‘Yes, the wedding reception at the club will be the first time we’ll all be together in the same room for ages, and maybe the last.’

His aunt caught his eye in the mirror as she pulled onto the main street. ‘We’re making a bit of a family reunion out of it.’

‘We have cardboard at home, and Mother said she’s going to buy a new set of pens.’

‘If you both behave yourselves while we’re in Leong’s, I will,’ Aunty Doris said.

‘Oh goodie, goodie!’ Yvonne said. ‘The cousins are coming from Queensland, and your mother will be there...’ she trailed off.

A silence followed as Aunty Doris parked outside Kippen’s only big shop. James noticed the large red words above the awning had been repainted. ‘Wang Leong’s Department Store’ faced off against the dilapidated court house across the road, with its faded police sign above the footpath.

Yvonne leaned across to James and whispered, ‘Mother still thinks it’s a bit too soon for Aunty Beck to come back to Kippen.’

James turned away from his cousin and tried to think of a smart response, but when nothing came, he ignored her.

Back at Deloraine, James seemed to be in everyone’s way. Wherever he stood while helping to make lunch, his aunt wanted to get into a cupboard or a drawer behind him.

Once everyone’s sandwiches were finished, Uncle Bill went to have a lie down and Tony retreated to his bed on the verandah. The boys were banished to their room.

But James couldn’t sleep. A mental picture of the family tree was forming in his mind. Yvonne had mentioned something about a school project of Tony’s, with photocopies of family portraits and group shots. If he could be sure of using them, he would know where to start on this task, and James had the feeling that a task was just what he needed while waiting for Mum to arrive.

He crept out of the room with the new pens and approached the verandah where Tony lay. The drumming of fingers on his stomach told James his cousin was awake.

‘Can I ask you about the family tree?’ James said.

Tony flicked a look at his younger cousin, and smirked. ‘Nah, ask me about it at tea time,’ he said, and turned away.

That left James to make a start the same way he began everything. Alone.

At tea, Aunty Doris presented James with a plate of sausages and mash. When everyone else started tucking in, James realised the message hadn’t gotten through to them.

‘He’s a vegetarian,’ Alan said, making the last word sound really bad.

Their aunt froze for a moment, then swallowed.

‘What’s a vegetarian?’ Yvonne said, chewing with her mouth open.

‘It’s someone who doesn’t eat meat,’ James said.

‘Why?’

‘Quiet,’ Uncle Bill said.

Sounds of chewing and scraping cutlery filled the silence.