Collected Stories by Patricia Grace

Author:Patricia Grace
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780141006093
Publisher: Penguin Random House New Zealand
Published: 2010-12-22T00:00:00+00:00

Journey

He was an old man going on a journey. but not really so old, only they made him old buttoning up his coat for him and giving him money. Seventy-one that’s all. Not a journey, not what you would really call a journey – he had to go in and see those people about his land. Again. But he liked the word Journey even though you didn’t quite say it. It wasn’t a word for saying only for saving up in your head, and that way you could enjoy it. Even an old man like him, but not what you would call properly old.

The coat was good and warm. It was second-hand from the jumble and it was good and warm. Could have ghosts in it but who cares, warm that’s the main thing. If some Pakeha died in it that’s too bad because he wasn’t scared of the Pakeha kehuas anyway. The pakeha kehuas they couldn’t do anything, it was only like having a sheet over your head and going woo-oo at someone in the lavatory …

He better go to the lavatory because he didn’t trust town lavatories, people spewed there and wrote rude words. Last time he got something stuck on his shoe. Funny people those town people.

Taxi.

It’s coming, Uncle.

Taxi, Uncle.

They think he’s deaf. And old. Putting more money in his pocket and wishing his coat needed buttoning, telling him it’s windy and cold. Never mind, he was off. Off on his journey, he could get round town good on his own, good as gold.

Out early today, old man.

Business, young fulla.

Early bird catches the early worm.

It’ll be a sorry worm, young fulla, a sorry worm.

Like that is it?

Like that.

You could sit back and enjoy the old taxi smells of split upholstery and cigarette, and of something else that could have been the young fulla’s hair oil or his b.o. It was good. Good. Same old taxi same old stinks. Same old shop over there, but he wouldn’t be calling in today, no. And tomorrow they’d want to know why. No, today he was going on a journey, which was a good word. Today he was going further afield, and there was a word no one knew he had. A good wind today but he had a warm coat and didn’t need anyone fussing.

Same old butcher and same old fruit shop, doing all right these days not like before. Same old Post Office where you went to get your pension money, but he always sent Minnie down to get his because he couldn’t stand these old-age people. These old-age people got on his nerves. Yes, same old place, same old shops and roads, and everything cracking up a bit. Same old taxi. Same old young fulla.

How’s the wife?

Still growling, old man.

What about the kids?

Costing me money.

Send them out to work, that’s the story.

I think you’re right, you might have something there old man. Well here we are, early. Still another half-hour to wait for the train.

Best to be early. Business.

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