Chapter Twenty Six – The Reckoning

“I love you like my motorbike, I want to ride you day and night.”

“NO, NO and NO,” replied Art loudly, “just NO.”

Dylan held out his arms in mock exasperation. “But it rhymes, it took ages to get something that rhymes. What do you reckon, Matt?”

“Well,” said Matt hesitantly, “it is a very nice motorbike.”

Art pretended to hit Matt on the head. “You’re a very bad influence, Dylan.”

Dylan rubbed his chin and held up his hand. “Wait for it, I’ve got the next line.” Again Dylan took a big breath.

“Your soft, brown, flowing hair, reminds me of my favourite beer.”

Art theatrically put his hands in the air and turned around. Dylan grinned at Matt and gave him a thumbs up. Dylan continued.

“I feel the lure of your breasts so womanly, mind you, they are so big it might be gravity.”

Matt smiled as Art bent over and started banging his head on the bench. Art lifted his head and looked at Dylan.

“Dylan, I like Jude and you’re going to chase her away. Just don’t give her the poem until she’s eaten some cake. Otherwise, she will leave without knowing how good it is.”

Dylan shook his head. “Jude will love the poem, you just wait and see. Now I need to have a shower and wrap her present before she comes.”

Art looked at Matt and shook his head. “Learn from this, Matt, please learn from it.”

Matt smiled and sat down next to Lola, patting her slowly until she relaxed on his lap, gently mouthing his arm. Matt held out an arm to Tac. Tac had been getting braver about Lola and getting closer with each visit. Tac stood staring at Lola, his tail twitching from side to side. He took a few steps closer and waited. Matt rubbed his fingers together, encouraging Tac to come a bit closer. He walked in a circle before carefully making his way along the wall toward Matt, just out of Lola’s sight. Matt scratched Tac at arm’s length. Slowly, cautiously Tac came closer. He took one or two steps at a time, sniffing and looking. Lola had no idea she was being stalked and happily mouthed Matt’s arm. Eventually, Tac got close enough to stretch out and sniff Lola’s ear. Lola leaned her head back and looked at Tac, her tail thumping on the floor. Matt held Lola down firmly, but Lola lay still, content to just to look at Tac. Tac turned and walked to the couch, jumped up and started cleaning himself, no doubt to make it clear to Lola he was not afraid.

“Well done, Matt,” said Art quietly, “that was good progress.”

Dylan emerged from the bedroom and walked over to the dining table. “One beautifully wrapped present and one card, complete with poem. Jude is on her way, so cake, present and card, then we’ll head out for dinner.”

Art looked over at Matt. “Well, that’s the plan. Let’s see what happens.”

Lola stood up and looked at the door. “Jude must be here,” said Dylan, “positions everyone.”

“I’ll get a box of tissues,” said Art.

Lola wriggled and jumped as the door opened. “Hello, gorgeous,” said Jude as she bent down to rub Lola.

“Actually, I’m over here,” called Dylan.

Jude rolled her eyes at Dylan. “Maybe if you had a dress on,” she said.

Matt looked at Jude and smiled. She was very smartly dressed with her hair tied up. 

“Jude, you look stunning,” exclaimed Art. “Now I know you’re heading out to eat, but we’ve made a cake. So maybe just a nibble now and we will save it for you.”

“Sure,” said Jude, “just a small piece.” They sat quietly around the table as Art served up the cake. Dylan put his arm around Jude and gently pulled her close. Jude smiled back at him and leaned her head on his shoulder. “Thank you, Art, it’s a lovely cake,” said Jude.

“No problem, I’ll give you the recipe one day,” said Art with a cheeky smile.

“Now first the present, then the card,” said Dylan. Jude smiled as she slowly unwrapped the present. It was a cake and dessert cookbook.

“Now you have the recipe for the cake, Jude!” declared Art.

“Thank you guys, that’s lovely.”

“Before you open the card, please be aware that the poem is original,” said Dylan. “Matt helped me write it.” Matt looked at Dylan and tipped his head to one side with his eyebrows raised. Jude opened the card, stared at it for quite a few seconds before putting it down and hugging Dylan.

“That’s so beautiful, Dylan,” she said, then turning to face Matt, “and Matt it seems.” Jude stood up and walked around to Art and hugged him. “Thank you so much for everything, Art, I really appreciate it.”

“You are welcome, Jude,” replied Art. “Now if it’s okay, may I read the poem?”

“Sure,” said Jude as she passed the card to Art.

Wind and waves
Summer and sand
Spring and flowers
Jude and Dylan

Art stared at the card, took a big breath and passed it to Matt. While Matt read the poem Art walked around to Dylan, smiled and held out his hand. When Dylan reached out to shake Art’s hand Art quickly cuffed him on the side of the head. “You’re a proper snotter, Dylan.”

Dylan laughed heartily. “What, don’t you like the poem?”

Art theatrically waved Dylan away with his hands. “Be off with you,” he said.

By this stage, Matt has walked around the table to face Dylan. Matt swung his finger around and around, indicating that Dylan should turn around. As soon as Dylan started to turn Matt kicked him in the seat of his pants. Dylan was now laughing so hard that tears were running down his cheeks and he struggled to speak. “What’s up, guys? Don’t you like poetry?” he eventually managed to ask.

Jude was smiling with her hands on her hips. “What on earth is going on?” she asked.

“I’ll tell you later,” said Dylan. “I think it’s time to go.”

“NO,” Art shouted. “Dylan will never tell you. He will not speak of this evil. Now go and enjoy your dinner this instant!”

Dylan turned and poked his tongue at Art as he walked out the door. Art gave Dylan the middle finger all the way from his knees to above his head. “As I was saying, Matt, learn from this!” Art walked back to the kitchen with the plates, he put them down and stared at the bench. Matt heard the drumming of his fingers.

“You know, Matt,” said Art, “it’s rather cute watching them fall in love. It reminds me of meeting his mum. Do you know much about his mum?”

Matt shook his head.

“Hmmm, gorgeous, smart, very well educated and frighteningly insightful. I remember telling her I was falling in love and she told me that I was not falling in love with her at all, but instead falling in love with how I felt. She explained all the biology and psychology of attraction and why I felt the way I did. She reckoned that she was my drug dealer and I was becoming an addict! She was right of course, but I was mortified at the time. She also said that luckily for me she felt the same way and told me this was surprising given how little I had to offer. I always chose to think the last bit was a joke.”

Art chuckled to himself as he reflected on this. “When she became unwell, she was just as matter of fact. ‘Death is for the living’ she used to say, along with, ‘My death will be your problem, not mine.’ Again she was quite right. I think we all live in a bubble most of the time, somehow with the reality of our mortality just out of reach.” Art reached up and wiped his eyes. “So, Matt, I hear you are cooking dinner tonight. What’s on the menu?”

“Nachos,” replied Matt, “Dylan showed me.”

Art laughed. “Oh, THOSE nachos! Yes, that is a very popular recipe. Have fun.”

“Will do. Jed and Nikau are coming.”

Art waved as Matt headed out the door. After giving Matt time to reach the gate he walked over to the window and watched Matt and Lola walking down the road. Lola had the leash in her mouth and was jumping and pulling as hard as she could. He could see Matt talking to Lola before sprinting down the pavement. Lola dropped the leash and ran after him, jumping at his hand held high in the air. Art walked to the couch, slumped down and called Tac. “Come on, Tac, you’re all I’ve got.”

Back at home, Matt inspected the ingredients. Mince, baked beans, cheese and some triangle chips. “Thanks, Jane,” he said after confirming all the ingredients were present.

“That’s fine, Matt. Are you sure you don’t want some onions or tomatoes as well?”

Matt shook his head. “No way, we’re making nachos. I’ll be outside with Lola until the others get here.” As agreed Jed messaged Matt when he and Nikau were close. Matt jumped up, ran to the kitchen and started heating the pan. The instructions from Dylan were simple and clear, cook the mince with a hot pan, break it into little bits to make sure it was thoroughly cooked, turn the pan down and put the baked beans in. Matt waited until Jed and Nikau were coming down the driveway before adding the baked beans. The timing would be perfect.

Matt tapped on the window. “Meet you on the deck,” he yelled. Nikau started to wave back but Lola leapt up and took his attention away. Matt put the triangle chips in a bowl, added copious amounts of mince and grated some cheese on top. He also took a bone out of the fridge for Lola. That way they could sit on the bean bags in peace. Once Lola was settled on the lawn with her bone the boys took their plates outside and sat on the bean bags facing each other.

“Did you know in Germany there is a law that beer can only have four ingredients?” asked Matt. “Dylan told me.” Nikau and Jed shook their heads.

“And in Italy, you can only have four ingredients in Nachos,” continued Matt.

“Italy?” asked Jed, “Nachos sounds like French.”

“I’m pretty sure Dylan said Italy,” replied Matt. The boys and Lola ate in silence until the plates were licked clean.

“Hmmm,” said Nikau, “real good. Dylan got any more recipes?”

“Why?” asked Jed. “What’s wrong with this one?”

Nikau shrugged his shoulders and laughed. “Sure, boss.”

“Guess what guys?” asked Nikau. Then before they could answer, “My mum wants to meet Gary before I can do karate.”

“Have you told Gary?” asked Matt.

Nikau nodded. “Hope Mum doesn’t mess it up.”

“I told my mum about Gary,” said Jed, “she asked if he was single!”

The boys roared with laughter, after which they decided to walk with Lola back to Jed’s house, after all, there was the possibility of biscuits. The main topic of conversation along the way was the pending fitness test at school. The highlight of which, according to Nikau, was the beep test, otherwise it was just like the fitness drills at rugby training. 

Matt left Jed and Nikau to battle on the gaming console so he had time to take Lola for a long walk home. It was a meandering walk, there was no plan. However, if possible, every walk included a swim in the river for Lola. It was when turning to leave the river that Matt spotted Rooster. He was walking briskly across the park and toward the path that would take him right past Matt and Lola. Matt waited, he was sure if he stayed still Rooster wouldn’t see him, there were enough shrubs around to obscure the view. He watched Rooster get closer, he took a big breath and could feel his heart pounding in his chest. What should he do? Then with little thought stood up and walked toward the path. “Hi.”

Rooster stopped in his tracks, he looked cautiously to each side of him. Matt walked slowly closer. “I’m on my own.” Rooster took a small step backwards, prompting Matt to stop approaching. “I just want to talk.”

They stared at each other for a moment. “What?” asked Rooster.

Matt held out his hands slightly before dropping them by his side. “Are we done?”

“Done what?” The defiance was back, but not as confident as in the past.

Matt stared at Rooster. There was no need for him to be scared now and he wasn’t scared, not one little bit. He was surprised at how calm and certain he felt. He knew exactly what he was going to do if Rooster did not back down. He had thought of Rooster at every karate class, at every practice session, when learning attack and defence patterns with Dylan.

“If you’re not done we’re going to finish it right now. Then we’ll be done.”

Rooster glanced over his shoulder and took a step back. Matt shook his head. “I can run faster than you.” He saw Rooster take some fast breaths, he could feel Rooster’s panic. He held out his hand. “Are we done?”

Rooster nodded.

“Shake.” Matt waited for Rooster to step forward, the hand held out tentatively. Matt reached forward and firmly gripped Rooster’s hand. Rooster looked down and tried to pull his hand back, but Matt held on firmly.

“Done is done. Right?” Rooster nodded, barely making eye contact. “Say it.”

“We’re done.”

Matt let Rooster’s hand go. “Probably see you tomorrow.”

Rooster nodded weakly. Matt whistled and Lola came bounding across the grass. “This is Lola,” said Matt, “she’s mostly friendly.”

Rooster stepped back as Lola jumped around him. Matt abruptly turned around and walked away. Lola sprinted past jumping at the leash in his hand. Matt started to grin, he felt great, though his legs felt a weird sort of wobbly and his heart had started to pound. He took in a large breath, held it for a moment and slowly breathed out, he could feel his heart calm down. He was heading straight back to tell Jed and Nikau.

“Shoulda smashed him!” howled Nikau. “Bashed his face.”

Matt rolled his eyes, he knew Nikau was joking.

“Nah,” said Jed, looking down and pulling a face, “just look like this while he wets his pants.” The boys laughed triumphantly.

Matt put his hand up. “No hassling at school, okay. We’ve just gotta let things be.”

Nikau and Jed slapped their hands on Matt’s in agreement before Jed and Nikau’s attention returned to gaming and Matt headed home.

Matt dangled the leash for Lola to play with, he felt like playing too. He was happy, beyond happy. For the first time, he realised how much stress he’d been under. Without a thought as to why Matt started running. He ran as fast as he could for as long as he could. He ran until he was breathless and struggled even to stand. Lola bounded alongside him jumping and barking. Exhausted, he knelt on some grass and held his arms out to Lola, she jumped onto his knees and let Matt pull her over and rub her belly while she pretended to put up a fight. Matt played with Lola until he had his breath back. He looked down at her as she lay on her back mouthing his arm, her tail gently swooshing on the grass. “I’m happy too, Lola,” he said, “I’m happy too.”

They walked home slowly. Once back at home Matt lay on his bed and messaged Dylan. “Things totally sorted with Rooster. All good.”

Dylan messaged back with a thumbs up emoji.