Past the Shallows Read Free Page A

little goat up.
    ‘Here – you can hold it if you like. It’s an African goat. It’s called an Anglo-Nubian.’
    Harry looked at the goat. It had started chewing the man’s overalls. He wanted to hold it. He wanted to climb in the pen and
     sit down and play with all the goats. Like the time with Mum, when they had come to the show and they had all sat down in
     the straw and a little goat came up and licked Harry’s face and its tongue was hard and rough, but its breath was warm on
     his cheek and it let out a little bleat right in Harry’s ear. Harry bleated back and it had made Mum laugh. ‘I love goats,’
     she’d said.
    ‘My aunt’s waiting,’ Harry said.
    The man nodded and he smiled. He put the little goat back in the pen with the others and Harry ran out of the shed holding
     his show bags tight as he wove his way through families and packs of screaming teenage girls.

    ‘Looks like somebody did well,’ Aunty Jean said, look ing down at the show bags Harry carried in both hands.
    ‘They’re not all for me.’
    ‘Well, just don’t eat too many lollies now. We’ll have a bit more of a look around and then we’ll go into town for lunch.
     They only seem to have dagwood dogs and chips here.’
    Harry decided not to tell Aunty Jean about the donuts and lemonade.

‘I can buy lunch.’ Harry pulled out the crumpled notes and coins he’d stuffed in his pocket and put them on the table.
    ‘Oh, Harry.’ Aunty Jean’s eyes closed for a second. ‘You’re so much like your mum.’
    She went to touch his head, but her hand only got part of the way before she pulled it back. Harry stared at the last toasted
     sandwich triangle on the table. It was cheese and ham.
    ‘Go on, you have it,’ she said.
    Harry grabbed it and started eating. He tried not to look at Aunty Jean because he knew she was crying. She wiped her face
     with a hankie and took a big breath.
    ‘Tea always makes things better, doesn’t it?’ She poured some into her cup and added milk.
    Harry nodded.
    ‘We’ll do a big shop at the supermarket before we leave town, but I want to get back before dark, so we’ll be quick.’
    ‘Can we get peanut butter?’ Harry asked.
    Aunty Jean closed her eyes again and Harry pushed his chair away from the table and stood up.
    ‘I’m just going to the toilet,’ he said.
    He took his time, washing his hands twice and drying them carefully with the paper towel. When he opened the door that led
     into the café, he saw that Aunty Jean was back to normal. She smiled at him when he sat down.
    The trip home went by quickly. The sun was on its way down, but there was still enough light for Harry to inspect his show
     bags, piece by piece. He wondered what Miles would choose to eat first. Whatever it was, he’d choose the same.
    ‘Thanks!’ Harry said, and he meant it.
    Aunty Jean nodded and smiled. She unloaded the shopping but left the bags by the front door.
    ‘Get your brother to give you a hand. I won’t stop in.’
    This wasn’t unusual if Dad was home. Aunty Jean and Dad didn’t speak anymore, not since she madeDad buy Uncle Nick’s share of the boat and he had to get another loan.
    ‘Here.’ She put his smaller show bags inside the Cadbury’s bags so it looked like he only had two. ‘Best not show off. Give Miles the rest of the money to look after.’
    Harry was desperate to get inside in case she started crying again, but he waited until she got back in the car. He waved,
     then opened the front door.
    Dad was on the couch watching TV.
    ‘We got some shopping, Dad. It’s all here.’
    Dad barely looked over, but nodded.
    ‘Miles and I will unpack it.’
    Harry ran though the lounge carrying the show bags. Miles was lying on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
    ‘Miles! I got you a show bag!’
    ‘Sh! Dad’s got a headache.’
    Harry shut the door. He tried to talk quietly.
    ‘I found twenty bucks! I got you a Cadbury’s bag.
A Cadbury’s bag!
’ Harry held the purple bag up