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wayward youth and how unemployable they all were.
    Mo winked at Davey. ‘No Whopper Chomps for you, Warner.’
    Davey didn’t reply. As much as he hated to admit it, Mo had him. He had him right where he wanted him.

    Sunil, Kevin and George were still playing cricket at Little Park when Davey rode his bike there that evening. He’d come straight from the bowls club. There were still a few minutes left of daylight and Davey had been itching to practise a new batting trick he’d thought about all day.
    â€˜Guys, the legendary MS Dhoni had a brilliant helicopter hit that always got him sixes,’ he announced, picking up Sunil’s bat to demonstrate. The famous Indian player would hit the ball upwards and then follow through with his bat twirling above his shoulders in a circular motion. When played well, it looked like a helicopter rotor.
    Sunil guffawed. ‘This I’ve got to see.’
    â€˜I know, I need to practise it, but maybe I could use it to hit a six off a good-length ball.’ Davey stifled a yawn. ‘Borrow your bat?’ he asked Sunil.
    â€˜Sure, I’ll bowl.’
    Davey grabbed his helmet and fastened the straps. This was a trick that required head protection.
    Sunil walked back up to his mark and turned to face Davey. Kevin got into position as wicket-keeper and George fielded at first slip.
    Sunil went easy on Davey and the first ball was slow compared to what he’d have to face against Shimmer Bay. He swung hard at the ball and tried to spin around in a circularmovement after the bat. He spun so fast he nearly fell over.
    â€˜You need strong arms and a really fast bat speed for the helicopter shot to work,’ Sunil pointed out.
    Davey knew his mate was right.
    â€˜Bowl on a good length,’ Davey instructed, ‘and let me see what I can do.’
    Sunil bowled the next one short of a length and as it passed Davey at waist height, he swung at the ball but only succeeded in sending it straight up into the air.
    The following ball was well up, but Davey swung too late and only managed to pop the ball straight back to Sunil.
    â€˜Not as easy as it looks on YouTube. It’s hard to time it right,’ Davey lamented.
    But he kept practising and after several more tries he succeeded in hitting a beauty right out of the park.
    It was almost dark. ‘Better go finish my essay for Mudge,’ said Sunil.
    â€˜Don’t tell me that’s due tomorrow?’ Davey asked with a groan.
    â€˜Okay, I won’t!’
    Davey gave him a look. ‘Is it?’
    Sunil nodded.
    Davey sighed. He was utterly spent. ‘Better get to it, then,’ he muttered and headed across the road to his house.
    Davey’s mum had kept his dinner warm. He realised he was starving and bolted down his favourite meal of sausages and mash.
    â€˜Thanks, Mum!’ Davey gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and headed to his room.
    He opened his schoolbook and stared at the blank page. The lines began to blur. His muscles were sore, his stomach was full. It had been a long day.
    Within minutes, his head had fallen onto the desk. Davey was fast asleep.



CHAPTER 9
CAUGHT OUT
    Davey spent the next morning before school helping Trevor at the bowling club. They laid new turf to try and patch the holes Max had made.
    â€˜Not bad,’ said Trevor when he saw the job Davey had done. The green was alreadybeginning to look more green than brown. ‘I’ll water it while you’re at school.
    â€˜ School ?’ Davey checked his watch. He was going to be late!
    Davey rode like crazy and made it to school just as class was about to begin. He slipped into the room and quietly took his seat. He felt a deep burn in his thighs from pedalling so fast. His muscles were going to stiffen up sitting all day.
    Bella caught his eye and held up a piece of paper and mouthed the words ‘A-plus’ at him. Davey remembered with a jolt: The essay! He hadn’t done