Page 26 - Demo

Ditching the Guff12SnakeMum was a crack shotold rifle always close by, readyto pot rabbits or predators.Danger didn't register when we kidsplayed outside, seemed almost a gamewhen she checked our scrub yardbeforehand.There was fear in her voice one daywhen she ordered us inside%u2014a snake, sunning itself outside the door;enough for Mum to grab the gun.My siblings were tiptoe on a kero boxfingers straining at the window-sill,anxious, peering out to watch Mumhurriedly sight upsee her shoulder drop with a sudden jolthear the loud 'bang'.Later the snake would join its kinas a deadly brown streamerslung over our green painted gate.My Father%u2019s voice echoes across the years:Just as well your Mother's a good shot%u2014that's three of the buggers this week.It wouldn%u2019t do today%u2014laws and conservation stuffand maybe I%u2019d try to shoo the snake awayif my kids strayed too close.Maybe.