CHAPTER 6

Tony and I did not talk much about what had transpired in his room. In fact, we never did talk about it at all. But from that day onwards we were drawn to each other like magnets. Of course Tony's parents could not conveniently be out of town everyday. We had to look for an alternative place where we could have total privacy. We soon found it in an abandoned house a few blocks away.

Number 178 was the last house on Melody Lane. It was also the grandest. Its last occupant, a Mrs Sheridan, had passed away and left no one to take care of the house. She had married an Australian pilot who was killed when his cargo aircraft crashed in Western Australia's Great Sandy Desert more than twelve years ago. Their union produced three beautiful children, all of whom were studying in Brisbane when their mother died in her sleep. The authorities pronounced it death by natural causes. The children came back for the funeral but soon left to be with their Australian grandparents. The house was left unattended. The neighbourhood kids believed it was haunted and dared not venture beyond its gate. Weeds grew wild, covering the once beautiful front lawn. Creepers took command of the picket fence, half shielding the house from public scrutiny.

In that house, in Mrs Sheridan's bedroom upstairs, what was known to my parents as my "study sessions" with Tony took place almost every weekend. If only they knew where and what kind of lessons I was receiving! My parents almost never questioned my weekend activities, especially when Tony was involved. "Not only has Gabriel found a friend since KC, he has also found a good tutor," my mother would tell our neighbours. She was right. Tony was a good tutor.

My "study sessions" had to come to a stop by the end of that year. Despite the heavy "extra-curricular" activities, I did exceedingly well in school and received scholarship to attend one of the country's elite boarding schools to continue my education. Although devastated at the thought of leaving Tony, I welcomed the opportunity with open arms. I needed to get away from home. My father had become extremely irate and abusive as his health deteriorated. My sister thought the school would expose me to kids my own age again after tagging behind Tony all those months. My mother was also eager fo me to go, fearing I might catch the TB virus from my father.

The weeks that followed were hectic. My mother dragged me to town and had me measured for school uniform and formal attire at the tailor's. Then we shopped -- new clothes, shoes, socks, underpants, towels, blankets, bedlinens, toiletries and other stuff. From shop to shop we went. By the end of the first day, my mother had given a whole new meaning to the phrase "shop till you drop".

After class finished, Lili and I walked to Morton's for our café au lait. I had grown very fond of Lili. She was very sweet, with a smile très désarmant.

"Lili, Gabriel, attendez!" Jean-Claude's familiar voice rang behind us.

"Salut, Jean-Claude," chirped Lili. "Comment ça va?"

"Très bien, merci. Où allez-vous maintenant?" he addressed us both.

"Au Morton's, comme d'habitude. Est-ce que vous voulez venir avec nous?

"Non, j'ai un rendez-vous avec un ami, et je suis déja tard," he began to hurry off. "Gabriel, tu m'appeles ce soir? Je rentre à dix heures."

"OK, I'll call you at ten, then," I replied. Jean-Claude gave me a wink and walked briskly to the nearby train station.

"Uh oh, be careful Gabriel. He likes you," Lili teased.

"No, he doesn't," I protested.

"Oh yes, he does. I can tell these things," Lili mused. "He tells me that you never call him even though you always promise to."

"Well, you know me. Despite this gorgeous, sophisticated façade, I am a very shy person underneath."

"Yeah, way underneath," Lili retorted.

We both laughed and headed to Morton's.

"OK. Out with it," Lili commanded once we were seated at our regular corner.

"Out with what?"

"Oh, come on. You have that look on your face. Trouble at work, again?"

"Well, you guessed it, Lili. I don't think I can take it anymore."

Lili slowly sipped her coffee. My eyes left her face and wandered about the restaurant. It seemed quite deserted.

"Gabe, may be you should consider quitting, soon..?" Lili broke the silence. That was my intention, but I needed to find another job first.

"I don't know, Lili. I wish I was back in school."