A Silver Lining
 

Two months after Johnny had his mother declared incompetent and put the family farm on the market, she passed away. He’d gone back with Amanda for the funeral and stayed around for a few days by himself. Amanda had to get back to her kindy. He was staying with his Aunt Mim until his mother’s estate was settled. There wasn’t much really only the farm and he was already in possession of that waiting for a buyer.

He’d bought himself a used truck with what little money there was from the estate and he drove out to the farm for one last look. He had no plans to come back, there was nothing left here for him. As he was getting into his truck another truck came slowly down the dirt road toward the house. He stopped and waited.

A weathered looking man got out and took off his hat for a minute holding it over his heart with his head bowed. Having paid his respects he set the hat back on his head and acknowledged Johnny. “Hiya…you must be Johnny, the boy…is that right?”

“Yes sir, Johnny Ryan.”

“I’m Jack Tomlinson, your mother was my half sister.”

“I don’t remember you.”

“I don’t reckon you ever saw me, I’m over at Alice Springs. A Truckee came through with the news about your Mother’s passing. Saw the uh for sale sign you selling the place?”

“Yes sir, I’m living up above Coffs Harbour now,” he looked back toward the house, “I don’t ever intend to live here again so I’m selling up.”

“Mind if I uh have a look around?”

“No, go ahead.” Johnny leaned against his truck watching Jack have a look through the windows of the house and walk around toward the back. He lit a cigarette and waited.

Jack came from the direction of the outbuildings stopping a few times and looking around. He pushed his hat back on his head revealing a white line of un-tanned skin on his forehead.

“I’ll offer a fair price for it if you’ll sell it to me.”

“You want to buy this place?” Johnny’s eyes widened.

“Yep, ain’t right for it to go out of the family. Who do I need to see or are you handling the sale?”

Johnny fished around in his pocket and came up with a business card from the estate agent, “Uh this bloke is handling it.”

“Right,” Jack looked at the card, “I’ll go around and see him then. It was nice to meetcha Johnny. Are ya farming?”

“No sir but I’ve got my eye on a place I was thinking of running sheep.”

“Ha, ha, it’s in the blood, boy, in the blood…gonna do the same thing myself. Take care boy,” he tipped his hat and got back in his truck and with a wave he turned around and headed back toward the highway.

Johnny watched the truck until it was out of sight and a slow smile spread across his face…at last…at last he was going to have something of his own.