Year 6, 2

They were still a bit early, but it wasn't a problem. The lady at the motels welcomed and registered them As they were leaving the office, Jared said, "Thanks, Ms. Tanner."

"You're welcome." She looked down at her ample bossom and around the desk. "But how did you know my name?"

"Oh, I can read your mind."

"You can not," Ethan scoffed. "Jacob, at the Craypot Cafe, told us that Ms. Tanner manages the Ocean View now."

"Manages? I do everything, including scrubbing the toilets. Anyway, that's not right."

"Not right?"

"No, it's not. I do manage the joint, but my name is Mrs. Tanner, not Ms. I hate that. I'm a Mrs. and proud of it."

"Oh, okay, sorry. Thank you, Mrs. Tanner."

"That's better. Thanks, Love. Enjoy your stay."

"We will. We always do."

"Yeah, this is our favourite place."

"Yeah? Mine too. See you later, Boys."

They took their bags into Unit 4. Units 5 and 6 were already taken, worse luck, but it was still the Ocean View and not too different. This was their home away from home and they loved it here. This was where they began and it was always good to come back. In their new home, they closed the drapes and tried the bed out because, well, they had to.

It wasn't their first holiday together, that was years ago, but it was their first time together alone. They were free to do whatever they wanted, whenever they wanted. Everything, that is, except climbing cliffs. They weren't going back there again. Hurts.

That was good, it always was. They'd had a lot of practice and they were good at it. They loved their time in bed together, but they couldn't stay in there forever, there was other things to do, like eating! They got up, cleaned up, dressed and went out for a walk. They needed to buy some groceries so that they could cook dinner. Eating out was all very well, but they couldn't afford to do it all the time, they weren't rich.

They left the motels and went over to the beach. Nothing had changed there, the beach was exactly the same as it always was. Jared said, and Ethan agreed, it was funny really. They had grown and changed so much since they first met, right here, and the beach hadn't changed at all. Funny and good.

They made their way along the beach, towards the town area. It was hard work walking on the round stones. It would've been easier to go up and walk along the sidewalk, but they wouldn't let it beat them. They kept at it and they made it, they walked all the way down to the back of the railway station.

The station was so close to the beach that it must be hit by the surf on stormy nights, well almost. The booking office for the whale watching trips was in there, so they went in to check out the times and the cost of the trips.

It cost way too much, but it was a once in a lifetime experience, so they decided that they'd go out if they still had enough money left at the end of their holiday. The guy on the counter said no, they didn't do the plane flights, that was another company, they just did the boats. The planes operated out of the airfield, south of the town. He thought that they were even more expensive and not as good value for money, (but he would say that, wouldn't he?). His company offered a guarantee and refunded 80% of the cost if they didn't sight a whale, the planes didn't do that. He didn't know much else about them. They'd have to go and find out for themselves.

Jared said that they could do that, no worries. He knew where the airfield was, he saw it on the way into town and it wasn't far, in a car. Ethan said, no, they weren't going to bother.

"We're not made of money. If we go out at all, we'll go on a boat."

"You sure? Won't be much fun if you're sick out there."

"It wouldn't. We'll go to your dad's shop and get some drugs. They sell travel-sickness pills, they must have something for seasick."

"Yeah, probably. You're not the only rotten sailor in the world. Dad must've thought of that angle."

"You dad has got a shop here?"

"He has, CK Chemists. CK is my dad, Calvin Kersten."

"I see. He's got a good little business there. My cousin works there."

"Your cousin?"

"Yeah, Missy Waipouri."

"Whoah! Scary lady."

"She makes out she is. She's as soft as butter really, when you get to know her."

"You might be right. Dad really likes Missy, he calls her his Maori Princess."

"That's her. She is a princess, sort of, but the only person she belongs to is herself."

"I believe that! This is such a small town."

"It is. A small town and a great town."

"Yeah, we like it too. Let's go, Ethan. We need to get to the Supermarket before it shuts."

They didn't go into the art shop. By the time they got to there they were loaded up with groceries, so they gave it a miss and agreed to come back, maybe tomorrow. They stopped for a rest and watched the kids in the skateboard park. It was nothing exciting. It was a great setting, between the road and the beach, but it was only a little park and little kids. There was one boy doing stunts on a BMX bike and they watched him carefully because they were sure that he was going to go over the wall, but he didn't. Probably a good thing, but it would'ver been funny to watch.

They had a beggars' banquet for dinner - boiled potatos and saveloys, swimming in tomato sauce. Their mother's would not have approved, but whatever. They weren't there, so they could eat what they liked. Hah!

They were in bed early, of course, so they were awake early next day. They got up, cleaned up and tidied their mess up.

"Hey!"

"Hay makes the bull fat."

"Yeah? Shut up. Look at this."

"Look at what?"

"This tide-table on the door here. It's going to be low tide in about 2 hours. We should go out to the seals and the tide will be down when we get there."

"We could wait and go in the car."

"We're not, we're walking."

"Okay, Bossy, but we are NOT climbing any cliffs."

"Who's bossy?"

They microwaved a couple of lasagna squares - Ethan's favourite meal. They were quick and easy and he said that they were a square meal. While he did that, Jared made coffee. They ate and drank and started walkiing, up the Esplanade, around the bays and out to the seal colony.

They had no money on them, as usual, and they were too early anyway. The lady was setting up the portable cafe at the back of Taylor's Beach, but they agreed that they'd have to come out and eat there before they went home.

The seals were disappointing. The tide was well out and the rocks uncovered, but there were hardly any seals there - about 6 at the most, and they were scarred old bulls and very sleepy. Well, probably bulls, who could tell? They were covered in old battle scars, so probably.

"Where are all the seals then?"

"Who knows? Maybe they've gone on holiday."

"Yeah, they might be in Christchurch, shopping in the malls and stuff."

"Yeah right! More likely, it's their breeding season or something. These old guys would be too old for breeding."

"Yeah, too old and too ugly, so they got left behind. What are we going to do now? Back to town?"

"This is the end of the road. I know, we'll go back but we'll go around the Peninsular. The track goes all the way to South Bay."

"That'll take ages."

"So? We've got all day."

"Okay, let's do it."

They started doing it. The track was easier than they remembered. The waves were miles away. Last time they'd had to run between them, this time they were nowhere near the track. It wasn't long before they came to the gully where they'd climbed up to the top of the cliffs. They stopped and stood quietly, side by side and looking up. Ethan slid an arm around Jared's back.

"I thought I'd lost you," he said.

"Yeah," Jared sighed. "I thought you had too."

"I love you, Jared."

"I love you too."

"C'mon, this is not a good place."

"Wait. I want to go up there."

"Up on the cliffs? Jared, no!"

"Yes, Ethan. I have to."

"No you don't! Please don't. Look what happened last time."

"I know what happened, I'll never forget it. That's why I have to go back up there."

"But why? That's mad. It's bloody dangerous. Last time, you nearly died. I had nightmares for months afterwards."

"I still have nightmares. I dream I'm falling and falling and I wake up covered in sweat. If I'm ever going to get rid of this, I have to beat it. It won't take long. I'll just go up, look at the top, and then come down again."

"Jared, I wish you wouldn't. You're scaring me."

"Sorry, Mate, but I have to. Otherwise, I'll be the one who's scared forever. You don't want me to go through life like a frightened little baby, do you?"

"No, but you wouldn't. That's not you."

"That's why I have to do this. Are you coming up with me?"

"No way! I've got nothing to prove, I'm staying here."

"I have got something to prove - to myself. Wait here, I won't be long."

"Do it then, but please be careful. If you bloody fall again, I'll never forgive you!"

"I won't fall. I'll be careful. I'll be back soon."

"Don't hurry. I'm not watching you, I can't! I love you, Jared."

"Love you too. Wait for me."

"I'll wait but I'm not watching and you're bloody mad."

"I'm not, I'm sane and I want to stay that way."

Jared climbed, slowly and carefully, all the way up the narrow little gully to the ledge at the top of the cliffs. He stood there, briefly, and then started making his way down again. How did Ethan know that? He watched him, of course. He couldn't take his eyes off him.

He reached the bottom, slid down the last bit and walked out on to the beach, grinning widely.

"Hi, Honey. I'm home."

"You're not funny!" Ethan snapped. "I bloody hate you, Jared Kersten." He grabbed him and sobbed over his shoulder. "Don't you ever do that again."

"I won't. I don't have to now, it's over."

"Bloody good job too! Let's get out of here"

They carried on walking towards South Bay, hand in hand. Jared was happy, he'd faced his fear and beaten a personal demon. Ethan didn't understand that at all, but he was happy too. His Jared was back with him, safe and sound and in one piece.