Chapter Five – Trip to the Lake

Weekend mornings were quiet and private. Getting up early was easy, he liked having the town to himself. Anyway, he was too excited to stay in bed. Dylan was taking him for a ride, on the road weapon. Matt had not told Bill, but he often didn’t explain what he was up to, or who he was seeing. The key was to be home on time and eat your dinner. Matt knew if he was back on time and calm there would be no questions. He packed his backpack with a jumper and jacket as instructed. To avoid entering the house and waking Bill and Jane he skipped breakfast, he could eat later. There was plenty of time to kill before arriving at Art’s house, so he decided to walk through town and past the marina. He often did this, he would sit and watch people prepare their boats and head out to sea. Matt dreamed of having a boat one day. When he was much younger his family had a small boat, he could just remember this.

Although a sunny day was looming it was still cool and Matt kept his hands in his pockets, walking briskly to warm up. It was quiet in town, still too early for the tourists and only a couple of shops were in the process of opening. Once through town, Matt walked along the stopbank next to the river. A diving bird looked at him before flipping under the water and disappearing. The bird reappeared further down the river alongside Matt, he imagined it was following him. At one stage he saw it flash by under the water, he was surprised at how fast and elegant it was. Nearly every time it surfaced it would tilt its head back and with a quick shake swallow a small fish. “What a great life,” thought Matt, “fishing whenever you’re hungry, resting whenever you want.”

“Hey, what are you doing here?”

Matt jumped, he had been daydreaming. “Hi, Dylan.”

Dylan was walking up the side of the stopbank with his hands on his hips and mouth wide open, panting. He was soaked in sweat.

“Thought I’d get a run in before breakfast, I’ll walk with you for a bit. Where are you headed?”

“Just going to look at some boats.”

“Great, I’ll show you Gary’s.” 

“Gary had a boat, at the marina? What a surprise,” thought Matt. He couldn’t wait to see it.

Gary’s boat turned out to be a smallish launch. Dylan explained that it had been on the farm for years and sat idle following Liam’s death. It was a project Gary and Liam had been working on together. The boat was called Eldie, which Dylan explained came from ‘LD’, or Liam’s dream. The boat was quite small compared to some others. Small, but very sturdy Dylan had explained. He said that one of Gary’s sayings regarding the boat was, ‘The idea is to stay for a long time, not get there in a short time.’

“I’m going to keep running before I get cold, see you at Art’s. Just come now if you like, he’s up”.

Matt watched Dylan run ahead along the stopbank, but he quickly disappeared from view. He was very fast.

Dylan took his shirt off and used it to wipe his face as he opened the door. “Hey, Art may as well start cooking, I’ll zip through the shower. Matt’s about ten minutes behind me.”

“Perhaps take Matt in there with you…,” replied Art with a sigh.

“Yep, he’s pretty smelly. There’s no bathroom in his sleep-out and I don’t think Bill’s onto this,” replied Dylan.

“What about his mother?”

“Still the same I hear, mental health challenges and stuck in the house.”

“Well, we need to make a plan. It’s grim.”

“You’re not joking! There’s no way he can train with Gary smelling like that,” replied Dylan.

Matt could hear Art and Dylan laughing as he walked up the steps to the front door. The door was partly open so he walked in. His stomach stirred when he smelled the food.

“Come in, sit down, breakfast is ready to go,” called Art. “To save time I took a guess. Hope this is okay.”

Matt smiled at Art and nodded. Art winked back. It was of course very okay. After they had finished eating Dylan stood up and started to pick up the plates.

“Leave the dishes, Dylan. I have nothing better to do. You two saddle up and go have some fun.”

“Are you sure?” asked Dylan. “I’m sure Matt would rather clean up.”

“Absolutely, besides I quite enjoy it,” said Art while winking at Matt.

Actually thought Matt, Art must enjoy doing the dishes as he always seemed to be tidying up something.

Dylan spent some time with Matt in the shed, explaining what to do and what not to do on the back of the bike. It seemed pretty simple and Dylan assured Matt they would be taking it very gently. Matt was particularly intrigued with the helmets and their ability to play music and let them talk to each other. Flash. Once the final checks were done and they were on the bike Dylan beeped the horn and called out to Art to let him know they were on their way. Art leaned out of a window and gave them a thumbs up. Indeed Dylan did take things very gently and Matt enjoyed the meandering ride through the hills toward the lake. They overtook a couple of cars and when they did Matt felt a thrill from the brisk and effortless acceleration of the bike. After a while, he even hoped Dylan would push things along a little harder.

As they came over the crest of the last hill before the lake Dylan slowed down so they could have a good look before dropping down amongst the trees. The lake looked stunning. It was a mix of sparkling blue and glassy patches, surrounded by hills of deep green native bush. Matt remembered boating on the lake when very young, though he had not been here for years. They turned onto a narrow, unsealed road and slowly made their way to a small beach. There was no one else at the beach, it was too early. This was just the way Matt liked it. Dylan parked the bike off the road under a tree, taking care to put some sticks under the stand so the bike would not tip over in the sand. Matt noted that the sand was different from the beach at the sea, it was coarse and crunchy to walk on. He picked some sand up and let it run through his fingers.

“It’s volcanic,” explained Dylan, “pumice and other igneous rock.”

Matt looked at Dylan with a slightly baffled look on his face.

“Igneous rock is full of gas, so it’s very light. It comes out of volcanos. Simon and I used to ride our bikes here all the time, and guess what we did when we got here?” Dylan raised his eyebrows and held his hands out wide, hinting that Matt should make an outlandish guess.

“Went fishing?”

“Nooooo,” laughed Dylan, “that would’ve been more sensible though. We had a skinny dip! Now guess what we are going to do?” Dylan was smiling broadly.

Matt could see he was serious. “No way, just no way,” he thought. Matt shook his head, he felt very uncomfortable taking his shirt off in front of anyone, let alone getting naked. He just didn’t know what to say.

“Life is to be lived, Matt. Today you start living. Up until now, you have just been getting ready. It is not a crime, it is a bit of fun so… ready, set, GO.” Dylan started ripping his clothes off and putting them on the bike. “Come on, before anyone turns up!”

Matt had no answer. So riding on Dylan’s enthusiasm he started undressing as fast as he could. The sooner this was over with the better, it seemed like a very bad idea though. They ran down the beach and into the water. It was very cold and normally Matt would not have got in at all, let alone completely naked. But he pressed on trying to keep up with Dylan. Swimming naked felt rather weird to Matt. He was surprised how different it felt to swim with shorts on. A mix somehow of being vulnerable, yet free. Dylan swam over to Matt and they both looked out toward the centre of the lake. Matt could just touch the sand with the tips of his toes.

“Well done, Matt. I am sooo proud of you. Let’s stay in just long enough that the pie we get for lunch will be the BEST pie we’ve ever had. But, not so long our willies fall off,” he said while jiggling his eyebrows and smiling.

Matt smiled back. He loved pies and it was a funny thought, but Dylan was right, that pie was going to taste pretty good. Dylan dived under the water, popped up for a breath then dived again swimming back to Matt.

“I think my willy is falling off,” said Matt, hoping to prompt a return to the beach.

Dylan smiled and shook his head while looking over Matt’s shoulder. “You have got to be joking, there’s a car coming.”

Matt raised his eyebrows and gave Dylan his best ‘Yeah right’ look.

“Actually there IS a car coming. Don’t look and get their attention. Hopefully, they’ll drive on by.”

But the car paused. Dylan waved, then with considerable resignation said, “They’re getting out. Darn, it’s getting rather cold out here too. Just our luck, two girls.”

One of the girls was looking around, she spoke to the other one who also looked around. They both turned and looked at Dylan.

“Hey guys,” yelled the first with her hands on her hips and a big grin. “I don’t see any towels!” Their triumph was unmistakable. After some further chatting and giggling, they walked back to their car and sat down in the sand.

“Got all day,” one of them called. They were both grinning broadly beneath their sunglasses.

Dylan turned to Matt. “Okay, buddy, we can’t stay out here, we’ll have to front foot this one. Just smile, walk over to the bike and put your clothes on. Don’t make a fuss, be as relaxed as you can. Think of the pie.” 

Matt felt panic welling up inside. There was NO WAY he was walking out naked. He took a couple of fast breaths, surely it would be better to die. Dylan watched the panic sweep across Matt’s face. Matt’s panic reminded him just how tough it was to be young and vulnerable. Matt, he knew, was not ready for this.

“Plan B,” said Dylan, “don’t make eye contact, no matter what, just wait for me to distract them. Head along the beach and keep looking across the lake. Walk calmly to the bike and put your pants on as fast as you can and call me. Got that? Just your pants, nothing else. Don’t make me wait. Remember no eye contact and no sudden moves. Smooth and steady.”

Matt nodded. Dylan smiled and put his hand on the side of Matt’s head. “You’re all good, buddy. One day you will laugh so hard about this, I promise you.”

Matt smiled weakly. He believed Dylan, but right now he would rather die than face the girls while naked. Dylan winked, turned around, and walked straight toward the girls. That certainly got their attention, he was right about that part. He did not just walk toward them, he walked right up to them and stood with his legs apart right in front. Matt quietly slid along the beach as inconspicuously as he could while looking out to the middle of the lake before slipping out of the water. Using a tree by the motorbike as cover he walked briskly to the bike. He struggled to put his undies and trousers on quickly, they stuck to his legs and were full of sand. However, out of consideration for Dylan’s predicament, he did not take time for comfort.

“Hey Dylan,” called Matt, “stop showing off.”

Both girls swung their heads to look at Matt.

“Bye ladies gotta go, the boss is calling.” said Dylan as he walked toward Matt. He looked up and silently mouthed, “Thank you.”

“Hey, the other one got away!” called one of the girls.

“He was very kind,” called Dylan as he pulled up his pants. “He did not want to show me up.”

“Don’t worry, Dylan was it? We will put your presentation down to the cold water!” The girls laughed and laughed.

Dylan looked at Matt. “I will bet you anything they are from a farm, only farm girls are that cunning and that cruel.”

Matt smiled and chuckled to himself.

Dylan rubbed the sand off his feet. “Let’s go get that pie, it is going to be the best pie ever! Also, let’s find a bathroom and lose some of this sand.”

Matt nodded, at this moment losing the sand was a higher priority than the pie. It was a slow ride around to the store, it was as Matt was discovering, very uncomfortable to ride a motorbike with sand in your undies. It was indeed a very good pie though. Dylan also suggested they get a chocolate milkshake to make up for the skinny dip mishap. Matt was already starting to see the funny side of the day. Would he be able to tell Jed?

“Just so pleased I didn’t get a boner,” offered Dylan.

“Or the girls pull their phone out,” replied Matt.

“Oh yeah! That would have been deadly.”

Soon they were back on the bike and heading home. Dylan rode even more carefully than before, he was scanning the side of the road as if looking for something. He slowed down and pulled off the road. Matt guessed what this meant. Dylan turned off the engine and dismounted. 

“Do you know this place?” he asked as he waved his hand around.

Matt had never known the exact spot, but he knew this was it. This was where Simon died.

“Yep,” replied Matt, looking down at his feet.

Dylan put his arms around Matt and hugged him tightly. Matt felt Dylan take a very big breath before he started to sob. Gently at first then more and more strongly. “I loved him, Matt, we were like brothers.”

Matt felt his own emotions welling up. Had he ever cried about Simon? Surely he had, but he could not remember. But he was crying now. Uncontrollably. Together they hugged and cried and cried.

Dylan rubbed Matt’s back. “We’re brothers now, Matt.”

Dylan hugged Matt long and hard before patting Matt on the back and heading to the bike. They put their helmets on in silence. Once they were back on the bike Dylan spoke to Matt through the helmet comms, “Remember how to hold on?”

“Yep.”

“Life is for living, Matt.”

The bike burst into life. This time Dylan rode more quickly, pushing through the corners and accelerating and braking more aggressively. Not in a scary way for Matt, but enough to know they were on a mission. As they left the winding section they came to the crest of a hill, Dylan slowed right down with his head held high as he scanned the road ahead. “The road is clear. This was one of Simon’s favourite songs, Wildflower. Hold tight.”  The music started thumping, the bike accelerated and they left the day behind. It was only a short burst of speed, just enough for the bike to make its point. Dylan slowed down to the speed limit and they gently made their way back to Art’s home.

Dylan offered to walk home with Matt saying, “I need to stretch my legs.” After walking in silence for a few minutes Dylan stood still. “Matt, there’s something I want to tell you. On the morning Simon died he made me promise to look after you. This is why I have come back.” He put his hand on Matt’s shoulder. “I’m going to keep that promise.”

Matt walked in silence, he didn’t know what to say. The day had been challenging in many ways and at times overwhelming, like no other he could recall. When they reached his driveway, Dylan hugged Matt.

“See you tomorrow.”

Matt nodded. He thought he might cry again, so turned around and walked down the drive.

That night as he lay in bed Dylan’s words kept coming back, ‘Simon made me promise to look after you.’ This could mean only one thing, Simon knew he was going to die. But why?