The Other Side of Sorrow by Peter Corris Page A

shit.’
    â€˜She was right. You have to be in this game. Can you drive a manual?’
    â€˜Of course I can.’
    I tossed him the keys. ‘Don’t get your back up. A lot of young people can’t these days. How about you drive while I think.’
    â€˜Where are we going?’
    We got into the car and I examined the card Annette had given me. I laughed. ‘It’s called Potential. “Realise your full sexual potential blah, blah.” It’s in Paddington. Does a North Shore type like you know his way around Paddo?’
    For an answer he started the motor, dropped neatly into first and took off smoothly. He drove well, without flourishes but handling the car nicely in the traffic and maintaining a good pace. Unlike a lot of young people, he seemed to be able to do things without having music blaring at him. Maybe he was tone deaf, but I guessed he had something on his mind. I did my own thinking and let him do his.
    â€˜She seemed like a nice woman,’ he said suddenly when we stopped at a light. ‘That Annette.’
    â€˜I’d say so.’
    â€˜Umm, have you ever been with a prostitute?’
    â€˜On occasion.’
    We moved off in heavy traffic and he concentrated until he’d positioned himself where he wanted to. ‘What’s it like?’
    I took my time in answering. Maybe I was a father, maybe I wasn’t, but either way I wasn’t comfortable in this kind of role. But the kid was serious and needed a response. ‘Unsatisfactory, unless she happens to be a friend.’
    He nodded and chewed it over. At the next stop he said, ‘Got any cassettes?’
    I opened the glove box and produced the only one I had. ‘Edith Piaf.’
    â€˜Who?’
    â€˜French cabaret singer. Before your time.’
    â€˜I’ll give it a miss. Have you been to France?’
    â€˜Yeah. A couple of times. Briefly.’
    He moved out and passed a truck. ‘I’ve never been out of Australia.’
    â€˜Plenty of time, Geoff. Plenty of time.’
    â€˜I guess. Not for Mum, though. Well, she and Dad went overseas a couple of times so I suppose she’s got the memories.’
    â€˜That’s about all it comes down to. What did you and your sister do when they were away?’ As soon as I spoke I thought:
What am I getting into all this shit for?
    â€˜Dad’s sister, Aunt Jessie, looked after us. Out in the country. Great fun for us, we didn’t mind.’
    Happy families
, I thought. The couple of pseudo aunts and uncles I had lived in places like Kingsford and Botany. No fun there, just more of the same. And as far as I knew no member of my family had gone overseas before I did. And my first time was to Malaya in uniform. No holiday, that.
    We passed by Sydney University and Geoff gave it a brief look.
    â€˜Is that where you’re studying?’
    â€˜Yep. Third year.’
    â€˜Like it?’
    â€˜Some of it. The practical stuff’s okay, the theory’s a bit of a drag. I don’t mind taking a break for a semester.’
    â€˜How d’you get on for money?’
    â€˜Mum pays the fees and … shit, I forgot. I’ve got a part-time job in the Vet school. Cleaning up and that. I’ll have to ditch it.’
    â€˜No, you won’t. I’ll go along with this arrangement but I won’t need you twenty-four hours a day. What is it, night work?’
    â€˜Yeah, sort of. It’s pretty flexible. As long as I put in the hours I can do it pretty well any time. You sure about that? I don’t want to bludge off Mum any more than I do already.’
    â€˜I’m sure. Who says you’re bludging?’
    His driving faltered for the first time. He had to brake sharply to avoid a late lane-changer. He hit the horn angrily. ‘Fuckin’ Annie does.’
    I remembered the conflicts I used to have with Eve over almost everything. I was beginning to like this kid. ‘Take it