Days went by. Random thoughts of the girl flashed through his mind at the oddest times.

Cody worked on the septic system because the toilet had backed up. Bang, there she was. He laughed and shook his head. He was naked, on his stomach, elbow deep in shit, and wondered how he was going to get the smell off his skin when he questioned if he put both hands around her waist, would his fingers meet?

He got to his knees, and sat, bewildered at where that notion had come from.

That night he sat on the verandah and analysed these random thoughts. He'd had the occasional dream since going to Snakes. They hadn't been graphic and he hadn't ejaculated because of them. Even though he wasn't being driven insane anymore by urges for her, she was still there in the back of his mind.

He had to go into town to fill one of the drums with petrol for the generator. He'd go to Snakes to see if she was there and try to talk to her.

Cody drove into the fuel station. Fin was parked, undoing the petrol cap of the old station wagon. He pulled in behind her. She didn't look but turned to lift the pump from the bowser.

A middle-aged man ran out of the office. "No!" he yelled.

She froze. One hand held the pump mid-air, the other, the petrol cap. Cody didn't like the aggressive look on the man's face. He climbed out of his truck and walked to the back of Fin's car.

"I'm not giving you any more credit!" the man said.

"I can pay you on Thursday, Mister Russell. I'll have money on Thursday."

"You'd have money every day if that old man of yours didn't drink it all."

"I need petrol, Mister Russell," she pleaded. "I can pay you on Thursday."

Cody heard her voice quaver. It caused his stomach to churn.

"Trouble is, Fin, you can never pay the whole bill. Come back on Thursday when you've got money and we'll talk about it some more."

Her jaw quivered. She hung her head and hooked the pump back on the bowser.

"Let her have the petrol. I'll pay."

She turned, held her petrol cap against her chest and looked at Cody wide-eyed, the moisture of unshed tears made the blue of them even bluer. Her lips were parted and quavered for control.

Cody's heart slammed in his chest. He tensed and held his breath as he looked at her. This was it. His dream. The dream, which had caused him to mess up his bed.

"No!" She screwed the petrol cap back on, got into her car and drove away.

Cody stood there stunned staring at the car as it sped down the road.

"You don't want to do that. You won't get your money back. They've never been at a zero balance here in the last four years," the man said. He turned and walked inside.

Cody drove his car closer to the pump. He filled the vehicle as well as the drum. The picture of the girl's moisture-filled eyes wouldn't leave his head. He'd always wondered if dreams could be flashes of the future. Now he had proof that maybe they were.

He scratched his head in bewilderment and chuckled. The angry look on her face reminded him of a child who wanted their way. This thought made him think she was a little backward like Snake had suggested.

Cody passed the pawnbrokers as he drove to Snakes. Her car was parked outside. He wondered what she was trading to get the money for petrol.

He made his way to his corner and glared at Fin's father. Anger stirred in his stomach as he watched the bastard order another drink.

When Snake served Cody with his beer the anger erupted. "Why the fuck have you served him all these years? If you'd refused maybe they'd have some money and he wouldn't be the drunk he is!"

Snake backed up with his hands held in the air. "Whoa... you're gonna put that on me? What the hell would you have me do?"

"Refuse him!"

"What? So, he goes to one of the other pubs. Listen, pal, you know nothin'. Who the hell are you anyway?" Snake shoved his face forward, glared at Cody and hissed, "Just because you've got a hard-on for his daughter don't come in here taking your frustrations out on me. You just think twice about whether or not I've done the right thing. If I refused him, he'd have gone to one of the busier pubs. Where would she have waited? Out in the bloody car park or sitting in a gutter somewhere."

Snake jabbed his finger through the air towards Cody. "I'll tell you right now it wouldn't have just been the Gallos who'd have taken a turn of her. They'd have sold fucking tickets you prick." He stormed off, changed the channel on the TV and busied himself emptying the glass washer.

Cody regretted blaming him. Snake was right. She'd have still ended up with a drunk for a father and like Snake said, things could have been much worse than they already were.  

How do you feel about Snake's answer to Cody's accusation? 

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