The Color of the Sun by David Almond

Author:David Almond [Almond, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781536210996
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Published: 2019-10-07T16:00:00+00:00

He steps from the narrow allotment path onto the green grass of the fields. Everything’s at peace, the way it was just yesterday. Loads of lads scuttle and swarm across the green in the distance, caught up in the everlasting football game. Mams push toddlers on swings in the little play park nearby. There’s the rhythmical squeak squeak squeak of the swings and the giggles and the laughter and the high-pitched yells of “Higher, higher, higher, higher!” There’s the grinding up and down of the ancient seesaw that’s been there since Davie’s mam was young. Lads and lasses stroll hand in hand or arm in arm. Others’ll be further up the field, lying hidden in the long grass. And the larks sing high in the sky as they always do, no matter what dreadful things might have occurred on the earth below.

Davie walks. He’s been this way a thousand times, but every time it seems so different and so strange, like he comes upon it every time so new. Or maybe it’s because he’s new every time, like every time he walks he’s a different Davie from the one who walked before.

Heat and the scent of the dry earth rise from the grass. The air is all ashimmer. He hears the calling of his name from far away.

“Davie! Davie! Davie!”

Must be one of the footballers. He pauses and watches. They’re swarming closer now. There are goals, but they’ve left these far behind. Two goalkeepers, tiny, dark, distant figures, guard them. It’s one of the formless games. All ideas of a proper rectangular pitch are gone. A little leading bunch kick and dribble, trip and nudge. They blast the ball forward and hurry after it. Others swarm and follow. Some of the slower ones or younger ones have already given up. They’re lounging on the grass, waiting, knowing that the game will return.

Davie hears his name again.

“Davie!”

It’s a boy he’s known since he was a toddler. Raymond Brooks. He’s naked to the waist, as half the lads always are when they play on days like this. He runs out of the pack at Davie.

“Come and play, Davie! Skin or Top?”

“I can’t,” says Davie. “I’ve got no time.”

“You’ve got all the time in the world, man. It’s the middle of the summer. Skin or Top?”

Skin or Top? Does Davie want to join the half-naked team or the team that still has tops on?

“Be a Skin,” says Raymond. “We need you. We’re losing seven-two. Or eight-three.”

Davie thinks of the haversack. He can’t take it off and leave it lying and run away from it.

“It’ll have to be Tops,” he says.

He tightens the haversack straps.

Raymond’s disappointed but he laughs.

“Davie’s playing!” he yells. “He’s a Top.”

Somebody curls the ball toward Davie. He traps it, but right away he’s tackled and it’s gone. He runs, with the haversack bobbing and thumping at his back. He’s in the crowd, three dozen or more boys and a couple of girls from across the town. They’re kids of all ages, from five to seventeen.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.