A sequel to ‘At the Turning’

Published: 13 Sep 2018

The tip swarmed with flies and shimmering heat rose in visible waves with the midday sun while the stench, magnified by the recent rain and evaporation, reached a visitor long before there was sight of the gate.

A cyclone wire fence stretched around its perimeter where sheets of news print and plastic supermarket bags lay captured against its wire, clinging to their final existence while tin cans and broken bottles reflected that hot soul destroying sun, transferring all feelings of being hot to that of a slow baste within one’s own sweat.

Scattered in segregated piles was the crime of modernity. Hard rubbish governed a high pile towards the rear, green waste another while another the general waste that gave the stench of rotting food scraps, decaying in plastic kitchen tidy bags and rats, a multitude of the little buggers. Even a number of dead animals could be found, being collected and dumped as the result of road kill. Another section close to the tip’s perimeter held car bodies, burnt out like the empty shell of some gigantic turtle, stripped of anything of value and left to rust back into the red tropical soil.

Ralph had been dropped off at Biff’s as he wished to deliver some of his vegetables to the retirement home, also visit the hardware store to purchase more seed. So it was left to Wayne to visit old Millie and with trepidation he scanned the mounds of decaying garbage for any sign of life.

At first glance he found nothing but crows gathered, squabbling at the spot of recent dumping, while seagulls foraged at a safe distance from the crows, appearing as a drift of dirty snow. Wayne gagged at the stench but persevered with his search.

At first he couldn’t see the old lady, concluding she may have taken a day off from her scavenging then as if fired from out of the ground the woman appeared; tall, thin and straight. Standing above the garbage like some animated statue, her head bent towards the pile of decaying junk until like a swooping hawk she was once more gone from sight, to pounce on some item of junk she may have placed value upon.

Once again upright holding some shining object of interest, cackling to herself she placed it in an old hessian bag. She looked around and gave another cackle while her grey hair shuffled about within the confinement of a hairnet before re-settling atop her elongated withered face.

She was now singing. From the distance Wayne could not make out the tune but her voice was certainly in full flight and oddly quite melodious if not a little sad. Wayne slowly approached and called while still at distance so not to startle the woman.

“Millie.” He called while following the tyre tracks of the dumping trucks to where the woman was standing. Once again she drew herself to full height and shaded her eyes but did not answer. Wayne came within a few meters and paused.

“Millie I am,” but before Wayne could complete his introduction Millie spoke

“Wayne Jenkins – and for sure not a McBride eh even if you look like one,” She laughed, being more a crackle and gurgle.

“How did you know my name?” Wayne asked in surprise.

“Dear Lachlan told me you were coming.” She answered, clicking her tongue she continued, “or was it Stephen, those boys are always naughty and playing tricks on me.”

Wayne appeared bewildered by the woman’s knowledge of his presence, concluding Biff may have told her of his wish to visit her.

“Did Biff tell you I wished to talk with you?” Wayne asked shading the sunlight from his eyes with his hand. He turned from the glare.

“I told you boy it was Lachlan.” She appeared somewhat annoyed at Wayne’s lack of belief.

“Can we sit down in the shade for a while?” He asked pointing to a large shady tree to the corner of the tip.

“Sure and have a nice cup of tea, it must be close on lunch, I have a flask with me.” Millie collected her old plastic carry bag and withdrew a dirty battered thermos flask and a well used brown paper bag containing sandwiches, which appeared to have come from the tip itself. Wayne declined from sharing her refreshments declaring he had recently eaten while Millie helped herself to a round of sandwich with dubious filling. She commenced to chuckle then spoke.

“I’ll bet ya Lachlan didn’t tell you that you and I are related.” She announced more out of mischief than pride.

“In what way?” Wayne asked in disbelief.

“Yes but he respects me not like this lot around here.” She continued after finishing her sandwich and swilling it down with a muddy concoction she called tea, “did you know I’m eighty-four and still can walk the legs off any young pup.” Millie proudly disclosed.

“How is it so we are we related?” Wayne was more eager to understand their connection than to realise Millie’s age.

“I am Gulngai you know and dear Kari’s father was also my Grandfather.” She disclosed proudly.

“What is Gulngai?” Wayne asked.

“You young fellers know nothing;” Millie growled, “Gulngai are the mob of blacks that own part of your farm and Kari is Lachlan’s totem name; all this was once Gulngai land, even the land under this tip.”

“I didn’t know Lachlan was part aboriginal?” Wayne gasped beginning to doubt his own pedigree.

“Na silly boy he was adopted into the tribe as a young fella’. He respected our ways and learnt how to speak Gulngai but his daddy he was a bad man, he forced himself on my grandmother. Billy was his son, my father and Kari’s half brother but Billy’s gone now,” she paused, “they have all gone now.”

“So you remember Lachlan, what was he like?” Wayne asked, still smarting from learning that there was native blood in the family closet.

There were tears in Millie’s eyes as she spoke and a choke to her throat, while her words came crushed by emotion.

“He was a lovely kind man, so were they all lovely men. He would help anyone and never had a bad word to say about anyone.” A single tear ran down the wrinkles in Millie’s face and mixed with the grime then descended into the baked earth below.

“What about his relationship with Stephen?” Wayne asked.

“That was their business, I guess the town’s folk knew about them all, maybe not but they would never let it bend them from their affection for the boys. They owed their survival to that kind man.” Millie waved her hand before her face. “I can say no more you will have to talk to Lachlan.” She stood to return to her rubbish heap.

“Do you see Lachlan and the others?” Wayne asked as she moved away but Millie simply shrugged and refused to talk further, “one final question, what of the brother Robert, what happened to Robert.

“Not even Lachlan can answer you about Robert, he had a falling out with their father and left for Townsville, he married there and had children but in later years they lost contact.” Millie paused and became annoyed, “no more, ask Lachlan or Stephen they will tell ya’.”

The drive back to town was executed as if in slow motion. If there had been a police officer around Wayne was sure he would be booked for driving too slow but he cared not, he was in another world and one that was expanding by each passing day and now had another mystery to solve being what happened to Lachlan and Daniel’s brother in Robert.

As he passed into town his thoughts were interrupted by the sounding of his mobile telephone. He pulled to the side of the road.

“Wayne Jenkins,” he cautiously answered.

“Mister Jenkins it’s Glenda Clarence.”

“Yes Glenda,” Wayne immediately recognised the caller as Glenda Clarence who rented one of his Cairns shops in Sheridan Street where she ran an upmarket clothing boutique.

“I’m sorry to bother you but I have been having some trouble with plumbing and we have a leak.”

“Have you called a plumber?”

“I have and he said it was going to a big job and somewhat expensive, so I thought it best to let you know before giving him the go-ahead.”

“I’ll be in town in a couple of days, I’ll call in. Is the leak causing a problem with your stock?”

“Not at all, it is well to the rear and at present only small and the plumber made a temporary fix.”

“I’ll call in the day after tomorrow.”

“Thank you, I will see you then.”

Wayne continued into town thinking as he was spending so much time away from Cairns, possibly it was time to put all his properties in the hands of an agent. On reaching Biff’s shop he found Ralph sweeping the footpath.

“Biff got ya’ working kid?” Wayne called as Ralph returned the broom to the shop.

“Just killing time, did you meet up with the old lady?” As Ralph spoke Biff came to the door.

“He’s good with a broom; did you meet up with Millie?”

“I did but she didn’t have a lot to offer, or I guess wouldn’t.”

“Yes odd that, she can wind herself into a verbal stupa, other times you wind her spring and nothing.”

“I did get some information more about Lachlan’s family than Lachlan.”

“Good afternoon Missus Rogers,” Biff greeted as the woman passed into the shop.

“I’ll talk to you later Biff.” Wayne concluded and called Ralph to leave, “hop in and tell all but firstly do you want a day trip up to Cairns on Wednesday?”

“Not really why?”

One of my properties has a plumbing problem; I have to arrange someone to look at it.”

“I think I’d rather stay here.”

“Don’t you like travelling?” Wayne asked.

“I can’t really say, except for on foot and hitchhiking from Townsville to here, I’ve never done any.”

“You did come with me to Yungaburra.” Wayne contradicted.

“True but where is this all leading?”

“Only a thought I had while coming back from visiting Millie,” Wayne admitted as they drove into the farm yard.

“When you have a thought it’s dangerous.” Ralph shook his head while gently laughing.

“Come we’ll put the kettle on and I’ll tell you all about my meeting with Millie over at the dump.”

“So you’re not going to tell me about this idea of yours?” Ralph persisted.

“In good time there are a few things I have to think through first.”

Wayne had been back from his Cairns trip for a number of days and appeared to be somewhat restless, bringing Ralph to enquire what appeared to be his bother.

“What makes you think I’m bothered?” Wayne asked.

“I know your moods obviously better than you do.”

“Yes Ralph I do believe that but I guarantee there isn’t any bother.”

“Are you going into town?” Ralph asked while attempting to read into his friend’s disposition.

“Later on maybe why?”

“We are almost out of a few things; butter, milk and the chooks haven’t been lying, so if you want eggs for your breakfast you will have to get some.”

“I thought you said there was more than you could use, when you offered the extra to Biff?”

“True but chooks are like that, one day a dozen the next none,” Ralph released a cheeky chuckle, “sharpening the axe that usually works.”

“If you let me teach you to drive you could take yourself in.” Wayne suggested, receiving no answer but a gentle shaking of the head.

“Well?” Wayne insisted.

“Full marks for trying, maybe one of these days.”

“Why won’t you learn?” Wayne persisted.

“As I said one day and maybe.”

“They will write that word on your grave stone.” Wayne said

“What word would that be?”

“The word maybe,”

Wayne opened the refrigerator and retrieved a can of beer, “want one?’

“I’ll have one with dinner,” Ralph answered releasing a wide grin, “maybe.”

“You are correct I do have something on my mind.” Wayne admitted and with a measure of guilt towards his drinking, returned his beer and closed the refrigerator door.

“I thought so.”

“When I was in town I visited my accountant.”

“That sounds ominous.”

“No nothing drastic but I do need to dispose of some cash and I can’t think of anything I need. Since I’ve been down here I haven’t been spending.”

“That’s a funny situation to be in.” Ralph exclaimed.

“It is, sometimes you have to spend money to save money, when it comes to doing business that’s the taxation department for you. So how would you like to go on an overseas trip and I could mark some of it down as business and offset the tax.”

“Wouldn’t that be cheating?” Ralph asked allowing his honest side to surface.

“Not really, I would do a measure of business while travelling, so how would you like to take a short trip?”

“I don’t rightly know but I thought you needed to represent some company to call it a business trip?”

“I am registered as a company, the company of me and mostly deal in shares and a few odds and ends, is that a yes or no?” Wayne was persuasive.

“I guess no I don’t want to waste you money, besides I wouldn’t like the crowds and I’ve never been in an aeroplane.” Ralph gave a gentle shudder of fear at the thought of crowds, “besides I’m just an ignorant farm boy,” he smirked.

“Come now I’ve seen you reading those travel magazines at Biff’s.”

“Looking is one thing, going another.” Ralph answered somewhat disinterestedly.

“Say I bought tickets and we got someone in to look after your garden for a couple of weeks and we just took off, would you come?”

“Where?” Ralph asked.

“I don’t know – somewhere.”

“Why would you want me along?” Ralph continued.

“This is like extracting teeth, I guess I like your company besides all this family tree business is starting to drag me. Don’t get me wrong I love it and want to know more but I need a break,” he released a light sigh as the last of the sun disappeared into the tall forest trees, turning their crowns to a fiery glow. Ralph remained silent.

Wayne momentarily withdrew from the thought of travel becoming engrossed in nature’s changing mood slowly displaying before him. Only a short time earlier he would not have notice the glowing treetops, the rays of sunlight transferring through the canapé down shafts of multicoloured dust particles to pool onto the undergrowth.

It was true he did appreciate the many changing moods of Trinity Bay from his apartment and the power of electrical storms, as they rolled in from the Pacific. There was power in such a storm, it could be felt like electricity surging through the body, travelling along arteries, to fingertips and tingle at every nerve end, the mood before him was subtle, having to be drawn into its simple beauty and it had taken Ralph to bring him to it.

“I guess I should put dinner on, we can talk about it later.” Ralph eventually digressed.

“Unlike the driving lessons, I’m going to persist with this one.” Wayne insisted.

“Alright I would go but only for you, travel scares the shit out of me.” Ralph agreed nervously.

“You will?” Wayne declared excitedly, hardly believing that what he had heard.

“Possibly I might for you, not for me,” already the lad was backing away from the idea.

“But Ralph my boy you will love travelling, all those interesting places, meeting new people new customs.” Wayne assured.

“Have you travelled overseas?” Ralph asked with a smirk while knowing the answer.

“No but that is because I’ve never had anyone I wished to go with.”

“What about Louise?”

“She hated travel. Jack gave her two first class open around the world tickets with Qantas for her birthday.”

“Did she go?”

“Nope, gave them back and hoped for a car.”

“Did she get the car?”

“No Jack doesn’t trust her drinking and driving, although I could get her up to Yungaburra on the occasion and to Townsville once for a wedding but if there wasn’t some girl friend or dumb party waiting at the other end she wouldn’t budge,” a grin of memory, “she did love Port Douglas but that was because her closest friend lived there, Miss Hilton.”

“Who is Miss Hilton?” Ralph asked.

“Her name is Stella Turner but I called her that.”

“Why?”

“Because she was famous for being famous;”

“I don’t get your meaning.” Ralph said and commenced to prepare his vegetables for cooking.

“Doesn’t matter you most probably don’t read Dolly magazine, so you will go?” Wayne was becoming dogmatic.

“Do you like roasted pumpkin?” Ralph incidentally asked, while admiring a large Queensland Blue pumpkin he had grown. Had proudly planted the seed, watered the seedling, watch it vine across the yard, flower and fruit until hey presto, almost too large to wrap one’s arms around.

“We had pumpkin the other night.”

“True but I didn’t ask and you may have eaten it just to please, besides that was mashed, this time it will be roasted.”

“Yes I do like your pumpkin but stop changing the subject, you won’t get out of it that easy.”

“As for the trip, for you I will go but I’m not going to learn to drive. Not even for you Mister Jenkins.” Ralph concluded with a wide and defiant grin.

“When shall we leave?” Wayne asked turning from the short northern twilight.

“Steady on too much information at once.” He paused, “tell you what, I’ll leave everything to you otherwise you know me, I’ll never agree,” another pause, “like learning to drive.”

“Yes that is becoming a standing joke,” Wayne mocked, “no an epic, even Biff laughs about it,” he concluded.

Wayne stood for some time watching as Ralph read a comic he had found in an old box while cleaning out the junk room and while deep in concentration he was mouthing each word, a habit he only appeared to have with comics, grinning at the appropriate places and raising an eye brow at others.

“You like reading?” Wayne asked somewhat incidentally.

Ralph lifted his eyes, “that is how I learn.”

“From comics?”

“From all sorts of things, books mainly but when you are around, I would rather learn from you.” Ralph gave a gracious smile.

“That’s more the teacher learning from the student.” Wayne freely admitted.

It was then Wayne realise they were the same comics he had read as a boy and had left behind after his last Christmas holiday staying with Grace. Strange after all the years his aunt had kept the comics, while he had forgotten of their existence. Wayne smiled and on passing ran his fingers through Ralph’s dark curly hair.

“What?” Ralph commented, his head slowly rising from the page while a finger rested on the capsule he had just read.

“Nothing; just surprised you agreed to go away that’s all.”

“Are you going back to the journal?” Ralph asked as Wayne entered the passage.

“No I thought I would take a shower.”

“Don’t be too long dinner is almost ready.”

“Not long,”

“Save me some water eh.” Ralph grumbled knowing when Wayne showered he usually ran the hot water out.

“You can have one with me if you like.” Wayne called from the bathroom and turned on the water, moments later Ralph was at the door.

“You were joking – weren’t you?”

“Just to save the hot water, yes I was joking.”

“Oh.”

“You sound disappointed.” Wayne called as Ralph returned to the kitchen.

“And you didn’t sound as if you were joking.” The lad called back.

‘Possibly I wasn’t,’ Wayne thought as he stepped into the cascade of warm water.

‘You know Wayne my boy; you will have to admit it eventually,’ another thought and one he wasn’t prepared to have. ‘How can you do so when you don’t rightly know what it is you need to admit?’ That deliberation was interrupted by Ralph’s call dinner was on the table.

“Two minutes.” Wayne answered and turned off the water, ‘I will need to do something about my staying, as it isn’t fair on Ralph.’ Perceiving his reflection in the mirror Wayne surmised, ‘I need to shave – maybe tomorrow – maybe never – wonder how I would look with a beard?’ Wayne remembered his father growing a beard at his mother’s request. His father had black hair and his whiskers grew red. He was soon instructed to get rid of it, ‘If I did would it also be red?’

Ralph returned to the door; “dinner’s getting cold.”

“I’m almost there.” Wayne quickly dressed.

‘I wonder if Ralph has picked up on my thoughts, he appears to understand most things,’ a chuckle, ‘often even before I have thought of them myself.’

‘The way he watches,’

‘Could he also be?’

‘No with his cousin’s preference, surely it doesn’t strike more than once in the same family.’ Wayne has almost convinced himself when his mind returned to Lachlan and his brother Daniel.

‘Two gay brothers, a gay neighbour and some other joker, it struck a bloody lot of times back then and in less tolerant times. Besides I’m not that way.’ He scoffed at the thought.

Wayne entered into the kitchen, “that smells good.”

“Especially for you Mister Jenkins.” Ralph joined his friend at the table.

“Hey Ralph, how would I look with whiskers?”

“What’s brought that on?” Ralph asked and passed the gravy.

“You make great gravy, when Louise made gravy it always had lumps; only I need to shave and thought of growing a beard.” Wayne explained.

“It’s your face; wouldn’t it be a little hot with all that fuzz?”

“I guess you’re right, I’ll shave in the morning.”

“So you like my gravy.”

“Are you fishing for another complement?”

“No it’s called feedback.”

“More like feeding your hungry star boarder with excellent food.”

“Louise couldn’t cook?” Ralph asked.

“Couldn’t and wouldn’t but her mum always had her make the gravy and every time complained about the lumps.”

“When you married what would you do for meals?”

“I guess eat out three times a day.”

Another Wednesday morning –

It had been a week since their discussion on taking a trip. Wayne had brought up the subject to where but each time Ralph would say wherever you decide will be to his liking.

There was also guilt. Ralph didn’t want to appear to be hanging on to Wayne’s charity. He often acknowledged how appreciative he was and that he his friend’s bank account. Wayne quickly drilled home the fact that money didn’t concern and what others thought was of even less concern.

As for guilt, even Wayne had his share and felt he was using the lad as a crutch for his own failing with Louise. He was hiding away from handling the situation, away from Louise in a place where she could not reach him. Was this fair on the lad? Also his confused emotions, what was it he felt for Ralph, was it friendship or had it developed into something more and if so, what was he going to do about it? Biff had warned him of such a development, don’t you befriend him and walk away, she had warned but that was a possible outcome. Besides if his attraction was more than friendship, what was to say Ralph would be interested?

Wayne removed himself from Ralph’s presence in the guise of washing the car.

“If you like I can do it for you.” Ralph offered as Wayne filed a bucket with warm soapy water.

“No I need the distraction but thank you for the offer.”

“I could vacuum.”

“No Ralph you have enough to do, I can’t keep using your good nature as a servant.”

“I would never think that.” Ralph admitted apologetically.

“What would you think Ralph?” The spring in Wayne’s tension sprung.

“I think you have a question you wish to ask and you are too frightened to do so.” Ralph calmly answered.

“And what do you think that question may be.” Wayne calmed and forced a smile.

“You can ask it if you wish and I will honestly answer it.”

“No Ralph, it isn’t so much a question but I am afraid what will happen if or when I return to Cairns.”

“I don’t believe that is your question Wayne but I will survive and I am sure we would remain friends and in contact.”

“Yes Ralph that is fact, I will never do anything to hurt you.” Wayne concluded.

That afternoon Wayne had a telephone call from Stephen Henderson in Yungaburra, who was still canvassing for a revisit. While in conversation Wayne gave Stephen the news on his great uncle and he was also named Stephen but held back on their ancestor’s sexual preference.

Stephen was quite surprised and most interested in discovering more, saying it was a shame they couldn’t call in and tell him in person. He also revealed he was between jobs as they had amalgamated the stations at Yungaburra with Atherton, rendering him and a number of his group redundant, fortunately he had another offering elsewhere.

“When do you start your new job?” Wayne asked during a lull in the conversation while watching Ralph at his gardening through the kitchen window.

“It will be about a month.”

“You have given me an idea.” Wayne felt a spark of initiative explode in his head.

“What would that be?”

“I’m taking Ralph away for a couple of weeks and he would need someone to water his garden, so why don’t you come down and look after the place, then when we return we could all have some time together before you start at your new job?”

“Do you mean that?”

“Of course I do, it would be a holiday for you as well and a chance to catch up with Ralph.”

“Can I have a day or two to consider it?” Stephen asked.

“Sure but don’t you like the idea?”

“I do, unfortunately I have my mother to consider, I still live at home and she can’t get around all that well, I will have to arrange something with my sister to look in on her, otherwise fine. Where are you going?”

Wayne laughed, “I haven’t a clue its Ralph’s choice.”

“Still it sounds great,”

“I haven’t arranged anything as yet but if you do come down you can use the car and I’ll stock the fridge.” Wayne offered.

“You mean the BMW?” Stephen said with surprise.

“It’s only a car,” Wayne declared. “You do have a licence?” he added.

“Yes although no one has ever suggested I use their car before, I have a hard enough time borrowing my sisters and it’s only an old shit heap.”

“I’ll arrange something in the next few days and get back to you.” Wayne offered.

“Righto, sounds like fun, I’ll wait your call.”

“Would you like to speak to Ralph?”

“I would but I have a visitor, best I be the good host.”

“Who was on the telephone?” Ralph enquired on entering the kitchen to fill his drink container.

“Your cousin Stephen, he said hello but couldn’t talk for long.”

“Never mind, what is he up to?”

“He’s between jobs and I hope you don’t mind, I invited him down to stay for a while and look after the place when we are away, if it ever happens.”

“No I don’t mind and it sounds like a good idea.”

“Have you thought any more on where you would like to go?” Wayne’s tone was calculating. If he didn’t keep mentioning their holiday, with Ralph’s habit it would become lost in yesterday’s thinking, a good idea but like most things, something to revisit in the future, if at all. On the other hand by pushing too hard it was possible the lad would close down and become recalcitrant towards the matter but at that instant an idea occurred to him and he called Ralph to join him in the kitchen.

“I’ve had a thought,” Wayne called as he spread a world map he had found in the junk room across the kitchen table but due to lack of interest Ralph quickly departed under the guise of having to finish a job he had started.

Wayne’s plan was to blindfold Ralph and have him place a finger on the map. Wherever his finger landed would be their destination, then with tickets purchased and bookings made, it would be like nailing Ralph’s trousers to the masthead, as he would find it most difficult to climb back down from that position. That’s if he was wearing trousers at the time.

“More like nail his bloody balls to the mast.” Wayne chuckled as the image of Ralph hoisted high passed through his thoughts.

“Hey Ralph what are you doing?” Wayne called. Ralph was no were to be seen. Wayne thought he heard voices, “Must be those buggers in my head.” He concluded then once again called his friend.

“Coming what’s the problem, I was out on the verandah.” Ralph entered into the kitchen to perceive the map spread across the kitchen table taking up the entire surface.

The map was old, made of a kind of painted cloth with the British Empire depict in red, having a tare through northern Europe and a hole excluding most of Brazil and Argentina. It was of the design that would have once found pride on a school wall but like the Empire had reached obsolescence and with the arrival of the internet came disinterest in anything that wasn’t electronic.

“What’s this about, back to school week?” Ralph asked while quizzically peering down at the red bits, he noticed Malaya and British Borneo, “you do realise half the names have changed?” He questioned.

“I do know that but for the exercise it doesn’t matter what they are now called.”

“More than likely the boarders have changed and countries taken over by greedy neighbours.” Ralph continued; his eyes on the design of late nineteenth century Europe, “Prussia for a start is now part of Germany and Russia has most of Eastern Europe.”

“Humour me Ralph, it will suit the purpose. My plan is, seeing you can’t make up your mind and I won’t, then I am going to blindfold you and you can point. We will go wherever you finger lands.”

“Why not blindfold yourself and your point?” Ralph suggested as the kettle commenced to boil, “I’ll make coffee.”

“No leave it, I want you to at least humour me, besides I’ll go anywhere and it’s more fun if you do it.”

“For you maybe,” Ralph grumbled his face displaying a measure of coy, “but as you said, to humour you I’ll do it – would you like coffee?”

“You’re trying to avoid making a decision. Wayne took a tea towel and wrapped it tightly around Ralph’s eyes asking if he could see. Ralph acknowledged he could not, as Wayne shuffled the map around the table, “Are you ready?” Wayne asked, his voice somewhat excited at the prospect that at last something had commenced.

“Yes.”

Then point.” Ralph pointed to the map and held his finger firm to its surface while removing the blind fold.

“Afghanistan almost Pakistan, I don’t think so, I think we would get a warm reception there.” Wayne laughed.

Again the blindfold was applied and once more the finger pointed.

“The closest would be now North Korea, are you trying to have us killed or locked up for life?” Wayne grumbled as a third attempt was made. Ralph replaced the blindfold while his finger hovered in circles above the aging map, as would a hawk above its prey. It came down hard on the map creating an echo through the table’s surface.

“At least that’s better but it’s in the ocean.” Wayne declared. He looked closer, less than two centimetres from the descended finger there was a group of island. It was Hawaii.

“At least they speak English of sorts and at present the Aussie dollar’s strong.”

“Don’t like American’s much.” Ralph complained.

“Have you met anyone from there?” Wayne asked.

“No,”

“Then how can you say you don’t like them?”

“Dunno’, I guess they are alright, only mouthing what I have heard from others.”

“Usually you like everyone, besides I’ve met a number through Louise’s old man, they were out here Marlin fishing and they seem like a fair enough lot, similar to us in most ways.” Wayne assured.

“I guess so, just apprehensive about travelling.”

“So are you happy with the decision?” Wayne asked thinking that he had at last nailed those proverbial trousers to that proverbial mast.

“Suppose so.”

So it was to be Hawaii and both were in agreement.

“Right what’s next?” Ralph asked.

“A lot of planning I guess, are you sure you’re alright with the decision?”

“Yes positive, even a little spark of excitement is developing – apprehension yes but the spark is there.” Ralph admitted.

“So we are off to Hawaii.”

“I’ve never been on an island before, except Magnetic Island down at Townsville.” Ralph admitted.

“So I’m ahead of you I’ve also been to Magnetic and Green Island, both on day trips with Louise.

Let Gary Know that you are reading and what you think of his story. Drop an email to him: Gary dot Conder at CastleRoland dot Net.

75,010 views