The Rainbow Man

By Kevin J. Murphy

When life wasn't so serious... An Entrepreneurial Spirit was Born. An autobiographical account of childhood years and growing up when there weren't so many rules. Super Intelligent with a mischievous will, tells humorous tales of early life experiences with a colourful slant on Human Nature.

• Language: English
• Publisher: ReadOnTime BV
• Release date: Jun 12, 2015
• ISBN: 9781742842660

Kevin J. Murphy

Kevin Joseph Christopher Mark Anthony Murphy... Super Intelligent with a mischievous will. Smile and enjoy the ride with KJM Book Two is even better...

Book preview

The early days in Alice Street

The summer of 1947 was an extremely hot summer with the residents of Sydney sweltering under a heat wave that caused shimmers on the pavements, the Southerly Busters that would arrive as regular as clock work and bring relief in the late afternoons were infrequent and unreliable this year. There was talk between the residents that the weather had changed and the most obvious reason for this was the detonating of the Bomb at Maralinga in South Australia by the British Atomic Energy Commission.

What else could cause such a change in the weather, it was not just the weather said Des Murphy who was an experienced Saturday morning fisherman in Port Hacking, South of Sydney, agreed that something was wrong with the fish populations as well, since the dago Italians have come they have taken to netting the Georges river and dragged the guts out of it, so when I go out to Yowie Bay where I keep the bloody boat we can only catch a baby bath tub full all bloody day, compared to the same catch in a couple of hours some years earlier. He would say. His next door neighbour Jimmy Casserley who was his fishing mate agreed with Des that something was wrong all bloody right. You can bet on that, Jimmy added.

The late summer afternoon had turned to sunset with the expected arrival of the Southerly to cool things off, the conversation on the front fence of Des’s house in 51 Alice Street Auburn attracted several neighbours to join the conversation who each added their formulae to the change in the weather and social conditions since the end of the Second World War. Jimmy Casserley served in AIF (Australian Infantry Forces) in New Guinea and fought the Japanese along the Kokada trail and Jimmy could not help himself by adding to the general conversation that if they thought this weather was hot youse shoulda been in the bloody jungle in New Guinea not only was it so bloody hot that mud on legs dried to bloody house bricks you had so many mozzies on yer that they would fly off with yer back pack, rifle and ammo, if yer didnt watch them. He added. You know, one night,I was laying in the bushes hiding from the japs and I heard these mumbling voices in the bushes, I listened very quitly and then again I heard these mumbling voices, Youse know what it was, It was two bloody mosquitoes saying to each other will we eat him here, or take him away Bloody big those mozzies up there.

Robert Lord Bob Osborne who had come to join the group from across the road added that he had heard that once you were bitten in New Guinea the mossies would draw out so much blood that you became enemic.

Robert "Lord Bob’s only claim to fame was that he was alledegly directly related to the Royal family in England and in the summer of 1947 there was no internet to check if his claim to fame was true so everybody just accepted this claim and called him Lord Bob. Jimmy Casserley chipped in saying in his Australian slang What would you know Bob, youse wernt even there, youse stayed home and left the bloody fighting to blokes like me. Youse had it easy, no malaria, no shit army food, no bastard shooting at ya trying to kill ya, and no bloody women to keep ya sort of comfortable, Nah, you had it easy while I was up there protecting bloody Australia.

Des smiled to break the tension of the conversation as he knew Jimmy was real proud of being in the war, he would raise the subject on any occasion. Then Jimmy piped up again, and another bloody thing, you and your bloody relatives left all them bloody Pommies and Australian blokes in Singapore to the Japs, they just bloody gave up and surrendered to a nip army one quarter of their size, that‘s a bloody great recommendation for the bloody British isn’t it?.

With the tone heating up the temperature of the late afternood Des choose to be diplomatic and intervened by saying I think there may be a party at Olives house tonight, what do yer reckon? To which Jimmy said, If they start that yelling and yahooing till late again tonight, I’ll go over and bloody well thump the lot of em.

Olive Hinton lived directly across the street from Des in number 44, Olive was a registered nurse and worked in the State hospital for the mentally unstable and war effected soldiers. Olive had a reputation for having "open House on Friday nights after the pub shut at 6 PM, within one hour of the pub shutting the street would fill up with cars, bikes and vehicles of all makes and models to join the revelry at number 44. Olive was said to have a liking for the prescription medicines available at the hospital and on more than one occasion was seen wandering the street at 2 AM advising the neighbourhood on how to fix marital relationships and offering free advice on each and every neighbour in what would be described as colourful superlatives.

The parties invaribaly came to an abrupt halt on most occasions when the Local Police from Station Street Auburn would arrive. At the sight of the coppers there would be blokes diving over the neighbours fences and out of every exit (doors and windows) to avoid the usual round up of drunk and disorderly and disturbing the peace.

Such was the neighbourhood of Alice Street Auburn

Des commented to Jimmy that Olive’s boyfriends might give him a poke in the nose if he went over there, To which Jimmy replied Oh Yeah, well I get me bloody 303 and sort that lot out.

Des’s wife of two and a half years Kathleen came out to the front fence to say hello to the little group at her front gate, the front fence of No 51 was a convenient spot to sit on the little brick wall fence as it was only 24 inches high and painted cream, it retained the heat of the day and in the winter warmed your bum and in the summer fried your freckle, and was claimed to have theraputic benifits of the warmth on hemaroids. I don’t know if that was really true but Des always said the crowd sitting on the fence were a pain in the bum.

Kathleen was well advanced into her second pregnancy and was having a bad time with the heat, Back in 1947 there were no Air conditioning units, or cyclic fans, you just had to put up with the heat. Jimmy asked Kathleen (Kath to her friends) did she have a tip for tomorrow. Kath replied that if the heat keeps up there will be only grease spots running around Randwick race course. Kath had been married to Des and already had a two year old daughter named Bernice, the child was a fair skinned blond little girl and was the living image of Des. Kath had one obsession and that was the horses, Saturday was race day and number 51 became a tabernacle to the neighbours who liked a punt. Kath had a wireless set a Stromberg which pumped all day long starting with the tips on 2KY radio station in the morning with Clarence the Clocker and continued until the last race at around 5PM in the afternoon. Des could not stand the racing Saturdays so he buggered off and went fishing down at Port Hacking.

Tomorrow was race day so Des and Jimmy went about planning the trip for tomorrow morning. Jimmy asked Des if he had the bait and burley ready, Des replied that he was picking up the bait on the way tomorrow so we better get an early start, but he had prepared the burley so it could ripen

The burley consisted of Pollard ( wheat powder Kath used to feed the chooks) a tin of sardines and a mixture of fish frames from the Greek blokes Fish and Chips shop in Auburn Road shopping centre. The Burley was wrapped in wax paper and kept in a sugar bag so it was matured and ready for tomorrow. Jimmy contributed to the outing by preparing the lunch and making the thermos of tea. Jimmy would be up at 4AM and out the front of No51 ready for the day’s outing. Des said to Jimmy that he better not make a big night of it donging all the blokes at Olives house cause you’ll be too tired to go fishing. Theres no worry about that happening Des, said Jimmy, if they cause a fuss I’ll bloody down the lot of them and that includes Olive too. To which Des replied, seeing you are a single man Jimmy are you sure your not sweet on Olive yourself and maybe a bit jealous? Jimmy laughed and said, Have you seen her lately? She looks like something the cat dragged in, You know she was a real looker 10 years ago but since she ‘s been at the state hospital she’s gone downhill real quick. You know Des, Marion on the other side of you in number 53 had to go over there last week to help her, Marion heard someone calling out and thought it was Kaths Mother who lives next door in 46, Marion went over to Mrs Wagners and went to the back door to see what was up, when she went around the side of the house she could hear a woman’s voice saying Oh Jesus help me, for Christ’s sake somebody come and help me Marion called Mrs Wagner out to the back door and they both heard the calling out. Marion and Mrs Wagner could hear the cursing and yelling coming from Olives Dunny out the back of her house, they went around the front and walked up the side of Olives house not knowing what to expect, a kinda timid like, When they got around the back of Olives house they could see Olive sitting on the floor of the Dunny with her legs sticking out of the door, When olive heard someone in the near vicinity she started again, Oh Jesus,someone get me out of here, For Christs sake come and get me. They were a bit scared and you know Mrs Wagner, she’s from the old school and does’nt like swearing one little bit. They opened the door as best they could and here is Olive stuck between the toilet and the timber wall. It looked like Olive pulled up her nightgown, slipped down her bloomers and when she went to sit down she missed the target and jambed herself between the toilet and the wall.

Mrs Wagner says to Olive what are you doing down there you hussy. To which Olive replied I’m fucking well stuck you silly old cow, now get me out. Well, Mrs Wagner nearly fell over, she had never heard language like that and was horrified. Marion burst out laughing at the look of horror Mrs Wagner and then seeing Olive had got herself stuck with her night dress up and her pants down, and in the process she had messed herself. The situation was amusing according to Marion.

Well old Mrs Wagner is as fit as a fiddle for a 65 year old and grabs Olives feet and gives her a sudden reef, Olive screams out You are tearing my legs of you old bugger and with that Mrs Wagner says to Marion, here you grab one I’ll grab the other and when I say pull give it all you have got, we’ll get this slut out of her shithole. Well that did it, Marion roared in laughter and she was laughing so much at the language from Mrs Wagner that she slipped as she pulled, and fell backwards into the garden around the perimiter of the dunny. Marion said to Mrs Wagner.I cant do this, I cant stop laughing and I think I’ve hurt me self while she continued laughing.

Mrs Wagner said to Marion you wait here I going to get Harry, so off toddles Mrs Wagner back to her place and gets Harry her husband to come and help. Well Harry wanted a full explanation of the situation being an old German Engineer from the railway in Murrundai. Harry almost asks Mrs Wagner to write out a requisition outlining the cause and effect of the situation before he moves to assist. Mrs Wagner tells Harry to go to the shed and bring his tool box and a saw. Harry said to Mrs Wagner "What you gunna do Cut her bloody legs off ? Mrs Wagner tells him to be quiet and bring the tools and then she will show him what to do

Mrs Wagner and Harry came back to the toilet and when Harry saw Olive laying there in her exposed state, he asked Olive What you doing down there with your pants off woman? Mrs Wagner turned on Harry and told him not to look, and Olive screeched Don’t you look at my private parts you old pervert, get me out of here. Harry asked how do you want me to do this thing of removing you if I cant look at what I’m doing, and Olive screeched, What do you think this is a fucking circus now I don’t care how you do it, Just get me out of here you old poofter.

Well that was enough for Harry, he turned to Mrs Wagner and said, stand back I’ll get her out of here. And with that pulled out the saw and started to cut the door off the Dunny, he sawed the timber holding the hinges and quickly removed the door out of the way but it made little difference except that Olive became more agitated. What are you doing to my toilet you old fart?

Harry by now was about fed up the language and told Olive to be quiet or he would nail the door back on and leave her there, but what he did was get out the claw hammer and started demolishing the timber sides of the Dunny, Olive was shouting, Mrs Wagner was offering Instructions to Harry and Marion was removing the timber boards as they were smashed off the walls. Within 10 minuits all that was left of the Dunny was a post in each corner and a few remaining boards which Harry pourposly left to last. These were the boards that were holding Olive stuck fast between the toilet and the timbers. Olive was screaming that you have completely demolished my toilet and I still cant get out, you old jackass.

Harry walked around the perimiter of the four posts and perused his work and Olive still jambed, He looked at Mrs Wagner and said I don’t feel like doing any more today Amelia (that was her first name) I think I will retire now and when this foul mouthed woman decides to apoligise for the names she called me I shall return to render further assistance, but for now I’m off. With that Harry picks up his saw and hammer and walks to the tool box. And Olive lets fly with Listen here you old Nazi Bastard, You have destroyed my toilet, you have taken away my privacy, how can I use a toilet with no walls, don’t you dare walk away without getting me out and I will shove that claw hammer right up your arse.

Harry turned and kicked the ceramic bowl with the sole of his foot, the bowl gave away from the cement holding it and splashed the contents all over Olive, but in the process Olive was free. Olive tried to get up but after being stuck for so many hours her legs wouldn’t work.; Marion and Mrs Wagner assisted Olive to her feet. Harry looked at Olive and said, next time you go to shunt a train, make sure the under carrige is lined up with the bogey, and walked off.

Des asked Jimmy what has happened to the toilet now,? to which Jimmy said, they’ll have a hard time shitting tonight.

Des smiled and suggested to Jimmy that he check his fishing gear before he goes to bed, and with that the southerly buster broke, and the cool breeze started to drop the temperature. We’ll be sleeping with the doors open tonight Jimmy, Oh by the way my brother Terry is coming fishing with us in the morning, we will pick him up on the way so be ready to leave at about 4AM. Oh that’s good Des will I make some extra sandwiches and tea for Terry? No, I am pretty sure Winnie his wife will look after him, Terry tells me that he needs a break from the chemist Shop in Granville and he is looking forward to a day out. I’m going inside Jimmy. See you in the morning.

The temperature had dropped overnight to a chilly 45 degrees faranheit, Jimmy was waiting for Des to finish loading the Hupmobile sedan that he had on permanent loan from his mother in Rosehill, the fishing gear, the burley, the six bottles of beer that would suffice for Jimmy, Des and Terry, the scoop nets and the Magnito Ignition Coil that Des always removed from the boat to stop other people using it while he was in Auburn. Des backed the car out onto the street and they were off to Rosehill to pick up Terry Murphy, The roads in 1947 were predominantly gravel with a profile that allowed the rain to run to the sides and not pool up in the middle and cause potholes, this camber seemed to make the roads seem like they had a hump in the middle, as you drove down the road you could hear the stones hitting the under carridge of the car even at a moderate speed of 30 miles per hour, At the end of Alice street the road curved up and over a railway bridge which traversed the main line from Blacktown to Sydney, the trains were steam powered and this bridge was a delight to children to stand on the bridge and as the trains went under, the steam would stop at their feet then as the train went under and the steam magically reappear on the other side of the bridge when the train passed through.

There were no trains this early in the morning, and Des motored down along the gravel pavement called Rawson Street, which ran parallel to the railway lines. At the end of Rawson Street was The Railway Loco Yard and the main road connecting Parramatta to Sydney. This was the only concrete road in the western suburbs, it was constructed during the great depression of 1930 to 1932, the Government used all the unemployed labour of the time in a scheme called Relief money. The scheme was to give employment to those unfortunate souls that had no work, it was the forerunner of the Social Security System introduced in later years. The road provided labour for the Pick and shovel army and the teams of men mixing concrete by hand. The road was 6 inches thick solid concrete and streached from Parramatta to Central Station in the City a distance of 28 miles. Other roads were built the same way in those unfortunate years, but it did develop the infancy of the infrastructure that modern Sydney enjoys today.

Shortly after turning onto Parramatta road Jimmy spoke up for the first time. Hey Des, you wer’nt serious were you about you thinking I was soft on Olive Hinton were ya, its been worring me all bloody night. Des replied Nah, I just said that to break the tension between you and Lord Bob, I was afraid you were gunna give him a wack, No I was only kidding.

Jeez I′m glad of that, I was worried that others might be thinking the same thing, especially Marion next door to you. Jimmy said.

Des was now curious, Why would you be worried what Marion would think?

To which Jimmy replied, Well ya know that mongrel husband of hers Roy McDonald buggerd off with the barmaid from the Furlong Hotel and left poor bloody Marion high and dry with the 4 boys and she is now living next door to you with her mother and Mr Skelly. I kinda feel sorry for Marion and I wouldnt like her thinking I was sweet on Olive.

Des replied, I think you are all right Jimmy, Marion is aware of what Olive is like and she knows you are a decent sort of bloke, in a funny, twisted, demented sort of a way. Why dont you ask Marion to go out dancing one Friday night, she never leaves the house as far as I can see.

Oh you know how it is Des, I cant really ask her out to the dancing, I′m not well educated and wouldnt know what to talk about,or nouthing, like her. You know how it is.

Des smiled and said, Jimmy I dont know Marion all that well, she is more of a friend to Kath, but she seems like a good lady and god knows she has her hands full with the 4 boys of hers, I am pretty sure that she would welcome a change in conversation to being with her mum and dad all day. You Know that Herbert her father was the Australian Snooker Champion, he even beat Walter Lindrum.

Naw I didnt know that Des,

Too bloody right, the old Mr Skelly is or should I say was, one of the best that ever walked into a pool hall, He used to run the pool hall in Granville for many years, but he is crippled with arthritus these days.

As Des was talking, the Hupmobile stopped outside Terrys house in Good Street Rosehill, Des′s brother lived next door to his mother and Des′s Sister Dyde Lived on the other side of Terry, all three houses were in a row and bought by Des′s father Robert during the depression. Robert Murphy was a well known identity in Granville, he was the local Pharmacist and during the depression showed his generosity by assisting the less fortunate ones in the community. His son Terry now continued the business as Robert was not in the best of health.

Des′s sister Dyde lived on the other side of Terry, she was married to a bricklayer named Adrianne Long, they had a very big house for those days, it was a red face brick house, which streached across the block, Dyde had two daughters and one son, Kevin.

Des honked the horn outside Terrys house and waited for Terry to come. Along with Terry came Winnie wrapped up in her pink chenielle dressing gown and slippers, halfway to the car Winnie starts to lecture Des on how he should be careful in the boat, make sure you dont speed on the way there, there are a lot of motor car accidents caused by speeding Desmond, dont go drinking beer while you are out in the boat remember what happened to Uncle Clarry when he was drinking, he fell out of the boat and he was never found, they think a grouper got him, dont stay out too long in the sun, poor Terry′s got sensitive skin and he burns quickly, Be home before dark wont you, you never know what trouble you will run into after dark do you. Now Terry you make sure you sit in the back seat so if Desmond has an accident you wont get hurt so much, you know we all depend on you to provide a income to the family and you going and getting hurt from a accident will cause financial diffictulties, And Desmond no smoking in the boat around the pertol, the last time that happened you singed all your eyebrows and arms, now you be careful wont you.

Now you boys have a lovely day and I′ll see you later when you return, and by the way what time will you be back, just so I know, if you are late I′ll call the police and......................

While Winnie was giving her lecture Des and Terry got into the car and Des started the engine and shifted into gear,Winnie hadent noticed that they were moving away quicker than she was walking after the car saying

Hospitals if you are late, whos is that in the front seat, I dont like the look of him, Terry can he be trusted, I hope he is not a boozer like your sisters husband the ragamuffin

The voice of Winnie faded as the car moved down the street, Des turned the first corner to get out of sight of Winnie waving a tea towell, he turned to the back seat to face Terry and smiled and said How the Bloody hell do you put up with that day in and day out 365 bloody days of the year, its a wonder you are not stark staring mad, and by the way how are you anyway? Laughing out loud

Jimmy turned to Terry and introduced himself, Is that your missus?

To which Terry said Ah Yeah, she’s not like that all the time though, sometimes she worse. and burst out laughing.

Terry asked how Des was going, to which Des replied pretty good Terry, I called in this week to see you and you wernt home,

Oh Yeah what day was that Terry asked.

Oh it was on Tuesday, I wanted to see you, to ask if I was causing too much noise down the back of Dyde′s place.

No I dont think you are, I cannot hear too much noise Des,

Jimmy asked What was the noise Des?

Des explained that Dyde his sister was having trouble with Adrianne and their son Kevin, saying the neighbours were complaining that Des and his other brother Bill were making too much noise with their rivet machines in the back shed, Adrianne suggested that Des and Bill move the machines to another location.

Jimmy said then. Oh is that where you make the rivets Des?

Yeah Jimmy, My Brother Bill started the rivet business there 3 years ago in the back shed, Bill bought a second hand headding machine from SJ Spurways after the war when they were having a surplus sale, Bill set up in the shed as he couldnt afford a factory and he slowly built up the business making aluminium rivets for the saucepan manafacturing trade.

Bill got into diffictulties there about 18 months ago and couldnt afford to buy the wire for the orders he had, so Bill asked me for a loan. I decided that if I was going to have money at risk in the business I may as well, be his partner. So I started to work with Bill and learned how to set up the machines and make rivets.

Terry added to the conversation, Yeah, Bill really needed a helping hand Jimmy, he has a tendancy to go off and hit the grog from time to time, ever since he came back from the war he was different, he was in North Africa with our other eldest brother Robert. They were in different parts, Robert was at El Alemain and Bill was in Cairo.

Jimmy added that he was serving in the jungles of New Guinea, shooting the bloody Japs, and asked how did Bill and Robert fare?

Terry said that Bill came back different to when he went, he was more quiet like and dident talk too much about what happened. He never really got over Robert getting killed.

Jimmy said. Oh shit I didnt know, sorry mate, it is a real bastard when you loose a brother, Des never told me that he lost a brother in the war did you Des?

Terry added, thats all right mate, Robert never knew what hit him, a shell landed between his legs and they only ever found one boot and his hat. So he didnt suffer or anything like that, it was just a terrible waste of a good man.

Des chipped in, Thats enough of the war talking, were out to have good day on the river, I was thinking that we might try out the fishing at Chinamans Bay today, there is a good run in tide about 9AM and the sand bank has some good drop offs where we might catch some flathead. What do ya reckon?

Jimmy added that might be the go, and Terry said I′ll be advised by you two, you go fishing a lot more than I do, I′m just glad to have a day out and enjoy the sun and scenery.

Des said, Oh bugger me Terry, if you wanted peace and quiet, we should a brought Winnie. Laughing.

Oh dont suggest that Des, Winnie is a good woman and a good Mother to June and Danny, its just that she is protective of us all.

And she was injected with a gramaphone needle.

Jimmy laughed and said, Yeah mate you cant beat the life of a single man, no one to answer to, your yer own boss.

The road wound through the streets of Bankstown and Punchbowl and onto King Georges Road, this led the trio down to Hurstville and eventually onto the road to Port Hacking. The suburbs were quiet being Saturday morning and there were few cars to be seen, Des passed the horse drawn carts of the milkmen, with the householders coming out to the carts with a billy can to get their milk. The milkmen used Horse drawn carts so the horse would walk slowly along while the milko dipped out a pitcher full of fresh milk from the 5 gallon milk cans. Life was simple and uncluttered in 1947.

Kevins Entry into the World

Des and Kath decided that they would book Kath into Nurse Millican′s home in Mary Street Auburn for the birth of their next baby, it was within walking distance for Mr and Mrs Wagner, and Doctor Freedman, who was looking after Kath, was also in Mary Street. The interesting thing about Mary Street was that a lot of Doctors had taken to living in Mary Street between Park Road and Harrow Road, It was a leafy section of Auburn and close to the shopping center.

One of the Doctors that lived there was Doctor Doctor now this is not a spelling mistake His name was Doctor Doctor, the interesting thing was that he married a registered nurse. Her maiden name was Nurse No Kidding, Doctor Doctor married Nurse Nurse, well to top it off several years later they had a son and they called him Boyo, This is absolutly true.

Kath arrived at nurse Millicans home on the afternoon of Monday the 1st of Feburary 1948, after settling in, Doctor Freedman called in to see Kath and give her the once over. Marion called in with a bunch of flowers and around 5PM, Kaths sister Ella and her husband Bernie dropped in with some hot stew and a dessert of jelly and preserved peaches.

Kath had fared well throught her pregnancy, the morning sickness subsided after the fourth month and other than the baby kicking like it was playing football, the pregnancy was good. The last 2 weeks had been uncomfortable with the heat but Kath was coping well. Her sister Ella envied Kath for the ease of the pregnancy, when Ella had her twins Ronnie and Annette she had a terrible time. Ella already had a daughter Venita who was 4 years old and Ella desperatly wanted 3 children, The unfortunate death of Annette through Scarlet fever devistated Ella some two years earlier, and then Ronnie suddenly dying in Kaths arms 3 months later was too much for Ella to bear at that time. Ella never forgave herself for losing two beautiful children. Doctor Freedman who attended the death bed of Ronnie was undecided on exactly what caused the death of Ronnie, he seemed perfectly healthy and showed no signs of a disease or condition that would rob him of his tender young life. Kath said that he just died, no apparent reason and no apparent cause, one minuite he was alive and crying the next he was dead. There was no autoposy conducted on little Ronnie as Ella could not bear the thought of a Coroner cutting poor little Ronnie into bits to find a cause. Ronnie was buried at Rookwood Cemetary alongside his sister Annette. In the Catholic section.

The contractions came and went and increased in intensity, at 1.15 AM on the 2nd of February into this world came another little boy, but this little baby had something unusual about him when he was born, he was covered in a mantle, a veil, the placenta came away with the baby and when he came down the birth canal he brought the placenta with him, he was born in a shroud. Now to the old women and gypsies this is very special, babies born with a shroud will have very lucky lives,

Kath rested and recovered from the physical trauma of natural birth, no epidurals in 1948 and Des celebrated with his mates smoking cigars and having a drink to wet the babys head. Des′s best mate was Eddy Horton who owned the Roxy picture theater in Parramatta, Eddy and Des went back to school days, and when they became teenagers they horsed around together and as young men went to dances together and they competed for the attention of the same girls.

They were real good friends, it was natural for Eddy to come and visit Kath in Nurse Millicans Hospital the next night and wish her well, when Eddy told Kath that he and Des were going out for a drink to celebrate, Kath gave Eddy a look that would have frozen tobasco sauce. Kath had heard about the womanising that Eddy Horton got up to, His car, an Oldsmobile, had a keyboard attached to the dashboard and Eddy could play a tune one handed while driving through the streets of Parramatta, Oh yes Eddy Horton had a reputation and now he and Des were going out to celebrate this little baby. Des was oblivious to Kaths dislike of Eddy Horton, and he was excited with the prospect of having a night on the town with Eddy, Kath said to Des. Wouldnt you like to spend the night here with our little baby boy and me? To which Des replied Oh Yeah Kath, I′d love to but Eddy and I are going out, we dont see much of each other these days, so well just go and wet the head of the little bugger and celebrate. With that Des and Eddy said their farewells and Des said. I′ll see you tomorrow luv, and disappeared out the door.

Kath