“Bloody rain” says Mr ChiversBouncing a basketballOn the one dry patch of courtbloody rain” he nods to our Sports classAnd gives us the afternoon off.Bloody rain all rightAs Annabel and I run to Megalong Creek hutFaster than we ever have in Chivers’s classAnd the exercise we have in mindWe’ve been training for all yearBut I doubt if old ChiversWill give us a medal if he ever finds out.We high jump into the hutAnd strip downClimb under the blanketsAnd cheer the bloody rain As it does a lap or twoAround the mountainWhile Annabel and meEmbrace like winners shouldLike good sports doAs Mr. Chivers sips his third coffeeAnd twitches his bad kneeFrom his playing daysWhile miles awayAnnabel and IScore a convincing victoryAnd for once in our school lifeThe words “Physical Education”Make sense…”

“So, we skipped Annabel, and discussed condoms. I said I liked the orange ones, and we ended our talk in laughter.”

“I tell him about ... Jack and Annabel, smart and ready and I'm wondering where all that smart comes from and I figure some from parents, some from school, and some from a place inside you.”

“I know that today, with a full tank, and with Annabel, that it's time to go.”

“He walks through the house of his past, hoping he'll find the right door, hoping he'll find the key.”

“She didn't have an answer for that. People like her only ever have questions.”

“Nobody in school is stronger than me. But when Sally Holmes kissed me, I never felt so weak in all my life.”