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By Chance, A Lasting Encounter

By Chance, A Lasting Encounter

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Home Page > Writing > By Chance, A Lasting Encounter

By Chance, A Lasting Encounter

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Posted: May 25, 2010 |Comments: 0
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By Chance, A Lasting Weekend Encounter.

Saturday dawned with such innocent charm it belied the viciousness of the thunderstorm that attacked the large country town some two hours drive from the city, which I was returning to after a few days away on business. The company I am part owner of had supplied a major component to a rural client and as our field technician was on leave, I took the opportunity to do the work and get away from the office. Before returning home, I had planed to stop at the town which was my birth place, to have both a rest and an early dinner. The storm had been showing its anger from early afternoon with the formation of large pure white cauliflower like clouds banding together to form an impressive wall of white beauty in the sky to the south. By the time I returned to my car that had changed, the skies where now dark, the air still and calm. In the distance the rumblings of thunder hinted that both car and self had better seek protective cover out of the way of the fury that was about to be lashed down onto the town, least there be damage to both may beyond human control. Well why not; I hadn’t slept in the town for some thirty-two years and this situation was a very good excuse for me to do so.

My search for a place to stay the night ended at the first motel I came to. No sooner had I got out of the car in the garage and the first heavy drops of hail began to fall. The entire yard seemed to light up as if by a camera flash on delay followed by a very loud clash like a whip cracking with a sharp snapping sound added to it, filling the air. I ran into the room closing the door and felt scared. Another blinding flash of light in harmony with an extremely loud shrilling snap followed by the faint smell of something burning. I dived onto the bed out of fright and hoped that the lightening would go elsewhere to charged the earth with its anger and leave me alone. Strom had no intention of taking my plea into account and ragged on for almost an hour before dying with age. Sleep in its claming way came and hid me from the reality of the night.

The next morning reviled many trees had come down and in one part of the town, two homes where left roofless. What had the town’s people done to upset the wind and clouds for them to launch such an attack I wondered on getting into the car having paid for the room? With the sky above a deep blue as if in an offering of a beautiful day to apologize for the storms behavior, I pondered on the idea of spending a few hours here to check out some of my old haunts. I was seventeen year old when my parents left town and moved to the city because of the line of work my dad was in. The opportunity offered was a platter inviting me to stay and look the place over. I hadn’t been back since leaving though I often thought about the people I knew on a personal and social level. The school reunion committee had invited me to attend their event back in 1983. I didn’t go for some now obscured reason and I have regretted my failing. Though now here I was with a boyish need to explore and an excitement welling up inside of me.

I phoned my wife to tell her I’d be home a bit later than expected. She seemed to understand and told me to enjoy myself. Turning off the phone, a vision of the forty-five year old woman in Sydney spending a day alone with her three children without me came to mind. I was free and going to enjoy myself. But where to start, I had grown up in this town coming here in the way most babies tend to come, back in 1954. Jari, my sister of course, came first, though I did beat my brother whom for some odd reason, never seemed to have much time for me, naturally we clashed a lot. I don’t think we hated each other; we were so different in how we saw life. Jari, who is two years older, was like a mother, a sister and a brother rolled into one. She had the ability to gel and mend the fights between her two younger brothers and also ease the disputes with mother on our behalf. Though I did get married before they did and yes we are still with our selected partners; we are still very distant.

The town was a play ground for me with old coal mine and disserted factories to dream in. I’d get hold of a torch and go down the abandon mines much to the discomfort of my mother who said I would go down them one day and never come out again and added, she’d miss not having to cook for me. That hit home more than telling me not to go down the holes in the ground like a lost rabbit. Jari though shared my adventure and went down a couple of the man made caves that extracted wealth from the earth. She would ask me a lot of questions and once commented that she felt sorry for the people who had worked in the darkness. I had walked to the site and was surprised to see not the old workings, but a housing estate with new modern homes and parks with swings and things. Not what I had ever envisioned as a growing child full of static insight. I took a couple of photos and moved on towards the house I grew up in which was still there; very different to how I last remembered it. Moving to another house that was of interest was where Libby lived with her parents and two younger brothers. Libby was a lovely young fifteen-year-old girl in 1970, who I knew in a very special way and believed that she was my girlfriend until I discovered I was not the only guy visiting her by the bedroom window in the late night hours. Looking at the house I wondered what ever became of her and if her parents knew of their daughter’s love life would come through her bed room window? A young child came out onto the verandah and greeted me, the mother quickly followed and gave me a filthy look as she ushered her child back inside. Well maybe not, I thought and walked away.

In total some five homes held a level of importance to me in town. I would stop and take a photo, ponder on what became of the girlfriends who once resided within the walls and decide not to go and see if the parents were still there to learn of what became of their daughters. I needed time to think of what to say and not having my wife here with me, made me feel out of place. Though there was one hose that was very special to me and it was that house in which I now stood in front of from across the street. See this house is the main reason I wanted to stop in the town alone and check out my past, for it was this hose that a major change came into my life and a time that helped me to understand myself and what I was about. Thirty-two years ago I knew the young couple who lived within, I used to work there of a Saturday cleaning the yard and doing chores for the woman while her husband was at work. He worked on the railways and was often out of town as part of a train crew. The job came about after my mother saw an ad on the notice board at the local Super mart and gave me the phone number. I think she was trying to get me out of the mines and somewhere safe, as well as earning some pocket money from someone else’s pocket. I phoned the number which was answered by woman, I told her who I was and wished that my mum would go away so I could talk without her listening in. The woman told me what she wanted done about her house so she could get on with her own work. She wanted to see me first and a time was set aside the following after noon after school. That night I wondered if I should go or give it a miss, would other guys be there and would it be another inspection of the town’s best looking youth for some ageing woman to dot over.

The house was old yet there was freshness about it. The lawn was well kept, the few shrubs and flowers growing near the veranda, looked like they were happy being there, which was something my grand mother had taught me. She would say that you can tell the people in a house by the quality of the garden. I knocked on the door and waited expecting an old dear to open it and feel someone was interested in her. The door opened and there stood one very beautiful young woman dressed in jeans, a lose top and nothing on her feet. Thoughts flashed through my mind like a stampede as I saw myself taking her to the movies and dinner.

“Hi I’m Shane; I’m here to see Mrs. Semit about the job.” I said trying to hide my feelings for her. She invited me in and led the way through the back of the house where we sat down on a bench seat in the shade of the veranda.

“Actually Shane I am Mrs. Semit, you’ll be working for me if you like the job.” She told me crossing one leg over the other and settling into a comfortable position. The thought of asking her out on a date died in midstream. I knew in an instant I liked her and secretly wished she had been born after me. Her excellent face made it easy for me to keep good eye contact.

“Now tell me a bit about yourself?” She asked in a relaxed voice as if she did this every day.

“I’m in my second last year at school and feel I will do well in the end exams.” I began and went on to explain some details about my hobbies and interest, the friends I had. All the time I was talking she had been gazing at me intently, watching my movements as if I was a suspect in some major criminal investigation. I finished by asking her what did she want me to do.

“Well Shane the job here.” She said getting to her feet “is mainly to keep the yard and house tidy, and sometimes help me in the house.” I followed her to a small garden shed where a few tools, a hose and the lawn mower were kept. I was told about the routine with cutting the lawns and general expectations that she expected of me as we moved to the front of the house. I asked about her husband, what he did. He worked on the railways as a train crew and was away a lot of the time with shift work. Inside the house, she asked if I wanted something to drink, well seeing as she’s a married woman, I’ll have tea and dream that I’m her hubby for a while. I was by now feeling far more relaxed in her company and more adventurous in talking to her, like asking what she did for a living. She turned and smiled at then said she thought I already knew. I shrugged my shoulders and felt an absolute idiot for being so basic. I quickly corrected that by telling her. I had no idea what she did. Placing a cup on the table in front of me and offered the choice of cake or biscuits, I took the cake. She told me she was a Child Psychologist who dealt with abused children during the week. I had no idea how a child could be abused and that was what clicked the conversation into gear. I asked questions and questions about her work, how she got into that field. I was surprised to learn she had been to University. I was shown her degree that hung on the wall in her interview room, a room that I wasn’t to worry about cleaning. Eventually it was time to leave; I had the job and was to start Saturday at 8 am. That was about the only hard part; usually I didn’t greet the day till well into the midmorning hours

One’s mum is an excellent back up to any failed alarm clock and on my first day, I made sure I arrived before 8 am. My first choir was to bring in the garbage bins and clean them and tidy up the yard, which didn’t really need a lot of work done to it. The windows were next, that was a different matter, and I hated removing the cobwebs more than flicking away the terrified spiders. Her dog came over to me getting my attention and a pat. I liked the animal and gave her the name of Flopsy because she had longs ears that flopped down over her head. When I told Mrs. Semit of the name when she came over to me about midday saying I should clean up and come inside for some lunch, also liked the name. But as she had chosen Sweetness as the name, that it would remain, though I would tease her and call her dog Flopsy. We had lunch in the kitchen and that was when she told me to call her Lyre. I liked that name and had no problem being on a first name basic with her. Lunch was excellent, simple and relaxed, not rushed like at home with fights and disputes and a younger brother wanting the jam pot just as I was about to get it. What peace.

These lunchtime brakes enlightened me in many ways by slowly improved my ability to talk to women including my mother. Jari was a real gem of a girl who was more than a sister; she was a friend, a mother and a big sister all rolled into one slender package that had managed to attract a guy in town for the past two years. She noticed the change in me. In time came trust between us and we could talk to each other about everything and anything. But apart from that, Lyre and I talked about life, the earth and about the people living on it. It was in the garden where she taught me to talk to the plants. I thought it odd at first as if the plants could understand me. Well they did grow and were very healthy plants. Sometimes Lyre and I would sit in the garden, close our eyes and focus on the plants and listen. Slowly I began to see they were an important part of all earth’s life. See, Lyre was very much into Earth Medicine. When she talked to me about this, I was fascinated at what she had to say about the early peoples and earth life forms that once lived here. They came in their time for a mument then left without really being noticed or missed, yet they being helped to form the energy now for all that is here now. She naturally gave me a couple of exercises to do which I found, brought about a change in how I saw people and things about me. I saw Jari in a far deeper way than as a good friend and sister, she was a special form of being who was herself and no one else.

The weekends came and left to reside in history allowing me to meet Lyre’s husband on a couple of occasions when he wasn’t away at his work. He didn’t seem to mind me being alone with his wife and surprisingly there wasn’t much for me to do when he was home. Lyre got me to take a photo of her and Devon sitting on the bench seat, she also took the first of several of me. On wet days with little or no work done outside, I would help her clean the house, folding the ironing and even doing the vacuum cleaning while she did other things about the house or looking at her photo albums and sharing the story’s of the paper trapped images. She was a gem of a young girl when she was my age. Now she was a superb gem of a young woman. There were times when making the bed she would through a sheet over me and we’d tumble playfully onto the bed with much laughter and excitement. She was stronger than I expected her to be and it was not hard for her to have me in positions were I was unable to get off the bed. She would throw both arms into the air and shout girl power wins again. I’d tickle her feet and she would fall on me in a heap and say something like we had work to do and normality would return. She had by then got into the habit of touching me, like when I got there, she would give me a hug saying my mother must be a very happy woman having me as her son or she hates my girlfriend for being the lucky girl in town to have reeled me into her life. I was flattered by that and feeling far more relaxed, I opened up more to her than I could to my own mother. Besides my sister, I found that talking to Lyre was just as easy and eventually, I improved in relating to both of them freely. One afternoon when being driven home, she asked if I was doing anything special the next day. Most Sundays were spent with my girlfriend and as she was out of town with her parents for the funeral of her aunt, I had nothing important happening. She suggested spending a day with her.

I met Lyre at 8:00 near the library as arranged. I got into the car and looked at her splendid thighs, she had tight fitting shorts and a lose top that revealed more of her than I had seen before. We drove towards some old water storage weirs that were a short distance out of town and very secluded by bush and therefore, not known about by many town’s folk. To get there meant turning off the main road and going alone a dirt track for a few minutes to the first of the two weirs. The second weir was by far the best one to go to with its many rock formations and small caves by the water’s edge. There we laid out a rug on the ground and set up the picnic things. At first our conversation was about the earth at being a part of and listening to the sounds that were around us. She taught me how to develop the ability to see myself from within.

The morning hours aged with time and with them the topic of my girlfriend came up as natural as if I was asked the time of day. . I was not ashamed when she asked if I enjoyed screwing her. I replied by saying it was part of being together, seemed to satisfy Lyre.

“What’s your fascination with my legs?” She asked knowing that I’d been looking at them.

“They’re an excellent means of support.” I said feeling just a bit put off having being caught out.

“What these logs?” She replied moving them apart and running her hand along her thighs. “Devon thinks they are tree trunks, but I like them.”

“I do too Lyre.” I said. Her legs were not over sized, they were well proportioned to her body and Devon was joking to her about them or he liked women with thin legs

“It must be nice to have three means of support.” I said making her look at me in an odd way.

“Having a top job, a top guy and those two excellent legs to get about on.” I said. She lent over to kiss my cheek and whisper in my ear that I could look at them anytime I wanted. I reached out and ran my fingers along her shin up to her knee.

“I said you could look at them Shane.” That caused me to totally withdraw feeling shot down about doing anything else to her. Maybe she was just a tease, I thought and went quiet.

“It’s been a while since someone did that to me. You have a nice touch.” She said putting her foot on my lap. I sat there looking at her legs thinking a thousand thoughts. Reaching over, she took hold of my hand and placed it on her knee than laid back on the rug.

“You can touch them.” She said with a smile and closing her eyes, left me to get on with stimulating her sense. Slowly at first I guided my fingers along her shins from the ankles to her knee in a light tickling motion, and then ventured further touching her thighs. I stopped short of going any further than the hemline. After a while I stopped and took hold of a tuff of grass and slowly dragged it over her stomach, the muscles quivered with delighted torment. From there I moved to her face, which I tickled in slow circular motions that gave her the most pleasure yet. She sighed slowly saying it felt nice and soothing.

A few minutes later she parted her legs slowly then reached up and grabbed me with both hands rolling me onto my back then sat her self on top of me, thrust her arms into the air above her head and claimed another victory for girl power.

“I’m going for a swim.” She said getting to her feet before I could tickle her.

“I don’t have any cozies.” I pleaded.

“Hey I don’t either!” Came her excited reply as she began removing her clothing in front of me as if it was something done every day then ran towards the water. I quickly followed her lead removing my clothing then stood beside her at the waters edge. My emotional focus was very obvious, though she appeared not to take any notice of that. I looked at the excellent form of her body. Not the first time I had seen a woman completely nude. Apart from my girlfriend, there were times I spied my sister changing in her bedroom or having a shower. Though one night I was busted big time. Jari told mum she was going to have a shower and went to the bathroom while I went to my bedroom and climb out of the window. What I didn’t know was mum was in on it with my sister and when I got to the window to have a look; mum opened it fully and asked me to come in and have a good look. I was more or less dragged in and Jari gave a full on pose, as did my mum who said with that much frontal exposure, I shouldn’t need to perve through the window anymore. The truth came out that Jari saw someone looking at her and told mum who was waiting out side when my sister had her shower and saw me. She told Jari who it was and left it to Jari to deal with me and that was how she dealt with it. She warned me that if I did it again, she’d tell dad. Amazing is that line. Tell dad, can put so much fear into a child. Seeing Lyre though was so different, it was natural and someone outside of family.

Lyre slipped into the water sinking up to her neck and as I hadn’t stepped into the water; she thrashed her arms wildly splashing me. I dived in and swam towards her. As I got near to her, she swam away, a wry grin on her face. We played catch me if you can for about a quarter of an hour until I dived under and grabbed her feet. Not being able to take hold of her moving feet, I surfaced in front of her thinking I might steal a kiss. She gave out a shriek and turned to swim away, then a few of strokes later rolled onto her back and floated motionless faking she had drowned. Treading water I looked at her natural form. Being this close to her, she looked even more beautiful and tantalizing. Jari had remarked that Lyre was a voluptuous young woman.

“A good life guard you are.” She sighed opening an eyelid to look at me. With that said I took hold of her arms and swam to the shore, lifted her out of the water and placing her on the rug.

Knelling beside her I fed my eyes on the naked form before me.

“Well don’t just, look. I need mouth to mouth.” She said. I needed no further prompting; my lips graced hers in a meaningful and long kiss. She seemed to be totally absorbed in being the center of my attention and totally engulfed in the pampering showered on her now having over come my earlier inhabitations.

“Are you this slow with your girlfriend?” She asked in a soft voice as she moved her legs over mine presenting an obvious position that she wanted me to take. Lyre was the first real woman I had shared with in a private way. Being with her as I was enabled me to act out my fantasies. Those girls who were my age at the time and who shared their pleasure with me were of course, nice. In comparison, Lyre was the magic a teenage boy dreams of.

“Hey I hate your girlfriend!” She said pushing me onto my back.

“Why.” I asked wondering what she was getting at.

“Because if she’s getting from you what I just got, she’s one very lucky young woman.”

Wanting to know what married women really got up to, I asked many questions about her sex life and got as many answers. One question that brought the topic to a close what when I asked her about the very first experience in her life. She was then a fifteen year old and for her it was a very enjoyable time, sadly the guy left life the next day on his way home from school when he was hit by a bus when he ran across a busy road on his bike. He’d have been twenty-seven now

I felt embarrassed at that news. I hadn’t expected anything like that to come out. My first experience in compassion, was a lame affair, Neither of us had much idea what to really do.

“What would your girlfriend do to you if she knew about this?” She asked in a parental way.

“The same thing your husband would do.” I replied thinking it the best reply to say.

“Oh well in that case, you don’t tell your girlfriend I won’t tell your mum.” She informed me.

Not wanting to go back into the water, we made out way around the shoreline of the weir where I took the opportunity to give her a piggyback. My girlfriend was sexually playful, but no where near as much as Lyre was with me. Very educational and informative to what is expected.

Over the next few weeks we would often shear our feelings with each other. For me those events were muments of learning about what a woman expects and likes. She taught me how to feel for a woman, to adjust my thinking towards her rather than myself. I was surprised on that first day to learn a woman could have more than one orgasm. Even my own girlfriend began to suspect something, though she didn’t get too much into it and accepted my tale that I had an excellent text book. Maybe the pleasure between us had become more satisfying for her.

Not all our time together was of a sexual nature; there were times when we simply shared

each others company like the times she taught me a few basic piano lessons and excited my musical

interest into leaning to play to a higher standard. Tuesday she would have free to herself and during the school holidays, she would take me on trips with her to neighboring towns. Those times were spent shopping and lunching at restaurants. Being in her company on those outings, I felt important at being part of her life. Other times we would go for a drive into the bush far enough away from the town so as not to be seen, leave our clothes in the car and let our body’s connect to the natural forms of life about us. On one of her days off with Devon in the city for a three day course, we went for a drive along an old abandon rail line as far as we could go in the car; she let me drive her car some of the distance. The first time I’d driven somewhere special, what a thrill that was for me. We walked the short distance to a tunnel, which we went through. Yes we were in our natural form as usual, but on that day we were seen be two girls of Lyre’s age who had been camping in the area. As we came out of the tunnel, there they were, getting some water at the spring. We looked at them and as they showed no sign of being embarrassed by our intrusion. Lyre apologized for our exposure. They smiled and one girl asked if this was the natural way to be in the Australian bush. Anyway, both girls also stripped off saying it felt much better. We were invited to have lunch with them at their campsite and we accepted. Lyre and the girls got on as if they had known each other for years. Though here on a six month holiday from Portugal and were slowly making their way to Sydney by car for a few weeks before returning home. The conversations between them and Lyre were varied, I listened more to how they could discuss so many topics as if talking to each other was something very special to them. The hours of course passed and it was time to leave, Lyre asked if they needed anything, they would love a lift into town where their car was. They had walked into the bush a week ago to explore a subject related to their work. They were Geologist and part of their University studies covered Shale Oil extraction. They knew of the old work site and had followed the discarded rail line to the once vibrant town in the middle of nowhere It was no trouble for Lyre to give them a lift back to their Motel. I had of course, felt a bit left out of their conversation and brought this up with Lyre as we sat in the car. She explained that women see the importance of communication as being an important personal value – years later I knew what she meant when I was at University.

As with my sister, Lyre also shared my sense of adventure in exploring the local coalmines.

This all came about during a lunchtime discussion when I asked her if she had been underground.

The experience had not crossed her path, so a time was set for the next day. The mine I took her too was not all that far out of town. Leaving the car off the side of the road, we made our way along the private road to the mine site nestled in among the trees. She was as keen as mustard and asked me lots of questions about what each building was for and what the equipment did. She fell in love with the three pit ponies enjoying their weekend rest. With the top side tour over it came time to go below and with touches on I led her by the hand into the earths opening walking slowly over the uneven surface. She asked more questions about the smell and why it was warm and where the breeze was coming from and why were the post so thin, I told her the reason was thin prop post splinter and make and make a creaking noise if the roof starts to weigh down on the post. For a mument I thought she was about to give up going any further. About half an hour later we arrived at one of the coalfaces. She was hungry for knowledge of every little detail about this darkened place of work. I showed her the equipment and explained how it worked and what it did.

That was the first time she had seen explosives, there were several sticks of Gelignite in a waxed papered box hidden under an upturned skip. Finding a bundle of detonators, I used the torch to fire one off. The nose gave her a fright so from there I took her to the crib room, which was something else. Turning on the lights, I was shocked to see someone had left their lunch on the table and alarm bells in me rang loud as my heart almost stopped. Was someone else down here doing weekend work? I hadn’t seen any cars topside so I asked Lyre to be very quiet while I listened for any sounds. None could be heard but the ring of silence and the old drop of seeping water. She poked my arm and suggested I use some of my inner ability to see if anyone else was done here. I focused but could not detect any other energy. Inspecting the food, it was a bit stale. Someone didn’t hang about for crib time. Lyre had found the usual supply of girl magazines and opened a centerfold spread for me to see. I think she wanted to see my reaction, I told her she was far better than any of those paper dreams. She laughed at that remark. For the first time I was able to look at a pin up magazine with a woman and ask her questions about the images on the pictures. That was the day I learned how to tell by her nipples, if a woman had been pregnant. I found out that she also liked looking at other women’s bodies. I looked at her in a strange way for a mument wondering were she was taking the topic. I was too bashful to ask in case she wanted to know if I’d played with any of the mates I had. I had and didn’t want my mum to know of the experiment.

“Hey I don’t mean it that way, sometimes I which I looked different to what I am.” She said as she stroked the tip of my nose with her finger. From there I put my arm around her and a while later, another first had been added to our list of experiences.

We walked out of the mine carrying our clothes and made our way over to the stable were we fed the pit ponies before I managed to convince her to sit on one of the horses back. I led the animal about the yard for a while as she laughed with joy at doing things she always wanted to do The ponies were happy for the social integration with the two-legged forms. That was when she noticed a car parked further up near the office and lamp room. I looked at her trying to read her face. Maybe we had been a muments live performance to some silent viewing mine inspector who never thought that was part of the job description. In reality, the alarms bells rang very loud then.

“Do you think what I think?” I asked trying not to sound concerned.

“Maybe he got more than any magazine page could ever give him.” She replied as slid off the pony and hurried over to a more secluded area were we quickly dressed then left without checking to see if anyone was actually there. Lyre now had a better understanding of where that black mineral comes from and how it is obtained, so next time when she puts some coal on the fire, its origin won’t be such a mystery to her.

I was allowed to drive her car again and this time, I took her to the lookout where we sat on a rock holding onto each other. Our favorite position was for her to lean against something solid allowing me to lie between her legs on my back with my head against pelvis. That way we could stroke each other at the same time while we talked about my future, like what I wanted to do and how well I could talk to my mother about these topics. I couldn’t really talk that much without mum letting her familiarity cross over into the conversation and my immaturity as a child to the parent being the big obstacle to doing what comes natural to a mum. Lyre was a big help in how to go beyond the school gate towards independence and the future that awaits all who leave school.

I had spoken to my sister on a few occasions about the same topic, but with her being only a couple of years older, it wasn’t with the same level of experience that I had with Lyre. Mum of course was never as open and informative either, or was it parent child familiarity again that held me back from being as freely open thinking that mum would never know anything Lyre and talked about.

One of the best outings with her was to the lake a short distance from town by the old rail viaduct, a location off the main road and again, a location not all that well known by many people. There we had lunch and a photo session, the first snaps she took of me nude. She always had her camera with her and often took photos of me. The usual adventure with each other naturally happened and then after lunch, I took her for a walk along a dirt road that once was the main rail line to a tunnel were we entered by forcing open a corrugated metal door. It was used as a mushroom farm and of course, we helped ourselves to several mushrooms. We returned to the lake for another hour before setting of home. The other outing that was special to me was a trip to Sydney. This meant I had to ask my mum if I could go for the weekend. Mum listened to my request then gave me a strange look as she handed me a tea towel.

“Go; just don’t do anything I wouldn’t do unless you can do it better.” She cautioned me

“What sort of things wouldn’t you do?” I asked wondering if she might know about something.

“Never you mind.” She replied with a faint smile handing me a wet plate.

“Can I come?” My sister asked with an expectant look on her face.

“No!” I exclaimed not wanting my mum to know I really wanted Jari to come.

“You should see if your sister could go along.” Mum suggested.

“I already have one woman with me.” I replied.

“But two would be twice the fun.” Jari said asserting her desire to come. Lyre was dying to meet her again and as usual, I let them think they had won a victory over me. My sister came and as always, she was fun to be with, even more so with another woman for her to talk to. Lyre took us to see her best friend Sam. Jari and Sam clicked as if they knew each other all of their lives, but Jari was that type of personality that made people feel important. I also liked Sam; she was about the same age as Lyre and a mum of a seven month old boy. When babies and women mix, there is a special kind of magic among them. Well it brings out the thing they have about new life and of course, that let me see a side of my sister I hadn’t thought of. Holding the woman’s natural handy work felt odd yet normal. When Marissa gave birth to our own bubs, there was an even brighter level of magic; they were born because I was there to help them get started. Lyre and Sam caught up on the latest gossip leaving Jari and me to look about the neighborhood, though we were told not to go too far and given Sam’s phone number. That night though, we were taken into town for dinner and a movie, followed by a long walk back to the car. Sam and Jari talked while Lyre and I strolled along behind them. I wanted to hold hand with her and would have if my sister weren’t there. All too quickly the weekend ended, yet for Jari and me, it was a exceptional time. What an experience, no parents fussing over us, freedom and trying to blend in as if we lived there like everyone else. Total freedom.

Sadly this relationship came to and end. Devon was leaving for work with an overnight stay in the next town; he was expected to return the following afternoon. I got on with my work as usual and when I’d finished, Lyre and I where sharing the pleasure of each other in the hallway when Devon unexpectedly walked in saying something about a train derailment and no work, so he came home. I lost my emotional focus and looked at Lyre for help. I was too shocked to hear what she said to me. Anyway, he saw us and came over to stand beside us asking Lyre if she was okay, she was. He then placed his foot on my backside telling me not to make a habit of this then told Lyre he was going into town and with that, left us to get on with it. Naturally I was flawed by the unexpected suddenness of being caught.

I got dressed as a million thoughts flashed through my mind. The biggest fear was that my mum would find out. Lyre was helping me to get dressed and reassuring me that it was fine and not to worry about it, she would sort it out with him. I held her nude body in my arms and kissed her lips before falling to my knees for the last time. I continued to work there and felt accepted by Devon who never mentioned anything about the event. Lyre though thought it best we ease up a bit, which was fine with me. The shock of being caught was a bit too much to endure a second time. A few weeks later, I had left town and this story of the house behind. Dad had been given a transfer to the city with his work; something he and mum wanted, so the three offspring had to follow them.

I never saw Lyre again nor did I make any contact with her, but she had never been forgotten.

Now as I stood in the street looking at the house, I felt the same level of shock again and that stopped me from going to the door. Maybe the past is best left unfinished in the future.

“Hey do you want something.” A gruff sounding voice was yelled in my direction. I looked up to see a guy standing at the front door looking at me.

“No.” I replied, “I used to live in this town several years ago and new the people who lived here.”

That made gruff voice walk over to me, which was not what I really wanted happening

“Hi I’m Dane.” He said holding out his hand to me. Bit of a change of mood I thought.

“I’m Shane.” I replied wanting to know more while also wanting to get away.

“Did you live in this place?” He asked as if he didn’t believe me.

“No, I worked for the couple who did for a few weeks.” I said, “Lyre and her husband Devon.”

“They moved out a while ago.” He advised me. A young woman appeared at the door and asked Dane if everything was okay. He told her I was Shane. That revelation brought the young woman out of the house to join us. A young woman in her early thirties and about at tall as Lyre was, who lived in an excellent body that was well looked after and her hair, well that would make any shampoo add executive empty his pockets for the chance to grace the many television screens and shampoo bottles in the country. Dane told her about my time working for Lyre. She looked at me in a strange way for a moment before introducing herself. I felt very much at ease with her.

“I’m Shaya and Dane is my husband.” She began, “so tell me, what did you do here?

She listed intently as I told her the basic outline of how I got the job and ending with leaving town.

Satisfied with that, she looked at Dane then asked me if I wanted to see the place again and have a coffee. I had hoped for this and accepted her offer. I followed as she led the way to the house along the side passageway that gave access to the rear yard area.

“I take it you are a hair dresser.” I ventured a guess.

“No.” She said without turning around, “why do you ask.”

“You have absolutely top quality hair.” I replied wishing I’d said something more intelligent.

“Thank you.” She replied opening the gate that had been placed there. Dane said he would make the coffee leaving me with his wife. The yard itself though had changed little, the shrubs I had planted were now grown trees, I mentioned this and Shaya smiled at me. The shed that once housed the garden tools and lawn mower was still there, pained a different colour. A few gnomes had taken up residence and a birdbath too was in the middle of the yard. I mentioned to her about the aviary not being there. It was removed a long time ago and now naturally free birds come and went as they pleased. With the yard tour over, she led the way to the veranda and sat down on a bench that had been fixed to the cement flooring of the veranda, it was comfortable.

“Tell me Shaya, why did Lyre move away?” I asked feeling some concern.

“She’s still here; she and Devon have a flat in town.” She said then went on; “we bought the house not long after we were married, so that’s eight years ago now.”

Dane joined us with the coffee and handing me a cup, asked if I remembered Sham, the cat.

I looked at him for a moment puzzled by his question.

“She had a dog named Sweetness, not a cat.” I said adding the name I used. Shaya looked at Dane and took a sip of her coffee then drew her knees up to her chin putting her arms around her legs and looked at me with an enigmatic smile. “She told me you took her down a mine once.”

“Oh you know about that adventure.” I said surprised that she would know something personal.

“Lyre and I are good friends.” She replied taking another sip of her coffee.

“I guess you know about the swimming then.” I offered trying to gauge just what she really knew.

She gave me a broad smile raising her eyebrows and told me she and Dane go there a lot in the summer time. I was surprised to learn that the weir was still there. Everything else I knew of so it seemed had gone to make way for houses, but yes it is a popular family spot now.

“You should go and see her before you leave.” Dane suggested.

“Lyre I think would enjoy meeting up with you again.” Shaya added with a go and see her, look.

“I take it you have her address because I would like to see her again.” I replied in a happy voice.

Dane said he would get it and got up to go inside, Shaya suggested he phone her and say we’re coming over. With that said she got up kissed her hubby then told me to follow her.

More walking I thought as we left the house, wrong. Lyre, I was told lived a few minutes drive on the other side of town in a new block of flats.

She drove me, which gave her the perfect opportunity to give me a short tour of the town.

I expected a dose of a million questions, but no. I was taken past the school where she has been teaching the fifth year students for some nine years in the room below that which I attended in part during my schooling. She stopped the car, which gave me an opening to tell her some more of the youthful stories from those days now long past.

“Nothing has changed then.” She said. Her students still do the same sort of things thinking it is all very new and untried let alone known about by their teachers. She of course loves the age group and teaching in general. The conditions are a bit dated, yet holidays are an added bonus.

“What dose Dane do?” I asked finding it a bit strange as how relaxed Shaya appeared to be with me, an almost total stranger alone with her, yet she was talking to me as if I was an old friend she’d not seen in years. I enjoyed the atmosphere she imparted onto me. Turning left off Main Street we drove along a section that used to be known as the old part of the town, well it used to be. Modern homes had settled on the blocks of land the old terrace houses once knew. They have gone, taking with them their tales of the towns earlier times. She stopped the car

“My sister lives in there; I think she might have gone out.” She told me.

“This has all changed so much since I live here.” I said telling her about the place I once knew how it used to be. She gave me a quick smile before cutting across town on a road that in my time, was a closed off paddock. The changes to the place were many which I had not known about or even considered ever happening. But that is progress and like the people living here, it has changed with age too. I told her of what I could remember of the place, pointing out where a mate once lived and mentioning the name of people who lived in that house, the corner shop that was removed because it stopped people seeing around the corner when they drove along the through road in town only to come to a accidental stop with another car or a coal truck. Much had changed I thought as the car came to a stop again at a newly built block of unit that was once the site of an old factory.

The door opened reveling the same woman I knew yes, but not as the vibrant twenty six year old. She still had those unique features and self-confidence. Time in unfolding the years, had been very kind in ageing her gracefully. Shaya moved forward to give Lyre a hug and kiss which I thought a bit odd, but then they are both women who see life in a more important and meaningful way. Lyre looked at me for a moment with a faint smile on her face.

“It’s been a very long time Shane.” She said motioning us both to enter her flat. Once inside, Shaya sat down in an easy chair next to the piano.

“You still have the old piano! I exclaimed surprised that it had not been sold long ago.

“Play something.” Shaya said moving to the edge of her chair with an expectant look on her face.

Lyre opened the lid and pulled the stool out for me. I sat down and began to play the very first piece she had taught me which brought a delighted sound from Shaya; I looked at her and smile.

“Lyre made it possible for me to take that first tune further.” I said and began playing a Bach prelude. Lyre sat down and listened as I played to the conclusion of the piece.

”You play very well indeed Shane.” She remarked when I had finished. I gave her a pleasing smile and then played another piece.

“I haven’t heard that before.” Shaya said when I had finished.

“Its title is, To People Who Have Gardens.” Lyre said adding she hadn’t heard it in years.

“I found it in an old second hand shop one day.” I replied asking if she would like a copy of it.

Both Lyre and Shaya clapped in unison as I closed the piano. I thanked her for having opened the door for me to learn to play. My parents hadn’t even thought of music as an outlet for either my sister or brother. As I swung around on the stool, I noticed the poster of world horses I gave her.

“I had forgotten about the horses!” I exclaimed getting up to have a closer look and find fault with my schoolboy attempts of frame making.

“And why not, it was special to me.” She replied in her usual commanding voice. Shaya drew my attention to a framed photo on the television. It was one that she took of me with Devon. I picked up the frame and studied the image of a youthful time long ago frozen onto paper.

How is Devon?” I asked wishing I had said it differently.

“He’s fine, out again as usual.” She replied then turned the topic back onto me by asking what I had been doing in all those years. I told her, explaining why I left town in a hurry.

“I wondered why you up and left town.” She remarked with that typical grin on victory on her face.

“Another claim for girl power.” I said and was surprised to hear Shaya make an excited sound.

“Would you like something to drink Shane?” She asked as she got up to go to the kitchen.

“I’d love one thank you Lyre.” I answered remembering that first time I shared a coffee with her.

“Are you staying Shaya?” She asked the young woman.

“I wouldn’t attend my own funeral if it meant missing out having a coffee with you.” Shaya said going into one of the rooms, which caught my attention, but then, she did buy Lyre’s house, so they must have some connection.

“Sit anywhere.” Lyre said as she pointed to the table. I sat down and looked out of the window at the view and remarked about the old factory that used to be here and the mine over on the far hill that hasn’t a hint of what it once looked like.

“Milk and one sugar.” She asked as if it had been yesterday since she last made me a cup.

There was a knock at the door and Shaya yelled out that she would get it. Lyre smiled at me in a strange way as she asked if I still remembered any of my teaching. I had and told her that even my own three children are very much aware of being a part of the earth as an extension to it rather than an existence living on it. I added they were Rainbow’s which caused a raised eye brow from her.

“You should let your inner focus run wild.” She said placing the coffee cup and a teacake on the table. Before I could answer, Shaya entered the kitchen in company with another young women.

“Shane, this is my sister, Teraya.” I stood up out of politeness and looked at the young woman.

“That is a very pleasant sounding name.” I said hoping she would hear it as a complement.

“Thank you, though don’t you think Shaya also sounds unique.” She pointed out as she sat at the table across from me. By this time Lyre and completed her task and sat down next to Teraya which meant that Shaya sat next to me. I couldn’t focus well with so much feminine power about me

“I brought a few photo albums out for you to look at.” Shaya said placing them onto the table; she opened the first album to revile some photos of Lyre and the house. Turning the page there was a print of me pushing the lawn mower over the back lawn, a few where of Lyre and me on some of our weekend outings. Those first two albums in compassion to the next were general in contents.

I was able to add the history lesson to the times she had never known. Next she opened a white album and showed me a picture of Devon and Lyre holding a baby in her arms.

“That must have been you.” I said studying the images on the photo.

“Yes, I was only three days old when that was taken.” I looked at the print with more interest.

“Okay then, I take it from these photos Lyre and Devon are your parents.” I said wondering why they had been so secretive to me. Lyre looked at me as if from a distance.

“He must be a very proud dad.” I said to Lyre who raised her eyes brows and looked at Shaya.

“You could say something like that.” She said in a soft voice giving me another smile as she directed my attention back to the album to a photo of Devon holding her like any dad would do.

There was a family outing for both Shaya’s and Teraya’s fifteenth birthday taken by the lake.

It had changed a bit since my last visit there. Teraya turned over the page and told me that the next few pages were taken at her sisters twenty-first birthday party. There were several of her with friends and people I had no idea of knowing. However, when I saw one of Shaya next to Lyre I noticed then that Devon hadn’t been present in any of those photos.

“It must have been hard for your dad not being there.” I said closing the album.

“There was very little chance for her to know him.” Lyre said as she reached across the table to hold my hand. They were looking at me expectantly for what seemed an endless time.

“I think that went over him.” Shaya said to no one in particular sounding somewhat resigning.

“My sister has never really known her dad Shane.” Said Teraya as she gave a comforting smiled to her sister. I looked at the woman for a moment and began to think of some possibilities

“You were adopted then.” I remarked hazarding a guess as to her coming to life.

“Not in the true sense of the word.” She said sitting back and folded her arms.

“I am correct then at saying Lyre is your mother.” I ventured wondering where I was going.

“You got that right and my sister’s as well.” Shaya said as she gave me an enigmatic smile.

“Okay then do I know your dad?” I asked starting to feel at a loss to the game.

“You do indeed know him Shane.” Said Lyre with a smile of achievement on her face.

“You’re my dad Shane.” Shaya said looking me straight in the eyes, her voice clear, the remark hitting me like a screaming siren that opened a million emotions at once as a deep sense of empathy for her filled me at not being there as she grew up knowing I was somewhere and wondering what I looked like or if I even knew she existed let alone cared about her. The children that I helped Marissa have were important to me. Shaya was equally important to me, if not more so.

“You are here because of what Lyre and I got up to?” I asked shaking off the shock.

“That’s the usual way us women become pregnant.” Lyre said, her face showing no expression.

“Oh you darling, how hard it must have been for you.” I said placing my arm around Shaya’s shoulders. She placed her head against my arm and cried with relief that I had not been offended or upset. Teraya got up and also put her arms around her sister and kissing my cheek, thanked me.

“Devon did a very good job of raising you both.” I said in an effort to comfort her.

“He did an excellent job in raising her.” Lyre corrected me in a proud and motherly way.

I felt the time was right to show them the photo of my family from my wallet. The three women showed a lot of interest in the children, asking questions about what they were likes, their hobbies and interest, schooling. Teraya held it for a while studying the image, then said.

“It’s true then, the mother makes the child look the way she does. I look nothing like your daughter or anything like my sister.” It was true; Shaya didn’t resemble any of the features of the three I fathered through Marissa, yet I was the same father to both forms of life. Teraya’s features were so much different to her older sister. I placed the photo back into my wallet.

“Would you like to have lunch with us Shane?” Lyre asked, her eyes silently asking me to say yes.

“I would love to share a meal with you all.” I answered. Shaya gave my arm a gentle squeeze.

Both Lyre and Teraya got up from the table. Shaya took my hand and suggested we go out into the courtyard, as there were a million questions she wanted to ask me. Lyre smiled a smile of thankfulness as our daughter led me out of the kitchen. She led me out of the unit to a common area at the rear of the units were we had a degree of privacy.

“Thank you for to day dad.” She said stopping to face me. I took her in my arms again and held her warm firm body close to mine. She felt nothing like my own children, she was different.

“I am happy you had the strength to come through this far without knowing me. I replied.

“Mum often told me that when I hold my dad, I would no longer feel the emptiness inside.”

“Has it gone from you now?” I asked looking deep into her eyes.

“Yes, the moment I knew you are my father.” She replied and pulled herself towards me.

I kissed her head and explained that I too felt something inside me that I’d never felt before.

I added that a dad makes part of the child who on birth, needs that energy to help it grown in towards the future years. Meeting that dad connects the missing cycle filling in the hollowness.

We sat next to each other on a beach seat in the center of the yard and talked of the gap in our lives. About Lyre and if I ever thought I might have left her pregnant. The possibility of Lyre ever becoming pregnant was never considered, relating socially to her friendship squashed any idea of that happening, besides that topic was never been discussed in any depth. She was keen to hear about my time at university as she also spent her study years there and we both had the same lecture. How I met Marrissa captivated her and that gave birth to the question, was I going to tell my wife? I had no problem there; we have a very open and honest attitude with each other.

I suggested she come to the city and meet my wife and family. The idea intrigued her, but she would feel a lot better when assured my wife could handle knowing about her. Teraya came to ask if I would like to have lunch here or out by the lake. This event started at the lake, so why not go full circle. Shaya smiled at me; clearly she was happy that I had come into her life. Lyre would go with Teraya while Shaya would take me there in her car.

“We should be ready in an hour.” Teraya said. Shaya glanced at me and lent forward a bit.

“I’d like to show you off to my best friend!” She exclaimed in a happy voice, I agreed.

We followed Teraya to the kitchen where Lyre was making sandwiches. She looked at Teraya.

“The lake.” She told her mother who smiled at me in her usual victorious way.

“I’m taking dad over to meet Karen.” She told her mother and motioned me to the door.

“Okay.” Lyre replied kissing her daughter, “I’ll see you at the lake then.”

In the car I was told about Karen, her best friend who she met some sixteen years ago when she was child minding the then ten-year-old girl. Her mother being a police officer would have night shift ever three weeks and as her father worked afternoon shift every second week, Shaya got the job of minding the young girl along with her eight-year-old brother. Over time, a very special friendship developed between them that has stood the test of time. Karen is now a twenty-five year old woman. Sadly though, she is blind.

Shaya and I went along the side passageway to the back patio where Karen was sitting with a cold drink in her hand. On hearing us she got up and greeted Shaya with the usual hug of friendship then looked in my direction waiting for the introduction. Karen stood open mouthed when told who I was. She glared at me for a moment and hugged Shaya again expressing her joy that I had come into her life. Invited to sit down, she said that her mother was on the phone. Karen looked at me from behind a full smiled face.

“Shaya has said to me a million times that her wish was to know you.” Karen said booming with true happiness for her friend’s fate.

“It almost didn’t happen.” I replied and explained the reason.

“Storms do have their good points then.” She remarked.

“Well hello Shaya.” A voice from behind me said sending a slight chill through me.

“Hello Mrs. Gale.” Shaya said getting up and turning to face the woman.

“I have someone I’d like you to meet.” She said directing my attention to Mrs. Gale.

“This is Shane, he’s my real dad.” She said as I got to my feet and faced the woman.

“Well you wasted no time then I see.” She said, a faint smile on her unforgettable face.

Mrs. Gale and I looked at each other for a moment. It seemed as if it was only yesterday that

I had last seen her.

“Hello Jenny?” I said.

“Hi Slanky.” She greeted me with the name she gave me because I was a tall yet short.

“Does that mean you two know each other?” Shaya asked shocked that I should know her best friends mother.

“Indeed it does.” Jenny replied in a jovial voice, “I was his first.”

“Oh hell! Karen exclaimed looking at me, “you knew my mother too?”

“A long time before your were born.” I shot back at her in a friendly tone.

“You must have been some broom to sweep them off their feet.” She remarked looking at me.

“Love was relatively free and sex was proof we were no longer children.” Jenny informed them.

“Those were enjoyable times to grown up in.” I added. For me the late Sixties and early Seventies were a time of feeling I had broken free of the parental hold yet, I could return to if I felt the real world that would be my future, got too difficult, then I could return to the parental hold.

Jenny sat down next to me and was keen to learn of the missing years from my point of view, as I was to know about her. I verbally filled in the gaps in our lives since closing the school gate for the last time. She of course had wondered why I just up and left town. Anyway, she finished high school and left for the city where she joined the police force and met a guy who she reeled in to be her husband in nineteen seventy-four. Three years latter on returning for her dad’s funeral. Her family liked the town and soon after she was transferred and here she’s been ever since.

I mentioned I’d been to her old house earlier and learned her mother still lives there.

We talked about the people I we knew when at school, most had gone their separate ways and are married with families. There was a school reunion some time ago that I knew noting about and so missed the opportunity to catch up on the past. Jenny asked if I remembered Kevin Omni.

“We were friends for a while, why?” I asked wondering what she would say about him.

“No one knows what happened to him.” She said.

“Did something happen to him?” I asked surprised his name should have come up.

“He won a lottery one day and vanished the next leaving his family behind.” She explained.

“What no trace, just up and left?” Jenny shook her head in comfermation.

“She must have been well off then.” I said which put an annoyed expression on her face.

“No the prize went unclaimed; his wife didn’t have the ticket so no one got the money.” She said, her voice hinting at the puzzlement of it all. “His wife and family gave up hope and left town.”

“Was his wife your sister?” I asked thinking there might be some connection.

“No relation at all.” She replied then added, “it’s been a mystery ever since.”

“That type of loss would be very hard for any woman.” I concluded feeling a bit uncomfortable.

There was the usual moment of silence that gave Shaya an opportunity to change the subject.

“You guys got anything planed?” She asked in a, want to come with us, voice.

“Nothing important.” Jenny replied. “Why?”

“Devon’s at bowls and I’m taking dad to the lake for lunch with mum and Teraya.”

“Do you want to take Karen with you” Jenny asked, her voice hinting at the pleasure she felt.

“That’s why I came here for.” She said in a voice reflecting the value she felt for her friend.

We made our way to the car and helping Karen to sit in the front seat, I turned to face Jenny who shared a hug with me. It had been a long time and we made the most of it. She like Lyre was still the same woman. Seeing her again had added a touch more meaning for being in town as so we exchanged phone numbers and addresses promising to keep in touch.

“We better go or mum will think we’re got lost somewhere.” Shaya suggested touching my arm..

Sitting in the back seat, I fed my eyes on the passing views of what was once my territorial playground for youthful adventure. Not all that much had changed; several new homes had been built in what once was farm land and the road of course, carried more traffic now that it was connected to another part of town which I guess is also populated. The lake road is sealed now and signed posted. The lake itself is now a major attraction, with far more people now knowing about it than I could ever have imagined thirty years ago. The council erected shelters and other amenities. There were some rowboats on the water along with the few swimmers. Shaya parked the car in what used to be the site of a large derelict building that was once a pump house. Several nights my friend and I slept in there dreaming we were major discoverers of the future, well we were both fourteen then. The building is now used for administration and a café by the lake owners.

Lyre and Teraya were only a

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