Kylie said turning towards Chris and following his lead.
Kylie walked through each of the offices with Chris who showed her where everyone’s desk was as well as her own in the main office, then through to the laundry and shower blocks and men’s and ladies’ toilets, and he pointed out where the cleaning supplies were kept. They walked over to the workshop and had a look around before making their way back towards the office. Between the workshop and the office was a garden bed with some established trees and shrubs in it. As Chris and Kylie were walking past the garden bed towards the stairs of the office they suddenly heard a loud metal banging noise followed by some yelling.
Kylie jumped from fright and her hand clutched her chest. Chris didn’t jump. He started laughing.
“Come with me. I think I know where it’s coming from,” he said.
The noise continued. Banging on a metal door, the same noise you get from hitting your fist on the side of a metal filing cabinet. When Chris opened up the men’s change room door the noise was nearly deafening. He signalled to Kylie to be quiet by putting his index finger over his lips as he shut the door quietly behind them.
Along the back wall of the men’s change room were lockers. One locker in particular looked very animated. Chris walked up to what was apparently the source of all the deafening noise and started belting the locker with his own hands and yelling. The noise from inside stopped and they heard a squeal like a girl. Chris stopped banging on the locker and locked the door from the outside and put the key in his pocket.
“See ya later mate,” Chris said, then stomped his feet and opened and slammed the door as if he was leaving the room.
The person inside unsuccessfully tried to open the locker door and immediately started yelling in an animatedly distressed voice. “Hey! Let me outta here, I’m stuck. I can’t get out.”
Chris put his hand over his mouth to muffle his laughing. “If I let you out are you going to behave?” he asked the larrikin in the locker.
“Ohh? For how long?” the voice replied.
“For as long as you can! There’s someone here to meet you,” Chris said.
“Really? Who is it?” The voice acted surprised.
“Climb out of there you clown,” Chris said unlocking the door and opening it up.
A very cramped male wearing earmuffs and dressed in orange overalls slowly unfolded himself from the locker. Once he stood upright, Kylie could see that he was a little bit taller than her, sun damaged, he looked like he enjoyed donuts, and he looked his best when he was actually concealed within the locker. He got out and laughed at himself and extended his right hand towards Kylie. “G’day, I’m Shonky,” he said.
“Hi, I’m Kylie,” she replied, then looked at Chris wondering what adult male does this?
Shonky looked at Kylie like he didn’t hear her and said, “Sorry? Pardon?”, then pointed to his ears like he was in a noisy environment.
Chris reached over and removed Shonky’s earmuffs. “Kylie, this is Shonky.”
“Shonky? No shit,” Kylie said with a deadpan face.
Shonky started laughing. “Oh! It’s your first day. I was trying to make it memorable!”
“Oh, indeed!” said Kylie smiling.
“So, do you want to watch a train unload? One is just on its way over,” Shonky asked excitedly.
“Sure,” Kylie replied.
“Righto, well your uniforms and steel capped boots are in your locker in the ladies ablution block. Go and get changed and meet me back outside and I’ll get you a helmet and some Personal Protection Equipment (PPE),” he said.
“Righto,” Kylie said wondering if her bum was going to look big in her new uniform.
She opened her locker to find brand new bright orange long sleeve shirts and long pants folded neatly. There was a pair of thick work socks on top of them also. On the bottom shelf of her locker was a brand new pair of lace up steel capped boots. They felt heavier than her handbag and that was saying something.
After changing, she stood up on the step of her shower so that she could view her rear and then her front reflection in the mirror on the opposite wall. “Hmmmm,” she said. “They sure is firm, but lucky for Kylie, she don’t have no camel toe!”
Kylie walked out of her change room slowly. Her steel caps boots felt more like lead covered boots.
“Hey! You look great.” Shonky said.
“I feel like an orange,” Kylie replied.
“Well orange you glad everyone dresses the same! You’ll fit in straight away! Now, normally, you wouldn’t be allowed inside the office with boots on but since they are clean, come inside, just this once. How about I make you a cup of tea or coffee and then we’ll walk over to the Tippler?” Shonky said.
“Okay. Thanks,” Kylie replied.
Shonky made small talk as he made Kylie a cup of tea and then they headed over to the Tippler building and waited for the train to arrive. Kylie got her first taste of what the term Rail Way meant.
“There’s your way, My Way and the Rail Way!” Shonky said laughing, since the estimated time of arrival was an hour different to the actual time of arrival, despite the distance to travel being less than two kilometres at the time the ETA was given.
Neither Shonky nor Kylie cared, they chatted effortlessly and asked each other questions. After fifteen minutes Chris opened the door of the Tippler office and joined them in their wait.
“So Kylie? Are you Married?” Chris asked.
“Wow, don’t muck around Chris. Get straight to it,” Shonky laughed.
“I’m single, but I moved to Townsville to find my husband,” Kylie said optimistically.
“Sorry sweetheart, I’m taken!” Shonky replied blowing a breath on his fist then rubbing it on his chest and wobbling his head like he was some sort of trophy.
“Rats!” Kylie said, “Nart”, making Chris burst out laughing.
“I knew you pair would get along,” he said.
“You’re married aren’t you Chris?” Kylie said remembering something he had said in her interview.
“Yep. Married, three children, another on the way,” he replied.
“I have one word for you,” Kylie said.
“What’s that?” Chris asked, raising his eyebrows.
“Prophylactics!” Kylie said.
“Nah. Kids are great! Do you have any?” he asked.
“Not that I’m aware of,” Kylie said smiling.
“Ahhh, she’s only young, she has plenty of time for kids,” Shonky said.
