CAMERON

I’ve just switched on my new iPad

that Grandma bought me,

when Dad knocks on my door

and asks me if I want to play

parisian rings in the backyard

and

I’ve just linked to a YouTube video

of these skater dudes doing half-pipes,

but I don’t want to hurt Dad’s feelings,

so I mumble about homework

and Dad says

we should play parisian rings instead

if he can suggest ten good reasons.

So I pause YouTube

and Dad holds up one finger:

‘It’s a beautiful sunny day outside.’

He holds up two fingers:

‘It’s . . . it’s not raining’,

which is really just the same reason as his first one,

but I don’t say anything.

Three fingers:

‘It’s . . . it’s more fun than an iPad!’

I frown.

He hasn’t seen YouTube lately.

Dad’s starting to look fidgety,

like I do in class when I don’t know the answer

to a question Ms Arthur has just asked.

Four fingers:

‘Your mother . . . won’t play with me!’

We both giggle.

Dad relaxes.

Five fingers:

‘We can’t throw an iPad forty metres in the house!’

Six fingers:

‘I’m bored!’

Seven fingers:

‘I need to lose weight.’

Eight fingers:

‘My dad threw a cricket ball with me

when I was your age!’

Nine fingers:

‘I need an excuse not to mow the lawn!’

Ten fingers:

‘Did I mention it was a beautiful day?’

I turn off my iPad.

Me and Dad play parisian rings

until it gets dark

and we beat our record

of one hundred and fifteen throws

without dropping it once,

when Mum calls out to Dad,

‘Don’t forget you promised

to mow the lawn today!’