Free One Perfect Pirouette by Sherryl Clark Page A

got back he and Dad talked footy, but when Mum limped in, everyone went quiet.
    â€˜Has the physio made it worse?’ Dad said.
    â€˜Not really.’ Mum lowered herself into the armchair. ‘I’ve got exercises to do. He said I need to work hard on flexibility and strength.’ She waved a hand vaguely in the air, as if she was thinking about something else. ‘He said I could play again in a month or so.’
    â€˜Play what?’ I said.
    â€˜Basketball.’ Dad was nearly bouncing in his seat. ‘That’s fantastic.’
    â€˜Yeah, I guess so' Mum said. ‘Maybe I’m a bit old for that now.'
    â€˜Now, now! You were the one who told me they had a social team at your work' said Dad.
    â€˜Should have kept my big mouth shut.' Mum grinned. ‘Orrin, have you had your dinner yet? How did footy training go?’
    â€˜Great! Coach says he might give me half a game on Saturday.' His hair was sticking straight up and when he ran his fingers through it, he looked even more like a rooster. ‘Where’s Tam? I might be able to get him a game in the Under 15s.’
    â€˜He’s gone to Uncle Tony’s' said Mum.
    â€˜What – already? Couldn’t he even wait long enough to say goodbye?’ Orrin’s mouth twisted. ‘What a loser.’
    â€˜Don’t you say that!’ Mum snapped.
    â€˜Oh, who cares? He got what he wanted, spoilt little toad.’
    â€˜He didn’t want to be unhappy and getting into fights down here,’ said Mum.
    â€˜No one forced him to punch that guy, Mum. I’ve heard other stories about what happened. Tam was looking for an excuse to ditch us.’
    â€˜Orrin! He’s your brother.’
    â€˜You wouldn’t think so, the way he was carrying on.’
    Finally, Dad stepped in. ‘Tam’s made his own path and he’s got to live with it now. You’re right – he should’ve said goodbye properly, not been in such a hurry to get away from us.’ He pointed to the kitchen. ‘Go and eat your dinner, son, and then you can tell me more about this coach.’
    Orrin headed for the microwave, but his face was sad. I knew how he felt. It was as if Tam had suddenly dumped us, as if he couldn’t wait to get away. How long was it going to be before we’d see him again? A lump rose in my throat and I blinked hard. I just had to deal with it. Maybe Dad was right. Tam had gone his own way and we had to focus on what was ahead of us.
    Mum sat in her armchair, doing leg lifts, talking to Dad about weights and walking every day. Was she serious about playing basketball again? She’d been really good at it before she married Dad; that’s what he told me once. I’d never heard her mention it – in fact, whenever basketball was on TV, she always made sure to change the channel, as if she couldn’t stand to even watch it. Now she had a sparkle in her eyes, as if all along she’d been waiting for something to change. What could it have been?

chapter 8
    I couldn’t wait for lunchtime the next day and if we didn’t have to eat lunch in our classrooms first, under the eye of a teacher, I would’ve skipped the food and gone straight to the hall. When we were finally allowed outside, I grabbed my bag, ready for practice, but the principal stopped me in the doorway.
    â€˜I’m sorry, Brynna, but it seems we can’t let you use the hall unsupervised. It’s an insurance issue.’
    â€˜But I’m only dancing.’
    â€˜It wouldn’t matter if you were just walking around, I’m afraid.’
    â€˜What if a teacher was with her?’ Mrs Nguyen said.
    â€˜Are you offering?’ The principal folded his arms.
    â€˜Yes, I don’t mind. Not every day, but perhaps one or two days a week.’ She smiled at me, but my face couldn’t smile back. One or two days? For half an hour? It was hardly worth it.
    â€˜Thanks, Mrs