Westpoint Tales - The Last Time, 3

With Justin carefully guiding and ushering them all the way, three abreast, they went out of the mouth of the river, circled around to the left, caught a wave and drove straight ahead to land gently on the flat sands of Carver’s Beach. They undid the skirts, stood up and out and carried the kayaks up away from the water.

“That was so cool!” Marty grinned. “Can we do it again?”

“”Oh yeah!” Andy agreed. “That was a buzz! Can we go out and ride in again?”

“In a few minutes. We’ll take a breather first. That was well done, Boys, you handled that like professionals.”

“We did, didn’t we?”

“This is so much fun. Why weren’t we doing it years ago?”

“Because you were too little. You’re still only 14.”

“Nearly 15. We’ll be 15 in a couple of weeks.”

“Oh yes! Don’t I know it?”

“You do? Have you bought our presents yet?”

“What did you get us?”

“A car would be nice.”

“I’m sure it would, but you’re not getting one. I thought maybe we’d give you both a big hug and a voucher for a meal at Billy’s Burgers.”

“That’d be nice, Uncle McScrooge.”

“Yes, thanks, you cheapskate!”

“I don’t have to buy your love, Boys. You know I love you without expensive gifts.”

“You’re right. We do know that.”

“We love you too.”

They sat on the beach, looking out to sea. The boys looked and nodded at each other. Marty took a deep breath.

“Justin, we’ve got something to tell you.”

“Yeah,” Andy leapt in. “Marty’s gay.”

“Oh?” Justin replied.

“Shut up, Big-mouth! But, yeah, Andy’s gay.” Marty said.

“Hold on a minute. You say that he’s gay and you say that he is?”

“That’s right. We’re both gay.”

“Both of you? Really? Are you sure?”

“Yeah, we’re sure. I’m gay and so is Marty.”

“I see. Have you told your parents?”

“No, we haven’t told anyone, just you.”

“Just me? Well, thank you Boys. I’m honoured.”

“Well, we figured that you’d know what it’s like.”

“I certainly do! It’s not all good, but it’s not all bad either. So, how long have you known?”

“How long have we known that you’re gay? Forever really.”

“Shut it, Andy. Let’s try to have a serious conversation for once in your lives. So what now? Do you want me to come with you when you tell your mum and dad?”

“That might be a good idea. Thanks.”

“But not yet. There’s no point in upsetting everyone before anything has happened.”

“Before anything happens? Have you got any potential boy-friends yet? Either of you?”

“Nope.”

“Not a sausage.”

“Justin, how did you do it? How did you find Billy?”

“Yeah. And when did you know that he’d be the one you’d be sharing your life with?”

“How? When? Well, I really don’t know. The ‘how’ is easy. I wasn’t looking for anyone, but one day I just looked up and there he was – the most beautiful boy I’d ever seen, standing there shining in the sunshine.

But, ‘when’? I don’t know. I knew that that was what I wanted, but I didn’t think that it would ever happen. I just got lucky, I guess – very, very lucky. And, Jonathan helped too, of course.”

“Dad helped you find a boyfriend? We never knew that.”

“We didn’t! That’s awesome. Do you think he’ll do the same for us?”

“Doubt it!”

“No, Boys,” Justin smiled. “You’ve got it all wrong. It wasn’t like that.”

“What was it like then?”

“Yeah, what did he do?”

“He loved me.”

“Ewww! You and Dad?”

“Don’t, Andrew. Any more cracks like that and this conversation is finished.”

“Okay, sorry!”

“All right then. There’s a big difference between love and sex and if you don’t know that then you don’t know anything. Some people never learn the difference – the lucky ones do.”

“What did Dad actually do for you then?”

“Lots. I was dying, he saved me and then he wrapped himself around me and showed me that I could be loved.”

“That’s very cool. You make him sound like a hero.”

“Your dad is a hero, don’t you ever doubt it. None of us would be here now if it wasn’t for him.”

“I suppose that’s true.”

“It is! You love your brother, don’t you, Justin?”

“Very much. I hope that you two love each other too. I really do.”

“Love Andy? I guess I do really.”

“Thanks, Marty.”

“And?”

“And, okay! I love you too – Dorkface.”

“Shut up, Dickwad.”

“You just can’t help yourselves, can you?” Justin grinned and shook his head. “Keep on loving your brother. Everything else grows from that. Someone said that he could move the world if he had a long-enough lever and a place to stand. Jonathan gave me a place to stand on. It’s that simple.”

“What was your lever then?”

“Dunno. I haven’t worked that part out yet. Anyway, this is not my life that we’re talking about, it’s yours. I know that you don’t think so, but you’re still very young. Kids go through these stages.

One day you might realise that this was just a passing thing and that you’re not gay at all.”

“That is not going to happen. No way!”

“For once, I totally agree. We are gay – end of argument.”

“Okay, okay, we’re not arguing. I’m just saying that it could happen.”

“Didn’t happen for you, did it?”

“No it didn’t – obviously. I wouldn’t want it to either.”

“Yeah? Well, neither would I.”

“Nor me.”

“Time will tell. At least you’ve got each other for support. Don’t stuff that up, Boys. Your relationship with your brother will always be one of the very most important in your life.”

“If you say so.”

“I do say so. And I mean it.”

“Okay. We’d still have you for support anyway.”

“Of course you would. You’ve got me, your parents, your grandparents and all of your family. You’re lucky kids.”

“We are lucky. Your family love you too, Justin. We love you.”

“We do! We love you heaps.”

“I love you too, both of you, very much. I always have and I always will. Now stand up and give me a hug and then we’ll get these boats back out in the water.”

They lined up the kayaks on the sand at the water’s edge, pointing back out to sea. They sat down in them, secured the splash-skirts again and, using their hands, hauled themselves forward into the water. When they were afloat, they took up the paddles and drove forward out through the small breaking waves. Easy!

Two more returns and landings on the beach, and then Justin decided that that was enough and they went back up the river. Back up at the top end of the wharves, they played around for a while and he showed them how to roll the kayaks over and get back upright again if they got swamped.

“I really should have shown you how to do that first, not last. Please don’t tell your mum that I did that. She’d freak and we wouldn’t be allowed out again. ‘Kay? Now it’s time to get out of here.”

“Justin, thanks for that, and we won’t tell if you don’t.”

“Thanks Uncle. When can we do it again? Tomorrow?”

“Well, maybe – we’ll see what the weather is like – the forecast is foul. Let’s go home, Boys.”