The week rolled on. The weather remained glorious. Justin wanted to cut classes and go play on the beach, but Billy and the others weren’t having that!
“You’ve got an example to set here, Superboy.”
Jonathan did though, he and his girls disappeared for hours at a time.
Saturday finally dawned and, damm! it was not sunny but overcast again. It wasn’t cold anyway.
Justin and Billy were out at Billy’s mum’s place for the day and, in the early afternoon, they were down at the family’s ‘private’ swimming hole in the river. They were splashing around, with John and Brian, in the sort-of warm water. John needed a push, and he got one!
The other three were sitting back watching while Justin swam and showed his new-found skills. He was never going to make the Olympics, didn’t have the co-ordination, but at least he was staying alive in the water.
Denise appeared from the trees on the riverbank and called out, “Hey! I hope that you lot have got your pants on.”
“Of course we have, Sis,” Billy called back. “We’ve got company here.”
“Yeah, of course we have,” Brian chimed in. “We’ve got company too!”
That earned him several wondering looks and a red-faced gasp and a splashing from John.
“Brian!!”
“Well, umm, yeah,” Denise grinned. “Just as well anyway. The raft-race will be coming past any minute now.”
“The raft race? What raft race?” Justin splashed his way back to the water’s edge.
“THE raft race,” said Billy. “The annual fun race between the bridges – from Isherwood’s to Westpoint’s bridges.”
“You never told me about that. How come we’re not taking part?”
“I thought you didn’t like racing.”
“No. Well, I don’t, but rafting sounds like fun. We could’ve done that.”
“Oh no we couldn’t. I told you, I’m not going to be responsible for Superboy’s drowning himself. You’re not swimming good enough yet – maybe next year.”
“But I wouldn’t have to swim if we were on a raft.”
“No, but you could fall off. People do every year. There’s some pretty rough spots coming down the Gorge.”
“So you decided that we’re not doing it? Bossy Beggar, aren’t you?” Justin grinned.
“Yeah. I am and I will be. I don’t want to lose you, Justin.”
“That’s not going to happen, Sunny. Not ever.”
“Not if I can help it anyway.”
“You trying to wrap Superboy up in cotton-wool are you, Billy?” Denise said.
“If I have to – yeah, I will.”
They were interrupted when the rafts started coming around the corner in the river. Lucas was in the lead! Lucas and Toddy, with Derek and Max too, were all helmets and life-jackets and grins as they waved and passed the cheering group on the side of the river.
They stood and watched, and waved and cheered as the whole procession drifted past them. There were 17 rafts altogether. They were various sizes but mostly with 4 man crews and all made from an amazing hodge-podge collection of polythene pipes, plastic bottles and polystyrene, all bound together with string and miles of duct tape.
When they’d, finally, all gone out of sight, Justin turned.
“You rotten bugger, Sunny! That’d be SO much fun. Next year, we are definitely going to be in that.”
“Okay, Sweetcheeks, next year. You keep practicing your swimming.”
Billy shoved him back into the water. Justin came up spluttering. “You’ll pay for that, Billy-Boy!”
But, he was gone – laughing and running back up the track to the house.
Later in the afternoon, Justin stood and announced that it was time to go – they had to go home now. There were protests all around and Mrs. M. said, “Couldn’t you at least stay fore dinner?”
“No. Sorry, Mrs. M., but we’ve got to go now. We’re going out for dinner tonight, somewhere special.”
“Where are we going, Sweetcheeks? I don’t know anything about this.”
“Of course you don’t. It wouldn’t be a surprise if you knew.”
“Oh, okay. ‘Bye then, Mum.”
John was looking SO disappointed, (he’d come out with them in the morning), Denise took pity on him, and the down-faced Bugs. “You don’t have to go, John. Stay here for the night and I’ll take you home tomorrow. That’ll be all right, won’t it, Mum?”
“Yes, of course it will, as long as it’s all right with your mother. Go and ring her now before these two leave.”
“Great! That’ll be so cool! Thanks, Mrs. Mathieson, Denise. Thank you.”
“Go and ring your mum before you start dancing.”
John and Brian ran for the phone and they were back, dancing, before the others had finished their goodbyes. “Yes!”
On the way back into town, Justin grinned as he asked, “You think your little brother’s going to lose his virginity tonight?”
“Don’t be coarse, Justin. None of your business, but – yeah, if he hasn’t already.”
“Kids, eh?”
“Yeah, bloody kids.”
“Fucking kids.”
“Shut up, Justin. Where are we going anyway?”
“Home to the Adelphi. We’ve got to get changed and dressed up and then we’re going out.”
“But where are we going?”
“Somewhere. You’ll see – somewhere you’ve never been before.”
“Okay, Mystery Man.”
“Shut up, Billy.”
Back in the hotel, Billy showered, (“Again?” “Yeah, scrub up, Sunny.”), while Justin laid out their clothes for the evening. When he came back, he grinned at the clothes on the bed.
“Cute in a suit, eh?”
“Definitely! You get your suit on and I‘ll be back soon.”
Justin raced through the shower and came back and dressed in his formal black suit, white shirt and black leather shoes, while Billy stood watching and smiling.
He flicked a brush over his hair, then said, “Okay, that’s as good as it gets. C’mon Sunny, we’re out of here. Bring the keys; you’ve got to drive.”
“We’re driving? I wish you’d tell me where we’re going. You look cute in a suit too.”
“Not as cute as you though. Come on, we don’t want to be late.”
“This is something really special then?”
“Sure is. I hope so anyway.”
“Wait out side a minute then – something I have to do first.”
“What’s that then?”
“I’m not telling you. It’s a surprise too. Go on – out!”
He pushed him out and closed the door, and then came out, grinning, shortly after.”
“Who’s the Mystery Man now then? Okay – Justin’s shutting up.”
They went down to the kitchen and said goodbye to the admiring grandmother.
“Won’t be here for dinner, Grandmother. We won’t be back until tomorrow actually.”
“Until tomorrow? Where are you going, Boys?”
“Can’t tell you. That would ruin Billy’s surprise. We’ll see you in the morning.”
“Okay then. Goodbye, take care, and have fun.”
“We will. ‘Bye Grandmother.”
They got into the car and buckled up.
“Where to, then?”
“Down to the Peters’. We’ve got to get Daniel and Tony first.”
“It’s a family thing then?”
“It is. Drive,Sunny.”
Billy drove around the town. They collected the mystified Daniel and Tony from the Peter’s house, Peter from his home and then Jay from his. They were all wearing suits as well and, while Daniel and Tony didn’t know what was going on, it was apparent that it was no mystery to Peter and Jay.
“Justin Reynolds, how come Peter and Jay know what we’re doing?”
“Because they’ve already been there today. I had to get them to help set this up. I couldn’t do it with you watching over me. Daniel and Tony don’t know though, do you Guys?”
“Not a bloody thing, Justin. Just ‘be there, in suits, at 5 o’clock and we’re not coming back until tomorrow.”
“That’s it. Thanks, Tony.”
Billy said, “So, where are we going now?”
“Umm. Okay, out to the airport.”
“The airport?”
“Just drive, Sunny.”
At the airport, he waved Billy over to the right-hand side where a pilot and a large army-style helicopter were waiting for them.
“All ready, Mr. Currie?”
“All set, Superboy. I hope my wife doesn’t find out about this or she’ll be wanting to do it too. If she doesn’t divorce me for not thinking of it first, that is. Well, jump in, everybody. Two in the front, four in the back. Buckle-up and we’re out of here.”
Justin waved Daniel and Tony to the front with the pilot and climbed into the back with Billy and Peter and Jay who had already done this today.
“Billy and I get the front on the way back.”
They took off and made several leisurely, low, passes over the town; smiling and waving at their homes down below them. Then, they turned North-east, getting higher as they went, and flew across to the high range of hills behind the town. They circled around and landed gently on a bare, snow-grassed, mountain top.
They unbuckled and climbed down, stooping low as they ran out from under the rotors. (There was no need to really, but that’s what they do in the movies). Mr. Currie brought out a large picnic basket and left them.
“All right then, Boys? Hope the bloody weather holds for you. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He flew away back to town. Leaving them standing on the hilltop, dressed up in their Sunday-suits and miles away from anywhere.
“We’re having a picnic then, are we?” Daniel asked.
“Sure are, Guitar-man,” Peter grinned. “Picnic on a mountain top – simply the best.”
“Oh no!” Billy groaned. “Not burgers again?”
“Not this time, Sunny. We’ve got the best fare from the Westpoint Motor Hotel – steak and oysters and that sort of stuff. We couldn’t get Grandmother to do it or she would have given the game away for sure.”
“Okay, this is starting to sound good. Cool ride in the helicopter anyway. What else have you got?”
“Come and see,” said Jay. “Daniel, give me a hand with this basket.”
They picked it up and walked across the top of the hill. There, spread out before them, was a spectacular, if rather distant, view of Westpoint, lying beside it’s wide river and the coastline with the long, gray beaches running along below their vantage point. There were small farms and patches of forest and, right before them, four tents – one large, square one surrounded by three smaller, hiking tents.
Peter ran down and opened the wall of the big tent that faced towards the town. Inside, on the carpeted floor, were six white, stacking, plastic chairs surrounding a big round table that was set up with a fancy white tablecloth, crockery, silver cutlery, napkins, candles, water and wine glasses, and flowers even!
“Wow!”
“Choice!”
“Great, Sweetcheeks.”
“Yeah,” he grinned. “Looks good to me. Thanks Peter, thanks Jay, for coming and setting everything up.”
“Our pleasure Super – ah, Justin. It was choice.”
“Okay.” Jay draped a towel over his arm, going into waiter-mode. “If you’ll be seated, Gentlemen. We don’t want the food getting cold, it’s a long way back to the kitchen.”
“It’s a bloody long way!”
Jay, Peter and Justin pulled out the chairs for Daniel, Tony and Billy. Peter turned on the music on the portable CD player.
(Billy was pleased to see that!)
Peter lit the candles while Jay and Justin brought the meals and supplements out from the basket.
Justin went around filling everyone’s wine glasses with sparkling grape-juice and Jay stood and raised his glass.
“A toast, Gentlemen. A toast to the best brothers and the best damm family in the world.”
“Our Family,” they agreed as they sipped their drinks.
Throughout the three-course meal, each one took a turn to propose a toast to each other and their mates.
After the meal was finished and the debris cleaned away, they sat around talking, drinking grape-juice and sharing after-dinner mints.
Justin grinned, “We would’ve brought cigars, but nobody here smokes, so we’d just be sick anyway.”
“That’d be a nice picture,” Tony replied.
“That is a nice picture,” Billy waved his glass towards the town. Daylight was fading and the street-lights were on. Ominously, there was no sunset, just gray clouds.
“Sorry we couldn’t arrange a sunset,” Justin said.
“We don’t need one,” Peter replied. “This is just great as it is. Thanks Justin.”
“All because I love you, my brothers. Thank you for being here.”
“It’s perfect, Justin,” said Billy. “Perfect like you.”
“Yeah, like me because it’s not perfect. It would’ve been better if we didn’t have to have the tents – just the table on the mountain top, but they say that it can get bloody cold up here.”
“What are we going to do then? Freeze our skinny butts off?”
“No, Sunny. We’ll take care of your skinny little butt. There’s warm clothes in the tents; Antarctic gear – jacket, leggings, and gloves and stuff. There’s lots of warm bedding too.”
“That’ll be sexy, won’t it? All wrapped-up like Eskimos!”
“You’ll be the cutest little Eskimo boy ever.”
“No he won’t, Peter/Tones will,” Daniel and Jay said together and then they stood to high-five each other.
They sat around enjoying the company, the music, the candles and the lights of their town in the gathering dusk. The temperature was definitely dropping, so Justin stood. “I think it’s time we put the jackets and stuff on, it’s getting cold here.”
“No. Wait.” Billy jumped up and pushed him back into his seat. “Before we all wrap up, I’ve got something. Peter, would you put this CD on, please. Track 2, but don’t start it until I say to.”
“Sunny? What are you doing?”
“Just this.” He knelt down before Justin, taking hold of one hand. “Justin, I love you. Last week, at the wedding, you asked when we’ll be getting married. I said that we can’t. I still don’t know if we’ll ever do that, but I love you. Every day with you is better than the one before and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.
I’d love it; I’d be honoured, ah – dammit!” He pulled a small box from his pocket and opened it. “Justin, will you wear my ring?”
Justin looked down at the plain, gold ring and burst into tears. He dropped from the chair, to his knees on the carpet and his head hung low.
“Justin?”
“He raised his head and beamed through his tears. “Yes! Oh yes please, Billy! I’d love to wear your ring. I love you, Sunny, so much.”
Billy sat on the carpet, took out the ring and placed it on his finger – the third finger, the wedding-ring finger. They both sat and cried as Justin twisted it around.
“Thank you, Billy. Thank you My Love. I will love you all the days of my life. I will love you, honour you, obey and cherish you and I’ll never want another for as long as I live.”
They hugged and then Billy pulled out an identical box and handed it to him. Justin took out the ring inside and put it on Billy’s third finger, and he repeated Justin’s promise to love, honour, obey and cherish and forsake all others for as long as they lived.
They stood and put their hands on each other’s shoulders. Billy looked around and said, “Now, Peter.”
Peter started the CD and they kissed and stood close together, swaying gently as they danced to the music of Justin singing, ‘She wears My Ring’.
The other two pairs joined their dance. Daniel whispered in Tony’s ear. “I think we’ll have to get some of those rings too, Tones.”
“Damm right, Dan’l. First thing Monday, we’ll go shopping.”
At the end of the song, Peter asked, “So, are you guys married, or what?”
Billy shrugged. “Don’t know and don’t care. All I know is that he wears my ring.”
Justin nodded. “I love wearing your ring, Sunny.”
“Careful now, Sexy-Boy. Speaking of sexy, let’s go and put those Eskimo outfits on – it’s bloody freezing now.”
They all ran to the tents and collected the thermal clothes and brought them back to dress, by candlelight, in the only tent that they could stand up in. It was all a waste of time really, because it wasn’t long before they closed up the tent and hurried off to try out their new beds, together, alone.
They appeared again, in pairs, in the morning, dressed in their thermals, and sat around in the big tent to eat breakfast – cereal, canned-fruit and cookies with, (cold!), coffee. They’d have to get a gas cooker to heat coffee for their next trip. There was definitely going to be more trips like this, but maybe not in suits next time.
The view in the morning was nothing to write home about – they couldn’t see home. It was raining. It wasn’t heavy rain, just misty and SO cold! Where did Summer go?
After breakfast, they packed up the gear and sat around in the big tent until it was time to go, and then they pulled that one down and packed it up too. They carried everything back to wait for the helicopter and threw everything in there when it arrived.
“Hey Boys,” the pilot grinned. “How was your night out on the mountain top?”
“Bloody brilliant, thanks, Mr. Currie.”
They flew back over the town. The air-temperature rose as they descended. At the airport, they loaded up the car, they’d have to make two trips, and get another car next time.
They spent the rest of the morning sorting and hanging up their wet gear in the back of the Adelphi. The used crockery etc. had to go back to the Westpoint Motor Hotel. Kathleen snorted at that.
“Don’t worry, Grandmother. Next time we’ll use your excellent kitchen.”
“You will. You’d bloody better! But you’re not cooking it yourself.”
After lunch at the hotel, they took Daniel and Tony and Peter and Jay back to their homes and they all fell into bed for the afternoon. Nobody had got much sleep the night before.
“Thanks, Justin. That was the best night ever – rain and all. And what a great meal!”
“It was, but don’t tell Grandmother that. Sunny One, thank you for the ring.”
“You’re welcome, My Love. Thank you for wearing it.”
“I’ll never stop wearing it. Never!”
“You’ve got an example to set here, Superboy.”
Jonathan did though, he and his girls disappeared for hours at a time.
Saturday finally dawned and, damm! it was not sunny but overcast again. It wasn’t cold anyway.
Justin and Billy were out at Billy’s mum’s place for the day and, in the early afternoon, they were down at the family’s ‘private’ swimming hole in the river. They were splashing around, with John and Brian, in the sort-of warm water. John needed a push, and he got one!
The other three were sitting back watching while Justin swam and showed his new-found skills. He was never going to make the Olympics, didn’t have the co-ordination, but at least he was staying alive in the water.
Denise appeared from the trees on the riverbank and called out, “Hey! I hope that you lot have got your pants on.”
“Of course we have, Sis,” Billy called back. “We’ve got company here.”
“Yeah, of course we have,” Brian chimed in. “We’ve got company too!”
That earned him several wondering looks and a red-faced gasp and a splashing from John.
“Brian!!”
“Well, umm, yeah,” Denise grinned. “Just as well anyway. The raft-race will be coming past any minute now.”
“The raft race? What raft race?” Justin splashed his way back to the water’s edge.
“THE raft race,” said Billy. “The annual fun race between the bridges – from Isherwood’s to Westpoint’s bridges.”
“You never told me about that. How come we’re not taking part?”
“I thought you didn’t like racing.”
“No. Well, I don’t, but rafting sounds like fun. We could’ve done that.”
“Oh no we couldn’t. I told you, I’m not going to be responsible for Superboy’s drowning himself. You’re not swimming good enough yet – maybe next year.”
“But I wouldn’t have to swim if we were on a raft.”
“No, but you could fall off. People do every year. There’s some pretty rough spots coming down the Gorge.”
“So you decided that we’re not doing it? Bossy Beggar, aren’t you?” Justin grinned.
“Yeah. I am and I will be. I don’t want to lose you, Justin.”
“That’s not going to happen, Sunny. Not ever.”
“Not if I can help it anyway.”
“You trying to wrap Superboy up in cotton-wool are you, Billy?” Denise said.
“If I have to – yeah, I will.”
They were interrupted when the rafts started coming around the corner in the river. Lucas was in the lead! Lucas and Toddy, with Derek and Max too, were all helmets and life-jackets and grins as they waved and passed the cheering group on the side of the river.
They stood and watched, and waved and cheered as the whole procession drifted past them. There were 17 rafts altogether. They were various sizes but mostly with 4 man crews and all made from an amazing hodge-podge collection of polythene pipes, plastic bottles and polystyrene, all bound together with string and miles of duct tape.
When they’d, finally, all gone out of sight, Justin turned.
“You rotten bugger, Sunny! That’d be SO much fun. Next year, we are definitely going to be in that.”
“Okay, Sweetcheeks, next year. You keep practicing your swimming.”
Billy shoved him back into the water. Justin came up spluttering. “You’ll pay for that, Billy-Boy!”
But, he was gone – laughing and running back up the track to the house.
Later in the afternoon, Justin stood and announced that it was time to go – they had to go home now. There were protests all around and Mrs. M. said, “Couldn’t you at least stay fore dinner?”
“No. Sorry, Mrs. M., but we’ve got to go now. We’re going out for dinner tonight, somewhere special.”
“Where are we going, Sweetcheeks? I don’t know anything about this.”
“Of course you don’t. It wouldn’t be a surprise if you knew.”
“Oh, okay. ‘Bye then, Mum.”
John was looking SO disappointed, (he’d come out with them in the morning), Denise took pity on him, and the down-faced Bugs. “You don’t have to go, John. Stay here for the night and I’ll take you home tomorrow. That’ll be all right, won’t it, Mum?”
“Yes, of course it will, as long as it’s all right with your mother. Go and ring her now before these two leave.”
“Great! That’ll be so cool! Thanks, Mrs. Mathieson, Denise. Thank you.”
“Go and ring your mum before you start dancing.”
John and Brian ran for the phone and they were back, dancing, before the others had finished their goodbyes. “Yes!”
On the way back into town, Justin grinned as he asked, “You think your little brother’s going to lose his virginity tonight?”
“Don’t be coarse, Justin. None of your business, but – yeah, if he hasn’t already.”
“Kids, eh?”
“Yeah, bloody kids.”
“Fucking kids.”
“Shut up, Justin. Where are we going anyway?”
“Home to the Adelphi. We’ve got to get changed and dressed up and then we’re going out.”
“But where are we going?”
“Somewhere. You’ll see – somewhere you’ve never been before.”
“Okay, Mystery Man.”
“Shut up, Billy.”
Back in the hotel, Billy showered, (“Again?” “Yeah, scrub up, Sunny.”), while Justin laid out their clothes for the evening. When he came back, he grinned at the clothes on the bed.
“Cute in a suit, eh?”
“Definitely! You get your suit on and I‘ll be back soon.”
Justin raced through the shower and came back and dressed in his formal black suit, white shirt and black leather shoes, while Billy stood watching and smiling.
He flicked a brush over his hair, then said, “Okay, that’s as good as it gets. C’mon Sunny, we’re out of here. Bring the keys; you’ve got to drive.”
“We’re driving? I wish you’d tell me where we’re going. You look cute in a suit too.”
“Not as cute as you though. Come on, we don’t want to be late.”
“This is something really special then?”
“Sure is. I hope so anyway.”
“Wait out side a minute then – something I have to do first.”
“What’s that then?”
“I’m not telling you. It’s a surprise too. Go on – out!”
He pushed him out and closed the door, and then came out, grinning, shortly after.”
“Who’s the Mystery Man now then? Okay – Justin’s shutting up.”
They went down to the kitchen and said goodbye to the admiring grandmother.
“Won’t be here for dinner, Grandmother. We won’t be back until tomorrow actually.”
“Until tomorrow? Where are you going, Boys?”
“Can’t tell you. That would ruin Billy’s surprise. We’ll see you in the morning.”
“Okay then. Goodbye, take care, and have fun.”
“We will. ‘Bye Grandmother.”
They got into the car and buckled up.
“Where to, then?”
“Down to the Peters’. We’ve got to get Daniel and Tony first.”
“It’s a family thing then?”
“It is. Drive,Sunny.”
Billy drove around the town. They collected the mystified Daniel and Tony from the Peter’s house, Peter from his home and then Jay from his. They were all wearing suits as well and, while Daniel and Tony didn’t know what was going on, it was apparent that it was no mystery to Peter and Jay.
“Justin Reynolds, how come Peter and Jay know what we’re doing?”
“Because they’ve already been there today. I had to get them to help set this up. I couldn’t do it with you watching over me. Daniel and Tony don’t know though, do you Guys?”
“Not a bloody thing, Justin. Just ‘be there, in suits, at 5 o’clock and we’re not coming back until tomorrow.”
“That’s it. Thanks, Tony.”
Billy said, “So, where are we going now?”
“Umm. Okay, out to the airport.”
“The airport?”
“Just drive, Sunny.”
At the airport, he waved Billy over to the right-hand side where a pilot and a large army-style helicopter were waiting for them.
“All ready, Mr. Currie?”
“All set, Superboy. I hope my wife doesn’t find out about this or she’ll be wanting to do it too. If she doesn’t divorce me for not thinking of it first, that is. Well, jump in, everybody. Two in the front, four in the back. Buckle-up and we’re out of here.”
Justin waved Daniel and Tony to the front with the pilot and climbed into the back with Billy and Peter and Jay who had already done this today.
“Billy and I get the front on the way back.”
They took off and made several leisurely, low, passes over the town; smiling and waving at their homes down below them. Then, they turned North-east, getting higher as they went, and flew across to the high range of hills behind the town. They circled around and landed gently on a bare, snow-grassed, mountain top.
They unbuckled and climbed down, stooping low as they ran out from under the rotors. (There was no need to really, but that’s what they do in the movies). Mr. Currie brought out a large picnic basket and left them.
“All right then, Boys? Hope the bloody weather holds for you. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He flew away back to town. Leaving them standing on the hilltop, dressed up in their Sunday-suits and miles away from anywhere.
“We’re having a picnic then, are we?” Daniel asked.
“Sure are, Guitar-man,” Peter grinned. “Picnic on a mountain top – simply the best.”
“Oh no!” Billy groaned. “Not burgers again?”
“Not this time, Sunny. We’ve got the best fare from the Westpoint Motor Hotel – steak and oysters and that sort of stuff. We couldn’t get Grandmother to do it or she would have given the game away for sure.”
“Okay, this is starting to sound good. Cool ride in the helicopter anyway. What else have you got?”
“Come and see,” said Jay. “Daniel, give me a hand with this basket.”
They picked it up and walked across the top of the hill. There, spread out before them, was a spectacular, if rather distant, view of Westpoint, lying beside it’s wide river and the coastline with the long, gray beaches running along below their vantage point. There were small farms and patches of forest and, right before them, four tents – one large, square one surrounded by three smaller, hiking tents.
Peter ran down and opened the wall of the big tent that faced towards the town. Inside, on the carpeted floor, were six white, stacking, plastic chairs surrounding a big round table that was set up with a fancy white tablecloth, crockery, silver cutlery, napkins, candles, water and wine glasses, and flowers even!
“Wow!”
“Choice!”
“Great, Sweetcheeks.”
“Yeah,” he grinned. “Looks good to me. Thanks Peter, thanks Jay, for coming and setting everything up.”
“Our pleasure Super – ah, Justin. It was choice.”
“Okay.” Jay draped a towel over his arm, going into waiter-mode. “If you’ll be seated, Gentlemen. We don’t want the food getting cold, it’s a long way back to the kitchen.”
“It’s a bloody long way!”
Jay, Peter and Justin pulled out the chairs for Daniel, Tony and Billy. Peter turned on the music on the portable CD player.
(Billy was pleased to see that!)
Peter lit the candles while Jay and Justin brought the meals and supplements out from the basket.
Justin went around filling everyone’s wine glasses with sparkling grape-juice and Jay stood and raised his glass.
“A toast, Gentlemen. A toast to the best brothers and the best damm family in the world.”
“Our Family,” they agreed as they sipped their drinks.
Throughout the three-course meal, each one took a turn to propose a toast to each other and their mates.
After the meal was finished and the debris cleaned away, they sat around talking, drinking grape-juice and sharing after-dinner mints.
Justin grinned, “We would’ve brought cigars, but nobody here smokes, so we’d just be sick anyway.”
“That’d be a nice picture,” Tony replied.
“That is a nice picture,” Billy waved his glass towards the town. Daylight was fading and the street-lights were on. Ominously, there was no sunset, just gray clouds.
“Sorry we couldn’t arrange a sunset,” Justin said.
“We don’t need one,” Peter replied. “This is just great as it is. Thanks Justin.”
“All because I love you, my brothers. Thank you for being here.”
“It’s perfect, Justin,” said Billy. “Perfect like you.”
“Yeah, like me because it’s not perfect. It would’ve been better if we didn’t have to have the tents – just the table on the mountain top, but they say that it can get bloody cold up here.”
“What are we going to do then? Freeze our skinny butts off?”
“No, Sunny. We’ll take care of your skinny little butt. There’s warm clothes in the tents; Antarctic gear – jacket, leggings, and gloves and stuff. There’s lots of warm bedding too.”
“That’ll be sexy, won’t it? All wrapped-up like Eskimos!”
“You’ll be the cutest little Eskimo boy ever.”
“No he won’t, Peter/Tones will,” Daniel and Jay said together and then they stood to high-five each other.
They sat around enjoying the company, the music, the candles and the lights of their town in the gathering dusk. The temperature was definitely dropping, so Justin stood. “I think it’s time we put the jackets and stuff on, it’s getting cold here.”
“No. Wait.” Billy jumped up and pushed him back into his seat. “Before we all wrap up, I’ve got something. Peter, would you put this CD on, please. Track 2, but don’t start it until I say to.”
“Sunny? What are you doing?”
“Just this.” He knelt down before Justin, taking hold of one hand. “Justin, I love you. Last week, at the wedding, you asked when we’ll be getting married. I said that we can’t. I still don’t know if we’ll ever do that, but I love you. Every day with you is better than the one before and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.
I’d love it; I’d be honoured, ah – dammit!” He pulled a small box from his pocket and opened it. “Justin, will you wear my ring?”
Justin looked down at the plain, gold ring and burst into tears. He dropped from the chair, to his knees on the carpet and his head hung low.
“Justin?”
“He raised his head and beamed through his tears. “Yes! Oh yes please, Billy! I’d love to wear your ring. I love you, Sunny, so much.”
Billy sat on the carpet, took out the ring and placed it on his finger – the third finger, the wedding-ring finger. They both sat and cried as Justin twisted it around.
“Thank you, Billy. Thank you My Love. I will love you all the days of my life. I will love you, honour you, obey and cherish you and I’ll never want another for as long as I live.”
They hugged and then Billy pulled out an identical box and handed it to him. Justin took out the ring inside and put it on Billy’s third finger, and he repeated Justin’s promise to love, honour, obey and cherish and forsake all others for as long as they lived.
They stood and put their hands on each other’s shoulders. Billy looked around and said, “Now, Peter.”
Peter started the CD and they kissed and stood close together, swaying gently as they danced to the music of Justin singing, ‘She wears My Ring’.
The other two pairs joined their dance. Daniel whispered in Tony’s ear. “I think we’ll have to get some of those rings too, Tones.”
“Damm right, Dan’l. First thing Monday, we’ll go shopping.”
At the end of the song, Peter asked, “So, are you guys married, or what?”
Billy shrugged. “Don’t know and don’t care. All I know is that he wears my ring.”
Justin nodded. “I love wearing your ring, Sunny.”
“Careful now, Sexy-Boy. Speaking of sexy, let’s go and put those Eskimo outfits on – it’s bloody freezing now.”
They all ran to the tents and collected the thermal clothes and brought them back to dress, by candlelight, in the only tent that they could stand up in. It was all a waste of time really, because it wasn’t long before they closed up the tent and hurried off to try out their new beds, together, alone.
They appeared again, in pairs, in the morning, dressed in their thermals, and sat around in the big tent to eat breakfast – cereal, canned-fruit and cookies with, (cold!), coffee. They’d have to get a gas cooker to heat coffee for their next trip. There was definitely going to be more trips like this, but maybe not in suits next time.
The view in the morning was nothing to write home about – they couldn’t see home. It was raining. It wasn’t heavy rain, just misty and SO cold! Where did Summer go?
After breakfast, they packed up the gear and sat around in the big tent until it was time to go, and then they pulled that one down and packed it up too. They carried everything back to wait for the helicopter and threw everything in there when it arrived.
“Hey Boys,” the pilot grinned. “How was your night out on the mountain top?”
“Bloody brilliant, thanks, Mr. Currie.”
They flew back over the town. The air-temperature rose as they descended. At the airport, they loaded up the car, they’d have to make two trips, and get another car next time.
They spent the rest of the morning sorting and hanging up their wet gear in the back of the Adelphi. The used crockery etc. had to go back to the Westpoint Motor Hotel. Kathleen snorted at that.
“Don’t worry, Grandmother. Next time we’ll use your excellent kitchen.”
“You will. You’d bloody better! But you’re not cooking it yourself.”
After lunch at the hotel, they took Daniel and Tony and Peter and Jay back to their homes and they all fell into bed for the afternoon. Nobody had got much sleep the night before.
“Thanks, Justin. That was the best night ever – rain and all. And what a great meal!”
“It was, but don’t tell Grandmother that. Sunny One, thank you for the ring.”
“You’re welcome, My Love. Thank you for wearing it.”
“I’ll never stop wearing it. Never!”
8 comments:
In a word -BEAUTIFUL!!
danny.
Wow, Supersweet!!
Joah!!
Sounds idyllic. And what a view!
Alastair
David,it can't get any better than this. It must be wonderful to be you and have these tales running merrily through you're mind.
~hugs~
Bumble
As they say in a nearby country to you 'Bloody Brilliant'
Aww! Thanks, danny, Joah!!, Bumble & Tom. Very cool.
Alastair - the view is awesome - it's from the top of those hills you can see behind the church in the previous chap.
cheers
Big boys don't cry, big boys don't cry. Oh hell yes they do. Wonderful.
Jerry
Et tu, Jerry?
cheers
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