1

WHERE IS DEADLY D?

It’s now or never. Mum walks into the kitchen to make a cup of tea, so I grab the remote and switch from Better Homes and Renovations over to Friday Night Football. I get goosebumps on the back of my neck when I hear commentator Ray Warren’s voice: ‘We’re fifteen minutes into the first half, the Brisbane Broncos trail the Wests Tigers ten points to nil.’

I glance towards the kitchen to see if Mum’s still there. She’s standing next to the kettle, waiting for it to boil.

‘They’re a different team without their star player, aren’t they, Wally?’ asks Ray Warren. The camera shows a close-up of my team mates waiting behind the try line. The Tigers have scored in front of the posts and will kick an easy conversion.

‘They sure are, Ray,’ says Wally Lewis. ‘And the big question on everybody’s lips — where is Deadly D? It’s like he’s vanished off the face of the earth!’

No, Wally, I think. Deadly D’s sitting on the couch, watching Better Homes and Renovations with his mum.

‘What are you watching, son?’ yells Mum.

‘Just checking the footy score!’ I call innocently. The truth is, I feel guilty. I should be out on that field, helping my mates beat the Tigers. Instead, I’m back to being an eleven-year-old kid again. I’ve been like this since I gave up my powers for Taylor Neila. She’s only been gone for two weeks, but I already miss her heaps.

The Tigers kick the conversion and the score is twelve points to nil. The Broncos run the ball up to the halfway line, ready to kick off.

‘Well, I don’t know about you, Wally,’ says Ray Warren. ‘But if the Broncos can’t find Deadly D, they might as well kiss their Grand Final hopes goodbye.’