Charlies Boarder

I was working up Loch Valley logging for a local mill; camping in a make-shift hut I built half way up a struggling hill. I worked till lunchtime every Friday, then came in from the scrub, spending Friday afternoon drinking in the Noojee pub. Jake Smith, he'd meet me in the bar to yarn while drinking beer. Jake talked of working near the 'Ada' where ash were being cleared. His logs were taken off to Powelltown; we had much to compare, about our wages and conditions and what dangers we had where. Now Charlie Brooks retired and pensioned often called in for a few. He lived somewhere close to Noojee; close enough to walk into. "In the bush along Loch Valley. Near the road" he said to me, "Next Friday why not call in, have a yarn and cup of tea". When Friday came downed axe and saw, I headed into town, "Gawd!" I thought, ‘old Charlie Brooks, I can't let the old coot down!’ I pulled up outside his rundown shack well hidden 'mongst the scrub, to have a cup of tea with him, then take him down the pub. When Charlie poured my cup of tea I swore I was seeing things, when I glanced toward the skirting board; I bloody near grew wings. "A flamin' snake Charlie is crawling 'cross your floor!" "Oh ‘er" drawled Charlie "that's Mrs. 'Tige'. She ‘must’a’ slid in through the door". "Last year she had a batch of young'uns, in that cupboard they were kept, I had to be so flamin’ careful in case on one of them I stepped. Sometimes they curled up in my chair; some nights they got into me bed. I think they've all gone bush now, only Mrs. 'Tige's' still here,” he said. All I could see was Tiger Snakes. That sent my senses reeling. Some crawled out of cupboards; some dropped down from the ceiling. Some slithered through the windows; some were crawling over me. I'm sure I seen one swimming in me flamin' cup of tea. "Strike me pink" I screamed at Charlie. "Have you gone flamin’ mad", as I backed out the front door where I felt safe and bloody glad. "You kill that snake" I glared at Charlie, "Or walk to the pub alone". "Kill Mrs 'Tige'!" Charlie raged. "Get out! Get out of me bloody home!" When I walked into the bar I displayed the look of fear. Wal the publican, he frowned, "You look like you need a beer". "Oh cripes" I said "That Charlie Brooks. Ain't I got a yarn to tell old Jake". "Jake!" said Wal "Is in the hospital - he got bit by a tiger snake”.