“So, what brings you on this auspicious journey?” asked the woman seated opposite Steve.
“Apart form the opportunity to become one of the world’s last true pioneers?” he chuckled in reference to the promotional material.
“I’m Dita, by the way, and this is my partner Norah”
Polite and stilted conversations had begun after the captain informed passengers they could remove phase one of their elaborate safety apparatus. They slid band 1 out of clip A before lowering band 2 in order to reach clip B which upon release gave access to clip C…
“It started one sunny Sunday,” began Steve, and Dita certainly didn’t object to a longwinded story on this seemingly interminable journey.
“Varna kicked it off, her Huskie barking his lungs out at 6am and that was the end of the sleep in.”
“Any idea why he was barking?”
“Probably protesting about the tropical heat and humidity.”
“We won’t be meeting a huskie or Varna where we’re going,” said Dita confidently.
“Then Victor fired up his lawnmower for a few hours. He loves cutting grass.”
“At least he was cutting his own grass this time,” added Steve’s wife Patty.
“That’s not fair,” Steve chided her politely, “you don’t know that for sure.”
“Oh yes I do, I caught the pretty young thing scurrying down the side passage with a guilty grin on her face on more than one occasion.”
“Did you tell the wife?” asked Norah
“Absolutely not,” declared Patty,” I don’t like to be nosy.”
“Plus, not our concern anymore. Not where we’re going.”
“Very true – but is that the only reason? I mean, it was an arduous application process,” to which the new friends rolled their eyes in sync.
“What about that one question – Can you list 10 delicious and nutritious recipes featuring potato, silverbeet and cabbage?” and they laughed concomitantly.
“But actually, there were more reasons”
“Mack owns the weekender across the road and spends his weekends working on D I Y projects with his Mackita.
“Mackita?” enquired Dita.
“Mrs Mack,” explained Patty. “One of Steve’s hilarious jokes I’m afraid.”
“Well she is Mexican – he’s Mack so she’s Mackita,” he stated proudly.
“Meanwhile, Marcel went to war with his garden and that chainsaw left horrific wounds on every living organism in sight – I bet he’s STILL going.”
“At the same time, Ozito launched into another renovation. I guess he has to justify that garage full of tools and add-ons”
Patty was required to explain again.
“More champagne comedy,” she said sarcastically. “Ozito is our patriotic nextdoor neighbour. Raises and lowers the Aussie flag every morning and evening without fail.
“So, I guess you can say we’ve come all this way for some peace and quiet,” surmised Steve.
As the journey entered its final hour, passengers were ordered to begin strapping themselves back into their safety apparatus. The vessel shook and shuddered in anger.
Finally, the captain uttered the words they had waited so long to hear.
“Welcome to the moon.”
Image: Greg Evans
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