Page 72 of Summer, in Between
‘Calm down, Cat.’Mum hands some cash to Matty.‘Go buy a lemonade for you and for Tommy and get some coins for the games.Two games each, right?I expect change.’
I twirl the glass of sparkling water in my hand.‘This is crap, you know.The law says I’m allowed to drink here under your supervision.’
‘I don’t think that’s accurate,’ says Dad, ‘and even if it were, maybe I don’t want my 17-year-old daughter as my drinking buddy at my local.’He gets up and moves to the bar to chat with some randoms he’ll be best friends with before the hour is up.
‘Did you see the new family staying next door?’says Mum.
‘I saw the cute dog, but I heard a screaming baby at five this morning.Adorable.How long are they down for?’
‘Just the weekend.There’s three generations in that one house.That’ll stop being fun really soon.That poor mother had the “kill me now” look in her eyes.Nothing worse than an unsettled baby when you’re away from home.’
‘Nothing worse than a baby full stop; they just turn into annoying little people,’ I say.‘Look at Exhibit A there.So embarrassing.’Tommy’s standing in front of the band setting up, still playing air drums.
‘You know what I love best about Tommy’s age?’Mum says.‘His complete lack of care factor.You could learn something from him, Cat.Here’s a secret for you: everyone’s too busy with their own stuff to worry about yours.’
‘Whatever.Are you guys going home soon?’
‘No, I think we’ll stay, hang around, watch the band.I haven’t danced in ages.’
‘What?You can’t!’I splutter water through my nose as Mum cracks up laughing.
‘Your face!’She clutches her chest, her head thrown back.
‘What’s so funny?’Paul leans down and kisses my cheek.
‘Nothing.Please excuse my mother; she’s too far gone.’
‘How was dinner?’he says.
‘Let’s just say I’ve had my hot chip quota for the whole year.’
‘Pho-shame?’
‘That’spho-real.’
‘Yet I’m the one that’s too far gone,’ Mum says.‘None of what you kids say makes any sense.Pity you couldn’t join us, Paul.We owe you dinner.If it weren’t for you, Mick would still be crawling in and out through the manhole.’
‘You owe me nothing, you know it’s what you guys pay me for, right?It’s looking sweet now, isn’t it?You happy with where things are at, Angela?’
‘You’ve done a beautiful job, the two of you.Mick can’t believe how much you’ve done; he’s saying he’s months ahead.He never would have been able to get all this done on his own with his team on holidays.’
‘Yeah, not much more, and your mother will be ready to move right in.’
‘Shhh!’Mum and I say at once.
‘Don’t say that out loud!’I put my hand over his mouth.‘You want to jinx us?’
‘So, not much more, and you’ll have your husband back to yourself.How’s that?’
‘That’s an even scarier thought,’ says Mum.‘Mick has no concept of relaxing.If he’s not fishing, he’s pottering, and if he can’t find something to do, he badgers us to entertain him.’
‘You can’t keep a good man down, hey?’says Paul.
‘That’s what they say,’ says Mum.
‘Who’s they and what do they say?’says Dad.‘Hey mate, how are you?Haven’t seen you for ages.’He shakes Paul’s hand.‘What’s it been, two hours?You all right?Having withdrawals?’
‘Hilarious, Dad.’I roll my eyes.
