Just thinking about some of those ‘shouldn’t oughta’ things got Andrew all hot and anxious and he knew he was a hypocrite as he wanted to do them himself, had even tried to only a few minutes earlier. ‘Maybe we will get a chance later?’ he hoped.
The friends found them both hiding in the garage and ‘downstairs’ storeroom where their gear had been dumped. They were not kissing but both looked happy.
“What do we do now?” Carmen asked.
“We should organize your beds for tonight,” Muriel answered. She pointed around the downstairs area. “You will be sleeping down here and can use that toilet and shower.”
This was the shower Andrew and the others had used during the diving weekend so he was familiar with it. Next to it was the double garage but in front of the parked cars was a large ‘downstairs’ area. On the ‘downhill’ side were a store room, toilet, shower, laundry (with a connecting door through to the back lawn) then the concrete steps leading up to the far side of the patio. On the uphill side were several rooms leading off a central passageway. The group now made their way past the cars to these. The biggest room, on the right, was a workshop. On the other side was some sort of office with an old table covered with a litter of papers and boxes.
Muriel pointed into it and said, “The boys are sleeping in here.”
Andrew glanced in and wasn’t impressed. The floor was dusty and there were cupboards and what appeared to be a large map cabinet against the walls. A single window opened out just above ground level but gave very little light through its grimy panes.
Jennifer wasn’t impressed either. “Yuk!” she cried. “This looks spooky. I hope there aren’t rats and cockroaches.”
“Where do we sleep?” Carmen asked.
“In the garage near the steps,” Muriel indicated. Then she pointed up the steps, “Or, if you don’t like that, then you can bunk on the patio.”
“Patio I think,” Carmen replied, looking around the garage with distaste.
“Where are you sleeping?” Andrew asked Muriel. Then he blushed fiercely when the others looked at him and smirked.
Shona giggled. “Why do you want to know?” she teased.
“Just wondered,” Andrew mumbled, blushing fiercely.
Muriel smiled at that and explained that she was in a room upstairs with her mother and that her little brother and father had the other spare bedroom. “Now let’s get everyone set up and get ready for tea. It is five now and Grandma always eats at six.”
From a storeroom at the uphill end of the downstairs two old foam rubber mattresses were extracted. These were for Blake and Andrew. The table was moved into the far corner of the room. Andrew took a broom to the room they were to sleep in and quickly cleared the worst of the dirt, raising quite a cloud of dust as he did. The mattresses were then placed side by side by Muriel.
“Not that close together,” Blake protested. “We don’t like each other that much. We aren’t like that!”
Muriel laughed but Shona positively shrieked. Blake glowered at her. “You’ll get yours!” he mock threatened.
“Promise?” Shona teased.
Blake gave an evil grin and went to try to grab her. Shona shrieked again and fled behind Carmen, then out the door and up the stairs. Andrew watched jealously, wishing he had the courage to chase Muriel so openly. But he felt he did to know her that well and did not want to annoy or embarrass her. Instead he gave her a grin. What he really wanted to do was make some arrangement to meet secretly later.
Blake returned and went on with making up his bed. Muriel called to Carmen and Jennifer to follow her and led them upstairs as well. Andrew also set about making up his bed. Having done that he collected his towel, toiletries and a change of clothes from his bag, then made his way to the shower. Showering he found arousing because he kept thinking of Muriel and of Letitia, the erotic memories causing him to become very aroused. Only Blake calling out caused him to quickly finish washing, dry himself and dress.
After dressing in clean clothes Andrew went outside and sat on his bed to dry his feet and to comb his hair. Meanwhile Blake replaced him in the shower. Andrew then went to the toilet. By the time he came out Blake was finished in the shower and was testing his bed, lying back and joking. After fluffing up his pillow Andrew did likewise. Settling back he joked with Blake while looking around. Beside him was a cupboard. Out of idle curiosity he reached up and opened it. Seeing nothing but old clothes hanging inside he closed it, then pointed to the cabinet next to Blake. The cabinet was wide and low, with a dozen narrow drawers, each the width of the cabinet.
“What’s in that? Is it a map case?” he asked.
Blake shrugged and then reached across to one of the small handles. Tugging at it he pulled the drawer out half a metre. By arching his back and craning his neck he was able to look. “Old charts,” he answered.
That got Andrew’s interest. He rolled over and stood up, then walked across to look. To do so he had to step on Blake’s bed, a procedure that Blake objected to. But he was right- they were old sea charts. Andrew saw that the top one was of the east coast of Cape York Peninsula and the Coral Sea. The names told him it was right up near the Torres Strait.
“Raine Island,” he read. “I must go there one day.”
“Where’s that?” Blake asked, kneeling to look.
“Near where the Pandora hit a reef and sank,” Andrew answered, pointing to where the words ‘Pandora Entrance’ were labelled in an opening in the Great Barrier Reef. He lifted the corner of that chart to look at the next, noting that all were discoloured with age. The next chart was of the coast off Cairns and the one below that of the Mackay to Broad Sound area. The next one down was of the Whitsunday Islands and the one after that of the Coral Sea from Townville to east of Bowen. Noting several pencil lines and mathematical calculations Andrew leaned closer.
At that moment Muriel’s voice came from the door. “Come up and have tea you boys.”
For several seconds Andrew hesitated, fascinated by the pencil lines and bearings on the old chart. ‘This is the area where the Merinda and Deeral sank,’ he mused, noting that the chart covered only part of the area on the one he had purchased. It was on a scale that showed a smaller area but in much greater detail.
“Andrew!” insisted Muriel. “You can look at them anytime, now come on.”
Reluctantly Andrew let the charts drop back into place and then slid the drawer back in. As he did Blake made his way out of the room, leaving him alone with Muriel. Recognizing the opportunity Andrew at once forgot old charts and instead stepped over to her. “Will we be able to see each other tonight?” he asked, feeling greatly daring.
Muriel lowered her eyes, fluttered her eyelashes and dimpled her lips into a mischievous grin. “I don’t know what you mean,” she simpered. Then she burst out giggling when he tried to explain. “Of course, if you want to,” she laughed.
“When?” Andrew asked, taking her hands and stepping closer.
“After everyone else is asleep,” Muriel replied. “At midnight, down on the beach.”
Hearing that sent Andrew into a state of high hopes and he put is arms around her and pulled her closer. She smiled and responded and they came together in a passionate embrace. For several minutes they clung together, kissing and caressing. Within moments Andrew was strongly aroused and he firmly, but gently ran his hands over Muriel’s back and hips, relishing the soft smoothness and wondering if he dare try more.
The patter of stealthy footsteps reached his ears just as he nerved himself to try. Over the sound of Muriel’s breathing he heard Shona whisper, “I’ll bet they are!”
Just in time Andrew took Muriel’s arms from around his neck and stepped back. Heads poked around the doorpost and Shona’s and Jennifer’s grinning faces appeared. Shona cried, “Told you so!”
Andrew flamed with embarrassment, felt both angry and foolish, then annoyed as there was no sensible reason why he shouldn’t want to kiss his girlfriend. But the mood was des
troyed and he did not want the other girl’s to see his aroused condition. While trying to pretend that nothing had happened Andrew followed Muriel out and up the stairs behind the other two. By then his body had returned to normal and another anxiety had crept in- meeting Old Mr Murchison.
The memory of how shocked the old man had appeared, and of his collapse, made Andrew worry. As he came up the internal stairs to the patio Andrew now saw that Old Mr Murchison was seated at the large table, along with Grandma Murchison and Muriel’s parents and little brother. Carmen and Blake sat at a smaller circular table.
Muriel walked straight over to her grandfather and bent to kiss him, then gestured to Andrew. “Hi Grandad! Feeling better? This is Andrew. You met him a few weeks ago, remember?”
Old Mr Murchison looked irritated and nodded but then turned to meet Andrew’s gaze. When Andrew anxiously held out his hand the old man took it and gave it a brief shake. “Of course I remember,” he replied. “I’m not senile yet, yer know. Hello young Collins.”
“Hello sir. Sorry for upsetting you last time.”
“Not your fault boy. Just one of those things. I never thought to meet anyone from your family. Was quite unexpected,” Old Mr Murchison explained. Then he harrumpfed and looked away, taking up his tea cup.
Andrew still felt uncomfortable and embarrassed but took the opportunity to move away. Muriel’s mother then asked him what he would like to eat and his attention was taken up with selecting from cold meats, salad and fruit. Having loaded his plate Andrew moved to sit between Muriel and Carmen over to one side.
The meal was a fairly silent affair, partly because Muriel’s father was listening to the news on a radio. The food was good and plentiful and Andrew particularly liked the fruit cup cordial. Even more he liked watching Muriel as the last glow of the setting sun lit up her face. From time to time she looked at him and smiled, making him feel very special and very happy. While chewing another mouthful he looked out over the terrace and boatshed to the bay and beyond. The last rays of the sun were catching a launch making its way back to Cairns and it was all wonderful to him.
Andrew wanted to ask Old Mr Murchison about the lifebuoy but was reluctant to broach the subject. Then Muriel’s mother began bustling around cleaning up and the opportunity was lost. Old Mr Murchison was helped inside and the girls roped into cleaning up. Blake and Andrew were sent into a very comfortable lounge to watch TV.
Later, when the girls joined them, they watched more TV, then played ‘Monopoly’ for an hour. All the while Andrew wanted to get away with Muriel but her parents both sat in the room, him reading a newspaper and her knitting and chatting to Grandma Murchison. Andrew enjoyed the games but, to his own surprise, discovered he was quite tired.
Thus, when supper was served and then bed suggested, he felt more than ready. This introduced a new worry- how to make sure he did not fall asleep and miss his assignation with Muriel! It was only 10:30 when the boys made their way downstairs to get ready for bed.
Grandma Murchison came down with them to see that they were settled in alright. “Leave the toilet light on dearies,” she instructed. “Then you won’t bump into anything in the dark.”
After Grandma Murchison had gone Blake padded out of the room. Andrew sat up and asked, “Where are you going?”
“Just to check on the girls,” Blake replied. He padded off in his pyjamas.
Andrew was wearing his and felt quite self-conscious but got up and followed him. By the time he was half way up the stairs he could hear giggling and the girls calling out. Blake stood at the top and was busy teasing the girls. Between the wall of the lounge room and the balustrade of the stairwell were three mattresses, laid side by side. On these lay Carmen, Jennifer and Shona. All three were in their pyjamas- Shona’s being the only slightly risque ones.
While they talked and joked Muriel appeared at the back door, also in her night attire- some sort of cotton shift which left Andrew speculating on what, if anything, she wore under it.
“You boys go away,” she said. “Let the girls sleep.”
“We are just saying goodnight and checking that they are safe,” Blake replied with a grin at Shona.
“Not safe from you!” Muriel replied.
At that moment Muriel’s mother came out of the back door. “No talk like that please,” she said. Then she looked at them all. “Bed time. And I don’t want any ‘hank-panky’ from you children. Your parents expect you to be on your best behaviour.”
“Yes Shona,” Jennifer added, “No sneaking off to meet Blake after we go to sleep.”
Shona pouted and looked hurt. Muriel’s mother pursed her lips. “Yes, that goes for all of you. No sneaking off behind my back. You hear me Muriel?”
“Yes Mum,” Muriel answered in a sulky voice, her eyes flicking towards Andrew.
Muriel’s mother intercepted the glance and looked at Andrew. “Promise you won’t misbehave Andrew,” she said.
That put Andrew right on the spot and he blushed, swallowed and nodded. “Yes Mrs Murchison.”
“Good, now go to bed children.”
Andrew blushed again, irritated at being called a child. As he watched Muriel’s mother go back inside he felt his hopes crash. ‘Drat! Now I won’t be able to kiss Muriel in the moonlight,’ he thought. And it was moonlight. Outside the full moon was lighting up the bush and the back lawn. It reflected off the waves in a shimmering dapple effect and made everything appear silvery and magical.
“Good night then,” he said, trying to keep his disappointment out of his voice.
Muriel made a face then walked over to the patio railing as he turned to make his way back down the stairs. “It’s a lovely night,” she said, just loudly enough for the others to hear. Then, more softly, “See you later then, at midnight.”
Andrew was deeply shocked. “We can’t,” he said. “We just promised your Mum that we wouldn’t.”
To his dismay and disappointment Muriel just shrugged. “She won’t know,” she whispered.
That really put Andrew on a spot. In his own mind he had made a promise and he now sensed that he was going to have to choose between his own integrity and keeping Muriel happy. The old saying ‘Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned’ crossed his mind and made him deeply anxious. There was also deep and growing disappointment and puzzlement. ‘How could Muriel do that?’ he wondered. ‘How could she plan to team up with a man who she knows cannot be trusted?’
But he knew that an answer was needed. There was no obvious way he could avoid the situation as she was standing close and looking at him, obviously waiting for a reply. A bitterness welled up in Andrew as he faced the cruel choice, but with it came regret as he already knew what he would decide. “Sorry. I gave my word. I can’t do it,” he croaked.
“Oh tosh!” hissed Muriel angrily, plainly stung by his refusal. “Don’t you love me?”
“I do,” Andrew answered, but even as he did he wondered, knowing that something fundamental to their relationship had just been destroyed.
“Then, if you love me, you will meet me tonight,” Muriel challenged.
Andrew’s mind raced, seeking a suitable reply that would put off any break or confrontation. He thought, with some anger, ‘And if you love me, you won’t put me to that test,’ but he just shook his head and said, “Sorry. I promised your Mum and I am sticking to it.”
“You’re scared!” Muriel jibed hotly.
That hurt but made Andrew even more determined. ‘I’ve got to live with myself,’ he thought. ‘If I start cheating and lying now my self respect will go down the drain.’ Again he shook his head. Sadly he said, “Sorry, no. Goodnight.”
Feeling distinctly miserable he turned and made his way down the steps. He half expected Muriel to argue, even to embarrass him in front of the others, but she just snorted and turned away. ‘I think I’ve cooked my goose now,’ he thought, but he still felt he had done the right thing. Feeling almost ready to burst into tears he flung himself on his bed and tu
rned to face the wall.
Blake followed a few minutes later. By then Andrew was feeling distinctly peeved. As Blake came in he turned the room light off and then made his way to his bed. To avoid talking and thereby revealing his unhappiness Andrew remained on his side and pretended to sleep. He had been so hopeful and worked up- and now he was just frustrated and unhappy. Brooding on this kept him awake and he lay for hours, worrying whether he could recover the situation, wondering if he wanted to. Severe doubts about whether he and Muriel were actually suited swirled round and round in his unhappy mind.
CHAPTER 14
REGRETS
Andrew was roused by murmuring noises. Into his sleep-fuddled consciousness came a girl’s giggle, then husky whispering. With a groan of reluctance Andrew rolled over and opened his eyes. He saw at once that it was daylight and that Shona was bending over Blake, lying half on him while they kissed. A sharp stab of deep regret lanced through Andrew as he remembered his actions of the previous night. Mixed in with the regret, was regret at not having given in to temptation- and jealousy that Blake was getting what he wanted, what his newly roused boy’s body urgently desired.
The sounds he made caused the other two to stop kissing. Shona turned her head and then giggled again. “Breakfast time,” she said. “Up you get.”
“That’s what I want,” Blake quipped, raising his head to look towards Andrew, while still gripping Shona to him.
“What?” Shona asked, turning back to kiss him on the nose, “To have breakfast?”
“No. To get up,” Blake replied. It took a moment for the double meaning to sink in but then Shona went red and cried, “Oh don’t be rude!” but she said it with no heat in her voice and did not struggle to get away.
It embarrassed Andrew though. He squirmed to a sitting position and wondered if he would ever get to kiss Muriel again. To cover his aroused state and his confusion he groped for his towel, then staggered out to the toilet and shower. The cold water helped wake him up but by then his mind had roamed over all the things he thought he had done wrong and left him gloomily wondering what his fate might be.
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