Tightly Wrapped.

It all started on Wednesday the 21st of July 2021, I woke that morning at 6am. It was a chilly 14 degrees in Cairns and I had left my ceiling fan on so it felt more like it was only 9 degrees. I like to wake with a minimum of 22 degrees and hope it reaches at least 32 degrees by lunch time. I have now lived here for 13 years and love the place.

I was nervous to turn on the Television as I made my first coffee for the day as the majority of my family would be waking up in lockdown in Sydney not to mention they would probably only hit a high of 16 degrees all day if they were lucky.

It was the day I had to go to Cairns Hospital to receive my second vaccination shot and what a day it turned out to be.

My appointment was not until 11:20 in the morning, however my first shot was delayed by two hours past my appointment time,not to mention it took me forty five minutes to find a car park near the hospital.Thankfully that day I left an hour early even though the hospital is only a five minute drive away.

Coffee in hand I turn on the Television, more Covid outbreaks, both in NSW and Victoria and more deaths are announced. Boarders are now completely closed to both states and more restrictions are in place.

Cairns has been so lucky, besides losing our beloved international students and backpackers who where the backbone of our hotel, fruit picking and restaurant workforce we have lived a normal life.

The worst we have endured has been looking like a ghost town for twelve months at the start of the pandemic.

Everyone scrambled to get home to their own country and a year later we were complaining about having to wear masks for a total of three days straight. We are now becoming the new overseas destination for anyone in Australia who can travel here but not overseas.

Glued to the tv I notice my coffee is now only partly drunk and has gone cold. I’ve had enough. The television goes off and a fresh coffee is made while I wait for the shower to heat to my preferred temperature. I turn on the radio in the bathroom, no news just music and decide to take my freshly made coffee in with me, something I have never done before but highly recommended by a good friend.

I’m thinking of my family down South and hoping that they are safe and well but in the back of my mind I’m thinking what side affects will this second injection have on my body? The first was fine, with the only side affect being that the next day my left arm felt like it was hit by a cricket bat.

The bathroom is now steaming like a nice humid day in far North Queensland, something I have become used to and miss in these chilly months. I shower sticking my head out here and there for a moment to enjoy the coffee that I knew was not going to be cold.

Time has passed and before I know it, I’m shaved, dressed and looking presentable, both the Television and radio are off and instead I have my own music playing in the background.

It’s time to head to the hospital, I should walk but no while washing my hair I thought for a moment, I pick my son up from the local Night Owl store most school days and it’s only a five minute walk from there, the staff their know me and often my car is parked in a ten minute only waiting zone for forty five minutes when he is running late. Perfect, I think best when relaxed.

I park outside and enter the store to my usual friendly greeting and buy a lotto ticket just so they know my car is parked outside and make the anxious walk to the hospital.

The sun is shining now with little cloud cover. I walk past my sons school and there are hundreds of children in groups playing on the oval. I always hope I will see him as I drive past daily but as they all wear the same uniform and hats are mandatory here like masks elsewhere, you can never tell who is who. If I was to see him would I call out and say Hi? No never!

I can only imagine the feedback I would receive that afternoon for embarrassing him in front of not only his mates but the potential girl he likes in his grade.

Hospital time, the lines are shorter than my first visit. I check in, show my identification and this time given a blue number instead of a white one being my second shot.

My number is called out and I meet a lovely nurse by the name of Emily, she informs me that she is actually a paramedic but due to demand she is now helping the hospital out on her break. I can tell by the dark clouds under her eyes she has been doing this for sometime now. My smile towards her shows my respect.

Emily has obviously had both shots and tells me not to be alarmed but the side effects will be different from the first and asks me if I have to work the following day. I let her know I am lucky that I decide when and if I decide to work, she smiles back and let’s me know it is different for every individual and that after her second shot she was nauseous the next morning and spent the entire day in bed however the following day she was fine and happy to be back helping the community.

The actual injection of the needle like the first is not even felt, not that I was watching as I haven’t watched a needle go into any part of my body since I was my son's age when I had to have a blood test. It was back in the early eighties when I was thirteen and the nurse accidentally snapped the needle and blood spilled everywhere. I didn’t faint but trust me the thought ever since has been needles and I don’t go well together.

After fifteen minutes in the holding room I am cleared when my name is called out and I make my way back to my car. Walking past my sons school again looking for him but not wanting to call out. I feel fine but thirsty.

I get back to the Night Owl and decide to get a frozen raspberry and the guy behind the counter asks me if he my son is finishing school early as I usually buy one for him while waiting. No this is my sugar fix, he laughs and I make my way home.

I’m safe, in my apartment, music on softer, and I finish my frozen soda on the balcony.

I’m tired and my brain won’t stop ticking over. It’s now early afternoon and I should be picking my son up in just under two hours so I decide to set an alarm and lay down on the bed.

I wake uncertain of the time as my curtains were closed, I hop out of bed and as I stand my left leg nearly collapses from my own body weight. I stumble over to the curtains and open them to reveal it is dark outside. I panic, where is my son where is my phone? What have I done.

Ten minutes pass and I’m sitting upright on the side of my bed trying to gather my breath and thoughts like you do when you wake after a big night out knowing you had too much to drink the night before. My phone where is it?. Slowly I remember it is on charge on the kitchen bench, I have no clock in my bedroom and I’m desperate to know what time it is, how long I’ve been asleep and most importantly where is my son.

I stand slowly, body is aching and make my way to the kitchen, I had turned all the lights off and closed all the curtains in the living room, just being dependent on my alarm like I’ve done thousands of times before, how did I miss it. My heart was racing.

Light switch on, phone in hand. Eight missed calls and two message left from my son.

It's only ten past seven the same day and he has messaged me that he was walking to his mates place on Little Street around the corner after school and his mum was going to pick him up from there not my place. Followed by messages. Dad please answer your phone or call me, I’m worried about you.

Relief, shock, heart beat slows and I sit on the couch. I’m hungry is the next thing that goes through my mind but first I have to compose myself and let him know I’m ok.

His mum and I divorced some four years ago now, he now spends most Friday and Saturday nights at my place and every afternoon after school until five thirty or so when she picks him up on her way home from work. I’ve settled had a glass of water and call him.

Dad why didn’t you answer? I called and called!. It's ok mate, sorry I’ve been busy and didn’t have my phone with me until now. I hate not telling the truth to him and don’t make a habit of it but what else was I going to say, Sorry mate I’ve been drugged to prevent me from dying and passed out?

We have a normal conversation, he had a good day at school and his mum is about to take him out for dinner. I’m happy for them both and need to get my head around my own situation. We say goodnight and the call ends with a I love you from both of us.

Peace, time in perspective but oh my god I’m hungry and I’m aching. I make my way to the fridge, plenty of food but do you think I’m in the mood to cook no way. Delivery it must be.

It’s a hunger I’ve never felt before, I don’t want the usual fast food chain that can be delivered here in ten minutes I want my favourite. I find my Ipad and look up the one restaurant I recommend to everyone new I meet in Cairns, the one my best friend and his wife took me too on one of my many visits in the past before I decided to make Cairns my home. It’s located in Palm Cove some 30 minutes away. I call and eventually they answer and put me on hold.

It’s now getting close to eight o’clock in the evening here, while on hold I have opened a new packet of fresh ham and salami that I use for sandwiches and indulged in a number of slices of each but no I want my duck fried rice and herb infused ribs.

Thank you for waiting sir, how may I help you? Do you deliver? Yes sir what would you like to order? I wonder not.

It’s going to be an hour but the order is placed and not exactly what I wanted to pay.

Had I have been sitting in the restaurant itself a nice bottle of red would of been included in the price, but It’s what I wanted and couldn’t get it out of my mind. It might arrive cold but the flavours, textures and the overall taste is what’s going through my mind and I can’t wait.

It’s now just going past nine o’clock, I’m calm yet confused and my phone rings, It’s the delivery driver asking me to meet him downstairs. I can’t every remember wanting a delivery so much. I’m like I’ll be there in a minute, grab my keys and rush downstairs not even worried about how I’m dressed or what I look like. Delivery docket signed and I’m sitting at the table, smile so wide as I open the sealed bag.

First cardboard box lightly wrapped in brown paper to capture any oil labeled ribs, I smile again, second box duck fried rice. I grab a plate from the kitchen, knife and fork and serve. The next forty five minutes I’m in Heaven, I am a slow eater and yes it’s cold but I’m not complaining.

Now I’m tired, belly full, I just want to lay down again however I never go to bed without cleaning up, it’s the worst thing imaginable to me waking up to a mess from the night before. I put the plates into the dishwasher, the two cardboard boxes and the paper wrapping in the bin and pick up the delivery bag and suddenly I notice there is a third box.

I didn’t order anything additional. I take it out and it’s also wrapped in brown paper however with a clear tape like seal neatly but securely covering the entire box.

Straight away I think how sweet of them as every time I have dined there before they bring out complementary homemade salted chips, I place the neatly wrapped box to the side, thinking I’ll have them with my coffee tomorrow morning and finish cleaning up.

I look up at the time, I know my son is asleep so he won’t call me and I turn off all my notifications so I’m not woken by any messages from my close friends, all I want to do is sleep. I make my way to the bedroom. One of my favourite songs is playing softly in the background and I lay my head on my pillow, no pain, no hunger and within seconds I’m out like a light and sound asleep.

I wasn’t quite sure what time it was when I first opened my eyes, I was remembering the meal from last night and all of a sudden the alarm I had set and slept through the day before to pick my son up from school went off on my phone. I grabbed it and realised I had slept for well over twelve hours.

Was I ok, I wasn’t sure, my right arm hurt as the first time the injection went into my left arm and this time for the second shot I had it in the other. Realising the time as I came to my senses I knew I needed to get up, shower and drive down to pick my son up.

Today’s Coffee and shower routine felt different as I noticed the brown cardboard box sitting on the kitchen bench while waiting for the kettle to boil, but something wasn’t quite right. I turn the tv on, more Covid cases I think again of my family down south and then my phone rings and it’s my son. It’s already three o’clock and before I answer I’m like well it takes him ten minutes to walk to the night owl so I’ll be there just in time.

I answer and all I get is dad you don’t need to pick me up as My mates Mum is taking a few of us bowling and as it’s so close to mums place I’ll walk home to hers after we finish, miss you and love you, talk later bye. In a thirteen year olds fashion before I even get a word in he hangs up. What a great start to a already confusing day.

Well the afternoon is mine so I think, I’ll watch tipping point. It’s the one game show I actually don’t mind even if its not Australian and usually only see the last two contestants after getting home from the school pick up. Tv on channel fifty one and the first thing I hear is drop zone four please Ben.

I laugh and well I have the day off, I’ll relax on the couch and pour myself a early glass of red and I remember I have the chips wrapped in the brown cardboard box from last night. Time to really relax my way even if it is only Thursday and the sun is still up.

Happy I cleaned up the night before so I pour a glass, check my emails while listening and partly watching, now only two contestants answer questions about parts of the world I have visited and are going after the mystery prize now in drop zone two.

I pick up the mysterious leftover cardboard box from last night and get comfortable on the couch, the remainder of the day and night are mine.

For a change the weather has heated up, it’s now still cold for me but warm enough to put the ceiling fan on in the lounge room. It must be getting close to twenty six degrees, It's a beautiful winters day outside as I walk onto the balcony after moving the fan switch three times to find its lowest speed.

I return to the couch and the more attractive contestant is now playing for the Jackpot counter and I here her say drop zone four please Ben.

I pick up my glass from the coffee table, but as I do something is not right, I pick up what I think is my home made chip packet and lay it on the couch beside me, it falls off the couch and lands the other side up and I notice a note on it.

I’m thinking the brown paper was to keep the oil in and as I pick it up I notice it is wrapped with layers upon layers of brown paper and then the seal, it’s like an old film canister that they used to send films in before the digital age came to cinemas and it’s not a note attached it’s a postcard handwritten side up.

While picking up the parcel I accidentally sit on the remote and change channel’s. I’m confused and grab the remote while looking at the parcel and find the right channel only to see that she the good looking contestant missed out on the Jackpot counter but has two thousand four hundred and fifty pounds, she explains it is enough to get her return airplane ticket to Australia and Ben reminds her she has also won an electric lawnmower. She hugs him and says thank you Ben it’s been a wonderful day! See you next time on the tipping point!

What year was this filmed? Television goes off, back to my carefully wrapped cardboard box and a sip of wine. It is now just after four in the afternoon on what I call a somewhat chilly far North Queensland afternoon.

So I slowly try to remove the tape from the postcard first, thinking this is no box of restaurant made crisp’s! The tape is old and I don’t want to tear the postcard as I remove it, so I decide to find a sharp knife and cut the postcard free from the package. It’s free and before reading what’s written I turn it over and it’s a beautiful picture taken from the tenth or eleventh hole of the Paradise Palms golf course in Palm Cove.

My mind is now twirling and I’m not knowing what it is trying to unravel to my semi unconscious state of mind and I’m only on my second glass of wine. I turn the post card over and it is a message.

I don’t remember writing or it being written in front of me but I know what it means, but not how it became or why it’s attached to a cardboard box that I didn’t actually order.

“The three of us what a day, only two played but all three of us ate together afterwards and shared our lives, our stories, and our friendships. They will never be forgotten. “

It was signed by all three of us.

My thoughts go blank, I close my eyes and nothing just a black screen like the power is on in the entire apartment but the only thing not powered is the television it is just completely black. I must of dozed off.

All of a sudden power again and this time the Television is on and up loud, I don’t want to wake my neighbours but I don’t want to miss the story and there I am with my two best mates eating ribs and duck fried rice at my favourite restaurant with a bottle of the best quality red wine on the menu.

Two of us had just had the best game of golf in our life’s and on the short par three on the back nine both of us where only centimetres from our first hole in ones and even better we filmed each other’s shots and have the evidence!

It was a day none of us would forget, three best friends and it was the first time all three had actually met in person. We had played golf religiously together for many, many years and chatted and ate well, had many a beer and wine together but no never the three of us in person, it had all been on line.

So the idea of what was in the not so crisp cardboard box was killing me but my mind was still thinking about that afternoon. It would of been a three hour after game late lunch, oh the conversations, we already knew each other but to have the three of us speak in front of one another over a beautiful meal and wine, it was amazing, not to mention the warm weather that day and the beautiful beach view.

And now my mind is solely on the cardboard box, it is still wrapped like a film canister so it’s time. Garden scissors in hand and a larger knife, I slowly unwrap the film coating cover and reveal the cardboard box itself. No markings or knife scratches, I was handling it carefully just the same as the ribs and the fried rice I wanted so badly earlier and finally it came out with a simple sleeve to pull back to open it.

I'm not even sure what is happening, my son is safe, my tv show is over and I’m no longer thirsty or hungry but I want to reveal its contents.

I pick up a golf ball with a black line that I had drawn on it to help my swing, followed by a beautiful picture of me taken on my first day of school along with other individual school photos of the three of us and other good friends in school uniforms, our parents in photos, postcards never sent and others we had received. A graphics card of all things, photos of Chimichurri sauce being made for a homemade barbecue with one mate and a beautiful Cyclone dinner with three cats in boxes scared to death with the other. And finally a Kensington mouse to top it all off, the mouse two of us used to let’s say make Beer N Golf online history.

I closed my eyes, it had been a long day, the cardboard box had the better of me and now sat beside me with it contents emptied and it still didn’t have a scratch or oil stain on it but had placed more than an an indent on my mind and thoughts. It was not one for the bin but one to hold onto to put future memories in.

I’m not sure how long I slept for but it must of been some time, I eventually woke to a touch on my hand, it was something I hadn’t felt in awhile. My first recollection was that of my favourite cat rolling over as I slept and his paw touching my hand for a change and not my face or was it my mum’s hand the first day she picked me up from school, it could of been my dad the first time we went to a football game or car race and our team won.

I wasn’t sure where I was as I wasn’t in control, was it my brother helping me climb up a pyramid in Egypt, my sister and her lovely family welcoming me into their home as they do every time I fly back to Sydney or was it the last time I personally visited my grandmother after her 100th birthday, It could of been many of my friends, maybe my best two high school mates, my first boss who I fell in love with or even one of my many neighbours that I’ve become such good friends with, my hand recognised all of them in a short moment that seemed to last forever.

My eyes slowly opened, they slowly focused and no it was no one mentioned it was my son. All I could do was try to gather my thoughts, my mind and smile.

Dad are you ok, yes of course I replied. What time is it? In that thirteen year old fashion, I receive a room service reply. Time you get out of bed.

He was in his school uniform, he had opened the curtains in my room and it was just becoming dark. So it must be close to six thirty I asked him. Yes. I walked home from school, as again for the second time this week you didn’t answer your phone as it’s on charge in the kitchen next to the cardboard box.

Please tell me you didn’t open it? I’m sorry he replies, I ate most of the crisps, left you a couple in the box and kept on checking on you as you were obviously having a dream tossing and turning, eyes flickering, I was worried at first but you smiled now and then and I didn’t wish to wake you.

I held his hand and he gave me a hug.

What day is it ? Friday of course and I’m staying for the weekend followed by, should we cook or get delivery?

Two days I may never forget or even remember. One needle and many short dreams followed my many more, reminding me of past memories, friends and moments all concealed in a cardboard box wrapped tightly in brown paper that I hadn’t ordered.

It was never a suspicious package, it has been in my dreams and memories all along, it just took that delivery to bring them all together in between broken sleeps and a unexpected day to start with.

You will know what I mean if you have them the way I did those two days and nights. Memories of good friends and family pieced together with your thoughts then combined with your dreams and you will remember that everything and everyone within them will always be with you.

The cardboard box has remained in my home and I slowly fill it with memories for him to open one day many years from now.

So I’m now vaccinated and as uncomfortable it might of been for two days.

I hope that soon he and everyone is also vaccinated so he and I may be able to travel the world once again and friends and family can visit us once more.

It’s our only hope…