Inkflower by Suzy Zail

Author:Suzy Zail [Zail, Suzy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-76065-379-8
Publisher: Walker Books Australia
Published: 2023-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 15

NOW

The rumble of gunfire and the chanting fades and the room is quiet. It’s just us and Dad slumped in his chair. A thin string of saliva spills from his bottom lip. Mum reaches for the suctioning machine. It’s been sitting in the corner of the room but it’s the first time I’ve seen her use it. Dad opens his mouth wide and I push up out of my chair, but my brothers don’t leave, so I sink back down. Mum flips the machine on and pokes the wand into Dad’s mouth. She slides it around, vacuuming the spit from under his tongue and between his teeth.

I want to dive back into the story, back to 11 April 1945, when Dad still had a fighting chance. The machine stops gurgling. Mum pulls the wand from Dad’s mouth and his white smile reappears. He threads his fingers through hers and whispers, “Thank you.”

Dad’s known terrible hate but he’s also known love. I almost did too, but here’s another way I’m nothing like my mum. She manages to feed, wash and dress Dad without making him feel small. I don’t even have the courage to hold Adam’s hand while they bury his gran.

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