Lessons In Being A Flapper

by Angela Smith

  “Wait! You’re telling me to go chase Bayani down in AUSTRALIA?”

  “Well, it’s up to you of course, my dear, but yes that’s what we would like to see happen.”

  “I wouldn’t even know how to find him! I’ve never been to Australia…I could get lost in the outback and no one would even know I was missing!”

  Marisol tutted at me before continuing. “Chickadee, have you learned nothing from all the Flapper lessons you’ve had? A Flapper would go to great lengths to be with her man. She was a strong, independent woman and it’s about time you became one too!”

  I could feel a twenties laced tirade coming my way any minute now…

  “Don’t you go being a barlow! That boy is the Ducks Quack and you are being nothing more than a dumbdora! Go after him before it’s too late!”

  “But I…I don’t even know where to start!”

  “Jesus, do I have to do everything around here? I’ve got his address in Australia right here.” To prove her point she pulled out a piece of paper written in Bayani’s perfect script. She pushed it into my hand and told me to get my act together or risk losing him forever.

  “But what about the Valentine’s Day Ball? I’m in the middle of ordering the flowers!”

  “Oh the hell with it! This is much more important and I’m sure Dora, Nora , Kora and the rest of those old fuddies would agree!”

  “So…I’m going to Australia then.” I said, burying my face in my hands and sighing at the thought. I just got back from one trip and I wasn’t exactly ready to take another.

  “Yes. You are and don’t come back unless you’ve done all you could to make him come home to you.”

  I booked my trip the following morning after calling my friend, Marcio, who had been grooming Clara since I got her. He recently opened a doggy daycare and I thought it would be better if I took Clara to him instead of dumping her on Jeanette and her designer shoes again.

  I also went to the bank that my grandfather had the account at and was shocked to find it contained more than enough money to hold me over until I found a new job. It could also cover my travel expenses and then some. I couldn’t believe I never knew about this sooner, although it did seem to come at the right time!

  My flight was due to depart tomorrow afternoon and if I played my cards right I would be back well within a few days so I could still help Marisol plan the Valentine’s Day Ball. I just hoped Bayani would see me and that he was still staying at the same place. I had a fourteen hour flight ahead of me to think of all that could go wrong and I was sure that I’d spend it doing just that.

  I really couldn’t believe that I was going to Australia. I felt like I was literally going to the ends of the earth to win Bayani back and yet I didn’t know if it would be enough. I should have listened to him. I should have let him explain. Instead, I let my head get in the way of my heart and ended up losing him entirely. What would I do when I saw him? Would I run into his open arms or would he shun me and tell me I was foolish for chasing him when he had already given me all he had?

  No matter how I looked at it – whether he said he didn’t want to be with me or he did – I had to at least try. Marisol was right. I wasn’t a true Flapper. I may love the 1920s but those women were different. They wouldn’t have let one phone call ruin something so special.

  I boarded my plane at 2 o’clock in the afternoon and cozied in for a fourteen hour flight. I had brought my iPad, a few books and crossword puzzles to keep me busy. I had never been on such a long flight and found myself a little nervous at the thought. Being in the air that long in an enclosed cabin was kind of claustrophobic, wasn’t it? I mean what if I wanted to get off mid-flight? I couldn’t, could I? Not exactly calming thoughts for the anxious traveler. I looked at the paper in my hand. Bayani’s handwriting told me exactly where to go and I couldn’t help but wonder if he was giving me a message through Marisol. He must have known I’d ask her where he went. Hopefully, he’d be waiting for me when I landed Down Under in fourteen long hours.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Having never been on a flight across the ocean and to another continent, I’ve never had the extreme pleasure of suffering from jet lag. A lot of people I knew talked about it but I never really thought it could be that bad. Apparently I was dead wrong. It was that bad.

  When I landed in Sydney, Australia, I first noticed how sunny and bright it was. I then noticed the heat. Even though it was winter back home and San Francisco was mild compared to the rest of the nation, the heat here was so much worse. It was summer though so I don’t really know what I was expecting. Snow? Torrential rains? I should have packed better. I didn’t think to pull out my short sleeved tops and shorts. I instead packed light cotton shirts with long sleeves some dresses which I would no doubt sweat in and a few pairs of jeans. Nothing at all that would keep me cool in this heat!

  It was 36°C which I worked out on my handy new cell phone to be 97°F and I was dying! I couldn’t wait to get to the hotel where Bayani was staying and check in. I really hoped that everything here was air conditioned. As it seemed like a pretty civilized country, I had high hopes.

  Bayani was spending his time “finding himself” at The Harbour Rocks Hotel in Sydney. It was conveniently in the city center and close to all the main attractions. I just prayed that he didn’t “find himself” a new girl with a cute Aussie accent and a perky little personality. In my mind she’d have a perfect body and a big career with lots of material things and she’d be able to do things for Bayani that I couldn’t. I mentally shook myself because I realized A) I was getting carried away and B) I was pretty much describing Sophie, who they type of girl Bayani said he didn’t like very much.

  I wasn’t sure how to hail a taxi in Oz. Did you jump out in front of them like in NYC or did you whistle? I wasn’t really sure. Luckily the taxis were easy to spot as they were called the same thing back home as they were here. No slang word like passenger car or anything. Just plain old taxi. I jumped in the back of one that I saw idling near the airport and told him I needed to go to the Harbour Rocks Hotel.

  “Oi, Mate. I’ll getcha there in under ten,” he said. Thank God the hotel wasn’t too far away! I needed a long nap and a shower before I even thought of approaching Bayani.

  I marveled at all the sights as they passed me. I could see the Sydney Opera House and The Harbour Bridge off in the distance and heard that Bondi Beach was close by. I made a mental note to check that out. I was a sucker for beaches and Australia was said to have some of the best. On the plane ride over I read Bill Bryson’s In A Sunburned Country, which gave me some insight as to what I should expect when I landed Down Under. I had to admit that his observations weren’t far off so far. This was even better than New York for me and the people seemed so much friendlier.

  “Here we are Miss. Safe and sound,” my friendly taxi driver said as we pulled up outside a quaint looking building bearing the hotel name. It wasn’t at all what I was expecting. There was no flashiness to it or glitz and glamour like The Plaza. It was just a simple brick building in the center of town. I was quietly impressed with Bayani’s choice because this is the type of place I would have picked if I were coming here on vacation. I got a pang of guilt just thinking about how I had treated him and how we could have been coming here together instead of me chasing him and begging forgiveness.

  When I entered the lobby I was even more pleased to see that it had a library area with thousands of books stacked on the shelves. There were cozy leather chairs and cute little tables to sit at while you got lost in a story. Although I couldn’t imagine why anyone would want to sit inside and read in a city so beautiful. Maybe a jaded traveler or a husband waiting for his wife to get ready for dinner, but for the most part if you were here, you should be out enjoying it, I felt.

  I walked up to the reception desk and gave the pretty girl behind the desk my name and information. When she handed me my room key, I couldn’t help but inquire if Bayani was still here or if he had moved on
to somewhere else. It hadn’t been too long since he left, but you never know. He might have an easier time finding himself than some people.

  “I’m sorry, Miss, but we can’t give out personal information of our guests,” the receptionist said. I must have made a sorrowful face because she asked how I knew Bayani and I explained that I was his girlfriend (leaving out the “Ex” part purposely) and had come to surprise him. She eventually took pity on me and said that yes, he was here, but she couldn’t give me his room number. I was fine with that. I’d sit in the lobby all day if that’s what it took! Maybe I’d make some use of those books after all…

  I took the central staircase up to my room as I wanted to get the most out of my stay and also tone my flabby thighs. I think I have been binging a little too much on the Pringles and ice cream lately. The stairs would do me good!

  I chose the Harbourview suite as I really wanted to be able to see the Harbour from my room. It definitely lived up to my expectations – and more. I could see the Harbour and the room itself was spacious with a massive bathroom, bedroom, sitting room and kitchenette. I didn’t really have to venture out if I didn’t want to. But, oh, did I want to! I just wish I wasn’t so tired tonight. If I remember right, I slept off the first night in New York as well. It sure seemed like I was making a habit out of wasting the first day or night in a new place.

  Seeing as it was just after 7 o’clock in the morning when I arrived at the hotel, I should really be getting up and starting the day. However, I had just traveled thousands of miles and was extremely tired…so in the end, my need for rest won out.

  I awoke a little later on, looking at my clock since I couldn’t decipher if I was coming or going at this point. Damn jet lag, it gets the best of us! I was surprised to find that it was 4 o’clock in the afternoon already. I must have been more tired than I realized.

  Getting up, I thought about where to go for dinner. There was a restaurant and bar right in the hotel though I highly doubted that Bayani would be hanging out there. He seemed more adventurous to me and would probably go searching for a local haunt where he could join some Aussie’s in discussing sports or local tourist attractions. As I showered and put on some clean – albeit warm – clothes, I thought that I might just do a little exploring of my own.

  When I got into the lobby, the same receptionist stopped me and pulled me aside.

  “I wanted to tell you that while you were asleep, your friend checked out. He had a takeaway bag with some lolly’s and lamington. I got the feeling he was going to sunbake but I can’t be sure. Either way he said to check him out as he won’t be coming back.”

  Seriously? I had come 7,487 to miss him by a few hours?! How was that fair?

  “I’m sorry. I would have stopped him and told him you were here but I didn’t know if you wanted me to spoil the surprise.”

  It’s fine, I thought to myself. It’s probably exactly what I deserved after being so foolish back home. Most likely he had met someone new and was taking her out or even worse, moving in with her to save money. I didn’t want to imagine what they’d be doing if that was the case.

  At that point I found that I wasn’t even hungry anymore and decided to skip breakfast –sorry dinner, I was still in the wrong time zone! – altogether. It was a beautiful sunny day and despite being late in the afternoon, still scorching hot. I figured there would be no better place to cool off and enjoy the scenery than Bondi Beach. After asking the receptionist how to get there, I set off with my long sleeved shirt and jeans. I was sure to be the only one without a suntan when I came back. I didn’t care though. I felt like nothing really mattered because I had screwed up so royally. I could never be a Flapper like Marisol said. I couldn’t even do this one simple thing right.

  Bondi Beach was probably the most breathtaking beach I had ever seen. Ever. It was so perfect with the white waves cresting on the shoreline and the miles of perfectly molded sand which hugged the coast as far as the eye could see. I found a spot in the middle of the beach, which was quite crowded despite the late time of day, and laid out a towel printed with Koalas all over it that I had bought from the hotel gift shop. I put on my sunglasses and plopped down. After getting settled, I wrapped my arms around my legs and rested my chin on my knees. I couldn’t help gawping at how lucky I was to be here at this very moment. It was really a treat.

  It’s funny how I had always dreamt of Australia and Marisol even knew of my desire to come here but I never in a million years thought I’d actually be here on this iconic beach surrounded by beautiful people laughing, smiling and enjoying life. I wondered where Bayani was at this moment. Was he in Sydney or did he leave the area for the more dangerous outback? Was he going to see Ayer’s Rock or The Great Barrier Reef in Queensland? Would we cross paths or would I go home just as alone as I’d arrived?

  “G’day. Mind if I join you?” a gorgeous specimen of man said as he approached me from the side. “It’s a beautiful day out, innit?”

  “Hi…I mean G’Day. Sure, I’d love some company.”

  “If you don’t mind me askin’, Why are you wearing warm clothes on a hot summer day at the beach?”

  “Oh. Well, you see I didn’t exactly pack right. I was in a rush and forgot that it’s summer over here and not winter like back home,” I explain, feeling rather foolish at the thought of my hasty packing.

  “I see. Why don’t you go to a store then and buy a swimming costume? I know of a good one nearby. C’mon, I’ll take you mate.” My friend, whose name I didn’t know yet, offered me his hand and I cautiously took it. He pulled me up off the sand and we both dusted ourselves off before heading for the nearby shops.

  “I’m Autumn, by the way. And you are…?”

  “I’m Luigi. And no, I’m not an eyetie. My mother just liked the name,” he replies, laughing heartedly when I look at him blankly. I really like his smile. It seems genuine as does his personality, all big and bold, which I’ve come to realize is how most Aussie men are.

  “An eyetie is Aussie slang for Italian. You’ll have to get used to our language if you’re ever going to last here, mate!” Luigi said, laughing once again.

  We look at a few shops near the beach and when I found one that sold bikinis that weren’t too skimpy, we went inside to have a look around. It was a bit strange, going bikini shopping with someone who wasn’t my boyfriend and who I didn’t know from a hole in the wall, but it was nice to have some company at least.

  “This place is pretty fair dinkum, I think. I’m just gonna head next door for a coffee while you browse.”

  Left to my own devices, I looked at all the gorgeous swimsuits and chose a few to try on. The first, a red and white polka-dotted piece wasn’t me at all. It made my butt look too big and what woman wanted that? Besides Kim Kardashian, of course, whose butt was her sole money maker these days. The second wasn’t much better and made my thighs look wider than an 18-wheeler. My third choice, however, seemed perfect. It was slightly retro, with a 1920s feel to it. It wasn’t too modest of course – I didn’t want to look like a granny in a sea of beautiful people, after all – but it was me. I kept Marisol’s words of not conforming at the forefront of my mind. That woman gave me so much insight to life in the short time I had known her. She was a true gem. Thinking about her now, I hoped that she was doing OK and keeping to the diet that the doctors recommended. I worried about her immensely. She is a tough old bird, though, I’ll tell you that much.

  “How’d you make out?” Luigi asked when he returned a few minutes later, bearing a coffee for himself and me. “Thought you might need one. You look a little narked.”

  Who’d have thought I’d be learning yet another set of slang words when I’d just barely mastered the twenties!

  “Sorry? Narked?”

  “Agitated, annoyed –“

  “Oh. Well, I’m not really agitated as much as tired and dejected. I came here to win my boyfriend back after I made a massive mistake and come to find out I missed him by a few hours at ou
r hotel. I can’t believe it. I’m starting to think it’s not meant to be…”

  “Hey, don’t think like that. Things happen. Who knows, maybe you’ll still bump into him at some point. Sydney may seem big but most tourists visit the same spots, y’know.” He stared at me intently for a moment and then said “If not, you’re a pretty good sort; you’ll have no problem finding a new bloke.”

  “I know but I don’t want a new bloke – no offence to you -- I just want Bayani back.” To that, Luigi had no response.

  When we left the shop, it was still sunny but most people were leaving the beach for the night opting instead to go to one of Sydney’s many bars or clubs. Luigi offered to take me out and show me around the city later on, which sounded really great. Even though I was sad that I missed Bayani, I also had to remind myself that I was in Australia – one of my dream destinations! – I couldn’t spend my time moping around and worrying about something that was beyond my control.

  “Sure, I’d like that a lot,” I told him before giving him the name of my hotel so we could meet up a little later. I then went back to the hotel and showered before picking out what to wear later on. Seeing as I had nothing suitable for Sydney nightlife, I decided to go to the shops down the street and pick out a new outfit. Thanks to my grandfather, my bank account was looking pretty healthy at the moment, so I could afford a new outfit or two. I really wanted to be careful though, since this was the only money I had and gramps had worked had to save it up for me.

  After perusing the shops for a few hours, I finally found a sweet peach colored dress that wasn’t too showy. I didn’t want the men at the club to think I was looking for attention but at the same time I did want to look nice. I paid for the dress, along with a pair of jean shorts and some sleeveless t-shirts, and then headed back to the hotel to get ready for my night out.