Dropping In

Dropping In book cover — For Mandy Lesk Terrence Phillips Gavin Spriggs David Reynolds and my son Josh who all inspire me to have a go no matter what I must also thank Peter Bistrup-Hall who I met nine chapters into writing this book When he rolled into my physiotherapist’s waiting room he was the complete physical manifestation of the main character I’d been imagining His advice and enthusiasm have been a massive (cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:192)(cid:88)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:75)(cid:68)(cid:83)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:92)(cid:17)

Dropping In — page 1 — 1 I’m PlayStationed to death and I’m watching the street for entertainment Drizzle smears the window Shades of grey smudge into each other and run down the glass The house feels like a cage Across the street a person is framed in a watery yellow square It’s a kid looking out like me except his head is wobbling all over the place He sort of tips it back and then it nods forward on a different angle I can’t see his eyes but I know he’s watching checking out his new neighbourhood The furniture van was just leaving when I got home from school yesterday I didn’t see any people arrive so maybe he came in the night I wave but he doesn’t wave back He turns on the spot and slides out of sight That’s what it looked like sliding not walking Weird I watch for a little longer but he doesn’t come back 7

Dropping In — page 2 — Right then the phone rings It’s Ranga He wants to come around and have a game on my PlayStation PlayStation again I feel like screaming But knowing Ranga he’ll think of something crazy to do He always does and then we end up in deep trouble Righto I tell him See you soon At least I won’t be bored I go back to the window and watch Ranga running the hundred metres up the street from his house He runs (cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:74)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:88)(cid:71)(cid:71)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:191)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:58)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3) closer I can see him grinning The idiot But he’s having (cid:68)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:83)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:192)(cid:92)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:90)(cid:68)(cid:92)(cid:86)(cid:17)(cid:3) Classic I’m grinning just watching him It’s been like this since I can remember since I can remember anything at all When he turns into our driveway he leans over like a speeding motorbike I can’t hear him but I bet he’s making engine noises It looks like he’s changing gear as he passes the letterbox his hair plastered all over his forehead I jump up He won’t just make wet footprints on the (cid:192)(cid:82)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:30)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:182)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:78)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:77)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:88)(cid:71)(cid:71)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:79)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:74)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:44)(cid:3) grab a towel from the pile of unfolded washing on the lounge and meet him at the front door 8

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