Sydney/Taree Australia
Part 25

After Col and Jeff had gone home for the night, I helped B in the kitchen with the dishes. "They're such cool guys, B. I'm stoked that they're gonna visit you from time to time. Besides, you'll need someone to keep an eye on you after I'm gone... to make sure you don't get into any mischief."

"Ha! Yeah, right," he chuckled. "I'll miss you, y'know, you scallywag."

"Hey, it's not so bad. You've got Col and Jeff here in Taree to gawk at, and I'll be going back home to Tampa. So I've got Pop as well as the rest of my buds and family."

"You get along OK with Pop?"

"Are you kidding? It's like you guys are twins. Hey, you know what I think? I think you should get yourself a car... a cool one like Col's."

"A Holden ute?"

"Doesn't have to be a ute. You can get yourself a regular sedan... an old guy's chariot."

"Nah. I don't need a car. If I want one I can rent one. Besides, I drink too much to bother with driving. Speaking of which, I need a nightcap. You feel like a coffee?"

"I'll fix it," I offered as I filled the electric jug with tap water. "I think you'd look totally cool driving around in an old Holden, B. I can just see it now! Woohoo! Hey! I've got a feeling it's gonna happen."

"You do? Forget it, Daniel. A car is simply not on the agenda. As soon as you get one of those damn things it's like everyone wants your money. Registration, insurance, maintenance, fuel... it never ends. Gimme, gimme, gimme. I can do without all that damn grief."

"Yeah, but sometimes things just kinda happen, B. It's like we don't have a choice. You're gonna be driving around in an old Holden. I just know it."

"Oh? And what else do you see in your crystal ball? Do you see a bicycle? 'Cause I'm thinking of buying one."

"A what?" I didn't answer B right away. I poured the coffees, then added a nip of brandy to his. "It's a warm night. You wanna drink these outside?"

Taree was one of those small countrified places a long way from bright city lights, and where the night sky was as black as ink, filled with a billion twinkling stars. B pointed out the Southern Cross, which was depicted on the Aussie flag.

"Bobby told me that his ancestors were here like 50 thousand years ago or whatever," I remarked as B and I sat cross-legged on the lawn, sipping our coffees. "Those guys must've been looking at the very same stars we're looking at now. Wow! Can you believe that? So it's like 50 thousand years is nothing in time and space." I clicked my fingers to add emphasis to my meaning. "At school we learn about billions of years. Billions? Whoa! Hey, B, how's a dude supposed to wrap his brain around billions of years?"

"Or eternity? Infinity? Yes, my young friend, it's all a bit mind boggling. I haven't even made my first century yet. Ha! I'm only just 57. Anyway, you still haven't told me what you see in your crystal ball... apart from me driving an old Holden, that is."

"That's the problem, B. I get like glimpses into the future sometimes - like the Holden you're gonna be driving; sharp and clear - but mostly I can't see anything specific. It's kinda spooky cos I'm not sure what's out there waiting to happen."

"You or anyone else. How can anyone know what lies ahead if it hasn't happened yet? The future doesn't exist, Daniel. How could it? How can anything that doesn't exist be seen by human or any other eyes? You see those stars twinkling away up there in space?"

"Sure."

"We're seeing the past. The light from those stars has taken millions of years to reach our eyes. You would have learned that at school. Right? So, although the light you and I are seeing has needed to travel into the future in order to reach us here and now - tonight as it happens to be - we are still seeing the past; the original light source. It is impossible to see the future because it hasn't happened yet."

"Yeah? So how come I know about the old Holden?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"What old Holden?" he smiled before sipping his coffee. "There isn't one. We have two empty garages here, except for a bit of old bedroom furniture in storage. Your imagination is playing tricks on you, mate. You've got this romantic notion in that pretty blonde head of yours about Col's car and for some reason I'm supposed to be driving one. There's no car on the agenda, Daniel. I don't want one. I don't need one. Fact is, I can't afford one."

"Yeah, I guess maybe you're right, B. How can anyone know what the future holds if the future isn't here yet? But..." I added, then trailed off.

"But what?"

"What's the word for sensing that something's gonna happen even though you can't prove it or explain it or whatever?"

"A premonition?"

"Yeah. Don't you ever get the feeling that something weird's gonna happen?"

"When you're around? Ha! Yes, quite often."

"Seriously, B."

"Is something bothering you, Daniel?"

"Yeah, the future. It's that premonition thing. Hey, I don't wanna spoil my stay here in Oz with you, B, but... Hmmm, maybe I'm just freakin' about fuck all... like being so far away from home and lookin' at all those damn stars up there, like I'm kinda sitting in an Aussie rocket lost in space or something. Do you mind if I phone my mom and check out how she's doin'? And how everyone else is doin'? It's kinda like a quick reality check."

"Go right ahead."

"And I need to send another email to Cody."

"Cody's OK. He wrote just the other day. But you can mail him again if it makes you feel better."

"I might be a while. Can I get you something?"

"Thanks, Daniel. But I'll be alright... I'm enjoying sitting here looking at all the stars and feeling the coolness of the night air. I'll wait for you to come back."

It was early morning mom's time when she answered the phone. She was a bit surprised at hearing my voice. I explained that B and I were sitting outside just chatting away over coffee, and that I wanted to know how everyone was doing back home.

"We're all fine, darling. And Paul was here today. He misses you. Big time, as he puts it. Can't wait for you to get back. We all miss you. Greg, Andy, Lindy... everyone. Are you feeling homesick?"

"Not exactly homesick, mom. I'm having a way cool time. It's just that... I dunno... I felt like calling, that's all... just to make sure everyone was OK back home."

After chatting to Greg and Andy for a while, I sent an email to Cody/Kyle, telling him to answer me as soon as poss 'cause I'd be returning home in a few more days. Then I rejoined B outside on the lawn, and planted my naked butt on the grass.

"Everything OK?"

"Yeah. Everyone's cool. Not sure about Cody, 'though. I've just emailed him. It's Saturday, right?"

"November 3."

"So it's still Friday in Cape Town 'cause they're 9 hours behind Oz. Cody will be working at the surf shop 'cause it's early afternoon there. Then he'll hit the town to party. That dude sure loves to party!"

"Cody doesn't write as often as he used to now that he's no longer at school. He used to get to school early and use the comp lab to send and receive email. Now he uses the internet cafe, but not all that often. So if he doesn't call into the net cafe today his time, you're not likely to get a reply until next week. Was your message urgent?"

"I asked him to reply as soon as poss."

"Are you worried about him?"

"Not exactly worried, B... kinda... I'm not sure. It's like one of those premonition thingies 'cept I'm not sure what it is. I just need to know that he's OK, that's all."

"No need to worry about Cody," B chuckled. "He's pretty good at taking care of himself. He's been in more strife than Speed Gordon since I've known him but nonetheless managed to survive the perils of life relatively unscathed."

"Don't you ever worry about him?"

"Worry about Cody? I try not to. You and Cody are alike in that you're both continuously in trouble. If I worried about you guys as much as I'm entitled to, I'd be a mental wreck. So I tend to put my faith and trust in Mother Luck to look after you scallywags. Besides, I've had more close shaves than you could poke a stick at and I'm still here."

"You?" I cracked. "Gimme a fucking break, B. You're a wuss! You don't take any risks."

"We all take a risk every morning when we get out of bed, Daniel. We don't need to go looking for risks. Risks come looking for us. The last time I lived up this way - 25 years ago when I worked for a local radio station - I was driving to Port Macquarie races one Saturday morning. Just as I reached the crest of a hill, I saw a car speeding toward me. It was overtaking another car, and on the wrong side of the road. My side! I took immediate evasive action and ended up in the dirt and gravel by the side of the road as the oncoming car sped past me. My car's rear end had lost traction and begun to swerve from side to side. I was helluva busy with the wheel trying to correct the oversteer, but eventually got it back under control. There was a passenger about your age sitting beside me, and he didn't say a word the whole time. It must've been his lucky day 'cause he backed a string of winners at the races, while I backed all the losers."

"No offence, B, but I can't imagine you fighting an out-of-control car," I laughed.

"Oh? Well, I did. Actually, I often think about that near-miss. If I'd freaked and frozen like the other driver had, we would have hit each other head on at a combined speed of about 120 mph. If we'd both reacted by simultaneously steering toward the shoulder of the road, we also would have hit head on. So it was just good fortune that I took evasive action while he/she remained on course. It scares me even now to think that I was just a second or so from being killed. But that wasn't the only time I came close to knocking at the Pearlies. There have been numerous other close encounters during my life; even when I was a baby and almost choked to death. So as you can appreciate, Daniel, life is fraught with constant danger whether we go looking for it or not."

"So what are you saying? That I should be worried about Cody?"

"No. What would be the point? You yourself have told me that there's no point in worrying, Daniel. Worrying never solved a thing. Do you worry about me?"

"You? Yeah, right, B. Hey! You're gonna live forever."

"I have a feeling that neither God nor the Devil wants anything to do with me, so you could be correct."

"Why do people have to die, B?"

"What makes you ask that question, Daniel?"

"It's not fucking fair. I don't want you to die or Cody to die or my mom or Andy or Greg or Paul or ... or anyone!"

"What's all this 'dying' business all of a sudden? Is that what your premonition is all about? Is that why you phoned home and emailed Cody?"

"I dunno, B. I've just got a feeling about... something kinda weird or whatever happening. But I don't know what it is."

"Well, if you don't know what it is, then ignore it. Chances are you'll wake up in the morning and feel great. And you'll have forgotten all about this...uh..." B had gotten himself into a pickle as his brain searched for a suitable word.

"Forgotten all about this what, B?"

"Imaginary problem."

"Have you ever had a premonition?"

"Several."

"Were they accurate?"

"Most of them. And I'm glad you asked me that question, Daniel, because if there was anything to worry about right now then I'd be getting the same premonition. Correct?"

"I guess," I shrugged. "I hope you're right."

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