Читать книгу When Boys Kiss Boys - Richard Crlik - Страница 13

Michael had done his best to avoid Billy for the rest of that week. It wouldn't do his reputation any good if he was seen talking with him and, he admitted to himself, it made him feel like an asshole every time he looked at the scabby bruise on Billy's forehead which he had caused.

He hated hitting smaller boys. He liked seeing the boys appear weak and under his power but only when he could do it with threats, not hitting. He didn't want to be like his old man and take his anger out on someone who couldn't defend himself. He wasn't a coward like him.

Billy and he caught the same train home each day and got off at the same station. Everyday after the locker room incident, Billy would be standing at the top of the station stairs when Michael walked past. He never said anything but always gave Michael a smile. Michael thought he was either a total idiot or pretty brave.

Curiosity eventually got the better of Michael. That and the fact that once school was over and his mates had gone home he didn't have any friends his own age to hang out with. The suburb he lived in was stretched out down long roads which straddled the bushland ridges extending off the highway. The handful of old, fibro houses which clustered around the highway and railway station belying the large community that lay beyond. His mates either lived ages away or their parents wanted their kids to have nothing to do with 'that rough boy or his druggy brothers'.

Michael had stopped and offered Billy a cigarette.

'I think I owe you one'. He had said bluntly.

Billy had refused the peace offering.

'It's alright, got me own. 'Sides you don't owe me nothing'.

'So why you always hanging around here waiting for me then?' This was almost said as a challenge.

'No reason'. Billy had replied. 'Thought we could hang out together maybe and talk about the beach'.

'Why would I want to talk about the beach? Haven't lived there for yonks.'

'Dunno. Thought you might miss it like me. You look liked you came from the beaches. Thought so on my first day. Thought you were the only normal kid at the school that day'.

Michael did miss the beach. He had only been back a few times since they had moved. His brothers had driven over every weekend for the first year after they had left and Michael had gone with them the first few times. They hadn't gone back to his old beach though and for Micheal it wasn't the same. His mates weren't there, his mum wasn't there. He hadn't gone back after the third trip.

So he and Billy got talking. Billy and his mother had lived on the Central Coast until this year. There was no dad, no brothers and sisters. Just Billy and his mum. Billy's mum had lost her job and moved here to live with his Uncle Ken who had a house down the road.

'He's not my real Uncle though. Just this old guy my mum used to know real well when she was working at the Leagues Club. He knew me dad too before that. He moved down here a while back but he used to come to the club every weekend and they were good friends. So when me mum couldn't find a job she met him one night at the club when she was drinking and he told her me and her could come here. She don't have to pay rent. Just do the cleaning and cooking for him. It's pretty cool. He's real nice.'

He's gone back to Billy's house that afternoon and met Billy's mum and Uncle Ken. Billy's mum was really nice. Pretty and dressed like a hippy. Long cheesecloth skirt and tie-dyed shirt, She even had a flower head band around her long, blonde hair. Uncle Ken had seemed pretty cool too.

He had offered both the boys a beer and when Michael had said no thanks he had given him one anyway. When Uncle Ken began rolling a joint, Billy had laughed at Michael's shocked face and pinched him lightly on his waist.

'It's alright. Old farts smoke too. Uncle Ken sells it but you won't say anything will ya?'

'No it's cool, my brothers smoke it too, but I never thought parents smoked'. Michael had replied. He knew he wasn't acting cool but at least he was being honest.

So he'd drunk beer and taken a few tokes of the joint when it was passed to him. He'd relaxed and told Billy's mum about his family when she'd asked. He'd gotten paranoid at one stage when he had noticed Billy's scar and wondered if Billy's mum knew it was his fault. No one said anything and he'd relaxed again. When Billy's mum asked him to stay to dinner he had said yes. He had jumped up to help her because he was feeling weird. Billy had been sitting next to him with his hand on Michael's leg. No-one, except Michael, seemed to notice this.

After dinner, Billy's mum had asked Michael if he wanted to stay the night.

'You're the first friend Billy's brought home since we moved here. I know he's missing his old friends but he won't say. I can ring your father if you want and make sure it's okay.'

'No it's alright. My old man will be too drunk by now to answer the phone. He wont even know I'm gone'. Michael had assured her. The effects of two cans of beer and sharing two joints encouraging his candidness.

'Oh you poor baby. You can come here when ever you want. I know Billy likes you and we do to. Such a handsome young man. Ain't he Ken?'

Uncle Ken had agreed.

'There's always someone home here young man and you're always welcome.'

Michael had given an embarrassed thanks and had been rescued by Billy.

'Let's go to my room.'

'Don't do anything I wouldn't do'. His mother had laughed and given him a wink.

Micheal wasn't sure if he should be embarrassed or not. Billy's mum and Uncle Pete were already talking about driving up to the club. The comment given no particular notice by any of them - except Michael.

Billy had taken one of Uncle Ken's ready rolled joints with them and led Michael into his bedroom.

When the front door had slammed, signalling that Uncle Ken and Billy's mum had gone off to the club, Billy had turned up the volume on the cassette player and lit the joint. Passing it to Michael while he began miming the words to Blondie's 'Call Me' and dancing around the room. When Billy started go-going to 'Rock Lobster', Michael was mesmerized.

Michael watched Billy whirl and bop to the fast tempo of the music. Laughing as the marijuana carried him away into a world of joy and beauty. He passed the joint to Billy and sat back on the bed, watching Billy twirl around in a cloud of smoke. When the song finished he clapped and laughed, making room on the bed as Billy flopped down next to him.

When they had finished sharing the joint and his head was spinning Michael fell back on the bed still laughing. He opened his arms as Billy slowly lowered himself onto the bed next to him, not waiting for Michael to stop him. Michael groaned as Billy's small, warm body pressed into his.