The Malloys, 9

"There was three of them," Tommy shrugged.

"So what? I don't want to hear your excuses. Does a builder build without tools, does a boxer fight without his hands? If you've got to fight, fight to win and use the bloody brains that God's given you!"

"Brains?" Sarah said. "I think Tommy was away that day."

"You can shut up, Girl. Clean your father up." Nancy turned and looked at Michael. "If you've finished gawping, you can get out of here. Go and see what the kids are doing. Take the baby with you too, he doesn't need to see this."

"Yeah, okay, sure, Nancy."

He scooped Paulie up from the play-pen on the floor and took him away. Nancy was getting stuck into Tommy again as he left the house. Whoah, he was glad that he wasn't him! Molly and Hori were on the swings in the backyard, so he sat down next to them, holding the baby and thinking. He was totally confused. Nancy was wild with Tommy and he didn't blame her, but she seemed to be more upset because he lost the fight. (?)

He didn't have much choice, did he? It was three onto one, and that one was Tommy - how could he not lose? Damm. He would never understand these people.

Tommy wasn't there for dinner that night, which wasn't unusual. Apparently he was 'sleeping it off' and no-one wanted to talk about it. When he asked, Michael was told to shut up and mind his own business. Nice.

It was an early start the next day. Big Mike was going to school and Michael had to go with him. He'd thought that Nancy, or someone, would be coming with him, but - no. "You're not a baby, you're a big boy. You found your way here from halfway across the country, I think you can find your way to school. Big Mike will see that you get there, and then you're on your own."

So, in his tidiest casual clothes, he went to school with Big Mike, who left him at the office to enroll, and went off to his classes. The Secretary enrolled him in his new school and arranged for the records to be sent from his old one. It took bloody ages and, when she was finally finished with him, he left clutching a list of the books and uniform etc that he'd need.

He'd have to pay for all this himself! He could afford it, but there wouldn't be much left in the bank when he'd done. The kids were all out for recess when he emerged. There was no sign of Big Mike, but Ben was there, smiling at him. It was good to see one friendly face.

"Hey, Ben. How're you today?"

"I'm good. Hey, Michael and welcome to your new school."

"Yeah, thanks. I start tomorrow."

"You've got the day off? Lucky Bugger! Wish I could join you."

"Well you can't," Michael grinned. "Maybe some other time?"

They stood chatting in the sunshine and Michael was feeling good. He liked this kid. He didn't know if it'd go any further, but he'd be glad to have him for a friend. He wasn't looking for trouble, trouble found him, in the shape of a bunch of big, spotty idiots.

"What's this, Phillips?" the ringleader sneered. "Got yourself a new girlfriend, have you?"

"Yeah," a second one agreed. "Last thing we need around here is another bloody queer. Fuck off back where you came from, why don'cha?"

"I don't think so. Fuck off yourself." Michael wasn't backing down to this lot. That'd be a dumb way to start in his new school.

"Eww. Big Man! Gonna make us, are you?" a third one chimed-in. "Hey! I know who you are. You're the new fucking Malloy. Just what we need!"

The first one, the biggest one, shoved him. "The Malloy? We've been looking for you, Fucker. You're the one who smacked my little brothers over in the park. Fucking Malloys are all the same and you're all useless. Just wait 'til we get you alone somewhere, Queer Boy - you're dead!"

"Yeah?" Michael flared back. "Your type are all the same too -real big when you're in a crowd. Try it when you're on your own and I'll do the lot of you!"

"Yeah, right. Sure you will. But we won't be on our own, will we? You will and you're gonna be sorry you ever set foot in this town."

The 3rd one said, "We'll try not to break your legs, the first time. That'll give you a chance to fuck off after we've finished with you.."

"This is big-time, Faggot! No Queers touch my brothers and live."

"You've been watching too many bad movies. I'm so scared!" Michael replied. (That wasn't a lie, he was but he couldn't let them know that).

"Just piss-off, McCutcheon," Ben defended him. "You touch this kid and you'll be sorry."

"For why? What're you going to do, Girly? Run and tell Mummy?"

"You'll find out."

"Eww. Watch it, Troy. She'll scratch your eyes out."

"She'll fucking try!" He swung a fist at Ben. He missed.

"Back off, McCutcheon!" Harri, with Fiona and another girl arrived, closely followed by Big Mike, Max and two other boys. "Fuck off or you'll be sorry."

"Oh, Fuck. Watch it, Guys. The butch-girls are here to defend the sissy-boys. We haven't got time for this." He pulled out a knife and pointed it at Michael. "Last warning, Queer. You've got until tonight to get out of this town and don't come back." They swaggered away.

"You okay, Michael?"

"Yeah, thanks Big Mike, I'm fine. Those creeps don't scare me."

Hari said, "Maybe they should. Don't do anything stupid. Walk down a dark alley and you might not come out of the other end. They really are bad news. You be careful."

"Thanks, Harri. I will."

"See you do," Big Mike said. "I can't always be there for you to hide behind. What are you doing now?"

"'Kay, Big Mike." He showed his list."I'm going shopping, there's all this stuff I need."

"Sooner you than me. You got money?"

"Yeah, some."

"Have fun then. I'll see you at home. Take care, Brother."

"You too. Thanks, Ben, Harri, everyone. See y'all tomorrow." He left the school and headed downtown to clean-out his bank account.

The next couple of hours were spent getting rid of all his money and buying the things he'd need on the list. He was feeling pretty good when he arrived home, laden with parcels. That didn't last long.

Nancy met him at the door and frowned. "What've you been doing and why aren't you at school?"

"I've been there and enrolled, but I don't start until tomorrow. They gave me a list of things I'll need, books and uniforms and stuff, so I've been shopping."

"Oh have you just? And how did you pay for all of that?"

"From my bank account. I've got some money, or," he shrugged and grimaced, "I did have. There's not much left now."

Nancy was not smiling. "How then are you are you going to pay for the food you eat around here?"

"I have to pay?"

"And the electricity you use, and wear and tear on the furnishings. It all costs money you know."

"I know it does," he said quietly. He raised his head and looked her in the eyes. "I can work for it. You give me things to do and I'll do them. Plus, I'll get a job. I'll go back downtown now and see if I can get work. If you don't want to wait, I'll ring my mother and borrow some money. If that's not enough, I guess I'll just have to go."

"Go?" she roared. "Go? You're not going anywhere so you can get that idea out of your head right now! Tommy is your father and, for better or worse, you're part of this family now. There'll be no more talk about going."

"I'm sorry, Nancy, I don't understand. If I'm part of the family, why do I have to pay to be here?"

"You don't, obviously. You don't have to pay for your bloody school-books either. You think Big Mike pays for his? Or Molly?"

"Well, no. I guess not."

"Of course they bloody don't and neither do you. I'm offended that you'd think for one minute that you had to. We're not the richest family in town, but we're not the poorest either - far from it."

"Sorry, Nancy. I wasn't thinking."

"You weren't. In future use the brains that God's given you. You're as bad as your father! I want a detailed list of everything you bought and I want to know exactly how much it cost."

"Okay, if you really want me to. But it's all done now, couldn't we just leave it this time? I won't do it again."

"Damm right you won't. And you won't do it this time either. I will pay for everything. What if the Queen Mother found out that you paid for your own books? I'd never hear the end of it.. I'm not giving that old bag something like that to hold over me.."

"Yeah, that wouldn't be good."

"Damm right it wouldn't. Besides, I want you to be a part of this family. We've got plenty of room for you."

"I want to be, too," he was almost crying. He grabbed hold and hugged her.

"Phaww! Get off me Gay-Boy! What'll the neighbours think?" She pushed him off. "Put that stuff away, and then you can go out to the back and finish the lawns. You only did half of them yesterday."

"Sure thing, I'm on to it." He stepped down off the verandah, stopped and looked back. "Nancy, thanks."

"Mow the lawns!" She went inside.

The Malloys, 8

Back at the house, he sat on the edge of the verandah for a rest. The pack was damm heavy! Hori climbed on him and cuddled in. He sat there, holding him. He kissed his hair. "Thanks, Hori."

"Yes. Well done, My Darling. Thank you." Sarah lifted Hori off him. "Don't you ever do that to him again, Michael." She took him inside.

"Yeah, I won't." He looked up, Nancy stood in the doorway, looking down at him. "Nancy?"

"Michael," she smiled, fleetingly. "Look at the state of these lawns! Get the mower out of the garage and get them cut."

"Yeah, okay, sure," he grinned, but she'd already gone.

He left the pack where it was, on the verandah. He was sick of lugging it around and hoped he never had to again. He went to the garage, opened the roller-door and got a shock. The lawnmower sitting just inside was a bloody push-mower! Damm. He didn't know that anyone still had those old things outside of a museum. Surely there was a motor-mower in there somewhere?

There wasn't. Or, if there was, he couldn't find it in all the junk. He couldn't see one anyway. Oh, well. At least the lawns out at the front weren't that big. He wasn't doing the ones out at the back, they were way too much. Stuff 'em!

He rolled the mower out to the front and started on the lawns. It was easier than he expected and it was quite fun really. There was something satisfying about watching the roller-blades slice through the grass because he made them spin. He cut the two small lawns, and then moved on to the strip of grass along the edge of the street outside the front gate.

He'd be done here in no time! Totally engrossed in what he was doing, he almost ran into a pair of big, black booted feet. He stopped and looked at a burly, uniformed policeman.

"Watch it, Boy," the cop growled at him. "I've already cut my toenails this week."

"Sorry," he shrugged. "I didn't see you there. I'm Michael."

"Of course you are - Michael Malloy. It's my business to know these things and I'll be watching you."

"Oh, okay then. You must be Harri's father?"

"I hope not! No, not her father, just her uncle - by adoption I hasten to add. You missed a bit over there."

"Yeah, I'll get it. Thanks."

"We serve. That's our job, that and catching crims. Is there anyone home next door?"

"Sorry, I don't know. I haven't been watching."

"Maybe you should. I'll go and look then. I'm PC Green, by the way, you can call me 'Sir'. Oh, and Michael?"

"Yeah?"

"Always blow on the pie," he grinned and left. ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7UX8KASASU ).

It was funny having cops for neighbours. In the world he came from, they were to be avoided at all costs. Still, he supposed, if you're not doing anything wrong, there's no need to fear them. They were just people, like any others. Some of them were arseholes, some weren't.

He finished mowing the lawn and put the mower away in the garage before anyone suggested doing the back-lawns as well. He'd done his share and that was enough.

His pack had gone from the front of the house. Somebody had moved it, he didn't see who. Damm, he hoped it hadn't been pinched! All of his clothes were in there. No, he would've seen something. Someone had put it away. He hoped.

He went back to the sleep-out, Big Mike was there, lying on his bed, and Michael's clothes and stuff out of the pack were all over the other one.

"Hey, Big Mike. Did you unload my gear?"

"There's no-one else here. Yeah, of course I did. Time you were unpacked. You can have those drawers and half of the wardrobe."

"Oh. Okay, thanks. Where's my pack."

"I took everything out of it and put it away safely."

"But where?"

"Not telling you. You don't need to know."

"It's my pack. Where did you put it?"

"Away. If you haven't got it then you can't leave, can you?"

"Thanks, I think. I'm not leaving."

"See that you don't."

"Okay. Where's Max?"

"Max who? He's being a jerk, so I left him to it."

"Oh? Have a row with him, did you?"

"Yeah. Nothing new, it happens all the time."

"Right. How long have you two been together?"

"Too bloody long sometimes. He doesn't own me, he just thinks he does."

"Relationship problems!"

"Sometimes, yeah. He'll be back when he wakes up. I think he's got his eye on you too."

"Me?"

"Yeah, you. Don't even go there. I'll share the room with you but I'm not sharing the boyfriend."

"Wouldn't want to."

"Well, good! We'll have to get a boyfriend for you too. What do you think of Ben?"

"Ben? I dunno. Seems okay, I guess. Is Ben gay?"

"Yep. Gay and single and he's a nice guy. He used to have a boyfriend, but he moved away, so now he's available."

"And you're trying to set me up? Don't bother. I'll find my own, when I'm ready."

"I'm sure you will, but think about Ben, he's a good one."

"Well, you go get him then."

"Not likely. I'll stick with Maxie, he's the greatest when he's not being a jerk."

"If you say so."

Michael sorted his clothes and put them away in the drawers. There was plenty of room, he didn't have that much. The sleeping-bag went into the wardrobe.

"Right then," Big Mike got up. "If you're done here, we'll go and check-out the workshop."

"Workshop?"

"Yeah. Nancy's goldmine, we call it."

"Nancy's got a gold-mine?"

"Sure has. Guess who the elves who do all the hard work are?"

"I don't think I want to know."

"Tough. Everyone's got their jobs, even Hori. Paulie hasn't, but I'll bet she finds him something before long."

"Paulie's just a baby!"

"He is, and you're not. Life's a bitch, isn't it? Come and see."

Across the other side of the street, directly in front of their house, on a ramshackle overgrown section, there was a huge old shed. It looked like an over-grown garage with lean-tos and extensions tacked on. It was all rusty corrugated iron and was rough and run-down looking.

"This is a gold-mine?"

"In a way, yes. It's better on the inside."

It was that. Inside the big shed it was all light, bright and airy. Half of the roof was nova-lite skylights, the concrete floor was impeccably clean and the walls were lined in white-painted plywood. There were a lot of bulky mysterious objects, all covered in old bedsheets.

"Wow. Impressive. What is this place?"

"Nancy's gold-mine. Pretty cool, eh? Dammed cold on winter mornings though. If Nancy's not in the kitchen, you'll find her over here. Even Tommy works here, when he works. He's pretty good at it too, even better than Nancy and she's an artist."

"Nancy's an artist? Doing what?"

"Do? Well, this." Big Mike pulled the sheet off the nearest object.

Michael was gobsmacked and he stood with his mouth open. "Wo-how!"

"Yeah, pretty cool, innit?" Big Mike grinned.

"It's more than cool. It's just, well, beautiful! Amazing. I never expected anything like this. This should be in a museum or a palace or something, not in a scummy old shed."

He had a closer look and kept his hands together behind his back. He didn't like to touch it in case he marred its perfection. "Beautiful!"

What he was looking at was a big old chest of drawers. Well, it was old-style and solid wood, but it looked brand-new. It was a low-matt finish on it but the rich, natural wood seemed to glow in the daylight. The brass handles and fittings all shone like gold.

"I guess it would fit in a palace, but it'll more likely finish-up in some rich prick's mansion."

"So, you build handcrafted furniture."

"Wrong! We don't build it, we restore it. This is a gen-u-ine antique back in better than new condition. Nancy buys old wooden furniture, from garage sales and junk shops, strips it back to bare wood, repairs, patches and sands it, refinishes it and sells to to trendy antique shops. Some stuff's done to order, but it's mostly bought and sold to the trade. They're worth a lot of money but it takes a bloody lot of work to get it looking like this.

I think this one is oak, but it might be heart-rimu. I wouldn't know. Tommy would. He wouldn't know one tree from another but show him a lump of wood and he knows exactly what it is."

"I'm very impressed!"

"Most people are. Check-out some of the others, but cover them up again. Most of this stuff is ready to go, we daren't get dust on it now."

Michael carefully uncovered, inspected and admired more and more beautiful pieces of furniture. There was everything from delicate-looking side tables to chunky wooden chests, chairs and beds even.

"You could easily have your own museum here."

"I guess we already have, but it's all under-cover. The Welfare know nothing about this and they don't need to. Nor do the Tax Department."

"You work here too. Do you get paid?"

"Sometimes, not very often."

"Sometimes you work here?"

"No, sometimes we get paid. It depends on how flush Nancy's feeling but there's always work to be done. You'll do your share too."

"That's cool. I don't mind helping."

"Too bad if you do. You don't say no to Nancy."

"I got that impression."

"Oh, yeah! Come on, we'll go and you can meet Blue now."

"Not more walking!"

"No, he's over at home. Let's go."

They went back and Michael met the last member of the family. Blue was different, they were all 'different', but he wasn't like the rest of them. He was a schoolteacher and very straight and conventional. Also, he was the only red-head, probably because he had another father. Nice guy anyway.

Actually, Blue told him that maybe they weren't brothers, but they were still family. "I'm Nancy's tack-on to the family, you're Tommy's tack-on."

Yeah, Blue was okay.

Molly came in and announced that Ben was outside. Big Mike went out to see him, Michael didn't, he stayed where he was. Ben looked all right, he thought, but he felt like they were trying to set him up and he wasn't interested. He'd be embarrassed.

"Nancy, am I ever going to spend some time with Tommy?"

"If you go and sit in the pub you will. No, you'll see him soon enough. Tommy's a binge dinker. He's on the booze now but won't last much longer. His poor little body can't take it, so he'll lay-off soon and he'll be hanging around here, suffering and recovering, until he's well enough to go back and have another go. I'd give him 2 or 3 more days at the most."

Blue interrupted. "You're probably better off not knowing him anyway."

Nancy spun around and sailed into him. "That'll be enough of that! Tommy's got his problems but he's basically a good person, deep down."

"Must be really deep."

"Shut up, Blue! I don't want to hear another word out of you. Tommy's the nearest thing to a father that you've ever had."

"Okay. Sorry, Nancy."

Okay, Michael learnt something from that exchange. Everyone joked and scoffed about Tommy, but he was still Nancy's man and she liked him. He'd better not forget that.

Big Mike came in, with Ben, to 'get a drink'. Michael knew what they were up to, so he said, "Hey, Ben," and left in a hurry. Big Mike was trying to set them up and he wasn't sitting around there with the whole bloody family watching the courtship rituals. They could get lost. He wouldn't mind getting to know Ben, sometime, but not with the whole world watching.

He left the house, down the steet and around the first corner and kept going. He wasn't going anywhere, just walking and thinking. He wasn't sure if he was ready for a relationship with anybody and, when he was, it would be with someone who he found for himself. He didn't want his brother match-making for him. Why not? Well, that stuff was private, wasn't it?

He spent a couple of hours just wandering around and checking-out his new town. The school looked big, but they always do. He walked far too much and his feet were hurting again. He found his way back home and tried not to limp as he approached the house. Sarah would not be impressed.

But, when he got back to the house, no-one was looking at him anyway. As he walked in off the street, a police car pulled in behind him. He stopped, looked back and watched as two uniformed policemen pulled Tommy out from the back seat. He was a mess. His clothes were all messed up, one shoulder was bare as the shirt had been ripped off it. His hands and face were bleeding, one eye was swollen shut and the other one wasn't much better. He was drunk, slobbering and slurring and incapable of standing upright. A mess.

The cops took one arm each, slinging them over their shoulders, holding him up and more-or-less dragging him as they helped him up to the house.

"Whoah!" Michael stood out of the way and watched, open-mouthed.

Nancy came out and stood, arms akimbo, glaring down at them. "What've you Pigs done to my Tommy?" She demanded.

"Lay off, Nancy," one of them said. "It wasn't us, we're just bringing him home."

"Look at the state of him! What's he been doing now?"

The other cop answered, "He was fighting, in the street behind Larsen's Hotel. You've got to give him some credit. There were three young hoons, all half his age and twice his size. He was getting a hiding, but he was giving as good as he got."

"I'll give him bloody credit!" she exploded.

"Ullo Nancy, girl!" Tommy peered up at her and grinned lop-sidely.

"Don't you 'hello' me, you Little Swine! I'll have your bloody hide. Get him in here!" She led the way in and the others followed her to the kitchen.

"Dump him by the table there. And don't you bloody bleed on my floor!"

Michael followed them in. He knew that he was sticky-beaking, but he wasn't going to miss this. Nancy ignored him, but she ordered Molly and Hori out of her kitchen.

"Oh, Tommy!" Sarah growled at him. She got the first-aid kit out.

They lowered him to the chair and left quietly, with thanks from Sarah. Nancy just stood glaring.

Michael stood quietly, leaning against the wall and watching the drama. Sarah started cleaning him up and Nancy got a coffee. She looked around.

"Michael, get a bucket from the washhouse and shove it in front of him. If he spews on my floor, I'll bloody kill him!"

He brought a bucket, put in on the floor in front of Tommy and stood back. They'd obviously been here before, everyone seemed to know what they were doing. Definitely not a father to be proud of.

'I wouldn't get much for a trade-in.'

Tommy was pathetic. Small, drunk, bloody and beaten. He was pathetic! Nancy agreed with him too. She slammed the coffee down on the table and sat down.

"Get that into you, and don't spill it! What were you fighting about this time?"

"I wash defending a lady's honour," Tommy slurred.

"Don't give me that! What would you know about honour - or about ladies either? You stupid little man. Who were you fighting?"

"The Hardy boys and one of the McCutcheons. Sorry Nancy."

"Sorry? So you should be. What did you let those little punks beat you for?"

'What??' Michael was thinking. 'LET them beat him??'

The Malloys, 7

Molly and her friend, Mandy, joined them on the way home.

"Gee, Michael, you were great. I'm glad that you're my big brother now. Now those sods will stop picking on Hori.He was great, wasn't he, Hori?"

Hori grinned and grabbed his hand. He held it all the way home. They arrived back, Big Mike, Max, Harri and another boy were sitting out at the front of the house. Michael was glad to see that the Rolls Royce had gone. Hori hugged him again, and then ran away inside.

"What's up with Hori? You upset him?" Big Mike queried.

"No, I did not!"

"What then?"

Molly answered, "You should've seen him, Big Mike. Michael was great. Bazza McCutcheon and his goons were picking on Hori and took his frisbee and Michael made them give it back."

"That's good," he nodded. "But you didn't hit them, did you?"

"Maybe a little bit, but they were asking for it."

"Oh, you shouldn't have done that, even if they did ask for it."

"And why not? Nothing else was working and I told Nancy I'd look after him."

"McCutcheon's got brothers, big ones, and they're bad news. They'll be looking for you."

"I'm not scared of any flaming bullies!"

"Well you should be. From now on you don't go anywhere without me."

"Thanks, Big Mike, but I don't need a nursemaid. I can look after myself."

"Listen to him, Michael," Harri said. "You don't know those creeps and they really are bad news. You be careful."

"I will. Thanks, Harri."

Sarah came out with the bandage and strapped his ankle up again. You shouldn't have gone out without it," she growled.

"I was in a hurry to get away from the old dragon."

"Maybe you were, but you still shouldn't have!" she scowled, and then she grinned. "She is an old dragon, isn't she? She won't mess with you again."

"I bloody hope not."

"Ah, she probably will. She only hears what she wants to. Good on you anyway. Now, come and tell Nancy what you did for Hori."

"I don't have to, do I? It was nothing."

"No it wasn't and yes you do. If she hears it from anywhere else, you're in trouble. Best she gets it from you first."

"Okay, I guess." They both stood up. "But it was no big deal really."

"Yes it was," Sarah smiled and she kissed his cheek. "You're okay, Little Brother. Now come on."

"Michael!" Big Mike stopped him before he went in.

"Yeah?"

"This is our friend, Ben. Ben, my brother Michael."

"Hey, Michael."

"Hey, Ben. I'll see you later, okay?"

"Yeah, don't keep Nancy waiting."

He followed Sarah inside and Big Mike turned to his friend. "Well?"

"Well what?"

"What d'you think?"

"I dunno, looks all right, I guess."

"C'mon, Ben. He's more than all right, he's a looker and he's a damm nice kid too."

"Yeah, yea, if you say so."

"I do say so and not just because he's my brother either. You could do all right there."

"If you think he's so great, why don't you get him?"

"W-e-l-l," Big Mike drawled. He looked at Max and grinned. "No, Maxie's more than enough for me."

"And don't you forget it!" Max shoved his shoulder.

"Bloody gay-boys!" Harri stood up. "I'm going to find a real man."

"Hey! We're real."

"Yeah, but real what? See you later, Girls."

There was a chorus of raspberries as she walked away.

They walked into the kitchen and, despite the wet-blankets' warnings about bullies, Michael was feeling pretty good and had a big smile on his face. Nancy soon got rid of that.

"You can get that smirk off your face."

"I wasn't smirking."

"You bloody were! Think you're a big man, do you? Beating up kids! I'm not impressed."

"Kids? One of them was nearly as big as me, and there were three of them."

"That makes it all right, does it? They were kids and years younger than you."

"They're years older than Hori and they were picking on him. One of them hit him! You told me to take him out and you told me to look after him and I did and I'd do it again."

"That's all very well, but I will not have you fighting in the street. We don't do that in this family."

"I didn't have any choice."

"Of course you did. Real men don't fight with their fists."

"I did what I had to. It wasn't in the street anyway," he mumbled. "We were in the park."

"It makes no difference where you were. As long as you're living here, you live by my rules. Don't do it again!"

Damm, she was hard. Michael sighed, "Maybe I don't want to live here. Maybe it's time I was going."

"Please yourself. Where exactly are you going to go?"

"I've got somewhere. I can go back to my mother's."

"To your mother's?"

"Yes. Look, umm, I wasn't quite honest with you."

"I know."

"You know? My mother was moving to Aussie, to live on the Gold Coast, I kicked-up a fuss and I was refusing to go. Mum gave me a choice, I could go with her or I could go and find my father and let him be responsible for me until I finish school. You know about that?"

"Of course I bloody do! Your mother has been in touch and let us know. Better late than never, you were already here when she rang."

"Oh, I didn't know about that."

"Now you do. You mightn't think so, but you're still a child and it is your parents who are responsible for you."

Now he was even more pissed. "Some parents! You can't make me stay here. I'll go if I want to."

"Please yourself. Don't slam the door on the way out."

He glared at her, which didn't hurt her a bit. Damm, she was a hard woman. He left the room, carefully not slamming the door. He went out to the sleepout, sitting on the bed to calm down. He did the right thing for Hori. Dammit. He didn't care what she thought, he was right.

Right. He was leaving. They didn't want him here and he didn't want to be here anyway, this was not his home. His mother might not be perfect, but she was the only mother he had. She was easier to live with than this lot. He was going home, wherever that was.

He pulled his pack out from under the bed, stuffed his gear into it, swung it onto his back and left the room. Big Mike, and the others, had gone from the front of the house. That was a shame, he would've liked to say goodbye to him. Whatever. He'd find out.

He stood for a minute, looking at where the others were sitting before and thinking. Shame it hadn't worked out here. He liked those guys and would've liked them to be in his life, but they wouldn't be. Whatever. Tommy didn't want to know him anyway, he was obviously not interested. He liked the look of that Ben too, now he'd never get to know him. Shame. Oh well, there'd be others. He started walking.

"Michael! Michael, what are you doing? Come back here!" Sarah stood on the verandah, calling out.

He looked back and waved. "Bye, Sarah."

"Michael, you get back here now!"

Bossy thing. She didn't tell him what to do, nobody did - nobody! He kept going, waved and didn't look back. He was almost down to the main street where he'd first met Big Mike when he felt a tug on the back of his shirt.

Hori was behind him. He had his pillow and Pooh Bear under one arm, the frisbee in one hand and the other hand held on to Michael's shirt. He was crying, big tears rolling down his cheeks.

"Hori?" He knelt down in front of him. "Hori, what are you doing? You have to go home, Boy."

Hori shook his head, dropped the pillow and offered the bear to him.

"Hori, I can't take your bear. Pooh belongs here with you."

He shook his head, held out the bear and tears kept rolling.

"I can't take him, he's your bear and he stays here with you. I'm going because I can't stay here. Goodbye, Hori."

Hori launched himself at him, nearly knocking him over backwards. He wrapped his arms, and then his little legs, around him and clung on. He started wailing.

"Hori, don't. Please don't cry." He hugged him, and then forcibly unwrapped him and pushed him off. "Please don't. It was great meeting you but I have to go now. I've got to go and you've got to stay here with your mum. Don't cry."

If he could hear him, he wasn't listening, he was roaring like a bull. "Stop it, Hori! Just stop it."

Michael stood up and picked-up the pillow and the frisbee, Hori still had hold of Pooh Bear. "Come on. I'll take you home, and then I'm leaving. Hori, get up. You have to walk."

He was lying on the ground, curled up sobbing and roaring. "Hori!!"

"Well. You're a piece of shit, aren't you?" Tommy stood glaring at him. "Proud of yourself? You're breaking a little boy's heart."

"What? I never . . "Michael looked down at the boy on the ground. "I didn't want to hurt him. I wouldn't do that."

"Pick him up and take him home then."

"I'll take him home, but then I'm going."

"You're not."

"I bloody am! I'm going to live with my mother."

"She doesn't want you."

"Nobody does!"

"Don't talk rot. Hori wants you to come home. I want you to stay."

"Yeah, well," Michael sighed. "Nancy doesn't want me there."

"Bloody rubbish! Who do you think sent Hori to get you?"

"Nancy?"

"Yes, Nancy. She sent me too."

"She did?"

"She did. So are you taking the boy home?"

"Yeah, okay, we'll go home. C'mon, Hori"

He lifted him up and they started walking back. Hori was still sobbing, but he was grinning now and holding his hand tightly. He wasn't letting go. Michael looked back, Tommy was standing there watching them.

"Tommy? Aren't you coming with us?"

"Me? No. I'm going to the pub. I'll see you tomorrow."

"See you, Tommy." Michael decided, yeah, he shouldn't expect too much. Tommy was who he was. At least he wanted him to stay. He took Hori home.

Merri Kirimete!

Seasons Greetings to all.

This vid, which i LOVE, is from the last session of the year in the NZ parliament. The first questioner is an openly-gay MP.

The Malloys, 6

"What?" Sarah exclaimed. "Oh, damm! It's the bloody Queen Mother! What's she doing here? It's not her birthday. Don't be too impressed with the car, it's a clapped-out old heap even if it is a roller."

"The Queen Mother?"

"Yeah, Tommy's mother. She's a freaky lady, Nancy's terrified of her. I'd better go and tell Nancy that she's here."

Sarah went inside, Michael sat looking at the car. He couldn't see inside it because of the tinted windows. They called Tommy's mother the Queen Mother and Nancy was terrified of her? She must be REALLY scary.

He was expecting some sort of monster to emerge from the car, but when the door opened it was a tiny, little old white-haired lady who came out of it. She didn't look like any monster he'd ever seen. Tommy's mother? She must be his grandmother. Wow.

The little lady took a cloth out of her huge hand-bag and wiped a couple of, (imaginary?), spots from her shiny car. She folded the cloth, put it back in her bag and stood, waiting, by the front gate. Sarah came rushing out and opened the gate.

"Hello, Grandmother. How nice to see you."

"Of course it is, Dear," she smiled and came in the gate. "It's a nice day to wait in the sunshine, isn't it? Is your mother out of bed yet?"

"Of course she is. Nancy's been up for hours. I think she's just freshening up and getting changed."

"I'm sure she is. She does try to make a good impression, not very hard, but she tries. Where is your father?"

"Tommy's still in bed."

"I wish you wouldn't call him that, Dear. He is your father, you should show him some respect. It is Sunday, I suppose. A working man needs his rest."

"A working man? Tommy? Yeah, sure, Grandmother."

"Of course he is. And who is this young man here? Are his legs broken so he can't stand to show some respect to a lady, or is he an idiot?"

Michael took his feet out of the water and stood up. "Ah, yeah, hello."

"Oh, it can speak then," she smiled sweetly. "Introductions please, Sarah. Hasn't your mother taught you any manners? No, sorry, that was a stupid question, wasn't it?"

"Grandmother!" Sarah sighed. "You know very well who this is. This is Michael, Tommy's other boy. Michael, your grandmother."

"Hello, Grandmother."

"I think 'Mrs. Malloy' will suffice for now, thank you, Michael. We are strangers after all. So you are the bastard. Has your father decided if you can stay here?"

"Well, yeah, I think so. Nancy said I can stay."

"Oh? So Nancy makes the decisions for the head of the house now, does she? Thomas is far too soft on this family. Come along, Sarah - inside. It is common to stand in the street in the view of all the neighbours. When you have finished washing those feet, Boy, I shall be in the lounge."'

She swept into the house. Sarah grimaced and shrugged at him. "Our grandmother," she sighed, and then she followed her inside.

Hori came rushing out, sat on him and cuddled in.

"Scares you, does she, Hori? I'm not surprised, she scares me too. Don't worry, I'll look after you."

Hori nodded against his chest and Michael hugged him. He liked having a little nephew. Even if he was a dummy, he was a nice kid. They sat there for a few minutes, no-one came back so he figured that he'd better do something.

"Hori? I'd better go in and see her. Do you want to come too?"

Hori shook his head vigorously. There was no mistaking a 'no'.

"You don't want to? Can't say I blame you. What now? Come inside and you can show me where your room is. You'll be safe in there."

He stood and lifted the boy to his feet, took his hand and led him inside. Hori towed him to a bedroom at the back and they went in there.

"This is your room, Hori? Very nice. And there's Pooh Bear. Hello Pooh. He's back in bed early, isn't he?"

Hori giggled.

"Okay, Hori? You'll be all right here. I'm going to leave you here and I'll go and see them in the lounge, okay? I don't know why I keep asking you questions. I'll be back soon, wait here for me."

He went out and closed the door, softly. Now, where was the lounge? At the front probably. At the front end of the hallway, there was a closed door on either side. He knocked on the one on the left. There was no answer, so he opened it and looked inside.

It was a darkened bedroom. He wasn't sure, but thought that that was probably Tommy in the bed. He withdrew and closed the door quietly. He was about to knock on the other door when Nancy came up the hallway.

"Ah, Michael. Wait a minute. Do me a favour, take this in to Her Majesty." She handed him a tea-tray. "Thanks. Let her pour the tea, she's the only one who knows how to do it properly."

"Ah, sure, Nancy. Are you not coming in?"

"In there? Not if I don't have to. I'll be in the kitchen."

She opened the door for him, and then retreated rapidly down the hall. Michael shrugged, pushed the door open with the tray and stepped inside. The old lady was sitting there, looking tiny all by herself on the big couch. She was sitting perched straight upright, her feet together on the floor and the handbag in her lap. She looked up.

"Do people not knock and wait to be invited to enter where you came from? What a strange world. Still," she smiled, "you have brought the tea. That's nice and it wasn't an extremely long time to wait, was it? Better late than never, as they say. You can put it down here beside me, that will be nice."

It was crazy the way she made him feel nervous. His hands shook as he lowered the tray on to the low coffee table and the cups rattled. He put it down and stood back.

"There we are then. Thank you. Safely delivered and no nasty accidents. Wasn't that well done? Perhaps you'd like to sit over there so that I don't have to strain my neck to look at you"

He sat in the indicated seat, across the room and directly in front of her. Sarah and a guy he hadn't met were sitting there, uncomfortably.

"There now, isn't this nice?" She started pouring teas. "All good things come to he who waits. You don't think you've made the tea a little weak, Michael?"

"Umm, I wouldn't know. I didn't make it, Nancy did."

"Nancy made the tea! Didn't she do well? And where is Nancy now? Having a little rest, I suppose. It is rather a trial for large people. Everything they do is such an effort for them while they are carrying all that extra weight. Do sit up straight, Michael. It is not seemly to sprawl in a chair, even if it is old and rather uncomfortable."

He sat up and suddenly felt very uncomfortable. He was sure that the real Queen Mother was nicer than this old bat.

"Now then. Have you met all of the family? Sarah you know, of course. Sarah showed such promise as a girl. What a shame that she got herself in the family way - and twice! We must hope that never happens again. This is Thomas Junior. Thomas is my eldest grandson. He was legitimate of course, only just but he was legitimate. You were lucky there, Thomas, weren't you?"

Thomas Junior nodded and grinned. "Hey, Michael."

"Hey, Thomas."

"TJ. Call me TJ, Brother."

"Oh, that is nice of you to acknowledge your bastard brother, Thomas. But TJ? Rather common don't you think?"

"But we are common, Grandmother."

"Some of us are more common than others. You must aspire to rise above your unfortunate beginnings, Thomas. Try to bring out the best in your lineage."

"Yes, Grandmother."

"Don't sigh. That's so unmanly. Speaking of which." She turned her attention back on Michael. "Is it true that you are a homosexual?"

"Well . . yes, it's true. I'm gay," Michael replied.

On the way here, he'd decided he was going to make the most of a new beginning and he was not going to hide who he was. He was gay and so what? So far, it was looking good. The family knew that Big Mike was gay and it didn't worry them. Why should it anyway? If this old lady didn't like it, well, tough! She was nothing to him anyway.

"I see," she nodded. "And are you sexually active?"

'What??' Dammit, it was none of her business! He shot her his best glare, which achieved nothing. She waited, he didn't answer.

"Cat's got your tongue has it? It is difficult when we're ashamed of our misdeeds."

"I'm not ashamed of anything and it's none of your business!" Michael snapped. "No, I'm not sexually active. Happy now?" He was red in the face and he was wild. Who did this old thing think she was?

The old thing in question was, apparently, speechless. She sat quietly staring at him, as did Sarah and TJ. TJ's mouth was hanging open. In his experience, you simply did not talk to the older Mrs. Malloy like that. She pulled herself together and forced a smile.

"Well. You have such a lot to learn, don't you? A course on good manners and civilised behaviour might be a good place to start. Anyway, it is too late for the other Michael, but if you are not sexually active, then there may be hope for you yet. I shall speak to Father O'Reilly. He will know where a cure can be arranged for you."

"A cure? For being gay? You can get lost, Old Lady!" He started for the door.

"Where do you think you're going, Michael Malloy?"

"Going? Anywhere away from here. Anywhere away from you!"

"You will not. We haven't finished here." There was no sign of the smiley old lady now. Her face was as hard as flint."Michael! You come back here and sit down. I am your grandmother, Boy!"

He stopped and looked back. "Grandmother? I've lived this long without one, I don't need a grandmother. I think it would be best if you called me 'Mister Malloy'. We are strangers, after all." He left the room.

Nancy was standing in the hallway outside. He slammed the door and she nodded. "Come with me."

She led the way back to the kitchen, closed the door and looked at him. "Hmmm," she smiled. "You certainly have got spirit. I like it. Would you like a drink? There's beer in the fridge."

"No, no drink, thanks Nancy. I've just had tea."

"Yes. Tea with the Queen Mother - lucky you."

"Or not. I, umm, I've just had a row with her."

"I know you did. I heard every word."

"You don't think I went too far?"

"You didn't. It's time someone stood up to the old bag, she needs it."

"Oh, good. I'm glad you're not upset."

"Upset? I'm proud of you, Boy. It's a delight to have you in our family. Now, go and dig Hori out of his room. Take him for a walk in the sunshine.

There's a park down at the end of the road, he knows where, it's his favourite place. Michael, look after our baby, won't you? Don't let him get hurt. Kids pick on him."

"They'd better not try while he's with me! We'll do that, we'll go for a walk. Thanks, Nancy."

"Thank you, Michael. Now go."

He went to Hori's room and collected him.

"Can we go out by the back-door, Hori? I want us to go to the park, but you'll have to show me where it is. Nancy said that you know."

Hori grinned, nodded and ducked back into his room.

"Hori?" Michael thought that he didn't want to go with him, but then he came back out with a red plastic frisbee. He held it up and grinned. Michael took it from him.

"Cool. You've got a frisbee. Let's go to the park and play with it."

Hori led the way out, around the house and out to the street. Limping up the sidewalk, trying to keep up with the excited kid, Michael was regretting the bare feet. Sarah hadn't had a chance to tie his ankle up again. 'Oh well, too late now.' "Wait up, Hori!"

They reached the park, Hori led the way in there. It was nothing flash, just a small sports-field, some flower beds near the entrance, a small pavillion/club rooms and some bench seats scattered around. A group of kids of various ages, both boys and girls, were playing touch-rugby, kind of. They didn't really have enough players for one team, let alone two. Michael looked around.

"Okay, My Friend. We'd better stay out of their way. We'll play down near this end."

They played outside the end goal-line, throwing the frisbee from side to side across the end of the field and carefully keeping out of the way of the other players. They were evenly matched. Hori couldn't throw as well as Michael, but he was much more agile and quicker to run and catch. Michael was having fun and Hori obviously was too - his beaming smile said it all.

'Damm, Kid, you're going to be a heartbreaker in 10 years or so.'

Their fun ground to a halt when 4 kids left the football game and one of them jumped in and caught the frisbee.

"Hey!" Michael protested. "Throw it here."

The boy looked at him and threw it to one of the others. Hori ran over and tried to grab it, but he threw it on to another, laughing mockingly.

Hori ran after it, but the 3rd one threw it back to the 1st. The boy sneered, "C'mon, Dummy. You want it, you come and get it."

"Come on," Michael said. This is not funny. Give the boy his frisbee back."

"Make me!" The kid threw it on to another.

Hori leapt and missed it, and then he ran at the boy now holding it. He met him with a fist and knocked him to the ground.

"Fuck off, Dummy!"

Hori was roaring and Michael ran over and lifted him up. He turned to the boy.

"This is not on. Give me that fucking frisbee or you'll be sorry."

"Yeah, right." He threw it on to the others.

Michael hit him, he punched him in the guts. The kid was younger than him, probably about 11 or 12, but he didn't care, he was bloody wild. He hit him as hard as he could. The kid hit the ground and lay there moaning, curled around his guts. One of the others ran at him, roaring. Michael met him with a fist and batted him away. He turned on the boy with the frisbee.

"Give it here. Now!"

This one wasn't stupid, he threw it to him. "It was just a bit of fun."

"Fun for you, maybe, but it wasn't for the boy and it's his toy."

"How sad, never mind. Kid's just a fucking dummy anyway."

"And that makes it all right to pick on him? Fuck off and leave him alone!"

Michael took a couple of angry paces towards him. The boy backed-off and ran away. The other two were back on their feet, they retreated as well. One of them stopped and looked back.

"You're the new Malloy in town, aren't you? You'll be sorry, you're gonna pay for this. You don't know who you're messing with."

"Bring it on!" Michael walked at them, they ran away. He went back to Hori and offered the frisbee.

"You okay, My Friend?"

Hori grinned, nodded, swiped at his tears and hugged him. Michael hugged him back.

"Right, Hori. I think we should go home now, okay?"

They left the park and started for home.

The Malloys, 5

It was hours later when Big Mike arrived home. Michael was already in bed sleeping, but not for long. Big Mike was alone but making enough noise for half a dozen people. He was singing, loudly and badly, when he came into the sleep-out. He flicked the light on, skidded on the pile of glossy magazines on the floor and collapsed in a heap of yelling profanities.

"Shit! Damm and Fuck it! Who left those fucking books all over the floor?"

Michael sat up groggily and peered at him. "Umm. Well, you did actually."

"Oh, yeah. I did too," he giggled. "Sorry. Did I wake you up?"

"Did you what? You probably woke the bloody dead! Damm, Mike, it's not on. I'm not staying here if you're going to carry on like this."

"Okay, okay. Don't get your tits in a tangle. Sheesh! I said I was sorry."

"Yeah? So am I - sorry I ever came here. I'm not staying in this nut-farm."

"Come on, Brother. Don't be like that. We're not that bad. Well, Tommy is, but the rest of us are okay. Look, I said I was sorry and I am. I was happy and I forgot you were here. It won't happen again."

"Well . . all right then, as long as it doesn't." Michael lay down again.

Big Mike stripped his clothes off, turned out the light and climbed into his own bed. "Where are you going to go anyway? You've got nowhere."

"I'd find something."

"Yeah? Can I come with you?"

"O you bloody can't!" Michael laughed. It was hard to stay mad with this kid. "Have you been drinking?"

"No I haven't! Well, maybe a little bit of Maxie."

"A little bit of Maxie? I don't think I want to know."

"Not telling you anyway."

"Well good! Tommy arrived home before, singing his head off."

"Tommy was singing?"

"Yeah, just like you were."

"Like me? That's a worry. Okay, Brother, sleeping time. G'night and I'll see you in the morning."

"Chances are. G'night, Mike."

"That's Big Mike. Don't forget the Big."

"Yeah, whatever."

Michael knew that he was grumpy, but he wasn't sorry, he was tired. He hadn't got much sleep the night before, trying to sleep under a tree by the road, and he'd walked for bloody hours! He was tired. He drifted off to sleep.

He was woken again in the early hours of the morning. Someone was climbing into his bed!

"What the?"

He struggled upright and looked around. It was still early, the sky outside was not quite gray and Hori, complete with his own pillow, was in bed with him!

"Damm, Hori. What are you doing? You can't sleep in here."

"Ah, leave him." Big Mike rolled over in the other bed. "It's just Hori. Sometimes he likes a warm body to sleep with. Sarah's probably got Paulie in with her."

"Well, are you sure it's all right?"

"Course it is. Just cuddle him and go back to sleep. He usually sleeps with me, looks like I'm not the favourite uncle anymore."

"Okay then. He won't wet the bed will he?"

"You'll be the first to know if he does. No, he won't wet the bed. Go to sleep."

He lay back down again. Hori reached behind him and pulled Michael's arm across himself. He spooned around the warm little body and went back to sleep with a smile on his face.

When he woke again, Hori was kneeling in the bed, closely studying his face. Michael stretched and smiled. "Good morning, Hori," he whispered.

He was rewarded with another big smile. Then Hori leaned forward, kissed him on the lips, slid out of bed and was gone. That felt good. Michael stretched and smiled and looked up at the wooden ceiling that was not that far above him. He looked over at the other bed. Big Mike was lying there grinning at him and he grinned back.

"Hori's a great wee boy. I like him a lot."

"Yeah, he is," Big Mike answered. "He's a great kid and he's got a lot of love to give. Just see you don't touch his dick, Nancy would kill you - seriously."

"Mike! Sorry, Big Mike, there is no way I'd touch a baby's dick. I'm not a sicko."

"Didn't think you were. If I did, you'd already be dead, and I ain't kidding."

"It's not something to joke about, I wouldn't do something like that, but I'm not scared of you anyway."

"Yeah? I gathered that. Okay, you don't need to be, but be aware of who to fear."

"Yeah, I know - Nancy, right?"

"Wrong. Well, Nancy too, but she's mostly all mouth. It's Sarah you mostly don't want to cross. If she gets her rag out - look out!"

"Sarah? I thought Sarah was nice."

"Well she is, and she'd smile nicely while she rips your guts out with her bare hands."

"For real?"

"Oh yes. We'd better get up. Come and I'll show you where the shower is."

They went into the house.

"What are you like at mowing lawns?" Big Mike asked.

"Useless!"

"Dammit. You'd better learn."

They showered, separately of course, and then helped themselves to breakfast in the kitchen. There was no-one else there.

"It's Sunday," Big Mike said. "We're all back-slidden Catholics, but we do like our day of rest."

"Back-slidden?"

"Yeah. Nancy's been warring with the local priest for years. The last straw was when he wanted Sarah to adopt her baby. Stupid old man, then we'd have no Hori."

"Yeah, that wouldn't be good. So, would you normally be in bed on a Sunday?"

"Sometimes, but not today. We've got things to do. How's the feet?"

"Not too bad. As long as I don't have to walk too far they should be okay."

"I think there's an old wheelchair, in the garage somewhere. If we can dig that out, I'll push you in it."

"No way. I'm not sitting in a wheelchair, I'm not a crip."

"No-one said you were. You didn't mind sitting in the trolley yesterday."

"No, but that was different. That was yesterday and the ankle was really hurting. It's better today."

"It won't be if we don't look after it."

"It's my foot, I'll look after it."

"Sheesh! You're more stubborn than I am! Okay, walk then - it's not too far, just downtown."

"What are we going there for?"

"Would you rather mow the lawns? No? I thought not. C'mon Brother, don't you want to see your new town? I want the town to see you. It's not often I've got something to be proud of."

Well! Michael couldn't resist that. They went for a walk downtown.

They walked, slowly, back down to the main street, one block along there and around to the skateboard park behind it. Michael was surely glad to see the bench-seats around the park. He was well ready for a rest.

"Here we are then," Big Mike led the way over. "This is our skatie-park. Way cool, eh? Shame I haven't got a board, but Maxie has so it's all good. Everyone hangs out here anyway. This is where you come to see and be seen."

"Oh, okay then, as long as I can sit down."

"Should've let me get the chair, shouldn't you? With a bit of luck, someone might drive us home. And here comes Maxie. You can look but don't touch."

"Wouldn't think of it."

"Hey, Maxie, how're you? This is the new brother I was telling you about. Michael - Maxie."

"Hey, Maxie. I'm not getting up - feet are sore."

"Yeah, I heard that too, and the name's Max. Only Big Mike calls me Maxie."

"Okay, hey, Max then."

"That's better. What are we going to call you? Little Mike wouldn't work. I guess you'll have to be Bigger Mike."

"Bigger Mike," he laughed. "No, I don't think so. My name is Michael, nothing else."

"Okay, Michael Nothing Else, pleased to meet cha," Max grinned.

"Whatever."

Max sat on one side of him and Big Mike sat on the other, they talked. Michael liked this guy, he was okay, but he soon got tired of being intro'd to more and more people. He never remember all their names. Everyone wanted to know all about him, he was the new kid in town. Big Mike was fussing around, beaming with pride, like he'd made him or something, so he put up with it - for now.

Harri turned up and he was delighted to see a familiar face. She stood back, watching, and then she went and got a girl from over the other side.

"Michael, you ready to go home?"

"Yeah, well ready, Harri."

"Right then. This is my cousin, Fiona. She's got a car, so come with us and we'll take you there."

"Sounds good to me." He got to his feet.

"Hey, wait up!" Big Mike protested. "No hurry, is there?

Harri turned on him. "Shut it, Big Mike. Look at the kid, he's knackered. He should be resting. You've got no business dragging him around town like this."

Michael answered. "It's okay, Harri. Thanks, but I agreed to come out."

"Well you shouldn't have. You need to rest. Want me to get Sarah on to you?"

"Well, no."

"Shut up and do what you're told then. Come on, we're outta here."

"Yeah, okay, thanks. Are you coming, Big Mike?"

"Not yet," he grinned at Max. "No. You go with Harri and Fiona. Maxie and me have got things to do."

"Things to do?"


"Don't ask," said Harri. "Come on, we're gone."

"Right. Bye, Big Mike. Nice to meet, Max."

"Likewise."

The girls took him back to his new home - his new, old, home. Sarah was sitting on the front verandah, nursing the baby and watching him hobble in.

"Look at you! You shouldn't be walking around yet. Sit down here. I'll get some water and you can soak the feet again."

"Thanks. That'll be great." He sat down with a sigh. "But not too hot!"

"It'll be hot enough. Stay there."

She took Paulie inside and he sat alone in the sunshine. Harri and Fiona had already driven away. Hori came out and handed him a teddy-bear, he took it with a smile.

"This your teddy, Hori? Thanks. He's very cool."

Hori smiled that smile. Michael inspected the teddy. It was old, a bit grubby and quite limp - it was badly in need of restuffing. "I think your teddy needs feeding. We'll have to find him some honey."



Sarah returned, with the bowl of water, and stood grinning down at him. "Wow. You're privileged."



"Privileged?"



"Definitely. That's Hori's Pooh Bear you've got there, his most precious possession. Nobody, but nobody, is allowed to touch Pooh."



"I see. Thanks, Hori. I'm very honoured and I'll be careful with him."


Hori smiled and sat down next to him. Michael smiled back and held out the bear, offering it back to him. Hori shook his head, but then he changed his mind, grabbed it off him and cuddled it to his face.



"He does love his teddy," Sarah said. "Probably because its name is Pooh, he thinks that's very funny. Okay, are you going to get those sneakers off or do I have to do it for you?"



"I can do it!" He hurried to remove them before Sarah pulled them off again. She removed the bandage and he sat soaking his feet.



"Where's Big Mike?"



"We left him at the skateboard park. He's with Max Weavers."



"Of course he is. I'll be glad when he's over Max Weavers."



"You don't like him?"



"Not much. Oh, he's all right in his way I suppose. He's got a rotten family, they're snobs and they think they're better than us."



"And they're not?"



"They probably are, but they don't have to tell everybody."



"Definitely not. Wow, is that a Rolls Royce?"



A big black car pulled up in the street outside.

The Malloys, 5

It was hours later when Big Mike arrived home. Michael was already in bed sleeping, but not for long. Big Mike was alone but making enough noise for half a dozen people. He was singing, loudly and badly, when he came into the sleep-out. He flicked the light on, skidded on the pile of glossy magazines on the floor and collapsed in a heap of yelling profanities.

"Shit! Damm and Fuck it! Who left those fucking books all over the floor?"

Michael sat up groggily and peered at him. "Umm. Well, you did actually."

"Oh, yeah. I did too," he giggled. "Sorry. Did I wake you up?"

"Did you what? You probably woke the bloody dead! Damm, Mike, it's not on. I'm not staying here if you're going to carry on like this."

"Okay, okay. Don't get your tits in a tangle. Sheesh! I said I was sorry."

"Yeah? So am I - sorry I ever came here. I'm not staying in this nut-farm."

"Come on, Brother. Don't be like that. We're not that bad. Well, Tommy is, but the rest of us are okay. Look, I said I was sorry and I am. I was happy and I forgot you were here. It won't happen again."

"Well . . all right then, as long as it doesn't." Michael lay down again.

Big Mike stripped his clothes off, turned out the light and climbed into his own bed. "Where are you going to go anyway? You've got nowhere."

"I'd find something."

"Yeah? Can I come with you?"

"O you bloody can't!" Michael laughed. It was hard to stay mad with this kid. "Have you been drinking?"

"No I haven't! Well, maybe a little bit of Maxie."

"A little bit of Maxie? I don't think I want to know."

"Not telling you anyway."

"Well good! Tommy arrived home before, singing his head off."

"Tommy was singing?"

"Yeah, just like you were."

"Like me? That's a worry. Okay, Brother, sleeping time. G'night and I'll see you in the morning."

"Chances are. G'night, Mike."

"That's Big Mike. Don't forget the Big."

"Yeah, whatever."

Michael knew that he was grumpy, but he wasn't sorry, he was tired. He hadn't got much sleep the night before, trying to sleep under a tree by the road, and he'd walked for bloody hours! He was tired. He drifted off to sleep.

He was woken again in the early hours of the morning. Someone was climbing into his bed!

"What the?"

He struggled upright and looked around. It was still early, the sky outside was not quite gray and Hori, complete with his own pillow, was in bed with him!

"Damm, Hori. What are you doing? You can't sleep in here."

"Ah, leave him." Big Mike rolled over in the other bed. "It's just Hori. Sometimes he likes a warm body to sleep with. Sarah's probably got Paulie in with her."

"Well, are you sure it's all right?"

"Course it is. Just cuddle him and go back to sleep. He usually sleeps with me, looks like I'm not the favourite uncle anymore."

"Okay then. He won't wet the bed will he?"

"You'll be the first to know if he does. No, he won't wet the bed. Go to sleep."

He lay back down again. Hori reached behind him and pulled Michael's arm across himself. He spooned around the warm little body and went back to sleep with a smile on his face.

When he woke again, Hori was kneeling in the bed, closely studying his face. Michael stretched and smiled. "Good morning, Hori," he whispered.

He was rewarded with another big smile. Then Hori leaned forward, kissed him on the lips, slid out of bed and was gone. That felt good. Michael stretched and smiled and looked up at the wooden ceiling that was not that far above him. He looked over at the other bed. Big Mike was lying there grinning at him and he grinned back.

"Hori's a great wee boy. I like him a lot."

"Yeah, he is," Big Mike answered. "He's a great kid and he's got a lot of love to give. Just see you don't touch his dick, Nancy would kill you - seriously."

"Mike! Sorry, Big Mike, there is no way I'd touch a baby's dick. I'm not a sicko."

"Didn't think you were. If I did, you'd already be dead, and I ain't kidding."

"It's not something to joke about, I wouldn't do something like that, but I'm not scared of you anyway."

"Yeah? I gathered that. Okay, you don't need to be, but be aware of who to fear."

"Yeah, I know - Nancy, right?"

"Wrong. Well, Nancy too, but she's mostly all mouth. It's Sarah you mostly don't want to cross. If she gets her rag out - look out!"

"Sarah? I thought Sarah was nice."

"Well she is, and she'd smile nicely while she rips your guts out with her bare hands."

"For real?"

"Oh yes. We'd better get up. Come and I'll show you where the shower is."

They went into the house.

"What are you like at mowing lawns?" Big Mike asked.

"Useless!"

"Dammit. You'd better learn."

They showered, separately of course, and then helped themselves to breakfast in the kitchen. There was no-one else there.

"It's Sunday," Big Mike said. "We're all back-slidden Catholics, but we do like our day of rest."

"Back-slidden?"

"Yeah. Nancy's been warring with the local priest for years. The last straw was when he wanted Sarah to adopt her baby. Stupid old man, then we'd have no Hori."

"Yeah, that wouldn't be good. So, would you normally be in bed on a Sunday?"

"Sometimes, but not today. We've got things to do. How's the feet?"

"Not too bad. As long as I don't have to walk too far they should be okay."

"I think there's an old wheelchair, in the garage somewhere. If we can dig that out, I'll push you in it."

"No way. I'm not sitting in a wheelchair, I'm not a crip."

"No-one said you were. You didn't mind sitting in the trolley yesterday."

"No, but that was different. That was yesterday and the ankle was really hurting. It's better today."

"It won't be if we don't look after it."

"It's my foot, I'll look after it."

"Sheesh! You're more stubborn than I am! Okay, walk then - it's not too far, just downtown."

"What are we going there for?"

"Would you rather mow the lawns? No? I thought not. C'mon Brother, don't you want to see your new town? I want the town to see you. It's not often I've got something to be proud of."

Well! Michael couldn't resist that. They went for a walk downtown.

They walked, slowly, back down to the main street, one block along there and around to the skateboard park behind it. Michael was surely glad to see the bench-seats around the park. He was well ready for a rest.

"Here we are then," Big Mike led the way over. "This is our skatie-park. Way cool, eh? Shame I haven't got a board, but Maxie has so it's all good. Everyone hangs out here anyway. This is where you come to see and be seen."

"Oh, okay then, as long as I can sit down."

"Should've let me get the chair, shouldn't you? With a bit of luck, someone might drive us home. And here comes Maxie. You can look but don't touch."

"Wouldn't think of it."

"Hey, Maxie, how're you? This is the new brother I was telling you about. Michael - Maxie."

"Hey, Maxie. I'm not getting up - feet are sore."

"Yeah, I heard that too, and the name's Max. Only Big Mike calls me Maxie."

"Okay, hey, Max then."

"That's better. What are we going to call you? Little Mike wouldn't work. I guess you'll have to be Bigger Mike."

"Bigger Mike," he laughed. "No, I don't think so. My name is Michael, nothing else."

"Okay, Michael Nothing Else, pleased to meet cha," Max grinned.

"Whatever."

Max sat on one side of him and Big Mike sat on the other, they talked. Michael liked this guy, he was okay, but he soon got tired of being intro'd to more and more people. He never remember all their names. Everyone wanted to know all about him, he was the new kid in town. Big Mike was fussing around, beaming with pride, like he'd made him or something, so he put up with it - for now.

Harri turned up and he was delighted to see a familiar face. She stood back, watching, and then she went and got a girl from over the other side.

"Michael, you ready to go home?"

"Yeah, well ready, Harri."

"Right then. This is my cousin, Fiona. She's got a car, so come with us and we'll take you there."

"Sounds good to me." He got to his feet.

"Hey, wait up!" Big Mike protested. "No hurry, is there?

Harri turned on him. "Shut it, Big Mike. Look at the kid, he's knackered. He should be resting. You've got no business dragging him around town like this."

Michael answered. "It's okay, Harri. Thanks, but I agreed to come out."

"Well you shouldn't have. You need to rest. Want me to get Sarah on to you?"

"Well, no."

"Shut up and do what you're told then. Come on, we're outta here."

"Yeah, okay, thanks. Are you coming, Big Mike?"

"Not yet," he grinned at Max. "No. You go with Harri and Fiona. Maxie and me have got things to do."

"Things to do?"

"Don't ask," said Harri. "Come on, we're gone."

"Right. Bye, Big Mike. Nice to meet, Max."

"Likewise."

The girls took him back to his new home - his new, old, home. Sarah was sitting on the front verandah, nursing the baby and watching him hobble in.

"Look at you! You shouldn't be walking around yet. Sit down here. I'll get some water and you can soak the feet again."

"Thanks. That'll be great." He sat down with a sigh. "But not too hot!"

"It'll be hot enough. Stay there."

She took Paulie inside and he sat alone in the sunshine. Harri and Fiona had already driven away. Hori came out and handed him a teddy-bear, he took it with a smile.

"This your teddy, Hori? Thanks. He's very cool."

Hori smiled that smile. Michael inspected the teddy. It was old, a bit grubby and quite limp - it was badly in need of restuffing. "I think your teddy needs feeding. We'll have to find him some honey."

Sarah returned, with the bowl of water, and stood grinning down at him. "Wow. You're privileged."

"Privileged?"

"Definitely. That's Hori's Pooh Bear you've got there, his most precious possession. Nobody, but nobody, is allowed to touch Pooh."

"I see. Thanks, Hori. I'm very honoured and I'll be careful with him."

Hori smiled and sat down next to him. Michael smiled back and held out the bear, offering it back to him. Hori shook his head, but then he changed his mind, grabbed it off him and cuddled it to his face.

"He does love his teddy," Sarah said. "Probably because its name is Pooh, he thinks that's very funny. Okay, are you going to get those sneakers off or do I have to do it for you?"

"I can do it!" He hurried to remove them before Sarah pulled them off again. She removed the bandage and he sat soaking his feet.

"Where's Big Mike?"

"We left him at the skateboard park. He's with Max Weavers."

"Of course he is. I'll be glad when he's over Max Weavers."

"You don't like him?"

"Not much. Oh, he's all right in his way I suppose. He's got a rotten family, they're snobs and they think they're better than us."

"And they're not?"

"They probably are, but they don't have to tell everybody."

"Definitely not. Wow, is that a Rolls Royce?"

A big black car pulled up in the street outside.

The Malloys, 4

Big Mike led the way into the house. The backdoor opened into a long hallway that ran right through to the front. From there they went, left, into the big old kitchen. It was hot in there! Nancy was sitting at the top of the table, spoon-feeding baby Paulie who was in a wooden highchair. Sarah was standing at the stove and Hori and a little girl were sitting at the table. There was no sign of Tommy, he was not there.

Michael was a bit disappointed, the whole point of coming here was to get to know his father. But, whatever, he was hungry.

"There you are," Sarah smiled. "That's your plates, over that side. Sit down and get stuck in."

They went around to the back of the table. Big Mike sat down at the end, next to Nancy, Michael sat between him and Hori. Hori immediately stopped eating, picked-up his plate and went around to sit at the other side, opposite him.

"Oh?" Michael said. "Don't you want to sit by me, Hori?"

The wee boy looked up and grinned at him.

"Wow," Sarah said. "Hori likes you, Michael."

"Does he? I thought he was moving away from me."

"Well he did. He wants to sit opposite so he can look at you."

Hori grinned and nodded at him. Michael felt good and he grinned back.

"I like you too, Hori. You're okay."

"Of course he bloody is," Nancy snorted. "He's a good boy, aren't you, My Darling?"

Hori smiled and continued eating. He really was a beautiful little boy.

"Well?" Nancy continued. "Eat, Boy. Don't let it get cold."

It was a mince stew with boiled potatoes. It didn't look very appetising, but it tasted great. It wouldn't have mattered much anyway, he was so hungry he'd eat anything. But it was good.

Sarah asked, "Have you got any little brothers or sisters, Michael?"

"No, there was just Mum and me. I didn't know that I had any brothers at all."

Nancy said, "Maybe you were better off not knowing."

"Hey! No he wasn't," Big Mike protested.

"Shut up, Big Mike. Eat."

Michael had to ask, "Nancy, is Tommy not eating with us?"

"He's not. Tommy's got money in his pocket and a story to tell about his new son. Where the hell do you think he'd be? He's in the pub, of course. We won't see him again today."

"Oh, I see. Thanks."

"Tommy spends far too much time in the pub. Say hello to your sister. Molly, this is Michael."

"Hey, Molly. How are you?"

Molly blushed and looked down at the table. Maybe she was another dummy? But then, she glanced at Nancy, and then looked back at him and spoke, all in a rush.

"Hello Michael. Sarah said that you are 14 so you are a teenager but I'm not, I'm only 8 and I'm not allowed to talk at the table because you have to be a teenager before you can talk or Nancy gets very cross and she tells you to shut up or she'll smack you one, and then she takes your dinner away and you are not allowed to finish it, even if you are really hungry, so it's best not to talk at all, but I think it's okay just this once to say hello to you - so hello and can you pass the tomato sauce please?"

"Umm, yeah, sure," he grinned as he passed the bottle across. "Maybe we can talk later?"

She just blushed again and nodded her head. The rest of the meal passed in silence, perhaps it was some sort of respect for Molly's confusion. Whatever the reason, they ate quietly.

As soon as it was finished, Big Mike stood up and anounced, "Okay, that's me done. I'm outta here - going around to see Maxie. Thanks Sarah, good meal. I'll see you later, Michael. Don't wait up."

"What about the dishes?" Nancy snapped. "You're not going anywhere until they're done."

"Aww, Nancy! I've been doing the flaming dishes around here forever. Let Michael do them, it must be about his bloody turn!"

"All right then, Michael will do them, and don't you bloody swear at me, Boy! now get."

"I'm gone. Thanks, Nancy." He left in a hurry.

"I will wash the dishes. Molly and Hori can help dry them." Sarah stood up. "Stay there, Michael and talk to Nancy. She won't admit it, but she's dying to know all about you."

"How come everyone decides what's happening around here except Nancy?" Nancy complained, but she did want to know. "Do the dishes, Girl, but bring us a cup of tea first."

Sarah made a pot of tea and brought it to the table for Nancy to pour. With the children's help, such as it was, she took care of the washing-up and Michael talked to Nancy, repeating the story of his life. She was very interested and asked a lot of questions. When he'd finished, she declared.

"Just as I thought. Your mother's a stupid woman, I always knew she was. You're better-off here, but you're not sitting around on your butt all day. You're gonna have to go to school, or something."

"I guess I am. I'm only 14," Michael replied. "But I don't mind if I do. I quite like school, I'm good at it."

"You're what? Good at it and you like it? Are you sure that Tommy's your father?"

"Nancy," Sarah interrupted. "You know very well that all of Tommy's kids are bright enough."

"Like you, you mean?"

"I was Dux of the school."

"Fat lot of good that did you. You should've kept your legs closed, Girl."

"But then you'd have no grandchildren to fuss over."

"Well, yes, there is that. Anyway, you lot all got your brains from me, not Tommy."

"Sure, Nancy."

Big Mike escaped from home and hurried across town to Maxie's place. Damm, he wished that he had a bike. He used to, but Tommy sold it. Little Swine! No, Tommy was okay really. It was his own fault, he should've had it locked up. He knew what Tommy was like when he was on the booze. He'd sell his kids if he could - just as bloody well he couldn't!

It didn't take long to get there, it wasn't a big town. He soon arrived at Maxie's place and walked up to the frontdoor. It was quite a big house, much bigger than his own and that wasn't small. However, the Malloy's old place only had one storey, like most houses did, this one had more than one, it had three. The Weaver's was probably the only three-storey house in town, if you don't count attics. They weren't filthy-rich, but they were much better off than the Malloys. Having jobs probably helped with that.

He walked up to the frontdoor and the doorbell rang, making him jump, as always. It always freaked him out when it did that. He didn't ring it, there wasn't even a button to push, it just rang when someone approached the door. Bloody Showoffs! Nancy would say that they're just skiting.

The door opened and a tall, skinny woman with bottle-blonde hair and clothes that would fit a kid better, looked out. "Oh. Hello, Michael. You're looking for Max, I suppose?"

('Who else?') "Yeah, I am. Is he here please, Mrs. Weavers?"

"I think he's up in his room. You'd better go up and have a look."

"I will. Thanks Mrs. Weavers."

She sighed and shook her head as she watched him bounding up the stairs. 'Oh, to have the energy of the young!'

He was a nice-enough kid, she supposed, but she'd be glad when Max got over this infatuation with him. She knew that her son was gay, she'd accepted that a long time ago, but she was sure that he could do better than the son of one of the town drunks. She got on with her work.

Big Mike ran up to Maxie's room on the top floor and walked in the open door. "Maxie? You here?"

"I'm here, My Boy. Come on in."

"I already did. What ARE you doing?"

All that could be seen of Max was his feet and lower legs, the rest of him was beneath a huge agglomeration that took-up over half of the floor-space. He wriggled his way out from under it, sat up and grinned. "Just working on my latest invention."

"And what's this one meant to do?"

"It's a time-saving device - badly needed."

"How on earth is that thing going to save you time?"

"By having my breakfast ready and waiting when I stagger down in the mornings."

"You're a bloody nut-bar. You know that, don't you? It'll never work, they never do."

"Oh, ye of little faith!"

"I've got faith, faith that you'll stuff it up again."

"One day I'll get it right. This could be the day."

"Or not. Is your dad home?"

"No. He had a meeting after work. He won't be home intil all hours."

"Cool." Big Mike dropped to his knees in front of Max. "Kiss me then."

"Kiss You? Here? Big Mike, you know we're not allowed the door shut when you're up here."

"Yeah, worse luck. We don't need the door shut. Your dad's not here and your mum's down at the front, she won't come up here."

"We're in huge trouble if she does, but - okay. Come here, Big Boy."

They kissed briefly but Max couldn't get into it, he was too busy watching the doorway."

"Damm, Maxie, you're so romantic."

"There's a time and a place and this ain't it."

"Guess not. You still love me?"

"Always."

"Yeah! I love you too. I've got a new brother. Well, he's not new, he's second-hand, but he's ours now."

"Big Mike, I don't know what you're talking about. A second-hand brother?"

"That's right. He used to live with his mother but she kicked him out, so now he's ours."

"Oh. So what's his name?"

"Michael Malloy."

"Is not!"

"Is too. He's Michael Thomas Malloy, he's 14 and he's my brother. Tommy's his dad."

"How did Tommy get to be his father?"

"Usual way - fucking."

"No way! What did Nancy say?"

"Not a lot, she already knew. It happened a long time ago. The kid's 14, same as me."

"And the same name? Wow! Tell me more."

They sat on the floor and Big Mike told Max all about his new brother, and then he had to go and meet him.

"You serious? Can't it wait? I just walked across town to see you."

"And it's such a long way! C'mon, Big Mike, I want to meet your brother. Is he as good-looking as you?"

"Nah. He's ugly. You really don't want to see him."

"Bloody do! Come on, we'll go now, and then we'll go somewhere private."

"Like where?"

"Like, Dad's got an old van in his car-sales yard, it's really cool. The back's all fitted out for sleeping and I know where the keys are."

"We're going to pinch it?"

"No, we're not. We don't have to go anywhere, it's parked in the yard and there's no-one there now."

A big grin spread acroos his face. "Sounds good to me. What are we waiting for?"

"Well . . nothing really. Let's go."

They went downstairs, told Max's mother what they were doing, (some of what they were doing), and then they left. Big Mike wanted to go on Max's bike, he could double him on it, but they couldn't - it was broken.

"About time you started looking after your stuff, Maximillian Weavers."

"Yes, Mum. Whatever you say, Mum."

"Shut up, Maxie."

They started walking to Big Mike's place, but they never got there. Sometimes things turn-out better than you planned and they passed the car-sales yard on the way. So, of course, they had to stop in there and check-out the van. Then they checked-out the inside. Big Mike lay down on the bed to try it out, Maxie lay down with him. They didn't walk any further.

The Malloys, 3

"Tommy Malloy, this boy is yours. He's staying here and you are damm well going to be a father to him."

"Me? Nancy, you know I'm no good at that sort of stuff."

"You're good for nothing! We all know that. It's about time you did the right thing for once in your life. He's staying here!"

"Don't I get any say in this?" Tommy was only half the size of his wife, but he wasn't cowered by her.

"No you don't."

"I don't know where he's going to sleep."

"He can go in the sleep-out with Big Mike. There's plenty of room in there. TJ and Red shared it for years, now these two can. Big Mike, take your brother to your room."

"Nancy! I don't want him in there."

"Well, tough! You've got him, like it or not. No-one asked for your opinion."

"Sheesh! It's my room. Anyway, he's gay."

"So, bloody, what? So are you and we let you sleep in there, don't we? Now get! Tommy, you can get around the back and take those filthy overalls off before you come into my house."

Nancy went back inside and Sarah followed. Tommy walked away to the back of the house, complaining loudly to nobody.

"There y'go, Brother," Big Mike grinned. "Told you that you're in. Welcome to our happy family."

"I don't feel welcome. I don't know if I should stay, no-one wants me here."

"Sure we do. Don't listen to Tommy, that's just the way you have to deal with Nancy. If you want something, tell her the opposite, works every time."

"Well, if you're sure?"

"I'm sure. Where else are you going to sleep anyway, under a tree?"

"I was thinking about it."

"That's just dumb. We're nothing flash here, but there's always room for one more. Come and see our room, it's in back of the garage."

Big Mike led the way up the drive to the back of the house. Tommy was scrubbing-up in the sink by the back-door. He'd dropped the overalls to his waist, baring his white and skinny torso. He looked up and grinned as they passed.

"Welcome home, Son. Always remember, no means yes."

"Well, umm, thanks, Dad."

"Dad? Nah. No-one calls me that, my name's Tommy. Keep going before Nancy sees me talking to you. If she knew we'd conned her, she'd throw us all out."

The sleep-out was not big. It was one of the old relocatable railwaymen's huts. It had one door and two windows, but one of them was useless because it was hard-up against the back wall of the garage. Inside, there was a built-in wardrobe, drawers and cupboards. There was a fold-down table between the two beds, which were also built-in. One had been slept in, the other was covered in clothes, books and stuff.

"Home sweet Home," Big Mike announced "What d'you think?"

"Looks good to me. Mike, are you sure you don't mind me being here?"

"That's Big Mike, don't forget the Big. Do I get a choice? No, I don't mind. Two Michael Malloys! That'll be fun. Interesting times, as they say."

"It's not going to cause a scandal for your family in the town, is it?"

"Sunshine, nothing the Malloys do is going to shock this town, they've seen it all before. Anyway, sorry to have to tell you this, but you're family too."

"Sounds good to me. Any family is better than none."

"Don't be too sure about that. You can take the weight off your foot, sit on my bed while I take the junk off the other one. I'll drop all these clothes in the laundry and somebody might wash them, with a bit of luck."

"Don't you do your own laundry?"

"Nah. Woman's work, My Son. Don't tell Nancy that! Or Sarah either, come to think of it."

He sat waiting on the unmade bed while Big Mike cleared the other one. He had a million questions, but they could wait. It was going to take a while to sort-out how this family worked. It was like no other family he'd ever seen. One question though, was going to have to be asked.

"Mike, sorry - Big Mike, did Nancy say that you're gay?"

"Yeah, that's right. I'll just get rid of these clothes. Be back in a minute."

Wow. When Michael told his mother that he was gay she went off like a rocket. Seemed like it was no big deal around here, everyone was so matter of fact about it. He said that to Big Mike when he came back, he agreed, no big deal.

"No sense in getting all worked-up about it. If you're gay, then you are. No-one can do anything about it."

"People try though, don't they? To cure it, I mean.'

"Religious nutters try. What's to cure? Look, I've got blue eyes. I could hide them, but I couldn't change them. They're blue and that's all there is to it."

"Well, yeah, but it's not the same. Is it?"

"Bloody is. Think about it."

Michael sat and thought about it while Big Mike finished clearing the junk off the other one and tidying it up. Blue eyes the same as being gay? No. What a load of rubbish! They were two different things. Weren't they?

"There y'go." Big Mike turned and faced him. "And that's the last time I fix your bed up. From now on, you do it."

"Thanks, Big Mike."

"You're welcome, My Brother. Now, get off my bed!"

They swapped beds and both stretched-out and relaxed. Big Mike was feeling good. He couldn't even remember what he was so mad about before. 'Oh yeah, bloody Harri laughing at my dick! That'll keep, Cheeky Beggar.'

Whatever, he had other things to think about now. This was going to be so cool, having a brother all of his own. He had other brothers, of course, but that was different, they were groan-up, they didn't live at home and they weren't gay. This one was. Way cool!

Well, time to get to know him. He wanted to know everything about him. "Michael?" He glanced over at the other bed. Dammit, the kid had gone to sleep already. He thought about throwing something at him to wake him up, but, no, that'd be mean. He must be knackered.Where had he come from anyway? He said it was a long way.

Michael woke-up with a start. Whoah! He didn't mean to go to sleep. What would his new brother think of him? He turned-over and looked at the other bed. It was empty. Damm. What was he going to do now? He didn't like to just go wandering into their house. When that Nancy saw him, she might change her mind and throw him out again. He didn't want that.

Nancy was obviously the boss around there and he didn't want to cross her. That would not be wise.

What about Tommy then? His father was certainly different. He was such a weedy little guy, not at all like he'd imagined his father would be. They said that Tommny was a dead-beat, but he must have something about him, obviously. He was sleeping with two women at the same time, and they'd both named their babies after him. Kind of.

Sarah was nice - bossy but nice. He liked Sarah.

He swung his feet down on to the floor and stood-up carefully. Okay, they weren't too bad, he'd survive. Having his ankle tied-up had definitely helped. That was good. How long had he been sleeping? Not long, it was still daytime.

He hobbled over and tried the door, but couldn't open it. It was locked! There was no other way out of there, except for the window and that was way too small and too high. Dammit. What would they lock him in for? Maybe it was just stuck? The hut was old. He tried the door again and rattled the handle, but it wasn't moving.

"Hold on. Hold on!" Big Mike's voice came from outside. The key clicked in the lock, the door opened and Big Mike grinned at him.

"There y'go. What's the panic? I just locked the door to keep the kids out. Sleep well?"

"Ah, yes. I guess I needed that. Feels better now. How long was I out for?"

"Not long. Only about an hour or so. I didn't want to disturb you. You were rattling the windows, you were snoring that much."

"I was not! I don't snore. Do I?"

"Yeah you do. You were nearly lifting the roof off. Wasn't he, Harri?" He appealed to the girl sitting on the fence behind him.

"No he wasn't, I didn't hear a thing. Don't listen to Big Mike. You can't believe a word he says and the mouth is the biggest part of him."

"Hey! Love you too."

"Course you do. Hello Michael Malloy. I'm Harri and I'm the best friend Big Mike's got."

"Well, maybe," Big Mike grumbled.

"Ah, yeah," Michael grinned. "Hello, umm, Harri?"

"Yes, Harri. It's short for Harriet which stupid, girly and old-fashioned. It might've suited my grandmother, but it doesn't fit me."

"Yeah," Big Mike nodded. "Harri is much more butch."

"Watch it, Boy! Behave yourself or I'll sit on you. Right, Mike the Second, come and tell us all about yourself."

"There's not much to say really. I'm just ordinary - what you see is what you get."

"Come on, Boy. Nobody's ordinary and we don't know what we're looking at, do we? So where are you from?"

Harri slid down off the fence and sat below it. The boys sat down, facing her, while they talked. Michael told them about his boring life so far. No, he didn't have a boyfriend, he never had. If he had designs on Big Mike, he could forget it, because he did have a boyfriend, thank you very much. Whatever.

A little maori boy stood there looking at them, his thumb in his mouth and big, brown eyes peering out from under his over-grown fringe of black hair. He didn't say a word.

Michael waited a couple of minutes, nobody was saying anything, so he had to ask.

"Who's the kid?"

"Oh, that's Hori," Big Mike replied.

"That's not nice. Hori is an insulting term for a maori, isn't it?"

"Yeah, maybe, but that's what he is. His name is Hori, it's maori for George. He's Sarah's boy. Hori, this is your new uncle. His name's Michael."

The kid just stood there looking.

"Hello, Hori," Michael smiled. "Nice to meet you." There was no reply. He looked back at Big Mike.

"He doesn't say much, does he?"

"He never does. Hori doesn't talk, he's a dummy."

"A dummy? Damm, Big Mike, that's not nice either."

"Maybe not, but that's what he is. He's nearly 4 years old and he's never said a word in his life. He's a dummy."

"That's rough. The poor kid. Is he deaf?"

"No, he hears every word you're saying, he just doesn't talk. There's nothing wrong with his vocal cords either, upset him and he roars like a bull!"

"I'll try not to do that then."

"Yeah, it pays not to. Nancy says that he'll talk when he's good and bloody ready. He's not stupid, just dumb."

"Must be hard, going through life and not talking."

"Yeah, it must be. I'd bloody hate it," Big Mike grinned.

"You couldn't do it anyway," Harri said. "Maybe he just doesn't want to tell anyone that Tommy's his granddad."

"Yeah, he might still be in shock after finding that out."

Michael said, "We're talking about the boy like he's not here. I'm pleased to meet you anyway, Hori. I'll be happy to be your uncle."

The thumb came out of his mouth and he smiled - a dazzling white smile in his dark face. He was a handsome kid. Michael smiled back and Hori ran into the house.

"Harriet Nelson! How many times have I told you to stay away from that bad boy over there?" A stern-looking policewoman frowned over the fence.

"About a million," Harri looked-up and shrugged. "Got bad news for you, Mum. They've got another one. Meet Michael - Tommy's other boy."

"Another one? Oh, Good Lord! Just what we need. Hello Michael. I'm Ronnie and I'm Harri's mother. What's your other name?"

"Umm, Malloy. Michael Thomas Malloy."

"Trust Tommy to have two boys with the same name. And you'll be living here now?"

"I think so. I hope so. If they let me stay."

"Oh you're staying," Big Mike said. "Nancy said you are, so that's that."

"Heaven help us," the policewoman said. "Well, I live right over here and I'll be watching, so behave yourself."

"I'll make sure he does," Big Mike grinned.

"You? You're the biggest villian of the lot of them."

"She loves me really," Big Mike grinned. "When are you going to marry me, Ronnie?"

"Marry you? Not likely! And don't you think about it either, Harri. Nice to meet you, Michael. Be good and we'll get on fine."

"Ah, yeah. I'll try to anyway."

"You do that. See you later, Kids."

She left and Michael turned back to Harri. "Your mum's a cop?"

"Sure is. Dad's a cop too, they both are. Actually, so was my granddad. I come from a long line of cops. Maybe I'll join-up too."

"They wouldn't have you," Big Mike scoffed. "Anyway, if you were a cop, that'd be us finished."

"You mean you're not going to marry me?"

"Not bloody likely!"

"Yeah? I wouldn't want to marry a girl anyway."

"I'm not a girl, I'm a boy!"

"Just."

"Shut up, Harri."

Michael grinned as he watched them. He liked these guys, they were fun. Living here might be all right.

"Big Mike, Michael!" Sarah called them. "Your dinner's on the table, come and get it. You eating with us, Harri."

"Thanks, Sarah, but no, not this time. I'd better get home."

"Okay, go away then. Come on, Boys. Hurry up."

"Coming," Big Mike answered. "See you later, Harri."

"Yeah, much later. 'Bye Boys and be good. No rude stuff in that sleep-out tonight or I'm telling Max."

"As if! Bugger off."

"That's what I'm worried about, innit? No buggering."

"We'll bugger you."

"In your dreams."

"Nightmares maybe. 'Bye Harri."

She climbed the fence and was gone. Michael looked at Big Mike.

"Who's Max when he's at home?"

"Maxie's my boyfriend. I'll go and see him later and tell him about you before somebody else does. Let's go eat."

"Hah. Who knows I'm here anyway?"

"Probably half the town by now. Come on."