Chapter Twenty One – Making Friends

He clipped Lola’s collar to a short restraint that Dylan had put in the box, just in case Lola had a spontaneous great idea. Matt quietly opened the gate so as not to wake Bill and Jane and set off to meet Jed for their morning hill sprints. They had found a great spot away from the road where Lola could join in and she loved it. The hill sprints plan was very simple, sprint up the hill and walk down slowly. No breaks, use the first five sprints to build up and do the last five flat out. As you got stronger, sprint a bit further. Matt and Jed had worked out a plan. They would stick together for the first five, then Matt would run ahead of Jed as he was much faster now.

Jed was sitting on the grass at the bottom of the hill waiting. Matt waved and turned his bike sideways so Lola could see Jed. Lola started yipping and wriggling in the box. As Matt unclipped Lola Jed started clapping his hands and calling. Jed rolled over on to his back and laughed as Lola jumped on him. Matt lay his bike down and walked over to Jed, they bumped fists and started jogging up the hill. Dylan had been very clear about not wasting time. ‘Train first, talk later,’ he had said. Lola bounded alongside Matt and Jed. She was getting fast now and could easily outrun Matt. Though Lola was learning to do as she was told, her weakness was still other dogs and children, she would run to them no matter what Matt did. On the eighth sprint Matt was feeling surprisingly good, so he decided to run further up the hill and make the last runs more of a challenge. Weirdly it seemed the further he ran the easier it became. Matt ran to the very top of the hill for the first time. When he turned he could see Jed kneeling.

“Whaaat?” yelled Jed. “What are you doing man? Thought you must have got lost or something.”

Matt grinned. “Just felt like a blast.” Matt pushed himself and ran to the top of the hill for his last two runs. The last run in particular was very slow, but he didn’t mind. Matt knew that these were the bursts that would make him stronger. Matt and Jed lay down on the grass while they got their breath back. Lola walked back and forth between them, jumping on their bellies and trying to lick them in the face. It was marvellous.

Matt turned to Jed. “What are you doing today?”

Jed made a groaning sound. “There is no today. I’m going home, back to bed and getting up tomorrow. Today does not exist.”

Matt giggled. Jed just said the funniest things sometimes. “I’m going to go home, have a cold shower, then take Lola on a long walk.”

“Seriously, do you really have cold showers?” asked Jed. “I was really hoping that bit was a joke. No fizz, no chips, cold showers, get up early. It’s like we’re in the army.” Jed sat up. “Well, I’m not going to join the army unless you get chips.”

“Okay, let’s go. See you tomorrow. Have a good sleep.”

“After a HOT shower,” yelled Jed as he walked away.

Matt rode slowly back. He enjoyed the attention he got with Lola on the back of his bike. Sometimes other children would yell out, or drivers would toot their horns. Once they got chased by another dog and Matt was hard-pressed to leave it behind. The more Lola barked the more enthusiastic the dog had become about catching them which did not help at all.

Matt saw Bill and Jane having breakfast and waved as he put his bike under the carport, he lifted Lola out of the box and put her gently down. She immediately cantered through the gate and around to the deck. It was time for her breakfast too. By the time Matt made it through the gate Bill and Jane had relocated to the outside table.
“Matt, grab something to eat and sit with us in the sun,” suggested Jane. Matt noticed Jane looking intently at him as he sat down with a large bowl of muesli. “Matt, I think you are getting taller each week.”

Matt nodded while eating. “Gary said you can grow four centimetres in six months if you get enough exercise and good food.”

Bill leaned forward. “In that case, I will be expecting six centimetres!”

Matt grinned, he certainly hoped that he grew six centimetres in six months. “I’m going to meet Art for morning tea. He said there’s a celebration I should come to.”

“Do you know what for?” asked Bill. Matt shrugged his shoulders and ate the rest of his breakfast in silence.

“Dinner will be at six, Matt, a roast. Please be back on time,” requested Jane. Matt nodded. He was about to walk away then turned and hugged Jane from behind as she sat at the table. Jane put a hand on Matt’s and squeezed it.

As Matt stepped out of the shower he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. He stopped and held his arms out sideways before reaching high above his head. He was getting bigger. Maybe not quite as buff as Jed seemed to think, but definitely bigger.

Lola tugged strongly on the leash as always at the start of their walk, she too was getting bigger and stronger by the week. It was becoming obvious that Lola was going to be a solid dog and not lean like Bess. The plan at Art’s was to put Lola on the mat inside the front door with her leash firmly tied to the door handle. That way she could not chase Tac. Lola had become very good about staying on the mat. She had learned that she was allowed inside at home as long as she stayed completely on the mat just inside the door.

Matt had just settled Lola down on Art’s mat when Jude and Dylan emerged from the bedroom. “LOLA,” sang Jude as she hurried over, “what a gorgeous little girl you are.” Jude sat on the mat next to Lola and encouraged Lola onto her lap. Not that Lola needed encouragement.

“How are your hill sprints going with Jed?” asked Dylan.

“Great. You know that hill Jed, I go to? Well, I ran to the top for the last three.”

Dylan walked over to Matt with his hand held up for a high five. “Awesome, that is a big hill! How’s Jed going?”

“Alright,” replied Matt, “he’s getting better.”

Art clapped his hands. “Attention team, please sit at the table. It’s time for the formalities and speeches.” Dylan rolled his eyes at Matt as he turned and headed to the table. Art stayed in the kitchen, waiting for everyone to sit up. “Okay, close your eyes.” There were sounds of a cupboard door opening and closing, the shuffling of feet and a clunk on the table.

“Open your eyes and be amazed please.” Matt opened his eyes to see a large and elaborately decorated cake. Jude and Dylan laughed loudly at the decoration, but Matt didn’t understand why.

“Now, Matt,” began Art, “what do you think this is?” Art waved his hand over the top of the cake.

Matt leaned forward and looked carefully at the cake. “A butterfly?” Art, Jude and Dylan laughed loudly.

“Fantastic guess,” said Art smiling. “No not a butterfly, a pair of lungs. I had to look them up on the Internet. Today is the one month anniversary of Jude stopping smoking!”

Dylan clapped loudly and mouthed ‘thank you’ to the ceiling. Jude smiled and nodded at Matt.

Art held up a knife. “Now before I cut the cake I think Jude deserves a round of applause.” Jude laughed and looked a little embarrassed as they clapped and Art whistled. Art cut the cake and passed the plates around. “I wonder how we will celebrate when we stop eating cakes?” asked Art.

“We could start eating cakes,” suggested Jude.

“Yes, more cakes,” laughed Art, “that sounds marvellous.”

There was a period of silence as they ate the cake, a lemon cake with very strongly flavoured lemon icing. Dylan looked at Art. “This is a very good cake, Art. What can Jude give up for the next one?”

Jude pointed at Dylan. “Him, farting,” she said with a muffled voice as she ate.

When the laughing settled Art said, “In that case, I think that you’d better make the most of this cake.”

Once they had finished eating Art turned to Matt. “Now, there is a tradition in this house with celebrations. The subject of celebration, today this is Jude, gets to choose a song and we all dance. So up, up, up everyone. Jude, choose away.” Art passed his phone to Jude. Jude looked up and wriggled her lips as she thought. Then with a triumphant smile started typing into the phone. Art grabbed Matt’s arm.

“Quick, quick. Let’s get a good spot,” he said as he dragged Matt to the middle of the lounge.

“Ready?” called Jude.

“Let it rip,” yelled Art.

As soon as the music started Art punched the air. “Enola Gay!” Art, Dylan and Jude all started dancing. It was unbounded, happy, ‘no one is looking’ dancing. Matt tried to join in, but he felt awkward and stilted. Art grabbed his hands and danced with Matt, moving him around gently. Art pulled Matt over to Jude and let go. Jude grabbed Matt’s hands and like Art danced with him, smiling and encouraging. Matt watched Dylan, he was cavorting and spinning with relaxed confidence. ‘Just like his fighting,’ thought Matt. By this time Lola was barking and jumping with excitement. This weirdo dancing business looked like a lot of fun to a puppy. As the song finished Matt walked over to settle Lola by letting her chew and tug on the leash.

Jude sat down next to Matt. “Can I do that, Matt?” Matt nodded and slid out of the way. Lola furiously shook the leash and pulled as hard as she could. “Can you hear her growling?” asked Jude. “So cute.”

Matt smiled and patted Lola. “You’re a real tough puppy.” Lola paused, looking at Matt out the corner of her eyes with her tail wagging. “Yes,” she seemed to be saying, “I am one tough pup.”

Matt stopped at Art’s gate and looked down at Lola. “Which way Lola? The long way or the short way?” Lola looked up at Matt, wagging her tail. “Okay, the long way.”

Matt opened the gate and Lola immediately jumped up and bit the leash. It was tug of war time again. Matt decided to walk to the river and make a loop through town on his way home.

It was on his way back through town that he heard someone calling his name. It was Sandra. She was sitting with Allicia at a table in the sun. They both waved, beckoning him over. Lola started pulling on the leash and jumping when Sandra leaned down and clapped her hands. Matt loved the welcome that came with having Lola. After giving Lola a quick rub Sandra shuffled along the bench and pulled Matt’s arm. He half sat and half fell alongside her. “Guess what, Matt? It’s Allicia’s birthday.” Matt looked over at Allicia. Sandra put her arm around Matt and pulled him tight against her. “And, we’re having a drink.” Allicia and Sandra both laughed. Matt suspected this drink was not the first.

“But,” Sandra continued, “it feels like my birthday now. I’ve got a girlfriend,” Sandra held up her drink to Allicia who smiled back. “A boyfriend.” Sandra put her hand on the side of Matt’s head and pulled it down onto her breast. Matt turned his head slightly, so he was not looking straight into Sandra’s cleavage, and looked at Allicia. Allicia was smiling and laughing. Matt smiled back, they both knew he had no choice about his predicament. “And we’ve got a puppy!” Allicia slapped her hands on her knees and enticed Lola onto the bench alongside her. Lola put one paw onto the table before being pulled onto Allicia’s lap, her legs kicking in the air.

Sandra released her grip on Matt’s head slightly allowing him to sit up. She dropped her hand to his waist and pulled him in tight again. Matt relaxed and let himself be pulled close. Sandra was very strong, but also soft and warm. He felt a funny, enjoyable feeling in his chest and had an urge to lean his head on Sandra. Instead, he smiled at Allicia. She jiggled her eyebrows at him, which made him smile even more. She knew what he was feeling it seemed. Matt sat next to Sandra, captive and contentedly so, while she chatted with Allicia about their summer plans. Life it seemed was pretty good. Sandra jiggled Matt. “Hey, did you know Dad was taking some stuff to the boat?” Matt shook his head.

“I’ll give him a call. You can distract him so he takes longer, that way we can have another drink.” Sandra pulled out her phone. “Is that the bald guy?” she laughed. “Drinking? Nah, you must have the wrong number. Matt’s here, he is just heading down to meet you. Yeah, we can wait.” 

Sandra leaned on Matt as she put her phone in her pocket. Instead of sitting up she smiled and kissed him on the cheek, then on the corner of his mouth. Matt felt himself blushing. “See you later, boyfriend.” As Matt stood up he felt Sandra’s hand slide down his back and across his buttock. Again he felt that funny feeling.

Matt walked briskly along the stopbank thinking about Sandra and the lingering feeling. His thoughts were interrupted by the sight of a group of older boys ahead of him. They were ambling, just killing time. Matt cautiously appraised them for signs of trouble.

“Hey MATT.” Matt looked up, yes it was Nikau. Matt smiled and waved as Nikau walked up to him. Lola started yipping and jumping as Nikau squatted down.

“Where you going?” asked Nikau.

“To meet Gary,” replied Matt.

“Cool, I’ll come.” Matt nodded. He had no idea what Gary would think of this. But what else could he say? The others milled around patting Lola and commenting on her big paws, broad head and developing muscles. They were clearly impressed. Matt was very pleased to be introduced as Nikau’s ‘mate’. Walking around town had just become a lot less stressful. Nikau asked a lot about Gary as they walked to the marina. Matt was reluctant to say too much and was grateful that Nikau was not pushy. Matt pointed out Gary’s boat as they got closer.

“Faaaa, man, awesome. I thought it was a rowboat.”

Gary was nowhere to be seen, but the door was open. Matt tapped on the side of the cabin.

“Hi, Gary. It’s Matt and Nikau.”

There were some clunking sounds before Gary’s head appeared in the doorway. “Hey, guys. Good to see you. Climb aboard.” Gary picked up a rag and started wiping his hands. “Just been doing some of the longer-term checks, a bit messy I’m afraid. Come and sit down.” Gary flopped onto one of the side seats and waved his arm inviting Matt and Nikau to sit. Lola walked around the boat carefully sniffing everything.

“So I hear you bumped into the ladies in town. I hope they haven’t been drinking!”

Matt smiled and looked down, “Well…”

Gary laughed. “That’s fine, it’s Allicia’s birthday. Just hope they’re all good for dinner tonight. Heather’s cooking up a feast.” Gary looked at his watch. “I need to pick them up soon anyway.”

Nikau was looking around with interest. “Cool boat.”

“Thank you,” said Gary. “Are you into fishing?”

“Yeah, sort of,” said Nikau with a nervous laugh, “just haven’t been fishing on a boat.”

Gary held out his hands and looked at Matt. “Well, Matt and I can sort that. When do you want to go?”

“True?” asked Nikau as he squirmed in his seat.

Gary nodded and smiled. Nikau looked out the back of the boat and wriggled in his seat before turning to face Gary. “Is it true you used to teach karate? His big brother?”

Gary looked at Matt and smiled, Matt he thought was looking most uncomfortable. “Yes, I sure did. Still do. Matt has started training.”

“Awesome. Can I train too?”

Gary leaned back and folded his arms. “Well, I’m pretty fussy about who I train these days. We’ll see. Without a doubt, before you can be considered for karate you’ll have to come fishing.”