Language of Love

Chapter 50 - Australia Day

"So what is Australia Day?" Abi had asked in the tower about a week before the big day. She'd been met with indignant looks and lots of ribbing for being a typical pommie.

It turned out that Australia Day celebrated the arrival of the first fleet of convict ships arriving in Sydney and putting up the Union Jack. It was a huge national celebration. Abi wondered if the indigenous people of Australia felt happy celebrating the arrival of invaders. She kept that thought to herself though and reflected on the fact that she knew very little about Aboriginal culture.

And so it was that on the morning of Australia Day she dragged Troy to the Woggan-ma-gule ceremony at the Sydney Botanical Gardens and made some contacts so she could begin to learn about their culture. Troy was a bit in awe of her, with the easy way she made new friends and the respect she was shown as she asked openly, with obvious interest, about Aboriginal culture and language.

At lunchtime she made her way to Bondi whilst Troy headed to Tama. The beach was heaving. On arrival at the tower, she was promptly pinned in a chair by Reidy as Maxi painted an Australian flag on her cheek. She smiled brightly at the camera as Reidy snapped a group selfie of the three of them then swivelled her chair to face the Ocean.

"Bet your parents are stoked that you'll be visiting this winter...summer?... I dunno it gets confusing." Maxi said leaning dangerously far back in his chair as Reidy headed back to the beach.
"It'll be Summer there. Yeah they're pretty excited but keep asking me to stay more than a week with them."
"Where should I explore on that free week? London?"
"Think that's what Hop is doing. Troy and I will pop to London for a day trip to join you."
"And I can't call thongs thongs." Maxi seemed to be reminding himself.
"Nope. They're flip flops. A thong is something else entirely!"
"Sweet. Reckon I'm getting this."
Abi laughed at him.
"Yeah, yeah." He groused "Not all of us have brains that translate between multiple languages Bambs."

Abi's attention was caught by someone moving out to sea. She reached for her radio.
"Black rhino. Got someone in backpackers heading out. Going to need help getting in. Better go."
"Heading in." Azza's voice confirmed and she watched as a blue rescue board headed towards the patient.
By the time Azza returned to shore Maxi had gone to answer a knock at the door and was helping 2 teenagers who'd had a flat rock experience.

The shift continued like that, busy with radio calls to those on the front line and minor first aids at the tower. Considering the beach was so packed they were lucky to reach pack up with no major incidents.

Having been stuck in the tower all day Abi jumped at the chance to help Reidy take down the flags and gather in the rescue boards.
"Bambi you gotta really yank it." Reidy laughed from the buggy as she struggled to pull the flag free of the sand.
Abi braced herself and pulled hard. The flag came loose, and she lost her balance falling on her arse in the sand as Reidy and the camera crew howled with laughter. Blushing with embarrassment, she picked herself, and then the flag, back up, shoving the flag onto the trailer.

Reidy took pity on her and jumped out to pull up the final flag. Abi leant against the side of the rhino and watched the waves as she brushed sand off her backside. She tensed as she spotted an object in the surf.
"Reidy. Is that a head?" She called, pointing towards the surf.
"Shit!" Reidy exclaimed, dropping the flag. Abi was already at the trailer hauling a board down as Azza radioed from the tower.
"Flash rip just behind you. There's a head out there."
Reidy grabbed the board from her and sprinted towards the water.
Abi grabbed the radio.
"Reidys going in."

The head disappeared just as Reidy reached the spot. Abi watched him haul the patient up from below the water by his hair and heave him onto the board. The man was slight but fully clothed.
"Ignorant idiot." Becca from the film crew muttered beside her.
Reidy gave the man a moment to recover, then helped position him on the board and paddled back in.