“Luke’s going to die.”
Colin is coming to terms that Luke may die but he does not fully understand.
Colin’s parents think it is best if Colin goes to stay with Auntie Iris and Uncle Bob in England to take his mind off things and to get him out of the way. Colin thinks that by going to England he will find the Queen who will get the best doctor in the world to cure Luke’s cancer but he has to find the Queen and find how to get to Buckingham Palace.
“My…….brother…..Luke….has….got….cancer”.
Colin tried to talk to the guard to say that his brother has cancer and it is very important.
Colin is desperate to find the Queen and he doesn’t know what he is doing.
“Look”, said Colin “I’ll give you ten pounds if I can use your phone”.
Colin keeps on asking that he needs to use the phone and doesn’t know how to use English money. Colin could not find the Queen which means he could not find the best doctor in the world. So he tried going to a cancer hospital but he had no luck there either. Colin decided he would have to go somewhere else. Colin was being more sensible now and it was clear that he had matured a lot. He had decided that he would have another go at getting the cure and he was going to find it in the ancient tribes.
“There are ancient tribes that have lived there undisturbed for centuries. I saw them on TV. They make all their own medicines”.
Colin was looking for another option because he knows that the doctors didn’t work so he would go somewhere else (he won’t give up). Colin is thinking that he will go to South America but he is not sure that it will work. He is beginning to see sense. In the end Colin decides not to go to South America and he meets a boy called Ted and Ted is gay with a boy called Griff who is in hospital with cancer as well. Colin realises that he is not the only one with a problem. Colin finds out that Ted is getting beaten up because he is gay.
“Is that why they bashed you up”?
Colin asking Ted that did they get beat up because he was gay. Colin started to feel sorry for Ted as well.
“I’ll clean it up”.
Colin knows Ted is in pain and cannot do much so he will try and help him by tidying up the mess on the floor. This shows Colin is a caring and kind person.
Colin goes to the hospital to see Griff and Griff is so pleased to see Ted.
“Colin suddenly felt like the intruder. Give them a bit of time alone the thought”.
Colin is grown up and realising that they need some time alone so he is more caring and thoughtful at this point. Colin knows the best thing is that Luke needs Colin and needs to be with him so he flies back to Australia to spend Luke’s last days with him. Overall, you can see that Colin’s character has developed and has matured a lot through the course of the book.
Richard Harris