Kaimoana Tales, Lachlan & Gary, 62

“I’m not making any promises though,” Gary said earnestly. “I’ll try to play, but I might freeze up if everyone’s looking at me.”

“You’re doing well so far,” Mr. McLaughlin said. “Can you play something else?”

“Okay. If Lachlan sings with me, I will”

“Deal!” Lachlan said. He leafed through the sheet music to find something suitable. “But, I warned you, I’m nothing great – just adequate. Yeah, this’ll do.” He put a page on the rack on the piano. “Can you play this?”

“Really? This old thing?”

“Yes, really. I know it’s old and corny, but it’s a fun song. We used to do it at primary school.”

“Okay, let’s have fun then.”

He started playing and Lachlan sang. They did have fun, clowning around and camping it up, laughing together and playing off each other. Lachlan’s mother, and 2 other women, came back into the room behind them. Gary didn’t see them there, he was busy.

They finished with a flourish and grinned at each other as their audience applauded. Gary realised that there was too much applause and he looked around at the others there.

“Patsy! Hey. What are you doing here?”

“Hello, Nature Boy. Jenny rang and told us to get our butts out here and we’d hear something special – and we did! This is Olive Braidwood, she is chairman and musical director of the Kaimoana Operatic Society. I’m the secretary/treasurer and general dog’s body. I didn’t know that you were an artist.”

“An artist? I’m no artist, I just play around a bit.”

“Rubbish, Gary,” Lachlan grinned. “You’re a real artist. Please play Whispering Hope again - show them what you can really do.”

“Well, I, okay. I’ll try.”

He played the intricate tune again and, when he finished, there was the now-usual reaction – gobsmacked silence. He looked around the quiet people.

Patsy caught his eye and she grinned. “Well! Here was I thinking that I’d seen all of you. I hadn’t. I hadn’t even begun to see the real you. You’re bloody amazing, Kid. Olive, what do you think?”

“What do I think? I think that we’re wasting our time here. But, thank you, Gary. That was very nice. Patsy’s right, you’re amazing.”

“I don’t get it,” Lachlan’s mother said. “You agree that he’s a great musician. Why do you say that you’re wasting your time?”

“Because we are. Jenny, you told us to get around here to hear this pianist that you had for us. The boy is a pianist, there’s no doubt about that, but he’s not suitable for us.”

“Why not then? You agree that he’s good.”

“Oh, he’s good. He’s too good. Our society are just a bunch of amateurs, this boy is a maestro. He’s way too good for us.”

“Olive, that’s insane,” Mr. McLaughlin said. “We’ve got a talent like this in our town, why the hell wouldn’t you use him?”

Lachlan had to get involved. “Yes, why not use Gary? With him in the cast, you’d have a show that Kaimoana will never forget.”

“We would! Okay, I’m kidding you, Gary. We would absolutely love to have you in our show. I do worry though, that you’ll show up our group of housewives, schoolkids and old age pensioners as the bunch of amateurs that we are.

We’ll have to talk to Dr. Stevens and see if he can work you in as a soloist. You’re far too good to be just a back-up musician.”

“Well, Nature Boy, are you with us?” Patsy smiled.

“I’ve never done anything like this; never played in public, but, yeah. I’ll give it a try, as long as Lachlan comes with me, I’ll be there, if you want me.”

“Of course we want you!” Mrs. Braidwood said. “Lachlan, are you with us too?”

“Yes, sure I am. Gary’s not going anywhere without me.”

“Great, we’ve got a pianist then, and another chorus member.”

“I don’t want to be the star though,” Gary said. “I’d be happier just being one of the crew.”

“We’ll talk about that,” Patsy said. “You’re far too good to be just part of the background.”

(As it turned out, Gary was part of the show, his music was enjoyed, but he was far from being the star. There was more talent in their town than anyone had dreamed of.)

They played around for a while, and had an old-fashioned sing-along around the piano. Mrs. Braidwood and Patsy said that they had to be getting home, and arranged for Gary to meet them at the Memorial Hall the next day. They’d try to get Dr. Stevens to come down, if he had time.

Cherie and Grace wanted one more song, but Lachlan said, “No” and he closed the piano.

“C’mon, Gary. We’ll go for a walk and get some fresh air.”

Gary agreed and thanked everyone for the evening. He’d had a good time. They told him that they had too, of course, thanked him and said to come back anytime.

Lachlan’s Gran said, “Treat the piano like it’s yours. Come and play it any time.”

“I will. Thanks. ‘Bye everybody. C’mon, Lachie, we’re walking.”

They left the house and went out to the road in front.

“Which way do we go?”

“Is Joel at home?”

“No, he went to Virgil’s. He won’t be back ‘til late.”

“Cool. Let’s go to the caravan then.”

“The caravan? That’s not far to walk.”

“It’s far enough and there’s no-one there.”

“No. Oh, right! Let’s go to the caravan!”

They walked together, the couple of hundred meters along the road. It was a quiet, peaceful, windless evening. There weren’t many streetlights, but it was bright enough, there was a big, bright moon up there.

They went into the dark yard near the workshop, (Gary had a key to the gates at the front), and back to the caravan. The yard was full of hulking objects, dark and mysterious in the moonlight.

“Don’t you worry about being in here on your own?”

“Not really. I’m not usually on my own, Joel is here mostly.”

“But not always.”

“No, but – whatever. It’s a quiet place and there’s friendly neighbours just across the road.”

He opened the caravan, stepped inside and turned the lights on. “Come inside and make yourself at home, Lachie.” He closed the drapes over all the windows.

Lachlan stood looking around. “Seriously, Gary, you two are a pair of slobs. This place is a mess.”

“Yeah, it’s a bit lived in. I’m trying to train Joel, but he’s not listening. When he lived with his father he was too scared to make a mess. Now he’s making up for lost time.”

“He’s doing well. Which bed is yours?”

“I have the one back here. Joel’s one is at the front.”

“I don’t see a lot of difference; they’re both a mess.”

“Just a bit untidy. We’ll straighten it up.”

“Just a bit? I hope you don’t think I’m here to do your housework.”

“No way! I hope you’re here for something better than that.”

“Like what?”

“Like, well – sex?”

“Wrong!”

“Wrong? But . . . you . . . I . . .well. We’re not? I thought. Aren’t we going to make love, Lachlan?”

“Yes, no, maybe. I don’t know. If you think that I’m here just so you can get your rocks off, you can think again. If it’s just sex you want, go and put your name and number in the shower block at the camping ground. That’s the best hook-up place in town.”

“No, Lachlan. That’s not it. That’s not what I want at all.”

“What do you want then?”

“Want? I want you, nobody else. I want to get closer to you. I want to love you and I want you to love me. That’s all I want, now and always.”

“Oh, yeah! Now we’re talking,” Lachlan grinned and he kissed him. “Love me, Gary.”

“Oh I do. I really do love you, Lachie.” He kissed him.

Lachlan broke away. “Can we, well, can we sort this damm bed out first?”

“Sure we can.”

They pulled everything off the bed and straightened the covers up. Gary sat down, took his sneakers off, and then lay back across the bed.

“Okay? Are you with me now?”

“Yeah, I think.” Lachlan toed his sneakers off and stood looking down. “Gary? I’m a bit nervous. I’ve never done anything like this before.”

“Never?”

“Never. Well, except in my dreams.”

“Was I in your dreams?”

“You were actually. All of the time lately.”

“Cool. I dream about you too.”

“Really? You’re not just saying that?’

“No, I’m not. Lachie, I dream about you all the time. You don’t have to worry, we’re not going to do anything that you’re not ready for. Just, come and kiss me – please?”

“Oh, yah! I’m ready for that!” Lachlan beamed. He lay down and stretched out beside him. They kissed.