[Robert and Alice McKimmie are hosting George and Mary Ann Gilham in Launceston]

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“Come on, Mary Ann, let’s take this pie in to Robert and George. We’re all hungry.”

  The sisters joined their husbands who were deep in conversation.

  “George, this is a big move coming to Launceston, you’ve been in Gladstone such a long time. And you have family there,” said Robert.

  “Ah, Robert, it’s getting easier to move around now. I can always travel back. We have train lines being developed, boats and coaches, and the roads are gradually improving after many years of our road committee making complaint. The truth is, I’m ready for a change. Seeing you move to Launceston started me thinking, and when the Doctor told me to move, it gave me a reason to bow out gracefully. I still own the Gladstone store and your brother Alex is an excellent storekeeper.”

  Robert nodded. “He’s a quiet fellow, very steady. I’m glad he’s working out for you.”

  Alice joined in. “We had good times in Gladstone, George.”

  “We did. And some of the characters, what a laugh. Do you remember Gussy Dickinson in the Telegraph Office over the road from our store?”

  Mary Ann took up the story. “There were never any telegram forms because she didn’t believe in wasting Government supplies. She would give you a little slip of paper to write on, along with a frown.”

  “She had a sign up in the window for ages,” said Alice. “It said, “Lunatics, idiots and other idle loafers will please indulge their pen-scratching propensities at home, and not on the writing desk of my office.””

  They all laughed.

  “Do you remember the lad I employed to deliver the mail?” said George. “I had to sack him because he rode the horse so hard that he almost killed her. People’s mail was just flung in the general direction of their letterboxes.”

  “And what about the pig at Caldwell’s butchery?” said Robert. “Pulled a paling off the fence and got her head stuck. The whole town could hear her squealing along with all her little piggies squealing around her. It was so loud that people were gathering in the street, wondering what was going on.”

  “For me, the funniest memory was the fundraiser to put up a fence around the Gladstone Cemetery,” said Mary Ann. “With George being one of the cemetery trustees, he decided to make sure the entertainment was of the highest quality. When he stepped on to the stage and performed as the bearded lady Swiss songstress, people were laughing so hard they couldn’t hear his awful singing,”

  All four of them were laughing. This moment felt so good and Alice felt a rush of happiness to have her sister close by again.