Published: 16 Jan 2017
Twenty-seven Wilson Street had been somewhat troubled since Luke’s Aunt Violet discovered her nephew was socialising with Esca Brody. The woman mostly accepted the lad’s independence but for the sake of Luke’s mother, couldn’t accede to his association with Esca. Truthfully she couldn’t remember having unpleasant dealings with any of the Brody family and her mistrust was only on hearsay, mostly from her friendship with Rose Fraser and a falling out Rose had with Stella Brody when Stella married Kevin Brody and believing a woman’s intuition was always to be trusted, Violet also accepted Rose’s opinion on the Brody family.
In the past, Violet had often encountered the Brody boy while shopping, who always greeted her with respect, a smile and good morning. She even remembered Jack the eldest son; again he had been most respectful. Still Luke had been left in her charge and she must acknowledge his parents wishes.
For now who Luke associated with was losing importance. Violet wasn’t well with the need to be hospitalised imminent. She had put the situation off for some time but the warning signs were there, Luke would have to be told. Violet hoped it could wait until after her nephew’s final exams, then the lad would once again be the responsibility of his parents, or if he wished himself. Now Dr. Benson had arranged for the procedure the following week. Still she held back from telling Luke.
Late Sunday evening Luke returned from his invented weekend visit with Tim Wilson finding his Aunt somewhat distressed. She had prepared the evening meal but burnt the vegetables black to the pan and was seated at the kitchen table nursing the blackened pot.
“Aunty what’s wrong?” Luke showed concerned, switching off the rest of the still cooking meal. Taking the burnt pot he placed it in the sink and laughing, “I’ll soon clean that,” he said as the woman commenced to sob.
“What’s wrong?” Luke asked once more, his voice low and troubled. He had never before seen his Aunt in such a state.
“I have to go into hospital on Tuesday and you with your exams and all.” Violet declared through her sobbing.
“Is everything alright?” Luke asked softly, gently taking his Aunt’s hand.
“I’ll be alright but leaving you with your exams to look after yourself.”
Luke laughed, “Don’t worry about me, I can look after myself. In fact it may be fun playing house.” The statement amused Luke, who immediately thought it reason to move in with Esca. If he were to play house what better way to do so.
“What about your exams, I could be away for some time.”
“There under control, I’m so far ahead I hardly need to revise at all.”
The positiveness in Luke’s tone soon dried away the woman’s tears, leaving her to apologise for the ruined meal, which Luke brushed aside with humour as he took over the meal’s restoration. Soon everything was prepared and on the table. Violet cheered; amazed with her nephew’s style and ability. She spoke.
“Are you certain you will be alright on your own?” Violet asserted.
“No worries, I’ll look after things for you, besides.” Luke was about to say he had Esca to fall back on but for once he thought out his answer before he spoke. The poor woman was nervous enough with her illness, without having the Brody name dragged into the equation
After tea Luke sat Violet into her favourite chair and turned on the television for the news. Immediately the room filled will Polly-speak as one politician declared his ability over another. It was the ABC with its one sided bios leaning, there was a Federal Election imminent, creating even more Polly Bull Shit.
“Switch it off dear and sit with me a while.” Violet huffed as Luke reached for the remote control.
“You know these days there’s as much advertising on the ABC as the commercial stations.” She added without receiving comment from her nephew.
“What did you want to talk about?” Luke asked.
“What are you going to do after your exams?”
Those four weeks were too far for the lad to contemplate and at his stage in life, it didn’t matter. He was smart enough to go into University but didn’t have the inclination. He could do office work, maybe a bank or insurance office, both left him cold. He was good with his hands at fixing things yet hated computers. Luke shrugged his shoulders, “Don’t rightly know, I guess it will all work out in the end.” Luke’s idea of end was to be with Esca even if his friend had not spoken of such a thing. He could vision himself and Esca travelling the country side, station work or maybe fencing like Jack but could not imagine being confined to the four walls of some sweaty office, with some overbearing manager breathing down his neck when it was necessary to take a toilet break.
“You don’t go to Tim Wilson’s do you?” Violet asked from what seemed to have no relation to the conversation.
“Why do you ask that?”
“I saw Mrs. Wilson at the shops yesterday; she said she hadn’t seen you in ages.”
“Oh,” Was all Luke could say, sounding like a naughty boy caught with his fingers in the biscuit barrel.
“Do you go over to the Brody house?”
Luke took a deep breath. He didn’t wish to upset his Aunt but it appeared he had no other choice than to be truthful.
“I like Esca and I lied to you so not to upset you.” Luke mumbled his head turned away from the searching gaze of his Aunt.
“Is he good to you?”
“He’s my best mate and fun to be with.”
“I suppose you’re smart enough not to get yourself into trouble but I would like to meet the Brody boy. Have him for tea tomorrow night, before I go into hospital.”
“Are you sure?” Luke answered confusingly.
“No but ask him around anyway.”
Gary would appreciate your thoughts on his story. Gary dot Conder at CastleRoland dot Net
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