Date: Tue, 01 Dec 2015 04:55:39 +0000
From: Chezdon <chezdon1997@gmail.com>
Subject: Innocence Waning Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Bryce is fiddling with his iPhone 5 and after a long period of silence
proclaims, "I just checked the Bureau of Meteorology's website and it looks
like according to the radar at least it is going to piss down rain in about
forty minutes."

I was deep in thought wondering how to throw open the door to lead my
friends down to South Wharf so we can browse at the electronics superstore,
JB HiFi. Purchasing the phone of my wildest wet dreams is on my mind,
however my thoughts return to consider who exactly was on the phone call
that I just terminated.

"Stuff it, let's just watch a movie or something!" Jayden exclaims after
taking the prime position on the lounge in the living room. He looks for
the remote control and powers on the Samsung television along with the
other audio and video components by pressing a single button. My father
spent a fair amount of time automating this system so he would not get
frustrated or have to look at five different remote controls which just add
'clutter' on the glass table, which is usually reserved for his newspapers,
the copy of the right wing rag 'The Spectator' and 'Gourmet
Traveller'. "Why don't you just get the phone from the Samsung shop the
next time you are at Melbourne Central? It could be easier."

"I was given a gift card for JB HiFi so I want to use it."

Bryce follows Jayden's lead and gets into a comfortable position on the
lounge. He holds one of the red pillows between his arm and torso whilst
seemingly watching the nasty weather that is slowly coming in using the
radar from the meteorology website on his phone. He has taken off his faux
dirty Converse and socks so he can put his feet on the lounge and I can see
the bottom of his hairy legs. My friends probably confuse me for being
interested in watching the dark clouds on the horizon as I then gaze out
the window instead of becoming fixated on Bryce's ankles but in fact I
wonder what lightning, wind and hail is about to strike in my personal
life. The unknown caller has left me irritated. I grab the back of my hair
and mess it up further, thinking that my dishevelled appearance will
distract anyone who looks at me from the blood that is rushing to my
head. "Yeah, stuff going out and getting rained on." I agree after seeing
what looks like to be a menacing storm approaching, considering the
position of the clouds and then just decide to take up residence on the
lounge.

Jayden begins scrolling through the most recently added television shows
and movies on the media centre laptop that is connected to the
television. Mel walks past with a large bag of rubbish from the kitchen
which gives him just enough time to select Game of Thrones S05E01. The song
from the opening credits of the television show plays. "Naw, I have already
seen this." He hits the back button and returns to the page that lists the
newest media and looks at Mel as she walks off around the corner and
chuckles. "It looks like you watched something called 'Eastern Boys' so
what the hell is that about?"

Bryce then starts reading the description of the movie on the screen out
loud and halfway through the synopsis adds, "If you knew how to read, you
wouldn't have to ask stupid questions. Jesus." The front door slams.

"It is actually a good movie." I chime in. "It is about a gang of migrants
from some old Soviet country that fuck over a gay bloke who tried to
solicit sex from one of them at the train station." I quickly do a
double-take and briefly think about my very recent experiences with train
stations, public toilets, shopping centres and then roll my eyes. "Look at
the Rotten Tomatoes score of 87. There is no reason to judge it." The
faceless men and women behind the Rotten Tomatoes website and their scoring
system seem to know everything after all and I point at the screen so the
uninterested eyes of my mates will hopefully give me some sort of
non-verbal cue that they agree with me.

"I am not. It looks interesting." Jayden says and then starts scrolling
through other movies. "Nymphomaniac hey? Is this in your top ten Chezdon? I
read about this somewhere. It is supposedly ridiculous and Shia LaBeouf
fucks some chick and you can see his little cock."

Bryce starts laughing. "Where do you come up with this shit? Have you
actually watched it? How would you know that LaBeouf has a small cock
unless you took an active interest in it mate?"

"It is the word on the street." Jayden insists. "I also read that LaBeouf
got 'raped' putting on some art exhibit somewhere actually during the show
in public. How can that actually be possible?"

Bryce begins to read something verbatim that is being displayed on his
phone. "'One woman who came with her boyfriend, who was outside the door
when this happened, whipped my legs for ten minutes and then stripped my
clothing and proceeded to rape me.' What the fuck?" This is presumably
about Shia LaBeouf getting raped in public art gallery.

"So people decided to do whatever they wanted to him and because he was in
an artistic moment, and because of this, he couldn't say 'no' or even punch
them in the face, I assume Bryce?" I ponder the ridiculousness of the
situation and hear the front door shut again.

Bryce continues reading to us "Hashtag IAMSORRY involves LaBeouf sitting
silently behind a desk in a room in L.A.'s Cohen gallery with a paper bag
bearing the legend 'I am not famous anymore' over his head. For five days,
members of the public queued to be able to sit alone with him in a room
with a prop of their choice." Laughter ensues. "How many films can he ride
a motorbike in and pretend he is cool? Or famous, what a joke."

"I guess that just means that you can stroke his cock and put a broom
handle up his arse. Why wouldn't he rip the bag off and knock out the
person who touched him inappropriately?" Jayden adds in a very animated
way. Mel walks past and stops.

"Who got raped?" Mel asks us.

"Shia" I curtly respond.

"Oh, is she is okay?" Mel wonders and looks interested.

Bryce makes it known that this is the bloke from the Transformers and from
what Jayden pointed out, the fine outstanding movie, Nymphomaniac, and that
he will be just fine. Mel looks embarrassed but does manage a short but
uncomfortable laugh. "I am going to open some wine, does anyone want a
glass?"

"It is only 2:30 PM you know." I add to the conversation knowing that time
doesn't make much of a difference when it comes to the consumption of
alcohol in this household.

Bryce is the first to respond in the affirmative. Jayden also requests a
glass of the fermented red grape.

"Bryce, do you know the rule?" Mel asks out loud.

"The rule is if you start drinking wine in this place we aren't allowed to
leave unless it is home via an Uber." Jayden states like he has heard it
before. "Safety is Mel's first priority." I think of the silly Work Safe
commercials being screened as public service messages in the state of
Victoria which started up after the Labor government recently kicked the
Liberals out of government a few months ago.

"That sounds like a Qantas safety message." I reflect knowing that even
Qantas wouldn't let teenagers get on the piss early in the afternoon
despite their desire for market share these days.

During the banter, I take some time to think about the situation. I wonder
if wine will take the edge off. "I am in if you boys are. It will be fun."
The wine I will imagine will distract me from what I assume to be prank
phone calls and the other uncertainties in my personal life.

"Civilised you mean." Bryce looks at Jayden. "Well, as civilised as he can
possibly get. I am not holding my breath. What is your drink of choice?
Goon from the box mate?"

"Naw, your mother's milk! I love suckling on her hard hairy nipps." Jayden
continues to scroll through movies. 'Mysterious Skin' is uttered and then
Jayden starts to read parts of the synopsis out loud. "Aliens, Joseph
Gordon-Levitt, hey! Let's watch this."

Just as Mel returns with two glasses of wine, Bryce provides his thoughts
on the movie in a very monotone voice. "Not to spoil the movie for you
mate, but your idol Joseph Gordon-Levitt gets bum raped in that movie and
plays a teenage male whore, so it will be a bit like art imitating life for
you I suppose."

Mel puts down the two glasses of wine on the glass table and it is obvious
that she really wants to laugh but manages to walk away quickly before she
starts cackling.

"Whatever." Jayden settles for 'The Shining' and presses play. "You remind
me of the little boy in this film Bryce."

Mel returns with a glass of wine for me and places the bottle on top of a
newspaper on the table and then leaves. We drink wine and provide running
commentary about the movie for thirty minutes before the bottle is
vanquished. I retrieve another one out of the wine refrigerator, taking
care not to remove any of the ones that I know my father obsesses
about. The understanding is not to open bottles from the Barossa Valley
since they are always in short supply in our household as they are consumed
so quickly. Instead I retrieve a bottle of Marsh Estate from the Hunter
Valley. The rain starts pelting against the windows and I hear the front
door slam. I return to the living room with the open bottle of wine about
the same time my father enters the area.

"Hey Daniel. How were the races?" Jayden is the first one to stand up and
shake my father's hand. "Have you met our esteemed peer Bryce as of yet? He
is a bit antisocial I know and he apologies for not getting up." My father
insists by being called by his first name, Daniel, and detests formality in
the family home.

"Just fine and dandy mate. It was a good day at the races. Tom Waterhouse
will not be retiring anytime soon." Tom Waterhouse is CEO of the betting
agency that he uses. My father shakes Jayden's hand vigorously. "Yes, I
know Bryce. How are you doing mate?" By this time Bryce has stood up and
also shakes my father's hand. "Hopefully my only spawn is keeping you boys
entertained?" My father asks the question obviously not looking for a
detailed answer as he makes his way into the kitchen and from the clinking
of glasses, I am not surprised when he returns with a red wine glass. "I
will have some of that Marsh" and puts the wine glass on the table.

Bryce does the honours and slowly pours the wine into the depths of my
father's glass. Dad then starts telling us about the wine, how it is the
only wine in the Hunter Valley region that is only irrigated by rain and
that is why it tastes so big and earthy. He insists that if we are going to
drink his sacred bottles of the blood of Jesus that we learn something
about what we are knocking back.

The scene in 'The Shining' where Wendy Torrance is explaining to the doctor
that her husband, Jack, broke their son's arm is playing out on the
television. "Look at that doctor, she looks mortified!" My father says and
quickly drinks his glass of the Marsh Estate. "It amuses me that Wendy
Torrance can be so blasé that her son was abused and smoke a pack of
cigarettes in the process of telling the sordid story that only takes
thirty seconds. Does Chezdon tell you boys that I physically abuse him?"

"Only emotionally." I say and smile at my father.

My father laughs and then picks up the bottle of Marsh and starts to pour
yet another glass. You should only refill your glass when it is truly empty
is one thing that I recently learned from my father. This is one of the few
social foibles that upsets my father as he says it not only disrespects the
wine but will make for a different tasting experience as the wine opens up
in the bottle. "Look at this bloody weather. I had to leave the races early
as the rain was going to kill the track. They would have probably cancelled
some of them anyway as they would be fearful that the nags would get
spooked by the lightning."

Mel comes out from around the corner, greets my father and gives him a
kiss. "Why are you bothering the boys, leave them alone and let them have
some fun."

"He isn't bothering us Mel." Jayden happily offers. "In fact I am keen to
hear about the races and how business is going." Jayden just loves to kiss
my father's arse and treats him like his own, most likely because his
parents are divorced and his father lives in Western Australia, so he
doesn't see him often.

Both my father and Mel sit down on the lounge and have a conversation with
Jayden about vices and business. I pour myself another glass of wine and
offer Bryce the last remnants in the bottle and go over and sit next to
him. "Another dead soldier." The bottle is emptied and I place it on the
table.

As I am in an uncomfortable position and can't see the television without
turning my head an awkward ninety degrees, I turn around and just recline
back into the side of Bryce. "Thanks mate, I knew you would be good for
something some day." I raise my glass whilst looking at him over my
shoulder.

My father tells Jayden boring stories about his business which mainly
involves conflicts with the 'money hungry' Chinese. Mel nods her head about
200 times. Jayden somehow keeps finding more questions to ask and my father
is happy to keep pouring more glasses of wine after sourcing another bottle
of the Marsh Estate from the wine refrigerator.

Another thirty minutes pass and the movie continues to play out. I continue
to lean up against Bryce with a glass of wine in my hand. He doesn't seem
to mind. I always wondered how my father would react if he found out I like
guys and for a second think of interrupting his story about the 'dodgy
Malaysians' and tell him a fact that he probably has never considered, at
least to my knowledge. I am sure Jayden surmises and I always vowed that if
he asked me a direct question about my sexuality, I would answer him
truthfully. He just never has.

It isn't until one second after the scene in the movie where Jack Torrance
is told about "the nigger cook" in the hotel toilet that my father chuckles
and excuses himself to presumably do some work or count his
money. Regardless, Mel follows him with the bottle of wine. The ending to
the movie is no surprise to any of us since we have all viewed it multiple
times and usually just put it up as something to have play in the
background to break up any opportunity for monotony to set in.

"Hey Chez, I told Austin that we are just chilling out. Can he come
around?" Jayden asks.

Austin is another friend from school that is the type of guy that is just
everyone's mate mainly because he is so hyper, animated and funny. Everyone
just likes the guy and he is very easy to get along with. He is really kind
on the eyes also. I reach over to retrieve my phone off the table and check
the text messages that I haven't acknowledged in the last hour and see that
three of them are from Austin quizzing me as to what I am doing. He must
have assumed that Jayden would be with me since we always seem to be
attached like body parts so they began a dialogue whilst I was busy
relaxing against Bryce and relaxing with my wine.

Austin: What are you up 2?

Austin: ?

Austin: ?

Chezdon: hey sorry, I didn't have my phone on me

Chezdon: Just at home... want to come around and just chill?

Chezdon: we aren't up to much

Chezdon: Jayden and my mate Bryce are both here.

Austin: Sure thing. See you soon.

My father starts to become nervous when I have too many people over because
six months ago four of my mates and I decided to start drinking his wine
and we then all invited four of our friends each around when my father was
at the races. When he returned home there were eighteen boys and two girls
carrying on in the unit. Guests were having intercourse in my room. I was
aware of that and because I was drunk, I didn't care but I never did notice
a couple of the guests go into my father's room and enjoy its creature
comforts. Well, at least until my father got home and caught one lucky
heterosexual couple in the act of love-making. I don't know how many times
I was told that I disrespected the property after the party of the year
concluded and how he will go to the grave seeing some "chick ride some kid
like Damian Oliver would ride bloody Media Puzzle." Damian Oliver is one of
the best Australian horse jockeys and Media Puzzle was the winner of the
Melbourne Cup racing carnival one year. Another text message is then
delivered to my phone.

0499456000: Hey what you up to? I just finished work.

At first I don't recognise the number and am confused because nobody I know
actually works and then scroll up and realise that the number belongs to
James from Armani Exchange.

Chezdon: Just hanging out with some friends. What about you?

0499456000: Where are you at? I will buy a round. Hell, I will buy your
friends a round haha

With the wine in my system and feeling like I want to have some fun, but
also stir the pot in a way, it took only a few seconds to deliberate with
both my inner angel and devil before sending the reply that would no doubt
invariably cause some sort of drama.

Chezdon: Meet me at Belgian Bier Café at Southbank.

This combination bar and restaurant is near where I live and I frequently
eat there with my father and Mel just because it is convenient. The adults
enjoy the beer that on average has 10% alcohol which is matched well with
heavy food, most notably snails which have been bathed in garlic.

0499456000: Done. I will be there in 20 minutes. How many are with you?

0499456000: Are any of them as cute as you? I doubt it! Haha

With the last text, my suspicions as to what James wants turns into an
intriguing reality that when paired with the last remnants of the wine in
my glass, a wide smile forms across my face.

Jack Torrance has frozen to death and the credits for the film are now
scrolling. Jayden and Bryce are sending text messages. "Hey Jayden, did
Austin say when he will get here?"

"About 20 minutes." Jayden looks up at me.

"I need your help. I need to fuck off outside quickly but I need you to
distract my father and Mel. You know the rules. If he catches me outside of
the unit after getting on the wine, I will be fucked." Not fucked like how
Jack Torrance met his demise in the snow at the end of 'The Shining', and
certainly not fucked like in the way that James probably wants to have me
all savage like, but a little between the extremes of bliss and despair.

Bryce stops texting and looks up with a very amused look on his
face. "Where do you need to go that is so important mate?"

I realise the dilemma that I now face. At first I think that I can go have
a quick pint of orange juice with James whilst I leave my friends in my
flat. It is with that silly thought that I realise that the wine has
clouded my judgement and has made my usually good critical thinking and
time management skills rubbish. If I am away and Jayden is asking my father
one thousand questions about work in his study and Austin turns up it will
be bad since Bryce doesn't know Austin from a bar of soap. No doubt the cat
will be let out of the bag then. I walk over and pour some more wine, sip
it and take a moment to consider my options. "Never mind, don't worry about
it. I was just going to step out and get James since he has never been
here."

In a matter of a mere single second I realise that it is prudent to tell
this stranger where I live and where I am happily hanging out with my
friends. The consequences could not be as possibly as dear to have him
around as trying to sneak out after getting on the drink even for a short
amount of time.

"Who the hell is James?" Bryce wants to know.

"I don't know a James." Jayden contributes.

I instead focus on writing a text message which gets harder after every
additional glass of wine is consumed. "Hold on!" I demand and then send
another message to James.

Chezdon: Hey, can you come around to my flat? Would you mind?

I look at my watch and then look at my friends who are staring at me. I
hope to divert James thinking this is the best course of action to
accommodate my requirement for not only instantaneous gratification but
also a bit of entertainment.

"James is just a guy that I was talking to at the Emporium. I am just
trying to expand my social circle." I say this as stolidly as possible and
after a few seconds of all of us staring at one another, Jayden breaks the
silence.

"What school does this bloke go to?" Jayden looks intrigued, which is not a
good sign. James hasn't even agreed to come to the flat so I may be
creating a drama that really doesn't need to play out.

My eyes dart from the left and to the right quickly as I don't know the
answer and then come clean. "It is the bloke that sold me the clothes at
Armani Exchange. We just started talking and seems like a cool guy."

Jayden looks at Bryce. Bryce starts to look at his phone and laugh, however
like a dog with a bone, Jayden continues. "You couldn't have been gone
shopping for fifteen minutes and now the retail slut of Armani is your new
best mate?" Jayden has gone wide eyed. "How old is this bloke?"

"Look, I don't know. In his twenties I guess. Why do you care? I thought it
would be fun to have a drink with him." I never thought that the wine that
I put in me this afternoon would be leading me to make such spontaneous and
unpredictable decisions. I then read another message that appears from
James.

0499456000: You are forward haha. OK, I am game.

As I recount my shopping experience and explain to my friends that James
simply asked me if I wanted to get a drink as a 'thanks' for helping him
make his budget, all the while sending a detailed text message as to how to
find my building and what to do when he gets here, I realise that I have to
talk louder and louder only so that I can speak over the laughter of my
friends.

Jayden checks his phone just as I get a text message.

Austin: I will be there in 1 minute mate.

"Austin will be here in one minute." Jayden's lips skew to the right like
he is pondering what to say next. I let my fingers do the talking and send
a text to James.

Chezdon: Look, I am at my unit with my friends. Only one of which knows I
like guys

Chezdon: I would appreciate it if you don't infer you do or that I do

Chezdon: I assume that you do. Don't come if you don't want, it is cool.

Chezdon: Just trying to keep drama to a minimum but we are all keen to
drink

The intercom on the wall rings and the video display comes to life. I walk
over to it and see Austin's smiling face. I proceed to pick up the
phone-like receiver and yell a protracted "wasssssuppp!" and press the
button that allows him entry into both the building and my floor. He has
been to my flat many times so he doesn't need any further instruction
thankfully. I go around the corner and hang out near the front door with my
glass of wine. I can hear my friends conversing and laughing in the
background. Sometimes it is hysterical laughter much to my chagrin. I hope
that the wine that everyone has been drinking has just put them in good
spirits and it isn't the ridiculous situation that I am proceeding with and
allowing to play out is what is causing their amusement.

A quick knock on the door and even a quicker reflex to throw it open
reveals Austin. Besides his dark brown eyes and tight blue skinny jeans I
notice his oversized silver DC shoes. His blond hair looks wild today. He
always looks very trendy outside of school and have often wondered what he
would look like with his clothes on the floor behind the privacy of closed
doors. We share the same greeting, which is always "sup!" and I examine his
body which I assume to be deceptively fit as he walks in front of me and
turns the corner, which is when I force myself to pay attention to my phone
again. James has responded to my text message.

0499456000: Heya, no probs J See you in a couple of mins dude.

"Hey mate, do you want some wine?" Jayden who is acting more like a
gentleman than me offers up a bottle but only after Austin looks around
awkwardly for an empty clean glass but also at Bryce as it dawns on me that
I should be playing the role of host.

"Austin, this is Bryce. I will get you a glass mate." Bryce gets up and
shakes Austin's hand and comments on how he likes Austin's shoes. This
breaks the ice quickly and the two teenagers begin talking about where to
find odd yet distinctively colourful clothes and then shortly after that
what team they support in the footy. As I grab a clean wine glass from the
kitchen, I hear a loud roar, only to assume that the talk has turned to the
Carlton football club, the team which they both support. As I return with
the glass, the inevitable question is asked by Austin.

"So how did you two meet?" Austin's eyes dash back and forth. As I am about
to answer after grabbing the bottle of wine and commencing the pour of the
intoxicating red grape, Jayden decides to answer.

"Believe me mate that answer can wait. You should ask him about how he met
the other bloke that is turning up." Jayden then slowly puts his glass to
lips and drinks the wine slowly whilst keeping his anxious eyes on focused
on me.

The video intercom rings again and lights up obnoxiously.

"Oh fuck. Just a minute." At first I believe I have been saved by the bell,
but then realise this is just delaying the inevitable. Walking to the
intercom, I wonder how this is going to play out and then realise that my
father and Mel are not going to stay hidden forever as they will wonder for
whom the bell tolls and what all the commotion is about.

"This is going to be awesome!" Bryce exclaims and then continues. "There is
nothing too sinister about how I met Chezdon mate, it was at an athletic
carnival about a year ago."

"Are strippers coming or something? I don't understand." After Austin asks
the confused question, I turn around and look at him before inspecting the
colour video display on the intercom. Indeed it is James who is waiting
patiently outside of the building. He is looking at the small camera
located over a keypad mounted on the wall. I pause and wonder if pressing
the entry button could potentially be the worst decision that I ever make
in my life or if it will just lead to the usual teenage angst and
drama. The wine has given me courage.

"Press the button!" I hear Jayden shout.

"Who is it, Miranda Kerr?" Austin demands to know and then starts walking
towards me. I think of my father betting on races and how once he said you
win some and you lose some but you should never regret the choices that you
make in the end. I press the entry button. The video display goes dark just
before Austin gets into my personal space.

"It is just a guy I know called James. He wanted to catch up for a drink at
some point so I am killing two birds with one stone. Besides, why should
you blokes care?" I look at Austin. He drinks the 50ml of wine that is in
his glass in one long swig and then licks his lips.

"I don't know any James. Does he go to our school? Catch up for a drink? I
didn't realise you were some boy clubber or barfly. What a laugh!" Austin
looks at me and then Jayden and then realises there is no wine in his glass
and starts walking towards the bottle. Bryce has been scrolling through the
available movies on the media centre and decides to play the movie
'Mysterious Skin' which was discussed earlier. "I am so confused."

"Just drink up mate and go with the flow." Jayden adds just before we all
hear the knock on the door. I noticeably pause, take a deep breath and walk
quickly to the front door, leaving behind murmurs, innuendo, commentary and
opinions, punctuated by "Oh really? How much have you boys been drinking?"
which I overhear Austin asking as I open the door.

"Hi." I look at James. One second later laughter erupts from around the
corner. "Sorry, I am sure you were not expecting to be around at mine and
having to see my obnoxious friends."

James is looking over my shoulder. Jayden is standing there and when I turn
around and see him, I literally jump. I look back at James. "Sorry mate,
come in. It is good to see you again."

"I know, what has it been, a whole three hours or something like that?"
James smiles and walks past me. He looks at Jayden up and down. "Is this
your brother?"

"No." I laugh uncomfortably. "Just my mate Jayden."

James looks at Jayden. "Wow, you look young mate. Sorry. Good to meet you."
James shakes Jayden's hand and I explain that we have been on the drink for
a few hours and not to pay attention to our nonsense. James then follows me
into the living room. Jayden stays curiously behind us sniffing the
contents of his wine glass. I then introduce Bryce and Austin to
James. Neither one of them gets up, but simultaneous say "Sup!" and look at
each other for a few seconds before taking a drink and then look at one
another once again and start to whisper.

"Ohhh kay. I didn't realise that I was going to be hanging out with the
remaining members of One Direction today." James breaks the ice.

"I still don't know what the hell is going on. Who are you?" Austin demands
after interrupting Jayden belting out a sentence of One Direction song
lyrics. "I am just so confused." Austin finishes off the rest of the wine
that is in his glass and reaches for the empty bottle. "What do you do
James and how did you end up here today?"

Bryce gets up and heads to the kitchen before stating "I will get some more
wine. Do you want some James?"

"No thanks. I don't like wine. But yeah, I met Chezdon earlier today when
he was shopping. We were going to catch up for a drink tomorrow but now I
am here. So yeah." James can't take his eyes off of Austin. "How do you
know each other?"

Austin can't stop smelling the inside of his empty glass. "We go to school
together. Well, we don't go to school with this bloke." Austin motions
toward Bryce as he comes around the corner with a full bottle of wine.

"Where do you go? Melbourne?" James asks as he looks out the window at the
Melbourne cityscape. "This is a great view."

Jayden walks over to Bryce to get a refill. "I bet you like the view mate."
Jayden winks at Bryce, who starts to chuckle.

Although on pins and needles, I follow Austin's lead and decide to just
smell the inside of my wine glass. The smell of oak from the barrels
transports me back to a more innocent time when I was forced to go on a
wine tasting tour with Mel and my father in the Yarra Valley when I didn't
have such lurid thoughts running through my mind all of the time.

Austin gets up and holds out his glass and Bryce pours him some more of
Marsh Estate's finest. "Yeah, we go to Melbourne. Great guess."

James must have realised that he has stared at Austin long enough so
decides to make small talk with Bryce. "Where do you go mate?"

"St Kevins" Bryce adds and turns his attention back to the movie which is
now being played at a very low volume.

"Where is that? Do you have any water?" James starts to fidget. I offer to
get him a bottle of water and walk around the corner into the kitchen.

"Toorak. It is a damned all-boys school. It is a great place if you like
boys." I nearly drop the bottle of water as I close the refrigerator door
after hearing Bryce's answer. He rarely misses much and the prolonged
staring at Austin would have been easily noticed.

"Oh I see. I have never heard of that University or is it some trade
school?" James simply says and then catches my eye as I emerge into the
living room with a bottle of water in one hand and a glass of wine in the
other. I would have thought that telling him it is an all-boys school would
have let the cat out of the bag. James seems rather ignorant.

Jayden starts laughing so hard he has to put down his glass. "No you damned
fool, it is a boy's college. He is in year 11." Bryce starts laughing, and
the laughter is contagious so Austin joins in. After a few minutes, before
taking a sip of wine he adds "At least you picked us lot right. Melbourne
Grammar is the place to be." Austin gives Jayden a fist pump and they roll
their eyes.

I hand James the bottle of Mt Franklin water just as he incredulously
shouts "Grammar? I thought you went to Melbourne University!"

My father and Mel then appear in the room. My father stops and says, "Hey
kids. Please keep the crowd limited to just you lot. I don't want this to
turn into a party."

Mel stops next to James, looks at him and extends her hand. "Hi. I don't
think I know you."

I drop my head and realise this is not going to end well.

Jayden finally asks the question that is on the tip of the tongue of
everyone in the room. I knew this was coming, but I certainly did not want
it asked in front of my father. "How old are you James if you don't mind me
asking?"

James drinks most of the bottle of water in a matter of seconds. "Twenty
five."

"What the fuck!" My father stops himself and considers his words. Austin
returns to sniffing the contents of his wine glass. Bryce finds a sudden
interest in the television again. Jayden starts chewing on his bottom lip
and takes a sudden interest in the Adam Cullen painting on the wall.

I notice Jayden looking at the painting and begin to explain that the
artist died not long ago thanks to a long bout with heroin addiction and
alcohol but he won the Archibald Prize in the year 2000. I regurgitated as
much as I could remember as I have heard my father tell the story about
this painting many times and also the tragic life of the artist in the slim
hope that changing the awkward topic to something more sociable would
distract everyone from the situation. My attempt to filibuster eventually
finishes and I not only run out of words but also take a second to breathe
and follow Austin's lead once again in smelling the contents of my own wine
glass.

"You don't find it strange hanging out with a bunch of sixteen year olds
James?" My father asks the second most obvious question of the day.

"Look, well, ummm, you know, I have to go. It was nice meeting everyone but
I have to go." James looks like he is going to hyperventilate and I follow
him as he walks quickly to the front door of the apartment. He opens it and
is out in the hallway by the lift just as I manage to catch the door before
it closes. I hear riotous laughter ensue behind me in the living
room. James presses the down button at least ten times and looks like he
would rather be held captive by ISIS instead of being here. I know the
feeling and tell him that I can empathise as when I return to the living
room, I will be facing my own beheading.

"Text me?" I say in a hushed whisper. I hear the bell announcing that the
lift has arrived and the doors will open soon. James turns and looks at me
and tosses his water bottle in my direction which rebounds off my knee. The
lift doors open and James disappears behind them presumably never to be
seen again.


*****

chezdon1997@gmail.com