Thomas_The_Magnet:
So Jacob is going up to Bendigo to see his mother and sister on Wednesday. We’ll head up on the Friday, pick him up, and then we’re off to Adelaide BAABEY!!! It looks like we can get a three-bedroom Airbnb for about $800. That’s $200 each and it also means one of you suckers is sleeping on the couch.
Jakeyboy_CoffeeSnob:
I’ll take the couch, I don’t care.
KingofSmashbrosDantheMan:
How did you manage to get leave approved at this time of year Jacob?
Jakeyboy_CoffeeSnob:
I have my ways.
Prince_Ali:
How old is your sister Jacob?
Jakeyboy_CoffeeSnob:
Too young for you, Alex!
Thomas_The_Magnet:
Will you guys shut up for just a second. We still have stuff to sort out. How early can you boys get out of work?
Prince_Ali:
Maybe three? If I’m lucky.
KingofSmashbrosDantheMan:
Sorry guys. Probably 5 at the earliest for me. I’ll bring my stuff to work though, and we can go straight from there.
Prince_Ali:
Maybe KFC for dinner on the way?
KingofSmashbrosDantheMan:
Me and Thomas are trying to be careful about what we eat. Need a six-pack for the summer.
Jakeyboy_CoffeeSnob:
You’re never going to get a six-pack. You go through about five boxes of pizza a week, and two packs of crispy cream donuts.
Prince_Ali:
Actually Daniel, now that I think about it, how are you not fat?
KingofSmashbrosDantheMan:
There’s no way I eat that much Jacob! Plus I got a gym membership. Things are changing.
Jakeyboy_CoffeeSnob:
Anyone can get a gym membership! ;). You know that right?
KingofSmashbrosDantheMan:
Yeah but I actually use it. Don’t I Thomas? You boys would know that if you had moved in with us!
Jakeyboy_CoffeeSnob:
Maybe one day.
Thomas_The_Magnet:
He actually uses it. But he’s only been twice.
KingofSmashbrosDantheMan:
Using it is using it. Doesn’t matter how many times I’ve actually been. But seriously, I’ve only had it for a week – so I think I’m doing pretty good.
Jakeyboy_CoffeeSnob:
You’re right. You’re doing pretty good.
Thomas_The_Magnet:
Well it’s cheat day for me anyway. So I’m down for KFC.
Prince_Ali:
Yew!
Jakeyboy_CoffeeSnob:
Everyday is cheat day for me.
Prince_Ali:
You’re not even coming with us!
Jakeyboy_CoffeeSnob:
You’re picking me up on the way. So I am. For half the trip at least. And you’d better not forget about me, or you’ll have nobody to drive your drunk butt home on Saturday night!
KingofSmashbrosDantheMan:
:’D :’D
Thomas_The_Magnet:
Okay easy! We’ll leave work at six. Stop for KFC. Maybe be in Bendigo around nine, and then we’ll be on track to get into Adelaide at two. Sound good?
Prince_Ali:
What about the part where I take Jacob’s sister out to dinner. Surely that will take at least two extra hours.
Jakeyboy_CoffeeSnob:
She knows karate. She will kill you.
Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.
KingofSmashbrosDantheMan:
Won’t 2am be a little late. How are we going to get the keys for the AirBnB?
Thomas_The_Magnet:
I think they just send us a code. It will be fine!
Prince_Ali:
Super keeeeeeeen!
KingofSmashbrosDantheMan:
Yeah babey!!
Jakeyboy_CoffeeSnob:
Ça va être super!!
Thomas_The_Magnet:
Shut up Jacob you show off! :P
***
The sun shone brightly on Wednesday morning as Jacob drove down the two laned highway towards Bendigo. Several kangaroos skipped through the golden grassed fields in the distance, bouncing playfully as they dodged the tall gum trees that swayed gently with the wind.
Jacob sat back, with one hand on the wheel and the other hand holding a cheap keep-cup full of fresh coffee. The open window let in a welcome rush of cool air that blew over his face and rustled his black hair. The sun shone over his face, his eyes were protected by a pair of thick red sunglasses that looked as though they’d cost him two dollars at a service station. All in all, it was a beautiful morning, and there wasn’t much for him to complain about.
Jacob passed a large green sign as he zoomed down the straight road.
Bendigo 100km.
A little less than an hour. And an hour seemed like it would pass by quickly. Especially because he usually let his mind wander on these long drives. It gave him time to think, time to process life. Jacob put his keep cup down in the cup holder and turned the speaker volume up.
***
It didn’t feel like much time had passed before the streets began to transform into the all too familiar suburbs of Bendigo. It was the place he’d spent most of his life, a place he knew almost as well as the back of his hand. The trees and the fields slowly transformed into suburban houses with large front yards and backyards. And before too long, he was driving through the town centre. He passed the fish and chip shop that his dad used to take him to before he had packed up and disappeared, the movie cinema they went to with their mum whenever a new Harry Potter film had come out, and the pub where he’d gone out with his sister when she had turned eighteen.
The main street was different to when he was a boy, but also surprisingly similar. People walked along the sidewalk, kids played in the parks. Buildings had changed, but life hadn’t; the people here looked to be much the same as they always had.
Jacob turned into a side street, passed a few roundabouts, and five minutes later, he was pulling up into a wide driveway, that led to a beautiful red bricked house. There was a patio out the front, a double garage and somehow his mother had managed to keep the front lawn green. There were even bright white daffodils that she’d planted between now and when he'd last been home. She had a way with these things, but he doubted she’d be able to keep the grass this green throughout the whole summer. Especially when there were sure to be water restrictions put in place.
Jacob cut the engine, slid out of the car and pulled his bag out of the back. The front door opened and his mother had appeared at before he’d even made it to the steps. She was clearly old, but her skin shone somewhat youthfully, and her eyes glowed a beautiful green. Her black hair was streaked with grey, and curled down naturally over her shoulders.
‘Jacob, I’ve missed you,’ she said and moved forward to plant a kiss on his cheek.
‘Hi mum!’ Jacob returned the kiss, ‘just give me a second to get these bags inside.’
‘Sure thing hun. I was expecting you a little earlier. What took you so long?’
‘Coffee. Three of them. Not really worth it to be honest, servo coffee is disgusting. But it was the only thing that was going to keep me awake. Where’s Jess?’
‘She’s at uni. She should be back later on this arvo though. Let me help you with that, though.’
‘It’s fine mum, I got it,’ Jacob said shrugging her off, and pulling his bag up over the step and through the front door.
Jacob hauled his bags down the hallway and into his old bedroom which had been turned into the guestroom. His small single bed had been replaced by a large double bed, and his Spider-man doona cover, and Harry Potter pillow cases had been switched over to a plain green spread, with matching pillows, sheets, quilt and doona. One thing that hadn’t been moved was his plain desk where he’d spent countless hours studying and pouring over textbooks during his VCE. He looked over the white walls. He could still see the marks from all the blue tack he’d used to hang up posters all over the room. That seemed like such a long time ago.
***
His mum fed him almost as much as his grandmother. Jacob shovelled large spoonfulls of minestrone into his mouth, and soaked up half a slice of his mother’s homemade bread into the broth and ate that too.
‘How’s Nunna going? Do you and Chloe still go to church with her?’
Jacob nodded and swallowed.
‘Most weeks, yeah.’
‘It’s good of you two to go and see her. I don’t like to think about it – but you never know how much longer she has.’
‘She’s going strong mum. I bet she has a lot left in her. She still goes out to tennis on Saturdays with her friends.’
Jacob’s mother, Tessie, laughed a little heartily at that.
‘Well she never was one to sit at home all day.’
Jacob nodded his head in agreement.
‘How’s Melbourne?’ Tessie asked as she took a kettle of boiling water, and filled her mug. Their kitchen had a small bench with stools that separated the kitchen from the dining room. Jacob ate his food, while his mother did small bits and bobs, like make tea and mix cookie dough.
‘It’s good. Cold.’
‘Not as cold as it is here. It sounds like you’re pretty settled in Melbourne. Your job, your friends, everything’s going well?’
‘I suppose I kinda am getting settled down there. And yeah, it’s all going well.’
‘That’s good to hear. And do you have a girlfriend yet?’
Jacob felt his face flush.
‘N…ahh,’ Jacob looked down at the kitchen bench, ‘It’s…mum…’
Tessie smiled.
‘I get it! You don’t want to talk about that stuff with me. Your mum’s not cool enough – is she!’ Tessie teased.
‘No, it’s not that…’
‘It’s fine. I just want you to find someone. That’s all. It’ll happen in your own time. You know your sister started seeing a guy?’
Jacob looked up from the kitchen bench.
‘Has she now?’
‘Yep. It’s a pretty new thing for her – the whole dating thing - so don’t tell her I told you. She’ll probably want to tell you herself.’
Jacob grinned.
‘New?’
‘For her. Yes.’
Jacob shook his head with a half-smile still plastered to his face.
‘What’s with that look?’ Tessie asked.
‘Nothing mum,’ Jacob replied.
Tessie rose an eyebrow curiously, but she was always one to let things go rather than press them when she knew she shouldn’t.
Their conversation flowed casually, and time passed gently. Jacob finished his food, and helped his mum with various things around the kitchen, like preparing the cookie dough that was supposed to be their desert that night. The afternoon was calm, relaxing. Eventually they heard the front door opening and slam shut with a loud thud.
‘Jakey?’ a voice called down the hallway.
‘Hey Jess,’ Jacob called back.
A young girl walked out from the hallway and into the kitchen. She wore torn blue jeans, pink Vans, and a purple knitted jumper. Her long black hair was tied up into a bun, which meant that her olive skin was clearly visible. Her dark eyes and long nose were a splitting image of Jacob’s own. Jess threw her bag down onto the floor beside the table and ran forward, almost jumping on Jacob.
‘Jakey! How you been?’ she said as she blissfully embraced him.
‘I’m good! I see you’re studying hard at uni. Or hardly studying at all, if I had to guess.’
‘Probably somewhere in between,’ Jess began to pull back, but stopped for a moment so that her lips were almost pressed against Jacob’s ear.
‘Maria, hey?’ she whispered giddily.
Jacob felt the blood rush to his cheeks and his heart began to pick up pace. Jacob pulled back from her embrace. Jess had a cheeky smile on her face. Jacob gave her a quick wide-eyed look, that pretty much said ‘don’t say anything about it.’
Jess winked at him and took a seat beside him on the kitchen bench.
***
‘Mum, Jacob is dating Maria,’ Jess called over the dining room table. The three of them each sat with a plate of nachos in front of them. The sun had long since set, so the place was no longer lit with natural sunlight, but instead was illuminated brightly with the artificial, yet beautiful lights of the house. Bendigo was a quiet town, there was less noise on the streets and things seemed to be a little slow. But Jacob wasn’t slow, at least to react to his little sister.
‘What!? Why did you have to…!’ Jacob threw his hands in the air.
The smile on Jess’ face was so bright that the sun might as well have been shining.
‘I’m sorry! It’s so exciting, don’t you think? I just couldn’t help it!’
‘How did you even find out?’
‘I’ll let you guess,’ Jess laughed.
Jacob folded his arms.
‘I’m not going to guess! And that’s it. You can forget about that Nintendo Switch I was going to get you for your birthday!’
Jess’ face contorted slightly.
‘You’re not seriously mad about this, are you?’
‘Well, yeah, I kind of am,’ Jacob replied.
‘Why? It’s something to be happy about…’
‘I was going to share it in my own time. It’s barely been six weeks. But you couldn’t keep your big mouth shut, could you?’
Jess stood up from her chair, leaving her plate of half-eaten nachos on the table exactly where it was.
‘You’re twenty-nine Jacob – you don’t need to be all cloak and dagger about these kinds of things, and you don’t need to make a big deal over nothing. I don’t care about the Nintendo Switch anyway,’ Jess turned and walked out of the room before either Jacob or Tessie had a chance to reply. Tessie looked torn between emotions. Joy, as she had just found out that Jacob had a girlfriend, and the daughter of her childhood friend at that, and disappointment, as Jacob and his sister had only been together for a few hours and they were already fighting. A few moments of silence passed before Tessie finally decided what to say.
‘So, Maria?’ Tessie asked.
Jacob didn’t make eye contact with her.
‘Yep.’
He twiddled his thumbs.
‘You could do worse.’
‘I know.’
Jacob continued to twiddle his thumbs.
‘Are you really not going to get your sister that gaming machine like you said you would?’
‘Well. I already bought the thing!’
‘Go talk to her,’ Tessie nodded towards the hallway.
‘Fine,’ Jacob said getting up and disappearing. Jacob returned a moment and picked up two plates.
‘I’ll take these.’
Then disappeared again.
***
‘Knock, knock,’ Jacob called out at the bedroom door. He didn’t actually knock because he was holding a plate of nachos in each hand. Jacob heard a feint ‘come in’ echo from the other side. With great difficulty, he managed to turn the door handle with two free fingers and push open the door.
Jess’ room was small and messy – with clothes on the floor, sheets of paper and receipts covering her desk, and a dirty mug on her bedside table. Jess sat back on her bed with a half-open book her hand. But she wasn’t looking at the book at all. As soon as Jacob walked in, her expression turned to one of relief.
‘You brought the nachos. Thanks! I wanted to come back and eat them so bad, but I felt like I had to stay in here to make a point.’
Jess threw her book off to the side and reached up to take the plate from Jacob. Then she moved over to make room for Jacob on the bed.
‘Well you made it. You’re right Jess. That wasn’t a big deal. I overreacted.’
‘Yeah, you did. But it’s fine,’ Jess said as she picked up a corn chip loaded with salsa, cheese and guacamole, and shoved it down her throat.
‘So, your first boyfriend hey?’
Jess’s eyes widened. She swallowed her mouthful.
‘Did mum tell you?’
Jacob nodded.
‘You didn’t…’
Jacob smiled.
‘No I didn’t tell her you’ve had plenty of other boyfriends. Because I’m twenty-nine. And I’m supposed to be more mature than a twenty-two year old like you.’
Jacob poked his tongue out and Jess laughed and slapped him on the back.
‘How did you find out about Maria?’ Jacob asked.
‘Chloe told me. We keep in touch you know? She helps me with some of my assignments occasionally too. Law can be pretty hard sometimes.’
‘Oh. That makes sense. Hey, it’s still pretty early. Did you want to go out for a couple of drinks after dinner. When we’ve finished these nachos, and cleaned up all those cookies Mum and I made earlier. I assume she still goes to bed at eight thirty like she always had.’
‘She goes to bed even earlier these days.’
‘Great. Let’s go out after desert then.’
‘We could if you like. I don’t have too much spare cash though.’
‘Don’t worry,’ Jacob wrapped an arm affectionately around her shoulders, ‘it’s my shout.’