“Fetch us a cup of tea, will you?”
The statement reflects the violent nature of Michael's father. When he married Michael's mother, they were a teenager. His wife soon got pregnant, but Bryne did not seem to help with household responsibilities. When his wife is six months pregnant, he orders her to bring a cup of tea. This statement shows the burden women carry; even when pregnant, men want them to continue working.
“Oh, the red house. I know the red house.”
Michael has got used to the color of their house. After making new friends, Michael finds it easy to direct them to their house because it is the only one painted red in the neighborhood. According to Michael, everybody in the neighborhood knows the location of the red house.
“It is very sad, very sad.”
When May died, Michael's father wanted to bring her body to Melbourne, but his mother refused and argued that she needed to be buried where she was born. During May's funeral, mourners lined up to console Michael's mother and express their sorrow and loss. They said sorry to Michael's mother and encouraged her to take heart and be strong.
