Previously

Mum had to hang up because I could hear Debbie in the back ground saying, “Donna if that is Carla you are talking to tell her I have picked up the photos we took at the Chinese restaurant of Jenny and Chrissie and the boys.” Mum said, “You heard that Carla?” “Yes Mum.” and then she hung up. Half an hour later Mum was telling me and Ricky to come for a walk down the road and have a look at the house she had bought. She didn't tell us at the time but she bought it the same time as she was buying the house for Jenny, Which was a bit naughty but I suppose she wasn't sure how we would react to know she would be able to keep an eye on us, but Mum and Dad are not like that. Besides what could we possibly get up to being Uni students !!!!?

Carla and Ricky settled into the house and were preparing to start Uni on Monday, and it looked like whatever Mum said to the contrary she was going to be around a lot more than she was going to admit to.

Monday morning 16/1/67
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We got up far too early because we were so excited to be starting our new life as Uni students and all the worry and tension that goes with going to lectures and having to have assignments done on time. I had to learn almost as much as a normal doctor for humans in medical terms because the drugs and performing surgery were basically the same.

I had a bit of a head start on the practical side because I had been assisting Ross in his surgery in Quilpie for the previous couple of years, because his wife had MS and her hands were too shaky to do much assisting any more. She would watch me and tell me what instruments to hand to Ross as he was operating on an animal.

Ricky also had a head start with his Dad being the Principal of a school. He had made sure that his two sons were no slackers and tutored them within an inch of their lives, which of course paid off for Ricky when he had to do the hard slog to become a teacher like his Dad.

Ok, back to that morning - Ricky was grumbling that I went and had a shower before he even got out of bed. We usually showered together but seeing that we couldn't keep our hands off each other we would always be late to leave in the morning.

I said, “Ricky we will have to keep our amorous feelings in the shower for evenings,”

“Will that mean we can feel doubly amorous in the evening than?”

I replied, “Sweetheart, don’t forget we will also have to do study at night.”

Ricky replied, “Shit Carla, this is going to be harder than I thought.”

I replied, “Ricky we will have all night in bed every night, so settle down darling, we wont miss out I'll make sure of that.” That seemed to satisfy him for the moment. I loved him too much not to make love as often as we could, and I’m quite sure that Jean would remind me not to neglect the one I loved.

While lover boy was in the shower I cooked breakfast and set the table. By the time Ricky had his shower and dressed, Jenny and Christine were in the kitchen getting their breakfast as well, so it was a foursome this morning but that wouldn't be the case for long because nurses do shift work and it would be a case of 'see you when we can'.

Mum and Dad were staying in town for the next couple of days before heading back out to Quilpie. Mum was going to do some shopping and Dad had to go with Rodney to sign some papers for the plane that they had just purchased. The company now had three twin Cessnas, plus 'Angel' for good luck, but 'Angel' was mine alone so she waited patiently for me in her hanger.

There are two other pilots, Marie Coles and Patty Briggs, both are married women and wives of TAA airline pilots. They were both in their forties and were available for any charter flights that came up.

When I got some spare time I actually wanted to start training to fly a chopper as well, but Dad said I would not be able to find enough time while I was at Uni. I begged to differ, I would make time somehow because once I got something in my mind I would make it happen no matter what, and don’t forget Jean was half of me so double the trouble.

Just as Ricky and I were about leave to go down to catch the river ferry the phone rang.

It was Mum and she said, “Carla would you like a lift to the Uni this morning? Dad bought a car for me to use while we are in Brisbane any time.”

I replied, “No Mum, we are taking the cross-river ferry and then the bus to get there.”

“Oh I just thought I would take you on your first day.”

“Thanks Mum but this is not like when I started school at Quilpie. We are grown up now and have to do things for ourselves.”

“Ok dear, we'll see you later than.” Poor Mum, she is lost without having someone to nursemaid, but she will just have to get used to us kids growing up and fending for ourselves.

Ricky being the softie that he is said, “Carla that’s a bit mean isn't it? She just wants to help.”

I replied, “Ricky darling if we let her she won't want to go back home to Quilpie and she will want to do all the cooking and washing for us as well.”

Ricky said, “What's wrong with that if it makes her happy?”

I said, “Ricky forget it, it's not going to happen.” We finally got out the front door and walked down to the river to wait for the ferry to turn up to take us across to the other side of the Brisbane River and then catch a bus the rest of the way to campus.

The ferry ride is a pleasant experience and had a calming effect on my nerves of the first day at Uni. Ricky was not nervous in any way and he held my hand most of the way till we had to go in different directions for our orientation into Uni life. This apparently could take a couple of days so I thought we would be glad to be going home that afternoon. The morning went quite quickly and I met up with Ricky, and would you believe Greg and Toby the twins, in the cafeteria for lunch. It was their first year as well so it looked like the four of us had something in common to talk about.

I was glad to see the end of the first day. It was quite stressful and I would be glad to get home and relax and watch a bit of telly and cuddle up to my man. Of course that was not being real was it? Well we said 'bye to our friends and caught a bus to the ferry terminal and the ride home across the river. All that took about half an hour so we got home at about four o’clock. It was too early to do anything about dinner so we decided to go for a walk down to see if Mum and Dad were still in Brisbane in their house just down the road.

Ricky said, “Carla honey, do you really think that your Mum is going home just yet?”

I replied, “No not really but it is nice to know that Mum and Dad will be around from time to time don’t you think?”

Rick replied, “Yeah I really like your Mum. She is a very kind and giving person just like her beautiful daughter.”

When we got there Mum was in the kitchen and Dad was in the lounge going through some papers and said, “Bloody taxation department, who do they think they are to tell me I can't claim on this house as a business premises?”

Ricky said, “Uncle Bill, this is a residence, and you can't claim that on tax.”

Dad said, “You watch me son and learn how to become a millionaire!!”

Ricky looked at me and I said, “I told you so didn't I!”

Ricky looked at Dad and said, “Are you really a millionaire?”

Just then Mum walked in and said, “Hello you two. Yes Ricky we are and if you work hard and put your money to work so will you be some day.”

Ricky replied, “Aunty Donna, I don’t think a teacher's wage will be enough to make me rich do you?”

Mum said, “Well Ricky when you two get married and have good advice about what to invest in than yes you can certainly become quite wealthy.” She added “Now that you are here Carla you can help me prepare dinner and stay here and eat with us.”

I turned to Ricky and said, “See I told you she would want to feed us didn't I?”

Mum said, “She is the cat's mother.”

”Sorry Mum.” I could feel Jean giggling and so could Mum and she said, “Jean what’s so funny?”

Jean went quiet but Ricky said, “Stop that Jean.” as he was rubbing his neck. Jean loves Ricky as much as I do and she loves to tickle him on the back of his neck and watch his reactions. In reality Ricky really enjoys her attention. After all she is half of me so it is ok for her to flirt with him.

Dad said, “Donna, are you sure you haven't got a twin too? I could get used to having two women pampering me!”

Mum replied, “Darling you wouldn't be able to handle another one, besides am I not enough for you?”

I said, “Uh oh, you've done it now Dad.”

Just then Mum came over to where Dad was sitting and sat herself down on his lap and gave him one of those toe curling kisses of hers, which by the way I can also give. It runs in the family didn't you know?'

I said “Mum your going to give Dad a heart attack if you keep doing that.”

Dad replied, “What a way to go, Donna do it again.”

Ricky said, “Carla are we going to still be doing that when we get to their age?”

Mum and Dad were laughing and I said, “Ricky why do you think they still look so young for people their age?”

Things settled down and Mum asked me if Jenny and Christine were going to be home or were they working shift work yet? I wasn’t sure so I rang their number at our house, or should I say Jenny's house?

Jenny answered and said, “Nurses Quarters how can I help you?”

I replied, “This is the restaurant. Your table has been reserved for you madame.”

“Thanks Carla we'll be there in ten ok ?”

“Yeah I’ll tell Mum.” and I hung up. “They'll be here mum.”

“Good, I need to talk to Christine about something.”

I said, “Problems?”

“Carla just wait and I will tell you later ok ?”

“Yes Mum.” I gave Mum a hand with getting everything ready for dinner and set the new table that Mum had had delivered a couple of days before. I thought Mum would probably spend quite a bit of time in Brisbane even if it was as she said to get closer to the shops, but I knew she was worried about me and Jenny. We were still her babies as she sometimes called us. Oh well it was a nice feeling to be loved like that. Ricky was in the lounge watching TV with Dad. They got on so well and I guess Ricky had in some way taken the place of Paul. Did I tell you that Paul was Dad's gay son? He committed suicide and it really knocked Dad around that he couldn't have helped him more.

Jenny and Christine turned up and there were hugs all round and everyone as per usual was talking at once, well us women were while the men just listened and kept their mouths shut till we finished gossiping. Ricky had learned to just wait till we were quiet before he entered the conversation. He was dominated by three girls, but I think he rather liked it.

We sat down to a scrumptious meal of roast pork, baked veggies and of course Mum's famous gravy. Desert was strawberries with icecream and home made custard, all very fattening, so us girls had only small portions. We wanted to keep our perfect figures. It's not that we were vain or anything but we did look good when we three went out dressed in much the same outfits and it felt good when we turned heads. Ok just a little bit vain then!

After dinner the men went back into the lounge while we girls cleaned up in the kitchen. Once that was done we sat back down at the table with a cup of coffee each and Mum said, “Ok girls, seeing you three are very close and joined at the hip so to speak, I will get on with what I wanted to discuss. Christine dear, Alan is having a hard time of it back in Quilpie and is not taking it at all well that you don’t want to be his girlfriend any more, and of course he also misses Ricky and Billy. They all hung out together, and now Billy has applied for an apprenticeship with a a large firm here in Brisbane.

“Jenny I know you have been talking with him and it is back on between you and him when he starts his job here, but Christine dear, poor Alan is pining away for you. Can you at least give him a ring and talk to the poor boy? He is so much in love with you dear. I must admit his Mum and I are really worried about him.”

“Aunty Donna I still love him just as much, but how can it work with me down here and Alan five hundred miles away?”

“Well sweetheart I have a solution if you are interested in listening to it? Billy is doing a diesel fitter apprenticeship with Hastings Deering, but Alan is more interested in aircraft maintenance. So!! our charter business is about to embark on doing aircraft maintenance on small craft at Archerfield. We have already got two people setting things up as we speak and I thought that we might just offer Alan an apprenticeship in aircraft maintenance so you see it could work out quite well don’t you think?”

“Aunty Donna I hope you are not doing it just to make sure Alan and I can stay together as an item are you?”

“Christine, your Uncle Bill and I don’t do things on a whim. That is why we are in such a good position financially, but we are just so worried about Alan. He is such a nice boy and I just don’t like to see him suffer.”

Christine was now in tears and said, “Aunty Donna I really do love him and if you are willing to give him a chance like that I will ring him right now and tell him I love him and ask him to come down here to work for you.”

“Christine I have taken the liberty of arranging for him to come down with Rodney on Wednesday to show him where he will be working and also the people that are going to be training him to be an aircraft mechanic.”

Christine just stood there with tears in her eyes and couldn’t say anything. Jenny and I went to her and we had a three way hug. We were still the 'Three Angel Musketeers' after all.

Ricky was also pleased that he would have his two best friends living in Brisbane as well. It would give him a bit of time-out from being dominated by three women all the time, no make that four with Jean always there in the background putting her two cents worth in, but I thought secretly he loved every minute of being pampered by us.

Chrissie decided not to ring Alan that night and see if she could change her shift with another student nurse on Wednesday so she could be at Archerfield to greet him with all her love and show him just how much she loved him. He would be surprised to see her because he still thought it was all over between them. Anyway it was getting late so we all trotted off to our own place to shower and get ready for bed and for me and Ricky other things as well, Well we were in love and what were we supposed to do, ''hold hands''? Besides Jean was just as frisky as I was. Yeah we had a threesome but don't tell anyone will you!!!!

Tuesday 17/1/67
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The following day was more or less the same with more information being given about where to go, what time to be here and there, and of course the student union discussing all sorts of issues that I was not really into. Someone had already offered me and Ricky some dope to smoke but we would leave that well alone it kills brain cells didn't you know?

In the afternoon it was the same routine as the previous day. The only thing that changed was that we decided not to go for that walk down the road to Mum's house again, because if we kept doing it she would want to feed us all the time and then we would never be self-sufficient. I was hoping that she would get homesick and go back out to Quilpie as soon as the business at Archerfield was all set up and then they would only came once a month or so.

This is Christine. I asked the sister in charge in the ward that I am working in if I could have Wednesday off if I could get someone to swap the shift with me. Her name is Rena and she is in her early thirties. You ask how I know that? Well Jean comes in handy sometimes. She is just like Carla and needs to know all things. Anyway Rena said I could as long as I had someone to take over my duties, which I did. I had already done that for another nurse last week.

18/1/67 Wednesday morning

I got up early so I could be down at Aunty Donna's house to go out to Archerfield airport .I said bye to the others after a quick breakfast and hurried down the road to Aunty Donna and Uncle Bills place. It was only seven thirty but Uncle Bill said if we didn’t leave at that time we would get caught up in the peak hour traffic and we wouldn’t get to the airport in time before Rodney landed the flight from Quilpie.

I arrived and Aunty Donna said, “Good morning Chrissie dear, I have some more news for you.”

I thought, 'Oh no, something has gone wrong and Alan won't be coming after all.'

Aunty Donna must have seen the look on my face because she said, “I’m sorry dear I didn't mean to frighten you. It's good news, your Mum and Dad are also coming with Alan.”

I replied, “Why are they coming, is there something wrong?”

“Well sweetheart your Dad has been having problems with his heart and is going to see a specialist here in Brisbane.”

We got into Uncle Bill's car and drove to the airport. The traffic was already heavy even this early in the morning but I guess that's city life. As soon as I have finished my nurses training I will go back out to Quilpie to work in that hospital and hopefully Alan will also want to go back home once he is qualified to work on aeroplanes.

We arrived just as the twin engine Cessna came to a stop in front of the Croft hanger. Once the engines stopped and propellers stopped turning everyone stepped out of the plane. Mum and Dad came out first and for a minute I thought that Alan wasn't on the plane, but he poked his head around the door opening and had a surprised look on his face when he saw me standing beside Aunty Donna. I said a quick hello to my parents and called Dad 'Daddy' because I am still his little girl.

Alan finally came over to me and said, “Chrissie I didn't think I would see you again and I just fell to pieces.”

I replied, “Alan sweetheart, I never wanted to hurt you but it seemed the only thing to do. I don’t think we could have survived four years in a long distance relationship.”

He said, “Well I’m here now, and I am not going to let you out of my sight from now on. I want to share my whole life with you and I am hopelessly in love with you.”

I replied, “And I am with you.”

Wednesday afternoon back at home - with Carla.

“I wonder how Chrissie went this morning out at the airport meeting up with Alan?”

Ricky said, “Well we had better go for that walk again down to your Mum's to find out or you will be like a cat on hot coals.” We sang out to Jenny to come with us, and she was already standing at the front gate waiting for us to come along.

To be continued ,

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