Dad, is this our house? No, we rent it. I mean, It’s someone else’s and we’re just living in it; and we give them money to live in it. And Daddy, can we get a house with a pool next time? Na, pools are too much work. You have to keep them clean and I’m already really busy. Why do you have to keep them clean? Why do you think? So if you swim in them, umm, with leaves in the pool, maybe some leaves will be sharp; and if you swim and it has a lot leaves in the deep side, then you’ll touch the leaves and you might drown. And Daddy, when will we get our own house? I don’t know, maybe, maybe after a long time. Dad, can we get a big house with an upstairs? Maybe, let’s see. Daddy, is that rats? Yep. Maybe one of the rats is getting married.
Because owning a pet poses numerous issues while renting; Itinerant and sometimes inanimate animals become our ‘pets’. These include: the possum that sleeps in the garage during the day, caterpillars that are kept in plastic containers to be observed, sick birds, various battery operated animals; and most recently, the cowhide purchased at the local flea market that is kept on the study floor. The kids call her brownie and enjoy brushing her hair. Though whether puppies or rabbits are better pets is still a regular topic of conversation.
Dad, why did the bird die? I don’t know, I think it was sick. Where did you bury it? In the garden, up the back. Is it still there? Yep. Dad, I think the bird has gone to heaven, or maybe it’s sleeping.
The kitchen is one of the most important rooms of our rented home. It is where we prepare breakfast, Cook lunch and dinners; Make batches of jam and Indian pickles. Where we bake sough-dough bread, birthday cakes and banana bread from over-ripe bananas. Throughout the day cups of tea and coffee are prepared. The littlest one likes to sit on the bench top while the dishes are being washed.