The Black Balloon Page #4

Your mum is, that's for sure.

All I know is, he's my own.

And you're weak as piss if

you don't look after you own.

Hey, Charlie. What do you want for tea?

Hey, what's this?

New wheels for your mother.

Oh, come on. Give us a go.

Maybe when you get your licence.

What's in the bag?

It's a surprise.

Charlie, open the bag for dad.

You're a good boy.

Come on, Tommie! Let's have a game.

Charlie,

how do you like your Super Nintendo?

If you're good,

we'll get you another game next pay.

Hey, do you want a go?

It comes with two controllers.

Oh, no, no, it's fine. Let Charlie play.

I'll just have a go later.

Come on, mate. The game's for everyone.

Yeah, I know.

Here we go. Are we off?

All right. Ha-ha!

Sally, concentrate!

Nice, Chris.

Nice focus.

You're going the right way, Jackie.

That's good. Keep going!

Sally, put your head back!

Are you okay there?

Yes, Miss.

You're meant to be saving her,

not drowning her.

Nice and easy. Forty-five seconds.

Come on!

Are you all right?

One-two-three-four-five-six-seven...

fourteen-fifteen.

One-two-three-four-five-six-seven...

fourteen-fifteen.

Everyone waving!

Your mum reckons you need more than

one pan to make dinner.

But boys, that's just not true.

Good, Charlie?

Actually, I might go and visit your mother

after dinner

if you boys are all right by yourselves.

Dad, would you be able to take me

for a driving lesson later on?

In the Valiant?

Son, sh*t in one hand and a wish in the other

and see which one gets full fastest!

Hi. I'm Janet and this is Trevor

from the Department of Youth

and Community Services.

Can we come in?

We've received complaints about

of your children.

We're just here to follow up on

reports of consistent fighting in the house.

Oh, that'd be Charlie.

He's autistic, you know.

A.D.D. On top of that.

Right. Okay.

So is this Charlie here?

Yeah, mate. I think it's obvious.

Get a good look, did you?

Excuse me?

You heard me.

You speak to me before you start sticking

your nose into things know nothing about!

Next time I'll call the police.

Piss off, why don't you?

Just wait till my husband gets home!

Send him around, sweetheart!

Oh, I will. Don't you worry about that.

You won't be so big then, will you?

Stupid b*tch.

F***... em.

Wow-ee! Will anyone see us?

No, no one will. Don't worry.

There's never anyone out here.

Okay. Are you all right?

- Yeah.

Good work.

Come on, Charlie.

Look at this place!

Do I have to follow you?

Why do I have to follow you?

This is my... hood. This is my... hood.

Charlie.

- Da!

He says it's his hood.

So why aren't there any trees in here?

Ah, that would be because it's a rifle range.

Bullshit!

Wow-ee!

Who says "wow-ee"?

I do!

Pretty, don't you think?

No, not really.

You're supposed to say,

"Not as pretty as you."

Well, they make me sneeze.

Besides they're noxious weeds.

I don't care. They're beautiful.

They strangle the native plants

and probably poison all the native animals.

What native animals?

Exactly.

I like them. Do you like them, Charlie?

See? Me and Charlie like them.

And so do the beeezzz.

So you're a loner on this one!

No, no! I will fall!

Fraidy cat! Fraidy cat! Yes you are.

Ah-ha-ha!

You show off!

Dem are fighting words.

I dare you to come over here and say dem.

Come on.

Coming...

I shall take it upon myself, boy,

to instruct you in the art of swimming.

Since when was swimming an art?

Well, it's all about technique.

Here...

When you raise your elbow up,

that's when you breathe...

...and then you've got to push your

arm through the water like this.

Huh?

Okay.

Go on. Give it a whirl.

Kieren Perkins watch out!

Sh*t!

Charlie? Charlie!

Charlie. Charlie, it's okay.

Just hold on. It's all right.

Come on, Charlie.

I'm knackered.

Are you cold?

Don't know.

Here...

It's beautiful.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Close your eyes.

Okay.

What do you see?

But my eyes are closed.

Yeah, but what do you see?

Black?

Look harder.

Okay,

I can see these little speckles of light...

...they're blue and red, like,

floating around like a lava lamp.

That should go away.

It's going.

It's gone.

Now it's black.

Hold on, no, it's mainly black. But...

It's kind of fuzzy. Like...

...like snow on T.V.

It doesn't go away.

You can wait an hour or a year... but

it'll still be all fuzzy.

I reckon if it went away, I'd be

able to see my mum.

That's what it's like for my brother.

It's not just what he can see.

It's what he hears and what he thinks.

Everything.

I think it's all fuzzy.

Well I guess we're not going to

Scouts tonight.

It could be worse.

Thank you.

My dad's going to be home soon.

Oh, okay, that's fine.

What?

Stop it!

Um... Well, it's my birthday next week.

And...

Well, my family usually do

this dinner type thing.

Do you want to come?

Yes, hold on...

What?

SHUT UP!!

Maggie! Sophie needs her nappy changed!

There's nothing stopping you!

It's gone everywhere!

It's up her back and everything!

A bit of poo's not going to hurt you!

I'm dressed for work, Maggie. I can't!

Bloody hell!

Boys, watch this. Are you ready? Okay...

Come on. Get'em out. Good girl.

Yes!

Look, Thomas. It's the spastic bus!

They've come to pick you up! Get on!

Bucko's just

saying goodbye to his girlfriend!

Oh yeah. No she's your woman, mate.

Good morning.

Charlie!

Hey! The retard's after you!

Do you know him, Jackie?

What are you doing?

Get back on the bus!

No. Now, Charlie.

It's a spastic!

- Charlie, where's the bus?

I think it's his brother.

Charlie, please.

Charlie...

Charlie, please.

You have to get back on the bus.

Charlie!

Charlie!

Thomas's brother's freaking out!

I'm going to get some help.

Charlie! I'll buy you an ice cream!

Do you want an ice cream, Charlie?

Stop!

Charlie! Charlie!

What's going on here? Back it up!

Back it up! What's going on?

Mate, are you all right?

Stop that! Leave him alone!

Leave him! Leave him!

You're making it worse!

It's all right! It's all right!

Leave him be, all right?

Get away!

Charlie...

Class! Stand back, class!

They're all going in.

Come on! Shoo!

It's all right, Charlie... it's okay.

Look, we've got your bag;

we've got your monkey ears. Yeah?

Good boy. Good boy. Good boy.

We'll go back to the bus. Okay?

Good boy.

Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye,

We're off on our way...

The sky and sea together,

you and me every day...

There you are.

I was going to give this to you later,

but I couldn't wait.

Happy Birthday.

Thanks.

I recorded everything especially for you.

Go on, play it.

Well you can have my heart, have my soul

Without you I feel cold.

Won't you come with me

and I will make you happy

And then when I'm alone,

I'll dream of you'til the day is done.

Don't you know I will be dying

to be by your side...

Listen, I know you're upset.

Just don't worry what

those stupid kids at school think.

Yeah, well it's easy for you to say that.

You have to stop wishing

Charlie was normal.

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