Kaimoana Tales

by Kiwi

My Story - 15

The night before we left on our travels, Aunt Iris went all out and we had a special celebration dinner. It was like Christmas all over again, with everything on the table, including Uncle Bert's home-made wine.

Graeme and I didn't get any wine though; we had sparkling grape-juice, which I didn't mind at all.

It was a really great meal, but I didn't feel much like celebrating, it was going to be my last night with Graeme. Everything comes to an end, I know, but - Dammit! I was sure going to miss him. Graeme was a bit flat too; well he was going to miss me, wasn't he? Of course he was!

However, things got better, much better. My wonderful grandmother sat looking at us, across the table.

"Cheer up, Boys. It's not the end of the world. As a matter of fact, it doesn't have to be the end of anything. You two have been getting on so well together, why doesn't Graeme come with us? You could keep Mr. Gloomy-Guts here company for the rest of our holiday. Would you like to do that?"

"Well, yeah, I would," Graeme replied. "But I came here to stay with Uncle Bert and Aunt Iris."

"Don't you worry about us, Lovey," Aunt Iris smiled. "You don't want to be stuck here with the boring old people. Go and have a great holiday, with Virgil."

"Yeah, bugger-off, Kid," Uncle Bert agreed. "We're getting sick of the sight of you anyway."

"Really? That'd be so great! Virgil, what do you think?"

"What do I think? Well, I guess I could put up with you for a couple more weeks." I grinned as wide as I've ever done in my life!

He grinned back and shoved my shoulder. "Shut up, Dork. Yes! I'm going to be a gypsy! Thanks, everyone. Thanks a lot."

Have I got a great family or what? Two more weeks, 14 more nights with this beautiful boy in my bed. Simply ace! I love my Gran, she's the best.

Now we felt like celebrating! We enjoyed the rest of the meal and even cheerfully helped clean up afterwards. Would you believe it? Aunt Iris doesn't even have a dish-washer. She says that's Bert's job.

Once finished there, we went out to the tent and celebrated some more. Graeme for dessert, oh yes!

Damm! Two weeks go fast when you're having fun, and we were! Lotsafun. It was the best holiday of my life, the best holiday ever. Some nights we stayed in camping grounds; sometimes with Gran's friends, and sometimes just parked-up in a nice spot on the side of the road.

We hooked-up with a couple of girls once, in Wanaka, and, yes, I had sex with one of them. It was gross! All soft and squishy. No more of that for me, I'd rather be with Graeme anyday.

We went down the East Coast, through Oamaru, Dunedin, Invercargill, (the world's southernmost city), the Catlins, (great beaches but bloody cold water), Queenstown and Wanaka, (cool lakes but too much money around), and back up the west coast - Haast, (the middle of nowhere and huge rainfall), Fox Glacier and Franz Josef, (twin rivers of ice & too many tourists), Okarito, (very cool lagoon, it was huge! We went boating on the air-mattress), Whataroa, (boat trip through the White Heron's breeding colony), Punakiki, (Pancake Rocks and awesome blowholes), Westpoint, (Mum's hometown - whoop-de-do), and back to Tiro-bloody-roa.

Jimmy was pleased to see us. He'd been staying with a family, but he was glad we were home. Funny thing though, he didn't like Graeme. Dumb dog. Maybe he was jealous?

Graeme stayed the last night with us in Tiroroa. We slept together in my little bed, which was interesting. There wasn't a lot of room, but we got close.

Next morning, we drove into town, had an early lunch in the markets, and then went to the airport to put Graeme on his plane, home to Hamilton. Dammit! We said goodbye, hugged a long time, he kissed me on the cheek and he was gone. Dammit!

We'd exchanged addresses and we'd keep in touch, but it wouldn't be the same. My nights were going to be so lonely. 'Mrs. Palmer and her 5 daughters' wouldn't be enough anymore. I needed a boyfriend.

Mum and I stopped in Richmond on the way home, and went into the Mall. Mum had some shopping to do. She needed, she said, a whole new wardrobe for the new school year. "Teachers have to dress smartly. It's all part of the image."

Sounded like an excuse to go shopping to me. This was going to take bloody hours, and I was not interested in going with her. What would I know about women's clothes?

I scored some cash off her and went to the Food-Court for a snack. The queue was way too long at the Bilious Burgers' counter, so I settled for a thickshake from KFC - they're the best things they do.

I found an empty table, (not easy to do, the place was crowded), and sat there looking at the people looking at me and my hair. Everyone else seemed to have someone to talk to. Teenagers always seem to get around in packs. Ever noticed that?

Not me though. I had no-one. Poor me! I had no friends.

I sat there looking at the crowd and feeling sorry for myself. Damm, I missed Graeme.

'Bugger this. It's time I started making changes. My life sucks.'

There was a certain shop, just along from the Food-Court. I sat looking at it and I made a decision. I finished my drink, got up, and went in there before I changed my mind.

About an hour later, Mum came along, laden with all her packages, and walked straight past me. She didn't recognize me! I was sitting there, on a bench, waiting for her and she didn't even know me.

I mean, come on! There was changes, but how can a mother not know her only son? I didn't know whether to be pleased or offended.

She stood, by the main doors, and looked around the crowd. I sat and watched her. Eventually, she focused on me and I could, just about, see the clicks in her head. She came striding over, I stood up and she exploded at me.

"Virgil! What the fuck have you done? Are you out of your bloody mind, Boy?"

"Hey, Mother. Don't you like it? I do, I think it looks pretty good."

"Good? You think it looks good? Oh, Virgil, your hair! Your beautiful hair - all gone! Why did you cut it off?"

"I didn't cut it. A very nice hairdresser cut it and she gave me $350 for it too."

"$350? Is that all? Surely it was worth more than that."

"No, it wasn't. There's not the demand for real-hair wigs these days. Do you really not like it? I do and I feel free. It's time for changes in my life."

"Changes!" She stood staring and considering my new look. Finally, she smiled. "Well . . It was just such a shock! But, yes, I think I do like it. You look good. You're a very handsome young man, My Son."

"Oh good! It's done now, but I'm pleased you can live with it."

"I can live with it. However, I wouldn't want to be in your shoes when Gran sees what you've done. She's going to kill you!

Speaking of shoes, you need new ones. You need a whole new outfit for the New Year as well. Come, Virgil, we've got more shopping to do."

So, we went back and we bought school-clothes for me. Shoes, socks, shorts, shirts, a jersey and a jacket. There was hardly any change from my $350. Dammit! It didn't seem fair that I had to pay for my clothes, but Mum made me do it.

I wasn't rich for long.

We arrived home, got our packages out of the car and went inside.

"Don't let Gran kill me, Mum."

She didn't kill me. (You probably guessed that). She really surprised us actually. We walked into the living-room, Gran looked up and she smiled!

"Looking good, Virgil. I've been wondering when you'd do it. Our baby is growing up, Natasha. What's for dinner?"

My bed was very empty that night.

Next morning, I put Jimmy on the leash and we walked up the road, to Dennis' house, to say our last goodbyes before his Granddad took him to the airport. Dennis/Denise was the best friend I had around there, apart from Jimmy, and I was going to miss him.

We exchanged addresses in case I needed a shoulder to cry on, he got in the car with his granddad, they left and I was alone again, naturally. It was just as bad as saying goodbye to Graeme.

Dennis' grandmother put a hand on my back. "Cheer up, Lad. Friends come and go. That's just the way life is. Would you like to come in for a drink? We've got cake."

"No," I smiled back at her. "Thanks, but I'd better get back home. Some other time, maybe?"

"Okay, Virgil. You call around any time you want company, or cake. You'll always be welcome here."

"Thanks, Mrs. Archer. I appreciate that." We went back home and laid around for the day, doing nothing.