Alice Henderson On Debut

Forty-two

I wake up earlier than usual the next morning to discover that Charlie's not in her bed. Nothing unusual except that her running shoes are still on the floor. I quickly get changed and head out into the common room where I find Charlie sitting on a chair on the balcony. I sit down beside her and pull my knees up to my chest and wrap my arms around my legs.

"How long have you been up?" I ask.

"Too long," Charlie replies with a tired smile.

"Everything okay?"

Charlie shrugs.

A thought occurs to me. "Is Ethan okay?"

Charlie nods. "He's fine. The operation went really well. He got his wrist pinned so no chance of him breaking it in the same place again."

I laugh. "Well that's a positive."

"Are you nervous about today?" Charlie asks.

"Hell yes," I reply.

"Me too," Charlie says.

"We'll be fine. It's just another game, right?"

Charlie shifts on her chair and sighs. "Paris is right, you know."

"About what?"

"About me not having a chance at being a pro player."

"You're as good as anybody, Charlie. Why would you say that?"

Charlie looks at me. "Because it's not about being good or not, it's about not being in the right place. All the T20 teams are in the city. Where do you think they'll get their players from? I can tell you now it won't be Amby Creek or Maryborough."

"Speak for yourself," I reply. "I'd be moving to Brissy if I had a chance of making a pro team."

"You say it like it's simple, Alice, but it's not."

"I don't understand."

Charlie stands up and walks to the edge of the balcony. I get up and stand beside her. "Talk to me, Charlie."

Charlie turns to me and I can see the pain in her eyes. "I can't just up and move, Alice. I have responsibilities back home. With Mum gone, it's up to me to help Dad out at home."

"But—"

"No, Alice, it's okay. I'm not mad about it or anything. It's just the way it is."

"But it doesn't have to be," I say. I reach out and touch Charlie's arm. She covers my hand with hers.

"It's okay, Alice, really. I'm a realist. I get how this all works and I'm fine with it." Charlie smiles a sad smile. "It doesn't matter, because it's just not possible for me, and I knew that when I came here."

"Then why did you come here?"

Charlie closes her eyes and chews on the inside of her cheek. It's like whatever it is she wants to say is the hardest thing in the world. She opens her eyes and looks at me. "Sometimes I just need a break from home," she says eventually.

Her lip trembles and the only thing I can think of to do is to hug her. I pull her in to me and hold her tight. I can feel her body relax against me and she sighs into my ear. She pulls away from me and says, "Thanks. I think I needed that."

We both look out towards the cricket oval where we'll be playing today. The groundsmen have arrived and have started setting up marquees and extra seating, and getting the pitch ready for our match.

"I've never actually played in a proper match," Charlie says.

I turn to look at her. "What? How is that even possible?"

"I just, never get the chance."

"But, I thought you said you played against boys, just like me?"

"I was talking about my brothers."

I laugh. "You're kidding?"

Charlie shakes her head.

"What about all that training you said you do?"

"On the farm. My Pop gave me some cricket videos when I was younger and I just copied whatever they were doing."

"How did you decide to become a 'keeper then instead of a bowler or batsman?"

"They were Rod Marsh wicketkeeping ones."

I laugh. "Well you're pretty good for not having any proper training."

Charlie grins. "Thanks." She leans on the balcony, resting her chin on her hand. "Dad's got my whole family coming to see me play because they've never seen me in a proper match."

"Wow, Charlie, that's massive."

Charlie puffs out a breath. "I feel sick, Alice. Yesterday was the first time I've even come close to being on a proper cricket field playing a proper match."

"It's no different to yesterday really, except it just goes a bit longer with less breaks. Downside though is that if you get out, you're out. No staying in til your overs are finished."

Charlie turns her head and smiles up at me. "You know," she says, "I don't think I would've gotten through this week if it wasn't for you."

"You would've been fine," I reply.

She sucks in a breath. "Whatever," she says. "Thanks for being my friend this week."

I lean in and hug her. "Just for this week? You're going to dump me after today?"

"That depends," she replies.

"On what?"

"At how good you are at writing letters, because you obviously don't get on the internet much."

I punch her playfully on the arm.

"I'm starving," Charlie says. "We should go and get some breakfast."

I follow her out through the common room and into the hallway. "I'll meet you down there."

"Okay," Charlie replies and I watch her disappear down the stairs.

I go up the stairs to the next level. I need to find Jules.