Chapter 22: the dam wall

Mr Keaton knew a back way for us to get to the dam wall on the side that was furtherest away from the village. It was about a half hour drive over rough fire trails through the forest. When we got there, I saw that there was a road across the top of the dam wall, but we couldn't drive onto it because it was barricaded off. So we parked and started walking across.

Randolph and I were excited, running back and forth from one side to the other.

"God, Randy, it's so high," I exclaimed as I pointed over the downriver side.

"Yeah, imagine how deep the water is on the other side of the wall. It's a really big dam, Lyndy, and there's a big signboard at the other end that tells you all about."

"You two, don't get too silly," Mum admonished us, "I don't want you falling over the side."

"Yeah, Mum."

"Yeah, Mum."

As we continued across the wall roadway, we heard Mr Keaton mutter under his breath, "Shit."

"What is it, dear?" Mum asked.

He grimaced. "That bloke standing there in the middle, I know him; I call him Jack the Jerk, and I don't like him at all, but he's a customer of our company, so I have to be pleasant to him. Last thing I want is for him to know much about my personal life."

"Oh, I see," she smiled. "All right, let's try to get past him quickly. Kids, let's put on a bit of an act here."

As we came closer, the man called out, "Hello, Morrie, day out with the family, is it?"

"Yeah, that's right."

"So you've got two children I see, a son and daughter."

"Yep, the pigeon pair."

"Dear," Mum called out, "the kids want go all the way across."

"Okay, go ahead. I'll be right behind you."

Mum motioned us forward and we moved on quickly.

We got across and Randolph and I calmed down enough to stand still and read the sign. Mr Keaton joined us and said to me quietly, "Lynda, I hope you didn't mind me saying that you were my daughter?"

I grinned at him. "Of course not . . . Dad."

He laughed.

"Randolph, Lynda, there are toilets over there if you need to go." Mum waved her hand at the buildings behind us.

We raced over. I didn't even hesitate; straight into the ladies, into a cubicle; sat down, had a pee and out again.

As we started back, Dad's unwanted 'friend' was walking towards us.

"Kids," Mum murmured, "start running. I'll chase you."

"Right, Mum," we said together and took off.

She came after us, calling out, "You two, not so fast. Don't get too silly."

Behind us we heard, "Can't keep up with your family, Morrie?"

"So it seems."

Randy and I were starting to laugh and stagger about. Mum caught us and put an arm around each of us. "Well done, kids, well done."

Dad came trotting up grinning, "Good on you, guys. Thanks."

In the car on the way back, Randolph and I began flopping over onto each other as we lurched along the rough fire trails. Dad saw us in the rearview mirror and said sternly, "I hope you two have got your seatbelts on properly and tightly fastened."

"Yes, Dad."

"Yes, Dad."

We continued to flop about accompanied by howls and loud 'Ohhhh's'. Mum got fed up with us. "Randy, Lynda, settle down. You'll end up hurting each other."

We settled down - for about five seconds.

Eventually, Mum turned around towards us and ordered, "Stop it, you two. Any more and I going to tell Dad to stop the car and you pair can get out and walk the rest of the way."

We calmed down again, but were soon looking at each other pulling faces and snickering. It was a good thing we arrived back about then, before we got into more serious trouble.