The Publicity Push

by Christopher Cummings

  But Allison was convulsed with laughter and could not answer. That made Kylie suspicious and she went into the bathroom and had a closer look at the frog, then reached forward and picked it up.

  “Oh Allie, you rotter! That was a cruel trick to play on Margaret! Where did you get it?” She held the rubber frog up for all to see.

  “In town. I didn’t buy it. I told Bert about this morning and he saw it in ‘Toyworld’ and bought it for me,” Allison replied. “Sorry Marg.”

  Margaret had been on the edge of tears but her mood changed to anger, then to a grin as Kylie was unable to keep a straight face. Even Mrs Kirk and Gran joined in. “It looked so real! I got a real shock,” Margaret said.

  A mischievous idea crossed Kylie’s mind. “I will give it to Graham and he will get to see you rushing out of the bath in the nuddy then,” she said.

  Allison laughed and added: “I didn’t think he needed any frogs to help him in that from what I’d heard.”

  Margaret looked embarrassed and hurt. Mrs Kirk reached over and took the toy frog from Kylie. “That is enough of that talk. And I will take that thanks. No more of this nonsense please.”

  Margaret went back into the bathroom and the others returned to what they were doing. In Kylie’s case this was matching the three maps together and trying to puzzle out where the mine might be.

  Later the three girls lay side by side in bed and talked quietly about boys, and about what they were going to do for the rest of the holidays. They were all aware that the holiday was nearly over.

  “Home for Christmas in two days,” Margaret said sadly.

  “Don’t you want to go?” Kylie asked.

  “Yes, but I want to stay up here too,” Margaret replied.

  “What if Graham was in Cairns and not here,” Kylie teased.

  “Oh poo to you!” Margaret replied.

  All three girls laughed and snuggled down into their bedclothes. Allison then said: “I want to stay up here too. Do think your parents might let me come back after Christmas?”

  Kylie propped herself up on one elbow to look at her. “Are you really that keen on Bert?”

  Allison nodded and hugged her pillow. “I think he is the most wonderful man I’ve ever met.”

  For a few minutes they discussed Bert’s good points, then Allison repeated her request. “So, do you think I could come and stay for a bit longer after Christmas?”

  “I suppose so. What will your parents say?” Kylie asked.

  “They will let me. They were happy enough to get rid of me this time,” Allison replied. There was just a touch of bitterness in her voice. This made Kylie suspect that all was not well in the Nichols’ household, which made her sad.

  Margaret now made the same request. “I’d like to come back for a few days too. I’m sure mum and dad won’t mind.”

  “You just want to be with Graham,” Kylie replied.

  “Yes, I do,” Margaret replied. “I think he is the most wonderful man in the world.”

  Seeing the sparkle in Margaret’s eyes made Kylie very sad because Graham hardly noticed her and spent most of his time chasing pretty girls his own age. ‘It is so unfair!’ she thought. ‘Margaret is only two years younger than him, yet he thinks she is just a baby because she is still in Primary School; yet Bert is happy to chase Allie who is four years younger.’ Then another thought came to her which cheered her up a lot. ‘Margaret and I will both be at High School this year. So maybe he will treat her better.’

  Graham had just finished Year 9 and was going into 10 while Kylie and Margaret were to start Year 8 in a few weeks. The girls discussed this for a while before drifting off to sleep.

  CHAPTER 10

  GRAHAM

  Saturday passed without incident. Kylie spent a lot of time minding the young calves and reading. All the girls helped with the chores and the milking. That evening the subject of the girls returning for a few days after Christmas was broached over dinner.

  Mrs Kirk eyed them for a minute then said: “Well I know why Margaret wants to come back, but what is your reason Allison?”

  Allison hesitated for a second then replied: “I want to see more of Bert.”

  “Not too much more I hope!” Kylie quipped.

  “That will do Kylie,” Mrs Kirk replied, but she smiled. “Well, at least you are honest Allison. I have to say I think you are far too young to be interested in boys and I think your parents had better be appraised of the true reason for this. Don’t go giving them a lot of eyewash about the lovely scenery and the brisk country air.”

  “Oh Mrs Kirk, that is all true as well. We have had a wonderful time here,” Allison replied.

  Mrs Kirk looked at Gran who shrugged and smiled. “You are only young once. Make hay while the sun shines children. Of course you are welcome to stay. All we ask is that you help with the work.”

  “Oh yes Mrs Feltham!” Margaret cried happily.

  “Hold on young miss,” Mrs Kirk said. “You have to ask your own parents yet.” Then she looked thoughtful. “I don’t know where you will all sleep though.”

  “Put the boys out in the barn,” Allison suggested.

  Uncle Bill chortled. “We haven’t got a barn,” he commented.

  “They can camp out in the yard in tents,” Kylie said. “They are cadets and should be used to that sort of thing.”

  “Boys? I thought only Graham was coming,” Gran said. “Isn’t Alex at sea with his dad?”

  “Yes Mum,” Mrs Kirk said. She looked quizzically at Kylie.

  Kylie shrugged and said: “As soon as Graham hears about this gold mine we are going to find he will rope in all his mates to help.”

  Mrs Kirk looked thoughtful. What Kylie had said was so obviously true she wondered why she hadn’t considered it. “That could be four of them. Now where will we fit them in?”

  Later Mrs Kirk spoke on the telephone to Margaret’s parents and then to Allison’s. After hearing both girls explain the true reasons for wanting to stay she again spoke to the parents again. When the girls heard her giving assurances to look after them they grinned at each other, knowing they had won.

  Mrs Kirk put the phone down and turned to them. “That is alright then. Now, let’s organize the details of when and where.”

  Thus it was three very happy girls who went to sleep that night.

  The following morning they all helped with the milking, then washed and changed and went with Uncle Bill and Gran to church in Malanda. After church they dropped in on the Reid’s on the way home.

  Allison could hardly wait to run over to Bert to tell him she was allowed to come back after Christmas. Watching her radiantly happy face from a distance Kylie was struck by a pang of concern. ‘Oh I hope she doesn’t get her heart broken!’

  That Bert was pleased was obvious. Without thinking about it he took both of Allison’s hands and grinned at her. Only the presence of the adults stopped the pair from embracing. Victor gave a sneer and a shrug and walked off to work on his pick up truck. ‘And poo to you too!’ Kylie thought. ‘Sour puss!’

  By arrangement they all stayed at the Reid’s for lunch. Allison sat next to Bert and everyone seemed to accept this as normal. ‘They are now an item,’ Kylie concluded. With a wistful sigh she wished she could meet ‘Mr Right’. ‘Then I will have that satisfying status with my peers!’ she fantasized, imagining their faces with jealous looks all over them.

  While they ate, Mr Reid asked: “Have you found that gold mine yet you kids?”

  “Not yet Mr Reid,” Kylie replied.

  Mr Reid laughed and pointed his fork at Victor and Bert. “Then you’d better hurry up. This pair have started talking about finding it. And bloody good luck to you! Me and me brothers went out seven times, for weeks at a time, looking for the bloody thing. And all we found was bloody jungle; and lots of leeches and ticks.”

  They all laughed and then listened to Mr Reid’s accounts of searching for the missing gold mine. “Lot of baloney I reckon. You won’t find
any bloody thing; and like as not you’ll get scrub typhus and die like old Uncle Hector.”

  That thought sent a shiver through Kylie. “What is scrub typhus?” she asked.

  “A fever. You get it from the bite of a tiny mite,” Mr Reid explained.

  “A mite! What is that?” Kylie asked.

  Mr Reid looked at her to see if she was pulling his leg, then shook his head and explained. “A tiny insect, about the size of a pin head. They look like tiny ticks, reddish in colour. They live in the fur of the warm blooded animals in the jungle, and in the leafmould. You need to take care you don’t get them on you.”

  The thought of dying from the bite of an insect so small you could hardly see it made Kylie feel sick. Suddenly she wasn’t so keen to go searching the jungle. Nor, obviously, at least judging by her face, was Allison.

  After lunch they sat and talked for a while. Bert and Allison went off ‘to see the pigs’, or so they said. Margaret stifled a giggle at this excuse and the adults seemed not to even notice. Kylie still felt jealous, but more because she didn’t have a boyfriend, than for Bert in particular. That set her thinking about Peter. Would he come to help Graham? ‘Do I like him like that anyway?’ she wondered.

  That evening in bed the three girls exchanged confidences and discussed their plans for after Christmas.

  “It’s been a beaut holiday,” Allison said.

  “Only because of Bert,” Kylie suggested.

  “Yes,” Allison replied dreamily.

  “So, did you really go and see the pigs?” Kylie asked.

  “Piglets. Yes we did,” Allison answered.

  Margaret sat up. “Did he kiss you?” she asked, her eyes alive with interest.

  Allison nodded and hugged her pillow dreamily. “Yes he did. And he told me he loved me. He is very happy we are coming back up after Christmas.”

  Margaret sighed. “Graham comes home tomorrow. Oh I wish I was staying to see him,” she said.

  “You’ll see plenty of him,” Kylie replied, trying to console her.

  “It sounds like she has already seen all of him,” Allison added, her face dimpling into a mischievous grin.

  Margaret poked her tongue at her but wasn’t upset. She grinned and nodded. “He looks real good with nothing on.”

  “Margaret!” Kylie said.

  Allison’s eyes lit up with interest. “Did you two really have a bath together?”

  Margaret went very red. “Oh that was years ago! We were only little then,” she cried. She then giggled and blushed with embarrassment. “Anyway, we were talking about you and Bert. What’s he like?”

  “He gets very passionate,” Allison replied. “And he certainly gets horny when we kiss. I can feel it.”

  “Allison!” Kylie cried, both interested and shocked.

  Allison went red but just made a face. “Well, he is a male after all. You should know what they are like Kylie. You’ve got two brothers.”

  Kylie nodded. She did know, having accidentally seen her brothers at different times. Now she wondered whether she liked males at all. The idea of males doing things to her made her feel quite anxious and disgusted but she also sensed that if she was in love it would all just happen naturally.

  For a while the girls discussed males and what they liked- or didn’t like. Kylie found it fascinating but embarrassing and she was glad when the subject was dropped. They settled down to sleep.

  Monday morning dawned with the girls tense with emotion. For Margaret there was the excited anticipation of seeing Graham; for Allison the unhappiness of being separated from Bert for a week; and for Kylie a mixture of emotions. She was sorry her friends were going, yet glad Graham was arriving.

  ‘Things will be different now,’ she thought. Graham will want to get straight out into the jungle to find the gold mine. I wonder if Mum will allow it?’

  After milking and breakfast the girls tidied up and then packed. Margaret was almost hopping with excitement while Allison walked around with a long face. Then it was time for farewells. Bert drove over to say goodbye and Allison and they had a passionate twenty minutes at the side of the machinery shed. When they emerged at Kylie’s call Allison was weeping and Bert was trying to console her.

  Gran snorted. “Stop your tears up missie! Heavens above! Anyone would think it was he going off to the wars, not you going home for Christmas!”

  “But I love him!” Allison sobbed.

  “Fine, and if he loves you then a week apart will be a good thing. It will allow you both a bit of breathing space to cool down and to think things out. Now don’t be silly. You are far too young for any of that nonsense,” Gran said.

  Allison dried her tears but obviously wasn’t convinced. Margaret gave Gran a hug and thanked her. “See you in the New Year Mrs Feltham,” she said.

  “I look forward to it dearie,” Gran replied.

  At last the girls and their luggage were loaded. Mrs Kirk kissed Gran. “See you tomorrow Mum.”

  “Drive carefully. Goodbye girls!”

  The car was reversed and turned around, then they set off for Cairns. It was 10 O’clock by then and Mrs Kirk was worried that the cadets might arrive before they did. “They left camp at seven this morning,” she reminded.

  This time they drove down the Gillies Highway into the Mulgrave Valley and via Gordonvale. Kylie did not enjoy that. She disliked the winding road with its hundreds of sharp curves and the steep drop over the edge. By the time they reached the bottom, after 16 kilometres of almost continual curves, she felt quite car sick.

  From Little Mulgrave, at the bottom of the range, they drove east along the Mulgrave valley through country Kylie thought was the prettiest in the whole of Australia. She commented on this and Allison agreed. At Gordonvale they turned left onto the Bruce Highway and sped into Cairns in a mad rush of traffic which was in stark contrast to the quiet country roads they had just left.

  It was nearly midday by the time they reached Cairns. First they dropped Allison at her home. Margaret had pleaded to be allowed to stay to meet Graham and this was agreed to. That made the next port of call the army depot.

  They had timed it well as the army coach had just arrived a few minutes earlier and the cadets were busy unloading their gear. Kylie stood watching from the fence, with Margaret beside her, hopping from one foot to the other in her eagerness.

  “There he is!” Margaret cried, pointing to the uniformed throng busy unloading kitbags and ports.

  Kylie glimpsed Peter first, then his friend Stephen, and finally Graham. Peter’s mother was there as well and Mrs Kirk went to talk to her while they waited. Once all the gear was unloaded the cadets were lined up on parade and their OC, Captain Conkey, spoke briefly to them. They were then dismissed.

  A happy group of boys and girls streamed towards the gate with their gear. Peter arrived first. That set Kylie’s heart going as he smiled at her and said hello. Peter had bright brown eyes and dark hair and was slightly taller than Graham. He was also quieter and more thoughtful.

  Peter’s mother gave him a hug and a kiss. “How did it go?” she asked as he nodded to his little brother Paul.

  “OK mum. Graham did well. He came fourth out of one hundred and twenty on the Corporals Course,” he explained.

  Kylie’s mother had been listening and she now smiled. “Oh good,” she said. Kylie knew her mother wasn’t keen on the idea of Graham becoming a soldier, not that being a volunteer cadet gave him any obligation to do so, but she was also aware that the Army Cadets had been a major factor in stabilizing Graham’s delinquent behaviour. Earlier in the year Graham had always been in trouble at school; and there had been stories about him and girls doing things they should not have been doing at their age. Becoming a cadet seemed to have given him some focus in life and he had steadied down a lot.

  Graham struggled through the throng to join them. He dumped his kitbag and hugged his mother, then Kylie. Last of all he leaned forward and gave Margaret a peck on the cheek. Kylie knew that Mar
garet was just dying to be given a hug but she could not hint at this without annoying Graham. She stood back and admired her brother.

  ‘I can see why girls like him,’ she decided. ‘He’s a good looking boy.’

  Graham was well built, with broad shoulders and well muscled arms. He had fair hair and brilliant blue eyes set in a cheerful, freckled face.

  Mrs Bronsky said to him: “Peter tells us you came fourth out of one hundred and twenty. Well done.”

  “Thanks Mrs Bronsky; but Pete is too modest. He came first.”

  Kylie cried out in delight. “Oh Peter! You didn’t!”

  Peter nodded. On an impulse Kylie rushed over and hugged him. “Oh well done!”

  Peter was plainly pleased, but also embarrassed. Graham said: “Fair go sis!” Kylie stepped back and met Margaret’s eye. Margaret was obviously itching to give Graham a hug but was too shy.

  Their other friend, Stephen Bell, a pale skinned, black haired boy with glasses, came over to say hello.

  “Where did you come Stephen?” Mrs Kirk asked.

  “Only seventh Mrs Kirk,” Stephen replied.

  “Only seventh. I like your modesty. You boys have obviously done very well,” Mrs Kirk replied, beaming at them. The boys were so often at each others houses they were almost treated as part of the family.

  “Not only the boys. Gwen Copeland came fifth,” Graham added. That started Kylie worrying. Gwen Copeland was a very attractive blonde in Peter’s class.

  “Well, we’d better be going,” Peter said, bending to pick up his gear.

  “Yeah, see you after I come back from the farm,” Graham replied.

  Kylie interrupted. “What are you doing for the rest of the holidays Peter?”

  Peter shrugged. “Nothing much. Christmas I suppose. And if Graham comes down from the Tablelands we might go sailing, or maybe on a hike.”

  “How would you like to help us find a gold mine?” Kylie asked.

  “Gold mine?” the three boys chorused.

  “Yes, a gold mine,” Kylie replied.