THE LOCAL
Prompt: Canvas
Frank looked up from his magazine and watched the young man saunter towards him. He’d noticed him drive into the campground and wander around talking to the other campers. He was dressed smartly and carried a clipboard. Someone from the local council? A politician making a nuisance of himself? Real Estate Agent? Maybe a God-botherer?
‘G’day,’ he greeted Frank cheerfully. ‘I’m Jamie. Got time for a bit of a chat?’
‘Maybe,’ Frank replied half-heartedly. He’d been enjoying an article about a new species of spider recently discovered in South Australia. ‘What do you want to talk about?’
‘I work at the Royal Hotel down the road. The boss has his brother-in-law helping out behind the bar today, so he asked me to get out and canvass people in local camping areas to see if there’s anything you’d like to see on the menu, or any activity we could organise that might tempt you to visit.’
‘Have you got any camping facilities?’ Frank asked. ‘We do a bit of pub camping sometimes.’
‘Oh. Yes! He’s opened up a nice level area with some good shady trees. Previous owner used it to keep horses for his kids, but Wally doesn’t even have a missus let alone kids, so he’s put in a couple of shelter sheds. Free shower at the pub if you buy a meal, or $5 if you don’t.’
‘What’s he got on the menu?’
‘That’s what he wants me to ask you.’ Jamie laughed. ‘What kind of food do you look for? Steaks on the barbie, or seafood? Or would you like to see emu steaks and kangaroo tail stew? Anything you’d like to suggest? What might tempt you to pay us a visit?’
‘Well, I don’t mind a good steak… but yeah, seafood’s good too. I think I had enough roo stew when I was a kid, but others might be looking for that sort of thing.’
‘What about activities? Have you tried the chicken races at Tambo? Or the cane toad races up at Port Douglas? What about a bush band? Or we’ve had a couple of bush poets occasionally. Interested in anything like that? Any suggestions?’
‘Well Jamie, your boss certainly has some good ideas. I’ll give it some thought.’
‘I’ll look forward to hearing your suggestions when you come out our way,’ Jamie said cheerfully. ‘Here’s a voucher for a free drink for each of you.’
‘You said the local pub but I don’t remember seeing it… What was the name of it again?’
‘The Royal. You can’t miss it. Just keep on going down this road. It’s only about 270k.’
(c) Susan skowronski 2024
