Between the Devlin and the Deep Blue Seas Read Free

You’ve certainly got some style, haven’t you? Even for a fuckin’ bush Queenslander.’ Norton’s face coloured and he gave a self conscious smile. ‘You were still snoring and farting your head off when I left here at one o’clock. The girl I was with said she’d never seen anything quite like it. And she used to work on a pig farm up on the Darling Downs.’
    â€˜Thanks, Woz. You’re a real pal.’
    Warren continued to stare at Norton, then wrinkled up his nose. ‘You still smell of stale piss too.’ He continued to stare at him as Les tried to concentrate on the TV to try and hide his embarrassment. ‘So what was the big occasion? You win the lottery or something?’
    Norton kept staring at the TV. ‘I’m out of work.’
    â€˜Out of work?’ Warren’s eyebrows knitted for a second. ‘What do you mean? Out of work?’
    â€˜The Kelly Club’s closing down for a month. Probably for good. And I’m out of a job. We all are. That’s why we all got so pissed.’
    Les told Warren about the previous night and what Price had said. Warren stared at him in disbelief. He was still staring at him after Les had finished. But it wasn’t a look of sympathy; it was more like trepidation, bordering on shock-horror.
    â€˜That doesn’t mean you’re gonna be home here all the time now, does it?’
    Les grinned and nodded.
    â€˜In other words, I’m going to be constantly seeing your big boofhead around the place. Including Friday and Saturday nights when I like to play chasings with the girls.’
    â€˜They don’t call you lucky Warren for nothing.’
    â€˜Ohh, shit!’ Warren looked up at the ceiling then back at Les. ‘Can’t you get another job? You’ll have to. Your money’ll run out before long.’
    â€˜Don’t worry. I’ve thought of that already,’ enthused Les. ‘I’m getting another three boarders in. I’m putting two in the spare room, and you’re going to share yours. I’ve lined up three footballers. They’ve all come down from Queensland to play for Easts. You’ll love ’em. Plus the rent’s going up. Don’t worry about old Uncle Les, mate. He’ll survive, all right.’
    Warren looked at Norton for a moment, then went into the kitchen to make a cup of coffee. He came back out into the lounge room, sat down and continued to stare at Les who continued to stare at the TV.
    â€˜No, fair dinkum, Les. What are you gonna do? You can’t sit around here all day and night, mate. You’ll start to veg out.’
    â€˜Warren,’ replied Les, ‘the only thing that would make me veg out is being near you — ’cause you’re a half-baked little fruit. Mate, I’ll have plenty to do. Cleaning up after four boarders is going to take up a heap of my time — beds to make, garbage to empty, rents to collect.’ Norton looked directly at Warren. ‘Which reminds me: yours is overdue — again. And me out of work too. You rotten little cunt.’
    Warren sipped his coffee and started to laugh. He could see just where he was getting with Les on this particular topic of conversation. Nowhere.
    â€˜So what are you doing tonight?’ he enquired. ‘You going out?’
    Norton shook his head. ‘No, mate. I’m too fucked. Besides, I couldn’t look a beer in the face at the moment.’
    â€˜I’ve got a good party to go to.’
    â€˜Yeah?’ replied Les, disinterestedly.
    â€˜Yeah. It’s only up at Bondi Junction too.’
    â€˜Sounds terrific. Who’re you taking? Whatever scrubber it was you dragged back here last night?’
    Warren nodded over his coffee. ‘She’s no scrubber, she’s a good sort. Her name’s Ximena. She works for a publisher.’
    Les turned to Warren. ‘That’s one good thing about me being home more often