Published: 6 Mar 2023

Chapter 14

That place too far had been considered Monday morning and with the truck loaded for the airbase, Owen again visited his sister’s situation having no idea how he would approach Ted, or if it would be wise sharing with a man neither he or Winnie knew.

As Owen reached the airfield he noticed Chip’s Dakota was in its usual place. His excitement grew as he entered receiving a wave past the guard post and his enthusiasm remained high while making his deliveries. He was about to ask permission to visit Chip when he caught sight of him coming from the billets.

“Owen, are you ready for another flight?” Chip asks simply as a conversation breaker.

“I’d love to – when?”

“I have something else in mind but if at all it wouldn’t be until later in the year.”

“What in the Dakota?”

“No not the Dakota, I don’t think I could face your mother, I’ll leave it at that for now, as it is in the development stage and I wouldn’t wish to give you false hope.”

“You’re just teasing.”

“If you two are going to yap on move the truck there is another delivery coming,” Bob Grant growls and points towards a truck stopped at the sentry post. Owen obliges and once the vehicle is shifted he returns to Chip.

“Where have you been, I was concerned?”

“How sweet of you,” Chip laughs and directs Owen away from Grant’s hearing.

“No really I thought -,” Owen doesn’t elaborate further.

“I was delivering important dignitaries,”

“Who?”

“You know I can’t tell you who but I guess I could put it another way, being our hut hasn’t any curtains.

“Who the Prime Minister John Curtin?” Owen gasps.

“Keep your voice down and I didn’t say that – did I?”

“How long are you back for?”

“I have a few days leave coming up and do you remember I wish to have a talk with you?”

“I do, what about?”

“In time, what are you doing tomorrow night?”

“The same-old – same-old I would think,”

“I’ll pick you up tomorrow tonight around seven and we’ll go for a drink in town.”

“Yes I would like that.”

“For now it would be best you get going, I see Grant is getting touchy.”

Once in town Owen parks close by the post office with intention to use one of the two telephone boxes to call Ted. Both boxes are in use and as he waits, any confidence he may have had in confiding with his uncle is lessening. Eventually one of the boxes is free and he entered placing a coin into the slot, he dials the number and after a short time there is answer and while pressing button-a and hearing the coin take its noisy path to the collection tin, he realized it wasn’t his uncle’s voice. Nerves then got the better of him and he discontinues the call, ‘no there must be a better way,’ he believes and goes to Jebreen’s to advise Winnie of the change in plan, that for the present being no plan at all.

“What can I do?” Winnie was obviously stressed as she attempted to keep her situation from her work mate.

“I’ll think of something, I promise.”

“I may have to leave town like our Cousin Violet,” Winnie gives a shudder of memory.

“I’m sure it won’t come to that, besides mum would understand.”

“Dad wouldn’t!” Winnie snapped; “it would shame him into an early grave.”

“Don’t panic as I said something will turn up, I won’t let you down.”

On his return home the assurance Owen had offered to Winnie commenced to haunt him, that being he wouldn’t let Winnie down but how could he not do so. What did he know of abortions? He recollected schoolyard stories of 91 Bunda Street in Cairns where you could obtain an illegal termination by mentioning having a zip-fix. Were such stories true or nothing but the telling of school children? Owen releases a wry smile while thinking pity to any poor woman who was expecting and actually took in a dress to have a zip mended. For now he would put Winnie’s predicament aside while considering what Chip had in mind.

Alf met the truck at the gate and opened for Owen. Standing on the truck’s running board he rides it back to the shed. Once at the shed he peered into the back, “I see they took the lettuces this time?”

“They did. I think Bob Grant has come to realize he won’t get better except from greater distance and with a higher cost which by delivery would be unusable.”

“You took your time?” Alf suggests.

“I had to get petrol and new coupons for mum and while in town I visited Winnie.”

“Why so, she was only here yesterday.”

“No reason other than I was in town. I saw Chip at the field and I’m going into town with him tomorrow night. He likes having a local fella’ with him at the pub as it takes the pressure of being foreign.”

“You’re not intending to take the truck out at night I hope, that left side light has blown and I haven’t been able to get a new bulb.”

“No he said he will pick me up with one of the vehicles from the base.”

“Righto’ but you better get up to the top paddock, someone left the gate untied and Ruby is in with the cabbages.”

“It wasn’t me as I haven’t been riding for sometime;” Owen protests.

“It must have been Gavin. I’ll have a word with him when he returns from school.”

“Go lightly on Gavin dad as he is having bother leading up to his final exams.”

“I’ll be as lightly as Ruby’s hooves are to the cabbages,” Alf growls without showing menace, as Ruby had only moments before entered through the open gate and was feeding on the fresh grass along the fence line.

As Owen approached the top paddock, Ruby lifted her head from grazing and came up to him, knocking a number of cabbages from the first row out of the ground with her hooves. He gently rubbed her on the neck and as was custom she followed him back to her enclosure without hesitation.

“Girl – you’ve got us into bother with dad,” Owen whispers close to Ruby’s ear, she gives a head toss and snorts as if the words were understood.

“Now in you go and behave yourself,” Owen says and guides Ruby back to her paddock. He then closes the gate and loops the wire fix over the gatepost.

As Owen departs company she whinnies, he turns in time to see Ruby lift the wire gate fix with her head. Once again she was through the gate and following Owen along the rows of cabbages, stealing a feed along the way.

He again guides her back.

“You are too smart for your own good,” he credits and fixes the wire so it could no longer be lifted, “I better tell dad before he goes off at Gavin,” he says and gives Ruby a few more minutes of attention. Across the paddock he spies Mrs. Joliffe, he waves and calls a greeting but the distance is too far for her to hear. She simply returns the wave and continues hanging the daily washing.

‘Poor woman with all those kids,’ he thinks.

‘And a husband too lazy to help,’ he acknowledges from his understanding of her husband Len.

Twilight with darkness fast approaching and there is the sound of a vehicle turning from the road towards the Parker farm. May is at the kitchen sink with a clear view of the road and the gateway. “Owen,” she calls.

“That is me Megan-may.”

“Chip is here, are you ready?”

“I am.”

“There is one thing to credit those air force boys and it is punctuality.” May dries her hands on a dishcloth, “where is your father?”

“In the shed I think,”

“Then go and greet Chip,” but as May speaks Alf appears and meets the arriving vehicle. There is conversation for some minutes before they both walk back to the house. Owen remains seated listening to the wireless news not to appear too eager.

On entering Chip hears the report and questions its content.

“It’s about your lot in the Solomon’s,” Owen says, “by the sound of it the fighting isn’t over and the Japs have landed what is believed to be up to twenty thousand troops and are attempting to take back the airport.”

“Yes Tojo said to control the South Pacific he must control Guadalcanal’s airport as well as the surrounding islands.”

“Do you think they will succeed,” Owen asks.

“I hope not – but I think not. Their greatest problem is their supply line,”

“What about the supply line?”

“It is three and a half thousand miles from Japan to the Solomon’s and we have a lot of ships between and somehow we seem to have an element of surprise over the arrival of their supply ships.” Chip muses.

“How come?”

“It isn’t regularly advertised but I think we have broken their codes as the fleet appears to know where to meet the convoys.”

“Right you two, if you are going out best to be on your way, I have a wireless programme I would like to listen to,” May encourages as she settles into her favourite chair and collects her sewing.

“Ready?” Chip asks.

“As I can be, I’ll say goodnight then Meagan-may.”

“Goodnight Mrs. Parker,” Chip follows.

“Goodnight,” May simply responds.

Outside the door Chip asks, “I noticed you call your mom Meagan-may.”

“It is her name.”

“I wouldn’t dare call my mom by her name,” Chip laughs.

It was a quiet night at the Dunlop, most were from town with a handful of farmers separated to one end of the bar and heavily into conversation on crops and fertilizers and how the military offered little for their hard labour and what the military didn’t take the government did at a reduce price.

On entry Chip suggests Owen take a table while he went for the drinks. At the bar Chip is approached by a local who was obviously intoxicated. “I hear the Japs are giving your lot a clobbering over in the islands,” the stranger says, while comically slurring his words, as he attempts to mimic Chips accent.

“Is that so sir,” Chip quietly replies not wishing to rile, or continue with the conversation. “Two beers,” he orders

“I know those islands,” the drunk says, “I once worked the boats collecting timber from the New Hebrides and I don’t fancy fighting in those thick jungles, also back in my days the natives were a little uncivilized and thought nothing of sticking you with a spear, even eat ya’ calling your flesh white pork.”

“You have that on me sir, as I don’t know the area,” Chip quietly admits while forcing a smile.

“But you fly-boys do a good job,” the drunk concludes with a heavy pat to Chips shoulder.

Chip flinches away, “we do try,” Chip pays for the drinks and returns to Owen.

“What was that about?” Owen asks.

“Some drunk that is all.”

“I should apologize for our ignorance.”

“I wouldn’t, as it would be no different back home, I don’t think your country has a monopoly on drunks.”

It was after a second beer without anything said except general conversation when Chip took a deep breath. “Well,” he says.

“Yes well,” Owen repeats.

“I’m not really drunk enough to say this,” Chip admits.

“Do you need to be?”

“It would help.”

“I don’t think there is anything you could say that would upset me Chip,” Owen admits.

“Is that so?” Chip nervously smiles and goes for refills.

He returns.

“What is it Chip, you appear as nervous as a bride on her wedding night?”

“That night in Moresby,” Chip’s voice falls to a whisper.

“Yes.”

“I must first apologize for being bold.”

“No Chip, there isn’t any need to apologize.”

“But I must as I was out of line.”

“Can I say something before you continue,” Owen interrupts.

“It may be preferred than me making a fool of myself.”

“What would have happened if we were alone in the plane?”

“Possibly I would have attempted more.”

“And I would have allowed it. Does that answer your question?”

For a minute, a long minute that appeared to stretch endlessly into the smoke hazed bar room there was silence.

Eventually Chip spoke, “what now?”

“I don’t know.”

“Can I make a suggestion?”

“Someone will need to.”

“As I said I have some leave, I would like to see some of the sights around the tablelands. If I get a tent from the base and some supplies, would you like to go camping for a few days with me, possibly for up to a week?”

“Is that what you were suggesting for a future time, when I was doing the deliveries?”

“No, that is something totally different.”

“Do you want to share it?”

“Not at the moment, now about us going camping, would you like to share a tent with me?”

“I haven’t been camping since my time in the scouts. Yes I would like to but I will have to run it past dad firstly but I think it can be arranged.”

“I’m afraid it is short notice and we would need to leave first thing in the morning.”

“As I said I can’t see any reason why dad would disagree. It appears you had already arranged this little trip.”

Chip gives a slight titter, “I did prearrange it a little hoping you would say yes but as I was going anyway and if you declined, what I’ve arranged for two would not be shared.”

It was almost ten in the evening as Owen returns home. From the gate he can hardly stop from smiling but even with his happy disposition there is caution towards where his association, if it could be considered association, was going with his fly-boy. Even more so what was his leaning, was he this or was he that. The word poof came to mind and he hates it, thinking of his mates and how they tossed it about with hurtful accusation, to any poor lad who was a little different. Homosexual is as abhorrent, possibly he was bisexual. He believes he could live with being bisexual.

‘Could I be bisexual?’ It was a fair question and a fair thought.

‘Na!’

‘It’s the uniform.’ He thinks.

‘A man in a uniform does something strange to me.’

‘Why?’

And even the thinking of it was having some effect.

Owen laughs as his boots crunch along the path. How could he be considered bisexual if he had never had it with a girl? A frown as he further deliberates, ‘I’ve never done it with a bloke either,’ he quickly excludes that with Ian Douglas, as it had been more show and tell.

“Oh well, I guess the future will look after that issue,” he breathes hopefully into the warm night air as he enters into the house.

“I’m home,” Owen calls from the door.

May remains seated with her sewing, listening to late night jazz on the wireless, with Alf reading the daily news while puffing on a pipe.

Owen enters and gives further greeting.

“Did you have a nice night dear?” May asks and momentary puts down her sewing.

“That shirt of mine is nothing but patches.”

“It is only a work shirt. I don’t expect you to wear it out when meeting your girlfriend.”

Owen takes in a sharp guilty breath and forces a nervous smile that fails in a quiver of his lips.”

“Owen hasn’t got a girlfriend,” Gavin pipes up from his revision for his final exams, without lifting his eyes from the book.”

“What would you know kid?” Owen can feel guilt rising to flush his cheeks. Did Gavin know something, had he witnessed the warmth shown between he and Chip during visits.

“Come on you two give it a miss,” Alf warns.

“It was only conversation and a couple of drinks at the Dunlop, you could hardly call that a night out.”

“Not too many, I would hope,” May scolds. Again she collects Owen’s shirt and holds it up before finishing the stitching to a rent near the elbow. “There you go it is good as new,” she says as the last stitch in knotted off.

“It was only three beers. Dad I thought you had stopped smoking?” Owen distracts from the direction of the conversation.

“Only the occasional one son but that doesn’t give you or Gavin reason to start.”

“I see you’ve resurrected Granddad’s old clay pip.”

“Yes I found it in the kitchen drawer and thought I’d give it a go.”

“I like the scent of that blend, it smells like custard,” Owen agrees.

May give a forced cough and waved away imaginary smoke, “and I don’t know how many times I’ve told your father not to smoke the foul thing in the house.

Alf laughs his disregard, “it is Sutliff tobacco from America and difficult to get with the war. Ernie Willis from over at Emerald Creek gave me a small supply, for giving him a case of tomatoes.”

“I could ask Chip, possibly he could get you some,” Owen releases a slight chortle with his offer, knowing well what went on between State Side and the local market.

“No need to bother Chip, as I guess it would be on the black market.”

“I believe it’s rife within the men at the base,” Owen admits.

“Best not to son, you don’t want to get mixed up in that caper, not with our contract with the military.”

Owen lingers as if he has something to report, bringing Alf to lift his eyes from his reading.

“Dad I have a favour to ask?” Owen finally admits believing their conversation may have placed Alf in an amenable frame of mind.

“What is it son?”

“Chip wishes to see the sights of the Tablelands and has some leave and needs a local guide. He suggested he could get a tent and we could camp out for a few days, possibly up at the lakes.”

“How long is your interpretation of a few days?” Alf asks.

“Up to a week.”

“When?”

Owen hesitates, “from tomorrow.”

“Umm; Gavin has his final exam tomorrow and end of term. I suppose I could do without you until the following weekend and Gavin can do your work for a few days.”

“Then it is a yes?”

“Yes I guess so but make it your last for a while and it appears to me you had already pre-empted my permission and agreed.”

“Chip said he will collect me early morning, I’ll set the stove and collect the eggs and ready the table before leaving.”

“When will it be my turn?” Gavin closes his book and waits for the obvious answer.

“You get a B or better in your math final and you can go down to Gordonvale to your Uncle Vince for a week or so during the school holidays.”

“Yea’ and pigs might fly on that happening,” Gavin growls knowing a good mark in his final mathematic exam was all but a lost cause, yet with Owen’s help he had managed a pass in English and Science and was at least expecting a good pass in Geography and History, being his favourite subjects.

“Where will you be camping, as most of the tableland is under military restriction,” Alf asks.

“The lakes aren’t, so I’ve suggested there.”

“Do you remember,” Alf gives a smile towards May.

“Remember what dear?” May places her sewing aside and becomes attentive.

“Our honeymoon.”

“As if it was yesterday.”

“Where did you go?” Owen asks.

“Lake Eacham, we had a tent and it rained the entire time,” May recalls and appears to glaze over from such a happy memory.

“The tent was dry and cozy,” Alf says with a cheeky grin.

“I think you can stop there Alf,” May says.

It was difficult for Owen to find sleep as his mind was racing and with rendition of his and Chip’s conversation he found he was becoming aroused, more so than ever before and so much, if he didn’t release the pressure he felt his member would explode. He peers across the darkness in the room to Gavin, “you awake?” he whispers.

“I am but with your tossing about on those squeaky springs, I can’t get to sleep.”

“I was thinking about camping up at the lakes.”

“Is that what it is called?”

“What are you getting at?”

“Nothing – let me sleep or I won’t have energy for my final.”

“I could never sleep before finals,” Owen admits.

“What will you do now Jim’s back and will probably take over the farm, as it doesn’t generate enough profit for the three of us?” Gavin asks.

“I haven’t given it much thought. I would like to fly commercially but there’s no chance of that with the war.”

“You could join the air force at least you would get the training and have a head start come war’s end.”

“That did cross my mind but I don’t think mum would be too pleased – good night.”

“Yea good night.”

What Owen found surprising was how quickly he had accepted Chips admittance and without denial was ready to cross over the divide from horseplay with his once friend Ian Douglas to something more involving without giving it title or gainsay.

There was one concern, Chip was on invite to the country to help protect it from invasion and to defeat the Japanese. How could anything develop when Chip could be sent elsewhere at a moment’s notice and once the war was at an end Chip had America, his family and his farm to return to? Eventually Owen rolls to his side with a defeating yawn he again gives hope that the future would be kind towards him.

Gary’s stories are about life for gay men in Australia’s past and present. Your emails to him are the only payment he receives. Email Gary to let him know you are reading: Conder 333 at Hotmail dot Com

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