Date: Tue, 19 Apr 2016 06:53:45 +0000 From: Max Dowling Subject: Never Give Up/ Codes you awake 14 14 Codes you awake In the morning Bobby was there on the porch with my dads so I started making the toast and went out to greet them. I asked dad if he wanted me to roast some sausages and bacon but he replied its all ready and could I just turn the oven on. "You can come over one day and take what you want from the storage room Cody. I would like you to have some paintings for your new place, and Conner can do the same." Then looked at Squirt and added, "You've got enough." Then he giggled. Dad blushed; I think if he had his way all of them would be his. I don't really blame him though; there are a few years of memories in those paintings. "It's okay Bobby, I will go through them anyway because Cody will need lots for his walls." He sniggered. "He won't, you know, because Mitch and his story is only beginning so there's so many stories yet to come," Bob answered. I think he has quite a few lined up already by the way he studied Mitch last night. I spied three awesome members of my family coming over. "What's for breakfast?" were Rory's first words. "The usual my friend, shit on toast." Squirt cackled. "Good, I like that." Rory once again giggled. I could never work out whether it was a nervous giggle or a genuine one but this morning I decided it was the latter. As Ben got himself settled with his coffee, next to my brother, who had decided to hook one leg over Ben's knee; Bobby took a small brown paper gift bag from the table and handed it to him. "This is the first one of many Ben. Don't forget to squint." He smiled as he handed the bag to Ben who looked confused. "I did it in Paris, just before I left, but I didn't know who I was painting until I saw you last night, so it's for you." Ben took the small painting out of the bag and gasped. He just stared at it for a long time as Conner tried to take it from him. "No Con, it's for me. Thank you Bobby what's the squint thing?" "Hold it away from your body and squint. There's more to that painting than meets the eye." He smiled again. He did just that and gasped again. I saw him tear up then put it back into the paper carry bag. "Well aren't you going to show me?" Con was put out by Ben's behavior. He sat and thought about it for a while then said, "Thank you Bobby, I will treasure this as long as I live. And I apologize to everyone but this is a private one; just for me." He went quiet. "I'm sorry Ben I didn't think it was going to be personal otherwise I would have given it to you on the quiet." "Thank you so much, you nailed what I am thinking, but it is private." A tear escaped down his face, as Conner was about to say something but Squirt interrupted. "Conner help me with breakfast will you?" He looked at my dad and then Ben and went inside to help with the plates. I figured it had something to do with his squat work so I didn't push it, and neither did Con, when he returned. He sat and kissed Ben on the cheek then held his hand. I know Ben will show him when they get home. "Did I miss something?" a little voice came from the other side of the table. "No muse, you never miss anything, especially when it involves cock or food," Bobby broke the solemn mood. "Yeah your cock and Squirt's food," he answered. Dad brought out the roaster full of fatty foods just as Mitch arrived, and he looked so delicious in his shorts and tank. Wow. He kissed me then told me off for getting up so early; he wanted to talk to me about something. Then he rubbed his hand over my cock. Yes we all know what that something was. Breakfast was loud and funny as usual. Ben was still in a solemn mood and I could see, in Rory's eyes, he was going to sleep again. The carbs and jet lag, that will keep him in bed all day... oh, and I forgot, Bobby's cock too. Mitch went to help his dad in the garden center so I sat with dad at the computer. "It won't take long son, then you can go find Mitch, in the seedling shed." He grinned; he knew what I was thinking. "He got into the charity records and did a search on Belinda and her records came up instantly. "Oh I recognize her now. Boy has she changed, beautiful little girl. Her mum was just as lovely, and yes, I wonder what happened?" he mused. He then printed all that was in the database and we took it to the porch and started reading. Her father died in a car accident and her mum couldn't get work so they ended up on dad's doorstep, looking for a place to stay. Sadly her mum had cancer and the final page told the story. She didn't want Bel to watch her die and asked her church to take her daughter in, which they did. There was also a copy of the death certificate and a gravesite number. I will think long and hard about this before I give it to Bel. I don't want to upset her. Dad also said there were some things her mum had left at the charity for Belinda to pick up. "See Codes, there's a note at the bottom to remind Connie, but it wasn't ticked, so that stuff should still be in the charity's storage room." "Great dad. I want to talk to Mitch about it before I do anything. He doesn't know Bel's adopted; she never told him." "Okay son, but if it was me, I would tell her. There's nothing worse than not knowing." He hugged me. I set off to see if Mitch's seeds were ready to bloom. He did hint this morning, they were ready to burst, so I drove up the freeway towards Mike's business. Roz was there giving them a hand and because it was a beautiful day they were run off their feet. I served a few people but had to ask Mike what they were asking about. We got there in the end, and when the shop settled down, I went into town to get pies for lunch and good coffee from dad's café. I looked it over and thought about when I worked there after school. It was fun and not hard at all. I wondered if the staff would get miffed if the boss's son worked with them but what the hell. My son's more important. It slowed right down, mid afternoon, and we sat and talked to Roz and Mike about moving into the bottom apartment; and I told them about Belinda's sad news. Mitch was upset she hadn't told him but I explained it wasn't important in our lives what she told us or didn't tell us; only that she should be happy. He sort of got it, but it still was a shock to him. It wasn't the adoption thing; it was her mum's hard decisions to make for her daughter's future. I wish she had talked to my dads and not the church. Belinda might have had a better upbringing if her mum had. `Still fixing families, I see Cody. I think you should pass the information over to her so she can have some sort of closure," Roz offered. "Yes I agree," Mitch nodded. Well that's it; I will pass it all on to her when I see her again. I didn't get to see how Mitch's seeds were coming along but I got a taste when we ended up at the bluff on the way home. The build was deserted of any workmen but the house was certainly looking like one now. I had just pulled up my shorts when a rather noisy Holden Ute rumbled up the drive. We went and sat on the bench and I could hear laughter coming from the house. "Must be road testing the bedroom baby." "Which reminds me Codes, can you show me the apartment, I haven't seen it yet?" he asked. "Sure babe, we can do that when we get home. I think they might be awhile yet." I laughed. We sat and watched the sunset. I was wrapped in Mitch's arms and I felt loved. No fullhouse tonight, just the dads and us. Everyone had decided to give my dads a break because they had had a full on day. The truth be known everyone was tired. "Codes will I go to KFC and get some takeaway for dinner, saves cooking and cleaning up?" Mitch asked. "Its okay son, we have it covered. There's a stack of sandwiches in the fridge. Conner and Ben made them before they left." "Cool, anyone want to eat now?" I think Mitch was hungry. I was the only one to say yes, so he just got a plate for us. "When we finish babe we can go look at the flat if you want." "Is Luke home yet?" Squirt asked. "No dad they are still at the build, I think they are camping there for the night." "Luke hates camping Codes." "I think he likes it now. Well the moans we heard say he does." I giggled. All four of us went downstairs and had a good look around. It was not quite as big as dad's house and had only two bedrooms but they were large and then there was a big bathroom and the family room was huge. Their balcony was concrete and not as wide as dad's. The kitchen was outdated. "We can fence the barbeque area in Mitch, Ayden can play outdoors then." Mitch went very quiet and dad picked up on it. "Yes that's a great idea Codes. We put chicken wire around our verandah when you two rug rats arrived; plus sensors so if you so much as touch it, alarms go off." I smiled and took Mitch's hand and said, "There are too many people here, Mitch, to worry about that; and anyway, he won't be walking for awhile." "I'm sorry Codes but it only takes a moment and things happen with little kids." I know what he was thinking and I couldn't help him, he just had to trust us to do our best. Squirt decided he would get Jamie on to it tomorrow. The flat needed a new kitchen and bathroom, plus fresh paint. Jamie can ask the guys that will be doing the fit out for his house to do the same in here. Upstairs was different; a specialist would do any renovations because everything's a work of art. Downstairs was more of a work area for Squirt's grandparents so it wasn't as ornate. "We will also have to get childproof stair gates and cupboard locks but that can be done when he starts to crawl," Dan said as he put his arm over Mitch's shoulders and somehow he managed to settle him down a bit. "Codes you awake?" "I am now baby." I was nearly asleep. "I'm sorry about earlier I didn't mean it." "It's okay, we all know how you feel. Just trust everything will be good. He won't be left alone for one second and the doors will be locked." "What are you talking about Codes?" "Ayden and the beach." "What?" "Well what were you talking about Mitch?" I was fully awake now. "I was a bit rough when I fucked you. Sorry, I got carried away." I couldn't answer him. He wasn't rough at all; he's playing with me. "You awake now Codes?" he whispered. "You know I am." "Can I go again?" I swear if I had of had a piece of four by two beside the bed he would be feeling it right now. I stayed silent. "Codes?" he sighed. "Climb aboard Mitch then maybe we will get some sleep after." "Okay, thanks." He started to move over me, how the fuck does he do that? Two am and I finally got to sleep and no, he wasn't rough. I was at the build a few days later just marveling at its sheer size when Jamie sidled up to me. "Want to see Luke's surprise?" "Yes of course." "You can't tell anyone until the bedroom is finished." "Sure uncle, what is it?" He led me over to a locked container and after a lot of groaning the doors were flung open, there was a big tarpaulin covering something, and when Jamie pulled it off it revealed a masterpiece. "Wow, it's beautiful." I ran my hand over the statue; it was real and so fucking good. "I had it carved in town and it arrived yesterday but I couldn't help myself, I had to show somebody." "Where's it going?" "At the front over the bedroom windows, it's the figurehead." He grinned from ear to ear. It was a carving of Jamie and Luke both nude and swimming through the water with mermen tails on, Jamie was looking ahead and he had Luke looking at him, it was brilliant. "Have you showed dad?" "No just you, he will see it at the unveiling and so will Luke. I have the only key to the container so in two weeks time I will take Luke out for lunch while the guys mount it. He will be able to look out the bedroom window and see it below." He laughed. "Well its awesome, I can't wait to see it in full flight." "Keep it to yourself Codes, we don't want Squirt to hear of it, you know how excited he gets." He chuckled. I left Jamie there with a film crew who were doing an update for the oncoming TV show. Walking down to the beach I wondered if I had done the right thing by taking on the apartment but then I was grabbed from behind and thrust into the tee trees by an assailant; who had my shorts down within seconds. All was forgotten as Mitch groaned his way through another assault on my body. Where the fuck does he find all that energy? When we returned home it was nice and quiet until Squirt got a phone call. He was sitting on the porch with Dan and Conner. I don't know where Ben was but maybe today's his squat day. Squirt went inside to talk to whoever was on the other end and when he finished he called Dan inside. "Something's up Cody," Con suggested as he looked at me. "They will tell us in time I suppose," I replied. When they came out Squirt's eyes were filled with tears and Dan sat next to Conner then took his hand. "Now son, I don't want you to go off half cocked. Know this, he's going to be okay, but Ben has had an accident at the squat." "What?" Conner screamed. "Where is he?" he added. "Brisbane hospital son but as I said he's going to be all right." "What the fuck happened to him?" "One of his street people stabbed him. Conner, again I say, he's going to be all right." Conner jumped up, he was upset and agitated. He was looking for his car keys but couldn't find them. Squirt held them up and said, "Dad will drive you; Cody and I will follow." He went to take the keys but dad snatched his hand away. "You don't drive today baby, dad will." I looked at my brother and felt so sorry for him. Ben's extra job opens him up to all sorts of crazy people. Thank god he wasn't killed. We grabbed our jackets and wallets. Conner was pacing the drive when we got outside. I handed him his wallet and hugged him. "He's okay Con, keep that in mind," I whispered into his ear. I don't think he heard me. As soon as his car was opened he shot into the passenger seat. As we drove out of the property, I made a call to Mitch; he was already at the hospital. Ben's mum had called him and then rang Squirt. "How is he?" "He's good Codes, it wasn't a deep cut, he was so lucky. Some old drunk had a go at him. Luckily one of the kids had his mobile and called the paramedics. He's talking and in good spirits. I think they will let him go home this afternoon, sometime. He's had five stitches and there's no bleeding." "Thanks Mitch, we are on our way. I will try to ring Conner and let him know. We don't want him causing a riot when we get there." I hung up and told dad what Mitch had said. "Thank god. Thank you God." He was worried. I then rang Conner and he seemed to calm down a bit after I explained Ben was okay. As we drove into the car park and before we could even take a parking ticket, Conner shot out of his car and raced to emergency. "Oh God, please don't cause any problems baby," Squirt said. "He won't dad, he's just worried. Once he sees Ben he will be okay," I hoped. We parked the car and Dan had waited for us. He hugged us both and said, "Let's go." When we got there I could have hugged Ben. He was sitting in emergency with his mum, Mitch and Conner who was stroking his hair as Ben talked calmly to him. He was smiling and I detected a bandaged arm. The dads pulled his mum aside and were speaking to her, she seemed in high spirits. Mitch pulled me down next to him and took my hand. I could feel his breath on my face and I thought he wants to kiss me. After fifteen minutes the doctor came out and told Ben to go home and they will see him in a week to take the stitches out. Conner, of course, took his good arm and after kissing his mum goodbye Ben was steered out to the car park. As soon as they were seated in the back seat Conner was all over him, dad and I watched for a while then he drove us home. Ben was seated on the garden swing and Conner produced one of Nan's crochet rugs. Ben was laughing... Con wasn't amused. "I know you all know about my other work but I want to assure you all this is a one off. The drunk that stabbed me never comes to eat with the others but today he did and he wasn't in a good mood," he told us. "He has a lot of personal problems and today they got to him, that's all." "It could have been a lot worse Ben, we were worried about you," Dan said. "Then don't worry, I have it all in hand Dan." "Well it won't happen again, you are officially retired," Conner stated. "No chance of that Conner, I've got kids to feed," he replied. "You're retired, send them to the charity," Conner was adamant. Ben looked at my brother like he was seeing him for the first time. He shook his head. "You just don't get it Con, we need to have a long talk." "No talk, no argument, we just had it," Conner kept going. "Conner maybe you and Ben can discuss this later," Squirt suggested. Conner brooded because he knew Ben wouldn't give up his charity work, and so did my dads and me. He was a bit sore after an hour so Con took him home. If my brother could have lifted Ben he would have carried him. We watched as he had his arm around his waist then guided him over to Rory's. "What do we do dad?" "Nothing son." There must be something we can do to ensure Ben's safety. I will have to think on it. Mitch finally arrived; he had taken Ben's mum home. "How is he?" "Good Mitch, but Con's trying to talk him into giving it up." "He's got a fat chance of doing that I think," he commented. "Well something has to be done Mitch." I thought on it some more then it hit me. To keep Ben safe would be to put a barrier between him and the idiots. But to give him space to look after the people that really need his help. "Dad can I talk to you a moment?" I looked at Squirt. "Sure son, what's your idea?" He smiled. "This will sound out there but in that area there are so many closed shops for rent," I was still nutting it out. "Yes and," Codes said slowly. "Well dad, have you ever thought about opening a restaurant?" "What have you got in mind son?" "The charity opens a restaurant, pays Ben to run it and it puts a big open window from the kitchen to the alley behind." "Yes." "Well Ben, then let's his boys know, they can knock on the window any time of day to get a meal handed to them." "He won't go with that Codes. But good idea," Mitch said. "Well what about one of those food vans? What about one of them, it would put a barrier between him and the idiots," I was gaining momentum. "Could be a good idea, we can register it through the charity and then get a permit to do food in that area. But will he allow it, that's the problem?" "Nope," Mitch said emphatically. He shrugged his shoulders then added, "Ben is his own man, he will get back on the horse next week and do the same he has done for the past two years. Nothing you do will change his mind. He's not on a mission to save people; he's there to provide food that's all. And maybe a shoulder to cry on." "Back to the drawing board then son," Dan suggested. "Well if the press gets a hold of the attack, the council might just close him down anyway," Mitch went on. "Fat chance of that," Squirt said. "You know something Squirt?" Dan asked. "They won't touch him and the police won't either," he said. No more said, I'm betting dad has a chat with his mate at the council. Dan just stared at him. "Later Dan, not now." Cody smiled. "What about we dress a bodyguard up as a street person, he wouldn't know." "Nope, he would know." Again Mitch blocked me. "Leave it to me," Squirt mused. He had something in mind because his green eyes glistened with joy. The next day Ben and Con came over for breakfast, he looked a lot better and joked his way through scrambled eggs and Con's smooches. He was loving the attention I think. Dad went inside and came back with a few papers, which he placed in front of Ben. "What's this Squirt?" "Application forms for the director's job at the charity, we want you to apply for it." "What! No way Cody, I have a job." "Well we want you to apply for this one, it doesn't mean you will get it but apply anyway." Squirt smiled. Ben was a bit thrown but he was gracious and folded the papers up shaking his head. "What's up dad?" I asked later on. "We want him safe so we are creating a position for him. Connie is going overseas, finally, so he will be taking her director's job and when she comes back they both can do it, or Connie can at last retire." Yep he had it all worked out; but do I believe Ben will apply? Not in a million years. Mitch and I visited Con and Ben often. They weren't always at our place and while we were there we went through the hundreds of paintings Bobby had done over the years. There was a storage room stacked full of them. I only wanted a few of us as babies and teens then I wanted one of each of my uncles and parents. I didn't want to clog up our walls but boy did I have to show restraint. Mitch was blown away by each one; he stood back and squinted at quite a few of them. I had a dozen put aside and thought I would do a wall like dad's upstairs. When I opened the closet it was empty except for six paintings tied with a thick black ribbon. They were of Bobby and Rory, very dark and quite upsetting to look at. A cloud hovered over my head and I quickly re-tied them and put them back facing the wall. I hadn't realized, but a few tears had escaped. "What's the matter Codes?" Mitch held me. "Those paintings, I shouldn't have seen them. They are awful and full of pain Mitch." I hugged him to me. "Come on, let's make a coffee. I think we have had enough of paintings today." He steered me towards Rory's porch where Ben and Con joined us. "He was hit with a cricket bat Codes, his father did it to him because he was gay," Conner explained. "What?" "His father hit him with a cricket bat? Bobby's father took him away and they were separated for a few years until dad found him in Tasmania." "How do you know this Con?" "I found the paintings when I was looking for some for us. They tell the story. I know exactly how you feel Codes, they are so fucking sad and dark." "Have you asked Rory about them?" "No never. But if you team them up with the six dad has in his study, the full story is there." I made a mental note to go look at dad's again; with fresh information. Then I decided it was too sad to continue finding out, maybe I will just ask my dad. "I think I will ask dad, Con, I am over looking at sad paintings for now. I feel so sad inside and I don't know why. Just the first three I looked at, I couldn't go on so put them back." "Good Cody cause you don't need to know, only that everything's okay with them now." He smiled. I tied ten paintings together and we headed home. My heart was still quite heavy. "Let's have a look son." Squirt held his hands out to look at my paintings. "I only took family ones dad, there's so many. I couldn't decide because I really wanted them all." I giggled then sat and watched Squirt and Dan go through the brilliantly colored works of art. Mitch had his arm around my shoulders and he occasionally kissed my head, it was nice. He knew I had a bit of a shock and was keeping me safe until I pulled out of it. "What's the matter son, you don't look too good?" Dan asked. "Nothing much dad. Just some paintings we found hidden away, they weren't very nice so I have a doom and gloom feeling hovering over my head but it will go soon." I sort of smiled. "What type of paintings were they Codes?" "Oh dad, the first one was, I think Rory, surrounded by demon's who were beating him with bats, it was awful. The second was a boy on crutches. I couldn't look at the rest dad they were awful." Squirt quietly got up and leaned on the railing then said almost silently, "I'll be back in a minute." He walked down the stairs and headed for Rory's house. "What's the matter dad?" "Nothing son, but I think Squirt wants to look at those paintings on his own." He had a far away look in his eye and it never left my dad's body as he walked down the beach. I felt dreadful, I shouldn't have invaded Bobby's space and when I looked back at Dan he was staring at me. "A long time ago Bobby and Rory fell in love. I think they were thirteen at the time. Bobby knew something bad was going to happen and kept Rory by his side, constantly, but his father caught them kissing one day. He took Rory outside and beat him hard with a cricket bat." He took a long breath. "He was jailed. Bobby's father had taken him away from the area and for a long time Rory couldn't find him." Dad told me the whole story showing me the small scar on his ankle, where the bullet had pierced his skin. Bobby's father was shot dead by the police and Rory's father died of dementia in an old folk's home. "There was so much pain for a lot of years for those two boys. Maybe Bobby did those paintings a long time ago. The ones on our wall are the newer ones. The prints in the office are older. It sounds like Bobby did six more before he started on ours. Of course six of them are copies, Marcel has the originals on his study wall and they will never be revealed to the world. I had better go and see if Codes is okay, he can get quite depressed about it sometimes." "Oh dad, that's awful, how could a father do something like that to a beautiful boy? There are some terrible people in this world dad. My mind is made up now, I will do psychology at uni, I need to help these people." More tears, as Dan smiled at me and shook his head, he then followed Cody's path to Rory's. Mitch suggested we have a lay down, sex wasn't mentioned, but if it had have been, I would have to refuse him; my mind was still processing those awful images. We cuddled for some time until I fell asleep; Mitch's smells were drowning me with love. We showered and thought we might just take a picnic up to the bluff as I felt a lot better but when I emerged onto our verandah, Cody and Dan were cuddled on the sofa. Dan was whispering into Cody's ear and Cody had been crying. "No more Dan. I can't hold onto them, they have to go. I will talk to Bobby about sending the lot to Marcel, he can have them for his collection." "Do what you want with them Codes but you had better bring Bobby into the loop soon." "I will Dan, I have to have his permission anyway. They make me feel sad every time I look at them." I moved over and sat on the side of their couch, then I leaned in and kissed them both. "Thank you dads, Conner and I could have ended up with one of the many nut cases out there, thank you for taking us in." I was genuine and Squirt looked me in the eye and said, "We would have fought with all our might to get you two boys here, there was no option. Thankfully your dad trusted us enough to give you both to us. We are blessed every day and everyday I thank your father." That's all that was said as Mitch came out, he distracted me with his shorts and tank and I think he's got a hardon. Maybe we will walk up to the bluff and get a snog or two in as we go? I made some sandwiches for us all; then packed our's into my backpack, along with two bottles of water, and maybe the ultra glide lube? We strolled along the beach then started our assent up the steep path; of course I was pulled aside and screwed thoroughly by Mitch. He seemed to be having a good time and his hands were everywhere, even rubbing one out for me. I didn't have to do a thing except moan a lot, but that came naturally. The bluff was spectacular and the house was at the stage where it looked like a boat, it was so awesome. We sat on Jimmy's chair and watched the sunset as the seagulls hovered above waiting for the bread I had packed for them. Then they will go home to their nests for the night. I took some photos and plenty of Mitch; I even got a nice cock one in when he flashed it at me. "Have you heard from Belinda Mitch?" "Yeah this morning, she's good, we have to make time to go see her and give her that stuff you collected for her." "Sure baby, do you want to take a drive down there? We could call in and see Brian on the way, you will like him. I know you will." "Sure, it's not a long drive, we can do it slowly. I've got six weeks before the season starts and I'm sure the coach will give me a week off." I was looking forward to our road trip, maybe we could hire a small campervan to live in, I guess that would be fun. We ate our meal and fed the seagulls then said our goodnights to Jimmy and left. It was dark by the time we hit the beach and my ankle had snagged a bush so I had a very angry cut. It wasn't deep but needed cleaning, which Mitch dutifully did when we flopped on the porch. Both the dads were at Bobby and Rory's place so I thought we would go over there after I got cleaned up. I got the gist of what Cody was saying, I think he wants to ship all the depressing paintings over to Marcel's gallery and he can dispose of them to a private collector where they will be on show to only a few people. Mitch put a Band-Aid on my ankle and we drifted over to see the dads. They were deep in conversation with Bobby; uncle Rory was getting some dinner together, probably spaghetti, that's all he seems to cook. I saw my dads shaking hands with Uncle Bob and he had a big grin on his face. It must be a relief for him not to look at those paintings whenever he was at our place. "How was the bluff Cody, Mitch?" "Spectacular dad as always. Luke's going to just love his awesome outlook when they move in." I smiled. "Yes and the figurehead will amuse him too, no end," Squirt said "What?" "The figurehead Jamie's hiding in the container, it's awesome." He giggled. "How the hell do you know about that dad?" "I have my spies baby, can't wait to see it." He laughed loudly. It was good because it broke the solemn mood I have felt since I was here earlier. Pleas consider a donation to Nifty Thank you David and Duncan maxieplus@hotmail.com