Chapter 8

I said “Ladies, how would you like a hen’s night out? I have some items to deal with dad and my father-in-law tonight and we could be back very late?”
The girls all smiled and Luna replied “Yes we can have a ladies night.”
I asked, “Not at the surf club please Luna.” She looked at me then realised why.
Luna stated, “Ladies how about we go Mexican in Coolie, that will tease the men?”
My mum replied “Yes a great idea. Well boys we will see you around midnight or later if there is any talent around?” We all laughed. My dad looked at me slightly worried.

I called the dad’s and we left in my car. Merlin informed my dad about the work going on tonight and we wish to oversea the job from the beach house. We collected a bucket of chicken and drinks.

Arriving at 5pm and went straight into the dining room which had a window over the next door property. We saw it sitting on the porch when a friend of his asked if he was coming to the club. He yelled back “Got to stop the council taking my home, the bastards served me notice to vacate as soon as fucking possible.”
The guy stated “Come on, that council does not work at nights especially Friday nights before a long weekend. What the hell can they do at night. I’ll shout you a meal.”
He looked around realising the so called truth of the matter. He locked the front door and staggered with the other man to the surf club. Merlin smiled saying “That guy is one of mine and I gave him $200 bucks to take him out. He does know him and is glad we are getting him out of the area. As soon as he entered the club, Merlin radio said “He is drinking in the club, go guys.”

Within 3 minutes three trucks pulled up, one truck erected fencing around the property with warning signs of a health hazard. Another one, two guys jumped out in hazmat suits and broke the door open. They removed his clothes, pots, pans, cutlery, and TV.
The radio message was “All of the other items are wood or cloth.”
Merlin replied “OK demolish. Box his goods up and deliver to the Coolie Police as directed in the notice. Good quick work guys. Thanks”
From the other truck they spent around 30 minutes wrapping the building and pump in some gas to kill the termites in the house. The fencing was finished and they drove away. 20 minutes later another trucks pulled up and unloads an excavator. An electrical and plumber arrive to close off the site. Another empty truck arrives with two people. As soon as the excavator got the word from the plumber and electrician, he starts to demolish the house.

Dad and I were surprised on how quick the house was removed. A lot of it though did fall apart and Merlin did describe the bad lumber. Within 40 minutes it was down and carted away by the two trucks. The excavator dug into the ground and removed all scrubs and grass scraping away around 30cm of earth to expose the termite underground lairs. The council strip and three trees were included. Within an hour nothing was left other than a dirt ground. Even Merlin was surprised with their speed of work. He got another radio call “The exterminator is here to spray the ground and can we leave the house. Merlin said “Give us fifteen minutes, we will be gone for the night. We walked over to the site and saw the professional work complete. I was very happy.
Merlin said “Joe I promised all of the men six hours weekend pay if they concluded the work within three. Hope you don’t mind paying, anyway lets get away for the spraying. I did get permission for tree removal as well, you never know if ‘termites’ were present.”
I smiled “Bloody good work Father in law, don’t you agree Dad?”
Dad replied “Yes excellent work and thanks for letting me see it. Shall we join the ladies and spoil their night.” We all nodded. I drove to Coolie and we booked the table next to them. My mum saw us first and said loudly “Quiet ladies, our talking subjects have just arrived and are sitting on the next table to us!” The other ladies turned around and greeted us.

Raven asked “And what have you men be doing?”
My Dad replied “Nothing much, just watching some building work done very professionally.”
Mum replied “Typical, a nothing reply.” We all laughed and joined the tables together. As we had chicken for dinner and the ladies had their main course, we joined them for dessert and hot drinks.
Luna quietly asked “That house is gone?” I kissed her and whispered “Yes my love and all locked up with a security guard for the night. She kissed me in pleasure, so much so, our mums stated “Wait for home time kids?” We broke our kiss and laughed.

We found out the next morning, he did return home very drunk and tried to climb the fence. When he fell off the fencing, he tried to punch the security guard. Security called the police and he was taken away to the drunk tank to sober up. Then he was given the good news about being homeless. At least he had his clothes etc. The police did find him a hostel for old men in Southport.

Luna stayed with me this night and in the morning, we all went to the property to see last nights work. Signs were on the fence about the hazmat poison and not to enter together with the council notice to demolish. Two minutes after we arrived Luna’s parents arrived. We three men all looked through the fence at the excellent work and we could still smell the spray. Mum suddenly put the pieces together saying, “So this happened last night. I’m so happy he has gone together with that smelly old house and man.”
Luna said “Darling, my mum has not seen our beach house yet, should we show her now?”
My parents smiled as they had seen it together with Merlin. I took Raven across the road and showed her the seven houses, I said, “My beautiful Mother-in-law, see these seven homes, Luna and I do own them and six are rented out. Come inside and see our beach house. It will surprise you like it did to Luna and I. I held her hand and opened the front door.
We all entered and went upstairs, Raven just went “WOW”