Steph Matuku - Falling into Rarohenga

First published in 2021 by Huia Publishers
39 Pipitea Street, PO Box 12280
Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand
www.huia.co.nz

ISBN 978-1-77550-623-2 (print)

ISBN 978-1-77550-631-7 (ebook)

Copyright Steph Matuku 2021
Cover illustration copyright Stacy James Eyles 2021

This book is copyright. Apart from fair dealing for the
purpose of private study, research, criticism or review,
as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be
reproduced by any process without the prior permission
of the publisher.

A catalogue record for this book is available from the
National Library of New Zealand.

Ebook conversion 2021 by meBooks

For my mum and dad

Contents

I know something is wrong. I can feel it. Thats the crappy thing about being a twin. Its like youre connected by invisible cords that bleed if anything bad happens. Mum said that when I was little, Id cry if Kae fell over, even if he was in another room or outside where I couldnt possibly know if he was hurt. One time, I was at home with Auntie Huia while Kae was with Mum at the supermarket. He went missing, and apparently, I screamed and screamed right up until they found him in the underground car park playing racing cars with the trolleys. By then Id had a fit or something, so an ambulance got called. I dont remember much about it, actually, except they gave me a lemonade iceblock afterwards and I threw it up all over aunties leg. I still hate lemonade iceblocks, even now.

Anyway, I have that weird feeling in my stomach that I always get when somethings up with Kae, so I push my books away and go over to the library window, which looks out over the rugby fields. Theres a group of kids way off in the corner under the trees, crowded around a couple of boys fighting on the ground. Even though I cant see properly through the smudgy window, I just know that Kae is there and that hes not one of the spectators. So I take off, leaving reference books all over the table, and Mrs McKenzie hisses, Tui, clean up your mess now, but I cant because Kae is in trouble.

Again.

I sprint down the corridors and bang out the fire exit doors into the quad. Even though Im hot from running and from that familiar cross feeling I get whenever Kae is doing something stupid, a shiver goes down my back and goose pimples spring up on my arms. Its chilly for a late summers day. Dark grey clouds hang overhead and everything feels too still, as though theres going to be a thunderstorm. I charge right through a group of giggling girls from my year, and one of them drops her phone and yells bitch at me, but I dont care.

Bloody Kae. Bloody, bloody Kae.

Im getting a stitch already, so I slow down to a jog, and by the time I get to the group of kids Im puffed out. Theyre cheering, and a couple of them have their phones out filming, which makes me so mad. Kae could have his chances ruined forever if something like this gets online. Not that hed care, but I do.

I use my elbows, and most of them fall back as soon as they see who I am. Im pretty sure it has more to do with the fact that Im Kaes sister, rather than the fact that Im a prefect. These guys dont care about school rules much.

Its Ari fighting with Kae, and Im so not surprised. Aris always been trouble. He makes disgusting comments about me when I pass him in the corridor, and Ive reported him more than once.

He gets Kae in a headlock and tries to punch him in the face, but Kae twists and elbows him hard in the gut. Ari grunts, before slugging Kae again.

Stop it, stop it, I shriek. I grab at Ari to pull him away, and he swings at my ear, and then kicks out. I trip and fall on top of him, and both of us hit the ground. My elbow connects with his nose, and theres a sickening and yet Im not ashamed to say it satisfying crunch.

The kids fall silent, and next minute Mr Tamati has Kae by the collar with one hand and is dragging Ari up with the other. Ari is covered with blood, and good job too.

My office, says Mr Tamati.

He started it. He took my uke, sir! Kae says.

Its here, offers one of the boys, holding up Kaes ukulele.

I dont care about what they were fighting about. Im more concerned about my earring, which flew off somewhere when Ari shoved me. I drop to my knees and begin feeling around for it. They were a present from my Auntie Huia, and theyre pretty much the only thing I have of hers. Besides which, theyre diamonds, so hello. I spot a little twinkle in the grass and snatch it up with relief, just as Mr Tamati says, And you too, Tui.

Me? I scramble to my feet and jam my earring back into its piercing. I had nothing to do with any of this. I was trying to stop it.

Oo boke by nobe! Ari says, his hands cupped around his stupid, bleeding face.

You kicked me! I snarl, and because Im still mad at losing my earring, I kick him back. How does it feel?

All of you! My office! Mr Tamati roars. Anyone else?

All the watching kids sift away, heads together gossiping, and soon its just the four of us under the darkening sky.

Ari and Kae slouch off up to the school buildings, and Mr Tamati says, Im surprised at you, Tui. I hope your brothers influence isnt rubbing off on you.

I seriously doubt it, I snap, straightening my uniform and smoothing my long hair back.

We may be twins, but Kae and me are nothing alike. Thank God.

Tui is the biggest pain in my arse ever . Shes been banging on and on since we left the school grounds, and Im over it. Its all the same. Why are you such a dick? Why cant you get it together? Youve got exams; youll never pass at this rate. And the classic, You lost me my prefect badge, which could mean the end of my future, and if I dont get into uni, Ill kill you.

I finally snap. Piss off. Its not all about you. And nobody asked you to get involved. You just stuck your nose in where it didnt belong, as usual.

Youre so stupid! she growls. When are you going to realise that what you do affects me too?

I dont bother replying. I just plop my headphones back on my ears, deliberately speeding up to leave her behind.

Were cutting through the back of the old shopping centre. Theres not much there now. Most of the shops have either closed down or made the move to the big new mall on the other side of town. Theres a dairy with overpriced everything, a fish and chip shop, a roast dinner shop, a TAB, a clothing store that sells knock-off designer tees that fall to bits in the first wash, a second-hand furniture store and a shop that fixes old lawnmowers and bikes.

As I grump through the little walkway between the shops, I spot a lady sitting on the brick corner of a weedy garden bed. Shes dressed all in black not in a Gothy, witchy kind of way, but more sophisticated, like the corporate chicks you see on their way to business meetings in the city. Her hairs all sleeked back and her lips are blood red. Shes so out of place, I cant help staring at her a bit.

She catches my eye and winks.

I hastily look away, thinking, Jeez lady, youre old enough to be my mother.

Except she isnt. She seems older and younger at the same time. Older than me, older than the world. But young too. No wrinkles or anything.

Tui snatches the headphones off my head and I jump. I yank them back.

What were you even fighting about, anyway?