| "Andy's Quest" |
| Copyright Francis Blow, 1996. |
| CHAPTER 11 |
| The police had to be called, Mr. Ribson told him. "It's not because I want to, but because of the circumstances. A weapon was used in a fight, and blood was drawn. It makes no difference whether I believe you or not, or how many witnesses you have. It's the law, and I must obey the law." Mr. Ribson explained. "I wouldn't worry too much, though. There's enough evidence to prove your innocence." |
| "What about me being fostered?" Andy asked anxiously. |
| "That has to go on hold, until this is officially settled. I'm afraid that includes your weekend visits." |
| "What? Oh, no!" Andy burst into tears. It was too much to take. |
| On Monday morning, before school, Andy was called to the office once more. There was a policeman there. Andy had to tell his version of what happened. During the morning, other boys were called in, one at a time to say what they heard or saw. |
| All through the day, Andy worried about what was going to happen to him. Even after the policeman left at ten o'clock, no one said a word to Andy about the fight. Nothing was mentioned on Tuesday. |
| On Wednesday, Mr. Ribson sent for Andy. "There's a problem, after all, Andy." |
| "What's wrong?" Andy felt himself go cold. |
| "There are an equal number of witnesses on both sides. Most of the boys were watching TV or doing other things, and not looking at the two of you arguing." |
| "Did you ask Gail and the twins?" Andy asked anxiously. "They'll tell you what happened." |
| "I know. I spoke to them last night, on the phone, and they did corroborate your story. Tomorrow afternoon, the Board is going to meet to discuss what is to be done. I'll be backing you, and your record will help. The problem is that unless we can get the Board convincingly on our side, they may decide to keep you here until you turn sixteen." |
| "They can't!" |
| "Andy, they can." Mr. Ribson made Andy sit down. "I wouldn't panic, though. It's not all as bad as it sounds. Mr. Henty is writing a letter that may help." |
| "What can I do? Will I be able to talk to the Board?" |
| "You will be given no say in what happens. The Board won't even be coming here, since they hold their meetings in the city. All you can do is be on your best behaviour." |
| "My best is not enough. Every time I've trusted the world to be fair, I've been knocked down. I'm not waiting for someone else to make decisions about me." |
| "What do you intend to do?" Mr. Ribson sounded wary. |
| "I don't know yet. I'll have to work it out." |
| "Do you promise not to do anything wrong?" |
| "I promise. You know I never break my word." |
| "That's good enough for me." Mr. Ribson shook Andy's hand. "You know that I'll do everything I can to help." |
| "Thanks. Can I go? I've got some planning to do." |
| Andy lay on his bed, propped up by his pillow. Beside him was a pen and notepad. There had to be a way of winning! His life was in the hands of the semi-mythical "Board". Who were those people, and how many? They were invisible to Andy. It was like playing chess against someone he could not see. |
| Alright. Call it chess. How would the game go? Who made the first move? |
| He had, in hitting Snake. That made him White. What was the next move? The investigation by the Black side. Then what did White do? Wasted time, and it was still his move, with the clock running down. Call the first move a pawn, and Black had thrown a knight against him. What about his new family? If they all did little, pawn-like things, in the proper ways, that might have the same effect as the secret pawn attack he had used against Gail. Could it work? |
| Since it had to, Andy would make sure it worked. Just in case, though, he would try another strategy at the same time, calling on more powerful pieces. A double attack. He started writing, and drawing arrows between names and the things each person was to do. By dinner time, Andy was finished planning. Dinner would have to wait, however, since he only had a few hours to contact everyone. Andy took his notes, his address book and a pocketful of coins to the payphone in the TV room. First, he rang a friend in Queensland. "Hello. Is that Detective Osborne? You may remember me, my name is Andy Hay." |
| Andy worked his way down the list, spending most of his money in calls. When Andy finished waiting for his last and the most difficult call to put through, he sat by the phone patiently, because the secretary he called had promised to ring him back. |
| The phone rang, and Andy picked it up. "Hello. Andrew Hay speaking." |
| "Thank you for waiting, Andrew. He's agreed to talk to you for five minutes." |
| Twenty minutes later, Andy hung up the phone. All his moves were in motion. It looked as if one of Andy's pawns was one square from the other side of the board, and unnoticed. Except that pawn was really the king. If Andy's opponents in the game played as he expected, then the game would be over in twenty four hours. |
| In the dining room, everyone was finished eating, but Andy managed to scrounge a meal out of the kitchen when he volunteered to help clean up. After cleaning his share of pots and plates, Andy took a long, hot shower, to relax, then he went back to his bed and his notepad. |
| He had made a deal with his new father, and he would start making out lists that would guide Andy and Rod on a career for Andy. He had to act as if the Board would decide his way, since the only alternative was to give up. Andy would never again give up. |
| Gardening, chess, planning... Andy wrote till lights-out. |
| Next morning, the day started as usual. By noon, Andy's patience was almost gone. Nothing seemed to be happening. No one came to see him, no strange cars drove into the home grounds. Since most of the boys in the home knew what the Board would be meeting about, many of Andy's friends spoke encouragingly to him at lunch. Some boys avoided him, and Andy ignored them in return. He had more important things to think about, than other kids' small-minded opinions. |
| Three o'clock in the afternoon. A large van, with aerials, and a car parked in front of the home. People got out and were met by Mr. Ribson, as if he was expecting them. Andy smiled and relaxed. It would not be long, now, and the worst part, the waiting, was over. |
| "Where's Andy?" Came a yell after school was out. "Andy! Hey, Andy! There's a bunch of TV people waiting in the gym with Mr. Ribson." |
| Andy walked from the school across to the home, then into the gym. A man held a TV camera, while another man and a woman were fiddling with microphones. Mr. Ribson was talking to a woman who was dressed like a newsperson. |
| Before Andy finished his first interview, the crews from two radio stations arrived. Andy spoke quietly, answering all their questions, except for anything to do with his fight with Snake. He only said good things, and did not criticize anybody. |
| His interviews over, Andy went to his room to do his homework, since he knew that nothing could happen, now, until the Board met to talk about him. |
| Four o'clock, then five. The hands of the clock on the wall turned with more patience than Andy possessed. The bishops, knights and rooks were in place, with only one more piece left to go: the hidden king. |
| Mr. Ribson came for him at a quarter past six. There was a look of amazement on the man's face. "I don't know how you did it, Andy, but the Prime Minister rang the Board and vouched for your character. There are FAX's from the Queensland police and child welfare departments. Just what is going on, Andy." |
| Andy smiled and said. "I think it's checkmate in another two or three moves." |
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