Perfect Match
Chapter 4
"Flaming kids!" Alf Stewart yelled as he picked his way through the scattered boxes.
"Anything wrong, Mr. Stewart?" Joey asked as she approached the Bait shop.
"Kids! Flaming little mongrels! They ought to be shot, the lot of them!"
Joey stooped down and picked up one or two boxes which had been kicked around by a group of passing youngsters with mischief on their minds.
"Thanks, love." Alf said appreciatively. "It's the third time today they've done this!"
"Have you spoken to the Police?" Joey asked, wrapping some unravelled rope expertly around her shoulder and elbow.
"Waste of flaming time! They never get here in time to apprehend the little toe-rags."
"I think you should contact them anyway. Perhaps they might be able to patrol around here a little more often."
"Yeah, I guess you're right love. Will you hold the fort while I go out back and give them a tinkle?"
"Yeah, no worries." Joey said, finishing placing the scattered contents back into their boxes.
After a few moments, Alf Stewart walked back into the shop.
"How'd it go?" Joey asked.
"Apparently they have someone in the area who will pop by in a couple of shakes. I dunno what the world's coming to, young Joey! It would never have happened in your Grandfather's day!"
"No, I guess not."
"Anyhow, thanks for helping out, love. Now, what can I do for you?"
"I've come to pick up that order for Mr. Conway, please Mr. Stewart. I'm passing his place tomorrow and I promised to drop it by for him. His wife's been poorly again. I said I'd sit with her while he goes and has a couple of hours fishing."
"Right-oh love. Coming up. It's just out back. Two ticks."
As Alf disappeared to the back of the shop, Joey heard footsteps approaching. She turned around and saw Charlie Buckton standing in the doorway. For a moment, the sight of the uniformed Senior Constable took Joey's breath away.
"Hey!" Charlie said brightly as she recognised Joey.
"Hey." Joey smiled.
"Is Alf Stewart around? We've had a report of a disturbance."
"He's just at the back getting an order ready. Had any nice milkshakes recently?"
Charlie grinned and walked a couple of steps into the small shop.
"No. Unfortunately I've been up to my ears in work." She smiled, sadly.
Charlie was wearing her Police cap, which somehow made her blue eyes appear even prettier. Joey searched her mind for something clever to say, but couldn't find anything, so just grinned, inanely.
"Do you fish?" Charlie asked, for want of something to say.
She picked up a fishing rod and toyed with it distractedly.
Joey nodded.
"You might say that, but I'm actually waiting to collect an order for someone else today."
Charlie nodded. Her heart began to flutter as she looked into Joey's twinkling brown eyes. Her lips moved to say something, but instead, formed a beautiful smile which made Joey's pulse race. Joey bit her lip; still fumbling for a suitable chat-up line. Suddenly, 'Blueeyes000' came to mind and she smiled back at Charlie, weakly.
"There's been some trouble here, I believe?" Charlie said, tearing her eyes from Joey's and looking about her.
"Yeah, according to Mr. Stewart, kids keep coming by and trashing his displays outside."
Charlie glanced in the direction where Joey indicated.
"It all looks pretty tidy to me." She commented, with a frown.
"Yeah, but that's only because we've just picked it all up!" Joey said; suddenly feeling a little irritated.
"You'd have been better off leaving the evidence for us to see." Charlie pointed out kindly.
"It might have been better if you guys patrolled a little more often, then perhaps Mr. Stewart might not have this continual problem!"
"We do our best, but..."
"Well, maybe you should try a bit harder!" Joey heard herself saying.
Why was she getting so uptight and aggressive towards Charlie?
"Well, perhaps if members of the public were to be a little more co-operative with us, like leaving us some evidence to investigate; it might make all the difference to catching the culprits." Charlie advised.
Joey glared angrily at Charlie and was about to retort when Alf's footsteps were heard returning to the shop. She quickly averted her eyes and tucked her hair behind her ears.
"Ah, G'day Charlie love! I'll be with you in just a tick. Let me just finish my business here with young Joey, first."
Charlie nodded and glanced at Joey again. When she had first met Joey, she thought she was an amazing girl and if it had not been for the girl on the dating site, she may well have tried for her. She took a deep breath.
"Yeah, take your time Alf... I have all day!"
Joey's head swung around quickly, knowing the comment was aimed at her.
"Well, it's a great pity, Senior Constable that a member of the public might be taking up too much of your precious time!"
"Hey! What's going on here?" Alf asked, bemused.
"If you'd just like to make your complaint, Alf, the sooner I can do my duty."
"Like ignoring the situation?" Joey continued, unable to prevent herself from one last jibe.
"Look! I don't know what's going on between you two, but I think we should all calm down for a bit!" Alf said, walking around to the other side of the counter.
"If that's my order, Mr. Stewart, I'll be on my way." Joey said, picking up the box of equipment and brushing past Charlie.
"What's her problem?" Charlie asked irritably, as she watched Joey run out of the door.
"Well, nothing as far as I can tell love. She was fine a while back. Did you say anything to upset her?"
"No!" Charlie cried. "I came in and she started getting all stroppy with me! I can really do without people like that today, Alf. I've had a pig-horrible day, and then she starts throwing clever comments around, like they're going out of fashion!"
"Now, hold up, love! Young Joey's a bloody good Shelia! She'd do anything for anyone! You've obviously rubbed her up the wrong way, for some reason!"
Charlie opened her mouth in defence, but considered it fruitless. Alf Stewart obviously had a soft spot for the girl with twinkling brown eyes; the same girl which Charlie Buckton was now fighting hard to get off her mind!
"Well, if you'd just like to tell me what's happened here today, Alf...?"
Joey got to the wharf and leaned against the railings. She breathed heavily and her heart thudded. Why had she let that stupid Police Officer upset her so much? Joey rarely lost her temper, but today, she had. She closed her eyes, but could see nothing apart from Charlie Buckton's beautiful eyes hiding beneath her Police cap. She opened her eyes again and continued, reluctantly, on her journey.
"Hey Charlie!" Ruby called as she met her sister outside The Diner. "Are you gonna treat me to a milkshake?"
The word 'Milkshake' reminded Charlie of the stroppy girl with the twinkling brown eyes. She tried to shake the thought from her mind.
"I'll treat you as long as you do the washing up tonight?" She grinned.
Ruby hesitated.
"O-kay." She said, after a few moments of deliberation. "But..."
"No 'buts'!" Charlie said, holding the door open for her sister.
They entered the establishment, closely followed by Aden Jefferies and Joey Collins.
"Hey girls!" Aden grinned, as he walked up behind them. "How's it going?"
"Yeah, great! Charlie's about to treat me to a chocolate milkshake! Play your cards right, she'll treat you too!" Ruby laughed, mischievously.
Charlie and Joey looked at each other uncomfortably.
"Won't you, Charlz?" Ruby prompted.
"Err... yeah... no worries." Charlie muttered, trying subdue the loud beating noise her heart was making.
For some unknown reason, Joey also found her heart thudding loudly in her chest.
"Sounds great to me!" Aden said, with a grin. "Lucky, coz tonight was gonna be my shout!" He laughed, nudging Joey.
Joey remained quiet.
The group of four walked over to a vacant table.
"Good evening Senior Constable Buckton!" Colleen said, grinning from ear to ear. "And what can I get you this evening?"
"Four choco milkshakes, please, Mrs. Smart!" Ruby cried quickly.
"No!" Charlie and Joey announced together.
"I-I'm sorry." Joey said, quietly.
"No, sorry, I-I just don't want a milkshake." Charlie replied smiling weakly.
"Well, it looks like it's just you and me, kid!" Aden smiled, putting his arm around Ruby's shoulders. "So what are you two having?"
"Coffee, please." Charlie and Joey both said in unison.
They looked at each other and blushed.
"What is this? A double act?" Aden grinned.
"Yeah, and a very poor one!" Ruby laughed.
Charlie looked down at the floor and Joey's brown eyes gazed around the dining area; anywhere rather than meeting the beautiful, blue eyes of Charlie Buckton.