Don't Mean a Thing

Chapter 1 Like an emerging butterfly, I stepped into the sunlight. A new day, a new place, a new life. I barely had time to stretch my legs, let alone my metaphorical wings, when I stopped in my tracks, practically choking on the humid air. Dropping my handbag on the tarmac, I tore off my travel jacket. The shorts and t-shirt I wore underneath felt like a snowsuit, but I restrained from stripping completely. Perspiration trickled down my back as I strode towards the welcoming doors of the air-conditioned airport terminal. I knew it was the wet season, but I thought that meant water would fall from the sky, not drip from me. What on earth had I signed up for? The terminal seemed deserted compared to the bustle of the Melbourne airport. Within ten minutes, I had my luggage and returned to the stifling humidity in search of a taxi. I found the taxi rank easily, going straight to the front of the non-existent queue. “Where to, love?” The taxi driver asked as he loaded my bags into the boot. “The RAAF Base.” The acronym was already feeling like a real word. I waited to see if he needed a translation. “No worries.” I climbed into the back seat and rifled through my purse for my official ID card. The sight of it made me smile. It still seemed surreal that I’d actually done it. I’d dumped my controlling boyfriend, quit my retail job, and joined the military. I ran my finger over the text. ACW Macie Harman. I was an Aircraftwoman in the Royal Australian Air Force, and I was about to start my new career. I would finally do something that mattered. I’d help keep Australia safe and get to explore the country while I did it. And no man would stand in my way again. I grabbed my phone and texted Rachael to let her know I’d be there soon. Rachael and I had gone through recruits and initial employment training together. She wasn’t someone I’d usually hang out with, bubbly to the point of irritation, but she was the only person I knew up here. She’d moved on base a week ago to get settled, whereas I’d stayed in Melbourne for two weeks after Christmas so I could go to my eldest niece’s birthday party. I didn’t know if I’d make it to the next one. I stared out my window, trying to take it all in. Glimpses of a golf course. A bridge. Palm trees. Two rockets jutting up from the ground. Before I knew it, the taxi pulled into a parking space before the boom gate. “You’ll have to walk from here, love. No taxis on the base.” “That’s okay. I’ve got a lift.” I spotted Rachael waving from the car next to us. I passed him the military issued cab charge card and transferred my luggage into Rachael’s boot. “Macie!” Rachael squealed, throwing her arms around me. Her ash-blonde mane whipped into my face. “I hope you get a room in my block. Let’s go get your key.” She shoved me towards the passenger side. I clambered in, pulling a strand of hair from my mouth. After presenting our ID cards to the security officer, Rachael drove on. The boom gate dropped behind us, closing off the civilian world. We were here. The Royal Australian Air Force Base Darwin in the tropical Top End of the Northern Territory of Australia. Home. Rachael pulled up outside an older building. “Here’s admin.” “Thanks. I’ll be back in a minute or two.” “Don’t be silly. I’ll come with you and make sure you get a good room.” Rachael trailed into the office behind me. “Hello. Can I help you?” The receptionist greeted. “Yes, please. I’m ACW Macie Harman. I’m posting in today, and I need to organise my accommodation and all the other things on this list.” I unfolded the joining instructions. “Welcome to Darwin.” Her smile was brief but genuine. She wasn’t wearing a military uniform. I hadn’t realised that civilians could work on the base. Rachael leant over the counter, straining to see the computer screen. “Can Macie have the spare room in building twenty-nine?” I mentally crossed my fingers and hoped she would say no. The receptionist tapped away at her computer, her fingernails clicking against the keys. She paused for a moment to check something on the papers I’d given her, but the clicking noise continued. The sound came from beside me, though, not in front of me. I glanced over. Rachael was flicking her fingernails, again. Click, click, click, click. She flicked each fingernail against her thumbnail. I mentally crossed my toes. “Yes, that room’s still available.” She began gathering documents. I could feel the excitement radiating from my new neighbour. The air between us was humming. I hope she doesn’t hum too. “Here’s your key.” I slipped it into my pocket. “I’ve allocated you room four in building twenty-nine. The room has been cleaned, and there should be a fresh set of linens folded on the end of the bed, but you will be in charge of all your laundry and cleaning from here out. Here are the mess opening times.” She pointed to a sheet of paper in the ever-increasing pile. “You’re signed up for all meals on base, so your accommodation and food costs will be automatically deducted from your pay. Just scan your ID card on your way into the mess. Here’s the welcome pack with information about the local area.” “Thank you.” Today was not my day to buy a lotto ticket. I picked up the pile of papers and followed Rachael back to her car. I studied the map as she drove, trying to figure out where I was. We drove along a street filled with large high set houses, stopping in front of one. Rachael grabbed one of my bags and led the way up the concrete steps. I took the other bag and followed. “Here’s the communal lounge room.” She pointed to the first room on the left. The couch was stained, as was the carpet. An old TV sat in one corner. It had seen better days. Someone had tried to pretty the place up a little with two royal blue throw cushions, but the grunge still bore through. “And here’s the kitchen.” On the right was a small kitchenette. Well, it was a room with a fridge, sink, bench and microwave. I didn’t venture past the doorway to identify the strange smell wafting towards us. It might have been a food smell once, but it definitely wasn’t food anymore. It was clear that daily inspections were reserved for recruit training. “Here are all the bedrooms. The other girls are at work, so I’ll introduce you later. This is my room.” Rachael pointed to a door with the number two on it. “And here’s yours. We’ll be next-door neighbours.” She beamed at me. I tried to grin back. “Thanks, Rach.” I slid the key into the lock and cautiously turned it. Click. As excited as I was to see my new home, what I’d seen so far had dampened my spirits. I pushed open the door, glanced around, and sighed. Well, it could be worse. My room seemed clean and smelt better than the kitchen at least. Whoever had cleaned the room and left the linen had also left the window open to air it out. I was glad for the fresh air but ecstatic to see the air conditioning unit set high on the wall. Rachael pushed past me and dumped my suitcase in the middle of the floor. I followed her into my room and set my other bag beside the first. Rachael grabbed the air con remote, switching it on. “There you go. Just shut the window, and it’ll cool down in here in no time.” Thanks, Mum. I closed the window and stood there for a moment, not sure what to do. I needed some time to myself, to relax after that long flight, but my room was still a sauna. Though, I wasn’t sure what was more suffocating, the air or Rachael’s constant chatter. I decided I could cope with ten more minutes of Rachael. “Can you show me the rest of this place while my room cools down?” “Sure,” she said, “Not much more to see, though.” The bathroom was at the far end of the central hall. I’d be sharing with seven other girls. At least it wasn’t a co-ed dorm, so I didn’t run the risk of sitting on the cold porcelain bowl in the middle of the night. My ex-boyfriend had always left the seat up. Did the porcelain even get cold in Darwin? “The laundry is downstairs.” Rachael pointed back up the hall. We retraced our steps to the front door. I avoided glancing in the direction of the kitchen and descended the stairs behind her. The building was held up by a mass of round pillars. This design made the most of the breeze to cool the building back in the days before air conditioning. Near the front of the undercover expanse was a group of plastic chairs. A bicycle was chained up to a pole. There was a washing line strung up between the beams towards the back. Rachael walked over to a small room on the far left. “Here it is.” The door creaked as she pushed it open. Something crunched underfoot as I walked across the concrete floor to inspect the industrial style washing machine. I shuddered at the thought of cockroach guts smeared over my shoe. I dragged my foot sideways to scrape off whatever I’d stepped in. It turned out to be spilt laundry powder. I couldn’t get the image of cockroaches out of my mind, though. “Do you get many roaches around here?” “Heaps. Cane toads and green tree frogs too.” I hadn’t realised the cane toads had come this far. Urgh. “Thanks for the tour, Rach. I’m going to head up and unpack, then I think I’ll have a nap before dinner. Can you come get me before you go to the mess?” At least by having all my meals at the mess, I had no reason to go into the kitchen. “No worries.” We walked back upstairs and I managed to close my bedroom door before Rachael had the chance to follow me in. I sat on the edge of my unmade bed, revelling in the cool air. Well, I guess I’m home. ***