Bleakboy and Hunter Stand Out in the Rain Read Free Page B

hunted and killed by Japanese and Norwegian whalers. Hundreds are slaughtered every year.’
    â€˜SARAH!’ yells Skye.
    â€˜Whale meat is high in protein and is lower in calories than beef and pork. It also has a much higher iron content and is rich in—’
    â€˜Kate?’ Sarah’s voice is quiet.
    Kate stops reading and looks at the teacher.
    Skye starts sobbing, although I suspect she’s just pretending.
    â€˜I thought the personal assessment task I designed,’ Sarah says, ‘was for us to appreciate the gift of nature. You appear to be talking about eating a—’
    â€˜Beautiful animal!’ Skye interrupts.
    Sarah takes a deep breath. ‘Skye. Remember our guidelines about calling out in class.’
    â€˜But she’s eating whales,’ Skye responds.
    â€˜Not in class she’s not.’ Sarah shifts her focus to Kate. ‘May I ask why you chose this topic, Kate?’
    At this very moment, Hunter walks in and strolls past Kate.
    â€˜Some animals—’ Kate starts.
    â€˜Who you calling an animal?’ Hunter turns and interrupts.
    â€˜We were talking about whales,’ says Sarah, waiting a few crucial seconds before adding, ‘not you.’
    The class laughs.
    Hunter scowls at us all, trying to pick who he’ll pay back at lunchtime. I almost burst a lung holding my breath to stop giggling. But his eyes settle on me.
    â€˜I love whales,’ Kate looks meaningfully at Skye, ‘but they’re eaten by native communities in Norway and Canada.’
    â€˜And the Japanese?’ Sarah asks.
    Kate smiles. ‘Actually, Sarah, whale meat is eaten in Japanese schools.’
    The class shudders as one. Our canteen, housed at the back of Lillian, serves only vegetarian food. Monday’s speciality is tofu burgers.
    â€˜You haven’t really answered my question, Kate,’ continues Sarah, her voice taking on some of the Skye-anguish. ‘Why did you choose this topic?’
    â€˜Animals are eaten, whether we like it or not.’ Kate looks toward the class for support. Everyone looks away except me. ‘Even beautiful animals like whales and fur seals.’
    This is too much for Skye. She scrapes back her chair and runs out of the room, doing a Hunter and leaving the door open; open and gaping like a wound in a minke whale caused by a harpoon.
    Kate continues, as if she’s read my mind. ‘The traditional native hunters use harpoons—’
    â€˜Okay, that’s enough.’ Sarah walks quickly toward Kate. ‘Kate, I appreciate your alternative view of the beauty and gift of nature, but perhaps I’ll read your personal assessment task alone at lunchtime.’
    â€˜Make sure you’ve eaten first, Sarah,’ suggests Hunter.
    Sarah ignores him, takes the paper from Kate and ushers her back to her seat. She asks Eoin to stand and read to the class.
    Eoin stands on his chair.
    Everyone laughs. He looks around the room, smiling.
    â€˜Why are you standing on your chair, Eoin?’ asks Sarah.
    â€˜My dad says soundwaves carry further if they aren’t interrupted by stuff.’
    â€˜Thank you for the physics lesson, Eoin. Your dad is correct, but let’s just stand on the floor, shall we?’ Sarah looks sternly at Lance in the back row, who is still giggling. Lance coughs once and falls silent.
    â€˜You may begin, Eoin,’ says Sarah.
    â€˜My story is about a boy called Eoin who lives with the chimpanzees of Africa. Eoin learns to talk to the chimps and they swing from tree to tree in the jungle. Eoin builds a treehouse high in the forest …’
    And so it goes until lunchtime. The gift of nature.
    And then tofu burgers.

4
    HUNTER
    It’s lunchtime and Hunter is in the boys toilet block, again. He looks into the mirror and smiles.
    â€˜Walter,’ he says to himself. ‘What a stupid name.’
    A year two boy walks in. He looks at Hunter and says,