Kylie answered and began making another drink. “Take this and line your lungs with it. I’m looking forward to being entertained by you later tonight after I finish,” Kylie said.
“When do you clock off?” she asked.
“10 pm baby, then I’m changing my outfit and going out on the rantan with my friend Sophia from Cloncurry.”
“Oh yeah, I thought I saw her in here having dinner and drinks just before.”
“Yep, she’s appearing for one night only.”
“Okay, well I have to take the shortcut down the stairs so thanks for the ammo, I’ll see you in the basement!”
“Later gator,” said Kylie. “Oh, when you see me wave to you tonight can you play my song for me?”
“Of course darling. Anything for you!” Anastasia blew her a kiss and left via the internal staircase.
Meanwhile Cherie had returned to the bar with her sulky pout. “Two rum and cokes, Cherie?” Kylie pre-empted, aiming to please.
“Yes thank you,” Cherie replied.
“So Cherie,” Kylie started as she made the drinks, “Did I hear that you are representing Mount Isa in Netball?”
“Yes, I am actually, who did you hear that from?”
“Anastasia told me. I just wanted to say congratulations! You must have worked really hard for it,” said Kylie genuinely.
“Not really, my father is on the selection panel. I only want to go so that I have a few days shopping in Townsville for free.”
“Oh.” Kylie was surprised at her candidness. “Wow, it’s not what you know hey!”
“Absolutely,” she said handing her money over and taking a sip, looking directly at Kylie.
“Well have a fantastic time in Townsville. And good luck with your games,” she smiled handing her back her change.
“Yeah,” Cherie said dismissively.
Kylie turned around and opened the fridge up to bring all the bottles to the front. “What a miserable beyarch. If she isn’t even working hard to maximise a chance at winning in her own sport and is gliding under the security of her father’s name to get onto the Rep side, she would hardly promote hard work and self respect to new employees. Do I really want to sell my soul to that upperty puppet master anyway? Nope.” Slamming the fridge door shut, Kylie stepped out from the bar to collect some glasses and had to walk past the table where Cherie was sitting.
“How long have you been working here, Kylie?” Sharon asked as Kylie reached over and took their empties from the table.
“A couple of years. Why’s that mate? Looking for extra work?” Kylie asked. She honestly liked Sharon.
“As if you’d want to be a barmaid Sharon,” Cherie butted in.
“Why wouldn’t you want to be a barmaid Cherie?” Kylie asked politely.
“Well, you have to deal with drunks all night.”
“Oh, I don’t mind having to serve people like you Cherie, you obviously have quite a taste for it!” Kylie replied.
“Not ME! I’m not a drunk,” Cherie gasped.
“Not yeh-het! But everyone at this table knows it’s inevitable!” Kylie smiled and gave her a wink.
“Why don’t you get a real job instead of being a bar wench!” Cherie spat at Kylie.
“This is actually my second job Cherie, I work full time at the Post Office, remember? You know all those pornos you order from Fyshwick? Yeah? Well, I bundle them up for you and make sure you get them home nice and safe.”
Cherie blushed.
“Pornos Cherie, you dirty girl!” Sharon laughed.
“And remember that time we had to call you in because some mail you ordered was suspicious so the postmaster had to open it up to investigate. They thought it was a bomb because it was rattling around in its package? But it wasn’t was it Cherie?”
“That’s enough! I remember you work there now.”
“Yeah, it wasn’t a bomb, it was a massive vibrator you ordered for your massive vagina and they sent it with the batteries in it, so it was worn out before you could have a red hot go at it!”
“A VIBRATOR!” said Sharon, nearly choking on her drink as she laughed along with the rest of the girls at the table.
Kylie looked at Sharon. “It was massive mate, you should’ve seen this thing, it was so big it had a stand on it that could stabilise a motorbike. We all stood out the back waiting for the owner to collect it so Cherie had quite an audience when she arrived. Seems she wasn’t interested in Sharon that bit of information with you!”
Sharon laughed again and looked at Cherie...who was not laughing. AT ALL!
“Well, I hope you enjoy working your two jobs Kylie, don’t ever bother applying to MIM. You should know by now your application won’t go anywhere” Cherie gloated.
“Oh, thanks but I’m really happy where I am, reading all your mail and working for people I actually respect!” Kylie said then walked off knowing she had just shit in her own nest. But she had to be honest, and be herself. Even if it did mean welding already closed doors shut.
“Well that wasn’t very bright you widiot,” Kylie said to herself as she walked back to the bar with an armful of empty glasses. “You won’t ever be heading over the tracks now, as that cantankerous cow won’t leave her job for the next twenty years. You are one screwed dudette! You’ll have to come up with a brand new plan!”
Kylie unloaded the glasses onto the bench, sighed, and rested her hand on the beer tap. Seeing the ice around the pipes, she got her pen and lightly engraved a smiley face in the frost then winked at it. “You’ll be alright Smiley. Good things will come your way. You’ll see,” she said to herself, smiling at her shiny reflection on the beer tap handles.
Later that night Kylie met up with Sophia. They made their way through the six internal bars, giggling and chatting, before eventually finding themselves in the basement Karaoke Bar. Kylie waved to Anastasia and within five minutes her favourite song was being played, ‘Oh What a Night’ sung by Frankie Valli And The Four Seasons. Kylie and Sophia ran onto the dance floor and Anastasia joined them from the stage, taking a quick break from her hosting duties to boogie with her friend. She smiled and waved to greet Sophia then leant in to Kylie’s ear. “I heard what you said to Cherie.”
By this time Kylie had consumed four shooters and five bourbon and cokes.
“Go the Grapevine! Yeah, I’m smart hey!” Kylie laughed.
“Nope. Now what are you going to do?”
“Ahhh, I’ll think of something. Had my cards read today and they said I’m headed for change.”
“You’re
