by Pat Ritter
‘shipper’.
Holding the ice cream in my hand it was something I’d never seen before and for sixpence was a good choice.
‘Is this a new ice cream?’ I asked the owner.
‘Yes, it came in yesterday and I want you to test it so you can tell people what it’s like.’
I ripped the paper from around the ice cream, held onto the small wooden paddle between my fingers, and had a good look before I decided to test it. It looked different to other ice creams I’d eaten. I finally crunched it between my teeth. First the taste of chocolate, thinly coated, the inside filled with vanilla ice-cream. We never had an ice cream like this one before and my taste buds liked the combination of chocolate and vanilla ice cream. It melted in my mouth.
‘What do you think?’ The owner asked.
‘It’s great – what is it?’
‘Hav-a-Heart’, he replied.
Fifty years later Hav-a-Heart continues to sell; far more expensive than sixpence.
Word count: 429
Between A Rock And A Hard Place.
No son of mine is going to be a copper, my father spat; you’ve got to swear to arrest your own mother or father. Ever since I can remember all I ever wanted to be was a policeman, not only a policemen but a detective. I was half way through Junior in high school and wanted to apply to become a police cadet in the Queensland Police Force.
Without my parents consent there was no hope until I turned twenty-one years of age. In the day and age of parental control there was no way I could convince my father otherwise. I was in between a rock and a hard place. In those times you did exactly what your parents told you without argument. They were the law.
From that faithful Sunday afternoon when I approached my father about my request the matter was never mentioned again, either by him nor me. Without his consent I was up that proverbial creek without a paddle.
My ambition to become a policeman didn’t waver the least over the following six years. In my dreams each night filled with creations of being a law enforcement officer. At last I turned the age of consent and eagerly presented to the local police station. At first when I sighted the officers in uniform little bubbles of hope almost burst with pride to serve the community.
In those days to join the force one needed a grade eight (scholarship) pass, 20-20 vision, healthy and a need to want to become a police officer. I thought, that’s no trouble – I’ll pass with flying colours. Not only did I fail a spelling test by obtaining 3 out of 20, I also failed an eye test. An officer advised me to see an eye specialist and purchase a grade 8 spelling book and memorise the words. Alas, I was again between a rock and a hard place.
For three months I memorised each word in the spelling book. An eye specialist cleared my sight by issuing a letter of approval, so I again fronted for another entrance examination.
On this occasion I passed with flying colours and was admitted to the Queensland Police Barracks as a Probationary Police Officer. After four months of training I was officially sworn in as a Police Constable.
At the swearing-in parade my parents attended and I didn’t know whether to arrest my father but reassured him if he broke the law he would be arrested.
Throughout my career spanning twenty years I did become a detective and many times I was in between a rock and a hard place but somehow escaped.
Word count: 449
Charlie’s Ghost.
What is it about comedy? Naturally its there to make us laugh and when I view the television programme Two and a Half Men, I can’t help but laugh. Its stupid comedy however there is something that tickles my funny bone and suddenly my stomach tightens and laughter explodes from within me.
Over the time I’ve been watching the programme, probably about two years, each week I’ve seen Charlie Sheen, the main actor in the show, progress from a likeable character to one of disgrace as evidenced by his off-screen antics. It’s disheartening to see an actor of his ability and stature fall from grace. Who could forget the disgraceful display he exhibited in his well publicised one man shows.
Now the produces of the show Two and a half men have sacked him – ‘his show’ as he called it. ‘It will not succeed without him’ he commented or shouted at the reporter. We’ll see!
Ashton Kutcher replaced the character in the show. He’s the husband of Demo Moore who was once married to Bruce Willis. What a tangled web there is in Hollywood.
Before I watched Charlie Sheen in ‘Two and a half men’ he was a fine actor performing in movies, television but for a reason only known to him, he changed. He went off the rails and crashed. Could it have been the money? For one session of Two and a half men it was reported his earnings was $1.5m. His notable father, actor Martin Sheen, showed disgust how his son behaved this way. He almost disowned him at one point.
I look forward to seeing if Charlie’s Ghost appears in future episodes of Two and a half men. Or, can Ashton Kutcher emulate Charlie Sheen on screen and make me laugh. Both men are different actors. Perhaps Demi Moore will get to be a surprise special guest in the show – who knows.
Although Charlie Sheen is no longer in the show, in my opinion I don’t think the show will be the same without him and there will always be in the background Charlie’s Ghost.
Word Count: 354
Shadows.
‘We going to the movies?’ my cousin stated.
‘What’s on?’ I asked.
‘Cliff Richards and the Shadows in ‘Summer Holiday’, it’s supposed to be a great movie. Anyway, I want to see Cliff Richards.’ He replied in an excited voice.
Danny was twelve years old and I ten. Cliff Richards was top of the charts on the local radio with hits from his movies. His band ‘The Shadows’ played electric guitar, base and drums.
Cliff Richards was the major actor in the movie with members of his band playing cameo roles. The movie was initially set in London. Cliff Richards played a mechanic and wanted to drive a double-decker bus with his friends from London through Europe on a summer holiday. Throughout different stages of the movie Cliff stopped the bus and started to sing. Miraculously his band ‘The Shadows’ were like a shadow followed him around the countryside. They appeared from behind trees playing their instruments.
These were the days when ten year old boys, such as me and many others enjoyed rock and roll music. I remember reading about Cliff Richard when I was that age. His music interested me and I would feel comfortable listening to songs sung by him. They were sweet and innocent.
Before ‘The Shadows’ began their career they were known as ‘The Drifters’. Cliff Richards changed his name from Harry Webb to Cliff Richards and his band became known as ‘Cliff Richards and the Shadows’. The reason they changed their name from ‘The Drifters’ to ‘The Shadows’ was because at the time in America was a group named ‘The Drifters’ and they didn’t want confusion.
Who could ever forget when ‘The Shadows’ released ‘Apache’ an instrumental by Jerry Lordan, which topped the charts for five weeks? That year I commenced High School and everyone I knew who played a guitar tried in vane to play ‘Apache’.
Another great hit Cliff Richards performed with his band ‘The Shadows’ was ‘Bachelor Boy’. This song must have been an omen for him because at the ripe of age of seventy plus he remains a ‘Bachelor Boy’ and ‘The Shadows’ remain his shadow.
Word count: 360
The Bomber.
He was a true blue Aussie – red hair with freckles and always carried a bright smile. Johnny Reid was his name. In 1974 he commenced the ‘Bomb Squad’ being the only member. At the time I was Plain Clothes Constable with the Armed Hold-up Squad. The Bomb Squad office was next door with a single desk and what appeared to be rubbish scattered around the room. Each piece of rubbish was useful to the only member of the Bomb Squad. It meant nothing to anyone else.
Before his appointment, Johnny undertook rigorous training with the army bomb disposal unit. He was dedication with his position always uppermost in his mind. At his h
ome he had a police radio. As soon as he’d hear of any bomb threat, he was on the job.
On one occasion I had the unenviable task of attended a bank hold-up with him. A radio message broadcasted across the police channels about a bank hold-up in progress at the Bank of New South Wales.
‘I’ll drive,’ he screamed at me and off we went at a speed far in access of the sixty kilometres per hour allowed on the road. We arrived as the Bank Robber was making his escape. He threatened staff he would let off a bomb if they didn’t hand over the money. Shaking from the drive in under eight minutes, I was relieved when Johnny bought the Police vehicle to a screeching halt in front of the bank.
In the meantime the Bank Robber escaped but not far enough away from the bank. What happened next should be recorded in the annuals of police history as a sign of not what to do.
Johnny saw a male running from the bank and assumed it was the bank robber. He gave chase calling out to this person to stop. This person kept running. Johnny discharged a couple of rounds of ammunition from his police revolver into the air. The person seemed to run faster.
The chase was on with Johnny gaining on the would-be robber and myself trying to keep up. The hunted person stood behind a lamp post and called out to his chaser, ‘don’t come any closer, I’ve got a bomb and I’ll blow us up.’
By this time Johnny secured a position on the opposite side of the lamp post to talk with the