Published: 22 Jun 2026

David is hearing rumours;

The timber mill’s afternoon siren had long gone before Biff arrived home. It had been a busy day, hot and humid also a small grass fire broke out in the gully behind the mill sending most of the mill workers to extinguish the flame before it reached a sawdust heap close to a stacking of weather boards.

Adding to Biff’s discomfort the walk from the mill to home is more than enough to soak his clothing with sweat amplifying the infusion of smoke from fighting the fire. All Biff wished for as he approached the rear door is a long cool shower, although a ice cold beer would be as appreciated.

Before entering out of the hear Biff spies Karen is in the process of bringing in the washing, carrying a basket containing a pile of vivid white linen.

“I would give you a hand Karen but I don’t think you would appreciate my sweaty grimy hands over your clean sheets.”

“No matter, I’ll almost finished, you had a call a little while back from Trish.”

“I’ll take a shower and return her call.”

“She said not to call back and she would see you at the Tip-top café about one on Saturday afternoon – have you a cricket match on Saturday?.”

“It’s a bi-week, is Grady home?”

“He called saying not to hold dinner, he is doing overtime and will get some chips on his way over to visit his father.”

“More chips,” Biff laughs.

“I haven’t been able to wean him off them ever since he was a little fellow.”

“That’s why he’s called Greedy.”

“I’ve never liked that name for him but I guess boys don’t choose what others call them.”

“You must admit fried chips taste great, but not with vinegar like Grady prefers, it is my opinion vinegar ruins a good chip.”

They both laugh at Grady’s culinary oddity.

Once inside Biff quickly strips and showers.

There is a knock to the bathroom door that Biff believes would be Grady.

“Come in,” Biff calls from beneath the flow of cooling water.

“I don’t think so,” Karen answers.

“Sorry I thought it was Grady.”

“I’m about to put on another load of washing, do you want your work clothes included?”

“No thank you Karen, I will do them myself later.”

‘I wonder what news Trish has that has to wait until Saturday.’

‘It can’t be bad news or she would have arranged for an earlier time.’

The water flow is having an effect of Biff and as he is alone he decides to do something about it.

‘It’s a pity Grady isn’t here.’

Grady remained eating his serve of chips as he arrived at the Stock and Feed Emporium. With the staff gone for the day Grady finds David in the feed shed, his hands on hips while vacantly gazing upwards into a large stack of hay bales.

“You wanted to see me?”

“Yes I do.”

Grady approaches, “want a chip?”

“Can’t you eat a proper meal boy?”

Grady sarcastically retorts; “chips are better for you than scotch.”

“Do you know anything about mice?” David asks.

“Not a lot.”

“There is a plague and the hay is riddled with the little buggers, before the week is out I may have to dump it.”

“Is that what you wanted to see me about?”

David comes away from his mouse problem;

“I have offered your brother a job.”

Grady sounds discrediting, “so he said, is it in the office?”

“Not likely – on the floor, a general dogs-body.”

“Aw’, Lewis won’t like that.”

“I’m also about to start up a new project, so I thought Lewis could come in at ground level. What do you think?”

“He is a little young to be left to manage anything on his own.”

“Have you thought any more of my offer for you to run the Emporium office?”

Grady finishes his chips and crumples the greasy paper, “I have,” he replies.

“What have you decided?”

“I’m still not interested.”

“You should at least take some interest, being the oldest one day you will inherit the business.”

“Leave it to Lewis. If it is left to me I would sell it.”

Grady is watching his father’s express for reaction, it soon becomes obvious David has a different agenda than to offer him work and like an arrow from David’s bios it arrives.

“I’ve been hearing rumours,” David says.

“Rumours dad? What kind of rumours?”

“The type a father doesn’t wish to hear about his own blood.”

Grady feels concerned but refuses to show emotion;

“You will have to spell it out as you know I’m only a dumb apparentness mechanic.”

“It’s said you’ve been more than running about with Brian Bastian.”

“Sorry but I don’t get your meaning.”

“It’s been suggested Bastian is a fag.”

‘Hold it Grady,’ Grady thinks.

‘Don’t let the bugger get to you.’

‘He couldn’t know anything as nothing has actually happened.’

‘I bet that one came from Lewis.’ Grady assumes.

“Then dad I think you have been listening to the wrong people. Yes, as you say, Biff and I kick about and we have been, as you suggest, kicking about since we were shitting our nappies – what of it?” Grady settles the lump forming in his throat, “besides there is another rumour around that may prove your belief about Biff to be wrong.”

“Yes I’ve heard that one as well; is it true Bastian had a kid?”

“The rumour is true as for the fact that is something you will have to ask of Biff, contrary to what you possibly think, he doesn’t tell me everything.”

David appears partly satisfied with Grady’s reply even if it wouldn’t change his opinion on Brian Bastian.

“You have to realise Grady, I have a reputation to uphold in this town, and rumours can do a lot of damage to the business never mind my position in the shire.”

‘It’s always you, isn’t it dad?’ Grady thinks.

“Therefore stop listening to the idle chatter from Lewis, he is simply trying to big-note himself and impress you,” Grady says.

Grady comes away from his visit to David a little shaken. He wouldn’t repeat any of the conversation to Biff as it may cause him to act irrationally, even leave town. He would have words with Lewis, more pertinent where is Lewis getting his information? Possibly he hears much of it from Helen and fills the blank spaces with supposition. There isn’t any way Trish would tell her sister about Biff as they had developed a deep understanding, possibly even fraternal love. Alternately there is Michael Brown, he is well known for having a loose tongue, or Bruce Menzies wishing revenge for something that may have happened many years previously but why now as Menzies had been back in town for some months without obvious reaction.

Grady concluded David’s information has to be coming from Lewis, besides these days he is always lurking whenever Grady and Biff are together, listening to everything that is said as he pretends to be busy with other, even so caution had been taken with nothing of pertinence exchanged that could be misconstrued whenever Lewis hovered.

It is early Saturday afternoon with Biff honouring Trish’s invitation to meet at the Tip-top café. Trish is already seated in one of the booths as Biff arrives, she appears calm and relaxed therefore Biff assumes he isn’t in for bad news.

Biff approaches, taking the seat opposite Trish as the jukebox starts up playing Apache by the Shadows.

Biff turns in the seat towards the lad who fed the machine;

Kenny Rosenthal is that best you can do?”

“I like the Shadows, Biff.”

“Fair enough,” Biff concedes.

“How have you been?” Trish asks.

“Good, how’s the little fellow?”

“He had a temperature the other night but he is alright now, mum is looking after him for the afternoon.”

Biff appears concerned;

“Did you take him to the doctor?”

“Doctor Morris did a house call saying it is only teething, other than that he is fine.”

Biff turns about and catches Chipper Joe’s attention;

“Chips or a shake?” he suggests to Trish.

“No thank you.”

Biff cancels the wave, “forget it Joe, maybe next time.”

“How can a man feed his family if you sit about talking without buying anything?” Joe complains in his Neapolitan accent.

Trish places a set of keys on the table top.

“What’s this?”

“The keys to Ross Linton’s Atherton Street house, he has agreed to have you house sit for him.”

Biff appears surprised;

“Wouldn’t he want to meet me first?”

“He has already gone. The amenities are paid in advance for three months; he even stocked the refrigerator for you.”

Trish pauses;

“Go on.”

“There is a proviso.”

“Yea, what would that be?”

“Ross has an old ginger cat, he’s left plenty of tin food and you will need to feed it.”

“I’m really a dog man, it is my opinion a dog is your best mate, a cat is nothing but an ornament, although I suppose I can feed the cat for him.”

“Good, otherwise I’d have to come over every day to feed Smudge. From tomorrow the house is yours for at least three months,” Trish releases a chuckle, “no wild parties mind you, Ross has a lot of valuable stuff, that’s why he needs someone he can trust.”

“No parties.”

“Have you told Karen you’ve been looking for somewhere to live?”

“Not in as many words although she realises my living there is at best temporary.”

“What about Grady, have you told him?”

“He knows I am looking for somewhere although not about you asking Ross regarding house sitting as I didn’t think it would come to anything.”

Trish appears eager to depart;

“I think that’s about the most of it. I have shopping to do for mum so I’ll be on my way.”

“Would you like me to walk with you?”

“Best not as most things I do these days get back to mum. That is why I chose the Tip-top, none of mum’s mates would never dream of coming here.”

Biff collects the keys;

“Another thing, Mr. Linton has left a list for you, mostly problems that could arise and where he can be contacted.”

Biff allows Trish time to depart before following so their meeting wouldn’t be discovered.

Even if house sitting for Ross Linton is only temporary it is a beginning to have somewhere of his own, possible others may realise his value and there could be further offers, for now he had at least three months. That length of time brings on a second memory when he had six months before the rented property was to be sold and he didn’t do anything as the days leaked away, This time Biff decided he wouldn’t be so idle.

He has a deeper thought which brings on more than a simple smile; how could he convince Grady to stay with him during the house sitting and what would others think? Possibly they could steal a night now and then but even that would be difficult to explain.

Late Saturday afternoon and Biff has returned home a happy young fellow although somewhat nervous towards how he should share his good fortune. Firstly he would approach Karen and thank her for her kindness since the demise of Ron, then he would approach Grady with the news they now had somewhere to meet in private. That thought gave him a rise in more than spirit.

Biff finds Karen on the living room couch enjoying a large gin and tonic, she appears flustered.

“It’s early for a g-and-t, Karen,” Biff humorously suggests.

“If you come from the telephone call I just had you would also hit the bottle.”

“Bad news?” Biff simply says not to appear prying.

“I’ve had David on the telephone for the last hour attempting to get me to mortgage the house to prop up some business proposition he is arranging.”

“I thought the house is in your name?”

“True yet that wouldn’t stop David; he may have relinquished the house on paper but never in his head.”

“Will you agree?”

“No Brian, that horse has well and truly bolted.”

Is it time for Biff to share his good fortune?

Possibly he should tell Grady first and Grady could tell Karen.

Biff decides to upfront.

“Karen, I also have some news,” Biff quietly says.

“I believe I already know what your news may be.”

Biff appears mystified.

Karen continues;

“You will be minding Ross Linton’s property while he’s away helping his sick brother.”

“How would you know that, I only found out myself an hour ago?”

“David told me during our telephone call. David is a business associate of Ross Linton and Ross told him he was going to ask you to house sit, I believe David spent the rest of their conversation trying to dissuade him from offering you the job.”

“I’m sorry you had to hear in such a manner.”

“That’s quite alright besides you will always have a room here afterwards.”

“Thank you.”

“Have you told Grady?”

“Not yet; is he about.”

“He’s doing some shopping for me. I suppose I should start dinner and dump the blues from David’s call.”

“You shouldn’t let him get to you Mrs. Dowie,” Biff always calls Karen misses when he is becoming serious.

“I can’t help it as David has always known which button to press.”

As Karen speaks Grady arrives home with her shopping with Lewis close behind.

Lewis pushes past Grady at the door.

“Mum what’s for dinner?” Lewis demands.

“Watch it kid,” Grady warns as Lewis makes a beeline to the refrigerator. Nothing therein appears to please.

All three ignore Lewis’ food request.

“Mum your order at Jebbs drapery hasn’t arrived yet,” Grady says as he dumps the shopping onto the kitchen table, “also the butcher was out of kidneys.”

“Yuk!” Lewis exclaims, “I hate steak and kidney pie.”

Lewis’ protest is ignored.

“That’s a shame about the material, I promised to make Robyn a new dress for the Grogan’s birthday party. She will have to make do; possibly I could spruce up one of her old dresses with some ribbons or something.”

Karen brings a bag of potatoes from the pantry.

“Mash’,” Lewis exclaims in delight as disappointment closes the refrigerator door, “unlike Greedy and his chips, I love mashed potatoes – no diced onions like last time – please.”

“Lewis, where have you been all afternoon?” Karen asks.

“I was visiting dad.”

Karen isn’t pleased although she realises Lewis is now old enough to make his own decisions, besides if she pushes back to hard she may lose him forever.

“And what did your father have to say for himself?”

“Not a lot he spent most of the time while I was there on the phone arguing with someone.”

‘That someone was me;’ Karen thinks;

‘It is better I keep that to myself.’

“He is starting up some new business and wants me in at grass-roots.”

“Grass-roots,” Grady laughs, “more as errand boy, you will be the gofer.”

“What’s a gofer?” Karen asks.

“Go for this and go for that and if nothing else, I would say Lewis should be good for that.”

Lewis ignores his brother and retires to his room with Karen to the kitchen to start with dinner preparation.

“Come with me,” Biff gives a head flick towards his room.

Once inside Biff closes the door;

“I have some news.”

“Go on.”

“I’m moving out.”

Grady appears most surprised as far as being panicked.

“Don’t worry it isn’t far only across town, so we will have somewhere private to meet.”

“You’ve found a house to rent?”

“Not rent, I’ll be looking after Ross Linton’s house for a few months while he is away.”

“I’ve heard of him, he is somehow associated with dad. Have you told mum?”

Biff laughs; “she told me. I was about to tell her but David had already spoken as he heard Linton was going to offer it to me.”

“Dad wouldn’t have liked that.”

“True it seems David attempted to talk Ross out of trusting the likes of me.”

“When does all this happen?” Grady asks.

“From tomorrow, Trish will feed his cat tonight and I’ll move in tomorrow,”

Biff is grinning; “and I’ll expect you tomorrow night.”

“That will look a little suspect.”

“I should think not all night for the first. In time I’m sure we can come up for a reason for you to stay a full night – or more.”

“Strange,” Grady simply says.

“What is strange?”

“Here we are considered to be freethinking adults having to pussy-foot about to satisfy our desires, while the rest of the world is fucking its brains out.”

“That is a funny way to express the situation but I guess you are correct, can you think of a better way?”

“Nope – so pussy-footing it will have to be.”

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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