Learning to be French (and Failing) by Anna Bibby

Author:Anna Bibby [Anna Bibby]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Published: 2022-08-16T00:00:00+00:00

Martel.

Back in New Zealand, the weeks sped by as I enjoyed catching up with friends and family. Large boxes of things that I felt I couldn’t possibly live without were posted back to France: New Zealand wools, books, jackets and shoes. My Gavin Hurley and Emily Wolfe paintings were carefully removed from their stretchers and packed for transit. Afternoons were spent cooking myself on the beach, and gradually my lily-white skin turned an acceptable shade of brown.

Then disaster hit. The Christchurch earthquake rocked us all. Costa and Cecile made desperate calls, fearing I was dead or at the very least injured. ‘Come home, come home now!’ Costa insisted. He had been glued to the television watching graphic accounts of the earthquake’s devastation, and was contemplating flying to New Zealand to rescue me. ‘Look at a map of New Zealand,’ I told him. ‘Christchurch is miles away from Auckland, on another island.’ He calmed down; after all, I would be back in France in three weeks’ time. But before I flew out I was determined to see my dog Harry.

Emails were sent and remained unanswered. Calls were made. But cousin Stephanie never seemed to be available. My mother warned me to leave well enough alone — Harry was happy, I shouldn’t rock the boat. He adores Stephanie and her husband and children, she said, and he loves living on a huge lifestyle block, tormenting the chickens. I was flummoxed. Stephanie had generously offered to look after Harry, but she hadn’t been asked to adopt him. Her staff sounded uncomfortable when I rang her office. I just want to see him, I insisted, but they always responded that he wasn’t there, even though Stephanie had said he accompanied her to work each day. The water was looking decidedly murky.

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