Puppy Pie by Sam Jasper Page A

men jump: their mobiles are ringing madly. As they wander off in different directions, the better to hear the callers, Harry feels his heart drop into his boots. This was all my idea , he thinks.
    After thirty long minutes, the mobiles are silent. Ted takes one look at Harry’s pale, stricken face. ‘It’s not your fault, Harry.’
    â€˜It is,’ Harry says simply. He stares out in to the distance, shame and embarrassment vying for supremacy. His two closest friends since primary school stand around awkwardly feeling for him.
    â€˜Every farm we’ve been on is having trouble,’ Jimmy says.
    â€˜Well,’ Ted states pulling at his lower lip, a sure sign that he’s very worried, ‘we’ve got to find another way to harvest what’s left.’
    â€˜How?’ Jimmy and Harry ask together.
    For some time, Ted is silent. Then, he says one word. ‘Scything.’
    â€˜Scything?’ Jimmy repeats sceptically. ‘You’re mad.’
    â€˜I think you’re right, Jimmy. I mean,’ Harry says, ‘who knows how to use a scythe these days? Except for the old farmers.’
    â€˜Exactly,’ Ted says warming to the idea, ‘the old farmers. And there’s plenty still around, you know.’
    â€˜But the hemp’s lying down, Ted,’ Jimmy says. ‘What are we going to do? Get someone to pick it up and hold it?’
    â€˜If we have to,’ Ted replies. ‘What say we team up the young ones, the third generation, with the oldies? Then we’ll have the kids and the old timers working for us to save all our bacon.’
    â€˜Oh, come on, Ted,’ Harry says. ‘It’s a nice idea. And I know you’re doing it to save my skin. But really I think it’s a bit far-fetched.’
    â€˜Wait on,’ Jimmy says holding up his hand. ‘Maybe Ted’s not so mad after all. Maybe if we got the whole district involved …’
    â€˜Even the weekend dabblers,’ Ted cuts in.
    â€˜We could swing this around. Look,’ Jimmy says enthusiastically, ‘we’re all affected. But if we can get everybody …’
    â€˜And explain a possible solution …’ Ted adds.
    â€˜Let’s put it to everyone. If they can come up with a better idea, that’d be great. But scything could work.’
    â€˜Then we’ll all be better off,’ Ted says enthusiastically.
    â€˜Mmm, I don’t know. I mean,’ Harry says, ‘it’s really my problem.’
    â€˜Not any more,’ Ted reassures him. ‘Whether we like it or not, it’s everybody’s problem.’
    â€˜Listen,’ Jimmy says, ‘let’s put it to a vote. Let’s get all the affected farmers together and see what they say. What do you think?’
    Jimmy and Ted look anxiously at Harry: he kicks up a clod of earth with his boot. He sighs heavily. ‘Alright,’ Harry says leadenly. ‘Get everybody out there together.’
    With that, the two men climb into their trucks.
    â€˜A pity Useless isn’t a Harvester,’ Jimmy grins as he starts the engine. ‘Every farm I visit, Useless is already there. Or just left, I’m told. Visiting his girlfriends, I reckon,’ he winks waving.
    By the time Gull and her cousins have breakfast ready, Harry is well into ringing other farmers. Earlier than usual, Shirley tiptoes into the kitchen so as not to disturb him. Helen is making Harry a bacon and egg sandwich to eat while he phones around the district. Shirley signals the gang to follow her into the lounge room.
    â€˜Do you know what’s going on?’ she asks them.
    â€˜Not a clue,’ Tom shrugs. ‘Dad’s busy and Mum’s really worried.’
    Quickly, she fills them in having heard everything from Ted.
    â€˜Oh, no,’ Lucy groans. ‘This is really bad. Poor Dad.’
    â€˜Poor everybody,’ Gull says quietly.
    Shirley looks worried. ‘I know