Ryan waited anxiously at Drew’s place. He’d taken to sitting out near the pool, drinking beer and lapping up the sun – he might as well make the most of a bad situation. He’d sent out a text message to his friends over an hour ago. The message hadn’t been specific: “something’s happened – meet me at Drew’s ASAP.” Ryan figured it would be easier explaining the situation to everyone at once.

It wasn’t so much Drew’s not-so-mysterious disappearance that had made him anxious. It was the lack of response from the others. Not one person had messaged or called him, so he was left relying on the belief that they were loyal enough to not ask questions.

A small bird began flittering about near the pool. Ryan ditched his beer cap at it. It gave a feeble squawk and keeled over into the water.

“Oh, that’s right, just kill the native fauna,” Greg mused as he joined Ryan near the pool.

“I never meant to,” Ryan whined, got up and fished the now stiff bird from the pool.

“Hey, all things come in threes. Maybe you’ll kill two more things today,” Greg chuckled.

Ryan looked mortified by the suggestion.

“So what’s happened then?” Greg asked.

“Wait until the others get here,” Ryan replied and tossed the bird over the neighbours’ fence.

Wayne arrived next and looked bemusedly at Ryan and Greg who were now sprawled on banana lounges.

“Gee, and I thought it was an emergency,” he perked.

“Don’t look at me, it was his idea,” Greg chided.

“Get a beer and take a seat. I’ll explain when the others get here,” Ryan announced.

Wayne shrugged, helped himself to a beer and took a seat on a plastic pool chair.

Chip and Brad arrived together, both chuckling away at some private joke.

“Well isn’t this a nice social gathering,” Chip smiled.

“At Drew’s expense, I see,” Brad added and grabbed a beer.

“Trust me, Drew isn’t gonna care,” Ryan mumbled.

Chip and Brad looked at each other and shrugged.

Last to arrive was Colin, who marched straight over to Ryan.

“What’s happened?” he demanded. Before Ryan could get a word out, Colin peeped, “Oh my god, something’s happened to Drew, hasn’t it?”

Ryan sat up and looked at Colin strangely.

“Has something happened to Drew?” Brad asked.

Ryan let out a sigh and pulled the note out of his pocket. “He didn’t turn up for work today, and I found this on his fridge,” he said, handing the note to Colin.

The note got passed around, and one by one, they ended up speechless. It was Greg who eventually broke the silence.

“So what are we gonna do?” he asked.

“What do you think? We’re gonna have to go back to Australia and rescue him,” Ryan breathed.

“Oh nonono, my wife is still angry at me for last time,” Wayne announced.

“Well we can’t just leave him there,” Greg scorned.

“Just think what Ritza could be doing to him: knife wounds, knee capping, and that rat thing,” Chip shuddered.

“Oh that’s right, think positively,” Colin grumbled.

“Look, can we not argue?” Brad stated. “Let’s take a vote,” he added. Everyone nodded in agreement. “All in favor of going to Australia and saving Drew’s ass?” Brad asked.

Ryan, Colin, Greg, Chip and Brad himself raised their hands.

“All against?” Brad added.

Wayne raised his hand.

“Australia it is,” Brad beamed.

“You don’t have to go if you don’t want to,” Ryan said, turning to Wayne.

“If my wife doesn’t mind I’ll go, ok?” Wayne said seriously.

“No pressure,” Ryan lied.

“So when are we going to go?” Colin asked.

“ASAP. Greg, think you can book us a flight?” Ryan asked.

“Of course. I’ll work my charm,” Greg smiled.

Chip and Brad stifled laughs and copped daggers from Greg.

“Well then, I’m off the get blind drunk for the flight,” Ryan announced.

“Shouldn’t you wait until we have tickets?” Colin pointed out.

“Why wait?” Ryan grinned.

They all departed Drew’s and received the news several hours later that they were booked on the last flight out that night.