was very interested. “Do you do tours of where you work? I would love to come and have a look one day, and possibly write an article on women who work for Mining companies?”
“Yeah, sure,” Kylie said. “Weekends would suit best.”
“Sounds fantastic. That suits me best too. Text me when and I’ll be there!”
“So did you ever go to the Rocky BNS?” Kylie asked.
“Every year for many, many years,” Jess replied.
“Ahhh, I’ve had many a fun time at the BnS Ball in Rocky! Never stole the Bulls’ Balls off the statues but!”
“Many people did!” Jess said laughing. “I didn’t, but many people did.”
After a weekend of hitting the booze, many a prankster would steal the testicles off one or more of the many bull statues located in Rockhampton, a regional city otherwise known as the Beef Capital of Australia.
The girls chatted over dinner and Kylie asked Jess how her week turned out and if anything exciting had happened. Kylie made Jess laugh but every time she laughed, Jess covered her mouth with her hand, which was strange as she had lovely straight teeth.
“How come you keep covering your mouth mate? You don’t have food in there I’d tell you if you did,” Kylie asked, softly putting her hand on Jess’s forearm.
“Oh, I got my braces off recently after having them on as an adult and I’m just used to covering my mouth when it’s open. Bad habit I know.”
“You have lovely teeth. You should be proud of those puppies.”
“I think they are a bit yellow. But they are straight.” Jess took a big sigh.
“Honey, a lot of people have yellow teeth. The only people with halogen teeth are in flamin’ Hollywood. Those buggers don’t need a night light, they just walk up the corridor with their mouth open after dark!”
Jess and Kylie laughed and Kylie gently held both of Jess’s hands down on the table so she couldn’t use them to cover her mouth.
“How did that feel?” Kylie asked tilting her head.
“A bit naked actually. Different!”
“I won’t do it again, I just wanted you to feel the difference. I think you’re a bit hard on yourself mate.”
Jess picked up her hanky and dabbed her forehead and then her arms. “Cactus Jacks has always had really good air-conditioning and fans. It’s my fave place to eat and where I feel most comfortable!” she said patting herself down. She wasn’t perspiring as much as the day the girls had coffee outside in the elements.
“Well then, we should come here more often,” Kylie said.
They settled the bill and went their separate ways and agreed to both go back to Outrigging for another trial. Jess walked to her car with a lovely big smile on her face, one she didn’t cover with her hands. So did Kylie.
On Monday afternoon, Kylie headed back down to The Strand, and waited hopefully to get a spot in one of the canoes. Jess came and stood beside her and they chatted to settle each other’s nerves.
“Girls! You came back. Good on you, come with me!” Shooters said. “Here’s a paddle each. Can you swim?”
“Yes,” Jess said.
“Oh yeah, I thrash about a bit but I can swim,” Kylie confirmed.
“Thrashing is okay, sinking and drowning is not. Everyone this is…” Shooters pointed to the girls and they each said their names.
“Kylie.”
“Jess.”
“And they will be coming with us today,” Shooters said.
“G’day.” Kylie put her hand up and gave a little wave.
“Hi,” Jess said.
“G’day!” they all acknowledged them both.
“Righto, this is the newbie crew. I’ll be sitting in the back and I’ll be your steerer. Girls introduce yourselves to the new girls please,” Shooters instructed.
“I’m Jenna.”
“I’m Ashley.”
“I’m Ella”
“Did your mum have an ellava time delivery you or something?” Kylie said without thinking
“Ha, no,” Ella replied
“Oh, go on, tell her your real name!” Shooters stirred
“I will if you will?” she said raising her eyebrow in return
“Oh. Nup” Shooters said shaking her head
“What’s your real name Ella?” Kylie asked
“Rose-Ella”
“Rosella? Like the jam?” Kylie replied
“Exactly. Don’t laugh, I hate my name.”
“Were your folks fruit pickers or what?” Kylie asked.
“YES!” Ella replied. “They met, fell in love and named me after Mum got pregnant during her first picking season.”
“Lucky they weren’t picking rambutans!” Kylie said.
The girls all laughed.
Ella didn’t get it. “What’s a rambutan?” she said
“It’s a tropical fruit that looks like a hairy testicle but I’m told it doesn’t taste like one, plus that might have been your name!”
“Rose-Ella isn’t so bad then,” Ella said.
“Nup!” Kylie replied.
“Righto ladies, Ella is paddling with us today and is one of our senior paddlers and until you bring someone else along to fill the canoe, you are going to have to keep up with her and she is fast. Anyway, times a wasting, we need to stretch, so follow Ella’s lead.”
Kylie watched and awkwardly tried to copy each move but she felt puffed after trying to simulate the stretch poses, let alone go for a paddle in a canoe. Five minutes of stretches later and Shooters was back in command.
“We’ll lift the canoe to the water soon and push off. Everyone, same seats as last week. Jess you are sitting behind Ella. Kylie, you’re in number Five where I can keep an eye on you,” Shooters explained.
“I only know what Number 1 and Number 2 stand for,” Kylie said.
“There’ll be none of that in the boat, Number 5 is up the back with me. Five seats from the front seat. The armor is on the left-hand side when we sit in the canoe and
