Ellen was briefly mentioned in Jodie's Story and I've decided to write a story about Ellen. It's a little more visceral than my usual stories, so my apologies to anyone with a phobia about guns. I've tried to handle the theme of domestic violence as sensitively as possible but it is what it is. For those struggling with the terms biker and bikie as used in Australia. A biker is simply someone who enjoys riding bikes but a bikie is a member of an outlaw motorcycle gang. This subculture has a long history of systemic violence, criminality and misogyny. The Grey Ghosts don't exist in real life as far as I can find out but their behaviour and rules certainly do exist in other clubs.
Ellen stared out the window at the dark thunderclouds. The forecasted cool change had been building for the last hour or so as cooler air moving up from the Southern Ocean hit the warmer air on the mainland. The last few weeks had seen an extended heatwave brought on by weather systems moving in from the north. Yesterday morning she'd hung out her washing at ten o'clock in the morning and brought it in just after midday when it was bone dry. She checked her phone again as the students behind her chatted amongst themselves. The class was nearly at an end and she went through the cleaning up routine in the blink of an eye, she could do it in her sleep.
Her eyes shifted as a restored Chrysler Charger pulled into the full carpark, but when the driver chose to park just opposite her she moved to the door. However, when she stepped out onto the verandah her annoyance dissipated as she saw a familiar figure in the front passenger seat. Elaine had been one of her students last year and whilst she'd dropped out after twelve months she still kept in contact with her. Elaine worked at Kmart in Boronia and because Ellen lived in Boronia Heights she often bumped into her whenever she was in Kmart.
The driver was unfamiliar but she carried herself with a confident air as she spoke on a phone. She was dressed in a short-sleeved, cream-coloured blouse tucked into light tan trousers, her long brown hair was tied back into a ponytail and then she turned and bent down to fold the seat forward. It was only then that Ellen saw the woman sitting in the back but she was partially hidden until she got out. Ellen noticed the thick blonde tresses tumbling over her shoulders and down her back and when she turned around she felt a slight weakness as she stared at her heart-shaped face. She looked to be in her mid twenties and was dressed in office attire, a white blouse and brown trousers. The driver ended the call a moment later as Elaine moved towards the verandah.
"Hiya, saw your light on, thought we'd drop in for a few minutes."
"How's it going?" Ellen dug her hands into her pockets.
"Great," she glanced over her shoulder, "this is Julie, my landlady, and this her colleague, Anna," she turned back to Ellen, "Anna wants to sign up for a course and I'd like to sign up as well."
"Of course," she turned her attention to Anna, who had fallen into step behind Julie. Now that she was a little closer she could see that she had green eyes, and a wedding ring but when she smiled Ellen still felt as if she was frozen to the spot. She came to an instant later as the three women mounted the steps.
"Come in," she smiled, "I'm Ellen."
"Pleased to meet you," Julie held out her hand, "Elaine's told me a lot about you."
She registered that with a smile. Anna didn't say anything as she shook her hand but Ellen had the strangest feeling that the woman was checking her out or was that just her idle imagination? Now that she was closer, Ellen could get a closer look at the blouse. The short sleeves were held closed by two-button cuffs and they were puffed out. The wingtip collar was open and the bodice had been finished off with pleats.
She released Julie's hand and turned to Elaine, who had always dressed down for as long as she'd known her, albeit she'd been painting ceramics. She also wore a blouse but hers was a pussybow blouse made of chiffon, she wore a tanktop underneath and both were tucked into denim shorts. The blouse was open to her belly, and as if sensing her attention, Elaine offered up a smile and took her hand briefly.
"Long time no see," Elaine inclined her head.
She led them inside a few moments later and fell into a familiar routine as she explained the setup to Anna. The ceramics class was broken up into two distinct classes. The first was for those who wanted to learn how to paint the figurines they'd bought. The second class was for those who'd finished the basic course and simply wanted to continue as members. The major advantage being that they got their figurines at a hefty discount and instead of paying for a full course they just paid on a weekly basis, the money covered the cost of paint and overheads.
"I'd only be able to do the Saturday afternoon class," Anna glanced at the brochure in her hand, "I work during the week."
"Of course, that's not a problem," Ellen reassured her, "the Saturday one is a mixed class but we could certainly fit you in," she glanced at Elaine, "and I assume you're just back for the Saturday session?"
"For sure," she nodded, "I've missed the companionship," she looked around the room at the same time and smiled.
"Some of the old crew are still here on Saturday," Ellen reassured her, "Stacey, Melanie, Gitti, Phu Linh, Naga, and Fatima."
"Cool," she smiled at Julie, "so, does this spark your creative desires?"
Julie smiled as she picked up a statuette of a stone age woman and wolf on top of a rock, the woman was holding a flint spear.
"It does, but I'd find it hard to maintain my other interests," she put it down.
"Julie makes clothes," Elaine tugged at her blouse, "which is why I'm wearing this blouse on a day like today."
"Wow," Ellen tugged at one of the ties.
"She made that blouse too," Elaine looked past Ellen and fixed her eyes on Julie, "and the slacks."
"Huh?" Ellen turned around suddenly and stared at Julie, and this time she had a good look at her outfit, Julie almost seemed to be enjoying the attention.
"Jesus fucking Christ," she murmured, "I would never have known."
"Thanks," Julie smiled crookedly, "my biggest character flaw is modesty."
"What do you charge? For the shirt?"
"Seventy five dollars but it'll last a lot longer than a similar shop bought one."
"I can imagine, I'd be interested."
"No worries," Julie dipped a hand into her handbag, "my card," she took out a card and handed it over, "I work part time out of home."
Ellen read the card as Julie stared at the statuette she'd picked up earlier.
"How much for that?" Julie pointed at it.
"A hundred and seventy five."
"Cash or card?"
"Either," Ellen pocketed the card.
"Cool," she picked it up, "I'll take it."
"Of course," Ellen recovered and moved towards the small counter near the door, "part of the price goes towards the running expenses."
"Whatever," Julie shrugged.
It took the better part of two minutes to process the transaction. Ellen had to fill a box with packing as well whilst Elaine and Anna examined the statuettes on the other side of the room. Once she'd processed the transaction and packed the purchase Julie walked over to them. Elaine glanced over her shoulder and then walked over to the counter, leaving Julie with Anna.
"I'll just grab a fag," she grinned.
"No worries, can I bot one of yours?" Ellen raised an eyebrow.
"Of course," she stepped out onto the verandah.
"Fatima will be pleased," Ellen spoke up a minute or so later, "she painted the figurine."
