Mark DeLancey

Chapter 11

The next afternoon I packed the car with snacks for us, sticks, string, a net, bucket and meat for the yabbies. Mark came over with a little esky of his own and we took off for Connor's field.

I pulled the car off into the bush when we got there to hide it a little and not catch attention. We grabbed all our stuff, climbed through the wire fence and walked through the long grass. After a short time a dam came into view.

"Ah, that's well hidden."

"Not there." I shook my head and veered off to the left.

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see."

A few hundred metres more and we came across a deep gully.

"Wow."

I nodded. Yep. It was impressive. But there was so much more.

I walked along the edge of the gully as it turned one way then the other. In places there was still water at the bottom. The field was an intricate hidden network of gullies. Some deep, some shallow. I made my way to my favourite place. A lovely grassy area with trees dotted down to the water. A fallen tree made a perfect spot to walk across where the ground was flat and getting to the water was easy.

Mark shook his head in wonder.

"Perfect! How did you find this place?"

"I've been coming here for years. I dunno I think it was an accident."

The truth was that I had been upset one day over something I can't remember and I rode my bike out here. I had glimpsed the dam once and thought I'd take a look. It was one of those days I could care less if I got in trouble or something happened to me. I don't know why I started walking towards the gully's. Curiosity?

I was amazed at what I found though. And now I came out every so often because it was peaceful and something fun I liked doing.

We settled into yabbying, tying the meat on the string which was tied to the sticks, dipping it in the water and waiting for the bite. I would pull mine up slowly until the yabbies whisker just touched the surface. Sometimes I'd pull the yabby quickly by the whisker up onto the bank instead of bothering with the net.

Mark applauded this technique, laughing at my gall. We took a break after a while and had a little picnic in the shade.

The place was tranquil, the weather sunny and still. We lay on the grass and watched the sky.

After some time Mark sat up and crossed his legs, picking at the grass.

"I'm sorry about what happened last time I was here. You know. A few years back."

Oh great. "Which bit?"

"All of it. I wish I hadna left. Then that guy..."

"He would've come anyway. Whether you were there or not."

"Yeh. But I coulda stopped him."

I shook my head. "It's not your fault."

"I'm just sorry okay?"

"Okay."

"And about the other." He meant the attempted kiss.

"No, I'm sorry about that."

"I just...I wasn't expecting it. It took me by surprise. I didn't think..."

"I know. It was stupid. I don't know what I was doing."

I sat up too. Mark looked at the water.

"Do you know how to take care of yourself now?"

I shrugged. "It's gotten better. No one comes around now."

"It must've been awful after that. Living by yourself."

"I was okay. I got a taser."

"What? Geez, don't use that!"

I laughed. "It just made me feel better. I don't know if I could use it."

"You clocked someone over the head. I think you could use it. If you had to."

"Maybe."

"What about moves? You know, self defence?"

"I know some stuff in theory but I don't really have anyone to practice with."

"Okay well, what about now? Here I'll help."

He stood up and pulled me up too.

We practiced some self-defence moves but honestly the guy was built like a brick. He did say I hurt him a few times though so hopefully I could possibly inflict pain somehow, if I needed to.

I won't lie, having my hands pressed against his chest, or his arms around me to grab me made my heart thump and face flush. This guy. He had no idea what he did to my insides.

"One of the problems is you're too light." He lifted me up easily.

"I've got no muscle."

"Yeh you do. You're pretty strong."

"Pfft, yeh right."

"No, you're just...I dunno, light."

"I'll try to wear heavy clothes."

He smiled. "That could work."

I didn't want that day to end. It was a good day. Mark came back to mine, and we cooked up the yabbies we caught and had a little feast with more beer.

I liked having him back in my life again. I liked getting to know him now that I was older. I liked our friendship. He was easy to talk to and listen to. His company was sweet. How often did that happen?