Oriel gave an appreciative smile. ‘Oh yes, thanks for that! Yes, if we can afford the rent we’ll be stuck there until the divorce is heard. Don’t ask me when that will be. That blasted solicitor – did you know you can use any name you choose as long as it’s not intended to deceive? No, well neither did I and he didn’t think it would be important to me. I only found out a few months ago. I’ve been stuck with Mrs Widdowes all this time when I had no need to be.’ She remembered all the humiliations she had suffered because of this. ‘I’ve always hated it. Oriel Widdowes – it sounds like someone’s saying oriel windows with a cold!’ She mirrored Dorothy’s smile. ‘It’s funny, I’ll be Maguire again after I marry Daniel – he’s still out of work by the way.’
‘Oh, you’re still together then?’ A look of relief flooded Dorothy’s face and she clutched her breast. ‘When you just kept saying we and never mentioned his name until now, I hardly dared ask!’
‘Yes, of course. Who did you think I was living with?’ The eyes beneath the dark fringe were puzzled.
In her relief Dorothy jabbered, ‘It was just that I heard you’d split up and when you wrote and told me you’d moved and didn’t mention him – well, I didn’t like to mention him either in case I hurt your feelings. I’m so glad for you!’
Annoyance spread over Oriel’s face. ‘Who told you that?’
‘Oh, it was just something Cuddy heard.’
‘Maybe his wishful thinking,’ muttered Oriel. ‘He can’t use me like a punchbag as he does his wife so he makes things up.’ She saw the other’s cheeks flush with offence. ‘I’m sorry, Dot, but this is the second lot of idiotic gossip I’ve heard and it’s getting me ruddy angry! I’m sitting on a bus minding my own business when I’m treated to the biggest load of rubbish I’ve ever heard in my life – about me! And this was from women I’d never even seen before! The next one to open their mouth gets a pie in the face.’
Misled by this remark, and unfamiliar with the true depth of her friend’s suffering, Dorothy turned impish. ‘I heard other bits of highly improbable gossip too. Apparently Clive’s got Daniel a job at Myers and you’re all living in the same house. Yes, really!’ She laughed in sympathy. ‘I’ll put Cuddy right about you splitting up when I get home – oh no, I can’t or he’ll know I’ve seen you. Anyway, I already told him it probably wasn’t true.’
‘Probably?’ Oriel thought perhaps there was a hint of jealousy in Dorothy’s attitude now; resentment that her friend had found happiness with a man whilst she remained trapped in her own violent marriage.
The other’s face dropped. ‘Well, no, I said—’
‘What do people think I am?’ raged Oriel, drawing looks from the other diners. ‘Did they imagine I was just having a quick fling and then it’s on to the next man? I adore him, he’s the only man I’ve ever truly loved, I’d die without him, and we’re going to get married as soon as people will let us – although as far as I’m concerned that man is already my husband and always has been so you can tell that to whoever you like.’ Gathering her skirts, she made to leave the teashop, face set in a mask of annoyance.
‘Goodbye, Dot, perhaps we’ll meet in happier times.’
* * *
In retrospect it had been mean and crass to wreak her frustration on the only friend she had, but Oriel no longer had the energy to care. Dorrie’s birthday came and went. Desperate to see both children she used precious funds on the train fare to Brighton and hid around a corner to watch as they left school in the company of their grandmother. The experience was so upsetting that it did not bear repetition – even if she could have afforded to do so.
A month went by, Christmas was less than a fortnight away and they had still paid no rent. Letters came, demanding settlement, Daniel ripped them up. Another was about to be consigned to the bin too when he noted that it was from a different legal firm and quickly opened it.
After a moment, his face brightened. ‘Now isn’t that a turn-up? Melinda wants a divorce.’ He handed it over for Oriel to read, and gave a laugh of recognition. ‘She must have another fella.’
Though Oriel was pleased, the tone of her voice conveyed otherwise as she read the legal document. ‘On the grounds of your desertion and adultery.’
‘Hey, isn’t this what we wanted? Don’t knock our one bit o’ progress.’ He put his arms around her, chivvying her into better mood. ‘Come on, sooky, crack yer face – yer’ll be havin’ me thinkin’ yer’ve changed yer mind.’
Oriel returned his enthusiastic hug then, scolding him. ‘Don’t you ever say that again! Here – take this and go buy a bottle of beer to celebrate. Go on! We can’t pay the rent anyway so what does a few pence matter?’
Within days, they were regretting this extravagance, for when Oriel returned her finished garments to the factory she was told that there was nothing to collect.
The supply of outwork continued to be sporadic. Faced with the long hours of idleness, she began to slide into apathy. Had she not had her beloved to urge her on she felt that she might just drift away into insanity, but Daniel was firm, in spite of his own traumas, refusing to be subjugated, bolstering her with the hope that around the corner, over the hill, there might be someone who would buy her house and in a few months they may be out of this mess. Scavenging through the council tips, he found a pad of unused paper, and ripping off the dirty outer covers brought it home and thrust it at her, urging her to write down all that had happened to them over the past year, put down her thoughts, her feelings, her ideas – anything to get the frustration out of her system. Her obedient response proved beneficial, the journal serving to occupy her until the next batch of work came along.
To preserve his masculinity, Daniel had taken to working for the meagre sustenance payment and, today, he and Norm were out assisting with the construction of a Shrine of Remembrance to their fallen comrades. Yet again, Oriel had delivered the latest batch of garments to the factory, only to find that there was none for her to collect. Discouraged, she went home and made herself a cup of tea. There were sheets to be washed. She should really be taking advantage of the hot weather but unable to fight the torpor she continued to sit there gazing into space for a long time, until she felt the blackness threaten to swamp her. Daniel’s voice nagging her conscience, she heaved her leaden body from the chair and went to prepare the copper in the yard, then, collecting Norm’s sheets she left them to soak with her own.
It was when she went back later to give the linen a pounding that she met the strange-looking character in the hall and jumped in shock.
The tramp apologized for frightening her. His voice was at odds with the long grey hair and beard – he was obviously younger than he looked. Recovering her equilibrium, Oriel said it was quite all right, proceeded into the yard and, injecting all her weight into the effort, she pounded the sheets in the copper. Her back to the door, she could nonetheless tell that the eccentric character had followed her and was watching her every move. Uncomfortable and perspiring from her efforts, she turned and said she had no paid work to offer him, but he was welcome to some soup in return for his assistance with these sheets.
Discarding his swag and jacket, the man rolled up his shirt sleeves and came forth with outstretched hands. Oriel looked at them, fearing that her laundry was going to be even dirtier after it had been washed, but surprisingly his fingers were not all that grubby – though he smelled dreadful. There was no mangle at hand. Dashing the sweat from her brow with the back of her hand, she took one end of the sheet and he held the other, twisting it until all the soapy water gushed out. After a couple of rinsings and similar manglings, they hung it over a line. The chore was repeated with the other sheets and afterwards Oriel took the swagman indoors, groping her way through the hall, her eyes almost blinded in the transition from sunlight to darkness.
Blinking several times, she cut some bread and doled out the thin soup, hoping there would be enough left for her husband and Norm – it had had to suffice them for three days alread
y.
‘We’ve been eating it cold in this weather. It’s too hot for a fire and that’s the only way we can cook – but it’s really nice.’
The tramp did not appear to mind and draping his jacket over the back of his chair, sat down and tucked in hungrily. Allergic to his body odour, Oriel moved as far away as possible and affected to go about her business though there was little to do, and she kept her eye on him lest he attempt to steal anything. She wondered what tragedy had led him to this life and pictured herself and Daniel, unable to pay the rent, in the same position.
After he had finished eating, had dabbed his moustache with a handkerchief and thanked her kindly, she expected him to go, but he sat there savouring the taste in his mouth, his eyes on her. The expression in them made her suddenly afraid – whatever had she been thinking of inviting this odd character into her home?
Unnerved, she made a hint that he should leave. ‘Well, my husband will be home soon.’ She prayed that Daniel would come home for lunch. Often he did not.
He made no move, merely nodding. Time passed. With growing unease Oriel nibbled her thumbnail and glanced at the door, wondering whether she could get to it before the tramp. He seemed to sense this, the look in his eyes daring her to make a move. Blood pumping, she was still looking at the door when it opened and to her great relief in walked Daniel and his friend. As she released her trapped breath the tramp stood and presented his face to the two men. Before she had time to explain to Daniel he had taken a step forward and thumped the swagman in the chest.
‘You old bastard! Bit early for Father Christmas to call, isn’t it?’
Behind the abundant beard Jimmy Magee grinned and allowed himself to be manhandled by the two friends, surrendering to their affectionate punching and name-calling whilst Oriel, clearly dumbfounded, waited for explanation. It was even more mystifying to see that a dog had entered with them.
‘Yer great drongo!’ cried Daniel. ‘Don’t yer know who it is?’
‘Sorry about that, missus.’ Amusement in his dark eyes, Jimmy came forward and bent his weathered face close for her inspection. Only then did she recognize the pointed features beneath the whiskers, that sardonic expression he had used on her all those years ago, and she offered a smile in return whilst shaking him by the hand.
‘Oh, you had me going for a minute – you devil! It’s so nice to see you again! Well, I’d offer you some refreshment but you’ve already had it.’ Grinning, she told Daniel and Norm about their friend’s assistance with the laundry.
‘Hope he’s left us some soup,’ opined Daniel, peering at the pan. Oriel said there was enough for all and went to serve it, asking the men to sit at the table for they were cluttering the room. She served only a small portion to herself, in order to offer Jimmy the last drop in the bottom of the pan which he accepted.
Only now, as she carried bowls to the table, did she enquire about the dog. ‘If you don’t mind me asking, what’s that doing here?’
Daniel stroked the greyhound’s panting head. ‘We found him.’ He threw an impudent grin at Norm. ‘Well sort of.’ Pouring the animal some water, he told Oriel that he had in fact untied it from outside a shop whilst its owner was inside, and intended to look through the lost and found column of tomorrow’s newspaper. ‘Thought there might be a good reward – he’s a lovely animal.’
She bit her lips at this audacity. ‘And what if no one claims it – how are we going to feed him?’
Daniel patted the dog’s ribs. ‘Doesn’t look as if he eats much. Don’t worry, I picked me mark. Lady who owns him obviously thinks the world of him judging how she kissed him before she went into the shop. Won’t be with us for long.’ He sat down.
Oriel hoped he was right, and also wondered how long Jimmy intended to stay. With four people and a dog the room was feeling distinctly overcrowded – and Jimmy’s odour seemed to have manifested a presence all of its own.
Daniel finished his soup, sat back and took a deep breath. ‘Jim, it’s great to see yer, mate, but Christ, you bloody stink.’
Jimmy looked slightly hurt. ‘Sorry, think it’s me jacket.’ Abandoning his seat he picked up the garment and tested it with his nostrils. ‘I’ll put it outside.’
‘Better tie it up then or it’ll have run away when yer go back for it,’ contributed Norm. ‘Tin bath in me room if yer wanna dip.’
Still showing a mark of offence, Jimmy accepted and, pulling a clean shirt and pants out of his swag he left the room.
Daniel let out a breath and started wafting the air. ‘I don’t smell that bad, do I?’
Oriel pretended to have passed out, then came to life, laughing. ‘No, yours is good honest sweat, he must have been saving his for posterity.’ Whilst feeling sorry for Jimmy she went to open the door to allow some fresh air in, being careful not to be quite so obvious when their friend returned smelling somewhat sweeter.
Throughout the afternoon, news was exchanged, Jimmy telling Daniel that he had already heard on the bush telegraph about his broken marriage and his new address, and Daniel having to put him right on misinformed snippets of gossip. Towards the time that would usually be reserved for tea, the visitor produced cigarettes and bottles of beer from his swag. After bringing in the clean sheets and replacing them on the bed, Oriel accepted a glass and was happy to sit for a while chatting, but then when Daniel invited his friend to stay the night and Jimmy accepted, she finished her last drop of beer and said, ‘I’ll leave you boys alone, I’m sure you don’t want me earwigging. I’ll just go out and get some extra food in.’ Though just how, she did not know.
Jimmy caught her surreptitiously examining the contents of her purse. ‘I’ll only stay if I pay me way.’ He handed her a collection of silver coins.
Noting her hesitancy, Daniel urged her silently to take it and knowing how his friend was so easily insulted, she did. The dog vied with her at the door. Recognizing his problem, she took him with her to the shop, leaving the men to enjoy their beer.
But it turned out that Jimmy had brought much better than this, as Oriel was to find out when she came home and began to prepare another meal. Upon learning that neither of his pals had worked for almost a year he told them that only a few days ago on his journey here from the Dandenongs he had learned of a vacancy at a timberyard in Ferntree Gully.
‘Matter o’ fact, a mate offered it to me. He’s got the old gut-rot – looks as if he’s on the way out. Been keeping the job up as long as he can but he’s just about had it now. Said I might give it a go if I get short o’ cash.’
‘Might?’ Daniel laughed in outrage. Norm, too, bared the gap in his teeth.
The bearded mouth grinned back. ‘Ah well, you know me. Never can tell what frame o’ mind I’ll be in from one day to the next.’ Asked how he got by, Jimmy said he cost very little to keep. ‘If I’d known what strife you were in I would’ve put yer name forward but anyhow, I don’t think he’ll have given it to anybody else. Go up there tomorrow and tell him you’ve come in place of me. He’s a good bloke, he’ll see yer right. Sorry, there’s only one job, Norm, but you haven’t got a wife and kids.’
‘Rub it in, won’t yer?’ Norm looked away and played with the little button of flesh that passed for a nose.
‘Keep me ears open for yer, though.’
Having suffered so many disappointments, Oriel put all thoughts of the job from her mind and served the cold evening meal which had to be shared with the greyhound. The conversation proceeded after tea, taking in the state of the country, the mounting unemployment figures and industrial violence. It was unthinkable but Australia seemed on the verge of armed warfare between the classes. Even the Government faced a split from internecine squabbles.
‘Yer can blame this bugger,’ joked Daniel, pointing at Norm. ‘He voted Labor in.’ Always a republican, he was nevertheless quite moderate and did not have contempt for the bosses – someone had to run the show – but he did hate communists and believed it was this section that was driving the countr
y towards ruin. ‘If Scullin can’t keep his own mob in order how can he run the country?’
‘Only voted for ’em to get rid o’ Bruce.’ Norm had no steadfast views on politics. He glanced at the dog, who lay in anxious pose by the door. ‘Reckon it wouldn’t matter who was in, still be in a mess. Right about Scullin, but – Phar Lap’d make a better Prime Minister. Only good thing he did was appoint a genuine Aussie as Governor-General.’
Daniel took a drink of beer. ‘Sir Isaac Isaacs – his father was an imaginative bastard, wasn’t he?’
Norm yawned and stretched. ‘Jeez, I’m feeling tired. Reckon I’ll take me leave – good to see yer, Jim. Thanks for the grub.’ Nudging the dog out of his way, he left.
‘Tired my arse,’ Daniel snorted and gave the dog a pat of encouragement. ‘He’s got a sheila somewhere. Used to have the pleasure of his company every night but for the last couple o’ weeks he’s been real toey – reckons we don’t know he’s creeping off after dark. Never mind, more beer for us.’ He held his glass out to Jimmy.
Oriel made to retire at eleven, bequeathing Daniel a chance to enjoy the company of his own sex without a female constraining their speech. ‘I’ll plug my ears with cottonwool, then you can say what you like.’
As she rose, so too did the dog and she led him out into the yard to relieve himself, bringing him back moments later and commanding him to lie in a corner. Whilst she undressed the men turned their backs, but she had long ago dispensed with any bashfulness and cared not if Jimmy should catch a glimpse of naked flesh before she climbed into bed. Relaxed from the beer, she closed her eyes and listened to the low drone of their voices for a while, before drifting off to sleep. It was the early hours before Daniel crept in beside her, Jimmy spreading his swag on the floor next to the hearth.
* * *
In the morning after breakfast the swagman left, wishing his friend luck with the job.
A Complicated Woman Page 53
