Lorne & Logan, 1

(We're gonna leave Tyler & co, for a while. I know, i know! But i want to get this story posted before i lose it. This whole tale came to me in a dream one night - that's never happened before.

Also, another first - Tracy was casting her eagle-eye over it and editing, (Thanks, Tracy!) but she's busy now with RL dramas, unfortunately. So if you see any rough bits that need fixing, please say so.

cheers)

'A new kid in school.' Logan sat, half awake, idly watching the people walking by while waiting for his girl. 'Interesting.'

He really should've been still in bed, asleep. It's not easy on the first day back after 7 weeks of late nights and sleeping until he felt like waking up. That was all over now, worse luck, and he was back in school for yet another year. Summer holidays pass so quickly!

He didn't mind school really, it was pretty cool and it was where his mates were. He just wished that they could start the day at a more civilised time – midday would be early enough.

The new kid came back and went into the locker-room that he'd just come out of not even 2 minutes ago. 'Forgetful, much?' Logan smiled, he knew what that was like.

'Wait a minute!' He whipped around and looked at the doorway that the kid had disappeared into. 'You're not new. You're . . umm. . What's-your-name? That Beynon kid. What the hell's your name? Starts with 'L' – Larry? Loren? Lorne! That's it, Lorne Beynon.'

'Whoah. What's happened to him? He looks so different, like a whole new kid.'

He almost got up and followed him, but, 'No. That'd be sad - stalking or something.'

Stalking Lorne Beynon? Not likely! But . . . what had happened with him? He wasn't new, he'd been around for, like, forever, always quiet, always in the background. He was just an ordinary kid, one of hundreds. There was nothing special about him, except maybe his always-glum face. Did he know how to smile? A grin might crack his face in half.

Well, he knew how to smile now. He came back outside, into the sunshine, glowing with his golden-tan skin and longish white-blond hair, saw Logan looking at him, flashed a dazzling smile, said, “Hey, Logan”, and kept walking.

Logan sat, gobsmacked, watching him go. 'Wow, totally wow! Hot.'

Hot? A boy? Lorne Beynon was hot? Beynon?? And yet – he was. That was the only word for it. He was hot. How could someone change so much in just 7 weeks? Was that possible? Apparently, yes.

What exactly had changed? He didn't know. He'd never taken that much notice of him before. He'd never taken any notice of him before, but he was now. Things had changed.

The hair had got longer, and blonder – very blonder. He'd always had nondescript, dirty-blond hair, the sort of hair that wasn't noticed. There was one big change, maybe he'd bleached it? Also, his skin – tanned, smooth and, well, perfect. Had he been photoshopped?

There must've been a change there. He couldn't remember what it was like before, but he was sure he would've noticed a face with skin like that. Wouldn't he? Had he got taller, longer legs, broader shoulders and a slimmer waist? Who knew?

The school clothes were no help, they weren't outgrown or anything. They wouldn't be because they were new by the look of it, like lots of people's were, like Logan's were – new uniform clothes for the start of a new year. Everyone was growing, somewhat.

“Hey! I'm here. Who are you checking out?” Logan's long-time girlfriend, (well since last year, that's a long time when you're 15), sat down and poked him in the ribs.

“Oh. Hey, Ange. How're you? Excited about a new year?”

“Yeah, right! Uber-excited. Don't change the subject, who were you sitting perving on, Logan Greene?”

“Not perving. I'm just sitting here people-watching, seeing what's new and who's hot.”

“Like everyone's changed since last year? It's only been a few weeks since we were last stuck here.”

“Seven weeks actually, and that's long enough for people to grow and change a bit. Quite a bit for some; look at that kid there – the one talking to Allie Wills and Bonnie Milne.”

“The blond boy? What about him?”

“Yeah, the blond boy. Keep looking, Ange.”

“Looking at what? He's a looker. Holy Shit! That's what's-is-name – Beynon, Lorne Beynon! Isn't it? He's changed – nice!”

“Told you,” Logan grinned. “Some have changed.”

“They have. Wow, Lorne Beynon's cute! I'll bet he's still bloody weird though.”

“Weird? Why's he weird?”

“Because he is, or was anyway. Think about it, how long has he been around in the same classes as us?”

“Since forever, seems like. Since way back in Primary School anyway.”

“Yeah, probably since day one. Ten years! Ever seen him get into trouble? Ever seen him win anything – prizes, races, anything at all?”

“Well, no, but that doesn't make him weird. He's just average.”

“Yeah? Ever seen him at any birthday parties? Any dances? No, you haven't because he doesn't go anywhere. He never has. Logan, he's been in school with us for 10 years. Where does he live?”

“Live? I don't know, I wouldn't have a clue.”

“Yeah. Neither would I and in a small town like this, that's not normal. Everybody knows where everybody lives, except him.”

“Right. That is odd.”

“It's weird. Who does he live with? Has he got a family at all? For all we know he could be an alien robot sent here to spy on us.”

“Spy on us? Rubbish, Ange! He is not. Anyway, he has got a family, a father anyway. His dad works around town doing odd jobs and people's lawns and gardens and stuff. He drives that old Holden ute and he drops Lorne off at school sometimes.

“Yeah? Where do they come from? The Mother-ship after recharging?

“That's crap, Ange, and you know it. Life's not like that.”

“Well that's my theory, have you got a better one?

“So why don't we ask him?”

“Oh sure! That'd work – 'Hey Beynon, are you an alien spy?' - like he'd tell us? No, you're right, of course. You're always right.”

Ange sat straighter and stiffened. If she had hackles, they'd be rising. “Just what do you mean by that, Logan Greene?”

“You know. You know exactly what I mean. Every time we talk it's always the same.”

“What is?”

“You've always got to have the last word on everything and the only person's opinion that matters is yours.”

“Oh, that's what you think?”

“That's what I know. It's what you think too; you know that and so do I.”

“You've never talked like this before.”

“No, and I think it's time we did.”

“Yeah? Okay then, I'll tell you something else I'm thinking – I think it's time we cooled things down a bit.”

“Cooled things down?”

“Yep. I like you, Logan, you're a nice guy even if you can be a bit of a doormat, but I don't know if I'm ready for a full-time relationship.”

“Are you dumping me?”

“Not dumping, no. Well, not exactly. I still want to be friends, it's just nasty when couples stop talking to each other, but I think it's time we saw other people. Okay?”

Okay? Funny, all he felt was relief, like a weight had lifted and he was free!

“Yeah, okay.” He looked up at her, she was looking not at him but straight ahead at Lorne Beynon. “Are you thinking about dating Lorne Beynon?”

“No, Logan, I'm not but I think you might be.”

“Me?”

“Yes, you. The whole time I've been sitting here you haven't taken your eyes off him for more than a few seconds.”

“Do you think I'm gay?”

“I dunno, maybe, maybe not. Maybe anyone is with the right person. That's what being a teenager is about, checking things out, getting to know different people and finding where we belong. We won't have that if we're stuck together like we're married.

We've been together for months and, face it, things are not as exciting anymore.”

“Right – again, they're not. So we're finished but we'll be friends?”

“Yeah. You want that?”

“I think so. Okay, Friend, that's it – over. But remember, Ange, we are friends. If you ever need help or anything, I'll be there and I've got your back.”

“Thanks. You really are a good guy you know. You'll make someone a damm-fine partner one day.”

“But not you.”

“I think not, but – who knows? We might even finish-up back together, that can happen.”

“I guess.”

“Smile, Logan. You're not dumped, you're free, okay?”

“Okay.” He forced a grin. He was really feeling relieved but couldn't say that, she'd explode!

“Okay.” Ange kissed him on the cheek, got up and left. “See you around. 'Bye, Sweetie.”

“Sweetie?” Logan shuddered. That was one thing he wouldn't miss, for sure. 'So – freedom!' He looked for Beynon, but he'd gone. It was time he was moving too, it wouldn't pay to be late on the first day.

He almost was late, but not quite. He just beat the teacher into the room. Everyone else was there and seated. He glanced around for somewhere to sit and, ('Whoah!'), Lorne Beynon was in the middle of the room with empty seats on both sides of him.

Why was no-one sitting near him? Who knew? He didn't, but that wasn't going to stop him, there was nowhere else he'd rather be. He hurried over and took a seat next to the blond kid.

“Hey, Lorne,” he smiled, “mind if I sit here?”

“I don't mind. Be my guest,” Lorne smiled back. And what a smile!

Logan's legs turned to rubber and he sat down before he fell down. 'Wow! Wow and double-wow, the kid's friggin' gorgeous! Why haven't I seen that before?'

Mr. Noonan stood up at the front and shushed everybody. He then started on his standard welcoming speech and promised them terrible things in the year ahead – like hard work and a lot of it. This would be the most important year that they'd known in their school-lives, maybe the most important that they ever would.

The NCA national exams were to be sat at the end of the year and their results would set the course for their careers and for the rest of their lives. It was that important!

To him it was, maybe. Logan listened with half an ear and studied the boy next to him. How was he going to get to know him, or even start talking to him? As far as he could remember, they'd never spoken before – ever. That was strange and he was so regretting it now.

Really strange. The kid had been around forever and he'd never noticed him before, and never wanted to, but he did now. What had changed? He was attractive, like some plain ordinary plant had burst forth with a beautiful flower.

'What? Back-up, Logan Greene! What's going on here? He's a boy, like I am, and I'm attracted to him? I'm not queer, never have been until now anyway, so why am I feeling like this? Damm, he's beautiful. Is anyone else seeing it too?'

He scanned around the room but no-one seemed to be taking the slightest interest in the boy next to him. What was wrong with them? It was just him then.

That still didn't tell him why he was attracted. Maybe the pubescent boy was pumping out those sex-attractant things – pheromones? Whatever. Did that make sense? Nothing else was. He felt like he was falling in love, with a boy! With Lorne Beynon! He never saw that coming. Had he cast a magic spell on him?

'Phaw! Get real, Logan. No such thing as magic spells – things are weird enough here without getting into fairy stories. Is that what I am – a fairy?​

Maybe he had been all along and just didn't know it. This was driving him nuts. He tried to focus on the teacher and what he was saying, but that was easier said than done.

He was stuck there, sitting way too close to him and was totally aware of every move he made, even his breathing. He'd be less distracted if he sat somewhere else, like in another room, or another school! Whatever. At the moment he didn't care about school, he liked sitting there close to this intriguing boy.

All morning long they remained together, seated side-by-side. They couldn't talk but communicated in glances and grins. Both of them were grinning.

Communicated what? Logan didn't know – but something. Lorne seemed to be interested in him too. Logan looked forward to recess when, he thought, they'd be able to talk a bit.

But it didn't happen. As soon as everyone trooped outdoors Logan was rushed away to sign-up for the cricket trials – first time he'd ever regretted being popular and good at sports! Lorne was left standing alone, but he soon got talking with a group of 2 boys and 3 girls who all wanted to know what the hell had happened to him.

The same thing happened again at lunchtime. Logan tried to get him to come with him but Lorne said no. He wasn't interested and he had no time for team sports because he couldn't get to out of school games and practices. Why not? Logan wondered, but he had no time to ask him before they were separated – again! Dammit.

He thought that he'd try to catch-up with him after school finished for the day, but that didn't happen either. He missed him because he was held up by a dork – Helen Bennett. She was a teacher actually, a relatively young one and very keen to be involved in her students' lives. But she was still a dork; especially today.

By the time he got away from her and out of the main doors the rapidly-dispersing crowd was well thinned out and he couldn't see any sign of Lorne anywhere. That was 3 times that he'd missed out on talking to him. Wasn't the third time supposed to be lucky? That didn't work.

Walking home, alone, Logan was in a blue funk. He wanted to talk to this new improved version of Lorne Beynon. He knew nothing about him, but he wanted to, he wanted to know everything. He was sure that Lorne was interested in him too. He'd said nothing, he hadn't had a chance to, but from his eyes, his smiles and his whole body-language, Logan was sure that he wanted to be friends too.

Friends and more? He wasn't sure, but he thought so. If he was ever going to have a relationship with a boy, then this was that boy. A Bro-mance?

'Ah well,' he shrugged. Something good had happened today. It hadn't gone as far as he wanted but there'd be plenty more days – the entire school-year had just begun. He went home.

Okarito, 9

Well along the length of the huge lagoon and no more than halfway across it, Tyler determinedly caught up to his cousin, got really close alongside and whispered, “Cassie! Cassie, look – a Kotuku!
It's Beautiful. But what's it doing away out here on the water? It must be standing on a log or something.”

“It'll be standing on the bottom. That's why they've got long legs, they're wading birds and most of the lagoon is only a few inches deep. You could probably walk from one side to the other.”

“Oh, I see. I didn't know that. I haven't seen a live Kotuku for years, they're very rare.”

“You think? Look, there's another one over there and there was one back behind us.”

“I missed that one. Three of them at once? Wow!”

“There's no wow about it, Boy. White Herons are not rare around here, they're quite common. At some times of the year there's lots of them. They nest and breed on the Waitangitoana River, in New Zealand's only breeding colony. That's just a few k's north of here and they feed here on the Okarito Lagoon.”

“Yeah? They take tourists to see them, don't they? I saw a tour-company place in a small town north of here.”

“You did – White Heron Sanctuary Tours. They're based in Whataroa and the only way you can get in there is with them. It's a great trip, but the dumb tourists don't realise that they can come here and see them for free. Well, some do, but not many. Pity really.The birds don't take a lot of notice of you if you're out on the water but if you haven't got a boat you can't get up close.”

Tyler said, “Hmmm.”

“Yes! There it is, over there, the Otatoki Creek. You go in first, Tyler and I'll follow you.”

“Me first? Why? It's not booby-trapped is it?”

“Of course not!” Cassie laughed. “I wouldn't do that to you and, anyway, Aunt Kathleen would kill me if I did. No,I just want to follow and watch your reaction.”

“My reaction to what?”

“Don't be so suspicious, Cousin. It's just a cool place, that's all.'

“Okay. I'll trust you – once.”

Tyler led the way, paddling slowly from the lagoon into what Cassie called the Otatoki Creek. He soon stopped and sat quietly looking around. “See all the Beauty that Surrounds You,” he quoted.

She said that it was one, but it was like no creek that he'd ever seen. This was no small, bubbling and swirling waterway; this was wide, green and serene. The blue sky could still be seen, in places, above the trees, but everything else was a million shades of green.

Well, there were some browns, but even most of the tree trunks and branches were festooned with a host of green epiphytes and parasites. There were a few brightly coloured flowers, dotted around here and there, and the tangled mass of foliage went all the way down to the water which was green as well and even calmer and flatter than out in the lagoon. There didn't seem to be any current flowing at all.

“Well, what d'you think?” Cassie came up alongside hiim.

“I think that Heaven must look like this. Oh, Cassie! This is absolutely gorgeous, I love it.”

“So do we all,” she smiled. “What makes it even better is that it's all perfectly safe. There's no snakes or other creepy-crawlies looking to kill you, unlike some countries. Come on then, we'll paddle upstream a bit and there's a clearing with a small beach where we can stop and have some lunch.”

“Already?”

“Well, yeah!”

They started moving again, gliding along. He was startled when the silence around them was suddenly broken by a pair of Kereru, or Native New Zealand Wood Pigeons, noisily flapping above them. Cassie laughed at the look on his face. “Noisy buggers, aren't they? You often hear them long before you see them.”

“They're noisy. Another rare bird, but I suppose you'll tell me that they're common around here too?”

“You've got it – heaps of them. There's over 70 bird species around here, including our very own Rowi.”

“What's a Rowi?”

“It's a kiwi, a little brown one. Rowi are the rarest species of kiwi, there's only about 300 of them in the world and they all live here, around Okarito.”

“Really? This must be a bird-lovers' paradise.”

“Yep. What they can see of it, that is.”

“Hmm,” said Tyler.

They stopped and ate the lunch, sitting on the so-called beach – actually a gently-sloping bank of stones, all covered in thick green moss which made great seat-cushions. Some bird-song could be heard, but not much.

“It's so quiet here!” Tyler commented.

“Now it is,” Cassie replied. “But not in the summer. Then, there's bloody cicadas everywhere, singing their little hearts out. Some years they're so thick you can't hear yourself think.

Mind you, they spend about 17 years as nymphs burrowing underground, and then come out to fly and breed for a few weeks in the summer sunshine. It's no wonder they sing, I would too. Still bloody noisy though.”

“You know a lot about nature, Cassie. People miss a lot living in a city.”

“They do. That's why I don't, and I never will. I like it here.”

“Y'know, I think I do too.”

“Shot!” she grinned.

“Shot?”

“Yeah. Shot in the heart – like Cupid's arrows. Speaking of which, what time are you expecting Bevan?”

“Cassie!” He protested with a grin and a blush. “He said that he'll come over after school, around 4 o'clock.”

“Plenty of time then. We'll go a bit further up the creek, and then start making our way back.”

The creek soon got too narrow and choked with fallen trees etc for them to proceed any further. They actually had to reverse a bit before the long kayaks could turn around to go back. It wasn't obvious, but there was some current flowing in the water because the downstream trip took no effort at all.

Tyler actually used the paddles to brake a couple of times, he was in no hurry to leave there, and then they just drifted along, occasionally dipping a paddle to steer.

Back out on the wide waters of the lagoon they travelled homeward, staying close to the north 'shore', where the bush met the water. There were a lot of birds, including a couple of Kotuku, away out past them on the water. They weren't upset at all by the humans passing by, they just ignored them and got on with their lives.

Tyler was quiet. He just flashed lots of grins to show how much he was liking it.

All too soon they came down the lagoon to the point opposite Bob and Kathleen's home, and they turned to cross over there. A light wind was disturbing the surface now, but it wasn't enough to make the going any harder. Someone was over there, standing by the water's edge, waiting for them.

“Bevan's there already!” Tyler exclaimed. “Come on, Cassie, I'll race you over there.” He started paddling faster.

Cassie sped up to match him. “I thought you said, 'no racing'?”

“I changed my mind – Come on, Old Lady!”

“I'll show you who's an old lady, you cheeky little shit!”

They cut across the water like surfaced torpedos, racing for home. Cassie won by a narrow margin when they slid up onto the grassy verge. She got out and danced around, celebrating her win and cheering for herself.

She had to because no-one else was cheering, the two boys were busy grinning at each other.

Okarito, 8

The boat shed was like a long garage with pairs of big doors at the back and at the front where a wooden ramp led down into the water. There were boats and water toys of all descriptions in there – prams, dinghies, large and small, deflated inflatables, kid-sized open topped canoes and, best of all, four fiber-glass, two-man kayaks.

“There you go,” Bob grinned at the look on Tyler's face. “I told you we had a lot. We had a lot of kids, they grew up by the water and these were their toys. Take your pick, use any that you like, but make sure that you wear a life-jacket when you're out there. We don't want you drowning yourself.”

“I don't want that either. This is choice. Thanks.”

He selected a kayak, (they were all the same). Bob fitted a life-vest on him, handed him the oars and told him to sit in the seat. He did and Bob pushed it forward and onto the ramp.

“Hold the oars up high and hold your breath.”

One shove and the kayak slid down the ramp and out onto the water. He paddled around for a while, rapidly gaining in competence and confidence, until he had to come in when his grandmother called them for dinner.

They left the kayak, oars and vest up on the small beach in front of the house. In the kitchen, Kathleen told them to sit down and announced that their meal would be pizzas.

“Pizza?” Tyler questioned.

“Yes, pizza. You do like them don't you? I thought every boy did.”

“I like pizza, but you are such a great cook it seems odd for you to be buying take-aways.”

“They're not take-aways,” his grandfather said. “These are home-made. Your grandmother makes her own pizzas and they're much better than any you'll buy in town.”

“I do cheat a bit these days,” Kathleen smiled, pleased with the compliments. “I buy the bases and add my own fillings and sauces. I just thought that it was time we ate some boy-food.”

“Sounds good to me,” Tyler smiled. “But everything you make tastes good. I'll be getting fat if I stay here!”

“Let's hope you get fat then.”

She took three large pizzas out of the oven and slid them onto the platters on the table, then quickly cut them into segments with the pizza-cutting wheel thingamie.

“Right then,” she sat down. “There's seafood, vegetarian and the meat one. Eat up, but I'll be surprised if we finish the lot.”

“So will I,” Tyler agreed. “They're huge.”

“Ah, but they're good.” Bob helped himself to a slice of each one.

There was silence for a while while they ate, but lots of grins showed Kathleen that her efforts were appreciated. They all looked up when a car stopped outside, and then relaxed again when it drove away.

“False alarm,” Kathleen said.

“Yes. They must've thought better of it,”Bob said.

“They must have thought better of what?” A tall, slender girl with short dark hair slapped the frame of the open hallway door and walked into the kitchen.

“Cassie!” Bob exclaimed. “I meant that whoever was in the car must've thought twice about interrupting us while we were eating. Apparently I was wrong.”

“You were wrong, Uncle.” She pulled out a chair and sat down opposite Tyler. “But I'm not interrupting. You keep on eating and I'll join you if I may?”

“You may, seeing as you're already here,” Kathleen said. “Tyler, this is your cousin, Cassie. She's Bevan's big sister and she is a very pushy person.”

“Hey! No I'm not. We're all family here, aren't we? Bevan came home raving about the wonderful new cousin he met today, so I had to come and see for myself. Hey, Tyler, I'm your something-or-other cousin. I'm the brains of the family.”

“Also the Mouth of the South,” Kathleen said. “Okay, Cassie, get a plate from the cupboard and help yourself. There's plenty here and you could do with some meat on those bones.”

“Cool, thanks, Aunty. But I don't want to put weight on and start looking matronly.”

“I'd shut up now if I were you,” Bob smiled.

Tyler watched her while he ate. He swallowed and said, “Bevan's sister? You don't look at all like him.”

“Of course I don't. I'm much more butch than he is. He is different, isn't he? I'd say he was adopted but I vividly remember Mum's big fat belly before he arrived. Maybe they switched babies in the hospital.”

“They did not,” Kathleen said. “Bevan is very much your mother's son. You just take more after your father.”

“Didn't get Dad's brains though, did I? I think I got my brains from my Great-Uncle Bob, eh?”

“Don't think so. I've still got my brain, but you do seem to have a similar one – good at figures. Cassie's a very bright girl, Tyler, and it's going to waste. She flew through university and now she's at home doing nothing except annoying everybody.”

“Oh, that's cruel. I was rotten homesick at varsity, but now I'm back and I'm bored. I don't want to go away again but there's no decent jobs around here. Mind you, if a certain rich uncle was to buy me a car, I could find a job in Franz Josef. That's only a few minutes away from here.”

“Franz is a good half hour away on our narrow back-country roads. Find yourself another rich uncle, Girlie. I'm not buying you a car so you can kill yourself.”

“But I wouldn't! Tyler, beloved cousin, how rich are you?” She grinned across the table.

He grinned back. “Not that much. Not rich at all actually.”

“Oh, shame. Nevermind, something will turn up.”

“I thought you said you were bored,” Kathleen snorted.

“Yeah, that too. Good pizza, Auntie. We should go into business together – you make the pizzas and I'll look after the money.”

“That won't be happening either,” Kathleen shook her head. “Bevan was impressed with Tyler, was he?”

“Very much. The word we keep hearing is 'wonderful'. 'Wonderful, wonderful boy.'”

“Hey! I'm not that great. I'm pretty ordinary really.”

“Ordinary is one thing that you're not,” Bob said. “Who dropped you off here, Cassie? We heard a car stop, and then leave.”

“Oh, Uncle, what big ears you have! It was Jeffery actually. He stopped to say hello, so I hitched a ride with him. He says hello by the way, Tyler. He'll come and see you when he's not busy – if that ever happens.”

“The cop?” said Tyler. “He's a nice guy.”

“He is that. I might even marry him if I can't get a better offer.”

“Cassie!” Kathleen growled. Best offer is no basis for a marriage, and you know that.”

“Yeah, I know. Sheesh, Auntie, I was just joking. Anyway, he hasn't asked me yet. He is a good guy though. I like him. So, Toby Tyler, tell us all about yourself and show me one of these amazing smiles that Bevan was so impressed with.”

“Cassie!” He showed her a shy version of the smile. “It's just Tyer. Toby Tyler was a character in a book – 'Toby Tyler or Ten Weeks With A Circus.'”

“That's the one. You are a bright boy!”

“Not really. When you've got a name like mine, old people say 'Toby Tyler' all the time.”

“Oi! Who you calling old?”

“Oh, nobody. My other granddad often called me that when I was little and he read the book to me several times. I think he liked it more than me though.”

“The book about the orphan boy who ran away and joined the circus. A bit like you really – welcome to the circus, all we need is a tent. I'll sell the tickets, Uncle Bob can be the ringmaster and Aunt Kathleen will be the lion-tamer. They wouldn't dare not obey her.”

“Behave yourself, Cassie,” Kathleen smiled.

Even with the extra mouth, they didn't finish all of the pizza. Several slices went into the fridge, wrapped in Gladwrap. Kathleen closed the door and said, “They'll do for lunch tomorrow. I'll pack you a picnic lunch, Tyler.”

“Oh? And where we are picnicing tomorrow?” Cassie queried.

“Dunno. Somewhere out there. Grandfather has lent me a kayak and I'm going to go and explore the lagoon a bit.”

“Sounds like fun. Can I come?”

“Well,” he hesitated. “Yeah, okay. Why not?”

“It's a date then,” Cassie grinned.

“Told you she was pushy,” Bob nodded.

“It's okay. I don't mind. It'll be good to have some company, I guess.”

“You guess? Don't sound so sure. I haven't been out there in yonks. There's some really cool places, especially in the river mouths. I'll show you around and be your guide for the day.”

“That'll be good.”

“It will. I'll send you the bill.”

“The bill? What for, being my guide?”

“Right.”

“Fine, and I'll send you my bill,” he grinned.

“Your bill? What're you billing me for?”

“For joining my touring party, of course.”

“Oh. We'll just say that they cancel each other out then. We've got a sharp one here, Uncle. Looks like there's another businessman in the family.”

“Could be,” Bob smiled.

They cleaned-up the kitchen, and then all went out to sit on the front verandah to enjoy the evening. Bob and Kathleen lit-up their pipes. Cassie lit a cigarette and offered one to Tyler. He refused, he didn't smoke, and he sat carefully upwind of them all. They sat and chatted.

“What time do we want to get away tomorrow, Tyler?”

“Anytime, but it'd better be early. I want to get back by the time school's out for the day.”

“But you don't go to school.”

“No, but Bevan does.”

“Oho! Coming back again, is he? Do I hear wedding bells?”

“What? No, you do not!”

“Okay, okay. Just kidding. I'm always kidding – gets me into trouble all the time.”

“You think you'd learn then,” Kathleen frowned.

“Learn? Me? Not likely. Is that the kayak you'll be using?”

“That's it.”

“Right then. I'll paddle home in it, when I go, and come back early tomorrow. Okay?”

“Sure. We'd better get another life-jacket for you. Is that okay, Grandfather?”

“Of course it's okay. I don't want to see Cassie out there without one. We'll go and get one now. Do you want another kayak too?”

“Yeah, good thanks. It'd be bloody hard to race if we're both sitting in the same one.”

“I'm not racing!” Tyler protested.

“We'll see about that, Sunshine. We'll see.” Cassie grinned.

Next morning, early, Tyler was up, dressed and ready to go, sitting on the seat looking out over the lagoon. The front door opened and his grandmother came out with a bag in one hand and 2 mugs of coffee in the other.

“There you are, Tyler. Have you had your morning coffee?”

“Good morning. You're up early.”

“I usually am. Do you want this drink or shall I throw it out?”

“Don't do that. I've had one but can handle another. Thanks.”

“You're welcome. There's a lunch for you in the bag. I've packed plenty because Cassie will want some too. You wouldn't think it to look at her but that girl eats like a horse.”

“Great, thanks. I've never done this before, so we'll probably stop for a rest somewherer if we find a nice quiet spot.”

“Sunshine, once you get over to the north end of the lagoon you'll be hard-pressed to find any places that are not nice and quiet. I haven't been out there for years but I loved it when I was younger.You're not, of course, but it's easy to imagine that you're the first person ever to explore in the waterways.

It's all in its natural and original state and there's no signs of man anywhere. With the thick rain-forest everywhere, every river you go up has a picture-postcard scene around every bend. Its best seen on a sunny day and you've got a great day for it.”

“It is a great day, isn't it? Blue sky, calm water, clear air and not a breath of wind. Even the town looks good.”

“And didn't we tell you that it would?”

“You did, but – wow! Such a difference.”

“Now you see why we like it here. All this and the people of course. Someone's coming. Your eyes are better than mine; is that Cassie or not?”

“Yes! That's her, coming at last.” Tyler put his mug down and stood up.

“Been waiting for a while, have you?”

“For ages. I was awake before dawn.”

“That early? You need to get out of that tent and into the house where you can sleep in the mornings.”

“One day maybe, but not yet. I'll put the life-jacket on.”

“There's no hurry, finish your coffee. It will be a few minutes before she gets here. It's hard to judge distances over the water you know.”

“I guess you'd know.” He sat down again and drank. “Shame that Bevan's not coming too.”

“Oh?” she smiled. “You said he'll be here after school. Don't go encouraging him to skip school. He takes far too many days off as it is.”

“How does he get away with that?”

“The fact that he is far and away the brightest student they've got has probably got a lot to do with it.Also, nobody makes Bevan do what he doesn't want to. He's a stubborn as a mule.”

“Don't you like Bevan, Grandmother? I do, I liked him a lot.”

“I got that impression,” she smiled. “I knew you would. I do like him, I like him very much, but I'm glad that I'm not responsible for him.”

“Maybe he's just responsible for himself, like I am.”

“Maybe you're right. I hope he doesn't stuff his life up. I hope you don't too. I've seen far too many kids who've never reached their full potential.”

“I think that the best thing in life is to be happy and content with what you've got.”

“Could be. It's very true that money doesn't buy happiness, it helps of course, but you need more than that.”

For today, I'm happy and glad to be here. Thanks, Grandmother.”

“Thank you, Lad. We're very happy to have you here.”

When Cassie arrived Tyler was kitted-up, in the kayak, in the water and waiting to go.”

“What, don't I even get a rest?” she protested.

“Rest if you want to,” he replied. I'll start and you can catch up. Which way do we go?”

“We go this way,” she started moving. “Bye, Auntie. We'll see you later.”

“You'd better! Have fun, Kids, and don't drown him, Cassie.”

“We'll try not to,” she waved and they went.

Kathleen stood smiling and nodding as she watched them paddling obliquely along the lagoon, a ruffled V shaped wake trailing behind and spreading over the flat water.

'Good choice, Cassie,' she thought. 'You're taking him to Otatoki Creek, up at the top-end. That's probably my favourite place. Enjoy it, Kids, and take care.'

She went inside to clean-up, (again!)

Okarito, 7

They finished their drinks, and then Tyler stood up. “Can I have a look at your surfboard?”

Bevan stood beside him. “It's a paddleboard, but, yeah, you can have a look.”

They went over to where the board was lying on the grass just above the water's edge.

“It must be so fun, getting around the lagoon on that,” Tyler said. “I'm really jealous of you now.”

“Of me? Sheesh! You don't need to be jealous, but you're not riding on my board. Not today anyway.”

“Oh? I wasn't going to ask, but why couldn't I? Don't you like people borrowing it?”

“Don't know. No-one's ever asked. But you're not; Aunt Kathleen said that you haven't seen a paddleboard before, so you wouldn't know to manage it. You might, maybe, be able to get going with the paddle, but I haven't got it here. I used the kite today and you'd never manage that – it takes heaps of practice. I'll come back, with the paddle, late tomorrow. If you're still here, you can have a go then.”

“I could? Thanks, but I won't be here tomorrow.”

“It's up to you,” Bevan shrugged. “No-one's making you go; change your plans and stay a while. Bob and Kathleen would be delighted. If you want to go out on the water before I get back, Bob's got lots of kayaks, a whole shed full of them. Ask him and he'll lend you one. Can you swim?”

“A bit, yes.”

“Wear a lifejacket then. He's got lots of them too.”

“Well . . okay. I might stay for one day. Does it have to be late tomorrow when you come back? Couldn't you make it earlier?”

“Nope. I've got school tomorrow.”

“You're still in school?”

“I am, worse luck – in year 11.”

“Why aren't you there today then?”

“Because I'm having a day off.”

“But why are you?”

“What is this, twenty questions? I just am, okay. I felt like it,' Bevan grinned widely.

“You just take a day off whenever you feel like it?”

“Sure. Why not? It's not like I'm being paid to be there or anything.”

“You still should be there, it's the law. Kids have to go to school and it's good for them.”

“Whatever,” Bevan shrugged. “Why aren't you in school? You're a kid.”

“Oh but I'm not. I'm an adult, so I don't have to go.”

“An adult? You? No way!”

“Yes I am. Legally I am anyway.”

“You're legally an adult? How did you manage that?”

“It's a long story. Briefly, I went to court and the judge said that I'm an adult now.”

“Judges can do that?”

“They can, in the right circumstances. I wasn't planning on leaving school, that was just a bonus.”

“What were you planning on?”

“I told you, it's a long story. Basically, I wanted to be declared independent and in control of my own life. I found out later that I could leave school, so I did.”

“Lucky! Maybe I should do that too.”

“Has your relationship with your parents or caregivers irretrievably broken down, and have you got a lot of money for a lawyer?”

“Well, no, and no.”

“So you can't then. Enjoy your schooldays and make the most of them. They're meant to be the best days of your life.”

“Listen to who's talking! Why didn't you stay there if you believe that?

“It wasn't true for me. I hated the place. Do you hate your school?”

“Hate? No, not really. I just get bored.”

“Bored so you take a day off?”

“Sometimes, yeah. I'd better be going home before the wind drops. It was good to meet you – really good. I'll be back tomorrow, will you be here?”

“Yes, I think I will be here. It was good to meet you too. What time will you come back?”

“Around 4.30 to 5 o'clock. Tell Aunt Kathleen that I'll be here for dinner.”

“Sure thing. I'll tell her, I'll look forward to it.”

“Yeah, me too. Now I'll get the kite into the air, and then you can watch an expert.”

“An expert?”

“That's me! Of course, now I've said that I'll probably fall and make a fool of myself – again.”

He didn't. He launched the kite, and then the board, and sailed away with ease. Like the Cheshire Cat, the last impression he left Tyler with was his happy smile. He had a great grin.

Tyler so envied him, happily sailing out there. He'd stay for one more day. It'd be worth it to try out the paddleboard, and even more to see Bevan again; he liked him. Why? He didn't know, he just did.

Bevan was thinking much the same thing while he sailed over the water. He liked this new cousin very much. He was nice to look at, but more than that, he was interesting, stimulating and, well, nice. Growing up in a small town where he knew most everyone, and brighter than most of them, Bevan was basically bored. So an interesting stranger was a welcome sight. Plus – he liked him.

Tyler stood and watched until Bevan was out of sight, and then he went back to the tent and tidied up again. He went over to the front of the house and sat on the seat, waiting for his grandparents to come back. They shouldn't be much longer; they said they were only going in to work for a couple of hours.

He wasn't in any great hurry anyway, the seat was comfortable and he'd never get tired of studying the view out there – something about it felt like home. He slept.

He woke with a start when a car pulled in at the baclk of the house and the doors banged shut.

'Damm', he thought. 'Who's this? Not more nosy relatives, I hope.'

The back door opened, and then closed and footsteps came up the bare wooden-floored hall to the front of the house. He, briefly, considered going and hiding around in the next bay again, but decided he wouldn't. He had as much right to be there as anyone did and, if it was not the grandparents, he'd just tell them to get lost. Or, maybe he would. He'd met one other family member so far and was glad that he did.The door opened and Kathleen came out, closely followed by Bob. “Hello Tyler. We're back at last. It took longer than we expected because your granddad was held up. I hope you weren't too bored here alone.”

“I wasn't bored at all, thanks, and I wasn't alone either. Bevan came to see me.”

“Ah, good. I asked him to and I hoped he would but you can never be sure with Bevan. He basically does what he wants, when he wants and no-one tells him what to do.”

“Sounds a bit like me,” Tyler grinned.

“Yes,” Bob agreed. “We'd already worked that out. So what did you think of Bevan?”

“He's different but I liked him, really liked him. He's coming back again tomorrow after school finishes.”

“That is good news,” Kathleen beamed. “I knew you two would hit it off. So will you be staying with us for another day?”

“If it's all right with you, yes I'd like to.”

Bob said, “It's more than all right, Tyler. It's all good. Stay as long as you like and the longer the better.”

“I will then. Thanks, Grandfather. Is there anywhere in town where I can hire a canoe for the day? I'd love to explore the lagoon tomorrow.”

“You want to hire a canoe? No, there's nowhere where you can do that and there damm-well should be! There's a whole water-wonderland out there and hardly anyone ever sees it.

Some of the locals have got small boats but no-one hires them to visitors. I've often thought that there's a great business opportunity being missed there. We get a lot of visitors, they come for the surfing, but no-one seems interested in taking their money off them.”

Kathleen said, “The sort of visitors we get don't have much money anyway. They're mostly hard-up students and surfers and they're all sleeping in their cars and doing everything on the cheap. There's a camping ground by the beach but most of them don't even use that.”

“They're not the only visitors we get,” Bob disagreed. “There's quite a few family groups too. They rent out the holiday homes. Mostly in the summer though.”

“Right,” Kathleen nodded. “Nobody comes in the winter or spring and they generally don't have a lot of money to spend either.”

“Everyone on holiday spends some money. Kayaking on the lagoon and waterways wouldn't have to cost mega bucks. Apart from the setting-up costs, it would be a low-maintainance, low-cost business to run. If hiring kayaks was available, more people would be attracted here. Franz Josef township is only 15 kilometers away. Do you have any idea how many tourists they get there?”

“It must be a few.”

“A few! According to the tourism people, up to 2700 per day, and that's not counting the through traffic, just the ones who stop and go up to the glacier.”

“That many? That's a lot of people.”

“It is. There's a huge market there just waiting to be tapped into. Anyway, Lad, you don't have to hire a canoe. We've got a shed full of boats of all shapes and sizes. They're just sitting there gathering dust and you're very welcome to use any that you want to.”

“Thanks, Grandfather. I'd like to do that. I could pay you for the use of one.”

“You bloody could not! They're toys for the family to use and you are family. We wouldn't dream off taking money off you.”

“My other family would; they wouldn't think twice about it.”

“Well we're not them. Pay us with a smile. If you enjoy it, that's all the payment we'd need.”

“Thanks,” Tyler nodded. “I'm really glad to have met you both.”

“Not half as glad as we are to have met you,” Kathleen said. “By the way, I was talking to Jeffrey in town today. He wanted to know how you were.”

“The Cop? That's nice.”

“He's a nice guy. He said they've got some old manacles in the station, ball and chain type things. We could borrow them to keep you here if we wanted to. I wouldn't do that, but can't say I wouldn't be tempted if that's what it took.”

“That won't be necessary,” Tyler grinned. “I like it here. I'll stay a couple of nights anyway.”

“Excellent! I'd better get some dinner started. You go with your grandfather and he'll show you the boats. You can choose which one you want. Even better, try them all - one per day would keep you here for a couple of weeks at least..”

“Just one is enough, thank you.”

“Oh well,” Bob sighed. “It was worth a try. Come on then, come and see what we've got.”

Okarito, 6

Next morning, the Roddens were up early, as usual. While Kathleen got started in the kitchen, Bob went out to see if Tyler would join them for breakfast. The tent was open and empty and there was no sign of him anywhere. So, where?

He walked down to the water's edge and along to the corner where Tyler had disappeared around the day before. He was there all right, he was on his way back and he greeted his grandfather with a big smile.

“Hey, Granddad. It's a better day today. Do you think we'll get sunshine?”

“As well as the sunshine of your smile?” Bob replied looking up at the sky. “I'm not sure. It looks a bit patchy, but it might clear as the day warms up.”

“Or it might not.”

“Yes, it might not. It doesn't look too bad though. Are you hungry? Breakfast is nearly ready.”

“A cooked breakfast? Sounds good, but all we seem to do is eat.”

“And what's wrong with that?”

“Not a lot. Let's go eat.”

Sitting around the table, the grandparents told him that they had to go into town, to go to work, for an hour or two, but they'd be back as soon as they could. He didn't want to go in with them, he'd just hang around and rest and maybe get some more sleep – which would be nice!

“Grandfather, you said that you work for the Council?”

“I do, I look after their finances.”

“Where do you work, Grandmother?”

“I've got a part-time job in the kitchen and dining-room of the Golden Lead Hotel. It's not much, but I like it.”

“The Golden Lead Hotel? That sounds like something out of the Wild West.”

“That's exactly what it is. The Golden Lead is one of the oldest businesses around, it's been there since the gold-rush days a century ago.”

“Right. But most of them have by the look of the main street.”

“Well, maybe. Businesses come and go, but there are some old buildings there.”

“Old? They're ancient!”

“They're not that old. Are you sure you don't want to come and look around in the daylight?”

“Totally.”

“Okay, we'll leave you here then. Make yourself at home and we'll be back in a couple of hours.”

“I will. Thanks.”

They left him sitting on their front deck and they drove into town, in separate cars. Bob went past with a wave, but Kathleen stopped and spoke to a boy who was walking out of town.

“Hello, Bevan. How are you today?”

“Hey, Auntie. I'm good, how are you?”

“Oh, I'm good – really good. Never been better. How come you're not in school?”

“I'm having a day off.”

“I can see that, but why?”

“Why not?” he grinned.

“All right, you're not telling me. I hope you know what you're doing. We've got a visitor at our place; a grandson who we didn't know we had.”

“I know, I heard that yesterday.”

“News travels fast. His name is Tyler, he's about the same age as you and he'd be your distant cousin. Why don't you go on out and meet him?”

“I think I've got enough cousins. Anyhow, I thought everyone had to stay away because he doesn't want to know us? The snobby prick!”

“He's not a snob, he's just shy. He's had some bad experiences with family and is not keen on meeting more.”

“Suits me. I've got better things to do anyway.”

“Can't they wait? Bevan, he's a nice kid and he's all alone. He could do with a friend. As far as I know, he hasn't got one friend in the whole world.”

“Can't be that nice if no-one likes him.”

“I don't think it was his fault. Things just happened.”

“Yeah well. Nothing to do with me anyway. He's got his life and I've got mine and I have got friends.”

“You're a lucky boy then. Couldn't you go and make someone else lucky too?”

“He doesn't want to know us.”

“That was yesterday, today he's maybe changing his mind. He wants to meet you anyway.”

“Me?”

“Yes you. He saw you last night and was intrigued that he had a cousin who can walk on water.”

“Sheesh! It's just a paddleboard, nothing special.”

“You might think so but for someone who's never seen one before it looked special, especially in the moonlight.”

“It's better in the dark,” Bevan grinned.

“I'll take your word for it,” Kathleen nodded. “And I won't ask what you were doing out there either. Please, Bevan. Do it as a favour for me. You won't be sorry.”

“Well . . yeah, okay. Just for you, Aunty, I'll go and see him sometime.”

“Thank you, but could you make it now? He's there all on his own and he's liable to leave at any time. You're the only one he's said that he is interested in meeting. If he does, he might stay a while longer. I'd really like that.”

“You like this kid, don't you, Aunty?”

“I do. He is our grandson, but apart from that, I just like him. Who knows? You might find that you like him too.”

“Doubt it! Is he gay?”

“As a matter of fact, yes, he said that he is.”

“Of course. Forget about match-making, I'm not available and I'm not interested.”

“I'm not matchmaking, I'm just hoping that you might be friends.”

“Friends? Maybe. I'll go and see what we think of each other. I'm probably too weird for him anyway.”

“You're not weird.”

“You think? Most people wouldn't agree with you.”

“Most people would be wrong then. Thanks, Bevan.”

“Anything for my favourite aunty.”

Walking on home, Bevan watched the wind out on the estuary and smiled widely. 'Very nice! That'll save me a lot of work.'

He arrived home, where he and his family lived, bordering the estuary and below the main road out of town, a couple of houses before the long bridge to the far side. In his room, he changed his sneakers for Crocs – dead ugly but practical shoes when they're going to get wet.

He got his paddleboard from the boatshed at the back, and then laid-out his frameless 'parachute' kite on the back lawn. He lifted the strings to let the breeze fill the kite and, with an even pull, launched it into the air.

The kite took flight and, when it was pulling steadily at the full length of the controlling strings, he nudged the board into the water and carefully stepped on to it. He found his balance and, with the kite pulling gently but constantly, started moving out on the water.

It soon reached a speed that he decided was quite enough, it was almost like water-ski-ing, and he deflected the kite to reduce speed a bit.

Across the estuary, he turned in and sailed up onto the beach below his uncle and auntie's house. A skinny youth stood on the deck watching as he expertly landed the kite on their front lawn. When he'd done that, Bevan turned and grinned at the stranger.

“Hi. You must be Tyler.”

“Yeah, I must be. Who would you be?”

“I'm Bevan, the good-looking cousin. Best-looking one you've got anyway.”

“And so modest!”

“Yeah, that too.”

“The grandparents are not here right now, they've gone to town for a while.”

“I know that. Aunt Kathleen met me and asked me to come and meet you.”

“Why would she do that?”

“She's probably hoping that you'll be so dazzled by my fascinating personality that you'll decide to stay around for a bit.” Bevan walked up on to the deck and sat on the front railing. “Nice here, isn't it?”

“It is,” Tyler looked out at the water. “It's very nice here. I like it a lot. You're not a bit shy, are you?”

“You think? I'll tell you a secret, Cousin, I'm shaking in my shoes here.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean I'm nervous. I'm shy and scared that you'll tell me to fuck off. I just cover it up and no-one knows.”

“But now I know.”

“You do, if you believe me, but you probably don't.”

“Oh yeah!” Tyler laughed. “You're probably right. I usually read people really well, I don't know what to make of you.”

“And that's the way we like it,” Bevan grinned and nodded. Then he got serious. “Most people don't know me. They don't bother with me and I don't bother with them.”

“We're two of a kind then.”

“Yeah, maybe.”

“But you still came over to see me?”

“The wind was blowing this way. No, seriously, Aunt Kathleen asked me to and she's not easy to say no to. Also, I was curious and wanted to have a look at you, just this once.”

“Why just once?”

“Because that's enough. Look, Cousin, you're gay, right?”

“I am. Did my grandmother tell you that?”

“Yeah, she did. Thing is, I'm gay too. No doubts on that score.”

“Okay, we're both gay and we're distantly related. Does that mean we can't be friends?”

“It's not just that. I've got a boyfriend, a possessive and jealous boyfriend. He wouldn't like me being around you and he's quite capable of ripping your head off if he thinks you're getting too close.”

“He could try.”

“He would. It's better if I don't go giving him reason to worry – better for him, better for me and for you too. So we meet, just this once.”

“Fine.” Tyler lost the smile and his back stiffened. “You can go back and tell Grandmother that we've met and I'll start packing up now. I'll stop in town for some supplies, and then I'll be on my way. Goodbye, Bevan.”

“You what? Do you mean you're leaving right now, this minute?”

“Almost this minute. It will take a while to load everything on to my bike.”

“But why?”

“Why not,” Tyler shrugged. “This is not my home. I've done what I was going to do here, the weather's improving so I might as well make the most of it.”

“But Aunty said you were going to stay for a few days.”

“She was wrong then. I've already stayed way longer than I was going to; it's time to go.”

“You've changed your mind. Was that because of me?”

“Whatever. Goodbye.”

“”Hang on. Hang on. Damm, people call me anti-social. I've got nothing on you. How will you ever get to know anyone with an attitude like that?”

“I won't. Why would you care? You don't want to know me anyway.”

“Maybe I do.”

“You said that you don't, apart from this once.”

“Maybe I was wrong too. I'm sorry if I've offended you. That was not right.”

“Sorry? Okay, whatever. Have a nice day.”

“You're still going?”

“Yes.”

“Damm. You're way too sensitive. Bugger off then if you're going. It's your loss.”

“It is? Conceited aren't you?”

“I'm not talking about me. It's your loss if you don't spend more time getting to know your grandparents, they're good people. So are some of the other rellies too, your aunts and uncles. But no, you just pack-up and bugger-off. Your loss and they're all probably better off for not knowing you.”

“What? Why are they better off?”

“You're not that nice a person, are you? You're all prickly and sensitive and anti-social too.”

“You think you know all that after talking to me for about 5 minutes?”

“I do. I told you, we're the same. I look at you and I see me.”

“I'm not you.”

“I know that, but you're like me.”

“And you don't like it?”

“I didn't say that. Don't put words in my mouth.”

“You did say that. You said I'm not a nice person.”

“Maybe. I'm not nice either. I've got the same prickly, sensitive and anti-social traits.”

“And you've got a boyfriend despite that?”

“Yeah,” Bevan grinned. “Lucky, eh?”

“Yes, lucky,” Tyler sighed. “You don't know how lucky. It's never happened for me and I doubt if it ever will.”

“It never will either.”

“What?”

“You heard me. You're never going to get anyone while you keep pushing people away. Moving on all of the time is not helping either, is it?”

“I guess. You're probably right, but . . “

“But nothing. Look, you've got the perfect place here. Make the most of it.”

“What d'you mean? I've got no place here. I've got nothing here.”

“Oh but you have. I don't mean physically, as in owning something. I mean that you've got a place in this town. You're a Rodden, John Rodden's son and Bob and Kathleen's grandson. That means something around here.”

“Like what? The grandparents are not mega-rich or anything. They're just working-class people.”

“I wouldn't be too sure about that. Yes, they both work, but that's more for an interest, something to do. They own their home and property and all that and they've got money in the bank. They don't have to work – not for money anyway.”

“Okay. But that's nothing to do with me. What's theirs is theirs and if they were writing a will I'd be at the end of a very long list.”

“Maybe. But, go into town, go to the bank and apply for an account. Tell them that you're Bob Rodden's grandson and they'll be all over you. Apply for a job in a local business, any job, and they'll put you on top of the list.”

“Because I'm a Rodden? But what if I'm no good at it?”

“Then you won't last, but first they'll give you a chance because of your name. Where else are you going to get opportunities like that?”

“Nowhere, I guess.”

“Damm right, nowhere like here.”

“Are you sure that my grandparents' name would open doors?”

“Of course I am. Try it and see. They've got a good name because they're good people. And it's not just them, there's all the rest of the family too – your family. They're locals, an old-established family, solid and reliable and 'salt of the earth' types.”

“And you are one of them.”

“Yeah, well. No family's perfect – black sheep can pop up anywhere.”

“You don't look black to me.”

“That's because you don't know me. Wait until you do and you'll see.”

“Then I'll see what?”

“That I'm a nutbar. I'm weird, strange, different.”

“Is that a bad thing? Everyone is different and I like what I see, so far.”

“So far. Hang around a while before you make up your mind. But don't be offended if I don't talk next time you see me.”

“Why wouldn't you?”

“Sometimes I don't talk. If I can't be bothered, I talk to no-one for days on end.”

“Yeah?” Tyler grinned, “Are you sure you're totally sane?”

“I'm sure. Are you sure that you are?”

“Yeah. Well, I think so.”

“There you go then. Are you going to offer me a drink or not?”

“You want a drink? Okay. I've got orange, cranberry and black-currant juice or herbal tea. Which would you like?”

“Coffee.”

“We can do that too. Instant coffee with no milk, okay?”

“Sounds fine. Thanks.”

Tyler led the way over to his tent outside the barn. That surprised Bevan; he'd assumed that they would go to the kitchen for a drink. That probably would've been faster and easier, but that was not where they went.

Bevan was going to ask why, but closed his mouth. He was curious about the tent and its contents. This was Tyler's full-time home, apparently. The only home he had.

Tyler dropped down and crawled in through the unsecured door flaps. Bevan followed, as far as the entrance, and he looked inside. It was small space and everything there was neat and tidy and uncluttered. The kid was obviously very well organised, unlike himself.

“Do you want me to go and get some hot water?” Bevan asked.

“No thanks,” Tyler replied. “There's no need. I've got water here and it'll only take a minute to heat it up.”

“How do you do that?”

“On the gas, naturally. It's quicker than an electric kettle.”

Bevan scurried out of the way as Tyler backed out of the tent carrying a lidded-pot on a small gas cooker. He set them down on level ground, lit the gas and crawled back into the tent.

“You've got a miniature kitchen in there!” Bevan looked back inside. “But I'll bet you haven't got an oven.”

“I should take that bet, because you'd lose.”Tyler came out again carrying two mugs. “I have so got an oven.”

“Yeah? Where do you plug it in?”

“I don't. It's a Dutch Oven, so it sits in a fire. Well, technically, it's a Bedourie Oven – same principle but made of stainless steel so it only weighs half as much and it's all-but unbreakable.”

“A Bedourie Oven?”

“Yes. Made in Australia actually – one of the better ideas to come out of Aus.”

“Hey!” Bevan protested. “They make some good stuff in Australia.”

“Like what?”

“Like me. I'm Australian, I was born there.”

“Yeah? What're you doing here then? They kick you out?”

“Haha, very funny. No, they did not. I was just a baby, my Mum had post-natal depression, quite bad apparently, and she was rotten homesick so they came back.”

“Back to Okarito?”

“Yeah, to their hometown, where their family is and here we are.”

“So we are.”

Tyler poured the almost-boiling water to make their drinks and handed one to Bevan. “Sugar it yourself, you know how you like it.”

“I do. Thanks, Cousin.”

“You're welcome, Cousin.” He extinguished the gas flame, then took the spoon from Bevan and sweetened his own drink.

They sat, facing each other, under the awning on the front of the tent and chatted quietly about this and that. Both of them were smiling quietly, enjoying the moment and thinking how well this encounter was going.

“So,” Tyler said, when the conversation stalled. “Tell me about your boyfriend. Where did you meet and how long have you been a couple?”

“Boyfriend? What boyfriend? I haven't got one and never have had.”

“But you said that you did.”

“No I didn't.”

“Yes you did! You said you had a boyfriend, that he was jealous and wouldn't like you being around me and that he'd rip my head off, or something.”

“Did not.”

“You did so.”

“Okay, yeah, I did. I lied.”

“Lied? What would you do that for?”

“Because, that's what I do. I'm a liar and I'm very good at it too.”

“You're good at lying?”

“Yes. No. That's a lie too. I'm a pathological liar and everything I say is a lie, including that statement.”

“So you're lying when you say that you're lying? Bevan, my head is spinning now!”

“So you want to take a break?”

“I think I need to.”

“Yeah, so do I,” he said with a grin.

Okarito, 5

“Okay then. I'm not fretting about it or anything, usually I don't even think about them, but I fell way out with my family. It was over money of course. My other grandparents had some money and several properties around Auckland. There was the family home, in Brown's Bay on the Shore, and a couple of shops, some rental houses and flats. Grandfather knew that he was dying so he drew up a plan and Grandmother followed through on it after he'd gone.

The insurance paid off all the mortgages so all the properties were debt free and she sold them all. Added to their savings and other investments, it came to quite a lot of money and it was all left to me, but put in a trust until I 'attained a legal majority'. Grandmother was a lawyer when she was younger and the lawyer who I later engaged was delighted by that phrase.

This is getting very long-winded. Briefly, Grandmother died too and there was a huge battle over the money. My mother tried to get her hands on it but both of their wills were very specific that she was not to get a cent of it, and she didn't.”

“This was their own daughter?” said Mr. Rodden.

“Yes. They knew her well and they knew that she couldn't handle it. She would've blown the lot and probably killed herself while she was doing it. The plan was for me to look after her, but that's not going to happen.

Anyway, she tried and failed to get the money, and then her brothers and sister tried as well. They failed too. I had a very good lawyer and they didn't have a chance. It was a battle but we won, or rather my lawyer did.

I knew that he'd be expensive, you get what you pay for and he was the best. But I never dreamed just how much it was all going to cost – almost half of the entire inheritance. It was legalised theft, but I was stuck with it. Still, you've got to look on the bright side, I had money, I was emancipated with all the status of a legal adult and I was free.

I bought the bike, trailer and camping gear so that I can live cheap and travel around the country. The rest of the money is invested to give me an income. It's not much, but it's enough. So, here I am, travelling light, unencumbered and free.”

“And alone,” said his grandmother.

“I am, and that's good.”

“Where is your mother now?”

“I don't know and I don't care. She was in Auckland, living with some old drunk, last I heard.”

“But why did your grandparents want the money to go to you and not to their own daughter?”

“They loved her , gave us a home and looked after her when they could, but she hurt them time and time again. My mother is a drunk with multiple addictions. She's been through recovery heaps of times, always getting just well enough to go back and have another go. If she had money, she'd blow it and kill herself.”

“She sounds like a sad case.”

“I guess.” Tyler shrugged.

His grandfather frowned at him. “She is your mother. Don't you have any feelings for her at all?”

“I don't. She killed that a long time ago.”

“I'm sorry. What do you mean by that?”

“What do I mean?” He looked from one grandparent to the other, and then unbuttoned and pushed back the long sleeve on his left arm. Silently, he showed it to them.

The Roddens looked and looked closer at the row of angry red and round scars, like dots in a line on his inner forearm, from the wrist to the elbow. “Oh, Tyler!” his grandmother sighed. “What happened?”

“Cigarette burns.” He pulled the sleeve down to cover his arm again. “They shocked the court too. Did you ever stop stop a child crying by hurting him so much that he was afraid to cry? No? Well some people did.”

“Your mother?”

“Yes.” he nodded.

“Okay, I think I can see why you don't want to know family, but I promise you that nothing like that ever happened to any of ours. Your mother was a sick woman.”

“Is a sick woman,” Tyler agreed. “But it's over now. Can we talk about something else?

“Yes,” said his grandmother. “Come inside and we'll eat.”

They ate again, sitting around the table in the kitchen. It was great food and very 'more-ish', but, even after just one day, Tyler felt heavier. Just as well he wasn't staying, he'd finish up as big as a house if he lived there.

Finished eating, they cleaned-up, and then went out to sit on the deck at the front of the house. It was a warm and pleasant evening with not a breath of wind. The wide water before them was flat and calm, probably. It was hard to see because it was very dark by then, but the twinkling lights of the town over at the far side were reflected on the surface.

Something was moving on the water, the lights danced on the ripples.

Two matches flared next to him, interfering with his night vision. Both of his grandparents were lighting pipes!

“Grandmother, you smoke a pipe?”

“I do, sometimes. Why does everyone comment on my smoking and not on your grandfather doing exactly the same thing?”

“Men smoke pipes, sometimes, but it's rare for a woman to do it. I don't think I've ever seen it before.”

“Well, now you have. I don't smoke a lot, just the occasional pipeful, but it's nice sitting here on a quiet evening. Your grandfather has smoked a pipe ever since I've known him. The smell of it used to annoy me no end, so I thought I'd try it myself and see how he liked it. It didn't worry him at all, but I like it too.”

“Good for you,” Tyler smiled. “It's got to be better for you than ciggies.”

“I take it that you don't smoke at all?” his grandfather asked.

“No way! I need my lungs.”

“Good for you too. Don't ever start, it's damm near impossible to stop once you do.”

“I won't start. It doesn't interest me at all and I can't afford it anyway.”

“Yes. It's an expensive hobby, or addiction or whatever, but it's my only vice, we're getting too old for anything else.”

“You're not old, Granddad. Oh, wow! Look at that!”

The patchy clouds broke apart and the full moon shone out in all its silvery glory. The whole scene, the estuary, the town and the bush-clad hills behind it, were lit-up almost as bright as day but without the colours. Everything there was in shades of silver, white and shadowed black.

Awestruck, Tyler rose to his feet and stood staring out across the water. “Who's that?” he whispered.

Silouhetted against the silvery water, a slight figure was coming towards them.

“Who is what?” Bob replied. He turned to where Tyler was staring and sighed. “They just never listen, do they? Sorry, Lad. Don't worry, I'll chase him away.”

“But who is it?”

“Just another one of your nosy cousins. Stay there and I'll get rid of him.”

“No, don't. Please let him come if he wants to.”

“Are you sure? They were all told to stay away and leave you alone for today.”

“I'm sure. The day is more-or-less over over now. Thanks for that. I'd like to see this cousin who can walk on the water. Is it shallow enough to walk right across the lagoon?”

“Definitely not!” Bob laughed. “That will be Bevan. If anyone could walk on the water, it would be him, but he's not really, he's got a paddleboard.”

“Bevan is a cousin?”

“A kind of a cousin. He's my brother, Len's grandson, so that would make him what?” he looked to his wife.

She replied, “He'd be Tyler's third cousin, I think.”

“So he's a distant cousin? How old is he?”

“He's fifteen – fifteen going on fifty. Bevan is an old soul, he was born old.”

“How can you be born old?”

“I don't know, but some people are. Bevan is one of them.”

“Interesting. I'd like to meet him.”

“So you shall then,” said Bob. But he didn't.

Bevan didn't stop, he just paddled past them. Bob went down to the water's edge and called out to him, but there was no reply, he just kept going.

“Sorry,” he said, coming back up on the deck. “It seems that he doesn't want to meet you right now. Maybe you'll see him tomorrow.”

Tyler watched the boy getting ever more distant as he paddled away across the lagoon. “Tomorrow will be too late,” he said. “Tomorrow I'll be gone.”

“You don't have to you know,” said his grandmother. “You said that your time is your own, why don't you stay a few days? You know that you'd be very welcome. Stay here with us, in your tent if you prefer, have a look around and get to know something of your father's background. The weather forecast is not good for the next few days, but it must stop raining eventually.”

Tyler looked up at the dark clouds in the silvery sky and nodded. “Sooner or later, yes.” He looked down at the now-distant figure out on the water. “Okay, thank you. I will stay here for one or two days, and then I must go.”

“Must?”

“Will go then.”

“But you'll stay awhile. Will you sleep in the house?”

“I don't think so. My tent has all that I need, thanks.”

“As long as you're sure. There's a good big and comfy bed in the house any time you want it.”

“I know, thanks. While we're on that subject, I'm going to my bed very soon now.”

“Oh? It's dark but it's still early you know.”

“Early for you, maybe. I didn't get much sleep last night and I'm used to going to bed early – early to bed, early to rise.”

“Makes a man healthy, happy and wise,” his grandmother finished the rhyme.

“Well, maybe. It's hard to sleep in the tent after daylight. No, I'm not coming into the house!”

“Stubborn little thing,” his grandfather smiled. “How'd you know what I was thinking?”

“Just did. I've learnt to be stubborn, I've had to be.”

“Fair enough then. Would you like a drink and some supper before you go?”

“Nope. We've only just eaten. It was a great meal too, thanks Grandmother.”

“You're very welcome. It's a pleasure to cook for someone who enjoys his food. Your grandfather is getting harder and harder to satisfy.”

“Hey! I'm not fussy, I just can't eat as much as I used to. That happens when you get older.”

Okarito, 4

They sat around the kitchen table, looking at old family photographs. It really was amazing how much Tyler looked like John and also like his grandfather in the few old black and whites that they had of him as a boy.

Eventually, Mrs. Rodden ordered them out of her kitchen while she started preparing the evening meal.

“I don't like having people underfoot when I'm working in the kitchen. Go away. Go for a walk or something.”

“Fine,” said her husband. “Come on, Tyler, we'll sit out the front and you can have another look at that view that you liked so much.”

“Great. But are you sure that I can't help you, Grandmother? I'm a good cook.”

“Maybe you are, but you can help me best by going away. Shoo!”

They went through the house, leaving the doors open on the way, and sat together on the long bench seat on the covered porch out at the front. The afternoon sun had broken through the clouds lighting up the town over the placid water. It looked great.

They both knew that it was the distance that made the town look good. Up close, the commercial buildings were worn and weather-beaten, faded and jaded. The town was getting old and the glory days had gone. They were hanging on, but there wasn't a lot of money there.

There were a lot of empty and boarded-up buildings up and down the main street; Tyler had seen that in his look-around the night before. But, from a distance and shining in the sunshine, the town looked good. He was beginning to see what they meant by 'glorious on a sunny day'.

But, the sunshine was fleeting. The clouds closed in again and the grayness returned. “Nice while it lasted,” Bob Rodden sighed. “Funny thing you know, if there's the least bit of rain on an otherwise sunny day, the weather-office people will always say, it rained in South Westland today. But it doesn't work the other way around, a few minutes' sunshine isn't reported as a sunny day. That is just ignored.”

“But not by you.”

“No. We appreciate all that we get. Oh, oh, here's trouble!” He stood up and looked back through the house. An extremely loud car had pulled in at the back, thumping music pouring from its open windows.

“Damm!” Mr. Rodden stressed. “It's Gordon and company. I told them, I told everyone to stay away from here today to give you some space. Some people always think that the rules don't apply to them.”

Tyler recognised them, it was the same car-full of idiots that he'd seen the night before.

“Damm is right. Who are they?”

“Family, some of them. Gordon and Brinn are our nephews. That makes them some sort of cousins of yours.”

“Cousins? I saw them last night; they're idiots and I don't want to know them.”

“At the moment, I don't want to know them either. Wait here and I'll go and get rid of them.”

Bob went through the house to the back. Another car pulled in, before he even got there. He went out of the door, growling, and chased them all away. He told them that they could, maybe, come back tomorrow to meet the boy, but not today. The kid was shy and they needed some time alone with him.

It was only a couple of minutes before they left and he went back to the front, but when he got there Tyler had gone. There was no sign of him anywhere.

He checked the kitchen but he hadn't gone back there, so he went out the front and down to the water's edge. There were fresh footprints in the sandy gravel there and, when he looked up, Tyler was coming back around the corner at the end of the bay.

“There you are,” he sighed in relief. “I thought we'd lost you.”

“No, not yet. I haven't got my bike. I was just making myself scarce and having a look around. I thought I'd see what's around the corner there.”

“And now you know – nothing. Our nearest neighbours are away down the road, which is one reason why we like it here.”

“That's a good reason, but there's not nothing there. There's old trees, grass and a private little beach. I like it.”

“I imagine you would, there's no people around there.”

“You've got it,” Tyler grinned. “Have your vistors gone?”

“They've gone, but they were your visitors not ours, they came to see you.”

“They're not my visitors. I don't know them and that's good.”

“You think so? The family will all be wanting to meet you. You are family too you know, like it or not.”

“I don't like it. I don't like it one little bit.”

“You're not at all interested in meeting more of your family? You have uncles, aunts and cousins of all sorts around here. Who knows? You might even like them – we do. Blood calls to blood you know.”

“Not for me it doesn't. I had a family, I didn't like them and they didn't like me. I'm not staying here anyway. It's time that I was going if I'm going to get to the shops before they close.”

“I, ahh, I think you're already too late. There's only one supermarket in town and they close at 5 o'clock on the dot. It's 12 minutes to now; even if you were on a motorbike you wouldn't get there in time.”

“Nearly 5 already? I didn't realise it was that late.”

“The day's gone fast, hasn't it? If it's groceries you want, you could get them from a Dairy, there's several of them and they don't close until later. You'd pay Dairy prices though, probably up to double what it'd cost you in the Supermarket.”

“I can't afford that. I'm on a tight budget.”

“Stay the night here then. The spare room is empty and you'd be very welcome.”

“No, I don't think so. Thanks but no thanks. I like my own space. Also, the tent was packed away wet, 2 days ago. I need to put it up and air it out before it goes mouldy on me.”

“You wouldn't want that to happen. How about we hang it in the rafters in the barn? You could get it properly dry in there and, in the meantime, have a good night's sleep in a good bed..”

“In the house do you mean? No thanks, there's no need for that. I'll sleep in my tent. Could I put it up under the trees around in the next bay? They'll keep it more-or-less dry, if it doesn't rain too much in the night.”

“But you will stay here for the night?”

“Just tonight, yes.”

“Good then. Put the tent where you like, but why not put it up under the verandah roof outside the barn? It won't get rained on there and, hopefully, will dry out a bit by the morning.”

“I will put it up there then. Thanks.”

“You're very welcome. I do wish that you'd come and sleep in the house, but camping near it is the next best thing, I guess. Tyler, this is our home, it's a family home and you are family. You're more than welcome here.”

“Thanks, Granddad. I'll stay tonight, in my tent, which is more than I was going to. Tomorrow, I'm gone. I've got a long road ahead of me.”

“You have, a very long road on a bike, but at least we've got tonight. You will eat with us, won't you? Your grandmother is probably cooking enough for 6 hungry boys.”

“How would you know that?”

“I don't, but that's what I'm guessing. We've been together a long time, nearly 40 years, and we know each other well.”

“You get along after 40 years?”

“We get along very well. Your grandmother was my best friend when we were teenagers, and she still is – better than ever.”

“That's nice! Everyone should have someone like that.”

“Anyone can, but it takes work. I hope that, one day, you'll be able to say the same thing.”

“Me? Not likely! I'll be growing old alone.”

“You'll most likely change your mind. Most people do.”

“I'm not most people.”

“Yes, we've already seen that. You don't have a girlfriend then?”

“Me?” he laughed. “Definitely not and I never will.”

“You don't know that. A fine-looking boy like you, I'm sure you'll find someone.”

“Not very likely when I'm not looking and even if I did find someone it wouldn't be a girl because I'm queer.”

“You are what?”

“Queer. Gay. Homosexual. Whatever you want to call it. That's who I am. Do you want me to go now?”

“No, I don't! Are you sure that you're gay?”

“I'm sure. I know who I am.”

“Okay, you're gay, but you're still our grandson and that's all that matters. Do you have a boyfriend?”

“No, I don't and I won't.”

“Maybe one day.”

“I won't. I'll get my bike and put the tent up now.”

He wheeled the bike and trailer around to the front of the barn and got busy setting up camp. His grandfather sat and watched him for a while, but he obviously didn't need help and he wasn't talking, so he left him to it and went inside.

Tyler had the tent up and everything sorted out and was sitting on the grass in front of it, looking out across the water, when both of his grandparents came out of the house.

“All right there, Tyler?” his grandmother asked. “Is there anything you need? More blankets, perhaps? It's going to be a cold night.”

“I'm fine, thanks. I've got a good quality sleeping bag. A warm bed is my biggest luxury,” he grinned.

“Could we? Would you mind? I, ah,” his grandfather stammered.

Grandmother was much more to the point. “Can we look inside, Tyler? We'd like to see how you live.”

“Yes. Of course I don't mind.” He opened the front flaps of the tent to show them the inside.

They had to bend low to look in, it was only a small 2-man hiker's tent. Everything inside was neat and tidy. There was no mess or clutter, just an almost military orderliness.

“Very nice,” Mrs. Rodden said. “Do you always keep it so tidy?”

“I do. There's a place for everything and everything in its place. It's only small so there's no room for confusion and I need to be able to find everything in the dark.

This is my home, where I live. Everything is good quality stuff, it cost me a fortune but was worth it. Quality is cheaper in the long term and now I can live comfortably and cheaply.”

“How long have you lived like this”

“A few months. My journey is just beginning.”

“Ah, beginnings,” his grandfather sighed. “I envy you, Lad. This is an exciting time in your life.”

“Well I don't envy him, said Mrs Rodden. “I don't envy him at all.”

“You don't? Why not?”

“Because, Bob, he's living alone, completely and totally alone. I've never known anything but large families around me and that's the way I like it. Tyler, the life you're planning sounds like a nightmare to me.”

“It doesn't to me. I guess we're just different, Grandmother. My nightmare would be in a family.”

“Yes, we are different. But why are you so anti-family? You must have had some bad experiences there.”

“I have.”

“Do you want to talk about it? It might help to talk it out.”