The Way Things Should Be by Bridie Jabour

Author:Bridie Jabour
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fiction, family, friendship, millennial, generation X, generation Y, gen X, gen Y, hometown, siblings, small town, wedding, bittersweet, fiction, Australia, Tinder, fiance, fiancé, fiancée
ISBN: 9781760681807
Publisher: Bonnier Publishing Australia
Published: 2018-03-03T01:29:03+00:00

By the time Zoe and Claudia reached the towels, Poppy was already yelling.

‘Fuck you! What is your problem? Can’t you just leave me the fuck alone?’

Phinn bashfully tried to rub his hair dry. Zoe looked at her sister, now shirtless, the straps of her bra pulled down to avoid tan lines on her shoulders. Poppy had both of her fists clenched and was huffing in Phinn’s general direction. Still, it took a few seconds for Zoe to notice the spattering of salt water on Poppy’s face and hair.

She turned to her brother. ‘Did you shake your wet hair over Poppy while she was sunbaking?’

Phinn didn’t respond but his enraged sibling snapped back, ‘He’s such a fucking arsehole.’

‘Aw come on, Poppy, what’s really the matter? I know he’s annoying but you seem to be having a bad time anyway.’ Claudia attempted to sound reassuring. Poppy blinked as her face flushed an endearing pink.

‘I’m fine! I just don’t think we have to do everything together all of the time. I need some quiet from you guys sometimes; I don’t have to come into the water if I don’t want to.’

‘I know, I know, you just seem really cranky this morning.’ Claudia kept her tone neutral, like a zookeeper to a tiger who has had a fright.

Poppy seemed on the verge of tears. ‘I’m just not like you guys, I can’t be as happy.’

‘Oh Jesus, calm down.’ Zoe picked up her towel and wrapped it around her. ‘It’s just a bit of water.’

Poppy let out a scream and, grabbing her bag, stalked off towards a bush track. Claudia looked at Phinn and Zoe, but none of them tried to stop Poppy straight away as her figure shrunk towards the headland.

‘What is her problem?’ Claudia said, directing her question to nobody in particular.

‘She’s just a messy bitch who loves drama,’ Zoe said. She was already walking towards the car.

What it came down to was this: Poppy was offended by the overwhelming physicality of her siblings. In the real world you were not rough with other adults: you did not grab them, you did not drop your shoulder or elbow into them as you passed by, tickle them or, indeed, pinch them. All of this was supposed to be left in the primary school playground, but it took longer, so much longer, when it came to brothers and sisters. They were still considered young enough to be fair game for a sneakily outstretched ankle while walking around a coffee table, to be shouldered aside while trying to grab a sausage off a barbecue, to be suddenly hoisted, kicking and screaming, in a bruising bear hug from behind.

Don’t touch me. Get out of my space. It was hard to assert boundaries, to hold on to yourself when there was so much familiarity. And everyone else seemed to know what familiarity breeds.

The three watched Poppy’s retreating figure, her melo­dramatic stomping, the tension in her balled shoulders as she half ran away.

‘Pops! Wait,’ Claudia wailed.

She tried to catch up but Poppy raised one hand without turning around to reveal only her middle finger.

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