Tales from the Punchbowl #2
Are we Dealing with a Burglary?
In my childhood years, we would sometimes visit Fairhaven, a beautiful seaside town overlooking the ocean. Our cherished family friend, Ted Dearing, now 99, would give us permission to spend time there and enjoy his perfectly situated holiday house, along the Great Ocean Road. Sweeping ocean views and brisk, cleansing winds, made for guaranteed refreshment and we savoured lazy days by the beach and frequent laughter at the Bill Cosby tapes when we got home.
I decided I wanted to visit this idyllic place again, and drove there with my damaged caravan. I went up the driveway and started looking around. Evidently no-one was home. However there was a robust security system and cameras, which I didn’t notice. One of the doors was unlocked. I pushed it open. Two minutes later a cop car swings into the driveway, siren squealing. “Stop, police!” the yelled imperative at my shadowy figure on the porch.
I was quavering in my sandals. “Siddown, hands where we can see em”. I sat down, hands on the table. I was shaking with adrenaline. I breathed. “Are we Dealing with a burglary? Tell us what’s going on”. “I used to holiday here 35 years ago. I wanted to see the place.” “What?” “I used to come here as a kid and I’m looking around the house I used to know.” “Name and address please”. The male officer scrutinised me severely as we waited, while they checked the details. Then they proceeded to call the owners, over at the police vehicle.
Some minutes later, the female officer walks back over to the table, smiling. “You are in rare luck my friend. I just spoke to the powers of attorney for this property, Sue and Vass. They remember you. She said you can stay as long as you like. I lit up like an idiot. “What?” “That’s right. Sue, a contact of Mary, your mum’s relative, says you can stay. Looks like your story checks out. The place is open to you.” They got back into their car laughing. So upon receiving this totally unexpected invitation from the burglar busting police, I proceeded to stay four nights in luxury, listening to the ocean, sipping beer and eating Brazilian shepherds pie. I looked through the binoculars that were there four decades ago.
adamdaniel 