Shadows Dancing in the Sun - 2. Shad Chapter 2

Firstly, I checked out the drawing-room, library, formal lounge, the office, and then the bedrooms, the master is next to the office, and the other three are one next door to the master and two opposite, each with ensuite bathrooms.

The living room is next along with the very large dining room and kitchen. What surprised me the most was when I stepped out into the pool area, it was completely enclosed, and it has plenty of seating, plus a large natural wood table that can seat up to twelve people.

The back gardens were equally impressive as the front gardens, and it made me wonder who does all the hard work to keep it that way. In the back garden, I noticed a garden arch, which looked like it leads to the garden next door, so I followed the path, and found myself in a lush garden, with a large fish pond, lawns, shady trees, and all that remained of the former house was a bare concrete slab, and there was no longer a driveway into the property, which now has large mature trees replacing the space, and hiding the gardens from the street.

I located another garden arch, which looked to be new, that allowed access back to the main property, where there is side access driveway to the main property, that leads to a single carport, where another car is parked, and I noticed a side door into the main house, which I entered and came into the main kitchen.

“I see you found the side entrance, so, what do you think of the place?” Uncle Mitchell asked me. “It is very big and grand, the gardens are very nice, I just wonder if I have to keep it all maintained,” I responded, and both Uncle Mitch and Xavier laughed. “No, my dear nephew, you do not have to worry about any of that, just keep your room tidy, is all we ask you to do, and maybe help with preparing a meal with us and tidying up afterwards once in a while,” Uncle Mitchell replied.

We have two part-time staff who come in on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays to help out. They are a husband and wife team, Giorgio works doing the gardens, and maintains the pool, while Maria does all of the housekeeping and some cooking for us,” Xavier said to me. “They are Italian as you can guess from their names, so expect a lot of Italian meals.

On Saturdays for lunch, we have a sit-down meal with them which is a real feast, and you will never go hungry with Maria’s cooking,” Uncle Mitch said. “Sounds good, I like Italian actually, although I am not too keen on olives, but apart from, that I am fine with most Italian meals,” I responded.

“Good to hear, now which room have you selected?” Uncle Mitch asked me, “I think the one diagonally opposite the master would be the best one,” I replied, “Good to hear, well grab your bags and get settled in, we have an Italian dinner for tonight, as Maria was here today, I just have to whip up some pasta, and dinner will be ready” Xavier announced.

“Ok, I am going to have a shower first,” I said, as I headed towards the front door to collect my bags, and I spent a few minutes unpacking everything, putting them neatly away in the built-in wardrobe, before heading to my own bathroom, which is a real treat, to have complete privacy for a change.

After a shower, I changed into some casual clothes and looked around my new bedroom, which is about twice the size as my childhood bedroom, and it has a large double bed, two bedside tables, and there are a big bookshelf and a lounge chair in a corner and a large desk under the window.

After dinner, I suddenly felt very tired, so after helping with tidying up, which wasn’t much as there is a dishwasher, I said good night and headed to bed, and fell asleep almost right away.

Someone knocking on a door woke me from a peaceful sleep, and I shot out of bed thinking it was my stepfather, forgetting that I was no longer there, and it was the sound of my uncle’s voice that jogged my memory. “Come on sleepyhead, it is time to get up, you still have one day of school before the weekend,” Uncle Mitch said through the door.

“Ok uncle, I am up,” I replied, as I headed to my bathroom to wash before getting dressed in my clean uniform. “Is it alright if I do my laundry washing when I get home, this is my last clean pair of trousers and shirt, oh and I will need at least one of my blazers to be cleaned soon too,” I announced as I entered the kitchen dining area and sat down, and Xavier set a plate of cooked breakfast in front of me.

“I usually am allowed to have cereal and a cup of tea,” I said as I stared at the large meal, “Well in this house you will be eating a proper breakfast. What do you usually have for lunch?’ Xavier responded, “Just two rounds of vegemite sandwiches and a bottle of water, but my boy… best friend shares his lunch with me,” I replied.

“Its alright mate, we are not judgmental in this house, so if you want to invite him over on the weekend that is fine by us, but he will have to sleep in a separate room until we have met his parents and see what their views are, and in regards to laundry, just leave it on the bed, and Maria will do it for you,” Uncle Mitch said to me. “Ok, I will do that, and I will ask him today, he lives 1 ½ blocks from my old home,” I replied sadly.

“Ask him to have his parents give me a call, and let me know, do you have a mobile phone?” Uncle Mitch replied, and I shook my head no, “I have not been allowed to have one,” I replied.

“Well, we will rectify that today, I will be calling into your school at lunchtime, to deliver you a new I Phone, which I will have operational for you and it will be on prepaid, so you don’t get into financial strife,” Uncle Mitch announced. “Thank you, both of you have been so kind to me, I don’t know why I deserve it,” I replied, as tears began to build up in my eyes.

“Hush up, that is all nonsense, now eat up before it gets cold,” Xavier said to me before he went into the pantry and was commenting quietly as he looked around, “Ah, there it is,” he said coming out smiling with a small esky lunch box with a thermos, attached.

“Right, what do you want on your sandwiches, we have roast beef, chicken or would you prefer just boring vegemite,” Xavier said smiling, and all I could do was laugh. “One of each meat would be nice thank you Uncle X,” I replied, and Xavier stopped still for a moment, when he hears what I called him, then smiled before continuing preparing my lunch.

“I found it, took me a while, but I was right,” Uncle Mitch said as he re-entered the room and sat down opposite me, and began to read a document that he had. “Here it is, and as I suspected. This is your fathers Last Will. To my son Tobias M Garrison, I leave you the family home, which is fully paid for.

I have set up a trust account, that will pay for all annual council rates and water rates, plus all education fees and expenses including private high school and university studies, plus an allowance of $2 a week, from the age of 6 years, to be increased by $1 each year, and a clothing and footwear allowance of $20 a year, to be increased by $4 every year,” Uncle Mitch said as he read from the document, and when he looked up he saw that I was crying.

“I don’t remember what he looks like any more, all photos of him disappeared from the house when he came onto the scene,” I said as I tried to wipe away the tears. “Not to worry, I will have a quiet word with my sister, and see if I can get those photos for you, and also remind her of the conditions of her late husband’s will, Before I consult my lawyer about it,” Uncle Mitch said to me,

After I had finished eating, I went and washed my face, before coming back out to the kitchen with my school backpack, where the esky was sitting on the table waiting for me. “I will drop you off to school today nephew, Xavier has already left for work, and one of us will pick you up afterwards, until you get used to where our home is,” Uncle Mitchell said to me and I just nodded my head yes.

Less than ten minutes later, Uncle Mitch turned into the school main entrance, and dropped me off at the senior school drop off zone, before heading back out, and as I looked at the nearby school bus parking bays, I had arms wrap around me. “Why were you not at the bus stop this morning and who was that?” Kyle asked me, before releasing me and I swung around to face him.

“I was kicked out of home, my stepfather must have seen us holding hands yesterday when we came off the bus, and I am staying with my uncle and his husband now, and that was Uncle Mitchell who dropped me off,” I explained. “Does that mean I won’t get to see you this weekend?” Kyle asked me, and I smiled.

“Actually Uncle Mitchell said it was ok for you to stay over, but you have to sleep in a separate bedroom until he has met your parents,” I announced, and Kyle squealed with delight before hugging me again, “Steady on, we are at school remember,” I said to my boyfriend, who stepped back, then his eyes fell on my lunch box.

‘So, no more sharing lunches eh?” Kyle asked me, and I looked down at the lunch box esky, “Nope, I have a full packed lunch, so maybe we can share each other’s lunches,” I replied, “Yes please, I enjoy our lunches together, especially more now that we won’t be sharing seats on the bus anymore,” Kyle replied, as we set off for our lockers, which are next to each other.

The morning seemed to drag on forever until the lesson ended to mark the start of the 45-minute lunch break, and once out of the classroom, I dashed to the lockers, careful not to get caught running, where Kyle was waiting for me, “So, what do you have for lunch?” my boyfriend asked grinning, well I think I have two rounds of meat sandwiches, but it feels like there is a lot more in there, I forgot to check at the morning break,” I replied, as we walked to our favourite sitting place under a tree with a view of the Swan River.

“Oh shit, I forgot, I have to go to Admin, as my uncle is coming to see me at the lunch break,” I explained as I stood up, and leaving my lunch behind, I headed to the administration building, where Uncle Mitch was waiting. “Sorry, I forgot all about it, till someone reminded me,” I said to my uncle, while the lady at the reception desk shook her head in annoyance.

“Never mind, here is your new phone, it has 50% of battery charge, and it has $50 of credit on it, which should last you all for a fortnight,” uncle Mitch said to me as he handed over a blue I-Phone XR, with 128 Gb of memory, and as I looked at the phonebook listing, there were already two numbers on it, for Uncle Mitch and Xavier.

Remind your friend to have him get his parents to give me a call, and after school, I will collect you from where I dropped you off, as we have some serious shopping to do for you. Now I must dash if I am going to get back here in time, see you then boyo,” Uncle Mitch said before thanking the receptionist and leaving the office.

“I suggest that you turn it off, and keep it out of sight till after the last bell, now off you go and have your lunch, we don’t want you to be hungry during afternoon classes now do we,” the receptionist who I couldn’t remember her name, said to me smiling.