In this article we explore how two Aboriginal children negotiate their identities in anurban school context. Moments of tension occurred as the children's unfolding storiesbumped against stories of the children told by others. These tensions involved in parthow attendance and relationships with others shaped identities. The role of parents ishighlighted as they help their children negotiate their identities at school. The articlefocuses on threads of competing and conflicting stories and identities as we examinecurricular spaces from the diverse lives of children in schools.