Chapter+8

=Chapter 8: Birds of Prey. //Annabelle & Alana// =  **Summary:** In this chapter Birds of Prey __- //the author, James Moloney// -__ explains how Carl is embarrassed by his appearance "he was ashamed of his fleshy bulges in front of the war-painted life savers". (p.44) so he wore a t-shirt to cover himself. The only time that he ever went in the water is when he could persuade Harley to come with him. Aunt beryl told him that all the Matt's were wild.* (p.44) After New Years Eve on a boiling hot day, Carl watched as a land cruiser began to become stuck in fast sand. The driver got out. The driver was helped by bystanders Carl being one of them. They got the car free just as Bruce arrived, the driver of the car explained to Bruce how he didn't need him anymore. Bruce was angry, he knew Carl had helped by the look on his face. "Shit, thats taking the food out o' me mouth. next time you see some idiot stranded, you make sure he stays there until i turn up. you got that?"(p.45) Bruce was going to pick beryl up from the hairdressers and gave Carl a lift. When they got to the main street Carl spotted the kids at the cafe, although Maddie wasn't there, Nathan was, he could tell they were all fresh from the beach. Bruce saw him staring, Carl's hands drew to his stomach fidgeting defensively. Beryl came to the drivers window and told them she needed a few more things. Bruce told her to take her time because Carl's enjoying the show. Beryl saw the kids at the cafe and snorted 'girls aren't interested in blokes who are built like a brick shit house'(p.46). When Beryl left Bruce gave Carl 'girl advice' and tells him to get himself a girlfriend. Bruce showed Carl a pin board with his business on it, he told him how many scams he had made, how many people he had saved and how many he had riped off. Beryl seemed to have lost track of where they had gone "there you are" said Beryl. They got in the car, Beryl caught Carl having a second look at the cafe kids. "Stop mooning at those girls. You're like some love sick bull" snapped Beryl. Bruce told Beryl how one of the girls owes Carl a favor. "A favor" Beryl raised her eye brows. Bruce told her how she got drunk and Carl carried her home. He told her that it was Maddie."the father might be a mongrel, but the girls a looker you got to admit that". Beryl tells him that Maddie is not for him. Nathan's got that one Bruce explained. That's not what Beryl meant though. Bruce told him he could take his pick from all the other girls. Bruce backed the tow truck out and they began heading for Beryls. __Character and Theme development:__   HOMEWORK TASK: Q1. What does the author mean by 'wild as breakers'? (p.44) Q2. What does Bruce mean when he says 'girls are like fruit'?(p.47) Q3. How does Bruce fix up the jeep? what does he do with it after hehas fixed it?
 * Beryl told Carl that 'all Matt's are wild' (p.44) and until then Carl didn't believe it.
 * Carl is very self-conscious about his body and what people will think of him this is something we learn about the character but is also part of a self esteem theme - 'Carl was ashamed of his fleshy bulges.' (p.44)
 * We learn that Carl is very helpful where ever he can be - e.g. the land cruiser got stuck in the sand Carl was the first one to get in there and help (p.45 )
 * Beryl doesn't want Carl to know 'what happened' with skip an his grandfather(p.50)