That time I got rejected three times on the same day!

Chapter 28

Mother was picking up Henry from Judo. Father had also come home early. He picked me up at the door.

"Hello Vicky," he would always say.

I hugged him tightly and rubbed my face against his scratchy beard. Father smelled like the sea. I didn't really understand what his job was, but he had to leave really early in the morning. Father was never sick and never missed a day of work.

"Where is mother?"

His eyes were dull. There was very little life left in him, but he was smiling.

"Picking up Henry," I said.

"Is dinner ready?" he asked.

He put me down and I dragged him to the kitchen.

"Mother was making something. I don't know if she finished."

Father was still holding my hand. We toured the kitchen and examined mothers work. The cutting board was out and vegetables were sliced. Frozen meat was defrosting in the sink and pot of hot water was on the stove at a slow boil.

"Everything looks in order," father said.

He picked me up again and we walked to the living room.

Father always turned on the TV when he came home. He liked to watch the news and current affairs programs. I ran to my room and got the pictures I drew today. I came back to the lounge and showed him. His eyes lit up.

"What did you draw for me today?" he said.

I gave him the picture.

"This," I pointed at the square with a triangle on top, "is our house."

"Oh," he said, "it's even green."

I giggled.

"Of course it is dummy."

He gave me a hug and gave me a kiss on the forehead.

"Was Henry mean to you today?" he asked.

I screwed up my face in concentration.

"He was mean this morning. He wouldn't pack away his bowl, so I had to do it for him."

"That's so mean!" he said. "What about at school, did he look after you?"

I didn't want to tell him about the boys that threw apples at us and the snake-man. Father worked really hard and I didn't want to stress him.

"Yes. He helped me over the road twice and over the highway twice."

Father was ignoring the TV.

"And did he use the pedestrian crossing like I showed you?"

"Hmmm," I replied, "only when it was on the fast way."

Father frowned a bit.

"That's okay. I'll have to talk to him about it tonight then."

I didn't want father to get mad at Henry.

"No dad. Henry is sad today, you can't make him sadder."

"Why is he sad?"

I had said too much.

"Um, he got into a fight with a boy," but I hurriedly added, "but it wasn't his fault."

"I see. Well, I'll talk to mother about it then."

I leaned forward and gave him a big hug.

"Thanks dad."

I was in my room when Henry and mother returned home. Henry walked past my door. I followed him into his room. He was lying on his bed with his eyes closed.

"How was Judo," I said.

"Tiring," he replied.

"Did you get into lots of fights?"

"Yes," he said.

I came deeper into his room, looking him over for more injuries.

"Did you get hurt?"

He lifted himself off the bed.

"Come here," he said, patting the bed next to him.

I sat down. He put his arm around me.

"What's wrong?"

I put my arms around him and gave him a hug.

"You are always getting hurt Henry."

"It's okay," he said. "That's what boys do; get hurt."

"I don't like it. I don't want to see you get hurt."

He squeezed me more tightly.

"Thanks Vicky."

I was about to leave.

"Vicky?" he said.

He was taking out his hairpins and combing his hair back with his hands.

"Yes?"

"I want to cut my hair," he said. "What do you think?"

I liked his long hair. It was much longer than mine. I wish I had hair that long, but maybe there was a reason he wanted to cut it.

"I think you should do what you think is right and makes you happy."

He was staring at me.

"That's pretty deep for an 8 year old, where did you learn that?"

I blushed. I liked when he called me smart.

"I learned that in school today."

He smiled.

"Thanks Vicky."

I left the room with a spring in my step. The old brother I knew and loved was making a comeback.