The Sun Shines

They catch the train to Flinders’ Street Station. Noone wants to be the designated driver.

“What’s the fucken point if you can’t drink?” says Scott.

They take the exit out to Swanston Street. 

The guys in town today all had their “boys” out. It is sunny and singlet tops are the order of the day. Andre and Scott have their singlets on. Black, and blue, is there some irony to that? 

Jackson with his muscles on display in his sleeveless t-shirt. 

Roly with his smiles and a tan. He’s shirtless carrying his t-shirt in his hand.

Roly’s hairy thighs, thick calves completely fill the legs in shorts. It’s a consequence of all his footy playing up the country with the Warracknabeal 1sts.

Andre’s another ex-footy player with his shorts stretched across his big, beefy butt and his claimed zero % body fat. (Translation 18% body fat in reality)

“Zero body fat my arse,” says Roly.

“No, my arse, mate,” says Andre, as he punches Roly in the arm.

They both laugh.

They cross the big pedestrian crossing over to Fed Square.

They walk as a group, as a pack, comfortable in a world where they are at the top of the food chain. If you were watching from behind, you’d be watching how Roly leads the way, just slightly and how Scott and Jackson and Andre walk in sync. Andre’s singlet and shorts. Scott’s singlet and jeans. Jackson’s loose chinos and sleeveless t-shirt. Roly’s hairy legs, calves and thighs. His bare torso and tight waist, with the elastic from his undies clearly on display

You just got to love it when the sun shines.

Girls ogle the four mates openly. Our boys notice and smile amongst themselves. One girl wolf-whistles. The boys can’t help but look back.

They are heading to the Yarra for a BBQ with the rest of the footy team.

“She was whistling at me,” says Jackson. “Clearly.”

“Funny how I heard the distinct sound Scott from the air from her lips,” says Scott.

“That was definitely Andre that you heard,” says Andre breathlessly.

"No way," says Scott. “She doesn’t like red heads, you can just tell.

“Fuck off,” says Andre.

“You guys,” says Roly.

They head across Princess Bridge. The sun sparkles on the surface of the Yarra River.

“It’ll be the first time we’ll see Dazza since the Carlos revelation,” says Scott.

“Oh yeah,” says Roly.

“What Carlos revelation,” asks Jackson.

“You know, pissed off girlfriend…” says Andre.

“Sienna?” says Jackson.

“Yeah,” says Scott. “She made it known who Dazza left her for.”

“Who did Dazza leave Sienna for?” asks Jackson.

“Carlos,” the three others say together.

“Dazza left Sienna for Carlos?” says Jackson.

“Yep, that’s what we’re sayin’,” says Scott.

“Well, what Sienna is sayin’,” says Roly.

“Carlos Leclerc?”

“So the…”

“bitter…”

“Story goes.”

“Is that true?” asks Jackson.

“Ah, who cares,” says Roly.

Jackson looks at Andre. “Well, I’ve never sucked Dazza’s cock, so how would I know,” says Andre.

“Yeah, I mean it’s not like he’s rogering Carlos on the footy field,” says Scott. “So, who fucken knows?”

The head down the stairs on the other side of the bridge and walk along the river.

“How do you know who does what to who?” says Jackson.

“That’s what you got from that?” asks Roly.

“What?” says Jackson.

“Nyr, who cares anyway, it doesn’t change who Dazza is,” says Scott

“Well, actually…” says Jackson.

“Okay, it…”

“Fundamentally changes who Dazza is,” says Jackson.

“Yeah, okay, but not how we feel about him,” says Scott.

“Unless you feel like you wanna…” says Andre.

“Oh, come on,” says Jackson.

“Well, you know, it doesn’t, actually, change who Dazza is…” says Roly.

“What do you mean?” says Jackson.

“Well, presumably, he was always, you know…” says Roly.

“A shirt lifter…” says Andre.

“Does anyone, actually, use that expression any more grandma?” says Roly.

“I don’t get it?” said Jackson.

Scott grabs the back of Andre’s shirt and pulls it out of the back of his shorts

“Oh,” says Jackson. He laughs. “That’s good.”

“Who cares anyway,” says Roly. “It’s the 21st century, not the 19th.”

“Yeah, right,” says Scott. “I can’t say I wouldn’t, you know, if the situation was, er, right.”

“You would?” asks Jackson.

Scott shrugs. “I dunno, getting off is getting off, and if there was no one else…”

“Yes,” says Roly. “How do you know, it’s no big deal.”

“You reckon it would be no big deal?” says Jackson.

“Nah,” says Roly. “Not really.”

“Yeah, it’s not like you aren’t really familiar with what they’ve got,” says Andre.

“I’m not saying I would,” says Roly.

“I’m not saying I would either,” says Andre.

“What are you saying?” says Jackson.

“Love and intimacy are hard to find, and who cares who someone finds it with…” says Roly.

“If they are lucky enough to find it,” says Andre.

“Yeah,” says Scott.

“Yeah,” says Roly.

They continue walking. They seem to be lost in thought, each of them.

“What about the showers?” says Jackson.

“What about them?” says Roly.”

“I don’t care about the showers,” says Scott.

“It’s a stupid argument,” says Andre.

“You think Dazza is gonna get his jollies looking at your arse?” says Scott.

“Yeah, well,” says Jackson.

“So, what if he does,” says Scott. “It’s not like you’ll ever know.”

“Who cares if he does,” says Andre. “What’s the big deal?”

“Yeah, I guess…” says Jackson. “Not like I’ll ever know. True.”

“Exactly,” says Roly. “What do you really care?”

“Yeah, I suppose,” says Jackson. “I’d never know anyway.”

“Unless, you wanna know,” says Andre.

“Fuck off,” says Jackson.

“There they all are,” says Scott. “Three BBQs down.”

“There’s Dazza, there with a beer with Mitch and Leo,” says Scott.

“Any sign of the girlfriend?” says Andre.

“Stop it,” says Roly.

“It’s a joke,” says Andre.

“Yeah, well, they may not think it is funny?” says Roly.

“Not yet,” says Scott.

“What do I say to him?” says Jackson.

“What you’d normally say to him,” says Scott. “It’s Darren.”

“How’s Carlos’ bum taste?” say Andre.

“Shut up Andre,” says Scott and Roly together.

“Hell, if you can’t make a joke about it,” says Andre. “What can you do?”

“Too soon,” says Scott.

“Too soon,” says Roly.

“Let the guys get used to it?’ says Scott. "Before you start taking the piss."

“I bet ya the guys don’t care,” says Andre.