Farm Boy (5 page)

Itll be all right you know says Father and he smiles at me out of the bonfire in the ploughshare. We’re going to win. Youll see. He weren’t just putting a brave face on it. He really thought we would win.

Lets say goodnight to Joey and Zoey he says. And wish em luck. And we did. I prayed that night like I never prayed before.

I was up at four o clock the next morning to help Father feed up the horses with corn mash and hay. We brushed them down and went in for breakfast. When we had finished mother had pasties ready for our lunch. She saw us off at the door. She wouldnt come and watch she said. She had things to do about the house and she kissed Father on the cheek and went away indoors. Father was a bit took back by that kiss and I was too. She didn’t do kissing that often.

We walked the horses down across Burrow Brimclose towards Candlelight Field. Father and Joey together and me behind with Zoey. It werent just the village folk that was there it were dozens of other folk too from miles around.

Like a fair it was down on Candlelight that morning. Harry Medlicott was waiting for us hands in his pockets and leaning up against his green Fordson with his band of cronies all around him. He had such a grin on his great fat face. I couldve kicked him. Honest I could.

Old Farmer Northley had us all lined up and ready by halfpast six. It were grey all around but you could see the field was parted in two with a single furrow. As many good furrows as you can plough by halfpast three this afternoon says old Farmer Northley. The tractor to the Corporal if he wins. A hundred bales of best hay to Mr Medlicott if he wins. And then he ups with his flag and waves it. Father calls out to Joey and Zoey and off they go up the field. Harry Medlicott takes his time gives the starting handle one good turn and the Fordson starts up easy as you like. He gives a great wave of his hat, climbs up and hes off too.

As the sun came up through the trees everyone could see plain enough that Father was already a long way behind.

The tractor was ploughing faster and he was turning faster on the headlands too. Father was falling further and further behind all the time. There were nothing he could do about it. But he kept going talking to the horses as he ploughed sweetening them on like he always did. Go on then Joey. Giddyup. Theres a boy. Good old girl Zoey. The crowd were on Fathers side most of them anyways. Everyone loves a loser I thought and there was tears coming in my eyes and I couldn’t stop them neither. They were all clapping and whistling and cheering him every time he turned. So was I. But it didn’t do Father nor the horses much good. I wanted to run off. I didnt ever want to look but I had to. I was there at the end of the furrow each time Father came back and he would give us a smile and I would try to give as good a one back. That weren’t at all easy I can tell you.

By the time old Farmer Northley called a stop for lunch everyone could see the match was already as good as over. Harry Medlicott and his green Fordson had almost finished their half of the field. He had ploughed forty eight furrows and Father had done fifteen. I watched Harry Medlicott as he sat up against the hedge eating his lunch with his friends all around him and I hated him moren ever. You could hear them laughing out loud clear across the field. I sat with Father eating our pasties. We had a bigger crowd around us tis true but we hadnt got much to celebrate had us. More like a funeral it were. Joey and Zoey stood nearby munching into their feed sacks and then Father and me led them down to the river for a good long drink. They needed it. Drank and drank they did and we watched em.

A kingfisher went by quick as a twick he went and sat on a branch. Good luck that is says Father. He puts his hand on my shoulder. I am not done yet not by a long chalk. You know the story of the hare and the tortoise do you.

No says I.

Well I do he says. And he gets down on his knees and drinks with the horses. After a bit he stood up and was wiping his mouth with his hand. Suddenly hes smiling. Theres a thing he says looking back up the field. She came after all. I hoped she would. Whats she up to. And there was Mother walking round Harry Medlicotts tractor, having a good look. Then she was coming across the plough towards us.

Farmer Northley says you got ten minutes til you start again she says. You all right. Hows the leg.

Itll do Father says. Glad you came Maisie. Horses are ploughing well. They may be old but theyre as good as ever. And then I saw Father was limping as he walked away and Joey was nuzzling his neckhair like he did.

At noon Farmer Northley waved his flag again.

On you go Joey, Father calls out. Theres a good girl Zoey. And they took the strain and off they went up the field the plough cutting clean. I can mind how I stood there and watched him my heart full of pride for him and I breathed in the smell of the earth. Nothing like the smell of new turned earth. A cold metal smell it is, but clean and good like the first breath of life.

Harry Medlicott was spitting on his hands and rubbing them. Still laughing and joking with his friends he was. He turned the starting handle over once twice three times.

Nothing happened. He tried again again again. All it did was cough and splutter. Father had done a whole furrow by now and was turning. Still the tractor wasnt starting. Then all Harry Medlicotts friends were running over to give a hand pulling this pushing that and they was arguing too. There was lots of shaking heads and shouting going on. A little light of hope lit up inside me. I could hear Harry Medlicott shouting that they should get out of the way and stand back. He was hopping mad and I liked that. I liked that a lot. He spat on his hands and tried again. Didnt work. The Fordson wouldnt work, it wouldnt start. Someone else tried the handle then someone else. No one could start him up and Father had ploughed another furrow.