Josie.
'I have got a boyfriend,' she said, almost defensively.
'Oh, sorry, didn't mean to pry.'
'That's fine, I just don't let him out much,' she said with
a sly smile. I could see Sylvia being in charge of the social
calendar for both of them, like she was for me.
'Oh, you're hilarious. Why haven't you mentioned him
before?'
'Well, Rick's a muso, and oddly insular and I'm really
oddly outgoing, so we don't do a lot of things together
that involve other people. We're great when we're by
ourselves. He finds me a little too out-there when I'm with
my friends.'
'I can't imagine why.' I smiled at her.
'You can meet him soon if you like. We might go see
him play or something one night, if you're into it.'
'Sounds great.' I hadn't been to much live music for
years, and only really ever saw bands at Klub Koori events
organised by Koori Radio.
'I'm in charge of the silent auction, so I better go check
out if anyone's bidding yet.' Sylvia got up and took me
with her.
We strolled around the table and there were some
interesting pieces to bid on: a framed pic of Kylie, a bronze
World Cup Soccer trophy, a Russell Crowe Gladiator print, and a framed autographed pic of Jessica Mauboy
from the 2006 Australian Idol final. I went to put a bid on
Jessica, but as my hand reached for the pen, so did another.
I grabbed it first and wrote my name and mobile. I only
bid a modest amount because I hadn't actually gone there
prepared for an auction. The next person would easily beat
my offer by at least fifty dollars. I put the pen down and the
hand, belonging to a nicely cuff-linked wrist and even nicer
looking guy, picked it up. I looked at him.
'Hi, I'm Lee,' he said, and offered me his hand to shake.
'Hi, I'm celibate,' I blurted, then cringed with embarrassment.
I shook his hand roughly like a man and let it drop.
'That's an interesting name. Does it have a special
meaning?'
'Actually my name's Peta,' I said, burning with shame,
and not knowing where to look. He was so hot he was
making me perspire.
'So, the celibacy is just . . . ?'
'A national crisis, obviously.' I was trying to be funny to
take the focus off me being an idiot.
'You being celibate is a national emergency for sure. I'm
in the SES, so maybe I can help you with it, if you like.'
'I'm sure you could, but you really can't. Thanks anyway.'
I was tongue-tied like a teenager with a crush on the most
popular boy at school, and just walked off.
Black tie fundraisers were clearly great places to meet
men, for those in the market. Everyone there was supporting
a worthy cause, they looked great, and the wealthy guys
could always be found hanging around the silent auction
table.
♥
When I woke up in the morning I had knickers on and
nothing else. I threw on a T-shirt and walked into the mess
that was the lounge room and saw my dress flung over the
back of the chunky lounge chair. My shoes and stockings
were just inside the front door, and my pink wrap was on
the telephone table. My handbag was on the ground with
coins strewn everywhere. My camera was in my bag, minus
its cover, and the hundred dollars I had withdrawn at the
pub we went to after the dinner was missing. It must have
fallen out in the cab on the way home. I felt like I was still
drunk as I jumped in the shower. I didn't bother using
the four minute timer because I knew I probably wouldn't
be able to stand up that long anyway, but I was hoping it
would sober me up. I was supposed to meet Josie at nine to
go shopping.
Dressed and feeling slightly better I went to leave the
house. Shelley was in Sydney visiting friends so I didn't have
to worry about tidying up with any sense of urgency. Then
I realised to my horror that the front door was deadlocked,
and the keys weren't in the lock, as they usually were. I
searched the house, my handbag, under the tables, lounge,
and telephone table. I panicked. I heard the neighbour's kids
playing outside on the
'I have got a boyfriend,' she said, almost defensively.
'Oh, sorry, didn't mean to pry.'
'That's fine, I just don't let him out much,' she said with
a sly smile. I could see Sylvia being in charge of the social
calendar for both of them, like she was for me.
'Oh, you're hilarious. Why haven't you mentioned him
before?'
'Well, Rick's a muso, and oddly insular and I'm really
oddly outgoing, so we don't do a lot of things together
that involve other people. We're great when we're by
ourselves. He finds me a little too out-there when I'm with
my friends.'
'I can't imagine why.' I smiled at her.
'You can meet him soon if you like. We might go see
him play or something one night, if you're into it.'
'Sounds great.' I hadn't been to much live music for
years, and only really ever saw bands at Klub Koori events
organised by Koori Radio.
'I'm in charge of the silent auction, so I better go check
out if anyone's bidding yet.' Sylvia got up and took me
with her.
We strolled around the table and there were some
interesting pieces to bid on: a framed pic of Kylie, a bronze
World Cup Soccer trophy, a Russell Crowe Gladiator print, and a framed autographed pic of Jessica Mauboy
from the 2006 Australian Idol final. I went to put a bid on
Jessica, but as my hand reached for the pen, so did another.
I grabbed it first and wrote my name and mobile. I only
bid a modest amount because I hadn't actually gone there
prepared for an auction. The next person would easily beat
my offer by at least fifty dollars. I put the pen down and the
hand, belonging to a nicely cuff-linked wrist and even nicer
looking guy, picked it up. I looked at him.
'Hi, I'm Lee,' he said, and offered me his hand to shake.
'Hi, I'm celibate,' I blurted, then cringed with embarrassment.
I shook his hand roughly like a man and let it drop.
'That's an interesting name. Does it have a special
meaning?'
'Actually my name's Peta,' I said, burning with shame,
and not knowing where to look. He was so hot he was
making me perspire.
'So, the celibacy is just . . . ?'
'A national crisis, obviously.' I was trying to be funny to
take the focus off me being an idiot.
'You being celibate is a national emergency for sure. I'm
in the SES, so maybe I can help you with it, if you like.'
'I'm sure you could, but you really can't. Thanks anyway.'
I was tongue-tied like a teenager with a crush on the most
popular boy at school, and just walked off.
Black tie fundraisers were clearly great places to meet
men, for those in the market. Everyone there was supporting
a worthy cause, they looked great, and the wealthy guys
could always be found hanging around the silent auction
table.
♥
When I woke up in the morning I had knickers on and
nothing else. I threw on a T-shirt and walked into the mess
that was the lounge room and saw my dress flung over the
back of the chunky lounge chair. My shoes and stockings
were just inside the front door, and my pink wrap was on
the telephone table. My handbag was on the ground with
coins strewn everywhere. My camera was in my bag, minus
its cover, and the hundred dollars I had withdrawn at the
pub we went to after the dinner was missing. It must have
fallen out in the cab on the way home. I felt like I was still
drunk as I jumped in the shower. I didn't bother using
the four minute timer because I knew I probably wouldn't
be able to stand up that long anyway, but I was hoping it
would sober me up. I was supposed to meet Josie at nine to
go shopping.
Dressed and feeling slightly better I went to leave the
house. Shelley was in Sydney visiting friends so I didn't have
to worry about tidying up with any sense of urgency. Then
I realised to my horror that the front door was deadlocked,
and the keys weren't in the lock, as they usually were. I
searched the house, my handbag, under the tables, lounge,
and telephone table. I panicked. I heard the neighbour's kids
playing outside on the
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