Shoulders slumping, I brush the waves of memory aside and refocus on my glaring mother. A tall, skinny woman with skin shades darker than mine, the only thing I’d gotten from her was her caramel-coloured eyes and the psychotic curly hair she’d already forced into a tight bun. Dressed in her hospital uniform, car keys jingling in her hands, she is always in a rush.

‘You were sposed to wake your sister up.’

‘I did, but she told me to f—’

‘Watch your mouth or I’ll soap it!’

I roll my eyes and see her anger spike. Better to try for reasonable. I take a few slow steps towards her till I’m back at the fence.

‘What do you want me to do, Mum? Drag er up by er hair? That’s the only way she’s comin with me.’

Her glare morphs into the crinkles of worry I’ve seen more and more of lately. ‘Daughter please, just try, ay? For me?’

I hate it when she talks to me like an adult; it means I have to be freaking responsible. Heaving a sigh I do my best sulky walk back to the house. As I brush past I catch Mum’s grin.

Cow knows exactly what she’s doing.

Heading into my twin’s bedroom again, I stand and contemplate my plan of attack. Her den is cluttered, starting with clothes, accessories and rubbish carpeting the floor, working its way up the walls, and ceilings that are plastered with every single celebrity poster she can get. The ones from Smash Hits magazine are her favourites, especially when they’re of muscled, shirtless boy bands and rappers, like Boyz II Men and Nas. I pick my way over her junk and flop down sideways on the covers, landing straight across her thighs.

‘Get off, I’m not goin!’ Her voice is muffled.

‘Come on, Laney, you know she’s gonna boss ya till ya move, might as well get it over with.’ I wriggle against her legs to annoy her. ‘There’s only this year left and then she’ll get off your back.’

‘I don’t give a shit about school!’

It’s a morning for epic eye rolls but I hold in the sarcastic comment because it definitely won’t get me my way. Maybe reasonable will work for me again?

‘Yeah, but she does. You can put up with it for this year and you’re home free, or you can bail and hear er whinge about it for the rest of your life.’

I climb off her, making sure to dig my elbow into her stomach on the way. There’s an oomph then silence as I stand and watch.

Alright then, stuff reasonable.

‘You got five seconds, then I start smashing lumps with my port.’

‘Holy hell, Tace, that thing’s heavier than you!’