This is my third novel (in verse) for young adults. It’s about Billy, who leaves home aboard a freight train heading interstate. Billy finds himself in Bendarat, living in a disused train carriage, where he meets a homeless man called Old Bill. Old Bill drinks away his past while Billy tries to find a future. The other main character is Caitlin, a girl Billy meets in Bendarat. All three characters are searching for something to give their lives substance. .

Champagne

It's the only time my schoolbag
has come in handy.
I tip my books, pens, jumper
out on my bed
shake yesterday's sandwich, squashed,
from the bottom of the bag.
I go to the kitchen
take the beer,
last night's leftovers,
some glossy red apples,
Dad's champagne and cigarettes,
load my schoolbag,
my travelling bag,
leave the bottle of lemonade on the table
with a note,
"see ya, Dad.
I've taken the alcohol.
Drink this instead
to celebrate your son
leaving home."

The old bastard will have a fit!
And me?
I'll be long gone.

(page one)

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since April 09