Late Friday afternoon the hall was prepared, seats were set up, sound and lighting systems tested and props and sets were laid out and checked. At 6pm. everyone was back at the school and backstage - back in two classrooms actually - there was huge chaos as all the cast were dressed in their costumes and make-up was applied.

At 7.30pm the doors opened and the audience started arriving and taking their seats. This first performance was, as traditionally, for school staff and for friends and family of the cast and crew, which was more than enough to fill the hall. The Reynolds family, and their staff, were there sitting next to a large group of the scrubbed-up Carver clan. Ma Carver sat front and centre, beaming proudly.

Promptly at 8pm, the background music faded, the lights dimmed and Mrs. Lowry walked out in front of the drawn curtains.

"First of all, welcome everybody and thank you for coming. Westpoint High School is pleased and proud to present this year's musical drama production - Oliver Twist.

Staff and trustees of the school want to thank everyone involved in our production. Thanks to all the cast members and musicians who you will see out in front and thanks also to all the large crew working backstage. Special thanks are due to the head of the Music and Performance Arts Department, our director, Mrs. Emily Lewis, who has worked heroically to bring all this together."

There was a smattering of applause, and then she continued. "Everyone here has worked hard for many months and they have had to face many difficulties, not the least of which was the tragic and untimely death of one of the principal actors.

The Artful Dodger was to have been played by Carl Douglas. As you all know, he was killed in a tragic accident while he was out doing what he loved best - running the streets of Westpoint. Carl was a popular and accomplished sportsman and student of our school and he will be sadly missed.

This show is dedicated in loving memory of Carl William Douglas, another lost son of Westpoint, aged 16 years and forever young. Thank you."

She left the stage as the audience applauded again. The orchestra began the overture and the curtains opened on the first scene.

Each cast member was greeted with fond applause from their supporters as they appeared. The unlikely casting of the Carver kid, Billy Mathieson, was a success from his very first words. "Please Sir, I want some more."

Justin, offstage, winced at the sight of Mr. Beadle dragging Billy around by the ear as he sang Boy For Sale; but no-one else thought of his history. There was rapt, enchanted silence as Oliver sung his song Where Is Love? And the audience rose up applauding at the end. Ma Carver remained seated but there was no prouder person in the hall.

The undoubted star of the show was Westpoint's boy-hero. Justin Reynolds was scarcely recognizable as a cheeky, scruffy, cockney urchin marched out and took command of the stage.

There was magic in the air as he sang and danced his way through Consider Yourself and was joined by Oliver and the chorus. Carl's girlfriend, Claire Lewis, was greeted with huge enthusiasm when she first appeared and, again, there was magic in the interaction as she and Justin sang I'd Do Anything. The show was stopped by the gales of laughter and cheering at his throwaway line - "Wot fisticuffs?"

Oliver's sweet interaction with Nancy was charming. The audience was on their feet again as Claire's Victorian tart spun her way through Om Pah Pah; and they wept at her death scene, as did the cast. They cheered, however, when the evil Bill Sykes got his come-uppance and his feet swung above the stage.

The whole show was a huge hit; everyone excelled themselves as they strove to match the high standards set by the Artful Dodger, Oliver and Nancy. There were several curtain-calls at the end and thunderous applause swept over the excited, delighted cast. Every one agreed that it was "the best damm show ever."

When the curtains closed for the last time, Peter projected on them a slide photograph of Carl with the words, "In loving memory, Carl William Douglas", below. As the audience left quietly, the recording of the school choir, with the Reynolds brothers, singing Pachebel's Canon was played.

Next morning it was "all hands on deck" as they returned to the school and moved all the equipment, sets, props and costumes, across town and installed them in the St. John's theatre. There was a matinee performance in the afternoon, specifically for the senior citizens and old folks of the town. Ma Carver and Kathleen Reynolds were both there again.

Peter had a stall in the foyer where he and Jay were selling recordings - tapes, CD's and DVD's - of the first night's show. They sold a few before the show and were completely sold out afterwards.

The first public performance was at 8pm and there was standing room only in the theatre. Sunday afternoon's performance was for preschoolers and their families - Dulcie and Gaylene Craddock were there - and there was another public performance at 8pm. Peter had all of Whozzat involved in making recordings but they couldn't keep up with demand and had to take orders.

There were another afternoon and an evening performance on Wednesday. These were for schoolkids from the whole district, but Ma Carver, Kathleen Reynolds and some others, attended every show.

Friday the cast and crew traveled 140kms, down the Coast to Hoki and they did shows at 5 and 8pm, and then came back 40km to spend the night in Brownsville. They booked out most of Brownsville's largest hotel - Queensgate.

First thing Saturday morning, Justin, sharing a room with Lucas, was woken by Billy's sister, Margaret. Lucas asked her in and she came straight over and sat on Justin's bed.

"Yes, something's wrong all right. Dennis McGuyver's out there. He was at the show in Hoki last night and now he's here at the hotel, with a car-load of goons with him, and bloody Billy's down there talking to him."

"Well, that's his choice, I guess. There's nothing I can do about it, I've got no claims on Billy."

"There's plenty you can do about it. That creep's down there sweet-talking my brother and the silly little shit's sitting there listening to him. I heard your songs. You said you loved him, Justin."

"Justin Reynolds, for fuck's sake! I thought you were a fighter. Get down there and fight for him or you'll lose him. We'll all lose him, silly little shit that he is."

"They won't need to kidnap him. He was besotted with that creep and he's quite liable to go off willingly with him. I'm really worried, Justin."

"Thanks for nothing! If you won't help, I'd better get down there and keep an eye on them."

"I'll come down, but I'm not interfering. I'll just wait outside in case they do try to use force."

"I know you do, and I love you too. Besides there'll be no shows if we lose our stars."

There was no trouble, McGuyver was leaving as they arrived and Billy passed them on his way back to his room.

Saturday morning was spent setting up in the Regent's Theatre, and then they had free time until the shows at 2, 5, and 8pm.Even though they had three shows to do, they all had plenty of spare time to fill in in their day. The hotel was around the corner from the theatre and the skateboard park was across from there. Some of the kids had brought their boards, so a lot of them hung around there.

They were all booked in for lunch at MacDonalds, and dinner and a celebratory supper were to be held in the hotel. Mostly they just wandered around the town area, window shopping and eyeing the strange kids in their strange town.

Despite his resolve not to interfere, Justin was worried about what Billy might do. Would he? Could he choose McGuyver over him? He feared that he would. He spent the day trying to keep an eye on Billy from a distance.

When they went back to the theatre to prepare for the afternoon show, in Billy's allotted space for changing and make-up, (no individual dressing rooms), there was a huge box of chocolates and a card which read, "With love from Dennis." Justin's heart sank as he watched Billy thoughtfully studying the card.

Before the five o'clock performance, they found a real magnum of champagne, and another card, at Billy's table. As soon as the show finished, Justin ran back to the hotel for something that he had in his bag.

They all ate in the large dining room at the hotel, (much bigger than the Adelphi's), then went back to the theatre for the final show. This time there was another card, from Dennis to Billy, and an enormous bunch of red roses.

Billy was sitting admiring and smelling them, when Justin walked up and laid the CD of his love songs on the table. He retreated as Billy sat looking down at it. Neither of them said one word, but this was his best shot.

He noticed Billy looking at him a lot throughout the rest of the evening, which gave him some hope. Also, he hadn't thrown the CD back at him.

None of their performances was a sell-out as they had been in Westpoint, but they were well attended and Peter and Jay sold some recordings.

After the final performance ended, the happy-but-tired crew and cast, still in their costumes, all came out of the theatre to walk, en masse, back to the hotel for the supper party.

As they came around the corner and approached the hotel, there were many whistles of admiration. The 'devastatingly handsome' Dennis McGuyver was standing there, waiting, leaning on a stunning red Porsche. Billy, just ahead of Justin, walked up to him and McGuyver, with a superior smile, opened the passenger's door.

Justin's heart was breaking. He was sure that he'd lost him now. How could he compete with that young paragon? He stopped and stared as Billy walked up to the car with his arms full of the chocolates, the roses and the champagne.

But then he stopped, threw all the gifts into the car and was clearly heard in the silence. "Go fuck yourself, McGuyver."

He turned around and came back to Justin, put his hands around his face and kissed him in front of all the crowded sidewalk. Justin, stunned, did not move until Billy backed off, looked him in the eyes and said," I love you Justin Reynolds. If you still want me, then I'm yours - for always."

"Billy. Oh, Billy! Of course I want you. I love you, Billy. I'll always love you."

He hugged him, lifting him off his feet, and he kissed him again. Neither of them cared how many people were watching, but there were some cheers as well as cat-calls. McGuyver slammed into his car and roared off into the night.

Justin and Billy went into the hotel and, intending to forget about supper, went straight up to Justin's room. However, a few minutes later there was a knock at the door. Justin opened it and Lucas was standing there with a tray of sandwiches, savories, cakes and cokes.

"I thought you might like these. The room's all yours. I'm staying with Shelley tonight. Have fun, guys."

Next morning the whole party checked out of the hotel, packed up at the theatre and drove home to Westpoint in a happy convoy of cars, buses and trucks. The groups sang all the way up the Coast Road, returning home tired but happy and triumphant. There were none more happy and triumphant than Justin and Billy, sitting together, hands clasped, near the back of one of the buses.

They swept into Westpoint, tooting and cheering all the way across the wide bridge and drove in convoy up the main street. The convoy broke up when a bus stopped outside the Adelphi and two boys disembarked. They waved to the bus as it turned into Brigham Street, then picked up their bags and went into the hotel.

Straight through to the kitchen, Justin marched purposefully with Billy, a little apprehensive, two steps behind. Kathleen, Bob and Jonathan were all there, along with Connors, Lisa and Dick Seddon. They greeted them cheerily asking how the 'tour' went.

"It was excellent. Just great. Grandmother, Granddad, Jonathan, everybody - I have something to say." He turned and took Billy's hand, pulling him forward. "Billy and I are together now and we are going to stay together. From now on, we are going to live together, twenty-four seven, whether anyone likes it or not.

We will live here, in the Adelphi, or we will find somewhere else to live, but we will be together. That is not negotiable. This is your hotel, so it's up to you whether we stay here or not. We can pay board, we've got money now."

"Then I have just one thing to say. The same thing we told Justin and then Jonathan. Welcome to your new home. You're welcome to stay here as long as you like. There'll be no paying of board, we don't charge family."

He held out a hand, Billy took it, and then Bob sighed, "Whatever." And he pulled him into a warm embrace.

Kathleen came around the table. She put her hands on Billy's shoulders and looked into his eyes. "Yes," she said and she kissed his forehead. She turned and hugged Justin. "Congratulations, my Boy. You be happy at last."

Jonathan, not about to be left out, got up from the table. "I suppose this means that I'll have to move back to my own room."

He hugged Justin and kissed him, and then did the same to Billy. "Welcome to my brother, Billy. Be happy. I hope we're going to get hamburgers for tea sometimes."

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Westpoint Tales

by Kiwi

Entangled Tales - 53 - Oliver!