Another brilliant piece from a GUNNAS WRITING MASTERCLASS WRITER
I was a million miles away when staring blankly at the departures screen. Sydney to Alice Springs. Oh my fucking God how can I get out of this? Alice Springs. Go to gate announcement. Major sweats started but I convinced myself that it was the start of the end for my girly biology and just a part of life – not anything else. 35 degrees wasn’t helping. Decided to sooth myself by texting Alice to relay the fascinating news that I’d made it to Sydney and was nearly on my way. Like he would care. Not that I was going to see him.
Her daughter wasn’t at the airport to greet me. What a presumptive cunt I was to presume she’d be there waiting like some kind of puppy dog. I was of course important to her in my own mind.
I was introduced by her and extended my hand. I wanted to pat her hair. She dropped her eyes and looked really awkward. Oh no, not a mum thing. I remembered how much I hated meeting great aunts and random distant family and looked away like it didn’t matter. Blinked away some tears and decided to pretend I didn’t care. I was of course just hitching a ride to meet their half dingo (I mean yellow Kelpie) and the 3 pet snakes. Yeah I love snakes. Cough.
A hard thing faking that when she was the image of her mother. OK. Just be cool. A long way to go yet and plenty of time.