‘The 36ers are going to beat the Kings!’ Jane declared.

‘They may be on a winning streak, but I still don’t like their chances,’ Katie said.

‘When I was about your age, the Sixers used to thrash everyone,’ Mum said, switching lanes. ‘Did you know that all of the black basketballers from the US that came to play for the Sixers used to work as bouncers at the casino?’

‘Why?’ I asked as we paused at the traffic lights.

‘Well, it’s not like they’re Aboriginal and were able to get taxpayer-funded education like your father.’ Mum was unable to help herself from having a dig at Dad. I thought I was going to die of shame.

Instead, I said, ‘Everyone was getting their university education for free back in the day, weren’t they Mum? And Dad told me that when the first settlers started occupying our country, they were given a square mile of land that they could pay off in four years. It’s not like Dad’s family got that type of head start.’

Then Mum said, ‘Those basketball players were bouncers at the casino. My girlfriends and I used to always go there to see them. At the time, they were the biggest celebrities in Adelaide, much more interesting than newsreaders and boring old footballers. They were so cool. Not all uptight like your father.’

‘Don’t you think Phoebe looks like a darker-skinned version of Taylor Swift, Mrs Ridgewood?’ Jane interjected, breaking the mounting tension. ‘Especially when Taylor Swift straightens her hair?’ I twisted around in my seat and smiled at her gratefully.

‘Yeah, she does,’ Mum agreed. ‘My daughter is gorgeous!’ She sped up again and started tailgating the car in front.

‘Mum, slow down! We’re going to make it in time,’ I reassured her, feeling embarrassed.

‘Look at this loser!’ Mum let go of the steering wheel and threw her hands up in the air in frustration. Then she pulled the car back a little. After a few seconds, she said, ‘Oh come on, ya prick!’ She swerved into the left lane to get around the car.

I saw a car coming from behind us as it was too late. I closed my eyes, expecting to be crunched, but there was only the sound of scraping as the small car hit us near where I was sitting.

The jeep and the other car came to a screeching halt.

Mum hit the steering wheel and yelled, ‘What are you doing?!’

I turned to check on my friends. ‘We’re good,’ Katie said. Jane nodded.

I thought Mum was going to get out of the car, but she backed up to get away and then drove off.

‘You need to stop to give your details, Mrs Ridgewood,’ Jane said.

Mum sped up.

‘It was their fault.’

‘What about insurance?’ Katie asked.

‘Oh, it was only a rust bucket.’

‘I meant for your car?’

‘There’s no way we’re going to be late for the game,’ Mum declared as she gripped the wheel and drove on. We couldn’t ignore the sound of scraping at the back of the jeep.