Page 74 of The Good Sister

‘Yes. But I don’t believe it.’

‘Itishard to believe,’ Rose agrees. ‘But it’s true. I was there. I am the only person on earth who knows the truth about what happened.’

But that isn’t true. There was someone else at the river that night, someone other than her, me and Billy.

The night before he died, Billy and I had wandered down to the river together to skim stones. We were breaking the rules. We weren’t supposed to do that. Mum and Daniel told us we weren’t allowed to leave the camp at night, but when Billy asked, I threw caution to the wind. There was something about Billy that made me want to do things like that. Something about his company that made him difficult to resist.

He took me by surprise when he kissed me. One minute we were skimming stones and the next our teeth were knocking together. He said ‘Ow’ and I laughed. Then he kissed me again. It was better that time. Still strange, but better.

We were on our third kiss when Rose stepped out of the bushes, startling us both.

‘Fern?’ she’d said.

She’d been so quiet after that. It was almost as though she was annoyed with me. Her strange mood permeated the camp the next day. That was what happened when Rose got into one of her moods – you could feel it in your bones. By evening, Mum and Daniel were so fed up they sent us down to the river. ‘Go swim,’ Mum said to Rose. ‘Shake it off.’

I think Mum wanted to help, but I hated it when Mum told Rose to shake it off. It only ever made her madder.

Billy and I followed Rose down to the river, at a distance. But once she was there, she just stood on the bank, sulking. After a few minutes, Billy strode past her and into the water – he didn’t know how Rose could get when she was in one of these moods. I wanted one last swim with Billy, but I felt like I shouldn’t, so I stood off to the side, watching them. Billy had spent that whole week trying to hold his breath underwater longer than me and this was his last chance, he said. But it was clear he was never going to do it. It was funny. I could have watched him try all night.

After an hour or so, Rose called me over to her. I was taken aback. She’d been giving me the silent treatment all day. Usually she kept it up for two or three days before she broke it.

‘Help him,’ she whispered.

‘Help him what?’

‘Help him beat your time.’

I’ll admit, I wasn’t too keen on the idea.

‘Go on,’ Rose urged. ‘He’ll never do it otherwise. And boys love to win!’

Rose was so animated. She looked practicallyhappy. There was something appealing about a happy Rose, especially when she’d been in such a bad mood. Letting Billy win would be a small price to pay, I supposed. So I agreed.

The next time Billy broke through the surface of the water, I told him my tricks. ‘Breathe slowly and calmly for at least two minutes. Then exhale everything in your lungs and take the deepest breath you possibly can. Then once you’re underwater, relax and let your thoughts drift away.’

Billy listened carefully before attempting it. And he did quite well, for a first timer. He was still no match for me, though. And when oxygen bubbled to the surface, I felt pleased. Until Rose said: ‘Help him.’

I frowned. ‘What do you mean?’

‘Help. Him. Win.’

‘You mean . . .?’

She nodded.

We stared at each other. I was sure I’d misunderstood. ‘But–’

‘It’s the only way he’ll beat you. Hold him down.’

And so, I did. I put a hand on his back, and another on the back of his head. ‘Only forty seconds,’ I said to Rose. ‘Check your watch.’

Rose did. Billy started to struggle but in karate I’d learned to grip well. I’d spent months developing forearm and finger strength, so he had no chance of getting free. But he was twisting and kicking. I felt very uncertain. ‘How long has it been–’

‘Nearly there.’ Rose was looking at her watch.

‘Now?’ I said.

Rose shook her head.