Kaimoana Tales, Riley 12

Mrs. Kersten and Tammy went out and left Riley, his mother and Colin sitting there. The boys watched as she spoke to Betty, told her that she’d be staying for a while and asked her to close-up the café. Closing the cell, she turned to Colin.

“Okay then. So your name is Colin. What’s your brother’s name?”

“My brother is Jacob,” Colin said quietly.

“And what is your other name?”

He closed his eyes and shook his head.

“He doesn’t want to say, Mum,” Riley answered for him. “They are Colin and Jacob, they’re 15 and they are twins, that’s all he’s saying. He said that he can’t tell me anything else.”

Colin nodded and smiled at him.

“You can’t tell us who you are, where you came from or how you came to be living out there? Well, I’m sure you’ve got your reasons and I’ll respect that. But, you must know that I’m dying of curiosity here. Also, if I’m going to represent your interests, I’ll need to know about you both.

Colin, you tell us what you want to, when you want to, and I’ll promise you this –whatever you say will not leave this room and nobody, but nobody, is going to make you do anything that you don’t want to. One question and then I’ll shut up. Are you in trouble with the law?”

“No”, he whispered. “I don’t think so. We haven’t done anything.”

“That’s good, Colin. Thank you.”

Tammy came back in. “There’s news for you.They’ve brought a boy out of the cave and they’re loading him in the ambulance. They’re on the way back.”

Colin struggled upright on the bed. “Jacob is alive?”

“Yes, he’s alive. That’s all I know. I’m sure he’ll be fine, Colin. I hope so anyway. You couldn’t find a better doctor anywhere. He’s in good hands now – the best of hands.”

“Thank you. I, ah, I’ve got a problem.”

“A problem? What’s that, Sweetheart?”

“I need to go to the toilet.”

“Oh, that’s not a problem. Just use the bottle in the cabinet next to you. You’ve done that before, haven’t you?”

“I did before, but now I have to go to the toilet,” he blushed.

“Why can’t you do it again?”

“Tammy!” Riley said. “He needs to take a dump.”

“A what? Oh, I see. Okay, why not? You could use a bed-pan, but if we get you out of bed, you might be able to get a look at your brother when he comes in. It’s time we got some of this stuff off you anyway. I don’t think you’re going to peg-out on us.”

“I hope not,” he said.

“I hope not too!” Riley said. “Is there anything that I can do?”

“Not really. I’ll unplug him from the monitors and shut the drip off. That will have to go back on later, but the monitors can stay off. You could get a wheelchair for him, Riley. Alice will show you where they are.”

When he returned with the chair, Colin was on his feet, shrugging into a dressing-gown. Riley caught a flash of very white and smooth mid-riff and he smiled. He’d never really been attracted to red-heads, but Colin was a beautiful boy!

‘Pull yourself together, Riley. The kid’s sick for goodness sake!’

“I’ve got your carriage, M’Lord. If you’ll be seated, I’ll take you there.”

“Take me where? To the bog?”

“You’re all class, Colin. Sit down before you fall down.”

“I’m sure I could walk,” Colin appealed to Tammy.

“I’m sure that you couldn’t,” she replied. “Do you want me to take you to the toilet?”

“Ah, not thanks. Riley can do it.”

“I thought you’d say that,” Tammy grinned.

Riley pushed the chair out of the door; Colin was grumbling. “I’m not crippled, you know. I could walk.”

“Yeah, you could, but with your leg all trussed-up like that, it’d take you all day to get there. This is quicker.”

“I guess so. Thanks, Riley.”

“Not a problem.”

They reached their destination and he pushed the chair into the wheelchair-toilet.

“Coo. Can you wait outside now?”

“You sure you don’t want me to help you?”

“I’m sure. This is embarrassing you know.”

“I suppose it is, but it shouldn’t be. Everyone takes a dump sometimes.”

“Probably, but not in public. Do you want to wipe my butt when I’ve finished?”

“Well, no.”

“Good, ‘cause you’re not. Outside, Riley.”

“Gladly. Sing out when you’ve finished.”

Riley stood outside the door and waited. It seemed like he did nothing but wait in this place. A couple of bumps on the door alerted him when Colin was finished and back in the chair. He pushed the door open and reversed the chair out of there.

“Feeling better now?”

“You’ve got no idea!”

“What is that boy doing out of bed?” An older man, standing by the reception desk, demanded.

“He’s just using the toilet, Doctor,” Tammy answered.

Riley grinned. “When you’ve gotta go, you’ve gotta go!”

“No-one asked for you opinion, Young Man. Get that boy back into bed where he belongs.”

Mrs. Kersten came out from behind her desk. “The ambulance is here,” she said.

“About time too!” the old man headed for the back-door.

Mrs. Kersten shook her head as she watched him go. She turned back to the boys. “Grumpy old sod!” she grinned. “They’ll bring him in through here, Boys. Keep well back out of the way and you’ll get a glimpse as they come through.”

Riley pulled the chair back to the wall, next to the desk. “Mrs. Kersten, who is that old man?”

“That’s God,” she replied.

“God?”

“Well, not really, but that’s what we call him,. That’s Doctor Wickes. He’s been a doctor in this town for over 50 years. He’s semi-retired now, but he comes in when he’s needed. Doctor Stevens must have called him.”

“Oh?” said Colin. “That can’t be good. The nurse said that Dr. Stevens is the best doctor around. It can’t be good if he needs help.”

“I’m sure it’s just a precaution. They’re not talking about flying him to Christchurch. Dr. Stevens is a very good doctor, but Dr. Wickes is better. He taught Dr. Stevens in the first place.

He’s real old-school, and he’s a grumpy old man, but he knows his stuff. There’s a lot of people around this town who wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for Dr. Wickes. He delivered all of my kids. Hell, he delivered me.”

“He delivered me too,” said Tammy, “and my father. And, here they come. Keep back, Boys.”

They only had time for a quick glimpse as the party rushed through the room, pushing Colin’s brother on a trolley. It was almost like déjà vu for Riley. Jacob looked just like Colin did when he found him. His eyes were closed though, and he looked a lot cleaner than Colin had. They all went into the ER and Tammy went in with them, closing the doors behind her.

“That’s it, I’m afraid,” Mrs. Kersten said. “You won’t see him again for a couple of hours at least. Colin had better get back into bed before God comes out and strikes him dead.”

“We could wait here,” Colin protested.

“Sorry, no. You can wait just as easily in bed and you’ll be more comfortable there. You won’t be talking to him until tomorrow at least. He’ll be sleeping until then. Off you go, Boys.”

Riley pushed Colin back into the ward. He stood up and Mrs. Sullivan efficiently stripped the robe off him and got him back into bed. Riley was impressed.

“Wow, Mum. You were never a nurse, were you?”

“I wasn’t, but I was a mother. Sometimes there’s not a lot of difference.”

“Thank you, Riley’s Mother,” Colin smiled.

“You’re welcome, Lad. But call me Dianne – that’s my name. There’s more to me than just being Riley’s mother.”

“There certainly is”, Riley agreed. “You’re an impressive lady, Dianne.”

“That’s enough out of you, Boy! You call me ‘Mum’, nothing else. Colin has permission to use my name, you don’t.”

“Yes, Mother.”

“Shut up, Riley. I think I’ll be getting home now. Call me when there’s any news and let me know if that pesky girl comes back. You can stay here, but don’t be all night. There’s school tomorrow.”

“Aw! I thought I’d take the day off.”

“Well you can think again. You’re not. Goodnight, Colin. Try to get some rest, there’s plenty of people here to look after your brother.”

“I’ll try. Goodnight, Dianne.”

She left and the boys sat and looked at each other. Colin sighed.

“My poor Jacob. I should never have left him.”

“Hey, don’t blame yourself. You didn’t have a lot of choice, you know.”

“I know. Thanks, Riley, but I should have said something as soon as I woke up. I was scared. I still am. What’s going to happen to us?”

“I don’t know. I don’t know anything about you, but you’re not alone. You’re with friends here. My mum will do everything she can to look out for you.”

“That’s good, but why would she do that?’

“Lots of reasons. I want her to, she wants to, and because she can. Mum likes a good fight. Have you got family somewhere, looking for you?”

“No, there’s nobody who wants us.”

“No-one at all?”

“No-one.”

“Bugger! There’s always the Welfare. They look after kids who’ve got nowhere to go.”

“No way! We’ve seen what happens to kids who get lost in the welfare system, especially when they’re gay.”

“Gay? I’m gay, Colin. Are you?”

“No, I’m not, but Jacob s. Jacob is as gay as it gets.”

“That’s probably the least of his problems right now.”

“Right now, yes, it is.”

“Is that why your lives got out of control?”

“Not really, no. But it didn’t help.”

“I guess not. I’m going to have to have a serious talk to my mum.”

“About Jacob?”

“No, about me. She doesn’t know about me, I think it’s time that she did.”

“Have you got a father?”

“No. Well, yes, but he doesn’t live with us. He still lives in Auckland, with his boyfriend.”

“Your father’s gay?”

“Yep. Don’t tell me that it’s not hereditary.”

“Does your mother know that your father is gay?”

“Yeah, she does. She was not impressed. That doesn’t make it easy for me.”

“Bugger1”

“Yeah. I’m going to ask Mrs. Kersten if there’s any news yet.”

He went out to the desk, but he didn’t have to ask. Mrs. Kersten looked up and knew exactly what he wanted.

“There’s no news, Riley. They’re still working on him.”

“How long are they going to be?”

“I don’t know. It could be hours yet. When they’ve finished with him, he’ll go into the recovery ward. He won’t be waking-up until tomorrow, if then.

One thing I have heard, the doctors are squabbling. Dr. Wickes wants to send him to Christchurch. Dr. Stevens is saying no, he’s keeping him here, if he can.”

“That’s not good. Can Colin go with him if he does have to go?”

“I doubt it. Colin is fine where he is.”

“He’s going to be really upset if they take his brother away and he’s stuck here.”

“He’ll get over it. If it was up to me, of course he’d be going, but it’s not. They’re running a hospital service, not a hotel.”

“I really hope that they don’t take him away.”

“They might not. Dr. Stevens wants to keep him here and God doesn’t win every argument, just 9 out of 10 of them.”

“That’s not good odds.”

“It’s not, but what can we do?”

“Not a lot, I suppose. If he does go, I’ll take Colin to Christchurch so that he can be with him.”

“Why would you do that?”

“Because he’s my friend.”

Alice Kersten stood and considered the earnest boy in front of her. She nodded and she smiled.

“You’re a good boy, Riley Sullivan. A very good boy. Go back and sit with your friend; that’s the best you can do right now. I’ll let you know when there’s any developments.”

“Thanks, Mrs. Kersten.”

He went back to be with Colin. They sat and waited and, once again, the conversation dried-up and they ran out of things to say. Sitting there in silence, Riley felt a bit stupid now for the way he’d been holding Colin’s hand when he was not gay – not that there was anything sexual in it, he was just trying to make contact with the boy and, it worked, didn’t it?

Colin showed him that he didn’t mind, in the best way. He reached out and took hold of Riley’s hand. They smiled at each other.