Published: 13 Jul 2026

Biff receives a letter;

Two months quickly pass;

A number of conjugal visits by Grady to the Atherton residence;

A return to the Dowie house by Biff;

A thousand questions from Karen;

Even more attempts by Lewis to learn more about Grady’s imaginary girlfriend;

And except for the Grady’s sexual frustration nothing has changed, it becomes a perfect example of back to the future.

Friday afternoon, Grady has called home saying he is working late, his plan is to get some chips from Tip-top café on his way to meet the lads at the Royal.

5.30PM, Biff is home from work, finding Karen busy in the kitchen;

“Is Grady home yet?” Biff enquires on approach.

“He called a little while ago saying he has a late job, he said he will meet you at the Royal later.”

“I need to shower, do you need a hand with anything first?”

“No you have your shower, dinner will be at six but it will only be you, Robyn and me.”

“Where is Lewis?”

“He’s having dinner with the Baker’s then off to a social night at the town hall afterwards. I think things are becoming serious with Lewis and Helen.”

“Are you in a hurry for grandkids Karen?”

“Not in the least, although I always thought Grady would be first, if not you.”

“Me Karen?”

“You know I’ve always thought of you as one of the family.”

“I would never suggest that to David.”

Biff collects his work bag and commences towards the bathroom.

“Oh before I forget there is a letter for you.”

Karen finds the letter and passes it to Biff.

Biff curiously reads the senders address aloud;

“Lester and Partners solicitor,”

“Yes I did notice; I wasn’t prying only the mail was in reverse and your letter was on the top of a stack of bills, by the return address I thought it was for David.”

“No matter, I wonder why they would send me a letter.”

“It is possibly to do with your father’s estate.”

“I doubt it. Ron didn’t even have the money for his funeral, I had to borrow money from work and pay it back week by week.”

“You should have said something, we could have helped.”

“Well appreciated Karen but it was something I had to do by myself,” Biff pockets the letter, “shower first, there is plenty of time to find out what Lester Partners want.”

Karen continues; “possibly you’ve won a lottery or something.”

“Seeing I’ve never bought a ticket, I have doubts, besides aren’t solicitors letters usually the bringers of bad news?”

“Good point; before you go, do you know this girl Grady is dating?”

“No, he hasn’t said much only she is from out of town.”

“Possibly I should have Grady invite her for Sunday lunch.”

‘Oh,’ Biff thinks.

‘Now that should have been expected but not planned for.’

“You could I suppose.”

“You don’t appear very supportive towards the idea.”

“Not that, only David has been hounding him on the matter, so I’d wait off and let Grady make the suggestion himself.”

“Maybe,” Karen says without certainty.

“Shower time.”

“I’ve done the washing and there are fresh towels in the hall hamper don’t take too long, dinner will be on the table in ten.”

Drink’s night with Grady arriving late in his work clothes, immediately Brownie notices and comments.

“I hope you at least had a wash.”

“I had a shower at work as I was working late on a job; actually I changed the clutch on your old man’s Mercedes.”

“I hope you did a top job on it.”

“Why would my ability concern you?”

“Dad has ordered the latest model, he is giving it to me as a run-around.”

“What are you doing with your new Ford and the little sports number, which I should admit we never see?”

“You can never have enough cars Grady.”

“Money,” Grady huffs; he takes his usual place at the table noticing the absence of Biff.

Immediately Luke Bevin comments;

“Greedy, what’s that shit you’re wearing?”

“Old spice, it was on a shelf in the shower room at work, I didn’t have time to go home and change and I stunk of engine oil.”

“You smell like Ian Walsh when he’s on the pull.”

“I think I may have over splashed,” Grady admits.

Brownie cuts across, “Greedy regarding your comment on money, I say if you’ve got it why not enjoy it. And I do.”

“Did I hit a raw nerve Brownie?’

Brownie is quick to reply; “some people may agree with you, others may call it envy.”

Grady looks about, he spies his father at the bar drinking with two of the shire men and Clem Toomey the proprietor of the Ice works on Hort Street. David appears to be pushing his opinion onto Toomey’s rotund belly with a well aimed index finger. One of the shire men appears to be supportive; the other is displaying disapproval with David.

“Your old man appears to be spirited tonight,” Brownie suggests.

“There’s nothing new there Mick.”

“It appears you two don’t get along.”

Grady ignores Brownie as he sees Biff arriving, he waves but David has caught Biff’s attention and beckons Biff to approach. They speak for a moment then break contact somewhat savagely.

Biff orders a beer and comes to the table; the encounter between David and Biff is mostly ignored except from Brownie and Grady.

“What was that about?” Grady asks.

“It was simply David being David.”

“Hey Brownie, it’s your shout,” Barry Jones suggests; “and get two jugs this time.”

Brownie rises extracting a well stuffed wallet from his pocket bringing Barry to comment;

“I thought you owned the pub Brownie?”

“Not yet and with dad about, it is best I don’t get too generous.”

“I’ll give you a hand as last time you spilt most of it,” Biff suggests.

“I’m not that drunk.” Brownie protests;

Both go to the bar;

While waiting for service Biff whispers close to Brownie’s ear;

“What have you been saying to David?”

“Nothing – why what’s the problem?”

Brownie pays for the beer then turns ignoring further conversation.

Biff holds Brownie back by the arm;

“I don’t believe you.”

“Suit yourself.”

The jugs are brought to the table, Biff gives Grady a nod and takes a seat away from Brownie, the body language between them is obviously sour enough for Luke to comment;

“You two should kiss and make up.”

“Watch it Luke,” Biff coolly responds turning Luke’s smile into opps’ I shouldn’t have said that, deciding further banter isn’t worth continuing Luke tops up his glass from the jug.

“What kept you?” Grady asks realising Biff was to arrive a good half hour earlier as now the drinking night is mostly gone.

“I had a letter from my solicitor and seeing Frank Lester usually works late I called by his office on the way over.”

“You say your solicitor Biff,” Brownie questions.

“True Frank isn’t my solicitor but one dad used some years back.”

“So old Ron left you a fortune,” Brownie suggests as anything to do with money or inheritance always lubricated his imagination.

“It is to do with dad’s family and nothing to do with the likes of you Brownie, so keep your nose out of other people’s business.”

Grady gives a quizzical glance;

“It is to do with dad’s half sister and not worth mentioning, so all of you put an end to it.” Biff flashes a glance towards Grady that appears to say, that includes you.

“Football season,” Barry Jones cuts across a developing silence in an attempt to bring the conversation back to normal.

There is a slight murmur but little more.

“First training session is scheduled for next Saturday, so we’ll have to cut back on the booze.”

If excitement happened to be dynamite it wouldn’t be enough within the gang to lift a bald man’s wig.

“Biff;” Barry says.

“Yes Bazza what’s your strife?”

“Have you had a change of mind about playing this season?”

“Nope.”

“You will be playing Grady?” Barry appears uncertain.

“I haven’t made up my mind as yet.”

“Shit!” Barry curses; “without you two we may not have the number to make a local team.”

“I’ll let you know,” Grady says and with that the night’s session draws to a close.

Closing time; it is a warm night without the slightest hint of a cooling breeze. Along the street the last of the theatre crowd is finding its way home. Hatari was showing at the Civic theatre, while the Rodeo Drive-in was showing a rerun of The Monster of the Black Lagoon, with The Monster Takes Revenge as a supporting feature for the third time in less than six months. Truthfully viewing the film wasn’t the reason for most purchasing a ticket but for privacy allowing a kiss and cuddle possibly even more while cuddled in the back seat of the old FJ Holden sedan.

For a moment the gang linger quietly on the footpath, Brownie is espousing his self worth to Luke, while Barry talks football training to Wayne Nelson.

Grady is silently beside Biff.

As they would be drinking Biff left his utility at home beside the walk should clear some of the alcohol from their heads not to come under Karen’s scrutiny on return.

The gang eventually disperse;

Barry makes one last plead to Grady to rejoin the football team.

Grady once again agrees he will at least think about doing so.

“Goodnight all.”

“Goodnight.”

“See ya’ all Saturday.”

“Will do.”

“Sure thing.’

“Not me,” Luke calls from the corner, “it’s my sister’s birthday.”

“What about football training?” Barry calls after Luke.

“The party is Saturday night – see-ya’.”

Grady and Biff commence their journey home.

At the Civic theatre the last of the picture crowd is dispersing, a young ringer from Black Mountain cattle station is in conversation with his mate.

As the lads pass he interrupts their progress;

“Hey were can a fella’ get a drink at this time of night?”

He is tall and lean, his black hair a little long for fashion, his chin bristling with a youthful attempt to grow facial hair. His hat remains proudly on his head and probably remained there during the showing of Hatari.

“Pubs have just closed,” Biff answers, “sometimes if you try the Railway Hotel’s new beer garden you can get a drink.”

The young stockman’s mate mumbles something and they move off.

“Nice arse,” Grady says.

“Which one?”

“The one who asked the question.”

“I agree,” Biff answers.

They both laugh and commence to cross the road.

“Not as nice as you arse;” Biff assures.

“Ow shucks;”

“Well it is the truth and I love the way the little birdie sits on your right buttock and moves up and down when you walk naked.”

“I have been thinking of having it removed.”

“Don’t you dare remove it.”

Halfway across the main street and the town’s police car halts the lad’s progress.

“We seemed to have been at this point before,” Biff suggests through the car’s open passenger window.

“Have you been drinking lads?” the constable is all but a kid himself and new to town trying to establish his authority. The policeman doing the driving is Sergeant Troy Clancy he is usually a fair man also an associate of David with a leaning towards small town corruption.

Clancy is allowing the young recruit to establish his authority.

Biff bends to window level and ignores the young constable;

“Good evening Mr. Clancy, how is Mrs. Clancy.”

Biff is wearing a slight smirk as he is well aware the Clancy’s had recently parted company after Troy was discovered ploughing his sister-in-law’s field.

“Brian Bastian I hope you aren’t intending to drive in your condition.”

“No sir, I wouldn’t dream of doing so.”

“Good.”

Biff steps away.

“You need to keep an eye on that one Terry,” Clancy warns.

Clancy’s words hold little malice but the recruit takes notice as Clancy pushes down on the accelerator and speeds away.

“Cops are getting younger every day,” Grady says as the police car’s tail lights disappear around the Hort Street corner.

“And uglier.”

“Pimples,” Grady says.

“He had a face full of them and if I’m not mistaken I reckon he’d been drinking.”

“It wouldn’t surprise me as I can’t recall how many times Clancy came over home, spent the afternoon boozing with dad then drove afterwards.”

The lads reach the railway tracks close to the goods sheds, Biff hauls himself up onto the goods platform and sits, his leg are dangling into the darkness above the reflected shine of the rails.

“Join me a moment.”

Grady joins Biff;

“What are you thinking?”

“What makes you believe I’m thinking?”

“I’ve known you long enough to know when you are up to something.”

“I don’t like to disappoint you but I’m not up to anything.”

Biff stands and walks to the end of the platform, his is pissing onto the rails and laughing.

Grady joins Biff, soon both are emptying their bladders.

There is something uniting in a joint pissing session.

“Have you ever thought of leaving town – maybe do some travelling,” Biff asks.

“Not really.”

“We are both young and could go anywhere we wished, even if the mood was there we could take up farming, possibly raise some horses and cows, even grow stuff.”

Grady laughs;

“I’d have to wait to the old man kicks the bucket and get the inheritance,” Grady pauses, “even then it would go to mum, besides I’ve already told him to leave it to Lewis.”

“You do realise it’s getting a little heated around here?” Biff suggests.

“What do you mean by heated?”

“Eventually we will be found out.”

“You have always said unless we are seen in bed than there isn’t anything to know.”

“True;”

“Then what?”

“Eventually there will be questions.”

“What questions?”

“Why aren’t we marrying and settling down with a tribe of kids. Why is it we are always together like Heckle and Jeckle.”

“That does concern me, do you want to stop?”

“Stop? Never I’m far too involved to stop now, besides I waited long enough the rest doesn’t matter. Does it matter to you?”

Grady is slow with his reply;

“A little I suppose but if it doesn’t matter why mention it.”

“More out of concern for you, I don’t matter.”

“You matter Biff, more than anything.”

“That is what I wanted to hear.”

Grady is stalling, “by the way what was dad on about when he called you over?”

“He gave me a not so friendly warning.”

“About what?”

“Never mind that, give me your hand.”

Biff takes Grady’s hand and places it over his crotch.

“You are as hard as a brick.”

“Whatya’ gunna’ do about it.”

“Good question.”

Grady peers into the darkness the only sign of company across the entire railway prescient is the Dimbulah goods steaming up at the crossover.

Grady gives a boyish chortle;

“Remember our little hidey-ho when we were kids down by the water tank?”

“I do?’

“So what are you waiting for?”

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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