Saturday night. Legends' Night Dinner at the Adelaide Convention Centre.
A sparkling, glamorous night.
Everyone who is anyone, and various others, are there.
Robbie McEwen and Jens Voigt have turned up together.
Anna Meares looks divine in a gold and lace Liza Emanuele gown.
Her Beijing Olympics bike is there too, on display.
This year's Legend is Paolo Bettini. Of course you have heard of the great Paolo Bettini.
He has many amusing stories to tell of his career as a one day race specialist.
Sweezus is sitting next to his date, at one of the tables. It's Belle.
What's wrong, Sweezie? says Belle. You look like the weight of the world's on your shoulders.
Nothing, says Sweezus.
I know, says Terence.
Terence! What's he doing here?
Katherine has brought him. She couldn't get a sitter.
Pablo's date is Marilyn. They sit close together.
Katherine recognises her, from the ukelele fund raiser.
Norma! says Katherine. Still got that wig on?
It's not a wig, says Norma-Marilyn. This is my real hair. Ask Pablo.
Pablo responds by sucking a stray platinum blonde curl coiling under her ear lobe.
She shivers.
So does Katherine, remembering the thrill of such things.
So, tell us what you know Terence, says Vello, winking at David.
He wishes HE was a legend, says Terence.
There is an uncomfortable silence at the table.
Actually, Sweezus is a Legend. The wrong sort of Legend. But no friend dares say so.
Gaius breaks the silence, but not to be helpful.
It's just that thinking of Legends reminds him of fossils.
After the Tour, says Gaius. I intend to go to Kangaroo Island. And I hope, Arthur, that you will not be too busy to come with me.
Arthur is taken aback. He has been hoping that Sweezus would suggest going surfing, but as yet Sweezus hasn't.
Ssü-K'ung Shu waits for the answer.
Arthur appears to be thinking.
Ssü-K'ung Shu jumps the gun.
Are there rocks there? asks Ssü-K'ung Shu.
Are you keen on rocks, Shu? asks Katherine.
More than keen, Katherine, says Shu. I admire their aesthetic qualities. Their zhou, shou, lou and tou.
Oh how clever Chinese is, says Katherine. The rock qualities rhyme.
What are they in English? asks David.
Ahem, says Ssü-K'ung Shu. Uprightness, wrinkles, cracks and holes.
He was just trying to spare your feelings, mother, says David.
David! says Katherine. How much have you had to drink? Don't forget, it's the Street Circuit tomorrow.
Ting Ting!
The Legend is on.
Paolo Bettini and Paul Sherwen sit on stools on the stage wearing grey suits and chat about the time when Paolo known as El Grillo the Cricket, due to his sudden attacks on the road, won gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics and then won the UCI Road World Championships in 2006 and 2007.
Yes, you knew you had heard of him, didn't you.........
What a night.
And it's the final Street Circuit tomorrow.
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