Chapter 250 - Christening (2)

7 April, outside Warrnambool, Australia

"But Lexi the death of a spouse can happen, what parent expects to outlive their child?"

Phillipa knowing fully well that Lexi's situation already placed her in a position that practically she could understand what to do, rather than ultimately the medical and psychological knowledge that she would apply said "Anna, please do not hate me for saying this, but in Aaron's case, look at it from the other side. He suffered so much in his life, through no fault of yours or Yi's let alone being any fault of Aaron's. Simply to have him with you, would you have wanted him to suffer more?"

"I wanted my baby with me happy and healthy."

"We know the reason why what happened with Aaron happened. That you cannot blame yourself, and those responsible for the situation have been or are being dealt with. Focus on that. You know those to blame will not escape justice. But you need to remember that you still have little Jang. He will pick up on your moods. Lexi is right though; you need your family to help you. Talk with Yi, as I am absolutely certain how you feel is how he feels, help each other and call out for help."

"And you know we will be only a phone call away," added Lexi.

Anna opened her mouth as to speak, but she paused, hearing a piano coming through the speakers that were playing music and heard the opening line of a song 'I left my heart to the sappers round Khe Sanh' [1], before she said "Damn, those idiot brothers of mine promised me they would not play this song," before running towards where the men she knew where her brothers James, Adam and Ben were standing, singing with what looked like beer bottles in their hands.

Lexi turned to Phillipa and asked, "Do you know what that is about?"

"No idea, I guess we will have to ask Anna, when she is free,"

Looking over to where Anna had headed Lexi could see, that she was laughing with her brothers before saying "I guess that could be a while, she seems to be having fun."

"True," responded Phillipa. "Excuse me, I need to talk to Yi, and give him a talking to. Hopefully he and Anna will deal with what they need to with only a little bit more of prompting." Phillipa then walked off to where Hou Yi was standing.

Meanwhile Lexi turned towards Matthew, who had a drink in his hand, and was laughing at the scene of Anna and her brothers. Maybe he knew why she was concerned. Lexi headed over to Matthew and sat down before asking "What in the world is so funny?"

Looking at the scene with Anna and her brothers Matthew said "That," pointing to where Anna and her brothers were. "I wondered how long it would be until I heard that song, or something like Run to Paradise, Working Class Man, You're the Voice or Down Under."[2]

Lexi, puzzled look at Matthew and asked, "What in the world do you mean?"

Seeing, the antics Matthew chuckled before saying "Lexi, over the years I have spent time with Australian soldiers and have gotten to know a few of their favourite songs, particularly when they have had a bit of alcohol in them. Khe Sanh tends to be one of the most popular song one, and as you can hear they are singing it badly, even Anna."

Lexi looked over, and could see that Anna was surrounded by people singing, "But it does not seem too bad…"

"Lexi that singing is not too bad. The more that they consume the worse it tends to get. But it tends to be great entertainment, as you cannot say that an Australian does not like to have fun at any sort of a party."

"But, what about…"

"Everyone else. Those who it was figured might be offended appear to have be pre-warned about this. Some of the Elder Hou's and others have already left, and everyone else is still around. But, do not consider it to be bad, your friend is over there having fun. With what she and her husband have been through in the last couple of months, I would guess that she needs that."

Looking over, and watching the antics that were happening Lexi said, "I really do not know how that can be seen as fun."

"Australians tend to be a strange lot. No predictability on what they do. Look at it this way, Anna seems as carefree as I have ever seen her. Maybe the stupidness that comes from drunk Australians is what she needs."

Lexi shook her head, before saying "I guess she needs that after the scene her mother made."

"I thought my mother was bad, but at least she refuses to interact with me unless the situation forces her to. She at least has some self-awareness, but that was over the top."

"Just like my first mother-in-law, self-centred and a menace to society."

Lexi looked at Matthew and realised that she wanted to speak to him about Dominic, not to reveal the secret, but to figure out what needed to happen. Before she could open her mouth, she heard a voice yell "Pippa, stop that,"

"But Aunty Alecia, I want to have fun."

"Fun, Pippa, you are leading guests astray. I know you well enough to know you were about to take him out into the paddock to play with the cow pats[3]. That is not nice."

"But…"

"No buts, or I you will suffer the consequences…"

"You can talk Alecia; she reminds me of you…"

"Dad, that is unfair…"

Lexi laughed, and turned to Matthew before saying "That reminds me of our childhood. We all led each other astray."

Laughing Matthew said, "I think Andrew and Paul were the worst offenders."

Matthew said "Come on, we should head over. You might not know the songs but sitting here misses out on the fun that will come in the near future."

"Promise me, you will take us away if there is it becomes too bad."

"I will. But we need to have fun and really enjoy ourselves. We have not had a chance to relax, but this is chance to relax."

[1] Khe Sanh, was written by Don Walker, pianist in the band Cold Chisel, about an Australian Vietnam Veteran's return to civilian life after his service. Some Australians, sometimes after consuming alcohol often sing it together badly

[2] Run to Paradise, was written by Mark Gable and Brad Carr, most notable performed by the Australian band the Choirboys. Working Class Man, song written by Jonathan Cain, performed by Jimmy Barnes (the lead singer of Cold Chisel). You're the Voice, song written by Andy Qunta, Keith Reid, Maggie Ryder & Chris Thompson, sung in Australia by John Farnham. Down Under, song written by Men at Work (who performed the song) founders Colin Hay and Ron Strykert which was the theme song when Australia II won the America's Cup in 1983.

[3] Cow solid waste (for a polite term)

-------

If you are reading this novel anywhere other than at or its apps then you are reading work that has been stolen in breach of the authors rights and those rights assigned to others.

Please support this author and only access this novel through at /book/15095783406874805 and report the illegal posting of this work.