Page 23 of The Longest Speed Date

Jet: why don’t you do make-up for work?

Ari: I don’t really want to do that anymore. This road trip is about doing new things. I don’t want to see another make-up brush or eyelash curler for the rest of my days!

Ari: this trip is about new things.

Jet: I reckon knowing what we don’t want to do helps us figure out what we do want to do

Ari: would you be a farmer if it weren’t for your grandfather leaving it to you and Tully in his will?

Jet: Probably not. I’d still be on the road for contract shearing. All I know is that it did happen and I’m giving it a go.

Jet: can say tho, I doubt I would have ever owned land and a house as a shearer.

Ari: try being a make-up artist in Sydney with Sydney real estate prices haha

Jet: haha, Bessie is better than Sydney real estate

Ari: I agree. shit, customers. Gotta go

Jet: what a week. Was a fire on the Turner property, followed by snow. Am thinking of joining Rural Fire Brigade.

Jet: The wombat at the Turner’s place stepped on my foot and it’s still bruised.

Jet: gotta go. Smoko is over. Talk later

Ari: You’re getting beaten up by wombats?! Aren’t you a strong shearer/farmer guy?!

Jet: wombats are armoured tanks of the bush, and I have a new level of respect for the buggers

Jet: Was doing more shearing at the Turner’s this week and that MOFO wombat chased me. Wombats and me don’t mix. I’ll stick to sheep. Postcard finally arrived from Cairns. Now have four stuck above the bar. Punters love your adventures.

Ari: do you love getting my postcard adventures?

Ari: Can send more from Kakadu and Darwin and from dinosaur towns on the way to Mt Isa

Jet: Fuck yes. Keep them coming *smiley emoji*

Jet: my shift just started. Pub is pumping tonight. Turner family have a function in the beer garden. I’m on a quick break

Jet: did you go to school with Amanda Turner?

Jet: Enough time for a spicy question: what sexy scene from a movie turns you on?

Jet: No doubt from me: Jamie Lee Curtis in True Lies doing the strip tease for Arnie. When she lets go and gets into it, holy fuck, she’s hot

Ari: Hey there shearer guy. I was in Amanda’s year at school, and Stacey was in the grade below. Ash was in the same grade as her brother Tom and his twin sister Lily. Didn’t know them very well.

Jet: so you’re older than me

Ari: Am I now? how old are you?

Ari: Aren’t you a little young for True Lies?

Jet: It’s a classic!

Jet: I’m 26

Ari: Huh, I’m a cradle snatcher of the speed dating night. I should have asked you for ID LOL

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