Kaimoana Tales, Riley 13

“It won’t be long. We’ll get news and then we’ll have to go to sleep. Worrying all night’s not going to help anyone.”

“I know, Riley. Thanks for sitting with me.”

“Welcome, My Friend.”

They were still sitting there with their hands linked when Dr. Wickes came in and snorted at them. “What are you? A couple of Nancy-boys?”

“No, not at all,” Riley struggled to be polite. “How is the other one, Doctor?”

“He’ll survive. He should be in Christchurch, but, oh no, I’ve been over-ruled.”

“He’ll be staying here then?”

“For now, yes. Are you a relative?”

“No, just a friend.”

“It’s all none of your business then, is it? You can wait outside while I have a look at this boy.”

“I, ah, okay, I will then. I’ll just be out there, Colin, and I’ll be back.”

“It’s time you left anyway,” Dr. Wickes said. “Haven’t you got a home to go to?”

Riley bit his tongue. If he said what he was thinking, he might not be allowed back in there. He went out to wait in the reception area. As a token of resistance, he left the door wide-open. He was glad that he did because he soon heard the doctor’s raised voice coming out of the ward.

“Don’t be bloody ridiculous, Boy! You can stop this nonsense right now. What is your full name? Where are you from? And, what the hell were you doing living in a hole in the ground?”

“Oh, damm!” Riley said to no-one in particular. “Here we go again.

He went back into the ward. Colin was lying with his eyes closed and shaking his head while the elderly doctor leaned over him. Riley pushed in between them, sat on the seat and took Colin’s hand again. He squeezed it reassuringly.

“What’s this? I told you to wait outside!” the doctor snapped.

“It’s best if I don’t, I think,” Riley replied. “Are you a relative of his, Doctor Wickes?”

“What? Of course I’m not. I’ve never seen the boy before.”

“Well, it’s all none of your business then, is it?”

“How dare you speak to me like that? Do you know who I am?”

“I know that you’re not God. You’re a grumpy old man who used to be a very good doctor. Colin’s not your patient, so his business is nothing to do with you.”

“Well I never!” The old doctor huffed and puffed. He turned and walked out. “I wash my hands of the whole business. I will not be spoken to like that. I’m having nothing to do with the boy, or the other one either!”

He left and the door swung closed behind him.

“You okay, Colin?”

“I am now. Thank you again, Riley.”

“You’re welcome, My Friend. Who does he think he is anyway?”

“He thinks that he is Dr. Wickes,” Dr. Stevens said.

Riley swung around and gulped. “Doctor! He was upsetting Colin. Am I in trouble?”

“Not at all, Riley,” Dr. Stevens smiled. “Dr. Wickes is not God, he just thinks that he is. I have great respect for his knowledge and experience, but his attitude is not good. If you’ve chased him away, you’ve done us all a favour. Sometimes I wish that I could do it myself.

Now, Colin, we’ve got your brother settled down for the night. He’s going to be fine, I think.”

“You think?” Colin worried.

“Yes, there’s never any guarantees, but he should be okay. He’s got pneumonia, apart from that, he’s in better nick than you were. He’s certainly a lot cleaner.”

“I’ve been washing him. He was so hot, like he was burning up. I tried to cool him down with cold water.”

“Didn’t do him any harm. He’s been eating better than you have, hasn’t he?”

“Well, yes. I was feeding him what I could. He was so sick!”

Riley said, “You love your brother, don’t you?”

“I do. He’s all I’ve got and he loves me too.”

“I’m sure he does,” Dr. Stevens said. “You’ve been doing what you can. You should have got him in here for proper treatment, but I suppose you had your reasons. He’s here now and you can stop worrying about him. I’ll do everything I can for him.

Don’t worry about Dr. Wickes. He’ll come back if he’s needed – he’s proud but he’s not stupid. I’ve got a sleeping-draught for you, so that you’ll get some rest. I want you to drink this, and then I’m going home to bed and so are you, Riley.

Before we go though, I’ve got one question for you. Where is your brother’s leg?”

“You left his leg behind??!” Riley was astounded and confused. Every time that he thought he was getting to know this boy, there was another surprise.

“It’s a prosthetic, Riley. An artificial leg, well, half a leg. Didn’t you bring it with you, Doctor? It must still be in the cave. He hasn’t been wearing it because of the sores on his stump, and it’s getting too small anyway.

They managed to save the knee-joint, but they took Jacob’s left foot and lower leg off, years ago, when we were 6 years old.”

“Damm! The poor kid! What did they do that for?”

“Nobody wanted to, but it had to be done. Jacob’s foot was crushed, in an accident. The doctors took his toes off, but then he got gangrene. They had to take half of his leg off to save him, he would’ve died otherwise.”

“How did a 6 year-old boy ever cope with that?”

“He handled it really well, actually. Nothing gets Jacob down for long. A year later, he was running. He even played football.”

“It’s all in the attitude,” Doctor Stevens said. “Some kids do adapt really well. We’ll get Brian to pop out and get the leg in the morning. How long is it since Jacob’s had a new one?”

“I’m not sure. It must be over two years.”

“It’s time that he was upgraded then. He’s still a growing boy, you both are. Drink this, and then we’ll all go and get some rest.”

On the way out of the hospital, the doctor offered Riley a ride home, but he refused.

“No. Thanks, but no thanks. I’ll walk home; it’s not far, our house is just a couple of hundred meters down the road.”

“Okay, as long as you’re sure. A bit of fresh air will do you good. We’ll see you tomorrow, Riley – after school.”

“Yeah,” he sighed. “After school. Thanks for everything, Doctor. See you tomorrow.”

“We will. Thank you, Riley. Colin has really opened up for you. He likes you and you’re good for him.”

“I like him too. G’night, Doctor.”

Riley walked home. He thought of going and checking-in with Peter, but decided not to. It was getting late, they’d definitely be in bed. He’d send him an email to let him know what was going on.

Also, he hoped that Peter might come to the hospital and meet the cave-boys. No! He had to stop thinking of them like that. They weren’t cave-boys, they were Colin and Jacob. Two lost boys who’d been found. Where the hell did they come from anyway? Only they knew.

One leg!

He got home and his mother was already in bed. She’d left some supper out for him, but he didn’t bother. He wasn’t hungry, just tired. It had been a long day. He didn’t email Peter; he’d do that in the morning. He crawled into bed and was asleep in 5 minutes.

Despite being late to bed, Riley was awake early in the morning. He hated those bloody drapes! He got up, showered, and then rang the hospital. There was no news there, everyone was sleeping peacefully, which was good.

He was almost out of the door when he remembered the other thing he had to do, and he went back and emailed Peter. He sent him a long detailed letter, telling him of all the developments at the hospital and of the finding of the other . . .of Colin’s brother, Jacob, who had one leg!

He would be going back up to the hospital as soon as school was done with. Why didn’t Peter come up there too? If he saw this note in time, that is. He’d see Peter as soon as he could, and he’d tell Ashton that Peter sent him a big kiss (*grins*)

Down in the café, his mother as delighted to hear that Riley wanted a full breakfast. He wanted the works. Everything except fish, that is. He was bloody starving, but he wasn’t that hungry. Fish was disgusting.

He didn’t care what the Craypot specialized in, he wasn’t eating fish in any shape or form.

They sat and talked while he ate breakfast, and then he went to school for another long day. It was a long day too, long and boring.

Ashton wasn’t there, no-one knew why. He did that sometimes. Ashton’s younger brother, Damian, was there. Riley hadn’t actually met him, but he knew who he was.

Damian Woods was in year 9, he was 13. He wasn’t a leader like his brother was, he was much more quiet and private. Mostly, he just stuck close to his best friend, William Scott. Damian was a nice-looking kid, as they often are at that age. He had a fresh, rosy, complexion, neatly-styled and highlighted, black hair and flashing blue eyes. He’d look better if he smiled sometimes.

However, as good as he looked, Damian couldn’t hold a candle to his mate. William Scott was one damm fine-looking boy. He was gorgeous – really gorgeous. He was probably the best-looking boy Riley had ever seen. He should be a model or something.

Oddly enough, William didn’t seem to have a lot of friends either, he just stuck close to Damian. The pair of them were a closed society.

Ah well. Riley admired them from a distance, but he’d never have a lot to do with either of them, they were just kids. There’s a huge gulf between 13 and 15 year olds.

At last the day was over and Riley was out of there as fast as he could – lickety-split, as his granddad used to say. He went straight up the hill to the hospital, and the news there was not good. They were about to send the brothers to Christchurch.

Dr. Wickes was there, and he was gloating. Riley really did not like that man.

“Of course the boy should be in Christchurch. He should have been there yesterday, and he would’ve been if anyone had listened to me.”

Doctor Stevens shrugged and grimaced. He took hold of Riley’s arm and led him into his office, closing the door behind them.

“I’m sorry, Riley. I would have kept them here if I could, but it’s just too much. Jacob needs to be in the hospital in the city where they’ve got far better equipment and facilities. I feel like I’ve failed them, but Jacob’s needs must come first.”

“No, you’re right, Doctor. Of course he must come first. But why is Colin going as well? He’s not too sick for the hospital here, is he?”

“No, he’s not. We could’ve treated him here, but he wants to be with his brother. I gave him the choice and he wants to go with Jacob, which is probably best for both of them.

That’s the one victory I had, Christchurch Public have agreed to take the pair of them. The chopper is already on the way, so if you want to say goodbye to them, you’d better go and do it now. Brian will load them into the ambulance and take them out to the airstrip.”

“Damm. Is there any way that I could go with them?”

“No there’s not. Sorry, Riley. I know that you feel responsible for them, but you’re not really. You’ve done your part, now you have to let them go where they’ll be better off.”

“Yeah, I guess. It’s still a bugger though. I’ll go and see them while I can. Thanks, Doctor.”

“You’re welcome, Son. They’re in the Recovery Room.”

He raced into the Recovery Room, and stopped and stared. Both of the brothers were in there; one was in a wheelchair, and the other, it must’ve been Jacob, was in the bed. He had a clear-plastic breathing mask over his face, apart from that he looked exactly the same as Colin did. They’d even cut his hair – and it was red!

Colin looked around and switched on a big welcoming smile. “Riley! You made it. I thought we were going to miss you.”

“Hey, Colin. I got here as soon as I could.”

“I’m sure you did. Jake, this is our friend, Riley. He talks a lot, but he’s a good guy.”

Jacob pulled the mask off his face and blasted him with a smile. “Hey, Riley. How’s it hanging?”

Riley actually felt weak in the knees. Jacob was freakin’ gorgeous!

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.

Kaimoana Tales, Riley 11

Doctor Stevens was standing by the reception desk, talking to Alice Kersten and Julia, who were changing over shifts. They all looked around when Riley came running out.

“What is it, Riley? Something wrong?” The doctor stepped towards him, the others both looked at the monitor alarms.

“Oh, Fuck! Doctor, you’ve gotta come quick. There’s another one! He spoke to me; he’s called Colin and he’s got a brother. There’s another one out there and he’s sicker than Colin was. We’ve got to do something. We have to find him!”

“Of course we do. Alice, tell Brian to get the ambulance out. Julia, get Constable Lawry, tell him that we need him – now! He’d better alert the Search and Rescue as well. Riley, come with me.”

Riley was not about to argue with him, but the doctor gave him no choice anyway. He grabbed him by the arm and dragged him back into the ward where Colin was. Tammy was not kidding when she said Doctor would move heaven and earth to help a kid.

The boy lay there, looking as terrified as usual. He fixed those eyes on them and he started panting, like he was hyper-ventilating. He was crying and the sight of him started Riley crying as well. He had to force himself to calm down. Panicking was not going to help anyone. He picked-up Colin’s hand and held it in both of his.

“Sorry, Colin. I’m sorry. It’s all right, everything’s going to be fine, you’re with friends. This is Doctor Stevens, he wants to help. Where is your brother? You have to tell us where to find him so we can help him.”

“Jacob, my Jacob,” Colin whispered.

“Yes, Jacob! Colin, where is he?”

The boy, Colin, shook his head on the pillows. He took a deep breath and held it, and then another. He exhaled, quietly.

“Jacob is there, where I was. There’s a cave, it’s by the creek. You go up the creek, about 50 meters up the hill, it’s on the right. The front is covered in scrub, but it’s there, by the creek. There’s a fire-place just inside it. He’s in there, in the back. He’s just lying there and he hasn’t moved for days.

Please find my brother. Help him!”

Doctor Stevens headed for the door. “I’m on my way.”

He stopped in the doorway and looked back. “Well done, Lad. Thank you. Don’t worry, we’ll find your brother, if I have to get the whole town out there, I will!” He smiled and he was gone.

Riley was ‘at 6’s and 7’s’. He didn’t know what to do. He looked, longingly, at the door. He wanted to be there. He wanted to help find the other boy, but he wanted to be here, with this one.

But, there was nothing that he could do out there and Colin was clinging to him, gripping his hand tightly. He’d stay where he was. He couldn’t leave Colin to wait on his own. He sat down by the bed and forced a smile.

“They’ll find him. Don’t worry, Colin, they’ll find your brother. We just have to wait. I’m staying here and I’ll wait with you.”

Colin nodded. “Thank you, Riley. We’ll wait together.”

“Sweet. Oh, damm! Hold on a minute. I’d better ring my mum and tell her that I’m staying here. She won’t be happy, but – whatever. Someone else can mop the floors for once.”

He got out his cell and called the café. When he told his mother what was happening, she was fine with it.

“Of course you have to stay with him, Riley. You can’t leave him alone. We’ll look after things here. Let me know if there’s anything I can do.”

“Thanks, Mum. I love you, Mum.”

“You’re a good kid, Riley. Come home when you can.”

He closed his cell and slipped it back into his pocket. “Great invention, cell-phones. I don’t know how people live without them. Do you know about cells?”

Colin nodded and smiled. “I know about cells, I used to have one. I wasn’t born in a cave you know.”

“Of course you weren’t! Where did you come from, Colin?”

“I can’t tell you that. Sorry, I can’t.”

“Okay, if you can’t, you can’t. Did you run away?”

“We did what we had to do. I can’t tell you.”

“Yeah, well, I think I understand that. You just say what you want to. How long have you been living out there?”

Colin shook his head.

“No? Well, how old are you? Can you tell me that?”

“Fifteen, I think. Yes, I am fifteen.”

“15? So am I! 15 and you’re living alone? Except for your brother, I mean.”

“Yes, just us.”

“You’re not going to spring another one on us tomorrow?”

“No,” he smiled. “Just Jacob and me.”

“How old is Jacob?”

“He’s 15. We’re twins.”

“Twin cave-boys! Very cool. Look, can you hang on a minute? I’m not going anywhere; I’ll just go out and see the ladies and make sure that they tell us when there’s any news. Is there anything that you want?”

“No, I just want my brother.”

“They’re getting him. Doctor Stevens will get the army out if he has to. He’ll be here.

You wait, I’ll be back in a minute.”

He went out to the desk. Mrs. Kersten was there, on her own. She looked up.

“Still here? I thought that I was the only one left.”

“I’m waiting with the boy – with Colin. Is there any news yet?”

“Not yet. Give them a chance; I doubt if anyone’s there yet. I’ve called the night-staff on early, they’ll be here soon. Go back and sit with the boy, Riley. I’ll tell you as soon as I hear anything.”

“Please do. Thanks, Mrs. Kersten.”

“Not a problem. Go away.”

Some minutes are longer than hours. Riley and the quiet boy sat and watched the clock on the wall, for what seemed like ages, but wasn’t really. They didn’t have a lot to say; Colin was not talking again and Riley felt like he was talked out. He did have a hundred questions that he’d like to ask, but knew he’d get nowhere with them.

In a way, it was a welcome distraction when a busy young woman came into the ward. She had an open notebook and a large, expensive-looking camera slung around her neck.

However, in another way, it was not good. As soon as Colin saw her he got very agitated. He moaned, “Oh noo!” and he pulled the sheet up over his head, and lay there shaking like a leaf.

“Colin, what’s wrong?” Riley patted his shoulder through the sheet.

“That’s his name is it? Colin.” She smiled and wrote it in her book. “And you must be Riley. What’s your other name?”

“I, umm, who are you?”

“I’m Terri Rangi, I’m a reporter with the Kaimoana Chronicle, and, boy! Have we got a story here!” She smiled widely.

Riley looked fro her to his new friend, and knew exactly why he was upset. He turned back to the reporter.

“Oh no you haven’t. There’s no story here and we’ve got nothing to say. No comment, thank you.”

“Don’t be silly, Boy. There’s a great story here. This could be my biggest story of the year. Now, are you the one who found the cave-boy here?”

Riley sat and glared daggers at this pushy woman. She was upsetting Colin, they didn’t need this. He thought of asking Mrs. Kersten to kick her out, but, what could she do? She wasn’t a bouncer. Speaking of bouncers – he took out his cell and speed-dialled his mum.

“Hello. Is that you, Riley?”

“It’s me, Mum. Can you come to the hospital? There’s a reporter here, she wants to talk to Colin and he doesn’t want to. She’s upsetting him and she won’t take no for an answer.”

“Oh, won’t she just? We’ll see about that! I’ll be right there, Riley. Sit tight and don’t open your mouth.”

“Thanks, Mum. Hurry, won’t you?”

He closed the phone and patted Colin again. “My mum’s coming. She’ll sort this out.”

“I can’t believe that you rang your mummy. Does she wipe your nose for you?” the reporter sneered.

“No, she doesn’t, but she’ll wipe the floor with you, wait and see.”

“We’ll see. Now, you were the one who found him, what was he doing?”

Riley turned his back on her and joined Colin in clamming up and not saying a word. He waited.

In a very short time, the door opened again and Riley’s mother, Mrs. Kersten and Tammy, the nurse, came in.

“Oh, good.” Riley stood up. “My mum’s here, Colin. This is my mother, Dianne Sullivan. Mum, this is Colin.”

“Hello, Colin. You were our cave-boy? Good Lord! You scrubbed-up nicely.”

Colin smiled.

Tammy said, “There are too many people here. Only two visitors per patient are permitted. Someone is going to have to leave. Colin, it’s up to you. Do you want Riley to stay?”

Colin smiled and nodded.

“Do you want Ms. Rangi here to stay?”

He shook his head, vigorously.

“How about Mrs. Sullivan, should she stay?”

He nodded and Mrs. Kersten said, “I’m sorry, Terri, we’ll have to ask you to leave now.”

“I certainly will not. I was here first.”

“First or last makes no difference,” Riley’s mum said. “The hospital rules are quite clear – 2 visitors only. The boy has indicated who he wants to stay. You can leave now please.”

“I don’t see why I should. I have questions that I want to ask. It seems to me that this is a question of the Freedom of the Press.”

“The Freedom of the Press is a legal fiction and has no standing in the law of this country. Trust me, I do know the law.” Mrs. S. smiled and handed her one of her old business cards which gave her name and credentials as a registered Solicitor.

“I will be representing this boy’s interests. Pro bono, of course. This situation is clearly covered by Health and Safety regulations. Furthermore, you have been asked to leave by Mrs. Kersten, as a representative of the area Health Board, whose property this is. Therefore, you are now trespassing. Unless you want to spend the night in the Police cells, I suggest you leave immediately.”

The reporter looked around the blank faces, and huffed. “This is preposterous! You will be hearing more of this.”

“My address is on the card,” Mrs. S. smiled sweetly. “I suggest that you bring legal representation with you.”

“I’ve never heard of anything like this!” she stormed out and left.

“Awesome, Mum. Thanks,” Riley beamed. “I told you that Mum would sort it out, Colin.”

Colin smiled and said, “Thank you.”

“My pleasure, Son. Do you want me to represent you?”

“I do, but I have no money to pay you.”

“You don’t need any. Pro Bono means for free. First thing in the morning, I’ll pull in some favours and I’ll have Privacy Orders issued so you’ll be left in peace. No-one will be allowed to set foot in here without your express permission.”

“Will Riley be allowed to come in?”

“Yes, of course, if you say so.”

“I do say so. Thank you, Mrs. Sullivan.”

“Well done, Riley’s mum,” Tammy smiled. “It’s about time that little tart was taken down a peg or two.”

“And I’m just the one to do it. It’ll do me good to keep in practice. Is there any news on the other boy yet?”

“There is, actually,” Mrs. Kersten said. “They’ve found the cave. The doctor and Brian have gone in there. I’d better get back to the desk. I’ll let you know what develops.”

“Brian?”

“Yes, Brian Kersten. He’s my husband and he’s the ambulance driver.”

“Oh, I see. The hospital is a family affair then?”

“We like to think so. Take it easy, Boys. It won’t be long now.”

Kaimoana Tales, Gary 5

“I don’t think that Virgil likes me.”

“Of course he’ll like you. Why wouldn’t he? Virgil’s a good guy; he’s a nice kid. Why would you think that he doesn’t like you – have you met him again?”

“No, I’ve only ever met him once, at that carnival thing in Timaru. I was with you and if looks could kill, he’d be doing time by now.”

“No way,” Joel laughed.

“Way,” Gary insisted.

“I didn’t see that. He was with someone else then, now he’s with me and he’s got no reason not to like you. We’d better go around and see him and tell him what’s what before some big-mouth tells him that I picked-up a good-looking boy in the street and took him out to the beach.”

“Why would anyone do that?”

“It’s a small town and people love to gossip. Everyone knows what everyone’s doing, but sometimes they get the wrong idea.”

Joel drove back into town, along the Esplanade, up the main street and up the hill to Virgil’s house. He pulled-up in the driveway outside, the front door burst opened and Virgil came running out.

He stopped, looked at the pair getting out of the Chevy, and the welcoming smile fell off his face.

“Again?” he said. “You bastard, Stafford. You absolute bloody bastard! I’m not going through this again. Fuck off and take your boyfriend with you.”

He turned, went back inside and the door slammed. It was a wonder that the glass didn’t shatter at the impact.

“Damm!” said Joel. “Trust Virgil to get the wrong idea. He’s right about one thing, we’re not going through that again. Stay here, wait by the car and I’ll go and sort this out.”

“Maybe it’s best if I just leave.”

“No, it’s not! Don’t you run out on me too. You just wait here, I’ll be back. I love the Little Shit. I always will – but, sometimes!”

He went to the door. It was locked. He knocked, and then he hammered on it.

“Virgil! Virgil Cain, you open this door!” There was no reply.

He looked at Gary and shrugged, “I’ll go around the back then. Stay there.”

Joel went around the side of the house, heading for the back door. Gary stood, waiting, leaning on the Chevy and feeling really bad. This was all his fault. He should’ve stayed away from Joel. They didn’t need him messing up their lives.

A kid, in a school uniform, came in from the street and stood next to him. He dropped his bag on the ground and leaned against the car. “Trouble in paradise, is it?” He nodded towards the house.

“Looks like it,” Gary replied, miserably.

He looked at the boy. He was over-weight, had sticking-out ears and blond stubble for hair, but he seemed nice enough.

“Hey, don’t blame yourself,” the boy grinned. “Those two are always fighting about something, but they’ll sort it out. They love each other and they both know it.”

“I hope you’re right. It’s me that they’re fighting about.”

“I’m always right. I’m Lachlan. I’m Virgil’s welfare case. Who would you be?”

“I’m Gary – Gary Stafford. I’m Joel’s cousin and, yeah, I guess that I’m his welfare case too.”

“So we’re two of a kind then. Nice to meet you, Gary. Where are you from?”

“I’m from up North, but I’m going to be living here now, I think.”

“You think? Well, in case you do, welcome to Kaimoana. It’s a pretty cool town – best place I’ve ever lived.”

“It is? Where else have you lived?”

“I was hoping you’d ask that,” Lachlan grinned. “I’ve never lived anywhere else, I was born here.”

“So it’s definitely the best place you’ve lived then.”

“It is. The best and the worst.”

They exchanged smiles. Gary liked this kid, he was all right.

Lachlan asked, “Where exactly, up North did you live?”

“It’s a little town, you’ve probably never heard of it. It’s called Auckland.”

“I’ve heard of Auckland. It’s north of Wellington, isn’t it?”

“Everything’s north of Wellington, you Dork!” Gary laughed.

“Dork? That’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”

“Give me time, I’ll think of better.”

“Have they been at it long?” Lachlan nodded towards the house.

“No, just a couple of minutes. We arrived here, Virgil came out and exploded at him and ran back inside. Joel’s gone around to the back to see if he can get in there.”

“He’s a good guy, Joel.”

“He is. He’s the best.”

“Why’s Virgil upset with him?”

“Because I’m here. I was with Joel before he was with Virgil. I think he thinks he’s lost him again.”

“Oh, yeah, rite! Like that’s going to happen? Joel loves Virgil, end of story. Are you gay then?”

“A little bit, yeah.”

“Cool. Me too!”

There were smiles all around.

Joel tried the back door. It was locked, as usual, but that didn’t stop him, he knew where the spare key was hidden. He walked into the kitchen and Virgil’s gran was in there, sitting at the table, with her head in her hands and staring at the coffee before her. She looked up.

“Hello, Handsome. Tell the boy to keep the noise down. I’ve got a splitting headache!”

“Hey, Gran. Brewer’s asthma, is it? I don’t know why you do that to yourself.”

“I’m sure I don’t either. There should be a warning label on the bottle.”

“Would you take any notice if there was?”

“Probably not. Don’t slam the door on your way through.”

There was no lock on Virgil’s bedroom door, but he had trouble opening it. Something, several somethings, had been thrown against the inside and were blocking the way. He put his shoulder into it and pushed until it was open enough for him to slip through.

Virgil sat up on the bed and yelled at him. “Aargh! I told you to fuck off! Get out of my house and don’t ever come back.”

“Shut up, Virgil. We have to talk.”

“We do not. I’m not talking to you ever again. Never, ever, ever! Fuck off!”

He grabbed a pillow and wrapped it around his head, holding it with his clenched fists over his ears. He lay, face-down, kicking his feet and yelling.

“Aah! Aah, Aargh!!”

Joel sighed and sat patiently, on the end of the bed, and waited for the tantrum to finish. Virgil finally shut up, lay quietly for a minute, and then peeked around at him.

“Oh. You’re still here.”

“I’m still here”, Joel replied. “Have you finished?”

“Well, maybe.” Virgil sat up and glared at him.

“So help me,” Joel sighed. “Why did I have to fall in love with a bitch?”

“I’m not a bitch!”

“Stop acting like one then.”

“Well, what do you expect? What do you fucking expect when you come around here with your boyfriend?”

“You are my boyfriend, no-one else.”

“What is that little faggot out there then? Just your bit on the side, is he?”

“You’re better than this, Virgil. Did I throw a fit when you turned-up with Lachlan in tow?”

“Well, no. But that’s different.”

“Why is it different?”

“I was never in love with Lachlan, was I? I never loved him and I never fucked him.”

“No. Yes, it’s true that I had sex with Gary, a long time ago, but I never loved him. Not like I loved you. He’s my cousin, for fuck’s sake. He’s my cousin, he’s all alone and he needs me.”

“I hope you’ll be very happy together!”

“I very much doubt it. Goodbye, Virgil. I do love you and I always will. Have a good life.”

Joel got up and moved towards the door. Before he got there, Virgil flew across the room and slammed it shut. He stood leaning against it.

“What do you mean, goodbye? Don’t you walk out on me, Joel Stafford. Don’t you dare!”

“Why the hell shouldn’t I? You don’t love me; you never did.”

“I don’t love you?” Virgil grabbed his head and kissed him, savagely. “Don’t you tell me that I don’t love you. I fucking love you more than you’ll ever know!”

“Yeah, you do. I love you, Virgil. I love you, heaps, but you’ve got to learn to trust me. I’d never betray you, never again. Okay?”

“Yeah. I will, I do. I do know really, that you’re mine and I’m yours. It’s just that – well, you’re too bloody good to be true, you know!”

“I’m not, but you can keep on thinking that if you want to.”

“Shut it, Dork!”

They kissed again, and it was Joel who broke away first. “”Okay, we’re cool. Come outside now and meet Gary – properly this time.”

“Do I have to?” Virgil pouted.

“Yes, you have to. He’s going to be living around here now and he’s going to be my brother.”

“He’s not your brother, he’s your cousin.”

“Not any more, he’s not. We’re brothers now. He’s got no-one else.”

“No-one?”

“No-one at all. His family, my family, kicked him out because he’s gay.’

“They did? Bastards! I don’t understand how anyone can do that to their kids.”

“Neither do I, but some do. Not everyone’s as lucky as you are, Virgil.”

“No-one’s as lucky as I am – nobody! Let’s go out and meet your brother then.”

“Yeah. Come on. The kid’s probably feeling rotten out there.”

“Yeah. Got caught in the cross-fire, didn’t he? I owe him an apology.”

“Only if you want to, but it would be nice if you did.”

“I’m always nice, Joel.”

“Yeah, right! I’ve always said that you can be an awesome kid, as well as being a bitch sometimes. It’s time to be awesome again.”

“All right, all right. Don’t rub it in.”

They went back outside to make peace with Joel’s upset cousin, but he didn’t look like he was upset at all. Gary and Lachlan were in the drive, with their backs to them, laughing and joking together. They looked like they were having a great time.

“Looks like Lachlan’s found a friend,” Virgil smiled.

Joel replied, “It does. I think Gary’s found one too.”

Kaimoana Tales, Gary 4

Bright lights came on and there was another one there! Buck Thomas was leering at him and stripping his clothes off as well.

The three of them used him and abused him for hours. They all fucked him, separately and together, over and over again. At one point he had a dick in his mouth, he didn’t know whose, while 2 dicks tried, but failed, to get up his arse at the same time. It wasn’t rape, not quite, he wanted sex but not like this. There was no loving or affection involved, they just fucked him.

Finally, they’d all had enough. They all piled into Wayne’s car and he drove them back into town. He dropped Gary off at the corner where he’d picked him up and drove away without a word – not even a fucking thank-you.

Gary walked home, sore, stretched, used and tired. He was exhausted, but he still had to have a long shower before he crawled into bed. He felt dirty all over.

“The Bastards!” Joel couldn’t contain himself any longer. “The dirty bastards! I’ll kill them.”

“Shut up, Joel. You will not. That wouldn’t fix anything, it’d just get you in trouble too. Anyway, be quiet. I told you not to talk and I haven’t finished yet. It gets worse.”

“Worse? How could it? Did they give you the clap or something?”

“No, nothing like that. I’ve been tested and I’m clean, in that way anyway.”

“What happened then?”

That was Friday night. He went nowhere in the weekend, just stayed at his dad’s place as usual and didn’t put his nose out of the door. On Monday, he went back to school and was largely ignored, as usual. As the day went on, something was going on. Everyone was staying away from him and the only attention he got was sneers and abuse thrown from a distance. Apparently, he was a faggot and a cock-sucker and all the rest of it.

Apart from that, no-one wanted to talk to him, not even his so-called friends. They all stayed well away. By the end of the day, without being told, he figured that, somehow, they all knew what had happened to him on Friday night. He had confirmation of that on the way home.

(He lived with his mother on weekdays and his father on the weekends). His phone rang in his pocket and it was a message from Kathy Gilbertson, a ‘friend’ – one of the ones who wouldn’t talk to him. The message read, “Don’t reply 2 this. U shld no – Theres more.”

There were 3 video clips attached. He looked at them and stood stunned! They were all of him, stark naked, getting fucked and sucking dick. There were no other faces shown, just his, and there was plenty of that. One clip finished with a link to an internet site.

The bastards had taped him and clips were all over the school. Who could understand that? They’d all gotten into it and it was all their idea and now – this. Bastards!

It wasn’t just the school where they were doing the rounds, they were all over the town. He got to his mother’s house and she wouldn’t let him in the door. She didn’t want to know him anymore. She met him with a mouthful of abuse, worse than any he’d heard all day, and finally told hi to fuck off and don’t ever come back. She slammed the door in his face.

“Oh, well,” he shrugged. There was never much love lost there anyway; she only wanted him for the maintenance money from his dad. He picked up his bags and walked across town to his father’s house.

There was no-one there when he arrived, they were still at work. He let himself in and went on the net to check-out the link. It was more of the same stuff, still with only his face showing. He still didn’t know how they’d done it. He hadn’t seen the cameras, but he was kind of busy at the time.

His father and his new partner came home from work and screamed at him. It was worse than he’d got from his mother, and it was in stereo. He took their suggestion and fucked off out of their house, never to return there. They were just bastards too.

“They are,” Joel agreed. “They all are. You should’ve come to me right then.”

“I couldn’t. I did think about it, but you couldn’t have helped me. You were still living with Uncle Dick and your father is as big a prick as my one is.”

“Maybe not quite as much. What did you do then?”

“If you’d be quiet, I’d tell you. I went to our Granny Stafford. I didn’t know what else to do and she’d always told me that she loved me. So I cleaned-out my bank account and spent my last dollar on a bus ticket to Granny’s. The bus didn’t leave until the following morning so I had to spend the night in a park, sleeping under a tree. It was friggin’ cold too!”

“How did you get on at Granny’s?”

“Well, I’m not living there am I? Turns out, she likes gayboys even less than her sons do.”

“So what happened?”

“Joel! I’m trying to tell you. I figured that honesty is the best policy, so we sat in her kitchen, with a drink, and I told her the whole story – everything that happened. She went ballistic and she hit the roof! I didn’t know that Granny even knew language like that.

She had visitors, in the other room. They couldn’t hear me but they certainly heard her – every screaming word of it. She said that I was going to burn in hell and I deserved everything I got. She told me to get the fuck out of her house and her family and don’t ever come back. Witch!”

“Bitch!”

“Yeah, that too. I had no money left and nowhere else to go, so I was going to top myself. I headed across town to find a rope and a tree. I was going to hang myself and show them all what I thought of them.”

“Idiot!”

“Yeah. Anyway, it was raining too, just to make it more fun. It was persisting down and cold with it. That was the lowest point of my life. Then it got better. Ron saved me.”

“Ron?”

“Ron Clarke. Didn’t you know him? He was an old family friend, went to school with Granddad, or something. He was one of the visitors in the other room. He heard everything and came out looking for me.

He pulled-up in the street beside me, opened the door and called out. I got in – best thing I ever did – and he took me home. Well, back to his motel actually.

He told me to shower and get some dry clothes on while he got us some food. I did that and then I told him my story. We stayed the night there, in separate rooms, and next day and next day he took me back home to live with him.

I think he might have been gay, but he never actually said that. He lived alone, in a big old house on a huge, over-grown section, on the outskirts of Auckland. It was in a country area when he bought it but the city had grown around it.

Ron’s place was a real eye-sore, sitting there by the nice new suburbs. It wasn’t worth much, but the site was. He’d been offered big money for it, but wouldn’t sell. He liked sitting there pissing everyone off.

So, I lived there with Ron for almost a year. I went back to school up there, because he said I had to, but never made any friends. I did offer to sleep in his bed, I had no other way to repay him. He just laughed at me and told me to stay in my own bed where I belonged. He was too old and I didn’t have to repay him anything. He liked having me there and I was the son he never had.

I tried to help him around the house and made a start on clearing the section. Damm, it was a jungle out there! It’s probably all been bulldozed by now. Some good stuff happened. I liked living there.

Ron had a win in the lottery. He bought a ticket every week, but this was the first win he’d ever had. It was a big one too, but he never got to spend it, he died.”

“He died? Shit, Gary, that’s awful!”

“It was. But he did the best way he could and he’s still looking after me. Ron was always an old man, old beyond his years. He was always short of breath and lacking energy. He knew that something was wrong, but wouldn’t go to a doctor. When he finally did, it was too late, he was riddled with cancer and he only had months to live.

He tidied everything up, with a lawyer. He sold his house and everything he owned and put all the money, and the lottery money, into bank accounts in my name. He sorted everything and, when I was at school one day, left me a long letter, and then he hung himself.

He told me that he loved me and that he was sorry but he couldn’t face the months of pain ahead of him when he was going to die anyway. There was a long list of instructions and details of arrangements he’d made. He’d even arranged for me to go and board at his cousin’s, because the house had been sold.

They all came to the funeral – the loving mother, father, step-mother, step-father and Granny. I don’t know how, but they all knew that I had money now and they all wanted me to come home with them.

I stuck close to the lawyer and, as soon as I could, I was out of there. I’m 16 now and they can’t make me go with them, but they all tried. Fuck ‘em.

I’ve been bouncing around the country, just moving on when I felt like it. I was on the train, heading south. It stopped here and something about the place appealed to me, so I got off and stayed here. I’m staying in the Blue Pacific Hotel, and now I know what it was about Kaimoana that appealed to me – it was you. So, I found you and here we are.”

“Here we are. It’s great to see you too,” Joel smiled. “You won’t have money for long if you keep staying hotels. You could come and live with me if you like. I’ve just got a caravan, but there’d be room enough for two.”

“Thanks. But what about Virgil?”

“What about him? He doesn’t live there, he lives with his mum.”

“But you’re with him?”

“Of course I’m with him, I’ll be with him forever, but, so far, we don’t live together.”

“We could do better than a caravan. I could rent us a house, or buy one.”

“You could buy a house? Gary, how much money have you got anyway?”

“About 6 million.”

“Six million dollars! Fucking hell, that’s a lot of money! No wonder that your family want you back.”

“Yeah, but I’m not going. I’d rather be with you.”

“That’s cool. But never forget, I’m with Virgil. I don’t do sex with anyone else, not even you.”

“But, you love me anyway?”

“I do. Just not like that, it’s different. We can be brothers.”

“Sounds good to me, Brother.”

“Oh yes. Give me a hug.”

They hugged, chastely, and then broke apart and looked at each other.

“What are you going to do now?”

Gary grinned, “I guess I could kiss you.”

“Oh no, you could not! I love you, Gary, and I’m glad you’re here, but I love you like a brother and that’s all. Virgil is my boy. I love him very much. I fooled around once and I’m not ever going to do that again – no way!”

“Fair enough, I guess. You really do love him, don’t you?”

“Totally!”

“You’re lucky; I wish that I had someone like that, seems like I never will, but I’m happy to be your brother. I’ve got no-one else.”

“You will. I’m sure that you will. A great kid like you is not going to be alone for long; you’ll find someone to love.”

“I hope you’re right, Joel, I really do. Ron was old and he was just my friend, but since he’s been gone, I’ve got nobody – no-one at all.”

“Damm! That’s not right, it’s just not right. What about your family? Can’t you patch things up there?”

“No, I can’t. Oh, they’d take me back, but it’s Ron’s money that they want, not me. When I had no money they didn’t want to know me, none of them.”

“Bastards!”

“They are. They’re no great loss anyway. You’ll be my family, won’t you?”

“Course I will. We’ll make a family together.”

“Together. Yeah, thanks. What about you? How did Uncle Dick take the news that you’re gay? I don’t imagine that he’d be happy about that.”

“No, he didn’t really. He didn’t go all anti or anything; he just doesn’t want to talk about it. I think he thinks that if he ignores it, it’ll go away.”

“That’s not going to happen though, is it?”

“Not in my lifetime. So, again, what are your plans now?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t got any plans. I’ve just been drifting around and taking each day as it comes, but I’m sick of that. I’m lonely.”

“Oh, Gary! Give me a hug!”

Gary slid across the seat and they hugged, long and hard. Neither of them said a word, but their bodies said a lot. They broke apart and grinned. Gary kissed him on the cheek.

“Thanks, Joel. You’re the greatest!”

“That’s what Virgil tells me. From now on, you’re my brother. I need a brother too. Are you going to stay in Kaimoana?”

“I think I will. Yeah, I’d like that. I’m staying if I can be with you.”

“Of course you can, that’ll be great. You need to stay put somewhere so you can meet people. You’re never going to do that while you’re drifting around. You can stay with me, the caravan is not huge, but we’ll manage.”

“That’d be good, but not in a poky little caravan. There’s no need for that; I’ll buy us a house and we can live there.”

“Damm. You could, couldn’t you? I was forgetting. But, no. Don’t do that. You shouldn’t rush into a commitment like that. You need to look after your money.”

“Joel, I’m rich. I’ve got pots of money; I could buy a whole street of houses if I wanted to.”

“Well, don’t. You won’t be rich for long if you throw your money around.”

“I’m not throwing it around. Buying a house wouldn’t be wasting money, it’d be an investment. A better investment than living in hotels. That’s an idea, why don’t I buy the hotel and you could come and live there?”

“Gary, I can’t afford to live in a hotel.”

“It wouldn’t cost you anything. You could live there for free if I owned the place.”

“I could not. You’re not spending your money on me; I pay my own way.”

“That’s just pride, Joel.”

“Maybe it is. I’m proud to be me and I’m not a bludger.”

“Is that why you live in a caravan and not with Virgil?”

“Part of it, yeah. Virgil! He’ll be wondering where I am.”

He patted his pockets and grimaced. “Damm. I’ve left my phone at work. We’d better go around and see him. He needs to know about you.”

Kaimoana Tales, Gary 3

“You can’t? Why can’t you? Don’t you love me anymore?”

“Gary, I do love you. I love you a lot, but not like that. I’m in a relationship. I’m with my life-partner, and there is no way I’m ever going to screw around and stuff that up. Not with you, not with anyone. Sorry.”

“Sorry? Yeah, I’m sorry too, but good for you if you’ve got someone who loves you.”

“Oh, I have!”

“Good. Who is it, Joel? Is it that girl you met?”

“Cyn? No, not her. I was with Cyn for a while and that was the worst mistake of my life. I’m not ever going there again.”

“Is it that Virgil with the long hair?”

“Yes, it’s Virgil, but he hasn’t got the long hair, he cut that off ages ago.”

“Ages ago. We are out of touch, aren’t we?”

“We are, and that’s not good. What’s been going on in your life?”

“What hasn’t?” Gary sighed. “How much time have we got?”

“We’ve got all the time you need. Start at the beginning and tell me how we came to be sitting here now.”

“Okay then. Don’t talk until I’ve finished, some of this is not pretty.”

“I’m all ears.”

They sat in the car and Joel listened quietly while Gary poured out his story. Joel was not the first boy he’d had sex with, but he was the best by far, and he was the first one he’d gone all the way with. They’d done everything there was to do and he’d loved it.

After their holiday was over and they’d gone home to their separate lives many kilometers apart, he was keen to continue with what they’d been doing, and he went to the two boys that he’d done stuff with. Neither of them wanted to know and they both told him to fuck off and leave them alone.

So, he lost 2 friends and, when word got around, he lost all the rest. No-one wanted to be seen with the gayboy, they weren’t faggots. He was alone. Friendless and lonely for the first time in his life. He still wanted to do stuff, but had nobody to do it with. No-one wanted to know him.

By now he was an outcast and a reject in his school and in the town. Even the girls shunned him. He still didn’t understand that; it was not like he was serious competition for them. Now he knew what a loser felt like. It got worse.

After a couple of weeks of rejection and abuse he was still hungering for some loving; even more now. He couldn’t stop looking at, and dreaming about, the choice-looking boys around the town.

One day, he thought his dreams had come true. Walking home, alone of course, after school, a car pulled up next to him. The driver stood up and smiled across the roof at him. It was Wayne Bell!

Wayne was just about his no.1 fantasy figure. Gary had often admired him from a distance. One day Wayne caught him at it and their eyes met. He smiled.

He was in year 13, 17 years old, tall, blond and built like a brick-house. He had short blond hair and blue eyes. He reminded Gary of Joel, he had that same air of muscular sexuality about him. He was one of the sports-heroes, of course. He was good at everything he did and he did them all.

“Hey Gary. Everyone’s saying that you’re gay.”

“I know.”

“Well, are you?”

“I dunno. Maybe – with the right person.”

“Could I be the right person?”

“You? I dunno. Could you?”

“Possibly. Want to go out with me tonight and find out?”

“Really?”

“Yes, really. You want to or not?”

“Well, yeah! I’d love to.”

“Cool. Be right here at 9 o’clock tonight and I’ll pick you up. Okay?”

“Yes, very okay. I’ll be here. Where are we going?”

“You’ll see. Just be here and waiting and I’ll worry about the rest. See ya, bye.”

He slid back into the car and left.

Gary went home, ate, showered, dressed in his best, and he was back there well before 9 o’clock. Wayne was a few minutes late. It was only a few minutes, but it was enough that Gary was starting to worry and think he wasn’t coming. So he was very relieved to see him when he showed up.

Wayne drove up the street and stopped and waited for him to get into the car. Warning bells started ringing in his head right then, but he didn’t listen. He wished that he did.

They drove for miles, away out of town and up a back-country road. They stopped outside a dark, old, and slightly derelict house in the middle of nowhere.

“What is this place, Wayne?”

“It’s just an empty house. It belongs to some old friend of my dad’s. I use it to camp-out sometimes. Good place to party, there’s no neighbours. C’mon in.”

Wayne led the way, around to the back and in through the unlocked kitchen door. The house smelled old, musty and empty. There were no lights working and there was no moon that night, it was very dark. However, he knew where he was going and he showed the way with flashes on his cigarette lighter.

“Watch your step. There’s a hole in the floor there.”

They went in to a back room and he lit a couple of candles.

“Here we go. This is better, eh?” He lit some more candles.

Gary stood looking around the room, it was a bit odd. It was big, but there was only the one door, the one they’d come in through, and there were no windows. Or, maybe there was, but they weren’t visible. The walls were all covered with white bed-sheets.

There was loose carpet on the floor and there were stacks of junk at one end. The other half of the room was empty, apart from a bed made-up on an old opened-out couch, and the boxes that the candles were on. It looked like a porn movie set. He was not comfortable.

“Home away from home,” Wayne announced. “Sit down, kick your shoes off and let’s get comfortable.”

“Wayne, I don’t know about this. Maybe some other time?”

“What’re you talking about? This is a great place, warm and dry and all the privacy we’ll ever need. C’mon, Kid, relax. I’ll get us a drink.”

He pushed him down to the bed and started pouring drinks from a spirits bottle. Gary sat and watched.

“Oh, well,” he shrugged. He was there, alone with Wayne Bell! That was what he wanted. How bad could it be?

“There you go, Good-Looking.” Wayne handed him a full glass and sat down next to him with another. “Get that down you. That’s a man’s drink. It’ll put some fire in your belly.”

He took a sip. He didn’t know what it is. It tasted like liquid fire.

“Good stuff, eh?” Wayne grinned. “Drink up, Kid. Take it like a man, it’ll make you feel better. Lots more where that came from. We’ll have a joint, and then you’ll really feel good.”

He produced a ready-made joint from somewhere and lit up. It was huge, Gary had never seen a bigger one. Not that he’d seen a lot, but he’d seen a few and tried it a few times. Wayne took a drag, filled his lungs and held it while he passed the joint to Gary. He inhaled and held and passed the joint back.

“Oh, yeah!” Wayne grinned. “Good shit. First of this year’s crop. It’s going to be a good year.”

“Every year is a good year,” Gary grinned back.

The joint passed backwards and forwards until they’d finished it. He didn’t bother with a roach-clip, just pinched the butt and dropped it on the candles’ box. They had another drink.

Gary was starting to feel good, relaxed and mellow. It felt good too when he pushed him back across the bed and they kissed – wetly, tongues and everything.

All too soon, the kissing stopped and Wayne’s hands were opening his clothes and exploring his flesh. He flinched and tried to slow him down.

“C’mon Gary. Play the game. This is what we came here for, isn’t it? Relax and you’re going to have the best sex of your life. Let’s get naked and then we can get down to it.”

Wayne got up off the bed and stripped his clothes off. He stood displaying his naked body and his stiff dick in the candlelight. He looked good, and he knew it. He looked as good as Joel did.

Gary shed his own clothes and they stroked each other and kissed again. That was good, but then Wayne pushed back to the bed.

“Enough of that. Suck my dick”, he growled.

He did. He was on his hands and knees on the low bed while Wayne stood beside it, his knees leaning against the edge and both hands holding Gary’s head while he fucked his face.

The hands let go and he felt something cold and wet. He stopped what he was doing and looked around. Wayne was leaning right over him and greasing up his arse with some goop from a jar.

One finger, then two, opened him up and greased his hole.

“C’mon, Hot Lips! Don’t stop now, we’re just getting started.”

He pressed his dick back at Gary’s mouth. He opened and took him back in, sucking him and being finger-fucked at the same time.

Wayne pulled out and crawled around behind him. Big hands held his hips and the dick lined-up with his hole. “Tell me that you want it,” he teased him.

“Yes! I want it. I. . ah!”

He got it. Wayne shoved forward and totally impaled him in one thrust. Wow. It felt good. Big, hot and good. His arms folded and he dropped his head to the bed, groaning in pleasure while the big dick fucked him from behind.

Hands enfolded his head and lifted it up. A stiff dick pressed against his lips. Another dick! He looked up at Bruce Abelson, one of Wayne’s jock friends.

“Come on, Bitch. I want some of that too!”

Whatever. There was nothing he could do. He opened up and took him in. Now he was being spitted – forcibly fucked at both ends at the same time.

Kaimoana Tales, Gary 2

Mrs. Tanner left, closing the door after her. Gary decided against having another shower. He didn’t need one and he wasn’t cold anymore. He took the towel off and dried himself with it.

He didn’t really need to do that either. He was, mostly, dry now. The weather outside was still foul, so he closed the drapes and crawled into bed to watch cartoons for a while.

However, he didn’t turn the TV on, he relaxed in the bed, closed his eyes for a minute and went straight to sleep. He woke with a start, hours later, when a door slammed somewhere.

The weather cleared later in the day; the clouds drifted away and the sun shone in a clear blue sky. Gary lay on his bed, watching TV as he’d done for most of the day. The blue sky outside was beckoning to him. Should he risk it? He’d gone out once today and got soaked when the rain caught him.

“Ah, whatever. Doesn’t look like it’s going to rain again and I’ve been cooped-up here all day. I’ll be going stir-crazy and talking to myself soon. Oh, right! I already am. Time I got outta here and went for a walk.”

He put his sneaker, a hoodie and a wind-cheater jacket on. He didn’t know how long he was gong to be and didn’t want to get cold and wet again. He headed down to the beach at the end of the street.

‘Not much of a beach – all stones and not much sand.’

He wandered along the Esplanade, going around the bay in the direction of the seal colony, but he wasn’t going there. He didn’t know what the tides were and, apparently, the best time to see the seals was at low-tide. It’d be just his luck to get all the way out there and find that it was high-tide.

A short way along the road, there was a finger-post promising a look-out up on the hills behind the town, so he went that way to check that out. The sheer, rock-faced cliffs weren’t really high, they just seemed like it.

He found the track which zig-zagged up the hill to join the road at the top. Another sign showed the way, so he went up the road until he found the look-out. There was a wooden viewing platform up on top of a huge, round, concrete water tank.

A couple of cars were in the small parking area, but the people in them weren’t interested in him; they were busy necking. This must be the local ‘lovers lane’, every town seems to have one. He wished that he had someone to neck with, or even just to talk to. He felt very alone.

He needed to stop this aimless drifting around the country and settle down somewhere – somewhere where he could meet some people and maybe build some relationships. This town, Kaimoana, seemed to be a nice-enough town. It was in a spectacular setting, hemmed between the sea and the snow-clad mountains to the west.

There seemed to be quite a lot of teenagers around, but nobody was very interested in him. They just looked and looked away as he walked past. How did he go about meeting someone? He didn’t have a clue. He had pots of money and no friends. He’d rather have friends.

He climbed the steps to the lookout and stood there admiring the view – spectacular! The mountains, the sea, the little town nestled between them, and the coastal strip of lush green farmland. Nice.

He didn’t know why, but there was something about this town that called to him. What? It was just a little town, miles away from anywhere else. So? Looking around at the pleasant scene, he racked his brains, and then it struck him. Of course!

Last summer, a year ago, back in the old days when he had a family, they’d gone on a holiday trip, touring and camping around the South Island, and his gorgeous cousin had gone with them. His cousin was a couple of years older than him, but way less experienced.

The two of them shared a small tent, every night for 3 weeks, and they had a short-lived, but very intense, all-on affair. It was awesome! Best sex he’d ever had.

This was the place, the town, where his cousin, Joel, was planning on living as soon as he could leave home. He was going to work for his uncle here.

That was a year ago. He wondered if Joel’s plans had worked out? If they had, he’d be living and working somewhere around here by now. He hadn’t heard from Joel in ages, they’d lost touch during all the upheavals and troubles in his life. How could he find him?

That’d be so cool if he did and he was living around here. There might be no sex involved, unfortunately. The last time he’d heard from Joel he was very keen on this other kid in Tiroroa.

What was his name? Yeah – Virgil, or something like that. He met him once, when they were on holiday, at the carnival in Timaru. He was a rather cute boy with a spectacular mane of long, long hair.

Even then, Gary had sensed some spark between the two of them. He didn’t like him much because Joel obviously did and he was supposed to be with him. He wondered how that had turned out? If it had, were they together now?

But they wouldn’t be together if Joel was living here, Virgil belonged in Tiroroa. That’d be so cool if Joel was here and alone again. He had to find him to find out.

How to find him? Well, there was his g-mail account. He hadn’t checked that in ages, it was about time he did. Also, he could just ring old Uncle Dick and ask him. He didn’t have to know where he was ringing from.

Uncle Dick was his father’s brother, and he didn’t want his family to find him. They didn’t want him but they’d like to get their hands on his money. That was not going to happen.

Anyway, even if Joel was in a relationship with someone else, they could still be friends. They were cousins, and always would be. They had a history and some great memories. Oh yes!

The first step was to get on the ‘net. The hotel might have the internet, of course they would. If he couldn’t use theirs, they’d know where he could go to connect. He forgot all about the great views and the town and everything and hurried back to start the search for his cousin.

His email account was no help at all. There was nothing from Joel there, just a whole lot of junk that the spam filters had missed and a couple from people that he didn’t want to hear from. He deleted the lot of them and sent a message to Joel’s address. He wasn’t sure it that would still work, his cell didn’t, but it sent anyway, so that was hopeful.

Next, he tried to ring Joel’s father, but had no joy there. The number he had didn’t work anymore. That was Uncle Dick’s land-line, he didn’t know his cell. Dammit.

He found the number for Tiroroa Area School, but didn’t waste his time emailing them, he’d ring them in the morning and see if they’d tell him how to contact his uncle.

None of the hotel staff knew of a boy named Joel Stafford, but the boss’ wife had a ray of hope for him. He should ask Patsy, the cleaner. Patsy was a great gossip and she knew everybody and all about them. Even if she didn’t know, she could probably find out, she had teenage kids and it was a small town.

There was no reply from Patsy’s number so, dammit, he’d wait to see her in the morning. Back up in his room, he turned the TV on. It was boring, but it was something to do. When he’d had enough of that, he shut down and went to bed for the night.

Next morning he was waiting for Mrs. Tanner and he waylaid her as soon as she arrived at work.

“Yes, sure I know Joel Stafford. I know who he is anyway. He’s a cousin of my son’s friends, Stephen and Dougie Griffin. Do you know those two?”

“No, I’ve never heard of them.”

“Good, because you wouldn’t want to anyway. They’re a couple of horrible little shits. I don’t know why my Dennis bothers with them, but he does. How do you know Joel?”

“He’s my cousin and my friend. I haven’t seen him in, like, forever and I really want to. How can I find him, Patsy?”

“I’m sure I don’t know. I’ll ask my Dennis, he’ll probably know, but it won’t be until tonight. His class is going on a field trip, up Mount Fife, today. What’s your number? I’ll ring you when I find out.”

They exchanged numbers, then, as he was about to go back to his room, she stopped him.

“Actually, Gary, there’s another one. The Griffins have got a sister, Sally, and she’s a good kid. She’s got an after-school job in the Foodmarket. You could ask her.”

“Sally Griffin in the Supermarket? Choice. I’ll ask her. I’ll go and see her this afternoon.”

“Yea, you do that. Good luck, Boy. Have a good day now.”

“You too. Thanks again.”

Things were looking up. Joel was around here somewhere and he should find him by tonight. He couldn’t wait. Joel wouldn’t reject him for being gay – not likely! So he should have one family member who still wanted to know him.

He knew Joel well, very well, intimately! He hoped that he didn’t have a boyfriend now.

The sun was still shining. It was too nice a day to be stuck inside all day, so he went out for a walk, to scope-out the town. There weren’t many kids around; hardly any in fact. They’d all be in school. He should be there himself, but wasn’t – he was finished with school.

He didn’t need the money, but maybe he should get a job of some sort? It would help to fill-up his empty days and be a way of meeting people. Maybe. First he’d have to decide if he was staying in this town. He didn’t know.

The I-Site, information centre, had some excellent large-scale maps of the town and surroundings. It was only a small town, but there was more to it than appeared at first glance. There were several areas, sub-divisions, tucked away in amongst, and on top of, the hills.

There was quite a large suburb over at the south side of the hill; there was even a race-course out there. There were two separate business districts in the town, one here, where the I-Site was, and one strung-out along the highway at the north end.

What was the main industry around here? Tourism, he supposed. There were a lot of accommodation and eating places. Plus, there was the fish-processing factory and it’d be a service town, there were no other towns for miles around.

He tried to remember what work Joel had said he’d be doing, but couldn’t. He hadn’t been paying much attention at the time, he had other things on his mind, like sex!

Sex was great and sex with Joel was the greatest – he’d never had better, probably never would. Maybe if Joel’s job wasn’t working out, he could hire him to be his full-time rent boy. He could afford it and that’d be ace! That would fill up his days, and nights, quite nicely.

He kept walking and found the Highschool up a side street, at the back of the hill. It was quite a large school. It all seemed quite newish and there were a lot of buildings. This must be a growing, and breeding, town. There was a primary school up there too, across the road. There were two primary schools, this one, which was the Catholic one, and another, bigger, one behind the Esplanade.

He walked and walked for hours, he must’ve seen the whole town. He bought a coffee and sat on the balcony outside the Craypot Café in the main street, and watched the world go by. His feet were sore, he’d done so much walking! But, the day was passing, slowly.

He was on his second coffee when school uniforms started to appear in the street. At last. He sat watching them pass in the street below. Little kids, from the primary school, were passing in one direction, and Highschool kids in the other. The lucky ones got to ride in cars.

When the parade thinned-out, he got up and went across to the small supermarket at the other side of the street. He walked around in there until he saw a girl, down on her knees, replenishing the stock in the shelves. He walked up to her, she looked up and smiled at him.

“Hi. Can I help you?”

“Hey. I’m not shopping, I’m looking for someone – Sally Griffin, do you know her?”

“Yes, I know Sally Griffin, what do you want her for?”

“I have to ask her something. Is she here?”

“Oh, she’s here,” she smiled. “I’m Sally. What do you want to ask me?”

“You are Sally? Sorry, I didn’t know. I’m looking for Joel Stafford. They tell me that you’d know where to find him. Where is he?”

“You’re looking for my cousin? What do you want him for?”

“He’s my cousin as well. I’m Gary Stafford and I just want to find him. I haven’t seen him in ages.”

“No, you haven’t, and I’d know – he lived with us. You’re not going to give him grief are you?”

“Of course I’m not. Joel’s not just my cousin, he’s my friend too.”

“Okay’, she nodded. “Sorry if I’m being a bit sensitive. Joel’s been getting grief from my idiot brothers lately and he doesn’t need any more. Wait a minute.”

She took out her cell and pressed a number on the speed-dial.

“Hey, Joel. Sally. Are you still at work? There’s a kid here at the Foodmarket. He says that he’s your friend and he’s looking for you. Who? Gary Stafford, he says. Okay? Cool. I’ll tell him. See you, Cus, ‘bye.”

She closed the phone and slipped it back into her pocket.

“Right, Gary Stafford. Sounds like you’re good news. Go and stand outside the front door there, he’s on his way, it’ll take him a few minutes.”

“He is? Oh, that’s great – really great. Thanks, Sally.” He was halfway to the door before he finished speaking.

“Hey,” Sally smiled. “Any friend of Joel’s - ” She was speaking to herself, he had gone.

Gary stood on the sidewalk outside the Foodmarket door, jigging up and down in his excitement. He was excited, anxious and impatient. A few minutes, she said – bloody long minutes! It had been so long since he’d seen a friendly face, way too long. He should’ve done this months ago.

He studied every approaching face, but none of them was Joel. A few cars, and a couple of trucks, went past. He spared them a glance, but he didn’t expect that Joel would be driving.

But he was! When he finally arrived, Joel was driving a big old Chevy. He pulled in, parked, got out and came around in front of the car.

“Joel!!” Gary flew at him and wrapped around him. “Joel,” he sobbed. “Oh, Joel! It’s so good to see you.”

“Hey, hey, Little Cousin!” Joel pushed him back and looked, smiling, into his teary eyes. “It’s good to see you too, really good. It’s been far too long. Where’ve you been?”

“Been? I’ve been everywhere. So much has happened; I’ve got so much to tell you – so very much!”

“Yeah? I’ve got stuff to tell you too, but not here. Jump in the car and we’ll go for a drive.”

“Oh, yes! Thanks, Joel.”

They got into the Chevy and buckled-up. Joel drove up the street, along the Esplanade and around the bay, out of town, towards the seal colony on the Peninsular. He didn’t go all the way out there, he stopped and parked, facing a sandy beach, next to a concrete-block changing shed.

“Public toilets and changing-shed, away out here?” Gary broke the silence.

“That’s the one,” Joel replied. “This is Taylor’s Beach. It’s not huge, but it’s the best swimming beach for miles around. No good for surfing though, it’s too sheltered for that. The surf beaches are all to the north of the town.

This is a popular place for the kids to hang-out. There’s parties out here most weekends.”

“Parties? The best parties I’ve ever been to were just two people – you and me.”

“Parties in your tent? They were good times, Gary, very good times, but they’re over now. I can’t do that anymore.”