Kaimoana Tales, Dills & Wills 1

“Dills? Wills? Are you awake?” Emma pounded on the bedroom door. “Come on, you two, you have to get up! Dad will be here with the truck soon and Mum says if you don’t come now you won’t get any breakfast.”

“Okay, okay. We’re awake, Emma. Tell Mum we’ll be there soon.”

“Well, good! Hurry up.”

Dylan sat up in the bed and looked down at his sleepy-eyed cousin. “You coming, Wills?”

A big grin spread across his beautiful face. “I’m not coming yet, but if you’ll come back here we’ll see what we can do.”

“Shut up, you Horndog,” Dylan laughed. “We will not. There’s no time now, we’ve gotta go, it’s moving day.”

“Screw moving day. I don’t want to shift houses; I want to stay here with you.”

“I wish you could too, but you can’t. We’ve got no choice, you’re moving.” Dylan pushed the covers off. “Come on, Gorgeous Boy. Time to go.”

He took a minute, as he always did, to admire the perfection laid-out in his bed. Even after all this time, he still found it hard to believe that this beautiful boy was more than willing to share his perfect body with him.

“Fuck, Wills.” He leant over and kissed him softly. “I love you so much.”

“I love you too, Dills. Come back here and fuck Wills.”

“No! We can’t, dammit, not now and you know we can’t.”

“Yeah, I know it.” William swung his legs out of bed and sat up. “I know it, but I don’t like it. I told you that we should’ve burnt the bloody new house down.”

“And I told you that we can’t do that. You’d break your mother’s heart.”

“What about my heart?”

“What about it? Nothing’s changed, we’re still together, we just can’t sleep together every night from now on.”

“That’s a pretty big difference.”

“Yeah, it is, but we’re lucky to have had the time we did.”

“We are. I can’t believe how fast 4 months have gone.”

“It’s gone fast. To think that I didn’t even want you here in the first place! Man, I was stoopid!”

“You were. As soon as I saw you I knew that I was going to have you.”

“Didn’t act like it.”

“No, well first I had to show you who was the boss.”

“You’re the boss? Go and get a shower, Boss. I’ll have a coffee while I’m waiting.”

Breakfast and their ablutions were rushed. The truck had arrived and their fathers and Big Norm had already started loading it before they got outside. The men left in the truck and the boys stowed a few boxes and packages in Dylan’s mother’s car and Dylan drove around to the new house.

It was only a few blocks away, but as far as the boys were concerned, it was way too far. They helped unload the truck, and then the men went back for another load, leaving Dylan, William, Sarah and Emmy to get everything from the first load inside and into place.

It took 3 loads on the truck, and then Tony and Norm, after helping take the heavy stuff inside, left them to it. They were all very thankful for Big Norm’s help. He was a big guy, overweight, and strong as an ox. He carried the refrigerator and the washing machine in on his own. He just slapped a hand on each side, tilted back and walked in with them like they were empty boxes.

His dad did ask if Dylan wanted to go home with them, but he said no, he’d stay until the job was finished. Besides, he had to drive his mother’s car back, didn’t he? They were in William’s room, setting-up the bed, when Brodie walked in.

“Hey, Guys. How’s it going?”

“Going good. You know when to show up, don’t you, Hilliard? The hard work’s all done and we’re nearly finished.”

“Ah! Stop your moaning, James. Has William heard the news?”

William put his head up. “News? What news? We’ve been busy all morning.”

“You haven’t heard then – about your mate, Damian Woods?”

“We’ve heard nothing. What’s Damian done now?”

“He, umm. He hung himself, last night.”

“He WHAT? Damian hung himself? Oh, fuck! Is he dead?”

“No, not yet, but it’s still touch and go, apparently. He’s in a coma and they’ve flown him to Christchurch.”

Dylan said, “But how did he? I mean, if he hung himself, why isn’t he dead already?”

“They found him and cut him down before it was too late. There was a party at the Woods’ place, he slung a rope over the chandelier in their hallway, and he did it there. He might still die. It’d probably be a good thing if he does.”

“It would not!” William protested.

“There will most likely be brain damage. The kid might be a vegetable if he lives.”

Dylan had to sit down. He felt quite sick, just thinking about it. “Silly Little Shit! What the hell would he do something like that for?”

“I know why,” William said. “I know exactly why he did it.”

Brodie said, “Why then? The kid is a Woods, he’s got the best family in town, they live in a frigging palace. Why would he?”

“Because his parents are pigs. He hates them, and with good reason too. They’re not the best family in town, they’re probably the worst one.”

“You think?”

“I know, he showed me. Dills, I have to go to the hospital, will you come with me please?”

“Of course I will, but why are you going? He’s not there, Brodie said they’ve taken him to Christchurch.”

“Because I’ve got to know how he is and where he is. The hospital will know.”

“They might not tell you, Wills. You’re not a relative.”

“And that’s a good thing. I wouldn’t want to be one of his relatives, they’re bastards!”

“You really don’t like them, do you?” Brodie said.

“Like them? I fucking hate them and so does he. If he dies, it will be because they killed him. I’m his friend, his only friend. The hospital people will tell me. I’ll look sad and pathetic and turn on the tears – they’ll tell me.”

“You might be right. Let’s go then. Are you coming, Brodie?”

“I am, I wouldn’t miss it. I’ve got Dad’s truck, I’ll drive you around there.”

“No, we’ve got Mum’s car. We’ll go in that.”

“I’ll follow you then.”

They drove the couple of blocks around to Kaimoana’s small hospital and the 3 of them walked in together. The lady at the desk looked up from her magazine.

“Hello, Boys. What can we do for you?”

“Hey, Aunty Alice,” Brodie replied. “We want to know about Damian Woods.”

“Damian? Why do you want to know about him, Brodie? Is he a friend of yours?”

“No, not me. I don’t even know the kid.”

“He’s my friend,” William said. “Damian is my best friend; can you tell us how he is?”

“Your friend?” she queried with a frown. And who would you be? Have I seen you around?”

William was busy looking sad, so Dylan answered. “He’s William Scott, he’s my cousin and Damian is his mate. Wills is really worried about him.”

“Of course he is, we all are,” she said. “I know where I’ve seen that face before – on the photos in the window of Mrs. Woods’ shop. “Local boy, William Scott, movie star.” Are you a friend of the family, William?”

“No, not of the family, just Damian. How is he please?”

“Well, I don’t know how much we should tell you. He’s not here, you know, he’s in Christchurch. Why don’t you ask Mrs. Woods?”

“His mother? Didn’t she even go to Christchurch?”

“Well, no. Ashton and his father have driven down there, but she didn’t go. Far too distraught, apparently. Takes all sorts, I suppose. If it was my boy, I would’ve run to Christchurch.”

“Any decent mother would! Can’t you tell us anything about him?”

“I don’t know,” she replied. She looked behind them. “Oh, hello Doctor. These boys are asking about Damian Woods.”

“I know,” Dr. Stevens replied. “I heard them. Boys, come through to my office here.”

They trooped into the office and sat down where the doctor indicated. Brodie was on a chair and Dylan and William together on a small couch. William had turned the tears on and Dylan put an arm around him. Dr. Stevens sat down at his desk and looked at them.

“Hmm,” he said. “William, right?”

“Yes, that’s me,” William gulped.

“William your friend is in a very serious condition. Do you have any idea why he did that?”

“I, umm, I don’t know really.”

“I think you know something. Damian may never be able to tell us. Did it have anything to do with that crack you made about ‘any decent mother’?”

William sat crying and looking sad. “I’m sorry, Doctor. I don’t think I can say. It’s Damian’s business, not mine.”

“Okay, I’m not pressuring you, but if he dies the police will be wanting to know why.”

“I can’t. Sorry, but I can’t say anything. Damian wouldn’t want me to.”

“Do you really think so? That was a very public statement he was making, doing it the way he did. No? This is very serious you know – about as serious as it can get.”

Dr. Stevens sat watching William. He had turned his head to bury his face on the other boy’s chest. “Try as I may, I’ll never understand the teenage brain. Tell me one thing, were you boys in a, ah, sexual relationship?”

“No!” William wailed. “Never! It’s not like that.”

“No? Okay, sorry. We’ll leave it there.

Damian is in the Christchurch Public Hospital, in the Intensive Care Unit. If he survives, he’ll never be the same boy again, there’s definitely brain-damage there. I’m sorry, Boys, I really am. I could just weep for the poor little bugger.”

Dylan said, “Thanks, Doctor. I think we should get Wills back to his family now. Please tell us if you hear anything.”

“Of course I will. You’re Dylan James, right? Your dad’s got the contracting business.”

“That’s right, and Wills’ father is Paul Scott, he’s Principal of the Primary School.

“Of course. Well, good luck, Boys. If you ever want to talk about anything, I’ll be here. I’m on your side.”