The unfortunately named ‘Minda Bus” was late and had just unloaded its cargo of “Incurables” on the wet slippery footpath on the corner of Richmond and Marion Roads.

The rain was belting down on this cold wintry day in the City of Churches.

Then they were off, galloping wildly down the road to the Government Printing Office entrance.

I was waiting to see the Superintendent. I was in the foyer and I could see the main entrance gates!

I looked down at my watch it was getting terribly close to 7.55 AM.

I watched the ungainly mob struggle into the home stretch.

Some with their work bags on their heads and others with sodden copies of that morning’s “Advertiser clutched over their eyes.

They were saturated, wet all the way through, they looked miserable and lonely!

They were within feet of the glass front door entrance. Ah! Warmth and dryness beckoned inside.

I looked at my watch again as the minute hand clicked on to 7.55 A.M.

Then a ghostly white Bert Cotton hand flicked the front door lock shut with a resounding “CLICK!”

The first of the Bus riders slammed into the glass door! What the flippin flop, it was locked!

The others arrived banging on the glass and shaking the door.

“LET US IN,” they cried in unison.

But Bert “the  flipping security man” looked up, tapped his watch and said, “You’re late and You All know the Rules.” “Go around to the other entrance”.

And with that flopping Bert walked off!

The last thing I saw was a group of dripping wet angry workers with murder in their eyes chasing Bert down the machine room passage.

derwombat