Waltzing Matilda,
Matilda McMahon was a retired public servant. Not yet in her mid-sixties when most others retired, but she was offered early retirement and she was tired of all the late nights and the travelling, the stress-filled life she had, had worn her out. She had seen many of her friends fall by the wayside at an early age, she just wanted some peace and quiet. Somewhere she could go and not be bothered by the hustle and bustle she just wanted to rest up.
She had settled in a little country town in New South Wales, an out-of-the-way place. She owned a small and well-kept cottage, she had her dog and a few cats, strays mainly, but she looked after them and they looked after her.
Her one vice, if you can call it a vice, was strolling down to the pub on a Saturday lunchtime, and sitting in the bar, she would watch the horse racing and gamble a little here and there. Most Saturdays she came out on top. She didn't need the money, her government pension would keep her well looked after. She could buy the food she needed, and a new car every so often and if she wanted to travel to see her old friends in Adelaide or Canberra, even in Sydney and Brisbane she could.
She had a special friend who would stay with her when she wasn't busy saving the world. Bianca was that one-in-a-million type of person, still young, very pretty, a natural blonde, nice figure and above all obedient, and willing to learn. It helped that she worked with her girlfriend once upon a time and as she was working in Canberra it meant she was only a couple of hour's drive from her. They were as close to being a couple as two women could be. But they still didn't flaunt it.
She had got a call from Bianca to let her know that she wouldn't be home until late Saturday afternoon. With her job for the government Matilda was used to her being called out at all different hours of the day and night, so being late home on a Saturday was no big deal.
As was her custom, Matilda put a lead on her dog and wandered off to the pub for her Saturday lunchtime rendezvous. She kept old Bluey on his lead as she walked through the front bar, she smiled and waved to the barman, he said hello and Bluey got his pats from all of the old timers in there. She ventured out into the beer garden, where Bluey found a shady spot and lay down.
A double neat Fireball was delivered to her as she sat quietly. Unfolding the form guide for the upcoming races, which she kept folded under her arm, she took out her pencil and wetting the tip between her lips started making her notes. She sipped the cinnamon-tasting whisky slowly making it last. She was no longer a heavy drinker, too many mornings waking up not remembering the name of the woman next to her put a stop to the many sessions of heavy drinking and wild nights.
Pretty soon she had mapped out who was going to win which race and who was just going to run a place, she had the hundred dollars she had always used. One thing her late father taught her was you put your winnings to one side and never use it. Start with a sum of money and play it till it's done, then leave.
She smiled to herself. Remembering such things from so long ago, do you think she can remember where she leaves her glasses?
She sat there double-checking her picks and then stood up to go inside to place her bets on the TAB office in the pub. Bluey opened his eyes but didn't move, his eyes watching her every move. She stopped at the door and turned towards the dog, "Stay," is all she said.
The pub was busy on Saturday afternoons, some of the cocky's were in off their farms, laughing and joking. She minded her own business but waved to a few blokes she recognised, as she put her money on the different horses in different races in different states. By the time she had finished, she considered her money well spent. She checked the time against the time of the first race, a good 13 minutes to spare. She caught the eye of the barman and just nodded, which meant when he had enough time she would love another drink.
The noise down the other end of the bar got her attention, just some young blokes getting into an argument. Some pushing and shoving a wild swing, not collecting with anyone or anything. She laughed as did almost everyone else. It was after all funny.
She leaned on the bar as the noise abated and a young man was shown the door. The barman named Andy, placed a double neat Fireball in front of her. "I haven't seen a stoush in here for ages, what brought that on," She asked him.
"He's fresh out of the clink, can't handle his beer just yet," Came the reply.
"You'd think he would have learned something on the inside, like how to pick your fights," Matilda said with a grin.
"Some fellas never learn Tilley," He told her. She raised her glass, took a sip, and returned to the warm sunshine. Bluey just opened his eyes as he heard her make her way to the chair. Rolled over onto his side and went back to sleep. She looked down at the table and saw her drink was still there, she smiled and shook her head, and then mumbled "I have two to drink now then."
She opened the weekend paper and started reading. Her attention was drawn to noises from the other side of the solid ten-foot brick wall. Someone was trying to climb over the wall. Bluey got out from under the table where he had been sleeping and stretched his whole body, listening to the noises on the other side of the wall. He looked up at Matilda as if to say 'What's going on?'
Bluey shook himself awake and walked over to the other side of the garden. He sat down looking at the wall where the noise was coming from. His ears went erect, and he sat there alert, in the shadow of the bushes, he blended in well. A strategic spot to see who was coming over the wall. Matilda, smiled knowing that he was looking out for her. His shoulders were pushed back, and his eyes were wide open and sparkling, if ever a dog looked like he was part of the King's Guard at the Palace, then Bluey looked that part.
