Chapter 1.
Thunderstorm at Forty
The day dawned just like any other day, but today was Adam’s fortieth birthday, but Adam did not think much of it, birthdays were just another day and Adam did not give them much thought. He woke as usual at
6.30 am and went through the same routine as he did every day, he eat some cereal for breakfast and got ready for work. He was a creature of habit, doing much the same thing each day, even on the weekends. On the weekends he would do the same things on each day, house work, shopping, washing and ironing. All to a never changing schedule that had evolved over time and was now a ridged routine.
Adam worked for the Department of Transport as a low level clerk, he moved paper from his in tray to his out tray at a steady pass. He had fallen into the job many years earlier, more by accident then design. It’s hard to believe now but at one point in time he was planing with a school friend to travel Australia in a converted bus. But that never happened, his friend did buy a bus and convert it into a mobile home which he then used to travel the country, picking up casual work along the way. But Adam had started working for the Department of Transport by that time and was too scared to leave a securer job for the unknown of life on the road.
Standing at 5’8” Adam was not a tall man and there was not much of him, he could be described as thin, some might say wiry. He had short brown hair and dressed in a very conservative way, not quite a suit and tire man but close to it. An observant person thinking like Sherlock Holmes would easily pick him as a Public Servant.
He started with the Department of Transport just a few weeks before his twentieth birthday, and after twenty years in the Public Service he had become very much the conservative Public Servant.
Adam left his house at 7.30 am and walked the short distance to the Railway Station for the 7.45 am train into the city. The train trip was not his favourite part of the day as the train was crowded, noisy and a bit to chaotic for him. Over the years he had tried to blank out the world around him by reading books or listening to music through some ear phones, but without success. All he could do was look out the window and watch the world go by. On this day he found himself thinking about the last twenty years, twenty years of sitting on the train looking out the window, twenty years of doing the same thing, day in day out.
Once off the train he walked the fifteen minutes it took him to get to his work place. He working in an open plan office with around twenty other people, each in their own little cubical, separating them from each other, by room dividers. Once sitting at his desk Adam could not see any of his co-workers nor they see him. He started his working day as he started all his others working days, by turning on his computer.
The computer worked away at it start up process, making noises, the screen blinking, before finally settling down. Adam checked his e-mails, all work related, no birthday wishes. Much to his own surprise, he was a little disappointed by this. He checked his phone but there were no texts saying, ‘happy birthday’. Not getting any best wises on his birthday was not a new thing, he received none the year before, but for some reason it was bothering him this year. After all forty is one of those mile stones that he want see again.
Adam settled down to his work and tried to forget that it was his birthday, by the time he had dealt with his e-mails it was time for a meeting with management. The meeting started with the usual, ‘you have all done very well’ speech from the boss, quickly followed by a dressing down and a, ‘you all need to do better,’ speech, the sort of thing Adam had heard many times before.
Adam was glad to see the end of the working day, it was just like so many other days, but he was still happy to see it end. As he walked towards the Railway Station he heard a clap of thunder, which surprised him as all he could see in front of him was blue skies. He turned around to see a very different sight, the sky was dark and angry with lightning flashes, followed by another clap of thunder. He could see the heavy rain rolling down the road only a few hundred metres away. There were no awnings over the foot path and he had no umbrella with him so Adam only had two options, get wet or go into the near by Pub.
He chose the Pub, but Pubs were not somewhere Adam usually frequented. Adam did not drink and only went to Pubs when he was obliged to do so, usually because there was some sort of function being held at a Pub that he was required to attend. These would usually be retirement do’s or Christmas lunches, the sort of thing he could not get out off.
It looked like it would be raining for a while so he bought a glass of orange juice and sat at a table and looked out the window. People were dealing with the rain in different ways, some had umbrellas, which given how heavy the rain was, as well as how windy it was, the umbrellas were not doing much. Others were running towards the nearest building with an awning and others were resined to their fate, and just walking.
After a few minutes the rain turned to hail which had everyone running for cover, except for a few hardy individuals who just walked along with their umbrella. After a while the rain eased to just steady rain but Adam stayed in the Pub and bought another orange juice.
For some reason that Adam did not understand, he did not want to go home to an empty house so he just sat in the Pub.
A woman walked up to Adam and asked, “if she could sit at his table?”
He replied, “yes.”
Adam looked around the Pub and there were plenty of empty tables, he then looked back at the woman, puzzled on why she wanted to sit at his table. She was wearing a very short skirt and a very low cut top, in fact she had a lot of trouble getting onto the stool due to her short skirt.
“That was some storm,” she said.
“Yes, a proper storm,” replied Adam.
“I have not seen you in here before,” said the woman.
“I’m not a Pub person, I was just getting out of the weather,” replied Adam.
“But it has stoped and you are still here,” said the woman.
“I’m not very keen to go home tonight,” replied Adam.
“Nagging wife, screaming kids,” said the woman.
Adam smiled and then said, “no I’m not married.” He paused for a moment and then added, “its my birthday, I’m forty and I don’t want to go home to an empty house.”
“We’ll have to celebrate, why don’t you come up stairs to my room,” said the woman.
Adam was some what taken a back and before he could reply the woman said, “I’m only $500 an hour.”
“Thank you for the offer but I’ll have to say, no thanks,” replied Adam.
The woman struggled to get of the stool and then started to walk away saying, “best wishes for your birthday,” as she did.
“Hey,” said Adam.
The woman smiled, the smile of someone who ‘knew men,’ before turning to face Adam, “yes,” she said.
“How much for just company?” asked Adam.
“What just company, nothing else,” said the woman.
“That’s right just company,” said Adam.
“How long?” asked the woman.
“Three hours,” replied Adam.
“$300 an hour,” said the woman.
“Deal,” said Adam, then asked, “what’s your name.”
“Emma,” she relied.
“Alright Emma, lets order something to eat,” said Adam, as he handed her a menu.
She read through the menu for a short time and then said, “I’m going to have the chicken, what about you?”
“I’ll have the steak,” replied Adam as he handed her a $100 dollar note, he then added, “get a drink for yourself and an orange juice for me.”
Emma walked over to the bar and ordered the food.
The bar man said to her, “I see you’ve go a live one for the night.”
“He’s different, I give him that,” said Emma before continuing, “give me a Bacardi and Coke and an Orange juice with a little Vodka in it, but not much, I’d put money on him being a non drinker.”
She walked back to the table, put the drinks down as well as a sign with a number on it, before struggling onto the stool.
Adam took a sip of the orange juice and said, “you know, I have never had a good orange juice in a Pub, they must buy the cheapest available.”
Emma just smiled at him before saying, “tell me about yourself.”
“I not an interesting topic of conversation, I’m a bit on the boring side, if there was a ‘Mister Boring’ competition I would win hands down,” said Adam.
“I’m sure you’re not that bad,” replied Emma without any conviction in her voice at all.
Adam smiled at her, a smile that told her that he knew she was not being completely honest and then shock his finger at her and said, “now, now.”
“What would you like to talk about?” asked Emma.
“Movies,” replied Adam, then added, “what’s you favourite movie?”
“The Proposal’ or may be ‘Pretty Woman,’ said Emma.
“Rom Cons, feel good movies, yes there good movies but I don’t know, Rom Cons can depress me. They paint this picture, ‘that everything will work out fine, that Miss right is just around the corner.’ When we all know, there is no corner and no Miss right. It’s like their reminding me of what I have missed out on and rubbing my face in it, said Adam.
“My goodness that’s a dark way of looking at them, you must be a ‘class half empty’ sort of guy,” replied Emma.
“Don’t mind me, it’s the turning forty me talking,” said Adam.
“What’s your favourite movie?” asked Emma.
At that point the meals arrived and the waitress placed them on the table.
“Thank you,” said Adam, as the waitress walked away.
“That looks good,” said Emma.
“Well yes,” replied Adam.
They both started eating their meals.
“The steak is nice,” said Adam.
“As is the chicken,” replied Emma and then after a small pause she continued, “so what is your favourite movie?”
“I guess it depends on what you mean by favourite movie, do you mean a movie that I watch on DVD every six months or do you mean a movie that has an emotional effect on me when I watch it,” said Adam.
“Both I guess,” replied Emma.
“OK, ‘Cracker Jack’ would be the movie I watch on a regular basis,” said Adam.
“I don’t know it,” replied Emma.
“It an Australian feel good film about an obnoxious guy who becomes a nice guy due to the influences of others, it’s just what I can a nice film,” said Adam.
“But hang on I didn’t think you liked feel good films,” replied Emma.
“I’m alright with feel good, its Rom Cons I find difficult,” said Adam.
“And what is your other one?” asked Emma.
“OK, you want of heard of this one either, it’s a western called ‘Hombre’, it’s the only film, across all genres, that I have ever see, where the hero does not care what others think of him. It’s the hardest film I have ever seen yet it has little valance in it. It never fails to affect me. Its not that I would like to be like the Hero, it just, it would be nice to have that strength and I don’t mean physically.” said Adam.
“So it’s a man’s film,” replied Emma.
“No, not really,” said Adam.
“What about music?” asked Emma.
“Music, well, I like older music, from the 60’s, 70’s,” replied Adam.
“What, the Beatles, Rolling Stones?” asked Emma.
“More like Bob Dylan,” replied Adam, he then paused for a moment before continuing, “you know music has a great power, sometimes it will be the song and what it has to say, but other times it is where the music takes you back to, what was happening in you life at the time you were listening to the music or that particular song.”
“I never looked at it that way,” said Emma.
“There are a number of songs that it won’t matter where I am or what I’m doing, when I hear them, I am transported back to a different time or place. That can be a good thing or a bad thing,” said Adam.
Emma looked at her phone and said, “in about ten minutes there will be live band playing 60’s 70’s music up stairs.”
“What here?” asked Adam.
“Yes, let’s go up stairs,” said Emma.
“OK,” replied Adam, he then added, “would you like another drink?”
“Yes, that would be nice,” said Emma.
Adam handed her a $50 note and she went over to the bar.
“Well you seem to have this one hooked Emma,” said the bar man.
“Bacardi and Coke for me and an orange juice but with more Vodka this time for him,” said Emma.
Emma walked back and gave Adam his orange juice, they both then made their way up stairs.
Up stairs they found themselves in a large room, it had a stage at one end and tall round tables and stools places around the walls. The room was not quite full but close to it with only a few empty tables left unoccupied. Adam looked around the room expecting to see a young crowd but to his surprise everyone seemed to be older than him. Emma and Adam sat at one of the unoccupied tables, as the band made their way on stage.
“You know, I have never been to live music before,” said Adam.
Emma just looked back at him in disbelieve, as the singer said, “hollow everyone.”
The band started playing with some 70’s Aussie music, music Adam recognised, ‘Living in the 70’s’ and ‘Girls on the avenue.’ The Vodka was starting to have an effect on Adam, he was loosing his inhabitations, singing along with the music. The band started playing the Bob Dylan song, ‘Like a rolling stone,’ which affected Adam. He sang along but with a tinge of sadness with tearing rolling down his cheeks. Emma put her arm around him.
The next song was by the Bee Gees from the movie, ‘Saturday night fever,’ and as a dance song Emma took Adam by the hand and dragged him onto the dance floor.
“I can’t dance,” said Adam.
“Everyone can dance,” replied Emma.
“But I have never danced,” said Adam.
“Now is a good time to start,” replied Emma.
With the help of the Vodka, Adam managed to jig about in an embarrassing way but he did not care, as he was John Travolta.
Time seemed to speed up for Adam as before he new it the band were playing their last song and the night was just about over.
Adam and Emma made there way back down stairs and out into the street. It was hot and humid out of the air conditioning after the earlier storm. Adam walked over to a teller machine and withdraw $1,000 which he gave to Emma, he shook her by the hand and said, “thanks for a special night.”
“For another $500 we could go up to my room and make it even more special,” said Emma.
Adam smiled at her and said, “Now that is a wonderful offer but, no thanks.”
He walked over to the edge of the road with the intent of waving down a taxi, Emma followed him.
“I’ll wait with you,” said Emma.
“I hope tonight was not too bad for you,” said Adam.
“It was an easy night for me,” replied Emma.
Adam waved at a taxi but it was already hired so it just went straight by, but the next one stoped. Emma gave him a hug and said, “happy birthday.”
Adam got into the taxi and waved at Emma as it drove away.
“Where to chief,” asked the taxi driver.
“26 Davis Street, Hornsby, thanks,” replied Adam.
“You look like you have had a big night, chief,” said the taxi driver.
“It’s my fortieth birthday,” replied Adam.
“Happy birthday,” said the taxi driver, before adding, “forty is a distant memory for me.”
“I started the day with know intention to celebrate at all, but as it turned out, it’s been a big night,” said Adam.
Adam and the taxi diver did not engage very much during the trip, Adam just looked out the window, thinking on the meaning of life. His mind was racing with questions, what’s it all about? Was he making the best of life? What could he do to make thing better? Where did he go wrong? It all got too much for him and he fell asleep but not for long as the next thing he knew was the taxi driver waking him with, “where here.”
Adam payed the taxi driver and walked, all be it a bit unsteadily, towards his front door. Once inside he lay on the lounge, telling himself that it would be, “just for a minute,” but it wasn’t. He woke just after 8.00 am the next morning with just a bit of a head ache, he decided to take the day off, so he rung in sick.
Having a ‘sicky’ was something Adam never did, he hat to be at deaths door to not go into work, he was well known for it. He would go to work with the flu and give it to everyone, he never had a day off and called in sick. But here he was with a bit of a head ache and running a bit late, calling in sick.
As the morning went on his head ache slowly dissipated so he decided to go to the near by shopping centre for a few things.
Adam drove a Toyota Corolla, a car that fitted him like a clove, it fitted his philosophy of life. Three words governed his life, practical, sensible, economical. Those three words ruled his life, everything he purchased and everything he did would first have to pass the practical, sensible, economical test. It was like a mantra that he would chant to himself over and over again. But something had changed in Adam, those three words were meaningless to him ever since the thunder storm the day before.
He was overwhelmed with the desire to be impractical, irresponsible and uneconomical. He found himself singing, to himself, the words from a song he had heard the night before at the Pub. The words kept bouncing around in his head on repeat, ‘I want to break free, I want to break free,’ and it wasn’t just words, he did want to break free.
As Adam drove towards the shopping centre along a main road, he stoped at a red light, looking to his left, out through the passenger window, he saw, sitting in a car yard, a blue Subaru Impreza WRX. It was an older modal, with wide gold mag wheels, a big wing on the back and it had the large cresset and stars of the Subaru company in yellow down the side. Adam was hypnotised by this car, he just sat there staring at it, the lights changed to green but he did not notice, until the car behind him blasted their horn. He turned his left turn indicator on and turned left into a side street and parked.
Adam walked into the car yard and headed straight towards the WRX, he walked around it, admiring its clean rounded lines, the blue, yellow and gold combined to cast a spell over Adam. It was calling out to him, saying, “buy me, buy me,” and Adam was powerless to resist. He opened the driver’s door and sat in it, caressing the steering wheel.
A salesman appeared from know were and said, “start it up, it sounds beautiful.”
Adam turned the key and the turbo flat four burst into life, making the sound that is unmistakably Subaru. It was like a siren from mythology, calling to Adam, singing to him and seducing him. The mantra, practical, sensible, economical was replaced with, ‘buy me, buy me.’ Adam was completely and totally in its power and made know attempt to resist.
“Can I test drive it?” asked Adam.
“Yes off course,” replied the salesman.
After signing some papers and showing the salesman his drivers licence, he drove the WRX out of the car yard.
“Turn left at the roundabout,” said the salesman.
Stoping at the roundabout for some traffic, Adam then turned left and accelerated away. The car pulled nicely but then all hell broke loose as the turbo kicked in and the car lurched forward, bushing Adam and the salesman back into their seat. The turbo waist gate cut in and the car made the noise, that noise that turbo cars make, blur, blur, blur.
“Oh my goodness,” said Adam very slowly as he changed to second gear, he then added another, “oh my goodness.”
“Turn right at the next round about and then just follow the road till the next round about, where you can go all the way around it and come back the way we came,” said the salesman.
Adam just drove along, with the car off turbo, it felt tight, responsive and steered like it was on rails.
Once back at the car yard Adam drove into the yard and parked the car back were it was and got out.
“How much will you give me for a 2020 Toyota Corolla?” asked Adam.
“I’ll check with my colleague, if you could drive it in here for me,” said the salesman.
Adam drove his Toyota Corolla into the car yard and waited for the salesman. After a while the salesman came out and walked around the Corolla, “it looks like its in good nick,” said the salesman, he then added, “we’ll give you $16,000.”
“Alright, deal,” said Adam.
“It will take about an hour to complete the paper work, do you want to wait, or come back?” said the salesman.
“I have a few things to do, I will be back, can I pay the difference in cash?” asked Adam.
“Yes, know problem,” replied the salesman.
Adam drove to the shopping centre and went to the bank and withdrew $5,000, four for the car plus some spending money. As he walked through the shopping centre he passed an up market men’s wear store, which court his eye. He looked through the window for a while and then went in. Adam looked around and it did not take long for a salesman to approach him.
“Can I help you sir,” asked the salesman.
“I’d like a full wardrobe, say ten shirts, may be five pairs of jeans, two pair of those boots,” he pointed at the RM Williams boots, “I want something stylish, good quality,” replied Adam.
“I’m sure we can help,” said the salesman, he then asked, “what size shirt do you take?”
“Medium,” replied Adam.
“Any preference on colour?” asked the salesman.
“Let’s be adventurous,” replied Adam.
After trying on many shirts Adam settled on ten, all different colours, he then moved onto jeans.
“May I suggest Moleskin’s,” said the salesman.
“Let’s have a look,” replied Adam.
Adam tried both Jean’s and Moleskin’s, before deciding on Moleskin’s. He then tried a number of boots before choosing the style and colour he liked. As he stud at the counter waiting for the account to be tallied up, he noticed a rack of sun glasses so he tried some of them before selecting a pair. The bill came to just over $2,000 which Adam used his credit card to pay.
As Adam drove into the car yard he could see the Subaru sitting in front of the office, ready to go. He pulled up next to it and went into the office, where after signing some papers, paying over some money and sorting out insurance, the Subaru was his and the Toyota was their’s. After moving his personal items from the Toyota to the Subaru, it was all done and dusted. He then headed home driving a car that was nothing like any car he had ever owned in his life, it was the car of an extravert, an alpha male, not Adam.
Adam pulled into his driveway just as his neighbour went passed walking her dog, she could not believe her eyes.
“What’s this Adam,” she said with horror in her voice.
“My new car,” replied Adam.
“You mean I going to have to put up with that noise every morning,” asked the neighbour.
“No, you won’t hear a sound as I am going away for a while from tomorrow, so you will be fine,” replied Adam.
“Where are you going,” asked the neighbour.
“On a road trip,” replied Adam.
“What about when you get back?” asked the neighbour.
“We’ll worry about that when I get back, got to run, I’ve got a lot to do,” replied Adam.
He removed everything from the car and took it all inside, he then spent the rest of the afternoon and evening packing for a long road trip.
Adam had never been on a road trip let a lone a long road trip so he did not really know what to pack, so he just done the best he could. At know point did he question what he was doing, he was on a mission and he had no doubts.
He went on to his works web site and filled in an application for long service leave. He had six months available to him so he applied for twelve months with half pay. He got to the end of the form and without any hesitation he pressed, ‘send’.
The next morning after packing the car with what he thought he would need he locked up his house and headed north. He had no plan, he had no destination, he just drove north and left the rest to fate.
He remembered the quotation, ‘what fate may bring’ but he could not remember who said it.
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