CHAPTER THREE
The noise of a passing tram, broke Sean's wandering mind, and brought him back to the breakfast table. So far, there was only old man Wedderburn, slurping on his spoon, slowly emptying a plate of porridge. Sean hadn't even started his, his mind kept dragging him away. Upstairs, in their room, his girlfriend, Kelly, was finishing getting dressed. Using the one bathroom, that the boarding house offered, was a slow affair. Normally they breakfasted together, but she was crying, when he got back from his wash, and he thought best to leave her. It wasn't the first time.
Another boarder appeared, an elderly woman, Mrs. Belton, gave a curt good morning to him, and proceeded to help herself to some porridge, that the owner had left. Then grabbing a slice of toast from under a towel, sat down, looked again at Sean, then raised her eyes to the ceiling, then started eating.
The action was not lost on Sean. 'None of her business', he thought, and then looked up as another young man entered, wearing a suit and tie.
"Good morning all," he said to no one in particular. "You're looking charming as usual, Mrs. Belton. A secret dalliance today?"
"None of your lip, Mr. Murray, or I will take it up with the manageress, Mrs. Goldstein. The sooner your packing, the better." Then she resumed her breakfast, spreading a very thin layer of marmalade on the toast, with a slow and delicate action.
Theo Murray, gave her a sarcastic smile, and heaped out some fried eggs, from the pan on the side, and sat down opposite Sean.
"No wife this morning?," he said, mouth half full.
Sean replied, in an almost timid voice," She's coming soon." He didn't speak so timidly in general life, if fact he was quite an outgoing person. But things weren't very general for him, in these last months. Then the dining room door opened, and Kelly entered. She had no smile, but did take his hand, and give it a squeeze, as she sat down.
"OK?" Sean said.
"Yes. Had to iron a blouse for work," she replied. He knew she had done it last night, after their walk. He smiled, and told her to eat up, or they would miss the tram.
"The tram should wait for you," said Murray, "a beautiful lady. You could stop the world." He adjusted his tie, so wide, that she thought he could use it for a towel.
"Have you been told today, Theo?" said Sean. She squeezed his leg under the table, hoping to stop any further banter. Sean grabbed it, and pressed it on his crotch. Kelly blushed. Not unnoticed by Mrs. Belton, who stood up, glaring. “When you two have finished." Then strode out of the room. Sean looked at Kelly, and the two of them burst out laughing. It was what they needed.
"Private joke?", said Murray.
Sean looked him in the eye. "Apparently, our Mrs. Belton disapproves of us having a grope at the breakfast table." Young Murray's mouth froze in mid stream, some egg, falling out and onto his tie. "Isn't it time you headed off to work?" Sean's lack of sarcasm in his voice, only emphasised it.
"Right on. Sean. Kelly. Enjoy your day." With that, he got up, wiped his mouth, and turning at the double doors, gave a smile. "I hope the fine weather keeps up. I doubt if something else will," and disappeared from sight.
"He's a real jerk," said Sean, "a bunch of fives, is on his agenda."
"Forget him," she said, "you've got more brains and personality, in one finger, than he has in his whole body. Let's concentrate on getting through this." She stood up. "And something else he's wrong about."
"What's that?" he asked.
"I bet you could keep it up all day," and giving a wicked smile, walked out. Sean followed, barely giving a glance at the old man, still slurping his porridge.
They walked down the road to the tram stop, on Oxford Street. Both Kelly and Sean had jobs. She had started weeks ago, as a shop assistant, at Mark Foys, in the city. She just walked in, asked, and was told to start next day. Sean found it a bit tougher. He was a skilled worker, but his skills were not recognised here. However, he soon was offered a store man’s job, at Griffiths Bros. Teas, and had grabbed it. They needed the money, and hopefully their stay here, would only be temporary. If there was no change in their current status, they had discussed moving to Melbourne. Kelly thought it would serve no purpose, but would go. Sean had good reasons, at least they were to him. They had agreed, that if they did move south, they would get married. It would make life a little easier, but that action in itself, may be more difficult, than it seemed. Still they could only try.
Three weeks ago, he thought he would lose her. She was so emotionally distressed, she was on the brink of losing it. But she pulled round. This job had given her a purpose, and them, some money so desperately needed. They had known each other for many years, but only as friends. It wasn't until three years ago, after he had given her a lift home from the big concert, that a bond developed between them. Then they became inseparable. Their love was intense and strong. It needed nothing to stimulate the relationship. The two just created their own magic. Making love just happened spontaneously, and that first time, would be etched on both their minds, forever. Each time was memorable, but that first time was something else.
They had been at the boarding house, nearly two months, arriving about a week after their problem manifested itself. There were three other boarders, a couple, and another man. He was certainly much more pleasant, than young Theo. The Jacksons, were older than them, but, seemed to take them under their wing. Invitations to see the family photos and the crochet, were a pain but well intentioned, but there was always a beer and a sherry, and once they went to the pictures with them. Movies were one of Sean and Kelly's passions, but this time, it left an indelible impression on them.
The tram arrived, and they boarded it. This form of travel, was new to them, as normally they used the bus. It was draughty, and the two days it had rained, were unpleasant, but it was a quick trip from Paddington into town. The plus side, and one in a thousand, was that they could travel together to the city. Although Sean was in the tea store, he was given the late shift. Coming home was a different matter, almost an hour later for him.
They both alighted at Elizabeth Street, walked hand in hand to the corner, and said goodbye. When the policeman on point duty, waved the people across, the crowd surged foreword, and then she was gone from his view.
Sean walked around to Wentworth Avenue, and along to the store. A small lane, led to a loading dock, behind which, was the area he was working. This was so different to what he had spent a greater part of his life, working at. His arms and back ached by the end of each day, and he didn't know how long he could keep it up. If it would ever be any use to him, he now knew there was tea and there was tea. Countless grades and blends, he never before guessed of. Always a coffee drinker, he had to acquire a taste for tea, or sometimes go without. There was only tea at work. Only tea at the boarding house. But nice coffee at the cafe near home.
Kelly found her job, little different to her previous one. She had a flair for selling, and just the right know how, to convince a potential customer, they would need such an item.
It helped to absorb her current emotions, by burying herself in the job. She blamed her father for the problem, that she and Sean were in. If it had not been for him, she believed they would never have gotten into this predicament. One other reason, she was late down for breakfast this morning, was the growing fear of something else to add to their troubles. Unless she was unduly pessimistic, she had a horrible feeling, pregnancy was about to make itself known to her.
She was three days late. There seemed no reason to tell Sean yet, until she was sure. Her father had started their run of misfortune, and now this. What would be the third? Sean had left the precautions to her, and she hadn't the heart or courage, to tell him, there were none. She should have. Now it was too late, perhaps.
She marvelled at the store. It was exquisite, and a mixture of old and new, in so many things. The building was magnificent, with it's white and yellow brickwork, and even a fountain. The supervisors were old fashioned and stuffy, but it didn't seem a problem. She was broad minded, in a knowledgeable sort of way, and had a good education.
It was their knowledge, that was her and Sean's problem, in a way. They knew things, they shouldn't have known. In the ordinary course of life, there would have been no problem knowing these things. But for her and Sean, life had suddenly become, not so ordinary.
The morning went quick enough, and when she had received the appropriate nod, from her supervisor, she grabbed her purse, and went downstairs, and out into the street. Many times, she nearly burst out laughing, at this crazy action, but kept her face set, for fear of upsetting the apple cart.
She normally went to Snows Cafeteria, for lunch. Once she bought a sandwich, and went across to sit in Hyde Park, but after a fellow tried to pick her up, then when she moved, a drunk accosted her, she decided to give it a miss. She wished she was like her girlfriend, Selina. Now there was someone, who didn't freak out, at these intrusions into her life, albeit, very temporary. Selina would have the right words, and actions, and the situation was settled.
Kelly knew she could be the same, but never could put it into practice. If it was a nice genuine intrusion, she could cope. Sean had been a nice genuine intrusion.
She wondered where Selina was, at this moment. She wished her friend was with them, but knew that was impossible. Being Monday, there was a large queue, and she had to run for a table, balancing her tray of sandwiches and desert, to beat a large woman with millions of shopping bags. She got there first.
As it started to get dark, Sean was on the verge of exhaustion. He had about thirty minutes to go, before the foreman, would pick up a spanner and belt an old drum, the signal that day was done. He didn't wear his watch to work, it would easily get damaged. Also it was safer at home.
Lunch was usually a pie, with the other four store man. He hadn't joined them after work, for some beers, needing to get home to Kelly. They had a lot of sorting out, to do. Even without the pressure, they currently faced, the hotel shut at six pm, giving the blokes from work, less than ten minutes for a drink. He wasn't that desperate.
Both he and Kelly, had to work on Saturdays, she to one o'clock, and he to 3 pm. If nothing had changed during the week, for them, they had discussed going to Manly on Sunday. They needed to have a diversion, and it would be interesting to to visit the beach resort again. He picked up a newspaper, left on the tram seat. It was interesting reading to him, although he didn't understand all the politics. Front page item, was about the rumoured budget cuts, the McGirr Government were considering, to make New South Wales more able to finance other projects. 'It always seems the same,' he thought, 'out of one pocket, into another.'
He finished packing his order, dropped in the paperwork, and sealed the box. As he was checking the address, the others downed aprons and anything else they were holding, and grabbing coats, headed for the dock door.
"Can't interest you in a couple of schooners, Sean boy."
"No mate. Want to get home," he replied, putting some paint stencils back on the shelf.
'Guess who's tied to his missus apron strings,' he heard from one of them. Sean gave a wave, and they were gone.
He wasn’t tied to anyone’s apron strings. He knew that. But he was in love. He liked a beer, but a slow, savoured drink, with good company. He hung up his work gear, and donning his coat, yelled goodnight to the foreman, who was stacking papers, and sensing a nod of the head, walked outside into the darkening laneway.
Thinking about the events, Kelly and he were entwined in, he didn’t notice, until almost upon them, the two men about his own age, lounging against the lane wall. One stepped out, and blocked his path.
‘Match mate?” The voice pattern betrayed it all to Sean. He had never been one prone to violence, or had he mixed in those circles where it became a requirement for survival. But he had played a lot of football, and he was solid in his build. And he had seen enough movies in his life, to know that surprise was the first line of defence, amongst other vague ideas.
Perhaps it was this slight preparedness, that helped, for even then, he saw the fist on the fellow, make a ball, and the arm move back. As the arm came forward, in a fast undercut punch, aimed at his stomach, he was already bringing his two hands up and on to the fellow's arm, and pulling it towards him. In the same split second, never before attempted by him, he executed the perfect goal kick, aimed at a different set of balls.
More by pure luck, than any practice, it seemed to all happen. As the pull, slightly put the assailant off balance, the toe of Sean's shoe, made the right connection. The fellow made a gargling sound, and doubled over. Sean saw his neck, right in front of him, and reflex made the next move. Or rather his rigid hand, across it. The fellow just fell on his face, and lay there.
However all good things must come to an end. A strong arm was around Sean's neck, and he felt the body it belonged to, pressed against his back. He knew, even before he had time to think it, that he would choke. His rear punch, with both his elbows, just happened. Perhaps enough unofficial footy tactics, were surfacing automatically. Whatever they were, it worked. There was a grunt, and the arm suffocating him, was released. And then started to come back up. It's further progress wavered, when a loud yell, penetrated the lane, and the ringing in Sean's ears.
He remembered the arm going, and a shadowy form moving under him, then a slight dizziness. Next, an arm grabbing him again, but more gently, and his foreman's voice.
"You right lad? Good thing I looked outside, before locking up."
Sean's voice was a little strained, and unsteady. "Bastards."
"Well put. In future, you leave with the others, or with me. This is not the best neighbourhood when it's dark."
"I will," replied Sean. They walked to the street. There was no sign of the muggers, but there were several people about.
"Thanks. I'll be OK." The foreman nodded, obviously a characteristic of his, and returned down the lane. Sean headed for the tram stop in Liverpool Street. He wished at that moment, he was somewhere more civilised.
Kelly's only brush with death, was to walk outside Snows, after lunch, and almost into Theodore Murray. Luckily, he hadn't see her, and she dived quickly behind the fruit barrow standing in the gutter. He passed, and was lost in the pedestrians snaking along the footpath. She returned to the department store. On the way upstairs, on impulse, Kelly picked up the hat she had admired last week. She had never worn a hat, for fashion purposes, in her life. Only to keep off the sun. Most people seemed to wear hats, both men and women. And this one was appealing. The right touch of lace, and a very small feather. She tried it on, said 'why not' to herself, and heading to the assistant, whom she knew would have been watching her like a hawk, even though discreetly, and completed the sale. And at a price she could not believe, nor Sean complain about.
The rest of the day dragged, and her feet were tired. She was first out, when the floor lady gave the signal, and managed to get on a Bondi tram, almost immediately. She had to stand, but only for one stop. An elderly gent stood up, and doffing his hat to her, she smiled and sat down. Her feet wouldn't have lasted until Paddington.
She showered, looked at her stomach, for any sign, which she knew was impossible at this stage, if it was true. Then went down to sit in the smoking room, to read, and just relax. There would be no one there, and it was more friendly than the four walls of the room they lived in. The smoking room, was in reality, a large alcove, off the dining area, that had been separated by two glass doors, and filled by a huge lounge chair and two smaller ones. The smell of stale smoke still pervaded, but the two large ashtrays were empty, thanks probably, she thought, to the cleaning person who appeared once a day. Noises in the kitchen, at the other end of the dining area, could be heard, and the 6.30pm bell wouldn't be far off.
Sean was usually about ten minutes late for dinner, but Kelly, quickly learned to fill a plate for him, as sometimes food disappeared faster than other times. After dinner tonight, they had planned to stroll down to the shops. Only the cafe would be opened, but it was more congenial to talk, especially what was the best plan for them. And Sean got his cafe noir.