Kit Kelen #1338 - the white van

1338

the white van

it was a rumour in the town to begin

you know how a rumour gets around

takes a while to get out to the blocks

the white van was there again yesterday

came into the driveway just a little

real enough

registered vehicle

though I didn’t catch the plates

not quite the kind kidnappers use on TV

relative of a sort

they were looking about, weren’t they?

or there might have only been one of them

I didn’t make out a face

leant out

had something in his hand

up near the gate

somehow threatening

nothing happened

but who knows what he was up to

you wouldn’t know these days

but well, I have my ideas

started as a rumour, yes

but I’m not the only one who’s seen it

everyone has

ice van some said

tales of girls boys ruined

plucked like flowers in their prime

left wilted

you see those blank faces all over town

you can only wonder

one worries one might be too quick to judge

cast the first stone and so on

but this van is real enough

right out of order

an innocent Captain Cook?

no, a reckie I reckon

evil flash

and then gone

drug courier maybe

or worse – Ivan Milat

the Belanglo van!

heathen thing

may lightning strike

probably full of bodies and bones

as I said, came by again yesterday

if a car could leer…

one of those foreign types

must have been yes checking us out

but we can put two and two together

so it was going to be us this time

lots of stuff missing

rakes and buckets, long handled brooms

all sorts of things we can’t find

thieving bastards!

the fifty bucks Liz lost

well now you know

shovels and ladders

(good for burying)

and I thought

next time next time

I’ll grab that bastard by the throat

then he’ll know what’s what

some have reported an evil laugh

foul exhaust

though that could be imagination

I am assuming it is a bloke

or more than one

probably a gang

I’m sure at the least there’d be an accomplice

it’s probably a terror plot

no bombs thrown yet

that’s to give a false sense…

they’ll give nothing away, of course

why would you give them the chance?

might have thought it would be a black van

you know like a black hat in a cowboy story

they’re cunning though

however they come it’s some kind of disguise

… just as long as you know

I don’t think it’s a country thing either

could happen anywhere

we just have to watch out

look out for our own

that’s all there is to it

be on your guard!

be aware!

I know these bastards

what they’re up to

think they can get away with

know the type

think they’re smart

that’s why this morning

when I saw the van coming again

I marched right up to the gate

to make a stand this time

yes they say ‘approach with caution’

and I had the mattock with me

casually slung of course

not to arouse…

he leant out of his window

smarmy, smug

crooked little leer he had

you wouldn’t know how to read it

you wouldn’t know what he was thinking

but

I’ll never forget that face

he held something flat

and oblong in his right mitt

kept the other paw on the wheel

for a quick getaway I bet

he held that thing out to me

as I came up

and then with a rapid hand movement

grabbed another something, thicker too

and then he just said

all innocent like butter wouldn’t melt

he said

‘mate, here’s your mail’