by MLJ Quigg
I took a breath and continued to read, “He was the most amazing man you’d ever meet. He loved with his whole heart, and it’s going to be a sad and lonely world without him in it. He was the funniest person and always had a smile on his face. His stories had a way of making you laugh and forget about the world for a short reprieve.
“I remember a time when I was a child, and I had been in primary school. We had a visit to the zoo. We were told by the zookeepers we had to be careful when we got to the lion’s enclosure because when they stick their tail straight up in the air, they were going to pee. I thought this was fascinating, and when I got home I told my parents. They laughed and thought I was joking.”
I could see where this was going but kept reading.
“Dad had a bad fall while training as a fighter and cracked his ribs, so to cheer him up after he had mostly recovered, he and Mum decided to take me to the zoo. As we were walking around the enclosures, we came across the lions. As soon as we stood there and watched, a lion turned their back to us and stuck its tail right in the air. As you can guess, it peed, and as Dad had sore ribs, he couldn’t move fast enough. It struck him right in the middle of his chest. Mum and I cracked up laughing as soon as we checked on him to make sure he was okay, but every time we looked at him, we would break out in fits of laughter. Still to this day when I think back on it, I laugh.”
I laughed with everyone else in the church and looked at Tiny. “Seriously,” I asked her.
She nodded her head with a huge smile which was fantastic to see.
I looked back to the paper and continued reading. “When I was in my teens, Dad made a smart- arse comment about Mum buying shaving equipment and hair removal cream to use on herself. He commented about the fact it would be cheaper and easier to wax as she wouldn’t have to do it so often, and it wouldn’t take as long. Mum dared him to have his chest waxed, and if he got through that without complaining, she would get waxed from then on. After they got home from the beautician, Dad was in a foul mood, and Mum had a smile a mile wide. As you can guess, it didn’t go the way Dad planned. He said afterwards that he would never complain ever again and promised to encourage her to do it her way from then on. Apparently, the workers at the stores on either side of the salon came running because they heard screaming and thought someone was badly hurt. After it was explained, they left with Mum laughing her head off and Dad still swearing to God and everyone he could think of or who would listen.”
Oh my God, I could just imagine the scene.
I laughed, and when it quietened down, I continued, “After Madilyn, Connor, and Jackson were born, he would spoil them rotten, and he loved them so much. He was a fantastic grandfather and taught them all to fight in Mixed Martial Arts. When the triplets were about seven, Mum, Dad, Dave, and I took the triplets to a sushi bar, and the kids wanted to know what this green stuff in packets was on the table. Dave explained that it’s wasabi, and it was very hot. My dad was not the type of person who liked overly spicy food, and he tried to convince the kids to have a taste. When they refused, he grabbed the packet, ripped it open with his teeth, and proceeded to squirt the whole contents into his mouth. About thirty seconds later, his face went as red as a beetroot, and he demanded water stat. After swearing up a storm and yelling at the top of his lungs about how fucking hot it was, and that it would be a great interrogation method for enemies, he finally quieted down. Once again, we were all laughing our heads off.” I chuckled out loud and looked at all of them. They were all laughing and smiling remembering that time.
I shook my head and continued. “Throughout all the fun times, there were times when he was my biggest supporter and a shoulder to cry on. He was a gentle giant and never got angry with family and friends, and was always there for advice and comfort. He was the most loving and affectionate person and showed it constantly. The world has lost an amazing man, and he’s now with the love of his life again, forever. They are both up in heaven reunited and looking down on us from above. I love you Dad and will miss you forever. Please God, no more. We can’t take any more bad luck. Please grace us with good times from now on,” I finished as I folded the paper.
I stepped down from the altar to sit next to Dave and wrapped my arm around him. He put his head on my shoulder, and I kissed the top of his head. I stretched my arm and placed it on Tiny’s shoulder and gently squeezed. She looked at me and gave me a half-smile and mouthed, ‘Thank you’. I mouthed back ‘You’re welcome’.
The priest gave nearly the same Bible passages and prayers, and then we convened in the same room off to the side once again. We chatted with everyone and then took Tiny and the kid’s home so we could unwind.
As we were due to take the trip to scatter Mary’s ashes, we decided to wait and we would take the kids with us and make a holiday of sorts out of it after we received Richard’s ashes. They would be scattered together like they would have wanted.
Life seriously could suck fucking donkey’s balls at the moment.
We all needed a break, and I hoped to God life cooled down for all of us.
Dave and I had been staying at Tiny’s since Richard passed away. She couldn’t cope, and the kids were a mess as well. That night, though, the night of the funeral, we ended up bringing a couple of mattresses into the lounge room, and we all cuddled on them. Claire watched the movies from the lounge and ended up sleeping on it.
In the morning, I woke and had Madilyn drooling on my chest and snoring softly. She was such a cuddle bunny, and I had a special bond with her. Well, I did with all the kids, but Madilyn seemed to come to me more when she was upset. I didn’t mind, they were beautiful children, and I loved all of them equally. Madilyn was just like her mum, though, and she seemed to be able to bounce back a lot quicker than the boys. Dave was able to get the boys out of the blues faster than I could.
Tiny woke up and looked around and then quickly smiled at the positions the kids were in. She looked over at me and laughed out loud.
“She looks comfortable,” she commented.
“Yeah, she is. She’ll be okay. I’ll make sure you all are,” I stated.
“Thank you… for everything. I don’t know what I’d do without the two of you. This has been the hardest thing I’ve ever been through. I’m so glad I have a support base in you guys,” she whispered.
“Anytime, honey. You know we’ll be here for all of you whenever you need us.”
“I know. I love you guys. Yes, Dave is my best friend, but you’re right there next to him. The moment I met you, I knew you’d be in my life for the rest of it.”
“I felt the same. We have a bond, had it right from the start. You’re like the sister I never had. I love you, too, Tiny.”
She smiled and kissed all the kids on their heads and looked back at me.
“So, all those stories… the lion, the waxing, and the wasabi? I could just see your dad doing that. It was a beautiful service, Tiny.”
She laughed. “All true. Oh God, he was the uncanniest person to get himself in trouble with stuff like that, and he didn’t care. It was like the more he suffered, the more he loved making us laugh. He always said that our laughter was the most beautiful thing… like music to his ears. If he could make us laugh, he was in heaven. I know he will be looking down and smiling remembering those times.”
“He told me a couple of embarrassing stories about you, and told me to remind you when you’re sad that they are some of the most treasured memories for him.”
“I can only imagine. What did he tell you?”
“Oh, something about Vegemite.”
She burst out laughing. “I don’t remember that time myself, but Dad loved telling the story. I was about a year old and wanted something to eat. Apparently, they couldn’t find me, and after a while they heard me giggling. They eventually found me under the table covered from head to toe in Vegemite. I guess I was hungry. I hated the stuff for years and couldn’t stand the smell of it let alone the taste.”
I laughed with
her and smiled. “So, what was the story about the scooters?” I asked.
“Yep, that was embarrassing. I was about nine, and Dad and I went to this big bike repair place up near Tea Tree Plaza, which is a pretty big shopping centre in Adelaide. Anyway, we got to this place, and they had about twenty scooters all lined up in a row. As Dad was talking to the salesperson, I wandered around the place and was looking at all the bikes. I ended up at the scooters and sat on the one at the end. When Dad called me over to tell me we were going, I got off the bike, and it fell straight into the next one. Next thing I know, they’re all free-falling like dominoes. Seriously. It was like it was choreographed. One after the other… bang, bang, bang, bang. I just stood there in shock. The sales person came over, and Dad and I helped put them right. It was so lucky that none were damaged. In the car after, Dad burst out laughing, and I ended up joining him. He loved that day and told everyone he meant not to let me near scooters ever again.” She laughed, and then her expression went sad.
“What am I gonna do, Mike? I miss them so much. At least with Mum, I got to say goodbye. I didn’t with Dad, he was there and then just gone. How do I get over this? I’m so sad he’s gone so soon after Mum. I still can’t believe it. I expect to see him walk in the door at any moment.” Tears fall down her cheeks.
“I know it hurts right now, and that’s okay. It’ll get easier. I felt the exact same way when my parents died. I didn’t get to say goodbye either. Just remember all the good times you had. It’ll get easier day by day, and one day, it won’t hurt so much. That’s all you can do,” I replied sadly.
She blinked a few times and then laid her head on my lap.
After a while, the kids, Dave, and Claire started stirring, so we all got up and enjoyed the day together.
Mike
Tiny received the ashes two weeks after Richard’s funeral and the crematorium offered to combine both his and Mary’s ashes in a scatter urn. Tiny agreed, and now they would be together forever. She kept a small amount in a separate urn to keep on top of her fireplace, and we all had a cry when she placed it there.
We set off on our trip and went via the Great Ocean Road in Victoria. We stopped along the way and took our time sightseeing and showing the kids this beautiful country of ours. It took us a good four days to get to Adelaide, and we were staying at a caravan park in Semaphore. We had cabins which stood side by side. Dave and I shared one, and Tiny and the kids had the other one. The place was right next to the beach with a gate, and we had access to the water. It was a beautiful area and quiet. Great for reflection.
After we had dinner and went to our cabin for the night, I sat with Dave and pulled him to me on the bed.
“You okay, babe?” I asked him.
“Yeah, I’m okay. Just worried about Monique. She won’t talk to me. I know she’s hurting, and she’s taking this hard, but she won’t let go and lean on me. I don’t know what else to do, Mike.”
“I’ll see if she talks to me. How about when we have a chance, you take the kids, and we separate her from them and see if she’ll open up to me. I know you guys are close, but I’m kind of out of the situation. I mean yes, it hit us all hard, but you knew them the longest. Let me try, yeah?”
“Sure. I just hope she does. I hate seeing her like this.”
“I know. I do, too. I’ve tried to get her to talk to me, but maybe she will this time with a little coaxing. We are out of Sydney, and she may be more relaxed without all the outside worries getting to her.”
He nodded his head and sighed softly. I knew something else was on his mind. He snuggled into me more, and I kissed the top of his head.
“Okay, apart from all that, are you alright?”
“I am, it’s surreal being back here. I miss this place, and even though I’ve made my life in Sydney, there’s always something about your hometown you always miss.”
“I know, I still miss Perth. It’s hard to go back there, but I still love it.”
“Will you ever take me there and show me around?” he inquired shyly.
“You bet your arse I will. We will make a trip when things settle down for us. I want to show you the world. I know the only places you’ve been are here and Sydney, oh, and now the Great Ocean Road, but I want to show you the world. With you by my side, we can travel anywhere we like.”
He looked up from his position on my shoulder, and I leant in to kiss him. I deepened the kiss and soon enough we were undressing each other. I grabbed his hips and brought him closer to me and ran my hands all over his back and down to his arse squeezing his globes hard. He gasped into my mouth, and I used it to my advantage.
God, I loved this man. His taste. His smell. His body. He just does it for me.
I pushed him onto his back and climbed on top still kissing him hard. I grabbed the lube I placed on the side table and opened the lid and squeezed some onto my fingers. I spread his legs with mine and brought my lubed hand down to his hole and teased the outside before I entered him with a finger. He bore down on me, and I used a second finger to help him get the feeling of me. After he was nice and slippery, I brought my hand up and lined my cock with him and entered in one go. I fucked him slowly getting him nice and ready to blow. I could feel him tighten on me, and I knew he was close. I used my hands and brought them under him and lifted his arse off the bed as I angled my cock to hit his prostate and fucked him harder and harder. He started begging for me to let him come, and after I granted it, he came all over his stomach as I finished in him.
I rolled off and brought Dave with me as I wrapped my arm around him.
After a while, I went to the bathroom, cleaned myself up and wet a face washer and went to him and cleaned him up. After I finished and threw the face washer in the bathroom sink and climbed into bed, then he cuddled into my side. I kissed the top of his head and closed my eyes. I was so content and comfortable.
The next thing I knew, it was morning and the shower was running in the ensuite. I made my way over and stood to watch the love of my life soap himself up. Yeah, it was sappy, but fuck it. I could creep on him if I wanted to. He turned around and smiled at me as I stood there watching.
“Good morning, my love,” I said.
“Morning, babe. How did you sleep?”
“Really well. Want a coffee?”
“Yes, please.”
I opened the door to the shower and leaned in. I grabbed the back of his neck and brought his lips to mine and kissed him hard. I pulled away and smiled as I closed the door, turned, and walked out of the bathroom. I went to the kitchenette and started making coffee for both of us. All they had was the instant coffee packets that taste like shit, but it’s coffee. It would do until we could go buy a pod machine or something.
We spent the day sightseeing with Tiny and the kids. Tiny and Dave showed us all the places they grew up in. I knew she was still hurting, but I knew she would lose it at some stage, she could only be strong for so long before she lost it completely. I just hoped this trip she used us to lean on. She was taking so much on and not letting anyone close. I knew it was her way of grieving, but she had to see it was not going to end well if she didn’t let us help or at least talk to someone. She couldn’t bottle this up for much longer. You could see it was taking a toll on her.
We went to a small takeaway shop for dinner that had seating available at Largs Pier. After we finished, we walked along the pier, and I dropped back to walk with Tiny. Dave noticed and ushered the kids forward a bit to give us time to talk. I was glad he could read me so well. I hooked my arm around Tiny and smiled down at her. She looked up and gave me a sad smile then put her head on my chest for a moment before we continued.
“You doing okay, hon?” I asked her.
“Yeah. I am. I’m hurting, but I know they’re in a better place and together again. I just miss them both so much. It’s strange not having them around whenever I need to talk about something, you know.”
“They’re always here. You can still talk to them. Fuck,
I still talk to my parents all the time. I tell them about my days and whatever’s happening at the time. And if you ever need someone to talk to, I’m here for you always. So is Dave.”
“I know. I will talk about it. At the moment, though, I just want to be there for the kids. They are so young, and I know this has hit them hard.”
“Yeah, I know, hon. But you don’t need to do it all by yourself. Lean on us. We’ll be there. You need to get it out, don’t bottle it up. It’s all well and good to be there for the kids, but what about you?” I urged her.
“Thanks, Mike.”
I sighed knowing this was going to be a long battle for her. Maybe she needed to hit something. I know when I felt like it was getting to me, a good sparring session would do it for me. I would have to talk to Dave about an idea that was starting to form and take shape.
The next day after Dave gave me the information, I made a few phone calls and arranged for Dave to look after the kids for a few hours. I had to practically drag Tiny to the car and drive away with her having the shits with me, but if this worked, I hoped she would be on the mend.
I pulled up outside the gym that her dad used to own, and we walked in and were greeted by a man who hugged Tiny tight. He had tears in his eyes as he pulled away from her.
“I’m so sorry about your parents, Monique. They were an awesome couple and are going to be missed by everyone. I’m so sorry I couldn’t make it to the funerals. With my wife so sick, I didn’t want to leave her.”
“Thanks, Ben. That’s perfectly okay. I understand completely. I miss them, too,” she replied sadly.
Ben looked to me and shook my hand. “Mike, I presume?”