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It was a standing joke that living in the same neighbourhood had made them friends, as most people agreed that there was little else that they seemed to have in common. At social gatherings, it seemed obvious that there were few things that they could, or would, agree upon. Dan was a sports-loving, laid-back carpenter who enjoyed few things better than a cold beer, BBQ and watching his team play live at the local stadium. Paul was a section leader in the local council whose idea of relaxation was taking treks through the bush, preferably for days at a time.

Their first meeting was more like an encounter. Dan and his family had bought the house which backed onto Paul’s property, and they shared a common boundary. They’d moved in at the start of summer, and within hours the back fence had become the backdrop for an impromptu cricket match. This had been Dan’s idea, a way to keep the kids outside and stop them from getting in the way of the removalists. After being trapped in a car for a few hours on the drive down the coast, the three kids were full of noise and energy, which only increased when Dan came out to referee for a few minutes. This had been at the suggestion of Nessa, his wife.

As the game became louder and sillier, the shots grew wilder. Within minutes, the three balls had all been slogged over the fence. Dan tipped an empty nearby bin on its side and used it to hoist himself over the fence. He’d looked about before dropping onto the other side, wary of dogs. But it wasn’t a dog that waited for him. It was Paul, standing there with the three balls in his left hand.

Dan sized him up and gave him a grin. He introduced himself, apologised for the intrusion, and asked Paul if he’d like to bring his family around for a barbie that night. Paul had taken a step back, frowning. He’d been prepared to return the balls, perhaps with a firm suggestion that more care be taken in future, but hadn’t considered the possibility of someone landing in his yard unannounced.

But, much to his surprise, he found himself grinning back and shaking Dan’s outstretched hand. Within minutes, they’d agreed on a time and Paul gave Dan a leg up, so he could return to the cricket match. With a ‘thanks mate!’ Dan was on his way, and Paul headed inside to explain to his wife that there was a change of plan, and that instead of their usual Friday night routine, they’d been invited to dinner.

Over the years, Paul and Dan developed a habit of hovering near the back fence when they needed to talk something through. They could always rely on a different perspective from each other, which was usually what was needed, even if it was hard to hear sometimes.

This piece was written to a prompt on the Writer’s Digest website. Unlikely Friends: sometimes people who don’t seem like they should get along can make the very best of friends.

Photo: neighbourhood mural spotted at Ashfield, NSW