The Reef Read Online Free PDF

‘You’ve looked into this and made up your mind without asking me?’ asked her mother in a slow, even voice that presaged trouble.
    Jennifer ploughed on, her heart sinking. ‘I just thought I’d find out everything first, that’s all.’
    â€˜Well, you’ve wasted your time. It’s out of the question.’ Her mother’s mouth snapped closed, her lips thinning.
    â€˜Mum, do you want to see the program, the handbook, the classes I can take?’
    Her mother’s pace picked up. ‘I do not. Who do you think you are, anyway? University! It’s just an excuse to get away and play up.’
    â€˜Maybe Aunty Vi and Uncle Don could help out a bit. They don’t have any kids. They always said I was like a daughter to them . . .’
    Her mother stopped and turned to Jennifer, hissing through clenched teeth so as not to make a scene in public. ‘That will do. What have they ever done for us? For you? They’d think we were just using them. I couldn’t hold my head up.’
    â€˜Mum! They always asked me to go down and spend holidays with them in Sydney. Or offered to take me places. You never let me!’ A deep andlong-suppressed anger exploded, causing Jennifer’s chest to tighten, making her breathless. ‘We never went anywhere! We’ve stayed in this town for ten years. I hate it!’
    â€˜I work hard. I never had money to let you go on holiday jaunts. I never had a holiday either!’ Christina snapped back.
    â€˜You could have let me go with my friends. Their parents said it wouldn’t cost anything to go camping with them. Uncle Don offered to send the train fare.’
    â€˜I will not have you conniving behind my back and I will not be beholden to anyone. There’s only one way to get on in this world and that’s to pay your own way.’
    â€˜Why don’t you trust people, Mum?’ asked Jennifer quietly. ‘You think the whole world is against you. Everyone is out to do you down.’ Jennifer’s anger dissipated and she sounded more bewildered than upset.
    Her mother strode ahead. ‘You’ll learn. The hard way. And one day you’ll thank me. You think being sweet and nice and playing up to people is going to help you? People use you, Jennifer. Men can’t be trusted and women are always jealous. You stand on your own two feet and do it yourself.’
    Jennifer lengthened her steps to keep up with her mother. She was sad that her mother felt like this. She didn’t see the world or people in this way. And beneath her mother’s steam and fury she saw a frightened and insecure woman who was gettingby in life on bluster and artificial self-confidence. Jennifer had seen the reality of her mother behind closed doors and it was very different. For the remainder of the walk home each kept silent with nothing resolved and little said about how they felt or what they really meant.
    Jennifer’s pleasure and pride about finishing school with flying colours evaporated. She’d failed her mother again. And she’d worked so hard through high school. All she knew was that she desperately wanted to get away from this town. And her mother. Now Christina knew it too.
    It was a visit from the school principal later that shocked Christina into agreeing to allow Jennifer to apply to Sydney University.
    Christina was more angry about, as she put it, ‘That man turning up unannounced when we hadn’t tidied or cleared the table. Making me feel like a fool who didn’t know anything. Didn’t care about your future . . . when I’ve sacrificed everything for you.’
    â€˜Mum, please. They’re trying to be helpful. Get the best deal for me. Help you –’
    â€˜I don’t need any help. You seem to have taken matters into your own hands. It’s on your head, Jennifer. You know I can’t afford to bail you out of trouble.’
    â€˜What trouble, Mum?