THE DAY BEFORE the fire comes seems just like any other School starts again tomorrow and another hot day stretches out in front of us In the morning Mum closes all the windows and pulls the curtains across trying to keep the heat out but by lunchtime outside and inside feel the same The tired old fan blows warm air around the kitchen and everything is heavy and still 6
My twin brothers and I shake off the stillness and disappear into the bush We chase skinks poke jumping jack nests and race down the hill through the dry bracken Ruby leading the way 7
Suddenly I realise how far we are from home But Dad always says If you get lost just head back up the hill and sure enough I can still see the roof of our house over the trees 8
Back home we're too hot to play anymore We lie on the kitchen floor trying to catch grapes in our mouths Mum and Dad are outside collecting fallen branches 9
