by Gary Seeary
Sidney put up his hand to stop me following him; his expression seemed to indicate that he knew what was wrong.
“I can’t tell you why he gets so angry, but he has a very good reason, I can assure you of that. I’m sure he will tell you when the time is right. Stay and watch the end of the film, he will be fine.”
*
I had hit a wall myself before the movie finished. My eyes barely staying open long enough to find out what happened to Clark and Marion. This day, that had kept getting bigger and bigger, was finally catching up to me.
When the film ended, Sidney told me jokingly that he had to kick me out now. He had to watch a newsreel that he should have watched earlier, before letting William watch it. Sidney repeated, not to worry about William. “He’s always been a bit up and down,” he said. I thought there might have been a pattern.
I thanked Sidney for allowing me into his workplace to watch the latest newsreels and a great film. Sidney said I was welcome back anytime, and to bring a friend if I liked. All I had to do was say to the staff in the confectionery stand in the foyer that I wanted to see Sidney.
I could still hear Sidney laughing to himself, when I was halfway down the steep stairs that led from his projection room.
I exited the ‘Stage Door,’ knowing I had to get back to Aunty May’s fairly soon. I badly needed a kip or else I wouldn’t make it through dinner and then out again to pick up Lettie later in the evening. I wondered whether I should go back towards the university to see if William was somewhere along the way, but honestly, the short time I’d had with him was enough for the moment. I just wanted Lettie to get the job with Madeline in the college kitchen; that was all I wanted to think about for the time being.
I started to shiver and felt a chill seep into my bones, well before I attempted to cross over a very busy Victoria Street, to make my way up to Lygon. I was looking forward to hitting the sack hard.
On a bench outside Trades Hall, my attention was drawn to the now distinctive green and white jacket of a King’s College senior. It was William, sitting alone, looking rather sheepish.
“Hi, Seb. Did you enjoy the movie?” he asked. “Elaine enjoyed it last week, during a break between tutorials.” William stood up, looking grateful I had come along.
“Thanks. It was great. The whole lot. What an interesting bloke Sidney is, and he’s got the best job in the world. Ya’d never get bored in that caper. Always something to see,” I said cheerily, trying to lighten up the mood.
“My pleasure, Seb.”
William went quiet and looked down at the ground. I knew he had something he wanted to say but, for a change, seemed a little lost.
“My Dad sent me to Melbourne and the university, so that I would make my own way in life, not to follow his. But, all I wanted to do was be like him … don’t get me wrong, Sebastian. I love Elaine and our friends at the university; they keep me focused. You may not understand it, but to me, the whole world order is being torn down. I can see it clearly. I’m the editor of The Proletarian, a university newspaper. I try to make people aware of the change that is coming, but it’s not enough. What is needed is action, and the action is overseas,” William said turning to look to the north-west.
“It’s so frustrating, acting out the silly anachronistic traditions of the King’s College, when I know their world will soon be gone.”
I may not understand much but I knew when someone was being a spoilt brat and not appreciating the wonderful opportunity laid at their feet. A chance that kept him out of the grinding poverty so many people have to live with.
My Dad burnt down his truck, to try and give Robbie a chance at university.
“Sidney said there was a good reason why you got angry. I don’t think that sounds like a good reason to me, not liking the hundreds of opportunities a university education can give you. It was ready for the taking … for you, and not many others,” I said curtly, frustrated with his demeaning attitude.
William started to move from side to side, his teeth clenching together.
“Don’t be naïve, Seb. You don’t know what’s happening, it’s too personal. I have to deal with it myself.”
“My Dad says it’s always best to talk things through. I don’t know a lot about anything, but for me that sounds good advice. So, if you don’t tell me what’s goin’ on, I’m leavin’, right now!” I threatened as seriously as I could muster, before feigning to move away. “Sorry, but I have people other than myself to think of.”
I waited a little longer, to see if William would make an effort to explain his selfishness.
“Righto, I’m goin’,” I said again, tired of his supposed problems. “I haven’t got time to wait around. I have a sister to think of.”
“Elaine’s sister Aggy is in Spain at the moment.”
I looked at William, unsure of what sort of response he wanted, but also knowing that it can’t be a good place to be at this moment.
“What is she doing there?” I asked, genuinely, “Is she a nurse?”
“When she has to. The last time we heard from her, she was working as an interpreter with a British medical unit not far from the Aragon front. She trained as a field orderly with the Red Cross a year ago in Rome, hoping to go to Eritrea, but was barred from boarding the only ship from Italy to the main port of Massawa. So, she went to stay with her family, who were writing and holidaying near Barcelona. Then, the workers’ uprising began in Catalonia. When Elaine and her family, the Parmenters, felt they should leave, Aggy insisted on staying behind.”
“Elaine and her family must be terribly worried about her. Although, where she is at the moment, may be a long way from the fighting,” I said trying my hardest to say the right thing.
“Elaine is worried sick though no-one would ever notice. She keeps it so well hidden. But, I know how much it hurts her.”
William ran his hands through his hair and then rubbed his forehead, his eyes closed.
“But, that’s not the worst of it,” he mumbled to himself.
“There is a rumour coming out of Spain, which is not uncommon in itself, except I have heard it again and again from comrades I know that have excellent sources in the Socialist Party in Spain. They say an Australian woman working near the Aragon front, is under suspicion of being a spy for the Nationalists. Communications are difficult with Spain, of course, but I believe there are only four Australian women on that front.”
“And, I haven’t told Elaine or her family yet,” William said even quieter, shaking his head, before he sat back down, leaning hard against the bench.
“Now, I’m at a loss to know what to do, Sebastian,” William said looking to the sky.
I imagined William was only trying to protect Elaine’s family, until he had the facts. But the Parmenters, after living there, must have been well aware of the dangers Aggy would face in Spain. William needed to tell them, because nothing is surer, this big secret would only come back to bite him hard on the backside, further down the track.
“I’m in regular contact with my comrades, and I hope to see two of them this evening. I know what I need to do now, so don’t be concerned, Seb. I will make sure no-one gets hurt by this.”
William had dismissed me offhand, which was fine. He was perhaps relieved to be able to unload some of his worries onto someone not personally involved with his dilemma.
After a few minutes William composed himself, taking on the stiff upper-lip bearing of a college senior again, from the same anachronistic world he had demeaned only minutes earlier.
“Were Elaine and her family born in Britain, William? They seem quite familiar with Europe. I hope I’m not snooping, but that seems to me where their interests lie,” I asked, not having heard of a family like Elaine’s before.
This question grabbed William’s attention, his eyes lighting up as I sat down beside him.
“No, Elaine’s mother, Enid, was born near the Heathcote goldfields. She loves the country, more than anything. Apparently, she had
to be dragged kicking and screaming to board at the King’s College, when she was eighteen.”
“That’s my Mum’s name, Enid,” I threw in. William then gave me the slightest sign of acknowledgement, before continuing.
“Elaine’s father, Blake, was born on a cattle station in Northern Queensland. He was on horseback alongside Aboriginal jackeroos by the age of eight and able to speak their language by eleven. Blake was eventually sent to a boarding school in Brisbane, where he excelled in Literature, moving down to Melbourne University a few years later to complete his literary degree.”
“He met Elaine’s mother in the campus library, while fighting over a Joseph Furphy book they both wished to take out. From there, they fell into the same circles and, of course, in love. After graduating, they travelled to London to work in the large publishing houses that control the Australian book market. After several years in Europe, they returned to tour the length and breadth of Australia. They are amazing people, Seb,” William said, speaking with pride, before standing up with a renewed enthusiasm.
“They have lost count of the number of books and articles they have written, but most of all, they have never lost faith in Australian literature. Elaine says she owes her confidence in the future to her parents.
“On witnessing the joy of the Catalonian people finally breaking free of centuries of oppression, they couldn’t stand by and let the same privileged classes of the church, and the landowners return to make them suffer again, so they decided to help form the Spanish Aid Committee. Enid is president, but they both work tirelessly for the cause. I might sound a little sycophantic, but if you ever get the chance to meet them, you will feel the same way.”
“They sound great, William. It’s such a rare thing to see people give up so much of their lives for others,” I wasn’t really sure what I was saying, but William kept nodding his head anyway.
“Elaine and her family have been working so hard for many, many months for the Spanish cause that they have decided to rest for a few days, before recommencing their efforts. They deserve a break, which is part of the reason …” William looked away briefly, before continuing.
“After the official end of Spanish Month, on Sunday they are holding a soirée at their home in Camberwell, to let their hair down, if only for a short time.”
“If anyone deserves a break it sounds like they do, William, and probably more than a couple of days.”
“That they do.”
I knew from that short response, it was time we went our separate ways. If, Lettie gets the job in the kitchen, there’s a good chance I will run into William again, although I wouldn’t necessarily go looking for him.
“Thanks again for the flicks, William, and sorry for the ‘know-all’ remark,” I said as I got up, before putting out my hand for William to shake, which he did firmly. “And, don’t be afraid to say hello to Lettie in the kitchen. I think it would be good if you met. But, that’s up to you.”
“I have a busy week organising a debate with our nemesis, the Campeins, but I will find time to introduce myself to Lettie. That is a promise.”
“Are you going up Lygon Street?” I asked half-heartedly. “You could cut across Argyle Square.”
“No, while I’m at Trades Hall I’ll drop in on some chaps I know. They might have some more news from Spain.”
I gave a small nod to William and then turned to walk up Lygon Street, feeling too wide awake now for a kip.
*
Lettie appeared out of the shadows of the main college hall, which was lit up now like a palace against the pitch black sky. As Lettie walked towards me and joined the wide, curved driveway, she was flanked by the same tall senior I had a run in with last Sunday. They seemed to be hitting it off quite well, which made me think that perhaps I’d been a little too hard on college seniors of late.
The tall senior left Lettie to finish the final few yards to the college gate, the biggest smile breaking out on her face as she came up to me.
“Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” was all Lettie said, before she gave me a huge hug.
I think she liked the job.
“Madeline is wonderful, she has so much knowledge about how to prepare food, she pushes everyone so hard to get it out on time; she has to!” Lettie exclaimed without taking a breath. “I was told to come back Monday morning, and if I don’t muck up in a fortnight, I’ve got a job. Wooee!”
Lettie was over the moon, but I could also see she was exhausted.
I would make her a cup of tea in the morning and then tell her about my incredible day out, with a most unusual college senior.
8
* * *
The Quadrangle Garden
I bet that’s ya sister, young Seb,” Lenny squawked out, loud enough for all the workers nearby to hear, before opening the factory gate to give us our freedom for another day.
I looked across the small lane that Cooks was set on, to see Lettie standing on the footpath opposite, dressed in the new pink uniform that Madeline supplied her with on the first day of her trial. At first glance Lettie looked happy enough, but what would make her come so far out of her way?
The first thing that sprang to mind was that things hadn’t worked out for Lettie in the kitchen, and Madeline had to let her go. She would be devastated if that was the case. The only other thought was that it had something to do with home, but Lettie wouldn’t have had near enough time to get back to Aunty May’s, hear any news and then work her way back to North Melbourne, before I knocked off.
But, whatever it was, it had to be damn important.
As soon as Lettie saw me, she gave me a small wave and a smile, which eased my mind a lot. We had hardly spoken since Sunday morning, when I told her about my trip into the city with William. Only the day before we had both agreed he must be some sort of madman, so why, she complained, had I lost any sense of reason and gone off with him? Lettie had me cold with that.
Sunday afternoon, Lettie kept going on and on about why I had forgotten about our plan to go to the pictures together that day, saying she would have loved to have seen Cain and Mabel, as her first outing in the city for years. I told her that we could still go and see the movie, and as many movies as we liked, all we had to do was visit Sidney at the Regent Theatre, but she said that didn’t sound like the right thing to do.
Nothing was going to make Lettie happy on Sunday, so I left her on her own and went out for a long walk. When I came back a couple of hours later, Aunty May told me Lettie had taken herself off to her room, not long after I’d left. When she checked on her shortly afterwards, Lettie was fast asleep.
“Hello, Lettie. What brings you down to Hotham Hill on this fine Tuesday afternoon?” the foreman yelled out across the lane.
“Hi, Mr Simonds. It was such a beautiful day, I thought I’d go for a stroll and see if Seb wanted some company on his way home,” Lettie replied, giving my foreman a wave as he headed off, “We’ll see you back home for dinner, then.”
Lettie was getting on far too well with Aunty May’s beloved Barry for my liking.
Strangely, I hadn’t known what the foreman’s full name was, up until then, and to be fair, the foreman and the leading hand hadn’t been too bad during the week. Maybe, they had hearts after all.
“That’s Seb’s sister, Lettie,” Lenny jabbered to the stragglers, as they exited the corrugated iron factory gate, before slamming it shut behind them.
A couple of trucks were facing off in our cramped laneway, neither driver willing to give an inch to his opposite, and preventing me from reaching the other side of the lane to find out what really brought Lettie here.
When I finally made a dash for it behind the closest truck and reached the footpath on the other side, Lettie appeared surprisingly calm and relaxed.
“Everything ‘right, Lett? Did something happen in the kitchen?”
“No, Grub. Everything’s fine,” Lettie replied, with a funny smirk on her face. “Fine and dandy.”
Then, Lett
ie seemed to shiver with nerves, which only made me more confused.
“We’ve been invited to a soirée in Camberwell, Grub,” Lettie blurted out. “What d’ya think of that?”
“Who told ya that, Lett, who invited us? Was it the senior, or his girlfriend Elaine? It has to be one of them two.”
“Let’s go, Grub. I’ll tell ya about it on the way home. It’s a doozy!”
*
A bright sun and warm breeze on our backs made the rundown backstreets of North Melbourne seem a whole lot cheerier for Lettie and me. We wound our way back towards home, beside grimy-faced workers who had just exited the factories and warehouses that were the only reason anyone ventured into these parts.
I could see Lettie’s mind ticking over and over, making sure she got the story right before she would let me hear any more of it. It must be one hell of a story.
“Grub, remember you said you met two girls at the Regent? Friends of your new college mate?” Lettie asked while not missing a beat over the cracked and uneven footpath.
“He’s not a mate, Lett, probably won’t run into him again ‘cept by accident ’round Carlton, or at the college. The girls were Danielle and Margaret, I think,” I replied, knowing full well who they were.
“That’s them. They came to the delivery door this morning, asking Madeline if they could talk to me for a minute. Madeline told me not to leave her one short for too long. The girls said you told them it would be nice if they came to say hello to me. Why did ya have to say that for Grub, I felt so embarrassed?”
Shoot! I forgot to tell Lettie that William had promised to visit her as well.
“Honestly, Lett. I didn’t think they were serious, I promise,” I said looking to quickly worm my way out of this. “Did they say anything about me?”
“Sometimes Grub, I wonder if you’re twenty.”
A minute later, as we straightened for the long haul down Queensberry Street into Carlton, Lettie suddenly stopped, pulling two ribbons out of her flour-covered coat pocket, lifting them up to show me.
