“Ah, I am not looking forward to winter coming,” Timmy lamented as he entered the library.
As he removed his beanie and took his seat, I poured him a glass of wine.
“Thank you, Nina, I need this,” Timmy commented.
With a smile, I passed over the glass. Timmy accepted it with a gracious grin. He swilled the wine, then took a sip. Timmy relaxed back in his plastic seat, crossing one jeaned leg over the other.
“I mean, I am only going to have one glass, I need you to make sure that I don’t have another,” he insisted. “After all, I have to drive back home.”
“Where is home for you, Timmy?” I enquired. “I mean, you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. I mean, we’re here for support. On the other hand, you’re working, so you’re providing that support.”
“Oh, not too far away,” Timmy answered.
We intended to watch the State of Origin together, so I wheeled out the library’s TV. I pressed the red button on the remote to switch on the television. The screen illuminated with a crackly black and white picture, like pepper and snow.
“This doesn’t look good,” Brigitta grumbled.
We eventually got the television working, and onto Channel Nine. Therefore, I was thankfully able to sit down and relax in front of the pre-game ceremony, including the Welcome to Country and the singing of the national anthem – a somewhat incongruous mix, I thought, considering the controversy which had been taking place during the week. Timmy paid attention to his phone, which tolled with a notification of a text message.
“Oh, Aaron just said, he’s not coming together. He’s feeling a little under the weather.”
Having seen him on Monday, I felt a little bad, but stayed at the library to watch the football with the others, eventually getting absorbed into the game. When Dean’s phone rang, my eyes darted to the side. The tension was thick in the library in the final minutes of the match. Dean beamed.
“Jennifer has just given birth,” he announced with pride.
“That’s wonderful,” I gushed.
Dean moved to his feet, ignoring the television.
“Don’t move,” Clementine spoke up, then trailed off. “It’s alright.”
She smiled.
“That’s lovely news,” Clementine praised.
“Isn’t she a little early?” Debbie enquired.
“Yeah, Jennifer was thirty-six weeks,” Dean revealed. “Based on what Jason’s said, though, my newest little granddaughter is healthy and well, six pound fifteen ounces.”
“Congratulations, Dean,” Timmy wished. “I take it that you’ll be heading to the hospital now.”
“Yes,” Dean confirmed.
The younger sister of missing Sydney man Mitchell del Reyan, Nina del Reyan lives on Dharug land in western Sydney. She has recently commenced a teaching degree at Macquarie University. Nina loves her family and friends and is deeply committed to finding answers and justice for the families of missing people.
Abbey Sim is the founder of Huldah Media. She is a creative writing, law and theology student who lives on the lands of the Dharug people in Sydney, Australia. Abbey desires to explore themes of hope, love and longing through her storytelling. She is the author of 'Shadow' and 'From the Wild'.
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