Biebe’s Bedtime Story

by Atonia

Senior Constable John Biebe ordered yet another cup of coffee he needed something to jolt him awake this morning. He didn’t sleep well not for two years. That would be the two years he’d been in Australia…alone. The divorce had hit him hard coming out of nowhere right after he thought things had settled down. His only thought was to get as far away from Alaska as he could.

He still felt like a fish out of water but tried his best to fit in and adapt to the climate, the language and the people…well people were people no matter where you were Alaskans…Australians it really didn’t matter. Here in Little Timor was no different; a little seaside town on the northwestern coast of Australia. He’d recently been promoted to Senior Constable not that it changed anything in his life…only a little increase in pay.

“Thanks Maeve,” he said to the woman behind the counter in the little coffee shop..

“Still not sleeping John?” she asked

“No I’ve ah given it up,” he smiled.

“You know what you need don’t you…you need a woman John.”

“Yeah well I’ve given up women too.” He added sugar to his coffee and stirred.

“I guess you heard about the old whaling village being bought up by some Kiwi toff?”

“Yeah I heard about it,” John had been informed by his superior that it would be coming under his territory.  

Keisha Mallory entered the door and took a seat a few stools down from John; she looked him over quickly and turned her head back to Maeve.

“I’ll take mine to go,” she said her voice was pitched low.

“Do you sleep at night Keisha?” asked Maeve

“Yes…I sleep good…why do you ask?”

“The Constable here doesn’t sleep,” she answered fitting a plastic top on the cup of coffee.

“Well…maybe he needs a new mattress.” She said smiling

John looked at her sideways through his hair. He knew who she was she had a little shop that sold souvenirs and beach gear but he’d never met her…never been that close to her.

Keisha lingered for a moment turning the Styrofoam cup in her hand hoping he might speak; she’d seen him around town always by himself. He made is rounds twice a day and retreated to his office. Finally she decided to take matters into her own hands.

“Hi, I’m Keisha Mallory,” she knew he was the law officer but hadn’t met him.

John straightened on his seat and pushed his hair behind his ear, “Hi…John Biebe.” He said softly.

“Well…I guess I’d better be going…I’ll ah see you around.” She said moving away from the stool.

“Ah yeah…see ya,” John managed to get out. He watched her leave and turned back to his cup.

“You didn’t handle that very well,” Maeve said

“What?”

“That’s all you could come up with…she’s a nice lady John…single.”

John gave her a look and drained his cup. “I’m outta here how much do I owe you?”

“It’s on the house…best I can do for the law.” Maeve smiled showing a few missing teeth. 

John finished his day and went home parking in the drive of his two bedroom bungalow.

It was a nice older house with a mature garden. He spent time out in his garden weeding and planting a few native plants. Not that he knew anything about gardening but it looked nice when he bought the house and he wanted to keep it up.

Inside he hadn’t done much it was bought furnished and he had assumed ownership of the orange and brown striped sofa and glass topped tables in the lounge the only thing he’d added was a TV and DVD player. He bought as needed for his kitchen and bathroom.

John tore off his clothes and got in the shower letting the water cool him down. He still couldn’t get used to air conditioning but saw the need for it in the afternoons and generally turned his on for awhile when he got home from work.

Drying himself off he pulled out a pair of gym shorts and slipped them on, he gave his hair a final go with the towel and tossed it over the shower rod.  He stood in front of the fridge trying to decide what to do for his dinner…a steak and potato….later…for now a beer would keep him company.

Closing the fridge he thought about what Keisha had said about his mattress and walked back into his bedroom and pulled the sheets and spread back and looked at it. It came with the house…no doubt he did need a new one.  John sat down on the bed and rubbed the cold beer can across his forehead. He needed a lot of things…he didn’t know what he needed.