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

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

“After the war I was going to make up for lost time. But the time I spent away, it's still lost. No matter what I do, it stays lost.”

“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.”

“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…”

“But when I look at this farm I keep thinking it's not whether I have the guts to go but if I have the guts to stay.”

“It was a good apple too. A good apple, picked by a madman on a full moon night.”