2

HUNTER

Hunter Riley looks out the window. It’s raining. Again. He quietly slides the window open and leans as far out as he dares. Raindrops wet his hair, roll down his cheeks and drop from his chin onto the corrugated iron roof. He closes his eyes and shakes his head, like a dog under a sprinkler.

From a gum tree near the fence comes the cackle of a kookaburra. Hunter opens his eyes, startled. He spies the bird in the highest branch. The kookaburra ruffles the rainwater from its feathers and opens its beak wide, as if yawning.

‘At least you don’t have to go to school,’ Hunter says.

The kookaburra tilts its head and looks down into the garden. Hunter follows its gaze. A lizard scurries under a rock to safety. Hunter looks back at the bird. Their eyes meet.

‘Ha!’ says Hunter.

The rain falls steadily. Water streaks down Hunter’s cheeks but he keeps his head out the window. The bird swoops along the roof line past Hunter and flaps away to a distant gum tree.

Hunter hears footsteps outside his door. He retreats into the room and climbs back into bed, rubbing his hair on the sheet.

He sees the doorhandle turn and quickly closes his eyes.

The door creaks. Hunter keeps his eyes closed, but knows his mum has entered the room. Ever since his dad left, she comes and looks at him sleeping. A raindrop runs down his cheek. In the quiet of the morning, he’s sure he can hear her sigh. He keeps very still until she walks out of the room and gently closes the door.

After dressing into his school clothes of blue pants and a red skater shirt, Hunter walks downstairs. He stands at the kitchen doorway spying his mum sitting at the table. She stares at a bowl full of apples, oranges and pears. One banana sits on top, smiley faced. An ant crawls along the skin of the banana. She reaches toward the insect and with one finger blocks the ant’s progress. The insect stops, then tentatively moves toward her long fingernail. She smiles. The ant creeps onto her finger. She stands and walks to the back door, opening it quietly.

Hunter walks into the kitchen and watches his mum on the back verandah. She leans down to a row of pot plants and places her finger close to the leaf of a basil plant.

‘Everyone likes basil,’ Mrs Riley says to the ant. She sighs and looks up at the rain still falling.

Hunter switches on the kettle for his mum’s morning cup of tea. He scoops two spoonfuls of tea-leaves into the pot and when the jug boils, carefully pours the water to just below the spout. Enough for two cups, just the way Mum likes it.

He walks to the cupboard for a bowl and spoon, plonks them on the table and sits, reaching for the Weet-Bix and milk.

‘Good morning, Hunter,’ his mum says as she enters the kitchen.

Hunter spoons half a Weet-Bix into his mouth. ‘It’s Monday, how can it be a good morning,’ he mumbles, a dribble of milk running down his chin. He doesn’t bother to wipe and it drips back into his bowl.

‘But you like school, dear.’

‘Ha!’

‘A boy should like school,’ she adds.

‘Ha!’

‘Thanks for the tea,’ she says. She takes a sip.

Hunter finishes his cereal. He looks at the packet of Weet-Bix, considering. Instead of another helping, he picks up the bowl and carries it to the empty sink. He opens the fridge door and stares inside.

‘I’ve packed your lunch box, Hunter. It’s already in your bag.’

‘Peanut butter?’ he asks.

She nods. ‘And an apple.’

Hunter closes the fridge door.

‘Don’t forget to clean your teeth,’ she says.

‘Why?’

‘So you’ll smell fresh.’

‘I’m not kissing anyone!’ he says.

‘For dental hygiene, so your teeth won’t fall out when you’re old,’ she says.

Hunter doesn’t answer and walks back upstairs.

‘Ha!’ Mrs Riley says, to no-one in particular.