Westpoint Tales - Entangled Tales, 105 - Justin

Afterwards, dressed in shorts, light wind-cheater jackets, and, at Billy’s insistence, life-jackets, they went out the back, got out the surf-skis and paddles, and started across the back-street to the railway yards, wharves and river. Claire’s car was there in the railway station carpark. They stopped when they saw her coming out of the station.

“Good morning, Gorgeous,” Justin greeted her. “You’re not buying a ticket to ride, are you?”

“No, Sweetcheeks,” Claire laughed. “There hasn’t been a passenger train out of Westpoint in, like, forever. Dad wanted me to pick up a parcel. It hasn’t arrived. Bloody railways! What are you guys up to? As if I need to ask.”

“We’re going over the river and we’re going to see how far we can get up Marvin’s Creek. Do you want to come with us?”

“I don’t think so! Thanks, but it sounds like far too much water involved for me. I like my water hot and soapy.”

“Oh, okay. Tell us when you’re ready and I’ll come and scrub your back for you.”

“You bloody will not! Hey Billy, keeping this boy in line, are you?”

“Hey Claire. I’m trying to. It’s not easy sometimes.”

“I’m sure it’s not, but he’ll listen to you if anyone. See you later, Boys. Be good and don’t drown yourselves.”

“We won’t, and we won’t. Laters, Claire. I love you.”

“Yeah, I love you too. Laters, Sweetcheeks.”

They carried on, hobbling across the railway-yard ballast in their bare feet.

“Ow! This stuff’s hard going,” Billy complained. “I wish that they’d put the old pedestrian bridge back up.”

“Toughen up, Sunny. That’s not going to happen. There’s not enough traffic to warrant it these days. Wasn’t me to carry you?”

“No, I don’t want you to carry me. We’re nearly there anyway, but you would, wouldn’t you? Thanks.”

“Of course I would, anytime. You just let me know.”

They slid and stumbled down the bank at the top end of the old wharves and put their surf-skis in the water. Justin sat on his, pushed off and circled around to wait for Billy.

“C’mon, Sunny. Just do it.”

“I’m doing it. This water’s bloody cold you know.”

“It’s not that bad – there’s no ice-cubes in it anyway. It will be better out in the sunshine.”

“It’ll take a lot of sun to heat this water up. Oh, okay, I know, “take a deep breath and march on in there”. Here goes nothing.”

He climbed on and pushed off; gasping as the cold water splashed across him.

“Come on then, Sweetcheeks. Get a move on.”

“Want a race, do you?” Justin grinned and started paddling.

“No racing! You just stay close to me, Justin Reynolds!”

“Or what?”

“Or I’ll turn around and go home.”

“’Kay, don’t do that. We’re just getting this expedition started.”

Side by side, they paddled across the wide river. There was hardly any current and it was as calm and flat as a mill pond, for once. They reached the rock-wall on the far side, turned and moved along it and drifted downstream until they came to a wide gap where they passed through into the water beyond the wall.

“Where now?” Justin looked around.

“Over there, by those trees, I think.”

Billy was right first time. Beyond the big clump, (copse?), of willow trees there were the mouths of two wide creeks joining the river – one to the left and one, downstream, to the right. Billy turned in and started up the left-hand creek.

“Billy? Are you sure that this is it? It looks far too big to be Marvin’s Creek.”

“Yeah, of course it is. It just looks big because the tide’s in. It will soon get smaller.”

Right again. The creek narrowed as they glided along. They were passing through the strip of farmland, but couldn’t see much because of the high, scrub-covered banks on either side of them. Around a right-angled turn, past yet another clump of willows, and they came to the two, parallel bridges.

The first was old, wooden and derelict. Unused now, it was another relic of the old days – a piece of Westpoint’s history.

“That’s the old railway bridge,” Billy pointed. “Or, railway and road really. The railway out to the Cape used to cross here.”

The second bridge was more modern, though not new. It was built of concrete and carried the road to Carver’s Beach over Marvin’s Creek. From down on the water, they couldn’t see the passing traffic, but they could hear, and smell, it. The noise and fumes were an intrusion on the natural landscape.

After the bridges, the creek got smaller and smaller. They soon found themselves in someone’s backyard, passing close to an old farmhouse.

“Good morning, Superboy!” A lady was standing pegging out washing on a line. “Morning, Billy.”

“Hello, Aunt Margaret,” Billy replied. “What are you doing there?”

“What the hell does it look like I’m doing? Putting the washing out of course. The question is, what are you two doing?”

“We’re on an expedition,” Justin said. “We’re searching for the source of Marvin’s Creek.”

“Sure you are. Well, you’ve done that now; you won’t get much further on those things. There’s a pond around the corner and then you’ll have to walk up the hill if you want to go any further.”

“That’s all there is to it? We were hoping to find a lost tribe of Carvers.”

“Well, you did – sort of. There’s me and my tribe, but we’re not lost – I think.”

“Oh.” Justin looked at Billy and grinned, and then turned back to Margaret. “Got any spare red-heads?”

“Yeah. You can have the whole bloody lot of them if you really want them.”

“No. Thanks anyway, but I think I’ll just hold onto the one I’ve got. He’s the best of the lot of you anyway.”

“You’re probably right. Our Billy’s as good as they get. Well, see you later, Boys. I’m going into town. Actually, would you like a ride back? We could put your canoe-thingies on the back of the truck.”

“No thanks, Aunt Margaret.” Billy replied. “We’ll turn around in your pond and paddle back again.”

“Okay. ‘Bye Kids. Have fun.”

“She’s a good person, Your Aunt Margaret.” Justin said as they continued along.

“Yeah, she’s okay. I think she loves you, Superboy.”

“Well she’s too late – I’m taken.”

“You are – taken and kept. Thanks, Sweetcheeks.”

“Thank you, my Sunny Boy.”

They reached the shallow pool, saw the rivulet of water tumbling down the steep hill, and then turned around and started back.

“I don’t think we’ll be getting a heroes welcome when we return from this expedition, “Justin grumbled as they approached the river again.

“Sure you will. I’ll welcome you.”

“You were with me, you twit! Hey. Where are you going now?”

Instead of going out into the river, Billy continued straight ahead, into the other creek.

“Come this way. I want to show you something. It’s just up here a bit.”

“What have you got, Sunny?”

“Come and see.”

The tidal creek ran along, roughly parallel to the river. They were getting close to the back of the airport when Billy turned and ran his surf-ski up onto a sandy beach on the south bank. Justin followed him in and watched as Billy pulled his ski well up out of the water and left it, and his paddle, there while he climbed up the bank ahead of them.

Justin followed him up and they stood at the top of the bank, looking back at their surf-skis, the creek, and, above the scrubby growth, the wharf cranes, cement silos and some of the roves of Westpoint across the river. The Adelphi couldn’t be seen from there.

“Okay”, Justin said. “Pretty cool. Is that it? Or have you got more?”

“Oh, there’s lots more. Come and see.”

“What is this place, Billy?”

“That’s Ferryman’s Creek that we’ve just come out of, and back here. . .” He pushed through an overgrown privet hedge behind them. “This was where the Ferryman’s Hotel used to be, back in the early days before there was a bridge across the river.”

“There was a hotel here?” Justin looked around the grassed clearing that they were standing in.

“Yeah, there was. A hotel and some sort of ferry across the river. Old J. H. Williamson used to own it. You know, him with the statue in the Square.”

“Oh, right. Is that why they put the statue up?”

“Not likely. He did other things too. He was the Mayor and an MP and he gave the Square to the town too.”

“Oh. Well that’s a good reason for a statue. The Square is great. He was some sort of ancestor of mine you know. Grandmother’s grandmother was his granddaughter.”

“Yeah, I know that. He had a baby with a Carver girl too and that was my great, great, grandmother or something. He was a busy boy.”

“He must have been. Does that mean that we are cousins?”

“Something like that. Kissing cousins.”

“Sounds good to me.”

“Me too! Anyway, he sold the hotel to the Carvers, or gave it to them I think. This was their farmhouse and this was where the Carvers used to live before they moved into town. Right here.”

“Oh. Cool. So this was your ancestral family home, here in the trees.”

“This was it.”

Justin looked around and then grinned. “Were your ancestors monkeys then, Sunny?”

“Shut up, Justin. They had a house. It fell down in the storm in 1965.”

“What are you doing, Sunny?”

Billy had already shed his life-jacket and now he was stripping his clothes off.

“It’s a nice day. This is a private place. I thought we’d have sex now. Make love to me, Sweetcheeks.”

“Oh yes!” Justin started shedding his own clothes. “Your wish is my command. But tell me something, Billy Mathieson. How come we have sex every time you want it but not every time I do?”

“Easy. That’s because you ALWAYS want it. You’re like a randy old tomcat and you’re always on heat.”

“Only when I’m around you, my Sunny Boy.”

“That’s cool. Don’t ever change. Come here, my Superboy.”

They lay together, naked, in the long grass and made love in the sunshine.

Later, Justin lay on his side, head propped on one hand, and smiled down at Billy.

“What’s so funny, Sweetcheeks.”

“Nothing. I’m just happy and you’re just perfect. You look really beautiful in the sunshine.”

“Yeah, well.” Billy kissed him and then got to his feet. “Too much sunshine and I’ll be as red as a cooked lobster. Come on, let’s go home now.”

“Good idea. I’m starving. You want to have a swim first?”

“Maybe just a quick one to clean up.”

They scooped up their clothes and the life-jackets and stood holding them in front of them.

“I like this place,” said Justin. “We’ll have to come back here again.”

“We will. I like it too. This is where I lost my virginity; in the grass right there.”

“You did not! We’ve done it lots of times before.”

“I know that. I’m not talking about today, it was years ago. It happened when I was about 11 or 12 or something.”

Really? Who with?”

“With Jeremy, of course. We biked out from town to check out the old family place and, well, we did it.”

“A couple of horny little kids. I wish I’d known you back then”

“Yeah. So do I. It might have saved a lot of heartache.”

“Oh Billy!” Justin dropped his clothes and wrapped his arms around Billy and hugged him. “I love you so much. I really do and I want to spend the rest of my life making you happy.”

“You’re doing a pretty good job so far.” Billy kissed him. “Thanks, Sweetcheeks. I love you too.”

They had a quick dip in the creek and then dressed and paddled home across the river. They were too late for lunch when they got back to the hotel – the kitchen was being cleaned up. Kathleen made them a couple of her famous ‘boomer’ sandwiches – ingredients, everything! They washed them down with OJ’s and sat back, full and content.

“Okay,” said Billy. “What now? And don’t say running – not on a full stomach.”

“No. Let’s just walk. Thanks, Grandmother. Great sandwiches.”

“You’re welcome, Lovey. Be good now.”

“Grandmother,” said Billy. “Justin is always good. That’s what makes him super.”

“Shut up, Sunny. I can be bad.”

“Yeah, and that’s super too.”

“Get out of here”, Kathleen laughed. “Unless you want to stay and mop the floor for me.”

“We could do that.”

“No, we could not. Not today. Come on, Justin, we’re walking. ‘Bye Grandmother and thanks.”

“Goodbye, my Lovely Boys. Have fun.”

“Everybody wants us to have fun today,” Justin mused as they left the hotel.

“Well? Don’t you want to have fun?”

“Sure I do; but we could just stay up in our room and have the most fun of all.”

“I told you so! You always want to have sex. And, we’re not.”

“Well it’s your fault.”

“How do you work that out?”

“You’re always so damm sexy. Of course I want to make love to you.”

“Shut up Justin. But, thanks. I think you’re pretty damm sexy too.”

“Oh, I am. I am. Want to see how much?”

“Shut up, Sweetcheeks. Walk.”

They crossed the main street, around the corner and along to the Square, but didn’t go in there. There was a football game on and they weren’t in the mood. Besides, they weren’t going to pay to go into their own Square. So they just kept walking.

“We can’t go and see the guys,’ Justin grumbled. “Whozzat are away doing your burgers’ thing and Claire, Dee and Crispian went with them. What are we going to do?”

“Lucas?” Billy grinned. “We could go and check up on him.”

“We could not. Lucas is with your sister and we’re going to leave them alone.”

“Oh, okay. We’ll leave them alone; for today anyway. Want to go and see Ma?”

“Yeah, sounds good. Let’s do that.”

They walked up to Derby Street and continued along there.

“Man. This is like going to school and it’s Saturday. We should have brought the car.”

“No we shouldn’t. The car is for longer trips – in town we walk.”

“Yes Boss. Anything you say Boss.”

“Damm right, Sweetcheeks! Listen, when we get to Ma’s we’re going to give her a hard time. You just follow my lead.”

“We are? Why? I like Ma.”

“So do I, but she deserves it. Yesterday, she met Jonathan uptown and she thought that he was you. He was with a girl too.”

“Oh. Right. She definitely deserves it then.”

As they walked along, Justin was continually exchanging greetings with people they met. Billy was amazed, as always. He’d lived in and around Westpoint for all of his life. Justin hadn’t been there for very long at all really, but he knew more of the people than Billy did.

He not only knew their names, but he also seemed to know about their lives. He asked this one how her mother was doing, and that one about their new baby. He even asked Mr. Cutbush about his zucchinis. Justin was something else and he seemed genuinely interested in everybody.

It took ages, but they finally arrived at the Carvers’ house. Maybe they should use the car around town? No, Justin would just want to stop and talk all the time.

They walked down the drive, around the back and in through the wide-open door. Ma sat in her usual place at the kitchen table.

“Hey Ma. How’re you doing?” Billy greeted her. He held up their clasped hands. “You know Jonathan, don’t you? I’ve broken up with Justin and I’m with Jonathan now.”

“You’ve what?” Ma snapped at him. “What the hell have you broken up with Justin for?”

“Cause I love Jonathan now. Say hello to Ma, Jonathan.”

“Umm, hello, Mrs. Carver.”

“Don’t you ‘hello’ me, Boy! Billy, what’s going on here? How could you?”

Ma seemed to be genuinely upset. But, when grins spread across their faces, the penny dropped.

“You rotten little shit! That’s not Jonathan, that’s my Justin. Come here and I‘ll smack the pair of you.”

“So you can tell them apart then?” Billy laughed. “Gotcha, Ma. And, he’s not your Justin, he’s MY Justin.”

“All yours, my Sunny Boy. Hey, Ma.”

“I don’t know if I’m talking to you – either of you. You can get your own drinks. There’s OJ in the fridge.”

“I’ll get them.” Billy opened the door. “Come on, Ma. You love us really.”

“I do. Don’t know why, but I do. Little Shits!”