I tried to help Maria
escape the drudgery
behind the counter
of her loss making legacy.

I envisaged a business
an investment
in the future
something she could manage.

She began
to study part-time
and eventually qualified
as a masseuse.

With Margaret
a qualified hairdresser
they formed the nucleus
of an embryonic idea.

We drove around
and discussed our plans
while seeking rooms
to rent or lease.

But Maria seemed obsessed
by a lottery
run by Evelyn and Elisabeth
which even I could see was a scam.

It began to unravel
when my cheque for Maria
was diverted
into Evelyn’s account.

Evelyn and Elisabeth
lost all my money
shut up shop
then disappeared.

Eventually
a meeting was arranged
between Maria, Evelyn
and her husband Steven.

It appeared
my only chance
to get anything back
was to invest again in Evelyn.

The arrangement
proved beneficial
both economically
and socially.

Steven and I
would sometimes drive
to a Bourke Street gym
for a sauna, spa and massage.

I made friends with Lisa
a masseuse
who for a gratuity
would massage my libido.

We’d drive around
enjoy yum cha
with their two tiny daughters
Eriana and Kirsten.

Evelyn gave birth
to a son
Alfred
by caesarian section.

Margaret bemoaned
the losss of $75,000
paid to a contractor
for renovations to her shop.

She was unwilling
to take legal advice
or unable to wait
and begged me for a loan.

Since she seemed to be
a friend in need
I foolishly agreed
to lend her $75,000 at 10%.

Then Evelyn suggested
I buy the lease
to Margaret’s hairdressing business
as an investment.

Naively I agreed
and became the proprietor
of a loss making
enterprise.

With Margaret as manager
I decided to take a holiday
and join Harry
who was flying to England.

After Dubai
Harry flew to Manchester
to visit relatrives
while I flew on to London.

I arranged to tour Europe
crossed the channel
and travelled by coach
through France to Belgium.

My troubles began in Amsterdam
touring the red light district
where my passport was stolen
and I caught a virus.

I sniffled and sneezed
along the autobahn
to Frankfurt by taxi
flanked by the black forest.

I received a replacement passport
at the Australian Consulate
inside a building
built like a fortress.

Worn out and wheezing
I carted my luggage to the station
for the long and tedious
trip to Prague.

Prescribed antibiotics
I was unable to continue
and left the tour at Vienna
flying back to london.

Exhausted
I slept a lot
strolled around Hyde Park
until my flight to Australia.

I met Harry at Dubai again
where we shopped
at the duty-free Mall
then flew home via Singapore.

My hairdressing business
was losing thousands
casually every week
and had to be closed.

Margaret had long since
ceased repaying my loan
because she claimed
it was no longer her responsibility.

I lost almost half a million
in a well conceived scam
and incurred a penalty
by terminating prematurely.

A colonoscopy
arranged for me by my GP
was diagnosed
as cancer of the bowel.

Evelyn drove me
to the Peninsula Private Hospital
for keyhole surgery
performed by Mr Skinner.

I regained consciousness
in the recovery ward
where Evelyn’s presence
was comforting and reassuring.

After a week
on a diet of crushed ice
Evelyn drove me home
to rest and recuperate.

Chemotherapy sessions
continued for six months
followed by regular scans
and blood tests.

Our lives changed dramatically
and catastrophically
when Evelyn and Steven
were arrested and charged with fraud.

At their committal hearing
they stood silently
side by side in the dock
looking resigned and forlorn.

I failed
to get them bail
because it was feared
they may abscond.

Found guilty
they were sentenced
to three awful years
away from their friends and family.

Kirsten and Eriana
so young and vulnerable
were traumatised
alone in the dark outside.

Their nightmare
became my reality
a waking dream
our lives entwined.

I felt privileged
and proud
when Evelyn
began calling me Dad.

As an unsecured creditor
all my assets
were confiscated
due to a draconian law.

Paul Galbally
who acted for me
did everything he could
without a fee.

Finally free
the nightmare over
we began to re-establish
our lives together again.

My book of poems
‘The Learning Process’
was accepeted and published
by The Strategic Book Group in the US.

My brother Peter contracted bowel cancer
which spread to his liver
proved inoperable
and soon mercifully died.

I planned
to begin a new life
by leaving my unit in Carrum
so decrepit and old.

With Evelyn and Steven’s help
I found an ideal property
in the countryside
down Bittern way.

In the evening rabbits feed
with magpie-geese and lorikeets
whose iridiscent plumage
even Picasso couldn’t match.

I hope to write poetry
sow seeds and create
spend time with those I love
in the twilight of my life.