Another friend done gone
Another friend done gone
Another friend done gone
That long black train it took him away,
Took him away, took him away from me
I watched him go, I watched him go
I watched him go and shed a tear
Blues for Revel Cooper
Blues for Revel Cooper
Blues for Revel Cooper
Gone away, far away too far from me
Will I ever see him again, never again, (oh no)
Oh blues for Revel Cooper
Oh blues for, a friend done gone,
Oh Revel you took the sunshine of your smile
The flashing of your grin, the light (oh yeah)
From my eyes, oh blues for Revel Cooper
Blues for Revel, oh for Revel Cooper.
Balga in losing his mate Tommy had lost a part of his past and now he was about to lose another friend. He walked with him towards Spencer Street station feeling that his life was emptying out. He had to refill it with better than what he had in St. Kilda or else scram home too just as Revel Cooper, the Noongar artist was doing. He could sympathize with Revel’s happiness at leaving Melbourne, and even felt like getting on the train with him. Balga scurried along lugging a big old suitcase which was obviously a cousin to his and could have been his; but it wasn’t. It was Revel’s, his mate and he glanced across at him to find him not at his side. He looked around and back and there he was standing in the middle of the pavement with a big grin plastered over his mug.
‘Ya know, cuz,’ he said with a chortle, ‘I got into trouble over this woman, this old sheila, you wouldn’t believe me if I told you her name, but I don’t kiss and tell. When it came out the shit hit the fan and I got me marching orders, scholarship cancelled and a free ticket home. No worries, eh, bub? ‘Bout time I got back, see my family and that warm brown land with its black boys and…’
‘Harsh laws that’ll land you in boob again,’ Balga cut in. He knew how bad it was for Noongars so he added a “Good luck” as they entered the station. He didn’t think it was a good idea for Revel to go home, but he didn’t say this. Only the opposite: ‘Maybe it is a good idea to get out of here while the going is for the getting. Anyway, cuz, whatever, let’s go and I’ll buy you a few of your last legal drinks.’ Balga steered him into the station bar where they toasted one another enjoying what they couldn’t do in West Aussie.
‘Won’t be able to do this in the West without an exemption certificate, your dog license,’ Balga scowled as he ordered two schooners.
‘It depends on what pub it is,’ Revel replied with is grin, ‘there’s a few places that if you’re not jet black will serve ya.’
‘Yeah, but there’s no pub like that artists’ one you introduced me too. Yeah, I like it, yeah and better than St. Kilda. I’m getting out of that place. I have to.’
‘Whatever bub, whatever, it’s all history to me so drink up, I’ve got a train to catch and a long journey to make.’
‘Yeah, but home is where the heart is,’ Balga couldn’t help saying as he thought of Jeanne and the lack of a heart.
They walked along the length of train until they came to Revel’s carriage. He found his seat just as the engine whistled that long lonesome cry.
‘Catch ya, bud; catch ya, mate,’ Balga called as the train gave a lunge and began to pull out.
‘Wait, hey have a real catch. Maybe ya can use it; maybe ya can keep it for me, maybe it’ll remind you of home. Have a good one on me, bud. Get outa St. Kilda, that place can do ya in.’
He threw a parcel that rushed at Balga as the train gathered speed. He caught it like a football and held it up high like a triumphant mark; then his hands dropped. His friend was gone and the train was gone and his heart had gone along too. He missed his land and was so alone. ‘Give my love to West Aussie,’ he whispered to himself and people stared at him and didn’t share his grief.
The lad clutched the parcel like a hand as he got into a train that took him to Flinders Street station where he changed to the St. Kilda one. He got off at Middle Park and sighed as he walked slowly back to a place that wasn’t much of a home. He crept to his annex and tossed the parcel on his bed. He thought that perhaps he should have gone on to the artist’s pub, but it would have been too lonely without Revel. After a time he went to the kitchen where Pete had cooked up a meal. He ate listlessly then went into the lounge room where Jeannie sat. This time without Phil in attendance!
‘Hello, Sweetie, just in time for a beer. How’s life with you?’ she said giving a giggle as she spoke.
‘Just saw a friend off,’ he told her.
‘Hey, you’ve got me and life is looking up for both of us as well as Pete,’ she replied slurping on her beer, then called: ‘Pete come and bring another bottle,’ before turning her attention back to the lad and saying, ‘you remember, Sweetie, how we talked about going into business…’
‘Yeah, you talked and I listened.’
‘It’s my, our, chance to get ahead of the game. A “doll” can do only so much on her own, she always needs a minder. Well, I have you and with Phil we’ll have protection and we can even fix this place up into a … well,’ and she giggled and poured herself another beer.’
‘Yeah, and what will Phil get from this,’ Balga sneered.
‘He knows the ropes and he’ll get a cut; but it won’t be his business, but ours, you, me and Pete.’
‘You know that dick, you know his reputation,’ Balga blurted out.
‘He’s my detective and likes me so I’ve got an edge.’
‘Don’t you know he practically runs the game in St. Kilda. Cross him and you get crossed out.’
‘My, we are in a bad mood aren’t we! All you’ll have to do is hang around and keep an eye on the customers. Nothing to it as Pete will be there to lend a hand when needed. We’ll be ready soon as Phil gets me some massage tables. He’ll even direct the girls to us. No problems, but you’ll have to give up your day job as this’ll be full time.’
‘Yeah, yeah and a triple yeah,’ Balga sneered. It was the last thing he wanted to do. He liked his public service job and indeed next week was even sitting for his permanency exam.
‘I’ll think about it,’ Balga replied and drained his beer and went off to his annex. It was all but over as far as he was concerned. Who wanted to work for a demon after all?
Balga sat on his bed and stared at Revel’s parcel. He reached out and pulled it to him. He ripped it open and spread the contents out on the bed. All the painting stuff Revel had used in Melbourne as well as lots of his art works, stuff that he had been studying such as nudes and flower pots. There were a couple of sketch pads and when he opened them he saw the familiar landscape pictures complete with kangaroos, black boys and black fellows of his West Aussie land. Now he was sad and gloomy as well as homesick. He toyed with a charcoal stick then began sketching out a landscape in Revel’s Noongar style. When he realized what he was doing he stopped.
Not so good and the lad checked out a couple of art books even trying to do a copy of a face and figure according to their instructions. Not very good, hard in fact and he went back to working on his landscape imaging the bush around Serpentine Falls in the Darling Ranges.