In a Fishbone Church by Catherine Chidgey

Author:Catherine Chidgey
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Victoria University Press

A man is dabbing at a cream linen couch with a teatowel, trying to remove a red wine stain.

‘Salt’s the answer.’

He looks up. Ah. Yes. Look, I’m terribly sorry, I was wanting to have a bit or a rest and I must have closed my eyes for a second and my glass must have tipped – ’

‘I don’t live here,’ says Christina.

‘Oh.’

‘You should sprinkle salt on it.’ She steps into the kitchen and opens some cupboards. Olives, dark pickled walnuts, sundried tomatoes. Marinated feta, small precious jars of pesto. Pine nuts. Salt.

‘You’re sure about this.’

‘It can’t hurt.’

They both take pinches of salt and scatter them over the stain, slowly covering it.

‘Like snow,’ he says.

‘I’ve never seen snow up close.’

He frowns, then says, ‘Yes, I forget where I am.’

‘Where do you think you are?’

‘I’m Austrian.’

‘The hills are alive … ’ sings Christina.

He stops sprinkling salt. ‘Please. Don’t mention that film.’

‘It’s what you’re famous for.’

‘How would you feel if I sang “Skippy the Bush Kangaroo” every time I saw you?’

‘Tell me,’ says Christina, ‘does it really annoy you when people think you’re German?’

‘Of course.’

‘Must happen all the time, does it?’

‘Especially here.’

‘I’m not Australian, you know.’

‘Oh.’

‘I’m a kiwi, mate.’

‘Sorry.’

‘No worries, mate.

They cover the last of the stain with the last of the salt. Some of it has embedded itself under Christina’s fingernails. It feels like sand.

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