Watery Graves by Kelli Bradicich Page A

stroked.
    The room went quiet.
    Maya was the only one who could find the words to break it. “Our home is peaceful. But over the years it’s become more of a place to hide out. I don’t think we should shut the world out any more.”
    “Ingrid,” Kristian whispered, leaning on his elbow to look into her face. “The kids really can’t live here alone forever. We won’t be around to save them all the time. They don’t know anything about life outside this mountain. Emmy can barely function beyond the gate.”
    “I have friends,” Emmy reminded him, feeling hurt. “Libby and her sisters. Mrs Bexley.”
    “I didn’t mean it like it sounds, Em,” Kristian said. “I just mean you get real quiet out there when you meet people. Sebastian’s fourteen. You’re sixteen…”
    “Just turned sixteen,” Emmy corrected.
    “You turned sixteen a while ago, Em. And I’m nearly fifteen,” Sebastian added.
    “…And Sebastian looks out for you, Em. If you ever go down to Mercy Falls on your own you’ll get walked over.”
    “Exactly,” Maya supported him, shifting her foot to tap Ingrid’s knee. “They’ve been overprotected, Ingrid. We can’t just throw them out there when they’re eighteen. No responsibility. No understanding of society. What happens if the three of us are no longer there to look after them? Surely me being sick has made you think about that.”
    Ingrid looked at her.
    “The world can be cruel to kids who are different,” Kristian said. “We’ve left it too long and now we need to help them fit in.”
    “I’m not saying that they have to go to school or live down in Mercy Falls. I just think they need to venture out more. Catch a movie. Read books that were published in the past ten years,” Maya said.
    “Or newspapers maybe,” Sebastian added, exchanging a glance with Emmy. “Or maybe not. The news might be too graphic, I don’t know. Not a place to start.”
    “Start slow. Let them see how other people live,” Maya finished.
    “I can read a newspaper or a new book,” Emmy said. “I’d love to do that. I can do that. But don’t make me go down to town.”
    Sebastian rolled his eyes.
    She tried to silence him with a glare. It didn’t work.
    “The news can be worse to look at than going down for a walk around town, Em.” He turned to Maya . “The town kids swim at the river on weekends,” Sebastian said, his eyes bright with the incomplete suggestion.
    Emmy looked at him, wondering who he’d spoken to and how he knew that. None of their parents picked it up, unless of course, Maya and Kristian already knew and this was an ambush.
    “I want to do it Mum,” Sebastian said. “Hang out by the river. Get to make a few friends.”
    “But you can have a friend in Libby, if you want it. I’ll share her with you,” Emmy argued, a rising sense of panic constricting her chest. Now, she was more than willing to share.
    “I want to have a boy friend,” Sebastian said.
    They all looked at him.
    “Really?” Maya asked, her eyes brightening.
    “I should have said boyfriend or girlfriend, sorry Seb,” Kristian said.
    Sebastian rolled his eyes. “You know what I mean. A mate.”
    “Oh, right.”
    They all nodded.
    “For a second there I thought you were taking a big step and deciding to be more of yourself,” Maya said.
    “Mum.”
    “Yes you’re right. We’re digressing.” She cleared her throat . “I want you two kids to feel brave and try some new things from time to time. Life can be interesting if you aren’t so afraid of everything.”
    Ingrid tried to speak.
    Maya leant over, reaching for Ingrid’s hand. “Emmy can swim on her own now. She doesn’t need us anymore. She’s not going to drown. And she’s smart enough not to swim alone, drunk or in raging flood water. And she’s certainly not depressed. It’s time to let her go Ingrid.”
    “I don’t think I, um, can…” Ingrid stammered.
    Emmy couldn’t hold it in any longer. “People get