jett rink and big daddy ordered a large plate of slow cooked bbq glazed pork ribs then settled in to sip their champagne at a bench outdoors in the bistro near the overhanging flowers and a fine view of brisbane. "i'm telling you rink, that ancient corinthian cup they keep in the oxley library should be on display here at victoria park; it's herston history, brisbane history, queensland history, and has no place hidden in a cardboard box." "not a bad idea, big daddy. if you discover the brains trust here in brisbane, maybe you could put it to them." cindy-lou walked into the victoria park bar and bistro open area at the victoria park golf course with her red headed caddy, a young frenchman in tow on a something or other visa named archie, carrying her golf clubs: "why does zomato say the golf course is in bowen hills when it's here in herston, and on herston road to boot, jett?"jettrink ignored the question and said: "what yawl doing to me cindy-lou?" he and big daddy interrupted their mid-day champagne drinking before lunch and were now standing like good southern gentlemen do when a lady enters the "room". he continued: "yawl trying to embarrass me in front of my oldest and closest friend with that ranga-haired labradoodle on your tail watching yawl wiggle like a wiggle?"jettturned and gave big daddy a wink. the two men remained standing for the young woman dressed in white shorts, a polo shirt, pink cotton hat with a brim and golf shoes with little socks. "now jett, you know i don't like those mind games of yours, and you leave this fine young boy alone." the tall and thin brunette, seeing the gentlemen share a smile, huffed up: "this poor boy don't hardly know a word of english, funning at his expense unable to defend himself, and let me remind you i'm half french descended myself from my louisiana ancestry, as well as descended from the chitimacha people, of course, but that's another story. now are you goin' to invite this poor boy to sit down and have a ricard or pernod, or embarrass me?"jettsmiled and shook archie's hand and pointing at a chair said: "sit down, son, when the young lady's seated, of course, and meet my friend, big daddy, lately called 'toad of toad hall' by the court for his driving enthusiasm." big daddy kissed cindy-lou's cheek, and pulled a chair out for the 20-something pale complexioned beauty.jettsaid "put them clubs down anywhere son, and have a drink with me."jetthelped him take the golf bag off his shoulder and they all sat down. archie had never seen a top end bottle of champagne before and holding the glass full thatjettpoured for him, without even taking a sip, stared at the bottle in the ice bucket in disbelief. "only in australia," he thought. cindy-lou continued: "and why do they call it victoria park bar and bistro, when it should be herston park bar and bistro, big daddy?"
"a very good point, cindy-lou," bid daddy remarked.
jett turned to archie still oblivious to the young man's lack of english and said: "we usually share a big plate of slow cooked bbq glazed pork ribs, archie, can we count on you to join us?"jettpretended to eat. "now don't you take the mickey mouse out of archie, jett, he likes fine cooked ribs like the rest of us," said cindy-lou. "don't you archie?" he smiled not knowing what she was on about, but he certainly did like the ribs, and dug in like a student on a visa does when food appears.
"love the view here, rink," said big daddy. "never get tired of looking at a city that likes to make a dollar."
"you ain't bought one of them underground concrete car parks to make money out of troggs have ya big daddy?"jettasked? the ribs were delicious.
they ordered some more, and a salad for four and more wine: a bottle of panton hill pinot noir if they had it, and if not, any thing else close to "great".
"any word on that call to get herston on the national heritage list, rink?" "not a word." "the silence of the shams," big daddy replied. "maybe i'll give gina a ring," big daddy continued. "they'll then be jumping higher than a sheep over a fence, and asking her if it's high enough," "jett," cindy-lou said, "can we get some peroni for archie? he said he's mad about beer." "a mad bear?"jettasked. "mad about beer, now stop it." peroni was ordered for the table.
edna ferber arrived wearing plus 4s with tennessee williams behind carrying her clubs. "glorious day, people," she said. big daddy andjettstood and archie followed. edna and tennessee joined them, and they all sat. "do i frighten you, child?" edna asked cindy-lou. "no ma'am, i just kind of feel like a school girl and all." "and you look like a school girl beside mr rink. how old are you? 22?" "no, ma'am, i'm 24." "she'll be wanting babies soon, rink," big daddy commented with a smile. edna and tennessee ordered burgers and a bottle of red. "great place, mr rink." "it certainly is, ma'am," "civilised place, here in herston," tennessee williams offered. "and the suburb where the first premier lived when it was just a farm." big daddy commented: "it should be on the national heritage list, tennessee." with an abundance of food and wine and beer on the table, the group settled in.