Page 102 of Queenslander
Nev rested her hand on Ronnie’s shoulder.
Ronnie blinked back tears, didn’t know where that response came from.
Three days later, New Zealand’s national rugby team, the All Blacks, went on to play a gorgeous away game against Samoa. The island nation shut down for this national holiday. Reg and the rest of the Madonna relatives bawled their eyes out unselfconsciously at the pub—proud of Mattie and the All Blacks, but more proud of Samoa. Everyone loves an underdog with self-respect and something to stand for.
Samoa put up a hell of a fight. The talking heads on the telly agreed it was an historic game. God bless sport, religion of Queensland.
32
LAMBING
Athousand ewes could drop two thousand lambs. At the moment, the ewes were heavily pregnant. Kazi had separated out the ewes that looked like they were about to lamb and brought them into the sheep barn.
Monday morning, Nev carried two cups of coffee out to the sheep barn. Ron had a large bandage on her neck again. She must have had another laser session to remove the fading KITTEN tattoo.
“How much did that cost?” Nev asked.
Ron peeled back the bandage to show off the blistered pink skin underneath. It looked like it hurt. Nev winced.
“You don’t want to know,” Ron said.
Noted. Nev didn’t have any tattoos, which might be a sign that she feared commitment. “Did you do something nice for your dad yesterday?” Yesterday was Father’s Day, September 6th.
“Took him fishing.”
“Good onya. Catch anything?”
“Barra.” Barramundi.
“How big?” Nev asked.
Ron held her hands shoulder-width apart. Coffee sloshed onto the barn floor.
“Niiiice. Sleep in the barn last night?” Nev asked. Ron moved into the loft with Kazi during lambing season.
Ron nodded, sipping from the mug, gazing out distractedly at the pregnant ewes that milled about restlessly. One bleated. They’d drop lambs any hour now.
“How’s Kaz?” Nev asked.
“In his element. What time are you leaving?”
“Noon tomorrow. You sure you don’t want to come? She saved you a seat at the thingy.” Nev didn’t say graduation, because she didn’t want to see the look in Ron’s eyes after. It was true, though, that Taylor had sent Nev two tickets. That girl didn’t miss a beat. Their mother had been thoughtful like that as well. Pity Taylor didn’t remember her.
Ron shook her head. “I have Rainbow Friday.”
“Fly home Thursday.”
Ron looked skeptical. “I shouldn’t. Nervous about the hearing.”
“Don’t be.”
“Can’t help it.”
Nev tugged a lock of Ron’s hair to make her smile. Worked every time.
“I’ll get her a card and a present,” Ron said. “What do you think she wants? What is she into?”
Nev puffed out her cheeks. “Hell if I know. You’re closer to her age, you tell me.”
