Dreamtime
Australia – Land of Dreamtime!
For Jessica, a dream was about to come true. “You only get such a chance once in a lifetime!” she thought. If not now, when? She was young, attractive, tough, and had power. Lots of power! Once Jessica set a goal, there was no stopping her. For years, she had saved every cent she could to realize her big dream: six months of work and travel in Australia. She wanted to get to know the country and its people, marvel at the majestic Ayers Rock, discover the stunning beaches of Fraser Island and the shimmering Lake McKenzie, explore the metropolises of Sydney and Brisbane, and, of course, dive at the Great Barrier Reef. Her curiosity drove her to travel the entire country and gather unforgettable impressions.
Four months ago, it was finally time. After a twenty-one-hour flight, Jessica landed in Perth, the vibrant metropolis in Western Australia. With a packed backpack and a well-filled travel fund, she dove into the adventure. She was hungry for new experiences, new encounters—and new men.
Jessica was single again. Her boyfriend had broken up with her over three quarters of a year ago. Even if she didn’t want to admit it, she longed for a strong shoulder to lean on. It was her twenty-third birthday when she boarded a train toward Sydney. There weren’t many well-wishers that day, and so Jessica pondered what she would do if she received a clear offer at Bondi Beach.
Jessica wasn’t one to mope. If an opportunity presented itself, she’d seize it. But she was picky. He had to look good, have a sporty physique, and preferably an impressive six-pack! Muscular upper arms and broad shoulders were also not to be despised. It was particularly important to her that he was perfectly groomed—everywhere. A man who neglected his appearance had no chance with her, and dirty fingernails were as off-putting to her as a hairy back, chest hair, or any other hair that reminded her of a monkey! In other words, she was looking for a man who captivated her with his appearance. If this dream man also had an impressive bank account, she could well imagine leaving her familiar environment behind and moving to Australia.
“If you seek, you shall find!”
Jessica was sitting in a small café on Darling Harbor, fumbling for change in her wallet to pay for her cappuccino. She licked the milk froth off her lips with pleasure. She had been traveling across Australia for over three months now and had experienced a lot. But all these experiences had taken a toll—her travel budget had now shrunk considerably. The ‘travel’ part had gone well, but what about the ‘work’? So far, Jessica had indulged in the pleasant aspects and joys of this trip. But given her dwindling funds, she now had to think about how to replenish her money. She leaned back and let the last warming rays of the day sunbathe her face. Nevertheless, the worry lines on her forehead were obvious.
“When I pay for this sinfully expensive cappuccino, I’ll have barely five hundred dollars left. Ten more nights in the hostel in Sydney will cost another hundredeighty dollars…” she calculated silently. Her biggest dream was to dive at the Great Barrier Reef. Under no circumstances did she want to leave Australia without exploring this colorful underwater world.
“You can earn good money picking fruit in Queensland,” said other backpackers. So why not combine the pleasant with the useful and make a stopover in Brisbane? She liked the thought of spending a little time outdoors in the fresh air after all the city. “A field full of aromatic, perfectly ripe pineapples, and I can pick them! On weekends, I’ll take a trip to the Gold Coast, soak up the sun on the endless sandy beaches, or surf a bit. This way, I can improve my travel fund and have fun at the same time!” At least that’s what she thought.
Just two days later, she found herself in the stuffy office of a pineapple farmer near Brisbane. Colorful advertising posters covered the walls, proclaiming “RC Pineapples,” featuring laughing plantation workers proudly presenting harvest-ripe pineapples. On the desk, there was a simple holder with an engraved metal plate reading “Richard Connelly – Director RC Pineapples.” There was no doubt about who was in charge. Behind it sat a corpulent older gentleman with horn-rimmed glasses, who wordlessly slid Jessica her employment contract across the table.
“Sixteen dollars an hour? That’s not even the legal minimum wage!” Jessica complained as she skimmed through the employment contract.
“You’re a woman. You’re weak. This is work for real men. There’s nothing more for you.”
“But by law, I’m entitled to at least twenty-four dollars an hour!”
“And I am passionate about pineapples. I need workers who can handle it. Eighteen at most.”
“Twenty-two!”
“I like you, young lady. I’ll give you twenty. That’s my final offer. If you don’t agree, you can leave!”
“Twenty-two, or you can let your pineapples rot on the vine!”
Richard Connelly frowned and looked sharply at Jessica. He had never had such a tough negotiator across from him before. Even if he didn’t show it, he liked how Jessica wasn’t intimidated by him and stood her ground. He could use people like her on his farm.
“Fine!” he agreed. “Twenty-two dollars an hour. You are a stubborn negotiator, young lady!”
While Jessica signed her employment contract, Richard Connelly casually lit a cigar, the smoke of which the fan evenly distributed across the office ceiling.
“You know, I would have given you twenty-four!” said Richard Connelly, blowing a thick cloud of smoke at Jessica.
“And I would have done it for eighteen!” Jessica replied coldly without showing any emotion. After all, she desperately needed the money to avoid ending her Australian dream prematurely. At that moment, a farm worker stepped into Richard Connelly’s office. His worn leather hat reminded Jessica involuntarily of Crocodile Dundee. He had probably been standing outside the entire time and heard every word of the negotiation.
“This is Bob,” Richard Connelly continued, nodding at the farm worker, “he’ll show you to your room and explain what you need to do tomorrow.” As the farm worker approached, Jessica caught a whiff of musk mixed with a good pinch of men’s sweat, which at first was intense but remained pleasantly subtle. When she looked at Bob, she immediately noticed his dirty shirt and worn-out jeans, which probably came from his long working day. Despite his unkempt appearance, she couldn’t ignore the sight of his muscle-packed upper arms, which bulged out of the fabric of his shirt with every movement. His short, light brown hair gave him a dynamic look, and behind the rough exterior, she sensed a certain warmth. It was this mixture of strength and earthiness that fascinated her. She noticed herself giving him a smile—without really intending to. When their eyes met for the first time, he paused briefly and wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. His eyes looked at her first with surprise, then with a mischievous wink. His feelings from their initial distant acquaintance still confused him, and he wasn’t sure what impression he had left on her. She carefully shook his hand, which he offered her with a friendly smile. With gentle but firm pressure, Jessica returned his greeting, which unconsciously led to another subtle bead of sweat on his forehead.
“Hello, I’m Bob. Are you the new one?”
“Yes,” Jessica replied a bit shyly. She still couldn’t escape the fascination that Bob had. “I’m Jessica and I’ll be helping with the pineapple harvest for the next three weeks.”
“Then come on, I’ll show you your accommodation!”
Jessica rose from her chair, slung her bag over her shoulder, and followed Bob, while Richard Connelly, pleased to have saved a few dollars, continued to fill the air of his office with thick clouds of smoke.
Bob led Jessica across the farmyard to an outbuilding where the seasonal workers were housed. “You’re in luck, miss!” Bob called out as he pushed down one of the worn-out door handles, “you get the single apartment!”
Jessica felt a bit uneasy as she entered the shabby little room. The simple furnishings were mismatched and had seen better days. Mold crept up the corners of the walls, spreading a slightly musty smell.
“The bathroom is down the hall, right next to the kitchen. Work starts at six tomorrow.”
“You’ll pick me up here at six?”
“No. Work on the plantation starts at six. It’s still pleasantly cool then. I’ll pick you up shortly after five!”
“That early?”
“You get a three-hour break at noon. Then we work until early evening. We’ll be back here by six PM. And if I can give you a tip: be on time! If the boss finds out you’re late, he’ll dock your pay!”
“Then I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“Go to bed early. Tomorrow will be a hard day for you. If you’re not up in time, I’ll drag you out of bed!”
With a heavy sigh, Bob bid farewell to Jessica, who lay sprawled on the squeaky metal bed. It was little more than a rusted frame with a flimsy mattress, but the thought of Bob picking her up from here tomorrow brought her a small comfort.
Jessica collapsed back onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling, once white but now mottled with brown stains. As soon as Bob’s footsteps faded, her mood shifted dramatically. “I’ve walked right into a nightmare,” she muttered. “That old bastard played me for a fool! He knows I need money desperately and he’s taking full advantage of my situation.”
“Yeah, old Richard is a real piece of work,” a voice echoed through the open door of her room. “Consider yourself lucky to have a room to yourself. The guys sleep four to a room, and someone’s always snoring!”
Jessica slowly sat up and glanced towards the door, where several seasonal workers peered in curiously, eager to see the newcomer.
“Is there WiFi here?” Jessica asked.
“There’s pineapple here, and that’s about it!” one of the workers replied with a laugh. Jessica’s long brown hair and tight jeans had clearly made an impression, even among these rough sorts. Women were a rare sight around here. “If you want free WiFi, you’ll have to go to McDonnells. Just follow the road, take the second left, and you’ll see the golden arches.”
“Thanks, guys.”
Frustrated, Jessica grabbed her phone and headed towards McDonnells, determined to send an email to her family back home. She wanted to assure them that she was near Brisbane, everything was fine, and they needn’t worry. As she left the farm and stepped onto the road, a secret thrill fluttered within her at the thought of Bob coming back for her the next morning...
