Published: 20 Aug 2020

Being mail day Lewis had a thought. John Ashley had promised to visit if the reunion was in Cairns and not at the station as he wasn’t accustomed to bush travel. That suited Lewis and seeing he would be in Cairns why not contact and if possible arrange a rendezvous. He quickly scribbled a note to Ashley using stationery from Stan’s office while Bob helped Hal with the unloading.

“Where’s the stamp?” Hal asked as Lewis offered up his scribbled note, contained in a tattered envelope secured by an inch of blue masking tape.

“Could you get one for me when you reach Croydon?”

“I could, Hal held out his hand to receive the money for a stamp.”

“Bugger I’ve nothing on me, I could run down to the house. Have you time?”

Stan came to the rescue and offered up a five cent coin he found in an old jam jar on his desk mixed with odds and ends, mostly spare trouser fly buttons that more accumulated rather than were reused. Also a sixpenny bit of old currency and still exchangeable and two copper pennies and a halfpenny; but nothing could be bought for that small a denomination, being withdrawn long before decimalisation. “You can shout me a beer when were next in town,” Stan suggested.

“That’s the price of a stamp, cartage is complimentary,” Hal made light as he swung back into the truck. He viewed the address and made comment, “Sydney,”

“Yes a mate from Mareeba lives there now,”

“It’s a long haul for five cents.”

Actual coinage while on the station was rare, the men were paid fortnightly by cheque issued by Stan Wilson, therefore every second Friday the men, if not working away, would make their journey to the bookkeeper’s office and receive their cheque. Seeing the closest bank was in Georgetown and visits to town infrequent, it would either be necessary to hold on to a number of cheques to cash or bank, or post them with the fortnightly mail car. There was also an arrangement with Hal if some emergency occurred, he would do the banking but if it was for cashing, one would need to wait for his next arrival to collect the money.

For payments, such as Wayne’s board at the hostel, Ivy would post a cheque and for his pocket money she would need to go into town for cash although a small amount was kept a safe in Stan’s office. Sometime she would enclose a five dollar note in her mail for him to spend. This to Lewis was also a memory but in his time it was ten shillings and a most rare event, even rarer would be the arrival of the same from his grandmother in Melbourne. By chance but even less often, they would arrive in the same week, giving him one pound to spend and the feeling of riches beyond belief but soon eroded to empty pockets on lollies, hamburgers and malted milk shakes.

The hostel pocket money, as Lewis remembered in his stay, allowed two shillings, now twenty cents, booked to parents account each Saturday and permission given, as it was so designed, go up town to spend it. On such a day a lad felt as if he were king of the world until the money was spent. There would be a hamburger for one and threepence, a bag of lollies for sixpence and little left but bad teeth and a wish that next Saturday would come more quickly.

As for Lewis’ request to Ashley, two weeks passed without an answer and Joyce’s reunion was quickly approaching, then while cleaning the kitchen stove’s cinder box, Jack Thompson came across from the big house carrying a page torn from an exercise book.

“Lewis I had a call from Georgetown, you have a telegram.” Jack then read aloud what he had written from the telephone, while verbally punctuating the message with the word stop at the appropriate convergence.

“Peter and I will meet you in Cairns on the suggested day, stop, looking forward to being reacquainted, stop. Give you the flight details at a later date, stop. John.”

“Seeing I would be down in Cairns with Mrs. Marshall, I thought I would reacquaint myself with some friends; I hope you don’t mind?”

“No worries, thank you for taking Joyce down, besides while you are in Cairns I have a little job for you as well.” Jack handed Lewis the folded message and bid good day and left for the stock yards.

Joyce had packed and repacked so many times her clothes knew their way into her tattered suitcase. Then she began to cry, bringing Ivy to her distress. It appeared she didn’t have anything decent to wear that wasn’t old and sweat stained or mended so often the stitching was the only strength in the garment.

“You could have Lewis stop at the drapery store in Mareeba on the way and buy yourself a couple of nice dresses?” Ivy suggested.

“Do you think he would mind?” Joyce asked.

“I’m sure he wouldn’t I’ll ask him for you.”

“You’re such a dear and I am so looking forward in seeing Julia and her new baby and of course Eric. I haven’t anything for the baby.” Again she turned to panic as she stood mid room lost in a daze of nerves.

“You can also get something in Mareeba when you get some new clothes.”

“Yes that’s it; I’ll get something in Mareeba.” Joyce took a deep breath and once again commenced to cry with happiness.

Lewis filled the land rover the night before their departure and was up and ready to travel before the sun. Having Ivy take over cooking for the days Joyce would be away and Bob Kelly to fill in for Lewis, they were on their way and by mid afternoon were past Ravenshoe and heading towards Mareeba, where they would rest the night before heading down the Kuranda Range to Cairns the following morning.

With Joyce’s shopping done, Lewis delivered her to a friend she once worked with on another property, who had offered them both lodgings for the night. Lewis left the women to their memories and headed for the

Royal, where he perched in his old corner and ordered a beer.

“Brian?” Lewis said recognising the barman, “you’re still here?”

Brian had been Lewis’ barman at the Royal when he lived in town but he almost didn’t recognise him. Brian was now much heavier and virtually bald and all in a couple of seasons.

“Lewis Smith, you’re just as skinny as ever, what are you doing in town?”

Brian asked while pulling a beer.

“I’m taking the station’s cook down to Cairns for a couple of days.”

“What station would that be?”

“Gilbert Downs near Georgetown.” Lewis answered and sipped his beer, “you still know how to pull a good beer,” he commended.

“Best in the north mate,” Brian bragged.

“And cold, that is something we miss. Who’s around these days?” Lewis enquired.

“Good question I don’t see many of the old crowd, or at least they don’t seem to come in here.” Brian moved away to attend to a tobacco farmer then returned. “Well your mate Trevor Davies was sacked from Jack and Newell.”

“What happened?” Lewis gasped in delightful revenge.

“He was caught screwing Irene Gibson by her husband Clem and after giving him a good hiding and being associated with Trevor’s boss, Clem had him sacked,” Brian smiled sadistically, “bloody Trevor was an accident waiting to happen and after you gave him a broken nose he went of the rails.”

“Where is he now?” Lewis asked more out of sadistic pleasure than interest in Trevor’s wellbeing.

“He went funny and smashed the windows at the cop shop and was taken away but I believe he’s out and about again but haven’t seen or heard of him since,” a pause, “oh Will’s family sold the pub.”

That was the first time Lewis had heard Will’s name mentioned in conversation, except by Ashley and Ian during his station visit since he left Mareeba and it still pained him but he managed to control his hurt. Brian paused then remembered, “And your cousin Liz called in with Ian a little while back.”

“Yes I know; Ian visited me at the station.”

“Ian’s a lucky bugger, I’d give her one,” Brian declared his face displaying wanting as he broke into a devious smile.

“You hitched yet?” Lewis asked without making comment on his cousin.

“Have a bird, going steady but no bells. How about yourself?”

“Quiet life in the bush not a lot to choose from, almost forgot what it’s for.” Lewis answered thinking that by Brian’s conversation he hadn’t heard of Trevor’s accusations about himself and Will but like all things in a small town, he had.

“You know we didn’t believe it.”

“Believe what Brian?”

“That what Trevor Davies was spreading about Will and you.”

“He had it in for Will and said he would get him no matter how long it took.” Lewis quickly proclaimed.

“You do realise the cops checked the wreck after the accident and concluded the brake fluid line had been tampered with.”

“Shit no, who would have done that?” Lewis felt his face prickle with shock.

“It was suggested Davies had something to do with it but couldn’t be proven and he wasn’t admitting to anything.”

“I suppose it doesn’t matter either way now.” Lewis sighed.

“I guess not,”

“Anything else?” Lewis asked.

“Nope I think you have it all; busy town this. Are you returning back here then?”

“No I couldn’t live back here after.” Lewis almost brought himself out to Brian but realising what he was about to relate he became quiet.

“After what?” Brian asked picking up on Lewis indiscretion.

“Suppose slapping Trevor about the day I left work and all that.” Lewis substituted.

“Wouldn’t let Trevor worry you, half the town thought you should have done a better job of it.” Brian congratulated.

“It’s all in the past I guess.”

“You know Will thought the world of you.” Brian innocently suggested.

“He was a good mate.”

“I don’t know why as he was a right bastard to most.”

“I’ve a great personality I guess.” Lewis laughed and moved away from the subject of Will, besides Brian’s conversation was beginning to become a little to personal for comfort.

Once in Cairns Lewis dropped Joyce Marshall at the Criterion Hotel promising to collect her for the return journey in three days, while he went to the Railway Hotel for his own booking. Once inside the hotel’s lobby he ran into Ashley, who was coming down from the rooms.

“You made it then, how long have you been here?” Lewis asked taking Ashley’s hand in greeting.

“Kissie kissie,” Ashley pointed to his cheek.

“Don’t you dare, you’re not back in Sydney now,” Lewis growled and backed away. “Where’s Peter?” Lewis enquired looking around the lobby.

“He’s gone sight seeing with Geoff Rexter.” Ashley advised.

“With who?”

“Your little friend from the sauna in Sydney, he wanted to come along and be reacquainted with you.”

“Shit!”

“Have I done the wrong thing?” Ashley showed concern as he spied Peter and Geoff returning. Lewis took a deep breath and shook his head.

“It’s not so much as that John but I’m not ready for a return to what happened in Sydney. Oh well he’s here now so best I treat him kindly.”

“Hey Lewis look whose here?” Peter called once inside the lobby.

After a cordial reunion the four retired to the bar and took a table close to a large bay window.

“How was the room?” Lewis asked. He had booked it for them earlier and for three not four. The room had a double bed and two single beds and who was to share the double was foremost in his thoughts. His original idea was Peter and Ashley would share the double while he a single but was a little uneasy with the pending arrangements.

“Comfortable,” Ashley answered.

“Where did you go last night?” Lewis enquired seeing the three had arrived the previous day.

“Went to a bar along the esplanade,” Peter answered.

“Peter got drunk,” Geoff happily accused.

“Only a little, there’s not a lot else to do in this town,” Peter protested already missing the Sydney nightlife.

“He tried to score with a young farmer in the bar,” Geoff freely offered.

“Tried but he couldn’t understand where I was heading.”

“You need to watch yourself, this isn’t Sydney and likely to cop a fist in the face for your trouble,” Lewis warned.

“Yes Peter when in Rome act accordingly,” Ashley followed with an extra warning but warnings to Peter’s character were somewhat futile.

That night after they had dined at Harry’s fish and chip shop and enjoyed reminiscing over a few drinks Ashley and Peter decided to take a stroll along the beach walkway and as Ashley had suggested take in the air of the perfumed mud that Cairn’s had to offer, while Lewis called it a night as bush life had taken away his ability to stay up late. Geoff agreed and returned to the hotel with Lewis.

Entering the room Lewis cast his eyes to the double bed then the two singles before standing motionless.

“Where did you all sleep last night?” Lewis asked Geoff who could be heard in the en-suite emptying his bladder.

“They had the double.”

“Oh.”

“Ashley suggested we have the double tonight,” a pause, “that is if you don’t mind sharing it with me?” Geoff suggested apologetically.

“Of course I don’t mind, I think I’ll have a shower.” On his return he found Geoff already between the sheets and wearing nothing but a smile. Lewis turned out the light and retired to his side of the bed. What should he do, did he place his arms around Geoff and draw him close. Did he lay silently waiting for Geoff’s advance or roll onto his side and fake instant sleep. Instead of feeling on top of the world he was stressed and all he could think of was Will. Moments later he felt a hand pause on his thigh. Lewis remained motionless, his mind racing.

“Underpants?” Geoff stated feeling the thin layer of cotton protecting Lewis’ crotch from the exploring hand. Lewis took Geoff’s hand and pulled him into his body.

“Listen Geoff I like you. I really do but I still haven’t got over someone and I’m not ready for this. Sydney was different, it was new and I was out of my comfort zone, here it is as if I were denigrating a trust.”

“Sorry.”

“Don’t apologise you’re a sexy bloke but I just can’t.” Lewis took a deep breath. “Can we just cuddle?” Lewis suggested.

“Sure.”

The suggestion worked and Lewis’ tension subsided immediately while Geoff’s closeness gave him comfort.

“You must have loved that someone, what happened?” Geoff asked softly running his fingers gently through Lewis’s hair.

“I still do, his name was Will and he died in a car accident, the day we were to announce that we would be leaving to live in Melbourne.”

“Oh, now I feel like an intruder,” Geoff appeared to be genuinely upset with his clumsy approach and rolled away. Lewis pulled him back.

“Then don’t, I like the attention but maybe it’s being in bed together in this hotel that is spooking me.”

“Why.”

“Will and I couldn’t meet at home so we would meet in hotels and motels for weekends and we once spent a weekend together in this hotel.

“In this room!?”

“No the other side of the hotel on the lower floor,” Lewis laughed, “and don’t you dare say sorry.”

“Sorry.” It came automatically from Geoff then he apologised again for his apology. Lewis saw the funny side to his friend and shushed him to silence.

“Are you still working on the farm?” Geoff asked after some time.

“It’s a station and yes I’m still there why?”

“Back home I used to go riding with my gay cousin they have a small farm a short distance out of town.”

“So you can ride a horse.” Lewis said.

“Sort of but nothing fancy,” Geoff commenced to giggle.

“What’s got ya’ going?”

“Sometimes we would ride naked in the forest.”

“A kinky little fellow;”

“Do you ever ride naked at the station?”

“I ride for work not for sexual pleasure,” Lewis paused, “and don’t you dare apologise but I’ll have to try it on one of my days off.”

“I would like to be there when you do.”

“I was only kidding; for me it wouldn’t be a turn on, besides it would be a little rough on the balls I should think.”

It was well past the night’s turning before Ashley and Peter arrived back. It had been preordained they would give Geoff some time alone with Lewis to, as in the words of Ashley, become reacquainted. They came as quietly as one under the influence could approach but with all their shushing and tipping they sounded like a couple of bulls in the cow paddock, bringing the already awake two to quiet tittering. Peter dropped a shoe then realising its noise retrieved it and placed it down gently then dropped the second and realising what he had done, loudly giggled.

“Peter you will wake the love birds.” Ashley growled as softly as a growl could be instigated.

“Oops.” Peter apologised.

“No need to worry we are awake.” Lewis advised over their clumsiness.

“Sorry.” Peter apologised without conviction and with a stagger entered his bed.

“The two of you sound drunk.”

“Not me,” Ashley contradicted, “but Peter is four sheets to the wind, he seems to like the NQ, larger.”

“How was your night?” Lewis enquired.

“I ran into a couple of old Radio friends while Peter went looking for the hot spots.” Ashley related, as before returning to Sydney he announced on Mareeba Radio, having a late night spot where he played, what Lewis described, music for old fogies.

“Did he find any?” Lewis asked knowing well that a city the size of Cairns hadn’t any gay venues.

“No!” Peter answered loudly for himself and continued; “but a drunken aborigine tried to pick up along the shorefront.”

“Most probably only after drinking money and not your body.” Lewis advised.

“What did you get up to?” Ashley asked.

“Not much,” Lewis answered as he felt Geoff’s hand move to rest between his upper thighs where it remained without enforcing further progress.

The following day was discovery time with Ashley and mostly Lewis showing the other’s the highlights of the Cairns area. Green Island, Port Douglas, Mosman and the numerous deep gorges that lead to the foothills of the Great Divide, with a quick drive up the range to Kuranda to view the Barron Falls.

Peter complained continuously about having to travel in the rear of the land rover with the heat and dust while asking to turn up the air-conditioning, which was lacking in the vehicle but he did show interest in the terrain, while ogling the male population with their skimpy shorts and obvious lack of underwear.

“You could see that blokes nuts!” Peter declared while passing a young farmer, who was in conversation on a bus stop bench, leg up and busy picking at his bare foot. It was true they did extend a little further than was socially accepted but it was an isolated case which Lewis was quick to declare and rejected Peter’s request to turn the vehicle and pass for a second inspection.

During the second day while returning from Port Douglas Geoff chanced to enquire on cyclones and if there had been any big events around Cairns, which gave Lewis reason to divert down a dirt road towards a rusting metal framework. He parked the car and bid them all to follow.

Walking towards a large iron vat he pointed to a tangled mess of metal and glass that was pinned to the earth by a decaying Ficus trunk.

“Cyclones Geoff?” Lewis dramatically spoke as he pointed to the tangled mess. “That my friend was my car and the vat over there is where I weathered the storm.” Lewis approached the wreck that was once his car and under a white ant eaten branch he found his travel bag, now retrievable because of the termite work on the decaying trunk. He picked up the bag, which fell back as the strap came away. Again he collected his weathered backpack and emptied the contents. Among the bush rat’s nest was his tooth brush, missing the bristles, an empty toothpaste tube and other decaying toiletries, and what was left of his weekend change of clothing.

“When it happened the tree branch pinned down the bag so tightly all I could retrieve my wallet.”

“You were lucky.” Peter exclaimed while peering through the opening to the vat.

“Sure was and if it weren’t for the fact that a tree had fallen across the main road I may not have come down this track and found the vat.” Lewis admitted.

Ashley recollected how Lewis bragged about his experiences for weeks after his return to anyone who was silly enough to enquire. Yet he admitted by the sight of the tree across the car and the still recovering area, he was fortunate to be around to speak of it.

The three days before collecting Joyce Marshall for the return trip dissipated quickly and on the final night Lewis relented and while Peter and Ashley were visiting the home of a radio friend he and Geoff retired to their room. Once inside Lewis decided to take a shower and while enjoying the gentle flow of warm water he called.

“Geoff, come in here a minute.”

Geoff obliged, being resigned to the fact nothing would eventuate between them, believed the call would be of a retrieval nature.

“Yep.”

“Want a shower?” Lewis’ quizzical voice came softly over the running water.

“Yes after you’re finished.”

“Why not join me?”

It is quite amusing how quickly a man can undress when on a sure thing and that Geoff did. Before a breath could be taken he was naked and standing before Lewis, sharing the warmth of the flow. It is also as comical how quickly blood drains from the thinking brain to the head of one’s dick and both were proudly erect.

“Well?” Lewis laughed and pulled Geoff’s body close to his own.

“Do you want to?” Geoff softly asked as he ran a finger gently down Lewis’ chest.

“Do what?”

“You know,”

“You will need to be more verbal.”

“Root me,” Geoff’s voice fell away with the words becoming a nervous giggle.

“No, I haven’t done that since Will and won’t do so unless committed to someone in the future.”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you.” Geoff retuned to his apologetic disposition.

“You haven’t Geoff, It’s my decision and seeing I don’t think I will ever find a replacement for Will, I guess that experience will remain deficient.”

“Do you think you will ever come back to Sydney?”

“No Geoff, I don’t believe Sydney has anything for me.”

“Oh,”

“I will probably reman here in the north.”

“What on the station?”

“That I couldn’t say but for the present it suits me to do so and I have made some good friends.”

“You must get lonely?”

“Not at all but enough of the questions and come here.” Lewis dragged Geoff under the flow of water.”

“Could I visit you again some day?” Geoff asked.

“Some day but not for a while, you can write if you wish but keep it nice, I have a reputation to keep.”

Gary’s stories are all about what life in Australia was like for a homosexual man (mostly, before we used the term, “gay”). Email Gary to let him know you are reading: Gary dot Conder at CastleRoland dot Net

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