CHAPTER 4:

The next morning, Gab was up and ready for her nine o’clock Saturday morning shift at the supermarket. As she crouched at the front door putting on her shoes, she suddenly remembered.

“Oh crap, the flat!” she said aloud. “Muuuum!” As soon as her shoes were on, she whizzed to the sunroom, poking her head round the door. “Mum?” she tried again. “May I please borrow your bike? I rode over a nail last night on the way home from school.”

No reply. Gina had headphones on. She lifted one side slowly from her ear when she saw Gab.

“What was that, Gabrielle?”

“Your bike, Mum. May I please borrow it? I have a flat and I start work at nine.”

Gina frowned. “Why didn’t you fix it last night then?” she reproved.

“Oh, I forgot,” explained Gab, in her most diplomatic voice. “Sorry.”

Gina held out for some time. Then she released an almighty sigh, as though she were making the grandest of sacrifices.

“Fine, fine,” she said, finally.

She hadn’t ridden her bike in years.

Gab went round and took the bike out of the small shed behind the granny flat. She hosed off the spiderwebs, wiped it down with a towel, grabbed her bag and jumped on. Remaining drips of water on her legs stung as the winter breeze caught them. She was soon speeding down the road, on the trip she’d taken hundreds, if not thousands of times.

***

Early afternoon, and Gab was on her way home on her mother’s bike. As she turned the corner through the front gate, a scream ripped through the air. Jack. Gab’s heart dropped, her adrenal glands exploded and she doubled her speed, racing down the long driveway towards him. Awful scenarios raced vividly through her mind until she finally reached him in the dustbowl bike track. He was sitting on the ground, bike tossed aside, arms crossed.

“JACK! Jack! You okay?” she cried, throwing down her mum’s bike without a second glance and racing over to him. “What’s up?”

“I CAN’T DO IT!” he yelled. “I CAN’T DO A MONO!”

“Are you okay?”

“No! Because I can’t do a mono!!”

Gab was so relieved she tipped back and lay in the dust. Jack gave a frustrated squeal and kicked his feet. Gab rubbed his back.

“Don’t worry mate, you’ll get there.”

“NO. I. WON’T!” he yelled. He was hot and flustered after hours of riding.

“Just keep at it.”

“NO NO NO! I hate that stupid bike!”

“Time to do something different,” said Gab calmingly.

“NO! I WANT TO DO A MONO!” Jack was not in a good space.

“You look hot, kiddo,” said Gab, trying hard to keep her voice even. “How about you come in and I make you a giant cold Milo?”

“With a scoop of ice-cream?”

“Yep!”

Now that was what Jack wanted to hear.

“Oh yeah!! Please Gab! The biggest one you ever made!”

Gab stood up and pulled her brother up with her. She was relieved. Her temper had been rising along with his, and she feared not being able to subdue it. Jack didn’t always flip so easily from mighty tantrum to happy agreement.

“Come on, mate. Not long ‘til your dad arrives.”