Chapter 17 #2
‘Question four. What is Australia’s oldest chocolate bar?’ Gazza asked.
‘I could go a Snickers or Mars Bar right about now,’ Robbo said, rubbing his stomach, while Thommo pointed at Cruz. ‘You’re the big shot chef. You should know this.’
‘I’m a chef, not an Oompa Loompa,’ Cruz muttered, and the Galahs laughed.
‘You don’t have to make chocolate to know answers about chocolate.’ Thommo rolled his eyes. ‘Come on, mate, I need this.’
‘You don’t need beer,’ Bindi muttered, pointing at his stomach. ‘Have you seen the size of your gut in the mirror lately?’
Robbo and Kyle snickered, and Cruz’s exasperated expression didn’t fool El for a second. He was enjoying this banter as much as she was.
‘Cherry Ripe has been around forever,’ Cruz said with a shrug. ‘Write that down.’
‘Okay.’ Thommo scribbled it, his expression dubious. ‘Better be right.’
‘Question five. In which Aussie state would you find the towns of Lovely Bottom, Granny’s Gut and Stinkhole?’
‘Tasmania,’ Elora said without hesitation. ‘My folks moved around a lot and dragged me with them, so I remember Dad mentioning those kooky names when we went to Tassie.’
‘Too easy,’ Thommo said, with a thumbs up. ‘This new chick isn’t bad with the trivia.’
‘Elora could run rings around your pea-sized brain,’ Cruz said, and she blushed at his quick defence of her.
Before Thommo could take insult, Robbo said, ‘We all could,’ breaking any possible tension with laughter.
For the next twenty minutes, Gazza fired the questions.
Was the world’s first feature-length film shot in Melbourne?
Does the Great Barrier Reef have its own post office box?
Is the Dingo Fence longer than the Great Wall of China?
Which artist represented Australia in its Eurovision Song Contest debut?
In which year did former Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke set a beer drinking world record?
What’s the largest species of reptile that calls Australia home?
Is Mungo National Park Australia’s oldest national park?
A few of them stumped Elora, but between the six of them, they managed to answer or guess most questions without Thommo having a meltdown at the thought of not winning several slabs of beer.
As Gazza read out the answers so the teams could correct their responses, the Galahs got the first five questions right, mostly thanks to her, and the other answers were hit and miss. But overall, they had a score of forty-four out of fifty, meaning they were still in with a shot.
‘Okay, come up here and hand in your sheets and I’ll let you know who’s won,’ Gazza said.
‘Fingers crossed,’ Thommo said, as he bolted for the stage with their scoresheet.
‘That’s one desperate man when it comes to beer,’ Kyle said, and Robbo snorted.
‘Thommo’s a desperado all round.’
They laughed as Thommo returned, his glare suspicious as it slid over them. ‘Were you bozos talking about me?’
‘Just about how you’re going to share your winnings,’ Bindi said with a straight face.
‘You’ll get a stubby or two if you’re lucky,’ Thommo mumbled, as Gazza tapped the mic again.
‘Folks, the competition was fierce tonight, and while there can only be one winner, I hope you all had fun.’
Foot stomping and whoops filled the air, as Gazza held up his hand.
‘In third place, with a score of forty-three, are the Revheads.’
A table of bikies near the front gave a thumbs up and Elora’s heart sank. If the Revheads had come third with a score of forty-three, the Galahs must’ve come second with forty-four, and Thommo wouldn’t get his prize after all.
Gazza held up his hand. ‘The Galahs have a score of forty-four, along with the Big Knobs, so we have a tie for first place, and you’ll each get a slab.’
‘You ripper!’ Thommo punched the air as jubilant cheers rang out and those nearest to their table crowded around to slap the Galahs on the back. The people of Rosevale Grove got awfully excited about beer. Then again, considering the price of alcohol these days, it shouldn’t surprise her.
When the crowd cleared, Cruz stood. ‘That was fun, but we’re calling it a night. Nice catching up with you after all this time.’
‘Don’t be a stranger, Wardlow,’ Robbo said, and Thommo gave a thumbs up.
‘See you tomorrow morning at seven,’ Kyle said, with a salute, and Cruz nodded, before glancing at El and jerking his head at the door.
‘I’m coming,’ she mouthed, surprised by his sudden desperation to leave. It looked like he’d been having a good time, but now he couldn’t escape the pub fast enough.
‘I’m pretty sure El can speak for herself and stay longer even if you want to leave,’ Bindi said, her tone non-confrontational but a hint of battle in her eyes.
Elora rarely had anyone stand up for her, and that, combined with Bindi calling her El so soon after she encouraged her to, made her want to hug her new friend.
‘Actually, I’ve got a stack of work to do early tomorrow so I’m happy to head out,’ Elora said, sidling closer to Cruz. ‘I had a great time and it was nice to meet you all.’
‘You too, Smarty Pants.’ Thommo grinned as Kyle elbowed him and raised his other hand in a wave.
‘See you round,’ Robbo said.
Bindi pointed at her phone. ‘I’ll call you.’
Emotion clogged Elora’s throat as she looked at these virtual strangers who had welcomed her tonight. If this was country hospitality, she was all for it.