The Beauty Is in the Walking by James Moloney Page A

‘Gentle, see,’ she said, deeply pleased with herself. With me, too?
    Then, with tears in her eyes, she told me about her last boyfriend, the bloke I’d mentioned to Tyke. I didn’t particularly want to hear it, but she needed to tell me, to get the hurt of him out of herself, so I let her go. Poor Amy. If my face went solemn in sympathy she should know it was genuine and seeing one large tear finally break free down her cheek almost had me crying, too.
    â€˜I don’t want another boyfriend like that,’ she said at last and then she went silent altogether.
    After so long with just her speaking, I was caught out and scrambled to get something out there. In the end I just started speaking and hoped the words would come.
    â€˜I want us to be together a bit, just you and me, so I’ll know what other presents to give you now that I’ve ticked candles off the list.’
    I remembered something Tyke had said about Courtney. ‘I like listening to you, especially when you tell me things you don’t tell anyone else, things just for me.’
    I cringed at borrowing so much from my brother, but Amy’s face softened and she looked down at her feet drawn up beneath her as though she couldn’t look at me. ‘That’s beautiful,’ she said, still holding my hand and when she turned her face up again for me to see therewas the vulnerability I’d stumbled across in Tyke’s face. I had made a connection, somehow, and not because of some false bravery that made her think I was more than I really was. Better still, I’d meant every one of those words, making them my truth as much as my brother’s.
    I relaxed now and didn’t worry about saying stupid things that would make her laugh in the wrong way or storm off across the sand because I was a cripple with girl things as much as walking.
    â€˜I’ve been interested in you for a long time, but it didn’t seem right to say anything. I was afraid, I suppose, afraid you would laugh in my face.’
    â€˜I wouldn’t do that.’
    â€˜I didn’t really think you would, but when you’ve got the problems that . . .’
    I stomped on the rest of those words. ‘I take longer to get places than most people, that’s all.’ Jokes about my legs came easily when the CP didn’t matter anymore. ‘I’ve never had anyone special, only you in my head and that’s not enough anymore. You’re in the real world and that’s where I want to be.’
    When I finally shut up there was something in Amy’s face I had never seen before. She was exploring mine as though it was a distant star she had discovered ahead of any other human being. I wondered what she saw and told myself that wasn’t for me to know.
    It was Amy’s turn to speak after I’d taken over so much of the talking. She seemed to know as much, yet she became as hesitant as I’d been at the beginning andwhen the silence stretched out all she could do was laugh at how self-conscious she’d become. She leaned in towards me, inviting my arm around her as I’d done in the car. This time I had no fear of her pulling away in complaint, yet the daring thrilled through me.
    â€˜We could do something tonight,’ I suggested.
    â€˜I’d love to, but there’s a family thing on. Not allowed to miss it.’
    We trekked across the sand, hand in hand for a different reason now.
    â€˜Listen,’ Amy said as we started up the path towards the park. ‘We should keep this just to ourselves for now, eh? Dan and Mitch would stir the crap out of us if they knew. We can have fun together the way we’ve been doing. You’re good at it.’
    I was better at a lot of things, it seemed. ‘Sure,’ I said. ‘Just you and me.’

9
    sightings
    Palmerston’s newspaper, The Advocate , leaves the outside world to the big city papers and sticks to local news. On