Chapter 5

Awake early at 5.00 the next morning, Harry lies in bed smiling to himself. Already half the harvest throughout the district is in and it’s only been ten days. The weather forecast says no rain for at least three weeks. By then, we’ll be well and truly finished. Yep, it’s about time things started going right instead of up and down every year. And goodbye overdraft for the first time in ten years! He stretches cautiously so as not to wake Helen sleeping beside him. Poor luv, he thinks, working flat out all day organising the kids. And what with Shirley popping in for a chat every morning, it’s a wonder Helen gets anything done.

Swinging his long legs over the side of the bed, Harry stands up and yawns. He strolls over to the window and peers out sleepily at the hundreds of hectares still to be harvested. ‘That’s funny,’ he says quietly to himself, ‘I thought I had more to do.’ He takes a second look the crop.

With a queasy feeling in the pit of his stomach, Harry throws on a pair of jeans and a faded canary yellow t-shirt. Then he races upstairs to the “Folly” to get a better look. “It can’t be,’ he whispers. Racing downstairs Harry grabs his boots on the way out and jumps into the old orange truck.

Useless wakes up suddenly and yelps: Ma has given him a quick bite. Goaded by her, Useless jumps onto the back of the truck as Harry takes off following the tracks left by yesterday’s work. Then he climbs down from the truck and stands at the edge of the hemp, scratching his head.

‘What the …’ Harry bends down and takes a long stalk between his fingers. ‘Not broken,’ he confirms as he examines the unharvested hemp lying limply on the ground. Useless jumps down from the back of the truck and begins to sniff at the flattened hemp.

‘Looks alright,’ Harry says to Useless who wags his tail. ‘But how do I harvest a crop that’s lying down? Hang on,’ he says suddenly, ‘I started harvesting Bill’s little pocket yesterday and I thought I’d finish it up today, seeing he’s next door. I wonder if his crop’s still standing?’

With his heart pounding, Harry jumps back into the truck and heads off for the farthest corner of his farm. Useless runs along behind barking happily. He jumps three fences on the way, eager to catch up with the speeding truck. Within minutes, Harry is standing in front of Bill’s crop.

‘Only a bit left to do, Useless,’ Harry sighs, ‘and it’s all flattened.’ As before, he bends down and examines the tall stalks. ‘It’s like mine – just lying down. Not even broken. Useless,’ he says to his panting dog, ‘what’s going on? Come on boy. Get in. We’d better go back. I’ll ring Ted and Jimmy and get them to come over. If it’s only here, I can manage. But,’ he says pausing, ‘if it’s anywhere else, we’re in big trouble, Useless, really big trouble. Come on, back in the truck.’

Sensing the urgency, Useless jumps straight into the back, barking all the way home. Even faster than the journey out is the journey home. Skidding the truck to a halt, Harry dashes into the kitchen and picks up the phone. Within twenty minutes, the other two farmers are standing staring in disbelief at the fallen crop.

‘It looks fine,’ Ted says as he rolls a stalk between his rough hands.

‘Still attached to the ground and healthy,’ Jimmy nods.

‘I’m going back out to old McDonald’s today. Might just nick out a bit earlier,’ Ted says calmly, his slow drawl hiding his feelings, his heart racing.

‘Good idea,’ Jimmy nods. ‘Might do the same with Bailey’s.’

Just then, Ted’s mobile sounds, the dulcet tones of a lovesick cow. ‘That’ll be Shirley wondering where I’ve got to,’ he tells them as he puts the mobile to his ear. ‘Yeah. Oh? Oh! Aagh! Right! Yup!’ Ted clicks off the mobile. ‘Guess you heard?’

‘Couldn’t help. He was yelling fit to burst,’ Jimmy says.

‘Yep,’ Ted nods. ‘About half of his crop’s down, he reckons.’

Just then, Jimmy’s mobile rings. He grabs it up. ‘Right. Yep. Gotcha. On my way.’

‘Bailey’s?’ Harry asks wincing.

‘Yep,’ Jimmy nods. ‘About the same, half of what’s left is down on the ground. And I’m probably half-way through.’

Ted says, ‘But there are a lot of farms we haven’t even started on.’

Just then Harry’s mobile rings shrilly. ‘Oh, yeah, Bill? Yeah, I’ve been over. We’re working on the problem now. No, no, the hemp’s all right. It’s just lying down, having a nap. No, no, I know it’s no time for joking. I’m just trying to think …’ Finally, Harry, walks back to Ted and Jimmy. Harry says, ‘If this spreads, we could lose…’ The three men stand silently calculating the loss to the district.

‘… almost half the crop,’ Ted says very quietly.

Suddenly the three men jump: their mobiles are ringing madly. As they wander off in different directions, the better to hear the callers, Harry feels his heart drop into his boots. This was all my idea, he thinks.

After thirty long minutes, the mobiles are silent. Ted takes one look at Harry’s pale, stricken face. ‘It’s not your fault, Harry.’

‘It is,’ Harry says simply. He stares out in to the distance, shame and embarrassment vying for supremacy. His two closest friends since primary school stand around awkwardly feeling for him.

‘Every farm we’ve been on is having trouble,’ Jimmy says.

‘Well,’ Ted states pulling at his lower lip, a sure sign that he’s very worried, ‘we’ve got to find another way to harvest what’s left.’

‘How?’ Jimmy and Harry ask together.

For some time, Ted is silent. Then, he says one word. ‘Scything.’

‘Scything?’ Jimmy repeats sceptically. ‘You’re mad.’

‘I think you’re right, Jimmy. I mean,’ Harry says, ‘who knows how to use a scythe these days? Except for the old farmers.’

‘Exactly,’ Ted says warming to the idea, ‘the old farmers. And there’s plenty still around, you know.’

‘But the hemp’s lying down, Ted,’ Jimmy says. ‘What are we going to do? Get someone to pick it up and hold it?’

‘If we have to,’ Ted replies. ‘What say we team up the young ones, the third generation, with the oldies? Then we’ll have the kids and the old timers working for us to save all our bacon.’

‘Oh, come on, Ted,’ Harry says. ‘It’s a nice idea. And I know you’re doing it to save my skin. But really I think it’s a bit far-fetched.’

‘Wait on,’ Jimmy says holding up his hand. ‘Maybe Ted’s not so mad after all. Maybe if we got the whole district involved …’

‘Even the weekend dabblers,’ Ted cuts in.

‘We could swing this around. Look,’ Jimmy says enthusiastically, ‘we’re all affected. But if we can get everybody …’

‘And explain a possible solution …’ Ted adds.

‘Let’s put it to everyone. If they can come up with a better idea, that’d be great. But scything could work.’

‘Then we’ll all be better off,’ Ted says enthusiastically.

‘Mmm, I don’t know. I mean,’ Harry says, ‘it’s really my problem.’

‘Not any more,’ Ted reassures him. ‘Whether we like it or not, it’s everybody’s problem.’

‘Listen,’ Jimmy says, ‘let’s put it to a vote. Let’s get all the affected farmers together and see what they say. What do you think?’

Jimmy and Ted look anxiously at Harry: he kicks up a clod of earth with his boot. He sighs heavily. ‘Alright,’ Harry says leadenly. ‘Get everybody out there together.’

With that, the two men climb into their trucks.

‘A pity Useless isn’t a Harvester,’ Jimmy grins as he starts the engine. ‘Every farm I visit, Useless is already there. Or just left, I’m told. Visiting his girlfriends, I reckon,’ he winks waving.

By the time Gull and her cousins have breakfast ready, Harry is well into ringing other farmers. Earlier than usual, Shirley tiptoes into the kitchen so as not to disturb him. Helen is making Harry a bacon and egg sandwich to eat while he phones around the district. Shirley signals the gang to follow her into the lounge room.

‘Do you know what’s going on?’ she asks them.

‘Not a clue,’ Tom shrugs. ‘Dad’s busy and Mum’s really worried.’

Quickly, she fills them in having heard everything from Ted.

‘Oh, no,’ Lucy groans. ‘This is really bad. Poor Dad.’

‘Poor everybody,’ Gull says quietly.

Shirley looks worried. ‘I know everything looks bleak but everyone’s coming over at eleven to have a meeting in the big shed.

‘More cooking?’ Jake asks.

She shakes her head. ‘This is more important than food.’

‘And that’s saying something,’ Tom adds cheekily.

‘The future of the whole district could depend on this one meeting. Everybody’s going to have to do their bit,’ Shirley says.

Suddenly, Lucy looks at her watch. ‘Oh, no,’ Lucy exclaims. ‘It’s just after eight, and Dad’s still ringing around.’

Stricken faces stare at each other. ‘Hope Dad’s too busy to notice,’ Lucy says, running out of the lounge room and into the kitchen. The first thing she sees is Helen, fast asleep, with her head resting on the kitchen table, her now empty mug tipped over onto the table, tea dripping onto the linoleum. Lucy glances at her father: he has his back to them, the phone glued to his ear.

‘Come on, Mum,’ Lucy says softly. Hurry, she thinks before Dad turns around. Just then, Shirley slips into the kitchen, and between them, they manage to get Helen to her feet and out of the kitchen. Harry looks around distracted, a slight frown puckering his brow. ‘Oh yeah, Bill, meeting at eleven,’ Harry says putting the phone back to his ear. Quickly, Lucy and Shirley bundle Helen into the lounge room where she naps peacefully in her favourite floral armchair.

‘Phew,’ Lucy exclaims as she plops into the armchair beside her. ‘That was too close. Thanks, Shirley,’ she says, trembling slightly. ‘I don’t know what I would have done if Dad had noticed.’

‘He’s got so much on his mind that it may not have registered anyway,’ she says in a low voice. Tom comes over with a bunch of comics, and sits beside his mother. ‘Will you be alright ’til ten?’ Lucy asks. Tom nods as he opens “Ginger Meggs”.

‘Shirley,’ Lucy says, ‘maybe Gull could do Tom’s morning shift today, just while the meeting’s on. If the vote this morning has the whole district working … Well, I mean, the three of us are used to hard work. And it wouldn’t be fair to Gull to throw her into harvesting. Anyway, I’ve got a feeling we might be spending a lot more time in the fresh air over the next few weeks.’ Shirley nods. Lucy turns to Gull, ‘Is that alright with you? Can you keep an eye on Mum when we’re not here? I know we’re asking a lot but what else can we do?’

‘That’s fine’ Gull answers. ‘I don’t mind sitting with Helen all day. Hey, Lucy, do you think Harry would mind if I worked on the computer? That way, I could start on your web page. And I’ve got another project I want to work on.’

‘Oh? What’s that?’

Gull blushes. ‘Well, it’s sort of a secret.’

‘Oh, okay. Well, I’m sure the computer’s no problem.’

‘But what about food?’ Gull asks. ‘With six hungry people and no cook now that Jake’ll be harvesting …’

‘If you like,’ Shirley says, ‘I can drop by in the mornings and organise something for Gull to eat and make sure there’s enough lunch for all of you. It looks like we’ll have to go without cake until this whole crisis is over though.’

‘Not if I have anything to say about it,’ Jake says quickly. ‘Well, maybe not cake but I can bake lots of Anzac biscuits.’

‘Our Wonder Chef,’ Tom beams. ‘He’ll never let the army starve.’

‘And that sounds just like us,’ Lucy smiles, ‘the farmers’ army, saving the crop.’

‘And the district,’ Gull adds smiling. ‘Alright! Off you go. I’ve got everything I need. Don’t forget to tell me what happens at the big meeting, will you?’ she calls after them as they get ready to join the farmers in the big shed.

A minute later, Jake reappears with cake and a thermos. ‘Thought you might like these. It’s the last of the date roll. Because remember, you can’t leave your post,’ he says smiling cheekily.

‘Thanks,’ Gull says relieved. ‘You’re a lifesaver.’

‘Hope so,’ Jake answers, thinking about all the farmers as he runs out the kitchen door to join the others.

By eleven, the big shed is packed with farmers. Harry’s seventy year-old uncle, “young Fred”, has brought along a collection of out-dated cutting implements: he stands beside them very proudly. Lucy, Jake and Tom thread their way through the crowd and up to the front. Harry, Ted and Jimmy are standing on some hay bales. Harry, his heart in his mouth, raises his hands and everybody falls silent.

Lucy, Tom and Jake watch breathlessly as Harry calmly explains what’s happening to the crop, and their solution. Only because they know him so well, can his children see how nervous he is: Harry keeps wiping his hands on his jeans, a sure sign that he’s under tremendous pressure. ‘Look, I just want you to know that I take full responsibility for this catastrophe,’ Harry shouts.

‘You mean you flattened the crops yourself?’ a wag yells out from the back of the crowd in the big shed.

The tension breaks and some of the farmers laugh.

‘No, not quite,’ Harry says sheepishly. ‘Obviously, I’ve had some invisible help.’

‘But,’ Jimmy adds quickly, ‘we think we’ve got a solution. “Young Fred” would like to say a few words.’

Climbing onto a ladder propped against the hay bales, “Young Fred” begins to offer his solution. Calling on volunteers, young and old, he explains how scything and gathering can be done in teams on each farm in the district. An hour later, the farmers leave the big shed ready for more hard work.

A few of the farmers shake hands with Harry as they leave. ‘It’ll work,’ says one of the young farmers optimistically. ‘Otherwise, you’re going to need a bigger dining room table: the size of a big farm.’

‘I don’t know about that,’ Ted drawls. ‘Reckon you could do with losing a bit of weight,’ he says to one of the thinnest farmers in the district. The farmer laughs and slaps Ted on the back before walking back to his truck.

Lucy and the boys rush back to the house to find Gull. Hearing them, she quickly saves and closes her secret project, watching as it disappears.

‘What’s happening?’ she asks looking at their eager faces.

Lucy starts, ‘They’re going to harvest what’s still standing from sunrise to sundown, seven days a week.’

‘In shifts,’ Tom adds. ‘And Dad says we can have a month off when all the hemp’s in.’

Lucy and Jake laugh. They’ve heard that one before.

‘And whatever’s fallen over, “Young Fred” has all the old timers getting out their ancient stuff ready to use,’ Lucy says excitedly.

‘Before modern Harvesters,’ Jake adds.

‘Yeah, and those old farmers are really pleased with themselves. They’re hobbling around saying they always knew modern methods would fail.’

‘They’re like kids, yelling they’ve got better toys than the “youngsters”. That’s what the old timers are calling all the farmers, and some of the “youngsters” must be at least thirty.’

‘So,’ Lucy says, ‘I’m afraid you’re going to be on your own for most of the time. At least until the crop is in.’

‘Oh, that’s alright,’ Gull answers trying to be nonchalant but feeling lonely already. ‘Anyway, I’ve got the computer.’

‘That’s not company,’ Tom frowns. Then his face brightens. ‘I know! I’ll bring you over a couple of puppies to keep you company.’

‘Oh yeah,’ his brother chimes in. ‘We’ll set up some water and a blanket in a box on the veranda. The glass door leads outside.’

‘Perfect!’ Gull exclaims. ‘The puppies might even be able to help me with my secret project.’

The others look at her bewildered. ‘It’s a secret,’ she whispers to them. ‘At least until you’ve finished your job. By that time, everything will be ready for you to see.’

‘Any special pups? Or will any mutts do?’ Tom asks as he sneaks a peak at her screen. Gull grins: the only thing up on the screen is a sepia picture of the “Folly”. ‘Maybe a French Poodle cross,’ she says with a curious glint in her eye. ‘And then, I think, a different pair each day. Just for variety,’ she adds hastily. Quick as a flash, Tom races outside, over to the puppy pen and grabs the type of puppies Gull has asked for.

Reluctant to leave with a secret hanging in the air, Lucy, Tom and Jake give Gull enough food to last until dinner. Hearing a truck in the distance, the cousins rush out and pile into one of the farmers’ trucks heading out to help with the harvest.

Left alone with a sleeping Helen, Gull puts the playful puppies on her desk. One fluffy grey pup wanders around exploring the desk and the computer. Gull quickly scribbles down some words as he waddles around. ‘Exotic,’ she writes. ‘Much sought after.’ No! Gull tries again.

She picks up the puppy and says, ‘You’re such a cute little thing, aren’t you?’ He looks back at her with big, brown eyes. Now, what are you? I’d say, half French Poodle, which explains your woolly coat. What else? I’d say a splash of Red Setter; a slice of Kelpie, and a spoonful of Labrador. Boy, you sure are one mixed up puppy.’ She puts he and his sister down on the floor and watches as they toddle off towards the open glass door to the veranda. Sniffing the bowl of water they slurp until satisfied. Finding a warm patch of sun on the veranda, they plop down cuddling together and promptly fall asleep.

Gull gazes fondly at them and then down at her notes. ‘Got it!’ she says out loud. ‘Oops,’ she whispers and looks timidly over at Helen: she doesn’t stir. Glancing back at the sleeping pups, Gull brings up her latest web page and starts typing eagerly for hours.

* * *

‘Yoo hoo,’ Shirley calls softly from the lounge room door. Gull looks up suddenly.

‘Oh, Shirley, I didn’t hear you come in.’

‘You were so engrossed in your computer,’ she says, ‘you wouldn’t have heard a bomb go off.’ She walks over towards the desk and Gull hurriedly brings up the picture of the “Folly”. Shirley sinks into a nearby chair. ‘Getting hungry?’ she asks.

‘Mmm? Not sure. Jake brought me some food before they went out.’

‘I’m putting the kettle on. I’ve brought over some fresh jam roll. Tempted at all?’

‘Yes please,’ Gull grins. She glances at her watch. ‘Half past three already? I can’t believe it.’

‘You have been busy,’ Shirley says smiling back. ‘Any word from Sleeping Beauty?’ she nods towards Helen.

Gull grabs her notebook and looks at the notes under today’s date. ‘ “Harry. At school. Happy Harry. Helen giggles.” That’s all.’ Gull shrugs.

‘Well, I’ll make the tea, bring it in and we can have it together. Then, I think you should go for a long, long walk and get some fresh air.’

‘Great idea,’ Gull grins as she starts packing up her notes. Within a few moments, Shirley is back with a tray full of jam roll and a pot of tea.

‘Three mugs,’ she says as she pours. ‘Just in case Helen wakes up.’ Gull nods. They sit in companionable silence as they sip and eat.

‘What will you do now?’ Shirley asks as Gull finishes her jam roll.

‘Think I’ll head over to the big shed and play with the puppies for a while. And see how Jam is going. I could check on the horses too. And,’ she adds excitedly, ‘pick some vegies for tonight and collect the eggs. Then the others won’t have so much to do when they get back.’

‘Good idea,’ Shirley smiles. ‘Well, off you go. Helen should wake up any minute. Oh, and don’t forget your puppies,’ she says pointing to the sleeping pups on the veranda. Gull rushes over and picks them up tenderly.

‘Mmmm,’ she says. ‘They’re so soft and cuddly. And from now on, I’m going to have a different type of puppy with me each day. I’m sure Jam won’t mind too much.’

‘I think she’d be very happy for you to take a few of them off her hands. Or should I say paws?’ she adds grinning. ‘Now go. And I don’t want to see you back here for at least a couple of hours. Oh, by the way, your cousins will be dropped off at the top gate. From tomorrow, they’ll pick up the ute when they get home: save them the walk home. They’ll be tired enough as it is.’

‘Well, I’ll walk up and meet them.’ Gull rushes to the door and then turns. ‘Uh, Shirley, who’ll be driving if it’s just Lucy and the twins?’

‘Oh, Lucy or one of the twins,’ Shirley answers casually.

‘They can drive? I mean, they know how?’

‘Sure,’ Shirley says. ‘They’ve been driving around the farm for years. They’re farm kids: they all can.’

Gull stares in amazement. ‘Do you think they could teach me?’

Shirley looks Gull up and down amused. ‘I tell you what, Gull. If all this works out well, I’ll teach you myself.’

‘Would you really? Promise?’

‘Promise,’ Shirley laughs. ‘Now off you go before Helen wakes up.’ They both look over at her: she seems to be stirring.

‘Look behind you, Harry!’ Helen screams as she sits bolt upright.

‘Go,’ Shirley hisses. ‘I’ll write it all down.’

Without looking back, Gull slips out of the lounge room, through the kitchen and bangs the screen door after her. Wonder what that was about? Gull thinks slowing her pace as she walks around the big shed and deposits the warm puppies in the pen. She shrugs. Shirley’ll tell us all later. ‘Now,’ she says, looking around the farm. ‘Where will I go first? I know. I think I’ll go and check on the horses.’

Strolling to the stables, she breathes deeply. The smell of horses, hay and saddle soap lingers in the air. She smiles and relaxes, swinging around to release the tension in her shoulders. Taking a sturdy brush from the shelf, she begins grooming Velvet, then Brutus and the two ponies. Enjoying the rhythm of the brushing, she’s happy to feel physically tired at the end of it. Then Gull takes a bucket off a hook on the wall and fills the water trough in the paddock opposite the farmhouse. She leads the horses into the paddock closing the gate behind them. As Gull’s sitting on the fence watching them gallop around the paddock, Velvet strolls up to Gull and nuzzles her. Gull scratches behind her ears while Velvet eats the oats out of her hand.

Jumping down off the fence, Gull heads back to the puppy pen. Jam is sitting comfortably on a hay bale washing herself. ‘Having some time out too?’ Gull asks as she sits down beside her. Jam immediately starts purring loudly. Stroking her, Gull lets her mind wander.

A picture of the new bank manager pops into her mind. She looks over at the spot where he was standing with a puppy in his hand. She remembers how Useless snarled at him. But why would Useless carry on like that? she ponders. He’s such a dopey dog, not a bad bone in his body. Must have been because he was holding his puppy. Then again, he didn’t mind me picking them up. ‘Oh, well,’ she sighs, ‘just another mystery.’

Gull smiles down at Jam on her lap. ‘This place seems to be full of mysteries.’ Gull counts them on her fingers. ‘Helen’s strange sleeping sickness; the new bank manager Harry can’t remember going to school with; Useless’ odd reaction to him, and the hemp crop lying down. Sleepy Helen, sleepy hemp. ‘Oh, Gull,’ she says severely to herself, ‘stop being so fanciful. Just coincidence. Remember, you’re on a farm. What could be more down to earth than a farm?’

Just then, Jam leaps off Gull’s lap, trots over to the puppy pen and daintily jumps in. Immediately, half a dozen hungry puppies greet her. With a contented sigh, she lies down and the puppies start drinking. Gull strolls over and watches for a while. Then, after making sure they have enough water and fresh straw, Gull runs out of the big shed and over to the vegie patch. She picks up the bucket and begins to load it up with shallots, tomatoes and zucchini. With a variety of lettuce leaves, some rosemary, parsley and basil, she gathers the eggs and goes back to the farmhouse. She glances at the kitchen clock. Six o’clock.

Before running into the lounge room, Gull has a quick look at the photos in the hall. She stares at the photo near the front door. ‘You look so tidy, not a hair out of place. And so silent,’ she adds as she waves goodbye to her ancestors. Then she runs into the lounge room and stops quickly. Gull is surprised to see the two women sitting on the veranda deep in conversation.

‘Come in,’ Helen says waving.

‘I thought you were still, er…’ Gull begins.

‘I was, and it seems I’ve been asleep for about a year. I just thought I’d been having catnaps: I had no idea of the time.’

‘Helen’s just been telling me about her awful dream,’ Shirley says.

‘Oh yes. That’s what woke me up. I can’t see that it’s got anything to do with the hemp falling over but who knows. Shirley tells me the gang is keeping a record of what I say in case it gives us any clues.’

‘Tell Gull,’ Shirley says. ‘She might make some sense out of it. I can’t.’

‘Well,’ Helen begins, ‘in my dream, I’m looking at a schoolyard. It must be lunchtime because everyone’s outside in the playground. There’s a bunch of boys. They look about ten, about Tom and Jake’s age. They’re just mucking around. There’s a boy who looks like Tom but I think it must be a very young Harry. The boys are running around, letting off steam. Harry picks up an old tennis ball pretending it’s a football. He starts running with his arm out to keep the other boys from getting it, just fooling around really. One particular boy, a sullen sandy-haired boy, is standing on the sidelines. As Harry runs past, he pushes past him just as he has with the others. But this particular boy falls backwards. Harry looks over his shoulder and sees him fall. Harry drops the ball and runs to help him up. He says, ‘Sorry. I didn’t see you.’ And the other boy says, ‘No one ever does.’

Then Harry runs off and the other boy looks after him and adds, ‘But one day you’ll see me.’ Then I see his face clearly. He looks furious. And really wicked.’ Helen shudders. ‘I know it’s just a dream …’

‘Your dreams always mean something,’ Shirley murmurs.

‘But it’s so frustrating,’ Helen says. ‘I don’t know what these mean.’

‘Well, we’ve got the whole gang working on it now,’ Shirley laughs, ‘so I’m relying on them to find the right answers.’

‘That sounds easy, I don’t think,’ Gull shrugs dispiritedly. ‘Well, I suppose we’ll just add it to the notebook.’

‘Gull,’ Helen says suddenly, ‘I think I can hear a truck at the top gate. Why don’t you run out and meet them?’

In a flash, Gull is running along the veranda to the front door. She sprints up the long driveway and is halfway up when she sees them.

‘See you’re giving the horses a bit of freedom,’ Tom declares as the cousins and Gull walk back towards the “Folly”. ‘Can you help me bring them in after dinner?’

Gull nods. ‘Helen’s awake and talking to Shirley on the veranda.’

Together, the four of them walk out onto the veranda.

‘You all look pooped,’ Helen says giving them each a hug. ‘Guess Harry’s working you hard?’

‘And Jimmy. And Ted,’ Tom adds looking sharply at Shirley. She can’t help laughing.

‘How’s it all going?’ Helen asks seriously.

‘Well, the Harvesters are working flat out gathering whatever’s left standing,’ Jake says.

Lucy says, ‘Ted reckons it’ll take another few weeks.’

‘If no more falls over,’ Jake adds.

‘What about the scything? Is it working?’ Shirley asks worried.

‘Yeah, it is,’ Lucy grins. ‘But it’s hard work. Those old farmers are really tough. Especially “Young Fred”.’ Lucy, Tom and Jake start to laugh. ‘You should hear those old farmers talking,’ she says.

‘Saying they knew there’d come a day when they’d be needed again,’ Jake adds.

‘Instead of being put out to pasture by their children,’ Lucy giggles.

Helen and Shirley look at each other startled.

‘Don’t worry, Mum,’ Lucy adds, catching their look, ‘we’d never do that to you and Dad.’

‘No, we’d make sure we used you up and worked you to death before that happened,’ Tom grins.

‘Thanks a lot kids,’ Helen says trying not to laugh.

‘Well, at least you know where you stand,’ Shirley says. ‘Oh, look at the time: it’s almost seven. Ted will be wondering …’

‘When he’s ever going to get home,’ Lucy cuts in quickly. ‘He’s harvesting until last light. So are Dad and Jimmy.’

‘In that case,’ Helen says firmly, ‘you, Shirley, are staying for dinner. And as I’m the most rested, I’m making dinner.’

‘I’ll help,’ Shirley and Gull chime in together.

‘As for you three, you can head for the showers. You’re filthy! Just throw your clothes into the washing machine,’ Helen instructs.

‘And add powder. And turn it on,’ Shirley says slowly. Lucy and the twins laugh: it’s a standing joke at Shirley’s house. They know this is the part of the washing that Ted pretends he hasn’t figured out yet.

‘Dinner’s in half an hour!’ Helen yells up the stairs after them. ‘And don’t use up all the hot water. And be quick.’