Wills & Dills in Westpoint, 11

Going over the bridge, William said, “Dills, those two back there, do you think they’re another couple?”

“Looks like it. There’s a lot around.”

“There is. I suppose they all stick together. Almost everyone around here seems to accept gayboys.”

“And why not? That Superboy guy is gay and everybody likes him. I guess if he’s accepted, that makes it easier for everyone else.”

“Yeah, probably. Watch you don’t lose sight of Speed Racer up there.”

“I’m watching him.”

“Anyway, if we do lose him, we’ve just got to watch for the red letterbox-drum, on the left, 25k’s from here. I like this town, Dills.”

“Yeah, it’s pretty cool. It’s the people who make-up a town. Our one is cool too.’

“Yeah, Kaimoana’s all right. It’d be better if we could get rid of those Griffins.”

“It would. I guess every town’s got its share of jerks as well.”

“Love you, Dills.”

“I love you too, Gorgeous Boy.”

Roman behaved himself and they got back to the house with no trouble. The dog was delighted to see them. Christian fed him before doing anything else. The kitchen fire was all-but out, Roman got it going again.

It was cold in the big room, there were no fires going in there and it was too late to bother lighting one. They sat around the kitchen fire, had a drink and talked until they all agreed that it was late enough, and they went to bed. (Not necessarily to sleep!)

It did rain again during the night, quite heavily, but the next day dawned fine and clear. They had toast and micro-waved porridge for breakfast and, after feeding the livestock, drove into town in both cars.

Dylan filled his car in preparation for the trip home, and then followed Roman across town to the racecourse stable where they locked it up and left it. They all got into Roman’s car and he drove north, out of town.

Over the bridge, they went past the cemetery, (“Dead center of Westpoint!”), through Fairfield and out to Waimarie where they turned off and went up, up and up, the long and winding road up the hill to Dennistown.

There was no town up there. There used to be a coal-mining town but it had gone. All that was left was a few relics of the glory days, some sheds and bits and pieces of defunct mining equipment.

However, there was a fantastic view back down the hill to Westpoint, shining in the sunshine beside the wide river. It was almost like looking down from a plane, they were high enough.

Christian said, “It snows up here.”

“It does?”

“It does. That’s why there’s no trees, we’re above the tree-line. On cloudy days, you can’t see your hand in front of your face up here.”

“Nasty.”

“Yeah, it is. That’s why the town died. When transport got better they all moved down to live in town where it’s easier and the miners commuted up here to work.”

William grinned at Dylan. “Cars are good.”

“Definitely! Great view on a day like this though.”

“Yeah, when it’s good, it’s good. We’ll go up to Seddon now.”

They went back down to the main road and carried on, north, through the small mining towns along the narrow strip between the sea and the steep hills.

Seddon was a small town, really small. It was a couple of k’s back up a wide river valley. There was a pub, a church, some widely-scattered houses, and not much else.

Roman said, “This was another mining town. It was quite big once, but now it’s just a shadow of what it was. A lot of it was flattened by the Murchison Earthquake, in 1929. That was the death-knell for the place really.”

William, sitting quietly out of the window, said, “It was named after King Dick, but I don’t think he ever visited it.”

“King Dick?”

“Yeah, Richard John Seddon. Born in England, he was Member of Parliament for the West Coast. He was the longest-serving Prime Minister and the last Premier of New Zealand. His party started Old Age Pensions, which was the beginning of the Welfare State.

He’s the one who first started calling New Zealand, ‘God’s Own Country’, it was his motto.

There’s a statue of him in Wellington, in front of the Parliament Buildings.”

“Oh yeah, a big statue up on a pedestal, with his hand up in the air.”

“That’s the one. I think he’s pointing west. Superboy’s statue, in the Square, does the same thing.”

“He is too! I never thought of that. Superboy’s pointing west in Westpoint.”

“It’s ironic, King Dick was at an Imperial Conference, in Sydney in 1906. Before he got on the boat to come back, he sent a telegram saying that he was returning to God’s Own Country. He took sick and died on the way home, so he did, in a way.”

“Damm, William. You’re bloody amazing! How do you know all this stuff?”

He blushed. “I just know. I read a lot and Dad’s a teacher, he tells me things.”

“He’s done a good job. Do you go to school, Dylan?”

“Yeah, of course I do. Year 12.”

“I don’t know why you bother. You could just stay home and listen to William.”

“I would, if I could.”

“Dills?”

“Wills?”

“Kiss me.”

“Anytime.”

He did.

“All right,” Roman turned the car around. “Back to town. Christian, call Ross and Robert and see if they’re ready to come home yet.”

They went back to Westpoint and had lunch at Billy’s Burgers, because they had to really. The burgers were good, but they were no different to what they’d get anywhere else. It was always good kai – Simply the Best.

Ross and Robert were both ready for home. It would pay to be there when the mother returned. So, Roman drove down to Coach Street, on the way to the North Tiphead, stopped outside Mary Lamb’s small cottage, and tooted.

A dishevelled Robert came out, pulling his clothes together and with his sneakers in one hand.

“Sleep well, Romeo?” Roman grinned.

“Shut up, Dallas.” Robert got in the back seat with Dylan and William. “Home Jeeves, and don’t spare the horses.”

“Yes, Milord.” They went back to the stables.

Roman said, “One of these days, Robert Mathieson, you’re going to get in SO much trouble.”

Christian agreed. “He is, but it’ll probably be one of these nights.”

“You can both shut the fuck up and mind your own. I’ll go home with these two and you can go and get Ross.”

“Okay. At Trina’s, is he?”

“Where else?”

Dylan said, “Do you want me to follow you to get Ross?”

“No, you just hit the road. We’ll catch you before you get there.”

“’Kay, see you there.”

William got in the back-seat and Robert rode up front with Dylan.

“Car’s going okay, is it?”

“Yeah, it is. Better than ever. Thanks for getting your uncles to fix it.”

“No problems, it’s what they do. It took my sister to tell the Dorks how to fix it though. Classic! They’ll never live that down. So, how was your night?”

“It was good. We didn’t do anything, just got the car, went back out and had an early night.”

“Yeah? I had an early night too.”

“I’ll bet you did!”

“Shut up and drive.”

Roman caught up before they were halfway back. He overtook them and was back at home long before they got there. He grinned when they walked into the kitchen.

“Hello, Ladies. Stop for a picnic did you?”

“Blow it out your arse, Dallas,” Robert growled. “It wasn’t a race. One of these days, you’re going to wrap yourself around a tree. Just see that you haven’t got my brother with you when you do.”

“Oooo! Love you too, Grumpy. Didn’t you get a lot of sleep?”

Christian said, “Cool it, Guys. Don’t fight. Who’s up for a swim?”

“Great.”

“Good idea.” Ross and Roman agreed.

Robert did too, “Yeah, okay. It might help keep me awake.”

William asked, “Where do you swim around here?”

Ross replied, “The river is just down the back there. We’ve got our own private swimming hole. It’s choice. There’s a log to dive off and there’s a great rope-swing up in a tree.”

“Sounds like fun, but we didn’t bring any swimming trunks, did we Dills?”

“No. I didn’t think we’d need them.”

Robert said, “Who needs swimming trunks? It’s a private place and there’s just us. We always swim in the nuddie.”

Dylan said, “You all swim in the nude?”

He looked at William “I think we’ll give it a miss.”

“Aww. Come on, Dills. It’ll be fun.’

“No, Wills. You’re not.’

Christian, ever the peacemaker, grinned. “Have to do what you’re told, do you William?”

“I don’t HAVE to, but it pays. Dills worries about me.”

“Dylan loves you.”

“Yeah!” William beamed. “He does, and that’s good. We’re not swimming.”

Roman said, “Come and have a look anyway, so you know what you’re missing. It is a very cool place.”

Everybody, including the dog, went down the tree-lined track to the river. It was a rough track, a car wouldn’t get down there; not even Dylan’s one. However, it wasn’t long and they were soon out in the sunshine on the river-bank.

The swimming-hole was in an old loop where the river had cut in to the steep bank. It was now all-but cut-off from the main flow by a low bank of round stones. A small trickle of water ran down into it and another drained the far end.

“Very nice,” Dylan looked around. “What’s the fishing like?”

Roman said, “It’s a good trout river. Great spot for fly-fishing actually. They say that the whitebait used to come up this far, in the early days, but they don’t now. We get eels in the pool too, it’s best after dark for them.”

“Yeah,” Ross said. “Tip a bottle of blood in the water and they’re everywhere. The buggers are like sharks. We spear them.”

“Do you eat them?”

“Sometimes, but they’re hard to skin. Usually we just kill them.”

“That’s a waste. You can slice them into segments and fry them.”

“Yeah, whatever. Still too much work.”

Completely unabashed, Ross and Robert, Christian and Roman stripped their clothes off and plunged into the clear water. They splashed and played and fought and wrestled in the pool while Dylan and William sat and watched.

William watched them, Dylan was more interested in the river.

“Dills, why can’t we have a swim? That looks like fun.”

“It might be too much fun. We’re not, Wills. We still don’t know these guys that well and I wouldn’t feel safe if you were in there naked.”

“You’re trying to wrap me up in cotton-wool?”

“I would if I could. You’re more than beautiful, William Scott, you’re perfect – a work of art, you’re way too attractive and you have to keep yourself safe.”

“You love me, don’t you, Dills?”

“You know I do.”

“Yeah, I do. I love you too.”

He kissed him.

“Okay, if we’re not swimming, let’s go back to the house and get the fire going.”

“Good idea.” Dylan stood and brushed the sand off his jeans. “We’ll get the room warm. They’re going to be freezing when they get out of there.”

“Yeah,” William stood up. “Their boy-bits will be all shriveled up.”

“Never you mind about other people’s boy-bits. C’mon Wills.”

They went back to the house and lit the kitchen fire. They didn’t know where to find the wood, or the axe, so they used dead and dry fern fronds from the Pungas around the yard outside.

Neither of them had matches or a lighter, of course, so William turned on an element on the electric range and lit a taper of newspaper on that, to kindle the fire. Dylan filled the bucket from the coal-heap out the back.

“Gas heaters are easier and cleaner than fires.”

“They are, but a fire’s nicer to watch. That probably goes back to caveman days.”

“Cavemen didn’t have a lot of gas heaters.”

“Shut up, Wills.”

They sat together, watching the fire. A dark-haired woman, in a smart business suit, walked in the back-door, dropped her bag on the floor and looked at them. “And who would you two be?”

They got to their feet. “I’m Dylan and this is William. We put our car off the road and Robert and the others have been helping us.”

“And so they should. Where are the boys?”

“They’re all swimming in the river. Do you want us to go and get them? And, you must be Mrs. M?”

“Yes, I must be. Don’t worry about them, they can find their own way home. It’s a bit early for swimming, they’re going to be bloody freezing!”

“That’s what we thought, so we came back to get the fire going.”

“That’s good. Is there any coffee in the pot?”

“No, we haven’t been using it.”

“Shame. I’m dying for a coffee. Those bloody little planes have got nothing on them. Put the pot on for me, would you? I’ll go and get changed into something comfortable.

Relax, Boys. No problems. You just surprised me, that’s all.”

She left her laptop on the table, picked up her bag and went to her room.

Dylan filled the coffee pot. “I guess we should be hitting the road soon.”

“Yeah, soon. If we leave it too long we’ll be travelling after dark again and that gets boring.”

Ross and Robert came in and hovered over the fire. “Brr, cold! I see Mum’s home.”

“Yes, we just met her. Where are the other two?”

“They’re busy. They’ll be back when they’re ready. Have we got coffee?”

“It’s coming, I’ve just put the pot on.”

“We should keep you on, you’d make a good wife.”

“Cheeky Bugger!”

“I’m not the bugger, I thought that was you.”

Robert growled, “Knock it off, Ross! We came back because the other two were getting lovey-dovey. Don’t start anything here. Hey, Mum. What did you buy us?”

“The same as usual – absolutely nothing. How are you, Boys? I hope you’ve been behaving?”

“Well I have,” Ross grinned. He got such a dirty look from his brother, he caved immediately. “Yeah, everyone’s behaving.”

Their mother looked at their faces. “I don’t think I want to know. How’s Trina?”

“She’s good. How’s the business?”

“Busier than ever. Who wants coffee?”

They all had drinks and sat around talking. Christian and Roman returned and got their own drinks. Mrs. M opened the laptop to check her emails. She sat quietly reading. After a couple of minutes, she looked up.

“Dylan? You’re from Kaimoana?”

“Yeah, we live in Kaimoana.”

“That’s what I thought. It’s a small world.’

“A small world?”

“Yes. I’m coming over there next week to see some people. Do you know the de Groot brothers?”

“I know Peter de Groot, kind of, but he hasn’t got any brothers. Oh, it must be his cousins, I think their name is de Groot, they’re new in town.”

“Abel and Jan de Groot, master bakers.”

Dylan turned to William, “There’s 3 cousins, right?”

“That’s right, but they wouldn’t be bakers, they’re just kids. I think Peter’s father is a cook or something. Maybe it’s him and the cousins’ father.”

“Could be, I guess.”

Mrs. M said, “Oh well, we’ll find out soon enough. How many have we got for dinner here?”

“Not us,” William replied. “It’s time we were going if we’re going to get home before dark.”

“You’d better go soon then. I could get you something quick and easy. There should be pizzas in the freezer, if the Gannets haven’t cleaned us out.”

“No, really. Thanks, but don’t worry. We’re going home.” Dylan stood up. “Right now, Wills. Let’s go.”

“We’re going to have to talk about who’s boss in this relationship, Dylan James,” William got up.

“Relationship?” said Mrs. M

“That’s right. More bloody gayboys,” Robert said.

“Robert! You know very well that there is nothing wrong with that! What is natural for you may not be for others.”

“Yeah, okay. Sorry Mum, I didn’t mean anything.”

“You’d better not!”

“Mrs. M,” Roman grinned. “Sometimes it’s very obvious whose daughter you are.”

“And don’t you forget it, Roman. Okay, Boys, if you’re going, go. It’s lovely to meet you and anytime you want to come back, you’ll be welcome here.”

“Thanks, Mrs. M. We just might do that sometime. Thanks everyone, you’ve made our visit a good one.”

“Yeah,” said William. “We owe you. Come to Kaimoana.”

“Oh, we will,” the others replied.

They exchanged addresses and numbers and the boys followed them outside to say goodbye.

“Wow!” William exclaimed. “Your mum’s got a new BMW!”

“Yeah, well,” Robert said. “It’s her work-car. Mum says that with all the time she spends on the road, she needs a decent and comfortable car.”

“Fair enough too! Okay, Guys, thanks again and goodbye.”

Roman said, “Wait a minute. Wait a minute. You don’t get out that easy.”

“Oh?” Dylan quizzed. “What do you mean?”

“We haven’t had our hugs yet.”

“Hugs?”

“Yes, hugs. Don’t you guys hug your friends? ‘Round here, everyone does it.”

“Well, yeah, I guess we can do that.”

They did.

They got into the car and left with toots and waves. The dumb dog chased them all the way out to the highway.

“Okay, My Wills. Eastward Ho.”

“Yeah, Eastward Ho. It doesn’t work the same, Dills. No-one said, “Go east young man.”

“It’s not the same. Thanks, Wills. It’s been a good weekend.”

“Yeah, it has, thank you. We’ve got some new mates and they’re good guys.”

“They are. We’re coming back here, and soon.”

“Okay, soon. Dills, as long as we’re together, I don’t care where we go or what we do. If we’re together it’s good.”

“It’s very good!”

“Yeah. Stop grinning at me and watch the road. There could be cows out there.”

“I’m watching. I’m watching!”

The sun at their backs, they went home.