The following morning a hooting wind woke Mitch. He jumped from his bunk, threw on his white T shirt, jeans and runners; splashed his face with water and rushed off. When he reached the deck, a hot gust hit him with force and pushed him toward Norman who was standing at the gangplank.
“That wind is breezy,” he grimaced and grabbed the rail too steady himself.
“Yeah, it could bring either rain or a dust storm,” Norman answered.
Mitch thought that comment sounded a bit dumb, then added. “I hope its rain, this heat is roasting,”
“Me too,”
“What’s on for you today?” Mitch asked.
“Not much, I’ll hang around here, and help Captain,”
“You’re not going to the Fair?”
“Naw, I might wander over later... maybe,”
‘Dumb again,’ Mitch mused, “Ok, I’ll catch ya,”
When Mitch arrived at the hotel the dining room was packed. Jordie was at a buffet table, having scrambled eggs and bacon placed onto his plate by Bart, who had on a chef’s tall boy hat and white apron. Mitch joined him and grabbed a plate.
Beatrice, who was sitting with Thelma at a large round table saw them and waved. They waved back and strolled over.
As they approached, Mitch noticed Thelma munching on a honey-covered piece of toast and mumbling in annoyance. Tiny crumbs fell onto the table each time she crunched. Other stickier pieces slithered under her false teeth which dropped with every bite. Eventually she became so annoyed she ran her finger under the false teeth plate, dragged the soggy toast from her mouth, and flicked.
Some landed on the table, other tiny bits dropped into Beatrice’s cereal bowl. As they neared, Mitch overheard Beatrice growl as she plucked the sodden toast from her bowl. “Thelma, I don't mind the honey, but the toast is a bit soggy,”
“Sorry sweetie, these teeth are harder to adjust too than your ex,” Thelma sniggered and they both laughed.
“Maybe we should sit someplace else,” Mitch whispered as he fought back an urge to throw up.
“We can’t be rude,” Jordie replied, and then spoke to the women, “Mind if we join you?”
“If you don’t mind sharing Thelma’s breakfast,” Beatrice scowled.
“They already have theirs,” Thelma mumbled.
The boys rolled their eyes and sat.
Kristy entered dressed in a cute, multi coloured mini dress.
Mitch turned in his seat to get her attention. She walked straight to a stage at the far end of the dining room to address the passengers. “Good morning ladies and gentlemen... firstly I’d like to thank Bart for putting on a scrumptious breakfast,”
There was a round of applause and Bart stuck his hand into the air and acknowledged it with a wave. Kristy continued, “If you look at the cards that are placed on the table you’ll see the itinerary for today’s activities. There will be something for anyone who wishes to participate. Jump castles and a merry-go-round have been set up… there will also be three-legged and potato sack races, plus a children’s costume race will be run before the main event... which of course is the men’s emu costume hurdle competition. It should be a bit of fun for the bigger kiddies, and of course the spectators,” she tittered, “those who wish to showcase their skills in hurdle racing can see Bart, he will have you kitted out in no time... there are food stands selling hot dogs and many other treats, as well as an all-day BBQ. A camp oven with an assortment of slow cooked meats, plus freshly baked scones and bread rolls will be prepared for an evening country style meal. After the feast we will have a night of entertaining music by May-lee, so we can dance away the kilojoules,” she joked, then added, “I hope everything that’s been organised makes an enjoyable day for everyone,”
At the table, Mitch smiled throughout Kristy’s presentation; she was so efficient, gorgeous, and full of class, an absolute gem. He turned back to his breakfast, and noticed Thelma cleaning her false teeth with her finger. He dry retched and pushed his plate away.
“This all sounds exciting,” May-lee sang as she breezed over in a flowing V-neck floral dress.
“Oh, May-lee you look fabulous,” Thelma squealed.
“Why thank you Thelma,” she curtsied then sat and smiled at Jordie.
“Good morning Jordieee,”
“Morning,” he groaned, and deliberately cringed, hoping for a bit of sympathy, and maybe another back rub.
“Oh sweetie, you look off, I’ll give you a nice massage later,” May-lee crooned.
“Thanks,” he blurted and a tingle shot through him at the thought.
May-lee smiled at his overacting and continued, “What is on your agenda today Jordieee?”
“Just a quiet one,”
“Jordieeee can have a go in the hurdle race, he should be all limbered up after your massage,” Thelma giggled and sent him a wink.
Jordie shook his head; he wasn’t too keen on running along a track dressed like a tosser in front of May-lee.
“You’d have a great chance of winning,” May-lee urged.
“You certainly would.” Kristy agreed as she joined them.
Julio, who was walking toward the table, overheard the girls encouraging Jordie, “I’m up for it, I ran with zee bulls in Spain,” he boasted then sat and shot Jordie a challenging glare, thinking, ‘what better way to impress his Mayo-lee then to give this young man a good trouncing... even if I do have to dress up like a silly-billy,’
“Go on Jordieee, it’ll be fun,” May-lee insisted and sent him a wink.
With May-lee’s wink of encouragement, plus a chance to show Julio up, Jordie grudgingly agreed.
“Good one,” Kristy clapped, “with your boys’ athletic skills with bulls, it will make for an exciting contest.” Then an image of Jordie & Julio in the costumes entered her mind and she giggled. She was amazed at the lengths blokes would go to impress a woman.
“What about me, I’ve got nothing to do,” Mitch put in, he wanted to get in on the action, but refused to be caught dead in one of the silly outfits.
“You can help Bart in the commentary box,” Beatrice put in.
“You’d make a good commentator,” Kristy told him.
“Yeah, I reckon I would too,” he chuckled.
“But first I need you boys to help me set up for tonight’s show,” Kristy said.
After breakfast, Mitch and Jordie followed Kristy through a hallway to a rear door. They walked out onto a covered veranda the length of the hotel. It was overlooking a large grassy park that adjoined a dusty racetrack. Scattered around were stalls for selling an assortment of treats, as well as a merry-go-round and a couple of jumping castles. A small podium for the victors to accept their awards sat near the finish line. It was in front of a five tier wooden, open-top grandstand about fifty metres long. Beside it was a tall calling box for the commentators.
“We’ll set up on the veranda,” Kristy told them, “Bart says that a storm is coming, if it hits the equipment will be safe here,”
They walked down three steps onto a makeshift dance floor that had been set up by Bart earlier. Kristy pointed to her left toward a covered pavilion at the edge of the park. It had table settings scattered in front of a long serving bench, “that’s where the evening meal will be cooked. You can help Bart set it up later Jordie,”
It took some time to carry the amps and DJ’s backing track keyboard through; with everything finished Kristy stood back satisfied.
“You’ve done a great job Kristy,” Mitch smiled.
“Nothin to it,” she laughed.
Mitch chuckled at her cheeky attitude, then told her he’d go to the kitchen and help Julio prepare the meal.
Jordie accompanied Bart to the pavilion. When they arrived, Bart pointed to three prefabricated heavy steel pits sunken into the ground at the rear. He lifted the lids. Each were deep and long enough to fit six large camp oven pots. Steel wire meshed heat diffusers were across the bottom, under them were gas burners.
“There ya go our camp ovens,”
“How coool is that,” Jordie grinned.
“It’s good for the hot weather,” Bart told him, “It’s safer than having open fires. When the pots are put in I’ll lite the burners and keep the temperature low for a slow cook. It’ll be ready after the events,”
Jordie nodded then told Bart he’d go and help bring the pots over, and wandered across to the hotel.
When Jordie arrived at the kitchen, Mitch and Julio were placing an assortment of chunky meat pieces into the pots.
After layering a variety of vegetables on top, Julio poured his special beef stock based with thyme, saltbush, rosemary, garlic and red wine over it. The lids were placed on and Jordie & Mitch carried them to the pits.
Later that morning, May-lee and Kristy strolled through the crowd soaking up the sun and atmosphere, looking breezy in their summer dresses. Julio joined them garbed to the nines in a white summer suit and Panama hat.
“The day is simmering... like my belleza,” he beamed as they strolled along.
“Why thank you Julio... and that suit certainly becomes you,”
Julio smiled at her compliment then whispered. “I will perform to my best in zee race, and dedicate my victory to you,”
May-lee gave him an impassive smile; Kristy giggled and rolled her eyes, then saw Norman, dressed in his sailors’ uniform walking tall amongst the crowd. She excused herself and wandered toward him.
Over the years, Kristy had realized Normans and her feelings toward each other were lop-sided. She was the girl of his dreams, he was the brother she’d never had. She had hoped this trip would bring him out of his shyness with girls; and he could find someone who would smother him with the love, Kristy thought her childhood friend deserved. But at the moment, he looked a little lost. She stopped before him, and with her usual playfulness, asked. “Have you seen any cute babes?”
“Naw, I’ve been too busy... I’m looking though,” he lied.
“You’d better hurry before the trip ends… or the babe magnet will miss the boat,” she laughed.
Norman gave a halfhearted chuckle at her comment.
Kristy sent him a gentle smile and asked if he’d like to join her and May-lee. He decline, mumbling he had things to do. She nodded her understanding, said she’d see him later, and then waved goodbye to rejoined May-lee.
Norman watched her leave, sadly realizing that their relationship had changed, with Mitch now on the scene. Not interested in other girls, or feeling in a funfair mood, he ambled slowly back to Maddy.
Before the children’s events were due to start, May-lee and Kristy climbed the stairs of the grandstand and sat on the top seats. Kristy saw Captain walking through the crowd with Thelma and Beatrice. “We’ve saved you a seat,” she waved to them.
Captain acknowledged her with a salute then escorted the women up the stairs.
Mitch accompanied Bart to inspect the track, making sure that it was in good condition.
“How far are the races?” he asked.
“The earlier ones for the kids are hundred metre dashes; the men’s race is five hundred metres... with the hurdles it should make things interesting,” Bart laughed.
Mitch chuckled at that, and then kicked at the ground. “This dust is soft,”
“Yeah this dry spell’s hit hard,” Bart looked toward the west, “but it’ll break, I can smell it,”
In the distance, dark clouds were brewing, with the chance of a storm looming.
A wind gust blew, and far off thunder rumbled, as a hazy eeriness crept over Emus Edge.