26

BACK TO NANNA’S

The circus tent is empty. Everyone has gone home in shock. Ambulance workers wrap warm blankets around Justice and Coach Bennett. Justice sips on a cup of tea. Coach Bennett is holding a mug of hot chocolate — with extra chocolate. Ringmaster’s top hat is crumpled and his majestic red and white outfit is dirty. He’s complaining about how tight his handcuffs are and he swears that he’ll have his revenge. The blubbering Socks and Jocks are thrown into the back of a police van.

‘I can’t believe I’m meeting you,’ says a police officer. In fact, he’s the head of the Mount Isa police. I used to see him around when I lived here. Once he even came to my school. But that’s when I was just a kid — now he’s looking at Deadly D, the NRL superstar who has returned from walkabout.

‘What are you doing in Mount Isa?’ asks the policeman. ‘We don’t get many rugby league stars up here.’

I look over at my best friend sipping on his tea. ‘I needed some time out,’ I say. Well, it’s kind of the truth.

The policeman gets out his notepad and pen. ‘What about Wayne Bennett and the boy?’ he asks. ‘How are they involved?’

‘They came to see if I was okay.’

The policeman pulls a smart phone from his pocket and starts flicking through photos. ‘Ringmaster has photos of people on his phone. We need to speak to them. They could be in danger. Do you know this kid?’

He shows me a picture of me. I’m riding my bike home from school.

‘No, never seen him before in my life. Looks like a legend, though,’ I say, rubbing my hairy arms nervously.

The policeman stares at me and then smiles. ‘Well, thanks for your help, Deadly D,’ he says, putting the phone away. ‘When can we expect to see you playing again?’

I think about the events of the last few weeks: I’ve lost my girlfriend, been chased by evil clowns, been kicked out of my own house, had shampoo squirted in my eyes by my grandmother, witnessed her wrestle a croc, dressed myself up as a female trapeze artist, flown through the air with the Flying Frenchmen, and watched my best friend dodge death by a man-eating crocodile. To be honest, I hadn't even thought about footy. But before I can say, ‘I don’t know,’ someone answers for me.

‘He’ll be playing next weekend,’ says Coach Bennett, slurping his hot chocolate.

We all pile into Nanna’s car: Justice, Coach Bennett, Aunty Merle and Deadly D but it’s only Nanna and Justice who know my secret. We drop Aunty Merle off first.

‘Call in anytime you want, Mr Bennett,’ Aunty Merle says kindly to Coach Bennett as she climbs out of the car. ‘I’ve always got chocolate in the house.’

Coach Bennett gives her a little smile as we drive off. Along the road, we pass a camel and an elephant that have escaped from the circus. No one says anything for a while, until Justice breaks the silence.

‘Big couple of days, eh Coach?’ says Justice.

‘Yep,’ says Coach Bennett.

‘What about Deadly D’s mad tackling skills? Did you see him smash that Ringmaster fella?’

‘Pretty impressive,’ says Coach Bennett. ‘Will you be right to play first grade, Deadly? We’re up against the Warriors next week.’

When Nanna hears this, she nearly drives the car off the road. ‘Don’t you get too far ahead of yourself. Coach! You might be the big man in Brisbane, but when you’re in my car, I’m in charge! No one’s playing any football until I’ve spoken to his mother.’

‘Of course. Sorry, Aunty,’ replies Coach Bennett respectfully.