by Tina Shaw
‘You must be James,’ he says, grinning. ‘I’m your Uncle Mike.’ He holds out his hand and we shake.
Uncle, ha! I still haven’t got used to having family, let alone so much of it. There’s a heap of them back in the house. It’s this huge family reunion scene, complete with lamingtons as big as bricks, a fridge full of Fosters, and a barbie planned for later. Ryan doesn’t know what he’s missing. Mum wanted him to come on the trip too, but he refused point-blank. What was amazing, Mum didn’t even argue with him. But she didn’t give him back his car keys, either. He’s working full-time on the construction site now. Can’t say I miss having him here.
He and Roxy, well, who knows what’ll happen there … She sends me the occasional text. I’m still not too sure how I feel about Roxy.
Mike pushes forward his knight, and I grit my teeth as Cynthia pounces.
‘Ouch,’ I groan.
‘How’s it going in there, anyway?’ he asks, flicking a look at the brick-and-tile house.
‘A bit like out here,’ I say drily.
The new rellies have spent all afternoon grilling my mother about the last fourteen years. That’ll teach her for trying to ignore Dad’s side of the family, just because she couldn’t face coming back. I mean, how irrational was that? My new grandmother has given me an earful about the whole thing. How Mum took off back home with us kids, without even talking to them about it. New Gran and I have agreed it was probably temporary insanity – lasting fourteen years. But it’s amazing the difference a change of heart can make. Literally. As I’ve come to appreciate, the heart is a mysterious thing.
It’s a relief, at any rate, to escape into the backyard and the sauna-like air of a summer’s afternoon in Perth. Meanwhile, the girl is so focused on her game, she hasn’t even looked up. She’s playing black, which usually has the disadvantage. But obviously not in this game. Her hair, incidentally, smells faintly of oranges. She’s my cousin. At least, one of them. I’ve lost count of all the cuzzies I’ve met in the last three days. Talk about instant family.
‘I’d say you’re in a spot of bother, man,’ I say, eyeing up the attack.
‘Tell me about it,’ says Mike. He seems pretty cheerful about losing. ‘Cynthie thrashes me every time.’
The girl glances up then, giving us both a look that would melt rock. ‘Do you mind? I’m trying to concentrate here.’ And because she’s Australian, the ‘here’ goes up in the air like a roller-coaster.
‘Sorry,’ I mutter. Mike sends me another wink.
The other thing I notice about Cynthia is that behind her trendy specs, she has the most amazing violet eyes. I swallow hard, totally smitten, and quickly calculate how much time Mum and I have left in Perth. Time, maybe, for a picnic in the park or cycling along the Swan River. Hopefully Cynthia and I won’t turn out to be too closely related.
Cynthia moves her queen. ‘Checkmate,’ she says in a satisfied tone, grinning at Mike.
He groans. Then gets up and stretches. Dad’s brother. I have to wonder if my dad would’ve looked like Mike: stocky with wiry, muscular arms. ‘Like I told you, mate, she thrashes me every time.’
Cynthia is looking at us both with a big grin. She looks friendlier than she did a minute ago, which is a relief. And yup, definitely oranges. ‘D’you play?’ she asks me.
‘Me? They call me the Grand Master at our school.’ I’m aiming for the bantering tone of a Kiwi sophisticate and missing it by about a mile.
‘Fancy a game then?’ she asks. Light sparks off her glasses and I’m dazzled by those eyes. ‘I could do with a fresh challenge,’ she adds, glancing at Mike.
I take the seat my uncle has just vacated. ‘Prepare to suffer,’ I joke, cracking my knuckles.
Mike is coughing as he walks away, or he might be laughing.
‘Yeah, right,’ she retorts, with an evil chuckle, ‘we’ll see about that!’
About the Author
Saul Osborne
TINA SHAW has published several novels for adults, including The Black Madonna, which she wrote while living in Berlin. This is her first title for young adults. She lives in Auckland with her partner and an English Pointer called Monty.
Also by Tina Shaw:
Birdie 1996
Dreams of America 1997
City of Reeds 2000
Paradise 2002
Black Madonna 2005
Into the Hinterland 2007
Copyright
Published with the assistance of
This book is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any process without the written permission of Longacre Press and the author.
Tina Shaw asserts her moral right to be identified as the author of this work.
© Tina Shaw
ISBN 978–1–869799–00–7
First published by Longacre Press, 2009
30 Moray Place, Dunedin, New Zealand
A catalogue record for this book is available from the National Library of New Zealand.
Book and cover design by Katy Yiakmis
Cover images: Tom Schierlitz/The Image Bank/Getty Images
Drawings by Katy Yiakmis
Printed by Griffin Press, Australia
www.longacre.co.nz
