Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 1

"I'm sorry, because of the crappy state you were in, I didn't think to tell you."
    I nodded while absorbed staring at his face.
    "Andrew, but call me Drew," he said. "I'm nineteen, I'll be starting third year at Uni next month and I'm from Sydney. My parents bought the hobby farm down the road and we just moved in three days ago for the rest of their summer holidays. My dad's a partner in a law firm, my mum's a doctor, my sister lives overseas training to be a classical singer and Ross, my brother, is in the army. Now, what's your name or do I have to guess?"
    I smiled. "I'm Alex, and I've just turned eighteen. I flunked school 'cuz I'm not very bright, and have worked on the orchard here for the past couple of years, helping my parents. I strained something down here," I added, peering at my hand straddling the area to the right of my low bulge, "while trying to kick the ball too hard."
    He smiled, looking at me with raised eyebrows. I think he knew I lied, I guess I didn't sound convincing. A few minutes later we continued the walk, stopping to show him the swimming hole along the way, mentioning a cooling swim on the way back might do me good. Five minutes later, we arrived above Paddles' pond. I slid down the bank and placed Paddles beside the water. I guess he smelled his familiar surroundings for, as always, he came out of his shell, held the grasshopper I caught for him in his mouth, looked at me as if to say see ya , stepped the few paces to the water, paddled a few times then disappeared. I always felt sad and lonely watching his ripples and bubble trail, fearing I mightn't see him again, but he always returned to his favourite rock where I'd find him the following morning, basking or sleeping in the sun.
    Today was different; I wasn't lonely, for Drew stood beside me, now with his tank top slung over his shoulder. "Come, I'll show you my secret place," I said, taking his hand to lead the way toward the bank. After three strides, I stopped and looked at what I'd done without thought, amazed as I lifted my gaze to his grinning face, feeling him squeeze my hand, and then again.
    "Go on, what are you waiting for?"
    Enthused, I seemed to forget the butt pain as I led him to a narrow dry cutaway in the bank. There, my hideout spanned the two metres between the side walls, comprising a floor and roof of timber planking I'd swiped from the orchard, supported on beams of stout tree boughs I'd lodged into holes I'd cut into either side. Dead tree branches camouflaged the roof and rear.
    "Struth," Drew called as I pulled down an old, shortened picking ladder, also nicked from the orchard, to climb the two metres height. I slid an old sponge rubber mattress to the front, while Drew looked at my handiwork, including the cut-outs in the walls containing candles, fishing gear, magazines, tools, nails and other stuff. "This is cool," he said, "your own pad, away from the world."
    We sat, dangling our legs over the edge. I removed my shirt and leaned back on my hands, welcoming the sun on my chest and belly. Drew lay back, leaning on his elbows beside me, looking ahead, smiling, his tanned skin glistening, taut over his athletic body.
    "What sports do you play?" I murmured, breaking the silence.
    He turned on his side and propped his head on his hand, facing me. "Football, cricket, tennis and swimming, and I surf a lot, as well. What do you play?"
    I looked down and doodled on the sponge rubber separating us. "None. No sports group will let me play with them and no one will play with me. All I do is kick my football, play ping pong and tennis against a wall and swim in the hole."
    He stared at me then kneeled before me. "Why?"
    I moved to a half sitting position facing him. "Surely you've noticed… the tics, the stammers, the shakes, the garbled words, my fear…"
    "What causes them?"
    I sighed and started trembling. "I'm ADHD."
    He stared at me. "Hell, Alex, what a bugger!" he said, placing his hand on my upper arm. "But plenty of ADHD people play sports. I'm sure there's more to your problem than just that."
    I looked at him, then away. "I'm lonely, no friends. All of the kids hate me, because I'm different ."
    "Strange, I've been worrying I might be lonely here, but not now since I've met you."
    I jerked my head to meet his gaze as his words sunk in, one by one. "Do you mean that?"
    "Of course, don't you believe me?"
    His words struck my heart. A vent opened, wrenching my body in seizures and drenching my cheeks and