Aaron is barely out of adolescence, lives rough in Melbourne and is addicted to heroin. He needs a secure place to stay, but his concentration is solely focussed on finding money to pay for the next hit. His mother, Vicki, has kicked him out of home to force him to confront his demons, but Aaron isn’t ready to quit his habit.

Aaron’s upbringing contributed to his drug addiction. He was sexually abused by his grandfather. To add insult to injury, his father, Max – a wealthy car dealer – believed the grandfather’s word over his son’s. Vicki viewed Max’s decision as unconscionable and dissolved their marriage. Despite their circumstances, Vicki still nurtures Aaron, giving him food and allowing him into the hairdresser’s where she works for a complimentary cut. Aaron resists stealing from Vicki or her employer … just.

Aaron plays guitar and dreams of making money from his obvious talent, but any money he makes goes into his arm. Aaron’s taste in music – edgy, indie and preferably loud – adds to the percussive, jarring tone of the narrative. As Aaron’s desperation for heroin grows, he allows himself to be picked up by an elderly well-dressed gentleman, Donald, who pays him very well for his sexual services. He demands fawning attention from Aaron. This ‘relationship’ is fraught and only lasts because of Aaron’s need for his next hit.

Aaron’s best friend dies; his dreams of romantic love are fruitless; his attempt at reconciliation with his father fails; his actions escalate; and his future is bleak. Aaron stays close to his home – as the title suggests – but the drug addiction, homelessness and sexual assault he deals with are unfortunately close to all of us.

Reviewed by Bob Moore

Read an interview with Mick Cummins

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tasmanian-born Mick Cummins is a playwright, screenwriter and documentary-maker now living in Melbourne. He has also spent many years as a social worker in South Melbourne. The same location where his first novel, So Close to Home, is based.

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