‘Yeeees. Because we watched them together.’
‘No! People just know, in this country. They’re almost a national institution.’
‘You’ve still lost me.’
‘Imagine having to explain to someone you don’t know what a Clanger is, when everyone else does.’ Her voice was rising. ‘How stupid do you feel when everyone laughs at you because you don’t know some stupid kids’ TV show?’ She bit back a sob. ‘It’s like that all the time. TV programmes, famouspeople, politicians. Even everyday stuff. I get asked to pass the Gladwrap.’ She raised her palms upward in despair.
‘Clingfilm. Do you know what they call Sellotape in Australia? Bloody Durex. How am I supposed to know that?’
There were tears running down Kate’s face.
‘Kate,’ I said soothingly, giving her a big hug, feeling panicky. She was my big sister, always in charge. She hardly ever cried.
‘I hate it there,’ she snuffled into my shoulder. ‘It’s so far from home. The news is about places I’ve never heard of. I can’t just pick up the phone and call home because the time difference will be all wrong.’
‘Kate,’ I said sadly. ‘Why didn’t you say before?’
‘What could I say?’ She shook her head. ‘Everyone wants to go to bloody Australia, don’t they? But to me it’s just so alien. No one’s on the same wavelength. I don’t even have girlfriends. All the women think I’m stuck up and posh.’
So did a lot of people here but it wasn’t a good time to tell her that. There was a lot to be said for British reserve.
‘You don’t have to go back,’ I said tentatively. Big mistake.
Pulling away, she looked at me astonished. ‘Of course I do,’ she snapped.
‘No, you don’t,’ I said soothingly.
‘I,’ she said with great emphasis, ‘do.’
Kate would never admit to failure of any type. I’d had no idea that she was so unhappy.
‘Forget I said anything.’ The words rattled out of her mouth quickly. ‘I’m just having an off day. I’ve got a bit of an upset tummy at the moment. For God’s sake don’t say anything to Mum. I’m fine really.’
‘Kate—’
‘Forget it. Just a wobble. I’d better go. Heaps of stuff to do. See you next week.’ She pulled on her coat, her shouldersstraightening and her chin going up. I could almost see her physically pulling herself together.
‘Let me know how you get on with Ned. I want all the details.’ She waggled her eyebrows, some of her natural perkiness reasserting itself.
A classic change-the-subject tactic if ever I heard one.
‘Think you’ll be all right? When was the last time—?’
‘Don’t go there.’ I was not going to discuss that with her. Some things are best kept private.
‘Hopefully that’s going to change,’ she lowered her voice with a deliberately naughty grin, her tears forgotten. ‘Itisjust like riding a bicycle, you don’t—’
‘Kate, bugger off,’ I said exasperated, any second she’d start handing me a pile of condoms.
‘You know you’re going to miss me,’ she said archly.
‘Really?’ I asked dryly.
Giving me one of her trademark dazzling grins — how did she bounce back so quickly? — she patted me gently on my cheek. ‘Don’t worry, you can always text me.’
Talk about mood swings. Rolling my eyes, I gave her one last hug, watching as her high heels tapped across the pavement to Mum’s car. She settled into the driver’s seat, checking her make-up in the mirror before giving me a cheery wave and roaring off down the street.
I watched the car disappear. Kate’s outburst was just not like her. I couldn’t help but be worried.
