‘Welcome to the Adelaide Entertainment Centre! Tonight’s game features the Sydney Kings playing against the Adelaide 36ers,’ the announcer boomed over the loudspeakers. The crowd went wild.

As I pushed along the aisle with Katie and Jane to take our seats holding two of my favourite things, a hotdog and an iced coffee, I wondered if the siren I heard had anything to do with Mum. I was determined to enjoy the game, so I tried to shove it to the back of my mind. While the players finished their drills and ditched their warm-up jackets, I put my slushy beneath my seat, ready to start cheering for my team.

The clock counted down to the start of the game, images of the players flashing onto the screen. Then we were off ! It wasn’t long before it looked like the 36ers were set to score and Katie and Jane were already jumping out of their seats. We made the shot and Katie and Jane high-fived each other, which kind of startled me. I realised my mind wasn’t really on the game.

I just had one drink, I kept hearing Mum say. And my stomach knotted. I shook my head, trying to clear it.

At half-time, Katie said, ‘What’s wrong with you, Phoebe? Come on, get into it. It’s an awesome game.’

The empty seat next to me where Mum was supposed to be sitting was like cold water thrown in my face. I messaged her, hands shaking.

I wondered if Mum made it to the mechanic or if she had been pulled over for drink driving and arrested; if she’d been locked up. I didn’t know the drill for accidents. I didn’t know if I should call Dad or Nana or wait.

I tried as hard as I could to get into the game but after forty-five minutes of Mum not contacting me and not showing up, I was way stressing. Even when the 36ers were close to stealing a win over the Kings, and Katie, Jane and everyone almost lifted the roof off the stadium yelling, ‘Sixers, Sixers,’ I was somewhere else. My mind was racing at one hundred miles an hour.

I messaged Mum again.

When the game ended and all the 36ers fans started piling out of the stadium ecstatic with the result, Katie asked, ‘How are we getting home?’

‘Mum is going to be another ten minutes, she’s still getting the car fixed,’ I lied.

Katie and Jane shared a look. ‘Mind if we get an Uber home?’ Jane asked. ‘I’m tired and I want to chill, you know?’

I nodded and forced a smile. ‘Sure, I understand. And I’m sorry about the accident.’

‘Don’t worry about it,’ Katie waved her hand. ‘But the next time we head to your place, let’s go to the beach. They’re amazing down your way.’