Puppy Pie by Sam Jasper Page B

everything looks bleak but everyone’s coming over at eleven to have a meeting in the big shed.
    â€˜More cooking?’ Jake asks.
    She shakes her head. ‘This is more important than food.’
    â€˜And that’s saying something,’ Tom adds cheekily.
    â€˜The future of the whole district could depend on this one meeting. Everybody’s going to have to do their bit,’ Shirley says.
    Suddenly, Lucy looks at her watch. ‘Oh, no,’ Lucy exclaims. ‘It’s just after eight, and Dad’s still ringing around.’
    Stricken faces stare at each other. ‘Hope Dad’s too busy to notice,’ Lucy says, running out of the lounge room and into the kitchen. The first thing she sees is Helen, fast asleep, with her head resting on the kitchen table, her now empty mug tipped over onto the table, tea dripping onto the linoleum. Lucy glances at her father: he has his back to them, the phone glued to his ear.
    â€˜Come on, Mum,’ Lucy says softly. Hurry , she thinks before Dad turns around . Just then, Shirley slips into the kitchen, and between them, they manage to get Helen to her feet and out of the kitchen. Harry looks around distracted, a slight frown puckering his brow. ‘Oh yeah, Bill, meeting at eleven,’ Harry says putting the phone back to his ear. Quickly, Lucy and Shirley bundle Helen into the lounge room where she naps peacefully in her favourite floral armchair.
    â€˜Phew,’ Lucy exclaims as she plops into the armchair beside her. ‘That was too close. Thanks, Shirley,’ she says, trembling slightly. ‘I don’t know what I would have done if Dad had noticed.’
    â€˜He’s got so much on his mind that it may not have registered anyway,’ she says in a low voice. Tom comes over with a bunch of comics, and sits beside his mother. ‘Will you be alright ’til ten?’ Lucy asks. Tom nods as he opens “Ginger Meggs”.
    â€˜Shirley,’ Lucy says, ‘maybe Gull could do Tom’s morning shift today, just while the meeting’s on. If the vote this morning has the whole district working … Well, I mean, the three of us are used to hard work. And it wouldn’t be fair to Gull to throw her into harvesting. Anyway, I’ve got a feeling we might be spending a lot more time in the fresh air over the next few weeks.’ Shirley nods. Lucy turns to Gull, ‘Is that alright with you? Can you keep an eye on Mum when we’re not here? I know we’re asking a lot but what else can we do?’
    â€˜That’s fine’ Gull answers. ‘I don’t mind sitting with Helen all day. Hey, Lucy, do you think Harry would mind if I worked on the computer? That way, I could start on your web page. And I’ve got another project I want to work on.’
    â€˜Oh? What’s that?’
    Gull blushes. ‘Well, it’s sort of a secret.’
    â€˜Oh, okay. Well, I’m sure the computer’s no problem.’
    â€˜But what about food?’ Gull asks. ‘With six hungry people and no cook now that Jake’ll be harvesting …’
    â€˜If you like,’ Shirley says, ‘I can drop by in the mornings and organise something for Gull to eat and make sure there’s enough lunch for all of you. It looks like we’ll have to go without cake until this whole crisis is over though.’
    â€˜Not if I have anything to say about it,’ Jake says quickly. ‘Well, maybe not cake but I can bake lots of Anzac biscuits.’
    â€˜Our Wonder Chef,’ Tom beams. ‘He’ll never let the army starve.’
    â€˜And that sounds just like us,’ Lucy smiles, ‘the farmers’ army, saving the crop.’
    â€˜And the district,’ Gull adds smiling. ‘Alright! Off you go. I’ve got everything I need. Don’t forget to tell me what happens at the big meeting, will you?’ she calls after them as they get ready to join the farmers