Chapter 40 - Dear Old Dad

Simon Jenkins handed the crash helmet to Felicity as she mounted the Honda CG-125 motorcycle. His relationship with Felicity's father had settled down after the first night Felicity had taken him home. It was her 17^th birthday party. She reminded Simon of Supergirl. About half way through the night he put his arm around her. "I know I may be only a weak mortal earthling, but I'd still like to really grind your buttocks into the concrete". Her father had been standing right behind them and it did not go well for the furniture.

After the ruckus Felicity's mother asked her husband, "who is she going to replace him with? I'm not saying judge her, but take an honest look at your daughter. Whatever else you may be thinking about this Simon guy at least he's honest and not some smooth talking slimy yuppie." So Simon was allowed to come calling on the basis that he remembers who's in fucking charge.

They were heading off to the farm at Jero. Imogen had given him the GPS coordinates of the meteorite and he wanted to take a few shots of it. They could access the location through one of the back lanes where Tracy would be very unlikely to see them. It was a bit of a long ride up since there were two of them on such a small bike. The weather was favourable and the stopped for coffee at a roadhouse along the way. Simon had a magnum ice-cream and Felicity had a strawberry friand. Felicity started talking. "I wonder where all the ups come from. Since we've started we've been through or seen signs for Porongurup, Takalarup, Amelup, Gnowangerup, Ongerup and Needilup while on our way to Jerramungup". "How can you remember all that shit?", asked Simon. "Inter school spelling competition from a few years back. We won, yay", Felicity laughed.

Just then a police car pulled up. A few seconds later a police woman, a real looker, got out of the car and walked past them to enter the building. As soon as the door closed Felicity half whispered "your P plates. How are we going to get back if you get busted." Simon had intentionally left his P plates at home because he couldn't have a pillion passenger yet. They quickly hid their helmets behind the trash bin and in order to hide her face Felicity started texting as the officer left the building. Not having any suspicions she got back into the car. Simon had a smile on his face. "Maybe the Lady officer is going to arrest me and escort the prisoner to the Cunnilingerup police station". "You're gross and a disgusting pervert", she reprimanded him. Simon lowered his head to one side to get in her field of vision. "Is that a smile I can see starting to form there?" "Oh fuck off you. Even the name sounds Aboriginal", Felicity broke out laughing.

Relieved that the officer continued to head toward Albany as she drove away they retrieved their helmets and continued their journey. They arrived at the paddock and found a break in the hedge. Tracy had not got around to this part of the farm as yet but nevertheless Simon took care to avoid anything that looked remotely like a tree seedling. Then they saw the blackened crater.

It really wasn't that much to look at. In fact the only thing of value about it was going to be in the telling of tale of coming up here to see it thought Simon. Felicity however was a little more curious. They parked the Honda and she got her phone out to take a few snaps of it. The camera caught a small bird, a Red-Necked Stint as it flew away on the 10,000km journey to the artic. Soon she was zooming the display to make sure it was a good shot. "Hey Simon the flash caught something shiny". She moved in closer to investigate. "They're crystals. I'm sort of into crystal power, well not really but I like the feeling of getting into them if you know what I mean. Like I'm connecting with something that has nothing to do with the crystal but its like a placebo if you get my meaning." "Yeah, whatever babe. Why don't you pull one off and hang it from the bedroom ceiling", he replied feigning interest. Felicity was already on her hands and knees when a loose stone under her knee moved and her hand reflexively slammed down on the sharp crystals. "Aaahhh, fuck that hurts", she yelled. Some blood and been drawn but not a lot.

"Have you had your tetanus shot?"

"I think so"

"'cos it doesn't have to be a rusty nail. Any deep cut which isn't washed out. Bacteria lodge in there and give you tetanus. My old man was watching the Nat Geo channel last night that's how I know. Get on, we'll get back to the roadhouse and get the cut washed at least." Felicity didn't waste any time. Despite Simon's speed his efforts were way too slow. He pulled up and they got off.

There were no other customers so Simon got the help of the attendant. An Indian migrant worker who went beyond the call of duty in cleaning, disinfecting and bandaging up Felicity's wound. He assured them that there would be no scaring and that it should heal up nicely. They thanked the attendant profusely and completed their journey home. "What's your old man gonna say?"

"He's on a FIFO job in the mines. Will be away for another week. Don't worry about it. Mum'll be ok, she'll just tell me what a silly bitch I've been."