*Chapter 6*

As we rode, I kept wondering what Rosemary's angle could be. Why has this beautiful woman latched on to me? Obviously there is something that I have not been clued in on yet. Most women would have been all over Chico. But she had sat there waiting on me... Oh well. What the hell... I am enjoying the hell out of this for whatever it is worth.

I am so caught up in my thoughts that I haven't heard a word of what Rosemary is talking about. "I'm sorry. What was that you were saying?" I ask. "I was completely lost in my own mind." I tell her.

"You go ahead with your thoughts. I was just going on about me Mum. You don't mind if we stop by there do you? It's just on the way to your cottage." I still am not able to focus in on what she is actually saying.

"OK" I say. Wondering what all I missed during the ride from the pier.

"Babe? Are you alright?" Rosemary asks me. "You seem a bit distracted. We don't have to stop off at Mum's if you don't really feel up to it. I can always give her a ring on the the telly and drop in on her in the morning."

"No... Let's stop by now. That way we can sleep in tomorrow morning. I'd really like to meet your folks." I assure Rosemary. "If we don't stop by now I might not have a the chance."

Almost as soon as I finished speaking she whipped into drive of this huge beach front estate and says, "Well now, looks like you'll be getting what you want today. All of it...".

"Damn...", I stutter in total amazement.

Rosemary giggles and kisses me. " What?" I ask.

"That's everyone's reaction when they see this place for the first time. Magnificent isn't it? Come on!", she pulls me by the hand. "Mum!! Jack... It's me Rose."

This place is astonishing... It makes the cottage that we have rented look like a rat's hole. The lap of luxury... I stepped out unto the back patio. The Ocean is literally the backyard. All private. The kind of shit I'd seen on TV or in movies. And there she is... I lean against the wall at the end of the pool and stare out on the horizon at the old rust bucket. I light a cigarette and as if drawn by some magical spell stumble down the boat launch gazing at the carrier. My trance is broken when I hear voices behind me. I spin on my heels. There is Rosemary. A stunning older lady and a huge figure of a man. I head back up the walk finishing off my cigarette as I walked.

"Mum, Jack... This is Brown. I am certain that he has another name but so far, all I have heard is Brown". Rosemary quips. We all laugh. "Babe? I am out if fags just now... Spare me one."

I am totally buffaloed... Fag??? What tha??? Then it comes to me Aussies call cigarettes fags... Damn. Keep up dude. Don't want to go embarrassing myself. If I can help it. I reach in my pocket and hand her my pack. While I have my hand extended, I offer Big Jack my hand. His hand swallows mine. His powerful grip nearly crushes my fingers. "Good day mate..." His voice bellows like a loudspeaker.

I nod my head and respond politely. "Sir..."

Jack belts out an uproarious laugh and whacks me across the back. "You don't have to call me Sir... Jack... Please". He continues to laugh. "Come on over here Brown... What's your pleasure?". The damn poolside bar is more well stocked than the bars in both nightclubs from the night before.

"Gin, Sir, I mean... Jack."

"Brown... I've got six different bottles of gin back here. Help me out a little." Jack says as he lets out another thunder of laughter. I tell him that it really doesn't matter. He pours me a half of a tallboy glass and tosses a couple cubes of ice in the glass. "Here ya go mate", he says shoving the glass my way. He pours himself a full glass of what I believe to be whiskey. He holds his glass toward me and we salute each other. I take a sip as I watch Big Jack slurp the glass of whiskey down. He puts the glass down grabs the bottle and refills his glass. I hear footsteps approaching from behind me. Rosemary spins my barstool and backs in between my legs. Her Mother sits next to Jack and puts her hand on his shoulder. Jack looks at her and then announces. "You kids are having dinner with us, ah. What are we having?" He asks as he finishes off another glass. "Drink up Brown!!!"

Rosemary's mother pipes in. "OK Brown... What is your name? I am not going to call you Brown all night long."

"Edwin ma'am. It's Edwin." I say as swallow the last of my first half glass of gin.

Jack grabs my glass. "Well now Edwin, what say we all get a little more acquainted. Dinner plans are made. Even though I still haven't the foggiest what we'll be having. The drinks are on the house. And believe me. These two are up to something." Rosemary swings playfully at Jack. He laughs and shakes a finger at Rosemary and her mother. "I know you two far too well.."

The questions start and I am bombarded. A gazillion what, where, how, when, why, who questions. Before I know it... It has gotten late. I'm drunk as hell. I am not sure what I may or may not have gotten myself into. There was an awful lot of talk about travel. The power that money possesses is astounding. I recall something about talking to someone about finding out what all is required for a six month trip to America. But... I am drunk as hell. So maybe I am just imagining all of this.

Rosemary leans in to me and whispers "Haven't you had enough yet?"

I slur "Hours ago".

Jack jumps in "What??? I heard you Yanks were real drinkers!!! Don't tell me you're throwing it in already???"

Helen says "Come Jack... Leave the poor kid alone. Nobody can keep up with you when it comes to the drink. Rosemary why don't you all stay here the night?"

"No Mum... Edwin's got a cottage just down the beach a piece. He'll probably be more comfortable there."

"I don't know what you have planned but the poor dear doesn't look as if you are going to do anything but pour this one in a bed somewhere. And it doesn't look like the where will matter too much." Helen says.

"Alright Mum. Enough with the jokes. C'mon Brown. Let's get you on back to your place. There you go." Rosemary says as she pours me into the back seat of her car. "I guess it doesn't matter if Chico is there or not. You are pretty much toast." she continued laughingly. "Actually I rather hope that he is there. He can help me get you up to bed. Damn Jack!!! I don't know how Mum puts up with his big juvenile ass!!! He drinks like a fucking fish..." Rosemary huffed as she tried to pull me from the back seat, "A perfectly good night shot to hell!!! Well let's get you off to bed".

Things are spinning and I am not comprehending anything that she is saying all that well. "How the hell did I get this fucking drunk?" I ask Rosemary.

"What?!?!" She exclaims, "You've just spent the evening drinking with a bear!!! And ya ask how ya got so drunk??? Amazing!!! Chico... Be a dear and help me get ya mate up ta bed!!!"

"Damn Brown!!! What tha fuck happened to you dude?!?!"

"He was drinking with me Stepfather..."

"I ain't never seen Brown like this before!!! Damn!!! I wondered what happened. I was told you guys were going out to the ship"

I slur some unintelligible thing out as I feel myself bounce off of the bed. I feel my pants being tugged at. I guess I pass out at this point. I still cannot remember anything past this point...