Unfinished Business - Okarito, 10

(Better late than never).

“Hey, Bevan.”

“Hey, Tyler.”

(Not the greatest conversationalists).

“Have a good day out there?”

“Oh, yes! It was Ace. Gorgeous places and Cassie is an excellent guide.”

“Our Cassie? Really? Where did she take you?”

“Away up there, towards the top end, and then we went up along a creek. I forget the name of it, but it was stunning place – all green and natural and beautiful. I loved it.”

“Sounds like it,” Bevan grinned. “It was probably the Otatoki Creek. Or, it could've been one of the others, but it sounds like the Otatoki. Shame you'll never see it again., isn't it?”

“Why not? What's going to happen to it?”

“Nothing's going to happen. It's a protected area so it'll stay the same forever and a day.”

“Why won't I see it again then. I might go back there, in fact I probably will.”

“But you can't because you're not staying here, are you?”

“I might stay, for a bit longer.”

“It's already way past the time when you said you'll be leaving. Why don't you get on your bike and bugger off then?”

“Oh? You want me to go now, do you?”

“You said that you were going, or are you a liar too?”

“I don't tell lies. I try not to anyway. Do you want me to go, yes or no?”

“No skin off my nose, is it? It's your life and you're going to do what you want. The sooner you go the better it'll be everyone here – For Bob, Kathleen, Cassie and all the family.”

“Why will it be better?”

“The longer you hang around, the more people are getting attached to you and the harder it's going to be when you do go. So, do it quick – like ripping a plaster off. Aunt Kathleen especially is so going to miss you when you go. So get it over and done with.”

“A couple of days ago they didn't even know I existed.”

“So? They know now.”

“What about you, Bevan, will you miss me when I'm gone?”

“You'll never know, will you? Will you miss me?”

“That's not answering my question and, no, I'm not going to miss you.”

“Why not?”

“Because I'm not going.”

“Not going?”

“I'm not. I've changed my mind. I think I like it here, so I'll hang around for a while. I've got nowhere to go to anyway.”

“Stuff you! That's exactly what we don't need! I'm outta here.” Bevan stormed away, pushed his paddleboard into the water and straddled it with the paddle in his hands.

“Bevan, wait!” Tyler waded in and grabbed the board to hold him there. “Don't go.”

“Get your hands off my board.”

“No, not yet. Talk to me; tell me what's wrong. I thought you'd be happy if I stayed. Why aren't you? Why don't you want me to stay? Talk to me, Bevan, I'm begging you here and I don't beg anyone – ever.”

“Yeah? I got that impression. Why are you begging me? What makes me any different?”

“I don't know what, but something. I like you, I like you a lot and I thought that you liked me too?

Ah, you know what? Fucking forget it! Go then.” Tyler shoved the board out on the water and went back to his campsite outside the barn.

Cassie had joined Bob up on the deck on the house, and the pair of them stood there quietly watching Tyler taking everything out of the tent and start loading the bike trailer.

“Tyler? What're you doing?” Cassie had to ask.

“You know what I'm doing. I'm packing. I'm leaving.”

“Right now?”

“Yes. I'll get as far as Franz Josef and find somewhere to sleep before it gets dark.”

“But, I thought you were going to stay here?”

“So did I. Wrong, weren't we?” He carried on packing.

Bevan knelt on his board to better manouvere the long-handled paddle as he moved out into deeper water. He got up on his feet, pointed the board at his home over the far side of the water, and started moving again. He looked back and saw Tyler dropping the tent flat on the ground and start folding and rolling it up. “Sleeping in the house, are you? Aunt Kathleen will be pleased.”

He carried on, going home, and glanced back a couple more times.

“Hey! That's not right. You're not moving into the house – you're loading the bike. So, you're leaving now? Good – go!” He dug the paddle into the water again, and again, getting the board moving at a fair clip – almost as fast as when towed by the kite.

'Amazing how much strength anger gives you.'

Anger? Yes, he was angry – bloody angry! Why was he? Well, because Tyler was packing to leave. He wanted him to stay then? Yes! Of course he bloody did!

If Tyler got on his bike and left, they might never see him again. Bevan might never see him again. Never! He circled the board around and headed back to where Tyler was packing while the others watched.

He slid the board up on to the grass, dropped the paddle and walked back to Tyler. He saw him coming and stood waiting.

Bevan stopped in front of him. He looked back at where Cassie and Bob were standing, Kathleen had come out and joined them. Damm. He couldn't do this with an audience. He reached out and took hold of Tyler's hand.

“Come around here with me.” He led him around to the side of the barn, facing the water and out of sight of the house.

“We'd better make this quick before they come looking for us. Tyler, I don't want you to leave. Please stay and please be my friend.”

“You want me to stay now?”

“Yes, I want you to stay.”

“But when I said I would, you got mad and told me to go.”

“I got mad because you said you'd stay 'for a while'. I don't want you to stay for a short time, and then go. I want you to stay here for good. Make your home here and live here with us, for always.”

“That is what you want? Okay, I will, but it's going to cost you.”

“Cost me what?”

“First you have to give me a hug.”

“Oh, yeah!”

They embraced and stood hugging each other until Bevan pushed away. “You said a hug was first. What's the second thing?”

“Second. Oh, umm . . oh yeah – second you have to give me another hug.”

“We can do that!” They laughed and hugged again.

“Thanks, my beautiful cousin.”

“Ditto!” Bevan grinned and kissed his cheek. He took his hand again. “Come on back now. They'll all be dying to know what's going on.”

They went back to the house and stepped up onto the deck and Bevan announced, “Aunty, Uncle, Cassie, meet Okarito's newest resident. Tyler's staying and he's going to live here now – permanently.”

“You are?” Kathleen said. “Live here always? Tyler, that's wonderful and I'm delighted to hear it.”

“We are delighted to hear it.” Bob held out his hand. Tyler let go of Bevan's and shook Bob's hand.

“Welcome home, Boy. The next question is, will you live here with us? We've got plenty of room and we'd love to have you.”

“Thanks, but no thanks. I don't think I could sleep in a bed now. I'm used to my tent and I'm comfortable there. One day, maybe I'll change my mind, but for now I'm staying in the tent.

It can't stay where it was though, it was blocking the doorway to the barn.”

“That's no problem,” Bob replied. “We can use the back door.”

“But you still couldn't get a vehicle or trailer in there. No, I'm shifting.”

“But where are you shifting to?” Kathleen asked.

“Well, if it's all right with you guys, I'd like to set up camp under the trees in the next bay around the corner there. That is still your land, isn't it?”

“Yes, it's our land,” Bob replied. “Of course you can camp there. Stay as long as you like. If you won't stay in the house, having you around the corner will be the next best thing. Just one thing though, beware of the livestock.”

“The livestock?”

“The chooks, ducks and the sheep.”

“They're not going to attack me, are they?”

“No, of course they won't, but they tend to shelter under the trees on rough days and they poo everywhere. Keep the tent closed when you're not in it or they'll mess it up and clean you out of food.”

“Right. I'll keep that in mind. I won't stay there forever – just until I sort something out. I might rent a house in town, or I might just keep moving the tent around to different places.”

Kathllen said, “Can you afford to rent a house? Boarding would be cheaper you know, especially if you boarded with family.”

“Yeah!” Cassie interrupted. “Come and board with us. We've got a spare room and we live on the edge of town, not away out here in the sticks.”

“I'm not boarding with anyone,” Tyler replied. “I need my own space and I'm not ready to live with anyone. I can't afford to rent, yet. But once I get a job I will be able to get a house, or something.”

“Bevan said, “You're getting a job? Doing what?”

“I don't know. Washing dishes, stacking shelves and sweeping floors, something like that. Anything that pays money. Maybe I could milk cows or mow lawns.”

“Hell! You're better than that,” Bevan protested.

“Better than? Every job is important,” Tyler said. “If someone didn't maintain the water-works we'd all be swimming in sewerage.”

“Maybe so,” said Cassie. “But you belong higher-up the food chain than there. Aim low and all you'll hit is the ground. Aim high and you might hit the stars, so to speak.”

“I am aiming high. I'm going to work for myself and I'm going to wake this town up before it dies completely.”

“You are?” Bob smiled. “Now that, we'd all like to see.”

“You'll see it. When I decide to do something, I do it. First I have to get some money together. I've got an income, but it's barely enough to live on. So I need a job to get started.”

“You've got a plan?” said Bob. “That's good. You and I need to have a little talk, when you're ready.”

“Yeah – when I'm ready. Thanks, Granddad.”

Kathleen said, “Come and have your meals with us. That will save you money for a start.”

“Save me and cost you money. No thanks, that's not going to happenn”

“But you are eating here tonight? Dinner's already cooking.”

“Yes, tonight, but not regularly, that's all.”

Cassie said, “One question, Tyler. What sort of business are you thinking of?”

“The obvious one where there's money to be made.”

“Which is?”

“Tourism, of course. Like Granddad said, there's lots of visitors and tourists passing close by here and they've all got money in their pockets. All we have to do is stop them and get it out.”

“Armed robbery?” Bevan grinned. “Cool! I'd be into that.”

“No doubt you would,” said Bob. “But that won't be happening. Tyler, there are a lot of tourists, but getting money from them will be easier said than done.”

“Sure it is, but it's do-able.”

“Think about it for a day. Sort out what you'd like to do and we'll talk about it tomorrow night.”

“We'll do that. Thanks, Granddad.”

Kathleen said, “You are all eating with us tonight, I hope? I've got a roast cooking, it's nearly ready and there's more than enough for everyone.”

Bob smiled. “Kathleen's biggest problem is that she learned to cook for a crowd and she still struggles with doing just enough for the two of us.”

“Well, I'm here for dinner,” said Bevan. “As arranged. How about you, Cassie?”

“Yeah, okay. I've got an appetite.”

“We know that,” Kathleen nodded.

“Okay, Aunt Cheeky! I mean, I'm a bit hungry tonight. I'll stay, but not for long. I'm going to the movies tonight. The Majestic Theater is back in business.”

“Oh?” Bevan grinned. “And who are you going with?”

“Not you anyway, and that's all you need to know.”

“How long until dinner will be ready?” Tyler asked.

Kathleen replied, “At least an hour, maybe a bit longer. Why is that?”

“I could start setting my camp up, under the trees.”

“Good idea. Get it done while it's still daylight. Take these two with you – they can help you and stay out of my hair.”

“I guess I'll unload everything again, if you guys will help carry it all around the corner.”

“There's no need for that,” said Bob. “Just take your bike and trailer around there. Bring them back when you've unloaded and you can store them in the barn away from the weather.”

“That'd be good, thanks. But we'd never get them around there. The wheels are too skinny for beaches and the trailer would bog down. It's heavy.”

“Don't go along the beach. There's an access road, use that.”

“An access road?” said Cassie. “Where's that?”

“If you go back out of the drive and start on the road back to town, the first gate you come to will take you into the paddock where you want to go. It's grassed over because it's never used, but there's a good solid driveway in there. You'll see where it goes.”

“Why have you got a driveway in a paddock?”

“Because, Miss Nosy-Knickers, there used to be a house there, by the trees, for the farm workers, back when we had farm workers. It burnt down years ago.”

“Back when you had a farm,” Cassie nodded.

“We've still got 15 acres, and that's lots more than we need.”

“15 Acres? That's not much – not even 4 hectares.”

“It is 60 house sections and that's a lot to look after.”

“But you don't look after, Uncle,” Cassie grinned. “The sheep and the chooks do that for you.”

“We've still got to maintain the fences and what-not. You'd be surprised at how much is involved. By the way, Tyler, make sure you shut the gate after you. The chooks just fly over it, but it keeps the sheep off the road.”

“I'll close it. I guess I'll get started then.”

“Yes, do that. Cassie and Bevan can come and help you and I'll have a few minutes peace and quiet.”

Bevan said, “You're a fraud, Uncle. You love having company. Both of you do.”

“Don't get much choice around here, do I?” Bob tried to growl, but smiled instead. “Go on then – away with the lot of you.”

Tyler walked with his bike and Cassie and Bevan walked with him. Both of them kept a hand on the trailer to help push it along, which wasn't needed, but the thought was good.

Through the old gate and into the paddock, the driveway led to the old house-site by the trees. All that was left there was a free standing brick chimney with an open fireplace.

“Hey, you could use that!” Bevan pointed. “Fix up a grate of some sort and you can have a fire in there.”

“I don't need a fire. I do the cooking and water-heating with gas.”

“It'd still be nice to have a fire to sit by after dark.”

“I go to bed after dark.”

“Damm, Cousin. Stop being awkward. Light a fire – look at all the free firewood lying around.”

“Free?” Tyler grinned. “I like that word! Okay, I'll light a fire sometime, but not now. There's too much to do.”

They put the tent up – or, Tyler put it up while the other two fussed around trying to be helpful. They weren't, much. The door of the tent faced the water, of course, for the view. He set up his bed, the cooker, candles and food etc., then he closed the tent up and they went back to the house. The trailer was half empty now and Cassie rode on it while Bevan walked behind.

“Tyler?” she said. “What's this business you're thinking about? If it's interesting enough, and it looks like it will work, I might join you.”

“Oh? You might, might you? Who said that I wanted you to?”

“Oh, you will, sooner or later. I just thought I'd save you the time. I'm doing nothing and I'm very clever you know. I've got a fancy piece of paper from the University that says that I am.”

“There's heaps of educated idiots with pieces of paper,” Bevan chipped in.

“Quiet, Brother!” Cassie growled. “I'm doing a job interview here, kind-of.”

“Kind-of, yes,” Tyler agreed. “It's going to cost money to get it going. How much have you got to invest in it, Cassie?”

“Me? Absolutely nothing. How much have you got?”

“A bit, not enough. That's why I have to get a job first.”

“Oh? So when will the business begin?”

“Probably not for a year, maybe two years.”

“Two years? Stuff that! I'm not hanging around waiting that long. I'll find something else to do. I might have to marry Jeffrey after all.”

Bevan said, “Cassie, you're incorrigible!”

“No I'm not. I can't be. I don't even know what that means.”

“Google it!” both boys said at once and they grinned at each other.

Bob sat on the end of the deck, watching as they went passed to the barn. Cassie, sitting on the trailer, gave a stiff-armed wave, trying to look like the Queen in her carriage. She didn't.

They all came back to the back of the house and filed through the wash-up room and into the kitchen. Tyler and Bevan asked Kathleen if they could do anything to help. They were told to stay out of the way, that'd help. Cassie sat at the table, texting.

“What are you plotting, Cassie?” Bob sat down opposite her.

“”I'm not plotting. I'm just summoning my ride home. I need to go as soon as we've eaten or we'll be late for the movies.”

“I think you mean summonsing, actually,” Bevan grinned.

“Yeah? Okay, Genius, I'll take your word for it. I am summonsing my chariot, Uncle.”

“Will you be going with your sister, Bevan?”

“Not likely! No, I'll stay a while. I want to talk to Tyler. I'll go home on the board later – when the wind has stopped.”

Tyler looked around. “How do you know it's going to stop?”

“Because it always does. Just around nightfall, the wind stops like it's been switched off.”

“Always?”

“Yep. Or, mostly anyway. It doesn't work like that when there's a storm or something, but otherwise, yes.”

“Oh, okay. What do you want to talk to me about?”

“You really want me to tell you, here in public? I will then - I'm going to chat you up and talk my way into your bed so we can have red-hot, passionate . . . “

“Bevan!” Kathleen waved a wooden spoon at him. “Stop right there. Not another word. We do not want to know!”

“You're all thinking it though, aren't you?” Bevan grinned and Tyler blushed.

“Cassie is not the incorrigible one – you are!”

“Ah, but you love me, Daddy.”

“Eh?”

“Sorry. Just a line from a song. It popped into my head.”

“Bevan Rodden, you are the most impossible person I've ever known,” Kathleen said. “I think . . . Oh, nevermind. Come and get your meals. I'm the cook, not a waitress.”

They filed around, collected the plates of food and sat at the table to eat.

“Tyler?” Kathleen sat and looked at him. “You said you're going to stay and I'm delighted to hear it, but can I ask why?”

“Lots of reasons. Ever since I rolled into your sad and sorry-looking, weather-beaten little town I've been finding more reasons to stay and make my home here.”

“Well?” Cassie said. “Are you going to tell us the reasons?”

Tyler smiled. “We'd be here all night. But, for a start, there was Jeffery.”

“Jeffrey?”

“Yes, Jeffery – the cop who found a stranger outside on a stormy night and was real nice to him. To me. He took me in out of the weather, gave me somewhere to sleep and bought breakfast for me in the morning. There was nothing in it for him, he just did it. He's a nice guy.

I've never met such a nice cop before. He's a good guy, Cassie, and if you let him get away, then you're not as bright as I think you are.”

“Well, umm, thanks – I think. Okay, so Jeffrey the good cop is one reason. What else”

“What else?” Tyler grinned. “Jeffrey told me that I should stay here, and then I met the grandparents that I didn't know I had and I liked them – a lot – and they told me that I should stay here. I met you, my pushy cousin. I like you and you told me to stay here. And then, I met Bevan.”

Cassie nodded. “We can see the pattern. You met Bevan, you like him and he told you to stay as well.”

“No, actually, Bevan told me to get on my bike, bugger off and don't come back, so I'm staying.”

“Dammit!” Bevan exclaimed. Tyler looked at him; their eyes met, Bevan winked and they both grinned.

“So that's it,” said Bob. “You're staying because you like the people you've met?”

“Yes,” Tyler replied. “The people, the place, the area – it all feels like home. There is nowhere else and I think that I belong here.”

“So do I,” Cassie agreed. “We all belong here. Most of us anyway. What're you going to do when Bevan leaves?”

“Oh? Are you leaving, Bevan?”

“Some day, yes. Probably. There's a big world out there and I've seen none of it yet.”

“I have. I've seen all that I want to see. Now I'm ready to settle down.”

“Maybe I'm not,” Bevan shrugged. “I'm just marking time until I can go away to varsity.”

“Cassie did that,' said Kathleen. “She went, and then she came back home.”

“Her choice,” Bevan said. “I might do that, I might not – who knows?”

Cassie hadn't quite finished eating when a car pulled in outside and tooted. “Whoops,” she grinned. “Gotta go. Thanks for dinner, Aunt Kathleen. The boys will help you clean up – I'm gone.”

She scooped a couple more mouthfuls into her face and left, in a hurry and waving.

“I don't know where she puts it.” Bob shook his head. “The girl should be as big as a house but she's as skinny as a rake.”

“She burns it off,” said Bevan. “Cassie can't sit still for 5 minutes.”

“What are your plans for the evening, Boys?” Kathleen asked.

“Plans? None. I don't do evenings, I sleep,” Tyler replied. “I'll help clean-up here and then it'll be bedtime.”

“That's what you think,” Bevan said. “You and I need to talk, Cousin. Fancy a walk over to the beach?”

“The sea-beach? But it'll be dark soon.”

“Soon, but not yet. We'll go over there, walk and talk, and then we'll come back and go to bed. I'd like to sleep in the tent with you, but if you won't have me, I'll stay in the house – if that's okay, Uncle?”

“Of course you can,” Bob replied. “You're always welcome here. You know that.”

“Thanks. I'll keep that in mind for when the parents throw me out.”

Kathleen snorted, “As if they would! Your parents love you, Boy. They're never going to throw you out.”

“I hope you're right.”

“I'm always right. What do you all want to drink?”

“Tea would be nice,” said Bob, getting his pipe out to fill it.

“Nothing for me, thanks,” said Tyler. “I'm so full, there's no room for a drink.”

“Not even a coke?”

“Not even a coke.”

“I won't bother either,” Bevan said. “Maybe later.”

“Right then. Tea for us and nothing for you two. If you've finished eating, go away and have your talk.”

“After we've cleaned-up here.” Tyler started stacking the plates in front of him.

“There's no need for that,” Kathleen stopped him. “Just go. Bob and I will clean-up. It's time he earned his keep around here.”

“Hey!” Bob protested.

“Shush,” Kathleen smiled.

Out of Here

Apparently, we're going on holiday, or so i've been told - 4 days in Okarito, 4 in Westport, some more in Tapawera/Nelson and maybe to Christchurch, via Kaikoura. Yay!

Back some time in the New Year - meantime, have a great Christmas & enjoy the winter :)

cheers

Lorne & Logan, 10

(Sort & sweet? - last one)

They all walked together around to the carpark, talking about the great show they'd just seen.

Karen said, “Your father must've been an interesting character, Dan.”

“He certainly was, and he had a wicked sense of humour. Once upon a time, he and his company were doing a North Island tour of small towns. They drew a very poor house in Te Awamutu and that p'ed him off, for some reason. So before moving on to Whangarei, he booked the same theatre for two weeks later and prepared a newspaper advertisement inviting the locals to come to a FREE show featuring his newest illusion “Gone with the Wind”. Come the big night the place was chocker, the pianist played the overture from the side of the stage, the curtain went up and all there was on-stage was a simple sign which read - Gone with the Wind.

He paid for the theatre, the newspaper ad, the sign writing, and hotel costs just to have his utu and say 'Up you Te Awamutu'.”

“Revenge is a dish best served cold, or so they say.”

“Certainly is. There's more to the story, when he and his wife ordered breakfast, in the hotel next morning, it arrived in covered dishes and all that was on the plates under the covers, was a note saying, “Gone with the Wind.”

“Oh, sweet!”

Lorne didn't even smile, he was quiet and surly and his father was looking daggers at him. Logan tried, one more time.

“What did you think of 'the Great Benyon', Lorne? Great, wasn't he?”

“He was okay.” Lorne looked the other way.

Logan gave up and Karen tried. “Well I loved every minute of it. Do you guys want to come around home for a coffee before you go?”

Dan looked at Lorne and said, No, I don't think so. Thanks, Karen, but not this time. I think His Nibs here and I have got some serious talking to do.”

“Oh? Okay. Dan, don't be too hard on him.”

“I'll do what I have to.”

Lorne was quiet, but he was thinking, 'You'll try.' His mind was made up and he was doing what he had to as well.

Karen and her boys said thanks and goodbye and left for home in their own car. Dan and Lorne got into the ute and started for their place.

“So, do you want to tell me what's going on. Lorne.”

“Not really. Nothing's going on anyway.”

Dan jammed on the brakes and stopped the truck on the side of the road, under the last streetlight on the way out of town. He sat there, looking straight ahead and thinking. Was he ever as stubborn as this little shit here next to him?

He really liked Karen, and he liked her boys too - she'd done a good of raising them - better than he had! He didn't know, but he'd thought that, one day, they might get together permanently and make a go of it as a family. Was Lorne going to stuff that up for all of them? He seemed to be doing his best to.

“Right, Lorne, that's it! I'm sick of this bullshit and it ends right now! I want the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. What is up with you, and what has gone wrong between you and Logan?”

“You really want to know?”

“I just said I did, didn't I? Spill it!”

“All right then. You won't like it, but I'll tell you. I'm gay. I'm gay and I'm in love with Logan. I think he's falling in love with me and he can't, so I have to let him go.”

Dan blinked. He didn't see that coming, but he had asked. “You're gay? You sure about that?”

“Very sure.”

“And you love Logan, so you can't talk to him anymore?”

“Right.”

“That might make sense to you, but I'm dammed if it does to me!”

Lorne said nothing and they both sat there thinking their own thoughts.

“All right!” Dan snapped out of it, started the truck, turned around and hurried back into town. He pulled-up outside the Greene's house and got out.

“You stay right where you are," he growled. "You won't move if you know what's good for you. I will be back.”

He went inside and Lorne sat there wondering what he was doing and trying not to care.

After a few long minutes, Dan came back out with Logan following him. He opened the driver's-side door. “Get in, Logan. You sit in the middle.”

He got in after him and drove home in an awkward silence. Not a word was said all the way there. They arrived and quietly filed into the house. Lorne was heading for his room, but Dan stopped him.

“Oh no you don't! You're going nowhere, Mister. Sit down on that couch. Logan, you sit next to him.”

Dan sat in the chair facing them. “Right. It's time for some honest talking. I'll go first.

Lorne, you were not planned. You were an accident and I didn't want you for a start. I'm ashamed to say that I actually suggested that your mother have an abortion and I would pay for it.”

“Well thanks!”

“Shut up, Lorne. You'll get your turn. Right now, I'm speaking. You can be thankful that your mother was made of stronger stuff than me and she refused to abort you.

She gave you life, and you should be grateful for that. I know that I am – very, very grateful. I soon did an about-face and I wanted a son to raise – really wanted one.

I know it's stupid and it's not right, but I think most young men prefer sons to daughters. Prefer the idea of them anyway. Girls are people too. Good people, most of them, but a man likes the idea of a son to raise in his image and to carry on after he's gone.

That's stupid too and you're not much like me at all. You are your own person and you always have been. However, no matter how old you get, even if I'm still around when you're an old-age pensioner, you will always be my beautiful baby boy.

You are, without doubt, the most important thing in my life. You're all I've got and I love you very much!”

“Even if I'm gay?”

“Of course! So what if you are? It's just a label. You are my boy. I love you and want you to be happy. That is all that matters.

Now, explain, if you can, why you have to break up with Logan because you think he might be starting to love you?”

“Well. Okay. We were getting too close and people were starting to notice. We had sex and everything, last weekend. Some kids saw us here, when we were in the river, and they knew.”

“You had sex in the river?”

“No! We were just playing around, wrestling and everything, but they saw us and they knew how close we were getting. We went back to school on Monday and the rumours started. The story spread around in notes and whispers and everyone was saying that we were gay.

I didn't care about me. I can look after myself, and I haven't got much to lose anyway. But Logan has got a lot to lose. He's the best at everything he does, he's well liked and he's got lots of friends.

I couldn't see him lose all that just because of me, so I finished it.”

They were quiet for a minute, then Dan said, “Logan? You told me that you loved my boy. Are you going to tell him that, or is the cost too high?”

“No,” Logan replied. He turned and looked in Lorne's eyes. “I mean, no it's not too high. I love you, you Bloody Idiot! I totally love you and I don't care what it costs. I only want to be with you – now and always with you. I love you and you can't stop me.

Any friends I lose are not real friends anyway. Real friends will be friends no matter who I'm with and if I'm not with you, I won't be happy – ever!”

Lorne whispered, “You really mean that?”

“Every word of it. Do you love me, yes or no?”

“Yes, of course yes! Oh, Logan, I love you so much!”

They hugged and cried on each other's shoulders. Dan wiped the tears from his own eyes and stood up.

“Now that's much better. Well done, Boys.”

“Oh Dad!” Lorne leapt up and hugged him. “Thanks, Dad.”

“You're welcome. Thanks for being who you are. I'm going to bed and so are you. Don't keep me awake or I'll smack the pair of you.

Logan, thank you. I'll take you back in the morning, or you can stay all weekend and I'll take you home on Monday. It's entirely up to you.”

“I think I already am at home now. Thanks, Dan.”

“You're welcome too. One way or another, you're going to be my son as well.”

“G'night, Dad.”

“Have a good night, Boys.”

“Oh, we will!”

Lorne & Logan, 9

(Forgot the most important one)




(Okay - not sure how this is going to go. Computer's being an arse again!)

When they pulled up outside the school next morning, Logan was there waiting and he beamed a huge smile when he saw them arrive. Lorne grimaced, this was not going to be easy.

“'Bye, Dad. See you this afternoon.”

“Yeah, 'bye. Lorne, listen, I've been thinking. I''m going out tonight, so if you want to stop-over at Logan's place, it's okay by me.”

“I don't think so. I'd rather go home.”

“You're sure? Okay, it's up to you. See you later.”

Dan drove away. Lorne slung his bag over his shoulder and started walking inside.

“Hey, Lorne. How're you?”

“Hello. I'm okay, thanks.” He kept walking.

“What? Hey! Wait a minute.” Logan grabbed his arm to stop him.

Lorne wrenched it away. “Fuck off. Don't touch me!”

“Okay, sorry. I just want to talk to you, I've been waiting here.”

“What do you want, a medal? There's no time to talk, school's starting.” He walked away and Logan, totally confused, stood there staring.

“There's plenty of time. We're not late.” He caught up to him, but didn't touch. “Lorne, what's wrong?”

“Nothing's wrong It's just another day. Go find someone else to talk to, I'm busy.”

“I don't want to talk to someone else, just you.”

“Well tough.” He went inside and the door swung closed behind him.

Logan stood and wondered. What had he done? He didn't know.

“Hey, Greene. All ready to win, are you?” Ben Rodden slapped him on the back.

“Well, umm, yeah. I guess.”

“Full of confidence, aren't you? Don't worry, we'll slaughter them! What's up with your boyfriend?”

“Beats me. I mean, he's not my boyfriend, we're just mates. I thought we were.”

“So did I. Looks like he doesn't want to know you. No great loss anyway, he's weird. Come on then, back to the daily grind.”

Lorne spent the morning sitting with several different girls – chatting, laughing and flirting. They were delighted.

Logan spent the first class alone, and then found someone else to sit with. He didn't want to be by himself, looking like a total dipstick, all day. What was going on? He find out later. But he didn't. At lunchtime, Lorne pulled his disappearing act again – he was good at that.

Logan looked for him, and then had to give up. He had a game to get ready for.

The First 15 Rugby Team played their match against Linwood High, and lost. That was probably Logan's fault. His heart just wasn't in it and he missed a tackle and a couple of catches. No-one said anything to him, but he knew. He was distracted, worrying about Lorne.

Why wouldn't he talk to him. He hadn't done anything wrong – had he? He didn't know.

Their Coach, Mr. Lawson, was standing near the door when Logan came out of the changing room. “Not one of your better days, Logan.”

“Yeah, well,” he shrugged. “I was off. Sorry.”

“Don't sweat it. Everyone has an off day sometimes.”

“And today, I did. Shame we lost though.”

“Yeah, well,” Mr. Lawson shrugged in return. “Can't win them all.”

“Ain't that the truth?” Logan went looking around in case Lorne had waited for him. He hadn't. What was up with him anyway? He'd find out tomorrow. He'd make bloody sure of it.

His mother greeted him with a smile. “How was my big boy's day today?”

“Bloody awful, if you really want to know.”

“Oh? I take it that you didn't win the game then?”

“We didn't. They thrashed us.”

“Oh well, maybe next time. Listen I'm going out for a few drinks tonight. Will you be okay with watching the boys, or do you want me to get one of your grandparents to come around?”

“I can do it. We don't need a babysitter.”

“You sure that's all right? You can always ring Gran if you have to.”

“We'll be fine, Mum. But, who are you going out with?”

“Never you mind. That's my business.”

“But you never go out, especially on a week night.”

“Tonight I am. I was asked and I'm going.”

“With a guy? That's great! Enjoy it.”

“Oh, I will. Thanks, Son.”

His mum left, in her own car and by herself, so he still didn't know who she was going out with. He hoped it was someone nice, she deserved some fun in her life. However, it was just not right – kids keep secrets from their parents, they had to! But parents shouldn't keep secrets from their kids. Should they?

Jack and Brad were okay. There was a bit of a protest when he told them that it was bedtime. They didn't want to go, but Logan told he'd thump the pair of them if they didn't. So that ended that argument. They didn't shower, they just went to bed. He didn't try to make them, at least they'd gone.

He tried phoning Lorne, twice, but there was no answer. He didn't answer the emails or Facebook messages either, so – whatever. He'd see him tomorrow.

In the morning, Logan stood waiting outside the school again. Lately, he seemed to be there more often than not. How come Lorne never waited anywhere for him? He was beginning to get a bit slacked-off. Lorne was being strange and why was Logan always the one who did the chasing after?

Lorne arrived, not in his father's truck, but walking – walking, talking and laughing, with a girl! He was with Sarah Meates, so there was only one thing he'd be after. Logan knew her reputation, everyone did, and it was not good. Not unless you were looking for an easy lay, that is.

So that was how it was, was it? Logan stopped worrying, he stopped wondering and he got mad. 'Stuff him! He got what he wanted – used me and now he's dumped me. Must want to try the other side now. Well, he can go to Hell! Fuck him! I don't want to know.'

He spun around and stalked into school. 'I've got a life and Lorne Beynon's not part of it. I got along okay before him and I will again. I don't need him.'

They stayed separate, didn't speak and basically grew further apart as the day, and then the days, went on. Sarah had a new interest by the second day. Lorne was nice to look at but he was no fun and not interested in sex. He was boring and there were plenty of other boys to play with.

By the end of the week they'd more-or-less slipped back into the separate lives they lived before the new year started. Lorne was alone and sad-faced again. Logan was again surrounded by people and close to none of them. The only remaining difference was that neither of them was very happy and, sometimes, sad, longing and yearning glances went both ways across the room.

Friday afternoon, when they all poured out of school, Dan was sitting in his old ute, directly outside the main entrance. Lorne went over and quietly got in. He did, kind-of, wish that his dad would buy a new bloody truck already, but on the other hand, he didn't care what anyone thought of their old wheels.

“You're early today,” he commented as he struggled to fasten the seat-belt.

“Of course,” Dan replied. “It's poet's day, don't you know?”

“Poet's day? What does that mean?”

“Piss Off Early, Tomorrow's Saturday. That's the beauty of being my own boss, I can do what I want. Actually, there's a reason for leaving early. We're going home to get cleaned-up and changed into good clothes, and then we're coming back to town.”

“You might be, I'm not. Once I get home I'm staying there.”

“Oh, but you're not. You are coming back with me.”

“Dad, I don't want to! Don't I get any choice in this?”

“You don't. I pay the bills and I call the shots. You just do what you're told. Relax, Lorne. It's not like I'm dragging you into the dentist's. We're going to have a nice night out, with dinner in that new buffet restaurant in the Golden Lead hotel. You'll like that – it's self-service, help yourself and eat all you want. They've got a choice of about 50 different dishes with desserts to follow.

After that, I've got a surprise for you. Several surprises in fact.”

“I don't like surprises!”

“Yes you do. You love them – what is magic if not the surprise element?”

“That's different.”

“Well, maybe. Anyway, you'll like these ones.”

“I won't.”

“Maybe not, if you're going to be a grumpy-arse. - it's up to you. You're not very happy lately, is something wrong?”

“Nothing's wrong.”

“Nothing at all? You wouldn't tell me if there was, would you? How is Logan today?”

“Logan who?”

“Logan Greene – your friend, remember?”

“I haven't got a friend named Logan.”

“You did last weekend.”

“That was then, this is now.”

“I see. Had a row? I should've known. You haven't mentioned him for days now and you've forgotten how to smile.”

“I've got nothing to smile about. Can we just drop this? I don't want to talk about it and I don't want to go back to town.”

“Fine. We'll drop it, but you are coming back with me, like it or not.”

“I don't like it.”

“Oh dear, how sad, never mind.”

The rest of the trip was in an uncomfortable silence. They stopped next to the house.

“Here we are then. I'll feed the livestock while you get the first shower. If you're not out by the time I come inside, I'll get in there with you.”

“Eww!”

“Make it quick then. It's time you had another shave too, you're getting a furry-face. Clean-up and put your good clothes on.”

“Why can't I wear my old clothes?”

“You can if you want to, but you'll regret it. We're going to a nice restaurant, and then to the theater. If you're not wearing decent clothes, you'll be the only one there who isn't and you'll feel stupid.”

“I often do.”

“Stop it, Lorne! You're a pain in the arse when you get like this.”

“Why are we going to the theater? Is it that Film Festival thing?”

“No. That finished earlier this week. This is something new, and you'll love it.”

“I won't.”

“Wait and see. I think you will.”

“I know I won't.”

“Enough! Go and get in the shower right now!”

Driving back into town, Lorne sat as far away from his dad as he could get. He sulked. He couldn't get out of this outing, but no-one was going to make him enjoy it.

Dan tried to engage him in conversation. “Looking good, Lorne.”

“Pffft!” He blew a raspberry.

“I think it's time you had a new jacket though. Those sleeves are getting a bit short. You swam in that jacket when we bought it. Now look at you! Getting bigger all the time.”

“Doesn't everyone?”

“When they're kids, yes. There'd be something wrong if I kept growing. Now – you know I've been seeing someone?”

“Yeah. You haven't exactly kept it a secret.”

“And I'm not going to. It's early days yet, but I've got a very good feeling about this one.”

“So, who is it?”

“You'll soon find out. They're coming with us tonight.”

“Damm!”

"You behave yourself and don't you dare stuff this up on me.”

“All right. You said 'they' are coming?”

“Yes, they are. My friend's a solo mother and she's got 3 kids.”

Three? A mother and three kids? Oh-oh – it couldn't be, could it? Would his father do that to him?

Yes, he would. They left the truck, (locked even!), in the council car-park behind the main street. (Parking was free because it was after-hours). They walked around to the front street and, there, all dressed-up and smiling, standing outside the Golden Lead, was Karen Greene – His mother. At least her boys weren't with her.

“Hi, Karen,” Dan said. “Been waiting long?”

“Hi, Dan. Not long, just a few minutes.”

“Sorry about that. Lorne didn't want to hurry. He didn't want to come at all.”

“But he did and I'm glad he did. Hello,Lorne, you're looking good.”

“Hey,” he said and he turned to study the bill of fare in the window. At least she hadn't brought her brats with her – that was one good thing.

But she had brought them, dammit. Karen put two fingers in her mouth and blew a loud, piercing whistle – (yeah, All Class!) Jack, Brad, and the Other One appeared out of the recessed doorway of Toyworld up the street. They came running – well trained apparently.

Lorne had never seen Karen's boys dressed up before, and he wasn't admitting it to anyone, but they looked good. All of them looked good, even the Other One did. Dammit.

“Hey, Dan. Hey, Lorne,” the younger boys chorused. Lorne looked the other way. Dan got a small smile and a nod from Logan, but that was all.

“Right then” Dan looked at his watch. “Let's see if our seats are ready yet. I hope everyone's hungry. It's a buffet so it costs the same no matter how much you eat.”

“Dan” Karen smiled. “We've got four growing boys here. Of course they're hungry, they always are!”

'Yeah?' Lorne thought.'Well I'm not.'

They went inside and milled around while Dan checked-in at the teller's desk. Logan turned his back on Lorne and spoke to his brothers. Lorne stood apart, arms folded and glowering. He ignored everyone and only started moving when Dan gave him a push.

“Come on, Lorne, we haven't got all night.” He lowered his voice and growled, “Behave yourself or you're in trouble!”

“I told you, I don't want to be here.”

“You are here. Make the most of it.”

Karen and her boys were already seated in the crowded dining room. The waitress stood by the table, waiting for Dan and Lorne. They went over and sat down.

“All here now?” She had a plastic smile. “Welcome to Mr. Pickwick's. Have you eaten here before?”

“No. It's our first time,” Karen replied.

“It's everyone's first time,” she sighed. “We've only been open for a week. Anyway, the procedure is – In the tureens over there, there are four different soups and butterd rolls on the top. Take a plate, ladle out the soup you choose and bring some rolls back to the table. Next, join the line there, pick up a plate and fill it from the bain-maries as you work along the line. Take whatever you want and go back as many times as you like. When you're ready, the desserts are in the carousel at that end of the room. Enjoy your meal.”

She went to greet the next party. Brad said, “Can we go now?”

“Hungry?” Karen smiled. “Let's get started then.”

Brad, Jack and Logan went with Karen. Dan stood up. Lorne stayed where he was, fiddling with the cutlery.

“Are you coming, Lorne?”

“I'm not hungry.”

“You must be sick! Come on, Boy. You have to get something, it's paid for. Something there will appeal to you.”

Dan pulled on his arm. Lorne shrugged him off, stood and followed him to the start of the queue. The place was full of people and, inevitably, some old lady was holding up the line. Dan joined the queue, Lorne turned back to the soup tureens. He filled a bowl with the thick mushroom soup, got a couple of rolls and went back to sit at the table.

He was there, looking at the soup and playing with a spoon, when the others started arriving back. Logan was first. He sat down and said, “Lorne, I knew nothing about this. It was a surprise for us too. I can see that you don't want to be here. I don't much want to either, but we are so we might as well make the best of it.”

Lorne looked the other way and Logan thought, 'Stuff you, Mate! That's it – I'm not trying again.' He did wonder what was going on, but obviously wasn't going to find out.

Karen and Jack came back with their meals and sat down. “Well,” she said. “This is nice, isn't it? Good food and good company.” She glanced at the sulky-faced big boys and was sorry she spoke.

Dan and Karen tried to get them all talking. Brad was no problem; this was all new and exciting and he couldn't shut up. Jack, and then Logan joined in. Lorne fiddled with his soup and rolls, kept his eyes down and his mouth shut.

Karen's boys all had seconds, and then third helpings. Dan and Karen both had a second helping. Then they moved on to the desserts and soft drinks, (and had several helpings of them too!)

Lorne finished the soup, ate the two rolls and said that was enough, He didn't want any more.

The two younger boys were rubbing their bellies and moaning about how full they they were as they all walked outside. The others just smiled at them, except Lorne. Dan had given up on trying to involve him, but he was sure he'd snap out of it when he saw what was coming next. If this didn't get him excited, nothing would.

Night had fallen and it was dark outside. The streetlights were on and most of the shops and businesses along the street were all lit-up. The brightest spot in the town was where they were heading for. The newly restored and renovated theater, at the end of the next block, was ablaze with lights. Hundreds of small, white lights covered the canopy over the entrance and the name, 'Majestic Theater' was picked out in red lights. They hadn't worked for years and it really did look majestic now. It was an old building, but as good as new again and it stood out among all the old and faded buildings along the street.

Sandwich boards on the sidewalk and posters on the walls advertised the 'Grand Re-opening Festival.'

“Oh, doesn't the old place look grand!" Karen exclaimed. “What's on the program for tonight?”

“An old-time vaudeville show,” Dan replied. “They've got some really special acts too.”

They went inside and waited in the lobby while Dan got their tickets and reservations. The walls were covered in old posters, including a special display of 'Okarito's own – Great Benyon!' “Oh, gee. Wow!” Logan rushed over for a closer look.

Karen, Jack and Brad follwed him. Lorne stayed where he was, with an unreadable look on his face.

“So, Lorne.” Dan came back. “What do you think of all that then? Your granddad would've been really chuffed!”

“Yeah, maybe,” he replied quietly.

'I give up!' Dan shrugged. What would it take to impress this Gloomy-Guts? He thought that Lorne was going to be so impressed. He wasn't. He was showing no reaction at all But this was not the place to get into an argument.

“Come and find our seats.”

They went into the auditorium and sat in their seats, high-up towards the back. A string quartet was playing quiet music, on the stage in front of the curtains. The theater was not full, but there was a good-sized crowd coming in. Mrs. Carter, the School Principal, was there with her family. She smiled and waved when she saw Lorne. He nodded and didn't smile. The lights dimmed and the quartet left the stage.

The emcee for the evening was the school's Mr. Lawson and he walked out on the stage, resplendent in Victorian evening-wear, complete with a big, false, moustache. “Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls – Welcome. Welcome, one and all to a splendid evening of wholesome family entertainment! To mark the reopening of our Majestic Theater, we have assembled old-time variety acts including a special appearance by New Zealand's greatest ever entertainer – the Great Benyon!

Unfortunately, the Great Benyon himself could not be here tonight, as he has gone to that theater in the sky. His place will be taken by a worthy successor, Orlando, who, I am sure, will astound us all.

To begin the show, please welcome Okarito's First Lady of Song, the beautiful, Miss Emily Thompson!”

The curtains parted and Mr. Lawson took his place in the pulpit at the left of the stage. The band began to play and Miss Emily Thompson came out singing and twirling a parasol.

Most of the acts were amateurs, members of the local operatic society, all dressed in old-fashioned costumes. But there were several surprise acts by professionals, including circus actrobats and jugglers.

The majority of the crowd went outside during the intermission, but, apart from runs to the toilets, Dan, Karen and the boys stayed where they were. Nobody wanted any ice cream – they were 'stuffed'.

The younger boys especially, were chattering excitedly. They thought their teachers, (and the pastor!), looked funny in their costumes, but it was good fun. Five of their party were enjoying themselves. Lorne sat with his arms folded, looking straight ahead and saying nothing. It wwas almost like he was under his own little black cloud.

The others all just left him alone, apart from Logan stealing glances at him. His father decided that they were going to have a serious talk when they were alone. He was getting mighty sick of this!

The second half of the program started with a comic song and an unfunny comedian.

“And now – the highlight of the evening! Taking the part of the Great Benyon's regular touring companion, his own daughter, Miss Evelyn Talma, we have, from Christchurch, the lovely Miss Suzanne Donaldson!”

Dan forgot his worries and he laughed, whistled, and enthusiastically applauded the impersonation of his big sister. She was brilliant!

The curtains closed and Karen said, “Enjoyed that, didn't you, Dan? She'll be a hard act to follow. What did you think, Lorne.”

“She was okay,” he replied.

Dan leaned forward. He was going to say something, but didn't get a chance. There was a fanfare and drum roll and the emcee walked across the stage, proclaiming, “Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome, the star of our show, the one, the only, the Great – Benyon!”

A small man fought his way out from behind the curtains. He had bushy white hair and was wearing gray trousers, a brown suit-jacket and too much make-up. He peered myopically at the audience.

“Oh. Hello! What are you all doing here? A show, you say? Well then – Bam Boo Zalem!!”

He flung his arms out wide and the curtains opened on a stage covered in props. He walked behind a screen and, without pausing, came out the other side dressed in a long, blue, oriental robe and matching hat. He turned around slowly and announced, “Same man, different clothes! Now, this here is the Peking Mystery Palace – imagine that! So, what do we have in the Peking Mystery Palace?”

When 'the Great Benyon' first appeared on the stage, Lorne was shocked. His eyes opened wide and he took a deep breath. It really was like seeing his grandad again. The long and white bushy hair was identical – it must've been a wig?

However, as the show went on and this imposter went through his granddad's routines, it was more and more obvious that he wasn't him. He was a bit fatter for a start, and he wasn't as good. No-one was as good as the real Great Benyon, he was the greatest ever!

Orlando did put on a good show. The audience certainly liked him and Lorne, sort-of, did – grudgingly. But he wasn't going to admit that to anyone. He knew all of the tricks, so there were no surprises there and the billiard-cue juggling routine was a complete stuff-up.

But, on the whole, he wasn't too bad, it could've been a lot worse. It was almost like seeing his granddad one more time and he was feeling sadder than ever when they left the theater.

The Great Benyon!

"Edgar Benyon is perhaps New Zealands most successful Magician. He toured a tented show through New Zealand in the 50s and 60s.
He was awarded the first major trophy of the New Zealand Variety Club in 1969. This has been named after him, the Benny, a lifetime achievement award granted to New Zealand entertainers who, through work in charity, mentoring, and dedication and proficiency in their field have consistently excelled in the industry."

The Great Benyon appeared in my small entertainment-starved hometown when i was about 9 years old - and I fell in love with him! I thought he was the most awesome man alive.

I then devoured every book i could find on conjuring and 'magic'. I could never be an entertainer - far too shy for that, but i did become something of a self-taught expert on magic.

Two years later, i was staying in another small town up North, Atiamuri actually, and the Great Benyon came to town. I was so excited, i was nearly wetting myself!

He appeared in the local hall and i made sure i had a seat in the front row. It was the biggest disappointment of my life to date - he was just a little old man and i knew how he was doing his tricks - I could see the man dressed in black standing in front of a black curtain and lifting chairs etc to make them 'levitate'. I could even see the string attached to his ear that made the magic glitter-ball fly out of its box, around the stage & back in again.

Being a delightful eleven years old and feeling very let-down, i sat there and, very loudly, told everyone how he was doing what he did. He must've wanted to shoot me, but he just carried on and finished his act.

He was a gentleman, an awesome entertainer and i'm sorry about that!

There's more about him here - http://bluesmokebook.wordpress.com/2011/04/06/a-bombardment-of-bewilderment/

(His other trademark was the quick-changes. Between tricks he would walk behind a screen and come out the other side in a different suit,saying, "Same man, different clothes!")

cheers

Lorne & Logan, 8 (probably)

(Not very good at waiting!)

Logan woke in the morning, long before Lorne did. He was on his right side with his knees bent and Lorne spooned around his back with one arm draped over him. He lay there, quietly reliving what they'd done all weekend It had been a great and busy weekend, but the best times were like now – alone together and cuddled close.

He looked at the bedside clock-radio and up at the wall opposite him. There was a poster there, an old theater poster advertising a magic and variety show. It was definitely old, the paper was yellowed and the faded red and black text sung the praises of the Great Benyon – World Famous Magician and the World's Most Versatile Entertainer, along with his Vaudeville and Revue Company.

That was Lorne's granddad. World's most versatile entertainer? They were pretty big claims, but that was showmanship, he guessed. No poster was going to advertise an adequate magician and entertainer, naturally they'd claim that he was something special. Maybe he really was, his grandson was special.

Lorne moved, he peeled away from him and rolled on to his back. Logan turned over to look at him, his eyes were open, he was awake. “Hi,” Logan smiled. “Sleep well?”

“Like a log,” Lorne replied. “You?”

“Oh yeah, very well.”

“Logan, it's a quarter to seven and it's time we were moving. Dad won't wait if we're late.”

“Yeah. I guess the weekend's over – worse luck.”

“It is, real bad luck. Do you want the first shower? I'll strip the bed and chuck everything in the laundry while I'm waiting.”

“Okay, sure.” Logan looked at the rumpled bed-clothes. “We made a mess, didn't we? Sorry about that.”

“Don't be sorry, it was well worth it. Best time of my life! Anyway, I helped, half of this mess was mine.”

“It was! Okay, I'm showering. Be back soon.”

Logan hurried through the shower. It would've saved water, but probably not time, if they'd showered together, but they couldn't do that while Dan was there. He went back to the bedroom, wrapped in a modest towel, and Lorne went for his shower.

Logan pulled his school clothes out of his back-pack and stuffed the ones he'd worn all weekend in there. The jeans were still a bit damp, but – whatever. He dressed, combed his hair and sat on the bed waiting for Lorne.

When he came back in he was already in his clothes. He threw the towel and boxers at the laundry basket, and missed. “Come on. We'll get something to eat, and then we're gone.”

Dan was at the table, in the living-room, shelling peas. “Good morning, Sleepy Heads. About time you appeared. You've got no time to cook anything. Toast, cereal, coffee and we're gone.”

“No problems.” Lorne filled two bowls with cereal and splashed some milk on them. He spooned in some segments of bottled Black Doris plums, sliced some bread and loaded the toaster. He handed a bowl to Logan and they sat down to eat.

As soon as he'd filled his mouth, Dan asked, “Did you have a good weekend, Logan?”

He gulped and swallowed. “Yes! I mean, yes thanks, Dan. I've had an excellent weekend. Thanks for letting me stay.”

“Thanks for coming, and for setting the computer up – that would've been totally beyond us.”

“It was fun. But, I'm sure you guys could've worked it out yourselves. Lorne's a bright boy.”

“Not as bright as you,” Lorne replied. “I wouldn't have known where to start.”

“The instruction book is always a good place to start.”

“Instruction books!” Dan snorted as he stood up. “Those things are more trouble than they're worth – bloody useless, most of them.” He got three mugs down from the cupboard and poured drinks from the percolator.

“Oh good!” Logan grinned. “Real coffee. Thanks, Dan.”

“I've got news for you, Boy, and it's all bad. That's not what you'd call real coffee, it's more of the erratz stuff.”

“Dandelion roots? Oh well, it still tastes okay.”

“Of course it does and I made it in the perc so, with a bit of luck, there'll be some caffeine in there.”

“And that's good,” Lorne nodded.

On the way into town, Logan sat in the middle in the truck, quietly thinking.

“You're very quiet, Logan,” Dan said.

“Hmm? Oh, sorry. I was just thinking.”

“Thinking about what?”

“That poster on the wall in Lorne's room. That's your granddad, right?”

“Yeah, that was him,” Lorne replied.

“Well how come your surname is Beynon and he was the Great Benyon? Is that a misprint or something?”

“It's not a misprint. Granddad was called the Great Benyon. The manager of the London Coliseum changed it around when Granddad appeared there. He said that Benyon sounded better than Beynon.”

“Actually,” Dan said. “Logan's probably right and it was originally a misprint. The guy probably had hundreds of posters, playbills and programmes printed with the wrong name on them and it would've cost too much to fix it, so Edgar Beynon became the Great Beynon. And that's how he stayed – he was never one to waste a dollar.”

“And he played at the London Coliseum, in the real London? It must be right when it calls him world famous. Wow.”

Dan said, “I don't know about world famous, but he did play in several countries around the globe. Yes, he played at the Coliseum, but he was just one of hundreds, maybe thousands, of acts who appeared there over the years. He made a living, but he didn't make a fortune.”

“Granddad did all right!” Lorne protested. “Maybe he should've been born a hundred years earlier, before the movies killed vaudeville off, but he was still famous. Even Mrs. Carter, the Principal at school, remembers him. She said she was a big fan.”

“I'm sure some people remember him fondly. He was a character and he was good at what he did, but he was never a giant, Lorne. He was just a little man really.”

“He was a giant to me!”

“Sure he was, but you loved him and you were just a little boy. Now you're older and it's time you faced reality.”

“Hmmph!” Lorne folded his arms and stared out of the window beside him.

The air in the truck had turned decidedly chilly and Logan was sorry he'd started it. He tried to calm things down.

“I think I would've liked him too. He was your father, Dan. Weren't you a fan as well?”

“Not much,” Dan replied. “He was never around when I was a boy. He was far too busy touring and being famous. He was retired when he lived with us, so he had more time for Lorne than he ever did for me. Sometimes, when you grow up, you find that your idols have got feet of clay.

Do you want to go home, Logan, or do I drop you both off at school?”

“At school will be good, thanks. I've got all my gear here.”

They stopped in the street outside the school and Lorne slid out. Logan paused when Dan spoke to him. “Well, it's been nice having you to stay. I know Lorne thought so too, and I hope you'll come again soon.”

“I will! Thanks for everything, I've had a great weekend.”

“That's good. Thanks again for your help – and now it's over. Out of here and go to school. I've got work to do.”

He drove away with a toot and the usual 'bang!', trailing blue smoke. For once Lorne wasn't embarrassed by it all. He looked at Logan, their eyes met, they grinned, shrugged and headed in to school.

The day began normally enough, but soon went downhill. Outside their first class, they were stopped by a couple of girls who wanted to know where Logan was on Saturday night. There was a party at the Youth Center, everyone was there, but Logan was not. Why not?

“Sheesh, Girls! I was busy, okay? There's no law that says I have to be at every dogfight in town.”

“There's not, but you're usually there anyway. You were conspicuous by your absence, Mr. Greene.”

“So I had a weekend off. I stayed out at Lorne's place.”

“All weekend? What were you doing out there?”

“Just goofing around. I helped Mr. Beynon buy a computer, and then went out to help set it up.”

“Since when have you been an expert?”

“No-one said I was, but I knew more than they did. It's their first computer.”

“Really? Wow. Welcome to the modern age, Lorne.”

“Thanks, Carrie,” Lorne laughed. “It's good to be here, I think.”

Ruth frowned. “It didn't take you all weekend just to do that.”

“Of course not, but it was too far to walk home,” Logan said. “We just mucked around. Lorne showed me over their property, it's really cool – 150 hectares, would you believe?”

“150 hectares of scrub.”

“There's more to it than that and there's a lot of history there. Lorne's dad took us fishing yesterday.”

“Catch anything?”

“Just one and it was small. But you should've seen the one that got away!”

“Yeah, right.”

They went inside and sat down together.

As soon as Logan sat down next to him, Lorne knew that that was a mistake. He looked around the room and, sure enough, there they were, sitting in the back row and looking scornfully at Logan and him – Graeme Stokes, Liam Hawkins and Ben Rodden – like it was a trial and they were the judges.

Damm. He'd wished that they'd never seen them playing around in the river, but they had – it was too late now. Logan was blissfully unaware of what was going on. Lorne was torn, should he tell him, or should he keep his mouth shut and hope that it all came to nothing?

There was a big match on, against a touring Highschool team. Lorne wasn't playing but Logan was, of course – he was a star player and they needed him.

As much as he could, he kept an eye on the Three Stooges all morning. No-one said anything to him or Logan, but they didn't have to – he could see it in their eyes and the way they looked at them. They were constantly whispering to each other, and to other kids too. Whispering and passing notes. The story was spreading like wildfire and everyone was looking now. Damm.

At lunchtime, Lorne sat alone at the back of the school watching the warm-up game swirling around out on the field and thinking.

He hadn't heard the whispers and he hadn't seen the notes but he didn't have to, he knew exactly wha was in them. He could see it in their eyes. Double Damm!

What was he going to do? What could he do? He didn't care so much for himself. It didn't matter what happened to him, he'd never really been a part of things anyway. If everyone rejected him, well – so what?He had nothing to lose, it would only be more of the same. He could look after himself if things got physical. He still had a trick or two up his sleeve – literally up his sleeve! If that didn't work, he didn't care, he'd survive.

But Logan? Logan had a lot to lose. He had a place here in this school, in this town. He had a top place – he'd earnt it and he deserved it. He didn't deserve to lose it all for the sake of a loser..

He sat and watched the game – watched Logan really. He didn't have a clue what anyone else was doing and didn't care. Logan was such a great guy – simply the best. He was good-looking, but there was far more to him than just that. His beauty was not skin-deep, it went all the way through him right down to his heart.

He was a top athlete, popular and good at everything he did. ('And I do mean everything,' Lorne smiled a little.) But he was never pushy or big-headed with it. He was always the first to lend a hand when someone needed it and everyone liked him – until now.

Lorne sighed and he made a decision. He knew what he had to do.

Lunch Hour was almost over. The players packed it in, finished the game and they were walking back in. Logan was laughing and talking to a couple of guys, and he was headed straight towards him. Lorne quickly packed up his stuff and went back inside, to lock himself in a cubicle in the bogs and hide.

He waited until after the bell had signalled the start of the afternoon and went into class late. Logan looked around and smiled and nodded at the empty seat next to him. Lorne went the other way and sat next to Sarah Meates, on the far side of the room.

Sarah was a nice girl, but definitely not a 'good' girl. She had a reputation, but she was always friendly enough, especially lately. “Hi, Sarah. How's it?”

“It's good,” she smiled. “It's always good.” She slid her pen in and out of her pursed lips, winked and smiled.

He grinned back. “That's good that it's good.”

“Good that you think that it's good that it's good.”

“Well, good!” They both laughed until the teacher shut them up.

He saw Logan looking at him and deliberately looked the other way.

There were only two classes after lunch and he stayed in the same seat, next to Sarah, for both of them. He left before the end of the second class – just packed up his books, went up to the teacher and told her that he had to go.

He knew it wouldn't be a problem. Miss Bennett always tried so hard to be popular, so she was easy to get around. He told her that he had to meet his dad, for an appointment, and he left without looking back. Logan had a practice after school, so he knew he wouldn't be looking for him.

He walked across town to where his dad was working, got into the truck, sat down on the floor where he wouldn't be seen, and cried. He did not want to do this, but he had to.

When he came out and drove home, Dan looked hard at him several times, but he didn't say anything. Lorne couldn't see his own face, but he hoped his eyes weren't too red – he didn't want his dad to know that he'd been crying. Dan already thought that he was too soft and he definitely didn't want to explain his tears.

The first thing he did when they got home was to quietly turn the power off on the phone. It would still work, but it wouldn't ring and he didn't want any calls. He didn't turn the computer on – said he couldn't be bothered with it.

After the chores and dinner were out of the way, he went out for a walk.

“Where are you going?”

“Nowhere really. I just want to get some fresh air and time to myself.”

“Fair enough. Don't be too late and stay on the paths.”

“See you later, Dad.”

He returned, well after dark. Dan was sitting at the computer and he looked around. “About time too. I was thinking about organising a search party. Logan rang looking for you. Funny really, the phone didn't ring. I picked it up to make a call, and there he was. He wants you to call him back.”

“Not now,” Lorne shrugged. “I'll see him tomorrow.”

“Suit yourself. Do you want the computer for a while?”

“No, you have it. I've got some homework to do.”

“You don't need the 'puter for that?”

“No, it's just revision. I'll be in my room. G'night, Dad.”

“Good night then.” Dan turned back to the video clip he was watching, Lorne went to his room and closed the door.

Lorne & Logan, 7

In a car, stopped in the middle of the bridge, three faces looked down at them and the look was not good. Seniors from school, Graeme Stokes, Liam Hawkins and Ben Rodden were staring down at them and Lorne knew exactly what they were thinking.

That was confirmed when one yelled, “Fucking Faggotts! Get a room!” and the car drove away.

Logan missed that exchange and he looked up when it was too late. “Who? What was that about?”

“Just some idiot tough-guys looking for trouble. Don't worry, they've gone. It's time we went in and dried off.”

“It is. I'm friggin' freezing now!”

“Come on then, this way.”

They splashed along, downstream to the house. Logan hadn't noticed it before but there was a wooden ladder fixed below the deck and they climber up there.

Standing on the deck, they toed their sneakers off, and then peeled their wet clothes off. Both thought the other looked cute standing there in nothing but boxers and goosebumps.

Inside, the fire was roaring in the open fireplace, behind the screen, and it was deliciously warm in there. Lorne picked up a note from the table and read it.

“Dad's gone to town, he may not be back tonight, tomorrow he's taking us fishing, and we are to behave ourselves.”

“Are we going to?” Logan grinned.

“Not really,” Lorne grinned back.

“Good! Let's start with a shower.”

“A shower? That doesn't sound very wicked.”

“Could be if we're both in there at the same time.”

“Oh, yah! Let's do that then.”

The shower was great, one of the best times either of them had ever known, maybe even the best time. It was the first time that the sex went all the way, they actually entered each other and they both did it.

Logan was first and it was by accident, mostly. There was not a lot of room with both of them in the small shower cubicle and they were pressed close together. They soaped each other up, logan stood behind Lorne, reaching around to hold his dick in one hand, rubbing his chest with the other and humping him from behind, his dick sliding in the crack between his soapy butt-cheeks.

Both of them were excited and jerking around, especially Lorne who was close to coming in Logan's hand. Then, somehow it happened – the head of Logan's stiff dick slid into Lorne's hole and they both froze, eyes opened wide.

“Whoah! Sorry about that.” Logan started to pull out but Lorne reached back and held him there.

“Don't, Logan,” he gasped. “Don't go. Push it in, all the way. Do it, Logan. Make love to me.”

“I do love you, Lorne. You know I do!” Holding Lorne's hips he pushed forward, easily slid all the way in and held it there. “All right?” he whispered.

“Yeah. All right,” Lorne gasped.

“Does it hurt? I'll pull out if it does.”

“No, don't do that. It doesn't hurt. I thought that it was meant to, but it doesn't. It just feels . . I dunno . . . funny. How is it for you?”

“Good, actually – real good. It's all warm and, y'know – good! It feels right. Lorne,I'm in you, right inside you!”

“I know! Do it, Logan – fuck me.”

“Are you sure?”

“Sure I'm sure. Do it.”

Lorne tried pulling his butt forward and thrusting back again, not very successfully – they just rocked together. Logan held him still, one hand around his hips and the other on his chest. He pulled back and almost out, and then slid in again. And again, and again, faster, harder and faster.

He slammed into him over and over again. Lorne spread his hands on the wall in front of him and pushed back meeting Logan's thrusts. Logan came, his pulsing dick shooting his seed inside him and Lorne came as well, shooting pearly-white streaks on the shower wall.

He pulled out, with a 'plop', Lorne turned to face him. They kissed and stood holding each other while the warm water cascaded over them. “All right, Lorne?”

“Oh yes! Very all right. That was great – thanks.”

“Thanks? Thank you! I love you. Now you have to finish it.”

“Finish it?”

“Yeah. You have to do it to me now. I want you in me too.”

“Oh, yeah! Let's do that, but not here. We'll clean up and go and do it in the bed.”

“You're sure?”

“I'm sure.”

“We will then.”

They did. They didn't even stop to eat first! Amazingly, both of them forgot that they hadn't eaten since breakfast. They were far too busy for eating.

They remembered later though and came out, in boxers and t-shirts to make hot drinks and sandwiches to eat in front of the fire. They sat with arms around each othe, Lorne's head on Logan's shoulder and quietly watching the flames dancing.

“This is nice,” Lorne sighed.

“It's nice. Wish we could stay like this forever.”

“Yeah. Me too.”

“Your parents must've sat here like this on the night you were conceived.”

“Probably. I don't remember.”

“You wouldn't, would you? Twit!” Logan laughed. “Shame that we can't make a baby too.”

“You think? It might be just as well that we can't.”

“Yeah, might be – not yet anyway.”

“Not yet? It's impossible, Logan.”

“No it's not, there are ways.” “So,” Logan stood and stretched. “Do we turn the computer on or go back to bed?”

“Bed, definitely!” Lorne stressed. “The computer can wait, I'd rather be with you.”

“Me too. Come on then.”

They straightened the bed covers before they stripped off and got in. That was a waste of time, the bed was soon wrecked again. After, they covered up and settled down to go to sleep.

Logan drifted off quickly, but Lorne didn't. He lay looking up at the ceiling and thinking about the faces looking down at them from the bridge – Stokes, Hawkins and Rodden. They were all in the 1st 15 Rugby Team, as well as Logan. They wouldn't give him a hard time, would they? He was the best player they had.

He rolled onto his side and lay looking at Logan's sleeping face. He looked so innocent lying there – not a care in the world. Was his being with Lorne going to bring him trouble? That was not going to happen! He kissed him gently, just touching their lips together, rolled back and, eventually, went to sleep.

In the morning, they were up early – very early. Logan moaned and protested, “It's Sunday!”

“Sure is,” Lorne pulled the covers off him. “It's going to be a beautiful day and we're going fishing with Dad. First we've got to feed the livestock, feed ourselves and pack a picnic lunch. C'mon, Logan, out of bed!”

“Yeah, all right.” He sat up, stretched and grumbled. “It's cold in here!”

“Put some clothes on then. I'll go and start the coffee.”

“Real coffee?”

“Yeah, real coffee to wake you up.”

“Good then. I'm coming.” Logan started getting his clothes together and Lorne went out to the other room.

“Oh. Hello Dad. You're up early.”

“I am. There's coffee in the perc. You boys feed the animals and I'll get a lunch ready.”

“Cool.” He got the mugs and poured two coffees. “Have we got time for breakfast?”

“Of course. There's some rashers of bacon that need to be eaten. Bring back some eggs and we'll scramble them.”

“We, meaning me?”

“You've got it.”

Logan came out, still frowning, and took a mug from Lorne.

“Not used to early mornings, Logan?” Dan smiled.

“I'm not. Especially on a Sunday.”

“You'll survive,” said the heartless Lorne. “Drink up and we'll get going.”

They fed the pig, the goats, the chooks, ducks and geese, the collected a basket of hen and duck eggs and headed back to the house.

“Duck eggs are much bigger,” Logan commented. “Do you eat them too?”

“Sometimes, not often. They're a bit strong, but they're great for baking. Dad usually gives them to the bakery in town and they give us some of their leftovers.”

“A bit of bartering?”

“Yeah. He's really into bartering because there's no tax to pay.”

“Makes sense.”

“It does.”

“There's eels in here. We didn't feed them.” Logan stopped and looked at the eels writhing in the old cast-iron bath with wire-mesh on top of it.

“We're not going to either. They don't get fed. Dad keeps them in fresh water for a few days to clean them out, and then they die!”

“That's a bit mean.”

“They'd eat you if they got a chance. They taste better once they're cleaned out. Dad has got traps set around the lake. Most of the catch is sold, but sometimes we keep some to eat 'em. These are them.”

“How do you eat eels?”

“Lots of ways, but usually as steaks. They make great paste too. That's what we had in sandwiches yesterday.”

“Oh, right. I thought that was fish-pate.”

“It was. Eel paste is fish pate, and good too!”

“Yeah, it's good.”

Lorne chopped some chives and stirred them into the eggs in the bowl before cooking. Logan fried the bacon in one pan while Lorne did scrambled eggs in the other. Dan left three thick slices of bread from the picnic lunch he'd packed, and they sat at the small table to eat.

“Lucky you've got three chairs,” Logan commented when he sat down. (The fourth side of the table was up against the wall, under a window.)

“Yeah, lucky,” Dan replied. “Maybe Lorne's been keeping that chair just for you.”

“Or maybe not,” Lorne said. “That was Granddad's chair. He liked us to eat at the table because it's more civilised or something.”

“He did try to civilise you,” Dan nodded. “That was a wasted effort.”

“It was not! Granddad taught me lots.”

“I know he did. He was quite a man, your granddad. Live your life to make him proud, Lorne.”

“I'll try to.”

They finished breakfast and left the dishes in the sink. “No time to clean up now, we'll take care of them tonight.”

“Yeah?” Logan was impressed. “That would never happen in our house. Mum would go right off! Mind you, we have got a dishwasher.”

“So have I. My dishwasher's name is Lorne.”

“Thanks, Dad. Glad I'm some use around here.”

“Some, but not a lot. Come on then – time we weren't here.”

The three of them fitted easily on the bench seat in the old ute. The lap-belt in the centre hadn't been used in ages so they had to fish it out from behind the seat. Dan drove out to the highway, north to Whataroa, through there and on to the Whataroa River. He stopped the truck on the bridge to have a look at the river.

“Not bad, but it's running a bit fast here. We'll go on down nearer to the mouth, where it spreads out and slows down.”

The truck was left on the side of the road. (“No-one's going to steal it anyway.”) and they had to walk a fair distance down and across the gravel fans to get to the water. They spent the morning fishing on the river-beach.

Dan had brought extra rods for both boys, but he was the only one who caught any fish. They sat under a big old tree and ate lunch – egg sandwiches, salad, fruit and biscuits washed down with 'real' blackcurrant juice.

Logan said, “That was better than the bought stuff, just like you said it was. Not as sweet and much fruitier.”

“Is that a word?” Dan smiled.

“It is now,” Lorne replied.

Dan packed the remains of their lunch back into the basket, stood and stretched. “Okay. One more catch, and then we'll go home.”

They cast their lines and Logan caught a fish right away. It wasn't very big. “Should I throw it back?”

“No, it's big enough,” Dan said. “Just but enough. Time for home then.”

Lorne said, “We don't mind staying a bit longer if you want to.”

“No. I said one fish, and that's it. There's work I should be doing anyway.”

“Right. We're not complaining, are we, Logan.”

“Definitely not. Let's go back.”

Back at the house, Dan stopped and ordered them out. “Take the basket off the back and the fish. Wrap them in old newspaper, I'm taking them with me – I've got a date tonight.”

“Taking fish for your Date?” Logan grinned. “Most guys would take flowers not fish.”

“I'm not most guys.”

“No arguments there – you're not.”

“Anyway,” Lorne said, “a parcel of fish is much more practical, you can't eat flowers.”

“True,” Logan nodded. “But the ladies like flowers, they're much more romantic.”

Dan said, “So you know a lot about the ladies, Logan? Have you got a girlfriend?”

“No, not now, but I used to.”

“You should've given her some fish,” Lorne grinned.

“Okay, Boys. Before you settle down at the computer, fill up another box of fruit and veges. Put in plenty of the mandarins, they're ready now. I'm going to do an oil-change on the ute. It should've been done weeks ago.”

“It's a wonder there's any left, the way it burns it,” Lorne grinned as he scrambled out.

“Don't you be cheeky about my truck! It gets us where we want to go.”

“Sometimes.”

“Most times.”

They carried the stuff inside and Dan moved the ute into the big old shed.

“So your dad's got a date.”

“Yeah, it happens sometimes – well he's not old.”

“I know that, but Mum never does. I wish she would, she's not old either. I don't think she's been out with anyone since my father left.”

“Maybe she's too busy with her boys.”

“That's what she says, but she should have some time for herself.”

They were sitting side-by-side at the computer when Dan came in, showered, shaved and dressed in smart casual clothes. He came back to say goodbye. “I might be a bit late, but I'll be back tonight. Don't stay up too late, you've got school tomorrow.”

“What? Aren't you even going to feed us?” Lorne protested.

“I'm not. You're quite capable of getting your own, that's how I've raised you. I'll be eating in town tonight.”

“Lucky you,” Logan said. “You're looking good, Dan. Who's the hot date with?”

“Thanks, and mind your own business. It's no big deal, I'm just having dinner at a friend's, and then we're going to a movie.”

“Have a nice night, Dad.”

“I will. Behave yourselves and I'll see you in the morning. G'nite, Boys.”

“'Bye Dad.”

Dan put the parcel on the box and carried them out to the ute. He drove away with a 'toot' and a bang – it was still trailing blue smoke.

Left alone, Logan said, “Are you sure it's a lady he's going out with? He didn't actually say that.”

“It's a lady. It wouldn't even occur to him that he could go out with a guy. Dad's not like that.”

“Well, I'm glad the son is!”

“And I'm glad that you're glad.” He kissed him.

“Right then, Mr. Beynon. The first and most important thing is – what are we eating?”

“Pie and chips sound all right?”

“Sounds good. Is that a home-made pie?”

“No, from the bakery. There's heaps of them in the freezer.”

Lorne microwaved four pies, (well, they were little!), and put them in the oven. He carefully carried the small deep-fryer out on to the deck outside and plugged it in to an extension cord.

“Why did you put it out there?”

“Because, if you use it inside it stinks the whole house out. It's a quick and easy way to cook chips, and they taste great, but it pongs. I think it's overdue for an oil change as well. Now we've just got to make some chips and we're done.”

“Make the chips? Haven't you got any in the freezer? We've always got plenty, Mum buys them by the sack-full.”

“Well we don't. It only takes a minute to chop a potato up. I don't see why anyone would buy them ready-made.”

While their banquet was heating, they checked on the computer. Logan had a couple of messages, he'd answer them later. There were none for Lorne, so Logan sent him one. They ate, showered and went to bed – but not to sleep.