Evie had always been impressed by how her conservative, compliant parents managed to move through the pulsing crowds, sampling jerk chicken and fruit from the food stalls, watching the parade, dodging the drunks, awkwardly gyrating to the music, all the while corralling two kids. The crowds had always made Evie a little nervous and, given that Meg was her sole responsibility for this parade, she had even more respect for their efforts.

Meg, on the other hand, was ecstatic. Even though she’d been disappointed that this was no longer a whole family event, it was clear she thought it was a bit of a thrill to spend the day with Evie. She wove effortlessly through the crowds, stopping to dance along to the beat of street performers and then quickly rushing off in search of the next bright and colourful thing.

‘Oooh, can we get some rum punch?’ she asked Evie eagerly, her hands forming a prayer.

‘No.’

‘Don’t be such a stickler, Mum!’

‘I’m not a stickler.’

Meg poked her tongue out at her boring older sister. ‘You are so.’

‘Real mature, Meg. You’re definitely ready to get all boozed up with that attitude,’ Evie said sternly, before pulling her sister towards her in a sideways hug. ‘Come on, let’s get you something to eat.’

Following the scent of barbecue smoke, they found a group of people milling about in front of a large, open wood stove and waited patiently for their turn to order. They’d been in England long enough for queuing to be second nature.

Carrying plates laden with aromatic delights, the sisters weaved through the crowds without speaking. While Meg’s mood had improved, for some reason being here without her parents filled Evie with a sense of foreboding. She rested her fork on her plate and found Meg’s hand, wrapping it up tightly in her own.

‘Do you miss them?’ Meg asked, peering up at Evie.

‘I do,’ Evie replied sadly. ‘It’s so great being here with just you but it’s weird too.’

Meg nodded. ‘Is it bad that I’m kind of happy they’re not here?’ Her voice cracked slightly on the last word.

Evie wrapped her arm around her sister. ‘Hey, there’s no right or wrong way to feel.’

‘They’re just so grumpy all the time. Why can’t they just be like normal parents?’

‘What’s normal?’

‘Parents who just get angry at their kids?’

Evie laughed softly. She didn’t remember talking about this with Meg the first time around. It made her feel guilty, thinking of Meg trying to decipher all the heavy, adult dynamics around her by herself.

‘Do you think things would have been different if we never moved here?’ asked Meg.

‘If we’d stayed in Melbourne?’ Evie had often wondered the same thing. And if she’d learned anything these past few years, it was that a small change could make the biggest difference.