Red Dog Read Online Free Page B

back in.’ John put his head in the bus and sniffed. Then he announced ‘Sorry, guys, it’s still a bit ripe. You’ll have to wait a bit more.’
    The miners groaned, and John said to Nancy, ‘There’s a new film on at the Open Air. Would you like to come and see it?’
    ‘What is it? she asked.
    ‘Can’t remember,’ said John. ‘Supposed to be good, though.’
    ‘All right then,’ said Nancy. ‘I’ll take your word for it.’
    On the evening of their date John cleaned out his car and sprayed it with air freshener and mosquito repellent. He shaved carefully so that he didn’t cut himself, splattered his face with slightly too much aftershave, and put on a clean new shirt and freshly pressed trousers. He had had a haircut that afternoon, and had polished his shoes. The only things left to do were to give Red Dog the slip, and pick up Nancy. Picking up Nancywouldn’t be difficult, but Red Dog would certainly give him a problem, because Red was so devoted to him that he followed him nearly all the time, and couldn’t bear to let him out of his sight for very long. When John played football, Red Dog ran onto the pitch and joined in, and when John was playing cricket, Red Dog would find out about it somehow, run onto the pitch, get to the ball before the fielders, and then play keep-away with it.
    John was determined not to let Red Dog interfere with his night out with Nancy, so he called Red Dog and told him to hop into the car. He drove him all the way to the Hamersley Iron Transport section and left him there, telling the drivers to keep him busy at all costs. Then he went to pick up Nancy, and drove her all the way to Karratha to the Open Air cinema.
    He parked the car alongside all the other ones, and very soon the lights went down and the film began. John had unrolled the sunroof, and the stars sparkled in the sky above them. It was a lovely warm evening, and the crickets were scraping away in the long grass. John held out a can of Emu to Nancy, saying, ‘Like a stubbie? It’s good and cold.’
    ‘No, thanks, John,’ said Nancy, shaking her head. ‘Never could get a taste for beer.’
    John was disappointed because he liked to have a beer himself, but he knew that it wasn’t very nice to kiss someone who has been drinking it, when you haven’t had any yourself. It tastes horrible and stale. As he washoping to kiss Nancy later on, he reluctantly decided not to have one himself. He pretended to be watching the film, whilst thinking about how to put his arm round Nancy’s shoulder without it being too obvious. He waited for a scary bit in the film, and when Nancy squealed, that was when he put his arm around her, just to comfort her, of course.
    The next problem was working out how to kiss her, and there just didn’t seem to be a decent opportunity. He thought he would probably have to wait for that awkward moment when he was leaving her at her door and wishing her goodnight.
    She laid her head on his shoulder and snuggled up a little, so that John was able to put a small kiss on her temple. Things were definitely looking up. He was about to take the risk of kissing her properly, when there was an urgent scratching on the door of the car. John had several scratches on it by now, where the paint had been scraped away.
    ‘Oh no,’ he said.
    ‘What was that?’ asked Nancy.
    ‘It’s Red,’ said John. ‘He’s found us.’
    Red Dog scratched again, and John sighed.
    ‘Aren’t you going to let him in?’ asked Nancy.
    ‘Not if I can help it. You know what he’s like.’
    ‘Don’t be mean, John. Let him in.’
    ‘He comes to see all the films,’ said John, ‘and he always wants to sit with someone he knows. He must’ve got a lift.’
    ‘I’ll let him in,’ said Nancy. She opened the back door, and Red Dog jumped in, his tongue lolling happily and his tail wagging.
    ‘You shouldn’t’ve done that, Nance,’ said John.
    For a while it looked as though everything was going to be fine. Red