Young and Hungry - For Life - 17. The First Date

When Alex announced his date to the family, his mothers were happy for him and James saw an opportunity also, but did not want to appear too keen so he waited.

“So she works in the circus?” asked Julia

“Yes, we met last weekend and I think she likes me”

“Well, she must have some interest if she’s willing to go on a date with you. What have you planned?”

“We’ll meet at the circus lot. It’s her day off so she’s going to show me around the circus. Then I’ll take her out for lunch, somewhere nearby, which brings me to...travel.”

“You want to borrow the car?”

“Yes, Mum can I?”

“I think that’s a reasonable request. Can’t have you taking a girl on public transport for your first date. Ok with you Hannah?”

“Fine, we have two cars and I knew this would eventually happen. So Julia, I guess they’re no longer your car or mine. They’re now the family cars.”

“Thanks, and before you say it, I will be careful.”

“We know you are a good driver and we trust you Alex.”

“So does the same apply to me next year?” asked James

“I don’t see why not” replied Hannah “When you pass your driver’s test and we see if you are a careful driver. But that’s still a year away.”

“So can I start to learn backing out and parking in the driveway?”

“We’ll see”

“Alex, since you’re going to drive to Parramatta, can I come too?” asked James

“No, not on a date”

“Oh, I don’t want to go on your date, I want to see the animals and learn about their care”

“That may be a problem. Wanda’s family won’t want you hanging around their animals.”

“Alex may be right” added Julia “And there are OH&S, insurance and duty of care matters to consider. You are untrained and not an employee of the circus. That could be problematic. Why don’t you wait until Alex has asked the family’s permission first? Also it’s not fair to tag along on a first date”

“I suppose so. Will you ask for me, please Alex?”

“That depends on how you treat me this week.”

“I could do your share of the washing up for a week”

“And mow the lawn?”

“Ok deal, but you’ve got to ask them properly, not like... I don’t suppose you’d want my little brother checking out the animals, would you.”

“No, I’ll ask in a positive manner.”

“Good bro, now can I get you another bowl of ice cream?”

***

The drive to Parramatta was difficult for Alex. He had to deal with the twin anxieties of a first date and first solo trip beyond the local store, in his mother’s car. He focussed his concentration on his driving to the point that, for most of the trip, he didn’t think about the date. That was until he saw the top of the tent come into view, then he broke out in a cold sweat and almost ran into the car in front, when it stopped suddenly for a red light. The fifty second cycle of the traffic lights was just enough for him to recompose himself and drive confidently the remaining block and onto the lot.

He then went through his procedure - gear stick in park - hand brake on - turn off ignition - remove keys. He then opened the door and attempted to exit the car, but had forgotten to remove his seatbelt. Seat belt removed - exit car - close door - click remote locking. ‘You’re doing well Alex’ he said, then ‘Bugger! Forgot the flowers.’

He retrieved the small bunch of flowers he had purchased at the servo and locked up again.

<>

Not being sure which van was Wanda’s, Alex asked the first person he came across. It was a young man, walking on his hands and feet while bent over backwards.

“Excuse me Sir, do you work here?”

“What do you think?” he replied

Alex got down on his knees so he could talk to the man, face to face, although the other face was upside down. “Can you please tell me which is Wanda’s caravan?”

“Who wants to know?”

“I’m Alex, we have a date today”

“Oh really he grunted”

“Yes, can you tell me where her van is?”

“Right down the back of the lot, it’s the only one with gold stripes on it”

“Thank you” replied Alex as he stood up.

“You’re welcome and good luck...” he replied, and Alex walked away feeling good, until the young man added “...you’ll need it”

Alex found the van, knocked on the door and was met by a middle-aged man he assumed was Wanda’s father.

“Good day Sir, I’m Alex, is Wanda here, she’s expecting me”

“Oh, you’re the towner, I’ll get her for you” he said, without a smile and in a deep gravelly voice that frightened Alex.

Wanda appeared at the door a few moments later, dressed in tight jeans and a loose blouse.

“Hi, thanks for coming”

“I wouldn’t miss it. Hey your dad called me a towner, is that bad?”

“No, it just means a local from this town or not circus folk”

“Oh good, I don’t want to be offside with him. He does seem very stern”

“Don’t worry about him. He just finds it difficult to turn off his ringmaster’s voice. In fact, despite being a great dad, I don’t think he has a fatherly voice.”

“Good to know” Alex said as he handed over the flowers.

“For me? Thanks. They’re beautiful. I’ll get Mum to put them in water and we’re set to go.”

When Wanda returned, Alex asked “Is your dad ok with you showing me around the circus?”

“Sure, he even put the lights on in the big top so you won’t miss anything”

“That’s good of him, I’m a bit nervous about meeting my date’s father, especially a circus father.”

“He’s probably no different to your father”

“Oh yes he is, sort of. I don’t have a father”

“I’m sorry did he die?”

“No, he was never there. I have two mums and no dad”

“That’s interesting, but you must have had a dad at some point, even if he didn’t stay with your mum”

“No, I’m the product of a sperm donor. An anonymous one”

“Oh sorry about that....no I didn’t mean that, I must sound awful. What must you think of me?”

“It’s ok, we’re just a different sort of family”

“And mine’s a different sort of family to most”

“Yeah, I like that.” Alex concluded as they walked through the main entrance.

“Wow it looks so different without an audience. But I can still smell the animals.”

“That’s a circus, the combination of animal smells, fairy floss, rotting grass, hay, sweat and roasting peanuts, all rolled into two hours of fun and amazement.”

“You sound like a... what do they call them...a barker”

“I know what you mean but do you know that is not a circus term? It was invented by Hollywood and only ever used in movies.”

“See, I’m learning already. So tell me some circus secrets”

“Not so much secrets, but all this equipment you see around you, do you know it can be taken down and reassembled in one day if necessary. And because of its portability it has to be sturdy and assembled with the utmost attention to safety details”

They then walked to the rope ladder leading up to the trapeze and Wanda continued “Take this ladder for example. If it’s not attached securely at the top, up to four people could fall and be injured if their combined weight pulled it loose, as four performers climb one behind each other.”

“I see what you mean, I saw the four of them scrambling up like monkeys at the show last week. Could I have a go?”

“Have you ever climbed a rope ladder before?”

“No, is it difficult?”

“Try it and see”

Alex did as suggested but did not get beyond the third rung, as the ladder swung out from the pressure applied by his feet and he found himself almost horizontal instead of vertical. “Bugger, I can’t do it.”

“There’s a little trick that you probably don’t notice when the performers climb so fast.”

“Can you do it?”

“Of course, I’m learning trapeze”

“Wow, that’s impressive.”

“Now watch...instead of putting both feet on the same side, like a fixed ladder, you place your body on the rope side and climb with one foot on either side of the ladder. That way you don’t push the ladder with your feet.”

Wanda climbed up about ten rungs and stopped. Alex asked “Are you going all the way to the top?”

“Of course not, there always has to be a safety observer to do that.”

She quickly descended and said to Alex “See that’s how’s it’s done. I’ll teach you sometime.”

They continued around the lot and when they got to the animal enclosure, Alex said “Oh this reminds me, my brother asked if he could come and see the animals next time”

“Next time?” Wanda asked

“Um...yeah...on out next date?”

“Sure of yourself, aren’t you?”

“Confident, I like to think” and thought to himself ‘where did that come from?’

“I’ll check with Dad, but I’m sure it will be ok, so long as he’s prepared to sit through a safety briefing and do exactly as he’s told”

“That should be ok, he’s really keen to do it.”

“I’ll let you know, when you invite me on this second date”

***

They drove into town and found a cafe near the park for lunch. During lunch Alex said “I know I shouldn’t mention this but it must be difficult to have a relationship with anyone other than a circus person, when you are on the move so much”

“Yes, it is, but this year, because our travel is restricted we are staying here for three months“

“Wow, that’s great, but how come you are staying in one place for so long?”

“We normally only tour on the east coast, although our base is in this state. We do summer performances in Victoria and New South Wales and winter in Queensland. When we are off season we go to our rural property and take a month off. But this year, crossing borders is unpredictable, because of sudden closures. Dad was able to do a deal with the local council to get this lot very cheaply because they can’t do anything else with it at present. So this year we’re staying for three months. We won’t do as many performances as usual so it will be partly a rest period as well, and we get to spend some free time in a city.”

“So that means you’ll have days off for dates?”

“Yes, will you be asking me on another date?”

“Of course, I like being with you”

“Thank you, I feel the same. So what do you do when not dating? Are you studying or working?”

“I finished school last year and this year is a gap year while I decide what I want to study at uni next year. Mum wants me to do law like her, but I’m not sure”

“So you get a whole year off, doing nothing?”

“No, I have a part-time job in a barbecue chicken shop and I save most of my wages so I can travel later in the year”

“That’s sounds good. Where are you planning to go?”

“I don’t know yet, depends on the state borders opening”

“Same with us, we need to be able to travel freely and be confident borders won’t close at any time”

<>

After lunch, Alex took Wanda for a walk in the nearby park by the river. A little while later he said “Would you like to sit on the grass for a while and watch the ducks on the river?”

“That sounds nice”

They both sat watching the ducks but only one of them was interested in the wildlife. Alex had other thoughts going through his mind. Eventually he summoned up the courage to steal a kiss. “Oh, you are a fast worker, aren’t you?”

“Just thanking you for being with me today”

“Then perhaps you might try harder than just a peck on the cheek”

“Oh really, then how about this?” he asked and followed that with a firm, closed mouth kiss on the lips.

“That’s nice, but could do better”

Without answering, Alex leaned towards Wanda, gently pushed her down onto the grass, leaned over her and planted a generous kiss on her lips before sliding his tongue into her warm mouth for a few seconds. As he withdrew, he felt Wanda’s tongue follow his into his mouth.

When they both came up for air, he was about to ask her if she liked it, but stopped himself with the thought, that if you have to ask, you don’t deserve an answer. Then it flashed through his mind that a man should know, a man should be confident enough to be sure he has pleased. This was confirmed when Wanda gave him a big smile while her eyes were still closed. They both sat up, held hands and went back to duck watching while they both bathed in the warm afterglow of what just happened.

<>

They drove back to the circus lot and walked hand in hand to Wanda’s family van. Wanda leaned against the van in a seductive manner and just as Alex leaned in for another kiss, the door opened and Wanda’s mother said “Oh, it’s you two, back already. Wanda, why don’t you invite your date inside for a cuppa?”

“Oh...y..y..yes Mum. Good idea. Would you like to Alex?”

“Of course, why not...I mean, I’d love to”

Tea was served in metal mugs, which Alex assumed were more durable for constant travelling. But when he tasted the strong brew, he thought that it would probably strip the glaze off porcelain.

Wanda’s mother put a half-eaten packet of Arnotts Family Assorted on the table and said “Bog in young man”

“Thanks Mrs...”

“Just call me Candy, afterall that’s what I was christened”

“Yes Candy, thank you”

“Now tell me about yourself young man. What does your family do?”

“My mum’s a solicitor”

“So your mother solicits for a living?” she asked and laughed at her own joke.

“Ah, I suppose that’s what she does” Alex replied, not knowing exactly what Candy meant.

“I think my mum is having a little joke with you Alex”

“Of course, very funny” Then as the penny dropped, he added “...oh now I get it. No she doesn’t do that at all, but some of her clients do, so she tells me”

“Now we’ve cleared that up, like a mild case of clap, tell me what your father does”

Wanda took over and said “Alex has two mothers and no father”

“Oh that must be only the second time in history for an immaculate conception”

“Mum please stop teasing Alex, he doesn’t understand your country sense of humour”

“You don’t mind, do you young man?”

“I suppose not”

“So that brings us around to you. Have you got a job?”

“I finished school last year and I just work part-time in a chicken shop till I go to uni next year...Candy”

“Uni, that’s a bit posh. Got lots of money your mums, have they?”

“No, we’re just ordinary people, I’ll be going to uni and accruing a HECS debt”

“What the hecks is that?” she asked and laughed again.

“It’s the Higher Education Contribution Scheme, which means the government pays for your university fees now and then you repay it when you start working”

“Well, I’ll be buttered on both sides. So that’s where all my taxes go”

“It’s only a loan scheme, it has to be repaid”

“Mum, that’s enough of the interrogation. It’s just our first date. Don’t scare Alex off already”

“You’re alright young man. I’m not having a go at you. In fact I admire you having the guts to give it a go and working already to support yourself. You’re OK by my book, I like you”

“Thank you Candy and I like you too, even if I don’t understand all your jokes”

Candy gave a loud guffaw and slapped Alex on the back so hard he almost choked on a Scotch Finger biscuit.

“He’s a good one Wanda, hang on to him as long as you can. He makes me laugh”

<>

Despite Wanda’s mother’s strange ways, Alex deemed the date a success and drove down Parramatta Road with an increased confidence in his dating and driving skills.

*****