The Minnow Read Online Free PDF Page A

afternoon, right after he finished work. He brought sausage rolls and sauce and we sat on the bench under the callistemon and ate them in silence, staring at the most beautiful painting I’d ever seen. The whole wall was covered in fish and coral and seahorses and jellyfish and seaweed, with tiny little starfish on the rocks and sharks in the background. And everything swayed with the current. It was even more beautiful than the original, although I wish that one wasn’t lost. Now that I can never see it again, I’ll probably imagine it differently. In years to come I’ll be like Nana who remembers things the way she wants them to be and I’ll lose Dave McKewen’s drawing forever.
    â€˜Don’t you like it?’ asked Jonah.
    â€˜I love it,’ I replied, and it was the truth.
    â€˜Then why the sad face?’
    â€˜When Mum lost her wedding ring, Dad saved up for two whole years and bought her a new one. It was beautiful. And Mum loved it. But I understand, now, why she cried when she put it on. It reminded her of how much she missed the old one.’
    We sat there until it got cold. When we decided to leave, Jonah walked me the long way, past the new school buildings and the netball court. ‘I know what you’re trying to do, Jonah,’ I said, ‘but I’m not ready.’
    â€˜I know,’ said Jonah, ‘but you’ve already missed a year.’
    It’s a cold and windy Saturday. The Minnow and I have an hour or so until Jonah finishes work, so we’re killing time at the pet shop. Mrs Blanket has the heating on, so it’s nice and warm.
    As usual I’m parked in front of the carp tank. And I’m daydreaming, which is why I get a bit of a shock when Oscar starts talking.
    â€˜I saw her,’ he says. ‘She had long brown hair and she was carrying a snorkel. I told her the snorkel was no good unless she was going to use it, but she said it was already too late.’
    â€˜Thanks, Oscar.’ I can’t believe he has finally decided to speak to me. ‘Why didn’t you say something earlier?’
    â€˜I was afraid I’d hurt you.’
    â€˜I’m tough.’
    â€˜I figured that out.’
    If it is possible for a fish to smile, I’d swear he was smiling.
    â€˜The Minnow says you’re dying.’
    â€˜She’s a smart one, your Minnow.’
    All four carp are side by side, almost motionless, looking at me and the Minnow. Mrs Blanket is fussing with a customer over a guinea pig.
    â€˜Oscar,’ I say, pausing for a moment so this comes out right, ‘why haven’t you told the others?’
    â€˜There are carp and there are carp ,’ he replies. ‘These three are sweet but uncommunicative. They’ll find me floating on my side in a couple of weeks and the only one who’ll grieve will be Mrs Blanket. This lot will just take it in their stride.’
    â€˜And me,’ I say, ‘I’ll miss you heaps.’
    â€˜And you,’ he says back.
    I turn to walk out the door.
    â€˜Tom,’ Oscar calls after me. ‘The police were here asking questions.’
    â€˜Like what?’
    â€˜Just stuff about your family.’
    â€˜Thanks, Oscar.’
    And then I think of something else. ‘Did they mention Dad?’
    â€˜I don’t remember.’
    No one mentions Dad. I can’t figure that out. Nana and Papa only talk about Mum. Of course, she was their daughter. But still. It’s weird isn’t it? Or maybe I’m just extra sensitive.
    Dad was tall and thin and brown. He didn’t like being inside and he spent all his time in the yard. He ate his dinner on the porch and he slept in the hammock. He didn’t come inside to shower because he had a shower in the shed and a thunderbox behind the garage. Mum said he was a paradox. She could never figure out why showering in the shed was okay, but being in the house upset him. I really like the word