microwave.
âThatâs Mick,â said Keith. âI painted his mate Colâs truck.â
Mum and Dad looked pained.
Tracy leaned over to Keith and whispered, âThe store looks great.â
He gave her a grateful grin.
But something was wrong.
Why did she look so anxious?
âHave you found any opals yet?â asked Tracy.
Keith decided everyone had had enough time to recover from the trip.
âThat opal mine I mentioned before,â he said, âitâs ours for a whole day. We can dig up as many opals as we like and keep them.â
He waited for Mum and Dad to be overjoyed.
Mum and Dad exchanged a glance.
Mum put a hand on Dadâs arm.
Silly me, thought Keith. Of course. Theyâve had the whole trip down here to get used to the fact that weâre going to be fabulously wealthy and immensely happy.
Keith saw them swap another glance.
Look at the difference itâs made to them, he thought.
Gazing into each otherâs eyes.
Touching each other.
âKeith,â said Dad, âweâre all going back to Orchid Cove first thing in the morning. You as well.â
Keith was sure he hadnât heard that right.
Maybe someone had just exploded some gelignite out on the diggings and the shock waves had distorted Dadâs words.
Dad said it again.
Keith stared at him in disbelief.
Squinting at the road across a Tropical Parrot car bonnet for two days must have left Dad with temporary brain damage.
âDonât you understand,â Keith said to him, âweâve got our own opal mine. For a whole day. Weâll never have money problems again. No more migraines or tummy upsets or arguments.â
Keith turned to Mum.
Sheâd understand.
âKeith,â she said, âletâs all go for a little walk and get some fresh air.â
Good idea, thought Keith. Fresh airâll help certain peopleâs brains work properly.
They all stood up.
âTracy,â said Mum, âwould you mind doing the washing up while we have a little chat with Keith?â
Keith was about to protest. How dare they treat Tracy, the person whoâd helped them get to the brink of wealth and happiness, like a servant?
But before he could say anything Tracy had said, âSure, no problem,â glancing anxiously at Mum and Dad.
Right, thought Keith angrily, wait till I get you two outside.
Outside it was dark.
They walked to the edge of the caravan park and stood staring at the mullock heaps, which were glowing faintly in the moonlight and looked to Keith like coconut macaroons.
Concentrate, Keith said to himself.
He knew it was very important to choose the right words, the words that would persuade Mum and Dad to stay for just one day so they could find the opals that would make them all happy for the rest of their lives.
But it was hard with Mum on one side and Dad on the other and both of them with an arm round his shoulders.
He didnât want to think, he just wanted to enjoy.
He decided to use telepathy and sent a double-strength message to both of them.
Change your minds.
âKeith,â said Dad softly, âI wasnât being honest with you before.â
Itâs working, thought Keith joyfully.
âI wasnât either,â said Mum, âwe both werenât.â
âThatâs OK,â said Keith, âI understand.â
âKeith,â said Mum, and there was a little sob in her voice which made Keith realise with a stab of fear that he didnât understand at all.
âLove,â she went on, âDad and I have decided to split up.â
âNot just in the shop,â said Dad, the sob in his voice too. âFor good.â
âBut we want you to know,â said Mum, âthat we both love you as much now as we always have.â
âAnd we always will,â said Dad.
Keith knew what he should be saying.
That it would only take a day.
Half a day.
A couple of hours.
And that once