Date: Sun, 28 Feb 2016 07:54:26 +0000
From: Chezdon <chezdon1997@gmail.com>
Subject: Innocence Waning Chapter 15

Chapter 15

As I undo my tie and quickly walk out through the open gate and off of the
grounds of the school, I hear footfalls and the shuffling of shoes behind
me and then the familiar voice of Austin. "Chez, wait up." He puts his hand
on my shoulder as I continue my journey down the footpath, having no plan
as to where to go or what I am even doing. Before responding I notice the
presumably innocent children playing in the park across the street and
their respective bored parents sitting on a bench before looking at Austin
and smiling. "Wouldn't it be nice to be like them again?" I point at the
kids frolicking on the grass who are trying to hit each other with
sticks. "We will probably end up punished or worse." I deliberately move my
head from side to side trying to remove the tension from my neck as I wipe
away the sweat that is quickly forming on my brow.

Austin picks up a stick from the ground and gently hits my arm with
it. "You are precocious Chezdon. We are still just kids remember. We can
still play in the park and not take everything so seriously if we want
to. I am obviously not in the same rush to grow up as you are." Austin
tosses the stick onto the street. A Mercedes passes us by only a second
later and the driver raises his middle finger and honks the horn, most
likely thinking Austin intentionally chucked the stick at the fine
motorcar.

I remove my backpack and awkwardly shove my tie into the sack and then
return it so it is resting on one shoulder and un-do the top three buttons
of my white shirt. The few minutes that I have had to reflect since walking
out of class has caused me to experience a certain amount of mirth of all
things. It is very rare that I allow such nonsense that is said in class to
bother me however it is the pious look that was on Jayden's smug face that
both amuses me but irritates me more than any words that he uttered or
those that were stated as the gospel that us boys should adhere to when we
take a leak. The school has numerous other silly rules that I have never
bothered to comment on at least out loud in front of the authority figures,
so it bothers me that I wasn't able to keep control in class. My
provocative opinions amuse myself though, along with some others when I
feel like I want to entertain myself and my peers, but they do tend to land
me in trouble. I know my big mouth is also my tragic flaw and I wonder how
long it will be until I face my reckoning. My phone continues to vibrate in
the back pocket of my shorts. I ignore the annoying device and choose to
quarantine it and simply wipe the sweat beads off my forehead again using
the back of my hand. I roll my eyes at Austin and revert to watching where
I am going so I don't trip over the uneven pavement. "That is thought
provoking mate. I never thought of you as being so deep." Nervously, I grab
the back of my hair and mess it up further.

Austin laughs and then takes a few seconds to look up into the leafy trees
that cover not only the footpath but the street. "I doubt they would expel
you. You just expressed an opinion and essentially walked out of class. I
will be in the shit though when I get home if Mister Mackey reports it. The
only damning thing you said was that misogynist comment about the head
mistress though." Austin remains sanguine though in what waits us back at
Melbourne Grammar. There is no further running commentary from him or does
he mention being castigated by his parents or the school for that matter
and his calm demeanour eventually settles me down. "Do you want to go to
Nandos?"

I look at Austin and then start chuckling. "Mmkay Austin. Please just sit
your arse down on the toilet to piss and be happy about it. You are an evil
man for spraying urine on the floor!" I put on a voice resembling Mister
Mackey, the dishevelled elementary school guidance counsellor from the
cartoon South Park. The majority of students in our English Literature
class have no respect for the instructor and none of us refer to him by his
real name. It is just `Sir' or when we are outside of the class, `Mister
Mackey.'

My pace slows as my circumspect thoughts quickly evolve into sheer and
utter amusement. I hold my stomach and start laughing so uncontrollably
that tears start to form in my eyes which then stream down my face. I
attempt to commentate the events that transpired in the last ten minutes,
and as I do, I interject every third word with more laughter, until I get
to the point that I have to take my bag of my shoulder and drop it on the
ground in the hope of controlling myself. Austin starts laughing too and
attempts to repeat the silly things our instructor had to say, commencing
every statement with `Mmkay' like the fictional cartoon character would do
and sounding as monotone as possible, which entertains me even more. "Oh
god, I can't take much more, please stop!" Austin starts to laugh as he
continues to mimic the instructor. As we stopped on the footpath to carry
on like fools, it gives a group of the boys who left English Literature
after us a chance to catch up to us quite by chance.

Malcolm, the brown-haired alpha male of the group that we both know as an
acquaintance if anything is the first to shout. "Chezdon! That was so
awesome mate!" He puts his hand up and I do the same. Our hands smack
together and then we fist-pump. He speaks to me like we have been best
mates since birth. "That was just amazing mate. You summed up exactly what
we were thinking." Malcolm's three friends nod their heads and both Austin
and I start smacking their hands and then we perform some fist-pumps with
them. "You totally owned Mackey, it was priceless!" The group starts
laughing after Austin simply says "Mmkay" and then smiles. "What is this
shit that Jayden was saying about the two of you though? Was he saying you
are gay for each other?"

Austin's face turns red and immediately looks toward the ground. I knew
what Jayden had to say in class effectively outed us, but with the hilarity
of the moment I didn't think I would be questioned about it on the street
or even so soon. With nothing to lose, I look at Malcolm's blue eyes and
then quickly glance at the other boys who seem eager for me to
respond. "Yeah, so what. Do you have a problem with that?" Austin looks up
at Malcolm and then at me.

Malcolm looks stunned and his eyes dart to his friends who then quickly
start looking back and forth at one another assessing the awkward dialogue
that has quickly evolved from back-slapping hilarity and fist-pumping
action to time-stopping seriousness. "No mate. We just never would have
guessed. What the two of you do behind closed doors isn't my business, it
is all good." The other three boys nod their heads in unison and repeat how
it is all good and that there are no worries. "What the fuck is Jayden's
problem then? You could get him on a bullying charge you know. What he said
is just not cool. Isn't he a door knocker?"

I laugh and roll my eyes and then wipe some more sweat beads that started
to form on my forehead with my hand again. "You know what, I don't care
what Jayden had to say. There are far more clever people that I know that
have tried to insult me, bully me or even call me names during my life. Why
should I care? It happens to all of us and if that cunt can manage to
offend me by saying what he did of all things, I should just cut myself and
end it all right here and now."

Austin looks at Malcolm and at first just utters one word. "Mmkay."
Everyone starts to laugh. "Jayden thrives on Schadenfreude because he is
just a dickhead."

Malcolm slaps Austin on the shoulder with some enthusiasm. "You are a cool
bloke Austin." He extends his hand so he can fist-pump us once again. The
process is repeated by his gang of three. "What the hell does that word you
just said mean though? You are the walking word of the day mate."

Austin moves his fringe and then scratches the back of his head. "Wow, I
wasn't expecting that. Jayden is a fuckwit though, that much is true. He
just gets pleasure from others misfortune. That is what that word means."
My look of confusion subsides as I add a new word to my vocabulary.

"Malcolm, what is a door knocker?" I ask innocently. I know what he is
inferring but I want him to put it in his own words.

Malcolm smiles and stretches his arms over his head. It is obvious looking
at him that carbohydrates are not part of his diet and that he visits the
gym with some regularity. "You know, a Jehovah's witness. The bastards that
come and knock on your door on Saturday morning to talk to you about
religion and what-not. Don't they knock on your door?"

I pick up my backpack and slide it over my shoulders anticipating this
conversation will end soon. "I live in an apartment tower so they wouldn't
be able to get in to knock on my door. But anyway, Jayden is agnostic and
lazy so I really doubt he would wander around and do such a thing." I knew
there were groups of people that would door knock and preach the word of
God, but I have never seen it happen in person.

Not being content with being silent any longer, Charlie, who previously
only contributed only heavy breathing to the conversation and who appears
to be losing the war against acne, finally speaks. "Better to be door
knocked by some bible bashers instead of goddamned ISIS. I wouldn't want
those pricks turning up at my house." Charlie looks relieved that ISIS has
never paid a visit to him in whatever suburban area that he lives in.

"You really think ISIS would knock on your door mate?" Malcolm asks with a
thoughtful look on his face. The banal conversation causes me to clear my
throat and adjust my backpack. "Those arseholes would knock down your door
and lop off your ugly head."

I raise my voice with the hope of shutting down the conversation. "Boys, we
need to go. We need to beheading to visit my father in the hospital so can
I just wish you well now?" The look of agitation on my face causes Austin
to look out and watch the children play in the park again however he
understands my play on words and chuckles.

The hand smacking and fist-pumping commences for another round and I feel
self-conscious when Malcolm gives me a hug since he would have felt that my
shirt that has started to become saturated by sweat before the group of
boys starts to walk off. "What is wrong with your old man? Can I get your
number?" Malcolm looks at Austin before continuing. "By the way if you boys
need anything let me know." He hands me his unlocked phone and I retrieve
my phone from my back pocket, unlock it, and hand it to Malcolm.

I pinch my lips together and shrug my shoulders as I watch Austin pick up
his bag. What could Malcolm possibly be offering? Does he want to beat up
Jayden? Perhaps sell us drugs? I am confident that he thinks I am more
innocent than I truly am after making such an offer. "He was in a car
accident yesterday. He will be fine though, he is just bored if anything
sitting around in the bloody hospital." Sometimes the truth is stranger
than fiction and as we exchange phones once again before walking away from
our new friends waving, I wonder if life will get any stranger before the
sun sets.

The irony of my father being in the hospital and me using the term `he will
kill me' when I reference walking out of class makes Austin chuckle until I
remind him that he, along with others followed me like mice after the Pied
Piper. He expresses interest once again in joining me on my short walk to
the hospital and suggests that we purchase a round of coffee and take my
father a few cups after I say that we will not have time to go to eat at
Nandos and also visit the hospital if we plan to return back to school on
time. As I feel that I should inform him about my shenanigans at the
school, a sense of dread quickly envelops me when I imagine him reminding
me that he pays a substantial amount of money for me to attend this
institution. I hope that the offer of roasted beans will placate the wild
and injured beast.

I inspect Austin like he is produce as we casually walk into the McDonalds
and order a cardboard tray full of flat white coffees from the McCafe
kiosk. Whilst waiting for the barista to do her duty, I take some time to
check the messages that have been delivered to my phone whilst admiring
Austin's body out of the corner of my eye. One message is from Shaun who
provides a gentle reminder that we have a movie night planned for this
evening which causes my face to turn red, more as the result of the
embarrassment that I forgot about it. "Hey Austin, what are your plans
later?" I pose my question loud enough for all the patrons that are
ordering junk food to hear and they promptly turn around to look at me and
then Austin who is graciously collecting the tray of coffee from the
enthusiastic server from behind the counter.

Austin looks embarrassed. It was an innocent question after all. "Let's
go!" Austin quickly walks toward the automatic sliding door and I follow,
bemused as we flee into the mild yet crisp Melbourne air as the sun shines
us from above. "Why do you have to be so loud?"

I jog so I can catch up with Austin with my backpack awkwardly swaying from
side to side like a pendulum. "Sorry, I didn't mean it like that. Here, let
me take those." I reach out and take the tray of coffee cups from Austin's
warm hands. "Thanks for that, my father will be kicking me out and
welcoming you into the family home soon enough if you keep this up." I form
a wide grin on my face and Austin takes a moment to wipe the sweat off his
forehead and then moves his hand to the back of his neck and rubs it.

Austin looks circumspect and his eyes go wide as we continue to walk down
the street, the entrance to the hospital being roughly the distance away
that you can throw a cat. "Tonight I am going to tell my parents not to
expect any grandchildren from me and that I like guys. That I like you. I
am sure that will go down well." He reverts his gaze to the pavement as we
walk towards the front doors of the Alfred Hospital. "So, keep your phone
on and make sure it isn't on silent as I will be ringing you later as I am
confident that all hell will break loose." Austin then looks at me and puts
his hand on my shoulder before we walk into the air conditioned hospital.

"Wow." I wasn't expecting this proclamation from Austin and different
scenarios start playing through my mind as to what his parents will say
when he makes the confession that he likes cock. His mother will be
devastated since she wants him to produce a grandchild with the family name
and his father will most likely only be annoyed because his romantic
interest is the demon spawn of Daniel Morrison. "Yeah, well. I can go with
you if you want. Whatever you need, I am there for you." I raise my hand to
remove Austin's hand from my shoulder and then hold it gently before
abruptly stopping. "Just promise me that if you don't think you will get a
positive outcome after you start talking to your parents that you pull out
before it is too late. There is no point in making your life difficult"

Austin stops in time with me. "What do you mean before it is too late?"

"You have to live with them Austin so if you think that the discussion is
going to turn out to be shitty and your life will end up being hell and
awkward, don't tell them anything especially that your crush is me. It
isn't worth it. Just keep fitting in until you can move out. Your sexuality
is part of your identity but in this case the power of your parents will
trump it, and you have to admit, your parents are not going to take this
confession well."

"What do I have to lose? I can always come and live with you especially
since I look at you as more than my crush these days." Austin states
matter-of-factly and looks deadly serious before starting to chuckle and
winking at me. "I will be fine."

I get lost in my thoughts and play out various scenarios involving Austin
in my mind as I return my gaze to my phone and find a message from Mel
which provides some much needed insight as how to find my father at the
hospital. "I hope so. Maybe because my father and Mel were so accommodating
and understanding when I made the big announcement that I am a fag, I just
naturally assume that it should be easy for everyone else, but I still do
expect the worst." Austin starts to chew on his fingernail as I continue to
read the text message from Mel. "We need to go to the west wing on level
three." I wrap my hand around Austin's bony wrist and pull his hand along
with the fingernail he is chewing on away from his mouth and use it to
press the button to call the elevator. "Don't stress, everything will be
fine."

A few minutes later we find ourselves at a nurse's station on level three
of the hospital. An attractive nurse that has cat-like features with brown
hair pulled back into a pony tail consults her computer and points us in
the direction of another nurse's station further down in the wing. As she
speaks, she stares at my semi-exposed hairless chest as I forgot that I
undid a few many of the buttons on my shirt because I was so hot earlier. I
smile and thank her for her help and we quickly toddle off. A few seconds
later Austin quickly turns around and laughs. "She was totally checking out
your arse."

"Well, I am one hot piece of chicken." I nudge Austin hard enough so his
body knocks into the wall and I start to strut like a rooster. "Don't shove
me, I will spill the coffee!" I casually point out as Austin looked set to
ram me into the wall of the corridor.

"Bastard. You win this battle, but I will win the war." Austin takes one of
the cups of coffee from the tray and begins to drink it as we arrive at the
next nurse's station. I announce that I am looking for the `bruised and
battered' Daniel Morrison and we are directed down the hall further to his
room.

My father smiles as soon as we enter the small shoebox. "Coffee! Give me!"
He demands. His face is bruised, swollen and he has a cut over his left eye
which has sutures holding it closed. A bandage is taped to his neck but
there is no blood on it thankfully. I pass him the tray of three
coffees. "You read my mind, many thanks boys." He proceeds to drink one of
the cups as quickly as Mel would in the morning and then retrieves a second
one from the tray and calmly sips from it. "I am so happy that you came
around Chez, I am so bored. You too Austin, it is good to see you mate." My
father extends his hand toward Austin and he shakes it.

"It looks like Mel gave you a good beating Dad. I always knew that I
shouldn't piss her off. What did you do?" I smile and my father laughs and
drinks more of the McDonalds coffee. "Didn't Mel bring you a charger? Is
your phone out of power? Is that why you have been so quiet?"

"So many questions." He polishes off the second cup of coffee in rapid
gulps. "Is that cup for me too?" Austin looks at me. My body is so hot,
which I determined earlier can be blamed on the white powder that I snorted
up last night and think the last thing I want to drink at the moment is
coffee.

"It is all for you. Go for it. So what the hell happened?" Daniel starts to
drink from the third cup. Austin takes a seat and crosses his legs. The
Channel Seven newsreader is giving the midday report on the television,
which is on mute. Barack Obama is talking about something on the television
which is why I assume my father has it set to silent.

My dad sips from the third cup of coffee. "Brilliant." He lets out a long
sigh. "If you remember, Mel and I were off to The Vineyard restaurant in St
Kilda after we dropped the two of you off at school. A long breakfast
turned into lunch. Some wine was enjoyed so we left the car in the parking
structure in St Kilda and just called for Uber. I had a meeting to go to in
Prahran and Mel was seeing a client in the city, so we ordered different
Ubers. The only story I have to tell really, which isn't very exciting, is
that another vehicle hit the Uber that I was in and because I wasn't
wearing a seat belt, or so because they tell me, I ended the ride
prematurely all fucked up and have had the pleasure of the fine
accommodation, food and service here. My phone broke in the collision, and
besides for the obvious of having a very quiet time in the hospital, I
wanted to get a new Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge anyway. Mel brought me her old
iPhone but that ran out of power quickly and nobody has a charger for that
Apple crap, so I have pretty much just sat here watching television and
have had a quiet holiday. Life is good." My father starts to laugh loudly
which makes both Austin and I laugh. "Hey Chezdon, can you do me a favour?"

"Sure, what do you need?" I look at my father wondering what sort of
complex request I will be asked to sort out for him.

"Can you find me a can of Coke? I really need some sugar." He finishes the
last of the coffee and places the empty cup next to the two other
empties. Even innocently hearing the word `Coke' makes me squirm and I feel
a bead of sweat silently travelling down the centre of my back.

Austin stands up. "I will get you a few cans Daniel. That is not a
problem."

"Thanks Austin, but I am hoping that my favourite son can get me a can or
three. I would like to talk to you about something." Austin's eyebrows
disappear behind his blond fringe again and I am left confused.

"Yeah no worries, I will be back soon then." I casually stroll out of the
private hospital room leaving both my father and Austin to speak in
riddles, having no idea what is so private that I cannot take part in the
conversation. I return to the nurse's station and once again find the
cat-woman who was checking me out earlier and ask here where I can purchase
some soft drinks. She enthusiastically gives me directions to the canteen
as one option and suggests the infamous Nandos outside of the building as
another outlet for sugar. She also takes the time to educate me that Nandos
is her `favourite' place in the area and that she will go downstairs with
me if I can wait fifteen minutes. At first I feel like telling her that the
blond haired boy that I left behind with my father and I were at the
aforementioned Nandos merely two days ago and how we decided to get into a
gay relationship, but the thought passes and with a smile I let her know
that she is very kind for making such a suggestion but I must be on my way,
and much like Captain Cook, I set out on my journey to source sugar-based
drinks. Waiting for the elevator once again gives me a chance to respond to
messages that deserve attention. My eyes once again read the message from
Shaun and I respond to him saying that I am looking forward to seeing the
movie and that I will meet him at the restaurant as planned. Before the
elevator delivers me to the ground level, Shaun has responded to my text,
confirming that he is looking forward to it and that he will be there at
around 6:00 PM. It doesn't take long to find a vending machine after
following the signs to the canteen and fortunately it is retrofitted with a
debit card reader, so I am able to get four bottles of Coke for the
exorbitant price of $16, before retracing my steps back to the third level,
past the gawking cat-lady and back into the awkwardness of my father's
room.

Both Daniel and Austin look up at me as I walk in and my father stops
talking. "Did I interrupt anything?" I hand two bottles of Coke to my
father and one to Austin. He quickly shakes his head so I hand the third
bottle to Daniel and then take a seat and open the last bottle quickly and
drink nearly the whole of the sugary drink in silence. "So what did I
miss?"

Austin looks at my father and is the first to speak. "It is nothing really
Chez. We were talking about the home invasion that I told you about the
other day. He wasn't sure if you knew about it."

"I was starting to explain a situation to Austin." Daniel pauses to open a
bottle of Coke and then takes a drink. "So you turned up just in time
Chez." My father takes a deep breath and then takes another drink before
what I know is going to be a long spiel. "This whole debacle with the
accident has given me time to pause and consider life and how to better
live it. Firstly, after thinking a bit about your mother, umm, I mean
Voldemort, and how she turned out, I think it is time to pop the big
question to Mel." Before my father can say "What do you think?" I make a
loud gasp since I was not expecting such a question. I look from my father
to Austin and he is smiling, but he doesn't say anything.

"I think that is a great idea. It is about goddamned time!" I shout and
extend my arm and shake my father's hand. "That is so awesome, when you are
out of here, we should throw a big party, assuming of course she still
wants you and actually accepts." I laugh which makes my father laugh.

Daniel drinks the rest of his Coke. "I was really hoping that you had that
sort of reaction Chez."

Austin shakes my father's hand. "This is great news Daniel. Good luck!"
Austin smiles.

"Okay then, that isn't it." My father looks around the room and up at the
ceiling before opening another bottle of Coke and continuing. "The
so-called experts at this hospital say that I need to take it easy as my
blood pressure is a bit high. Also, and don't get alarmed about this, but
they also found some skin cancer that I am going to have to get sorted
out. That is why I have this stupid bandage on my neck." He taps the
bandage on his neck with his finger.

Austin immediately looks concerned. "What, you have a melanoma? My father
had a scare not long ago however it didn't turn out to be a melanoma."

With Austin's father being mentioned, Daniel can't help but to roll his
eyes. "The quacks here seem to think that I will be fine, but yes, it is a
melanoma. To sum it up, the five year survival rate for a melanoma that is
1mm or less is just about 100%. The five year survival rate for a melanoma
that is thicker than 4mm is 55%. The one they found is 2mm, so I am sure
that I will be just fine. This is what I get for never wearing sunscreen in
the country that produces the most reports of skin cancer in the
world. Lesson learned boys!"

"Jesus Christ, I don't know what to say." I simply stand in the same place
and then turn my attention to the muted sport report on the television.

"Don't worry Chez, I will be fine. The quack's caught it early, and
combined with other life choices that I will be making to get my blood
pressure down, you will be seeing me for a long time yet." My father looks
confident however I start to consider the fact that it isn't a one hundred
percent likelihood that he will survive and tears start to form in my
eyes. Austin notices that I am becoming emotional and comes over and hugs
me. "Come on boys, get a room!" My father shouts. "I will be fine, don't
worry."

I take a deep breath and gently push Austin away. "Yeah, no worries. I
wasn't expecting that announcement either. It is a shame it wasn't as
thrilling as the first one you made. You need to better your game father."
I quickly wipe at my right eye and take another deep breath and reach for
the bottle of Coke that my father is holding, which he quickly
relinquishes. I finish the contents in the plastic bottle quickly. "Is
there any more news?" I smile and look towards Daniel.

"Actually there is. This is why I wanted to speak with Austin privately."
Austin looks at me and his brown eyes are wider than normal. I feel another
bead of sweat roll down the centre of my back. My stomach tenses up somehow
predicting that this news is not going to be any better than the
last. "With my blood pressure up so high, the quack is saying that I need
to lose weight and relax more. So I have decided to consult the Board and
hire someone to replace me at the company. I will still keep my seat on the
Board, but I will no longer have any operational responsibility there and
will lead a life of leisure playing golf. Why is this a big deal? In the
spirit of transparency boys, as you know, Austin's father and I started
this business some time ago and he has been really pissed off at me since
he sold his part to me and he feels taken advantage of. Austin, you live in
one of the richest suburbs in Melbourne and I believe you would think you
have a pretty good lifestyle right?"

Austin starts nodding his head. "Yes, of course I do."

My father continues. "Your father likes to demonise me for everything and
anything and just feels like he was wronged somehow. He is so delusional
that he thinks that I am responsible for the home invasion that you sadly
experienced. In the past he has said some very horrible and outrageous
things about me in public, accusing me of all things of being behind the
home invasion, that I, well I mean, Mel sued him for slander, however we
settled with an agreement that he would just simply shut the fuck up. I
didn't want any money from him, I just wanted him to be quiet and stop
saying things that were not true."

Austin starts to scratch his head and then begins to play with the hair on
the back of his head. He is processing all of this information and looks
nervous. "So why would my dad care if you quit your job?"

"That is the thing. I will get a substantial pay out and he will quickly
know since the company went public, it will be reported to the Australian
Stock Exchange that one of the principals is moving on and exactly how much
money I am receiving. I just wanted to let you know in case your father
starts running his mouth again. I really don't care what he says as to tell
you the truth, since it is all such bullshit, but since I consider you part
of our family, I just thought I would be honest with you." Daniel takes
some interest in the movie that has started to play silently on Channel
Seven.

"Obviously the home invasion isn't the highlight of my life, and I am glad
you said what you said. My father in the past has had some colourful things
to say about you Daniel, but it didn't really bother me. Business is
business. He always said it was your plan to get rid of him and then IPO
the company. I won't humiliate myself to even ask you if you had anything
to do with the home invasion as I can't even comprehend why you would be
motivated to do something like that, and it is so criminal and shocking, it
offends me just to think about the topic." Austin looks at me and adjusts
his fringe. "I guess what I am saying is if my father has anything shocking
to say about it all, it won't bother me." To be a fly on the wall when
Austin tells his father that he is dating me would be even more interesting
now.

I clear my throat and try to think of something clever to say. "From the
sound of it your workplace is a bit like our school. Just loaded with
people who gossip. On that note, since it is confession time, I have
something to add." I feel another bead of sweat drip down my back. "Dad,
just remain calm when I tell you this. I reckon when you eventually listen
to your voice mail that you will have one from my school saying that I
disrupted class and walked out." I avert my eyes toward the floor and start
counting the tiles.

"I was wondering why both of you were here so early. Did you leave early
also Austin? What happened?" I look up to see a thoughtful look on my
father's face. The rest and relaxation in the hospital bed has done him
some good and I feel a sense of relief as normally because he is so wound
up, I would have expected him to fly off the handle. "Austin, maybe you can
tell me what happened as I am sure it will be more entertaining than if my
son tells the story from his biased viewpoint."

Austin immediately comes back to life as he must have been thinking about
the events surrounding the home invasion. "Sure thing Daniel. There is a
new policy at school that was announced in English Literature. Essentially
the school is saying that if we need to use the restroom at school that we
should sit down on the toilet to piss, so there will not be such a mess for
the cleaners to mop up."

My father starts chuckling. "Are you serious? Or are you just taking the
piss metaphorically?" He then looks at me.

"I am deadly serious. We were told signs were being put up to tell us to
sit down to pee in the bathroom." I smile.

Austin scoffs and then continues telling my father what happened. "Chezdon
took offence with the request and made his opinion known to the lecturer
and the class. He said that they talk about pissing against the wall in the
bible and he certainly will stand up and piss wherever he wants. He made
some comment that could be interpreted as being misogynist though since he
said that the head-mistress can't stand up to piss that she just wants us
boys to be at her level when we do the deed. He walked out of class after
that and half the guys in the class followed shouting and carrying on."

Immediately my father starts laughing at a volume that I have never heard
him reach and the booming noise emanating from his mouth seems to last for
a minute before he is able to compose himself to speak coherently. "That is
so fucked up, it has to be true. I think I am more shocked that Chezdon
made reference to the bible. I am sure that will not go down well. That
goddamned school. If they do ring me I will remind them of my last donation
on top of the fees that I pay and clean bathrooms should be the least of
their worries. This is supposedly one of the best private schools in the
Southern Hemisphere. Where do they get the nerve?"

As Daniel rants, I can understand why the doctors told him he needs to calm
down as his face has turned red and it looks like smoke is going to start
coming out of his hears. "Take it easy." I simply say. "Just letting you
know as I am sure that I will be disciplined."

"If they try, we will fight that. Don't worry Chez, it will be okay. Thanks
for letting me know." His red face begins to revert back to normal and he
continues to chuckle. Austin, looking circumspect sits on the chair again
and crosses his legs, no doubt thinking about the sinister events that took
place at his house a year ago.

"You mentioned Voldemort earlier Dad. I e-mailed her and arranged to meet
up with her tomorrow night. I thought it would be the right thing to do
considering what she is going through." My father stops chuckling and his
mouth drops open. "It is true. I am going to meet her at her house just to
chat."

"Jesus Christ." Daniel is lost for words. "Well, wish her well for me." His
relatively positive reaction and kind words takes me by surprise.

Austin stands up. "We should get going if we are going to get to class on
time."

"Go!" My father demands with a raised voice. "If the school gives you a
hard time, just don't say anything and follow their instructions and we
will deal with it tomorrow. I will be home tonight and talk to Mel about it
after I propose marriage." A wide grin forms on my father's face.

"That sounds so romantic." Austin rolls his eyes and inspects the display
on his phone. We all laugh. "Daniel, will you propose after the first or
second bottle of wine? Will you tell Mel about what is happening at school
before or after the after-proposal sex?"

My father once again starts laughing like a madman as I shake his
hand. "See you later mate. Be well." I pick up my bag and we begin to walk
towards the door.

"Bye Austin you are a good laugh mate. Love you Chezdon. Be well."

Walking through the door, I simply say "I love you too" as I look over my
shoulder. As we stumble out into the hallway, I watch Austin finish
composing a text message. I then wonder if Austin had any inkling that I
wasn't just making what would seem to be a cursory response to my father as
we left, but that the statement was partially directed toward Austin too.

**

Send me an e-mail if you like this! I would be keen on some feedback on how
you think this book is going to end.  chezdon1997@gmail.com