Big Brother Little Sister by Witi Ihimaera Hema was half-way down the street and running fast, when he heard his little sister yelling after him. ‘Hema! Wait for me!’ He turned and saw her appearing out of the dark street, and her shadow grew long and extended toward him as she passed under the solitary street light. She had put a jersey and old jeans over her pyjamas, but the edges still showed underneath. In her hands, she was carrying her sandals. ‘What do you want?’ he growled. He turned his face away from her so she couldn't see he was crying. ‘I'm coming too,’ Janey said. ‘Hang on.’ She bent down and began putting her sandals on. ‘But you can't come with me,’ Hema told her. ‘You'll be a nuisance. You're too young.’ ‘I am not!’ Janey flared, and she stood as tall as her seven years would allow her. ‘And I'm coming, so there! You might need me.’ She clutched his hand tightly, but he pushed her away and began to run, down the long dark street toward Newtown. Behind him, he heard Janey's short legs drumming after. ‘You just wait for me, Hema!’ she screamed. ‘Don't leave me behind, I'll tell on you!’ He turned. ‘You just go back home, Janey,’ he yelled. ‘Stop following me!’ ‘No!’ ‘You're too small to come with me. I'll give you a hiding! Look …’ He picked up a stone and pretended to throw it. Janey ducked behind a lamp post. Then her face looked out, and she was crying. ‘Now go home!’ Hema yelled. He turned down the street again. Behind him, he heard Janey scream. He looked back and she stopped, smiling at him. But when he turned round, she screamed again. He sighed. ‘All right, you cunning thing,’ he said. ‘You can come!’ Janey ran up to him and grinned cheekily at him. ‘I knew you wouldn't leave me behind,’ she said as she put her hand in his. Janey and Hema had been in bed for a long time, but the sound of the crash had awoken them. They slept in the same bed because the flat was too small. ‘Hema …’ Janey had whispered, sacred. ‘It's all right,’ Hema answered. He'd strained his ears and heard more sounds. Then a crack of light had appeared under the closed door. Mum and Dad were back from the party. They were quarrelling again. ‘Don't you answer me back, Wiki!’ Dad was saying. ‘Don't you tell me what I can't do.’ ‘You don't own me,’ Mum screamed, and her voice was shrill with anger. ‘Go on, go back to that black bitch, you and her are made for each other, fat and ugly.’ ‘You want me to go? I'll be bloody glad to go!’ ‘Yeah, go,’ Mum had yelled. ‘I'll even pack your clothes for you. And don't come back either! The quicker you get out the better.’ A door had slammed, and Hema had