from Steve. It caused me to drop my plate, as he and two of his mates pushed in between Barry and me. They laughed their heads off. While I picked up my plate and unbeknown to Steve, Doug dropped a golly in his trifle to pay him back. Only Mrs Symonds saw Doug do it. She made no fuss, just gave him a little wink. We all held our composure until we were at a safe enough distance, then cacked ourselves laughing as we watched Steve eat it all up. He and his mates just looked at us like we were morons.
There was more than plenty of food for everyone. Dad stayed with Mr and Mrs Symonds and us at the tables, helping Nan butter the still warm damper slices. Later, I wandered over with my replenished plate to where a group of the women clustered together. They were whispering amongst themselves about Mrs Wood's no-show, even though Steve brought along a sliced jam roly-poly she'd made.
"Three guesses and they all relate to her husband," stated Mrs Horan with a knowing look to the other women.
"If I was Pam I'd leave him. It can't be pleasant livin' with him and his drinkin'. He's alright through the week mind, sober as a judge. But come knock-off Frid'y through Sund'y, he just writes himself off. You know I'm not one to gossip, however, bein' right next door, you can't help but hear the rows over his pay packet, after he's come home from the pub. Have a look at him over there tonight and you'll see what I mean," sniffed Mrs Grady.
"She'll cop a gob-full tonight then for sure," observed Mrs Horan.
"Oh my Lord. I have to close me window it gets so bad," added Mrs Grady. "And a man that hits a woman is a bloody mongrel in my book. Pardon my French. You know I asked her once about some bruises on her arm and she covered by saying, 'Oh I must've bumped into some furniture.' Furniture my foot. It was like a handprint. And she had a swollen bruised eye another time. But you can't interfere in people's domestics. Up to them to sort it out, isn't it? And young Steve looks like he's following in his father's footsteps," she predicted.
"You should hear the language he uses to his mother. Even in the street," confirmed another.
"Needs a good kick up the bloody bum, if you ask me. Pardon my French," responded Mrs Grady.
"I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree," added Nan through pursed lips. I wanted to find out more but Nan caught me eavesdropping and gave me one of her 'what are you doing here? This is none of your business' looks. I moved away.
At Nan's urging Dad decided to join the men. Doug stayed at the table but I tagged along. In one group Mr Horan was telling a joke.
"– So this woman gets on the tram with her baby and the conductor takes a squiz at the kid and says to the woman, 'That's the ugliest baby I've ever seen.' The flustered woman is lost for words and just moves to the back of the tram and says to the man she sits next to, 'That conductor just insulted me.' To which the man says, 'Why don't ya go back up there and give him a piece of yer mind? I'll mind yer monkey.'" The group all laughed themselves silly. We moved between them and another group where the men were all nodding and agreeing with Mr Green. Mr Symonds poured Dad a glass of his beer.
"Well I won't have 'em in my store. Black hands over everything. There's some things you just can't wash and resell. Not to mention pinching things, and that's what they'll do if we let them get any closer to town," Mr Green concluded. Then Mr Wood said his bit.
"They're not only doin' up the Hudson place, but the news is they're buildin' two fuckin' new fibro places for a mob from the Reserve as well! All bringin' 'em closer to our houses an' families. An' this lettin' 'em walk around town without being arrested will spell trouble. Mark my words. Look, there's a fuckin' mob of 'em over by the creek. Been watchin' us all fuckin' night. Won't be able to leave yer door open at night soon."
"I keep the door closed this time of year to keep the heat in, anyways," Mr
There was more than plenty of food for everyone. Dad stayed with Mr and Mrs Symonds and us at the tables, helping Nan butter the still warm damper slices. Later, I wandered over with my replenished plate to where a group of the women clustered together. They were whispering amongst themselves about Mrs Wood's no-show, even though Steve brought along a sliced jam roly-poly she'd made.
"Three guesses and they all relate to her husband," stated Mrs Horan with a knowing look to the other women.
"If I was Pam I'd leave him. It can't be pleasant livin' with him and his drinkin'. He's alright through the week mind, sober as a judge. But come knock-off Frid'y through Sund'y, he just writes himself off. You know I'm not one to gossip, however, bein' right next door, you can't help but hear the rows over his pay packet, after he's come home from the pub. Have a look at him over there tonight and you'll see what I mean," sniffed Mrs Grady.
"She'll cop a gob-full tonight then for sure," observed Mrs Horan.
"Oh my Lord. I have to close me window it gets so bad," added Mrs Grady. "And a man that hits a woman is a bloody mongrel in my book. Pardon my French. You know I asked her once about some bruises on her arm and she covered by saying, 'Oh I must've bumped into some furniture.' Furniture my foot. It was like a handprint. And she had a swollen bruised eye another time. But you can't interfere in people's domestics. Up to them to sort it out, isn't it? And young Steve looks like he's following in his father's footsteps," she predicted.
"You should hear the language he uses to his mother. Even in the street," confirmed another.
"Needs a good kick up the bloody bum, if you ask me. Pardon my French," responded Mrs Grady.
"I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree," added Nan through pursed lips. I wanted to find out more but Nan caught me eavesdropping and gave me one of her 'what are you doing here? This is none of your business' looks. I moved away.
At Nan's urging Dad decided to join the men. Doug stayed at the table but I tagged along. In one group Mr Horan was telling a joke.
"– So this woman gets on the tram with her baby and the conductor takes a squiz at the kid and says to the woman, 'That's the ugliest baby I've ever seen.' The flustered woman is lost for words and just moves to the back of the tram and says to the man she sits next to, 'That conductor just insulted me.' To which the man says, 'Why don't ya go back up there and give him a piece of yer mind? I'll mind yer monkey.'" The group all laughed themselves silly. We moved between them and another group where the men were all nodding and agreeing with Mr Green. Mr Symonds poured Dad a glass of his beer.
"Well I won't have 'em in my store. Black hands over everything. There's some things you just can't wash and resell. Not to mention pinching things, and that's what they'll do if we let them get any closer to town," Mr Green concluded. Then Mr Wood said his bit.
"They're not only doin' up the Hudson place, but the news is they're buildin' two fuckin' new fibro places for a mob from the Reserve as well! All bringin' 'em closer to our houses an' families. An' this lettin' 'em walk around town without being arrested will spell trouble. Mark my words. Look, there's a fuckin' mob of 'em over by the creek. Been watchin' us all fuckin' night. Won't be able to leave yer door open at night soon."
"I keep the door closed this time of year to keep the heat in, anyways," Mr
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