I probably should have said this by now - the Herald Sun is a real newspaper (as is the Age). I deliberately didn't research who was the football editor in 1996, so my character of Browny wouldn't be based on anyone specific.

Thanks,

Corrina.

It's interesting how central footy is to Melbourne and not to the rest of the country. I would have thought it was more like the NFL--spread throughout the country. That definitely helps an outsider like me understand what's going on.

As for the story itself...so, the character of Mayson is basically our Mayson + our Lois' investigative skills + a lack of conscience. Yikes! Keep her away from Clark!!!

I love how Martha knows right away that her boy has fallen hard.

I look forward to seeing more interaction between Lois and Clark...any chance of them being stranded somewhere together?

australian footy is so wierd.

and mayson - even worse here than she is in the series! she did bug me, in that she didn't like superman, but at least there she was principled...yikes

now, can we have clark talk to lois about important stuff? like 'rubber' and uhm, dan?

And why do they call him Rubber? My guess is that he strikes them as so well-groomed and meticulous that he might as well be a rubber doll.



Clark Kent?

Gaaahh! Clark, you sure needed to get away from Metropolis if you found yourself in such bad company there!

Yeeech! Clark Kent as a fugitive, hiding behind his third identity!

Well put. I so love that Clark Kent, awesome superpowered guy, is so modest.

And I love how Martha put that! And we know that Lois is definitely up to the job!

You described another love in this chapter, the love that footy fans in Victoria feel for their clubs:

When you said this, I thought of what you said in your comment to my FDK for part 3 of your fic:

Well, no. American isn't "about to hit Sweden". Because there won't be much of an impact.

American football is already played in Sweden. We have a team in my hometown of Malmö, called the Limhamn Griffins. They play their matches at the Hästhagens IP, close to where I live:

Hästhagens IP

I cycle past this playing field every day on my way to work. Occasionally there is a game of American football going on. As you can see, there isn't room for a lot of spectators.

Sweden has a national team, too. Here they are playing against the Danish national team. As you can see, the Swedish players don't even wear the same style helmets. I believe the match was played at Hästhagens IP. Who won? I think Sweden did, but really, since so few people care the result probably made page seven in the sports section.
American football. Sweden vs. Denmark

Why are some sports so incredibly popular in some countries and regions, and so forgotten and ignored in other countries and regions? I think it is all a question about local traditions. Do you see this sport a lot on TV where you live? Do the newspapers write a lot about it? Are you expected to know the names of the best players? Will little kiddies wear kiddie versions of the best player's jerseys (or shirts, or whatever they are called)? Are people encouraged to consider their support of a certain team an important part of their identity? Will "ladies' magazines" write about the best players' marriages and love affairs? If the answers are yes, yes, yes, yes and yes, then the sport will be extremely well-loved in the part of the world where it gets this much attention.

In Sweden people tend to be passionate about soccer, if they are passionate about a sport at all. These are the entusiastic fans of the soccer team of Malmö, MFF:



It's strange that people can feel so much for a team, or maybe it isn't strange at all.

And Lois's team is in danger of being relocated and "lost". Something tells me that Lois will help save her team. And maybe she will save Clark from Mayson, too?

Ann

Interesting ...it leaves me wanting more.

Melbourne & Perth are in the same footy league but they are across the country?
Melbourne, AS 144.9667
-37.8167
Perth, AS 115.8333
-31.9333
Miles: 1692.03
Kilometers: 2722.99
Bearing: NW
I guess that's similar to the American Football League and the National Football League in the US, but we also have major cities in between. There's not much between Melbourne & Perth.
I'm only curious because my cousin would barrack for the Eagles.
Anyway, great story going on here. So Mayson is like a pit bull on a pant leg and is a journalist for the Daily Planet and doesn't trust Superman as in LnC canon. Great piece of plotting!
I'm anticipating seeing Superman in skies in Australia! It would be interesting if he took up residence there.
Keep it coming!

Artemis
P.S. I'm curious about "Rubber" too. My mother-in-law always called her rain boots "rubbers". Very midwest of her but we couldn't keep from snickering.

All right. I had been planning to leave my public speculations about "Rubber" until the real explanation is posted. I was afraid of possibly ruining a story surprise. But since others are speculating, and since I know from a private e-mail exchange with Corrina that my guesses are wrong, I'll post them here. If you don't want to be spoiled by incorrect guessed, please skip the rest of this post.

My two ideas were:

1) A "rubber" in Great Britain refers to what we in the U.S. would call an eraser. Guessing that it may have the same meaning in Oz, I speculated that it was a nickname disparaging Clark's writing skills - that it implied he made a lot of mistakes that had to be erased.

2) Rubber is a very flexible material. My second guess was that it was intended as a tribute to Clark's flexibility in being willing to fly half-way around the world at a moment's notice to cover a sport about which he knew nothing but was willing to learn.

I am really looking forward to finding out the actual origin of "Rubber" as Clark's nickname.

Kudos on another excellent story part. You really captured Clark's relationship with his mother. I've always loved that although he is a highly respected journalist at a world-class newspaper, and his alter-ego is, as you put it, idolised as some sort of a god, nevertheless to Martha and Jonathon he is just their little boy grown up, albeit an incredibly precious and special son.

cheers,
Lynn

Another great part!

And I cannot wait to find out the meaning of "Rubber".

Looking forward to more

Eww, Mayson sounds like a real charm. And she's a reporter, too? Say, is the Preston Carpenter of this alt-world named Lex?

So, did it go something like this: "I would love to have dinner with you. It's just, I need to return a book tonight. So, rain check?" Or maybe: "I'm not sure I'm the man for you. You see, Ralph over there-" "What? Are you suggesting that I and Ralph...?" "No, no, Mayson. It's just... Did you notice his bald spot. They say, men with a bald spot are particularly... Well, I really hope that he and I..."

The whole club-situation is dizzying. And sounds really weird, for it to happen this late in the game. And how can someone order a club to relocate?

Anyway, am hoping you get the writing part of this piece done soon because now I'm up to speed and waiting for 3 days is going to be really not fun.

Michael

Queen of Aces

Historically Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania played Aussie Rules.

New South Wales and Queensland played Rugby League.

However, it was/is Victoria (Melbourne) where Aussie Rules was/is most popular.

Mayson - good description.

I did!! I took him all the way to Melbourne to get him away from her!

Stranded together - stranded? Not really. Together? Definitely.

Thanks!

Sarah Mayson - I see her as an extreme form of Lois - so determined to get the story, she is willing to completely abandon her ethics when necessary. Also her suspicious mind extends to Superman, which Lois's never did.

Clark will talk to Lois about Rubber in Part 5.

Thanks, Sarah.

Ann Your explanation for Rubber is more creative than mine! Lynn's are too!

Metropolis without Lois Lane ... no wonder Clark was willing to leave for three months.


I didn't mean to imply another identity - just that he felt he needed to go somewhere for a completely new start.


All that blue in the pic of the soccer fans!

I thought people from Sweden loved tennis as a sport too. They certainly do well at it.

Thank you for that comment. One of my concerns in this fic is the difficulty in portraying the depth and intensity of love for a football team. I mean, if I write that Clark Kent walks into a room, meets Lois Lane, and immediately falls in love with her, no one in FoLCdom is going to question that. If I write that Lois Lane makes certain big decisions based on her love for an Australian football club, that is going to be harder to sell. Your comment makes me hopeful that it is coming across OK. Thanks.

Seme It's always great when a reader wants more. Thanks.

Artemis Yes, since 1987, there's been a WA team in the AFL. The flight takes about five hours.

Thanks for the comments re Mayson. With so much non-LnC (football), I tried to bring in canon characters, even if I've changed their roles a little.

Australians call rain boots 'gum boots'! Your comment is not completely off track.

Lynn Thanks, Lynn. I like both of your explanations. Alas, mine is a lot simpler.

Great description of Clark's relationship with his parents.

DW Explanation for Rubber coming in part 5.

Thanks.

Michael

If you have no money and have to rely on the AFL (administrators) to pay your debts, they can tell you to do anything. Of course they can sugar-coat it with concessions and freebies so it looks like a win-win deal.

Thanks, Michael.


I've put a list of AFL clubs in the TOC folder. You can refer there if/when you find that helpful.

Thanks everyone. Part 5 is big. I've tried to find somewhere to put in a chapter break, but there isn't anywhere suitable. There is a small chance you will get it Friday night. Most likely scenario is Sunday night.


Corrina.

I finally got a chance to read this chapter and I LOVED the scene with Martha! It struck me as poetic--you could feel Clark's love for her, and hers for him. I am wondering how long it will be before Martha will somehow get a chance to meet Lois, even though she's on the other side of the world.

Loving your story as a fellow Melburnian. I'm a long time lurker decloaking briefly - some oldies may possibly remember me. Clark and Rubber - very clever (she adds knowingly)!!
Oh and Go Bombers.

cookiesmom Thanks for you FDK. I'm glad you liked the scene with Clark and Martha. It's a great relationship to write.

As for Martha meeting Lois ... that seems entirely possible, given Clark's abilities!

Aussie T Thanks for decloaking I'm really pleased you're enjoying the fic.

Thanks also for not blowing the secret as to why Clark is Rubber. It will be revealed in Part 5.

Speaking of part 5 - I have a lot to do in RL today, but should be able to post it this evening.

Corrina.

Clark and Rubber.... ah, I've just cottoned on! Nice one!

Okay, I get it too!



Ann