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Stella
stepped inside. The air thicker than outside. A busy humming
rolling through her ears. The smell of ammonia, cleanliness.
The type that can only be achieved after filth. She liked
it here. She hauled her basket onto the laminate table.
It was heavier than usual.
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1 |
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'Quite
a load today Stella.' George appeared with a spare basket.
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2 |
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'Split
it up Stell. Twice as many, twice as light.'
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3 |
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'Thanks
George.'
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4 |
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George
always has a solution. He was one of the reasons she drove
the extra five minutes. She liked the way he swept the
floors and wiped the tables. Liked it when he topped up
the coffee machine or got down on his knees to get behind
a dryer. He kept busy while she sorted her washing. When
he carried her basket he never looked in. He understood
privacy. George was a gentleman. Not an Aussie. That's
how George knew about people. He wasn't from here.
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5 |
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The
machine was waiting. One last dousing and Ben would be
gone. Swished away in a lemon cocktail. Stella was already
losing the trace of his scent. It was mingling with everything.
He'd be happy about that, she thought.
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6 |
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'We
need to see more people Stella,' he'd said. She imagines
Ben, like cheap dye, running out of her sheets, rushing
down the drains and mixing into the river to rest someplace
else. She turns the knob and let's go.
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7 |
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'Stella's
here. Good.' Duncan can't stand it when the place is empty.
Or full of people he doesn't know. The irregulars. Stella's
a regular. She'll come out back with him to share a smoke.
If mum knew, she'd kill him. Stella let's him use her
mouth spray.
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8 |
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'My
boyfriend doesn't know.' She laughs. Duncan doesn't like
the boyfriend. Not that he's jealous. Stella's too old
for him. He just doesn't like the need to lie. There's
nothing worse than a pushover. He approaches George.
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9 |
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'Hey
Georgie. Is the industrial free?'
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10 |
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'What
you got on them today?' Duncan holds up his overalls.
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11 |
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'Grease
lightening!' He sings his best Travolta impersonation.
George laughs.
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12 |
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