Westpoint Tales - Entangled Tales, 95 - Whozzat's Movie & Tony's Family

(For Rohan, who wants more!)

As they did the song, the curtain above them quietly slid up and out of sight, exposing the whole of the screen. They finished, the keyboard played them out, the lights went down and the screen was lit up with the same image as on the banner outside.

The screen was white with 7 cartoon faces over the red block-letters, ‘Whozzat’s Movie’. The theatre applauded, the screen turned pink and then orange as the letters and faces faded. Clouds appeared and they were looking at one of Westpoint’s characteristic sunsets.

The camera panned down, showing a large old pine tree, black silhouetted against the sky. It zoomed in on the tree-house and the long-limbed boy sitting in the doorway. He sighed, slid one long leg out below him, and then jerked it back up and looked down.

“Feck, Dee! What the hell are you doing?”

Over the next two hours, with lots of music, the movie showed the beginnings of Whozzat – the formation of the group with the introduction of each new member, including Crispian and his transformation. They didn’t bother with Cody, but they showed, briefly, Tony’s holiday meeting with them, his return home and his flight from there. They showed some of his nightmare journey back to Westpoint, their search for him in the missing weeks, and their joyful reunion. (“Where the feck have you BEEN?”)

They showed West FM, parties on the beaches, dances at school and in the Union Hall, and their decision to stay at school and make a movie to share their music. There was the Independent record label, (‘Rebel, Rebel”), and Billy’s Burgers with lots on the party in the Square, weekend trips to open Billy’s Burgers in other towns, and their weekday life at school.

Finally, they summed up with the announcement that the movie was finished and the premiere would be in the St. John’s theatre in Westpoint. The screen went black and silent, and then lights started to appear, picking out a shining trail along the main street.

The camera followed along the trail and focused on the multi-coloured St. John’s. The wall went white as the banner unfurled and the words appeared again. There were quiet shots of the excited crowd filing into the theatre for the premiere and taking their seats. The Mayor gave his speech, the curtains opened and Whozzat sang and played, “And We Danced”.

The cartoons and words appeared again, the screen turned pink and then orange and the final credits rolled to the music of North’n West Coast Sun.

The party afterwards was out in the street in the hot summer night, (catered by Billy’s Burgers), and it went on until dawn. The movie was an absolute triumph in Westpoint. Everybody loved it, even the reluctant ‘stars’.

It played all week exclusively, no other films screened at all, and there were packed houses for every showing. Crispian was the town’s hero for a few days.

The following week it began showing in other West Coast towns, and then further and further afield, spreading their name, their fame and their music to an ever increasing audience. CD’s, DVD’s, T-shirts, posters and books were sold at every screening. Whozzat were on their way, and the kids went back to school.


A few days after the Shaw family had gone home, to everyone’s relief, (even Jonathan’s), Tony’s family arrived in town.

Thursday morning, he was called out from a maths class, which he didn’t mind at all. The messenger, Sherry Coombs, told him that he had to go to the principal’s office, there were people there waiting to see him. Who? Well, she didn’t know!

On the way past the front entrance of the school, Tony stopped and stared out of the doors.

“What’s the matter, Tones? Have you seen a ghost or something?”

“That’s my mother’s car. My friggin’ mother’s car! What’s she doing here in Westpoint?”

“Probably waiting to talk to you. Now you know who’s in Mrs. Lowry’s office.”

“Bloody hell! I’ve got nothing to say to those people, Sherry. Why can’t they leave me alone?”

“You’re not alone, Tony. Not in this town. Go and tell them to fuck off.”

“I will. Thanks. I’ll tell them to fuck off!”

Tony went to the principal’s office and Sherry, who loved a drama, ran to get Superboy. He felt nervous as he stood outside the door. Should he go and get Danny? No. Fuck ‘em, not Danny’s problem. It was his family and he’d deal with them. What could they do? He was 16 now.

He knocked on the door, and entered when called.

“Ah, Tony. Thank you for coming promptly. We have visitors for you, your family have come a long way to see you.”

(‘I’m not blind, Mrs. Lowry. I can see who they are.’)

Tony looked around the crowded office. His mother and both of his grandmothers were sitting there, with his two brothers standing back against the wall. “Hello, Alex,” he said and then turned back to Mrs. Lowry.

“I can see my brother. I don’t know the rest of these people.”

“What? Don’t talk nonsense, Tony,” said his Grannie Erickson. “Of course you know your family.”

His eyes filled with tears. (‘Fuck it! Control yourself, Tony.’) “I know my family. I know who they are. My family are Danny, Justin and Billy, and Whozzat and Nita, Tom, John and George. My family are Lucas and Jonathan and everyone else who loves me.”

“We love you, Tony.” His other grandmother got to her feet. “Your mother, your grandparents, your brothers, we all love you.”

“Fucking great way of showing it, haven’t you? Sorry, Mrs. Lowry, but these people damm near killed me. He beat me up and threw me out and not one of them lifted a finger to help me – except for Alex.”

“I did so!” Brian burst out.” I stopped him. I pulled him off you, or tried to.”

“You stopped him? What a hero! You fucking started it in the first place! You’re the worst of them, Scumbag. I don’t want to know you. Fuck off, the lot of you. Go back to your home and leave me in mine.”

“Tony, please!” his mother spoke for the first time. “We were wrong. All of us were wrong, but especially me. I’m really sorry, Tony. I’m your mother and I failed you when you needed me most. I can never, never fix that, but I want you to know that I know how wrong I was and I’m so sorry.”

Tony stood staring. His whole world narrowed down to just him and her – his mother, his tear-streaked, crying and sorrowful mother, and he lost his anger.

“Mum!” He sobbed as he flew into her arms.

“Tony. Oh, Tony, my baby.”

Mrs. Lowry’s eyes filled with tears as she watched a loving family repair their wounds. She got up to leave them alone. Un-noticed, she quietly opened the door and slipped out.

Outside, she was confronted by a crowd. A large group of silent, grim-faced people stood there waiting. Students mainly, some staff and even people from around the town – a large crowd and growing bigger by the second as more and more arrived. A flash-mob, called by their cellphones.

The only smiling face she could see was that of Sherry Coombs, bouncing up and down in her excitement. (‘Bloody little Drama Queen!’)

A worried looking Daniel O’Brien stood in the front, surrounded and supported by the Reynolds’ twins, Superboy and the Iceman, with Peter Lewis, Jay Kynnersley and all of this silent and growing crowd behind them.

“Mrs. Lowry, what’s going on in there? Can I go in to him?”

“It’s all right, Daniel. Don’t worry, everything’s going to be fine.”

“It had better be!” snapped the chilly tones of the Iceman.

“It’s fine, Jonathan – ‘Iceman’. No troubles here.” (She had never seen him in action, but she’d heard all about what the Iceman was capable of).

“Mrs. Lowry,” Justin spoke. “Please go back and tell Tony that Daniel is waiting out here, and then we’ll see.”

She went back into her office. A few seconds later, the door opened and a tearful Tony appeared. His eyes widened in shock as he looked around the crowd. He blushed and said a quiet, “Thank you”, and then took Daniel’s hand and pulled him into the office, closing the door behind them.


They stayed a few days at the Westpoint Motor Hotel. Kathleen didn’t care; she was not having those people in her hotel. Tony and Daniel both stayed there with them and everything was sweet.

His father had gone, moved out and he wouldn’t be back. His mother couldn’t live with that man any longer. Even his own mother, Tony’s Gran, didn’t want to know him, the bastard!

Tony and Daniel took them all to meet and eat with, Nita, Tom, George, John and Beth. They introduced them to the Todds and showed them around their town, meeting with more friends everywhere they went.

Crispian arranged a private screening of Whozzat’s Movie for them – his mother and grandmothers cried all the way through it. They left on the Monday, with hugs and tears.

Alex promised to fly back for the next school holidays, and Tony and Daniel, arms around each other, stood waving as they drove away. Life was good.

Summer rolled on and slowly came to an end. The days got shorter and temperatures fell. Summer games, reluctantly, gave way to Winter sports and the brilliant colours of Autumn almost matched the glories of Westpoint’s sunsets.

Whozzat had an international hit record. They stayed at home and gladly sent out videos to promote their music. Billy’s Burgers went from strength to strength, city to city and opened in Australia even. Lana and Claudette were both glowingly pregnant.
There were no great dramas. Everything was cruisy. Life was good.

Westpoint Tales - Entangled Tales, 94 - Saturday Night at the Movies

Saturday was the big day. In the morning, the entire family, along with Crispian and Dick Seaton, were sitting around the big table in the kitchen in the Adelphi. Connors was there, working away along with Mrs. Meyers. Lisa didn’t work there anymore, she worked next-door at Billy’s Burgers.

Justin became aware of eyes fixed on him. He looked up at the small, curly-haired, boy standing in the doorway staring at him. When Justin looked back, he nodded his head and smiled and kept staring.

Jonathan was sitting with his back to the door, so Justin leant across and tapped his plate with a knife. Jonathan looked up. “What?”

Justin nodded towards the door. “Is he looking for you?”

“Is who looking for me?” Jonathan turned around, and then leapt up as he yelled, “Darby! Ohmigod, Darby!!”

He rushed over, caught up the kid in a bear-hug and swung him around. “It’s so good to see you, Kid. Where did you come from? Is your mum here?”

A second boy appeared, slightly bigger and also curly-haired. “Hey, Johnny.”

“Ricky!” He put the first boy down and grabbed up the second one, swinging him around as well. “Look at you! You’ve got so big.”

A woman appeared with a grin and two girls by her side. One was about 13 and the other was just a toddler.

“Mum! I mean, Mrs. . . Oh, dammit! Mum!”

“Hello, Johnny,” she smiled.

“Mum!” he dropped the boy he was holding and latched on to his ‘mum’, laughing and crying over her shoulder.

“Wow,” she said. “What have they been doing to you? You never used to be so emotional.”

“Mum, I. . .’ he pulled back and then he spotted the man out in the corridor behind her.

“Dad!” He flew at him for another big, emotional hug.

“Whoah, Johnny. Whoah. Settle down, Boy.”

Jonathan came back to the older girl and hugged and kissed her. “Sorry, Nettie. How’s my favourite girl?”

He stooped and picked up the toddler. “Baby Girl, you’ve got so big! You’re growing Girl.”

Finally, he turned back to the amused faces around the table. “Everybody, this is my family – my other family.”

“You don’t say, Johnny?” Justin grinned. “We would never have guessed that.”

“Shut up, Justin. Mum, Dad, family, this smart-mouth is my Justin – the greatest boy in the world and my own brother.”

“Hello Justin.” Mr. Shaw offered a hand. “We’ve heard all about you, of course, and seen the photos and the videos, but – Man! It’s incredible.”

“Yeah,” Jonathan grinned. “He is ugly, isn’t he?”

“Certainly is,” said Mr. Shaw. “Just as ugly as you, Boy. Exactly the same, exactly!”

“They’re not ugly at all,” said Mrs. Shaw. “They’re both fine-looking boys. Hello Justin, I’m Donna Shaw. It’s nice to meet you at last. The last time we saw you, you were just a tiny new-born baby.”

“Yes,” said Mr. Shaw. “It could have been you that we raised. We could only take one baby and, even then, there was no difference between you. I just closed my eyes and we took the first one I touched – Jonathan.”

“You made the right choice, Sir.”

“I wish that we never had to choose. Even then I didn’t want to split you up.”

“You gave my brother a much better life, and I thank you for that.”

“See? What did I tell you?” Jonathan came around the table to grab hold of Justin. “He’s bloody amazing, isn’t he? I love you, Justin.”

“Shut up, Jonathan.” Justin hugged him back, kissed his cheek and then pushed him off. The Shaws frowned, but said nothing.

“Not much chance of that!” Jonathan grinned. “Anyway, Family – Shaw family – this is my new family, mine and Justin’s. This is our granddad and our grandmother, Bob and Kathleen. This is Billy, he’s, well, he’s my brother too. Our friend, Crispian, and Connors, Dick Seaton and Mrs. Meyers – they work here but they’re friends too.”

After introductions and handshakes all around, Kathleen seated the newcomers around the table and they sat and talked. The Shaws had been wanting to come up for some time, to see how Jonathan was getting on and to meet his twin and the rest of their family, but they hadn’t been able to get away from the farm; not even for the 16th birthday. They were really sorry about that.

Jonathan said that he already knew that – it was not a problem. Now they’d managed it. They just had to come, what with the news of the coming babies – 2 sets of twins! Also, this movie premiere, featuring some of Johnny’s new friends, they just had to see that. Was he going to be in it too?

“He is,” said Crispian. “Fleetingly, but he’s in there.”

Well! They’d just have to see that then. Jonathan wanted to know how they knew about the movie, he hadn’t told them, had he?

Crispian said, “No, I told them. I thought they’d like to know.”

“Wow. You’ve really thought of every detail, haven’t you, Lordship? Dad, Mum, Crispian was the director for the movie – the director, the writer, the cameraman and the general bossy-boots who brought it all together. It’s Crispian’s movie really.”

“No it’s not, it is Whozzat’s movie. I was just privileged to help them a bit.”

“Bloody big bit, Lordship.”

“Yes, well. We haven’t finished yet either, there’s still some things to do. I’ll bring back some tickets for your family, Jonathan. Mrs. Shaw, I’m afraid the premiere will be rather late for the little ones. It doesn’t start until 10 o’clock tonight. We ask too that everyone arrive in their very best clothes, it’s going to be filmed you see. I’ll be back later with some tickets – 2 adults, 3 children and an infant.”

The Shaws were intending to stay, for two days only, at the Motor Camp in their caravan. Kathleen insisted that they come to the hotel. They could, at least, park out behind the kitchen, use the facilities and eat with Jonathan. They agreed to that much. The boys wanted to sleep in the hotel, so Jonathan took them up to his room – they could sleep on a mattress on the floor.

They spent the day visiting and Jonathan showed them around the town and his new life. Justin was polite, (of course), and friendly at first, but, sensing their disapproval of his relationship with Billy, he soon withdrew and stayed away from them rather than cause upset to his brother.

Billy offered to go and stay at Ma’s for a few days, but Justin wouldn’t have that.

“You’re not, Sunny. You will not! We’re not hiding and why should I be robbed of you just for those jerks? You stay here or we’ll both go to Ma’s.”

“Okay, Sweetcheeks, we’ll stay here. This is our home. Fuck ‘em.”

“Yeah, Sunny. Fuck ‘em – not really though.”

“Shut up, Justin.”


The interminable day finally drew to a close. All over town people were bathing and showering, shaving and preening and dressing up in their best clothes. There wasn’t a hire suit left in any shop in town and the menswear departments had record sales of men’s suits.

Outside, another brilliant sunset faded into the night, but hardly anyone noticed. Finally, right on cue, for the benefit of a camera filming from a helicopter flying low above the town, all the lights of Westpoint went out.

They came back on again, block by block, working from the western end, along the main street to the St. John’s theatre at the bottom end. As the lights came on, marking a brilliant trail along the long street, the helicopter flew low, following along and up to the theatre.

Coloured spotlights flashed along the theatre’s walls, and then all went white as a banner unfurled down the big side-wall. It had seven cartoon faces of the group above huge, red, block letters – WHOZZAT’S MOVIE.

(Jordan Taylor and Jason McDonald, the best artists in town, had done the banner and all of the artwork for the movie, posters and CD’s etc.)

A red carpet lay along the sidewalk, fringed with hundreds of fairy lights, and Whozzat’s music played as the crowd, released from the barriers along the street, began filing into the theatre. They smiled and waved at the cameras pointing at them.

Inside, when all were seated, cameras flashing and souvenir programmes fluttering, the Mayor of Westpoint, Tom Craddock, in full regalia, came out onto the stage and read a short speech welcoming everyone there and welcoming the first screening of our local kid’s locally made movie – “Our town, our kids, Whozzat’s movie.”

At these final words, he retreated as the curtains opened. The lights came up on 6 members of Whozzat, all in their suits – except for Sandie who wore her leathers, all standing with their instruments, ready to play.

They stood, smiling and waving, as the audience rose up applauding and cheering. Then the audience sat as all the lights in the body of the hall went out. Whozzat all bowed together and Peter started to play on his keys. The others all crashed into the tune and then Tones appeared. He dropped from the low curtain above them, yelling, “Wow!” and he exploded, danced and sang.

“She was a bee-bop baby on a hard day’s night,
She was hanging on to Johnny, he was hanging on tight.
Well I could feel her coming from a mile away,
There was no use talking, there was nothing to say,
When the band began to play and play.
And we danced, like a wave on the ocean, Romance.
We were lions in love, and we danced swept away for a moment by chance,
And we danced and danced and danced.

She was a bee bop baby at the Union Hall,
She could dance all night and shake the paint off the wall.
When I saw her smile across a crowded room, yeah,
Well I knew we’d have to leave the party soon,
And the band began to play our tune,
And we danced, like a wave on the ocean. Romance.
We were lions in love and we danced, swept away for a moment by chance,
And we danced and danced and danced.

Yeh, we danced. Woe is me, she’s walking my way, and the music played what she says.
Are we getting too close? Do we dare to get closer?
The room was spinning, she was just my baby,
And we danced, like a wave on the ocean. Romance.
We were lions of love and we danced swept away for a moment by chance,
And we danced and danced and danced.

Like a wave on the ocean. Romance. We were lions in love and we danced,
Swept away for a moment by chance, and we danced and danced and danced.

And we danced and danced and danced and danced.
And we danced and danced and danced and danced.
And we danced and danced and danced and danced.
And we danced, and we danced, and we danced.”

Westpoint Tales - Entangled Tales, 93 - Justin & Billy

(It doesn't ALWAYS rain there)


While they were still out of town, up on the hilltops, early Sunday morning, the doorbell rang. Dee rolled over in bed and one hand reached out to shut the alarm off.

Then she stopped. “No, dammit. That’s not the clock!”

She opened one eye and looked over at her bedside clock. 7.45am!

“Too friggin’ early for a Sunday!”

Then she was wide-awake as she clicked and realised that the ringing that woke her was the door-bell. She rose up out of bed and grabbed her dressing-gown, putting it on as she walked to the front door.

She cracked the door open and peered out at the dull morning outside. There was no-one there, but, as the door swung open wider, she could see Mrs. Campbell the florist’s van pulling away up the street.

Then the cardboard box at her feet caught her eye and she picked it up and inspected it. The long, slender and light, box was branded, ‘Floratime Florists’.

“Flowers? Who’s sending me flowers?”

The box was addressed to ‘Dee Jamieson, Peel Street, Westpoint.’

“Great!”

She took the box to the kitchen and opened it on the table – it was a rose! One deep-yellow rose. The card read, ‘No reason, but thank you for being my friend. I love you, Justin.’

“Oh, Justin! You sweet, sweet, idiot! I love you too.”

She grabbed the phone to ring him at the Adelphi, but his grandmother answered.

“Oh, hello Dee. No, he’s not here. They both got dressed up and went away somewhere for the night – they didn’t say where. They’ll be back sometime later today.”

Disappointed, Dee rang Claire, not to boast – not really – but to tell her about her wonderful surprise. But, Claire had already received an identical gift and her mum had got one too.

As the day went on, they discovered that a lot people, all of Justin’s closest friends, all over town, had all had the same surprise – boys as well as girls. Justin’s shares – his popularity and his love in that town hit an all-time high.

A couple of days later, Billy arrived home, late, after school and handed Justin a gift that he’d bought downtown.

“What is this, Sunny?”

He opened the card first, it read, ‘No reason, but thank you for being my Love, Billy.’

“Oh, Billy!’ he sighed as he put the card aside and opened the box. It was a solid, clear-plastic block containing one, partly-opened, red rose bud.

“One rose, Sunny? Is this artificial? And why’s it set in plastic?”

“Yeah.” Billy took the rose from him. “One rose for one love because that’s all I have to give. It’s not artificial, it’s a real rose but it’s set in plastic so that it will last. It will last forever. This time next year, and the year after and every year it will still be as young and fresh as it is now, and ,”

He threw it at the wall. It bounced off, fell down and rolled across the floor.

“And, my love is unbreakable.”

Justin burst into tears, as usual. He hugged him and he cried. “Oh, Billy! Thank you, Billy. My love for you is like that too. You’re just perfect, Billy. I love you so much!”

They didn’t get any work done that day.

Excitement and anticipation grew during the week. The World Premiere – the first ever screening of Whozzat’s Movie was to be held on Saturday night, in the St. John’s theatre.

Even the members of Whozzat hadn’t seen the completed work, not even Peter. Crispian was the only one who had seen it and he was keeping tight-lipped. All he would say was, “It will do.”

Crispian was being a pain too. He’d been bossy enough during the filming, but now he was right over the top. He wanted the premiere to be perfect and he was running around trying to attend to every last detail. He was getting stressed, short-tongued and impatient as he snapped orders at everyone.

Thursday evening, at an open and casual band-practice in the Union Hall, Crispian came in from the back, spotted Sandie’s new hair colour and he went right off at her.

Sandie had wanted to smarten herself up for the big night on Saturday, so, with help from Shelley and Kadie, (neither of whom knew what they were doing), she’d dyed her mousy-blond hair. It had turned out a horrible brassy, bottle-blond colour with traces of green in it even! It was shocking, and she knew it.

Crispian came in, stopped dead and stared, and then he yelled at her. “What have you done? You stupid little girl! Are you trying to sabotage the whole damm show?”

Sandie burst into tears – nervous, frustrated ad embarrassed tears. Jay tried to calm things down.

“Whoa, Lordship. It’s not that bad – these things happen.”

“Not that bad? Not that bad??” Crispian yelled. “It is that bad! Look at her. She looks like a tart – a cheap, two-bit hooker! Is that what we want Whozzat to look like? Saturday night in a whorehouse?”

Justin jumped up on the stage and put his arms around Sandie. “It’s all right, Girl. I know what a two-bit hooker looks like, and you don’t. Crispian, I’m not part of Whozzat, but if I was, I’d be leaving about now and telling you where to shove your movie.”

“Well, I’m pleased that you’re not a part of it then.”

“Good. I’m not coming to your movie anyway, I don’t want any more to do with it. Sandie, IF you want to fix your hair, cut school tomorrow and go and see Mrs. Richards. She can fix it, no trouble.

Now I’m going. See you next week, People.”

“Wait! Wait a minute, Justin. Are you saying that you’re going to boycott your friends’ movie? You can’t do that. We need you there. You’re a part of this too.”

“No, I’m not. I’m not boycotting anything, I’m just not coming, that’s all. It’s not my friends’ movie anyway. My friends were about making music and having fun. This might be music, but it doesn’t look like fun to me.”

“But we have to get it right. If you don’t come, nobody will. You’ll ruin everything, Justin.”

“I don’t tell anyone what to do and, as far as I’m concerned, your movie is already ruined.”

“He’s right, you know.” Jonathan stood up from his seat down in the hall. “I’m not coming either.”

“Nor am I.” Lana joined him.

“Me neither.” Claudette stood.

“See? See what you’ve done, Superboy? It’s started already.”

“No it hasn’t Crispian. It hasn’t started – it’s finished.” Peter came out from behind his keys. “I’m not going either.”

“Nor am I.” Jay jumped down from the stage. Daniel followed him and then Tony, Shelley and Kadie.

“No. Wait. Don’t do this.” Dee took Crispian’s side. “You can’t do this. All your money is tied up in this movie, everything you’ve made. If you walk out now, you lose the lot – everything you’ve done.”

“Fuck it, Dee.” Sandie snapped at her. “I don’t care. This was never about the money. This was about having fun, and we’re not. Shove it, Crispian, I’m out.”

“Wait,” Crispian pleaded. “You can’t all walk away. This is your movie and it’s good. You can’t just kill it now. You’re two days away from finishing it – just two days! Two days away from making big money. Dammit, Justin! This is going to cost them millions, and you too. There’ll be no money to invest in your burger bars either.”

“I’d rather have friends than money.”

“And this is how you help your friends, is it?”

“I’m not doing anything, but I know that I’ve already got too many dead friends out at the cemetery. I don’t want anymore.”

Silence reigned.

Crispian caved in. He sat on a seat at the side of the hall. His long hair covered his face and hands as he leaned forward and sobbed.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Sandie – everybody. I’ve been taking it all on myself and trying too hard. I wanted to make everything perfect; but, Justin’s right, you’re all right and I was wrong. This should be fun and it’s not. I’ve stuffed it up and I’m sorry.”

Justin jumped back up on the stage again. He looked at Daniel’s guitar, shook his head and turned and picked up another one. “Kadie, would you mind? May I?”

“Of course you may, Superboy.” She nodded with her glum face. “You go for it.”

All eyes were on him as he sat on the front of the stage and strummed Kadie’s guitar. Looking down at the guitar, quietly at first and then getting louder, he sang.

“Well, they walk, and I’ll walk. And they shimmy, and I’ll shimmy.

They fly,” he rose to his feet, still strumming. “And, I’ll fly.”

The others all came back and picked up their instruments and joined in as Justin sang, (shouted!), “Well, they’re out there having FUN, in the warm North’n West Coast Sun!”

Daniel’s guitar went back to the beginning and started wailing the introduction. Jay danced around his drums. Justin handed the guitar back to Kadie and, clapping his hands, he danced with Tony, mirroring his actions as he clapped and danced and bounced off and on the stage.

They all sang together in happy harmony. “I’m going out West, where I belong,
Where the days are short and the nights are long.”

Justin left Tony and danced over to Crispian, grabbing his hands and pulling him to his feet. Holding both his hands, he made him dance too.

“Well, they’re out there having FUN,
In the warm North’n West Coast Sun.”

Tony started a new, (old), song.

“Well, she got her daddy’s car and she cruised to the hamburger stand now,
Seems she forgot all about the library that she told her old man now,
With the radio blaring and she drove it as fast as she can now,
And she’ll have Fun, Fun, Fun, ‘til her daddy takes the T-bird away.
(Fun, Fun ‘til her daddy takes the T-bird away.”

And, they danced all night at the Union Hall, or, part of it anyway. For a few hours they forgot all about the movie. It would happen, but not tonight. They would do it and they’d do it right – but they’d have fun doing it.
“Can’t be perfect, if it’s not fun.”

Westpoint Tales - Entangled Tales, 92 - More Family

The week rolled on. The weather remained glorious. Justin wanted to cut classes and go play on the beach, but Billy and the others weren’t having that!

“You’ve got an example to set here, Superboy.”

Jonathan did though, he and his girls disappeared for hours at a time.

Saturday finally dawned and, damm! it was not sunny but overcast again. It wasn’t cold anyway.

Justin and Billy were out at Billy’s mum’s place for the day and, in the early afternoon, they were down at the family’s ‘private’ swimming hole in the river. They were splashing around, with John and Brian, in the sort-of warm water. John needed a push, and he got one!

The other three were sitting back watching while Justin swam and showed his new-found skills. He was never going to make the Olympics, didn’t have the co-ordination, but at least he was staying alive in the water.

Denise appeared from the trees on the riverbank and called out, “Hey! I hope that you lot have got your pants on.”

“Of course we have, Sis,” Billy called back. “We’ve got company here.”

“Yeah, of course we have,” Brian chimed in. “We’ve got company too!”

That earned him several wondering looks and a red-faced gasp and a splashing from John.

“Brian!!”

“Well, umm, yeah,” Denise grinned. “Just as well anyway. The raft-race will be coming past any minute now.”

“The raft race? What raft race?” Justin splashed his way back to the water’s edge.

“THE raft race,” said Billy. “The annual fun race between the bridges – from Isherwood’s to Westpoint’s bridges.”

“You never told me about that. How come we’re not taking part?”

“I thought you didn’t like racing.”

“No. Well, I don’t, but rafting sounds like fun. We could’ve done that.”

“Oh no we couldn’t. I told you, I’m not going to be responsible for Superboy’s drowning himself. You’re not swimming good enough yet – maybe next year.”

“But I wouldn’t have to swim if we were on a raft.”

“No, but you could fall off. People do every year. There’s some pretty rough spots coming down the Gorge.”

“So you decided that we’re not doing it? Bossy Beggar, aren’t you?” Justin grinned.

“Yeah. I am and I will be. I don’t want to lose you, Justin.”

“That’s not going to happen, Sunny. Not ever.”

“Not if I can help it anyway.”

“You trying to wrap Superboy up in cotton-wool are you, Billy?” Denise said.

“If I have to – yeah, I will.”

They were interrupted when the rafts started coming around the corner in the river. Lucas was in the lead! Lucas and Toddy, with Derek and Max too, were all helmets and life-jackets and grins as they waved and passed the cheering group on the side of the river.

They stood and watched, and waved and cheered as the whole procession drifted past them. There were 17 rafts altogether. They were various sizes but mostly with 4 man crews and all made from an amazing hodge-podge collection of polythene pipes, plastic bottles and polystyrene, all bound together with string and miles of duct tape.

When they’d, finally, all gone out of sight, Justin turned.

“You rotten bugger, Sunny! That’d be SO much fun. Next year, we are definitely going to be in that.”

“Okay, Sweetcheeks, next year. You keep practicing your swimming.”

Billy shoved him back into the water. Justin came up spluttering. “You’ll pay for that, Billy-Boy!”

But, he was gone – laughing and running back up the track to the house.

Later in the afternoon, Justin stood and announced that it was time to go – they had to go home now. There were protests all around and Mrs. M. said, “Couldn’t you at least stay fore dinner?”

“No. Sorry, Mrs. M., but we’ve got to go now. We’re going out for dinner tonight, somewhere special.”

“Where are we going, Sweetcheeks? I don’t know anything about this.”

“Of course you don’t. It wouldn’t be a surprise if you knew.”

“Oh, okay. ‘Bye then, Mum.”

John was looking SO disappointed, (he’d come out with them in the morning), Denise took pity on him, and the down-faced Bugs. “You don’t have to go, John. Stay here for the night and I’ll take you home tomorrow. That’ll be all right, won’t it, Mum?”

“Yes, of course it will, as long as it’s all right with your mother. Go and ring her now before these two leave.”

“Great! That’ll be so cool! Thanks, Mrs. Mathieson, Denise. Thank you.”

“Go and ring your mum before you start dancing.”

John and Brian ran for the phone and they were back, dancing, before the others had finished their goodbyes. “Yes!”

On the way back into town, Justin grinned as he asked, “You think your little brother’s going to lose his virginity tonight?”

“Don’t be coarse, Justin. None of your business, but – yeah, if he hasn’t already.”

“Kids, eh?”

“Yeah, bloody kids.”

“Fucking kids.”

“Shut up, Justin. Where are we going anyway?”

“Home to the Adelphi. We’ve got to get changed and dressed up and then we’re going out.”

“But where are we going?”

“Somewhere. You’ll see – somewhere you’ve never been before.”

“Okay, Mystery Man.”

“Shut up, Billy.”

Back in the hotel, Billy showered, (“Again?” “Yeah, scrub up, Sunny.”), while Justin laid out their clothes for the evening. When he came back, he grinned at the clothes on the bed.

“Cute in a suit, eh?”

“Definitely! You get your suit on and I‘ll be back soon.”

Justin raced through the shower and came back and dressed in his formal black suit, white shirt and black leather shoes, while Billy stood watching and smiling.

He flicked a brush over his hair, then said, “Okay, that’s as good as it gets. C’mon Sunny, we’re out of here. Bring the keys; you’ve got to drive.”

“We’re driving? I wish you’d tell me where we’re going. You look cute in a suit too.”

“Not as cute as you though. Come on, we don’t want to be late.”

“This is something really special then?”

“Sure is. I hope so anyway.”

“Wait out side a minute then – something I have to do first.”

“What’s that then?”

“I’m not telling you. It’s a surprise too. Go on – out!”

He pushed him out and closed the door, and then came out, grinning, shortly after.”

“Who’s the Mystery Man now then? Okay – Justin’s shutting up.”

They went down to the kitchen and said goodbye to the admiring grandmother.

“Won’t be here for dinner, Grandmother. We won’t be back until tomorrow actually.”

“Until tomorrow? Where are you going, Boys?”

“Can’t tell you. That would ruin Billy’s surprise. We’ll see you in the morning.”

“Okay then. Goodbye, take care, and have fun.”

“We will. ‘Bye Grandmother.”

They got into the car and buckled up.

“Where to, then?”

“Down to the Peters’. We’ve got to get Daniel and Tony first.”

“It’s a family thing then?”

“It is. Drive,Sunny.”

Billy drove around the town. They collected the mystified Daniel and Tony from the Peter’s house, Peter from his home and then Jay from his. They were all wearing suits as well and, while Daniel and Tony didn’t know what was going on, it was apparent that it was no mystery to Peter and Jay.

“Justin Reynolds, how come Peter and Jay know what we’re doing?”

“Because they’ve already been there today. I had to get them to help set this up. I couldn’t do it with you watching over me. Daniel and Tony don’t know though, do you Guys?”

“Not a bloody thing, Justin. Just ‘be there, in suits, at 5 o’clock and we’re not coming back until tomorrow.”

“That’s it. Thanks, Tony.”

Billy said, “So, where are we going now?”

“Umm. Okay, out to the airport.”

“The airport?”

“Just drive, Sunny.”

At the airport, he waved Billy over to the right-hand side where a pilot and a large army-style helicopter were waiting for them.

“All ready, Mr. Currie?”

“All set, Superboy. I hope my wife doesn’t find out about this or she’ll be wanting to do it too. If she doesn’t divorce me for not thinking of it first, that is. Well, jump in, everybody. Two in the front, four in the back. Buckle-up and we’re out of here.”

Justin waved Daniel and Tony to the front with the pilot and climbed into the back with Billy and Peter and Jay who had already done this today.

“Billy and I get the front on the way back.”

They took off and made several leisurely, low, passes over the town; smiling and waving at their homes down below them. Then, they turned North-east, getting higher as they went, and flew across to the high range of hills behind the town. They circled around and landed gently on a bare, snow-grassed, mountain top.

They unbuckled and climbed down, stooping low as they ran out from under the rotors. (There was no need to really, but that’s what they do in the movies). Mr. Currie brought out a large picnic basket and left them.

“All right then, Boys? Hope the bloody weather holds for you. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He flew away back to town. Leaving them standing on the hilltop, dressed up in their Sunday-suits and miles away from anywhere.

“We’re having a picnic then, are we?” Daniel asked.

“Sure are, Guitar-man,” Peter grinned. “Picnic on a mountain top – simply the best.”

“Oh no!” Billy groaned. “Not burgers again?”

“Not this time, Sunny. We’ve got the best fare from the Westpoint Motor Hotel – steak and oysters and that sort of stuff. We couldn’t get Grandmother to do it or she would have given the game away for sure.”

“Okay, this is starting to sound good. Cool ride in the helicopter anyway. What else have you got?”

“Come and see,” said Jay. “Daniel, give me a hand with this basket.”

They picked it up and walked across the top of the hill. There, spread out before them, was a spectacular, if rather distant, view of Westpoint, lying beside it’s wide river and the coastline with the long, gray beaches running along below their vantage point. There were small farms and patches of forest and, right before them, four tents – one large, square one surrounded by three smaller, hiking tents.

Peter ran down and opened the wall of the big tent that faced towards the town. Inside, on the carpeted floor, were six white, stacking, plastic chairs surrounding a big round table that was set up with a fancy white tablecloth, crockery, silver cutlery, napkins, candles, water and wine glasses, and flowers even!

“Wow!”

“Choice!”

“Great, Sweetcheeks.”

“Yeah,” he grinned. “Looks good to me. Thanks Peter, thanks Jay, for coming and setting everything up.”

“Our pleasure Super – ah, Justin. It was choice.”

“Okay.” Jay draped a towel over his arm, going into waiter-mode. “If you’ll be seated, Gentlemen. We don’t want the food getting cold, it’s a long way back to the kitchen.”

“It’s a bloody long way!”

Jay, Peter and Justin pulled out the chairs for Daniel, Tony and Billy. Peter turned on the music on the portable CD player.

(Billy was pleased to see that!)

Peter lit the candles while Jay and Justin brought the meals and supplements out from the basket.

Justin went around filling everyone’s wine glasses with sparkling grape-juice and Jay stood and raised his glass.

“A toast, Gentlemen. A toast to the best brothers and the best damm family in the world.”

“Our Family,” they agreed as they sipped their drinks.

Throughout the three-course meal, each one took a turn to propose a toast to each other and their mates.

After the meal was finished and the debris cleaned away, they sat around talking, drinking grape-juice and sharing after-dinner mints.

Justin grinned, “We would’ve brought cigars, but nobody here smokes, so we’d just be sick anyway.”

“That’d be a nice picture,” Tony replied.

“That is a nice picture,” Billy waved his glass towards the town. Daylight was fading and the street-lights were on. Ominously, there was no sunset, just gray clouds.

“Sorry we couldn’t arrange a sunset,” Justin said.

“We don’t need one,” Peter replied. “This is just great as it is. Thanks Justin.”

“All because I love you, my brothers. Thank you for being here.”

“It’s perfect, Justin,” said Billy. “Perfect like you.”

“Yeah, like me because it’s not perfect. It would’ve been better if we didn’t have to have the tents – just the table on the mountain top, but they say that it can get bloody cold up here.”

“What are we going to do then? Freeze our skinny butts off?”

“No, Sunny. We’ll take care of your skinny little butt. There’s warm clothes in the tents; Antarctic gear – jacket, leggings, and gloves and stuff. There’s lots of warm bedding too.”

“That’ll be sexy, won’t it? All wrapped-up like Eskimos!”

“You’ll be the cutest little Eskimo boy ever.”

“No he won’t, Peter/Tones will,” Daniel and Jay said together and then they stood to high-five each other.

They sat around enjoying the company, the music, the candles and the lights of their town in the gathering dusk. The temperature was definitely dropping, so Justin stood. “I think it’s time we put the jackets and stuff on, it’s getting cold here.”

“No. Wait.” Billy jumped up and pushed him back into his seat. “Before we all wrap up, I’ve got something. Peter, would you put this CD on, please. Track 2, but don’t start it until I say to.”

“Sunny? What are you doing?”

“Just this.” He knelt down before Justin, taking hold of one hand. “Justin, I love you. Last week, at the wedding, you asked when we’ll be getting married. I said that we can’t. I still don’t know if we’ll ever do that, but I love you. Every day with you is better than the one before and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.

I’d love it; I’d be honoured, ah – dammit!” He pulled a small box from his pocket and opened it. “Justin, will you wear my ring?”

Justin looked down at the plain, gold ring and burst into tears. He dropped from the chair, to his knees on the carpet and his head hung low.

“Justin?”

“He raised his head and beamed through his tears. “Yes! Oh yes please, Billy! I’d love to wear your ring. I love you, Sunny, so much.”

Billy sat on the carpet, took out the ring and placed it on his finger – the third finger, the wedding-ring finger. They both sat and cried as Justin twisted it around.

“Thank you, Billy. Thank you My Love. I will love you all the days of my life. I will love you, honour you, obey and cherish you and I’ll never want another for as long as I live.”

They hugged and then Billy pulled out an identical box and handed it to him. Justin took out the ring inside and put it on Billy’s third finger, and he repeated Justin’s promise to love, honour, obey and cherish and forsake all others for as long as they lived.

They stood and put their hands on each other’s shoulders. Billy looked around and said, “Now, Peter.”

Peter started the CD and they kissed and stood close together, swaying gently as they danced to the music of Justin singing, ‘She wears My Ring’.

The other two pairs joined their dance. Daniel whispered in Tony’s ear. “I think we’ll have to get some of those rings too, Tones.”

“Damm right, Dan’l. First thing Monday, we’ll go shopping.”

At the end of the song, Peter asked, “So, are you guys married, or what?”

Billy shrugged. “Don’t know and don’t care. All I know is that he wears my ring.”

Justin nodded. “I love wearing your ring, Sunny.”

“Careful now, Sexy-Boy. Speaking of sexy, let’s go and put those Eskimo outfits on – it’s bloody freezing now.”

They all ran to the tents and collected the thermal clothes and brought them back to dress, by candlelight, in the only tent that they could stand up in. It was all a waste of time really, because it wasn’t long before they closed up the tent and hurried off to try out their new beds, together, alone.

They appeared again, in pairs, in the morning, dressed in their thermals, and sat around in the big tent to eat breakfast – cereal, canned-fruit and cookies with, (cold!), coffee. They’d have to get a gas cooker to heat coffee for their next trip. There was definitely going to be more trips like this, but maybe not in suits next time.

The view in the morning was nothing to write home about – they couldn’t see home. It was raining. It wasn’t heavy rain, just misty and SO cold! Where did Summer go?

After breakfast, they packed up the gear and sat around in the big tent until it was time to go, and then they pulled that one down and packed it up too. They carried everything back to wait for the helicopter and threw everything in there when it arrived.

“Hey Boys,” the pilot grinned. “How was your night out on the mountain top?”

“Bloody brilliant, thanks, Mr. Currie.”

They flew back over the town. The air-temperature rose as they descended. At the airport, they loaded up the car, they’d have to make two trips, and get another car next time.

They spent the rest of the morning sorting and hanging up their wet gear in the back of the Adelphi. The used crockery etc. had to go back to the Westpoint Motor Hotel. Kathleen snorted at that.

“Don’t worry, Grandmother. Next time we’ll use your excellent kitchen.”

“You will. You’d bloody better! But you’re not cooking it yourself.”

After lunch at the hotel, they took Daniel and Tony and Peter and Jay back to their homes and they all fell into bed for the afternoon. Nobody had got much sleep the night before.

“Thanks, Justin. That was the best night ever – rain and all. And what a great meal!”

“It was, but don’t tell Grandmother that. Sunny One, thank you for the ring.”

“You’re welcome, My Love. Thank you for wearing it.”

“I’ll never stop wearing it. Never!”

Westpoint Tales - Entangled Tales, 91 - The Wedding

(St. Stephen's church and the Community Centre - which used to be the school, back in John & Bob's Tale).

Saturday morning dawned with brilliant sunshine. Billy woke, alone, rolled out of bed, opened the drapes and stood looking out at a beautiful day – not a cloud in the sky.

‘Great day for a White Wedding! What a change from yesterday.’

Where was Justin? Maybe running extra laps to make-up for time lost in the rain? He shrugged and went to have his shower.

Justin arrived when he came back out.

“’Morning, Sunny. Great day! I’m late again, I met Lucas around at the Square.”

“Morning Sweetcheeks. No problems – it’s good that you’ve been with Lucas. You haven’t been running with him for a while now.”

“Oh, we weren’t running; he’s in no state for that. He’s a mess. I thought it was the Groom who was supposed to get the pre-wedding nerves, not the Best Man.”

“What did you do with him then?”

“I took him around to Paul’s, he’ll look after him. He said that he doesn’t want to be the Best Man, that he’s not good enough. Paul told him that there’ll be no wedding if he’s not there and that his mum will kill them both.”

“And what did you tell him?”

“I told him that of course he’s the Best Man – there’s none better. Except for you of course.”

“Yeah, I love you too, Justin, but, shut up and go and have your shower. I’ll be down with the coffee pot.”

Jonathan was there for breakfast. He always slept at home now. Lana and Claudette’s families were all on to him and they were still a bit pissed at him too.

“Good morning, Family.” Justin breezed into the kitchen. “Great day for a wedding. How are you, Studmaster? I hope you didn’t lose your voice in the rain last night.”

“I’ve told you to stop calling me that, Gay-boy. And the voice is fine, how’s yours?”

“My voice is fine too. Good enough anyway.”

“Better be or Dee will kill you.”

“Yeah, Bossy Boots! When’s it going to be your turn? I want to sing at your wedding.”

“That won’t be happening. I can’t marry both and if I married either one of them, the other would shoot me.”

“Oh? Who’s under the thumb then? Or – thumbs, I suppose.”

“You should talk. It’s obvious who the Boss in your life is.”

“Wouldn’t have it any other way, would we Sunny?” He winked at the boy behind the coffee pot.

“Shut up, Justin.”

“Yes, Boss.”

They got dressed after breakfast, and they all went to check on the Johnson family – no problems there. The three then wandered around the town enjoying the welcome return of the sunshine and just hanging and waiting.

They spent some time in the children’s playground at the Square – playing with a crowd of young admirers. The two boys who were attacked by the dogs were among them. Like Jonathan, they were both all healed up now and the R&R stuff had removed any traces of the attack. Good publicity too.

After a light lunch, (burgers!), they dressed-up in their formal black suits. Justin thought that Billy was the most beautiful sight that he’d ever seen and he wanted a hundred photos. And a video. And a kiss. And, how about?

“Shut up Justin.”

Jonathan collected his girls and they all drove around to the church. The wedding was not in the Catholic Church. This time they would be singing in the Church of England. (Anglican? Episcopalian? Whatever.) St. Stephen’s church was directly across on the opposite side of the Square to St. Jeromes’, and it was a much smaller building. It was not as flash either, really, but it was nice and welcoming.

There was a large crowd there – lots of happy, smiling faces as friends and family gathered to celebrate the marriage of the popular policeman and his nurse. The brothers blended in with the crowd.

The ushers were Claire and Billy – “Bossy boots, the pair of you. I’ll bet Dee’s spitting that she can’t be here as well.”

Justin grinned and winked at Billy. “Later, My Sunny-one.” Then he turned and kissed Claire. “Not fair, Claire. Who’s going to look at Marcie when you’re looking so gorgeous?”

“Shut up, Sweetcheeks,” she beamed. “Go and sit down.”

But, they did look at Marcie when she arrived – she looked stunning! She was ‘pretty as a picture’ in her off-white bridal gown and her happy, smiling face. Justin cried as he watched her procession up the aisle.

Dee looked great too! She actually looked like an attractive girl. So did Marcie’s daughters.

Lucas did well. He stood up the front with a huge, goofy, grin as he watched his mother marry the nicest guy in town. Well, one of the nicest.

Crispian filmed everything – he’d had a lot of practice. And the end of the ceremony, Dee herded the group over to the side to sign the registers and Justin and Jonathan stood up at the front. Whozzat took their places – they were all scrubbed-up and suited, even Sandie!

Whozzat played and the twins sang together – The Hawaiian Wedding Song, (with some changes). Their soaring voices rang out in unison and filled the church with beautiful music. Kathleen Reynolds, among others, cried her eyes out.

“This is the moment, I’ve waited for. I can hear my heart singing,
Soon bells, will be ringing.
This is the moment of sweet Aroha. I will love you longer than forever,
Promise me that you will leave me never.
Here and now, Dear. All my love I vow, Dear.

I will love you longer than forever. Promise me that you will leave me never.
Now that we are one, clouds won’t hide the sun.

Blue skies, here in Westpoint smile. On this, our wedding day.
I do, (I do), Love you, (Love you), With all my heart.

As they sang the last line they both looked back into the body of the church, and everyone knew where.

There was a pause as the group finished signing the registers – they’d stopped to watch the singing. When they came back to the front, a beaming Marcie kissed both of the twins with whispered ‘thank yous’. Paul hugged them both and then they squared up for the procession out of the church while Justin sang, alone now – Jonathan returned to his seat.

“She wears my ring, to show the world, that she belongs to me.
She wears my ring, to show the world, she’s mine eternally.
With loving care, I placed it on her finger,
To show my love, for all the world to see.

This tiny ring, is a token of tender emotion,
And in the pool of love, that’s as deep as the ocean.
She swears to wear it, with eternal devotion,
That’s why I sing, because she wears my ring.

This tiny ring is a token of tender emotion,
And in the pool of love, that’s as deep as the ocean.
She swears to wear it, with eternal devotion.
That’s why I sing. Because, she wears – my – ring!”

Billy, full of pride, sat watching and listening thoughtfully to his beloved.

The wedding breakfast, (reception), was held in the Community Centre Hall and catered by the Adelphi staff. The guests milled around, waiting, while the bridal part were being photographed in the hospital gardens. It was a good job that it had stopped raining!

Whozzat arrived and set up their instruments in the hall. Most of the music was going to be on the Juke Box, but they had some songs planned.

Justin took Billy aside, in a quiet back room, and kissed him. “When are you going to marry me, Sunny?”

“I don’t think that will be happening. We can’t. Things are just fine as they are now. You happy are you, Sweetcheeks?”

“Oh, yes! Never been better. I love you, Sunny. Could you, at least, wear the suit every day from now on?”

“I will not!” Billy laughed. “I’d look bloody stupid at school.”

“But, you look so hot! And cute – cute in a suit. Yeah, I know – ‘Shut up, Justin’”.

They went back out to the hall and joined the happy crowd. The bridal party arrived and they ate the meal and endured the speeches and the toasts.

The dancing began as Whozzat played for Mr. and Mrs. Jamieson’s first dance, the Bridal Waltz. As the couple returned to their seats, Jay began a rhythmic beat on the bass drum and an ‘Indian Chieftain’ came dancing out on to the floor.

Jonathan, shaking maracas and dressed in buckskins, feathers and fringes, (courtesy of Mrs. Lewis’ costume department), spun around the hall and sang ‘The Indian Love Song’.

He danced out of the hall to the applause of the crowd. Some thought that it was a bit inappropriate, singing about dead Indians, but Marcie loved it and Paul thought it was great. Even Dee liked it, so it was all good.

The night partied on. Lucas got drunk, so Justin and Billy took him home with them and put him to bed in the hotel – anything to save him from Dee’s displeasure.

Finally, they stood together, dancing to soft music in their own room, until they fell, kissing and stripping, to the bed.

Westpoint Tales - Entangled Tales, 90 - Justin & Graeme

“What were you fighting Bugs for?” Billy grabbed John’s arm. “I thought you guys were friends.”

“No, not us. I mean, yes we’re friends. We weren’t fighting each other; we got into a fight with Graeme Johnson.”

“Graeme Johnson? Has that bloody thug been picking on you?”

“No – well, yes. But it’s all right, I – we – kicked his arse.”

“You kicked Johnson’s arse? How”

“I can look after myself, Justin. Well I can – a bit. He was drunk anyway, but now he’s in trouble.”

“Graeme’s in trouble? John, what’s going on?”

“I think he’s going to kill himself. We, Brian and I, were down outside Hagedorns, sheltering from the rain and having a bit of a . . a talk, under the verandah. Graeme Johnson came staggering past, saw us there and started calling us faggots and everything.”

“Bastard!” said Billy.

“Yeah, that’s what we said. I told him to bugger off and he attacked us. We fought him, he knocked Bugs down and I sort of got mad and I smacked him over. Well, he was drunk and I was really pissed – no-one’s doing that to Bugs when I’m around.

Anyway, we got back out of the rain and he went over to the wharf. We watched him climb up into one of the old cranes. His old man’s a crane driver, so I suppose that’s how he knows how to do it. He turned the crane around so that the arm thing – the jib – is hanging out over the river. He did something to immobilize the crane, shorted it out or something – it won’t move anyway, and now he’s climbed out and up the jib and he’s sitting there over the river.

Brian’s trying to talk to him. We’re scared that he’s going to jump in and kill himself. The river’s really in flood now and if he drops in there he won’t last two minutes and it’ll be all my fault!

Can you do something, Justin? The crane won’t move, we tried that.”

“Sure, John-Boy. I don’t know what, but we’ll try. Come on.”

As they were running the short distance down to the river, Billy said, “I don’t suppose you’ll listen, Sweetcheeks, but it’s not your problem. It’s only Graeme Johnson, let him do it if he wants to.”

“Damm right, I’m not listening! It’s a kid in trouble and we’ve got to do something, if we can. We can’t just let him do that and have another Westpoint teenager dying. I know you’ve got issues, because of Jeremy, but that’s all been dealt with – I thumped them.”

“Okay, be a hero then – I suppose that you have to really. But you be bloody careful, Justin, and don’t you go dropping in that river.”

“I’ll be careful. I’ve got too much to live for now. John, you did nothing wrong. You were right to stand up for yourself and your mate. I think he’s got problems of his own – he’s got a bloody awful life at home and I know what that’s like.”

At the wharf, one of the cranes was turned out over the raging river with the jib slightly lowered. In the dark and the driving rain, they could just make out a small figure sitting on the very top of the jib and looking down at the river. Brian stood on the wharf at the foot of the crane. When the others ran up to him, he turned and grinned.

“Superboy! Billy! Thank goodness. He’s up there on the top.”

He grabbed John and hugged him. “You did it, John-Boy, you got them.”

“Shut up, Bugs.” He hugged him back.

Justin ran up the ladder to the open door of the crane-driver’s cab. The others stood at the foot, trying to get out of the rain. Billy looked at the others.

“Bugs, are you two a couple?”

“Yeah, Billy, we’re friends, really good friends. You got a problem with that?”

“No, I guess not. Don’t make it a problem, okay?”

“No problems,” John said. “None at all – except. . . “

They stood looking up into the rain.

Justin came back down. “You’re right. He’s done something and it won’t move, nothing’s going. We’re going to need help. Billy, would you run back and ring 111 please.”

“The emergency services?”

“Yeah, get the fire brigade, and the police too – see if they can find someone who knows how to work the crane. Don’t get his father though, that could be a disaster. I’m going up there. Hurry, won’t you, Sunny.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll run faster than Superboy. You be bloody careful up there.”

“I will. I’m just going to talk to him. Boys, you stay down here. Billy, get Jonathan too.”

Billy ran back to the hall. John and Brian stood watching Justin climb up through the cab and out on to the jib, in the wind and rain.

He slowly, carefully, climbed up on the cold, wet, metal framework until – “That’s far enough. You stay where you are.”

He stopped and looked up along the jib at the other youth sitting on the top with his legs dangling over the side.

“Shit, Graeme! It’s a great view, but what a horrible night for it.”

“It is that,” he grinned, wiping water from his face. “What the fuck are you doing up here, Superboy? If you think you’re going to be a hero again – forget it.”

“I’m no hero, Graeme. I just want to do what’s right.”

“Oh, and what is right? To save the sap up on the crane? The stupid, useless, fucking jerk who hates everybody?”

“You’re not useless, Graeme. You’re not stupid either. You’re just a kid – a kid who needs help to sort his life out.”

“Help from who? You? Why would you bother? I don’t need help, I’ll just drop in there and that’ll sort everything out.”

“It won’t. That would just screw up more people. Look, can I tell you a story?”

“Fuck off, Reynolds.”

“I was going to do that, not so long ago. I was going to drop into that river.”

“You? No! You wouldn’t do that, you’ve got everything.”

“I wouldn’t, not now. But if you don’t stop shaking this bloody thing, we both might. I’m scared, Graeme.”

“Superboy’s scared? Pull the other one. You don’t get scared.”

“I bloody do you know. I hate heights, I don’t swim very well – certainly couldn’t swim in that. It’s wet, it’s cold up here and this bloody thing’s shaking!”

“Well it’s not me. It must be the wind.”

There was a couple of minutes’ silence, and then Graeme continued. “Why don’t you get down then if you’re scared?”

“I can’t!”

“You got up here. You can get yourself down. Or, drop in the river for all I care.”

“I just might, but I don’t want to.”

“Why did you anyway? Why did you think about drowning yourself?”

“Because I was a mess, I thought I had nothing to live for. I was in love, really in love, with someone who didn’t love me and I thought I didn’t want to live.”

“But now you do.”

“Yes, now I do.”

“So, what changed then?”

“Everything. But first, someone reached out a hand to help me.”

“Like you’re doing now? Reaching out to help me?”

“Yes, Graeme. Now I’m reaching out a hand for you.”

In saying that, he laid down flat along the jib and stretched out a hand towards him.

“Take it, Graeme. I can’t reach you unless you reach back. Please, Graeme, do it!”

“Oh, whatever!”

He lay down and reached out his hand. Justin grabbed hold, their fingers intertwined, a gust of wind shook the crane and Johnson fell off! He grabbed with his free hand, missed and fell, swinging on Justin’s arm.

Justin lay clinging to the boy and clutching the jib with his other hand. The wind blew, the driving rain fell and a small crowd gathered at the foot of the crane as the fire brigade arrived.

After a few agonizing minutes, the crane started and swiveled around, the jib lowered, ladders came up and helping hands reached out to help the pair down to safety.

As soon as his feet touched the ground, Billy was on him with his arms around his neck and his face pressed against him. “You stupid idiot, Justin Reynolds! You stupid, fucking, wonderful idiot!”

Justin hugged him back. “I love you too, Sunny.”

Then he set him aside and turned to the fire-chief. “Mr. Howard, thank you. You saved us – you and your team. Thanks.”

“Glad to be of service, Superboy. What happened up there?”

“It was an accident, nobody’s fault. The wind shook the crane and Graeme fell off. But everything’s going to be all right now; right, Graeme?”

He shrugged and hung his head. “For you maybe. Nothing’s changed for me, except that I’m in the shit good and proper now.”

“No, you’re not. Mr. Howard, Sergeant Digby, Thanks, but can we forget that anything happened here? It was just an accident. Can you put it down to practice?”

“Okay, Superboy. If you’re sure – we’ll forget it, for you.”

“All right! Thanks everybody. I’ll look after my friend now.”

“Your friend, Justin?” Graeme Johnson asked wonderingly.

“Yes, my friend. You’d bloody better be after all that. Friends, okay?”

“Yeah, okay. Friends! Thanks, Superboy.”

“My friends don’t call me Superboy, just Justin. Thank you, Graeme, thanks for trusting in me.”

They shook hands again, and then Justin said, “All right then! Now we’re going to fix things. You can start by apologizing to John and Brian here.”

“Yeah, I do apologise. Sorry Guys. Sorry for being a jerk. I was pissed, drunk and angry, but I shouldn’t have taken it out on you.”

“Well Boys? Are you going to shake my friend’s hand?”

“Well. Okay, if he’s your friend.”

They shook and then Justin said, “Okay, thanks. Everybody go home and get out of this bloody rain. I think it’s stopping at last. Go home anyway, before you all catch your death of cold. Billy, you take these boys and go home and get dry. Jonathan, where are you? Come here, Iceman, we need you. We’ve got another father who needs sorting out.”

The twins accompanied Graeme home and they, especially Jonathan, had a long talk with his parents. The upshot was that his father took early retirement from his job and went away for residential treatment for alcoholism and anger-management.

Graeme left school and, with the twins’ help, managed to get the job left vacant by his father. They already knew that he could operate the cranes. Justin and Jonathan made another good friend.

As Justin told Billy, Abraham Lincoln is supposed to have said that one way to get rid of your enemies is to make friends of them. (“Not that it did him much good.”)

Billy said, “Shut up, Justin.”

Westpoint Tales - Entangled Tales, 89 - Justin & Co.

Whozzat were busy and Crispian kept them even busier. They still rehearsed several nights a week at the Union Hall. Sometimes they left the doors open and the hall filled up; sometimes they kept the doors closed for some ‘alone time’.

Most weekends saw the opening of yet another Billy’s Burgers bar and they played two concert/dances in each new town. One was free to promote the burgers and one was paid to make money (and sell records of course). Billy’s songs were popular – Something Good was the one they were continually getting requests for. Tony sung them on stage. It wasn’t the same but he did a pretty good job.

As well as the concerts, they played regular dances for the locals – usually Fridays but sometimes on a Sunday. Time Out, often supported by Jonathan, filled in when they couldn’t make it.

Claire and Dee both had part-time jobs assisting Crispian and looking after the record business. And, Crispian kept filming.

Everyone was getting tired of having a camera constantly pointing at them and they protested that he must have hundreds of hours on tape by now, but he kept on. As well as filming Whozzat on stage he was having each member of the band re-enact the way that they came to join the group – with a bit of poetic licence and glossing over of personal details.

They filmed Jay watching the sunset from his treehouse, Dee coming up to join him and then watching him drumming and going and dragging Peter around to see him. Then again, Dee walking down the street, hearing Sandie’s bass and going in to collar her as well.

Dee was having a ball. She thought she was going to be a movie star, but then she lost interest in all that as she had another project to keep her busy – her dad was getting married! Paul’s engagement to Marcie Sheridan was announced and Dee was delighted.

Marcie’s daughters weren’t around and so she would need help, wouldn’t she? There was so much to be organized with the engagement party and all the wedding planning. Dee got herself the job of chief bridesmaid and arranged for Lucas to be Paul’s Best Man. (“That would be a nice touch, and it was only fair, wasn’t it?”)

She also decided that Justin and Jonathan should sing at the wedding. (“So cool! And a change from singing at funerals.”)

They filmed Toddy and Jinks taking the Guitar-man off to Jay’s garage to meet Whozzat, and Tony’s arrival on the scene. Crispian wanted to gloss-over the reasons for Tony’s coming back to live in Westpoint, but they insisted on telling the whole story – briefly and making it clear what their relationship was about. They didn’t dwell on it too much as they didn’t want a X-rated movie.

They filmed Crispian’s arrival in the town, but they had to hire an actor to play the part of Carl. That produced some weepy eyes when they watched the results of that filming – the guy really did look a lot like Carl, it was eerie.

Justin played himself in those scenes but that was going to be his total involvement. He wasn’t going to sing in Whozzat’s movie. As it turned out, he did though. Crispian spliced in scenes from the party in the Square of Justin singing his song – Over the Rainbow – and of him and Jonathan encouraging the Next Generation back into their songs.

Finally, Crispian was satisfied that he had enough on film. He and Peter and Peter’s mum, sorted out what they wanted to include in the movie and he took it all off to Auckland for editing. He had one more special surprise planned, but, apart from Peter, he wasn’t telling anyone about it.

All of Whozzat, their friends and families and a good slice of the town were glad, when the filming finally stopped. But then Crispian came back and insisted on recording one more, very appropriate, song. They sang, at a Friday night dance in the Miners Union Hall, the Hooters’ song – ‘And We Danced’.

(“She was a bee-bop baby at the Union Hall. She could dance all night and shake the paint off the wall.”)

Crispian was convinced that it would be yet another ‘hit’ for them, but they delayed the song’s release until the movie was done.

After much debate, they agreed that their film would simply be titled, “Whozzat’s Movie”. It was short, sharp and a bit down-home and amateurish which was the image they were looking for. They didn’t expect to win any awards for this effort – it was strictly an amateur production. There was no big business involvement here, it was just kids having fun together and making music for kids.

(It was much more fun once Crispian put his bloody cameras away).

They woke to rain on a Thursday morning – heavy, driving, rain-forest rain. It was like it was making up for lost time and making everyone pay for the glorious sun-filled days they’d had lately. It poured.

Peter sat up in bed, opened the drapes and looked at the rain on the window. “Damm. There goes today’s cricket.”

“Good job too.” Jay stretched beside him. “I hate cricket – boring bloody game.”

“It is not!” Peter’s probing fingers attacked Jay’s ribs and they giggled as they bucked around, wrestling in the narrow bed.

Daniel sat and grinned at them from the other single bed in Peter’s room. “Behave yourselves, Children.”

“Tony elbowed him. “Children yourself. Jay’s older than we are.”

“Okay. Enough.” Peter rolled out of bed. “I’m having the first shower because it’s my house. You coming, Big Guy?”

After breakfast, (pancakes by Claire, not Jay), Mrs. Lewis took Peter and Jay to school with her. It wasn’t far but it was too wet to walk. Claire took the others home in her car and waited while they got changed for school.

Claire had her own car now. Her parents had offered her one for her birthday. The only car she really wanted was Carl’s, so her dad had approached Carl’s parents about buying it from them. They wanted to give it to her and they finally agreed on a 50/50 split. The Lewises paid ½ the price of the car and they all presented it to Claire on her birthday.

She cried, really missing Carl but pleased to have something of his anyway.

It rained steadily all day forcing everyone to stay under cover.

It rained again on Friday, all day, but at least Billy agreed that they could use the car to go to school, so it wasn’t all bad.

At lunchtime, Billy and Justin drove out to eat their sandwiches parked at the end of the tiphead. That was great! Stormy weather, high tide and rough seas with waves whipped up by the winds and crashing into the tiphead. The car rocked in the wind and spray washed right across them.

It was almost like being out at sea in a storm, but they were warm and dry and enjoying it from the comfort of their car. There were definitely no fishing boats going out today.

The river was in flood too – dirty brown water running high and fast and carrying a succession of bits of trees of all sizes out to sea. They would eventually be washed back in by the combing waves to lie scattered along the miles of coastline and beaches. Good firewood for some, after they’d dried out.

All too soon, Billy insisted that it was time to be getting back to school. He sat up and started the car, (“Yes!”), and carefully made his way back into the town. Summer was taking a break, but life was good.

Friday night they were at the dance at the Union Hall. Justin went up on to the stage to talk to Sandie during a break in the music. When he turned to get down, someone called, “Give us a song, Superboy!”

“No way. Not my job, Tones does the singing. We’re just dancing. And stop calling me Superboy! My name’s Justin.”

He jumped down and Whozzat started playing and singing, “We don’t need another Hero.” That got laughs and raspberries from a red-faced, laughing boy.

It was still raining steadily but it was hot and sweaty in the crowded hall, despite all the doors and windows being open. Summer in Westpoint.

Justin and Billy slipped outside to cool off and get some fresh air. The long side-walls of the hall were lined with teenagers, leaning against the walls and sheltering under the over-hanging eaves. Lucas and Margaret were already there and they shuffled along to make room for them.

“Hey Guys. What’re you doing?”

“Hello Little Brothers. Ask me no questions and I’ll tell you no lies.”

“We’re already going to be uncles – four times over. We don’t need any more you know.”

“Shut up, Justin.”

“Isn’t it lovely weather though,” Billy sighed. “In the middle of bloody summer too.”

“Just great,” his sister agreed. “Great for the ducks. I hope it’s going to clear for your mum’s wedding tomorrow, Lucas.”

“Yeah, me too. It doesn’t look good though. If it rains tomorrow, Dee’s going to be livid.”

“It’s not Dee’s wedding you know.”

“I know that, Billy, but I don’t think that Dee does. Dee thinks that the whole show is just so that she gets to be the chief bridesmaid. I’m not losing my mum, I’m just getting a bossy sister.”

“You’re not wrong, Lucas,” Justin laughed. “What are you doing here anyway? Shouldn’t the best man be out with Paul for his stag night?”

“Not likely, Superboy. The best man’s underage and the groom is a policeman. I’d rather be here anyway.”

“Oh – kay. We’ll leave you to it then. C’mon Billy.”

“ Justin, are you sure that Superboy can’t stop the rain?”

“No, not my department. Maybe my Sunny-Boy could though. He does for me.”

“Shut up Justin.”

They were back in the hall, dancing – with girls, not each other – when Daniel’s cousin came in, dripping wet from the rain, and tugged on Justin’s arm.

“Hey John. What’s the matter?”

He couldn’t hear the out-of-breath kid over the music, so took his arm and led him out of the front door.

“Okay, that’s better. Have you been crying? What’s wrong, John?”

“Justin, you’ve got to come – down to the wharf. I was crying, yeah – sort-of. Just because I was bloody wild. We were in a fight, Brian and me.”