Calypso Summer by Jared Thomas Read Free Book Online

things?’
    â€˜Maybe your Aunty Janet knows something. She and her mob are still living on country there.’
    â€˜Aunty who?’
    Aunty Janet, your grandfather’s sister’s daughter … my sister, your aunty.’
    â€˜Nah, don’t know her.’
    â€˜When you were a little fella she used to bounce you on her knee. We used to visit her with Dad when we headed over to the west coast on his fishing trips. We haven’t seen them in years.’
    â€˜Why not?’
    â€˜Why you reckon, Calypso? Your Dad was swept to his damn death off them rocks fishing for salmon … and we haven’t had a car since,’ she said angrily like I was an idiot. And besides, they don’t visit us, do they?’
    â€˜What you reckon about me visiting Aunty Janet and finding out about these plants and things?’
    Mum took a long sip of water. ‘You could try.’
    I tried prising more information out of Mum about bush medicine. I knew she knew more, she’d tried to tell me stuff plenty of times but I hadn’t listened. I didn’t know what was distractingher, maybe Evelyn was really crook. Mum stood from her seat, grabbed the jug and poured the last of the water on a pot plant.
    I left Mum’s place with Aunty Janet’s number scribbled on a piece of paper.

8
    I was dialling Aunty when Run’s friend Robbie burst into the flat, went straight to the fridge, poured himself a glass of milk and sat on the lounge. I looked at the little fat fuck in disbelief. He just kept sculling that milk, thinking himself real deadly with his hair all teased up, his guts hanging out his t-shirt and wearing canvas slip-on shoes with white socks. He even put his feet up on the table like he owned the place.
    â€˜Run,’ he called out from his spot right beneath the air-conditioner. Run came out of his room pulling on a t-shirt. Run and Robbie tapped their fists together and then Run just came straight out with it, ‘We’re going to be loaded bruz … Calypso’s boss is going to give us three grand if we get him some ganja to put in his bath oils and things.’
    â€˜No way. Three thousand bucks! That’s just crazy!’
    â€˜He’s talking shit Robbie.’
    â€˜Bullshit, don’t listen to him, he’s just being a greedy fella, doesn’t want you in on it. You know what he’s like. Three grand unna Calypso?’
    â€˜Gary isn’t after ganja Robbie, he wants something else. Run’s just fucking dreaming.’
    â€˜He wants ganja Calypso.’
    I felt like jumping up from my chair and flogging Run. But he can fight ’ey and I didn’t want anything in my place getting wrecked. So I took a deep breath and said, ‘Run, I told you about this thing with Gary because I want you to help me.’
    â€˜Well I’m going to call up your boss and tell him I will help him out … my way.’
    Robbie got up and took his empty glass to the kitchen, probably to get out of the way of the punches that were about to be thrown between Run and me.
    â€˜You’re a fuckhead Run.’
    â€˜You’re the one that’s going to kick me out if I don’t start paying rent Calypso, I can make some money with this.’
    â€˜I won’t have to kick you out … you’ll end up in jail if you keep going the way you are.’
    Run shot me a dirty look and then started laughing crazily. My adrenalin was pumping but I started to shit myself, thinking Run was about to cut sick.
    Run turned to look at Robbie who was watching the two of us closely. ‘Let’s go have a smoke ’ey? Might have to make it our last for a while if we’re going to give Calypso’s boss a mother lode.’ Then Run walked into his room with Robbie towing behind him.
    â€˜Grab your shit Run, and then fuck off,’ I called out after him. But Run just shut the door and put on some gansta music flat out. So I got up and