The lawns were vivid green, like in picture books and there was the familiar tang of earth, wet and dark from so many sprinkler systems. How could Katie have forgotten that smell? She dismissed it with a wave of her hand. No, she didn’t need it. She wouldn’t look. It could all piss off. She’d come here to do one thing – get Chris and Mary and haul them away. She ran faster. The breeze lifted her hair and her legs began to burn and she could feel her own sweat, could taste salt on her lips, but she was going to keep running until she got there and when she got there, Chris was going to be in such trouble. She was going to yell at him. She was going to do more than yell at him, in fact, because how come he couldn’t do one thing right? And how come whatever happened for the rest of her life, Chris would be her responsibility? Had she asked for it? No. But Mum went on about it all the time – Look out for your brother, Katie. He’s not as clever as you.
