Published: 19 Jan 2026

Wednesday afternoon

Grady has football training arranging to leave work half an hour earlier, with Biff meeting him at the garage. It is usual for most employers to allow the local team’s players to leave work earlier on training nights and with Jack it is imperative as he is on the club’s selection committee.

“Your mate is here,” Jack Byrne announces as Grady cleans the last of the day’s tools.

Jack meets Biff as he enters and offers his hand.

Biff spies the excess grease, smiles and accepts the offer.

Jack looks Biff up and down as if he is inspecting a side of beef and releases a huff, “so you lost again.”

“It seems so Jack, were you at the game?”

Jack Byrne laughs;

“Seeing I am on the club’s committee I suppose I have to sit through every harrowing experience.”

“Harrowing Jack?”

“That’s my opinion,” Jack jovially issues.

“I can only do my best Jack,” Biff appears a little hurt from Jack’s assessment.

“Yes harrowing although that would be disregarding your and Grady’s contribution; off you both go and if possible bash some heads together during training; if at all possible keep Tubby Blake off the booze.”

“Couldn’t you give me a simpler job Jack?” Biff glances towards Grady, “ready?”

“Yea ready, come on best we leave before the boss can find more to complain about.”

The mates depart with some haste as they are already behind time.

“About Sunday’s dinner,” Biff says.

“Are you coming?”

“Is it this Sunday?”

“No it is the next.”

“I’ve always had a problem with that.”

“What coming to dinner?”

“With this and that, some say next Sunday is the coming Sunday while I say it is the following Sunday.”

“Then I assure you it isn’t the one coming.”

“I’ll come if you guarantee David won’t be there.”

“He’ll be down the coast, will you bring Trish?”

“I did ask her but she has other arrangements.”

“How could she if you didn’t know the dif’ from this and that?”

Biff gives a chuckle;

“I think regardless which Sunday it would be the same answer, Trish isn’t too keen on David either and she wasn’t prepared to take the chance of David being home.”

The distance between Byrne Garage and the ground is but a short conversation, as the mates approach the ground Grady has a further question;

“Are you and Trish serious?”

“She’s a good root,” Biff declares not wishing to acknowledge his depth of involvement in the relationship, he waves to Vic Bowen who is already on the field stretching an old hamstring injury.

Vic returns the wave and continues with his obvious painful stretching.

Biff moves on ahead without answering Grady’s question, besides it had always been difficult obtaining a serious answer from Biff and if the question is too personal he would simply reverse the question or scowl his brow and narrow his eyes as if to say one more word and you will cop it.

Even so that seldom worked with Grady.

Grady had known Trish Baker from early school days believing she had a soft nature, as for her association with Biff that would remain a mystery. Biff was brash and powering akin to a bulldozer through bracken, while Trish was most definitely bracken to his blade. Grady wouldn’t wish for her to be hurt.

The training session is short as half of the team hadn’t bothered to attend, so after a few stretches and kick to kick the coach called for an end to the training session.

After seeing most away coach calls out to Grady inviting him to approach for a chat.

Grady approaches while Biff waits off at distance.

Laurie Tuddenham was once the town’s football hero although at forty something the frame that held the athlete remained but had lost definition and the obvious struggle to hold onto youthful aspirations is failing. His short black hair is now pepper and salt, his cheeks sagging to become jowls and his large once powerful hands are turning to arthritic nodules, caused by numerous strikes from boot studs. Some mornings Laurie needed to soak his hands in hot water to get the joints moving.

Tuddenham is direct with Grady;

“Is there any truth in the rumour Brian Bastian is thinking of leaving the team.”

Grady lies;

“That’s a first I’ve heard of it coach, you will need to ask Biff not me.”

“What about you, if the rumours are true and Brian decides to leave, will you stay?”

Another lie as Grady had half decided without Biff playing he would also give the game away;

“I hadn’t intention to leave.”

Coach is thinking;

“I hear Bruce Menzies is back in town.”

“So I hear.”

“From what I am hearing Menzies is quite handy with a ball.”

“I haven’t heard anything about his ability,” Grady truthfully answers.

“Is there any chance you could speak with Menzies to take Brian’s place?”

“I really don’t know Menzies. True we were at school together but that was yonks ago and he was in a lower class, I have doubt he would even remember me.”

“It is only a thought, possibly the rumour isn’t true.” Coach finishes and with a disappointing grunt leaves Grady to rejoin with Biff.

Moments later Tuddenham is giving Vic Bowen further advice on his hamstring injury.

“What was that about?” Biff asks as the mates reunite.

“It was about you – isn’t everything in this town about you?”

Biff laughs, “I guess that is the price you pay for popularity; truthfully what did he want?”

“He wanted to know if the rumour about you leaving the team is true.”

“And you said?”

“I said I hadn’t heard anything and he suggested I could approach Bruce Menzies to fill your place if you decide to leave the team.”

“Menzies!” Biff says in surprise.

“That is what he suggested.”

“Would you speak to Menzies for him?”

“No.”

The conversation diverts;

“Do you want to go to the pub tonight for a couple?” Biff suggests.

“I reckon so but not the Royal, the old man drinks there on a Wednesday night.”

“Then if David will be at the Royal then definitely the Graham.”

“What have you got against dad?” Grady asks.

“It’s not me, it’s David and on a number of occasions he has verbally attacked me on the street, saying I have ruined your life. He has also approached Ron advising him to keep me away from you.”

“Yet here we are walking together and arranging a social night out on the town.”

“True.”

“I hope you realise I may be my father’s son but I am not of my father’s character.”

“I know that and believe years of mateship are stronger than anyone’s opinion.”

Two steps are taken and Grady gently rests his hand gently onto Biff’s shoulder.

“What’s that about?”

Grady removes his hand, “dunno’ it just happened – sorry.”

“You can leave it there if you like.”

They both laugh and move on.

It is a busy night at the Graham; the atmosphere is thick with cigarette smoke and ripe from sweaty armpits. The crowd is a mixture of tobacco farmers and cattle workers in town to spend their hard earned monthly pay check, there is also a number of women in the ladies lounge, watching their menfolk through the double glass doors while they sip beer shandies and Pimms.

As usual the bar has a dividing line with farmers to the left and cattle men to the right, appearing more like the lower house of government with as many divides but all would agree it’s the bloody politicians that ruin a good business, sometimes even a good argument, even if the rule of thumb is there are three things that should never enter into a friendly conversation, being sex, politics and religion. Two are mostly adhered to but politics is usually fair game.

As there isn’t any bar space the lads find a close by table;

“I’ll get the drinks,” Grady offers.

Biff gives an agreeing grin as he is skint until next week’s pay.

“Beer?” Grady asks.

“Right in one.”

Grady finds a gap at the bar between Bill Collins from the soft drink factory and a tobacco farmer he only knows by sight.

The tobacco farmer gives a nod of recognition but doesn’t speak.

“Hey Greedy you and Brian played your hearts out last weekend,” Bill Collins suggests.

“We try Bill but can’t win a game on our own.”

“Is the rumour true?” Collins asks.

“What rumour is that Bill?”

“It’s being bandied about Bastian is leaving the club next season?”

“Two beers please,” Grady asks the barman and places coins onto the bar. “I couldn’t say Bill, you know Biff he’s a little secretive at the best of time so you will need to ask him.”

Back at the table Biff has a question;

“What did Bill Collins want?”

“He wanted to know if there is truth in the rumour you are leaving the club.”

“I thought so – he kept looking my way.”

“Really Biff you will have to let folk know one way or the other, I can’t keep lying for you. Anyway how did the rumour start?”

“I told Trish and she probably told her girlfriends, you know how women chatter.”

There is a gap in the crowd and Grady spies his brother Lewis with his mate Tug Skinner approaching the bar, moments later the barman is ushering the two outside. He has Skinner by the shirt collar while roughly guiding Lewis with a hand on his back.

Those at the bar provide banter;

“Go on don’t be a mean bastard Stan, give them a beer.”

“It’ll put hair on their chests.”

More laughter;

“Or lead in their pencils.”

“Next time I’ll give you both my boot up your arse,” is head as the barman returns from expelling the boys from the bar.

‘That is something I can use against Lewis,’ Grady thinks.

“That reminds me,” Grady unconsciously says.

“Reminds you about what?” Biff asks.

“My brother with his mate Tug were just at the bar trying to get grog and Stan Moss chucked them out.”

“What does it remind you of Grady?”

“The parents are going down the coast during the school hols’ and I’ll have the house to myself.”

Biff’s eyes widen, “party time.”

“Not bloody likely – not after the last party.”

“A few mates, a few chicks, some beer and a good night to be had by all,” Biff suggests.

“Yea and if the old man found out I’d be looking for a new place to live, last time it was a threat as I was still at school, now he would have pleasure kicking me out.”

“Then no party.”

“No party.”

Biff’s eyes brighten, “maybe we could get somewhere for us to live.”

“What on my pay?’

“Yea me too but you must admit it would be fun, just think of the chicks we could invite around.”

“Just think,” Grady’s concludes as he goes for refills.

Grady returns with the drinks, he remains focused on Biff’s suggestion;

“Do you really think we should get our own place?”

“It was only a thought Grady, don’t get too excited seeing you have a year to run with your apprenticeship and neither of us have the readies.”

Ten o’clock and the boys are passing the Royal on their return home. Through the Royal’s open door Grady can see David at the bar and by his expression he is pushing his opinion onto Trevor Lang from the Tobacco Board.

Lang has a confused expression.

David’s expression is serious.

“What’s up?” Biff asks.

Grady points through the open doorway.

“As well we were at the Graham,” Biff says.

“As well.”

“Then I’ll say goodnight as I want to call in on Trish – seeya’.”

“Yea seeya’.”

Grady’s eyes are on Biff as he leaves the light to cross the street. He feels a strange tugging at his gut, it travels upwards towards that part of the brain that develops thought but none is forming;

“Maybe,” he unconsciously utters.

‘Maybe what?’

‘Don’t know – I’ve lost the thought.’

‘No matter.’

As Lewis has a ten o’clock curfew he is home by the time Grady arrives and under the threat of having further privileges cancelled he is completing homework after lying about finishing before he went out with Tug.

Karen is close by reading one of those novels no red blooded male would contemplate reading, the hero always gets the girl and they live in wedded bliss forever. Possibly Karen is looking for perfection in the written word which is obviously lacking in her own marriage.

Karen lifts her eyes from her reading as Grady enters into the room.

“Your dinner is in the oven, I would say it is ruined by now.”

“Sorry mum but Biff and I went for a couple of drinks after training. I had some chips at the Joe’s chippery.”

“Your dad is out.”

Karen’s statement was more rhetorical than any need to share information, if anything David’s lack of presence is a blessing for Karen rather than any concern.

“Yes I saw him through the Royal’s doorway on my way home.”

Karen closes her book, she is ready to retire and with knowledge her children are home and safe, she hasn’t further care towards the man she is married to. “Goodnight,” she announces.

“Yes mum goodnight and Biff said he would be more than pleased to come to dinner on Sunday.

“Sunday week,” Karen corrects.

“Yes Sunday week.”Karen simply nods;

“Have you almost finished your homework Lewis?”

“Finished mum.”

“Righto’ school tomorrow so off to bed.”

Karen departs without further conversation.

Grady is grinning;

“What’s got your funny Greedy?”

“You Lewis.”

“Why?”

“I saw you and Tug trying to get grog at the Graham.”

Lewis becomes defensive, “so?”

“That will be two favours you owe me.”

“What was the first?” Lewis questions.

“Not saying anything about you raiding dad’s porn’ stash.”

“Seeing you were the one who told me about his porn’ that doesn’t count.”

“Possibly not although if you want a drink you should try the Railway Hotel the barman there isn’t as discriminating as Stan Moss.”

“We tried the Railway but Walter wouldn’t give us any, he said the cop have a push on about underage drinking.”

“Anyway at your age you shouldn’t be drinking and if mum finds out there will be grief for you.”

“Yea and as for Dad’s porn’ he is suspicious and asked me if anyone has been fooling about in his precious shed.”

“What did you say?”

“I said how; you have the shed locked.”

The passing of a week;

The scent of frying chips is strong as Grady passes the Tip-top café on his return after the home game with Walkamin and as Biff predicted they lost by a large margin. Worse, Grady had been injured during the first half and although suggested to be enough to put him out of contention for what was left of the season it wasn’t incapacitating being somewhat exaggerated to give other teams, as if they needed it, a false sense of hope, besides being young he mended quickly, in most it was enough to give Grady bragging rights and a measure of sympathy.

As if that would ever happen.

‘Vinegar,’ Grady thinks and pauses at the café doorway, immediately the scent of vinegared chips reaches his nostrils.

Inside there are a number of teenagers hanging about the juke box, at centre Grady spies Lewis. It is tempting to enter and order a serving of vinegar chips with lashings of artery hardening salt but did he wish to be accosted by his brother’s mob of spotty teenagers, especially after losing the game.

‘Should I?’ Grady thinks.

‘Why not, in you go.’

Hesitation;

‘Na.’

Grady is about to continue on his way when he receives a tap to his shoulder, he turns discovering Biff’s girlfriend Trish.

“I was at the game,” Trish says; she has a pretty voice one could consider apologetic for speaking at all.

“Don’t remind me.”

“Are you badly hurt?”

“Na’, what’s up?”

Trish’s mood appears to lower;

“Can I ask you something?”

“Sure, I was contemplating going in and ordering chips. Would you like to share?”

“It’s a little rowdy,” Trish declines.

Grady guides Trish to the quietness of a seating arrangement under the mango trees lining the middle or the town’s wide main street. He wishes to ask why Trish isn’t with Biff, as it is his understanding they had arranged to meet after the game. Instead he keeps his silence allowing Trish time to gather her thoughts.

“It’s Brian,” Trish eventually says, she never called him Biff.

“What’s he done now?”

“Nothing, that’s the problem and of late he appears distant and grumpy. I can hardly say a word without having my head bitten off.” Trish pauses with a deep breath as she deflects her eyes;

“Is Brian seeing someone else?”

Grady is thinking;

True of late his friend had become a little distant but that wasn’t uncommon as Biff’s moods were always variable but surely if he was interested in another then Grady would have heard. Knowing Trish to be somewhat clinging it is possible Biff is feeling trapped.

“If Biff has interests elsewhere, I am sure I would know and he hasn’t said anything.”

“You would say that.”

“No honestly Trish, Biff hasn’t said anything; what gives you the impression he is seeing someone else?”

“It was after I spoke about going to your Cousin Tony’s wedding.”

“What was?”

“His mood changed. As you know we are both invited.”

“Yes I know that.”

“I mentioned seeing Leanne’s wedding dress and it is similar to what I would wish for my wedding.”

‘There lays the problem girl,’ Grady thinks.

‘You set the trap and sent Biff scurrying away before he heard the jaws snap shut.’

‘I can’t say that.’ Grady thinks.

“Have you and Biff made any plans for the future?”

“We have never spoken of any.”

“Do you want to marry Biff?”

Trish becomes reticent.

Grady waits.

Eventually Trish answers;

“I suppose if he asked me I may say yes but I would never suggest anything.”

‘I reckon you have lost him,’ Grady thinks.

‘I can’t say that either.’

“It is possible Biff is getting wedding vibes’ from you and I don’t think he is quite ready, he had always said he wouldn’t marry until he was more settled.”

‘That’s a lie,’ Grady thinks, instead of sharing the thought he gives an assuring smile.

‘He actually said he would only marry if he got some chick bunged-up like Tony did.’

“My advice is to give him time and don’t pressure him.”

“Don’t tell him I approached you.”

“I wouldn’t, come on I’ll walk you home.”

Match making is a young lady’s obsession, they can’t abide to see a lad without a partner and so it is with Trish Baker. Grady had hardly gone any distance before his single status becomes topic.

“Do you know Roslyn Dobbins from the drapery store?”

“I think so;”

Grady becomes vague not to appear interested;

“She has dyed red hair and wears too much makeup.”

Grady mentions the overuse of war paint as dissuasion to what he believes it coming.

“Roslyn is a mate,” Trish says.

Grady gives a huffing sound as they reach Trish’s home gate.

He then makes light of their walk;

“There you go, I got you home nice and safe.”

Grady opens the gate as a hint the conversation has concluded.

Trish wasn’t going to let him get away that easily;

“Roslyn was at the game and mentioned she fancied you.”

Grady’s hand lingers nervously on the gate latch as he waits for Trish’s obvious continuation.

A few nervous seconds;

“Do you fancy Roslyn?” Trish asks.

‘Trapped,’ Grady thinks.

“She’s a nice enough chick I suppose.”

“Can I tell her that?”

Grady doesn’t respond.

To Trish the lack of decline means yes or at least maybe.

“I better be on my way,” Grady says.

“You won’t tell Brian?” Trish repeats.

“My word is my bond girl – seeya’.”

Grady hadn’t gone far before he is thinking of Trish’s suggestion about Roslyn Dobbins. Possibly he had been a little hasty in declining. Then again he hadn’t said no and knowing Trish her response to Roslyn would be positive.

Reaching the main street Grady had all but forgotten Roslyn Dobbins but not Trish’s concern towards Biff’s lacking in affection. Usually his mate is up-front with his likes and dislikes but Biff hadn’t said anything about Trish since admitting she was a good root. Possibly that is all Trish is to Biff, someone to get his end into. Even so Grady believes Biff is more honourable than to simply use Trish for sex.

Grady recalls a conversation had during a lunch recession back in sixth grade, promising when the time came they would have a double wedding. Back then Grady was interested in an Italian farmer’s girl whose name now escapes him, while Biff had eyes for Mary Osborne who has since married and moved away from town. Grady smiles; once the ring was on Mary’s finger she popped out three kids, one after the other with hardly time to take a breath. The last encounter Grady had with Mary, she had turned to fat and her man took to drink spending most of his downtime in the bar to be away from screaming kids and Mary’s baby-blues.

‘Maybe Biff had a lucky escape there,’ Grady thinks.

While again passing by the Tip-top café after walking Trish home her suggestion regarding Roslyn returned and his negative response was beginning to become more towards agreeable.

‘I will need a partner for Tony’s wedding,’ Grady thinks.

‘Besides it would get the old man off my back.’

His smile turns to chuckle;

‘I don’t know about mum’s wish for grandchildren.’

Grady’s only sexual experience had been during the last term of his penultimate year in high school with Liz Harris and that had been all of three minutes with much giggling from Liz.

‘At least I could brag about losing my virginity, even if Biff beet me by six months and said I was a slow developer.’

A further thought;

‘Could my encounter with Liz Harris be considered loss of virginity?’

‘Does a hand-job count?’

‘According to Biff it doesn’t.’

‘As for Roslyn Dobbins.’

‘I could dump her after Tony’s wedding.’

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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