Westpoint Tales - Entangled Tales, 106 Justin & Billy

(The track up to the Embankment. Where the railway bridge was, (fixed at last!), and a fishing boat on the river).

“So.” Justin pulled out a chair and sat down at the table. “We hear that you were talking to my brother, uptown yesterday, Ma?”

“Yes I was. Well, it was an honest mistake. It’s bloody hard to tell you two apart you know.”

“C’mon, Ma. It’s easy,” Stretch grinned. “You just got to check out their accessories – Jonathan’s the one with the girls and Justin has Billy right next to him.”

“And you just see that he stays there too.” Ma grinned herself.

“Who have we got here now?” Margaret came in with an armload of washing. “Oh. It’s you two again. Hey Superboy. Hello Billy. Are you stalking me or something?”

“Of course we are,” Billy grinned. “Hello again, Aunt Margaret. You’re really into washing aren’t you?”

“Well someone’s got to do it. How did the expedition go? Find any red-heads?”

“I’ve already found the only one I’ll ever want.” Justin smiled at Billy.

“Bloody see that it stays that way too,” Ma grumbled. “What’s this about an expedition?”

They stayed for a couple of hours. The Carvers’ house was busy, as always. There were more people in and out of there than there was at the hotel. A couple of Billy’s cousins were going down to the beach, fishing, but they weren’t interested in that.

They left with them though, and walked along Derby Street to where the track went up on to the embankment. The two of them started back along the short-cut to the main street, chatting easily.

Justin was teasing him until Billy retorted, “Come on then, Superboy. Catch me if you can.” And he started running. He hadn’t gone very far when he slipped on the wooden sleepers on the old railway bridge and he fell off the side and disappeared into the bushes with a startled yelp.

“Billy? Ohmigod! Billy are you all right? Speak to me, Sunny.”

Justin dropped to his knees, anxiously searching the small, scrub-covered gully below him. “Billy?”

A huge wave of relief washed over him when the bushes parted and Billy’s face appeared.

“Whoah!”

“Billy! Damm! You gave me such a fright. Are you all right?”

“Yeah. I’m fine – no worries. The lupins broke my fall. You think that you got a fright? I would’ve peed myself if I had more time.”

“That will teach you to go running away from me. But, seriously, are you sure that you’re okay? No broken bones or cuts or anything?”

“I’m fine, Sweetcheeks. Really. No injuries at all. The lupins make a great landing pad. It’s not that far to fall anyway.”

“You don’t have to fall far to hurt yourself. Thank goodness that you’re all right. Now come up here so that I can smack you.”

“Smack me? What for?”

“For scaring me like that. Man! If I had a weak heart, I’d be dead now.”

“Just as well you haven’t then.”

Billy scrambled up the bank to where Justin reached down and grabbed him and lifted him back up to the track. He looked him up and down and then grabbed him again and they stood embracing.

“A boy fell off this bridge once and he died!”

“I’ve heard of that. How do you know about it?”

“Granddad told me. It was a kid about our age and he was a friend of Granddad’s father, or something. Anyway, don’t you ever do that again, Billy Mathieson, or I’ll kick your arse! I love you, Sunny. Don’t run away from me.”

“I won’t. I love you too, Sweetcheeks.”

Justin cried, from the relief. Billy cried because Justin did. After a couple of minutes, they broke apart, wiped their own eyes and grinned at each other.

“Just a couple of cry-babies, aren’t we?”

“Well you started it. Come on, Justin, let’s go home. Watch your step now.”

“Watch your own step this time.”

“You bet I will!”

Further along, almost to the end of the track, they saw Peter and Claire’s dad, Face Lewis, down below them on his small fishing boat.

“Hey, Mr. Lewis.”

“Gidday, Face. Whatcha doing?”

“Gidday Billy. I’m just doing some maintenance on the old boat. Hello Mr. Reynolds, how are you today?”

“I’m fine, thank you. But, ‘Mr. Reynolds’? I’m not a mister – my name is Justin.”

“My name’s Face. You call me a mister and I’ll do the same back to you. What are you up to, Boys?”

“We’re just walking, in between falling off bridges. We’re wandering around and going home.”

“I’m just going to take the boat out for a short run to try the engine out. Do you want to come for a ride?”

“Hell, yes!” Billy exclaimed. “That sounds great. Come on Justin.”

“Well, I don’t know. Are you going out to sea?”

“Yes, just out and back. It will only take about half an hour. Come on, Superboy, I thought that you were scared of nothing.”

“You thought wrong then. I’m scared of lots of things.”

“Come on, Superboy,” Face laughed. “Come for a ride. The river’s as flat as it gets, it’s perfectly safe.”

“Well – have you got lifejackets on board? Okay then, let’s do it. Don’t you go drowning me and my Billy, Mr. Lewis.”

“Wouldn’t think of it, Mr. Reynolds. Claire and Peter would kill me, not to mention Emily.”

“Emily?”

“Yeah, Mrs. Lewis to you. She’s your biggest fan.”

“Oooo. Who’s the teacher’s pet then?”

“Shut up, Sunny. I am not.”

“Bloody are, Sweetcheeks.”

“Come on then, Boys. Throw me those ropes and we’ll get going.”

They threw down the big loop-ended ropes which were securing the boat at the front and back, (Fore and aft?), and quickly ran down the ladder and climbed on board before it drifted away.

“Where are the life-jackets, Mr. . .Face?”

“They’re in that locker there, Mr. Superboy. Don’t worry, Justin. Nobody’s going to drown you.

“I know that, Sir. It’s just that – well, I’m a bit out of my element here. Like a fish out of water.”

“But you’ve got a surf-ski, haven’t you? You paddle around on that.”

“We do, but it’s different. I’m in control there.”

“And here, you’re not? Do you want to pilot the boat?”

“Whoah! No way. I’ll just trust in you. I’ve been on a boat before, but that was way out at sea and not in close to shore where it gets rough. I just don’t feel safe.”

“Right then. Here we go. Relax, Superboy. Relax and enjoy the ride.”

The small boat circled around and chugged out of the lagoon and out into the river and headed down and out to sea. The river was dead flat, but there were large, gentle swells where they met the ocean waves, causing the boat to rise and fall rhythmically.

Billy stood outside, but Justin stayed close by Mr. Lewis in the wheelhouse. Once they were out of the river, the swells settled down again and the boat rode along with just a slight rocking motion.

“See? What did I tell you?” ace grinned. “No problems. The sea doesn’t get much calmer than this.”

“Okay. This is pretty cool. It’s a nice day for it, but next time you’re going out in a storm – don’t call me.”

“These boats can handle storms. Well, to a certain degree they can. Justin, there’s something I’ve been wanting to ask you – about Claire and Peter. I know that you’re their friend, and that’s good. But, how exactly do you see your relationships with them?”

“My relationships? Well, I love them both. Peter is my brother and Claire? She’s my best friend, next to Billy of course. Why do you ask?”

“No reason really, I was just wondering. I know that they both love you, very much. Claire is . . . well, she’s been a bit lost after losing Carl, but she’s been seeing another boy, lately, and that’s good.

Peter has got a very good relationship with his Jay, and I’m pleased about that. If things had been different, I guess that you could have matched up with either one of them and we would have welcomed you into our family. But, that’s not going to happen, is it?”

“It’s not. I love them both, but we don’t have that sort of relationship. Besides, see that boy out there? I am hopelessly and totally in love with him and I always will be, no matter what. Thanks anyway, Face. Your family are all very special people, including you.”

“Damm, Justin! You’re bloody incredible, you know. You really are the Superboy.”

There was silence for a couple of minutes as Face turned the boat in a wide circle. Then he continued.

“Justin, you see that boy out there? You’re a lucky kid, really lucky to have what you have with him. It doesn’t come to many people. Don’t stuff it up.”

Justin beamed. “Thanks, Face. I’ll try not to. I’d hug you now, but you’re driving the boat.”

“I’ll consider myself hugged then.”

“Yeah. You do that.”

The afternoon sun was behind them as the boat made its way back to the mouth of the river and their town was before them – shining in the sunshine with the bush-clad hills in the distance behind it.

“Wow! That’s so cool. I’ve never seen Westpoint from this angle before. It looks magnificent, doesn’t it?”

“Magnificent? I don’t know about that, Superboy. But it looks okay. Westpoint’s a pretty good town.”

“No, it’s not! Westpoint is not just a good town, it’s a great town – a really great town. I love Westpoint!”

“You do, don’t you? Maybe that’s why Westpoint loves you. One reason why, anyway.’

“Face?”

“Superboy?”

“Shut up, Face.”

“Yes Sir!” He grinned.

As the boat came into the entrance to the river, it was once again rising and falling where the river met the ocean waves. The prow, at the front, rose higher than the wheelhouse and then plunged down below them, much more than it had on the outward journey. Billy, delighted, made his way to the front and climbed up on to the rails.

“Sunny!” Justin yelled from the wheelhouse. “What are you doing? Get down, Billy!”

Billy hooked his feet around the bottom rail and, leaning against the top, let go and flung his arms out wide with his head thrown back.

“I’m the king of the world!”

Justin quickly made his way out there, walking along with his hands on the rails, to stand below and behind him. He held on tight and supported Billy with his chest and shoulders.

“This is not the Titanic and you’ll be the king of the ocean if you’re not careful, my boy.”

“It’s safe, Sweetcheeks. This is great! Doesn’t Westpoint look good from here?”

“Yes, it does – simply the best. Please get down, Sunny.”

“In a minute. There’s no way I can fall. This is so cool.”

They rose again and, as they crested the wave, Billy flung his arms out.

“King of the World!”

“You’re the king of my world, Sunny.” Justin replied.

Billy got down, turned around and hugged him.

“And you’re the king of mine,” he whispered in his ear.

Through the window behind them, Face watched and smiled. “Ain’t love grand? They’ve both blossomed lately and they’re good friends for Peter – nearly as good as his Jay. Anyway, Justin, and Billy too, I’m glad that you’re here in Westpoint and that you are who you are.

You’re both liked and respected and hugely loved, especially Justin. As Peter says, your being who you are makes it easier for him to be who he is.”

The boat made its way up the river, which was flat now that they were inside the confines of the rock-walls on either side. They went straight past the entrance to the lagoon and continued along and below the coal wharves. In the bright sunshine, the dark shadows under the old wharves looked really black – like far too much coal had been spilled down there over the years.
Wild ducks glided, unconcerned, past them, like miniature boats on the river. There always seemed to be a lot of them seeking sanctuary within the town during the shooting season. Fair enough too.

There was just one cargo boat in the river port. The cement company’s freighter, ‘Westpoint’, was tied at its usual place below the cement silos. Face detoured around it and came back in close again near the top of the line of wharves, below the old merchandise wharf, where the cargo boats used to moor. He stopped next to a rusty-iron ladder which reached to the top.

“There you go, Boys. Not quite to your door, but this is as close to home as I can get you.”

“Thanks, Face. That’s very cool.” Billy beamed his trademark smile and started up the ladder.

“Yes. Thank you, Sir,” said Justin. “Thanks for the ride, it was great. You should be taking tourists out there, on sunny days anyway.”

“I’d never make a living then, would I? It rains too much. You’re welcome, Guys. Get up that ladder, Superboy.”

Justin started up, then stopped and looked down. “Mr. Lewis – Face – I never had a father, but I’m glad that my little brother has got such a good one.”

“Get away with you, Justin. Go home.” Face grinned and waved as he started the boat moving again.

‘What a boy. What a Superboy!’

They stood on the wharf at the top of the ladder, and watched as the fishing boat circled around and headed back to its mooring in the lagoon.

“Okay. Come on, Sweetcheeks. Time to go home and eat again.”

“Yeah, it’s always time to eat. Let’s go home. He’s a good guy is Face. A really good guy.”

“Yeah, he’s okay. Everyone should have a father like that.” Billy started walking home.

“You could have, Sunny. You should have had a father like him. Your dad was a fisherman, wasn’t he?”

“He was. He had his own boat and it sunk and killed him. It’s a bloody dangerous game, Sweetcheeks. I don’t think I’ll be doing that.”

“You won’t! Not if I can help it. You’ve already got a job anyway.”

“What? With the burgers do you mean? I don’t actually spend a lot of time with them these days.”

“No, you don’t. That’s why we pay your mum. But that’s not your main job. Your main job is looking after me.”

“Yeah, and your job is to look after me. Nice work if you can get it.”

“Oh, I get it. Sometimes. Not often enough, but I get it.”

“Shut up, Justin. Horny beggar! We need to put you on Prozac or something. What was that stuff that they used to give to soldiers to calm down their sex drives? Bromide?”

“Make war not love, eh? I’d rather make love.”

“I know you would. So would I, but not every minute of the day.”

“I don’t see why not.”

“Okay, we’re home. Behave yourself, Sweetcheeks. Hey, Grandmother, we’re back.”

“Hello Boys. Good timing. I was just about to dish up. Go and wash up and it will be ready.”

“’Kay, Grandmother. Is Jonathan not eating with us tonight?”

“No. He’s at a barbecue at the Swan’s house. He’ll be back later.”

“At the Swan’s house? How come we weren’t invited, Sunny?”

“Probably because Jacob Swan is Jonathan’s friend and not ours.”

“Oh yeah, that’ll do it. I haven’t got much time for Kevin Swan anyway.”

“Superboy, I’m shocked! I thought everybody was your friend.”

“Not everybody. Some people, but not everyone.”

“Well I’ve got a long history with Swan – we’ve been enemies since way back, but what have you got against him?”

“Not a lot, but anyone who doesn’t like you is no friend of mine.”

“Oh, Sweetcheeks! You’re too much, Justin. Way too much. Come on upstairs.”

They left the room and Kathleen turned to Bob who was sitting quietly at the table.

“Do you still think that it’s going to blow over, Robert?”

“What? Those two? Absolutely no show, Kathy. Justin really loves that boy, doesn’t he?”

“Yes. Of course he does and Billy loves him too, and that’s good.”

“It is – it’s very good.”

Up in their room, Justin and Billy were meant to be washing up, but they weren’t. They were standing still in the middle of the room, arms locked around each other and their heads resting on each other’s shoulders.

“Mmmm. I love this. I love you, Sunny.”

“I know you do. I can’t believe how lucky I am! I love you, Justin. Today has been the best day of my life.”

“It has? It’s been good, but nothing spectacular. We didn’t do anything special, just everyday stuff.”

“True. But we did it together and that makes it special. You know something even better?”

“No, what’s even better?”

“Tomorrow we get to do it all again.”

“Maybe not exactly the same, Sunny. But more of the same. Anyway, today’s not over yet. I’ve still got plans.”

“Sure you have. I know your plans – Sex Addict! I’ve got the same plans for tonight.”