Jack & Harry by Tony McKenna Page A

overnight and is gone the next morning. We usually sit up for some time talking into the night as we did last night. Now tell me, boys, can I help you in anyway? Patrick tells me you are running away from home for some good reason but left it for you to tell me if you want to.’ He leaned back in his chair, filled his pipe and patiently lit it with a match as he waited for them to talk.
    The boys thought if the priest was friend of Paddy’s and had been so kind to them then they should trust him and come clean. Jack, however, prefaced their tale with the remark that they wouldn’t be going home no matter what.
    The priest listened intently to their story and when they had finished he sat thoughtfully for some time, drumming his long fingers on the desk, the now cold pipe still in his mouth.
    â€˜Hmm.’ He leaned forward in his chair. ‘I understand your dilemma. I believe that you didn’t steal the bike but what about your parents, they must be worried sick? Let me call them to let them know you’re OK. Better still, boys, I know the police sergeant well here in town and I’m sure I could persuade him to help you out.’
    â€˜No!’ Jack started from his chair. ‘We thought we could trust you but now you’re gonna dob us in to the coppers and we’ll go to jail.’
    â€˜Sit down, son, I’m not about to ‘dob’ you in at all; I’m just concerned for your welfare and about both your parents.’ He nodded to include Harry. ‘They must be going through a very tough time not knowing where you are, or if you are OK or not. Do you think that’s fair?’
    â€˜No, sir,’ Harry agreed. ‘Will you help us write notes then and you can post them, one to each of our parents, that way they’ll know we’re all right. We really want to continue on our journey, sir.’
    â€˜We’ve made up our minds,’ Jack said with finality, holding the priest’s eyes with a firm look. ‘We’re not goin’ home.’
    â€˜You are a determined couple of young men I can see that. I believe what you’ve told me and I’m sure you will do what’s right.’ He thought again for some time, looking at the ceiling before he spoke.
    â€˜Tell you what I’ll do. You write notes to your parents and let me read them before you seal them up, then I’ll post them to make sure they’ve gone. Then, and this goes against my better judgment, and may the Good Lord forgive me if I’m making a mistake, but I’m not going to just let you head off into the distance alone with no guidance.’
    The boys thought the priest was again about to betray them in some way but relaxed when he continued, ‘I’m going to Mt Margaret in the morning, taking a young lad about your age back to his family; he’s been here recuperating from a broken leg. You can come with me if you like. That way you can get a taste for the outback without being abandoned to it and if you want to return with me to Kalgoorlie you can.’
    â€˜That’s more than fair, sir,’ Jack said.
    â€˜Thank you, sir,’ Harry smiled. ‘Where’s Mt Margaret?’
    â€˜A fair drive. It’s between Leonora and Laverton, north of here.’ He produced a lined pad from a drawer. ‘Here’s something to write on, and there are pens and ink on the desk. You write while I go and arrange a couple of things for tomorrow.’ The priest went to leave the room but paused at the door, his long black robe rippling in the wind. ‘There’s just one thing I ask, please stop calling me ‘sir’, it sounds so formal.’
    â€˜What do we call you then?’
    â€˜Just plain, Father. He closed the door.
    The boys sat in silence in the office and then began composing notes to their parents. ‘Looks like another lucky break has happened, Harry, we’re now off to Mt Margaret. I wonder what it’s