I sit up, pull my port off my desk chair and wave him onto it. He drops down with a grunt that means his knees are playing up again. Too many years of footy, Mum says.

‘I heard what you asked your mother.’

I nod, ducking my head and waiting for the chewing out I know I deserve. When his voice comes again it is much quieter. I look up to see him sneaking glances at the door.

‘Your grandfather on your father’s side told me a story once, bout a woman that disappeared. Only when she came back she wasn’t the same. They reckon she was …’ He looks at me and I swear I see pain there, when normally there’s nothing but strength. All of our black men have to be a certain way too.

‘I don’t think it’s the same thing, niece, or I hope it isn’t. And knowin this won’t help us any. It’ll make us worry that much more about er.’

‘Please Uncle. Please tell me the story.’

Ordinarily begging doesn’t work, but I think his worry over Laney forces him.

‘It was May.’

An image flickers through my head and I recoil.

‘Mad May Miller?’ I whisper violently. Uncle looks at the door again and he makes ‘quiet down’ motions with his hands. Stuff ‘quiet’. There’s no way my sister is coming back like that.

‘Did it really happen?’

I feel bad saying it, but I’ve seen this woman talk a blue streak to herself all my life. Her mob try to keep her home but she still gets out, like the other morning. Warngee she might be, but she can still get past them. Sometimes kids will make fun of her but only to each other, no one teases her to her face. I always figure it takes a certain level of cruelty to do that to someone so defenceless, and most people don’t have that in them. I’d seen Cassie and her two cousins do it once outside the school gates. I was so full of disgust I went to find Sam Miller at his usual spot in detention. He didn’t say anything, just ran out to stare Cassie down before leading May away. I don’t think they’ve liked each other after that. Cassie had looked up to where I was standing and I’d stared straight back. She knew what I’d done.

‘It was in the papers and all. Grandfather said that whatever happened it made her that way.’ His voice drops even lower and I have to lean in to hear him properly. ‘They reckon it was the property owners took her and her father went after them for payback.’

He is so uncomfortable he’s shaking both legs uncontrollably, but I hold my tongue this time. My silence encourages him to keep going.