Published: 16 Mar 2026

A Wet Weekend Ends;

Officer Russell Langford remains talking with Barry for some time, possibly because of the six mates, Barry Jones is considered to be the most mature. Langford may be conversing with Barry but his eyes are across Barry’s shoulder firmly fixed on Biff.

Neither Barry nor Officer Langford appear too pleased with the conversation.

Eventually Langford nods to Barry and moves on.

He approaches Biff.

“Brian I have some grave news I’m afraid.”

“It’s Ron isn’t it?”

“Yes I’m afraid so, your dad took a turn while at the Returned Solders club last night.”

“Is he -?”

“Ron is in hospital, he had a heart attack. He is alive but in a bad way and is asking for you.” Langford pauses, he gazes back along the boggy track, “looks like a problem lad, I don’t like the chances of Brownie’s Ford getting out until the track dries,” Langford smiles as he addresses Barry, “as for that truck of yours Barry, if I give you permission to drive and you have an accident, I would be held responsible.”

“It runs okay,”

“Maybe it does but I don’t want to see it on the road until you have at least put on a full set of new tyres, even then you only have permission to drive to the garage for a roadworthy certificate.”

Biff is showing deep signs of stress, if possible he would commence running towards town, what is holding him back he was never an entry into cross country events.

It is up to Officer Langford to calm Biff’s developing anxiety.

“I’ll give you lift into the hospital lad, as for your mates they will need to wait until the track dries a little.”

“I’ll come with you,” Grady quickly responds and before anything can be said he is in the tent collecting his travel kit.

For a moment Biff is struck dumb while standing in the light drizzle as if his ability to think had dissolved with the news. What if Ron doesn’t survive his so described turn? Without Ron in his life Biff would become rudderless and destitute as their house is rented with Ron his financial keeper. When it came to money Biff lived hand to mouth although Ron would always bank a little of his pay for him. Whenever resources were tight Ron would say, don’t worry lad it will work out and it always did.

“We better make a move,” Officer Langford suggests and with a gentle hand on Biff’s shoulder guides him to the police vehicle.

“Yes I suppose so,” Biff quietly agrees, he hears his words but they appear to be coming from someone else, it is as if his ability to think is closing down.

“I’ll get in the back,” Grady suggests.

Moments later the Land Rover is sliding through the mud on its way towards the main road and town.

For Biff that hour back to town was the longest hour he had ever experienced, silently he sat his eyes forward fixed on the lane dividing line. Grady is behind bouncing about without restraint, feeling every pothole in the bitumen, wishing he could say something to sooth his friend’s anxiety.

Eventually Officer Langford pulls up outside the Base Hospital. It is Grady who is first to speak.

“Would you like me to come up with you?”

“No, you go home; I’ll come around once I’ve visited Ron.”

“Are you okay?” Grady asks; immediately he realises it to be a silly question wishing he had kept quiet.

“Of course I’m not,” Biff snaps.

Grady is about to apologise but keeps his peace.

“No you go home; I’ll come around once I know Ron’s condition.”

Arriving home Grady is surprised to find David alone. “Where is mum?” Grady asks.

“Haven’t you heard?” David says.

“Do you mean about Ron?”

“Yes, you mother has gone to visit him.”

David’s tone is more towards Karen visiting than any concern towards Ron’s condition as David had never warmed to Ron Bastian even when children they were adversaries and more so during their latter years when David first courted Karen or more to point stole her affections away from Ron. David had always felt by marrying Karen he was the consolation prize and he hated Ron Benson for it.

“Biff and I got a lift back with Russell Langford in the police Land Rover and Biff is at the hospital. Do you know how Ron is?”

“I believe he’s in a bad way,” David says.

It is as well Grady is incapable in read his father’s thoughts, or he would be shocked to realise David was adverse towards Ron’s survival. Possible if Ron was no more Karen may learn to love him, even if David could never return true affection but his ego is so strong he wished to be loved by others and couldn’t understand why most did not love him.

There is a stronger glitch in David’s temperament that glitch is Grady as no matter how he worked the mathematics there was a slight possibility Grady is actually Ron’s son. Earlier in their marriage David had suggested such possibility to Karen who emphatically denied the chance even so David’s insecure nature wouldn’t accept Karen’s guarantee and ever since found voice to challenge her on the matter.

While waiting for Biff to return Grady attempts conversation with his father but David doesn’t appear interested in Grady’s concern for Ron.

“I don’t know how Biff will cope without Ron,” Grady suggests.

“That’s life,” David impassively replies as he pours a large scotch; “do you want one?”

“No thank you dad, I couldn’t drink at a time like this.”

“It may calm you down.”

Grady is on the verge of lashing out towards his father’s indifference, instead realises it isn’t the right time to start a family argument. He smiles and repeats his refusal.

Eventually Karen returns with Biff, neither appeared hopeful towards Ron’s recovery.

Grady is quick to enquire while offering his question to his mother;

“He’s resting,” Karen softly reports.

“What does resting mean?”

“Mrs. Dowie, may I use the toilet?” Biff asks.

“Brian, please call me Karen; Mrs, makes me feel old. Yes and you don’t need to ask.”

As Biff leaves the room, Grady becomes serious;

“What are Ron’s chances?”

“Not good I’m afraid.”

“How long has Ron got, a year – months?”

“The doctor says he has a matter of days.”

“Does Biff know?”

“He does; I’ve suggested he stay here for a while instead of going back to an empty house.”

David has been listening to the conversation becoming serious as since he took to sleeping apart from Karen the spare room is therefore occupied, “you should have run it by me first, you do realise we haven’t the room since-,” David pulls back.

Karen isn’t slow in bringing their marital problem to surface in front of Grady.

“That was your decision David,” Karen quietly announces.

“If I recollect correctly it was your decision.”

“Mum! Dad! Do you have to air family problems when we have guests?”

“Anyway where is Brian going to sleep?” David asks.

“There is a single bed in Robyn’s room used when Gayle comes to visit, we could put it in Grady’s room.”

David isn’t convinced.

“You don’t mind do you Grady?” Karen asks.

“Of course I don’t mind, you shouldn’t have to ask.”

David gives a soft huff as Biff returns to the room.

Biff had heard the conversation from the passage.

Once again he is reminded of David’s disdain towards him also towards his father. It had always been that way and Biff remembers the first time he felt David’s aggression. It was on his ninth birthday. Karen had thrown a party for both Biff and Grady as they shared the same anniversary, even the same hour. Karen bought them identical presents to prevent favouritism, when it was time for a joint cutting of the cake David stood away from the celebration with a double scotch in his hand, kid you haven’t a clue have you he said then left the party, Ron followed after David and without restriction an argument erupted outside the front door with David’s voice hitting a high register as he suggested Ron should collect his kid and fuck off home.

“Brian I was saying you can bunk in with Grady, I will have him bring the spare bed from Robyn’s room.”

“I should go home Mrs. Dowie.”

“I won’t have any of that. Grady take Brian and get the bed and I’ll get clean sheets.”

Biff glances towards David.

“Go on kid, at times like this you are better off around people and not on your own, besides I’ll be leaving early in the morning for a meeting down at El Arish and may be away for some time.”

The lads go to collect the bed from Robyn’s room.

“David that is the first I’ve heard of your meeting?” Karen suggests.

“If you care to talk civilly to me now and then you may learn a thing or two. I’m going to bed, I’ll be up early and gone,” David collects the scotch bottle and his glass, “no need to make breakfast,” he sarcastically remarks.

As the boys set up the bed in Grady’s room Karen arrives with fresh sheets, “It is a warm night you may not need a blanket but if you do you will find blankets in the linen press second door along the hall and as neither of you has anything all day; once you are done here, I’ll do you something.”

“I can do that mum,” Grady offers.

“Alright; don’t leave the kitchen in a mess, I’ll finish tidying the lounge then I’ll be off to bed.”

The late night meal consists of leftover chicken made into sandwiches and a beer. During the making Lewis returns home from visiting his mate Tug, he is most surprised to see Biff seated at the kitchen table.

“I’ll have one of those,” Lewis says eyeing the plate of sandwiches.

“You could if there was any chicken left, besides mum said you were at Tug’s for dinner.”

“I was but his mother cooks fancy, it’s like Chinese grub, you have a fart afterwards and it’s all gone, I could kill for a sandwich.”

Lewis collects two slices of bread, over butters before smothering them with strawberry jam, “this’ll do.”

“Have you heard about Ron?” Grady asks.

“I have, I like Ron, sorry Biff I hope he will be alright.”

“He is resting,” Biff repeats the previous prognosis not wishing to admit he may be losing Ron from his life.

“Tug and me’ are going in to visit him tomorrow.”

“If you do, keep the noise down and don’t ask Ron silly questions.”

Karen arrives before retiring for the night;

“Lewis what are you eating?”

“A jam sandwich, Greedy ate all the chicken. Where is Biff sleeping?”

“I’ve put the spare single in Grady’s room.”

“Good I like my privacy.”

“Lewis!”

“Tug is going to Mount Mulligan with his olds’ for the Monday holiday, can I go with him?”

“I suppose so, but for now off you go and give Brian a little peace.”

With Lewis gone Karen approaches Biff, “I see you both in the morning, I hope you find the bed comfortable.”

“It will do just fine Mrs. Dowie.”

“Then goodnight and Grady leave the dishes, I’ll do them in the morning.”

“Well;” Grady softly says once Karen has gone.

“Well what?”

“It’s been some weekend; I wonder how the fellers’ are coping back at the camp with the wet weather.”

“The rain has stopped,” Biff says.

“Even so it was only Luke interested in fishing and Brownie was there for a booze session.”

“Mick was always a pisshead even back in primary school; I think his brain was pickled by the time we reached high school, at one time his old man arranged with the local cops, if they found his pissed out of his head to lock him up for a couple of days.”

“I don’t remember that.”

“The first time Mick was only eleven and it scared the shit out of him.”

“Then being locked up didn’t stop him.”

“Being locked up simply made him more cautious, I would think he learned how to control his drunkenness.”

“What caused him to take to the booze?”

“Rich father syndrome,” Biff suggests.

“And what does that mean?”

“He never had parental control and as much pocket money as the whole of our class put together – and more. Mick was never denied anything. You do know why he drives that old ford.”

“I never really thought about it.”

“He has a little MG sports and only uses it to impress. The old car is like reverse psychology.”

“I don’t get your drift.”

“When we see him driving the old Ford we think about what he has in the garage, what he could drive at any time he wished to do so.”

Grady is laughing;

“That doesn’t make a lot of sense.”

“I agree but Mick sees the world differently than we do.”

“Ah!” Grady express, “he will soon need to register for national service, possibly the army will knock some sense into him.”

“I wouldn’t bet on it, he’ll find some way to get out of conscription, either that or his old man will pull a few strings.”

“He is always declaring how he wants to be called up.”

“That’s a smokescreen he uses to mask his fear, personally I don’t think Michael Brown would last ten minutes in the army.”

“Anyway it’s a pity about the weekend if it wasn’t for Brownie it could have been enjoyable.”

“Yes Mick does carry on. I should have given him another thumping.”

“Are you referring to when he was sitting on me in the school yard and you shoved him off giving him a blooded nose?”

“That was hardly a thumping besides the nose bleed was an accident, I’m referring to when we were in year nine and the class was walking across to the pool for the local swimming carnival, he was teasing Trish, calling her big tits, I stepped in and it turned into a thumping with Mick coming off second best. He’s never go over it.”

“You and Trish had been mates as long back as I can remember, what made you dump her?”

“You have already tried that one Grady, as I said you will never know.”

Grady changes the subject;

“What do you reckon of the warning Langford gave Bazza about his truck, do you think it will get an unroadworthy sticker?”

“No he’s had warnings before. I think Langford is simply covering his backside, as long as Barry keeps a low profile he will be alright.”

“Alfred said if it comes into the garage again he isn’t working on it as he’s run outa’ fencing wire.”

“I will soon need to get my car working again,” Biff says.

“I’ve already squared it with the boss, we can do it together sometime after work hours, possibly on a weekend.”

Biff commences to yawn;

“Sleepy?”

“Not really, I don’t think I could sleep, I mostly feel numb as if a tide of warm water is washing across my brain.”

“I wish I could say something that would help.”

“Words never help Grady but they are appreciated.”

There is stirring along the passage and David is seen entering into the lounge room, he had forgotten his cigarettes. On his return to his bedroom he pokes his head through the kitchen doorway, “tomorrow Grady,” he says

“Tomorrow what dad?”

“Now that you are home I want you to mow the backyard, I’ve left the shed key on my bedroom side table – goodnight.”

Without acknowledging Biff, David is gone.

“What’s the story about the shed key?” Biff asks.

Grady almost breaks into laughter but keeps it down to a light chuckle, “he has a stack of pornography hidden in the shed, so he keeps it locked. I’m surprised he has left his precious key.”

“Good stuff?”

“Pretty full on, blokes and birds and doesn’t leave much for the imagination.”

“Are they actually rooting?”

“Nothing is left for imagination, even close ups.”

Biff’s eyes commence to glaze;

“Where does he get them?”

“Dad is a mate of Troy Clancy they often hang about the shed boozing on scotch, pretending to be working on the old motorbike that belonged to grandad Dowie. I reckon he gets the magazines from Clancy, as he often arrives with something in a brown paper bag.”

“You mean Troy Clancy the police officer?”

“That’s him; he’s a right slimy bastard.”

“That I know, he booked me for parking in the taxi rank outside the post office when I pulled up for less than ten seconds to drop someone off.”

For the first time that night Biff is grinning;

“While you’re doing the lawn, I’ll have to take a look.”

“Sure but for now I’m bushed – bed time.”

Gary’s stories are about life for gay men in Australia’s past and present. Your emails to him are the only payment he receives. Email Gary to let him know you are reading: Conder 333 at Hotmail dot Com

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