spiritual warfare

My History on Friday–School Daze

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Recent events on the world stage and closer to home have reminded me of this little gem I posted way back in 2016. Still relevant today—maybe even more so, as it was back then so many years ago when I was in high school. And it seems, while many of us have matured and have an open mind when it comes to opinions and how we view others, there are some who believe that if you tell a lie often enough, it must be true. The recipients who have no backbone who believe these lies are just as guilty. Need I go into detail with examples? Not here. But I may explore this issue in some of my future novels.

NOW YOU KNOW…


Year Ten at high school, and you could say I went to school each day with a big virtual sign on my back that read, “Kick Me”.

Don’t get me wrong, I had my close friends; friends who valued me for me and who saw through the prevailing attitudes of the crowd towards me. I assumed my lack of popularity was spawned from a rocky start in Year Seven—new kid when all friendship groups had been established in a ridiculously small school. And then there were those who had made it their mission in life to persecute me. I assumed they spread the rumours about me. Or maybe it was my buck teeth, and awkward way of relating to people…When you are told by your peers over and over again that you are ugly, unloved and no one wants you and you do regularly get picked last for the team, I guess you start to believe what people say.
What kept me together, were my real friends, the ones outside of school, and my friends at school. I also belonged to a fantastic youth group that met every Friday night. A close-knit, loving family helped as well.

Most of all my faith in Jesus got me through those difficult early teenage years.

Anyway, at fifteen, my teeth had been almost straightened by orthodontics, and I’d perfected the enemy-avoiding strategy of spending lunchtimes in the library. I loved learning and my best friend, and I spurred each other on in academic excellence. My goal, a scholarship. I had heard rumours that some kids thought I was not so intelligent, a fool, in other words.

[Photo 1: Free range chickens, Gorge Wildlife Park near Lobethal © L.M. Kling 2024]


At my grandmother’s place, after Sunday lunch, I helped Grandma with the dishes. As I scraped away the chicken bones, I discovered the wishbone.

‘Can I make a wish?’ I asked Grandma.

‘Well, why not?’ she replied. Although a godly woman, some superstitions from our Wendish (eastern European) past had filtered down through the generations. So, wishing on wishbones was no big spiritual deal.

Grandma and I hooked our little fingers around each prong of the wishbone. We pulled. The bone snapped in two and I won the larger portion. I closed my eyes and made my wish, a scholarship. Dad had promised that if I studied hard and won a scholarship, he’d buy me a ten-pin bowling ball. So, in truth, my aspirations for academic achievement were less than pure.

*[Photo 2: Dreams of a bowling ball © L.M. Kling 2016]

What was it about socks? I wondered as I dutifully began to pull up my socks. For our summer uniform which we had to wear in first term, we wore blue cotton frocks down to our knees and long white socks.

Woe betide any poor soul who did not pull their socks up to their knees. The length of our uniform dresses was another issue that kept certain teachers occupied. And don’t get me started on hair. I tell you, if all the students had worn their uniforms correctly, I think the teachers would’ve quit out of boredom.

So, with my socks pulled up, I waited in line to troop into the chapel for morning assembly. A tap on my back. One of my friends smiled at me. I remember her simple bob of straight blonde hair; no fancy flicks or curls like many fashion-conscious girls in the 1970’s. Farrah Fawcet flicks were all the rage and drove the teachers to distraction.

‘Good luck,’ my friend said.

‘Why?’ I asked.

Miss Uniform-Obsessed-Teacher glared at us. She had those bulging blue eyes, mean pointy mouth that forced us to slouch into submission, and for me to check my socks again.

One of my foes snaked past and muttered at me, ‘Dumb idiot.’

I shook my head and concentrated on not getting glared at by the teacher. Really, I thought, he’s at the bottom of the class and he’s calling me dumb? What is it with that guy? In his defense, he did come out with a gem once in English class when the students were rioting and so reducing the first-year-out teacher to tears. He said to me, ‘It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.’ So true for my home town.

*[Photo 3: Like sheep they were © C.D. Trudinger circa 1995]


Once inside the hallowed halls of the chapel, we went through the ritual of the school assembly. The principal delivered the talk. There’s a lecture I recall he made, don’t know if it was that particular one—how we were a bunch of jellyfish and we must get some backbone. When he said backbone I thought of the wishbone, and then that guy who said I was dumb and his cohorts. I thought of how people believe unquestioningly what others tell them, even if it’s not true. They go along with the prevailing attitude, even if it’s wrong and harmful to others. In some ways, like at school, I was a victim of these jellyfish, and in other ways, I was a jellyfish too. I had an attitude, an aversion against those who bullied me. Did I have backbone enough to get to know them as people rather than continuing to avoid them as enemies?
The principal began to hand out the awards. Ah, yes, that’s what my friend meant. Today was the day of the awards. I watched as various students marched up the front and collected their scholarships. That won’t be me, I thought.

‘And for Year Ten,’ the principal said, ‘the scholarship for high achievement…’

I looked up. What? Me?

I walked to the front, shook the principal’s hand, collected the award, then head down and with a tug of my pig tail, I walked back to my seat.

Afterwards, my friend patted me on the shoulder. ‘Congratulations! Well done! Just like you to win an award and then pull at your pig tails.’

I nodded. The whole deal of winning a scholarship seemed unreal. ‘I’ll be able to get my own bowling ball, now.’

That guy slid past me. ‘Ooh, what a surprise—we all thought you were dumb.’

‘Well, now you know I’m not,’ I replied.

*[Photo 4 and Feature: Jellyfish © iStockphoto]


Sometimes we carry our hurt from the persecution from others like a big heavy bag on our backs and the truth is it influences the way we see the world. I realised being a victim had become my narrative, and I didn’t want it to be so. As a jellyfish, I had no backbone to stand against this view of myself and how others viewed me. I feared speaking out and going against the crowd in the cause of truth, justice, mercy and compassion. I kept my opinions to myself. Then just recently, when again the baggage of victimhood crept up on me, I read the following passage from the book of Matthew in the Bible. The words encouraged and gave me the backbone to stand out and for the sake of Jesus Christ make a positive difference in the world.

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me (Jesus). Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”—Matthew 5:11-12

© Lee-Anne Marie Kling 2016; 2023; 2025
Feature Picture: Huge School of Water Jelly © iStockphoto

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Friday Crime–The Culvert (18b)

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Another Life
Part 2

Thursday April 21, 2022, 10:30am
Adelaide University

Dee

Dee wrapped her jacket tightly around her and shivered. Sven von Erikson’s office, on the fifth floor of the science block was cold. Science books and journals cluttered the shelves in no apparent order. The desk was a mass of papers weighed down by a model of a Mad Max replica of a Ford Falcon XB GT, colour red.

*[Photo 1: Mad Max Ford advertising replica, Morphett Vale © L.M. Kling 2021]


Sven, coffee mug in hand, hurried in slamming the door on a dozen students waiting to see him. He placed the mug on a stack of assignments, then with hands clasped leaned forward. ‘Now, Detective Berry, what can I do for you?’


Dee watched the coffee cup balanced on the paper pile, and worried that the coffee would spill and ruin the work. Resisting the urge to remark on this danger, she said, ‘Thank you for seeing me, Dr von Erikson.’
A young hopeful, seeming little more than a child, opened the door a crack and poked her head through. Sven smiled and waved the girl away.


Then he turned his attention back to Dee. ‘Sorry about that. First term, lost souls.’


‘That’s okay.’


Sven glanced at his analogue watch which Dee suspected was an Asian imitation of a famous and expensive Swiss brand. ‘I have half an hour, Ma’am. Lecture at eleven.’


‘Right, I’m investigating a cold case from…’ she paused and then said, ‘November 1980.’


Was that an expression of relief on Sven’s face? Dee noted the relaxation of Sven’s mouth. His cheeks all hard lines and gritting teeth before and during the pause. And then softening and a hint of a smile once the date was announced. What was that about? she wondered.


‘November 1980? What am I meant to remember about that time?’


‘The 29th of November 1980, to be exact.’ Dee held her gaze on Dr Sven von Erikson. ‘What can you tell me about the events of that day?’


Sven laughed. ‘I barely remember what I had for breakfast and you’re asking me to recall my movements over forty years ago?’


‘I’m sure you can remember if those events are significant.’


‘Significant? How? Any hints?’

[Photo 2 and Feature: Sunset over Sellicks Beach © L.M. Kling 2017]



Dee glanced at her notebook and looked up. ‘I believe you attended a bonfire on the night of Saturday, November 29, at Sellicks Beach. Is that correct?’


‘If you say so.’ Was he mocking her?


‘We have a witness who puts you at the bonfire on that night.’ Dee narrowed her eyes. ‘Have you no recollection of that particular night?’


Sven shrugged. ‘Uni had…no, that was before I went to…I guess it’s something I would have done. Bonfires on the beach…ah, those were the days.’


‘Does anything spring to mind about that particular bonfire that you would like to tell us about, Dr von Erikson?’ Dee kept her eye on the Doctor of Computer Engineering for any flicker of deception.


The professor picked up the red model Ford Falcon XB and stroked the bonnet. ‘A roo hit my car; I remember about that time. Not at night, but the next morning. Gave my girlfriend a fright. We were nearly home, just driving down a little detour by the Happy Valley Reservoir. And this roo came leaping out and attacked my car. No respect those roos. Worse thing is, I had to stop and pull the animal off the road. Wasn’t sure what we were meant to do about a dead roo, so I left it there, I guess. My girlfriend at the time said that, if it had been a koala, being an endangered species, it would have been a different story, but…’

[Photo 3: Kangaroo in Happy Valley Reservoir Reserve © L.M. Kling 2022]



‘I see…’ Dee responded making a mental note of Sven’s version of how his car came to be damaged.


‘I always remember her saying that kangaroo-icide is better than koala-cide,’ Sven said with a chuckle.
Dee remained stone-faced. ‘Do you recall a motorbike incident? A fatality on that night?’


‘Vaguely,’ Sven looked her in the eyes and blinked, ‘oh, yeah, Milo…Milo Katz. Was that, then? I always thought it was 1981. Wow, 1980. His death, I remember had an impact on me. There I was back then, a tradie, a brickie, life going nowhere. Milo was in our youth group. Then, he was gone, killed in that motorbike accident. Snuffed out. And it made me realise that life was short, and I needed to make the most of it. So, I applied as a mature age for university. And here I am today. My girlfriend who became my wife was none too happy. Being a wife with a baby to a poor uni student. She couldn’t hack it, and she left me.’

[Photo 4: Mother and baby koala on garden wall © L.M. Kling 2013]



‘You mean, Fifi Edwards.’


‘Yes, you know her?’


‘Yes.’


‘You interviewed her, I s’pose.’


‘Yes.’


‘I bet she had some stories to tell,’ Sven snorted.


‘I can’t comment on that,’ Dee replied flatly.


‘Yeah, well, I wouldn’t believe much of what she has to say; being the village gossip.’


I wonder…he’s hiding something. Dee thought and then remarked, ‘That’s for a jury to decide, Professor.’


‘Are you implying something?’


‘No, but…’


‘Well, then, I have nothing more to say.’


Sven von Erikson gathered up some papers and placed them into an antique leather case. Then he picked up his mobile phone and tucked it into his shirt pocket.


‘As I said, I have a lecture to give, now,’ Sven said, before striding to the door. ‘Thank you for your time. I hope you get the answers you are looking for.’


Dee clicked off the record function of her phone and followed the professor to the door. ‘Thank you, Dr von Erikson, we’ll be in touch,’ Dee replied.


As von Erikson vanished around the corridor’s corner, Dee messaged Dan: “Any info on von Erikson that you might have gathered, past or present? What about his sister, Lillie?”

© L.M. Kling 2024

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Sometimes real life is just real life.
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Family History Friday–Off with My Head

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Off the Top of My Head

Random Thoughts about Family History

Friday has rolled around and once again, the well-researched, edited and polished article on some nascent topic of family history has failed to materialize. Too busy researching and chasing promising leads down rabbit holes. Plus making a concerted effort to finish the first draft of “Under the Bridge”, now titled The Culvert.

Hence, I am blatantly and unashamedly going to ramble and keeping to the theme of rabbits, rabbit on.

A fellow writer has the penchant to invite the reader to get comfortable in their favourite armchair with a cuppa and a bikkie, and then travel along with her in her latest story. So, I’m doing something similar today. Imagine we are in your café of choice, I’m having my decaf cappuccino with almond milk and you’re having your beverage of choice, and we are having a chat about family history. Admittedly, I’m the one doing all the talking—for a start. You can have your say at the end in the comment section.

[Photo 1: Coffee anyone? © L.M. Kling 2021]

Anyway, as I sip on my drink, I tell you…

I’ll start with the food. Early on in My Heritage forays, the computer offered some guidance with AI (artificial intelligence) in finding those relatives who would prefer to remain hidden in the distant past.

I took the AI up on the offer, to my regret.

After many questions that became more ridiculous as time went on, the robot which I might prefer to call a “bubble-headed booby”, asked the ultimate in absurdity. ‘What did your ancestor like to eat for breakfast?’

You need to understand that AI was asking about an ancestor who lived three hundred years in the past. If I knew the answer to the breakfast question, I wouldn’t be asking AI, would I?

I decided then to avoid researching with the AI after that interaction.

It got me thinking, though. What did my ancestors eat for breakfast? Too late for most of them to tell me. Even the famous ones don’t include a breakfast menu.

So, for future generations, here’s my offering for the few of my immediate family of whom I know their breakfast preferences.

*[Photo 2: Sunday Brunch Spread © C.D. Trudinger circa 1955]

My dad, Clement David Trudinger grew up during the depression and Second World War times. He loved bread with dripping. I’m not sure if this was a breakfast go-to, but he did say. Just saying.

My mum has to have her cup of coffee first thing in the morning. Coffee gets her going.

A few nuts and a cup of Caro does me for breakfast.

I’m not sure what my maternal grandma, Elsa Gross liked for breakfast, but she didn’t eat meat. I remember her having toast with butter and jam.

As for my maternal grandpa, Sam Gross, and my paternal grandma and grandpa, Ron and Lina Trudinger, I have no idea. And that’s only going back two generations.

All I can say for AI is good luck with that one going back three hundred years.

Digging back further, I discovered that one of my ancestors and an ancestor of my friend, and Indie Scriptorium teammate, Mary McDee’s, were shipmates travelling over to England from Normandy way back when England was invaded by William the Conqueror. I wondered whether they were friends and what their conversation was like. Mary was adamant that her ancestor probably wouldn’t have had much to do with mine as they were likely different ranks. But hey, ships back then weren’t that big, so I wonder…One thing for sure, they probably weren’t discussing their latest books and giving feedback to each other on how to improve their manuscripts.

*[Photo 3: Ship in Amsterdam © L.M. Kling 2014]

Continuing on my research voyage, Mary did ask me, “What’s a good Christian girl like you writing such content of bloodshed and gore. How did you come up with such an evil character like Boris?’

As I’m exploring those murky depths of my ancestral past, I’m beginning to understand. A relative of mine once read The Hitchhiker and was so shocked she gave it a poor rating. “This is not the person I knew,” she wrote as a comment. Little did she know that my ancestors and her husband’s were not the “Sarah Janes”, “Pollyannas” or “Saint Whoever” of the past. Quite the opposite. Think of Game of Thrones which is based on the War of the Roses, and you get the picture. One was likely a bishop, though, sorry to say…

[Photo 4: The Hitch-hiker © L.M. Kling 2015]

And no, the dreams that formulated my Sci-Fi novels were seemingly not from ancestral memories from the mercenary soldier, Balthas Trudinger that the family was so ashamed of.

I looked into that and discovered that Balthas who lived at Lierheim which is a castle near Nördlingen, Bavaria, most probably belonged to the Teutonic Order. The Teutonic Order at the time of Balthas’ coming of age, had bought the castle there and were renovating it. Hitler gave the Teutonic Order a reputation as the exemplar of the all-German, all-Aryan fighting force. But once he won power, he ditched the Teutonic order­—banned them. Actually, the order from what I can glean did much good over the centuries. They started around the end of the 12th Century as guards protecting pilgrims to Jerusalem. I bet Hitler kept that fact quiet. Although it was an army that did fighting and stuff in the past, these days it’s a charitable organisation.

I could go on rabbiting, but I think that’s enough random thoughts for one day. hubby has come home and we’re off to dinner for our 37th Wedding Anniversary.

Happy Friday and hope you enjoyed your cuppa and bikkie.

If you have a Family History comment or story, I’d love you to drop a line in the comment section below.

© Lee-Anne Marie Kling 2024

*Feature Photo: Goats on mountain near Saas Fee, Switzerland © L.M. Kling 2014

References:

Teutonic Order – Wikipedia

 Nördlingen, 1580-1700: society, government and impact of war

***

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Second Friday Crime–Under the Bridge (16)

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`

Wood from Tasmania

Tuesday, April 19, 2022,10am —1pm

Norwood, home of Lillie and Jimmy Edwards

Lillie

School holidays and Lillie relished the slower pace. Morning workout at the gym, working off the cakes and sweet buns and the excess that had gathered around her waist and thighs. Only six weeks to get in shape for her 60th.

Then Burnside Village for essential shopping. Clothes and shoes. Plus, hairdresser to colour and shape her whitening locks. Hairdresser suggested bronze streaks to compliment the blonde. Walked out looking like a porcupine and $300 less on her debit card. Swore never to go there again, but…somehow knows she will. Convenient and better the devil you know, so they say.

*[Photo 1: Echidna © L.M. Kling 2017]

Lunch at the French Café with Tiffy, her daughter. Tiffy on about family history and over coffee she asked, ‘Mum, why don’t you get your DNA done?’

‘Why do I need to?’ Lillie retorted. ‘We are pure German stock, and you know everybody and their mother in our family have been digging up our ancestry. Haven’t you seen the five thick books in our library? If I want to find out where I came from, I just look in them.’

‘But Mum, von Erikson is not a very German-sounding name. More like Dutch. Just think, you might have Viking blood.’

‘Hmmm, Vikings were from Scandinavia, more like Norway, dear. And besides, your grandfather, rest his soul, came from Hamburg. Von also denotes aristocracy. Dad’s ancestors owned a castle. As I said, dear, it’s all in the family history books.’

*[Photo 2: What better castle than this—Neuschwanstein © L.M. Kling 2014]

‘But Mum, wouldn’t you want to find out what happened to Grandpa?’ Tiffy stroked the side of her cup. ‘He just sort of vanished. Who knows, maybe he ran off and started another family.’

Lillie’s stomach churned. ‘How’s your love life, dear?’ she bared her teeth and braced herself waiting for the inevitable response.

This time, Tiffy didn’t hold back. She smiled and said, ‘Oh, Mum, you’ll never guess. I’ve found someone special.’

 ‘Oh, time for some celebration,’ Lillie clapped, ‘let’s share your favourite apple cheesecake, and you can tell me all about him. It is him? Not her?’

Tiffy rolled her eyes. ‘Him! His name is Jacob, and he works at Woolworths.’

‘Woolworths? Couldn’t you do better? I mean, at least date someone with a proper job?’

‘Mum! How insulting! You always spoil everything with your impossible standards.’ Tiffy snatched up her smart phone and stood up. ‘Nothing’s ever good enough for you. I’m leaving.’

Tiffy stomped a few paces from the table. Then turned. ‘You know, Mum, you’ll never be satisfied. You want your perfect daughter to be a lawyer or some such high fancy thing. Well, I’ve got news for you, it’s not going to happen. So, suck it up and deal with it.’

With that final comment, her daughter swung around and marched out of the café.

After Lillie paid the bill for both of them, and also made a hasty exit.

While grocery shopping, Lillie chuckled. At least the DNA minefield had once again, been diverted. What is it with this craze to find one’s DNA? I don’t want to be responsible for sending one of my descendants, if I ever have more than Tiffy and…and…whoever she is, to jail because they use my DNA to trace them, she thought. Or long-lost secrets to be unearthed.

[Photo 3: Autumn Glow © L.M. Kling 2024]

Lillie then mounted her brand-new Mitsubishi Pajero and wended her way home through the leafy streets of Norwood. A magic time of year when leaves change colour, red, golden and rusty brown. The light on this autumn day was golden, and the air had a hazy warmth to it.

She rolled into the double driveway. To her left she noticed a white Toyota Hilux with Tasmanian number plates filling the space.

A slight blonde woman who appeared aged around thirty leant up against the Toyota chatting to her husband. Smiling, flicking her long blonde hair. Flirting. Jimmy, exuding a youthful charm despite his plus sixty years. Jimmy lapping up the attention of the younger version of herself.

Lillie’s first thought was, Not another, younger woman. Her entanglement with the Frenchman, Renard all those years ago, had left her scarred. Jealousy.

Lillie pulled the Pajero to an abrupt stop and jumped out. She marched to her husband. ‘Hi, there, love,’ she called out. Then claimed him with a hug and a kiss. On the lips.

Jimmy beamed and turned to the young lady. ‘Lillie, this is Zoe from Strahan, I’ve been telling you about. She’s over here delivering my wood.’

‘Yeah, um,’ Zoe waved, ‘Pleased to meet you, Lillie. I was coming over on family business and as I waz in the neighbourhood, I thought I’d deliver the wood personally. Waz going to fly, but no flights available. So, drove. Glad I did.’

‘Isn’t it great?’ Jimmy rubbed his hands together. ‘It’s so hard to get timber these days. I’ll be able to start on those guitars I’ve been planning for I don’t know how long.’

There were minutes of awkward silence as Lillie studied Zoe, Zoe looked away and Jimmy stared off into the not-so-distant hills.

*[Photo 4: Timber cut path, Tahune, Tasmania © L.M. Kling 2016]

Zoe broke the spell. ‘Well, I better get going. I’m meeting my dad at the hotel in Magill.’ She climbed into her Hilux and waved again. ‘Nice meetin’ ya, Lillie. See ya, Jim.’

The couple waved in return as the Hilux backed out the drive and spirited down the leafy street.

After the truck had gone, Lillie faced Jimmy. ‘Bit young for you, Jim.’

Jimmy glanced away and replied, ‘Oh, yeah, but…I had no idea she’d turn up…it’s business…’

‘Yeah, right, so you say.’

Jimmy giggled. ‘Although, you have to admit, she does remind me of you when you were…’

Lillie shook her fist. ‘What do you mean? She looks nothing like me. Take that back.’

‘No, dear, you’re right, she looks nothing like you. Sorry for mentioning it and upsetting you.’

Too late. Lillie ranted and raged for the next half hour while Jimmy scraped, bowed and offered apologies to appease her. Lillie enjoyed watching her husband grovel and beg for his dinner. Then, they agreed to have takeaway delivery. Chinese. And together watch a classic movie from their favourite streaming service. On the couch. Eating lemon chicken and spicy fried rice. While sipping a sparkling glass of white wine.

Tuesday 19 April 2022, 6pm

Tower Hotel, Magill

Eloise

Eloise and Sven pretended to peruse their menus. Not that there was much to peruse. Just the usual hotel fare. A variety of burgers, fish and chips on offer, and steak and chips. The menu was simplified since the last time Eloise had graced the hotel with her presence as a police officer.

She watched Renard fidgeting with his glass of beer. Glancing up at the entrance every few seconds. Looking. Hoping. He had voiced his concerns to Eloise as they drove up. Maybe Zoe had second thoughts and won’t come. Did he provide too much information about his wild past? Perhaps he shouldn’t have written about sowing wild oats. Oh, dear. He must appear too wild for her taste.

Eloise had assured him that she’d be there. And all will be fine. Treat it like an adventure. At least there’s no film crew, she had joked. Besides, they share the same DNA, so perhaps she’ll be wild too and understand.

Still Renard fidgeted.

Sohan 61-0412545557

*[Photo 5: Cook ya own steak © L.M. Kling 2017]

‘I’m going to have the steak. Well done,’ Sven said.

As he spoke, a slim blonde woman, approached Francis Renard. He stood up. Smiled. They hugged. And then they sat down.

Eloise transferred her attention from the menu to her smart phone. She flicked through the photos scanned from Fifi’s 1980’s photo album.

Sven peered over the table. ‘Any likely suspects?’

Eloise shrugged. ‘Hard to tell. The quality is seriously bad.’

Sven surveyed the pair. ‘Could be anyone’s. I mean, at youth group the girls were all blonde. Oh, except for a couple of brunettes. Oh, and I do remember Renard once went out with a Japanese girl. From Japan.’

Eloise swayed her head, then asked, ‘Are you going to order? I’ll have the Caesar salad with chicken.’

‘Wine?’

‘No, just water.’ Eloise nodded at the father and daughter. ‘And a closer look.’

Sven collected the menus and glided past the persons of interest.

[Photo 6: Matching Mother and daughter © C. D. Trudinger 1975]

When he returned, Eloise leaned over. ‘Well?’

‘Hard to tell, actually. It’s quite dark in…’ he paused; his eyes grew wide. ‘O-oh!’

‘What?’

‘I don’t believe it!’ Sven slid down in his seat and covered his face. ‘Not her!’

Eloise twisted around and looked in the direction of Sven’s terror. ‘Is that your…ex? Fifi?’

With hands covering his face, Sven nodded.

Eloise mouthed, “Oh my God!”

‘You can say that again, she’s coming in our direction.’

The curvaceous woman with strawberry blonde curls strutted up to the table. ‘Oh, hi, Eloise, Sven, fancy meeting you here.’

Eloise thinned her lips and whispered, ‘Hi, Fifi, we’d ask you to join us…but…’ pointing to the table where Renard and Zoe sat, ‘delicate operation.’

‘What the heck, Fifi, join us,’ Sven stood and pulled out a chair.

‘Oh, is that okay. If you insist.’ Fifi plonked herself down in the offered chair. She plucked up a spare menu from a neighbouring empty table. ‘What do you recommend?’

Neither Eloise nor Sven replied.

While fingering the menu, Fifi continued, ‘By the way, I had a call from a detective Dee Berry. She’s looking into the Milo Katz accident.’

Sven glared at Fifi. ‘I hope you haven’t dropped me in it. I had enough trouble…’

Fifi made the sign of the cross. ‘I haven’t said a word. I haven’t spoken to the lady yet.’

Sven turned and locked his gaze on Fifi. ‘Keep your bl@#%y mouth shut.’ He then rose from the table and stormed out of the bistro.

Fifi and Eloise glanced at each other.

‘What was that about?’ Eloise asked.

‘Bit of an overreaction,’ Fifi replied while observing Renard and Zoe. ‘Well, what d’ya know. She’s the clone of Lillie.’

Eloise’s lips spread into a wide smile. ‘Thank you, Fifi, I knew you’d figure it out.’

‘At your service,’ Fifi chuckled. ‘You don’t think that’s why old Dee is poking around, do you?’

‘’Fraid not. Strictly possible murder investigation, according to inside sources…’ Eloise lowered her voice, ‘Dan.’

‘Ooh, nasty, I always suspected Sven, but could never…you know.’

Eloise rose her voice. ‘Sven?’

‘Yes, Sven.’

A waiter balancing two plates, one with steak, the other with salad, approached the table.

‘Looks like you’re having the steak,’ Eloise said.

Fifi held up her hand as the waiter placed the steak before her. ‘Fine with me,’ she said.

© Tessa Trudinger 2024

Feature Photo: Autumn Glow © L.M. Kling 2024

***

Sometimes characters spring from real life,

Sometimes real life is stranger than fiction.

Sometimes real life is just real life.

Check out my travel memoirs,

And escape in time and space

To Central Australia.

Click on the links:

The T-Team with Mr. B: Central Australian Safari 1977

Trekking with the T-Team: Central Australian Safari 1981

Or for a greater escape into another world…

Check out my Sci-fi/ dystopian novel,

And click on the link:

The Lost World of the Wends

Travelling Friday…with some Family History

/ lmkling / Leave a comment

T-Team, Next Generation: Uluru (1)

Central Australian Convoy 2013

[Eleven years ago, the T-Team, next generation embarked on their pilgrimage to Central Australia. Purpose: to scatter Dad’s ashes in his beloved Central Australia, in Ormiston Gorge.

[Photo 1: Ron Trudinger(snr), second from the left © scanned from slide courtesy of L.M. Kling circa 1913)]

I add here, that today, is my paternal grandfather’s birthday. In 1886, he was the first of his family to be born in Australia, a true-blue Aussie. His 12 siblings had been born in England, and his parents in Germany. Like the rest of his family, he was full of adventure and yen to travel. Seven of his siblings were missionaries. Some in China, while he and his brother were missionaries in the Sudan. Although his brother then went on to be a missionary in Korea, my grandpa continued his mission work in Sudan for decades until he retired in 1954. But, even after his retirement, the spirit of adventure spurred my grandpa on to travel to Central Australia to visit my uncle in Ernabella at the top end of South Australian, and my dad in Hermannsburg, Northern Territory.

On that note, over the next few weeks, I will continue to take you on a virtual trip to the Centre and memories of that unforgettable holiday in 2013, with my brother and his family; the T-Team Next Generation.]

Uluru—The Sign Not to Climb

Monday, July 8, 2013

Last night, over a game of cards, the T-Team decided to stay an extra night in the Yulara Campsite.

So, that morning, after a well-deserved sleep in, we pottered around the campsite, cooking, sorting, and relaxing. My husband, Anthony was doing a great deal of hunting…things, where were they?

Around midday, the T-Team, loaded up with hampers for a picnic lunch, set off for the Rock. We dutifully lined up at the National Park check point, for our passes.

[Photo 2: First glimpses of Uluru © L.M. Kling 2013]

Once through, Anthony gazed at the Rock. ‘Wow! It’s huge!’

‘It’s even more spectacular third time round,’ I remarked.

‘How long does it take to climb the rock?’ he asked.

‘Oh, a couple of hours, although, we are older; more like my Dad’s age when he climbed with us kids in 1981. He took longer to climb than us.’ I wasn’t keen on climbing and was going to give my excuses (such as inadequate footwear) when we arrived at the climbing site.

[Photo 3: Memories of the T-Team climbing the Rock © L.M. Kling 1981]

We parked the Ford in the first free space we could find. Before us, stood rows upon rows of busses. The area was already swarming with tourists.

‘This’ll be fun,’ I muttered, ‘the Rock’ll be covered with climbers.’

‘Where do we go?’

‘Follow the crowds.’ I sauntered behind a couple with packs on their backs and decked out in state-of-the-art hiking gear. ‘This way.’

We reached the climbing site and gazed up at the empty expanse of rock.

[Photo 4: An empty expanse of Rock © L.M. Kling 2013]

‘What’s happening?’ Anthony asked.

‘Read the notice,’ I answered.

Anthony peered at a sign and read, ‘No entry.’

‘The one behind it,’ I sighed.

Anthony frowned. ‘Hmm, due to high winds the Rock is off-limits.’

The rest of the T-Team arrived. They milled around the gate as if willing the sign to change.

[Photo 5: The Forbidding Sign © L.M. Kling 2013]

‘Well, that’s a bummer!’ Mrs. T said. ‘I wanted to climb the Rock.’

‘We can explore the Olgas instead.’ Rick pointed at the pale blue (distant) stumps of Kata Tjuta. ‘We can have lunch there.’

With long faces, the T-Team trekked back to their vehicles, and we sped west down the Lassiter Highway to Kata Tjuta.

[Photo 6: And leaving Uluru behind…for now © L.M. Kling 2013]

Over lunch, my brother and wife discussed with us their reservations about staying another night, as they had not budgeted for it. A reluctant Anthony agreed we would cover the cost of the extra night. After all, having seen the magnificence of the Rock and the Olga’s, Anthony wanted to spend more time exploring these wonders—and hopefully, climb the Rock…another day.

Kata Tjuta

[Photo 7: Then: Walpa Gorge in 1981 © C.D. Trudinger 1981]

As the afternoon light bathed the conglomerate boulders of Kata Tjuta in bronze, the T-Team explored Walpa Gorge. Except Mrs. T who had retreated to the van. She had a headache.

The site had been seriously sanitised since the T-Team’s last visit in 1981. All for the tourists and preserving the environment. Parts of the track were paved, with plastic bridges over ditches. The edges were roped off and signs warning of fines for those who chose to stray from the path.

[Photo 8: Walpa Gorge in 2013 © L.M. Kling 2013]

The wind howled through the steep valley between the massive lumps of rock. A hoard of tourists followed us as we marched up Walpa Gorge.

[Photo 9: Tourist Group a-marching © L.M. Kling 2013]

Richard and the T-Lings met us on their return.

‘Boring!’ Richard said. ‘You have to stick to the path.’

‘But I want to still see what’s up there,’ Anthony said.

‘You can get a $135 fine if you go off the path,’ a random lady warned as she passed us.

My younger niece nodded. ‘I know, my brother just went a little off the path and this Indigenous guy appeared from nowhere and told us we’d be fined.’

‘So, I jumped right back on the path again,’ my nephew added. ‘I didn’t want a fine.’

As the T-Team Next Generation, we then hiked up Walpa Gorge as far as we could go. Not far, actually. Not like the old days when we climbed to the top of the gorge and could see the “plum pudding” rock formation on the other side.

[Photo 10: The Billabong was as far as we could go © L.M. Kling 2013]
[Photo 11: Top of Walpa Gorge back in the old days © L.M. Kling (nee Trudinger) 1977]

Valley of Winds

From Walpa Gorge, the T-Team drove along the road to the Valley of Winds. After a short hike to the vantage point, we admired the view of boulders that had taken on the formation of rounded steppingstones. A school group passed by. They chatted amongst each other entertaining us onlookers with snatches of assorted topics ranging from food, to adventures in the cold.

[Photo 11: The Valley of Winds © L.M. Kling 2013]

The Mystery of the Missing Boots

Evening and Anthony insisted on cooking sausages using the camping BBQ facilities provided. Finally, after what seemed an eternity, the snags were ready. Even shared a few with the teenaged T-Lings who have hollow legs when it came to food.

Then, as the campsite descended into darkness, Anthony’s voice rose in frustration. ‘Lee-Anne, where are your boots?’

‘Boots? Why do you need my boots?’

‘You need proper hiking boots for hiking,’ he snapped. ‘How are you going to climb the Rock in your sandshoes?’

‘Not going to climb,’ I muttered.

‘Where are they? I’m sure we packed them.’

‘Maybe we didn’t,’ I bit back, then wandered off to the BBQ facilities. There I heated up milk for hot chocolate.

Later, after drinking hot chocolate, I rang Son 1 back in Adelaide. During the conversation, I said, ‘By the way, I am missing my hiking boots. Would you be able to find them and bring them up when you and your brother and Grandma come up to Alice Springs next Saturday?’

Son 1 assured me that he would.

© Lee-Anne Marie Kling 2020; updated 2024

Feature Photo: The Empty Flanks of Uluru © L.M. Kling 2013

***

Virtual Travel Opportunity

For the price of a cup of coffee (takeaway, these days),

Click on the link and download your kindle copy of my travel memoir,

The T-Team with Mr. B: Central Australian Safari 1977

Trekking with the T-Team: Central Australian Safari. (Australia)

Second Friday Crime–Under the Bridge (13)

/ lmkling / Leave a comment

Dee Does Some Digging

Monday, April 11, 2022, 4pm

Adelaide Police HQ

Dee

Dee adjusted her mask. Deep in the bowels of the records office, layers of disturbed dust and mould spores conspired to afflict her sensitive sinuses. Dee wasn’t about to give these enemies of her overactive immune system the pleasure of making her life miserable, so on with the filtering mask.

She wiped her foggy reading glasses and peered at the details from the 1980 file of Mr. Katz’s unfortunate accident.

10pm on Saturday, November 29, 1980, Mr. Rex Ackers finds Mr. Milo Katz (17). Katz slumped near a Stobie pole, on the Esplanade, Sellicks Beach. The motorbike found some thirty meters distance from the victim, landing in Ackers’ front garden. Ackers was not impressed that his freshly planted petunias had been destroyed by the motorbike. He complained that he was quote, “sick and tired” of the thoughtless hoons who roared up and down the Esplanade like it was a speedway and kept him up at night with all their shenanigans”.

Although he had a motive, Mr. Ackers and his 1966 Ford Cortina Mark 1 were ruled out as suspects to having collided with Katz and his motorbike. The Ford Cortina was a pastel green colour whereas the scrape marks on the motorbike were from red paint. Red paint from a red car, Dee concluded.

Dee leafed through the crash report. Motorbike was estimated to be travelling in a northerly direction along the Esplanade at 60km/h, the red car clipped the front wheel of the bike sending it spiralling out of control. The rider was flung from the bike and into the Stobie Pole while the bike careered to a stop thirty metres away in the front yard belonging to Mr. Ackers.

Dee rubbed her itchy nose through the mask. The date bothered her. Why did it seem so familiar? November 29, 1980…What was so special about that particular Saturday night? Sure, it’s forty-two years ago. Dee tried to think. Remember…

1980, the year Dee matriculated. Yes, that’s what graduating from high school was called back then. Dee relived that feeling of her last exam. Once it was over and she stepped out of the school grounds. Relief. Freedom. Liberty. The weight of nose to the grindstone, endless study, cramming all that information into her skull…over. No more books, no more teachers with dirty looks. No more performing.

She walked with a skip in her step down the driveway, past the chapel that looked like rocket ready to launch. No more religion forced down our throats, she thought. I’m free to do as I want.

‘I’m going to have an end of school party,’ she told a friend who was walking with her. Can’t remember who. ‘I’m going to invite everyone in our year.’

Then she spotted the slim blonde, the brainy blonde wheeling her bike out from the bike racks.

‘But I won’t be inviting her,’ she said. ‘Not Lillie. No drips allowed.’

She remembered another time when she and that same friend — darn, what was her name? And why, oh why do names escape her who was almost 60? — laughed at Lillie. “Swatvac”, and somehow, the blonde brainiac was swanning past them. Dee remembered being particularly annoyed by the fact that her nemesis had both intelligence and beauty. So, as Lillie brushed past their desk, Dee remarked, ‘Bet Lillie’s still a virgin; how sad!’

Her friend, who she remembered was quite “loose” with her love with the fellas, joined in. ‘Heh, no one wants poor Lillie.’

Dee watched and laughed with her friend as Lillie walked away hurt and confused.

© Tessa Trudinger 2024

Feature Photo: Sunset at Sellicks Beach © L.M. Kling 2017

***

Sometimes characters spring from real life,

Sometimes real life is stranger than fiction.

Sometimes real life is just real life.

Check out my travel memoirs,

And escape in time and space

To Central Australia.

Click on the links:

The T-Team with Mr. B: Central Australian Safari 1977

Trekking with the T-Team: Central Australian Safari 1981

Or for a greater escape into another world…

Check out my Sci-fi/ dystopian novel,

And click on the link:

The Lost World of the Wends

Second Friday Crime–Under the Bridge (10)

/ lmkling / Leave a comment

[In this chapter, I just couldn’t resist a visit to the Flinders Ranges by my characters. As this South Australian mountain range is one of my favourite places and art muse, I have interspersed this rather long chapter with some of my paintings.]

PASS THE PEACE

Tuesday March 1, 2022, 9:00pm

Church on Flinders Street

Lillie Remembers

Lillie wasn’t much of a “Fringe” goer, but Jimmy’s band had a gig in town, and she had dutifully gone to support him. Around 9:00pm, the middle-aged couple ambled up (meaning heading east) Flinders Street. Lillie grumbled that they had to park so far away because there were no parks. Jimmy was simply happy that, after a long hiatus, his band could perform again. He had no complaints about parking way up Flinders Street, as it meant people were again out and about and the city was coming alive once more. Lillie stressed that she didn’t like crowds, and her back and feet ached from all the walking.

Jimmy just grinned at her and said, ‘Good exercise, Lillie.’

An unimpressed Lillie grunted in response. Another unwelcome reference to my weight, she thought.

East of the city centre, they passed the church. Men of all shapes, sizes and ages spilled out of the Lutheran church.

Jimmy glanced at the historic structure that glowed in the dark and a wide smile spread across his face. ‘Remember?’

Lillie glanced back at the men gathering in groups of two or three, happily chatting. She frowned. ‘I’d rather forget.’

At that moment, a red classic, and freshly renovated Ford Falcon XB roared past, causing Lillie to remember all the same.

***

[Painting 1: Sunrise on Brachina Gorge, Flinders Ranges © L.M. Kling]

Church on Flinders Street

May 1978

Lillie

The sanctuary of the church appeared crammed full of young people; they squeezed onto benches, pressed up against the walls and almost swung from the rafters. Looking like Moses but dressed in mohair, the minister stood above his congregation who buzzed with enthusiasm and hormones. He raised his hands and lisped, “Pass the Peace.”  The two boys on either side of her, reached across Lillie, as if she didn’t exist, and shook hands. Lillie stared across the crowded hall, the song ‘Some Enchanted Evening’ swimming in her head rather than a chorus from the Green Book. He wasn’t a stranger, not to her.

For Lillie, the popular pastor and his pantomime out of the pulpit, and the crowds caught in his spell, didn’t exist. Only he mattered, on the far side, fourth row from the front, thick black hair tumbling over his strong square jaw, his brown eyes fixed on the pastor. Her heart jumped to life and fluttered against her rib cage. She narrowed her eyes. Who is that girl? That round girl with the big blue eyes? Hate her!

As the pastor droned, could have been “begattings” and “thou shalts and nots” from Deuteronomy for all she cared, Lillie flicked spying glances on him, dagger looks on her beside him.

[Painting 2: Sunlight through a Flinders Creek © L.M. Kling]

Supper: after squeezing though the throng, shaking the pastor’s hand, Lillie entered the side hall. She drew in the instant coffee flavoured aroma and smiled as the clinking of cups greeted her. Young men and women bunched together gossiping, standing so close Lillie found no wedge of space between them to lever herself in. She stood on the outside of the groups, alone. Groups congregated and dispersed, people moved and jostled, acted and reacted, embraced and retracted under the fluorescent light.

Clutching her home-woven woollen tote bag, she side-stepped to the tea stand.

‘No milk!’ said a girl. She struggled to hide her protruding teeth between her lips. Her hazel eyes brightened. ‘Wookie!’

A man, appearing like the Wookie character, Chewbacca from Star Wars in size and amount of hair on his face blundered past, spilling boiling tea on Lillie’s flared jeans. Hot tea, no milk, no sugar, no ‘oops’ or ‘sorry’ as he brushed her on his bumbling way into the masses.

An acquaintance, from school, flitted past, mincing steps in her tight-fitting paisley pants, and layers of multicoloured silk. Primping her hippie afro, she stopped in mid-flight scratched the air chirping a brief ‘hello’. She glanced at Lillie’s plain black shoes, her beak curled and then she flew away into the crowd.

Lillie gazed down at her stupid shoes, scavenged from an op shop, she wiped her hands over her faded hand-me-down jeans, and tugged at her worn poodle jacket.

So, I’m not rich, she thought. No dad either. At least her best friend, Fifi and she were equal in the “no dad’ department now.

Lillie looked around the room, young ladies like peacocks strutting their Country Road rags, flaunting the fruits of love from wealthy parents. What was she doing here? She felt frumpy, everybody averting their eyes from her, avoiding her. She stared at the stained pine floorboards, her temples prickling with heat. Bad idea! Bad idea! What was I thinking? She twisted the bag handle in her fist and resolved to fight her way to the exit.

Fingers pinched her shoulder. ‘Lillie!’ A man’s deep voice rang.

Her heart skipped a beat as she turned. ‘Jimmy!’ She crossed her arms and focussed on his angular shoulders poking through his white t-shirt. His chicken breast chest rose and fell under the weight of a leather jacket. ‘So…’ Don’t think about the pass! Don’t get into conversation about the pass. It’s all in the past. ‘I haven’t seen you since – um…’ Just be thankful I have someone to talk to. Pink elephants. Mmm! I hope he doesn’t…I mean he’s just my best friend’s brother.

‘April? Easter in the…’

‘Flinders.’ She tried to avoid his sapphire blue eyes. Please don’t lead the conversation in that direction. ‘I like the jacket.’

‘Yeah?’ He pulled at the collar. ‘Makes me look like a rock star – Jim Edwards by name, Jim Morrison by nature.’

‘You do realise Jimmy Edwards is a British comedian,’ she said.

Jimmy laughed. ‘Famous, all the same.’

[Painting 3: Dinnertime, Arkaroola, Northern Flinders Ranges © L.M. Kling]

How did he afford an authentic leather jacket? It made her wonder about her brother Sven, who suddenly, at the beginning of the year, had cash to buy a year-old 1976 Ford Falcon XB. A shiny red Ford Falcon that looked like a slick shark and roared like a lion. She never asked. He never said. Same as he never questioned her about Mr. Percy Edwards’ disappearance. Neither did his son, Jimmy for that matter.

‘You like?’ Jimmy swayed, showing off his jacket.

‘Hardly!’ Lillie sighed. She felt stranded. Yes, he’s a friend.What happened in the Flinders stays in the Flinders, he should understand that. He should. Let it pass. There’s that word again. Just friends. Why do they always want more?

Jimmy nudged her arm. ‘Hey, Lillie, did you see me in the band?’

Stop trying to impress me! ‘Oh, er…’ She didn’t want to hurt his feelings, ‘I was way down the back, couldn’t see much of – except…’ her voice trailed into the thick of the hubbub. Francis Renard stood in a group, head and shoulders taller, so close, just Jimmy, and the groupies surrounding Francis dividing them. As Jimmy continued to try and impress her, Lillie patted her blonde locks and pulled at her cream skivvy, desperate to catch Francis’s attention.

A lull. Jimmy paused. Lillie snapped her attention back to him. ‘You were saying?’

Jimmy’s eyes narrowed and he bit his trembling lip. ‘You weren’t listening – what is it back there?’

Lillie shrugged. Sprung!

Jimmy glanced over his shoulder. ‘Oh! Fruitcake!’ He turned back hunching over as if trying to retreat into the shell of his leather jacket.

Lillie pointed in Francis’s direction. ‘Is that…?’

Jimmy darted his eyes from side to side.

‘Lucky Sven isn’t here,’ she said. For Lillie, this comment had a double meaning. One, her big brother wasn’t there to interfere. Two, he wasn’t there to cause a scene menacing with his .22 rifle or his fists in Francis’s face.

Jimmy straightened up and bared his perfect row of teeth. ‘Well, it’s been a long day. I’m off.’ He patted Lillie’s cheek. ‘You need a lift?’

‘It’s okay,’ Lillie pulled away from any further Jim touches, ‘I have a lift.’ Her nose tingled with the lie. Sure, Jimmy lived next door, but after the Flinders Ranges camping trip, she had avoided Jimmy’s offers for a lift. Just didn’t seem right, him being Fifi’s brother and one of Sven’s friends. Although, when she considered their relationship, it was one-sided; Jimmy always coming over to visit Sven and Jimmy always the one suggesting they go to the beach to surf or a water-skiing trip up the river.

Pity Sven didn’t go to the youth service. He’d avoided church and all things religious since Easter. Come to think of it, since Dad had gone. He blamed God.

‘See ya at the coffee shop?’ Jimmy nodded at her, then dug his hands in his jeans pockets and sauntered out the exit and into the darkness.

[Painting 4: Evening Camp, Arkaroola, Northern Flinders Ranges © L.M.Kling]

Lillie loped up to Francis’s group. She knew some of the crew from the coffee shop. ‘Hi,’ she said and grinned, her knees melting like wax in the presence of Francis. So suave. So French.

One by one the members of the group groaned their excuses and drifted away, leaving Francis fidgeting opposite Lillie. He nodded, opened his ribbon lips to bare his teeth. She noticed he had a slight gap between his top front teeth.

Cute, she thought.

Lillie’s tongue tied up in knots rendering her mute, while her brain offered suggestions and lines her voice rejected. She felt like a fish out of water gasping for air or any idea floating around that might hook him in.

He shrugged and then darted for the door.

Lillie raced after him and onto the footpath. Catching him by the arm, she said, ‘Look, about Sven…’

He stopped; his broad shoulders flinched. He spun around to face Lillie. ‘Who are you?’

She sprang back, his question sinking like a lead weight to the pit of her stomach. ‘But we – I mean we – I thought…’ she scrambled for an explanation.

He raised an eyebrow having a Sean Connery expression about him.

‘At Easter – in the Flinders…’ Lillie wrung her hands in her poodle jacket sleeves. ‘You and your friends were our next-door neighbours.’

‘You? No!’ He pointed at her black shoes. ‘You’re lucky I didn’t report him to the police. I have friends in the force, you know.’

‘I’m sorry about him. He means well, I mean…’ Lillie rubbed her fake woollen arms. ‘I mean, he was just trying to protect me in his own way. Being my brother ‘n all.’

‘What? Pointing a .22 rifle in my head?’ Francis aimed his index finger at his ear. He breathed out plumes of steam into the autumn air. ‘What did I do to provoke ‘im?’

[Painting 5: Rawnsley Bluff, Flinders Ranges © L.M. Kling]

‘Yeah, point taken.’ Lillie looked down at the damp asphalt, then glanced up at him. ‘Are you going anywhere near Glenelg? I need a lift.’ As soon as she produced that little gem, thoughts of recrimination crowded in. Have you got rocks in your head? What made you blurt that out? What if he takes you up on the offer? He won’t. Besides, he’s at least five years older than you. You tart! Mole! Am not! He’s spunky, I like him. Yeah, well he might just be a serial rapist and killer for all you know. He’s not, I’m sure he isn’t. Look at all those girls that have gone missing. He wouldn’t do that. Not him. What if he’s all hands going everywhere? What then? Hmm? Don’t be silly, he hasn’t taken up the offer yet.

‘I’m sorry, little girl, I cannot ‘elp you. No?’ Francis stared down at Lillie. ‘I’m going in the opposite direction. And I ‘ave university tomorrow and an early lecture. No?’

‘Yeah, fine.’ Lillie shrugged, then turned towards the amber lights of the hall. See, I was right. I knew he wouldn’t accept. Still, worth a try. She heard the click of a car door opening. She looked over her shoulder.

‘Maybe I see you at the Social Saturday night?’ she asked.

‘Maybe,’ she thought she heard him say. Bang! The door slammed shut. The car roared to life and disappeared east up Flinders Street in a cloud of smoke.

Fine rain spat on Lillie’s crown as she plodded towards King William Street. 9:00pm, Sven would be in the Pancake Parlour by this time. She’d hitch a ride home, so to speak, in her brother’s almost new red Ford Falcon XB.

© Tessa Trudinger 2024

Feature painting: Echo Camp, Arkaroola, Northern Flinders Ranges © L.M. Kling

***

Sometimes characters spring from real life,

Sometimes real life is stranger than fiction.

Sometimes real life is just real life.

Check out my travel memoirs,

And escape in time and space

To Central Australia.

Click on the links:

The T-Team with Mr. B: Central Australian Safari 1977

Trekking with the T-Team: Central Australian Safari 1981

Or for a greater escape into another world…

Check out my Sci-fi/ dystopian novel,

And click on the link:

The Lost World of the Wends

Second Friday Crime–Under the Bridge (7)

/ lmkling / Leave a comment

Discoveries Awaiting

Sunday February 6, 11am

Magill Bakery,

Lillie

The Kitchener bun, its mouth between the sweet bread filled with cream, begged Lillie to take it. Eat it.

[Photo 1: A Kitchener bun courtesy of Pintrest]

Lillie ruminated over the Sunday after the week of false starts, the threat of staff strikes and extended sullen preparations for a messy beginning to the school term. The week ahead loomed. As if the official rollover of High School beginnings for Year 7’s that pulled it in line with the other states, was not challenging enough, now the virus had reared its spikey head again. A staggered start. Sevens and Eights and the Twelves, back at school face to face, but the middle years on zoom, yet again.

‘How’s it all going to work, Jimmy?’ Lillie asked the man with long greying hair tied back in a ponytail.

Her husband, Jimmy popped a handful of gluten-free lentil chips in his mouth and crunched. ‘You’re the expert, you tell me.’

Lillie pointed at the Magill Bakery display window. ‘I’m having one of those, the Kitchener bun. I deserve it. What’ll you have? The usual?’

Jimmy shrugged and munched on some more chips. ‘Yup.’

Once they had entered the bakery, Lillie pulled out her credit card from her glossy black bag and ordered a salad sandwich, gluten free, of course, and iced coffee for Jimmy. For herself she requested a pie plus Kitchener bun and long black coffee with milk on the side. The she waved her card over the machine offered and listened for the affirming ping of transaction success.

Lillie smiled and repeated, ‘I deserve a little treat.’

The couple sat at a table near the automatic sliding door under the cool breeze of the air conditioning vent. They settled, first course on white plates arrived and they removed their masks.

Lillie noticed Jimmy’s lips stretch in an expression of disapproval and she said, yet again, ‘I’m treating myself. I deserve it.’

‘You say that every Sunday after church when we come here,’ Jimmy remarked.

Lillie pouted. ‘Well, after the week I’ve had.’

‘It’s always such a week you’ve had.’

‘The trials and tribulations of being a secondary school principal, dear.’

Jimmy glanced at her not so healthy choices and frowned. ‘No rest for the wicked.’

Lillie leaned back in her chair, her wide girth prominent. ‘And what do you mean by that comment?’

‘Er, nothing my love, just banter, a saying, so to speak.’

‘I hope so,’ Lillie tucked into her pie with sauce, ‘because it’s not easy running a large and prestigious college at these times.’

‘No, dear,’ Jimmy stood up and strolled over to the counter where he picked up the latest Sunday paper. ‘Crossword, dear?’

Lillie sniffed. ‘If it’s not half-done.’

‘I could go to the newsagents…’

‘Don’t bother, got my Words with Friends.’

After shaking his head, Jimmy sat down and spread out the paper on his side of the table.

Lillie finished her pie and then took a bite of bun. With mouth full and hand outstretched, said, ‘Crossword, dear?’

*[Photo 2: Kookaburra in Magill © L.M. Kling 2016]

Several minutes of silence ensued as husband scanned the latest news, and Lillie puzzled over the crossword. Wife shifted in her seat; just couldn’t get comfortable. Words for the clues eluded her. Was she growing demented?

Lillie studied the black and white squares of the puzzle. ‘Another word for fox. Really? Who compiles these crosswords?’

‘There’s over 20000 cases and two more people died,’ Jimmy said.

‘It’s like the critter is stalking me,’ Lillie muttered while hovering her pencil over the crossword. Everywhere she looked these days, her past shadowed her. Memories from her youth attached themselves to every thread of her thoughts. A burden tempting her to confess deeds done over 40 years ago. She must resist. Too much to lose.

Jimmy looked up. ‘You say something?’

Lillie swayed her head and pinned back a bleached strand from her face.

‘Are you okay?’

‘I’m fine.’

Jimmy reached over and held her hand. ‘You know, I was thinking.’

‘That sounds dangerous.’

‘Yes, well, it’s a big zero birthday for you this year.’

‘Don’t remind me.’

‘Anyway, I was wondering what we, I mean the family could get you for your special day.’

Lillie sighed. ‘If you think I want an exercise bike or gym membership…’

‘I know we talked about an overseas holiday or even a trip to Tasmania, but um under the circumstances…’

‘I agree, a caravan and a trip to Robe?’ Lillie chuckled.

Jimmy grinned. ‘Caravan, hadn’t thought about that.’

‘They’re everywhere, love. Like there’s a secret caravan breeding programme going on.’

*[Photo 3: Caravan cutie, Mambray Creek, Flinders Ranges © C.D. Trudinger circa1959]

Jimmy snorted and laughed.

‘Only problem is. We’d need the four-wheel drive to pull it, and they’re not cheap, especially now.’

‘And not exactly something we can afford right now. What with bailing out my brother again and forking out more money to save our daughter, Tiffy from that scam she got tangled up in, we don’t have much left in the kitty.’

‘And all the gigs for our band have dried up over the last two years,’ Jimmy added.

‘Yes, that too.’ Lillie sighed. ‘So, my big birthday will have to be a rather simple affair this year.’

‘What I was thinking,’ Jimmy squeezed her hand, ‘what about a DNA testing kit. I’ve been doing some family history research and I reckon it would be interesting finding out where we come from. I mean, remember I got one of those things for Christmas from our nephew, Jacob. We could do the test together. Think of all the discoveries we could make.’

Lillie narrowed her eyes. ‘Nup, not happening.’

‘Don’t you want to know? I mean, your dad disappeared too. Left you, and somewhere, out there you might have a whole new second family.’

‘Like your dad?’ Lillie wagged a finger at her husband. ‘I see where this is going. You want to do your DNA, and then trot along to the police station and wave it in front of their faces saying, “Do you have any John Does matching this profile?’’ She scooped up cream from her plate and licked her finger. ‘Nup, not interested. It’s in the past. Water under the bridge. If those bones we found all those years ago were anything to do with your dad and your family, the police would have gotten back to us. Besides, from what I remember of your dad and what your sister has said about him, it was best that he left. Like my dad, he was a bad egg.’

Jimmy bit his lip. ‘He was still my dad. He had his faults. But, um what I want is closure.’

He then rubbed his nose and looked away.

*[Photo 4: Birthday Cake © L.M. Kling 2023]

Lillie shoved her empty Kitchener bun plate to the side of the table. ‘DNA? Not happening. You do realise that it’s all a rip off. I’ve read half the time they make it up.’ The sugary yeast bun and cream was beginning to give her indigestion. She burped. ‘End of discussion.’

Jimmy folded the newspaper. ‘Caravan? Holiday to Robe?’

Lillie glared at her husband.

‘Camping trip to the Flinders Ranges?’

‘I have work to do.’ Lillie stood up. ‘Let’s go.’

*[Photo 5 and Feature: View near Flava Café, Christies Beach © L.M. Kling 2023]

Sunday, February 6, 2pm

Café at Christies Beach

Eloise

Eloise and Fifi shared a generous serve of battered Port Lincoln flathead, chips and salad. Fifi kept an eye on the Bay Marie hoping no one would snaffle up the last chocolate mousse. Eloise settled on the citrus tart—if she had room. It seemed the more they went to this place, the larger the serves became.

Fifi smiled. ‘A continuation of our family saga, and away from prying ears, so to speak…’

‘What?’

‘You know how I don’t seem to fit in my family.’

‘No but go on.’ El leaned forward.

‘Anyway, I decided to settle the matter. You know how you were going on about getting your DNA done? Well, I did it.’

‘You ordered a test then?’

‘Yeah, I got it for my son, Jacob to give me at Christmas. I gave one to Jimmy, too.’

‘How did that go down?’

‘Not too good. Jimmy my brother was okay with it, but you should’ve seen Lillie. She went white, and then argued that we were condemning the family and any crimes my descendant might commit in the future would be discovered through my DNA. “Done it in America with the Golden Gate killer,” she said. It ruined the whole afternoon with her going on and on about it.’

‘I wonder what crimes Lillie’s committed that she’s so mental about the whole DNA thing?’ El said and laughed.

‘Hmm, I wonder what she’s hiding,’ Fifi said and chortled. ‘Well, I’m going to snaffle that…’

[Photo 6: Cappuccino still available and delicious © L.M. Kling 2023]

A small whiney voice interrupted Fifi’s thought of mousse-poaching. ‘Hi, there Eloise and Fiona. I couldn’t help over-hearing…’

El and Fifi snapped their attention to the owner of that whiney voice. Shaz with chocolate on her lips, grinned at them. The last mousse in her possession. ‘I just wanted to say, I done my DNA and it’s amazing. They traced me back to Queen Elizabeth the first of England.’

‘How’s that possible?’ Fifi asked. She knew her history.

‘Well, they did.’

‘Not a direct descendant,’ El remarked. She knew how family history worked. She’d been working on her ancestral trees for five years now.

‘Huh? What’s a direct descendant?’

El sighed. ‘Sorry, dear, but we must get going. See you at art?’

As El and Fifi left the establishment and made their way to the car, Fifi whispered, ‘I swear that girl is stalking you.’

‘I have wondered, and wouldn’t be surprised,’ El said. ‘I’ve got a creepy feeling about her. By the way, have you got the results back yet?’

‘Not yet, I waited a bit before doing the deed, Christmas and New Year ‘n all that. And I reckon Lillie’s stopping Jimmy from taking the test. But mine should be ready soon. Maybe there’s some cousins…’

© Tessa Trudinger 2024

Feature Photo: View near Flava Café, Christies Beach © L.M. Kling 2023

***

Sometimes characters spring from real life,

Sometimes real life is stranger than fiction.

Sometimes real life is just real life.

Check out my travel memoirs,

And escape in time and space

To Central Australia.

Click on the links:

The T-Team with Mr. B: Central Australian Safari 1977

Trekking with the T-Team: Central Australian Safari 1981

Or for a greater escape into another world…

Check out my Sci-fi/ dystopian novel,

And click on the link:

The Lost World of the Wends

Second Friday Crime Fiction–Under the Bridge (5)

/ lmkling / 2 Comments

The Thin Blue Semblance of Control

Monday, January 17, 2022, 1:00pm

Adelaide CBD Police HQ

Dan Hooper

That same Monday, also in the afternoon, DCI Dan Hooper had the option of working from home. However, being conscientious, once his little two-bedroom abode in Morphettville, became too hot, he drove the quiet roads of January in Adelaide to his office in the CBD.

He parked in his allotted government-granted car space in the adjacent carparking station and made the brief walk past the pathology department to the Adelaide Police Station.

[Photo 1: Sea Mist Adelaide city © L.M. Kling 2020]

After adjusting his mask, QR coding, and rubbing disinfectant on his hands, Dan took the downward steps into the open-space office area. He stopped and breathed in the refrigerated air. So good to be working in air-conditioned comfort while the rest of the city broiled through a rare day for this summer’s heat. A heat that for Adelaide, was disturbingly humid.

Somehow, the city itself seemed to be the epicentre of heat, only rivalled by Dan’s townhouse near Morphettville racecourse. His air con system blew only warm air from the outside, more of a heater than an evaporative cooler. Despite Dan’s efforts to secure an air conditioner repairer, the dearth of tradesmen at the time made the dream melt into the distant future.

‘I could see if I could fit you in, May, perhaps?’ said one such well-advertised repairer.

Dan strode to his desk and slid down into ergonomic office chair. He chuckled. Still, nothing like the heat up north in the Territory. He flicked through files on his computer. Assignments piling up and less bodies to do the work.

He missed Eloise Delany, his partner. The increasing workload had taken its toll.

Dan sighed, stretched, stood and strolled over to the coffee vending machine. ‘Right, a coffee before a slow day wading through the emails, files, maybe some follow-up phone calls…’

A computer printout over the machine announced, “COFFEE MACHINE TEMPORARILY OUT OF ORDER.”

[Photo 2: The joys of Robot service, Halls Gap, Victoria © L.M. Kling 2023]

Dan rolled his eyes and shook his head. ‘Temporary? It’s been like this since Christmas. What’s this? Can’t get a coffee machine repairer either, I guess. January’s like that; everyone, except me, is on holidays.’ Dan had toyed with the idea of visiting his grown-up daughters in Switzerland over Christmas but decided against the venture. Apart from the expense of overseas travel at this time, he preferred the stinking heat to the cold and snow. The novelty of snow had worn off years ago. The girls had promised to visit next year when things settled down.

[Photo 3: Snow in Switzerland on the Santis—even in summer! © L.M. Kling 2014]

After resolving to later in the day brave the cloying heat and buy a takeaway coffee from the little café across the road, Dan once more settled in his chair. He shifted the mouse on the pad to wake up his computer. Only gone a few minutes, and already it had gone to sleep. ‘Like the rest of this town,’ Dan muttered.

After a brief flicker of the windows screen, the monitor turned an ominous shade of black. No explanation. Just black. Not ominous really. Just annoying.

‘I don’t believe it!’ Dan mumbled. ‘Worse than…’

‘Glad I’m not the only one; it was getting lonely in here with so many away and working at home,’ a voice above him spoke.

Dan swung his chair around and looked up. ‘Oh, Rory, g’day.’

 ‘I have a job for you, Dan.’ His boss, Rory Roberts hooked his thumbs in his belt loops. ‘Cold case. Some added information, just come through.’

Great! As if I haven’t got enough on my plate, Dan thought and then said, ‘Which one?’ he knew his reputation for solving mysterious cases preceded him. ‘Missing persons? Alien abductions?’

‘Why don’t we nip over to the café for a coffee, and I can tell you what I have in mind.’

‘Why not? I can do with a coffee.’

[Photo 4: Coffee time © L.M. Kling 2023]

In the cool climes of a café just on Mill Street behind the Supreme Court, Dan and his boss sat at a booth facing each other.

Dan sipped his cappuccino. ‘So, Rory, what have you got for me?’

‘Well, Dan, I don’t know if it will amount to anything, but I had a call from the public. I think they’ve been holding onto this information for more than forty years.’

‘Death-bed confession?’

‘Something like that.’ Rory spooned froth from his cup and licked his teaspoon. ‘You remember a certain Walter Katz? I was checking the files, and your name came up. As a young constable you attended the scene.’

‘Ah, I remember. My first call out.’ Dan laughed. ‘The chubby guy wrapped around the Stobie pole. I’ll never forget that. And losing my breakfast.’

‘Yep, that’s the one.’

‘I thought it was a case of misadventure. Motorbike, showing off, riding too fast with all that gravel down there on the Esplanade at Sellicks…’

[Photo 5: Sellicks Beach © L.M. Kling 1984]

‘There’s been a development,’ Rory said. ‘A panel beater who was working at Lonsdale at the time, had some religious experience. Converted, or whatever they do these days in the church, and he felt that he needed to get this thing off his chest.’

‘Right. Hardly a challenge if he did it.’

‘He did the panel beating. On a red Ford Falcon XB 1976 model.’

‘Cool. Go on.’

‘What’s remarkable is that he kept the details of the job. He was meticulous in that way. And what troubled him was the blood he found on the driver’s side headlight.’

‘And he never came forward with that information?’ Dan said and took another sip of his coffee.

‘Until today. At the time, the lad whose car he was fixing said he’d hit a roo and of course, you know how often lads hit animals out in the country, he believed him. End of story.’ Rory took a slurp of his coffee and continued. ‘The thing was, it was only when his wife managed to hit a few roos writing off her car on a trip back from Queensland, that he began to re-visit his repairs on the Ford. You see, this guy was meticulous. He even took photographs, before and after, which back then was rare, considering how expensive film was. So, when he found the file and compared the damage, he also noticed a streak of black paint on the car’s right side. And of course, he examined the photo of the car damage and said he was sure that the Ford had hit another car, or a motorbike, not a roo.’

‘Interesting, I’ll look into it.’ Dan rubbed his hands. ‘I wonder if the Ford Falcon still exists. They go for quite a bit nowadays.’

‘Good, I’ll email the details of the accident to you.’ Rory smiled. ‘I’ve teamed you up with Dee. Hope you don’t mind. I know she can be difficult.’

Dan sighed, and said with a tone of sarcasm, ‘Rory, you’ve made my day.’

[Photo 6: Happy Kangaroo, Aldinga Scrub © L.M. Kling 2023]

Back in the office, having “borrowed” his absent neighbour’s desk and computer, Dan drank a second coffee in a foam takeaway cup. He gleaned mechanic Warick Wilke’s statement. He peered at the address given. ‘Kapunda,’ he sighed. ‘A long drive, but it should be worth it.’

Dan felt slightly awkward at the thought. He and Dee had history…

His mobile vibrated. He stared at the time displayed, five o’clock and swiped to accept call.

‘Hi Dan, it’s Eloise.’

‘Hi Eloise, how are you enjoying your holiday?’

‘Painting,’ Eloise said, ‘I love it.’

‘But you miss the excitement of the force?’

‘No. Actually, this is not a social call.’

‘Oh.’

‘You see, while painting with my friend, Fifi, she shared with me some troubling information. I just wondered if you could investigate it.’

Dan inhaled. ‘Let it go, Eloise.’

[Photo 7: Autumn vineyard, Barossa Valley © L.M. Kling 2017]

‘No, I’m serious. The story she told me has been bothering me. I know I can’t do much now. But I just thought, you could put some feelers out. I’m sorry, I know you are busy and all that. But…’

‘You just want to help.’

‘Yes, you see my friend Fi’s father went missing forty-four years ago. 1978, to be exact. She said, that a few years later, in 1980 her and her friends came upon a corpse. Fi was sure it was her father and her friend Lillie said she’d reported the finding to the police. But, Dan, what worries me, is that nothing was ever done. Nobody ever contacted her, nor the family,’ Eloise explained.

‘Well, it was the ‘80’s.’

‘I know, explains how so many people could go missing and never a result. But, still, I feel for my friend and want resolution for her. You understand, don’t you?’

Dan exhaled. He wanted to say, Why don’t you just come back, Eloise? But he refrained. He knew she needed this time to rest and heal from burnout. ‘Look, Eloise, you understand that I’m terribly busy, just got another cold case to handle today. Oh, and I’m working with Dee. But I’ll see what I can do.’

‘I pity you, but anyway, thank you.’ Eloise breathed. ‘The MISPA’s name is Percy Wilbur Edwards born 1925. Went missing January 1978.’

Eloise proceeded to give the details of Percy’s beachside suburb address at the time and what Fifi recalled of his movements the day he disappeared. She also conveyed Fifi’s vague directions where they had seen the corpse and the date that had occurred.

Dan nodded and concluded the call with the words, ‘I’ll look into it.’

Intending to call this Warick Wilke, Dan picked up the phone, the landline. Then he placed the receiver down. ‘Darn! I must go with Dee.’

© Tessa Trudinger 2024

*Feature Photo: Proud Owner of a red Charger © courtesy of L.M. Kling 1989

***

Sometimes characters spring from real life,

Sometimes real life is stranger than fiction.

Sometimes real life is just real life.

Check out my travel memoirs,

And escape in time and space

To Central Australia.

Click on the links:

The T-Team with Mr. B: Central Australian Safari 1977

Trekking with the T-Team: Central Australian Safari 1981

Or for a greater escape into another world…

Check out my Sci-fi/ dystopian novel,

And click on the link:

The Lost World of the Wends

Friday Crime Fiction–Under the Bridge (4)

/ lmkling / Leave a comment

Chapter 3

Painting Pals

Monday, January 17, 2022

Church Hall in a Seaside Suburb of Adelaide

Eloise

The sun’s rays filtered through the dust motes of the church hall near the seaside. The air conditioner thrummed pumping out the sticky 40-degree Celsius heat that Monday afternoon in January.

Eloise Delaney unloaded her motley collection of watercolour palettes, colour-splattered former honey jars and 300-gsm paper framed with masking tape. She then arranged her brushes. Thick sable, round and soft, like the tip of her tabby cat, Spike’s tail. Great for that initial wash of sky, sea and sand.

She had lined up the thinner brushes in order of detail as the painting progressed. She stroked the finest brush, the one used for her flourish of a signature; the one more than 70-years old from her maternal grandfather’s collection salvaged after the bombing of his home in Nördlingen, Bavaria 1945. It was premium quality being made in Germany.

She sighed, ‘Must do this so nothing is lost.’

‘Talking to yourself already?’ a voice sang. ‘Sign of madness, ya know.’

‘Consequences of early retirement, I guess.’ Eloise laughed. ‘Least I had a social life when I was working.’

‘What do you call this?’ Eloise’s pear-shaped friend flicked a wiry lock of henna tinted hair from her freckled face. ‘Is this seat taken?’

‘Nah, go ahead. I could do with the company, Fi.’

Fifi settled herself on the plastic chair diagonally opposite Eloise, and after fumbling in her tote-bag, produced a mini flask. The thin mauve cannister wobbled on the newspaper that covered the trestle table. ‘I’m economising today; made my own brew.’

‘I’m celebrating,’ Eloise said and held up her takeaway cappuccino from the café down the road. ‘The “Rabbit hole” beareth fruit.’

Fifi pulled out her sketch pad, set of Derwent pencils and three scrunched up tissues. Then she leaned forward ‘What? Oh, your family history. Any noble? Kings and queens? Or, let me guess, some royal fruit from the other side of the royal bed?’

‘Well, actually, sort of…’ Eloise dipped her brush in the former honey pot full of water. ‘France, actually. And a bed of his ancestor’s made long, long ago.’

[Photo 1: Eiffel Tower, Paris © L.M. Kling 2014]

‘Well, I could have told you that, him being French, I mean.’ Fifi wiggled her generous behind on the chair, and then smoothed a fresh page of her sketchbook. ‘Do tell.’

El opened her mouth to spill forth all the juicy gossip about tracing her husband’s tree, a royal line stretching way back beyond Charlemagne and to Julius Caesar—all done without the help of DNA, but hours of research—when the leader stood and welcomed the small art group back from the holiday break.

Plus, there was that strange woman sitting behind them who was listening to every word El spoke. That woman, Sharon Katz, nicknamed Shatz, with the mouse-brown hair and the poisonous mushrooms (picked from the forest and dried) she foisted on El just before Christmas—insisted she take them. Lucky for El, her husband, Francis Renard, as a keen gardener and scientist, warned her of the dangers and she threw the suspect fungi into the bin. The next week, Shatz made a point of asking how El how she was feeling. All holidays El puzzled over Shatz. Had she had a run-in with this Shatz in times past while doing her duty as a police officer? Or was Shatz one of Francis’s former lovers?

‘Tell you another time,’ El whispered. ‘Probably should get Francis’ permission first.’

‘Oh, okay, then.’ Fifi sighed. ‘So, how was your Christmas?’

‘Meh! Glad it’s over for another year, Fi.’ Eloise smiled. ‘Francis and I had a quiet one on the actual day, then we all went to my cousin’s in Flagstaff Hill on Boxing Day. It was a disaster. You know, in the middle of Christmas lunch, which I might add, was leftovers from their Christmas day, someone, not mentioning any names, just had to bring up the latest controversy circulating on Fox News. Next thing, arguments all round. Renard and I left early and walked around the newly opened Happy Valley Reservoir. At least that part of Boxing Day was enjoyable.’

[Photo 2: Happy Valley Reservoir © L.M. Kling 2022]

‘Well, my Christmas Day, thanks for asking, Eloise,’ Fifi’s lips tightened for a moment, ‘I don’t know why we bother and make such a fuss about the whole thing.’

‘Yeah, I know, the novelty wore off years ago. I just wish we could get back to the basics, the real meaning of Christmas and celebrate that.’

Fifi nodded. ‘Yeah, who needs another voucher? All we do is exchange money and vouchers these days. Where did the love go? Although, in my family, even with all those kids my parents had, there wasn’t much love.’

‘Really? I always envied your big family.’

Fifi sniffed. ‘If you really knew my family and what went on behind closed doors, you wouldn’t be envious.’

‘Why?’ Eloise may have been taking time out from her job as a detective, but she had not lost her inquisitive nature. ‘What went on behind closed doors?’

‘My dad, when he was around, was a pompous twat.’

‘How so?’ Eloise asked. She noticed Shatz, lifting her head, looking at them and listening again. Her curiosity annoyed El and she turned around and glared at the woman. Shatz dropped her eyes down to her sheet of paper and pretended to work on her pastel rendition of a bullfrog.

Shatz’s eavesdropping didn’t bother Fifi who continued, ‘He was hard on us kids. If we did the slightest thing wrong, he’d thrash us. Typical of his generation and background, European, you see. He thought you hit kids into submission. And, as for girls, they were to be seen, but not heard. He treated us girls like slaves.’ Fifi thumped the table. ‘I hated him.’

Fifi’s cannister of coffee toppled from the table and rolled on the floor.

Shatz picked up the cannister and handed it back to Fifi. ‘My dad was the same,’ she said before El’s frown drove her back to her seat to resume painting.

El then said, ‘He didn’t mellow in his old age?’

‘He left and…’ Fifi paused, ‘…and I was glad. Life improved after he was gone.’

Eloise studied Fifi and the freckles that danced on her face as her eyes blinked and her mouth twitched. ‘I sense that your father did more than just leave, Fi.’

Fifi’s eyes widened. ‘How did you know that?’

‘Part of the job, Fi. So, what did he really do?’

 ‘It was the strangest thing, Eloise.’ Fifi took a deep breath. ‘One day, my friend Lillie, and Jimmy my brother and I went for a hike up to Mount Lofty. On the way down, we did a bit of exploring. I can’t remember whose idea it was. Anyway, I go looking at this culvert. I had in mind that this hole in the side of the hill could be some disused mine and that I could find gold there. But, when I go down there, I see this body. Just bones and leathery skin over the bones like…but I recognised the boots. Those boots. I had lost count of the times those boots had kicked me…I knew it was my dad. But at the same time, I didn’t want it to be true. I just hoped they, whoever they were, were somebody else with the same type of boots.’

[Photo 3: Mt. Lofty Botanical Gardens © L.M. Kling 2014]

‘Oh, right, when was that?’ Eloise had turned over her paper and had begun to take notes with a piece of charcoal. ‘How long ago, did you say?’

‘Over forty years.’ Fifi replied softly. ‘He’s been gone since January 1978.’

‘Forty-four—exactly.’

‘How did he end up in a ditch? Near an old mine?’

Fifi shrugged. ‘Not sure, but he had enemies.’

‘I see.’

‘You see, we did report it to the police. But nothing happened. Forty years, and nothing. I mean, I know he was a creep and often rubbed people up the wrong way, but he was still my dad. And I just wanted to…you know, find out why he ended up there. Why anyone would. Dead. And no one seems to care.’

Silence for a few minutes. Fifi sipped her coffee while Eloise studied her notes. The happy chatter from fellow artists provided background noise. The air conditioner continued to thrum.

‘Mm,’ Shatz began in a soft voice, ‘my brother was killed in a motorbike…’

El turned and narrowed her eyes at Shatz. Was this woman trying to get attention? she thought.

‘Sorry,’ Shatz said. ‘But I knew Mr. Edwards, he was a real…’

‘Well, of course you did,’ Fifi huffed, ‘we went to the same church, remember?’

‘Never mind, sorry,’ Shatz mumbled.

Another pause.

After the pause, Eloise looked up. ‘Would you like me to follow this up?’

‘I don’t know.’ Fifi wiped her eye. ‘I guess. But isn’t it a bit awkward for you now that you’re…?’

‘No trouble. I can call Dan, my partner, or should I say, my ex, or whatever he is now that I’m on leave. I can still use the phone.’

‘Thanks.’

‘I’ll see what I can do. No promises. But it’s worth a try, don’t you think?’

[Painting 2: Late Summer Sunset Kingston Park, Brighton in Watercolour © L.M. Kling 2023]

The rest of the afternoon, Eloise and Fifi occupied their thoughts with painting and sketching. The cheerful chatter of the other artists continued, none the wiser of Fifi’s loss and childhood trauma. Except for Shatz. El wished that woman who attempted to poison her wouldn’t be so nosey and would mind her own business.

The air conditioner kept on thrumming until the rush for pack up and departure. Then as the last person locked up the building, they turned off the infernal humming machine and the heat of late afternoon in Adelaide seeped into the empty hall.

© Lee-Anne Marie Kling 2024

Feature Painting: Seacliff Beach Sunset in pastel © L.M. Kling 2021

***

Sometimes characters spring from real life,

Sometimes real life is stranger than fiction.

Sometimes real life is just real life.

Check out my travel memoirs,

And escape in time and space

To Central Australia.

Click on the links:

The T-Team with Mr. B: Central Australian Safari 1977

Trekking with the T-Team: Central Australian Safari 1981

***

Or for a greater escape into another world…

Check out my Sci-fi/ dystopian novel,

And click on the link:

The Lost World of the Wends