Chapter Twenty Eight – Farewalls and New Beginnings

She wagged her tail and barked, a very clear, “Come on, Matt, hurry up!” Matt heard a tap on the window and turned to see Jane waving to him, he waved back and ran down the driveway with Lola jumping at his side. They were off to Art’s.

Art’s front door was open and Matt could hear laughter, he leaned in the doorway and called out.

“We’re out the back,” replied Art, “bring Lola around the side.” Matt walked Lola around the house and looped her leash over a tap in the shade and joined the others at the table, he noticed that Dylan and Jude were sitting very close together and holding hands. “Well, Matt,” began Art, “we were just talking about what a big summer it’s been for everyone. New friends made and life changes underway. I think I’m missing out! Mind you, Dylan’s put up an exercise plan for me in the kitchen. It’s on the fridge so I’ll think about it every time I go to eat. I hope I still enjoy eating.”

Dylan leaned forward and looked at Matt. “Art might even come with you to do some hill sprints one day.”

Art theatrically coughed and spluttered. “Settle down, settle down now. Matt would have to do a CPR course first.” He put both hands on the table. “Let’s not waste our time on such fantasy, you guys need to get going or you’ll run short on time. Come on, let’s get sorted. Matt, we’ll meet you and Lola at the car.” Art walked to the kitchen and picked up a paper bag and passed it to Jude. “Here are some offerings for morning tea, catch you when you get back.”

Lola loved looking out of the car window and with Dylan’s encouragement Matt put her leash on and wound the window down. Lola put both front paws on the window sill and leaned as far out as she could. Matt held the leash firmly with his arms around Lola, hugging her tight against his chest. He enjoyed the feeling of her warmth against his body.

As they approached the farm Lola started wriggling and pulling on the leash. Matt opened the gate, set her free and watched her tear up the driveway. She was getting very fast now.

As Matt, Dylan and Jude made their way around to the patio they heard a burst of laughter and excitement as Lola made her enthusiasm to be back clear. Matt sat down to let Bess jump on his knees before rolling her over and rubbing her chest.

“Come and sit up, Matt,” called Heather.

“Chop chop,” added Sandra as Matt sat down, “we need to eat up and do the unveiling ceremony.”

Gary looked at Matt and raised his eyebrows. “The ladies have painted the new boat, Matt, I haven’t seen it yet. It’s all been very secret.”

Sandra and Allicia glanced at each other and smiled. Matt sat and ate quietly, content to listen to the happy, teasing chatter. He learned that Jude was heading away with Dylan and that Sandra and Allicia were looking for work in town as they were going to stay at the farm for a while.

“Come on,” said Sandra while drumming her index fingers on the table. “Let’s go and reveal the new boat.”
“Okay, ladies let’s GO,” said Gary, “I see you can barely sit still.”

Sandra lined everyone up in front of the shed doors. “Are you ready?”

“Yes,” they all chimed.

Sandra and Allicia each rolled a door back to reveal the boat with one of its sails draped in front. They each went to one end of the sail and with everyone counting loudly to three dropped the sail to the floor.

“WOW,” exclaimed Jude, “that looks AMAZING.” Everyone else was silent. The mural ran the full length of the boat and was very bold and colourful. At the back were waves, fish and clouds but it was the image at the front which was most striking. It was of two mermaids, one lying afloat on her back looking lovingly down on another mermaid, with eyes closed, in her embrace.

Gary stepped forward and hugged Sandra, pulling her tightly to him. “I will take this boat out with pride, sweetie.”

Matt could see Sandra was holding Gary just as tightly with her head buried in his chest. Gary put one hand on the back of Sandra’s head, leaned down and kissed her. There was silence as they embraced. When Sandra eventually stepped back, with tears in her eyes, Gary hugged Allicia with as much love. Matt stared at Sandra intently as she watched Gary hugging Allicia. She was smiling and crying.

With a sudden, seemingly impulsive move, Jude walked over to Sandra and hugged her. Dylan followed and put his arms around both of them. Matt looked on in silence trying to make sense of this outpouring of emotion.

“Well,” said Heather, “Sandra and Allicia, I think you have done a beautiful mural and I am very proud of you.”

“Photo time,” said Dylan loudly, “Sandra, Allicia please stand by the boat, next to the mermaids.” Allicia giggled as she stood, looking slightly awkward, next to Sandra. “More cuddly please, guys, you’re competing with the mermaids you know. Come on, work it, work it,” joked Dylan.

Sandra pulled Allicia off balance and held her at an angle across her chest. They both laughed and smiled. Dylan held his phone out for everyone to see one of the photos. It was an action shot, with one of Allicia’s feet in the air. She looked startled but happy, Sandra was smiling and in complete control, casually holding Allicia up with one arm.

Soon it was time to go. Matt squatted down and rubbed Bess and Lola while the adults carefully went through all the possible hugging configurations. He watched Dylan and Sandra with curiosity, Sandra hugged Dylan with genuine affection.

Matt opened the car door and clapped his hands, Lola leapt in and as Matt shut the door and stuck her head out of the window. Gary walked over and scratched Lola while Matt walked to the passenger side of the car.

“Bit more room on that side is there, Matt? It’s a tiny car.”

Matt paused for a moment then shook his head slowly. “Jude doesn’t fart so much,” he said with a deadpan voice.

“EXCUSE ME,” exclaimed Jude loudly, “they’re all Dylan’s, every one of them.”

Matt rolled his eyes as he got in the car prompting some giggling from Sandra and Allicia. He clipped the leash onto Lola and held it tightly. As they turned down the drive Lola looked out the rear window, her tail banging away between the front seats.

“What do you think of the boat, Matt?” asked Dylan with a grin.

“Awesome.”

Jude turned to face Matt. “Me too, it was wow.”

“Indeed,” said Dylan. “Back at school, Sandra used to paint big pictures like that. Always plenty of breast and cuddling women. Certainly got the tut-tut team in a fizz. I think Gary had to twist some arms to get her pictures in the school art show. Nearly every kid voted for her entry as a result, so she won the popular vote at least.”

There was a short silence before Dylan continued. “Now, Matt, I can drop you at home if you like. When Jude and I get back to Art’s we’ll pretty much just jump on the bike and go. We put our bags on the bus this morning and need to be up north to pick them up when the bus arrives. Would that suit?”

Matt scratched Lola, who was now lying on the seat, while he thought. “How about dropping me at the pond where we first met? I’ll walk home with Lola.”

Dylan gave Matt a thumbs up. It was now getting too noisy to easily talk. All the windows were down and the engine was roaring in the background. Lola woke with a start when Dylan stopped the car. She jumped up and stood on Matt’s legs looking out the window, her tail thumping on the back seat in approval as she gazed at the pond.

Dylan opened his door. “C’mon let’s find a seat.” Matt sat between Dylan and Jude holding Lola’s leash firmly, she was straining forward, looking at the ducks with great interest. He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked at Dylan.

“I would like to share something with you that my mum told me, probably when I was your age.” Dylan leaned back. “She said, ‘You’re not important you know, none of us is,’ which was just the surprising sort of thing she would say. She went on to explain there was no good reason to think that anyone was any more important or worthy than anyone else. That there was nothing inherently important about a person, or even being a person rather than an animal. What was important was what we did. Some people did things that were more worthy than others and that’s what matters.”

Dylan wriggled a little while he thought. “She said self esteem was worthless and could lead to a sense of entitlement and self importance which helped no one. What was important is self belief. That means knowing if you make an effort you will get a result and you’re in control because only you can control the effort you make.”

He paused to give Matt a chance to reflect on this. “What I hope you’ve learned this summer is if you make an effort you’ll get a result. Just look at what all the karate training, hill sprints, cycling and drills have done for you. You’ve grown heaps, you did super well at the sports trial and you’ve made many friends at school.”

Dylan rubbed Matt’s shoulder and pulled him closer. “Now while you may be completely unimportant, just like me by the way, I want you to know that you’re valued and you’re loved. I’ve never had a little brother before and I’m very pleased I do now.” Matt relaxed a little more and leaned into Dylan.

“Jude and I will stay in touch and we’ll definitely catch up with you at the end of the term. I can’t wait to see just how much fitter and stronger you are and to hear how school is going. If you make an effort at school it won’t be any different to karate or chin-ups, you’ll get heaps better.” Matt nodded, his head rubbing up and down Dylan’s shirt.

“Now Jude and I need to keep moving. Remember, this is not goodbye, it’s see you soon.”

Dylan rubbed Matt’s shoulder again and started to stand up. Matt wrapped his arms around Dylan and hugged him hard. “Do you need to wipe your nose again?” asked Dylan. Matt nodded gently against Dylan’s chest. “No problem, go right ahead.”

Matt laughed gently and stood back, turned and hugged Jude. “We’ll see you soon, Matt,” she said and gently kissed him on the forehead.

Matt watched Dylan and Jude walk back to the car and waved as they drove off. Jude leaned out the window and blew him a kiss. She looked, thought Matt, like she might be crying. As the car rounded the corner Matt heard a final toot of the horn, actually, Art’s car made more of a squawk. Matt sat down again and invited Lola up onto the seat. Together they watched the ducks preening their feathers in the sun.

“Ducks,” thought Matt, “they have a great life. But I’m glad I’m not a duck.” He slapped his leg. “C’mon Lola. Go for a walk?” 

Lola scrambled off the seat and started pulling hard on the leash. Matt walked briskly allowing himself to be dragged along the path, he would take Lola to the river. As Matt walked he reflected on Dylan’s comments. He was getting stronger and fitter fast, this was clear. Could he do better at school in just the same way? Dylan had encouraged him to spend thirty minutes a day exploring one subject from school, but learning something new about it from the Internet, not from his textbooks. It seemed such a weird idea, to learn something he may not need to know. But the important part was to find something he was interested in, Dylan had been very clear about this.

As they approached the river Matt could see another dog swimming. Was this the dog from the other day? Matt hoped so. Lola had seen the other dog too and was pulling hard in that direction. As they got closer Matt could see the dog’s owner sitting on a rock and her unmistakable, shaggy blond hair. Matt instructed Lola to sit as he unclipped her leash. She tore across the grass, first to the lady, furiously wagging her whole body then to Latte who was watching from the river.

The lady turned to look for Matt and waved. “That woke me up!” she said with a hand on her chest.

“Sorry,” replied Matt, realising he should have kept Lola on the leash.

“It’s alright, she’s such a happy puppy.”

Matt sat down near the lady and together they watched the dogs race each other back and forth. Again Lola was lured into chasing Latte and again not much luring was required. Matt and the lady laughed as they watched the dogs’ play.

“How much do you charge to tire my dog out?” asked the lady. “This is marvellous.”

Matt smiled and shrugged his shoulders. “She just runs and runs and runs.”

“Well, it’s my turn to call time. Latte and I need to get going, though it’s been lovely to see you both.”

Matt stood up and whistled. Lola froze in her tracks and stared, Matt slapped his leg and whistled again. Lola came sprinting to Matt with Latte in close pursuit.

“Wow, she’s getting better. Might need to get you to train Latte too!”

Matt crouched down. “Good girl, Lola, good girl.” He clipped her leash on and waved as he turned to walk away. “Yes, Lola,” he thought, “you’re finally getting better at coming.”

“Let’s visit Art,” said Matt, mostly to himself but Lola did respond to being talked to. She wagged her tail and jumped a couple of times before pulling on the leash.

Matt tentatively knocked on Art’s door, he had a moment’s hesitation just before knocking. Would it still be okay to drop by now Dylan had gone? He started to hope that Art was not at home. However, he heard footsteps and the door swung open.

“Hello, what a surprise! Come on in.” Matt stepped inside and clipped Lola onto the door as usual.

“Now, Matt you know Marie I believe.”

Matt turned to look. “Hello,” he said politely. It was his maths teacher.

“Now,” she said, “is this the lovely puppy that rides on the back of your bicycle?”

“Yes,” replied Matt sheepishly, “her name is Lola.”

“Lola, now I remember. But this is not the dog that bites you on the backside?”

“No, that’s Bess at the farm.”

“I think I will like Lola better,” said Marie as she stood up from the couch and walked over. “Hello hun, would you like a rub?” Lola wriggled, then rolled over as Marie approached.

“Would you like a drink, Matt,” asked Art.

“No thanks, just thought I would say hi on my way home.”

Art winked at Matt. “I’m guessing you just wanted to make sure that Dylan left and I don’t blame you at all.”

Matt nodded. “It smells better already.”

Art rubbed Matt’s hair and put his arm over his shoulder. “Oh, Matt you are such a joker now. Where’s that quiet, shy Matt I met not so long ago?”

Marie turned with a cheeky grin on her face. “I hope you’re going to make jokes like that in class, Matt!”

Matt noticed that Art was dressed a bit better than normal and Marie was rather well dressed for a Sunday afternoon too. Perhaps, he wondered, he was interrupting something.

“I need to head home,” said Matt, “catch you at school tomorrow.”

“Good to see you, Matt. Please drop by whenever you’re passing, it’s always good to see you. Also, we need to perfect the chocolate mousse making!”

Marie smiled and waved as Matt led Lola through the door. Matt walked home slowly, reflecting on the day’s events. One thought kept coming back to him, Gary loved Sandra no matter what.

Once at home Matt topped up Lola’s water bucket and biscuits, it had been a big day for her too.

He heard Jane call from the kitchen. “Hi, Matt. How’s your day been?”

Matt walked over to Jane. “Alright.”

Jane put her arms around him. “It’s so good to have you back in the house. My, you have grown so much! Your head hits my chin now.”

Matt felt Jane take a couple of big breaths and let them go slowly. “I love you, Matt. You are growing into a lovely young man.” They stood still in silence, Matt did not know what to say, so he hugged Jane a little tighter. Jane put a hand on the back of Matt’s head.

“I love you too, Jane,” he said, surprising himself.

“You can call me mum if you like.”

Matt nodded gently.

“Dylan came around earlier and put something on your pillow.”

Matt looked up.

“Maybe go and have a look.”

Matt tipped his head to the side and gave Jane a quizzical look, but she just smiled back. There was an envelope on Matt’s pillow, inside was a note, ‘Train hard and bring your gi,’ with a smiley face and a big ‘D’ underneath. There was also a piece of paper that Matt did not understand, he carried this out to Jane.

“It’s a bus ticket,” said Jane, “you’re off to stay with Dylan during the school holidays.”

Matt looked back at the piece of paper. “Really,” he thought. He had a sudden urge to start training and do his drills. He would discover much later this was exactly what Gary and Dylan expected to happen.

Jane put her hands on Matt’s shoulders, turned him around and hugged him from behind. “Watch Lola.”

Bill was sitting on the side of the deck trying to put his boots on, but Lola was pulling on his laces. She was jumping in and out, wagging her tail. Bill was looking a bit frustrated. He stopped bending down and looked at Lola. Lola sank on her belly and barked. Bill lunged forward feigning an attempt to grab her, she jumped back and ran around the yard in a big circle before coming back to Bill and again lunging at his boots. Bill turned and lifted his boots onto the deck to tie his laces. This was a tactical error, sensing a game and a point of attack, Lola leapt onto the deck behind Bill, jumped on his back and licked him around the ears with great enthusiasm.

Matt and Jane started to laugh as Bill leaned forward and Lola darted around to lick his lowered face. Bill made his second error, he leaned back to avoid Lola but she jumped on his chest and licked him all the more. Bill rolled off the deck onto his hands and knees before standing up and wiping his face.

“Lola won, Lola won,” yelled Matt.

Bill looked up to see Matt in Jane’s embrace, both laughing hard. He wiped his face, shook his head and called back, “Lola always wins.” He was smiling.

Matt put his hands on Jane’s and leaned back into her embrace, she kissed him gently on the side of his head.

The end.