Nona and Me Read Online Free

disapproving glance at Selena’s bare legs. The other man looks back, checking her out. I’m embarrassed, but Selena doesn’t seem to care.
    Three Yolŋu ladies get on the bus. The driver looks around. There’s no-one else waiting. No-one except me and I’m on the wrong side of the road and I can’t move. The door closes and the bus pulls out from the curb. I watch it drive away.
    â€œMaybe you should call her,” says Anya.
    I can’t think of a good excuse not to, so I dial Mum, hoping she won’t answer. She does. I try to sound casual, off-hand.
    â€œMum, hi. I’m outside the pool. Where are you?”
    I am grateful Selena and Anya can’t hear what Mum says on the other end.
    â€œWhat are you talking about? I’m screenprinting. You know that.”
    â€œAre you still picking me up?”
    â€œWe agreed you’d catch the bus.”
    My friends are watching. I grasp for words that fit my lie. “You said you’d be here at four.”
    â€œI did not. Rosie, have you got amnesia? I said catch the bus.”
    â€œYeah, I think it’s four now. I just saw the bus drive away. That comes at four, doesn’t it?”
    â€œYou missed it?!”
    I check to see if either of them heard Mum’s screech. They didn’t. I proceed calmly. “It’s fine. If you come now you’ll be here in twenty minutes.”
    â€œI’m busy! I thought I made that clear to you. I can’t just drop everything to come and pick you up.”
    â€œI’ll just wait here.”
    â€œRosie!”
    â€œSee you soon. Thanks, Mum.”
    I hang up, knowing she’ll come. That was the last bus: there’s no other way to get home except pay fifty bucks to one of the Iraqi cab drivers or hitch.
    I shrug at the girls. “She got caught up at work. She’ll be here in twenty.”
    â€œWant to get something to eat?”
    â€œSure.”
    We cross the road and walk down the concrete path, through the town green, towards Woolworths. We debate whether to buy something from the supermarket or get greasy chips from the takeaway shop. The greasy chips win.
    A few Yolŋu ladies are sitting nearby on the benches beneath the palm trees. Yolŋu often hang around here. I heard Mrs Reid say once they wait to humbug family for food or money when they come out of the supermarket.
    I’m trying not to look at them when I hear a deep raspy voice. “Mätjala.”
    The name hits me deep in my stomach. My Yolŋu name. I haven’t heard it in so long. But I keep walking.
    â€œRosie.”
    Guḻwirri is beside me now. I can’t ignore her. Her eyes slide off mine, down to the ground. They are slightly bloodshot and her breath smells sour, like off grapes. She touches my arm. “You got a few dollars?”
    â€œI don’t have any on me. Sorry.”
    I keep walking, leaving Guḻwirri behind me. Selena’s eyes are round. “Who was that?”
    I shrug.
    â€œShe knew your name.” Selena gives Anya a look as if to say,
What’s the big secret?
    Anya says, “Isn’t that …?”
    I don’t want to give her the satisfaction of saying it so I beat her to it. “It’s Nona’s mum.”
    Selena nods, mentally storing the information away for later. My gut is churning.

2.
    1995
    We are curled up by the campfire. Nona and me. I am almost asleep in my mother’s arms. The smell of smoke and cooked fish lingers. Soft melodies wash through me, as my Dad and Bolu, Nona’s dad, strum softly on their guitars.
    My mum moves to stand. She gently eases my small body onto the mat, and lays my head on Guḻwirri’s lap, right beside Nona. I feel the tickle of her hair in my face and open my eyes. She is sleeping, hugged against her mum’s legs.
    I let my gaze wander. The embers glow dull orange, like crocodile eyes in the dark. Mum adds wood to the fire, stoking it until it