After the show

Willo! Loved the show, man!

I looked up from among the band gear. It was the boys, led by a widely grinning Chris.

Yeah, that’s because you couldn’t take your eyes off the cancan dancers.

Nah, that’s not true. I spent a lot of time looking at Polly. But some loser cut my grass. I’ll never forgive you, Willo.

I gave Jock the finger and said hello to Chris and Tim.

Nice gangsta outfit! Show us your moves, homeboy!

Jock came over to my left side.

No, seriously, man, she’s cute. So do you reckon you can introduce the one who played her friend? You owe me!

I pushed him aside and continued moving music stands for the last time. Something I was definitely not going to miss.

Did you have to bring them? I said to Chris.

I pointed over to where Tim and Jock had taken some of the geeks’ instruments and were trying to play them, which wasn’t working, in an attempt to wind up the geeks, which was working.

I couldn’t stop them. They wanted to make sure you knew who to set them up with.

Chris looked over to where the Freak was giving them a very thorough talking-to.

If you’re not careful, the little man over there is going to become a William Armstrong clone.

Jock and Tim were giving up the instruments and telling the Freak to settle down. He was doing an all right job of it too. I thought I’d give him some backup.

Hey, be careful with those, you idiots! I shouted.

But it looked like Zach didn’t need any assistance, he just looked over and waved.

So you two are mates again?

Yeah. It was like he understood what was going on before I did. I mean, look at me last night about Dad, and I’m seventeen—imagine what you’d feel like if your mum walked out on you when you were nine. Nah, he’s a really cool kid, in a geeky kind of way.

The Freak made his way over and shook Chris’s hand.

Are you coming tonight, Chris?

Sure am.

I’ll see you there then. I can’t talk. I’ve got to organize these guys to get the gear down to the band room, otherwise Brother Patrick and Ms. Sefton will freak.

Sure, Zach, I’ll catch you then.

Quite the confident socializer, your Zach. You have taught him well, Yoda.

I hit him with a drumstick.

All right, all right. So are you going to Mark’s tonight or are things still strange?

I spoke to him before the show. I think he’s OK. You could tell he was keeping himself distant, but we had a bit of a laugh. He said he had mates coming from Melbourne. You’d want to make sure that the boys are told to pull their heads in.

Chris was smiling at me.

What?

I’m sorry, am I hearing William Armstrong speaking to me about being responsible? Man, this is great!

You know what I mean, after the tuckshop incident and all.

Yeah, Will, I’m the one who gets it. The boys’ll be fine. They’re just up for a good party where they can check out the ladies.

I looked around and saw we had at least an hour’s packing-up to get through.

Chris, do you reckon you and those two idiots could give us a hand?

Chris was shaking his head as he started with the instruments. Jock had obviously overheard and he came up and slapped me on the shoulder.

It’ll cost you, Willo.

I wouldn’t expect anything different, Jock. All right, I’ll introduce you. But you’ve got to act halfway human.

Come on, it’s me you’re talking to!

At which point Tim called over to him and pretended to play the trombone by farting at the same time. Jock couldn’t speak for five minutes he thought it was so funny.

Forget it!