Free The Saddler Boys by Fiona Palmer Page A

well? Do you want to go and lie down in the beanbag and I’ll see if I can call your father?’ Billy arched an eyebrow but didn’t make a move. ‘Come on, sweetie.’ Nat took his hand and led him to the beanbag in the reading corner. ‘Now, lie here and rest. I’ll just go get your water bottle.’
    Outside the classroom she found his bag and retrieved his water bottle, then popped her head into the office. ‘Kath, Billy looks quite sick. Can you see if someone can come get him? He has a temp.’ Ross was in the back corner at his desk, talking to someone on his mobile.
    Kath pulled a face. ‘Logan had the flu last week, it knocked him for six.’ Logan was in the senior room, one of her grandkids. ‘Bugger, I guess it’s going to do the rounds. I’ll call Billy’s dad.’
    Kath reached for the phone, and Nat got back to her class. ‘Drink lots of water,’ she told Billy. ‘It will make you feel better.’ She wasn’t allowed to give him any Panadol to ease his fever without his dad’s consent.
    â€˜Thank you,’ he said softly as he tried to smile.
    How could such a little man be so strong, suffer in silence and still remember his manners? Nat felt his forehead again and didn’t like how hot he was.
    Keeping Billy in her peripheral vision, she went back to teaching the class. He was soon asleep.
    Kath came into the classroom and told Nat quietly, ‘Sorry, Nat, Drew isn’t answering. He had Lauren down as an emergency and I know she’s in Perth at the moment. But I’ll keep trying.’ She went over to check on Billy but didn’t disturb him.
    He woke as the bell rang for hometime. Nat went to him. ‘Hey, Billy, how do you feel?’
    Silent tears fell from the corner of his eyes, rolling into his damp hair. ‘Head hurts.’ He clenched his lids shut.
    Grace came in. ‘Kath still can’t reach Drew,’ she said.
    â€˜He can’t go home on the bus like this,’ said Nat.
    â€˜No, especially as he probably rides his motorbike from the front gate to the house,’ said Grace. ‘Do you want me to run him home?’
    Nat was reeling – as a parent, wouldn’t you make sure you were always available for emergencies? ‘It’s okay, I’ll take him. I want to make sure he’s okay. Can you give me directions to his place?’ He was her student, her responsibility. And she was worried.
    Grace drew out a map, but it didn’t look too hard – a few turns and about a ten-minute drive.
    Nat told Billy she was going to take him home. He seemed a little disorientated but it could have been because the school was empty; the place always felt different without kids. She put his schoolbag in her car before helping him into the front seat. He struggled to walk and Nat just wanted to scoop him up in her arms and carry him. He didn’t complain but his eyes were heavy with fatigue and pain. Billy had suffered because his father couldn’t keep his phone nearby. In this day and age, Nat didn’t know anyone who didn’t have their mobile glued to them.
    The directions to the Saddler farm, Dragon Rock, were spot on, and she had no trouble finding the winding driveway that came out by a house. Further up the road she could see sheds and machinery. For a moment she wondered if Billy’s father had hurt himself. Farms were big – should she try to find him? She shook her head. Getting Billy in and settled was her first priority.
    â€˜Is this home?’ she asked.
    Billy managed half a smile and undid his seatbelt. Nat grabbed his bag and went around to help him out. They walked along an overgrown pathway made from old bricks through a beautiful, established garden with massive trees and roses. It was looking a bit neglected, though – Nat would have bet Billy’s nana had been the gardener. Agapanthus edged the path and little metal