Jack & Harry Read Online Free PDF Page B

anyone except your father, did we, Harry?’
    â€˜Friends of me dad were walkin’ their dog by the river and saw the whole thing. You two grabbin’ the bike off me and runnin’ away with it even though I was pleadin’ with ya not to steal me birthday present.’ Billy thought he would practice some of the lines his father had primed him with in preparation for the statement he would have to give to the police on Monday.
    Jack and Harry were struck dumb. They stood with slack expressions as Billy kicked his bike into action and rode off. ‘See ya in jail,’ He yelled with a sadistic laugh as he pedalled away.
    â€˜Geez, Harry, we’re in big trouble now.’
    â€˜But he’s lyin’, Jack.’
    â€˜ We know that but who’s gonna believe us now that his father’s lined up some friends to lie as well.’
    â€˜You’re right, Jack. What’re we gonna do?’
    â€˜Dunno but I’m not goin’ to jail.’
    â€˜Me neither, Jack. You only get bread and water to eat in jail so I’ve heard.’
    â€˜Yeah and ya have to break up big rocks with sledge hammers.’
    â€˜Only one thing for it, Jack, and that’s to bolt. Head off somewhere, but where?’
    â€˜I know.’ An inspiration hit Jack. ‘Coober Pedy. Let’s run away to Coober Pedy. You heard what me dad said last night? People don’t ask where you’re from or what you’ve done out there.’
    â€˜Mmm, he did, didn’t he? But how would we get there? We haven’t got any money … not enough to get to Coober Pedy that’s for sure and where is it anyhow, is it in the Territory?’
    â€˜Not sure, don’t think so though, think it’s in South Australia somewhere. We’ll look it up on a map. How much money have you got, Harry?’
    â€˜Nothin’ on me but I’ve got a few bob in me moneybox at home. Four bob or thereabouts.’
    â€˜Four Bob have ya? I’ve got about five or six bob saved up at home.’
    â€˜Ten bob isn’t much to run away with, Jack, what can we do?’
    â€˜Don’t know, Harry.’ Jack shook his head despondently. ‘We’ll think of somethin’ though … got to.’

Chapter Three
    Jack yawned and stretched. Another day, Monday already, he thought. It took a while for it to dawn on him that things had changed, it wasn’t just another Monday. As the memory of the weekend started to flood back there was a vague feeling of uneasiness and Jack realised that things would never be quite the same again. He couldn’t put his finger on it but knew in his inner being that life had changed for him and Harry … forever!
    â€˜You awake, Harry?’ Jack leaned over to the single bed beside him and gave Harry’s inert shape a nudge.
    â€˜What?’ Harry sputtered and sat bolt upright in bed. ‘What? … Oh, g’day, Jack, musta been dreamin’.’
    â€˜What about?’
    â€˜Oh nothin’ really. What’s the time?’
    â€˜Time to get up and get ready for school.’
    â€˜School?’ Harry paused and looked around him, ‘Oh, yeah, it’s Monday but what about our plans from last night, you know … runnin’ away and all? You still game, Jack?’
    â€˜Not a matter of game , Harry, it’s a matter of have to. ’ said Jack .
    The boys dressed quickly and went to the kitchen where they could smell bread toasting.
    Jack’s mother had eggs cooking in a pan and was busy at the bench buttering toast. ‘Morning, boys. You’re up nice and early.’ She looked at Harry. ‘Normally I have to wake Jack up on a Monday.’ She laughed and continued, ‘but that’s good, you boys can finish off your lunches while I make some sandwiches for the kids and get their school books ready.’ She went off down the hallway calling to her younger children.
    She returned to the kitchen