Nona and Me Read Online Free Page B

up.”
    Most days I let her comments pass. I tell myself she isn’t hurting anyone. But today is different. I can feel Nona’s ache from across the room.
    A few seconds later, Nona walks out. No one stops her.
    *
    Selena nudges me at lunchtime. “What’s with you? You’ve been quiet all morning.”
    I look away. She persists. “You’re not still mad about the ethanol thing, are you?”
    My silence provides the answer.
    Selena is disbelieving. “Why are you taking this so seriously?”
    Anya says, “Because it’s Nona, of course.”
    I’m quick to reply. “That’s not it.”
    Selena says, “I don’t get it. How could you guys possibly have been friends?”
    â€œNot just friends. Besties,” says Anya.
    Selena’s immaculate eyebrows arc up. “Besties?”
    I shift. “I wouldn’t put it exactly like that.”
    â€œWell, then – how would you put it?”
    Her eyes are on me. I squirm. “You’re changing the subject. What you said in Science was racist.”
    â€œHow is it racist? There
are
drunks outside Woolworths. I didn’t say they were any particular colour.”
    â€œYou directed it at Nona.”
    â€œSo this
is
about Nona.”
    â€œYou say stuff like that all the time. It’s always ‘us’ and ‘them’.”
    â€œYou’ve never said anything about it before.”
    Anya leans in. “Because it wasn’t about Nona before.”
    I snap at her. “Can you shut up about Nona?”
    Selena folds her arms across her chest. “I’m not racist.”
    Her voice is harder now. I start to waver. “You are some times.”
    â€œI’m friends with Jennifer and Lotu.”
    â€œYou call Jennifer ‘The Asian’.”
    â€œShe calls herself that too!”
    I try to downscale the accusation. “Anti-Yolŋu, then.”
    â€œI liked Wilson.”
    Wilson was in our class in Year 8. He got sent to boarding school in Darwin in Year 9.
    â€œThat doesn’t count. He came every day, and he spoke perfect English.”
    â€œSo Aborigines can’t do that? Now who’s being racist?”
    â€œDon’t be stupid.”
    â€œGive me another example, then.”
    â€œWhat about when Luke walks out of class? You always make comments.”
    â€œThe double standard pisses me off. How come he’s allowed to walk out and we’re not? It’s nothing to do with him being Aboriginal.”
    â€œYolŋu.”
    â€œWhatever. I’m not racist.”
    â€œOkay. Can we drop the subject now?”
    â€œNot until you take it back. I’m not racist.”
    Her face suddenly warps into a suppressed smile, like she’s thought of something funny. “You want me to prove it? I like black guys.”
    I look at her sceptically.
    She’s grinning now. “I do! I would totally sleep with Snoop Dogg or Jay-Z.”
    She’s winding me up and Anya snorts with laughter.
    Selena is on a roll. “I’d be their white ho handbag any day. Just get them out here. Jay-Z in Nhulunbuy – can you imagine?”
    I’m trying hard not to laugh, but she catches sight of the hint of a smile surfacing on my lips. “I saw that. You were laughing.”
    â€œNo, I wasn’t.”
    â€œYou were!”
    I shake my head. “You’re an idiot, Selena.”
    She slings an arm around my shoulder and hugs me to her, grinning. “Lucky you love me.”
    *
    Nona isn’t in Maths. Or History.
    As we’re walking to English, I tell the girls I’m going to the loo. As a gesture of peace, Selena offers to come with me. I tell her not to worry about it. We’re fine.
    â€œReally?” she asks.
    â€œReally.”
    I detour past the cultural centre and peer through one of the windows. There’s a big Bob Marley poster on the wall, surrounded by photos of Yolŋu kids from our