Eight – Flying TheCoop
The allure of the lounge room is shortlived. Doors open and bang shut. Mum shakily contemplates over postbreakfast nicotine in front of the fire. The sheep’s guts have beensent to the outside porch. The daily hemorrhoid is stuck in thebottom of the chimney. Flames lick it high and low. Fiona washesbreakfast things so that adults can continue to whisper withoutdistraction. The separator is in pieces ready to be washed.
‘Your brother’s going toMelbourne.’
Mum uses our preoccupation with otheractivities to pluck up the courage to speak.
Fiona and I stop. We stare at each otherstartled, and then Mum, demanding clarification. The war betweenchildren and adults has been declared.
‘Why?’
‘He’s not getting on wellwith your father so he’s decided to quit the farm.’
‘Yo
