Free Season of Hate by Michael Costello Page B

now, and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again.' Don't you think that's a wonderful way to live your life, being kind and doing good to everybody?"
    "It's hard being good all the time," replied Doug. Dad fought off a smile.
    "Well I guess as long as we try, eh fellas? As a matter of fact, it was Poppie who first told me that quote years ago." The mention of Poppie's name gave it more importance to us.
    "Say it again," asked Doug. Dad did so, slowly and with clarity.
    "I agree and that, but if ya don't do anything but spend all your time being kind and good to everyone, how do ya get anything done?" I put forward.
    "It's not something you do or think about all the time, its just in the back of your mind so that when something happens, you automatically choose to do good and be kind rather than nasty and 'orrible to people," Dad counselled with a grin.
    We continued on home for lunch. Once there Dad took us aside.
    "I have to apologise fellas. I shouldn't have called Bob Wood a goose. Like I've told you before, it's not nice to call someone names."
    "That's not name callin', you're just statin' facts," called out Nan from the kitchen.
    "Mum, please. The sad part is, it's hard to change people like Bob Wood, boys."
    "They're gonna hear a lot worse words than that as they grow up. You protect 'em too much at times. It's time they started learnin' that everythin' in the garden isn't always lovely," Nan emphasised. Dad mulled it over.
    "S'pose you're right. Come on fellas let's wash for lunch."
     

     
    "The sandwiches are fantastic, Nan," I enthused.
    "What's got into him? You usually turn yer nose up at brawn."
    "After this morning, I think for what they have received, they truly are thankful," Dad summed up.
    "That's good, 'cause I'm thinkin' of doin' curried sheep's eyes Sund'y, with tripe sponge for puddin'." Dad and Nan guessed our response and joined us in a collective,
    "Urrh."

Chapter Seven

    The wait was over. We met Barry and Raymond out the front of the School of Arts for the pictures. All the kids in town and the surrounding districts were there. Sitting with a group of the girls from our class was Penny Farrar, now with a plastic mouthguard to help push back her top teeth. Steve was with his mates and at the back of the hall the older teenage boys and girls sat in pairs. Throughout the audience were various parents keeping an eye out for any shenanigans. Anyone caught throwing boiled lollies at someone's head would be immediately ejected. The ladies of the CWA sold the tickets as well as refreshments, just inside the entrance. Dad sat at the end of our aisle, far enough away so as not to seem like he was babysitting us, in front of our mates.
    We all stood and sang God Save The Queen to Gwen Grady's piano accompaniment then took our seats. There was much talking and manoeuvring nervously in our seats in anticipation until the red velvet curtains jerked open and the white screen descended from above the stage as lights faded.
    From the moment the musical fanfare began, and an old sailing ship glided behind the titles for The Sea Hawk , we were mesmerised. After interval and Smitten Kitten , a Tom and Jerry cartoon, we were taken on an adventure into deepest darkest Africa with Johnny Weissmuller as Tarzan, in Tarzan and The Leopard Woman . We sat with our eyes straining at the screen, cheering and calling out whenever a baddie was dispatched, while crunching on our chocolate crackles and Smith's chips, or sucking on homemade toffees – mmm, magic.
    Afterwards we all hung around outside talking excitedly over what we'd just seen with our mates. Penny smiled at me as she nervously played with her hair, but I didn't smile back even though I liked her, because I was shy. Snotty reckoned she was keen on me.
    "Pat and Penny sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g." He kept on singing as he wiped his nose on his shirt sleeve. I gave him a nipple cripple. That shut him up.
    The Golden Sea was just a short