Astrid had decided that the Croft was literally the coolest place ever.
Whilst it was tucked away in the middle of Hobart's central business district, the dining area was expansive and comfortable, set out on a split level to account for the slope on which it was situated. The top level was all tables and couches, framed overhead by high pergolas covered in lush creepers and beautiful outdoor plants hanging from wooden rafters. On every side, the food vendors, vintners and microbrewers purveyed their wares. Down the stair on the lower level, the vendors were more sparse, but there was oodles of space to relax, interact and enjoy the relaxed inner city vibe. In June, there was a beautiful, cold, winter atmosphere to enjoy. Beanbags, pillows, firepits and outdoor gas heaters were dotted all over the place, and a high transparent roof cladding a giant structure of steel girders protected patrons from the elements. Down one end was a vast outdoor chessboard, a petanque piste, and a Kuub board.
It was on the lower level that they set up camp. On arrival, Astrid felt thrilled, but somewhat claustrophobic, and weary after a long day. She wasn't in the mood for a vast amount of stimulation, but there were people moving everywhere. Uncle Tom weaved ahead of them in between the crowds - her and Xavier stayed right behind him as he forged ahead, pushing his way between all of the bodies. He found them a spot down one end of a long table near a heater. Another group was sitting at the other half of the table, but Tom checked in with them, and a kind-looking lady gestured invitingly, encouraging them to settle in.
'Excellent,' Tom declared, settling into his seat next to Xavier, with Astrid opposite. 'Now for some food. What do we want?'
'Do they have pizza?' Xavier asked.
'They do, my friend,' Tom pointed back through the crowd towards a sign advertising woodfired pizza. 'You, Astrid?'
'Mmmm, yes!' she said. 'Pizza would do me just fine.'
'Right,' Tom said. 'Give me a minute. You want to come with me, Xave?'
Astrid guarded the table whilst the men went up to order. She reached into her shoulderbag and pulled Dune out. Leaning forward, resting her arms on the table, under the warmth of the gas heater she began to read.
She was reading the part of the story where Paul Atreides and his mother were running into the desert, pursued by the Harkonnens, the Sardaukar, still wary of the desert Fremen. Her mind was transported away from the noise and bustle around her, now absorbed by her subconscious, her attention fully occupied with the words leaping off the page, shaping her conception.
Your father lies dead in the ruins of Arrakeen...
'Astrid, fancy meeting you here.'
Sucked away from the sands of Arrakis, Astrid's mind momentarily struggled to focus on the real world. Looking up, she recognised the speaker as Micah van Lijden, a boy from her school. Standing next to her was another one of her classmates, Angus Thorn.
'Oh, hi there, Micah,' Astrid responded, taking the opportunity to consciously smile at them. Typically, Micah and Angus didn't speak to Astrid or her group of friends at school - they moved in very different circles. Micah and his mates were sports fanatics - they tended to play basketball in the gym at lunchtime. Astrid's girlfriends commonly referred to them as the 'god-boys,' because they all went to churches in the local area. Astrid herself was judicious with that phrase, because her best friend Liz went to church with her mum every so often. But it was a universally accepted fact amongst her friends that most of the god-boys were 'cute'. Astrid didn't quite feel the truth of that statement at times - she hadn't yet been designated boy-crazy, but she was happy enough to accept what her friends said. Ruby, her mum, mockingly described this phenomenon as 'attraction by consensus' - a world in which girls found boys attractive because their friends declared it to be the case.
