Date: Tue, 01 Dec 2015 04:55:39 +0000
From: Chezdon <chezdon1997@gmail.com>
Subject: Innocence Waning Chapter 3

Chapter 3

The tram journey into central Melbourne seems tediously slow in the warm
carriage. I start to think that I should have followed my own advice and
cut up my skinny jeans as the afternoon heat is starting to become
unbearable. My heart rate is up and I am anxious, which is not helping my
body temperature let alone my overall comfort.

"What the hell is wrong with you? Why is your face red again?" Jayden
finally noticed that I was looking distressed after his addiction to
Twitter finally subsides.

"Nothing, it is just this fucking heat."

Jayden rolled his eyes no doubt thinking that it isn't even hot let alone
warm.

Thoughts of what that stranger wants to do with me in the Westgate Park
toilet block fill my head. I realise that this bloke doesn't want to just
talk about the footy or the price of tea in China. I am intrigued but
terrified at the same time. This guy knows what he wants and I have no idea
what to even do or expect.

The 109 city-bound tram finally glides to a stop on Collins Street in
central Melbourne. I fight past the "pole huggers" that selfishly obstruct
the door of the tram and the influx of rude people that try to advance into
the public transport before passengers alight. It is a bit like a game of
rugby I have found. Just put your shoulder down and if they don't get out
of the way and let you off, they will get bumped in the process.

"Emporium, food, coffee?" I muse.

"Reverse order. Your shout."

"Deal." I am not sure if I really needed coffee since I was firing on all
cylinders, but I do like trying new places and take some delight in
celebrating the roasted bean.

The magic of technology conveniently yields a SMS message and a quick
conversation ensues using my fingers whilst Jayden watches the busker in
front of the H&M store:

Bryce: wear r u fkr?

Chezdon: Near Bourke St Mall, u around?

Bryce: on da stinky train. who u with?

Chezdon: Jayden. who u with?

Bryce: only the cattle on this damned train haha

Chezdon: Meet us at Guzman Y Gomez at Emporium in 30 minutes hey?

Bryce: okee dokie laterz

I have known Bryce for about a year and met him at one of the boring
athletic carnivals. I approached him to make small talk about his choice of
beverages that he was enjoying, Cherry Dr. Pepper. I thought I was the only
one in Australia that liked the stuff, which is probably why it is as rare
as hen's teeth and locating a can in a shop always poses a challenge. Bryce
educated me as to where I could source the beautiful soda from and in cases
of all things, and even directed me to a forum online that actually tracks
where you can buy oddities like Cherry Dr. Pepper. Bryce doesn't go to my
school so I found it easier to develop a friendship with him because he is
not caught up in the usual political dramas, social circles and gossip
rings that affect not only my peers but me. He has hung out with some of my
mates like Jayden, and doesn't mind him although when he sees Jayden today,
he will probably wonder why he looks more like a male whore than
usual. Since Bryce isn't connected to my cliques, I found it easy to
acknowledge the fact that I fancy guys when he asked me a few months ago
and after confirming that he wasn't trying to solicit me or demonise me in
the lead up to the big question. Bryce, like Jayden has a girlfriend and
despite my penchant for the same sex, I never felt sexually attracted to
Bryce. I once told him that I didn't know what I was looking for in terms
of guys and if I was even really looking. He did however make the statement
that when the right bloke comes along, I will certainly know it.

Jayden and I navigate through the phalanx of weekend shoppers, tourists,
prams and buskers and make our way into one of the last surviving Starbucks
in Australia. Most of the good inner-city coffee places are closed on the
weekend because the professional foot traffic is nil, so rather than fuss
about it much, we queued up, ordered, gave our names and waited around for
caffeine.

"Bryce is going to meet up with us." I say nonchalantly.

"What does your butt buddy want?" Jayden takes a selfie with me in the
background sticking out my tongue and has it posted on Instagram as fast as
I can compose my response.

"Just to hang out. I told him to meet us at the Mexican place at Emporium."

"So we finally get tacos! Tacos... tacos... more tacos... give me tacos!"

He must have really wanted to enjoy the spoils of the taco truck, and it
just dawned on me that I could have been caught out in a lie about my
earlier intentions for visiting Port Melbourne, so fortunately indirectly I
covered up that grave. "Jesus, I love their tacos." I manage a smile. Most
likely because my body temperature feels like it has gone down because I
haven't been obsessed and anxious about the random man that passed me the
innocuous slip of paper for about ten minutes.

A voice behind the counter shouts "Jayden, Grande Mocha with cream!"

"He loves the cream, give him extra!" I shout back. Jayden scowls at
me. "He will show you his nipple for more cream love!" and finally when he
is at the counter thanking the server and apologising for his obnoxious
mate, I manage to shout "don't worry he shows his nipples to everyone who
wants a look!" When I start to laugh, Jayden returns and gets into my
personal space and proceeds to shoulder charge me in the hope that will
shut me up. It does.

The familiar voice returns "Cheese-don, Iced Caramel Macchiato!" I quickly
get to the counter, grab the drink, thank the server and get the hell out
of the shop before Jayden starts taking the piss about how she pronounced
my name incorrectly but also my random beverage selection. At least we
managed to entertain the other Starbucks guests with our slapstick comedy
in the process.

We navigate the maze of corridors through the shops and come out in the
relatively new Emporium building and make our way upstairs to the food
court. It isn't the usual type of food court that you find in a shopping
plaza. There is no McDonalds, Subway or Hungry Jacks or any other major
franchise, but more speciality food outlets that cater to those that want
the finer things in life. At least that is what I think. We queue up to
order tacos from Guzman Y Gomez. Jayden tries to order a frozen margarita
however the clever dick behind the counter requested his identification, so
he did not succeed in his quest for his alcoholic beverage as per usual.

After finding a table we demolish our tacos and then Bryce appears in the
background. I wave him over.

"G'day boys, what's shakin'?" Bryce asks in a rather chipper way.

"You know how it goes, eating tacos, shooting the shit. The usual." I
lament and notice that Bryce is wearing what appears to be the same skinny
jeans as Jayden, however with the legs still intact however my eyes are
drawn to his shirt, which is a lightweight hoodie in appearance with a few
extra buttons on the front undone so that some of his chest is available
for viewing. He catches me checking him out and I feel my body temperature
spike again after my face turned red.

"Hey man, how have you been?" Jayden asks whilst sending out a tweet.

"A bit off actually. Thanks for asking. You blokes will have a good laugh
even though it isn't actually funny but I was woken up at around 4:00 AM
with my parents shouting at one another. From what I heard my mom farted on
my dad whilst she was sleeping, which woke up my dad. He wasn't impressed
so he started shaking her and swearing." He tells the story a bit like
C-3PO would report the status of the Death Star.

Bryce continues with the story with Jayden chuckling. "I guess my dad has a
thing about actually holding my mom all night when he sleeps, which is why
when she farted it would have woke him up. I guess it has happened before
according to the carry-on that I heard. She got pissed off and left as she
will 'not be shook like a goddamned rag doll whilst in a deep sleep' so she
drove down to the holiday house at Sorrento."

The sardonic tone finally broke me down also and I started to
chuckle. Jayden was nearly in tears as he was laughing so much. Other
diners in the hall were staring, no doubt wanting to know what was so
freakishly funny.

"Yeah have a good laugh kids. I guess it is kinda funny." Bryce stands up
and proclaims that he is going to get a burrito.

Jayden can't stop laughing and re-tells the highlights of the story in
between gasps for air, slapping the table with glee and wiping his eyes.

When Bryce returns with his Burrito and Mexican cola, Jayden has nearly
calmed down. "Best story ever! It beats the article that I read earlier
about the mother who lost custody of her children in the US because she
decided to party with her 16 year old daughter and her male friends. The
highlight is that they all played naked twister, the mother got out a sex
toy and used it on her good self before doing some drugs with the kids and
later got fucked by the 18 year old. I guess it got too much for the
daughter as her 16 year old boyfriend supposedly has a 10" cock and he put
it in the mother when she was passed out after fucking the 18 year old in
the toilet."

"Jesus Christ that is mad." Bryce starts laughing. Rice from the burrito is
spit from his mouth. "Did the daughter complain to the coppers?"

"From what I gather, the mother decided to turn her life around after that
incident and went to Alcoholics Anonymous and told the whole sordid story
to her sponsor. The sponsor it appears rang the coppers."

"That is fucked up. Still I would imagine that the 16 year old daughter
when shown that 10" cock at one point said that wasn't going in her ever,
so imagine what she thought when he put it in her mother." I muse and
notice the table of professional looking people next to us were hanging on
every word we were saying.

Bryce chimes in when there is a two second break in the lively conversation
to reflect. "Chezdon, are you saying you don't have a 10" cock? I would
have thought you would be used to taking Jayden's up the arse." Bryce
starts laughing as he amused himself. The men in suits next to us also
start to laugh and when we collectively look at them, they found their food
all of the sudden to be much more interesting.

"I don't have a 10" cock. I wouldn't want one that big. It would scare
women I reckon." Jayden reflects matter of factly. He has claimed that he
has had sex with his girlfriend but I don't believe it as she comes off as
a bit of a religious zealot that would save herself for marriage so I
believe his comment is more directed at things he has viewed on the usual
porn sites.

"Where did you read that story mate?" I ask.

"It was on the News Limited website. I read it when I was taking a shit in
that nasty toilet block earlier."

Bryce finally states what I have been thinking all along. "Farting,
shitting, 10" cocks. Wow, lovely conversation to have whilst I have this
fat thick uncut burrito. Thanks guys. Hey Jayden, are you going to
Commercial Road later on mate?"

"No why?" Jayden looks confused.

"I figured since you are dressed like a whore that you would be walking the
streets tonight offering your shit to the highest buyer." Bryce starts to
chuckle. The body language of the suits at the table next to us makes it
appear that they agree too.

"Are you jealous of my hot body mate? Have you had a good look? I always
thought you were checking out my hot arse." Jayden stands up and sticks his
arse in the direction of Bryce and starts slapping it. "Have a good look
mate."

The conversation dies for about thirty seconds after Jayden sits down.

"So should we go shopping or are we just going to spend the day stuffing
around?" I finally ask, breaking the silence.

"Why don't you just say what is really going to happen." Jayden looks at me
in a way that is familiar enough to know that he is going to try to stir
the pot. "We follow you to Armani Exchange. You then buy a shitload of
clothes in a very short amount of time and then you will be over shopping."

"Am I that predictable?"

Both Bryce and Jayden simultaneously say "Yes."

I sigh. "Whatever. How about I go follow your script and meet you blokes
back here in thirty minutes then?"

Both Bryce and Jayden agree that following me around shopping isn't exactly
very exciting, so I am left to my own devices to visit the Armani
Exchange. I am very brand loyal and like their clothes, mainly because I
know my size for everything. 28" waist and small shirts. Since this never
changes, I can go in, browse for things and strategically not pick up
anything off the racks until the last minute, when I want to buy
something. I hate being hounded by shop attendants especially when they
look at you like you are just some troublemaker that is going to steal from
the shop.

As per my plan, I walk around the shop, conveniently checking various items
to inspect the sizes and then about ten minutes later after considering my
options, start collecting things off the various racks. Once the nearest
sales associate spots my activity, he walks over quickly to ask me if he
can help me find my size. I advise him that I know my size and hand him one
piece of clothing after another and say that I will just buy these
items. The look on the sales guy changes all of the sudden and mentions
that various other items in different colours that he has out back would
match my green eyes. I mention that I need to go and meet my mates and
wonder why actually purchasing things from this shop takes so long in
comparison to actually selecting things. He gets the hint and starts
scanning the clothes into the computer.

"I assume you are part of our VIP club?" I am asked.

"Of course." I then state my mobile phone number so he can bring up my
profile. He keeps scanning clothes whilst his offsider begins to take
security tags off of the clothes methodically and then proceeds to fold the
apparel up properly.

"Did you know if you spend $60 more in this transaction, I can give you a
VIP discount card today, which is completely stamped so the next time you
come in, you will save $150?"

"Oh wow, OK. I am sure I can find something else to buy."

"I will be right back. I have a suggestion for you." The sales associate
toddles off to the back room and then appears with a shirt that reminds me
of the one that Bryce is wearing today, just this one is blood red in
colour. "This will go well with your eyes and hair colour."

"Sure, whatever. Looks good to me." I hand over my debit card and after I
enter my PIN, the large bag of clothes is handed to me and then there is an
outstretched hand in my direction.

"It is good to meet you Chezdon, my name is James. I hope you come back
soon. Here is your VIP card. Don't lose it."

I take the card from him and then shake his hand. "Thanks mate. Cya" was
all I could come up with.

I return to the food court to find Jayden eating more tacos and Bryce
talking on his phone.

"You bought the store I see." Jayden then takes my bag and starts to look
at the contents.

My phone starts to vibrate in my pocket. Jayden is taking everything out of
the bag, unfolding the clothes no doubt thinking that he wants to "borrow"
a few items, which he does from me at times usually without asking. "I like
this!" was all he could say before I put my phone to my ear.

"Hi, this is Chezdon."

"Hi Chezdon, this is James from the Armani Exchange store at Emporium. You
were just in here."

"Right, yeah. What's up?"

"I just wanted to say thanks for coming in. Your purchase helped me make my
sales target for the week, so I just wanted to say thanks."

"Oh right. That is good to hear." I really don't know what to say and feel
like I am conversing for the sake of it. I recently read an article about
Richie Benaud, the cricket commentator and former captain of the Australian
Test team that recently passed away. He only spoke when he had something of
value to add to the conversation. I thought that was apt considering we
seem to live in this society where you feel like you need to be
communicating in some fashion all of the time.

"I was hoping that I can buy you a drink sometime to say thanks." I like to
think that I look my age and wonder how old this guy thinks I am. I would
imagine if I was wearing the outfit that Jayden was wearing, there would
have been no second guessing my age.

"Sure. Cool. Great." If my short responses did not give away that I
shouldn't be served a pint of beer in a licensed premises, nothing would.

"How about tomorrow after I finish work?" James continues to press the
subject.

"Fine. Just text me, I have got to go." With that I end the call.

I must have had a weird look on my face as Jayden quizzed me as what was
wrong.

"Nothing mate. It is all good." I was trying to remember more about James
as I was going out of my way not to engage with him in the shop. Even when
he became overtly friendly, I tried not to look at him too much. He would
have been in his 20's. Probably mid-twenty. I was more intrigued about the
black studs he has in his ears, which is what I remembered the most as I
thought they were cool. As I considered the situation my phone vibrated. A
new text message from a random phone number that is not in my contact list.

0499456000: Hey, it is James. Want to meet at 5:00 PM tomorrow at Transport
bar?

Transport Bar is in Federation Square and takes responsible service of
alcohol seriously as not only I, but most of my peers have found out the
hard way in the past by trying to order something from the bar. The
bouncers haven't even let me go into that place. There is one pub that my
mates and I have found that doesn't enforce the carding of youths, mainly
because it is easy to be low-key in the courtyard, especially if you have
someone else buying the rounds. So I suggest that.

Chezdon: How about Mitre Bar instead? Is that cool?

0499456000: Sure thing. Are you gunna wear that red shirt I sold you?

Chezdon: Nope. My mate took it, I doubt I am getting it back.

I am sure Jayden will claim that shirt as his own as he really likes
it. How awkward it is to be asked if I am going to wear something like
that.

0499456000: no worries. See ya tomorrow :)

"What are we doing?" Bryce looks bored and asks the question.

"I dunno. We can go back to mine and watch a movie or something." My
suggestion is scoffed by Jayden as he claims that I am just wanting to get
rid of my bag of clothes. He was half-right in that assumption.

"Sounds good!" exclaims Bryce. "Let's get the fuck out of here." He
obviously doesn't want Jayden to have a say.

We take the less followed route back to Southbank and meander down the
smaller laneways that make the city distinctive. Oddly we walk past the
Mitre Tavern. The footy is being played on the television in the outside
courtyard and the afternoon drinkers look to be enjoying their pints in the
sunshine. I wonder if I should just order water or a juice when I see James
tomorrow. It might be awkward getting caught out with a refusal of service
from the pub or letting the simple fact that I am only sixteen end up
embarrassing me. I wonder if he is going to treat this meet-up as a "date"
or if it will be just like two mates are meeting up for a beer.

Before long we are walking through the foyer of my apartment tower in
Southbank and after a quick trip in the lift, we enter the air conditioned
dwelling.

"Chezdon?" I hear a woman's voice in the kitchen.

"Oh dude, have you ever met Melisandre?" Jayden says to Bryce, who has a
blank look on his face.

Melisandre is the Red Woman in Game of Thrones who hangs out with Stannis
Baratheon. I told my father once that the woman who he is dating, called
Melissa (or Mel) looks pretty much like the Red Woman. My father agreed and
actually bought her a red robe that she wears on occasion. Being she has
never seen Game of Thrones, she doesn't get the connection or why the whole
theme amuses not only my father but me and of course my friends.

"The Red Bitch in GOT? What does she have to do with anything?" Bryce
queries.

Mel then appears from the kitchen and gives us her greetings. I didn't
think she would be around especially since my father is out at the
races. "It looks like you have been shopping. Can I see what you bought?"

"Sure, go for it."

Mel goes out of her way to act like my friend, but we never really bonded
because we do not have anything in common. Conversation always seems forced
as it is obvious she is never going to bare any children and my father
certainly doesn't want a baby. After I was born he got a vasectomy which my
natural mother always reflected that he got the snip because he didn't want
a kid to begin with. My natural mother is such an evil bitch to ever imply
anything horrible like that.

I leave the bag of clothes with Mel and we retreat into my room after
Jayden and Bryce have a hushed conversation where they started
snickering. Most likely they are amused by the Red Woman. Jayden goes into
my bathroom and finds my nail clippers and cuts the tag off the blood red
shirt that he managed to abscond with. Off comes his slutty cut up shirt
and he fumbles putting on the shirt that James went out of his way to sell
me. I get a few seconds to perve at my friend with his shirt off and have
an odd desire to smell his hairy armpits.

"Thanks for the shirt." Jayden simply states and unbuttons three of the
buttons so he can continue to fulfil his mission in life to look like a
trashy teenager.

"You are such an arsehole dude." Bryce sums up the situation quickly.

"It is no big deal. I didn't even originally select that shirt. It was
forced on me at the last minute so I could get a $150 voucher. I don't give
a fuck." Although I wanted that shirt, I had to blow it off. Besides seeing
Jayden with his shirt off, made it a worth-while sacrifice.

"Weren't you going to buy a phone today?" Bryce wonders out loud.

"Oh shit. I almost forgot."

"Where are you going?" Jayden asks as I leave the room and head to my
father's room. Given I spent the money in my savings account on clothes, I
need to get into his cash stash to buy the new Samsung Galaxy 6. I wasn't
aware that Jayden followed me though and was watching me go through the
middle drawer next to his bed. I found a wad of cash, no doubt some
leftover gambling winnings and start to count out some of the $50 notes.

"Jesus man!" Jayden frightens me saying that as he is leering over my
shoulder. "We could have a good party with that."

I keep counting notes. Of course I will tell my father later that I took
some cash. He won't care as long as I communicate it to him.

Jayden looks through my father's drawer as I count out notes which annoys
me. "That isn't your business mate."

"Wow, look at this!" Jayden holds up a small plastic bag which contains
some white powder. "We could have a good party with this too."

"Put that back mate!" I didn't know that my father dabbled in drugs.

"Let's do it and see what happens." Jayden slyly suggests.

"I really doubt my father would be too pleased if his stash went missing."
I try to reason with Jayden. I can imagine some awkward conversation in the
days or weeks ahead where my father musters the courage to ask me if I
stole his cocaine.

"Just blame it on the maid. Oh, I know, we can replace it with baking
powder or flour. Is your father going to write a letter of complaint to the
drug dealer? He will just put flour up his nose and be none the wiser."
Jayden puts the small bag in his pocket.

I take $1,000 in cash and put the rest back in the drawer and push Jayden
out of my father's room and back into mine. Jayden holds up the small bag
and shows it to Bryce. "Let's get fucked up!"

"Where did you get that you druggie?" Bryce wonders aloud.

"Chezdon's old man is the druggie. A drawer of cash and coke. I love it."
Jayden is really hamming it up.

"Shut the hell up. I mean keep your voice down!" I warn Jayden. The last
thing I want is Mel coming in and asking questions.

"I wonder how much that coke would be worth." Bryce muses. "My brother
would probably buy it."

"Let's do it later." Jayden declares and then changes the subject. "Are we
going to JB? Chez can get his phone."

"Yeah let's go." Bryce is looking at the poster of the four boys from the
band 5 Seconds of Summer which is affixed on my wall.

My phone starts vibrating in my pocket again. The caller ID is blocked so I
ignore it. After I reject the call, the phone starts vibrating
again. Frustrated, I answer the call.

"Hi, this is Chezdon." It didn't surprise me that I didn't get a
response. After I repeated myself I added "goddamnit! Why keep ringing me
and not bother saying anything? Jesus!"

Finally an answer. "Those are some pretty bad words from such a little
boy."

"Who is this?" I demand. The male voice sounds familiar but I can't place
it. The call ends nearly as quickly as it started. I get lost in
thought. Bizarre phone calls, a random meeting planned in a toilet block, a
quasi-date at a pub on the cards, my best mate with a pocket full of drugs,
a wad of cash in my pocket. What could possibly go wrong I wonder and have
a muted laugh.


******

chezdon1997@gmail.com