A TANGLE OF RECENT EXPERIENCES By George Geary (Year 9)
ONCE IN A LIFETIME By Will Chaffey (Year 11) I was 10. I was enjoying the warmth of my bed, nestled by the stove in the mustering hut, when I was disturbed by a rough shake from Dad. It was time to get up. It was dark outside and it would be at least 45 minutes until it was light. I had got the gun ready the night before and it was leaning by the door. I swung it over my shoulder and headed out. The back porch light had broken so finding my boots in the dark was an expedition and a half, but after bumping into the wood pile, stumbling over the broom and standing on the dog’s tail, I eventually got them on. We set off on the quad bike heading to Ladies’ Range. It was cold. The fact that I was wearing only my ripped CCC shorts that barely covered half my thighs didn’t really help. It’s a long drive out to Ladies’ Range and that particular morning it felt even longer. The expectation and anticipation was getting to me. At the gate before the ridge, there was a mob of 30 nannies stopped in the middle of the track. I don’t know who got the bigger fright. They scampered quickly from the scene while we appreciated the rarity of the moment. And our luck. Where there are nannies, there are bulls, and with a mob this big, there must be a huge bull lurking not too far away. We snuck through the gate, heading along the ridge to Spike’s Knob. We poked our heads over the East Face and suddenly stopped in our tracks. It was him. The big one. A once in a lifetime bull. I quickly slid the gun off my shoulder as we dropped to the ground. I quietly opened the bolt and loaded a bullet into the chamber. Taking a few deep
breaths, I rested the barrel on a flat mossy rock. He was in the centre of my scope. I took a final breath and squeezed. Dad and I arrived home about an hour later. We kicked off our boots and strolled into the kitchen for a cuppa. Mum asked if we got anything. I just smiled and said with a grin, “Just have a look in the killing house.”
Often I have a dream of déjà vu. I hate it when you smash your elbow or your knee and it stings. Jacob played his Zada. Usually afterwards I have some philosophical thought. It hurts like an electric eel has zapped me. I had a moment of panic, but realised I had a Fumigate in my hand. Sometimes afterwards I have a question that I want to ask Mr Peters. The last time it happened to me was at indoor football. Jacob played Might of the Masses on Zada. Usually I don’t even know I’ve seen my future. Some fool was charging for the ball at the same time as me. He swung me with 6 8/8 Goblins. Then one day I’ll be walking along and realise that I’d just dreamed a previous moment. We collided and it hurt real bad. I struggled to deal with the combat. Sometimes it happens at really odd moments. And then I was a fish, flopping on the floor. I survived, then Fumigated his Goblins And it sometimes gives me like vertigo or something. Everyone came to help me up. Two turns later, I went infinite with my creatures. But it’s always an insight into like philosophical stuff. The guy apologised and I went back on soon after. And then we packed up and started again.
College Issue 32 2017
33
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