Summary

“Laugh, Kookaburra” - The author describes an argument he had with his father over what, exactly, he (the author) has done on his trips to Australia, eventually choosing to give in rather than embarrass the family members also present. The author then describes a particular experience on his most recent Australian trip, where he was guided by a woman named Pat whom he had originally met in Paris. While showing him and Hugh around, Pat spoke about her belief that people needed to cut off parts of themselves ( such as family, friends, health, or work) in order to find success in other areas (for her it was her alcoholic, abusive family that she needed to cut herself off from in order to experience professional success); and who then took them to a prestigious restaurant, where the author has a startling encounter with the...