Starting from Scratch by Penelope Janu

Author:Penelope Janu
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mira
Published: 2020-11-19T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER

22

‘So …’ Hugo, says, keeping his eyes on the road but turning down the volume on the radio, ‘what was the problem with Prima?’

The seatbelt is a vice across my chest. I bite my lip as a car overtakes on our right. ‘There wasn’t a problem.’

‘Your committee’s UN delegate said that’s why you were late.’

‘The Ramsar Secretariat is UN sanctioned. He’s not a UN delegate.’ I squeeze my eyes shut. ‘Are you trying to make me throw up?’

‘Not on my watch,’ he says, as he indicates left and pulls into a layby at the side of the road. He winds down our windows and switches off the engine.

I breathe in through my nose and out through my mouth. Deep breaths. If you don’t control the anxiety, it will take control of you. ‘What time is it?’

Hugo peers at the dashboard clock. ‘Almost six-thirty.’

‘That’s why it’s dark.’

‘Have you just noticed? You’ve been staring out of the window since we left.’

‘I’m telling myself there’s nothing out there.’

He puts his hand on my forehead as if checking my temperature. ‘We’re on the outskirts of the city now. Won’t be long.’

‘Just give me a minute. If my breathing is okay, I do better.’

‘Daylight saving starts next weekend. Maybe that’ll help?’ He whistles a tune I can’t identify. ‘Sapph?’

‘Hugo.’

‘Why’d you go to Prima when we wanted to get here before dark?’

I knew Ma would ask why it’d taken so long to get the pins out of my hair. I didn’t want to face Matts again. So after I walked out of the flower room, I left my bags on the steps and ran to the paddock. Freckle nickered and Lollopy rushed to the gate wearing his ‘I’m afraid you forgot to feed me’ expression. I wrapped my arms around his neck and buried my face in his fuzzy black mane. He smelt of horse and dust and hay, much easier to process than scents of pine and peppermint. ‘I’m going to miss you and Freckle when Jet gets back.’

I didn’t realise that Joel was still at the farmhouse until I saw him in the paddock with Prima. He’d bridled and saddled her and was leading her around on a rope. He looked up proudly.

‘Reckon it won’t be long before you can ride her, Sapphie.’ Prima stood quietly with Joel at her head as I walked around her, keeping close to her body in case she shied and kicked out. I practiced what we’d been doing all week—Joel holding her steady while I put my hands on the saddle and my foot in the stirrup iron. When I pulled myself up as if I was going to mount, she held my weight calmly. Next week, I’ll climb onto her back.

I take another deep breath before I turn back to Hugo. ‘Joel was waiting, and I wanted to say goodbye to the horses.’

He laughs. ‘Bet they were hanging out for that.’

‘You’re the one who talks to frogs.’

He puts the car into gear. ‘Only the males croak back.’

‘Which means girl frogs are much less likely to be eaten.

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