Part Six - Boys Own Adventure

Patty Love’s mind weighted heavy on the events at the party. She had stopped it from going further but the damage was done. She had sullied her lips with another man. She needed more than her happy pills today. She needed a friend before this secret tore her apart.

Patty stepped into Flo’s Salon, the chime of the doorbell signaling her arrival. The air inside was thick with the scent of hair spray and shampoo, a comforting mix that always made her feel at ease.

“Hello! Dears! Patty here!” Patty said, as she looked to the camera of her TV show. “I know, if anyone is going to be my confidante it is, dear Flo. I trust her. She knows how to keep secrets when it is someone she adores. I'd hate to think if I where her enemy.”

Patty waved at Flo, who was busy chatting to a customer while she was ringing up her bill. She took a seat in the waiting area, flipping through a magazine as she waited for the customer to leave.

“Patty! You’re right on time,” Flo called out a few minutes later. “Come on over! We’ve got a lot to catch up on.”

Patty smiled sheepishly, and made her way to a workstation, settling into the plush chair. Flo wrapped a protective cape around her shoulders and began inspecting Patty’s hair with practiced ease.

“How has everything been, Flo?” Patty asked, watching her friend in the mirror. She still had no idea how to bring up her indiscretion.

“Challenging,” Flo sighed, her expression a mix of exasperation and amusement. “You know my son is on a quest to find himself like that Jack Kerouac.” Patty nodded her head, “Well, he decided it would be a brilliant idea to sail a bathtub down a dried-out riverbed for the thrill of it. Now his in traction in the middle of the outback. I had to send money.”

Patty chuckled, shaking her head. “Daniel always did have a quirky streak.” Flo could always cheer her up, “And how are things with you and Harold? Is he still away for work?”

Flo’s hands stilled for a moment, and she took a deep breath before continuing. “It looks like Harry isn’t coming back, Patty. He called last night and said he’s staying on a little longer in the West. I think there is someone else.”

Patty’s heart sank, and she reached out to squeeze Flo’s hand. “Oh, Flo, I’m so sorry. That must be so hard on you.”

Flo shrugged, trying to maintain her composure. “Harry has never really been present in our marriage for a long time. It was fun for a while, but his restless feet and his ever-accessible zipper got in the way. I just wish he had the guts to say it to my face. Not keep me waiting like this.”

“What a coward! You’re strong, Flo. You’ll get through this.”

Patty was much more confident to share her own business when Flo had been so forth coming.

Flo smiled gratefully and resumed her work, her hands moving with renewed purpose. “Thanks, Patty. I know I will. I just needed to hear it from someone else.”

“Well…since we’re sharing truths,” Patty started, “I didn’t just come for a do-up.” Flo instantly stopped her inspection, giving her friend her full attention. “It’s going to sound so cheap and tawdry…but I need to tell someone before I burst at the seams.”

Flo placed a hand on hers, “Patty! What is it! You know I am good with confidential matters…well when it is someone I adore.”

“I kissed Dick Witting…at a party the other night,” Flo blinked a couple of times in dismay. Patty did not do these kinds of things. She was prim and proper. “But…I wasn’t in my right mind. I blame those damn Mai Tais…and Betty Knight.”

Flo smiled cheekily, “Oh dear…It wasn’t because he vaguely looks like Elvis Presley…in the right light?”

“No. I was just feeling lonely. Freddie was off with Phil. Betty was her usual smug self, and Dick was at least kind to me.”

“Was it any good?”

“It was nice but doesn’t come close to how I feel when Freddie kisses me,” Patty reflected, somberly. “I feel so guilty. What should I do?”

“You’re not planning on repeating the incident?”

“No! I love Freddie. He is the only one for me.”

“Then forget about it and move on with your day,” Flo said, returning to inspecting Patty’s hair, “Dick Witting is known for trying it on with anyone and everyone. He’d have made out with a turnip if it gave him a thrill.” Flo stopped, titling her head to one side, “I think what you need are the ends taken off followed by a wash and blow. How does that sound?”

Patty smiled, exhaling her pent-up guilt over that kiss, Flo seemed to always make everything not such a calamity. She was a reassuring presence in her life.

As Flo worked her magic on Patty’s hair, the two women chatted about everything and nothing, finding comfort in each other’s company.

When Patty left the salon later that afternoon, she felt a renewed sense of resolve. She put aside the kiss and focused on what was most important. Her family.

*********

Patty arrived home. She instantly groaned as if in pain. She looked to the audience of her fictitious show, “Damn her! I was having such a good morning once Flo helped ease my anxieties.”

Betty Knight approaching, her posture radiating confidence and superiority. Patty straightened up, preparing for whatever confrontation was about to unfold.

“Hello, Patty,” Betty called out, her voice carrying a tone of forced cheerfulness. “Just back from the beauty parlour?” She examined her new do, “It’s predictably you.” Betty glanced around the street before fixing her gaze on Patty. “Isn’t it a beautiful day!”

“It was until now,” Patty said, arching an eyebrow toward her audience before turning to confront the woman. “What do you want, Betty?”

Betty’s smile tightened. “You know, some people have a tendency to misinterpret things, and I wouldn’t want any misunderstandings.”

Patty crossed her arms, “Misunderstandings? About what, exactly?”

“Dick Witting getting what appeared to be a darn lash from your eye,” Betty said, her eyes glinting with malice. “You know how easy these things can be misinterpreted. I’d hate for dear Freddie’s reputation to suffer because of this misunderstanding.”

Patty’s heart skipped a beat, but she forced herself to remain calm. “Is that a threat, Betty?”

“Of course,” Betty replied, her tone syrupy sweet. “Darling, you should know me by now.”

Patty took a step closer, refusing to be intimidated. “And while we’re about reputations, how’s yours holding up? I don’t think nephews kiss their aunts quite like he does. It’d be a shame if people started talking about that.”

“Oh Darling. Those pills must be addling your brain,” Betty’s expression faltered for a moment, a flicker of panic in her eyes. “While I was helping your family out during your absence, I snooped through your medicine chest. Oh My! Judy Garland would be impressed.” The woman started to sing, “Clang, clang, clang went the trolley, Ding, ding, ding went the bell.”

The woman had unnerved her, but Patty had one more ace to play, “Oh, they may have more interest in your nephew than my pills. After all, what he does is considered illegal. Kissing men. What would the high society of this town think of someone harbouring a homosexual.”

Betty’s face hardened. “You don’t know who you’re messing with, honey! I’ve taken down better people than you.” There was a tense silence as they stared each other down, “Shut your mouth about my business and I’ll keep zipped about yours.” Finally, Betty smiled once more like a predatory beast. “Dear! Patty! It has been so nice talking with you. You be sure to take care now.”

Patty let out a shaky breath, feeling a mix of triumph and unease. She knew she had struck a nerve, but she also knew Betty wasn’t the type to forget so easily. She had poked the bear, and the bear roared back.

********

The phone’s sharp ring echoed through Patty’s quiet kitchen, cutting through the hum of the evening. She set aside the dish she was drying and wiped her hands on her apron before picking up the receiver.

“Hello?”

“Patty, it’s me,” Diana’s familiar voice came through, bright and breezy but slightly distorted by static.

“Diana!” Patty exclaimed, a smile spreading across her face. “Where are you now?”

“In Sydney,” Diana replied, her tone as light as ever. “Just a quick layover before I head to Mumbai and then Paris. I’ve finally cracked the big time. The Paris route!”

Patty’s chest tightened, though she kept her voice steady. “Paris? That sounds... magical.”

“It is,” Diana said with a soft laugh. “I’ll send you love from the Eiffel Tower.”

Patty leaned against the counter, the corners of her mouth pulling downward despite herself. “And Singapore? How was it?”

“Busy, vibrant—oh, and soaked. The rain was coming down in sheets. We were stranded for days. But the food made it all worthwhile. You’d adore the dim sum. Absolutely divine.”

Patty tried to summon a laugh, but it felt forced, “So are you going to ask about the funeral?”

Diana hesitated, the other end becoming silent, “I just couldn’t! Not after everything…Frank! And James of course. It was too much. Thank the stars for that monsoon.”

“Avoidance as usual.”

“Sorry…love. I didn’t quite get that…this line is acting up.”

Patty sighed, cradling the receiver closer. “The funeral was... well, it was a lot. It wasn’t easy going back to the old house, but it gave me and Mother a chance to talk.”

Diana’s voice softened. “Really? You and Mother? Talking? What did she say?”

“More than I expected her to,” Patty admitted. “She even gave me one of Father’s old sketchbooks. It’s been strange, piecing together this other side of him.”

Diana was silent for a moment before she spoke again. “I’m glad, Patty. Truly. And Freddie? The kids?”

“Oh, they’re fine,” Patty said, her tone brightening. “Freddie took time off from the paper this summer. It was nice having him home more. The kids have been keeping us on our toes, as usual.”

“And you?” Diana asked pointedly. “How are you doing?”

Patty hesitated, glancing at the pile of laundry waiting to be folded. “Managing,” she said, her tone too even.

Diana’s laugh was soft but knowing. “Managing? That’s code for ‘I’m up to my elbows in chores and neighbourhood drama,’ isn’t it?”

Patty couldn’t help but laugh, “You’re not wrong,” she admitted. “Betty Knight’s been her usual self, of course. And the kids... well, let’s just say Teddy has developed an interest in sordid comics that is keeping me on my toes.”

There was a pause, and when Diana spoke again, her voice was quieter. “Do you ever feel... stuck, Patty?”

The question hit harder than Patty expected, though she tried to brush it off. “Oh, I don’t know about stuck. Busy, sure. Exhausted, maybe. But stuck? No.”

But even as she said the words, she felt the tug of something deep in her chest. A yearning she didn’t dare name.

Diana seemed to sense it, though. “I know my life sounds glamorous, Patty, but it’s not all dim sum and Eiffel Towers. It’s long hours, cranky passengers, and turbulence over the Indian Ocean.”

Patty smiled faintly. “I’d still trade places with you for a day, just to see what it’s like.”

Diana’s laugh was warm but tinged with sadness. “And I’d trade places with you for a day. A home, a family... That’s something I don’t have, and sometimes, it feels like I never will.”

Patty’s grip on the receiver tightened, “You’ll have it, Diana. You will.”

“No. I had my chance,” Diana said softly. “But that doesn’t mean I don’t envy what you have.”

Patty blinked, startled by the admission. She had always assumed Diana’s life was the one to envy—filled with adventure and excitement, while hers was a never-ending loop of chores.

“Anyway,” Diana said, her voice brightening again, “I should go. I am meeting this dashing American sailor who is in port for a couple of days. We’re going for fish and chips on the beach. Love you, sis.”

“Love you too. Travel safe.”

As the line clicked dead, Patty hung up the receiver and stood in the quiet kitchen, her thoughts churning. Diana’s words stayed with her, turning over and over in her mind. They each envied the other, she realized. Maybe the life she had built wasn’t as small as she sometimes feared. It didn’t mean that it couldn’t be even better though.

*********

The screen door slammed against its frame as Lizzy bolted into the kitchen, her face pale and streaked with sweat.

“Mum! Mum!” she yelled, clutching her side as though she’d been running for miles.

Patty spun around from where she was peeling potatoes at the sink, her heart lurching at the panic in her daughter’s voice. “Lizzy, what is it? What’s happened?”

“It’s Teddy!” Lizzy gasped, her breath hitching as she fought to speak. “At the river. He—he fell!”

Patty’s blood ran cold. “Fell? What do you mean, fell?”

“He was on the Tarzan swing,” Lizzy said, her words tumbling out in a rush. “Simmo cut the rope while he was swinging! He fell into the water! Angelo pulled him out, but—Mum, he’s really shaken up!”

Patty didn’t wait to hear more. She grabbed the closest thing to her—a sturdy wooden spoon—and tossed it aside for a more satisfying weapon: the broom leaning against the wall.

“Lizzy, take me to him. Now,” Patty said, her voice sharp but steady.

Lizzy nodded, spinning on her heel as Patty followed, broom in hand and her heart pounding with a mix of fear and fury.

When they reached the riverbank, Angelo was kneeling on one side while his sister, Gina, ever the Florence Nightingale, tears streaming down her face, was comforting Teddy, who sat on the sand, drenched and shivering despite the heat.

“Teddy!” Patty called, rushing to his side. She dropped to her knees and cupped his face, her fingers brushing the wet strands of hair away from his forehead.

“I’m okay, Mum,” Teddy said weakly, though his voice wavered.

“You’re not okay,” Patty said firmly, her eyes scanning him for injuries. “Do you hurt anywhere? Did you hit your head?”

“My back hurts,” he said, Patty noticing the red welt mark on his back. “I hit the bottom...I was too close to shore.”

“He must have got the wind knocked out of him,” Angelo added, his expression serious. “Because he struggled to come up for air. He is gonna be okay. I made sure of it.”

Patty looked up at Angelo, who stood nearby, water dripping from his jeans. “Thank you,” she said, her voice trembling with both gratitude and lingering panic. Her stomach churned at the thought of what could have happened if Angelo hadn’t been there. She turned to Lizzy. “Where are they? Simmo and the other one—Reece?”

Lizzy’s jaw tightened as she pointed toward the other side of the river, where two boys were laughing and tossing rocks into the water, as if nothing had happened.

Patty stood, the broom clutched tightly in her hands. “Stay with Teddy. I'll handle this.”

Patty marched across the rocky shore, her feet crunching loudly against the gravel as she closed the distance between herself and the two boys. Simmo and Reece turned toward her, their laughter dying in their throats as they took in the sight of her stormy expression and the broom in her hands.

“Mrs. Love?” Simmo said, his voice cracking.

Patty didn’t stop until she was standing directly in front of them, her shoulders squared and her eyes blazing. “What is wrong with you?” she demanded, her voice sharp enough to make both boys flinch. “What kind of monsters cut a rope while someone’s swinging over a river?”

Reece shuffled backward, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. “We didn’t mean for him to get hurt,” he mumbled.

“Didn’t mean?” Patty repeated, her voice rising. “You didn’t mean? You knew exactly what you were doing!” She jabbed the broom toward Simmo, who stumbled back with wide eyes. “If Angelo hadn’t been there, my son could’ve drowned! Is that what you wanted?”

“No!” Simmo stammered, holding up his hands as though to shield himself from her fury.

Patty took a step closer, the broom still pointed at him like a weapon. “You stay away from Teddy. Do you hear me? If I catch you near him again, so help me, I’ll march straight to your parents and make sure you answer for it.”

The boys nodded quickly, their faces pale.

“Now get out of here!” Patty snapped, pointing toward the path that led back to town. “Before I decide to toss you in the river myself.”

Simmo and Reece was stuck to the ground, unable to move for a moment, until Patty began to use her broom to marshal them away like she was sweeping dirt out of her house. They turned to run, and Patty smacked both across the backside with the straw of her broom. The two boys took off, rubbing their sore back sides, their footsteps loud against the rocky ground as they disappeared into the trees.

When Patty returned to Teddy, she knelt beside him again, brushing her hand gently against his cheek. “Let’s get you home,” she said softly.

Teddy looked up at her, his lip trembling. “Mum... I was scared.”

Patty’s chest tightened, and she pulled him into a firm hug, ignoring the wetness soaking into her dress. “It’s alright now, Teddy. You’re safe. I promise.”

Angelo and Gina helped Patty and Lizzy get Teddy to his feet, and together, they made their way back toward the house. Patty glanced back at the river, her jaw tightening. This summer was supposed to be about building memories and connections, but it seemed danger was never far away.

She looked down at Teddy, walking carefully between her and Angelo. Gina was holding Lizzy’s hand – Lizzy was unusually quiet and withdrawn from the ordeal.

********

Teddy lay on his bed, a stack of old comic books beside him, though none had been able to hold his attention for long. His back ached from the fall, and while his body was healing, his mind still replayed the moment he’d hit the water. A soft knock on his bedroom door pulled him from his thoughts.

“Come in,” he called out.

Patty opened the door, “You have a guest.”

The door creaked open, and Syd stepped inside, his easy grin lighting up the room. He held something behind his back, clearly trying to hide it.

“Hey, kiddo,” Syd said. “How’re you holding up?”

Teddy shrugged, sitting up straighter. “Better. Still sore.” He glances over at his mother by the door. “But Mum’s been hovering like I’ve broken every bone in my body.”

“Okay! I get the message.” Patty backed out of the doorway and left them to it.

Syd laughed, pulling a chair over to sit beside the bed. “That sounds about right. I heard she scared the pants off Simmo and Reece. Wish I’d been there to see it.”

Teddy grinned faintly. “It was... something. I think even the broom was afraid of her.”

They both laughed, the sound easing some of the tension in the room. Syd shifted slightly in his chair, then held out what he had been hiding.

“Thought you might like this,” he said, handing over a brand-new Phantom comic. The bold, colourful cover showed the Ghost Who Walks in the middle of a jungle, his pistol drawn as he faced a group of snarling wolves.

Teddy’s eyes lit up as he took it. “The new one! How’d you get this?”

Syd shrugged, his grin widening. “I have my ways. Figured you could use something to take your mind off things.”

Teddy ran his fingers over the cover, his heart lifting for the first time in days. “Thanks, Syd. This is... really great.”

The two boys sprawled out on the bed, flipping through the comic together. Syd pointed out his favorite panels, providing dramatic voices for the Phantom and his enemies, while Teddy tried to stifle his laughter at Syd’s over-the-top impressions.

“And then,” Syd said, lowering his voice to a gravelly whisper, “the Phantom says, ‘You have chosen... poorly!’” He jabbed a finger at the villain on the page.

Teddy doubled over with laughter, nearly knocking the comic off the bed. “That’s not even his line, you idiot!”

“Details, details,” Syd replied with a mock-serious wave of his hand.

The room felt warm and alive, the earlier weight of the river accident momentarily forgotten. Teddy couldn’t help but smile, watching Syd’s face light up with every joke and gesture.

As their laughter faded, the two boys settled into a companionable silence, reading through the comic together. Syd propped himself up on his elbow, his head close to Teddy’s as they pored over the vivid illustrations.

Teddy became acutely aware of how close they were. He could feel the faint brush of Syd’s arm against his, the warmth radiating from his skin. It was comforting, but it also made his chest tighten in a way he didn’t understand.

It wasn’t Angelo who was making him feel this way anymore. He had another enticement. A boy called Syd had gotten under his skin before he knew it.

“Hey, Teddy?” Syd said suddenly, breaking the quiet.

“Yeah?”

“You’re not mad at me, are you? For not being there when it happened?” Syd’s voice was soft, almost hesitant.

Teddy looked at him, startled by the vulnerability in his tone. “What? No, of course not. You didn’t even know it was happening. You don’t exactly have the second sight.”

“My auntie does though,” Syd nodded, his brow furrowing slightly. “Yeah, but still... I should’ve been there. Maybe I could’ve flattened Simmo…anything than being useless.”

“Syd! You’re being useful! Right now,” Teddy shook his head, his voice firm. “You don’t need to do anything else.”

Their eyes met for a moment longer than Teddy expected, and his stomach gave an unfamiliar twist. He quickly looked away, his cheeks growing warm.

*********

Patty checked in on the two boys, about to offer refreshments, balancing a basket of folded laundry on her hip. The door was ajar, and the sound of muffled laughter drifted out. She hesitated, drawn by the warmth in her son’s voice.

Leaning slightly toward the open door, she caught sight of Teddy and Syd through the narrow gap. They were sprawled out on the bed, the brightly coloured pages of a comic book spread between them. Syd was gesturing animatedly again, his voice rising and falling as he acted out a scene, while Teddy laughed.

Patty smiled faintly, her heart lifting at the sight. It was good to see Teddy smiling again, to see him relaxing after everything he’d been through. But as she watched, her smile faltered.

Syd reached over to tap a panel on the comic, leaning in so close their shoulders touched. Teddy didn’t move away. Instead, his gaze lingered on Syd with an expression Patty couldn’t quite place. Admiration? Curiosity? Something deeper?

She shifted her grip on the laundry basket, her brow furrowing. The way the boys interacted felt... different. There was an easiness between them - a quiet intimacy—that made Patty’s chest tighten.

When Syd nudged Teddy with his elbow, Teddy laughed, but there was a faint flush creeping up his neck. Syd grinned, clearly pleased with himself, and Patty noticed how Teddy’s eyes followed him, lingering for just a moment too long.

Patty bit the inside of her cheek, her mind racing. This—this closeness—was something new. Was this finally the answer to her son’s troubles? And she was scared. Not for herself but for him. For what this could mean.

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