Page 75 of The Side Road
She sighed. ‘Okay, here’s the thing. We have this homework diary, which our parents are supposed to sign.’ Tash picked a bean out of her meal and dropped it into her mouth. ‘Nan signed it last week.’
‘How’s that… Oh, you’ve been signing her signature. Forgery runs in the family, on your mother’s side.’
‘I didn’t think Mr Healey would notice. But he figured it out.’
‘You spend hours in your room. If you’re not doing homework, what are you doing?’
‘Reading.’
‘What are you reading?’
She hesitated. ‘Just a book about dragons.’
‘Okay, how much money have you saved?’
‘Fifty dollars. And I have one hundred dollars left from my birthday money.’
‘That’s half an Angora rabbit. I’ll buy the other half if you do the play…and finish your homework.’
‘Deal,’ Tash said. Picking up her fork, she devoured her beans.
It was too easy. She was one step ahead of him. Next time, he wouldn’t underestimate her. This was a temporary setback in his path toward mastering the art of strategicallyparenting an almost-teenager. He made a mental note to plan his moves more carefully. She wouldn’t outsmart him again.
After dinner, Tash picked up a copy ofRomeo and Juliet. ‘If I’m going to read the role of Juliet, then I have to practice. I need someone – and there is only you – to play all the other parts.’
‘Okay, but I’m not dressing up. And you should know, I’m going to be bad at this,’ Oliver warned. ‘It’s not my thing.’ He picked up the book. ‘It’s a tragedy, right?’
‘It’s insta-love. We’ll be reading aloud in class next week.’
Oliver turned the book over in his hands. ‘Set in Verona, during the Renaissance – a wonderful time in history when children obeyed their parents. There are a few good sword fights, and people die, if I remember correctly.’
‘Insta-love with violence and death. What’s not to love?’ Tash rolled her eyes, already bored. ‘One moment Romeo is head over heels in love with Rosalind, moping about all heartbroken, then a couple of pages later he’s forgotten all about Rosalind and moved on to Juliet.’
‘Sounds normal to me.’
She studied her father. ‘Maybe you should practice. I’ve never actually seen you read a book. You left school when you were eleven.’
‘Sixteen.’ Oliver opened the book. ‘Okay,’ he cleared his throat. “See how she leans her cheek upon her hand. And…that I, well, I were a glove upon that hand.”’
‘Good,’ Tash said. ‘Oliver Overton, you are full of surprises. Can we have spaghetti and cheese for dinner tomorrow?’
‘With veggies on the side, yes.’
‘Go to Act Two, Scene Two.’ Tash opened her copy and began to read. “O, Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou, Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name…”’
‘Hey, Juliet, slow down. I’m still looking for the page.’
The following day, Tash came home to find an Angora rabbit sitting on her bed. She named the animal Buttons.
Leo donateda bar fridge from the Men’s Shed. Oliver repurposed an old dresser to use as a beverage station so he could make tea and coffee in the garage while he was working. Biscuits were also available, stored in mouse-proof containers. In the far corner was a makeshift gym. Oliver dragged the Parker furniture onto the paving. The cushions and throw rugs that covered the lounge and chairs were Blanche’s contribution. He set up his record player, and he stacked his father’s collection of vinyl nearby.
Ben had spread the word – bike owners were always looking for a talented mechanic. Oliver didn’t need to hang out a shingle; vintage cars and motorbike owners were calling him; a few had booked their vehicles in for repairs, while others had baulked at his hourly rate. One man told him he was the most expensive mechanic in the country. Oliver thought that might be true. It didn’t bother him.
24
TIGER CUB
There wasa stillness to the day. An easy golden light brought a radiant transparency to the morning. In the pristine country air, the rose-madder hues and russet tones of early autumn foliage sparkled. Snood, returning from his outdoor garden adventures, found a sunlit spot on the floor and rolled around on his back, joyously covering his body in the warm light. Mia knew how he felt. After the success of the picnic, she wanted their second date to be another biking adventure. She suggested an outing on the Triumph Tiger Cub. An activity they would both enjoy. He would ride his bike, and she would hang on tightly.
