‘Not gonna cause trouble, Nonna. Calm down.’ He put a mug of something down on the bench. ‘Jus’ chattin’. See, your little … friend here needs to know not all of us are happy she and her brother are here.’ His voice was slightly slurred. ‘In fact, some of us are really, really unhappy. Know what I mean?’

I didn’t know what to say, but it seemed he was expecting some response from me.

‘I …’

But he just carried on talking.

‘I’ll tell you straight. I hate you,’ he said. ‘An’ I’m not alone.’ He waved a vague hand behind him but still didn’t take his eyes from me. ‘Plenny o’ people here think it’s kinda … whass the word? – inappro … wrong for you to eat our food, drink our drink when —’

‘Micah!’ Nonna’s hand slammed down on the table so hard a slop of liquid spilled over the edge of the man’s mug. ‘If you can’t behave, you’ll have to leave.’

For the first time he glanced at Nonna. He grinned and took a long drink.

‘Free speech, Nonna. Free speech. When we stop that?’ He picked up the mug, waved it towards me and stood. More drink spilled out. ‘You eat our food, we starve,’ he said. ‘Less be honest here, you doan need nuthin’ from us. ’Cause you got it all already, yeah? You got it all and we got nuthin’.’

Nonna stood and the man raised both arms in the air.

‘I’m goin’,’ he said. ‘Goin’. But mebbe you should do the same, eh, rich kid. Go. Go back where you come from, while there’s still time. Know wha’ I mean?’

And he staggered off towards the nearest firepit, slung an arm around another man’s shoulder. I put my eyes down. I was scared and I was guilty because a large part of me felt I’d deserved that. Nonna’s hand covered mine.

‘Take no notice,’ she said. ‘He’s full of it when he’s had a few.’

‘He’s so angry,’ I said.

‘He’s so drunk,’ said Nonna.

‘But he’s also right. I don’t belong here. I’m taking but I’m not giving anything back.’ I traced a random pattern on the table with a finger. ‘I’m leaving tomorrow, but please tell your family that I won’t forget what they’ve done for me and my brother. I will give something back to them. I will.’ What had Dad said about resigning the househusband role and doing something good for society? Well, I knew where he could make a start.

‘Give what you can, take what you need,’ said Nonna. ‘It’s all very simple really.’ She patted my hand. ‘But don’t be scared, Ashleigh. Micah’s all bark and no bite. No harm will come to you here. You have my word.’

I felt like crying but I just nodded.