Episode 54 - Midge to the Rescue
Midge sat down and faced Helen, who looked totally miserable.
‘So,’ Midge began, ‘how are things? You enjoying your visit?’
‘Yes,’ Helen said, ‘It sure is an experience I’ll never forget.’ Her stiff British upbringing kicked in and she straightened her back and smiled. Midge eyed her for a long time without saying anything. Helen’s bottom lip began to quiver and she burst into a flurry of tears and reached into her handbag for a hanky.
‘I’m terribly sorry,’ she apologised, ‘I think I’m still suffering from jet lag.’
‘Jet lag my arse,’ Midge huffed, ‘Look, I know it’s none of my business but I know Jules. She let you come home from the pub by yourself because she probably found something better to do. Lee can be a right bitch at times too so it must be a bit of a culture shock for you.’
At the mention of Lee’s name, Helen broke into a fresh spasm of tears.
Midge awkwardly sat herself beside Helen and put a tender hand on her knee and patted it,
‘There, there,’ she said, thinking of how lame she sounded. She wished she had of taken more notice in her grief counselling training when she was in the academy. She was pretty sure ‘there,there’ wasn’t on the top of the list as far as words of wisdom for counsellors was concerned. She waited for Helen to calm down.
‘You’re being so kind and here I am going on like an idiot,’ Helen sniffled.
‘Ahhh, think nothing of it. It’s good Aussie hospitality,’ Midge said.
Midge couldn’t wait to get her hands on Jules. She was going to give her one hell of a dressing down. Usually Midge didn’t butt into her friends affairs but this time she felt Jules had gone too far. She needed to be taught a damn good lesson that people weren’t just for her amusement.
Midge thought she heard a car door slam and she peered out her window to see Lee’s car pulling out of the driveway. Midge ran out the door and tried to get Lee’s attention but she was too late. She watched as the zippy little hatchback took off up the street. Midge saw Jules walking along the pavement, waving to Lee as she drove past.
‘I’ll be back in a tic,’ Midge said over her shoulder to Helen and took off to confront Jules.
She met her as she was about to climb the steps.
‘G’day mate,’ Jules said smiling.
‘What’s your caper?’ growled Midge, her hands on her hips.
‘Eh?’ Jules said frowning, ‘What’re you on about?’
‘Helen,’ Midge said, trying to keep her voice down. Helen had come out onto the landing, ‘She’s only been here a couple of days and you’re already treating her like shit.’
Jules threw up her hands,
‘Oh for christ’s sake, Midge. I was busy. Lee was home and she’s been taking care of her since she got here.’
‘Lee wasn’t home...or at least she wasn’t answering the door. She's the next victim on my shit list,' Midge informed her, 'I found Helen sitting alone on the steps.’
‘Well that’s not my fault,’ Jules pouted. Midge took a step towards Jules so their noses were nearly touching,
‘It is your fault,' Midge said through gritted teeth, 'You’de better treat that lady with the respect she deserves. She’s travelled thousands of miles to be here with you and the least you can do is make sure she is welcomed. If it had of been me, Jules, I would have punched you in the mouth. What was keeping you so busy? Free beer or some grrl you had your eye on?’
Jules blushed. She had been caught out and wasn’t used to being berated, especially by her friends.
‘OK, OK, If I had of known that Lee wasn’t going to be around I would have come back with her. How insensitive do you think I am Midge?’ Jules whined.
Midge raised an eyebrow,
‘I don’t think either of us wants me to answer that,’ she warned.
to be continued...
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