‘How is she?’
‘Pretty good. It’s bloody hot up there. People are going off their tree. Ruby said she’d go visit Toby.’
‘He’d like that, I think.’
‘At least he’d be able to have a swim. There’d be no water in the dams on the farm, that’s for sure.’
‘Do you want to ring him some time?’
‘Maybe tomorrow night, it’s too late now.’ I stared at the lightning out to sea.
‘What a light show,’ Aunt Jean said. ‘Better than any pyrotechnic display.’
‘The lightning is so silent.’
Aunt Jean laughed.
‘You know what I mean. It’s weird not hearing thunder.’
Just as I said it, a loud rumble began and ended in a very loud thunderclap. Heavy rain drops splattered down.
‘It’s going to pour,’ Aunt Jean said, gathering up the tea things.
I grabbed the cushions off the seats. The rain belted down, lashing the balcony. We got inside before we were completely drenched. I shook raindrops out of my hair.
We watched the storm through the kitchen window. The sea was violently agitated. I could see whitecaps crashing at each other in the roll of the waves. What a shipwreck night, I thought.
‘Would you like a game of Scrabble?’ Aunt Jean asked.
‘Okay. I’ll get it.’
We set up on the coffee table in the lounge room. It felt good to be inside. The rain beat against the windows. Thunderclaps receded into the distance. The sea constantly roared.
I tried to figure out how to get the best score with my pathetic letters. I had five vowels and my highest tile was worth two points. Aunt Jean put down the word ‘nuncio’ to begin. I choked. What sort of word was that? It sounded foreign.
‘It’s in the dictionary,’ Aunt Jean said smugly.
‘What does it mean?’
‘Look it up, if you don’t believe me.’
I knew it would be in the dictionary. ‘I believe you, but what does it mean?’
‘A diplomat of the Pope.’ Aunt Jean laughed and looked triumphant.
Who cared? It’s a stupid word. I struggled with my letters. Mum had taught us Scrabble when we were little. It was good for our vocabulary, she’d said. Sometimes I enjoyed it. Sometimes I hated it. None of my friends played and they’d looked at me strangely once when I’d suggested a game.
Aunt Jean won as usual. She knew more stupid words than me.
‘Aunt Jean?’
‘Yes.’
‘Do you think kids who grow up in the city and never see the stars miss out?’
‘Miss out on what?’
‘Well, you know, mythology. Like, people might say Gemini or something, but they wouldn’t know where it was in the sky. Even the Southern Cross, Orion, Pleiades.’
‘I suppose you’re right.’
‘I’d hate it if I didn’t know the constellations and stuff. I can’t see them much here, but I know they’re there. I remember this song Mum used to sing.’ I looked at Aunt Jean and started singing softly,
‘Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket,
Never let it fade away,
Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket,
Save it for a rainy day.’
Aunt Jean joined in. ‘Our mother used to sing that song to your mother and I when we were children.’
‘Mum sang it to us all the time.’ I felt a slight tinge of sadness, but swallowed it.
‘I’m amazed I remembered it as well as I did. It must be years since I’ve thought about that song,’ Aunt Jean said, staring into the distance, as if some far-away memory had just awoken.
I looked out the window. The storm was even wilder.
‘I said I’d ring Kate.’ I looked at the clock. It was nine-thirty. ‘I don’t think it’s too late.’
‘I’m going to bed. Goodnight, Julie.’ Aunt Jean kissed me on the cheek. ‘Sleep well.’
‘You too. What time are you leaving in the morning?’
‘Seven-thirty.’
‘I’ll have breakfast with you. If I’m not awake, wake me. I doubt I’ll be going surfing tomorrow if the weather’s as wild as this.’
I dialled Kate’s number. I thought no one was going to answer. I was thinking up a message for the machine when she answered. I got the usual shock at hearing a real voice.
‘Hi, it’s Jules.’
‘Hi Jules, I didn’t think you were going to ring.’
‘Is it too late?’ I hoped it wasn’t.
‘Hell no. I was watching TV. My sister had to go into work. Some crisis about something or other. What are you up to?’
‘Not much. My Aunt Jean has a lump in her breast. She’s having a biopsy tomorrow.’ I looked at my nails. ‘We’ve just been talking and stuff. We had a game of Scrabble.’
‘Scrabble!’
‘Don’t you like Scrabble?’
‘Never played. It looks boring,’ Kate answered dismissively.
I decided not to respond. It wasn’t worth it. How could people be so sure they didn’t like something if they hadn’t tried it?
‘Hope your aunt’s okay.’
‘Me too.’
‘Have you heard of Rell Sunn?’ Kate asked.
‘I don’t think so.’
‘She was a cool Hawaiian surfer from the sixties. They called her the heart of the sea.’
‘I’ve never heard of her.’
‘I think she was the world’s best woman surfer in a whole kind of way.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘You know, holistic. Rell Sunn was like a spirit of the ocean. She started surfing when she was four, like me.’
‘You’re so lucky to have started so young.’
‘I know. Sometimes Rell would sit on a chair on her surfboard.’
We both laughed.
‘Would you try that?’ I asked.
‘I have tried it but I haven’t been able to do it yet. I just fall off,’ Kate laughed.
‘I’d be too embarrassed to try that here.’
‘Rell even took her dog surfing.’
‘Wow.’
‘She said that the dog knew it was special if you took it surfing.’
I thought of the only dog I ever had, Jesse. I pictured her on the nose of the board, smiling at the waves.
‘I’m going to look up Rell Sunn in the library or online,’ I said.
‘Rell’s famous.’ Kate paused. ‘Hey, you should come up to my place sometime. We could practise sitting on chairs.’
‘Have you got a dog?’
‘Yeah, it’s my younger brother’s. Spot.’
Spot, I couldn’t believe anyone really called their dog Spot, but I didn’t say anything. For all I knew, Kate could have named it.
‘Would you take Spot surfing?’
‘No. He wouldn’t stand still. He’s a Dalmatian. Hyperactive . You know after the movie craze, everyone had to have one. My brother got him as a birthday present, and stupidly called him Spot. It’s better than Measles, I suppose.’
I laughed, partly out of relief that Kate thought it a stupid name, and because of the thought of a dog called Measles.
‘Maybe when I get my licence and car, I could drive up.’
‘Are you getting your licence?’
‘I’m going to try. My aunt’s going to give me lessons.’
‘I’m getting mine next February.’
‘Great.’
There was silence.
‘Rell Sunn died of breast cancer,’ Kate said quietly.
‘What?’
‘Sorry, I don’t mean to freak you out or anything. I just thought I ought to tell you.’
‘God, Kate. I hope Aunt Jean hasn’t got it. I’d die.’ I felt scared, as if I was hurtling towards a black hole opening up in front of me.
‘Sorry, Jules. I don’t reckon your aunt’s got it. Think positively.’ Kate sounded contrite. ‘Sometimes I wish I could keep my big mouth shut.’
‘Do
n’t worry. It’s not your fault.’
‘No I know, but maybe it wasn’t the right time to talk about Rell, if you know what I mean.’
‘It’s okay. Look I better go.’
‘Are you angry with me?’ Kate asked.
‘No. No way. I’m going to have a bath before I go to bed. Do you want to check out the waves in the morning?’
‘Great.’
‘Oh shit, I forgot. I said I’d have breakfast with my aunt in the morning. I’ll have to keep my eye on the time and get back about six-thirty.’
‘I’ve got a waterproof watch, I’ll wear it.’
‘Great, same place, same time.’
‘See you, and Jules,’ Kate had a serious tone. ‘Don’t worry about your aunt, you know worry only gets you wrinkles.’ Kate laughed and hung up.
I couldn’t help but smiling about my new friend. I ran the bath, swishing the water around to get the right temperature, feeling comforted by its warmth.
CHAPTER 6
Wednesday
The aftermath of the storm was a wild, unmanageable sea. The rain had stopped but the wind was practically cyclonic. It was blowing a gale off the water, chopping the waves into turbulent dumpers. It looked dangerous. I wondered if Kate was looking at the same scene from her sister’s balcony. Dawn was grey and the approaching sunrise unremarkable.
I ran down the stairs to my rendezvous.
The wind howled and swept plastic bags up the street. I caught a couple.
‘This weather’s shit,’ Kate said, approaching from the corner.
I noticed she didn’t have her surfboard.
‘Do you want to come up for breakfast?’
‘Will your aunt mind?’
‘No, she’s not up yet, and won’t be for at least another hour.’
I put my finger to my lips as we passed Aunt Jean’s bedroom door. We tiptoed to the kitchen. I put the bags I’d collected in our rubbish bin and put the kettle on.
‘Tea or coffee?’ I got two cups down.
‘Coffee, thanks. This is a great place.’ Kate looked around admiringly.
‘My aunt’s lived here all her life.’
‘I like it better than my sister’s. This place has a past. My sister’s is so new.’
‘No ghosts of its own,’ I said.
‘Yeah. You know here, you can imagine other times.’
I’d never really thought about it like that.
I poured the coffee. It was too bleak to sit out on the balcony, so we sat at the kitchen bench.
‘Well that’s stuffed up the morning,’ Kate said. ‘I wish I was one of those people who could go back to bed and sleep. Once I’m up and awake, that’s it.’
‘Me too.’ I sipped my coffee. ‘Kate, do you want to come to a rave on Saturday night? If you don’t …’ I left the sentence unfinished.
‘Cool. I’ll come.’
‘I’ll ring Phoebe later to get tickets for us.’
‘How much?’
‘Depends, I guess. Maybe if Phoebe and Jasmine aren’t doing anything, we could go over to their place later.’
‘Do they live together?’
‘No Jasmine is staying at Phoebe’s. She had a big fight with her mum.’
I’d have to warn Phoebe and Jasmine not to spill the beans about my parents. I’d have to tell them I’d told Kate they died in a car crash.
‘Is it only you and your aunt living here?’
‘No, my brother Toby usually does, but he’s up the bush with our uncle.’
‘Whereabouts?’
‘Oh you know, the back of Bourke. Out west.’
‘Never been there.’
‘It’s the end of the line.’
‘Is that where you come from?’
‘Y … yes.’ I hoped this was the last question about my past.
Kate looked at me. My stuttering had alerted her to something.
‘I’m sorry, Jules, I forgot about the car accident. No wonder you’re worried about your aunt.’
As if on cue, I heard Aunt Jean coming out of her bedroom. The first place she went was the toilet. I then heard her in the bathroom, splashing water on her face. This was her morning ritual. You could tell the time by Aunt Jean’s habits.
‘Should I go?’ Kate whispered.
‘No. It’s cool.’ I put the kettle on and got the juicer out of the cupboard.
‘Would you like an orange juice?’ I cut the oranges in half.
‘Thanks.’
I put some bread in the toaster and got out the butter and marmalade and put them on the table.
‘Good morning Julie, and you must be Kate.’ Kate stood up. Aunt Jean held her hand out. They shook. ‘Pleased to meet you, um, Miss um …’ Kate looked at me for help.
‘Just call me Jean.’
‘Okay, Jean.’ Kate sat down again.
I put the jug of orange juice on the table with three glasses.
‘Looks like a pretty miserable day,’ Aunt Jean said, peering out the kitchen window.
‘It’s a shocker. There’s no way I’m going near the water this morning,’ I said, sitting down at the table.
Aunt Jean brought the coffee plunger to the table. I was almost going to tell Aunt Jean about Rell Sunn, but decided because of the breast cancer stuff it probably wasn’t a good subject right now.
‘Where do you live Kate?’ Aunt Jean asked.
‘Up near Taree.’
We ate in silence. I looked at Aunt Jean’s face to see if I could see signs of worry. Other than her usual wrinkles, there was no discernible difference. Was she paler than usual, or was that my imagination? It was hard when you saw someone every day, to see changes.
‘I told Kate about your appointment,’ I said to Aunt Jean. ‘I hope that’s all right?’
‘Fine. It’s only a little lump. I’m not worried,’ Aunt Jean said.
I could detect by her mouth she wasn’t really fine, there was no smile.
‘Has anyone in your family had breast cancer?’ Kate asked.
I nearly died. How dare Kate say the cancer word? I went red with embarrassment and couldn’t look at Aunt Jean.
‘Not that I’m aware of,’ Aunt Jean replied calmly, ‘I don’t come from a very big family and don’t know some of my cousins, but no one in the immediate family I know of.’
‘That’s good,’ Kate said cheerfully.
I wanted to strangle her for raising the subject.
‘Indeed it is, Kate and that’s why I’m only slightly worried.’
I hoped this was the end of the conversation.
‘I wonder if the weather’s going to stay like this?’ I said.
‘Oh Julie, you always bring up the weather when you’re uncomfortable with a subject,’ Aunt Jean laughed.
That stung. I could feel tears welling. Why did Aunt Jean diss me? Why take her lump out on me? I changed the subject for her sake, couldn’t she see that? I was stuck for words. I wanted to say something nasty, but my mind went blank. Anyway come to think of it, Aunt Jean always changed the subject, not me. Adults are so inconsistent.
Kate came to the rescue. ‘I hope the weather changes this afternoon.’
I was so angry with Aunt Jean but tried to pretend everything was normal. I got up and turned the radio on for a surf report, hiding the angry glint in my eyes.
‘Thanks for breakfast, Julie.’ Aunt Jean came and gave me a hug. I stiffened.
Small beads of rain ran down the kitchen window. The traffic started becoming more regular. The street lights were off. I wanted to push Aunt Jean away, but couldn’t be bothered.
‘I’ll ring you this afternoon,’ Aunt Jean said, as she kissed me lightly on the forehead.
Go away and have breast cancer, I wanted to shout and then immediately felt terrible. I’m sorry, I thought, but Aunt Jean shouldn’t have said that about me and the weather.
‘Nice meeting you Kate.’
‘You too,’ Kate stood up awkwardly.
I didn’t say anything as
I cleared the breakfast things away.
‘Your aunt seems all right.’
‘Sometimes,’ I answered, scowling at the sink.
Kate brought plates over, oblivious to my state of mind.
‘What are you doing today? You’re welcome to hang around here if you want.’ I said it half-heartedly, because I wanted to chew on my misery.
‘I’m meeting my sister for lunch and then we’re going shopping. Carol wants to spend some money so I’m going along to help her. Some big bonus she got for rescuing her boss’s backside or something.’
I was secretly relieved.
‘I’ll be back about three or four,’ Kate said.
‘I’ll ring Phoebe and Jasmine and see what they’re doing later. If we can’t surf maybe we could meet them for coffee or something.’
I’d changed my mind about taking Kate to their place. They were my friends and I didn’t want Kate to spoil that. What if they liked her better than me? I mean she’s pretty cool and knows heaps. What if they thought I was boring because I didn’t like to party and stuff like Kate did?
‘I’ve got hours before I meet Carol. How about you teach me Scrabble?’
‘You’re kidding.’
‘Well what else could we do? We’re not exactly the practising make-up or hairstyles types are we?’
‘No, I guess not. We could go online if you like.’
‘Now you’re talking. I could see if any of my friends are on.’
I logged on and gave up my seat for Kate. The weather was bad up north as well, Kate called out, as I stared out my window at the chaotic dark sea.
I was amazed, when I went into the kitchen and glanced at the clock, how much time had gone by. I rushed back to Kate.
‘What time do you have to meet your sister?’
‘Twelve-thirty.’
‘It’s ten to twelve, you better hurry.’
‘I better get a cab, I reckon.’
‘It’ll cost heaps.’
‘My sister will pay. It’s fine.’
‘You’re probably better off trying to hail one.’
‘Can I borrow something to wear? I don’t think Carol will appreciate it if I turn up looking like this.’
We rushed into my room. Kate grabbed a couple of things out of the wardrobe and hurriedly dressed.
‘I’ll come down with you, I have to get a few things at the shop.’
We raced out of my building and down the street. A couple of empty cabs headed down Campbell Parade. We needed one to come the opposite way. It took ten minutes before a taxi stopped.
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