Free Hit for Six by David Warner

CHAPTER 1
THE BET
    â€˜Come on, show me what you’ve got!’ Davey Warner teased George Pepi, tapping his bat impatiently at the crease.
    George pounded down the rough run-up at Flatter Park and let fly his fastest delivery.
    Davey watched the ball leave George’s hand and danced down the pitch to meet it. He swung hard into the ball and . . .
    Kaboom!
    Davey smacked the ball high into the mid-wicket outfield. He watched with glee as his dog Max let out a yelp in protest. The fox terrier had been fielding at silly mid-off and was surprised at the direction Davey had hit the ball.
    â€˜Fooled you, Max!’
    It wasn’t easy to get one over on Max, who took off at full pelt after the ball. The foxy loved cricket just as much as Davey and his mates.
    This was lucky, because playing cricket was all they ever wanted to do. The boysoften enjoyed having a hit at Flatter Park on Sundays. It was close to Davey, George and Sunil’s homes and Benny’s shop was opposite, which was handy for snack breaks.
    Max clamped his sharp teeth down on the leather while performing a perfect mid-air 180-degree spin.
    â€˜I’ve had enough of bowling!’ George complained, flexing his hand. Davey had been hitting him all over Flatter Park and his hand was getting cramped.
    â€˜Music to my ears,’ said Sunil Deep, who went to the bowler’s end. He much preferred bowling to keeping wicket.
    Davey tapped his bat at the crease and waited. He wanted to practise hitting against Sunil’s fast bowling. Davey had been feeling really good about his batting lately.He’d been working really hard with his special bat Kaboom and it felt as if he’d just stepped up to a new level.
    With a triumphant air, Max trotted back to Sunil and deposited the gooey ball at his feet. He whined expectantly.
    â€˜You’re a machine, Max,’ chuckled Sunil and gave the dog a scratch behind the ears.
    â€˜Here comes trouble,’ murmured George.
    Chief pest Mo Clouter and his equally annoying sidekicks, Nero and Tony, were walking out to the wicket.
    â€˜Just ignore them and they might go away.’ Davey was impatient to play. ‘Come on, Deep.’
    â€˜Why’s Clouter dragging a suitcase around with him?’ Sunil wondered aloud.
    â€˜Maybe he’s moving away?’ Davey suggested. They could always hope.
    Max jumped up and ran towards Mo and sniffed at the suitcase eagerly.
    â€˜Has to be food,’ said Davey. ‘Max! Get back here!’
    â€˜I’m starving.’ George clutched at his stomach.
    â€˜You’re always starving,’ Davey pointed out.
    â€˜Are you our new tea lady?’ Sunil asked Mo.
    Mo set the suitcase down at the end of the pitch. ‘Laugh at me and you’ll be sorry!’
    â€˜Why’s that?’ Davey gave up hope of having a hit anytime soon.



Mo gestured proudly to the suitcase. ‘Because I have in my possession Benny’s shop’s entire stock of . . .’ Mo unzipped the lid of the case to reveal . . .
    â€˜Whopper Chomps!’ exclaimed George and Davey in unison.
    The suitcase was indeed chock-a-block with packets of the chewy vampire teeth lolly that Davey and Sunil loved.
    â€˜You didn’t steal them, did you?’ asked Sunil suspiciously.
    â€˜I used up all my birthday money to buy them!’ Mo stared lovingly at the brightly coloured lollies.
    â€˜What are you waiting for?’ Davey said impatiently. ‘Sharing is caring.’
    Mo shook his head and crossed his arms on his chest.
    â€˜This is a new business venture. You’re welcome to some of my stock, but it’ll cost you.’
    George narrowed his eyes at the unwelcome news. ‘How much?’
    â€˜$3.50 a bag!’ declared Mo.
    â€˜Get out of town!’ Davey was disgusted. ‘You’re charging fifty cents more than Benny does!’
    â€˜I’m not a charity!’ Mo shrugged and