narratorAUSTRALIA Volume One

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  Sometimes you just have to put your foot down. John came home and said he was getting a motorbike. Not likely I said. We only have a small garden shed and ... but I didn’t get any further as he said he’d already made arrangements. I pointed out the impracticalities of a motorbike but he just sat there with a smug look on his face. Only room for one he said. Well you don’t have to read between the lines. We had an almighty row that night. There was a bit of argie bargie. Nothing really, just a push and a shove. John went out slamming the door. I ran after him and caught the neighbours looking. It’s none of their business but they stick their noses in. We’re not a side show I yelled to the woman over the fence. I don’t know her name. Never really got to know them. She turned on her heels and went inside then. And stay there I said quite sharpish as she shut her door. If John had known she was watching things might have been different, but he was gone in the car.

  The motorbike had to stay on the driveway. I saw the neighbour talking to John about it. They were having quite a chat. John invited them over to our yard. That’s a bit of a liberty I thought and so I called him in for tea. I don’t like them I said to John. They’re nosey. They reminded me of those girls at school who seem to have lots of friends. I didn’t have many friends. Just one really. Joyce Pringle was my friend. But when we were in our last year she committed suicide. Her mother said I shouldn’t go to the funeral, it would be too painful. So I stayed away. Mother said I didn’t try hard enough with Joyce. You don’t try Marjorie. You just don’t try she said to me. Well she would say that wouldn’t she, always sticking in her penny’s worth. But I thought privately it was probably a blessing she did it. She was such a timid girl and very thin. A bit dumb really if I was being totally honest. I don’t think she could have made it in the real world. Anyway John sat at the table and said the neighbours were quite interested in his bike.

  Neighbourly he said. Friendly he added and he rolled his eyes. Well you don’t have to be Einstein to get the drift.

  I guess most married couples have their moments. We certainly do. We had a particularly bad patch on his birthday. John said he would be home early, but he was late. He came home on his motorbike and then went into the shower. I waited a bit and then confronted him about my plans. It was like I didn’t matter. He said Marj just leave me will you. I wasn’t quite sure how to take that so I asked him what he meant, but he just ignored me. We had a big blue. He came out with the same old things. But after a while it’s just water off a duck’s back and I try to be nice but I can give as good as I get when provoked. When you think about it when two people live together, well, there is bound to be some friction now and again. It stands to reason.

  John was home from work for a week after that. He tried to be nice. Bruises take a bit to heal. Nothing serious. He was quite helpful about the place and then he said we just needed a bit of a holiday. Somewhere different he said. It sounded like a good idea to me. Somewhere where people don’t know us and they don’t stare every time you open your bloody front door.

  Then someone put a pamphlet in our letter box. It was for marriage counselling. Bloody neighbours I thought. Sticking their oar in. I had a good mind to go over and say something. We don’t have that many arguments. Everyone has a little disagreement now and again. I left it on the hall table for John to see. He said it sounded like a good idea but it was up to me. Well that’s a start I thought. I’d left out his clothes and he said he wanted to wear his jeans, but I’d decided on his black socks and matching tie. He said he preferred to go casual. Not the best decision I said as we are trying to make an impression. He can be quite stubborn when he wants to be but he came around to my way in the end. Smart choice I thought.

  Wendy said we should look at one another when we want to talk. Wendy is our counsellor. She said we have to learn to listen to one another and realise the other person has a right to say something too. John said it’s a start going to the community centre every second Wednesday. It seems a bit personal to me. And I think Wendy doesn’t know doodly squat about being married. I have a sneaking suspicion she is a lesbian. She is overweight and wears drapery and lots of fake jewellery. I said to her that she could do with losing a few kilos and she said we weren’t here to discuss her but she was blushing so I knew I’d hit a nerve. Some people are so sensitive. One Wednesday I brought her a recipe book on salads. She thanked me and tried to tell me I didn’t have to bring gifts. More in the way of one good turn deserves another I said. We all try to be helpful I said.

  John didn’t come one Wednesday after we had a fight. Wendy asked me what it was all about but I couldn’t really say. Some silly thing I told her. Probably something he had done or hadn’t done. It’s usually like that I said. Marjorie, she said and she took my hand. Marjorie you have to try a little harder to be nice. I could hear my mother as plain as day. Wendy, I said and I withdrew my hand. Wendy it’s not always my fault. I’m sure you have issues with your ... partner I said. She didn’t have to have a place at Mensa to get my drift.