Jack & Harry

by Tony McKenna

  ‘Ahh it was nothin’, mate.’ Jack dismissed the praise and stood back, taking in the suit and hat. ‘Hey, Bruno, you look sharp, mate. Bought some new clobber, eh?’

  ‘You like?’ The small man turned a complete circle ‘You think maybe I getta nice lady inna Napoli, eh, Jack?’

  ‘Dunno, Bruno, you look like a bloody Mafia gangster.’ The two laughed uproariously and Jack’s parents stood open-mouthed at the obvious rapport between their young son and this swarthy Italian with the thick accent.

  Alice was first to recover. ‘Ah, Mr …?’

  ‘Boccelli’ Jack senior said.

  ‘Mr Boccelli … please come inside. It seems you and Jack here know each other well.’ She reached out and took her husband’s arm, guiding him aside, allowing the Italian entrance to the front door.

  As soon as they were inside the house Bruno asked Jack a question. ‘Harry. You know where Harry is? I need talka you both. Very important.’

  ‘I’ll call him on the phone, Bruno, wait here.’ Jack went to the telephone, leaving Bruno and the Ferguson’s standing in the hallway, the Italian twirling his hat awkwardly in his fingers.

  Alice ushered him into the lounge room and seated him on the lounge. ‘What’s this about saving your life?’

  ‘Jack he notta say nothing?’ When they shook their heads Bruno relayed to them what Ron Carter had told him about the boys initiating the rescue and how Reynold and Jack had dug frantically for him with bare hands forty feet underground while Harry drove off for help.

  ‘Bruno!’ Jack returned from the telephone. ‘Don’t scare them with that sorta talk. It wasn’t all that dangerous,’ he said, playing down their roles in the rescue. ‘Harry’s on his way. Couldn’t believe it when I said you were here. How did ya find us?’

  Bruno explained that Ron Carter brought Paddy O’Brien to the station but he didn’t know where Jack lived in Perth so Iris Smith drove him round to Shaun Logan who contacted Father O’Malley to get the Ferguson address. Jack’s father sat in an easy chair with Alice perched on the arm, her hand on her husband’s shoulder, and both of them were bewildered by the conversation and the names of people they didn’t know.

  Some minutes later Harry came bursting through the door and there was a replay of the reunion that Jack had had with Bruno. When it had settled down Bruno became serious. ‘Jack, Harry we musta talk business. Where we go?’

  ‘You can talk here, Mr Boccelli.’ Jack’s father indicated the lounge chairs.

  ‘Thank you so much but this issa business between us. We talka private.’ He stood up. ‘Where we go, Jack?’

  ‘Down to the creek I suppose. Best place, eh, Harry?

  ‘Yep. Nobody can hear us there.’

  Bruno made a move toward the door and apologised for interrupting the family.

  ‘We’ll see you when you come back then, Mr Boccelli,’ Alice said as they walked into the hallway.

  ‘No, Meesus Fergoosun, I go on fromma this … creek , only have little time inna Perth.’

  Bruno farewelled Alice and Jack Ferguson leaving them standing on the front verandah watching the two boys and the well dressed Italian walk off down the street. ‘We have a lot to find out about what they got up to while they were away, Alice.’

  ‘I can’t believe it, Jack. They rescued that man from a cave-in. Our Jack and young Harry, that’s incredible.’ Her voice caught and she began to cry softly, ‘Oh, Jack, to think they could have all been killed. I’m so glad they’re not out there now and are safe here at home.’

  ‘Yes, Alice, I know what you mean.’ He reached out and drew his wife to him. ‘But I think they grew up pretty quickly out there.’ He watched as the unlikely three figures disappeared down the street. ‘Remember what I said a few nights ago, about a maturity that I couldn’t put my finger on?’

  ‘I do remember you saying that, Jack, and I’m so glad Harry’s going back to school and our Jack’s starting with Elders after the weekend. At least we’ll know where he is and that he’s safe. Not scrambling around some godforsaken mine in the middle of Australia risking his life with all those strange people.’

  Chapter Thirty Nine

  The boys led Bruno through the park gates and down to the creek. They didn’t sit on the ground as usual, due to Bruno being dressed in a suit, so they chose one of the benches under a spreading Morton Bay fig tree. Even so, Bruno produced a handkerchief that he placed carefully on the wooden slats to protect his new clothes before sitting down, a gesture which made the boys grin to themselves, as this was so unlike the Bruno they were accustomed to: the Bruno with the collarless shirt and waistcoat with patched trousers that he kept hitched up with a piece of frayed rope, and a beanie he wore when he went underground, the Bruno with the dust-caked face and dirt beneath his fingernails.

  ‘I need to thank you for a save my life. Sergeant Roy he tella me all about it. I no remember, justa know that I scare now of …’ their friend shuddered visibly, beads of perspiration dotting his forehead ‘… of have to go underground. I no canna do that no more, boys.’

  They didn’t know what to say but realised he trusted them enough to allow them to witness this open display of his fear. Jack reached out tentatively and touched his shoulder ‘That’s OK, Bruno, I think I understand.’

  ‘It musta been real scary, Bruno.’ Harry attempted to reassure the Italian.

  ‘Yes, Harry, I a very scared, I not think I get out. I sit with this bigga opla with so mucha dust all round inna air like I no breath no more and the silence, not a sound. I think this issa Bruno grave and I looka at the opla, big …’ He held his hands up to indicate its size, ‘ anna I say, ‘Bruno, you find what you looka for alla you life and now you die here with her.’ I cry then fora longa time before the light go out anna darkness issa so black lika the tomb. I shake anna shake anna cry anna pray anna think of my family back inna Napoli. I know I notta see them no more and then fall asleep I think. No remember no more from then.’ There were tears in his eyes when he turned to look at the boys and they saw the fear deep inside him and knew that he believed he had come back from the dead.

  He coughed and retrieved the handkerchief from beneath him, unconcerned now about the dirty seat, and blew his nose noisily. He smiled self-consciously. ‘You thinka Bruno loosa his mind no?’ He took a deep breath before continuing. ‘That’sa why I never go backa down. I make the decision to go home, seea my family anna maybe Bruno finda nice lady to settle down. I sella the opla, no want to be a remind of that day.

  She bringa big money, more thanna Bruno need, anna now I say thank you for save my life.’

  ‘Did you sell your mine then, Bruno, if you’re not gonna go back there?’

  ‘Someone else they worka him now, Jack, yes. Not belonga to Bruno no more.’

  The Italian took an envelope from an inside jacket pocket and handed it to them. ‘For you both.’

  What’s this, Bruno?’ Jack took the envelope and turned it over in his hands. ‘You don’t need to give us anything, Bruno, we didn’t do much, mate.’

  ‘What in envelope issa for you Jack anna you Harry, but plis, you open him when I longa gone, otherwise I cry again. Maybe you open when you go backa your house, OK? I also leave something inna Coober for Rennol with Ron Carter.’ He stood up. ‘Buon giorno my friends, Bruno he never forgeta you.’ He hugged each of the boys in turn for a moment then quickly spun on his heel to hide his tears and walked away up the path towards the exit, leaving the two boys standing beside the bench staring after their friend, knowing they would never see him again.

  Sergeant Ron Watson put the telephone down in the Coober Pedy police station after talking with Rosemary Wilson. She had asked him if they could take up his offer to stay with him and spend a holiday fossicking around the mullock heaps. Rosemary told him that the two lads, Jack and Harry, had lunched with them on the way to Perth and seemed like nice young men. He had agreed they were good young blokes that had been accepted quickly by the locals for their hard work a
nd honesty.

  Rosemary told him that Naomi had taken a shine to young Jack and she had badgered them into going up to Coober. ‘She vehemently denies, of course, it’s in order to see Jack Ferguson again.’

  ‘Not sure if she will see him, Rose,’ He had told her. ‘We haven’t heard anything from the boys although it hasn’t been that long since they left. I was talking with Iris Smith and she tends to think that they’ll get absorbed back into Perth life pretty easily as they had only been gone from there for about six months. She reckons their parents will talk them into staying but Paddy O’Brien, he’s their Irish mate from Kalgoorlie, says they’ll be back … hard to say. Be a shame though if they don’t.’

  He had also told her that Bruno Boccelli, the miner whose life they had saved, had been through to finalise a few things and was disappointed when he discovered they had left and were back in Western Australia. Ron told her Bruno had managed to get Jack’s address in Perth by a roundabout way from the priest in Kalgoorlie. ‘If the boys don’t return to Coober, Rose, Naomi could probably track Jack down through the priest. Not sure exactly why Bruno wants to see them but I guess it’ll be to thank them in some way. Strange sorta bloke but who isn’t up here? Says he’s going back to Italy and left a parcel for me to give to Reynold.’

  ‘He’s their mate, young Aboriginal lad that helped with the rescue,’ he explained when Rose asked who Reynold was.

  The telephone rang and Alice answered it. ‘Have you seen Harry?’ It was Jean Turner.

  ‘Yes, Jean, he was here a while ago. Didn’t he tell you he was coming over?’

  ‘No. I asked him not to leave the house. I was down the shops and when I got back he was gone. Is he off somewhere with Jack?’ She sounded agitated.

  Yes, Jean, down at the creek. They went off with an Italian who turned up from Coober Pedy.’

  ‘They what? Who … what Italian? Alice, this is not good enough.’ Her voice had an angry edge ‘I don’t want Harry mixing with Jack and all these strange people. Claude’s here and we’re coming around. We need to settle this thing.’ She hung up, leaving Alice staring dumbly at the receiver in her hand.

  Claude drove into the Ferguson driveway with Jean. ‘I know you’re upset and worried about Harry, Jean. I am too, but don’t get too uppity and say something you may regret later. They’re good friends and to be honest, I don’t think Jack influenced Harry at all. I believe they were both party to running off.’

  ‘That may have been so at the time but Harry’s going back to being a schoolboy again and Jack’s starting work on Monday. I know Harry would rather be with Jack than at school so keeping them apart for a while will help the situation.’

  ‘You’ll find when they both get settled into their own routines that they’ll naturally grow apart anyhow. With one working and one at school, their lives will be heading in different directions. We better go in, we look stupid sitting here in the car arguing.’

  ‘What about this Italian and off down the creek with him?’

  ‘We’ll find out, Jean, just calm down.’

  Harry baulked when he spotted his father’s car outside the Fergusons, like he had done the night they arrived with Father O’Malley. ‘What’re they doin’ here?’

  ‘Dunno, let’s find out.’ Jack pushed through the back gauze door with Harry at his heels to find both their parents sitting at the kitchen table, staring at them.

  ‘You didn’t tell us about rescuing some miner from a cave-in.’ Claude Turner opened up the conversation. ‘Jack and Alice just explained that the man who arrived here earlier was the one you two rescued, is that right?’

  Harry explained briefly about how Bruno had become trapped and described the rescue but played down their parts in it. He completed the brief story by saying that Bruno had called by to say thanks.

  ‘Where is he now, Harry, this Bruno?’

  ‘Gone, Mum. Gone off to Italy. Says he won’t be back.’

  ‘That’s a relief then,’ she said. ‘What’s that you’ve got?’ Jean pointed to the envelope Jack was holding.

  ‘This? Oh, just a card sayin’ thanks I think. We haven’t bothered to open it yet have we, Harry?’

  ‘No, just a card to say goodbye.’

  ‘Well, that was good of the man but I’m glad he’s gone. You’re both too young to be mixing with that type of person.’ Jean noticed the dark expressions cloud both boys’ eyes. ‘Probably a very nice man, pity we didn’t meet him, Claude, isn’t it?’

  Her weak rescue attempt didn’t work so Alice came to her assistance ‘Now, I’m sure there are a lot of nice people up in Coober Pedy and you had some exciting times while you were away but it’s time now to get on with your lives. There’s no need to forget those people, you can write to them. Telephone Father O’Malley now and then. You know, keep in touch.’

  ‘That’s a grand idea, Alice.’ Jean agreed, hoping that after a time the boys would forget all about Coober Pedy and Italians and drovers and priests and opals.

  When they were ready to leave, the Turners called to Harry and both he and Jack appeared from the bedroom down the hallway.

  ‘Dad?’ Jack spoke. ‘Mr Turner?’ The men looked expectantly at the boys.

  ‘Tomorrow’s Sunday and if Harry goes to school and I go to work on Monday we wouldn’t have much chance to catch up for a while so we were wonderin’ … how about we all have a day out tomorrow? Maybe go to the beach or somethin’, maybe have a picnic?’

  The parents looked at each other and shrugged ‘Why not? What do you think, Jean?’

  ‘Sounds OK to me, Alice. Makes a lot of sense seeing they won’t have much time together after Monday. Claude, that OK with you?’

  ‘You bet.’ Claude welcomed the decision the boys had come to themselves, knowing it would relieve his wife’s anxiety. ‘We’ll have to take both cars. That’s if everyone’s coming?’

  ‘Yeah, let’s make it a two family affair. Been a while since we all got together,’ Jack’s father said, ‘ and we’ll finish the day off here with a couple of beers and maybe fire up the barbie.’

  ‘It should be our turn, Jack so we’ll bring the meat. Come on, Jean, let’s head home and get organised for tomorrow. Come on, Harry.’

  ‘Can I hang in for a bit with Jack, Dad? We thought we might go down to the creek. Promise I won’t be late.’

  Claude looked at his wife who hesitated but then smiled. ‘Yes, why not. Be a while before you’ll get the chance again.’

  The two boys sauntered through the park entrance. They had only walked a few yards when a bicycle came hurtling up the path, the rider with his head down and pedalling hard. Looking up at the last moment and seeing two people on the path the rider braked and skidded to a stop, narrowly avoiding hitting them.

  ‘Sorry I didn’t ….’ The rider’s voice trailed away in shock.

  ‘Well, well, well. Look who it is, Harry?’ The boy on the bike made to ride off but Jack grabbed the seat and held it firmly.

  Harry took hold of the handlebars, further preventing the bike from moving. ‘Hello, Billy, fancy seein’ you here.’

  ‘Surprised ya still have this bike, Billy. Thought somebody woulda stolen it by now,’ Jack said with a wicked smile, watching Billy Munse squirm. ‘Hop off, Billy and let’s have a bit of a yarn. Ya wouldn’t want to ignore a coupla old mates would ya?’

  Billy Munse looked nervously about him, hoping other people would be nearby but they were alone.

  ‘What! No witnesses, Billy?’ Jack was enjoying the moment.

  ‘Er … you blokes better let me go or …’

  ‘Or what, Billy?’ Jack spat at him. ‘You and ya father’ll make up some more bloody lies about us.’

  ‘No. I ahh … I just meant that I’ll be in trouble that’s all. Gotta get home. Good to see ya, Jack … Harry.’ Billy was shaking with fear, his hands sweaty on the handlebars. He had initially thought it was two men he had almost collided with, not recognising Jack and Harry with their jeans, work shirts
and riding boots. He could see fierceness in their eyes that shocked him and he was afraid his bladder might give way.

  ‘Get off the bike, Billy,’ Harry ordered firmly. Billy obeyed and stood looking at the ground.

  ‘You better not hurt me. I’ll have ya charged with assault.’

  ‘Nobody’d believe ya, mate. Not after the last time ya lied. What do ya reckon we should do with him, Harry? Pity there’s not a shaft around we could chuck him down, eh?’

  ‘There’s the creek, Jack. We could throw both him and his bike into one of them deep holes.’

  Billy was really afraid now and started to blubber, tears brimming in his eyes and bottom lip quivering. ‘I … I didn’t mean no harm, honest,’ he choked. ‘My dad said he’d lock me bike away and …’

  ‘And ya lied to protect yourself, eh? That’s a real man’s way of handlin’ things isn’t it, Harry?’

  They stood watching Billy quake for a minute before realising that he was nothing but a scared little child.

  ‘So you’re the hope of the school, Billy? Top student goin’ on to university. God help us,’ Harry sneered.

  ‘We’re not gonna belt ya, Billy. We don’t hit little kids do we, Harry?’ Jack actually began to feel sorry for Billy, with his runny nose and tear-stained face. ‘Let him go, mate, before he pees his pants.’

  Billy Munse immediately stopped sniffling and, alert to Jack’s change of attitude, made an attempt to ingratiate himself with the two boys who he realised would be better friends to have, than enemies. ‘I’m real sorry about what happened, honest,’ he whined. ‘You know, with the bike and all. Now that you’re home we can be friends again, eh? I’ve got a billycart now, Jack, like yours and …’

  ‘We’re not home, Billy. Home’s Coober Pedy. We’re just visitin’ for a while aren’t we, Jack? And I don’t think we’re gonna be friends somehow.’

  ‘Yeah, we can, sure.’ Billy thought desperately for a way he could win the two antagonists over. ‘Look, I got an idea.’ He indicated his bike. ‘Dad’s away playin’ golf this weekend so you blokes could borrow my bike and ride it around. As long as you had it back by tomorrow lunch time he’d never know and …’