Westpoint Tales - the Lost Years, 11 (final)

“Look, come in here and sit down.”

Billy ushered everyone into their room. Bryce and Robbie sat on the chairs, Billy sat on a window ledge and Justin and Conrad on the bed.

“Okay, thanks Billy, that’s better. Now let’s talk. First of all you can stop calling me Superboy. I’m not Superboy, I’m Justin. Okay?”

“Okay, Justin. But what am I going to do?”

“I don’t know. What do you want to do?”

“To do? I don’t know. I don’t know. I just want to love Nicholas, that’s all I know. I want to, but I can’t! She scares me, his mother, she bloody terrifies me and she hates me!”

“Yeah, she scares me too. But forget about her for a minute, let’s talk about Nicholas. You want to love him. You want to bend him over a bed and fuck him, do you?”

“Justin!” Red-faced, Conrad leapt to his feet and glared down at him. “Don’t be disgusting! Fuck you, Superboy! I’m outta here.”

“Oh no you’re not.” Justin stood, put his hands on his shoulders and pushed him back down again. “You came here to talk, so talk to me and no bullshit. Do you want to fuck Nicholas or not?”

“No! I don’t want to fuck Nicholas!” Conrad snapped. He was getting mad.

“Good! I didn’t think that you did actually. So, what do you want?”

“Want? I want . . .I want . . to be with him, to hold him and love him. I want to talk with him and be his friend and enjoy him. I love him.”

“Being his friend is good – very good. Do you want to make love to him?”

“Damm! You’re blunt. I don’t know. Yes, I do! I want to love him totally, if he wants to. I want to give him all of me, if he wants it, one day.”

“Oh he wants it. That much we do know. Nicholas loves you, Conrad. He’s a sweet, gentle boy and he loves you. Don’t you ever hurt him.”

“I wouldn’t hurt him. I never would. I couldn’t. I love him, but I can’t! I can’t get near him, there’s his mother. She hates me.”

“Oh yes, there’s his mother all right. We’ve got a problem there. But there’s a couple of things that you’ve got to understand. She doesn’t hate you, she just doesn’t know you. She loves Nicholas, in her own way, and she’s trying to protect him. She’s been doing it for all of his life. Nicholas is a gentle, vulnerable boy and he’d be so easily hurt.

Donna Awatere-Jones is not so bad really. She drinks too much, she’s confused and she’s way too emotional, but she’s just a frightened little lady, all on her own, and she loves her boy. Somehow, we’ve got to show her that you’re not a threat, that you love him too and want to make him happy.”

“You can do that?”

“”I don’t know, but we’re going to try. I’ve already convinced her that I’m not a threat and that I’ll help protect him. And, Conrad, get this very, very straight. I WILL protect him.

I like you. I like what I see, a lot, but if you ever, knowingly, hurt that boy, you won’t have to worry about his mother. I, personally, will make you wish that you’d never been born. And that’s a promise!”

“Whoah. You’re right – she’s not so scary at all. Now I’d really be scared, but I’m not. I’ve got nothing to be afraid of because I wouldn’t hurt him. Thank you, Justin. You’re a good friend.”

“He is!” said Billy. “Justin’s the best friend that anyone could have. I think you can rest assured that he’s on your side too.”

“Oh, but I am!” Justin grinned. “You’re great, Conrad. I see what Nicholas sees in you. I think I’m going to love you too. Gimme a hug!”

Conrad hugged him, hard and long. “Thank you Justin. I feel much better now. Nothing’s changed but I’m so glad that you’re on our side. I don’t care what you say, you ARE Superboy. There’s no-one like you and I love you too.”

“Right!” said Billy getting to his feet. “Enough for one night. It’s getting late. Life goes on tomorrow and we’ve all got jobs to go to. Besides which, our boy’s in the next room, storing up energy for the morning. Go home, go to bed and don’t worry, things will turn out all right. We’re all on your side. Now, go away.”

Driving home to Carvers’ Beach, Bryce said, “Conrad, I’m sorry about your problems, but I can’t tell you how delighted we are to see you coming out of your shell. It’s worth it, Boy, it really is. People are not meant to live alone, we’re not designed that way.”

“Thanks Bryce, but I don’t live alone. I live with you guys.”

“You do, and that’s good but that’s, mostly, just physically, in the same house. I’m talking about living alone emotionally. You need a mate.”

“I do! I’ve found him too. I want what you and Robbie have got.”

“That’s good. That’s really good, but sometimes you have to fight for what you want. Do you know how we first got together?”

“Yeah, of course I do. You started by playing dedications to each other on the Toucan’s show.”

“We did, but there’s more to it than that. I still had to fight for what I wanted.”

“No you didn’t. Your families were all wonderfully accepting of you, you didn’t have to fight them. Oh, you mean that preacher guy, don’t you? But you two didn’t fight him, you just folded up and Robbie’s dad stood up for you both.”

“He did, and that was great, but I still had to fight.”

“Who then? Not your families, not the church guy, who did you have to fight?”

“Robbie.”

“Robbie? But Robbie loved you before he even spoke to you.”

“He did, and that was the problem. He wouldn’t talk to me. He ran away every time I looked at him. At least you know that’s not going to happen to you.”

“Apparently not. But, what did you do about it then?”

“I caught him. I literally caught him. He was standing on the beach one day; I ran up behind him, grabbed him and held him until he settled down.”

“You did? Wow. And then what did you do?”

“I kissed him, and then I kissed him again.”

“And you lived happily ever after?”

“So far, yeah,” Robbie agreed. “Everyone has a different story. All Bryce is saying is that you have to fight for what you want, your own battles in your own way.”

“I’m going to. I already am. Nicholas’ mum, is too much for me but, hey! We’ve got Superboy on our side. We can’t lose.”

“We hope so, we really hope so. Justin will try, but he’s not perfect you know. We’re all on your side, Conrad.”

“Yeah, and that’s good too. Thanks Guys.”

Kathleen took Jeremy to pre-school the next day. It was normally Justin’s day, but he was busy. She wasn’t complaining. And, she’d get to see the other grandchildren as well. She did love the little ones, all of them, but she was glad that she wasn’t responsible for their full-time care. Too much was too much.

Conrad thought a lot about what Justin had said. Mrs. Awatere-Jones loved her boy and was only trying to protect him. But Nicholas didn’t need protecting from him. No way! There was no way that he would ever hurt Nikita. How was he going to make her see that they were on the same side? Could anyone? Could even Superboy do that?

Bryce and Robbie said that he had to fight his own battles. But could he? The woman bloody terrified him. Was being with Nicholas worth it? Well, was it? He didn’t know.

He drove to school next morning and parked, in his usual place, in the street outside. Nicholas was there waiting for him and looking worried.

“Hey Nikita,” he greeted him with a smile. This poor kid did not deserve his worries.

“Conra-a-a-d!” A big grin spread across his face. “I was waiting for you. I’m really sorry about my mother. Are we still going to be friends?”

“Sure we are,” Conrad grinned back. “We ARE going to be friends and no-one’s going to stop us.”

“Oh, good. I was worried that you wouldn’t want to know me now. I like being your friend, Conrad. I like you.”

“”I like you too, Nikita. I like you very much. I don’t know how we’re going to do it, but we are going to be together. We will, I promise.”

“Big words!”

They both swung around. Nicholas’ sister, Jo-Anne was standing there watching them.

“I thought that he might have been waiting here for you, so I waited too. You say you’re going to be together, you and Nicky?”

“We are. Somehow, someday, we are going to be together.”

“That might be easier said than done.”

“Oh, I know that,” Conrad sighed. “But we will.”

“Yeah? Look, Mr. Seeker, my little brother loves you, he adores you and he thinks that the sun rises and sets in your direction. You fuck with him and I’ll fucking kill you!”

“I wouldn’t hurt him! I wouldn’t do that. Why does everyone keep thinking that I will?”

“Who keeps thinking that you will?”

“Everybody. Superboy said the same thing. Well, he said that he’d make me wish that I’d never been born, but he meant the same thing.”

“Yeah, he’d do that. Good for Superboy, but he won’t have to worry, you’ll already be dead. I’ll see to it. Look, Kid, my little brother’s a gorgeous boy. He’s a bit slow, but he gets there in the end. He’s got a beautiful soul, he’s soft and gentle and he’s totally in love with you – has been for years.

You could so easily hurt him. One word, one wrong look and you could destroy him.”

“I won’t! Dammit. I won’t hurt him. Not now, not ever. I love him. I bloody love him!”

“For real? The Seeker loves the Dummy?”

“No. Conrad loves Nicholas. Don’t call him the Dummy, he isn’t.”

“No, he’s not. That your car?”

“Yes, it’s my car. What of it?”

“You’ve got petrol in it? Right then. You get back in your car, take Nicholas and bugger off for the day. Just the two of you, go and get lost somewhere out of town. Don’t come back until school’s out.”

“You really think we should?”

“I really think you should. Just do it.”

“But, what about school?”

“Forget about school. They’ll survive a day without you. What’s more important, a day together or one more day in school?”

“More important?” He turned around and grinned. “Nikita, let’s get in the car. Thanks, Jo-Anne.”

“Shut up and drive.”

They left at speed, up Derby Street to turn north and head away out of town. Jo-Anne watched them go and then she thought, ‘Bugger it, I’m not going to school either.’

She went home to talk to her mother, but when she got there, Superboy his brother, Jonathan, and Billy were already there. She listened, for a minute, to what they were talking about and then went in to join the conversation.

Conrad drove up Brigham Street and passed the intersection with Eastman’s Road without looking down there for fear of what he might see. They went north, out of town, across the bridge over the Williamson River, past the cemetery and away up country.

They went along in silence, not speaking a word, through Fairfield, through Waimari and Ngakawau. Partway to Seddon, there was a narrow graveled road alongside the small Snowy River, (which was just a creek really). He turned off there and drove up through the tree-lined road along the river-bank.

There was a small, sun-washed, clearing with a grassy bank between the road and the bubbling stream. He parked off the road, turned off the engine and the silence was deafening.

“This is a nice place,” Nicholas smiled.

“It is. I came here once with my dad, fishing. We didn’t catch any, but it’s a nice place. Plus, it’s private. You can hear any cars coming from miles away. We’ll get the blanket out of the back and sit down by the river.”

They spread the tartan rug on the grass at the edge of the bank and sat watching the water. Conrad threw out a stick and watched it float away.

“Conrad, what are we doing here?”

“We’re having a day off. Enjoying the sunshine and spending some time together.”

“That’s good. You told Jo-Anne that you love me.”

“I did. I did and I do. I did tell her and I do love you.”

“I love you, Conrad. I have always loved you, since forever.”

“Yeah! So I’m told. I wish I’d known that a long time ago.”

“You know now. Are you going to kiss me?”

“Do you want me to kiss you?”

“Hell yes!”

So, he did.

A kiss is such a simple thing. Two heads, two pairs of lips coming together. Conrad had never kissed anyone, apart from family and that was a long time ago. This was different. Wow! Was it different!

They melted into each other. Their clothes were lost and they delighted in each other’s naked bodies.

Hours later, they sat, still naked, and ate their school lunches washed down with water from the creek – well, it was clean. Conrad sat and smiled at the boy next to him. Clothed he was good-looking, but naked he was beautiful. Simply beautiful.

Nicholas was warm and loving, accepting and giving. He was adventurous and he was hot! He was a sex machine. Nicholas made love with his whole body and he gave it his total, 100%, attention; this boy was made for loving!

Conrad was surprised – surprised, amazed, astounded and absolutely delighted. He’d never imagined that anything could be so good and he never wanted this day to end. If he thought he loved him before, he was wrong. Now he loved him. He was totally and completely, 100%, over the top and head over heels in love with this boy. Totally!

Even the best of days must end and, at 2.30pm, they cleaned up, dressed and headed back into town. Nicholas sat smiling widely. Actually, the smile hadn’t left his face all day, except for – well, you know when!

Conrad drove, glancing at him and smiling himself. This was so good! His life, their lives, should always be this good. A frown flicked over his face when he thought about what might be waiting for them in town. Would anyone know where they’d been? Would SHE know?

No! Fuck it. He didn’t care. He loved this boy and he didn’t care who knew it. He didn’t care if SHE knew it. He loved Nicholas and he was going to be with him – he’d fight for the right to be with him. He’d even fight HER. He would.

Back in town, in Brigham Street and approaching Eastman’s Road, Nicholas broke the silence. “Maybe you’d better stop here and I will walk home.”

Conrad kept going. “No, I don’t think so.”

He went around the corner into Eastman’s Road, drove up to Nicholas’ home and stopped there.

“Thank you, Conrad. I’ll go inside now.” Nicholas shot out of the car.

“We’ll both go inside.” Conrad got out as well.

“Are you sure? She’ll kill you.”

“I don’t care. Nikita, I love you. I love you and you love me. Your mother has to know that, she just has to!”

“Maybe we should go and get Superboy first.”

“No. We don’t need Superboy, we’ve got each other and that’s enough. Come on, let’s do it.”

They marched resolutely into the house and through to the kitchen where Mrs. Awatere-Jones was sitting talking to a strange man. She looked up and they entered and Conrad nearly failed. But, no!

“Mrs,” he coughed to clear the lump. “Mrs. Awatere, I’m Conrad Keenan, I’m 15 and I’m in love with Nicholas and he loves me too. We cut school, we’ve been together all day and I love him.”

“Well!” she said. “You’re a feisty one aren’t you?”

“I’m not really, but I love him and we need to be together. We just have to!”

“Nicholas?” she stood up. “Do you love this boy?”

“Yes, Mum, I do. This is Conrad! I’ve always loved him and I always will.”

“Are you two having sex?”

“I’m sorry,” said Conrad. “But that’s really none of your business. Whatever we’re doing, we’re doing it together.”

They waited for the explosion, but it didn’t come. She just shrugged. “I suppose you’re right.”

“Mum? Mum, are you okay with that – with us?”

“Yes Boys,” she smiled. “I’m okay with that. As long as you’re both together and you’re both happy with it, I’m okay with that.”

“Really? You’re really okay? Oh, Shit! Mum, thank you!”

“Be happy, Son. That’s all I want. I’ve been talking to Superboy and his Billy, and to Jonathan and Jo-Anne too. Everything’s going to be fine.

This here is Bill Taylor, he’s in Alcoholics Anonymous and we’ve been talking. I think we’re going to see a lot of him. Bill has got a gay son too. His boy, Jordan, is in a relationship and very happy in it. Everything’s good.”

“No,” Nicholas shook his head. “Everything is not good. Everything is bloody good! Everything is perfect. Thank you, Mum. Thank you, Conrad.”

“You need to thank Superboy and the others too, but not now. Go away, Boys. Go and thank each other. We’re busy talking here.”

Nicholas took Conrad to his room and they did thank each other – a lot.

(Dare I say) The End.

Westpoint Tales - the Lost Years, 10

Conrad was not a total innocent. He’d fought some major battles with his family, and won some of them too. But he’d never been subjected to a tirade like that. Battles with his family were always on a more sober, civilized level.

And the language! He was no prude. He could swear, sometimes, of course he fucking could! Everybody did. It was still largely a rough-arse, working class town in many respects. But he’d never heard any adult woman sound off like that.

She was foul-mouthed and bloody scary too. She had terrified him. He wouldn’t go back there in a hurry.

“Nicholas! Oh, Nikita, what are we going to do?”

The safe and sensible thing would be to do as she demanded and stay away from him? But, could he? He didn’t want to, he wanted to be with Nicholas.

He drove away from Eastman’s Road and home to Carvers’ Beach, where the sane people were, and lay down on his bed to think.

He went to work, at the radio station, at the usual time and did his 3 hour show, but his heart was not in it. Usually he laughed and joked and had a great old time when he was on the air, but not tonight. Tonight he was flat and lifeless. He didn’t laugh, not once, and just went through the motions making the announcements and playing the music.

Before the 10 o’clock news, he played one last dedication.

“Okay, that’s it for tonight. This is Conrad Keenan signing off. Before we go, here’s one last dedication. This one goes out from me to you – you know who.”

He played Elton John’s ‘Nikita’.

Hey Nikita is it cold In your little corner of the world
You could roll around the globe And never find a warmer soul to know
Oh I saw you by the wall Ten of your tin soldiers in a row
With eyes that looked like ice on fire The human heart a captive in the snow
Oh Nikita You will never know anything about my home I'll never know how good it feels to hold you
Nikita I need you so Oh Nikita is the other side of any given line in time
Counting ten tin soldiers in a row Oh no, Nikita you'll never know
Do you ever dream of me Do you ever see the letters that I write
When you look up through the wire Nikita do you count the stars at night
And if there comes a time Guns and gates no longer hold you in
And if you're free to make a choice Just look towards the west and find a friend


Conrad cried in the car on the way home. He arrived and went straight to his room. In a couple of minutes, there was a knock at the door and Robbie and Bryce came in.

“Conrad? Are you okay? You weren’t your usual bright and breezy self on the air tonight.”

“Hey Robbie. I’m okay. I let you down didn’t I? I just wasn’t in the mood. Sorry.”

“Don’t apologise, Lad. I don’t give a bugger about the show, it’s you that I’m concerned about. What’s wrong, Conrad?”

“Nothing.”

“Nothing?”

“Nothing!”

“I don’t know what it is, but whatever’s wrong, it’s not nothing.”

Conrad hung his head and didn’t answer, he was too busy trying not to cry. Robbie, seeing that he was not going to tell him, continued.

“Conrad, please don’t shut us out. I’m not your father but I’m the nearest thing to it that you’ve got right now. I’m your favourite uncle, aren’t I?

Believe it or not, we were kids once too. We’ve been where you are now. Maybe we can help you, but we can’t unless we know what the problem is.”

“Listen to your uncle, Boy,” said Bryce. “He loves you and he just wants to help. We both do. Who is Nikita?”

Once again, Conrad-who-never-cried started bawling. He had no control over it anymore. His emotions welled, tears overflowed and he sobbed his heart out.

“Oh Conrad!” Robbie sat beside him on the bed and wrapped his arms around him. Bryce sat on his other side and held both of them.

“Su. . .Su. . .Superboy,” Conrad sobbed.

“Superboy? Justin? Has Justin done something to upset you? He wouldn’t , would he?”

“No! Not like that. I want Superboy!” he wailed.

“You want Justin? Oh shit, Conrad! You’re a great kid, a really great kid, but that is not going to happen. No way! Justin is with the great love of his life and nothing or no-one is ever going to prise him away from him. Not going to happen.

“No!” Conrad looked from one serious face to the other and grinned through his tears.

“No, Robbie. Don’t be a dork! Of course I don’t want Superboy like that. I’m not in love with him. He’s old anyway. I need to talk to him, I need his help.”

“Oh. I see. Sorry. But why can’t you talk to us? We’re here for you. We’ll always be here for you and there’s nothing you can’t say to us.”

“Like Robbie said,” Bryce spoke up. “We’ve been where you are. We were gawky teenagers once.”

“You were never gawky, Blondie.”

“Shut up, Robbie. I’m talking to the boy. Conrad there is nothing that we wouldn’t do for you, but you have to let us help.”

“You can’t! You can’t help, only Superboy can. Superboy knows who Nikita is, he told me about him in the first place. I want Justin. I need him.”

“Ah!” said Robbie. “Nikita’s a boy. What’s your problem with him?”

“You don’t know, Robbie. You can’t know. You don’t even know who he is or where he is. Only Superboy knows.”

Bryce said, “Just tell us one thing. Are you in love with this Nikita?”

“I don’t know. But . . yes! Dammit, yes I am. I’m in love with Nicholas already. I don’t know what to do!”

“And Justin would know what to do?”

“I don’t know. I don’t know, but I’ve got to talk to him.”

“I think you do. Come on then, in the car.”

“In the car? What are you talking about, Blondie? Look at the time, it’s late.”

“It’s not late, Robbie. It’s not even 11 o’clock yet.”

“Justin and Billy have got a little kid. They’ll be in bed by now.”

“If they are, then we’ll just have to get them up. Come on, Robbie, this is important. Look at the Boy, he’s a mess. We don’t want him spending the whole night like this.”

“Hmmm. You really think Justin can help, Conrad?”

“I don’t know, but talking to him might.”

“Yes, it might. Come on then, we’re going to see Superboy.”

“Now?”

“Now.”

“Okay. Thanks Bryce. Thanks Robbie.”

The main street was quiet but not completely deserted, there were still a few people about. The public bar of the Adelphi was still open, so they went in there. Bob Reynolds was behind the bar, cleaning up and getting ready to shut down for the night.

He turned and looked at them. “Hello Bryce, Robbie. You’re too late, sorry, we’re shutting down. In any case,” he looked at Conrad. “We don’t serve underagers in here. There’s no way that you’re 18, Lad, and a hotel bar is no place for kids.”

“Hello Bob,” Bryce grinned. “We’re not looking for a drink.”

“Well that’s good. I’d hate to see your name in the court cases in your own paper. What can we do for you, Gentlemen.”

“We need to see Justin. Is he at home?”

“Justin? Yes, of course he is. He’ll be up in their room, probably asleep, it’s getting late.” He had a close look at Conrad’s face and nodded. “It’s important, isn’t it? Okay, go through the ‘house’ door there, up the stairs and it’s the third door on the left. Try not to wake the little one.”

“Of course. Thanks Bob. You’re a good guy.”

“Sure I am. Superboy taught me,” Bob grinned.

“I dunno about that,” Robbie replied. “Maybe you taught Superboy.”

They trooped upstairs and knocked on the door. It cracked open and Billy looked out.

“Oh? Hey Robbie. Hey Bryce. And you must be Conrad? Are you looking for Justin? I’ll get him. Hold on a minute while we get some clothes on.

Out of bed, Justin! You’ve got visitors.”

In a couple of minutes the door opened again and Justin came out.

“Hello Superboy. Sorry to disturb you.”

“Not a problem, Bryce. Hey Robbie. Hey Conrad. Conrad? What’s wrong, Boy?”

His self-control dissolved and Conrad burst into tears again. “Sor. . sor. . .sorry, Superboy,” he sobbed.

“Hey, hey, hey!” Justin stepped forward and put his arms around him. “It’s okay, Conrad. It’s okay.”

Bryce, Robbie and Billy were close to tears themselves as they stood and watch the boy cling to Justin and cry piteously.

He calmed down, pushed away and made a wry grin. “And I’m the Seeker!’ he shrugged. “I’m sorry Superboy. I’m sorry, but you’ve ruined my life!”

“I have? We’ll have to fix it then. How have I ruined your life, Conrad?”

“You can’t. Nobody can fix it. Nobody!”

“Nobody can do lots of stuff. He’s a clever guy is Nobody. You still haven’t said what’s wrong.”

“Nicholas!” he wailed and he started to cry again.

“Nicholas?” Justin took him back into his arms. “What on earth has Nicholas done?”

“Nothing! I love him. I love him so much, Superboy. Oh, Fuck! I love him and it’s hopeless!”

“Oh, I see,” Justin grinned. “Damm, love is fierce at 15! You love Nicholas and I know that Nicholas loves you. You’ve met the lovely Mrs. Awatere-Jones, haven’t you?”

“Ye-e-e-es,” he wailed again. “She hates me. She really, really, hates me and I love him. Oh, Superboy, what am I going to do?”

“Buggered if I know,” Justin shrugged and forced a little grin.

Westpoint Tales - The Lost Years, 9

“You’re just in trouble if you say what I think you were going to say!”

He removed the hand and looked into those big, dark, eyes. “All right?” he smiled.

“All right. Thanks, Justin.” A big grin spread across and lit up his face.

“Okay. Now stand up and give me a hug.”

They stood and hugged. Nicholas clung to him tightly and then he started to cry – great big sobs.

“Nicholas? Oh, Nicky! What’s wrong?”

“’I love him. I really, really love Conrad. I love him so much it hurts. Do you think he’ll ever want to hug me?”

“He will. If he doesn’t then he’s the Dummy, and we’ve already agreed that he isn’t.”

“Do you think so?”

“I know.”

“Oi! What’s going on in here then?” Billy marched into the room. “Are you making a move on my Justin, Nicholas Awatere?”

“No!!” Nicholas wailed. He sprang away and his whole body seemed to crumple inward as he stood and cried.

“I didn’t. I couldn’t. I would not do that!”

“Hey! Hey!” Billy said. “It’s okay, Nicholas. It’s okay. I was just joking with you. Sorry.”

“It’s all right.” Justin grabbed and held him again. “It’s okay, Nicky. Billy was just joking. You shouldn’t do that, Sunny. Nicholas takes everything seriously.”

“Yes, so I see! Sorry Nicholas, I was just kidding with you. I won’t do that again. Any time you want to hug Justin, you go ahead and do it. As long as I’m not using him, that is.”

“Okay. Thank you, Billy. Justin is my friend.”

“Yes, he is, and he’s a good one too.”

“He is! Justin is the best friend ever.’

“That he is.”

“Okay, my Friend. Time you were going home, I think. You’ve got school tomorrow. Does your mother know where you are?”

“No. My mother’s not at home. I haven’t seen her, or Jo-Anne, since this morning.”

“Since this morning? Where would they be?”

“Oh, I don’t know – partying somewhere.”

“On a Monday? So, you’re at home alone then?”

“Well, yes. But I’m used to that. I’m always at home alone.”

Always home alone. That’s not good.”

“It’s better than when the party is at our place. Id better go anyway, if she comes home and I’m not there, there will be trouble.”

“We don’t want that then,’ said Billy. “Come with me and I’ll drive you home.”

“Thank you, Billy. I can walk, it’s all right.”

“Nicholas, go with Billy. He doesn’t get the car out anywhere near enough.’

“All right, Superboy.”

“All right, Justin!”

Billy drove the kid home to his empty house. Justin checked on Jeremy. He was already asleep, so he cleared the books and toys from the bed, covered him up and turned out the light. He had a shower and climbed into bed to wait for his mate.

At school next morning, in the, ever-crowded and always chaotic, locker-room, Nicholas stood quietly waiting to get to his locker.

“Nicholas. Hey!”

He turned around and smiled. “Hello Conrad,” he drawled.

“Great! We’re talking then. Why are you just standing here?”

“I’m waiting to get to my locker.”

“Waiting?’

Conrad looked at the three gossiping girls standing, leaning on the locker-doors.

“Come on Girls. You’re holding things up here. Nicholas needs to get to his locker.”

“Hey Conrad. What do you care? Kid’s no friend of yours, is he?”

“Oh, but he is! Be fair, Girls. You can stand somewhere else.”

“Yeah, okay. For you.”

They moved away and one looked back. “Play us a song, Seeker. You owe us one.”

“’Kay, I’ll do that. There you go, Nicholas. That your locker?”

“It is. Thank you, Conrad.”

He opened the door and knelt down.

“You’re welcome, my friend. I’ll see you at lunchtime, okay?”

“Okay! I’ll look forward to that.”

“Yeah, so will I.” Conrad walked away and Nicholas got out his books for the day.

They met again at lunchtime and ate their lunches together, sitting alone out on the grass at the edge of the sportsfield. Nicholas and Conrad only had eyes for each other, but every other eye in the place was on them, even the teachers.

The Seeker and the Dummy having lunch together? Was there ever a more unlikely match? What did Nicholas Awatere have to make the Seeker want to be with him when he never bothered with anyone else?

Nicholas didn’t see the Seeker, he saw Conrad – the boy he adored and always had. He was delighted that Conrad wanted to spend time with him.

Conrad didn’t see a Dummy, he saw a beautiful boy – unassuming, gentle, softly and slowly spoken and very good-looking too. That slow-spreading smile. Those eyes! This kid was gorgeous and a thoroughly nice person too. He liked what he saw – very much.

Ross and Robert, sitting in the sun with their girlfriends, smiled at each other as they watched the lonely pair.

“Superboy Rules!” Robert nodded at them.

“He does,” Ross grinned. “Justin can do anything.

“What did Superboy do? Is he here?”

“No, Trina. He’s not here. Eat your lunch.”

Nicholas walked home, alone as always, after school. His head hung low and his books were cradled in his arms as he walked along Derby Street. A car pulled up behind him; he took no notice.

The car tooted, he just kept walking. It wouldn’t be anything to do with him, it never was. It tooted again, but he didn’t even look around. The car moved ahead of him and stopped again. Conrad got out of it.

“Nicholas! Didn’t you hear me? Do you want a ride home?”

“Conrad!” He beamed his lazy smile. “I was just thinking about you.”

“Thinking good things, I hope.”

“Yes, of course I was.”

“That’s good. Do you want a ride or not?”

“In your car?’

No, on the next train that comes up the street. No, sorry. That was not nice. Yes, of course with me. Hop in the car and I’ll take you home.”

“Thank you, Conrad. That’s very nice of you.”

He put his books on the front-floor and got in, carefully buckling the seat-belt before closing the door. “You have to ‘make it click’, in case the car crashes. Most car crashes happen in towns.”

“Yeah, so they say. Don’t worry, we’re not going to crash, I’m a careful driver. Where do you live?”

“In Eastman’s Road, at number 76, with my mother.’

“Eastman’s Road? Damm. That’s not very far. Nowhere is very far in Westpoint. We’ll just have to go very slowly then.”

“That will be nice. Thank you, Conrad. This is great. Is this your car?”

“It’s my car. It’s nothing flash. Just a little, cherry-red, Toyota Starlet. It’s old, but it goes and it’s all mine. Uncle Robbie and Bryce bought it for my 15th birthday.’

“That was good of them.”

“It was good, but not completely selfless. Before I had the car, they had to drive me in and out to the radio station. I can’t walk it and I’m not biking that far at night, especially when it’s raining. So now I’ve got my own wheels and they get to stay at home by the fire and everyone’s happy.”

“That’s good. I’m happy too – very happy.”

“Oh, Nikita! If I can make you happy then I’m happy too.”

“What is Nikita? I’m Nicholas, or Nicky sometimes.’

“Nikita – that’s you. It’s a friendly way of saying Nicholas – Russian, I think. Something like that. It’s all good.”

“It’s very good! Are we friends now?”

“We’re friends, if you want to be.”

“Oh, I do! I really, really, do.”

“Yeah. I really, really do too.”

They exchanged smiles and cruised along, slowly, in silence until he pulled up outside Nicholas’ home. Conrad was delighting in this gentle boy. Nicholas was in heaven, sitting beside the boy he loved.

They sat, quietly, in the car at the side of the street, talking a little and smiling a lot; but, not for long. The banshee was at home and not in a good mood.

Nicholas’ mother came running, and screaming, out of the house. “Nicholas! Nicholas!! What the hell do you think you’re doing? Get the fuck out of that car!”

“Mum!”

They both got out and stood by the car.

“Mum, please don’t. This is Conrad. He is my friend.”

“Oh no, he bloody is not! You don’t have friends who drive around in cars. I will put up with Superboy, just. Otherwise, you stick to people your own age! I know what teenagers get up to in cars and it’s not nice. They’re all out for the same thing!”

“Don’t, Mum. Please don’t. This is Conrad. He is my age, he’s 15 the same as me. Look at him, he’s in a school uniform. This is Conrad!”

“I don’t care who the fuck he is!” She screeched and shoved him towards the house. “Get inside! Get in the house, right now! He is not your friend and you stay away from him. I know what he wants. They’re all the same, fucking teenagers in their cars. Horny little bastards! Get in the house, Nicholas!”

“’Goodbye, Conrad. I’m sorry.”

“Shut up. Shut the fuck up! Stop talking to him. Get inside!”

Conrad was not as brave as Superboy, he didn’t even try to talk to her. He just slunk into his car. That didn’t stop her though. Having dealt with Nicholas, she turned on his friend and ripped into him.

“You!! Yes, You! Get the fuck out of here! You stay away from my boy. If you’re at the Highschool then you know bloody well that he is a Dummy!

He is Special Needs and he’s got no money, so there’s only one thing that you’d be after. You stay away from him or I’ll have the law on you. Horny Little Bastard!”

She stormed into the house and slammed the door. Conrad, feeling a bit shell-shocked, started the car and drove, sadly, home.

Westpoint Tales - The Lost Years, 8

That night, Conrad started his show in the usual way. After the news, weather and sport, he played a piece of his theme song, Whozzat’s version of the Kinks’ ‘Dedicated Follower of Fashion’.

(“They seek him here, They seek him there,
In Derby Street and ‘round the Square.”)

“Hey People! It’s that time again. Don’t despair, the Seeker is here! How was your weekend? Cool party on Saturday, wasn’t it? Awesome fireworks! Starting the show tonight with something special, I’ve got a dedication to play.

I know, I know, we play dedications all the time, but this one is special. This one is from me. I don’t do that – but tonight I am. Nicholas, I hope you’re listening. This one is for you from me.”

He played Willie Nelson’s ‘Spanish Eyes’.

“Did you like that then, Nicholas? I hope you’re listening. He’s got great eyes, has Nicholas – Spanish Eyes. Shine on, Kid.

I do like Willie Nelson. He’s really cool for an old dude. The original rebel, and he’s an original. Rock on, Willie! Now, for a bit of this. . .”

More music started. Justin and Billy sat in their room and looked at each other.

“Wow!”

“Wow is right. I hope Nicholas heard that, he’d be delighted.”

“Was that your doing, Sweetcheeks? Did he play that because you asked him to?”

“No I didn’t. I did offer to but Nicholas said that, while Conrad playing a song for him was the one thing that he really wanted, it had to be his own idea and not a request from anyone else. Looks like it just happened. I SO hope that he didn’t miss it.”

“Yeah, that would be the pits! That’s your plan, isn’t it? Getting those two together?”

“It is. You can read me like a book, can’t you?”

“Only sometimes. It’s about time we got that boy into bed.”

“In bed? Oh – you mean Jeremy.”

“Of course!! Don’t you even think about anything else.”

“I wouldn’t, Sunny. I never would. Jeremy in his own bed, sometimes, and you in mine, always. That’s all I’ll ever want.

“Yeah, me too.”

They went through to Jeremy’s room and interrupted his playing. He was building a town again, from blocks, bricks, books and anything else he could find.

“I’m sure that this boy’s going to be a builder.”

“A demolition expert is probably more likely! He sets them up and knocks them down.”

“He’s not that bad.”

They hadn’t even got the Boy into bed when they heard a thundering coming up the stairs.

“Just – tin! Justin! Just. . in.”

Justin opened the hall-way door and they looked out to see Nicholas pounding on the door to their room.

“Justin! Are you there?”

“No, I’m not. I’m over here. Hey Nicholas.”

“Justin! Oh, Justin. He did it. Did you hear him? He did it – he played a song for me! Did you hear it? You didn’t ask him to do that, did you?”

“Whoah, Nicholas. Settle down, Boy, you’ll burst a blood vessel. Take some deep breaths and settle down. Yes, we heard it. No, I didn’t ask him to. It was all his own idea, I think.”

“But he did it, didn’t he? That was so cool. He really did it! Why would he do that?”

“What did he do? Who did he what?” Jeremy demanded excitedly. “It was good wasn’t it? Who did what?”

“Jeremy, don’t you start,” Billy replied. “The Seeker played a song on the radio for Nicholas.”

“Oh. Is that all?” Jeremy shrugged and went back to his room.

Justin said, “Don’t listen to him, he’s just a kid. It was a big deal and very exciting – very cool. Come and sit in our room and get your breath back.”

They went into their room and steered Nicholas into the visitors’ chair.

“Nicholas, tell me something. Did you run all the way here from your house?”

“I did,” he nodded. “I had to tell you.”

“That’s great. That was a fast run, I’m impressed. Don’t you ever tell me again that you can’t run – you can! I’ll be struggling to keep up with you soon.”

“Not likely! You’re the best, Superboy. No-one beats you. Why did he play my song?”

“Well, we really don’t know. You might have to ask him.”

“Oh, I couldn’t do that.”

“Sure you can. Do you want me to come with you?”

“No! I’m not going anywhere. I couldn’t, I just couldn’t!”

“Okay, don’t get upset. Nobody’s going to make you do anything you don’t want to.”

“It’s probably quite simple really,” Billy said. “People have been seeing you around with Justin. Superboy’s friends get noticed. Conrad probably saw you with him somewhere.”

“Do you think so? Oh, Justin – Thank You!”

“Thank you, Nicholas. Thank you for being my friend.”

“I’ll ALWAYS be your friend. What am I going to do about Conrad? I can’t go and talk to him.”

Justin picked up the phone, tapped out the numbers, 0800343374, and handed it to him. “Just say, ‘This is Nicholas, thank you, Conrad.’”

“Can I? Should I? I. . oh. . .Hello. Hello Conrad. Thank you for playing the song, this is Nicholas. Thank you.”

A huge grin spread across his face as Conrad spoke to him. Billy took Justin by the hand and took him back to Jeremy’s room.

“Give the Boy some privacy.”

Got Him! A few minutes after he’d played the song and dedicated it to Nicholas, the phone rang and it was him, Nicholas!

He knew that he’d ring, or, he hoped he would. People rang the station sometimes, to say thank you for playing a request or a dedication. It didn’t happen often, but it did happen.

At first he was certain that Nicholas would ring, but then, as the long minutes dragged past, he was starting to think that maybe he wouldn’t. Maybe he didn’t even hear it. So it was with great relief that he answered the phone and heard that soft, drawling, voice.

“Hello Conrad. Thank you for playing the song, this is Nicholas.”

“Nicholas! Hey! It’s so good to hear from you. It was my pleasure to play a song for you. That one just describes you so well, you’ve got great Spanish Eyes, and thank you for saying ‘thank you’. Not everyone does that.”

“It wasn’t my idea. Superboy said that I had to. He rang the number and put the phone in my hand.”

“He did? Good for Superboy then. Tell him I said thanks.”

“I will.”

“He really is Superboy, isn’t he?”

“He is. Justin is great and he’s my friend.”

“Yeah, so I’ve heard. You’ve got a good friend there.”

“I have!”

“Is he there with you now?”

“No. He and Billy have gone in the other room.”

“Oh. But he’s at your house?”

“No. I’m at his hotel. I ran all the way here after I heard you play a song for me. I had to tell him.”

“Okay. Why did you have to tell him?”

“Because he’s my friend. I haven’t got any other friends.”

“Really? Why not? You’re a nice guy.”

“Do you think so? I’m not, I’m just a Dummy.”

“I do think so and you shouldn’t say that. You’re not a Dummy.”

“That’s what Superboy says.”

“Superboy says that you’re a Dummy?”

“No! He doesn’t.” Nicholas giggled, throatily.

(‘Damm! That’s so cute!’)

“Justin says that I’m not a Dummy and I shouldn’t say that.”

“Good for him then. You should listen to him. He’s a good friend, isn’t he?”

“He is! Superboy is the best.”

“Yeah, I’ve heard that too. Look, Nicholas, can you hold on for a minute? The song is finishing and I’ve got to do a voice-break., but I’ll be right back. Please don’t hang up. Wait, okay?”

“I will wait for you, Conrad.”

“Thanks, Hold on, I’ll be right back.”

Nicholas waited patiently. He would’ve waited all night, but it wasn’t long before Conrad came back.

“You still there? Oh good. Thanks.”

“Conrad, why did you play a song for me?”

“Because I wanted to. I thought you’d like it. You did, didn’t you? Superboy said that you always listen to the show.”

“Oh. Justin asked you to, didn’t he?”

“No he didn’t! He didn’t even tell me your name. I figured that out for myself.”

“How did you?”

“Superboy came to see me. He said that he had a friend, a boy my age, who’d never talked to me but who listened to the show all of the time. You’ve been around with him lately, so I figured that it must be you.”

“And you played a song for me.”

“I did. You liked that, didn’t you?”

“I did like it, that was great! But, I don’t know why you did it.”

“I told you, I wanted to. Look, Nicholas, Superboy likes you. He says that you’re a good guy. I think that you might be too, and I’d like to get to know you. Okay?”

“Would you really? Oh shit! I. . .ah. . .you wouldn’t want to know me.”

“Yes I would! Why wouldn’t I want to know you?”

“Because you’re Conrad. You’re great and you’re really smart. I’m not, I’m just a . .”

“Don’t say it! Don’t say that you’re a Dummy, you’re not! Look, Nicholas, I’m sorry but I’ve really gotta go. I’m working here, got stuff to do. I’ll see you at school tomorrow, okay?”

“Yes, I will be at school tomorrow.”

“Good, I’ll see you then. You will talk to me, won’t you?”

“I’ll try to.”

“You do that. You try very hard, I won’t bite you. You talk to me or I’ll smack you, okay?”

“You’ll smack me?”

“If you don’t talk to me, I will. Gotta go, Nicholas. Thanks for phoning, it was good to talk to you.”

“It was good to talk to you too. Thank you for playing my song. Goodbye Conrad.”

“Later, Nicholas.”

Nicholas hung up and sat looking at the phone with a big grin on his face. Justin came back through the door.

“Everything all right then?”

“Oh yes! Thank you, Justin. Conrad is great. He’s going to smack me.”

“He what? He bloody better not! Why would he smack you?”

“He said he will if I don’t talk to him at school tomorrow.”

“Oh. Well that’s different then. You talk to him. If you don’t, then I might smack you too.”

“Would you really?”

“No, not really. But I’d feel like it. You talk to him, Nicholas. He’s a nice kid and he needs friends too, we all do.

“I don’t”

“You don’t need a friend? Why not?

“I don’t need a friend, I’ve already got one. I’ve got you and you’re Superboy.”

“No, I’m not – I’m Justin. You have got me, and that’s good, but you need more. You need friends who are your age. Billy is my best friend and I couldn’t imagine my life without him. Or want to. Don’t you want a friend like that? Don’t you want Conrad like that?”

“Justin1 Oh, Justin. I couldn’t, I just couldn’t.’

“You could and I think you will, if you don’t run away. You’re good enough, Nicky. You’re good enough for anyone and Conrad will be lucky to have you for a friend. Very lucky.”

“Do you really think so?”

“I do and I’m not wrong. Ask Jeremy, he’ll tell you, his Daddys are always right.”

“Jeremy doesn’t know. He’s just little.”

“Don’t tell him that. He doesn’t think he is. Anyway, ask Grandmother, she’ll tell you the same thing and she’s not little.”

“You’re very lucky, Justin. You’ve got all these people who love you. I love you too.”

“I am lucky. You can be too, just let people love you. I love you, Nicky. Anyone who knows you is going to love you.”

“Even Conrad?”

“Yes, even Conrad. He played a song for you, didn’t he?”

“He did! That was incredible. Thank you Justin.”

“Hey, it wasn’t me, it was Conrad who did it. Thank him.”

“I did thank him, you made me do it.”

“You’re not sorry are you?”

“No, I’m not sorry. Conrad’s great.”

“Yeah. Well tell him that. I think you’ll find that he’ll say the same thing to you.’

“That he’s great?”

“No, that you are. You really are, Nicky. You’re a great kid.”

“I’m not. I’m just. . .”

Justin clamped a hand over his mouth to shut him up.

Westpoint Tales - The Lost Years, 7

Nicholas came out of the main entrance of the Highschool, walking slowly and with his head down. His lips moved as he read something in his hand. Some girls hurried out behind him and one of them shoved him out of the way.

“Move your arse, Dummy.”

“Oi!” Justin fronted up to them. “Keep your hands off my friend.”

“Your friend, Superboy? Get real. This is Nicholas, he’s a . .”

“He’s a nice kid and he’s my friend.”

“He is? Really? You must be getting hard up.”

“Hard up? Not at all. I’ve got some great friends, and Nicholas is one of them. Right, Nicholas?”

His wide grin spread from ear-to-ear. “Right, Justin! I’m your friend.”

Justin took him by the arm and led him away. The girls stood watching.

“Well, bugger me!”

He purposely led him along, up Derby Street, through the Square and over to the main street. Nicholas didn’t notice, but everyone was staring at them. Justin noticed, he wanted them to look.

Nicholas took a lot of convincing that his mother was okay with them hanging out together, but Justin eventually got it through to him. They went to the Adelphi; Billy wasn’t back yet, so he introduced him to everyone else there. They took some cokes and went up to the bedroom.

Billy and Jeremy arrived and came into the room. Justin and Nicholas were sitting on the two, wide, window ledges looking down over the main street.

Nicholas blushed and stood up. “Billy. I’m sorry.”

“Sorry? What for? This is Justin’s room too. He can bring his friends up here. Jeremy, this is Daddy’s friend, Nicholas. Be nice to him.”

“Gee, thanks Billy!” Nicholas beamed. “Hello Jeremy.”

“Hey Nicholas. Come and see my trains. I’ve got Thomas!”

Jeremy took his hand and pulled on it. Nicholas looked at Justin.

“Should I?”

“Of course. Go and see the Boy’s trains.”

Jeremy led him through to the other room, chattering excitedly.

“He’s a nice kid,” said Billy. He sat on the window ledge. “Good looking boy too.”

“He is,” Justin agreed. “He’s got a great smile, it lights up his face.”

“You think? No, the smile’s okay, but his eyes are his best feature. He’s got beautiful eyes.”

“That he has. The eyes are supposed to be the windows to the soul. He’s got a sweet soul and beautiful Spanish eyes.”

“Yeah, he has. If he ever learns to use them, those eyes will be his best weapon. Lady-killer eyes.”

“Wrong, Sunny. He’s not interested in killing the ladies. He’s gay and he’s in love with someone special.”

“He is? Am I allowed to know who?”

“Of course. It’s Conrad Keenan actually.”

“Conrad? The Seeker? So that’s why you went to Robbie’s place last night. Oh, the poor kid, he’s got no chance.”

“I wouldn’t say that he’s got no chance. Slim, maybe but not none. He’s good enough for anyone and Conrad seems to be a nice boy too.”

“You Old Dog, you! You’re matchmaking aren’t you? Good luck with that.”

“We’re working on it, Sunny. We’re working on it. Now, I’ve got to drag him away from Jeremy. We’ll walk back to his home while there’s still a lot of kids around the streets.”

“Why would you want to do hat? Oh, I know. You want people to see him with you.”

“You’ve got it. If the kids see that he’s got one friend, maybe he’ll make some more.”

“You’re a devious beggar when you want to be, Sweetcheeks.”

“Oh yes. See you later, Sunny. I won’t be long.”

Jeremy protested, of course. He was having a wonderful time, playing trains with his new friend – mostly because Nicholas just let him be the boss and did what he told him to. Jeremy had shades of both of his great-grandmothers in him.

Justin dragged him away and they walked along the main street as far as the clocktower, around there and into the Square, past the skateboard ramps. They walked across to, and up Brigham Street, chatting quietly and pretending not to notice the many eyes watching them.

“Do you run, Nicholas.”

“No, I can’t run. I’m useless!”

“You’re not useless. Don’t say that. You should run – it’s good for you and it’s fun. I run most mornings, around 7 o’clock, in the Square. You should come with me.”

“I couldn’t run with you. You’re too fast for me.”

“I’ll take it easy until you get faster. You’d make a good runner; you’ve got the build for it – long and lanky. Come running with me.”

“Well, okay then, I will. I’ll see you there in the morning.”

“Good boy. Thanks. We might even make a champion runner out of you.”

“Doubt it! I’ll never be a champion anything, I’m just a . .”

“Don’t! Don’t say it, Nicky. Don’t even think it.”

“How do you know what I was going to say?”

“I know and I don’t want to hear it.”

They walked along together, quietly. Nicholas glanced sideways at him. “Justin?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m really glad that you’re my friend. Thanks Justin.”

“Thanks. I’m really glad that you’re my friend too.”

When they came to Nicholas’ home, Justin left him there after telling him. “When you go inside, spend a few minutes talking to your mother. Tell her about your day. Tell her about Jeremy and his trains. Be nice to your mum, and she’ll be nice to you. She does love you, you know.”

“I know, I think. I will talk to her. Thanks, Justin. Goodbye.”

“’Bye My Friend. I’ll see you at the Square in the morning.”

“You might.”

“No might. You be there or I’ll come and get you.”

Justin left him there and walked back home the other way, the long way. After having just shown everybody that Nicholas was with him, he didn’t want to back-track and show them that now he wasn’t.

The second walk across the town, with Nicholas, was a waste of time really. Justin’s purpose of showing him off and getting him noticed had already been accomplished when he met him at the school.

Conrad saw them there together and watched them walk away up derby Street. He listened to the clacking tongues of the gossips around him and thought.

‘So, my new friend is also Nicholas Awatere’s friend? What on earth would they have in common? He was with him at the Party in the Square on Saturday too. I saw him trailing along behind Superboy.’

That was all it took for Conrad to put two and two together. Superboy had a friend, a boy who was 15 and was seriously in love with him. Now he was walking up the street with Nicholas, a boy, aged 15. Ergo, his secret lover was Nicholas Awatere. It had to be him. Ewww! He was a Dummy.

But. Was he really? Superboy liked him. He was good enough for him.

He was a good-looking boy too, if you didn’t know him. He had beautiful eyes. Dark, soft and expressive, Spanish Eyes. He had a wide grin and that long, long, slender body, smooth and tanned. Nicholas was a looker! Why had he never seen that before?

He didn’t know him at all. He thought that he did, but he didn’t.

Nicholas Awatere as a friend, and, maybe, as a lover? Well? Why not anyway?

Conrad drove home to Carvers’ Beach, and lay on his bed, lost in thought.

“Conrad, you’re 15. You’re not a kid anymore, you’re growing up, but you’re all alone.” Superboy sat right there, last night and said that to him. It was true too, he was all alone.

Did he want to be? Was he happy? The hell he was! He needed a friend. He needed someone to love. Nicholas?

Nicholas was . . .he was. . . he was a bloody nice kid, that’s what he was! He was always pleasant, in his own way – never offensive. Good looking, quiet and slow-spoken, he kept to himself and was never a problem to anyone. He never had a bad word to say to anyone. When they mocked him, he didn’t retaliate, just smiled that goofy smile and walked away.

He was a nice kid.

Conrad could like him. He did like him. They could be friends, if Nicholas wanted to. Of course he bloody wanted to! He loved him, didn’t he? Didn’t he?

There was a song, a really old song, that had something to say about this. It was a really, really old song – older than most of Uncle Robbie’s favourites even, and they were ancient. It was not as old as Superboy’s song though. Not quite, but it was getting up there.

What was it called? Someone? It was sung by who? (‘Whom?’) Umm – yes! That was it, sung by the Tremeloes, one of those British groups back in the Beatles’ days.

He sat at the computer, opened his music-sharing programme and ‘searched’. Nothing. There were a few songs by the Tremeloes, some that he knew but didn’t know that they’d done them, but nothing about ‘Someone Who Loves You’.

One song was by Brian Poole and the Tremeloes, so he searched by that artist title. Yes! There it was. ‘Someone Loves You’ by Brian Poole and the Tremeloes. He started a down-load and went over to check on his music-news site.

When the ‘Launch” panel slid up, he clicked on it and sat back to listen.

“Someone (love you), Someone (love you)
Someone who really loves you.
(Someone) When Someone really loves you (Someone)
That’s when your life begins.

Once I was loved by no-one, no-one depended on me
I thought that I was truly happy, but oh how wrong can you be?

Someone (love you), Someone (love you)
Someone who really loves you
(Someone) When Someone really loves you (Someone)
That’s when you life begins.

A heart can be easily broken, a heart can even stand still.
A heart can be easily broken, but I know that mine never will.
Once all the stars were shining, now it’s so easy to see.
Once all the stars were shining, but now they shine for me.

Someone (love you), Someone (love you)
Someone who really loves you
(Someone) When Someone really loves you (Someone)
That’s when your life begins

That’s when your life begins.
That’s when your life begins.”

That was it? Damm, they did short songs back then! He played it again, and this time something happened. He didn’t know why or what it was, but a huge wave of sadness overwhelmed him. He started to cry and streams of silent tears ran down his cheeks.

Conrad never cried – never! He couldn’t remember the last time he’d cried, but now he was. He SO wanted someone to love him. He wanted his life to begin. He wanted . . he wanted . . He wanted Nicholas! Yes. He wanted a relationship with Nicholas Awatere with the beautiful eyes.

How? How to begin? Nicholas loved him, Superboy said. Well, he more or less said. It had to be him. It must be him. How?

He’d often heard the story of how Uncle Robbie and Bryce had first got together, away back in the dim, dark ages. Robbie was 14 and very shy, but he had his own radio show even then. That, of course, was how he’d started on the radio himself. Robbie was the boss now and he’d offered a time-slot to his favourite nephew.

“You could be the new Toucan.”

“No thanks. I don’t want to hide like the Toucan did. I’m not you, Uncle Robbie, I’m me – Conrad. That’s it! I’ll do it, but I’ll be the Seeker.”

“The Seeker, searching for and playing songs?”

“No. The Seeker for my initials. CK, Conrad Keenan, me.”

“Right. The Seeker it is then. The Toucan’s dead anyway, I shot him.”

“Bird-murderer!”

And that was how he started on the radio. It was a lot of fun and Robbie paid him well, but there should be more to life than that. He wanted what Robbie and Bryce had. He wanted to love and be loved. He wanted Nicholas.

So? How had Robbie done it? He and Bryce had begun by dedicating songs to each other on the radio; songs that said how they were feeling. (Bryce STILL called Robbie his ‘Little Boy’, sometimes).

He could do that, couldn’t he? Of course he could. Superboy said that Nicholas listened to the show. “Let’s hope he’s listening tonight.’

What song could he play for him? Yes! There was only one possible song. He’d do it tonight.

Westpoint Tales - The Lost Years, 6

Daniel, Tony and Jinks were on the bridge into town, pushing Jink’s small, but fully-loaded, truck. Daniel and Tony were at the back and Jinks walked beside the open driver’s side door, steering and pushing at the same time.

Plenty of cars went past on the busy road but no-one stopped to help until Billy and Justin did.

“Get a horse, Jinks!” Billy pulled up beside them.

“I’ll push! I’ll push!” Jeremy struggled to escape from his booster-seat.

“You stay where you are,” Justin glanced back at him. “We’ll give them a tow. Are you going to the racecourse, Jinks? We’ll tow you. Right, Billy?”

“Of course we will. There’s a rope in the boot, I think.”

Jinks said, “Thanks Guys. Yes, of course we’re going to the racecourse, I’m not taking a load of straw to the house. But, do you think that this little old thing can handle it?”

“Don’t you be cheeky about our car! At least it goes.”

“Yeah, that’s because the Master Mechanic hasn’t worked on it yet, have you Tones?”

“Hey, it’s not my fault. It was going, I don’t know why it’s not now. I’m not a master mechanic – yet. I’m doing a course by correspondence. I’m a country member.”

“Oh, we remember,” Jinks grinned. “How could we forget?”

“Shut up, Jinks.” Daniel defended his mate “He did his best.”

They hooked up the rope and easily towed the truck across town to the racecourse. Jeremy wanted to ride “on the hay” but wasn’t allowed to. It was too dangerous.

“It’s not hay, Son. It’s straw. Right, Jinks?”

“Right, Justin. They eat hay, straw is for the floors. The horses will eat straw if they’re really hungry, but not usually. Straw is for them to sleep on.”

“Yeah, they crap all over it too. Dirty buggers!”

“When you’ve gotta go, you’ve gotta go.”

“That’s all very well,” said Daniel. “But then some poor sod has to clean it all up.”

“Yeah,” Jinks sighed. “That’d be me. Sometimes I think that I should go back to fishing.”

“You bloody will not!” Justin said and the others all agreed.

They towed the truck through the flat streets of Westpoint, tooting the horn to warn traffic that they weren’t going to stop at the intersections. They got plenty of toots in return, and laughs and waves.

They left Jinks, Daniel and Tony at the racecourse stables and drove home to the Adelphi. It was past time that Jeremy had his bath and went to bed.

Justin and Billy lay, one on each side of him on the bed, and Billy read a story, because it was his turn. Then they kissed him goodnight, told him that they loved him and told him to go to sleep.

They watched TV in their room for a while, but there was nothing on worth watching so they turned out the light and went to bed early. (Not necessarily to sleep).

“Thank you, Sunny, for taking us out today.”

“My pleasure, Sweetcheeks. It was a good day.”

“It was. I love you, Sunny.”

“I know. I love you too.”

Billy woke in the morning and he was alone in the bed. That was nothing unusual, Justin didn’t seem to need as much sleep as other people and he usually ran every morning.

He poured out of bed and headed down to the kitchen and the coffee-pot, but first opened the connecting door to check on Jeremy. He wasn’t there, the unmade bed was flat and empty.

Where would he be? Not with Justin, much as he’d like to, he was still too little to run with him. Billy went down to the kitchen and Jeremy was there, sitting on his grandfather’s knee and holding court.

“Is that boy behaving himself?” Billy growled as he poured a coffee.

“Yes, of course he is,” Bob replied. “You boys worry too much. Jeremy’s a good boy. Aren’t you, My Darling?”

Jeremy smiled sweetly and wrapped his arms around his grandfather’s neck.

“He’s a bloody little con-artist, that’s what he is!” Billy drank a mouthful. “He’s got you lot all totally fooled.”

“Well they do say that love is blind,” Connors said. “And everyone’s in love with the boy.”

Billy sat in a chair and agreed, “They are. Jeremy, come and give me a cuddle.”

Jeremy hugged his father. “I love you, Daddy.”

“Yeah, I love you too, Scamp – I love you very much.”

“Morning all!” Justin came in through the back-door. “It’s a lovely day.”

He bent and kissed Jeremy, squeezed Billy’s shoulders and was gone – upstairs to shower and change.

As it was Monday, it was Billy’s turn to take Jeremy to pre-school for the morning. They stopped, as usual, to run off some energy in the kids’ playground in the Square, and then walked across to the kindergarten in Russley Street.

As soon as they went in there, Jeremy was gone to play with his cousins and Billy was left to sit and talk to Lana. Monday was normally Claudette’s day at pre-school, but not today, she was too sick. Apparently, Jonathan had offered to stay home from work to look after her but she wasn’t THAT sick, and, besides, it was all his bloody fault, wasn’t it!

After “school”, Billy and Jeremy went around to Ma’s for lunch and stayed there for a couple of hours.

Justin went to his wok in the Adelphi’s small office. He had a degree in accountancy, (Bachelor of Economics), done from home by correspondence, and had taken over all the accounting and office work for the family’s businesses – the two hotels, the River Bridge Motels and Burgertown Backpackers. He also supervised the accounts for Billy’s Burgers and the R&R business.

They all called him the ‘Chief Accountant’, because he was the only accountant, but he had 2 girls to assist him. Actually though, he spent most of his time planning and studying. The work was not onerous. He was still quite hopeless with computers, but he’d learnt what he needed to know.

Kathleen was meant to be taking it easy now that Justin had taken over the manager’s role, but she was totally incapable of that. She was very involved in several clubs and service organizations around the town. She’d joined the Croquet Club, as a player, and had finished up running the place.

Bob said that his Kathy just needed someone to boss around, which was fine with him as long as it was somebody else.

Kathleen’s favourite job, whenever she could, was looking after Jeremy when his fathers were busy. Sometimes she got Jonathan’s kids too, which was a bonus.

Billy worked for Billy’s Burgers, sometimes in advertising and promotions, but mostly as a counter-hand. He enjoyed it and, besides, it was worth it just to see people’s reactions when they saw who it was that was serving their burgers.

Justin got a phone-call just after one o’clock. He’d had a few calls, but this was the one that he’d been waiting for – it was from Ross and Robert. They’d been talking to Nicholas, they sat and ate lunch with him and told him what he needed to know.

“You were right, Justin. He is a nice kid. We don’t think he’s got a nasty-bone in his body.”

“He said that he envies us. He wishes that he was Superboy’s brother. Superboy is great!”

“Yeah, well! Thanks, Guys, I appreciate that.”

“No probs. We love Superboy too.”

“Shut up, Ross.”

Justin told the girls that he was finished work for the day, and he left. He walked up Brigham Street, but didn’t go into the Square, he was on a mission. Further along, he turned into Eastman’s Road and walked along to Nicholas’ mother’s house.

He knocked at the door, and Mrs. Awatere-Jones appeared, still in her nightwear and dressing-gown. She was not a pretty sight.

“Oh. It’s you. What do you want?”

“We need to talk, Mrs. Awatere-Jones. Can I come in?”

“In here? Oh, all right then. Come in the kitchen, I need a drink.”

He followed inside and sat at the table while she put the kettle on and rinsed-out the teapot and a couple of cups.

“Tea?”

“Yes, thank you.”

She put the teapot, 2 cups without saucers, sugar in a jar, and milk in a plastic bottle, on the table and then sat down. He noticed that a ‘shot’ of something went into her cup, but he said nothing. He poured himself a cup of tea – no milk, no sugar.

“All right, here we are. Talk to me.”

“Mrs. Awatere-Jones, I’m gay.”

She snorted into her cup. “You think that’s news to anybody?”

“No, I guess not. Not around here. I’m gay but I’m not interested in your son like that, definitely not. I live with my partner, Billy, and our son, and I’m very happy with that. We’ve been together for years now and we always will be.

I would never do anything to risk losing all that we have. I met Nicholas, properly, for the first time on Saturday night. I like him a lot, but only as a friend. I’m very aware that he’s only 15 and I’m 6 years older.

I have all the relationship I’ll ever need, but I do need friends, everybody does.”

“Yes. Well. Okay, I suppose you’re right. Nicholas could certainly do with a friend.”

“He’s got friends and he’ll make more. He’s a nice kid.”

“He is a nice kid, but he’s Special Needs, you know.”

“So you said. That doesn’t worry me. I like him.”

“I guess that I said a lot of things. I was a bit pissed.”

“Lots of people were. It was Saturday night and a party night..

“Damm! It must be right. I’ve heard that you’re too good to be true.”

“No I’m not. I’m just me.”

“You’re one of a kind.”

They sat quietly, facing each other across the table, sipping on their tea and thinking.

“What then? If you’re so happy in your life, what do you want from Nicholas? He’s getting big, he’s very tall for his age, but he’s still just 15 and very young with it.”

“That’s cool. I just want to be his friend, that’s all.”

“You’ve got lots of friends, all over the whole bloody town.”

“I have, and that’s good, but I’ll never have too many.”

She sighed, “Nicholas has got no friends, not a bloody one! They all think that he’s a Dummy.”

“I don’t. I know what it’s like to be young and friendless, I’ve been there. Now I’ve got plenty because someone once reached out to me.”

“And that’s what you want to do for Nicholas?”

“Yes I do. I’d like to see him make some friends of his own age and I’ll help him to do that, if I can.”

“Well good luck to you! If you can do that, then you really are Superboy. I think he’s gay you know.”

“He thinks so too, he told me. Would you have a problem with that?”

“A problem? No, I don’t think so. But the poor kid’s got enough problems without that.”

“If he is, then he is, and it doesn’t have to be a problem, it’s not for me.”

“No. But then, you’re Superboy. Nicholas is no Superboy, he’s a . . “

“Don’t say it. Don’t even think it! He’s not. He’s Nicholas, he’s your son and he’s a thoroughly nice person.”

“Yes, I think you’re right. He is a nice kid. It’s a shame that no-one ever sees that.”

“I see that. Other people are starting too. I think we can help him, if you’ll let us.”

“All right then! I’ll let you. I’m dammed if I know why you’d want to, but Nicholas needs a friend. I’m going to trust you. Don’t let me down.”

“I won’t let you down. I won’t let Nicholas down. He’s my friend and I like the kid. Thank you.”

“Bloody hell, Superboy!” She shook her head. “Thank you! What do you get out of this?”

“I get a nice kid for a friend.”

“Yeah, you do.”

They talked a while, and then Justin had to go, time was getting on. She came to the door and shook his hand as he was leaving.

“Thanks, Superboy. If you have any trouble with Nicholas, let me know and I’ll boot his backside.”

“Thank you, Mrs. . . ah, Donna. There won’t be any trouble.”
He walked back to the school, arriving there just as everyone was coming out. A lot of kids greeted him. He smiled and waved and looked for Nicholas

Westpoint Tales - The Lost Years, 5

Jonathan answered, “Robbie? Yeah, he and Bryce live in that white one over there.”

“That old place? Surely they could afford something better than that!”

“I don’t know. Why don’t you go ask them?”

“I might. See you later, brother. Billy, I’ll find my own way back to town. I’m just going to see Robbie K. for a few minutes.”

“We’ll wait for you. I’ll just take the boy over to the beach. He loves making sandcastles, don’t you, Son?”

“They’re not castles, Daddy. They’re beach-houses.”

“Okay, let’s go and make some beach-houses.”

“All right!” Jeremy took off, running.

Billy sighed, “Endless energy! If we could bottle it, we’d be rich.”

“We’re already rich, Sunny. We always have been.”

“Yeah, we have, but we’d be richer. Come over and find us when you’re ready for home.”

“Okay, thanks. I’ll just be a few minutes. ‘Bye family, see you later.”

The party broke up. Jonathan’s car and mini-van headed back to town, Billy went to the beach with Jeremy and Justin went in the opposite direction, across the Domain, to Robbie and Bryce’s house.

The front door opened before he reached it and a tall, still-handsome, man came outside.

“Hey Superboy. Are you looking for someone?”

“Hey Bryce. I wanted to see Robbie, is he here?”

“He’s out the back, in the pool. Come on through the house. Put your pants on, Robbie. We’ve got company. Can I get you a drink, Justin?”

“No thanks. We’ve just eaten. Hey Robbie.”

Robbie, in the pool, straightened up and pulled his shorts up. “Hey Justin. How are you?”

“I’m good. Why have you guys got a pool when there’s a perfectly good beach right across the road?”

“Too much salt and sand over there, and the water’s warmer here.”

“Besides which,” Bryce interrupted. “We wouldn’t want to scare the fish away. Robbie likes an all-over tan.”

“On you, I do,” Robbie grinned.

“Whoah! Too much information!” Justin laughed.

“You started it. What can we do for you, Superboy?”

“Justin. Robbie, where does your nephew, Conrad, live?”

“Conrad? What are you looking for him for? Isn’t he a bit young for you?”

“No he’s not. He’s 15, or so I’m told. I just want to throw him on a bed and ravish him.”

“Doesn’t everyone? He lives here with us. I think he’s in his room, he usually is. Bryce will show you where.”

“Conrad lives with you guys? How come?”

“It’s all your fault, but that’s okay. We don’t mind, it’s great having him here.”

“My fault? How do you work that out?”

“Both of his parents work for you – for Billy’s Burgers. They moved to Dunedin to manage a new restaurant. Conrad refused to go with them, so he lives here with us.”

“He’s 15 and he refused to go with them?”

“Have you ever tried to make a teenager do something that he really doesn’t want to?”

“Not yet, but I’m sure we’ll have that to look forward to. So, where is he?”

“Come on, Superboy,” said Bryce. “I’ll show you, and no ravishing the boy.”

“Wouldn’t think of it, Bryce. Thanks, Robbie. I’ll see you later.”

“Yeah, laters Superboy!”

Bryce led the way back inside and indicated. “The blue door there. Knock loudly, he’s probably got his headphones on.”

“Headphones?”

“Yeah. Music is Conrad’s life. If he’s not on the radio he’s usually here, listening to music. Sad really, at 15 he should be out there having a life.”

“Well, maybe – just maybe, we might be able to do something about that.”

“I hope you can, I really do. I’ll leave you to it, I’ve got lawns to mow. That’s the story of my life – old houses and big lawns. Later, Superboy.”

“Later, Bryce. Thanks.”

“Thank you, Justin. Dig him out of there if you can.”

He knocked, loudly. Conrad heard him, he opened the door and looked out.

“Oh. Hello. Are you looking for someone?”

Justin stood and looked at the boy before him. He was an okay-looking kid, but nothing exceptional. Blue eyes, a rather long face and his mouth looked to be over-full, like he had the wrong teeth. His hair was light-brown, spiked into a ‘comb’ on top but cut really short around the back and sides. It was a bit nerdy-looking really.

He did have great skin though – really great. It was all an even light-tan colour and, yes, he glowed. He glowed with health and vitality and the beauty of youth. A nice-looking boy, but he didn’t see the perfection that Nicholas saw.

“Hey, Conrad. I was looking for you. Can we talk? I’m Justin Reynolds by the way.”

I know who you are, Superboy. Everyone knows who you are. Come in and sit down.”

“Please don’t call me Superboy. My name is Justin.”

“You might think so; no-one else does.”

“Yes they do. My friends call me Justin.”

“I’m not your friend, I don’t even know you.”

“I’m hoping to change that.”

“You are? Why? You’re not another fan of the Seeker, are you?”

“Nope, not me. I’ve heard the Seeker on the radio, I think, but not a lot.”

“All right then. Sit down. You can have the chair, I’ll sit on the bed. What do you want, Justin?”

“You’re direct, aren’t you? I like that. Okay, cards on the table. I haven’t got a lot of time, Billy and Jeremy are waiting for me, so I’ll just come out and say it.”

“I wish you would.”

“Conrad, you’re 15. You’re not a kid anymore, you’re growing up, but you’re all alone. They tell me that, when you’re not on the air, you don’t have any close friends.”

“That’d be right. I’ve got no friends at all.”

“Why not? You’re a nice-looking kid and you’re very popular on the radio.”

“I don’t have any time for friends. I go to school, I study and I work on the radio 5 nights a week.”

“That still leaves 2 days a week.”

“Damm, Justin! I need some time to myself.”

“Fair enough, some time but not too much. I want to know, would you be at all interested in a relationship?”

“A relationship with who? You’re not coming on to me are you?”

“No,” Justin laughed. “I’m not coming on to you, I wouldn’t do that. I’m far too old for you and, besides, I’ve already got all the relationship I’ll ever want. I’m very happy with my Billy and our son. I’d just like to see other people as happy as I am.”

“You would? Yeah, you would. You are Westpoint’s Superboy after all.”

“Once maybe, but not now. I’ve got a friend who is seriously in love with you. Is there any chance at all that you might be interested?”

“Seriously in love? Yeah, right! Sure you have. Look, Justin, I’m not being big-headed, but I’m the Seeker. I laugh and joke and play great music on the radio. The show is way popular and lots of people think that they’re in love with me, but they’re not.

It’s all a bit of fun and they’re just fans, they don’t even know me. You’ve got no idea how many offers I’ve had. I tell them no, I’m not interested.”

“Not interested? That’s a shame. My friend knows you and has loved you since long before you were ever on the ‘stupid radio’. My friend listens to your show, of course, but to hear your voice, not just being a fan. He loves Conrad, not the Seeker.”

“He?”

“Yes, he. I didn’t mean to say that. That was a slip. Would it be a problem that it’s a boy and not a girl?”

“Your friend’s a boy? Someone my age?”

“Yes, exactly your age. He’s 15 as well. Would it be a problem?”

“No, it wouldn’t. My problem is that I haven’t got time for any more in my life. I really haven’t.”

“You could find time. You could if you wanted to. Friends and lovers are the most important things in anyone’s life. Everything else pales in comparison. Trust me, I know. Once I had neither, now I have.”

“I still don’t see how I could. I just don’t.”

“You could cut back on the radio. Look, this boy adores you, everybody needs to be adored, and he thinks that you’re just perfect. I’m sure that you don’t think that, nobody does, but he thinks that you are. He’d be more than happy to just be your friend. He really doesn’t think that he’s good enough for that even.”

“But he’s your friend?”

“He is.”

“He’s good enough then. But I just don’t see . . .who is he anyway?”

“I’m not telling you that, not yet. Look, I’m not asking you to make a decision right now. Just think about it, okay? Think about having a friend, a true friend – someone who loves you no matter what and would love to spend time in your company.

Maybe it would never come to any more than that, but you’d still be better off for knowing him. Okay? Now I’ve gotta go. I’ve already stayed longer than I should have. Billy and Jeremy will be waiting for me.

Think about it, Conrad. Think about it and let me know, you know where I live. Okay? Thanks. Now, goodbye, I’m outta here!”

“Goodbye, Superboy. I’ll think about it.”

Justin ran back over to the beach. That went well – better than he’d expected. It would be so great if he could help bring two lonely boys together.

Billy and Jeremy were busy on the beach, busy building streets of little houses. They hadn’t even missed him and Jeremy was not ready to go home, not yet. They agreed to give him half an hour more and that was all. They were going home.

He protested, but agreed. He knew when not to push the limits. He could, sometimes, get the best of either of his dads, but not both together.

He was a trier though. On the way back into town, he asked, “Can we go and see Ma? Please, please, please! I love Ma and I haven’t seen her for ever so long! She’ll be missing me. Can we go and see her?”

“No, Jeremy,” Billy said. “We’re going home, it’s nearly your bedtime. We had lunch with Ma on Friday, two days ago, that’s not long.”

“It’s long for me. I never get to see Ma. I’m a Carver you know.”

“You are, Darlin’ Boy,” said Justin. “You’re a grubby little Carver and you’re going home to your bath and bed. We’ll read you a story and then you’re going to sleep. You won’t grow up if you don’t sleep.”

“You hate me! You hate me and you never want me to have any fun!”

“Yeah, that’s right,” Billy said. “We can’t stand the sight of you. We hate you and we just want to make your life miserable.”

“We’ll throw him down stairs without any banister and feed him on cockroaches kept in a canister,” Justin nodded.

“Eww! Cockroaches! They’re disgusting. Grandmother hates cockroaches. There was one in her kitchen, she said not to tell anybody.”

“You just told us, you twit.”

“You won’t tell, will you? Don’t tell Grandmother. What’s a canister?”

“It’s a sort of a tin can.”

“Oh. You don’t hate me. I love you, Daddys.”

“Yeah, we love you too, we really do.”

“Can we go to Ma’s then?”

“No, Jeremy. We’re going home. We’ll go and see Ma tomorrow, if you’re good.”

“I’m good. I’m always good.”

“Yeah, when you’re asleep you are.”

Westpoint Tales - the Lost Years, 4

They sat for the best part of an hour while Ross and Robert said all they knew about Conrad Keenan, which was not much at all really. All they knew for sure was that nobody knew the real Conrad. People thought they did, but they didn’t.

When he was on-air, doing his radio show, he was everybody’s friend. Off air he had no friends, none at all, and it didn’t seem to worry him. He didn’t take part in any activities outside the classroom and was only ever seen at school. He was very bright, top-of-the-class stuff, but just not involved. People tried, of course, to start conversations with him, but it never worked. He wasn’t offensive, but it was like he was Teflon-coated, things just slid off him.

He was never abused in any way, people just let him be. Apart from the fact that Westpoint High did not tolerate bullying in any form, the way that his uncle, the Toucan, used to use his radio show to belittle and humiliate bullies was still legend in the town.

He never had, but no-one doubted that the Seeker could easily destroy anyone he wanted to, so they were all very careful around him. He’d never had a girl-friend, or a boy-friend, but they were sure he could if he wanted to.

Robert said, “Maybe his balls haven’t dropped yet.”

The other two told him to shut the fuck up; there was no need to be crude.

What did he look like?

“Pretty average. Brown hair, blue eyes, all the usual bits.”

Ross disagreed. “He’s more than average, he’s a good-looking kid.”

“What are ya?” Robert replied. “Don’t you go turning gay on me. No offence, Superboy, but I’ve already got two gay brothers and that’s enough!”

“Ask Trina if I’m gay,” said Ross. “She’ll laugh in your face. You don’t have to be gay to know that someone’s good-looking, and he is. Why do you want to know all this, Justin? You haven’t got your eye on him, have you? Billy would kill you!”

“No. I haven’t got my eye on him,” Justin laughed. “I just want to know about him, that’s all. I know someone who likes him.”

“We know a hundred people who like him. Hey! It’s him, isn’t it – Nicholas? That’s why you’re interested, your new friend has got a crush on Conrad. Well you can tell him that he hasn’t got a snowflake’s chance in hell.”

“I’m not saying that it is Nicholas, but if it was, he’s good enough for anyone. He’s a great kid.”

“Maybe he is, but he still wouldn’t have a chance with Conrad Keenan. Nobody does.”

“Okay then. Thanks Guys, I appreciate this. You will remember to give my message to Nicholas, won’t you? And, Boys, be nice to him, he needs friends.”

“We all do, Superboy. We all need friends.”

“We do. But some of us have got friends, friends and family. Some of us have got nothing.”

“Okay, Justin. Are we finished here?”

“Yes, I guess so. Thanks.”

“Good! Because I’m bloody starving. Catch you later.”

Ross went into the house, closely followed by his other half. “Laters, Superboy.”

“Later, Guys.”

‘I wish I had a twin brother when I was 14.Oh – that’s right, I did!’

Sunday lunch was a casual affair – basically ‘help yourself and get your own.’ Jeremy thought that was a great idea, but Billy said “no”. He would get lunch for him and it was not going to be all ice-cream and fizzy drinks.

He asked Justin what he would like and Justin replied, “I suppose that a plate of ice-cream is out of the question?”

“You suppose right. I’ll get you a sandwich.”

“An ice-cream sandwich?”

“Shut up, Justin.”

Cecily watched Billy getting the food ready. “Do you always wait on Justin, hand and foot?”

“No Mum, it’s just that we stick to what we do best. I look after the food, Justin does the cleaning.”

“Oh. Okay, that makes sense.”

Lucas and Margaret didn’t stay long. Their boys were getting ‘scratchy’, so they went home hoping that they’d go to sleep in the car. They usually did.

Justin said, “They do? I wish that Jeremy would. He never sleeps in the car, he’s scared he might miss something.”

Billy agreed, “Right! He’s something else, our boy. He’s got my looks and Justin’s brains.”

Robert said, “How do you work that out? Justin’s not his real father.”

Cecily snorted. “Don’t you believe it! Ask him who his daddy is and he’ll tell you Justin, and then Billy. It’s never Billy and Justin, Justin always comes first for Jeremy. Always!”

“And so he should,” said Billy. “Jeremy loves Justin.”

“Everybody loves Justin,’ said Ross. “You do, Mum does, I do and so does Robert. Everyone loves Justin.”

“They do,” Billy nodded. “Maybe because he loves everybody.”

Justin said, “Everybody can shut up now.”

When they were about to leave, Cecily said, “Can you come out for dinner next Saturday? John and Brian will be here for the weekend, it’s their birthdays – Brian on Saturday and John on Sunday. Dianne and Grant are coming with them too.”

“Okay, sure,” said Billy. “It’s not holidays at university already, is it?”

“No. They’re all going back on Sunday.”

“What can we bring?” Justin asked.

“Nothing. Just bring yourselves.”

“And Jeremy?”

“Of course! Bring Jeremy if you want to be allowed into my house.”

“We’ll do that then. Come on, Sunny, time to hit the road now. ‘Bye everyone.”

On the way back into town, Jeremy asked, “Can we go to the park?”

“What do you say?” Billy replied.

“Please! Please Darling, Beautiful Daddy, can we go to the park?”

“Okay. We’ll stop at the Square for a few minutes.”

“No. Not the Square! I want to go to the park at my beach.”

“You want to go to the park where?”

“At my beach.”

“He means Carvers’ Beach,” said Justin. “He has decided that it’s his beach because he’s a Carver.”
“You can’t own a beach, Jeremy,” said Billy. “Beaches belong to everybody.”

“Not this one. Carvers’ Beach is mine!”

“Don’t argue with him, Sunny. You can’t win.

Okay, Jeremy. The beach belongs to you – you and about a hundred other Carvers. You could spend a few hours cleaning up your beach, it’s probably pretty messy after last week’s storms.”

“Cleaning it up? It’s not really my beach. It belongs to everybody.”

“Sure – when it suits you it does,” Billy laughed. “We’ll go to the Carvers’ Beach playground for a few minutes.”

“Thank you, Daddy.”

“You’re welcome, Son.”

“Hah!” Justin laughed. “You guys should go into business. You could call it ‘Sunny and Son’.”

“Superboy, Sunny and Son,” said Jeremy.

“Hah!” said Billy. “Gotcha there!”

“Jeremy, My Love. Don’t you start calling me ‘Superboy’.”

“Everybody else does.”

“Well they shouldn’t. I’m not Superboy, I’m Justin.”

“No you’re not. You’re Superdaddy.”

“Superdaddy? That’s a new one. Okay then, you can be Super-son.”

“I already am!”

“Shut up Jeremy.”

Billy turned right at the bridge, instead of turning left to go into town, and drove out to the suburb of Carvers’ Beach.

When approaching the bridge over Marvin’s Creek, Justin said, “Remember when we went on an expedition up Marvin’s Creek?”

“Yeah, of course I do. That was a good day, even if you didn’t find any lost Carvers.”

“Every day with you is a good day, Sunny. We didn’t find any Carver boys then, but we’ve sure got one now!”

“We have! He’s a good one too.”

“He is; simply the best. No red hair though. Jeremy, how would you like to have your hair dyed?”

“You leave him alone. Jeremy’s hair is fine just as it is.”

“Dammit. It’s about time that we went back to the Ferryman’s Hotel site too.”

“Shut up, Justin. Not today.”

“Dammit again.”

They arrived at the park – the Domain at Carvers’ Beach, and stopped by the children’s playground. Jonathan was there with all four of his twins, Marty and Andy and Justine and Jonathan, (known as ‘Junior’).

He greeted them delightedly. “Hello my Lovely Brothers! It’s really good to see you. I’m totally outnumbered here. Do you want some more kids?”

“Thank you, but no. We’ve got all that we need. Jeremy outnumbers us all on his own.”

“Yeah! They’re your problems, Jonathan. How come it’s just you here with the mob?”

“I’m just giving the girls a break. They’re at home with the babies. Claude’s got morning sickness again and now Lana thinks that she has too.”

“Some people never learn!”

“You need to be more careful with that dick, My Brother. It’s a lethal weapon!”

“Nah, it’s all good. Anyway, you should talk. If you two could breed, you’d have a tribe by now.”

“We’d still be struggling to keep up with you.”

“Uncle Justin! Uncle Justin! Come and play with us,” Junior called from the swings.

“Okay! I bet I can go higher than you can.”

“You won’t!”

Justin went to join Junior and Justine on the swings. Marty and Andy grabbed Jeremy’s hands and led him over to the climbing tower. Billy and Jonathan sat down, in the shade, to watch them.

“Jonathan, do you ever regret it? The way your life has turned out I mean.”

“No way! No regrets at all. How about you?”

“No regrets. My life is the best. I’ve got the two greatest boys in the world and they’re all mine.”

“Two boys?”

“Yep. Justin and Jeremy. One little kid and one big one.”

“You’ve got that right. Justin’s always going to be a boy at heart.”

“Yeah, a Superboy.”

“A super, old, boy.”

Claudette and Lana, with the babies, arrived in the mini-van late in the afternoon. They brought a picnic-tea with them – Billy’s Burgers for everyone.

“You know, Billy,” Claudette sat down next to him. “It’s about time you were thinking of a burger bar out here at the beach.”

“You might be right. It’d do well in the summertime anyway. I’ll talk to Mum about it.

“You do that,” Lana agreed. “It’s past time there was some development out here. It’s a popular place but it’s a long way to go to get something to eat.”

Justin arrived with a giggling, squirming twin under each arm, Marty on his shoulders and Jeremy on his back. They all collapsed in a pile on the grass.

“Good thinking, Guys. We should start a Baby-Factory shop too. We’d make a fortune off you lot.

“Justin!”

“Yeah. I know, ‘shut up, Justin’.”

Jonathan, carrying Andy, arrived back from the beach. “Hey Girls. Peter and Jay are over there by the water.”

“They are?” said Lana. “I’ll bet they’re not swimming. Tell them to come over and join us, there’s lots of food here.”

“No, they wouldn’t come. They’re busy.”

“Busy doing what, dare I ask?”

“Not what you’re thinking. They’re recording the sound of the waves on the sand. Peter’s got an idea for the Summertime Symphony that he’s writing.”

“Recording? On the beach? Your brothers are obsessed, Superboy.”

“No they’re not, Lana. Well, maybe Peter is. Jay’s not, he’s just patient. He does whatever Peter tells him to. He’s a good guy, is Jay.”

“He is! You’ve got great brothers, Justin.”

“He has,” Jonathan agreed. “Especially me.”

“Shut up, Jonathan. Shut up or I’ll hug you.”

“Behave yourself, Superboy. There’s kids here you know.”

“Nothing wrong with hugging, Claude. In case you haven’t noticed, Jeremy and his cousins are hugging each other all the time.”

“Yes, they are. I wonder where they got that from?”

“Shut up, Claude. Here,” he handed her another burger. “Eat. Feed my nephew.”

“It’s a niece actually. I had a scan yesterday.”

“A girl? Cool. About time we had another girl.”

“We? What do you mean, ‘we’? Do you want to go through the delivery for me?”

“Not likely! I wouldn’t want to take that away from you.”

“Gee, thanks a lot!”

“You’re welcome, and I mean that. I’ll shut up, shall I?”

“Yeah, you do that.”

When they were loading the cars up, getting ready to go home, Jonathan came back from buckling Justine into her seat. “Thanks Justin. I’m glad you turned up today. One thing that you’re always good at is tiring the kids out. We should get some peace tonight.”

Justin stood looking back across the Domain. “Good for you. Our little dynamo is not even starting to get tired yet. Robbie Keenan lives over in one of those houses, doesn’t he?”