All Gone Now

Mrs Hume's car is in the Port Noarlunga car park. Arthur, Mrs Hume and Farky are sitting on a wooden seat facing the jetty and the Port Noarlunga Reef.

I don't know why you want to go to Middleton, says Mrs Hume. It's always so lovely here. Look at that beautiful water. And that reef.

No surf, says Arthur, gloomily.

There is up the other end, says Mrs Hume. It's got everything, Port Noarlunga. We used to come here for our holidays when David and his sister were little. They used to love the horses.

Horses, says Farky. Where's the horses?

Where ARE the horses, says Arthur.

How nicely spoken you are, Arthur, says Mrs Hume.

Where ARE the horses then, says Farky. I don't see 'em.

You're very rude, Farky, says Mrs Hume. They were on a little roundabout, just  here it was. Does anyone feel like an icecream?

But the kiosk is closed, as usual.

Arthur sets off walking up the road to find a deli.

Ahhh, sighs Mrs Hume. I do so love the sea. I could sit here forever watching the waves roll in.

Piddling waves, says Farky.

That's naughty talk, says Mrs Hume. I expect you need a wee. You must get Arthur to take you over to the grass when he gets back.

I don't need Arthur to take me for a wee, says Farky. But I do need to go. Be back in a minute.

Mrs Hume sits with the sun on her face watching the waves roll in. She remembers the little roundabout, the sandhills where the children used to play, the rusty ladder down to the reef at the end of the jetty. All gone now.

And where is Arthur with that icecream?

She waits another twenty minutes, then walks back to the car park. Perhaps Arthur will be waiting at the car.

But Arthur is not there. and nor is Farky. .

And neither is her car.