Kylie & Jack 1: Humble Beginnings

70. Fight or Flight: Tommo & Paula

Wednesday 16th Oct

Baby Isabelle was with her grandparents in Campbelltown while Tommo and Paula did a frantic dash in his ute to the New South Wales – Queensland border, following what could only be termed a distress call from Paula's mother, Fran.

Since August, there had been fires all over the country. An intense, hot and dry summer, although perfectly normal, had barrel rolled into autumn, then winter with equal force. Now it was summer again, the dryness had gotten deep into the earth and the whole country was a sitting timebomb.

It was this kindling weather that had caused Fran Allan to call Paula late on Tuesday afternoon. They had, for years now, lived in Beechmont, near to the Kokoda Barracks and inaccessible, dense scrub land. Nobody had any idea that in just a few days, that impenetrable terrain would be on fire.

Tommo came to a hard stop outside his in–law's house and before he had even opened the door, could feel his lungs filling up with woodsmoke from other fires that had been – or were – burning hundreds or thousands of kilometres away. He and Paula got out of the ute and headed for the front door, only to find her father, Don who was busy setting up hoses in the front yard.

"Oi Dad!" Paula shouted as she walked up behind him. Don glanced over his shoulder to observe his eldest daughter approaching him.

"What the bloody hell are you two doing here?!" Don cried out, getting to his feet and immediately noticing that neither of them had Isabelle.

"Dad, you know why we're here. This joint's gonna go up in smoke any day now, so get inside and grab your shit so we can get outta here!" Paula replied with an exasperated groan. She wasn't going to waste time arguing with her father or try to convince him that evacuation was his only option. She had been up since four AM, with a screaming Isabelle and on the road for almost ten hours. Paula was in no mood for anybody's shit, least of all her father's cantankerous attitude. It was just good luck that Paula's mother, Fran, was the sort to evacuate before the order could even be sent out.

Although grumbling, Don lead them inside where Fran was pouring over a collection of boxes on the kitchen table. The moment she saw Paula walk in through the front door, she threw her hands up in the air and ran for her daughter, wrapping Paula in a tight hug.

Tommo counted four plastic containers on the table and two travel cases looking fit to bursting on the floor. If he wasn't so exhausted, he would've smirked at Fran's panic packing.

Once Fran had let go of Paula, she threw her arms around Tommo's neck.

"Paula, Tommy! Thank god you're here!" Fran cried out, clearly relieved to see them both. She had only been on edge ever since calling Paula the evening before.

"Yeah alright, Mum, calm down. We've got just enough time to pack all your shit away in the ute and head off. Now, first things first, have you told your captain or whoever that you're leaving?" Paula said calmly, resting steady hands on her mother's shoulders.

"Yes – yes, all sorted. I rang Col Withers after I spoke to you and told him we were going to stay with you and Tom."

"Ok, good. And have you got all your pills and essentials and all that?"

"Yes, it's all there in the box – I've got a first aid kit, batteries, torches, a sewing kit –"

"– a sewing kit?! What the hell do you need that for?"

"Well you never know!"

"Oh right, because if we have an accident we'll be able to stitch each other up," Paula retorted sarcastically and rolled her eyes. Fran swatted Paula's shoulder. She then turned her attention to the containers on the table and told Paula what was in each one. Everything from their medical essentials to insurance papers and title deeds to non–perishable foods to photos, Fran had it all packed and stacked to military neatness.