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‘They Grew Up in the Water’When Creek Water Ran Through Their Veins ‘They Grew Up in the Water’
(7 days later)
Australia Diary collects reader stories reflecting Australia’s unique character. We’d love to see your story too. Email nytaustralia@nytimes.com and click here for more information.Australia Diary collects reader stories reflecting Australia’s unique character. We’d love to see your story too. Email nytaustralia@nytimes.com and click here for more information.
Cudal, NSWCudal, NSW
By Claudia DeanBy Claudia Dean
They grew up in the water.They grew up in the water.
In primary school they’d go when school was out and guitar lessons were over. Splashing and kicking until her mum had to leave town for home.In primary school they’d go when school was out and guitar lessons were over. Splashing and kicking until her mum had to leave town for home.
There was a grated gateway that they would have to cross to get to the creek. She was always scared of the empty ground beneath her and how her skinny legs could slip through the metal bars, scrape up her shin, trap her thighs.There was a grated gateway that they would have to cross to get to the creek. She was always scared of the empty ground beneath her and how her skinny legs could slip through the metal bars, scrape up her shin, trap her thighs.
She never told him she was scared. They’d sit under the little concrete bridge in the shallow water and emerge at the rumble of an overhead car.She never told him she was scared. They’d sit under the little concrete bridge in the shallow water and emerge at the rumble of an overhead car.
In high school, they’d go from the bus from the big town. Strip off sticky school sensibilities. Splash and swim in waters lower than last summer. Catch leeches on growing bodies. Forget their shoes, so walk across town barefoot, catching catheads and an increasingly magnetic attraction to the stagnant waters.In high school, they’d go from the bus from the big town. Strip off sticky school sensibilities. Splash and swim in waters lower than last summer. Catch leeches on growing bodies. Forget their shoes, so walk across town barefoot, catching catheads and an increasingly magnetic attraction to the stagnant waters.
They’d migrated downstream to the metal walking bridge that swung when bounced on and would be washed away in winter’s floods. They could fall from the outside edge onto mossy grass. It was easier than climbing a barbed wire fence and felt more epic than walking through an open gate.They’d migrated downstream to the metal walking bridge that swung when bounced on and would be washed away in winter’s floods. They could fall from the outside edge onto mossy grass. It was easier than climbing a barbed wire fence and felt more epic than walking through an open gate.
The final summer they traveled farther up the creek than ever before. They saw brown snakes and red mushrooms and a beautiful life and no future here.The final summer they traveled farther up the creek than ever before. They saw brown snakes and red mushrooms and a beautiful life and no future here.
That was a while ago now.That was a while ago now.
Send us your story. We’d love to receive an anecdote, video, illustration, poem or photo — or a combination — about those moments that could happen only in Australia.Send us your story. We’d love to receive an anecdote, video, illustration, poem or photo — or a combination — about those moments that could happen only in Australia.
For guidance and inspiration, here are few recent entries: tales of paying with pineapples, magical mermaid pools, lizard friends, nude beaches, music and road trips, curious lifeguards, death and kindness, plus poetry and #metoo on the work site.For guidance and inspiration, here are few recent entries: tales of paying with pineapples, magical mermaid pools, lizard friends, nude beaches, music and road trips, curious lifeguards, death and kindness, plus poetry and #metoo on the work site.