Page 13 of Summer, in Between
‘Nothing, nothing, of course.It’s good that you have someone to hang out with.’
‘It’s hardly hanging out.’I turn back to my book.‘He’s working for you and Dad.It’s not like we’re friends.Until yesterday I’d never said two words to him.’
‘Well, you are going on a date with him tonight, that’s hanging out.You can get to know him more before he starts.’
‘A date?Hardly!It’s a party full of Neanderthals and deadshits, and I don’t even know why I said yes.I have far too much to think about to be surrounded by shitheads.If he turns up, which I highly doubt, you can just tell him I’m not home.’
‘I’ll do no such thing, Cat.If you don’t want to go you can give him the courtesy of telling him yourself.Anyway, why wouldn’t you want to go?You love parties.’
It’s true, especially school parties.My school is the only private school in a one-hundred-kilometre radius.So, when there’s a party, we travel from all over to get there.The collective vibe of parents is that it’s preferable for some poor sucker parent to host the kids.We party, we go back to someone’s house in a big group to lie on their living room floor in sleeping bags.We chat for hours, sleep for maybe twenty minutes, then the host mum or dad cooks us up bacon and eggs before our parents pick us up.
‘I love them when I have actual friends to hang with, not just some random here to make some cash with you guys.’
‘I think you’re being unfair, Cat.He seems like a nice guy, good manners, polite, and, well, there’s no denying he’s super cute.Speaking of which, what a meet-cute!’
‘A what?’
‘You know, when you meet someone and it’s sweet and romantic.Very Hollywood.Meet cute.Or is it cute meet?If we’re talking Paul, it’s cute meat, m-e-a-t, let’s get real, am I right?’She holds up a hand for me to high five, and mock groans when I leave her hanging.
‘That’s objectifying, mother.I’m truly ashamed of you.’
‘You’re right, and while I might be your mother, I’m not blind, Cat.That boy is yummo.’She bites her knuckle and winks at me.I can’t help but laugh.
‘Anyway,’ she says.‘It will do you good to get your head out of a book for a while.You’re going to burn yourself out before you even begin.’
‘Ugh, Mum, again?You’ve been on my back about not overdoing it since the Information Night.There’s no chance of burning out when I don’t even have half my books, is there?’
‘Let’s worry about your books next week when the bookstore opens.Tonight, forget about Year Twelve for a while.Have some fun.’
She’s just getting warmed up, so I brace myself.
‘All right, I’m ready.Give me your speech.’
‘What speech?All I’m saying is, you’ve been invited to a party, you’ve said yes, your date’s a nice guy, you’re a beautiful, lovely girl, together you’ll have a fun time.’
‘Mum!Can you please stop calling him my date?It’s just a beach party!’
‘I used to love beach parties.’A look of nostalgia washes across Mum’s face.‘But be smart.Walk on the beach, not the bush paths.And don’t go off on your own, stay with your “date”.’
She uses her fingers as quotation marks with the word ‘date’.
‘You know the keep safe rules.Don’t have more than three drinks, make sure you open them yourself, if someone hands you an opened drink just say, “no, thank you”.If you put your drink down, don’t pick it up again.I had my drink spiked at uni.I woke up in your father’s car with no memory of getting there.He could have had his wicked way with me but there’s nothing wicked about him.Or nothing wicked that I can share with you, my darling daughter.’
‘That’s a beautiful story, Mum, thank you,’ I hold her hands and stare into her eyes.‘I genuinely have no words to describe how much I’m enjoying this conversation.This closeness between us?Can it stop?Please?’
Mum holds my gaze.‘All I’m saying is don’t do anything that you couldn’t comfortably tell us.But if you do, make sure you use protection.I’m not talking about Paul, obviously, or tonight.Although, I hope you know you can tell me anything.Anything and everything, Cat.’
‘Okay, Mum, I think we’re done here.’I pick up my book.
‘Cat, you’re 17-years-old,’ she says and walks to the kitchen.‘You know we trust you, and you know our expectations of you.You have a whole summer in front of you to get ready for Year Twelve.Stop overthinking everything.’
