by Sue Shepherd
‘I know. She’s amazing. I wish you could’ve seen Mrs Grant’s face.’
‘Me too. You know, I always hated how she insisted we call her Mrs Grant.’
‘Yeah, all the other neighbours were just aunties,’ Beth remembered.
‘But … come to think of it, that auntie would’ve been more of an uncle.’ Charlie rubbed his top lip.
‘Charlie!’
‘What? She was hairy, that’s all I’m saying.’
‘You’re terrible!’
‘And she was a total nightmare. Christ, do you remember the awful dolly thing that used to sit on top of her toilet?’
‘Yeah. It was dead creepy. I’m sure it used to watch me pee.’
Charlie sucked in his cheeks and pulled a face that was not dissimilar to the doll they both remembered so vividly.
He could still make her laugh. Breathing a sigh of contentment, she asked, ‘Why didn’t you come back and see us? Michelle and I missed you. You were supposed to write.’
‘I don’t know. It was a real kick in the swingers when my parents decided to move to a new house. I figured you might not remember me.’ He shrugged.
‘Not remember you! How could we not remember you, genius? We weren’t likely to forget you, after …’ Beth could no longer avoid the subject that had been the elephant on the coach since they’d first clapped eyes on each other. Taking a deep breath, she asked, ‘Do you ever think about that day?’ She chewed the inside of her cheek. Will he mind me bringing it up?
‘You mean your tenth birthday?’
‘Yes, I mean my tenth birthday.’ What other day could I possibly mean?
‘I think about it sometimes … I suppose.’
‘What can you remember?’
‘Being in freezing cold water with you and Michelle, and having to keep quiet in case old “Grumpy Jack” complained.’
‘But … do you remember … you know?’
‘Nearly drowning?’
She gulped. ‘Yes.’
‘I remember going back to the fucking pool.’
It was strange to hear him use such strong language. He’d been a mere child the last time she’d spoken to him.
‘I did the front flip and I kind of slipped.’
‘You twit.’
‘I fell face first into the pool and a load of water forced its way up my nose.’
‘But why didn’t you just get up?’
‘I don’t know. That water up my nose shocked me … it took my breath away. It sounds crazy … but I couldn’t just get up.’
She wanted to hold him, right there in the dark, as they chugged their way up the coast of Australia on an old Greyhound bus. She wanted to hold him in her arms and tell him it would be all right. How daft is that? It already is all right! ‘Do you remember my mum helping you?’
‘Yes, she was counting as she pressed on my chest. I could hear her. Then, I coughed up all this water. Bloody hell, it hurt. I’ve never coughed so hard. But at least I was alive, hey?’
‘Yes. At least you were alive.’ Again, she inexplicably wanted to hold him. ‘And, at least you didn’t drown in my dad’s homemade pool. How awful would that have been?’
‘Shit, I reckon.’
‘How odd that we’ve met like this.’
‘I know, right? I was like, is that Beth Campbell? And then I was like, how weird would that be if it was? Then you turned your head and I was like, that absolutely is Beth Campbell.’ Charlie shook his head in disbelief.
‘The thought process of Charlie Morris. Fascinating!’
He gave her a shove. ‘Watch it, Campbell, or else I’ll get ya.’
Blimey, it’s good to see him. ‘Can you believe he’s here?’ Beth asked her sister. ‘And, he’s got the same silly little face, hasn’t he?’
‘Little face? Little face? Beth, he’s become a pan-faced, melon head!’ Lisa laughed. ‘And he’s still an idiot!’
As they talked more, Beth found out Charlie had left the UK a few months before her. He’d been all around Western Australia and had spent some time up in Darwin. At the mention of the north, Beth briefly thought of James.
‘Then I popped to the Gold Coast to visit the family of a girl I met in Perth, and now I’m off to The Great Barrier Reef.’
‘Apparently, it’s amazing.’
‘Yeah. And we get to see it together.’ Charlie grinned. ‘Where are you heading afterwards?’
‘Our last stop is Cairns. We fly home from there.’
‘We?’
‘Me. I mean “me”. Like I said, Michelle had to go home.’
‘Yeah. Unlucky. Cairns is supposed to be nice too.’
‘What about you?’ She bit her lip and waited.
‘Back down south for me. I fly out of Sydney.’
‘Shame!’
He smiled. ‘I’m heading over to Asia. Can’t wait, it sounds awesome. But we’ll try to fit as much in to the next few days as we can. OK? Now I’ve found you, Elisabeth, I don’t intend to let you go until I’ve had some fun.’
‘That sounds slightly sinister.’ She prodded him in the ribs. ‘And … don’t call me Elisabeth or Campbell.’
‘What do you want me to call you?’
‘Just Beth. It’s my name.’
‘All right. I’ll try.’
‘Who was the girl?’
‘The girl?’
‘The one you met in Perth. Was it serious? I guess it must’ve been if you’ve been to visit her family.’
‘No, she wasn’t serious. It was fun though. I just visited her family because she arranged it. You know, a free place to stay for a couple of weeks.’
Ridiculously, at this point, Beth was secretly chuffed that this girl, whatever her name was, hadn’t meant too much to Charlie. But she couldn’t say why.
When they arrived at their destination, they found a hostel and were put into separate dormitories.
Charlie dumped his stuff and met her at the girls’ dorm. ‘Fancy getting some breakfast?’
‘Yes, please. I’m starving. I’ve had nothing since dinner, except some chocolate on the coach.’
‘Me neither.’
‘Unless you count the enormous pie, the idiot was scoffing when he found you,’ Lisa sighed.
Choosing a café, they settled themselves at a table for two, and ordered sausage and chips.
‘So, Charlie, who were you going to see the reef with, if you hadn’t bumped into me?’
‘I don’t know. Anyone. I didn’t mind. You?’
‘I didn’t know either. I suppose I thought I’d be alone. I can’t wait to see how beautiful it is in real life. Michelle and I looked at lots of pictures before we left the UK.’
‘We’re going to have a great time there together. I promise.’
Beth adored his enthusiasm.
Their food arrived, and they said no more as they tucked in.
Once their plates were clear, they were in a better position to chat.
‘Not bad, not bad. I wonder what sausages they were.’ Charlie wiped his mouth.
‘Kangaroo? Crocodile?’
‘You could be right. It’s like another world, isn’t it?’
‘I guess so.’
‘I mean, how far have we come from Tennison Avenue?’
‘I know what you mean. Although I’ve only been to two other places so far.’
‘Yeah, it sounds like you spent a long time in Bondi. How come …?’
‘I think we just got settled. And … I met someone … called James … and …’
‘Oh, right. I get you. Holiday romance?’
Beth shrugged. ‘Yes, I suppose it was.’ Her heart sank. Right up until the end, she’d thought of him as much more than a temporary thing. But the way he’d chosen to leave her, had confirmed he thought very little of her.
‘You’ve gone all sad. What’s up? Did you fall for this guy or something?’
She shook her head. ‘No, no. I’m fine. Just missing Bondi,’ she lied.
‘Do you want to go and look around town or do you need a rest?’
Beth knew she ought to say she’d go sightseeing. Lisa would prefer it for a start. But she was knackered. The four hours’ sleep she’d managed to grab on the overnight coach journey before she’d met Charlie had all been in a most uncomfortable, upright position. What she wanted to do most was find a comfy sofa, drink tea and have a snooze. As far as she was concerned, the sightseeing could begin tomorrow. She explained this to Charlie, who luckily seemed to feel the same.
The afternoon was spent watching movies from the limited selection in the hostel lounge. Charlie made them endless mugs of tea, into which they dunked chocolate chip cookies which he produced from his backpack. They lay together on a lumpy sofa to watch the films, both kept nodding off. At no point was it awkward. Charlie was bigger than James. He hadn’t spent several hours a day washing cars, meaning he wasn’t as well toned. He had become what Nanna would’ve described as ‘chunky’. But that made him incredibly comfortable to lean into.
People came and went, some joined them for the movies. Quite a few assumed they were a couple, which Beth found funny.
One guy asked if they’d met in Australia, and Beth was surprised when Charlie replied, ‘No, no, we were childhood sweethearts. Weren’t we?’
She nodded. Uncertain where he was going with his story.
‘Yes, there’s never been any other woman for me. Fell in love with her when I was nine.’ Charlie gave her a squeeze.
‘Sweet!’ The guy smiled.
‘Yep. I just knew it right away.’
‘What brings you to Australia?’
‘Bit of a belated honeymoon. We were married a couple of years back. Weren’t we?’
Again, Beth gave a slight nod, but said nothing.
‘Quite young! A brave decision.’
‘Yeah, well, when you know, you know. Don’t you? I wasn’t going to let this one get away.’
Beth was finding it strange to pretend this was her past. But not in an altogether bad way. If she was honest, it was quite comforting.
‘Well, it’s nice to meet a young couple who’re making it work.’
‘Cheers, mate.’
After a while, the guy left the lounge, and they burst out laughing.
‘Wow, how naive was he to believe that story?’ Beth shook her head.
‘Yeah, what did he think, we ran off to Gretna Green on your seventeenth birthday?’ Charlie grinned.
Beth’s good humour instantly faded.
Lisa knew what she was thinking. ‘You’re remembering Mandy, aren’t you?’
‘I can’t help it. Seventeen was a horrible time for me.’
‘Are you going to tell him about her?’
‘No. I don’t want to spoil the good mood.’
‘But … you told James.’
‘Lisa, it’s rare these days that we talk to each other in anything close to a civil tone. Let’s quit whilst were ahead, and not bring him into the conversation, shall we?’
Twenty-seven
The next morning, before Beth even had the chance to think about breakfast, Charlie appeared in her dorm and asked if she minded moving to a smaller room with him. ‘There’s a guy in my dorm who has a snore like a fucking Harley-Davidson. If I have to spend another night in there, I’m most likely going to kill him. They have rooms for four people. Fancy sharing with me and a couple of strangers? It should cut down the odds of a snorer.’
Beth had every sympathy, she could still recall, with ease, the night she’d spent listening to the frog chorus. ‘Well, as much as I’m tempted to tell you to suck it up, buttercup … I guess it might be nice to share.’ She smiled.
After a quick word with reception, they grabbed their stuff and moved. Their new room was empty. Charlie threw himself onto one of the bottom bunks. ‘Hey, Beth, what’s it called if you murder your mother?’
‘Pardon?’
‘It’s a joke. What’s it called if you murder your mother?’
‘Oh right, I see. Um … I don’t know.’
‘It’s called matricide. What’s it called if you murder your father?’
‘Oh, blimey, Charlie. I don’t know.’
‘It’s called patricide.’
‘Right …?’
‘Tell me again, what did I say it was called if you murder your mother?’
Beth sighed. ‘Um … matricide?’
‘Wrong. That’s what it’s called when you murder your mattress!’ He gave a giant snort and began pummelling his bed.
‘Wally! Your jokes haven’t improved.’
Gesturing over towards the empty bunk, Charlie noted, ‘Looks like it’s just us, Wifey.’
‘You can stop that now. Your mate from yesterday isn’t here.’
‘Oh yeah. Still, it’s nice to have a room to ourselves, isn’t it?’
‘Yes. Like you say, less chance of encountering snorers. Unless …?’ She raised her eyebrows, questioningly.
‘Uh … not as far as I know. You’d have to ask some of the girls I’ve slept with.’
It was a throw away comment, more to do with snoring, than boasting, but it evoked a feeling of jealousy that surprised Beth. ‘Do you think they’ll put someone else in here with us?’ She asked the question and held her breath.
‘I hope not.’ He reached out and slapped her playfully on the bottom.
She hoped not too.
They were silent for a second, before Charlie got off his new bed and yawned. ‘I’m knackered. I could’ve done with a better night’s sleep last night.’
‘Shall I head out to the shops and get us something for breakfast?’ Beth thought she ought to volunteer. ‘Or do you fancy more sausage and chips?’ She squinted at her watch and eventually declared, ‘Actually, make that lunch. We’ve faffed about so much, it’s nearly twelve. I think!’
‘Um …’ Charlie considered her suggestions. He was clearly swayed by the idea of chips.
‘Well?’
‘I could murder a good old plateful of hot food, right now, Campbell. But I’m going to refuse. These bloody shorts are already way too tight.’ He removed the back of his shorts from their resting place, right up in his butt crack, muttering, ‘Nobody likes to see a hungry bottom.’
‘OK. So, what would you like for breakfast?’
‘Don’t worry. I’ll go. I need to pop out. I’ll bring something back. Croissants or rolls. OK with you?’
‘Yeah, great. I’ll have the tea bags ready.’
He was gone a good while. So long, in fact, Beth began to worry about him. She was just making her second mug of tea, when he waltzed into the kitchen with a soppy grin on his face. Dropping a bag of croissants onto the counter top he asked, ‘Can I have one of those, please, Campbell?’
‘Only if you stop calling me Campbell. We’re not in the army.’ Beth flicked the kettle back on.
‘OK. I promise I’ll try.’ He handed her a croissant. It was still warm.
‘Lovely. How did you manage to get warm ones? You’ve been gone ages, I would’ve thought they would be stone cold and hard.’
‘I only just got them. From that place around the corner.’
‘Where the hell have you been, all this time?’
The soppy grin doubled in size. ‘Booking us on a trip for tomorrow.’
‘A what?’
‘A trip.’
‘What kind of trip?’
‘On a boat. We’re going to try a bit of scubbbaaa.’ Charlie pulled an excited face.
‘Oh … I … I …’
‘It’s just for the day, we get to have a go at it. See what’s down there. It’s going to be amazing.’
Beth busied herself making his tea. Her heart had begun hammering in her chest the minute he’d uttered the word scuba. She placed the mug in front of him and watched as he took a croissant from the bag and ate it in three bites.
Tugging his shorts out of his bum, Charlie said, ‘Bloody hell. I need to get a bigger pair of these before tomorrow!
’
As they made their way around the shops, Charlie chatted excitedly about the next day’s activity. He tried on a couple of pairs of swimming shorts and Beth gave her opinion as to which were the nicest. But her heart wasn’t in it. All she could think of was the fact she absolutely didn’t want to try scuba diving.
‘Are you going to tell him how you feel?’
‘I don’t know, Lisa. He’s arranged it all now.’
‘He deserves to know you’re crapping your pants.’
‘Look how excited he is though.’ Beth looked over at Charlie, who was trying on sunglasses and posing in front of a mirror. Realising he was being watched, he blew her a kiss and asked, ‘Do you fancy me in these?’
‘Of course,’ she replied.
‘He’s all right to look at, isn’t he?’
‘Lisa, is this like Mario all over again? Are you going to tell me he’s not too bad if I squint?’
‘No. This is nothing like Mario the Muppet. I’m just saying … you know … Charlie’s different, now he’s grown up.’
‘You said he was still an idiot.’
‘He is still an idiot. But he’s not bad company. I like him.’
Beth looked over at Charlie, who was now sporting a large panama hat. Turning his head, he asked, ‘Too much?’
She called out, ‘You wally!’
He made his way to the till to pay for the shorts and the sunglasses but, fortunately, not the hat.
Beth resumed her conversation with her sister. ‘I can’t tell him I don’t want to go scuba diving. He’ll be disappointed. He’ll think I don’t want to spend time with him or something.’
‘Yeah, maybe.’
‘I wish we’d talked about it before. Like I did with Michelle. She knew I’d be scared under the water. I don’t want to upset Charlie, but the thought of breathing through a tube. Bloody hell, Lisa, it’s awful. I’m surprised he can contemplate doing it, especially after what happened at our party.’
‘I do have a suggestion …’
‘Oh, let me guess? You’ll do it for me.’
‘Wait. Hear me out.’
‘Go on, then.’
‘Yes, I was going to say I’d do the dive for you. It doesn’t scare me. When you live in hell, nothing scares you. But there’s more …’
Beth tried to ignore Lisa’s reference to hell. She knew if she thought too much about Lisa’s life, she’d be riddled with guilt and likely to agree to just about anything. ‘And …?’