~On the first day of Christmas, Australia gave to me~
Alfred was definitely over exaggerating. Sure, it was warmer here in Sydney than back in Ottawa, but that was to be expected. It was summer here in the southern hemisphere now.
Matthew had spent the past few days in New York with his brother, spending Alfred's Thanksgiving with him before he headed to Australia to experience his first summer Christmas. Alfred had blanched when Matthew informed him of his plans.
"Don't do that, Mattie! You'll never return!"
"Stop being such a drama queen, Alfred. We've been planning it for months. Bruce is very happy to be having me."
"No, I'm serious! The animals, the ocean, the plants, the bugs – the heat! Mattie, you can't even imagine the heat, even when it's cloudy, and raining! You can't escape it!"
But Matthew had ignored his brother, and soon left a worried and dejected Alfred behind him. And now here he was in the (air-conditioned, admittedly, but still) airport, Bruce hurrying towards him with a huge grin.
"Mate! Good ta see ya!" he said, pulling Matthew into a quick one-armed hug.
"Good too see you too, Bruce."
Bruce chuckled. "'S isn't a meetin'. Call me Robbo."
Matthew raised an eyebrow. "'Robbo'?"
"'S short for Robinson. Anyway, c'mon, let's getcha bags, our flight leaves in an hour."
"Our – what?" Matthew was pretty sure he'd already arrived.
"Flight! Up ta Brissie. Everyone an' their nanna's done Sydney, I thought ya might like somethin' different."
Only one word had stuck in Matthew's mind.
"'Up'? As in, closer to the equator?" He thought he could feel his stomach dropping.
"Yeah mate, thousand k's north'a here. Brisbane's basically just a big country town, you'll love it."
Matthew wasn't so sure about this anymore. And when they landed a few hours later and stepped into the open, humid air, he made a decision.
Alfred was definitely not over exaggerating.
~A kookaburra up a gum tree~
