"C'mon get you hat we've gotta go!" Ned ushers, moving his eyes away from the clock on the pub wall.
"Shit, seeya at the game Johnny!" I slam my slouch hat onto my head as Tom, Ned and I bolt out the door.
Our boots carry us down the dusty Main Street towards the even dustier sporting
Oval, that stands at the gates of our town.
"Tom, you're gonna hav'ta run a bit quicker than that mate!" I yell.
"Right smart arse, I'm going as fast as I can." Tom bellows, his 3 and a half feet long legs switch from a run to a lengthy bound as we turn into the oval.
"Nice of you three to turn up, it's not like you're the attraction or anything." Elsie laughs, as the three of us join the rest of our team.
"Today, now that they've decided to turn up, ladies and gentlemen, we farewell five of Kununurra's best. Firstly for our soldiers; young Private Thomas Stewart, our fiery Scotsman. Private Hamish Stockman, our star footballer and the Echo Valley Station Taylor twins, Private Clancy and Private Ned, Clancy the one on the left and Ned on the right." Mr Jones, our coach, introduces.
"Switch it around Sir!" I correct and the spectators cackles echo across the ground.
"Apologies, our smart alec cricketing twins Clancy and Ned Taylor."
The two of wave.
In unison.
"And finally, our finest little nurse, Sister Elsie O'Dwyer, please put your hands together for the beautiful youth of Kununurra."
For the first time in my life...
The town knows my name.
Not because I'm the identical twin.
But because I'm a soldier.
-
So we play.
As if it is our final game of cricket ever in our lifetime.
Although we swear to god it isn't.
"Last over of the day to be bowled by Ned Taylor." Our team captain Lachlan Lovell, drops the ball into Ned's sweaty palms. Ned smiles, he turns to Kate and holds up the ball. She claps and I chuckle.
"Right boys, one wicket and we can have a beer, Clancy I need you proper on the ball you 'ear me?" Lachie snarls.
"I hear you, I'm the wicket keeper I'm always on the ball." I state, as everyone returns to their fielding positions.
I have Hamish beside me at first slip.
I can't help but think of a few nights ago.
The creek.
The laughter.
Her kiss.
I shake it from my mind and return to the game. I'm snap into it with the ball slapping into my glove.
Ned soars at least two feet into the ear and Tom maybe three. Hamish slams his hand onto my back almost knocking me from my feet.
"You weren't even with it were you?" Ned's eyes are the size of dinner plates. I shake my head, not really realising that I've just taken a wicket.
"Far Out you're a bloody idiot!" My brother and Tom lift me onto their shoulders and cart me off the ground, the crowd clapping.
"TO THE PUB!" I chant out as they drop me to the ground.
Another cheer erupts into the hot air.
-
I sit beside Hamish, he's twirling his beer glass on the bar.
"Having second thoughts mate?" I ask, flicking his emu plumes.
"Course not." He swallows, not looking up at me.
"Just checking, don't you to look cowardly in front of Elsie you know." I say, motioning for another beer for the two of us.
Hamish doesn't reply.
"It's Elsie isn't it?" I furrow my eyebrows.
He nods.
"A couple of nights ago, she caught me with Sara and I'm pretty sure I've messed everything up." Hamish's angry voice startles me.
"You were with another girl? Hamish you're kidding me right? I can't believe this."
I most certainly can.
"You've been her best friend since she was small, how can I fix this?" He pleads.
I want to tell him not to try.
I want her all for myself.
But instead;
"Talk to her, tell her you love her and don't do it again." I say, looking down at my glass.
'He's kisses Sara Joseph more times than I can count'
I walk over to Elsie, who's laughing with Mary at the dancing drunk red head and clone of me.
She laughing but there's something behind her eyes that tells me she's not happy. I stand beside her and take her hand in mine.
Very discretely.
A soft smile appears on her face and a blush appears on her cheeks.
-
"I'm sure Australia has more than enough boys enlisting, you boys don't have to go yet." Mum says, her longing eyes breaking mine and Ned's hearts into smithereens.
Shadows fall over our eyes as we secure our slouch hats on our heads. The glimmering badge captures the blinding sun with every movement our bodies make.
"Mum, we'll come home, I'll make sure of it." Ned reassures.
"You better, we both know what Clancy's like." She mumbles into Ned's shoulder. I laugh at her statement but no one else does.
"Here," Mum holds out two family photographs. "One for each of you, don't forget to write."
"Tell us everything!" Alice adds.
Arthur is quiet.
His voice has been silent since the farewell game of cricket.
I take him in a head lock and rub my knuckles lovingly against the top of his head.
"Love ya mate." I tell him, releasing him as he nods.
"We both do." Ned punches my arm.
Ned laughs at my scowl before focusing back on Art; "You gotta look after Mum for us, she's gonna need some looking after I think. Work hard for Dad-"
"Now that he's lost his best workers, he's going to need someone to replace them." I smile, Arthur laughs.
"We'll be home to pick the orchard bare." Ned says.
"And I'll crutch those ewes down in the billabong paddock, Dad." I tell him.
"You boys just focus on winning this war and coming home," Dad sighs and pulls the two of us down into his shoulders. We are both a foot taller than him but he still manages to keep control.
Ned and I smile at our family.
Reassuring them that we are strong.
"Well, catchya Dad, Mum, Art, Alice." I tilt my hat, and kiss Mum's cheek.
"Farewell our dearest and most infuriating Clancy." She sniffs.
"Seeya later Clancy!" Alice hugs my legs.
"Bye Alice." I bend down and her little arms wrap around my neck.
"I love you." She whispers.
"I love you too." I rise to my feet and stand tall.
Ned and I trudge down to the gate, our heads hang and our hands securely lodged in our pockets.
"This is it, we are really bloody doing it." Ned says.
"Too right mate, too bloody right." I say, the Australian flag waving behind my eyes.
YOU ARE READING
The Echo Of Youth
Historical Fiction"I didn't realise that I could miss something as much as I miss my innocence." It's 1914, the world is at war, and it's unlike anything anyone has seen before. The men of cities and country towns are leaving for a cause much bigger than they realis...
