Something Blue by Alex Sarkis

Author:Alex Sarkis
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ultimo Press
Published: 2022-05-17T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

What Dave said in the car bothers me for the rest of the night and most of the next day. Mainly because he’s right. I have been a bit of an arsehole, and as far as ‘the struggle’ goes, well, I’ve never really known it. That’s not to say I don’t appreciate the value of a dollar – of course I do. I have a job and wage, like everyone else. But people like Dave and my dad have a different perspective; one that comes from desperation – from having to dig ditches on a job site, or from doorknocking in the rain with wet feet.

I only stop thinking about it when I meet Danny at Roberts Park, a footy field in Greenacre just around the corner from his house. I watch from my car as he kicks a football clean between the posts, while Bruiser sits stoically at his feet. There are two kids standing on the try line and they run to high-five him. When he sees me crossing the grass, he sends them for the ball and then waves them away.

‘Hey.’ I say it tentatively, noticing he hasn’t smiled. ‘Making friends?’

‘Nah,’ he says. ‘I know their dad.’ He looks at the ground. ‘Wasn’t supposed to see you till Thursday.’ We’d finally locked in our shopping trip with Sarah.

‘Yeah, well. I guess I missed you.’

It’s meant to break the ice, but it doesn’t work. He keeps his distance.

‘Danny?’

He looks at me.

‘I’m really sorry about last night.’

He doesn’t say anything; he just nods.

‘I mean it: I’m really sorry. That fight came from nowhere. We had no idea who they were.’

‘You’re not the one who should be sorry. I’m not angry at you; I just hate not being there if you’re in trouble. It really fucks with me.’

‘I know, but I’m fine.’ I stand with my arms outstretched. ‘See? Not a scratch.’ Aside from the dull throb of a hangover, and the blister burn on my foot, I managed to escape my first drunken fracas relatively unscathed.

He raises his eyebrows, his gaze catching on my bare midriff. ‘Yeah, you’re looking well.’

‘I am. I even came here for a walk. That’s how well I am.’

‘Mm.’ He looks at his dog, a smile tucked away at the corner of his mouth. Then he says, ‘My mate called me today.’

‘Which mate?’

‘The one from last night.’

‘Who, Scarface?’

Danny grins. ‘Yeah, “Scarface”. He says you’re a little staunch.’ He’s smiling at me now like it’s the proudest moment of his life.

I shoot him a look and start walking.

‘He says you’re cute, too.’

I roll my eyes. ‘I’m flattered.’

Danny picks up Bruiser’s chain and follows, the three of us strolling around the oval.

‘How’d he get that scar, anyway?’

‘Samurai sword.’ He says it like it’s the most normal thing in the world.

‘Doing what?’

‘I don’t know,’ he says. ‘Just mucking around.’

‘Yeah, with who? Bruce Lee?’

Danny pulls at the hood of my jacket, bringing me back to him, his arm around my neck in mock seriousness. ‘I think he likes you, Nic.

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