The twenty-ninth November, 2007.
The day started much like any day would. Finished work at five am, chat with the girl, smoke with Ma. Open a beer. Serve the odd customer.
"You must get a few accidents out here", asked the customer.
"Nah, I've been here five months today and we haven't had a single one." I said.
The customer left, I grabbed my smokes and moved towards the door.
The door flung open just before I reached it.
"Get an ambulance quick! There's been an accident... an ambulance... one's dead..." the bloke was white.
"Whats going on?" asked Ma. I walked out the front, lit my smoke. I still had no idea what was happening.
We all fell into various roles like we'd done it a million times, I joined the boss, jumping in front of trucks hurtling toward Norseman at a hundred kays an hour. "We've gotta close the road, been a fatality up ahead." we'd shout.
Five months, not a single accident. Did I jinx it? Afterwards we drank, like we did every night. We were Balladonia, we were fucking awesome, we would last forever.
The twenty-ninth November, 2008
The leader leaves, moves on down the road. Ma hopes for the best.
We're all worried, we still drink, but seldom together. The only ones left are Ma, Boss, Boss's wife and myself. We bicker often nowadays. No accidents though. The future's uncertain, depends on the new leader. Sometimes, maybe while we're standing out the front, the last minutes of light for the day, smoking, thinking, someone will mention the Balladonia of old. But it's gone, the magics been lost and we're only chasing our tails.
*For Half-a-laugh & The Balladonians '07*
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