Specky Magee Read Free Page B

mean, how did I dress you?’
    ‘Did you ever dress me up in, you know, like funny costumes or anything?’ Specky felt he was closing in on his mum. Just as he had seen on TV so many times before. The lawyer wouldsurprisingly swoop down on the witness and put them on the spot, with nowhere else to go. His mum would have no other choice but to tell the truth.
    ‘Never. I never put you in tacky costumes!’ exclaimed Specky’s mum.
    ‘Well, what about AFL football clothes—scarfs, beanies, boots, all that sort of stuff?’
    ‘Definitely not! Is this all about you wanting to get football clothes? Because you can if you want, but out of your own pocket money.’
    Specky reached into his pocket. It was time to swoop. ‘No, it’s got nothing to do with that.’ He pulled out the photograph and shoved it under his mother’s nose. ‘It’s got to do with this. If you and Dad are against footy so much, then why did you dress me up like this? Can you remember when it was taken? And who wrote on the back of it?’
    Specky’s mother took a closer look at the picture, then flipped it over and read the inscription. Specky grinned to himself until he saw his mother suddenly turn pale and serious. Her voice began to quiver as she stumbled to give him an explanation.
    ‘Um, um, maybe the babysitter dressed you up or something, I can’t remember.’
    Specky didn’t believe her. His mother quickly changed the subject. ‘Are you going to help me or not? I can’t stand here and chat all day!’ she snapped, then stormed out of the room.
    Specky was more confused than ever now, and completely shocked by his mother’s reaction.
    She was obviously hiding something very important from him. But what? he wondered. Specky needed desperately to get some air and to talk this over with a friend. So he decided to head over to Robbo’s house to get his opinion.
    ‘Hey, I’m glad you’re here!’ shouted Robbo. Robbo was heading out the front door of his house just as Specky was coming through the front gate.
    ‘Why?’ asked Specky.
    ‘You can help me try to find a birthday present for my dad. I’m just heading down to the shops.’
    So Robbo and Specky made their way to the local shopping centre.
    As they browsed through the sports store, Specky showed Robbo the unusual photograph, and filled him in on his mother’s strange reaction to it.
    ‘Don’t tell me you barrack for the Cats now!’ said Robbo.
    ‘No, well, I’m not sure. Look, don’t you think it’s weird?’
    Specky was a little annoyed that Robbo hadn’t fully understood his concern.
    ‘I s’pose so,’ he answered. ‘Maybe your mum was right, and it was the babysitter or something. You know, Geelong’s the team to beat at the moment. Maybe you should go for them.’
    Specky shook his head and rolled his eyes. Robbo just wasn’t getting it. Instead, he changed the subject and continued to help his friend search for a gift.

5 COULD BE?
    ‘I think I might get him this.’ Robbo and Specky had wandered into a bookstore, and Robbo was holding up a book about footy legend Tony Lockett.
    ‘Is this gift for you or for your dad?’ asked Specky, smirking.
    ‘For Dad, what d’ya reckon?’ said Robbo.
    ‘Do you think Lockett’s a legend because of his dad? I bet his father loved footy.’
    Robbo looked confused. He wasn’t sure what Specky was getting at. ‘Yeah, um, sure,’ he replied.
    Specky watched his friend walk over to the counter to purchase the book. For a moment, he wished he was the one buying a gift like that for his father. It would be really cool toflip through the pages of a footy book with Dad, he thought. That would never happen though.
    Specky and Robbo made their way back to Robbo’s house. Once there, they grabbed Robbo’s Sherrin and headed out onto the quiet tree lined street for a friendly kick-to-kick.
    ‘So, did you find any other pictures?’ asked Robbo.
    He booted the ball to Specky, who marked it on his chest.
    ‘No, just the