BUTT NAKED IN MORGAN

When I rolled into the little town of Morgan, all I wanted was a Cornish pasty. Then it was so tasty all I wanted was another one. That meant I stayed in the bakery long enough to meet Joe.

After all the recent rain the first question on everyones lips out here is when the Murray River will break its banks.

How we got from there to the gross injustice of gay men being able to show their bums in public when Joe can't I don't know.

The Mardi Gras had been on television the night before and that may have put it at the top of Joe's mind.

"If you or I walked down the street with a bare arse we'd be arrested."

He's probably right, although I couldn't ascertain whether he actually wanted to walk down the main street of Morgan with his bum showing or not. If he did then I guess he had a point.

He had others as well. "It's a race between the Muslims and the poofters to see who takes over." He counted off the gay Members of Parliament by way of proving his point.

"Brown's one, Wong's one, that Billy MacMahon was one."

Anthony Albanese, recently lauded for his dignified stance over the leadership struggle, "is one."

"I don't think so" I said. "Yep, he was marching last night" countered Joe authoritatively.

My laptop was already out so within a minute we were googling "Is Anthony Albanese gay?"

Joe looked anxiously over my shoulder seeking further vindication. Turns out he "isn't one" but he supports them which is "just as bad" according to Joe.

Here's the dilemma. Should I tell him that just because I drive a troopie with a swag on top and I've got a dingo/cattle dog doesn't mean I am not "one of them". Didn't they get the Village People out here?

Or, do I just listen? Is there any point in arguing?

Tom goes up to him for a pat and immediately Joe says "he's got a lot of dingo in him."

Little did he know Tom spends most of his time in dog parks trying to mount other males. I have often thought he could be "one of them".

Anyway, turns out Joe had a full blood dingo when he was a stockman in the Northern Territory. He found him as a pup and loved him deeply.

"Best dog I ever had."

"I heard that dingos never bond with humans. Is that true?" I ask.

"That's bullshit. Everyone responds to love".

I tried to dislike Joe on ethical grounds, but I couldn't. I have experienced this before with people who actually liked John Howard.

Cornish pasty finished I said goodbye to him, unsure of whether I should suggest we walk butt-naked up the street as an act of defiance against the inequity of it all.

Something like "Come on Joe you old queen, you know you want to."

Once upon a time I would have. Those were days. I got punched a lot though.

c ya

Raymond

PS. Tommie writes about our trip in his amateurish way in eDogBlog-5