Westpoint Tales - Entangled Tales, 87 - Jinks & Toddy

(Jinks' House)

(Toddy's House) (Hey Lloyd!)

The school year began and summer rolled on, long, hot, lazy days. On Wednesday Jinks was late for school. It was Barney's fault, sort of. It was their usual habit to meet at the corner of Cobham and Romney Streets, they'd done that every morning for years now, every school morning. But on this day, Barney didn't show up.

Jinks stood waiting for him and catching up on a bit of overdue reading of his English novel. Standing in the warm sunshine and engrossed in the book, he forgot the time. When he snapped out of it and checked his watch, it was after 9 o'clock. There was still no sign of Toddy, so he hurried off to school alone.

He was late already. Buggerit. He hated being late. Where was Toddy then? He was never late either. He couldn't be sick? No. Barney was never sick. Jinks was occasionally, but Toddy never was. He was disgustingly healthy really. Jinks couldn't remember him ever being sick. The worst he ever got was a cold, or a hangover. He'd never missed a day of school in his life, apart from wagging occasionally and they hadn't done that in ages.

He got through the locker room in a hurry, so that was a bonus. There was no-one there, but he was already late. He got a dirty look from the teacher when he quietly slunk into his first class. But that was all, so that was okay. He'd be out of here soon enough anyway. Toddy was not there. Where the hell could he be?

On the way to his next class, he caught up to the Guitar Man, he might know something. He and Toddy weren't doing it anymore, but they were still friends, and he and Tones lived just across the road from Toddy. Daniel hadn't heard from Toddy, or seen him around. Perhaps he was sick?

Going into the classroom, Jinks noticed a small group of girls standing around, whispering and giggling. They all shut up and stared at him as he walked past, then they started whispering again. What was that about?

At recess, Jinks was standing outside talking to Jonathan and Lana, when two girls came past - Linda Deans and Alison Martin - nasty little baggages, the pair of them.

"Hiiiii Jiiiinks," Alison sang at him. "Where's your friend today?"

"Toddy, you mean? I dunno. I haven't seen him today."

"Oh well. Perhaps he's got the rags in then?" They both laughed and walked away giggling.

"What the hell?" Jinks wondered aloud. "Bloody girls, they're all mad."

"Well, thank you very much, Mr. Jenkins," said Lana. "I'm a girl too you know."

"Yeah. Sure you are, Lana. Maybe not every girl's crazy but those two are."

"I wouldn't argue with that. You haven't heard from Toddy then?"

"No, not a word. I don't know where he is. Toddy's never sick."

"Maybe he's in hiding then."

"What would he be hiding for? Do you know something I don't, Lana?"

"I know lots of things that you don't, Jinks. But, yeah, there's a story going around that Toddy is another gayboy."

"Well that's old news. He's not anyway. A bit "bi" maybe, but definitely not gay."

"That's not what Sherry's saying."

"Sherry? Sherry Coombs? But she's Toddy's girl."

"Was his girl. It's all off again apparently."

The bell rang and Lana looked around. "Uh oh, gotta go. C'mon, Jonathan."

"Lana, wait up. Is Sherry saying that Toddy's gay? What would she say that for?"

"I don't know, Jinks. That's all I heard. You'd better ask her yourself. See you."

"Yeah, I will. Later Lana - Jonathan."

He looked for Sherry at lunchtime, but couldn't find her anywhere. Then, after school, he saw her over by the buses talking to David Jackson, and fluttering her false eyelashes at him. Jinks waited until Jackson got on his bus, then walked over to tackle Sherry.

"Hey Sherry."

"Hi Jinks."

"Do you know what's up with Toddy? He hasn't been in school all day."

"Well I'm sure I don't know, Jinks. He's your boyfriend not mine."

("What??') "I don't know what you mean, Sherry. Toddy's not my boyfriend, we're just friends. Toddy's not gay."

"You think ? Could've bloody fooled me."

"Toddy's not gay - he isn't. I would know, wouldn't I?"

"Oh Jinks. You're a sweet thing, you really are. Trust me. Your friend's gay and he's got the hots for you. I think that he might even be in love with you."

"No. He's been dating you, not me. Toddy really likes you, Sherry."

"Aww, crap Jinks. We were dating, yes, but his mind's never off you - you're all he bloody talks about. "Jinks says this, Jinks says that." It was like dating two people, for both of us, I think. And, as for the sex - forget it. He's a soft cock and when he does get it up, it's just wham-bam-thank you ma'am, like something he had to do and get it over with. No, he's just not into it. Toddy's gay at heart. I can do better than that.Hell, Jinks, you're better than that."

('If only you knew.') "I, umm, I don't know what to say, Sherry. I'm just his friend, his oldest friend. We've been friends forever - hell, we used to share a play-pen."

"Well maybe that's how you see it, Jinks. I'd watch my arse if I was you. Anyway - look at the Guitar Man and Tones, they were friends from babies too, and look at them now. They're sharing more than a play-pen now aren't they ?"

"Yeah. Maybe. I don't know. Well, thanks Sherry. I'd better go and sort this out I suppose."

"You do that, Jinks, but keep your back to the wall - unless you're interested too of course."

"Fuck, Sherry. You kiss your mother with that mouth?"

"Among others, yeah," she grinned. "Catch you later, Jinks."

"Yeah. Later Sherry." Jinks shuddered as he walked away. What a slapper. No wonder Toddy wasn't into it, but that didn't mean he was gay, did it? The Golden Boy couldn't really be in love with him, could he? No. Not in this world.

He left the school, feeling really bemused and he walked the couple of blocks around to the Todd's house. He was really nervous too, that was stupid, he'd been there a million times before.
Grant Todd and John Peters were outside in the street, throwing a ball backwards and forwards, playing piggy-in-the-middle with Toddy's younger sister. Appropiate really. Mavis Todd was out the back, unpegging and folding washing from the clothesline.

"Hey, Mrs. Todd. Barney here?"

"Oh, Hi Jinks. Yes, he's in his room, claims that he's sick. He's got the bloody door locked again. Kick it down if you have to."

"Okay. Thanks Mrs. Todd." He went inside and knocked on Toddy's bedroom door.

There was no reply, so he tried the handle. Sure enough, it was locked, so he knocked again and called out. "Toddy, it's me - Jinks. C'mon Toddy, open the door."

Still no reply, so he knocked loudly. "You awake Toddy? C'mon Barney, let me in!"

No reply. He kept banging. "Toddy! You must be awake by now. Open the door. Don't do this to me. Well, bugger you then, Barney Todd. I'm going now, I'm going home. Ah, Dammit Toddy!"

He walked away, defeated. On the way out he passed Mavis out the back"No joy then, Jinks? I don't know what's up with him. He's been in there all day."

"He won't even talk to me. Stuff him anyway. If he comes out, Mrs. Todd, would you tell him that I want to see him. I'll be around at the course with the horses for a couple of hours. Tell him to ring me, I've got my cell."

"Sure, Jinks. I'll tell him that, if we see him."

"Okay. Thanks Mrs. Todd. Later."

"Yes, "later", Jinks."

He went around to the racecourse to work the horses for a couple of hours. While riding around in the sulkey, he tried ringing Toddy's cellphone. It was switched off, of course. He thought about leaving a text, but decided, "Bugger'im. I've been crawling to Toddy all my life. Well I'm not any more, he can bloody come to me. Bugger'im, I've got other friends. (Not like him though.)"

Jinks had a sleepless night, tossing and turning. (Not like that!) He lay there staring and glaring at the cellphone beside him. He was worried, what was up with Toddy? He was pissed too. How dare he just not talk to him. He'd never done that before. Something must be wrong.

Well, it was about time this worm turned. No more crawling, Barney Bloody Todd. They could go on like this forever.

Next morning he was standing back at their corner, waiting. He was tired and grumpy now. Barney Todd was going to get a piece of his mind when he saw him. If he saw him. Nine o'clock came and went and there was still no sign of Toddy. "Fuckim."

He headed off for school, late again, but then decided. "No. Buggerit. He's not doing this again."

He turned and stalked angrily back to the Todd's house. Mavis was out the back, hanging out washing again. ('How many clothes do they go through, anyway?')

"Hi Jinks. Back again. He's still in there. What's going on, Kevin? Do you know what's up with Barney?"

"No, I don't, Mrs. Todd. But I'm bloody going to find out."

"Good for you, Jinks. Smash his door down if you have to. I mean that, I don't like him having a lock on his door anyway."

He went in and knocked on the door. "Toddy? I'm back - Jinks - let me in Toddy, I want to see you."

There was no reply. He didn't really expect one. He knocked again, loudly. "Open the door, Toddy!"

Still no reply, and he got really mad now. Banging on the door, he yelled. "Is this all sixteen years means to you? Sixteen fucking years, Man. You open this fucking door, Barney Todd!"

He stood back and glared at the door, willing it to open. He could break it down, get the axe and smash it open. Mavis said that he could. But, no. Fuckim. He didn't need this. He could stay in there and rot.

"Go to hell, Todd!"

Jinks turned to walk away, but then he heard a 'click', and the bedroom door opened. He stopped, turned back, and nudged it open just in time to see Toddy climbing back into his bed.

Barney looked over at the doorway. "Well? It's open. You coming in then?"

"I don't know if I want to now. What did you lock me out for?"

"C'mon Jinks. It's not just you, I don't want to see anybody."

"It's a waste of my time being here then, isn't it? I'm going to school."

"Jinks. Jinks, don't go. Come in, we've got to talk. Come and sit down, Jinks."

Still pissed, he glared at him, then sighed. "What's the magic word then?"

"The old magic word? Please. Please Jinks, come and talk to me."

Jinks came in, leaving the door open, and sat on the end of the bed.Toddy gave him a small, sad smile. "Sixteen years, Man."

"Yeah, sixteen years."

"It's a long time."

"It's a bloody long time."

"When did you get to be so bossy?"

"Maybe I should have a long time ago."

"Yeah, maybe you should have."

They sat in silence for a couple of minutes, Jinks looking at the floor, Toddy looking at the ceiling. Where to start this?

Finally, Toddy said, shyly, "What did you want to see me for?"

"I...umm...I was worried. What do you want to talk about?"

"I don't really, but we have to - about us."

"Us?"

They were interrupted by Mavis coming in and handing them both mugs of coffee.

"Sugar, no milk, that's right isn't it, Jinks?"

She leant over and flicked the drapes open. "About time you surfaced, Sonny Boy. Well done, Jinks, thank you. I want that lock gone from the door, Barney."

"Aw, Damn Mum, I need some privacy."

"You always do, Barney. You want some breakfast? Have you eaten, Jinks?"

"Yeah, thanks Mrs. Todd."

"No. Mum, look, bugger off. We've got to talk."

"Okay, I'm going. Teenage dramas eh? I remember them well. Well, I've got to go uptown anyway. Feed yourself when you're hungry. See you later, Guys. Thanks again, Jinks."

When she'd gone. "She likes you, Jinks."

"She loves you, Toddy."

"Yeah, of course she does. That's her job. I'm pleased that someone does though. What're they saying about me at school?"

"They're saying, 'Where the hell is Barney Todd? Why isn't he at school?"

"Is that all? What about Sherry?"

"What about Sherry? I don't know why you ever bothered with her, Toddy. You're way too good for Sherry Coombs. She's been through half the bloody school already. I think she's got her hooks into David Jackson now."

"That didn't take long. David Jackson eh? Poor bugger. But what has Sherry been saying about me? She said she was going to."

"I don't know if you want to hear it."

"Ah, shit, Jinks. What has she been saying?"

"It's all over school by now. She says that you're gay and that you've got the hots for me."
"Ah, Shit!" He lifted the sheet up to hide his head. "Big mouth Bitch!"

"Come on, Toddy. It's not that bad. Everyone knows that Sherry's a big drama queen, and a slapper. Even if it was true, so what?"

"So what?" He dropped the sheet to look Jinks in the eye. "I'll tell you so what. It is true, Jinks. That's so what. I'm gay and I'm in love with my best friend. There, I've said it." He lay back on the pillows.

"You're not gay, Toddy."

"I think I'd know, Jinks. I'm gay all right. Ask Daniel. Ask Tones."

"Yeah well, lots of people fool around. What about Sherry then?"

"What about her? That was fooling around, I was just putting on an act, Iknow that now. I'm definitely gay, Jinks, and ...."

He reached for the framed photograph on his bedside cabinet and laid it down on the bed between them. Jinks looked down and saw that it was a photo of the two of them together, taken years ago - two tanned, blond boys, arms around each other's shoulders, shirtless and smiling at the camera. He had a copy of the same photo, in an album not beside his bed.

"That's us," he smiled. "Good photo."

"Yeah. Good friends. I love you, Jinks."

"Sure you do, Toddy. I love you too. I always have, ever since we were little kids."

"I know you did." he moved down the bed towards him. "But we're not little kids now. We're men, Jinks, well almost, and I'm in love with you."

His mouth, his warm, red, and luscious mouth, lunged towards Jinks' own, but he jerked back and got up off the bed.

"Whoah, Toddy. We're not getting into that."
"But Jinks. You love me too. I know you do."

"No. I love you, Toddy, I do. You're my oldest friend, my best friend and, maybe I have got those feelings too. But we're not going there. We can't Toddy."

"But, well why not then? If you've got those feelings, and I know that I have, I really have, why can't we get together, Jinks?"

"Because we can't, Barney. Not like that. I don't want to be just another notch on the headboard on your bed."

"There's no notches on my headboard."

"Isn't there? Daniel, Tony, Sherry, Cody, Max I think. Who knows who else? I'm not going to be just one more on your list, Toddy."

"You're not, Jinks. You'll always be my number-one really."

"Still a number though, isn't it? We're not doing that, Barney. To tell you the truth, I'd like to, I'd like to bang your brains out, but I know what would happen then. You'd move on to another conquest and I'd be left with nothing. I don't want to lose my best friend, Toddy."

He stood looking down at him with tear-filled eyes.

Barney got up and stood, miserably, in front of him. "I wouldn't, Kevin. I'd never move on. I wouldn't know how to live without my best friend, without you. I love you, Jinks."

"We can't, Barney. We just can't!"

Now they just flowed together, embraced tightly, and stood crying quietly. Barney pulled back and looked at him. He kissed him, briefly, on the lips. Jinks just stood and didn't respond, then Barney moved back into the hug.

"I fucked up, Jinks. I really fucked up. It should never have been anyone but you. I'm sorry, Jinks - Kevin. You've got no idea how sorry I am. I've always loved you, I was just too stupid to see it. And. Now. I've fucked it up!"

Now he melted. He loved this kid. Jinks reached up, took a big handful of those glorious, golden curls, pulled his head back and he kissed him, long. They broke apart and grinned through their tears.

"Maybe we're not that fucked. Maybe. We'll see. I do love you Toddy."

"I love you, Kevin. I really do. I'll do whatever - whatever it takes, whatever you say."

"Whatever? Well you can start by putting some bloody clothes on, Barney Todd. Standing here in your underwear in the middle of the day! Then we'll go and get something to eat while your mum's not here. When was the last time you ate?"

"Yesterday." He scrambled around for his clothes, grinning up at him. "So, can we start again?"

Jinks just grinned and held out his right hand. "Kevin Jenkins, pleased to meet you."

Toddy grinned back as he took his hand. "Yeah, nice to meet you Mr. Jenkins. Just call me Toddy."

"Hey,Toddy."

"Hi, Jinks."