Free Gravity's Chain by Alan Goodwin

really don’t know what’s up with her, but she’s got all high and mighty at Dad. Don’t even know what it was about, but they were going at it tonight. Dad got really mad. Mum just sat and tried to ignore it all and that got Caroline even madder. Anyway, when it was over I tried to talk to Caroline, she just told me to FO and mind my business. Then she said that I wouldn’t understand because all I wanted was everyone to be happy and play happyfamilies and that our family was just full of shit and Mum and Dad were just hypocrites. Christ, I only went to see if she was OK. Polly came in and said to ignore her. Caroline was really getting on her nerves as well. I don’t know what I’ve done to make Caroline dislike me so much. She doesn’t feel like a sister any more.
    December 14th
    OH NOOOO. Jack says his dad isn’t sure about the week any more and thinks he should be there. Helen says that the trip will be off if he goes. I mean, he’s OK, but he’s such a miserable old bugger. There’s no point in going if he’s there. Oh well, I suppose it might keep Jo away from Jack. Still, it’s really disappointing.—Caroline ignored me today. No apology, just a sour look whenever she saw me. Thanks for nothing.
    December 16th
    It’s all ON!!!!!! Fantastic. Daddy Mitchell (God bless him, always said he was wonderful—he, he, he) says he’s sure everything will be fine and he doesn’t want to go up there anyway. We leave in two days, and then back on Xmas eve. It has come around so quick—Idon’t feel ready at all. There is so much to do. Mum got a bit funny about it all today, now she knows it’s all definite, then she started asking questions about Jack and Mike, even though she knows them (left out Duncan though—does she know something I don’t??). Polly was totally cool. She reminded Mum that she’d gone to Rotorua with her mates. Mum tried to say that was different because Polly was older. Poll put her right and said she was the same age. A bit of a lie I think. Polly just gave me that smile. Caroline grunted. She’s still not talking to me. One of the many good things about this trip will be getting away from her. SO—here we come Ohawini Bay.
    December 17th
    Off tomorrow. No time to chat—too busy. Went shopping for supplies and some Xmas pressies. Jack is in good form, Jo is a bitch. I’ve decided to sign off whilst away. So goodbye for a week, I’ll tell you all the goss when I get back. And boy—do I hope to have some goss!!!

FIVE
    T here’s something almost magical about the first taste of adult freedom. It’s an experience we wait years to enjoy and edge toward bit by painful bit. How we yearn for the moment we break free, when the world is suddenly there for the taking because we enter as a fully paid up member. Whatever our upbringing, we’re rarely prepared for this sudden jolt and often spend years coming to terms with what happened. I wasn’t ready for this onslaught and, boy, have I paid the price, but I do know when I entered the grown-ups’ club. It was during the four-hour drive from Auckland to the bach, twelve years ago with my friends Mike, Helen, Duncan, Mary and Jo.
    Duncan’s father lent us his old blue Falcon. It was a tight squeeze for the six of us together with our gear and food for a week, but we rotated the passenger seat to bring some relief to the four in the back. The sky was clear when we left Auckland early in the morning and by the time we approached the sea, the sun was ferocious. At midday, I got the passenger seat so that I could direct Duncan to the bach. Finally I had the cold air blower.
    We drove through Oakura Bay, the glistening sea to our right,and then along the single-file track through the rocks that divided the two bays. Across the beach was the tiny encampment of baches. Jo and Helen sat at the rear windows, let their hair blow in the