Sue said, ‘Before we leave for tonight, I want to let you all know that you’re very loved members of this group and that I hope that you keep coming back and finding strength through our reflections and support. We’re now going to read The Serenity Prayer. Phoebe, when we read the prayer we’re going to refer to God. I don’t know if you believe in the Christian concept of God, but that doesn’t matter. The God you put your faith in can be the god of your choosing, it could be nature or anything.’ I thought about Wapma the ancestral serpent, the creator. I decided I could pray to Wapma. I sometimes spoke to him in my mind anyway.

And then everyone turned to the text pinned on the board. Together, we read: ‘God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can and wisdom to know the difference.’

Before I left, I asked Sue if I could take a photo of The Serenity Prayer for when I need it. She smiled and said, ‘Go right ahead.’

I was expecting Sandy and Ryan to try to talk to me, but they simply left without bothering me.

When I jumped in the car, Dad was working on his laptop. He asked, ‘How was it?’

I didn’t really know where to start. I felt a huge sense of relief, and didn’t know how to tell him what that felt like. So I said, ‘You know how when we go home or when we’re with family and we feel really good and cosy? It was kind of like that. But I think you need to find out for yourself. There’s an adults group in there now. It runs at the same time as the teen group, and I think you should go.’

‘Maybe,’ Dad said, before driving out onto the road.

I was going to speak to Caitlin and turn that maybe into a definitely.

CHAPTER 17

CHAPTER 17

Michael had rescheduled my presentation for first thing the Thursday morning. As I threw on some stockings and a dress to look serious, I thought about the meeting I’d attended last night. About Sandy and Ryan both having similar experiences, understanding the things I felt, the things I’ve gone through. I thought about all the kids in Adelaide, in Australia, kids all around the world with alcoholic parents, or gambling or drug-addicted parents. I thought about kids going to meetings in China, America, India, Russia, Ireland, Norway, people everywhere going to meetings. I realised that I wasn’t alone. I wondered if kids in meetings in different countries ever connected? I was certain they did.

Dad knocked on my door as I was brushing my hair. I told him to come in.

‘Are ya right, bub?’ he asked.

‘Yeah, all good.’

‘Do you want a lift to school?’