Pete(16)‘Intervention Plan’ (Young adult; adventure/sci-fi) — Peter S.Wall
March 18th 2008 23:25
THIRTEEN
'Mates'
Tomas sat and thought for a moment, before saying, "there was this morning, on the way through the mine before Bluey went missing. And in about the same spot as the rabbit incident the day before. Bluey stopped and was looking at the ground like something was gonna come up through it, then started barking like a crazy dog. He looked at his father. “I reckon whatever is goin' on with him, has something to do with that mine."
Turning the car-key the motor died, and then John Banks faced his son, it was the face of a father’s concern. "Well, it doesn’t matter anyhow, Jimmy,” he said. “You’re barred from that mine. Do you hear me!"
Later that evening as he stood at the sink washing dishes, there was a knock at the back door and Tomas turned to see Toby pulling-a-face on the other side of the fly-screen: "Come-on, mental-man," he said, acknowledging his friend's recent penchant for making strange faces.
Flinging open the door and dancing straight up to Tomas, Toby began shadow boxing his friend, and singing: "Who's got a sweetie on Sammy Munson?"
"Get out!" Tomas brandished foam-covered hands and flicked them at Toby. "What bull are you going on with?"
"Um," Toby stood still in mock seriousness, "Well, Mrs Munson came over to talk to me mum. And guess who was with her?” More shadowboxing. “That little darling, Tomas Banks! He helped Sammy look all over for Libby,” Toby jibed. “He’s such a nice little boy."
"Knock it off, will yah," Tomas snapped, intentionally missing with a wild air-swing, "I'm not in the mood."
The two boys abruptly ceased playing around. Toby stood watching as Tomas let the water out of the sink and dried his hands, and that's when John Banks walked in towelling his hair from the shower. "Here's trouble,” Tomas’ father said. “And how are you Mr Toby?"
"So what's your view on Bluey's disappearance, Toby. And all the other strange goings-on?" John Banks probed his son’s friend.
Toby shrugged, swiping a black fringe from over his eyes. "Don't know, but Bluey sure went on strange at the oval that morning."
"Well, from what Tomas has told me, it sounds like his dog has got a bad case of 'bitch-on-heat' syndrome. And no doubt, will return home when the job is done. The only worrying thing that I can see, is you boys playing around over in that old mine." John threw the towel over his left shoulder, opening the fridge door. "What's your dad think about that, Toby?"
"I’m not allowed to go in there," Toby answered—too quickly.
"Yes, well, either is Tomas now." John Banks grabbed a can of cola from the fridge and closed the door with a ‘whoosh’. He then left the kitchen and headed into the lounge-room.
"Come on," Tomas said quietly, heading past Toby towards the screen-door, "we have to work out a plan."
When the two boys were seated next to each other on the back step, Toby turned to face his friend with an animated look: "What sort of a plan?" He asked.
"Bluey is either somewhere in the mine or up the escarpment, and if he's not home by the morning, I'm going to search for him," Tomas stated, matter-of-fact.
"What about your dad?" Toby said.
"Yeah, well, Dad thinks Bluey is off chasing a female dog somewhere and I know he isn't. Anyway, he won't even know I've gone. Instead of being at footy practice, I'll be searching, won’t I."
"I'll come with yah then," Toby affirmed.
"Nah, I'll see yah down at practice, " Tomas told him. "I'm just gonna take a quick look around the mine, then head up the track to the bottom of the escarpment. By the time you get up there, I'll be finished."
"You sure he's around there somewhere then?"
"Not a hundred percent, but with all the strange stuff going on, I won't rest 'til I've had a look. After that, if Bluey’s not home by the afternoon, I'll call the pound and…." Tomas stopped, not wanting to voice his worst nightmare.
"Don't worry mate, he'll turn-up," Toby consoled his friend.
Just then, the flyscreen door opened and Tomas' mother walked onto the verandah. Her hair was wet from the shower and she was wearing a pale-yellow dressing gown tied loosely at the waist. "Well hello Toby. And how are you?"
"Good thanks, Mrs B."
"Tomas darling, " Lynn said, looking at her son, "you haven't had a shower yet, and it's getting late."
"Yeah, okay mum!" Tomas snapped.
"Tomas…."
"He's upset about Bluey," Toby said in defence of his friend.
"Yes, and I can understand that he’d be upset." Lynn Banks walked over and knelt down beside her son," but snapping at those who love him won't do one bit of good. Come on, my little man, I reckon your father is right and that rascal Bluey is out chasing females." She gave Tomas a hug.
"Mum!" Tomas gently pulled away. Toby was watching.
Standing as well, Toby said, "I better get going then."
"Oh, before I forget Toby,” Lynn said. “Can you let your mother know we'll reserve a spot for them up on the hill next to us. She was worried because they mightn't get there on time." There was limited seating at the Finals.
"Yeah, dad has to work on Saturday morning. But they should get there for the kick-off," Toby said.
"You boys would be getting excited by now, wouldn't you. It’s almost certain you'll take out the Finals." Lynn roughed up her son's hair.
"We're gonna win," said Toby,
"You hope," Tomas said, "we have to beat the Devils yet." The Devils were second in the competition; the boys’ team was third.
"Yeah, we'll beat ‘em." With that confident remark Toby waved goodbye, and jumped off the stairs.
As they watched Toby run off, Lynn Banks turned to face her son. "Now young man, you and I need to have a talk about a certain Mine."
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