Instead, Dad said, ‘You know Phoebe, I introduced you to basketball because it’s something I enjoy and I hoped you would enjoy it too. But the most important thing is that you do what makes you happy. If basketball isn’t your thing, that’s fine with me. Although from what I can tell, you really love it. And if you don’t want to go to tryouts to get at me and Caitlin even though you really love it, that seems pretty bloody childish, don’t you reckon?’

Caitlin took a sip of her juice and soda water with a look of satisfaction on her face and I felt pretty screwed. Dad wasn’t buying a word of what I said and he wasn’t blowing his fuse like I thought he would when I tried to throw him off the scent of the shit hitting the fan with Mum. I also knew that there was no way that he wouldn’t be disappointed if I didn’t keep playing basketball. He loved watching my games and helping me train. He loved everything about it.

‘Well yeah, I kind of like basketball, but that doesn’t mean I have to do tryouts now. Maybe next year!’

Dad started eating again. A moment later, he said, ‘What’s making you nervous about the tryouts? Usually you’re really keen to start the season.’

‘Nothing, apart from everyone being better than me.’

‘Really?’ Dad said. ‘You’ve always been one of the best in your league.’

‘Not down here, Dad.’

‘How do you mean?’

‘At school they’re so fast, and better coordinated or something. I don’t know. I feel second-rate.’

‘It’s not about being the best, is it?’ Caitlin piped up. ‘Shouldn’t playing sport be about having fun, keeping fit and making friends?’

I shook my head. ‘It’s no fun when I’m not the best.’

‘Do you think Patty Mills was put off of basketball when he was lining up behind Tony Parker as point guard for all of those years?’ Dad asked.

‘Patty was playing NBA. It’s different.’

‘You heard Patty speak,’ Dad reminded me. ‘His Uncle Danny didn’t even make his school team and then became an Olympian.’

I wasn’t in the mood for fairytale stories.

Or for Caitlin sparking up and saying, ‘I’m not the best at yoga. I find some positions almost impossible … For me it’s all about the practise, enjoying the practise.’

Arghhhhh! The way Caitlin thought she had an answer for everything made me feel like ripping out my hair.

‘All right, then!’ I said. ‘I’ll go to the tryouts.’ Anything to keep her off my case.

‘Great!’ Caitlin smiled. ‘Exercise is so essential to feeling good and helping you to deal with life’s ups and downs.’