Peninsula by Sharron Came

Author:Sharron Came
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Victoria University Press
Published: 2022-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

Willy liked to tease her about what he referred to as her coffee snobbery.

‘You’ll be wanting a coffee, sis, probably only had four today so far, am I right? I got in some Nescafé special blend specially.’

‘It’s not the same as fresh.’

‘True story. It’s heaps cheaper, less mess and quieter to make. Those machines, like being in the cowshed at peak of milking.’

‘Ha ha. Nestlé is an evil company.’

‘Whatever, where do you think those cafés get their beans from, not round here, and how much do they pay those barista types to get sore wrists and wrinkles round their mouths from thousand-mile smiles?’

‘I don’t mind instant actually.’

‘Kia ora,’ Willy raises his cup and clinks it against Rachel’s, gives her a wink. ‘I can tell when you’re fibbing your pants off, sis.’

Adelaide’s horticulture scene hadn’t satisfied Willy. The orchards were remote, the heat oppressive, and the labour physically demanding and tedious. The isolation was the worst, it didn’t suit his gregarious nature. Within months he was back. Rachel was relieved, had feared he’d get caught up in the drug scene over there. Still, even when he was back, it was difficult to keep track of him. Her job kept her travelling in and out of the country and she could hardly keep track of herself. The few times they did manage to meet up, she couldn’t get much out of him. The snippets of information that did filter through, usually second or third hand, filled her with a mix of helplessness and dread.

‘He’s running around with that girl from your class, used to pinch everyone’s lunches.’ That Di hadn’t volunteered this information, Rachel had to ask, was in itself disturbing. Usually her mother hoovered up evidence of any little indiscretion, packaged it up with a few of her own judgements and passed it on with relish. Rachel would hang up from phone calls trying not to think about what her mother must be saying to her siblings about her.

‘No, he’s not with the shady lady anymore,’ she said the next time. ‘Oops, shouldn’t call her that, she got in trouble with the cops for benefit fraud though, so she is shady. Shenanigans didn’t stop her holding on to her kids.’

‘Who’s he with now?’ Rachel interrupted.

‘The Barclay girl. Remember her? Her kids are teenagers. They’re living in the spare house on the Barclay farm.’

‘Isn’t she married?’ Rachel vaguely recalls the girl Di is referring to.

‘Oh yes. Husband’s in jail for methamphetamine. That how you say it? Cops did him for distribution. Thought you knew about that. You need to stay in the country more.’

‘I am over the travelling.’ There were days Rachel thought if she saw another airport she’d throw up. She wondered if Willy’s relationships with older women meant she was failing him as a sister. She mentioned this to Jack when she called him.

‘He’s always preferred being bossed around by mature women. Kiri was older,’ Jack said. ‘The latest chick, she married young too, maybe they have that in common. Look, we could all do more.

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