Page 10 of Atticus Arnott's Great Adventure
‘Finn is like his father; he is lean and athletic and scores every time he plays.’
Mary turned her head a fraction to study her father’s face. He was chatty today, which was a good sign. ‘So,’ Mary began, ‘how are you feeling?’
‘You sound like your brother. I get asked that question every day.’
‘And what’s your answer?’
‘The same as it always is. I’m fine, perfectly happy.’
‘But Dad, you don’tdoanything. You used to be so active, but now, it’s just dog walking and playing dominoes.’
‘And what’s wrong with that?’
‘It’s not what Mum would have wanted.’
‘Here we go…’ Atticus began to tap his foot. ‘If your mum isn’t nagging me from above, you chip in with your pestering from below.’
Mary’s eyes widened. ‘Mum talks to you?’
‘All the time.’
‘What does she say?’
Atticus gripped his crook and stared out at the hills. His eyes, amber depths that twinkled when he laughed, were wet. ‘She tells me not to let the old man in.’
‘Clint Eastwood.’ Mary smiled, recognising the words.How many times had Mum enjoyed the actor’s films!But realising that Atticus had let old age come romping in, Mary suddenly felt annoyed.
‘Listen,’ she said and eased off the wall. ‘It’s time to stop living in the past! If Mum is still with you in spirit, don’t you think she’d be getting fed up with you?’
‘Eh?’ Atticus raised his eyebrows.
‘Make some more memories. Take Mum on a new journey.’ Mary stood with her hands on her hips. ‘Look out your window, Dad, and smile more because you’re fit and healthy, and age is just a number.’
Atticus shook his head. ‘I’m getting on, Mary. My get-up-and-go has gone.’
‘You’re NOT old,’ Mary’s voice rose. ‘Seventy is nothing these days. It’s all a state of mind.’ Seeing Finn and Declan pause their game to stare, she smiled and waved before carrying on. ‘We’re going to be productive today and make a start on clearing out the old barn, where you’re hoarding stuff that should have been rehomed years ago.’
Atticus banged his crook on the ground to shake off debris then nodded towards Declan’sabandoned teddy. ‘Are you bringing that with you or leaving it here?’ he asked.
Mary snatched the bear while Atticus marched ahead. As he passed the children, he whistled for Ness. The dog, reluctant to stop playing but conditioned to her owner’s commands, trotted obediently behind him.
‘Aw, Grandad!’ Finn’s face creased in frustration as the game abruptly ended.
‘Is Grandad grumpy?’ Declan asked.
Mary scooped Declan into her arms and hurried behind Atticus to return to the farm. ‘Grandad has a job to do,’ she said, marching everyone down the hill.
The barn door creaked as Mary wrestled with the closure. With a sigh, Atticus nudged her out of the way and opened the door. As they stepped in, dust motes swirled in the streaks of sunlight that sliced through gaps in the weathered wooden planks, their rough surfaces bearing the scars of decades of use.
‘When did you last come in here?’ Mary asked. She was conscious of the rusting nails jutting out at odd angles and held Declan’s hand tightly.
‘Years ago,’ Atticus replied. He stared at the shelves sagging under the weight of glass jars filled with nails, screws, and bolts. A dull-bladed sickle lay propped against the wall. ‘Your brother let me keep this barn to store anything I wanted to hold on to when he made all the changes to the farm.’
‘Well, don’t you think it’s about time you had a sort out?’
‘I wouldn’t know where to begin,’ he said and kicked an ancient wheelbarrow.
‘I’ll help you,’ Finn said excitedly. Fascinated, he stared at a child’s wooden chair, its paint chipped and peeling.
