The Prawn King

Truth be told– The Prawn King should not, strictly speaking, be categorised as a religious organisation, but last night’s oysters were a religious experience and I can’t find ‘Autocratic Shellfish Supplier’ as a Unilocal category.
Typically, I left everything ’till it was too late. Decided on Dec 31 that it would be nice to have some oysters on the deck for NYE, had a bottle of French bubbles and a bottle of Giaconda Estate Chardonnay 2010… but no oysters.
For years I have been meaning to ring this guy because I always see his sign on Mona Vale Rd, and I had checked out his web site many times. Naturally the message machine relayed a polite but firm rebuff — ‘cant help till the new year, busy etc…’ just as I feared, the beneficent crustacean sovereign could not be reached. The website was just as barren, my fault, why do I always leave things to the last minute?
So I’m in Avalon with Keeno and GHB when what should I spy but the Prawn King truck at the grog shop! Staked it out like a ninja in a tree, guy comes back and I pounce!
«Hand over some fresh oysters !!!» …I thought silently to myself
«Excuse me Your Majesty — if its not an imposition, would you, by any remote chance have any spare oysters that I could buy… at wildly inflated prices to factor my temerity… please… at all??» I actually said.
‘No problem’ replies the good monarch, ‘I have to hurry, I have a wedding this arvo and my Dads 80^th tomorrow but I have a couple of dozen spare fresh today, $ 34 for two doz’
«Done — my liege!» I spluttered.
What a way to finish 2013! Beautiful plump creamy Sydney Rock oysters and a placid evening at Billy with Keeno, Steve my BIL, GHB, and Gladys Kravitz the wonder dog.
The Prawn King is a resolute perfectionist who delivers/​supplies fresh prawns and oysters to the northern beaches but only if the quality is excellent. His prices are fair, and he is able to appear just when all hope is lost. Just like a good king should. Or superman.
I really hope your Dad’s 80^th goes off like a new years eve fire cracker your royal prawness.
Your loyal subject,
Andrew O