‘Everything all right, Kath?’

  ‘No. No, it’s not.’ She blinked rapidly. ‘I just opened this.’ Kath held out the letter, the paper rattling as her hand shook. ‘They want to close down our school.’

  ‘What? When?’ Nat skimmed the letter from the Department of Education.

 
Grace came out from the senior room and overheard Nat’s outburst. ‘What’s wrong?’

  ‘They can’t do that, can they?’ Nat asked. She felt instant panic at the thought of heading back to her old life in the city. It was too soon; she wanted a whole year of teaching. They couldn’t close it now.

  ‘We’ve been on their watch list for a few years now,’ said Kath, ‘but when they changed the high school process it killed our numbers. Our kids didn’t go away to high school until Year 8, now they have to go in Year 7. We lose nine kids in one go at the end of this year. All just to bring it in line with the eastern states.’

  ‘What shall we do about it?’ asked Grace. ‘My grandson is only three years off starting here. I’ll do everything I can to keep this place open.’

  ‘Don’t worry, the town will fight this. We’ll fight this. Nothing is set in stone,’ said Kath with determination.

  ‘They haven’t met Lauren and her team of school mums. We’ll fight it all the way,’ added Grace, nodding in agreement, and Nat felt a surge of relief and hope.

  ‘It won’t happen now anyway. If it does go ahead, it will be closed at the end of the school year,’ Kath explained. ‘Still, we don’t want to lose our school. The next schools are over 60 kilometres away and it will kill our town. The shop would suffer, everything would suffer. I’m going to call Lauren and organise a meeting. Get the progress association involved too. We’ll need the whole town’s support to change their minds. We have to try. Our town depends on it.’ Kath took the letter back and looked at it with disgust.

  ‘Well, if there is anything I can do, I’m here to help,’ said Nat.

  Grace and Kath seemed surprised at her offer. ‘That’s kind of you, Natalie,’ said Grace. ‘Not many city folk would understand what it is we are trying to save out here. No offence.’

  ‘None taken. If I wasn’t working here, I doubt I would have understood either. But truly, for my kids’ sake, I’d really like to help out.’