Lorne & Logan, 4

They spent recess togther, leaning on a wall and watching the rough and tumble of the touch-rugby game flowing around the sportsfield. Normally Logan would've been out there with them, but not today. He was more than happy where he was. They were oblivious to them, but there were many eyes watching them.

“Logan Greene with the Beynon kid? What the hell's he doing?'

At lunchtime, things didn't go so good. Lorne was held up by Ms. Bloody Bennett, who was as curious as anyone about what had happened to him. By the time he got free of her Logan had been dragged away and involved in a softball game.

Lorne looked around, everyone was being busy. He saw where Logan was and went back inside to get a book. He usually sat alone, reading, while he ate his sandwiches. Coming back out of the locker room, his way was blocked by four wanna-be tough guys.

“All alone, Fag? What the hell's going on with you and Greene?”

Lorne had always tried to fade into the background and go unnoticed, but no more. It was a small school and he knew these creeps by their reputation, which wasn't good.

Always in a pack and egging each other on, they were notorious bullies and nasty with it. At the end of last year, they put Lucas Ruffino in hospital with a broken arm and cracked ribs. There were lots of people around, but no-one admitted seeing anything, they were all scared of them.

There was no-one at all around now and Lorne had always feared that this day would come. However, he wasn't scared at all and he was ready for them.

“Nothing's going on. We've just been talking, like normal people do.”

“Normal? What the fuck would you know about normal people? Greene has been panting around you like a dog after a bitch on heat.”

“Greene's never showed any signs of being queer before. What've you done to him?”

“Yeah. Are you on heat, Bitch? Or is he already fucking you?”

“Why?” Lorne flexed his hands down by his sides. “Jealous, are you?”

“What?? You dirty little . . .” One of them lunged at him, but stopped when Lorne stepped back and, with an evil little grin, raised both hands and pointed 'puffers' at him. (Inhalation Aerosols, used by asthmatics etc.)

“I wouldn't if I was you,” he said quietly.

“Why?” The Tough hesitated. He was a bit uncertain now, this kid wasn't playing by the rules. He should be terrified, not standing there grinning at them. “What're you going to do, blow us away?”

“No, just this.” He pointed a puffer at the wooden frame and sprayed a quick zig-zag along it.

They all stood and stared as the old enamel paint blistered and bubbled, smoked and flaked off leaving a bare 'Z' shape on the wood.

“Whoah!” The puffers now seemed like threatening gun barrels pointing at them.

Lorne nodded. “It does that to old paint, think about what it'll do to your skin. Be quite painful, having your face fall off, don't you think?”

They did think, they quietly backed-off and walked away. Lorne went outside to sit, read and eat his lunch.

Back in for the first class of the afternoon, (Algebra!), Logan sat next to Lorne. “Did something happen at lunchtime?”

“Lots of things happened, probably. Why?”

“Everyone's looking at you again, and they're all talking.”

“Maybe they're jealous that you want to sit next to me.”

“I don't think so. I don't know what, but I know that something's up. Did you kill somebody?”

“Not yet.”

“What?? Lorne, what's going on?”

The only answer he got was a shrug. The teacher's arrival put a stop to the conversations in the room. “Lorne Beynon?”

Mr. Lawson stood at the front and scanned around the room. He obviously didn't know which one Lorne was.

“Here, Mr. Lawson.” Lorne raised a hand.

“Ah, right. There you are. You are to go to the Principal's office. Mrs. Carter wants a word with you.”

“I'll bet she does,” Lorne muttered. He gathered-up his books, stood and left the room. Mr. Lawson had to slap his desk and yell to quell the outburst of speculative talking.

He arrived at the office, near the main entrance, and looked around. There was no-one in sight except for the School Secretary who was talking on the 'phone and busily ignoring him.. He knocked on Mrs. Carter's door.

A voice inside said, “Sit. Wait.”

He sat on the 'naughty chair', by the door and waited. He wasn't concerned, really, but couldn't help worrying a bit. Was he in trouble or what?

After a few long minutes, the door opened and Mrs. Carter came out and looked at him. He rose to his feet and all she said was, “Come with me.” He started walking and followed, wondering where they were going.

That soon became apparent when she led him into and through the locker room and stopped in the far-side doorway. They both looked at the 'Z' shaped bare patch on the doorframe.

“Well? Do you want to tell me what happened here?”

“Not really,” he shrugged.

“I'll bet you don't, but I want to know. What did you do to this paintwork?”

“I, umm, I burnt a bit off.”

“Why?”

“As a warning. A bunch of bullies were giving me a hard time. I showed them what could happen to their faces if they didn't stop it.”

“Just as I thought. Bloody Bullies! I'm sick of them. Thank you for your honesty. Come back to the office now.”

She led him back there, sat at her desk and waved him to a chair. “Sit down, Lorne. Relax, you're not in as much trouble as you think you are.”

“I can't tell you who they were, Mrs. Carter.”

“I didn't expect that you would, but I have my suspicions.”

“There were four of them, all bigger than me and all out for trouble. I had to do something, so I did.”

“You certainly did. I've never seen anything like that. What did you spray on the doorframe?”

“I, ah . . I'd rather not say. It was just something of my granddad's.”

“Your granddad. That would be the Great Benyon,” she smiled.

“Wow.” Lorne was impressed. “How do you know that?”

“You'd be surprised at what I know.”

“I am surprised. Granddad was the Great Benyon, but he retired a long time ago. He died two years ago.”

“I know that. I was at his funeral.”

“Really? Did you know Granddad, Mrs. Carter?”

“I didn't really know him, but when I was a little girl, I was a big fan.”

“So was I,” Lorne nodded. “I was a huge fan.”

“Yes, well. That's not what we're here to talk about. We can't have you getting around burning the paint off the walls.”

“I'll pay for the damage. Dad could probably come in and fix it.”

“He probably could, but we won't worry about it. That whole area is due for repainting anyway. It can stay as it is, for now. The point is, Lorne, I can sympathise with what you did and I understand your reasons, but I can't approve of it. Whatever that stuff was, it was obviously highly corrosive and far too dangerous for you to be carrying around in the school. I hate to think what would happen if it got on someone's skin.”

“That was kind-of the point.”

“A point well made. Show me the inhalers, please.”

He closed his hands, opened them again showing the two blue inhalers and put them on the desk between them.

“Uh huh. You've learnt some of your granddad's tricks, I see. Lorne, you can't be carrying these things around with you.”

“They're just puffers. I need them, sometimes, for my breathing. It's getting better, but I was a bad asthmatic when I was younger.”

“But you not carrying them to help your breathing.”

“Yes I am.” He scooped them up and put one, and then the other, into his mouth, puffed and inhaled.

“Lorne!” She protested, then relaxed when she saw that he wasn't hurting himself. “Don't do that. You frightened the life out of me.”

“Sorry,” he grinned. He closed his hands around them, raised his fists and twisted them around. He opened his fingers again and small columns of flame danced on his palms, the inhalers were gone. He closed his hands to snuff the flames, opened them and showed his unburnt skin.

“Wow. Now who's impressed? Your grandfather taught you well. All right then. We'll say no more about it, but you've been warned. There is to be no repeat of today's incident and you are not to bring dangerous goods into the school again. If you do, there will be consequences. Do I make myself clear?”

“Perfectly clear. Thank you, Mrs. Carter.”

“Thank you, Mr. Beynon. You can go back to your class now.”

He went back and slipped quietly into his seat. Logan looked at him, quizically. He couldn't talk, he just smiled and nodded. Anything else would have to wait.

They left school together, walking home to Logan's place. As they went, Lorne answered some, but not all, of Logan's hundreds of questions. He told him what had happened, there were already dozens of stories in circulation, but he wouldn't say how he'd done what he did.

There were almost there when their way was blocked by the same four bullies he'd run into at lunchtime, along with a couple more. Lorne sighed, slipped his bag off his shoulder and held it, by the straps, in his left hand. His right hand went into the top of the bag, under the flap.

“You can fuck off, Greene,” one of them growled. “It's your boyfriend here we want, not you.”

“I'm staying right here,” Logan tried to keep the quiver out of his voice. He was no great shakes as a fight, but he wasn't a quitter either. He wasn't running away and leaving Lorne to face the goons on his own.

“Please yourself,” the spokesman sneered. A bat-sized lump of wood came out from behind his back. A couple of the others did the same. “Any sign of those puffer things and we'll break every bone in your hands.”

“I don't think so.” Lorne brought his hand out of the bag and there was a gun in it – a shiny silver-gray Luger.

None of them there had ever seen a pistol, they weren't that common and carrying one was highly illegal, but they'd seen movies and had no doubt about what it was. The bullies all took a step back.

“What the fuck?”

“It's a beauty, isn't it?” Lorne grinned. “It's a Luger – World War Two, army surplus. Hundreds of them were smuggled home by returning soldiers, as souvenirs. Most of them are history now, but not this one. Nasty little things too. The bullets are grooved so they explode on impact and blow great holes in human bodies. Not accurate at long range, but deadly close-up.”

He scanned it along, pointing at each of them in turn.

“Who wants to try it first? I've got 6 shots.”

They all took another step back. One of them dropped his bat. “Fuck!”

“That's not real, it can't be. He wouldn't be walking around with a loaded gun.”

“Wouldn't he?” Lorne fired up into the flowering magnolia tree looming above the fence next to them. The shot sounded awfully loud in the quiet street. Birds squawked and fled and a shower of pink and white petals cascaded down.

“I've got 5 shots.” Lorne looked along the frightened faces. He was not grinning.

“Fuck this! I'm outta here.” Another bat hit the ground and its erstwhile owner turned and fled up the street, closely followed by all the others.

“That ends that then,” Lorne nodded. “Let's go.” They carried on walking.

“You shouldn't have done it, but thanks for standing with me, Logan.”

“I'll always stand by you, but – shit Lorne! You can't go walking around with a loaded gun. You could get into all sorts of trouble.”

“Trouble?” He lifted the gun, pointed it at his own head and pulled the trigger. A small flame flared and burnt at the end of the barrel. “For carrying a fancy cigarette lighter?”

“But . . . you . . . how did you do that?”

“Magic,” he grinned. “Great, isn't it?”

“It bloody is!” Logan grinned back.

At his house, Logan unlocked the front door ands he raced inside. “Busting for a leak! Help yourself to a drink. There's coke in the fridge, I think.”

He returned from the bathroom feeling greatly relieved, Lorne was looking out of the kitchen window.

“You're not having a drink? I am, it's what I do when I get home.” He opened the fridge and looked. “Damm. No coke! Those blasted kids must've got into it, there was plenty there last night. It'll have to be fruit juice then. Would you like some blackcurrant juice?”

“Yeah. That sounds good, thanks.”

Logan poured two glasses full and they took them in to sit in the living room.

“Don't spill it or Mum will kill me. Blackcurrant juice stains really bad.”

“I'll try not to do that then.” Lorne drank a mouthful, and then another. He held the glass up to look at the light from the windows through it.

“Something wrong, Lorne?”

“No. Not wrong exactly, but this is not blackcurrant juice.”

“Sure it is. It says so on the bottle.”

“Maybe it does, but it's wrong. We make our own juice at home and it tastes nothing like this.”

“So this is not home-made. Don't you like it?”

“I think I do. It's just not what I was expecting. This is much sweeter than the real thing, it must be loaded with sugar.”

“And that's bad?”

“Not bad, different.”

“I guess there's currants in your gardens. You guys have got huge gardens out there.”

“They're big. Between the gardens, kai moana, fishing and hunting sometimes, we're pretty much self-sufficient in food. All we need to buy is sugar, flour and that sort of stuff.”

“The gardens must be a lot of work.”

“They're not really. They were well designed and laid out on permaculture principles, with companion planting and organic pest control. They're nowhere near as random as they look. We spend more time harvesting than anything else.”

“That's good planning.” Logan put his drink on the cluttered coffee table. “Speaking of plans – what I did the other day, the sex stuff, that was not planned. I got way too carried away, I was wrong and I'm really sorry.”

“Yeah. You said. Don't beat yourself up, Logan. You've already apologised and it's over.”

“So we're good?”

“We are very good.”

“I've learnt my lesson, I won't get carried away again.”

“Hey.” Lorne put his drink down next to Logan's. “It's okay to get a bit carried away. You've earned that.” He kissed him.

They fell back to lie along the couch together, face to face, crotch to crotch, and kissed. Logan was instantly hard and he could feel that Lorne was too.Whatever else he was, this was one damm sexy boy!

He pushed his groin against him. It felt so good. He knew that he shouldn't, his brain was saying no but his body wasn't listening – like it had a mind of its own. He made thrusting, rubbing, circular movements with his hips, rubbing his hard and confined dick against Lorne's.

'So good! So, so . . so wrong! Damm.' He was doing it again. Did he want to drive this boy away, or what? Egg!

He pulled back away from him and rolled off to lie on his back with a crooked arm covering his flushed face.

“Logan?”

“Sorry. I'm sorry, Lorne. Really I am.”

“Sorry? For what?”

“I'm doing it again – the sex stuff. I know I shouldn't. I know that we can't do that, but I . . . I can't help myself. I'm so stupid! Sorry. I really . .”

His words were cut off when his mouth was covered by Lorne's. He lifted his head and grinned down at Logan.

“Nothing to be sorry for. Last time was then; this is now.” He kissed him.

“Oh yeah!”

It's hard to kiss someone when you're grinning as widely as Logan was, so he stopped smiling. They had less than 2 hours before Logan's mother and brothers were due home. They made the most of the time they had.

When Mrs. Greene walked into the kitchen Logan and his friend were sitting opposite each other with drinks and their school bags on the table between them. It all looked totally innocent and she wasn't fooled for a minute, it was too innocent. She was a teenager herself once.

“Hello Logan. Who's your friend?”

“Hey Mum. Have a good day? This is Lorne – Lorne Beynon.”

“Of course it is! We've been hearing about no-one else for days now. Hello Lorne, nice to meet you at last. I'm the mother – Karen Greene.”

She extended a hand and Lorne stood up to take it. “ Hey Mrs. Greene. Nice to meet you too.”

“Call me Karen, Kid. These are my other monsters, that's Jack and this is Brad. Say hello, Boys.”

“Hello Boys!” the two younger boys chorused and Lorne grinned.

“Hey Guys.”

The boys headed through to the TV, they weren't that interested in their brother's new friend – nothing to do with them. The mother was interested though.

“So, Lorne, have you got any brothers?”

“Nope. I've often wished I did, but I've got no brothers.”

“Sisters then?”

“No, none of them either. There's just Dad and I, no-one else.”

“You must have a quiet house. Logan said that you live away out of town, by the Waitangi River.”

“Waitangitanoa River. Yes, we do. I was born there and we've never moved.”

“Just you and your Dad. Where is your mother?”

“I really don't know -she moved.”

“And left you behind.”

“Yes. I don't remember her at all, I was just a baby. My parents were never married or anything. I think they were basically friends who got a bit too close one drunken night and I happened. She stayed around for a few months after I was born, and then decided that she didn't want to be a mother, and left.”

“That's hard.”

“I suppose it was. I don't remember. Luckily, Dad wanted me and he kept me and raised me. My grandfather, Dad's father, lived with us for a while, but he died two years ago so now there's just us.”

“Well, it seems like your father has done a pretty good job of raising you. It's not easy being a solo-parent, that much I know.”

“You've done a good job too, Mrs. Greene – an excellent job. Raising three boys can't have been easy.”

“We've had our moments and it's not finished yet, but they're good kids really – I quite like them.”

“I'm sure they like you too. Logan does, he told me so.”

“Did he just? I wish he'd tell me sometimes.”

“Mum!”

“Quiet, Logan. We're talking about you not to you.”

She made herself an instant coffee and they sat and talked, until Lorne noticed the clock on the wall.

“Whoah! Is that the right time?” He rose to his feet.

“More or less,” she replied. “I think it's right, I hope so. I set my watch by it.”

“Bugger! Sorry, I mean, Blast! I've gotta go, I'm late. Nice to meet you, Mrs. Greene. See you tomorrow, Logan. 'Bye.”

He grabbed his bag and headed for the door, pausing there to put his shoes on.

“What's the panic, Lorne?” Logan followed him. “Your dad will wait if you're a few minutes late, won't he?”

“No, he won't. That is the problem, he won't wait at all. The deal is if I'm not there he goes without me.”

“Really?” Logan followed him out to the street. “But what would you do then? It's a bloody long walk home.”

“It is, it's too far. I've done it before and by the time I got there, it was nearly time to come back again. I'm not doing that again.”

“Damm!” Logan was hobbling along on his bare feet but he wasn't giving up. He was worried about him now. “I can't believe he'd go without you. That's really hard.”

“I guess. That's the way it is. Dad's a hard man and he sticks by the rules.”

Around another corner, he looked up the street.

“Damm! He's gone. He was working at the Thomas' place and the truck's not there. I've missed him.”

“Bugger. What are you supposed to do now?”

“If I miss him, I'm meant to go and stay at his friend's place – at Shane Jones' house. I'm not doing that – no way!”

“Why not if he's your dad's friend.?”

“He's dad's friend, not mine. I don't know why Dad likes him, but he does. I don't. He's a horrible creepy old man and I'm not sleeping there ever again. Last time I did, I woke up and he was climbing into the bed with me.”

“With you? Why would he do that?”

“Why do you think, Logan? He'd like to fuck me and “I'm not doing that. No way.”

“What did you do?”

“I ran away and I spent the night sitting under a tree in nothing but my underwear. It was bloody cold and I'm not doing that again.”

“What are you going to do? Come back with me and you can stay the night at our place.”

“I can't. Your mum has got more than enough boys as it is. No, I'm better prepared this time. I've got a block of land, on the Forks Road at the edge of town. I'll stay there.”

“You have got a block of land?”

“I have. It's about a hectare and it's all in bush, on the hill above the road. Granddad was going to build a house there, but he never did and it's all mine now.”

“Wow. You know, Lorne Jackson, you must be the richest kid in town. But if there's no house there, where are you going to sleep? Under a tree again?”

“Well, sort of. I've made a bit of a shelter. It's rough but it's good enough. I'll sleep there.”

“No! You can't do that. You'll freeze your butt off. You don't have to sleep there, you've got your own friend in town now. Come back and sleep with me. I've got a huge bed, there's plenty of room for two and it'll be fun.”

“Fun? You just want to get me into your bed to have sex with me?”

“Yeah, sure. I'd like that, but only if you want to, we don't have to. No-one's going to make you do anything that you don't want to. Just being together will be fun. So, will you? Please?”

“Oh, yes please!” Lorne grinned. “I'd love to do that, but only if it's all right with your mum.”

“It will be fine with her. Come on, let's go tell her that she's got another mouth to feed.

Karen had no problem with Lorne's staying the night with Logan. She told him that he was welcome and that she's far prefer him to be there and not sitting under a tree.

“He has done that before,” Logan said.

“Well he's not doing it again. I think it's terrible that your father would go home without you and, if I see him around, I'll tell him that too.”

“Please don't, Mrs. . . umm, Karen. I knew the rules and that's the way it is. He doesn't wait and if I'm late it's my problem.”

“It shouldn't be. You're just a boy and he's far too hard.”

“He is,” Logan agreed. “When Jeffrey took me out the other day, he said that if I was late he'd go without me, but I don't think he really would. Your dad does.”

“If he says he's going to do something, he does it. It's just the way he is.”

“Lorne, before you sit down, phone your dad and tell him that you're here for the night.”

“Umm, thanks, but I can't do that.”

“Why not? Oh, won't he be home yet?”

“Makes no difference if he is or not,” Logan said. “They haven't got the phone on out there and no internet either. Incredible, eh?”

“It is! I didn't know anyone still lived like that.”

“We do,” Lorne said. “We've never had the phone on. Dad's got a cellphone, for his work, but it only works in town. There's no coverage out at home.”

“Amazing. Well, set up the table, Boys. Tell the little ones to clean up and we'll eat.”

They had a great evening together. Logan got out of washing the dishes because he had a visitor, which was good. They played a game on the computer and watched some TV together. (Yes, Lorne had a TV at home. Of course they did, they weren't totally primitive.)

Neither of them had any homework, nothing that couldn't wait anyway. Which was good. They showered, separately, and climbed into bed together. That was good too, that was really good! They had a great night.

Lorne woke in the morning in the unfamiliar bed. He lay quietly smiling and thinking about the night before. He rolled over and Logan was looking at him.

“Hi.”

“Hey'

“What're you thinking?”

“You really want to know? Okay, I'll tell you. I think I love you, Lorne.”

“Yeah?” he grinned widely. “I think I love you too.” He kissed him.

Lorne & Logan, 3

(in a hurry!)

Instead of going home, he went to his uncle's place. Uncle Jeffrey, his mum's brother, lived alone and he worked night-shift more often than not, so hopefully, he might be able to cadge a ride with him.

He arrived there and the door was locked. Still in bed? He hoped he wasn't working day-shift. He rang the bell and waited. He was about to give up and go, when ('Yes!') the door opened and his bleary-eyed uncle looked out. “Logan?”

“Hey, Unc. I didn't get you out of bed, did I? Sorry 'bout that..”

“No, I was already up. You caught me in the loo actually. What can I do for you, or did you just come to see my smiling face?”

“Is this your smiling face? I need a favour, a huge favour. Please, pretty please!”

“A favour? Stop batting your eyes at me, Boy. That won't work. Tell me what you want and I'll tell you if I'll do it.”

“I need a ride, out to Richardson Road, on the Waitangi River, about 20k out of town. Can you take me there please? Like, right now.”

“I know Richardson Road, that's about the limit of our patrolling area. Why do you want to go out there, like right now?”

“I've got to see a friend who lives out there. Well, I hope he's still a friend. We had a row on Monday and he hasn't been back to school since then.”

“Oh? Oh yeah – would your friend be the Beynon boy, Dan Beynon's kid?”

“Yeah, that's him, Lorne Beynon. Can you take me, Unc? It's way important.”

“Of course it is! It's always important and almost the End of the World at least once a week. Yes, I'll take you just because I'm the best uncle ever. Give me 5 minutes to have a coffee, and then we'll go. We'll go out on the bike, it's time it had a run to blow the cobwebs away.”

“On your old bike? Are you sure it'll get us there and back?”

“Don't you be cheeky about my old bike. She's a classic and very reliable if you treat her right.”

“Sounds like a woman,” Logan grinned. “But still an old one.”

“Are you sure you don't want to walk?”

“Very sure. Did I tell you that you're my favourite uncle?”

“Greaser! I'm the only one you've got.”

“True, but I don't need any others.”

“Okay, knock it off!” Jeffrey laughed. “I've already said I'll take you out. Come and have a coffee with me.”

Both of them dressed in black imitation leather outfits – jackets and leggings. Jeffrey wore a black full-face helmet and Logan had a cherry-pink one with a black visor. They wheeled out of town, riding on the old BSA. When they passed the 'Open Road' speed limit sign, Jeffrey pulled the throttle right back. That increased the engine roar, but didn't really do much about the speed.

However, it was only a few minutes before he slowed and turned off the highway onto a narrow, scrub-lined side-road. Richardson Road was sealed, but really needed resealing – you notice these things on old bikes with bad suspension. Hitting potholes was not fun.

He stopped next to a gravelled driveway which wound out of sight in the trees. “There you go, Boy. Dan Beynon's 23 Richardson Road. Go in there and do what you've got to do and I'll give you some privacy. I'll carry-on down to look at the lake and I'll be back here in exactly one hour. If you're not here waiting, it'll be a long walk back to town.”

“I'll be here. Thanks, Jeffrey. If I do have to walk all the way home, I'm telling your big sister on you.”

“I'm not scared of your mum. Once I was, but not now. Put your helmet on the carrier and I'm gone.”

“Okay. Why do I have to wear a pink helmet when you've got a cool black one?”

“Because, Nephew, you're smaller than me and my spare leathers and helmet are for the ladies to wear.”

“I'm wearing a woman's outfit?”

“You are, and very fetching you look too. I normally only take female passengers; I'm not riding around with big hairy blokes cuddling me.”

“Hey! I'm a bloke.”

“Almost. You're still a boy to me. Okay, see you soon.”

He restarted the bike, crossed the narrow wooden river-bridge and roared away down the road. Logan stood watching him go, then turned to face the driveway. Butterflies were going crazy inside him; he was really nervous now. That was dumb, he wanted to be here and he'd come all that way.

Which was going to cost him, by the way. Jeffrey never did anything for nothing, there was always a payback.

He could just stand there, wait an hour, and then go home, but that'd be even dumber. He forced himself to start walking. Around the corner, the greenery opened out suddenly. What had looked like dense bush from the road was nothing but a big, thick hedge. These people must really like their privacy.

Or, maybe it was a windbreak for the gardens. There were huge, busy gardens there, all on the left side of the driveway. Flowers, vegetable, berry-fruit and trees were all mixed together in glorious profusion. It was like no garden he'd ever seen.

There was no room for weeds to grow in the overflowing beds which were separated by narrow paths. Ripening fruit, pumpkins, beans and cucumbers growing on trellises and every sort of vegetable imaginable. Very impressive! You could feed a town on what was growing here.

There was a huge pink and black pig in a pen, along with a lot of chooks and ducks roamed free everywhere – probably because they eat snails and other pests but they don't scratch and dig like chooks do. The ducks were mostly white, but there were a few black ones too.

There was also a couple of geese sitting in the long grass on the right of the drive. For a start, he thought that they were oversized ducks, but they weren't, they were geese. One of them had half a dozen busy babies playing around her.Goslings?

He'd better be careful of them. Geese are good watchdogs, aren't they? And they were aggressive too. These ones weren't, at the moment, they just sat there looking at him. He gave them a wide berth anyway, in point in upsetting them if he didn't have to.

The long grass sloped down to the small fast-running river. There were a few beech trees dotted along the near side and a solid wall of trees over at the far side over the water. Close to the riverbank there was a small ramshackle and crooked house overshadowed by two trees.

The corrugated iron roof and chimney were painted dark-blue and almost thatched with fallen leaves. The house walls were about half and half, rough old weather boards and vertical corrugated iron, all painted a dull and faded white. There was a wide wooden deck along the riverside wall and the whole structure leaned back away from the water. The windows were tiny and there weren't many of them. It all looked like an old homemade house.

Further along the drive, at the end, there was a collection of rough old sheds clad in iron with a variety of colours, largely rusty. 'This here must be their house then,' Logan decided.

A power-cable crossed the river to connect to the house. It'd probably help stop it falling down too. A trickle of white woodsmoke was coming from the chimney, apart from that there was no sign of life there. He went over and knocked on the door.

It was only a couple of minutes until the door opened, but it seemed like ages. Lorne appeared in the doorway. His hair was a mess; he had a bad case of bed-hair. His blue eyes opened wide, they dull and lifeless looking and his face was a sickly pale colour, but – 'Wow!'. The body!

All he was wearing was an old, worn and faded pair of track-pants. His feet were bare and so was his torso, upper body and arms. 'Wow! Again.'

Logan had seen heaps of internet pics of adolescent males, who hasn't? But to actually come face to face with a half-dressed good looking boy was something else and much, much better. Good looking? No. Lorne wasn't good looking, he was way better than that. He was sensational. Logan stood open-mouthed and staring, feeling stunned. 'Oh, my . . wow!'

Lorne's body was not skinny, but it wasn't far from it, especially around the narrow waist. His broad shoulders were twice as wide as his waist. A perfect 'V' rose to the slightly-bony shoulders, muscles, pecs and abs swelled beneath the golden skin.

The skin! It was incredible – hairless, soft and smooth, warm, golden and fully fleshed. It was absolutely flawless and there was not a spot, not even a single mole, anywhere. Nothing. Amazing. He'd seen that Lorne's face looked good, but nothing had prepared him for the body. It was simply perfect and oozing sex - fully ripe and ready. Logan could've stood there all day, admiring it.

“Logan?” A quizzical smile appeared as he looked at the boy staring at him. “Logan, what on earth are you doing away out here?”

“I, umm – yeah,” Logan came back down to earth. “Are you okay? I mean, you haven't been at school since Monday and I was getting worried about you, really worried.”

“You must've been,” Lorne smiled. “Nobody ever comes out here.”

“Well, I had to. I had to know if you were all right and, also, I need to know if we're okay? I'm really, really sorry about – well, you know. Sorry. Are we still friends?”

“Whoah. Slow down, Logan. Yes, we're friends; I hope we are because I want to be your friend. I'm all right now, nearly all right. I've been horribly sick, but it's getting better. I think I'll live.”

“I'm pleased about that then. What was wrong? You getting better?”

“I am, slowly but surely. Dad says it was just the 'flu, but there's no 'just' about it. I've never felt so bad!”

“Good that it's over then. 'Flu can be a lot more serious than people think – especially the 'Man Flu'.”

“That'll be the one I had then. It was way serious. I'm standing in a draft here and that's not good. Do you want to come inside?”

“For a few minutes, yeah. I can't stay long. I got a ride out here with my uncle and he says that if I'm not there waiting for him in one hour, he's going without me.”

Lorne led him inside. “Would he really do that?”

“Probably. Well, maybe not. He'd more likely stop a couple of k's up the road and wait for me there.”

“You've got a mean uncle.”

“Sort of. He's not really mean, he just pretends he is and he's got a strange sense of humour. So this is your home?” Logan looked around the crowded little, low-ceilinged, living-room. Everything looked old and mis-matched, like the variegated squares of carpet on the floor.

“This is it.” Lorne sat on the couch and, worse-luck, pulled an old blanket around himself.

That was sensible, Logan knew. There was only a small fire in the open fireplace and it was not overly warm in there, but – 'Damm!' The amazing body was out of sight.

'Oh well, nice while it lasted,' he shrugged mentally.

“This is the only home I've ever known,” Lorne continued. “I was actually born in this room – right there in front of the fireplace.”

“Yeah? Wow. Not many people can say that.”

“Some can. Homebirths are getting more common. There weren't so many back when I arrived, but my parents were a couple of Alternatives, so that's the way we did it.”

“Alternatives?”

“That's what they called themselves. They were Hippies, if you like – getting back to basics and in touch with nature and all that stuff. The dream was to start a commune here, but it didn't work out.”

“It was all too much like hard work, I think. It was easier to get a job and work 8 hours a day instead of every waking hour for no pay. When people are stoned out of their skulls, you're not going to get much work out of them anyway. Dad was a worker, but he was the only one.”

“Now there's just you and your dad here? Where's your mum?”

“Who knows? We don't. They were never married and she just drifted away with some of the others and left us. My granddad lived here with us for a few years, he actually owned the property, he died a couple of years ago. We're sitting on 150 hectares here. There's a couple of small plantations, but it's mostly in bush and scrub.”

“Plantations?”

“Trees - Western Red Cedar and others, including Pines of course. They were planted as an investment when they first moved in to the property. They're ready for milling but they're not worth much now. It was not a good investment. I dunno what Dad's going to do about them, leave them growing I suppose.”

“But why wouldn't they be worth much?”

“There are no local sawmills any more, they've all shut down. To get the timber milled, the logs would have to be trucked away and that's not cheap.”

“I see. That's a shame – a disappointment after waiting all those years.”

“Tell me about it!”

“Was your granddad a Hippie too.”

“Alternative. No, he wasn't. He helped dad with the gardens and stuff, but he was never into the lifestyle thing. He was different though.”

“Different? How so?”

“He toured with circuses for years.”

“Circuses? Like big-tops and elephants and stuff?”

“You've got it.”

“Wow. That'd be cruisy. What a life! Was he a lion tamer or something?”

“No, nothing like that. He was a magician actually, a good one too.”

“A magician? Circuses don't have magic tricks, do they?”

“They did when Granddad was there. He was a clown who did magic. He was really good too. When he was younger he did stage shows and he was quite famous, as the Great Benyon. He liked the circus life, it was more fun and he didn't have to worry about the business side of things.

My granddad was a very cool guy and I still miss him like hell!”

“I guess you would. And that's why you never smile much! Did he teach you any magic tricks?”

“Oh yes. All of his old tricks and equipment are mine now. He left everything to me because Dad was never interested and I was the no.1 grandson.”

“Pretty cool to be no.1.”

“Pretty easy when you're the only one. How about you? You said you've got a mother and two brothers. Where's your dad?”

“Not far away. He's in Franz Josef, he manages a big hotel there. I don't see him much, but the kids go there a lot. They think they're living the Suite Life when they're there.”

“Suite Life? Oh, that old TV programme, you mean.”

“That's the one. They're not twins though, just brothers.”

“Just brothers. I wish I had a brother, but I don't.”

“They're a pain in the butt sometimes, but not always.”

“They're boys then. Why don't you spend more time with your dad, don't you get on?”

“Yeah, we do, sort of, but his new wife's a bitch. She doesn't like me and I don't like her. I'd rather stay at home with my mum. She's got no-one else.”

“Families are complicated, aren't they. Why did they split-up?”

“I'm not sure exactly. Lots of reasons, I suppose. He walked out and left Mum when she was pregnant with Brad. That's really low when you think about it. Mum hasn't forgiven him, she never will.”

“That's no surprise. I wouldn't either.”

They talked for a few minutes, and then Logan had to go. It was a long walk back to town and he didn't want to have to do that. Lorne said he'd come out to the road with him, but he told him not to.

“Stay here, look after yourself and get well. Are you coming back to school tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow? I don't think so. It's Friday, I might as well have the rest of the week off.”

“Will you be in town in the weekend?”

“Probably not. I'll see you at school on Monday.”

“I'll look forward to that.”

“Yeah, me too,” Lorne grinned.

“Lorne, you've got no cellphones, no land-line, no computer. Tell your dad he needs to get into the 21st century.”

“I wish he would. We could do with a new house too, but he won't build one. He says this old place is good enough for the two of us and he likes fishing off the deck.”

“Is that why the house is so close to the river?”

“Yep. It was built as a fisherman's lodge – just someone's hobby thing. Dad and Mum moved into it temporarily. They were going to build a proper house, but things happened and they never did.”

“I guess it'd cost a fortune to build a new house, especially way out of town like this.”

“It'd cost, but not too much. Dad could do a lot of the work himself, he's a good handyman-builder and I could pay for it.”

“Really? You could afford to buy a house?”

“Well, yeah. I've got pots of money, just sitting in the bank. Granddad left most of his money to me.”

“He left money to you and not your father? Wasn't he his son?”

“Yes, of course. Dad got some money, but not much. He got the property and that's worth heaps.”

“Oh. So you're rich then?”

“Kind of. Dad says it's better to leave the money where it is. It's invested, it's growing and it will be there when I need it.”

“That makes sense. You don't know where you'll finish up living.”

“Oh, but I do. I'll be living here. This is my home and I couldn't see myself living anywhere else. It'd be nice to have wheels though.”

“I guess it would. You're a long way out of town. Lorne, I've gotta go or I'm gonna be late. I'll come back in the weekend, if I can. Otherwise, I'll see you at school on Monday.”

“You will. Come back anytime you like. Thanks for coming out today.”

“Thank you. I had to know if we were okay. It's good that we are.”

“Yeah, it's good. Now go or you'll be walking.”

“Yeah. 'Bye, Lorne.”

Lorne & Logan, 2

Logan arrived home and let himself into the house, unlocking the door with the key worn on a strap around his neck. This was the only time of the day that he had the whole house to himself.

His mum didn't get home from work until after 5pm and she picked up his younger brothers, Jack and Brad, from the grandparents' on her way. Her parents lived across the road from the little boys' school so they went over there after 3pm everyday.

Logan could've gone there too, if he wanted to, but he didn't usually. Gran and Granddad's house was out of his way, he didn't need babysitting and he quite liked some time alone to do whatever he wanted. A boy needs privacy sometimes.

He wasn't getting it today though. He'd only been there a few minutes and was barely getting started on what he usually did as soon as he was home alone when the door-bell rang.

“Dammit! Nothing's going right today.”

He pulled up his pants, went to the front door, opened it and – 'Whoah!' Lorne Beynon was standing there grinning at him. This was all right – better than all right, but what was he doing here?

“Lorne?”

“Hello, Logan. Can we talk?”

“Talk? To each other? Yeah – great! But not here. Come on inside.”

He led the way into the living-room, waved at the couch and flopped into an armchair. “Have a seat. Don't mind the mess in here. Mum does try to keep it tidy but she's fighting a losing battle with three boys messing it up.”

“It's not that bad.” Lorne lowered his bag to the floor and sat down, looking around the cluttered room. “Just looks a bit lived-in, that's all. Who are the three boys?”

“It's lived in all right,” Logan nodded. “The boys are my brothers, Jack and Brad, and me. Mum's outnumbered three to one.”

“You've got brothers? I didn't know that. Are they at home now?”

“No. They won't be home for a couple of hours yet. Mum picks them up and brings them with her when she comes home from work. They're just little, they're in the Primary School, so they go to our grandparents' house after school. They live over the road from the school.”

“And you're home alone until they get here?”

“Yep. Best time of the day. It's the only time I get totally to myself.”

“You like that? I get far too much time alone. There's only Dad and I at home and he's a busy man.”

“Yeah? Busy doing what?”

“Working mostly. Working, gardening or fishing – that's his life.”

“Just you and him? Where's your mum?”

“Gone. She left when I was a baby.”

“Oh. That's too bad. But that's not what you want to talk about, is it?”

“It's not. I wanted to talk about us.”

“About us?”

“Yeah, you and me. We never got to talk at school, it's all far too busy there, but something happened between us today. I'm sure of it and I think, I hope, that you're feeling it too.”

“Right. I am.” Logan sat up straighter. “I felt something too. I've never really noticed you before, but I sure did today. I couldn't keep my eyes off you.”

“You couldn't,” Lorne grinned. “I saw that, all day long, because I was looking at you too. I've always been aware of you, you're a popular and up-front sort of kid. I've always wished that I could be your friend too, but you've never even seen me around.”

“True, but I'm seeing you now.” Logan went across and sat down on the couch, next to him. “And I do want to be your friend – very much so.”

“Good. Really good. Thanks,” Lorne replied quietly. He was still smiling but he looked a bit teary-eyed as well.

“I can't believe that we've spent all those years in the same classes and I didn't notice you. I'm not the only one either, lots of people were looking at you today. Lorne, what's happened to you? What's changed?”

“Lots of things have changed. I've been growing up a bit, puberty has happened, at last! Better late than never. I've been growing physically, eating like a hungry horse, and I've been getting lots of exercise, trying to get fit.

I've basically spent the summer outdoors, which has got me tanned and sun-bleached my hair. I've been swimming, climbing mountains and running down them and, well, working at it.”

“Your work has paid off,” Logan replied. “You look full of life, fit and healthy and, well, good. You're looking really good.”

“You think?” Lorne blushed, shyly. “I still don't look as good as you, I never will. But the biggest changes have been on the inside.”

“Inside?”

“Yes. We were talking, my dad and I, on New Year's Eve. We decided that we were going nowhere fast and it's time things changed for both of us. He's going to stop mucking around and get himself a proper job and I'm going to . . . to join the real world, where the real people are.”

“Like me?”

“Exactly like you. You were the first person I thought of.”

“That's very cool. I'm glad that you did. I'd love to be your friend, Lorne, best friends even.”

“Really? That's so great. Thanks. Umm, one thing you should know though – I'm gay.”

“You're what? Gay? How do you know that?”

“I've always known that. It's just who I am, I like boys not girls. Does that matter?”

“Oh yeah! That matters, that matters a lot!” Logan nodded and he moved closer to him.

“It does? I'm sorry, Logan. I can't help it, I just am and I like you. I'd better go. Sorry.”

He went to stand up but Logan stopped him by putting his hands on his shoulders and holding him down.

“You'd better not. Don't go, stay here with me.” He kissed him.

Lorne didn't respond. He sat rigid, like he'd been turned to stone and Logan's racing heart sank. Too far, too fast? He pulled back and looked into his blue eyes.

“Sorry,” he said. “I shouldn't have done that.”

Lorne shook his head. “Don't be,” he said. “Don't be sorry. I've always . . . I never thought . . . I never dreamed that – you just took me by surprise.”

“So it's all right then?”

“Oh yes, very all right!”

Lorne kissed him and Logan responded big-time! He was instantly hard, hot and horny. He so wanted this boy. They toppled sideways to lie along the couch, kissing, cuddling and whimpering.

Lorne lay on his back and Logan stretched out on top of him. Their arms were around each other and their legs entwined. Everything was great: they were both loving it, revelling in the closeness and loving each other. Then Logan blew it.

He was horny and he got carried away. He started humping against the gorgeous boy, grinding his hard dick against him through their clothes. Slowly at first, and then faster and harder as he lost himself in the sensations and he thought that Lorne was too. He wasn't.

“Logan, please – don't. Don't do this. Dammit, Logan. Stop it! Stop this now!!” Angrily, he fought him off and bucked him right off the couch.

Logan slid off and landed on the floor. He sat up and looked. Lorne was lying on his back with his arms flung above his head, all red in the face and breathing deeply.

“What's wrong? It's just what comes naturally. Am I going too fast? You liked it, didn't you? Sure you did.” He put a hand on his leg, slid it up and gently groped and stroked his groin.

Amazingly, Lorne wasn't even hard. Logan sure was, harder and hornier than he'd ever been.

“No, Logan, I did not like it. I didn't like it one bit. You think I just came here for sex? I'm not a slut, don't treat me like one.” He sat up, swinging his legs around and pushed the hand away.

“Oh, come on. It's just a bit of fun and it's what you came here for, isn't it?”

“I told you, I didn't come here for that. Fun? I don't think so.” He picked up his bag and walked to the door.

“”What're you doing?” Logan protested. “You're not leaving are you?”

“I think I'd better.” Lorne looked back, he was all-but crying. “If I stay here, we're going to have a massive fight and I don't want that. So I'd better go. Goodbye, Logan.”

He walked out, quietly closing the door behind him.

Logan sat for a few seconds, trying to get his head around what had gone wrong. The kid was gay, wasn't he? He jumped up to follow him, and ran out of the front door just in time to see Lorne striding along the street and disappearing around the corner.

“Lorne! Wait!” He took a few steps, and then stopped. He wasn't running after him and making a fool of himself in front of the whole town. 'To hell with that. To hell with him!'

He spun around and went back inside, angrily slamming the door behind him.

“You're nothing but a bloody tease, Beynon. You get me all worked up like that, and then walk out on me – Fuck you! I don't need this and I don't need you. There's plenty of others around who are not uptight prudes. Keep your precious virginity – Retard!”

It was just as well there was no-one else around, if there had been he probably would've lashed out at them and, yes, had a massive fight. He was so bloody wild. He'd never been angrier!

“Fuck 'im anyway. He might be getting taller, but he's still just a child. Grow up, Baby!”

It took a while, but he slowly calmed down. In his room, on the bed, with his burning face buried in the pillows, the anger faded and all that was left was the embarrassment – he'd made a right fool of himself. He'd got carried away and Lorne had done nothing wrong. He just didn't want to do it and Logan had no right to try and force him to.

“Oh, Gawd! I was so wrong. I'm sorry, Lorne, so, so sorry.”

He didn't know how he was going to fix this, but he knew that he had to. He couldn't go and find him because he had no idea where he lived. “Tomorrow!”

Tomorrow, at school, as soon as he saw him, he was going to apologise and beg, if he had to, for Lorne to forgive him and give him another chance. He had to. They were only just starting to get to know each other and he so wanted to know him.

He could see himself loving that boy. Maybe he already did? He went to the bathroom to wash his face and freshen-up. He didn't want to have to explain to his mum why he'd been crying. Not likely!

For once in his life, Logan went early to school next morning. That was a definite first! He didn't go inside, just hung around out at the front waiting for Lorne to arrive.

Kids started arriving, in dribs and drabs, all full of the usual lack of enthusiasm – and this was only the second day of the year! They had a long, long way to go until next summer. A few of them greeted him when they saw him standing there, but no-one stopped and he didn't go in with them.

Eventually, most everyone had arrived and there was still no sign of Lorne. Logan couldn't wait any longer or he was going to be late. He went into the school, he'd catch him later.

Walking in to the first class, he looked around the room hopefully, just in case Lorne had come in by some other way. He hadn't. Late, maybe? Could be.

The morning dragged on, class by class, and he had to accept that Lorne wasn't late; he was not coming. Absent on the second day? Not a good look. He tried to think about other things, but that wasn't easy to do.

Why wasn't Lorne at school? Was he sick or something? He looked fine yesterday – really fine and healthy too. Maybe he'd had an accident? Maybe his dad's old ute had broken down? Who knew? He wished that he did.

He surely wouldn't have just not come to school because he was pissed at Logan, would he? He was so sorry for what he'd done – 'Bloody Idiot!'

They were getting on so well until he blew it. He really had to apologise and get back on the right track, but couldn't do it if the Kid wasn't there. He carried on, going through the motions of his life. What other choice was there?

Next day, Wednesday, it was the same all over again. He was there early, he waited and Lorne didn't show up. Dammit. Now he was really starting to worry. Was he ever coming back at all?

At lunchtime, he went to the office to speak to Mrs. Bourke, the School Secretary. She'd know why Lorne was absent, his father should've rang to say why he wasn't there. She didn't and he hadn't.

“It's a mystery to me too, Logan. If you hear anything, please let me know.”

“Yeah, of course I will. I'll go and see him at home, where does he live?”

“Ah, no, sorry, I can't tell you that.”

“But why not? You must know his home address, it'll be in the school records.”

“Records are confidential, Logan. We can't give out students' personal details; it'd cost me my job if I did.”

“Oh. But what if it was an emergency?”

“Is it? Teenage dramas don't qualify as emergencies, you know.”

“How about his telephone number? Can you tell me that?”

She looked at her computer screen and shook her head. “I couldn't tell you, but I can tell you this, the school doesn't know. There is no phone number listed, apparently they haven't got one.”

“No phone at all? Not even a cell-phone? How can anyone live without a phone?”

“I wouldn't like to, but some do, it seems. Sorry I can't help. Do let us know if you hear anything..”

“Yeah. Thanks anyway, Mrs. Bourke.”

He left the office, feeling even more frustrated. She wouldn't tell him anything, but she wanted him to tell her. How was that fair?

Where was Lorne and what was he doing? No phone at all? That was weird. Ange might've been right, maybe the Beynons were aliens?

“Phaw! Shut up. Of course they're not. There are no aliens. But there's some strange people around, seems like.”

Thursday, he still wasn't there and Logan was getting worried. Something must've gone wrong. He went back to the office but Mrs. Bourke said that there still hadn't been any word from Lorne or his father. She was starting to get worried, maybe it was contagious. But, no, she still couldn't tell him Lorne's home address – she quite liked her job and wanted to keep it.

“You're a hard woman, Mrs. Bourke.”

“Only as hard as I have to be. I don't make the rules, sorry.”

“Yeah, I'm sorry too.” He turned to go, defeated again, but she stopped him.

“Logan, I find it strange that you don't know where your friend lives.”

“I guess it is strange, but he's a new friend. I haven't known him long and don't know much about him.”

“Obviously. You know, if I was you, I'd ask around the other kids. Someone must know where to find him.”

“Someone does. You know and you won't tell me.”

“I can't. Ask around, Logan, you never know. Who are his closest friends?”

“I don't think he's got any. I'll try anyway. Thanks for that.”

He asked around, mostly the girls because they they took more notice of people, and they were gossips, but no-one knew anything definite. Nobody knew where Lorne lived! 'Strange.'

He got some conflicting stories, Lorne had been seen going places after school, always on his own. However he'd been seen in Palmerston Street, Albion Street, Leopold Street, etc, etc. It seemed that he wandered around all over the place – like a spy would do?

'Shut up! He's not a spy, he's a kid.'

So, another day gone and he still hadn't fixed things and had no clue where he'd be. Dammit. He really hoped that it wasn't his fault that Lorne was AWOL. It wouldn't be, would it? He wasn't that upset. Or was he? Once again, he so wished that he hadn't done what he'd done – it was like sex abuse, wasn't it? Tacky!

Surprisingly, it was Ange, his ex, who came up with an answer for him. He was walking home, in a sour mood, as was becoming his normal state, when she caught up to him.

“Logan, wait up!”

“Oh? Hey, Ange. Something I can do for you?”

“No. Something I can do for you. I hear you've been asking where Lorne Beynon lives.”

“Right. I have been. He hasn't been back to school since the first day. We had . . a bit of an argument and I'm getting worried about him. Do you know where he lives?”

“I do. I found out from my aunty – Mr. Beynon did some work for her and she told me where they live.”

“So where?”

“You really want to know, don't you? Have a lover's tiff already? No, on second thoughts, I don't want to know. They live on Richardson Road, at no.23, but it's actually the first house you come to.”

“23 Richardson Road. Great, thanks! But – wait – where is Richardson Road? I've never heard of it.”

“It's a country road, it turns off the highway, on the way to Whataroa, about 20k's north of here. It's next to the Waitangi- whatever River.”

“The Waitangitanoa River, yeah, I know where that is. That's great, Ange. Thanks. Now I've just got to figure out how to get there. That's a long way out of town. Way too far to walk.”

“That's for sure. Why don't you just ring him?”

“They haven't got a phone, so I can't.”

“Of course they've got a phone. Everyone has at least one.”

“Not everyone. Mrs. Bourke said that they haven't.”

“Really? Wow. I told you they were weird. Maybe they are aliens?”

“Or, maybe they just don't have a phone. Thanks again, Ange. I think I've got a plan.”

“Okay. Good luck, Lover Boy, and I'll see you tomorrow.”

“You will, and shut up!”

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!)