Fathers

by David J. Daniel

  On the way down the ridge they skinned the possums and reset the traps. They had twenty one possums in all. At the bush edge they stayed in the shadows and before they said their goodbyes, Wiremu went and picked some puha and watercress that was growing near the river and brought it back to Konosu. Konosu said, “This is amazing. There are so many things to eat if you just open your eyes and see what is before you.”

  Not to be outdone Jack went to his pony, loosened the saddle and slipped out the blanket from underneath. Handing it to Konosu he said, “It’s not much but it will help you keep warm at night.”

  Tears of gratitude formed in Konosu’s eyes and he thanked both of them, once again. Then he bowed and whispered “Goodbye Jack and Wiremu. Dewa mata ashita.” (See you tomorrow) as they left him at the edge of the forest.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  “I

  see they still haven’t found that POW from Wakeford,” said Doug who was sitting at the kitchen table, flicking through the ‘Weekly News’ while sucking on a cigarette. The .303 rifle was in the corner next to him, within easy reach. It was like an extra limb to him now. His crutch. And Doug rarely ventured outdoors without it.

  Ellen was at the kitchen bench peeling potatoes. “Have they not? How long has it been?” She replied.

  “Couple of weeks. He’ll be dead of course. Couldn’t last more than a couple of days in the bush at this time of year.”

  “Who says he’s in the bush?”

  “Where else would he be? He can’t exactly wander around the towns like he was window shoppin’ or somethin’. People would spot him a mile away, what with his slit eyes and yeller skin. No, he woulda taken ta the hills for sure.”

  “I ‘spose your right. Let’s just hope he is dead. I’d hate to think that he’s still wandering around; Wakeford isn’t that far from here you know.”

  “Nah, he’ll be long gone I tell ya. He wouldn’t ‘ve been prepared enough to spend any time in the bush in the middle of winter. You gotta remember, they’ve come from those islands in the pacific where it’s real warm. They’re not used to these sorts of temperatures.”

  Just on dusk Jack walked through the backdoor into the kitchen, after delivering his possums to Mister Rasch.

  “How was school today, Jack?” Asked Ellen, Jack’s Mother.

  “It was alright I ‘spose.”

  Ellen put down the peeler and turning to face him asked “Why’d you leave so early this morning? You were gone before first light.”

  “To check the traps we set yesterday afternoon.”

  “Oh, I see, and did you get any?”

  “Yeah we got a few.”

  “And where are they?”

  “Um, still in the bush hanging up. We’ll skin them tomorrow, when we’ve got more time.”

  Doug piped up, “I woulda thought you had plenty of time considerin’ ya never showed at school today and haven’t showed on any Friday I hear.”

  Jack went bright red in the face.

  Ellen put her hands on her hips and looked at Doug. “Excuse me Doug but I was going to handle this remember?”

  “Yeah well he was tryin’ ta pull the wool over ya eyes and I was sick of listenin’ ta all the dung that was comin’ from his mouth.”

  Turning back to Jack, Ellen said, “Well?”

  Jack looked at the floor. “Well what?”

  Doug shouted, “Answer ya mother boy and without the cheek or I’ll take me belt to ya!”

  Colour had risen in Ellen’s cheeks. “Doug, please! I told you I would handle it. He is, after all my son so if you would kindly keep quiet it would be much appreciated!”

  “Fine whatever, only tryin’ ta help. The boy needs some disciplinin’, some disciplinin’ that he can’t get from a woman. He needs to get it from a father and since he hasn’t got one any more maybe you should think about me fillin’ that role.” Doug got up tucked the paper under his arm and headed for the door. Jack stepped to one side as Doug reached for the handle. He continued. “And that’s all I’m goin’ ta say on the matter for now. I’ll be outside, call me when me tea’s ready!” And he slammed the door as he left the kitchen.

  Jack lifted his head and looked at his mother.

  Ellen folded her arms and stared at the door Doug had just left through. She shook her head and turned back to Jack. She took a deep breath, leaned against the bench and said: “You know maybe Doug is right. Maybe you do need a father figure to help you get back on the straight and narrow.”

  Jack shook his head. “No way mum. He’ll never be my father and if he ever hits me I’ll kill him!”

  “I beg your pardon?”

  Jack mumbled, “I said I’d kill him.”

  Stepping towards Jack with hands on hips, she said, “Jack Delaney I can’t believe what I’m hearing! Just what is your problem? The more you talk like that the more I think that you are seriously lacking in discipline, and perhaps lacking up there as well!” She said as she tapped his forehead with her finger. “Not only are you wagging school and trying to hoodwink your teacher and me, you’re also disrespectful and contemptuous towards a person that has helped us out of the deep muck we’d found ourselves in. In fact without Doug’s help I’d hate to think where we’d be right now. I’m sure that I would’ve had to sell the farm because we certainly weren’t coping on our own. Now you will start treating Mister Brown with the respect he deserves or I will take the belt to you, and then, mark my words, I‘ll gladly hand you over to him, so he can add to the numerous red welts that will surely appear on your arse!”

  Jack looked at the floor as tears welled in his eyes. “I just miss dad that’s all,” he sniffed.

  She sighed and said, “You need to get past that Jack because he isn’t coming back. Now that’s all the more reason to be thankful for Mister Brown. Look can’t you see that he just wants to be part of our lives. To help in any way he can. I know he will never replace your father, God knows no one could, but we need him right now. I need him and you need him, even if you don’t think you do. So the last thing I want is for you to be scaring him off with your cheeky, disrespectful ways. Understand?”

  “Mmm.”

  “Now all that to one side let’s get back to the issue that kicked all this off. How long have you been wagging school on a Friday Jack?”

  “I dunno.”

  “Right I’m getting the belt!” And she turned and headed for the kitchen drawer.

  “Okay, okay, for a wee while we have,” Jack whined as he looked up.

  She stopped in mid stride and turned back to him “We? You and Wiremu is it?”

  “Yep.”

  “So what’s a wee while? Were you doing this when Miss McFierce was teaching you?”

  “Yep.”

  “So how long, a year, two years, more?”

  “More.”

  Raising her hands and raising her voice she said, “More! All this time you haven’t been going to school and I haven’t twigged. This is incredible. What the hell do you do when you don’t go to school?”

  “Fish, trap possums, swim, whatever, just muck ‘round really.” The tears had stopped but Jack couldn’t look at his mother anymore. He just stared vacantly out the window.

  With a hand on her brow and a shake of her head she said, “What am I going to do with you Jack?”

  Silence.

  She continued, “So what did you do today?”

  “Checked the traps and took the skins to Mister Rasch to sell.”

  “So he knows you were wagging school?”

  “No I don’t think so. We were there after school got out.”

  “Well that’s something I suppose. I’d hate to think that Mister Rasch would condone this sort of behaviour.” She sighed then continued. “I don’t know what punishment would be suitable here Jack, I’ll have to think about it...Do you have anything more to say.”

  “Sorry.”

  “Yeah, sorry you got caught more like...Go and clean yourself up while I carry on getting dinner
ready; you smell like a possum.”

  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  Dinner was a silent affair and after they had eaten and everything was cleared away and cleaned up Jack headed off to his bedroom. As he left he said to his mother, “I need to get up early in the morning to meet Wiremu and check the traps... If that’s okay with you.”

  “Yes I suppose it is. You can’t leave those poor animals to suffer any more than they have to.”

  Doug asked, “Are you settin’ them again after that, Jack?”

  “Yes, if that’s okay?”

  “Not up ta me, it’s up ta ya mother,” he replied.

  “Mum?”

  “I suppose. Might as well make what we can off them while the price is good. When are we going to see some money for them, Jack?”

  “When Mister Rasch sells them to a man he knows. Should be next week.”

  “You’re not holding out on us are ya Jack?” Asked Doug with a smirk on his face.

  Embarrassed Jack replied, “No.”

  “We’ll you’ve been dishonest about other things I thought ya might be the same when it comes ta money,” he sniggered.

  “Doug, that’s enough,” said Ellen quietly.

  Hanging his head Jack said, “I’m going to bed.” And he walked through into the hallway and closed the door behind him.

  “Doug why did you have to say that to him. I’m trying to get him on your side but comments like that aren’t helping.”

  “I’m only havin’ a bit a fun Ellen. That boy’s just a sour puss and needs a good shake up. A hefty kick in the behind I reckon.”

  “Yes, well, I’m having trouble deciding how I’m going to punish him for his dishonesty. Do you have any ideas?”

  “Ah, so ya want my help now do ya? I thought you wanted to handle this yerself?”

  Ellen stared at the pattern on the tablecloth and said, “Yes, I do need your help. I’ve been thinking about it, Doug and I think it’s only fair that I start to include you in these sorts of things from now on. That’s if you’re still interested in helping out. Jack needs a male role model in his life, whether he realises it or not, and I can’t provide that, obviously... I mean you have been here over six months now and I’ve no complaints, you’ve slotted in quite well really. In fact I feel you’re part of the family now.”

  And she lifted her eyes and briefly looked at him, catching his eyes with her glance. She smiled shyly then dropped her head and stared intently at her fingernails.

  Smiling back at her Doug said, “I would very much like ta be included in every sort of thing Ellen. You know I only want what’s best for you and Jack, always have and always will. Look if ya want my advice on this I would say let the boy off this time. With a warnin’ mind. I know he’s been playin’ up lately but who could blame him? Losin’ his father and then me comin’ in ta the house and tryin’ ta act like his dad. I know I would’ve had a hard time copin’ with all that if that was me. Heck, I know what it’s like to lose ya dad, happened ta me as a matter of fact. I was a little bit older than Jack but it was a hard thing ta get over, let me tell ya. No, let him off Ellen and if we both work at it and I learn ta be a bit more tactful, then who knows, I might just win the boy over.”

  She looked up and said “Do you think that’s the right way to go? I was going to stop him from seeing his friend Wiremu for a while. It was either that or a good strapping but that’s never been my favoured option. Anyway I think he’s probably getting too old for the strap, isn’t he?”

  Doug shook his head and the smile disappeared. “We’ll I’d have ta disagree with ya there, Ellen. They’re never too old. While they’re livin’ under the same roof as their parents they need ta follow their rules and take their punishment as their parents see fit. That’s where a person like me can help ya out, Ellen. The man should dish out the punishment, not the woman. The woman’s not designed to be handin’ out punishment, just doesn’t seem right if ya ask me. She’s got other things ta worry about like runnin’ the house and lookin’ after the family. The man should make the rules and the man should enforce them too. That’s just the way it should be. The way God meant it to be.”

  “Yes, we’ll my husband did handle that side of things when he was home. But getting back to Jack. You think this time I, sorry, we, should just let him off?” She frowned.

  “Yep for sure. But we’ll explain ta him that it is a warning and it’s his last chance ta improve his behaviour. You might even want to tell him it was my idea ta let him off with a warning. You never know, it might help improve our relationship.” He grinned.

  “Alright we’ll go with your idea Doug. I’m pleased I talked with you. A problem shared is a problem halved, so they say.” And she reached across the table and grasped his hands. She looked at him and smiled then quickly looked away. She went to pull her hands back but Doug gently held onto them. She gasped and looked up, into his eyes. He returned her smile and said, “Ellen, I’m not one for showin’ my feelins’ but I need ta tell ya somethin’...Oh boy this is not easy; I need ta tell ya, I need ta tell ya that...Um, okay here goes. I need ta tell ya that I think, I think I’m fallin’ in love with ya Ellen.”

  And Ellen held his gaze and the tears welled up in her eyes and she smiled as she said, “Doug I, I, oh thank you, thank you. I really want you. You don’t know how much I need you.”

  And he released her hands as they both stood at the same time. Their chairs pushed back violently as they got up, scraping loudly on the floorboards. They stepped towards each other and embraced. They found each other’s lips and hungrily kissed. Their hands explored each other’s bodies as their tongues explored each other’s mouths. He pushed her back against the table and lifted her dress as he broke away from her mouth and repeatedly licked and kissed her neck and made his way down to her breasts. She gasped and breathlessly whispered:

  “No. Don’t. Not here, not like this.”

  And she broke away from him and slipped underneath his embrace and gripped his hand and led him through into the hall and into her bedroom. Her dress slid from her body and crumpled at her feet as he undid the buttons. She stepped out of it and lay on the bed as he quickly undressed. He joined her on the bed, lying next to her as he gently, tenderly ran his hands and mouth over her body. She quivered and moaned with excitement but she couldn’t wait any longer. She wrapped her arms around him and heaved him on top of her, wanting him inside her now, urgently, no time to waste. Her under garments flew in the air as he tore at them in his impatience and eagerness to fulfil their desires, and as he entered her she stifled a cry and held him close and rocked with him. The tears flowed from Ellen and the pain eased as her heart burst with joy and emotion and passion when she felt this man inside her. And she climaxed and felt him shudder as he came and then she came again and they were joined as one, fused together, their longing temporarily sated as their lust faded but their love for each other increased. And after it was over and they lay in each other’s arms she thought of her husband Arthur. Art, as she called him, and she knew she would never love another like him and that no one would ever be able to replace him. And she cried softly to herself as she lay in the darkness, remembering the loss of her husband and wishing for the last time that things could have been different. But she knew that her life had taken another turn now and that a new chapter had begun. It was time to move on, never forgetting, but never dwelling on the past again; as the past could never be changed and another path lay in front of her. Today and the future was what counted. And as the tears dried on her cheeks, a smile broke out on her face as she knew that after a year or more, her grieving was finally over, and that today, this glorious day, her new life would begin.

  And Doug lay in the bed next to her, holding her. He could hear Ellen’s rhythmic breathing and he knew she had fallen to sleep. He lay awake, staring into the darkness. Not smiling. Thinking, thinking. The thoughts of a madman. He thought: It’s done. I have reached my
goal. All it took was patience. And sure, it was hard at times. There were times where I could have just about killed both of them. Figuratively speaking of course. They really knew how to piss a man off. Especially that whiney brat of hers. But now things have changed. Changed forever. Changed for good. Miss Bossy Boots is no longer in charge, no more, no way. ‘Tis I Douglas Brown who is now the head of the house. In charge of her and the kid. They are mine, the farm is mine, it’s all mine and all it took was a little patience. A little patience and some good acting. ‘I think, I think I’m fallin’ in love with ya Ellen.’ And she swallowed it hook, line and sinker. Oh and the thing about me Dad ‘It’s a hard thing to get over, let me tell ya.’ Yeah right! My father was a drunk who couldn’t keep his hands to himself. The only sort of loving I got from him was the wrong type of loving. Sicko. No, when the bastard had his ‘accident’, ‘slipped while he was drunk constable, musta hit his head on the corner of the table as he fell sir.’ I celebrated. Jumped for joy, whooped with glee. I mean he was pissed, full as a bull, drunk as a skunk when I bashed his brains in with his own cricket bat. Perfect swing really. And he said I’d never be any good at sports. Hah. Well I showed him, showed him real good. I swung that bat, like, like Don Bradman! And that bat connected with his temple, the bottom edge of the bat it was, right on the corner, and it caved in his head, smashed right through his skull. Forget the sound of willow hitting leather! Willow hitting bone makes a sound I’ll never forget. Thwuck. Yeah, just like that, Thwuck. A solid yet wet sound. Yeah, that’s it. And the good thing was that the injury looked just like it would if you fell and hit your head on the corner of our coffee table. Handy that. And boy oh boy, it did some damage to his head alright, blood and brains everywhere. Everywhere it was. Mother was most upset of course. It took her ages to get the stains out of the carpet. Nothing seemed to work. But she got there in the end, baking soda and vinegar I think it was. She was so relieved ‘cause she couldn’t afford new carpet now that father was gone. Ah, memories. Isn’t it funny what you think of when you’re right on the verge of dropping off to sleep... Boy I really feel like I’ve hit the jackpot tonight though. The future’s mapped out for me now. I’ve got me a self made family that I can treat the way they should be treated. I’ve got myself a permanent home and job. And when I feel the need, the need to relieve a little tension and get me end away, I’ve got her, on tap. 24/7, beggin’ for it. And that surely beats usin’ me hand anyway.