Short Info: Beth has saved enough money through not drinking to hire a car and to go and visit Boogie. Whole family is happy and excited, even Jake. Things turn sour when Jake stops at the pub and the parents both get drunk. The visit to Boogie never happens.
Themes: Parenting / Alcohol / Pride / Maori Culture
The chapter opens with Beth feeling proud of herself for not drinking and for saving money to see Boogie. Duff builds a mood of happiness, emphasising both Jake and Beth’s pride in their rented car. The children in the back having fun too, except for Grace. Beth wondering briefly what was wrong with Grace, “Kid’d been even quieter than normal lately. Beth couldn’t figure it out, other than putting it down to teenage stuff.” (P94).
Comments made about how life ‘opens up’ when you don’t spend all the money on booze and gambling. The family have a ‘flash’ car, food in the boot, jovial atmosphere. Husband and wife are joking to each other, for once, it doesn’t upset Jake’s pride. The family cruise around the streets together, enjoying the looks they get, Jake calm for once.
They stop at a lake, Jake and Abe joke around, play fighting each other. Beth wonders if he’s started smoking ‘dope’ because he is so happy. Abe wonders if their ancestors used to row their waka on the lake and if they’d fought there, “Sure they did. Your ancestors, boy, they were fighters,”
Jake turns sour as they drive through the white neighbourhood (Ainsbury Heights) and snaps at Beth. “So Beth not willing to push it, afraid she’d bring it right out his old hatred, resentment of anything that had white skin, had a job, owned a house, had a car.”(P98). P99 – Beth thinks about how Maori are no good with money.
They drive past the exit to Beth’s old village and she thinks on her mother and father, how they never showed love either, ‘her father never showed his love to Mum because he was of that school of being gruff, tough, manly – MANLY – and happier when he was around his mates, drinking with them …” (P101)
Pages 102 and 103 consider the Maori slave past – in particular, Jake’s family – and maybe cause of Jake’s temper and quick pride. “We weren’t allowed to play with many other families in our pa. No way, not the Heke’s, man. Don’t play with them, you’ll get the slave disease.” (P102).
Jake sees some mates and ends up going in to the pub for a drink. Beth and the children are left waiting in the car. Beth goes in to try and coax him out and ends up staying also, despite hating seeing the abandoned children running around in the car park. They get drunk together and miss Boogie’s visit.
Beth gives the children money for food and a bus ride home. Meantime, Jake and the fullas go out to the car where they promptly eat the feast prepared for the visit. “She looked around her . . . at them, the feeding animals gorging on what felt like her very own body, such a violation did it feel.” (P111).
Chapter ends with Mark Heke (Boogie) “The housemaster on the evening shift coming up to him: Mark Heke, it appears your visitors are not coming. And the kid saying, Yes they are. Yes they are. How kids get when they won’t face the truth.” (P113)
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