Once they were on the long, straight stretch of the Kippen Road, things got so quiet it looked like Jamie was pretending to sleep. Tony darted a couple of looks at his cousin’s legs. Long, like his father’s. His hands, relaxed on his thighs, were already big. Only the sulky looks made him seem like a kid.

‘Hey, sleepyhead,’ Tony said as they turned onto the lane, slapping Jamie on the leg this time. ‘Nearly home.’

He’d have to do it now or never, so as they got to Glen Alpine Tony pulled to a stop, dragged the handbrake on and let out a long sigh. It wasn’t the best place, because the sun was right in their faces.

‘So, boyo, where to from here?’

‘What?’

‘Mother said I should take you back over to your dad’s.’

‘Well, Mum said I’m allowed to stay at Deloraine.’

‘Yeah, but think about Uncle Daniel. He’s probably got tea on by now,’ Tony said.

‘He’s probably just barbecuing a few sausages.’

Tony sighed and looked ahead, right into the sun. ‘Mate, you’ve got to learn it’s not a good idea to rock the boat.’

Jamie went really quiet then, so Tony changed tack.

‘Gees it’s good to see Aunty Beck so happy after all the dramas.’

‘Well, things are different where we live now,’ Jamie said with a real bloody whinge.

‘Yeah, I know mate, I know, but she didn’t stick with it up here.’

‘She gave it her best,’ Jamie said, reaching up to pull the sun visor down against the light, sending dust swirling all over the dashboard.

That annoyed Tony more than anything. He’d have to clean the car out as soon as he got home or he’d be shitty all evening.

‘You know she went to court?’ he said, brushing the dirt that was settling on the dashboard. ‘They caught her stealing stuff at Leong’s store.’

The kid pulled at the door handle, so Tony accelerated.

‘Mum couldn’t show her face at Leong’s for months because of Aunty Beck. She put our family though hell, and judging by the way you carry on, Jamie, we’re not out of the woods yet,’ he said.

‘What have I done?’ Jamie whined.

Tony couldn’t quite form the answer straight away. How do you make it all the other person’s fault? ‘You’re a sook, mate,’ he said, looking along the lane to check the car wasn’t about to drift into the ditch.

He expected more sulking, so when his cousin lashed out with those hands it took Tony by surprise and made him swerve to the other side of the road.

‘Fuck you!’ Jamie shouted as he got the door fully open.

Tony went to grab the kid by the arm, but Jamie’s punch landed heavily on his neck, even though it came at the wrong angle.