Robin’s ability to shoot ping-pong balls out of the air and slot an arrow in a quarter-second came from hundreds of hours’ practice. After one-and-a-bit hours, he’d shown Marion how to take a good stance and shoot fairly accurately at tin cans and a crude target made by drawing on one of Aunt Lucy’s pillowcases with a marker pen.
Little John had given up archery when he realised his little brother was more talented than him, and Robin’s only close friend, Alan, preferred activities that avoided getting his sneakers dirty. So Marion was the first person who’d ever shared his interest in archery and he loved every minute.
It was half past nine and the makeshift range was almost too dark to shoot as Marion’s mum walked up the escalator.
‘You two have been up here for ages,’ Indio said, half smiling as she eyed the pillowcase full of arrow holes hanging from the end wall. ‘And your aunt’s not gonna be impressed when she sees that.’
‘Robin’s amazing with the bow,’ Marion said. ‘He’s a good teacher too.’
Robin felt his face redden as Marion slotted an arrow and gave her mum a demonstration by firing into the pillowcase, about five centimetres from dead centre.
‘Hotshot!’ Indio said, as she gave Marion a squeeze and a kiss. ‘But Robin needs his rest and it’ll be ten by the time you’ve done your teeth.’
‘I had a long nap,’ Marion protested.
Indio’s tone stiffened as she pointed towards the escalator. ‘And I’m not arguing. Teeth and toilet, now. And a shower in the morning. Your fists look like lumps of coal!’
Marion gave Robin a what-can-you-do shrug and turned towards the escalators. ‘Later, Robin Hood.’
As Marion clunked grumpily down the metal stairs, Indio glanced at moonlight coming through the skylights and sounded concerned. ‘It’s kinda creepy up here all on your own. You’re welcome to bunk down with us.’
‘I’ll live,’ Robin said, as he tugged Marion’s last arrows out of the wall.
‘Well, you know where to find us.’
‘Goodnight,’ Robin said, as Indio headed down. ‘Thanks for dinner and stuff.’
He found a missing arrow behind a shelf unit, then shut himself behind the sliding door of Lucy’s den.
Having Marion around had kept his mind busy. His thoughts turned back to family as he sat on the corner of the big bed and burrowed down his backpack, hunting a toothbrush.