Karen’s thoughts remain on the failing lemon tree.

‘That tree is a little like our marriage,” Karen thinks.

‘Did I ever love David?’

‘I did love Ron.’

‘I still love Ron and regret making the wrong choice but not of my lot, as I have three wonderful children.’

‘I must admit Grady has Ron’s nature and Lewis a little harder to love as he is so much like David.’

“Umm;”

‘Even so a mother must love them all.’

Karen’s thoughts are interrupted by the sound of sharp whistle.

Lifting her eyes she spies Frank Winton delivering mail to the neighbour’s letterbox.

Frank sounds a second whistle setting the neighbour’s dog barking as he moves on to meet Karen at the gate.

“Flaming dog,” Frank curses being pleased the animal is on the chain, if not it had tendency to snap at Frank’s hand as he reached for the letter box.

Spying Karen Frank gently touches his hat and smiles;

“Tis’ a lovely morning Mrs. Dowie?”

Frank’s accent is bog Irish gifted with pride from his grandparents who arrived two generations previously and refused to let go of the past.

“Yes, it is much too nice to be inside, although I have the morning’s dishes and a load of washing begging to be going on with.”

“It is perfect drying weather.”

The postman’s hand dives into his bag extracting four items, bundled separately from the rest with a large red rubber band;

“There is one for young Brian Bastian.”

“The postman shakes the envelope;

The envelope loudly rattles;

“It could contain money, if so it should be registered post, it isn’t proper to send money by regular post as it encourages dishonesty.”

“Is that a fact Frank?”

Karen is making fun of Frank but he is much too interested in the mail than Karen’s gentle dig.

Frank passes the mail but keeps the rubber band, placing it about his wrist with others.

“And two bills,” Karen notices;

‘Lewis can give them to David at work tomorrow.’

“There is also a letter from your sister Violet,” Frank suggests.

‘He knows everything about everyone,’ Karen thinks.

‘Small town syndrome I suppose.’

“I must get on with it,” Frank says and sounds his whistle as he pushes on towards his next delivery.

Karen goes inside placing the mail on the hall table; she opens the letter from her sister Violet.

She reads;

-Hot weather.

-Noel hasn’t been well and has lost his job at the bacon factory.

-Young Neville has a new girlfriend.

-The fowls aren’t laying.

Karen sighs and folds the letter back into its envelope;

“Same old news,” she softly says.

‘Same old Violet,’ she thinks.

‘Even as a child she was one for complaining.’

‘As for Noel, a lazier fellow you would never chance to meet.’

‘Although I must admit he has nice legs.’

She releases a secret grin;

‘A nice bum as well.’

Karen’s eyes are on Biff’s envelope; she picks it up and gives it a shake;

‘It sounds more like keys,’ she assumes while assessing Biff may be doing another bout of house sitting.

Karen returns the letter to the table and moves on, firstly to the washing, the dishes can wait.

Lewis is first home and as he passes through the hall he spies the letter for Biff on the side table. He collects the letter and gives it a shake.

Karen hears the rattle of the contents and calls to Lewis;

“Put it down Lewis,”

“It sounds like keys.”

“It is none of your business – put it down.”

“Possibly Biff is moving out to mind another house,” Lewis suggests while returning the envelope to its rest but not his interest in the envelope. As Lewis had often done with Grady he will follow Biff to discover his intention. With Grady, Lewis had learned much from his secret following, or more in truth made assumption, which he passed on to David as evidence to satisfy his father’s belief Grady wasn’t his son. If true it would well suit Lewis as in his belief would remove his older brother from inheritance.

“How is your father?” Karen asks.

“He is grumpy as usual.”

“What work do you do for him?”

“This and that – you know.”

“There are a couple of accounts on the hall table, you can give them to David tomorrow, also a letter from your Aunt Violet; you can read it if you like.”

“No thank you, it’s probably girl talk.”

‘Cheeky little bugger,’ Karen thinks.

She then leaves well enough alone.

Biff clocks off from work at four thirty, instead of returning home he goes to meet Grady at the garage. He has information he wishes to share with Grady but doesn’t know how he should approach his friend, besides what Biff wished to share hadn’t fully materialized as yet, firstly he may have to take a another short trip to establish its reality.

Byrne’s garage is quiet; an early model Ford utility is high on the hoist its bonnet laughing into the warm afternoon air while missing the tail shaft. Grady can be seen at a large galvanised tub cleaning the day’s tools, his hands covered in axel grease. Biff smiles as the sight gives his friend a manly appearance that like a key into its lock sits well with Biff’s own character.

Off to one side Biff sees Alfred Deed sitting with Jack Byrne enjoying a beer before closing down for the day.

“Hey young Brian Bastion,” Jack Byrne calls, holding high his beer he makes offer.

“It is hot enough Jack, I could agree.”

“Greedy get your mate a beer,”

Grady finishes with the greasy tools and fetches the beer from the garage refrigerator, he returns with two cans, passing one to Biff leaving a smear of grease as their fingers lightly touch.

Biff smiles towards the smear and gives a half wink.

“Are you looking for work Brian?” Alfred Deed asks.

“Not likely Alf, I’ve been offered Ron’s old job as yard foreman and a raise in pay.”

“That’s the first I’ve heard of it,” Grady says.

“I can’t tell you everything kid.”

They all laugh although to Biff the words carried more truth that Grady could imagine.”

Alfred Deed appears to be eying Biff’s heavy work boots.

“What’s your boot size Brian?” Alf asks.

“Boot size Alf?”

“I’d reckon your would be size eight.”

“Size nine Alf.”

“That is even better.”

“You have me stumped Alf, where is your question heading?”

“Seeing you have given the game away you could donate your football boots to my grandson, he is joining the juniors and would be about your size, he has the feet of a Yeti.”

Alf quest is twofold, true his grandson could ill-afford new boots but secondly it was a dig at Biff for leaving the team.

“Na, I’ll keep them Alf, you never know when I may need them.” Biff’s answer comes from his belief that in life tell them nothing and keep them guessing.

Alf’s eyes brighten, “Then young fellow, there is a chance you will rejoin the team?”

“I wouldn’t go that far Alf.”

“Young Donny could have my boots,” Grady offers, “although they are a size smaller than Biff’s.”

“As I said Donny has big feet,” Deed repeats believing Grady’s boots would be a little small for his grandson.

“Have you finished cleaning the tools?” Jack asks.

“I have,” Grady admits, crushing his empty beer can he throws it into a large retainer, it clatters loudly against the metal drum before settling with a multitude of empties.

“Then off you go, there must be something more interesting for you to do than to sit about talking to us old fellows.”

Grady uses degreaser on his hands, they are becoming rough through work and grease remains black under his fingernails, he chuckles lightly at it all as he rejoins with Biff.

“Steady as you go lads,” Jack says.

“Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

“And Grady, early start tomorrow Bill Herbert want’ the utility finished by midday.”

“No worries Jack, I’m onto it.”

A half dozen yards and Biff pauses;

“What’s up?” Grady asks.

“Do you want to have a looksee’ in on the little feller’?” Biff suggests.

“We’ve got time so why not; I haven’t seen Adam in quite a while he must have grown some but won’t Trish’s parents be home?”

“Na, they both work late.”

Reaching the Baker house it is obvious Trish is home as Adam crying comes clearly through the door.

“Good set of lungs,” Grady suggest as Biff loudly knocks on the heavy wooden panelling.

It is quite some time before Trish answers. Her face is flush with frustration turning to surprise on seeing the lads on the step.

“What’s up?” she asks.

“Grady wants to see how the little fella’ is going.”

“I’m sure you can hear how he’s going from the corner of the street.”

“Possibly he’s hungry?”

“No, he’s definitely not hungry Brian.”

“Is he unwell?” Biff appears concerned.

“Again no, he had a check-up this morning, he’s just stubborn.”

Trish glances up and down the street then invites the lads to enter, “best not to give the neighbours reason to gossip. Gladys Jessop at the corner sits by her front window and tells mum everything.”

Once inside it is even more apparent little Adam is unhappy as the lads follow Trish to the nursery.

Biff peers into the cot.

Adam is naked and appears a little red about the groin.

“Prickly heat,” Trish explains, “it has is almost cleared up.”

Grady is grinning, “I didn’t know baby’s doodles were so large,” he comments.

“He takes after his father.”

“Hello little feller’ what’s your problem,” Biff calmly says.

Adam immediately stops crying.

“I wish I could have such control over him,” Trish wishes.

“It’s Biff’s voice it is calm and southing,” Grady suggests.

“Brian does know how to lure a person into a false sense of security.”

Grady agrees with Trish as they leave Biff to admire Adam.

“How are the two of you getting along, especially now Biff is living back at your house?”

“Don’t ask.”

Biff returns;

“He’s quiet now,” Biff says as Grady takes a final look in on Adam.

Grady can be heard making silly little baby noises.

“Have you told Grady?”

“Shush he’ll hear you, no not yet, I’ll wait until everything is finalized.”

Grady returns;

“I am glad you came around, as I have a question for you,” Trish suggests.

“Go on.”

“Dad wants Adam circumcised.”

“What! We aren’t Jewish.”

“No it is because dad was all but forced to have it done when he joined the army during the last war, something to do with being healthier in the New Guinea jungle.”

“I’m not done, nor is Grady and I can’t see any reason to mutilate Adam to satisfy your father.”

“I agree but dad has mum’s support.”

“Does the father of Adam have a say in the matter?”

“By law I guess you do.”

“Then I say no.”

Trish releases a relieving sigh, “I was hoping you would say that, although you may have a problem trying to convince dad.”

“I will, invite me around and I’ll give him my mind.”

“I don’t want you and dad arguing I have a hard enough time living here as it is.”

“You know me better than that Trish.”

The return home finds Biff smarting from Trish’s father’s suggestion to circumcise Adam, true since the war circumcise had become popular and increasing in incident, although without the pressure of city doctors, country boys were mostly overlooked. Even so the aborigines had been circumcising their boys for thousands of years and of course those from the Jewish persuasion and others did so without question.

During Biff smouldering anger Grady has a question;

“How can cutting the skin of your dick have anything to do with god?” he asks.

“I haven’t a clue.”

“Did you know Lewis is circumcised?”

“Is he?”

“I believe dad insisted on it.”

“Yet he didn’t insist with you,” Biff suggests.

“In retrospect, if he thinks I’m not his son, I guess I didn’t matter. Was Ron circumcised?”

“No.”

The atmosphere in the house is alive with the pleasant aroma of frying onions and the sizzle of rump steak, Karen can be heard complaining from the kitchen, soon her reasoning is shared, as the boys had stayed longer than anticipated while visiting Trish.

“Dinner will be on the table in five and almost ruined,”

“Sorry mum,” Grady apologises, “I’ve grubby from work have I time for a quick shower?”

“If you want your steak to be as tough as shoe leather then go ahead.”

Instead Grady dumps his work bag in his room.

“There is a letter on the hall table for you Brian,” Karen calls as she delivers a platter of steaming vegetables to the dining room table.

Biff spies the letter, giving the envelope a gentle shake he smiles and pockets it as Grady returns from the bathroom after a quick sprucing to at least appear presentable.

“Everyone dinner is on the table.”

Nothing is mentioned about Biff’s mystery letter during dinner but Karen does share Violet’s news also that about Cousin Neville’s latest girlfriend.

“That’s Neville’s third this year,” Grady calculates.

“Girlfriend,” Lewis blusters, “dad said Neville is a poofter.”

“Lewis!” Karen snaps.

“That’s what dad said,” Lewis’ eyes are on Grady who leaves well enough alone.

“You shouldn’t speak like that in front of Robyn.”

Robyn is grinning as Lewis had already shared their father’s assumptions about their cousin with his sister.

“It’s what dad says,” Lewis repeats.

“Enough Lewis you should have respect for your cousin.”

Lewis finishes his meal and pushes his plate to one side.

“How many times must I tell you Lewis?” Karen says.

“What?”

“You don’t shove your plate aside like that, it is impolite; you will never find a nice girl with bad manners.”

“You need more than manners to get a chick,” Lewis says as he rises from the table.

“You are becoming more like your father each day,” Karen snaps then immediately regretted her analogy.

“I’m going over to visit Tug.”

“Lewis if you don’t change your attitude you may have to find someone else to live,” Karen warns. “Dad has already said I can live with him at the flat.”

Karen doesn’t react, she feels she is losing Lewis and possibly not to David as the lad is becoming his own person, possibly living with David may be good for him as he may come to understand where he is better off.

During the quiet of the evening Karen is in the sitting room reading the latest Barbara Cartland Romance with the radio tuned low, Robyn is at the kitchen table working on her homework. Since advancing to her first high school year Robyn is having difficulty keeping up with the lessons although she tries her best. Biff is in his room contemplating ownership of a new Ford utility displayed in Wheels Magazine when Grady knocks on his door.

“It’s open.”

Grady enters discovering Biff in nothing but his shorts; flesh is visible through the partly open fly;

“You want to know something Biff?” Grady says.

“Go on.”

“I could throw myself on top of you right now and bugger what is said.”

“I’d like you to do it – but.”

“Yea but.”

Grady leaves the door partly open and sits on the end of Biff’s bed;

“Have you seen the new Ford utility in Wheels?” Biff asks.

“I have, in my opinion it simply has more things that can go wrong, give me a strait six without the trimmings any day.”

“That is coming from a mechanic’s point of view.”

“True.”

Biff puts aside the magazine;

“You appear stressed, what’s the prob’?”

“What Lewis said about Neville was a little close for comfort,” Grady suggests.

“It wasn’t anything new, besides from what I’ve heard David says that about everyone.”

“True, yet when Lewis spoke he looked directly at me and I could read his eyes; I believe the little bugger knows more than we realise.”

“Don’t you think you are a little paranoid?”

“No, he and dad are up to something.”

“Anyway soon,” Biff says then pulls back from continuing as the telephone sounds in the hall.

Moments later Karen answers the call.

“David,” Karen coldly answers.

“It’s your father,” Biff whispers.

“Shush, I shouldn’t but I want to hear what’s going on.”

Grady goes to the door for better hearing.

“Yes Lewis did say you offered.”

“If he wants to live with you it’s alright with me, he’s becoming too difficult to handle, and he is also drinking.”

“I hope you aren’t giving him alcohol David.”

“If the business is failing, then why should I mortgage the house throwing good money at a bad business?”

“You should have stuck with what you know and not attempt diversifying.”

“Maybe you should sell the business before it’s worth nothing.”

“No David I won’t mortgage the house to support your business.”

Karen becomes silent as if listening to some extending story.

“What’s going on?” Biff asks.

“Shush, I’ll tell you later.”

Eventually Karen answers a question;

“David you can’t believe anything Lewis tells you.”

“No I would never believe that of Brian.”

“Alright if you must; come around Thursday evening.”

Karen ends the call.

“What’s going on?” Biff repeats.

Grady quietly closes the door and sits on the side of the bed.

“I’m not sure, mostly the business is failing and dad wants to use the house to get a loan, also Lewis has been spreading stories about you to dad.”

“What stories?”

“That I don’t know, if I have to, I’ll knock the truth out of the little bugger.”

“I wouldn’t worry.”

“Unfortunately I do.”

“Anything Lewis has to report to David would be from his imagination and what David believes isn’t worth a pinch of shit,” Biff collects the magazine from the bed.

Almost immediately he throws the magazine back onto the bed;

“I’ll tell you what?”

“Go on.”

“I’m in the mood.”

“You are in the mood for doing what?”

Biff is grinning;

“How would you like to go for a drive and find some quiet place to park?”

“Why not.”

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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