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Life's Illusions - Book Four - Chapter 45
This is the penultimate chapter of 'Lifes Illusions', which will resume in the second or third month of the New Year, enjoy folks and I give you my heartfelt thanks for sticking with the storyline.
To all who have emailed me, I love you, it's been so great to hear from you, thank you, don't stop, I might not always agree, but it makes me think, and often it influences the story's direction, that's a good thing.
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Baz and Jez had departed after breakfast for their jobs in the City.
Pil and Gracie had left with Trevor for school.
For anyone looking in, it would have seemed, on the surface, to be a normal morning in their household, but Milo and Piers knew different.
No sooner than they were alone, Milo brought the subject up.
"This is not good Piers, Gracie was the only one who spoke after that bombshell from Pil, I don't ever remember the boys leaving this house separately without giving each other a hug".
Piers looked to be deep in thought before answering.
"I know, you picked up on exactly what I saw, but I'm torn, should we get involved, is it our place?, I don't know if we'd be meddling".
Piers was surprised by Milo's answer, he shouldn't have been, it had happened several times before, when Piers was being indecisive on a subject which Milo deemed to be important, Milo laid down the law in a manner that brooked no objection.
"I agree, Pil's decision on who's to be his manager is his to make, I have no intention of interfering in that process, but making a deliberate statement at breakfast which was intended to hurt another family member is not acceptable, and we will be discussing it this evening, I want to know why and how that statement came about, what led up to it, why are we seeing a rift in our boys, I don't care if we have to have a full scale family argument, I intend for us to get to the bottom of this and I hope you agree".
Milo had sort of asked for Piers approval, but at the same time he was telling Piers what was going to happen, like it or not, a bumpy evening was on the cards.
Piers hadn't argued, he'd simply nodded, acknowledging, this was one of those times when he couldn't decide which was the right course of action, a Milo moment as he called them.
It was apparent as the day wore on, Piers and Milo weren't the only ones who'd picked up on that mornings events.
Baz had sent a text to Piers during the afternoon to say he wouldn't be home for dinner, he would be going straight to his friends home after work.
Another message came from Jez, he would be joining his workmates at a local footy match, then he'd probably stop off for something to eat on the way home, so not to expect him until late.
Pil had messaged to say he had rehearsals after school for a planned concert, he'd probably grab something to eat after, so wouldn't be home until after nine, and not to wait on dinner for him.
When Piers showed the messages to Milo he nodded, pulling out his cell and typing a message which he sent to all three boys.
'Nice try guys, you will all be home for dinner this evening, that is not a request, nor is it negotiable, dinner is at seven thirty, you will all be home by six thirty'.
A reply had come back from Jez, a simple one word message.
'Okay'.
Neither Baz, nor Pil replied.
That evening they'd held dinner until seven forty five, with no sign of Baz or Pil, before Piers insisted they eat.
To say Milo was upset would have been the understatement of the century.
Jez had broached the elephant in the room during dinner, saying Baz and Pil would work out their differences eventually, but he'd been shut down immediately by Milo.
"That's a discussion for another time son, when the parties involved are present".
Piers had tried to reason with Milo after dinner, but he quickly realised, what could easily have been a family discussion, was rapidly heading towards a major problem.
Milo was hurt and angry, he couldn't ever remember a time when any of the kids had so blatantly ignored a request from either him or Piers, he had to fly to Christchurch NZ the next morning to oversee a serious systems problem they'd been having difficulty with, the fact that this family problem hadn't been resolved meant, in his mind, he'd failed in his duty as a parent, sharing that last sentence with Piers had been his last act before turning in early for the night.
Pil arrived home a little before eleven o'clock, slipping quietly into the darkened lounge.
He was headed for his room when a voice from the darkness frightened the life out of him.
"Almost eleven o'clock on a school night, would you mind telling me how you think that is acceptable?".
A lamp came on behind Pil, as he turned he could see his Poppa Piers sat staring at him.
"Sorry Poppa, I lost track of time, I'm going straight to bed now, I'm sorry I couldn't get back for dinner".
Piers reply hit home.
"I don't care whether you have dinner with us or not in future, you made it abundantly clear, as did your brother, you no longer respect us, your Poppa Milo and I, so from here on do what you want".
Pil tried to answer.
"Poppa that's not true.........".
Piers cut him off.
"Go away Pil, interaction is a two way street, you blatantly ignored us, well now I don't want to sit here listening to your lies".
At that, Piers turned out the lamp, plunging the room back into darkness.
Pil didn't say anything more, he went to his room, but he wasn't destined to sleep, his mind was in turmoil.
Baz arrived home around midnight, and was equally as shocked as Pil had been to hear a voice behind him in the darkened lounge.
"Finally, deemed it late enough that you could sneak in without bumping into anyone did you?".
Baz had jumped, turning to where the voice had come from, though he could only just make out his Poppa Piers in the dark.
"Poppa your made me jump, what are you doing still up?".
Piers reply held no sign of anger, in fact it registered as sort of resigned to Baz.
"Waiting to know you're home safe before I go to bed, it's what us stupid, insignificant people called parents do".
Baz got it straight away, his Poppa wasn't angry, he was upset, sad.
Poppa put the light on so we can talk.
Piers stood up, Baz could make that out even in the dim light.
"We don't have anything to talk about Baz, it seems your Poppa Milo's, and my opinion, are no longer relevant, hence, you can do whatever you want, personally I'm going to bed, it's not been a good day, I'm tired, goodnight".
Baz tried again.
"Please Poppa, can we talk, just for a few minutes, I'm sorry".
But Piers reply said it all.
"No you're not Baz, if you were you wouldn't have hurt your Poppa or me with your blatant rudeness, and I wouldn't have heard your Poppa Milo admit he thought he'd failed as a parent, that hurt more than anything I think, the man I love, the man who loves all of us so much he would lay down his life for us, made to feel like a failure by two mere boys, something I never expected".
Piers had walked past Baz, and the wetness he saw glistening on his Poppas cheeks wasn't lost on Baz.
At breakfast next morning, there was a stony silence.
Milo had left early before anyone was up, Piers stayed in their room intending to remain there until he thought everyone had left, only to be thwarted by Gracie who'd knocked on his door to demand a hug, but the tears in his eyes sent Gracie into a foul mood which Pil would be the recipient of on their journey to school.
Milo had been in his Christchurch office only an hour when the door opened and Vinny bounced in with an enthusiastic greeting.
"Surprise, surprise Poppa, I've come to solve all your troubles".
Normally Milo would have bolted the distance from his desk to where Vinny stood, arms open wide, but Vinny picked up immediately on the sigh, and the slower than normal greeting".
Milo scooped him into a hug.
"Oh son, you are such a sight for sore eyes, in more ways than you can possibly imagine".
Then to Vinny's absolute shock he saw the tears glistening in his Poppas eyes.
Three days earlier Vinny had finally solved a problem which had been plaguing their systems globally, he'd isolated each office and set about a correctional program, cutting off Oz and NZ completely.
At Josef's suggestion, he and Paulette had taken Josef's jet for a trip to Sydney where Vinny would personally oversee the restoration of their systems in Sydney and Christchurch.
Vinny and Paulette had both been giggling as Jo and Carry had suggested, then insisted, they would be happy to look after their grandson whilst Vinny carried out the necessary repair work and the couple enjoyed a much overdue catch up with Vinny's family.
Vinny had been overjoyed, a surprise his Poppas, brothers and sister wouldn't be expecting, and boy was he ever right on that point, had his brothers known he was coming they would have been quaking in their shoes, and probably would be shortly, especially since, after encountering his Poppa Milo in a seriously upset state, he'd received a call from Paulette, and when he heard her tone, he knew better than to argue.
Paulette had taken the plane on to Sydney after leaving Vinny at Christchurch, she'd tried a similar 'Surprise, surprise', entrance at the house in Sydney, only to be greeted by Piers sat crying in the lounge.
After listening, then consoling him, she'd called Vinny, and as a Thorn woman, Paulette didn't pull any punches.
"I want both of you on Milo's plane now, when you land, send Milo here, you go collect Baz and Jez, drag them out of the office if necessary, I'm going to collect Pil, you will have the afternoon to knock your brothers back into shape before Gracie comes home and we have dinner this evening, and you better warn them Vinny, finding two of the most important people in my life upset when I arrive, that puts me in a place they most definitely do not want me to be, they are all grounded until further notice".
Paulette then told a confused Piers to pack for a few days away.
"We're going to see how they react to not having you here, you and Milo are going to have a much deserved break, totally child free, go to your apartment on The Gold Coast, just until the weekend, I'll look after things here, Gracie and I will be fine, I've given Mrs Findlay a week of paid vacation, the boys will be getting a serious reality check, they'll be in Vinny's version of boot camp, it's going to be a rough wake up call".
When Milo arrived home he was just as surprised as Piers to be instructed to pack any last minute items, then thirty minutes later, he and Piers had been shepherded into Milo's 4x4 and were heading back to the airport.
Baz and Jez had been elated, after being summoned from their respective offices, to find Vinny waiting for them in reception, but it took only split seconds for each of them to recognise the look he gave them, and for a sense of foreboding to set in.
His words did nothing to dispel their fears.
"In the car now, we're going home".
Vinny had turned, striding purposefully out of the building, the boys trotting like lambs to the slaughter behind him.
Pil had a similar experience in the Principles office of his school before he was marched out by Paulette to the car driven by a gruff faced Trevor.
Back at the house, Pil arrived with Paulette to find a stony faced Baz and Jez already seated in the lounge, where Vinny now instructed him to find a seat.
Baz tried to object, a fruitless exercise.
"Vinny I've got important meetings this afternoon, couldn't this wait?".
Vinny's stare saw the last of his words sink to almost a whisper.
"Is there anything more important in life than family Baz?, because if you know different, I'm all ears, please enlighten me".
Baz didn't answer, so Vinny continued.
"Paulette and I thought a surprise visit would be great, a real treat for us, a chance to spend time catching up with our family, people we love, to show our love and thanks to my Poppas, two people who fought for us, went out on a limb to ensure we got the life we wanted, as they always have for me, and for you, and now do for Paulette as well".
Pil made the mistake of trying to interrupt Vinny.
"Okay Vin, we get that you're upset ........".
He didn't get any further, and this time Vinny's tone made it clear, they would be unwise to interrupt him again.
"Well aren't you the perceptive geniuses, it's a shame you couldn't have prevented the situation which led to Paulette and I finding our parents crying when we arrived, what with you all being so bloody clever I mean, that little trick should have been a doddle, you see, as Paulette and I understand it, family is all about managing to love, honour and obey, a bit like a marriage, where the ultimate aim of each party is to ensure the safety, security, and complete happiness of the other, I see that coming in waves from my Poppas, I don't see it being returned, and that's not the way I left things here, so I'm asking why, and make no mistake, I intend to have answers".
Apparently Jez didn't quite get Vinny's earlier warning, because he now voiced an objection.
"Vinny, this doesn't involve me, it's Baz and Pil's problem, I promised to meet my friends after work, so I need to leave soon".
Vinny saw the look flash across Paulette's face and he knew immediately what was coming.
The tongue lashing Paulette administered to Jez saw all of them cringing.
"Are you actually listening to yourself Jez, you watched this happening, knew how much it would hurt your parents, but did nothing to prevent or correct it, and you say it doesn't involve you, how dare you, offering a defence of innocence by non involvement, all that basically says is you're just too much of a coward to stand up for the very people who would fight to the ends of the earth for you, well get this, you're going nowhere, you're all grounded, you act like spoiled children, then you'll be treated like spoiled children".
Jez still continued.
"I want to speak to our Poppas".
Vinny was stone faced in his answer, which threw them all for six.
"Good luck with that, they're gone, apparently Paulette and I are looking after you".
The panic was now easy to see as Pil asked.
"When are they coming back?".
Vinny shook his head as he replied.
"Wrong question Bro, you should be asking, do I think they'll return, and my answer would be, you're guess is as good as mine, I don't know, they were really upset, finding out the people you love and protect don't have any feelings of respect or loyalty towards you, it would naturally make them evaluate their life choices, so basically, I don't know what they'll do".
Pil was now crying, Baz made to put an arm around him, until Pil pushed him away, almost screaming at him.
"Get off me, why pretend you care, this is all because of you, if I disgust you so much, I'll stay away from you, you fucking hypocrite".
At that, with Vinny's protest about bad language falling on deaf ears, Pil got up, almost running for his room in tears.
In answer to Bazz holding out his spread arms, in a, what was that all about gesture, Vinny replied caustically.
"Oh I think you know full well what that is all about, and to be honest, the thought that you have treated our brother that way sickens me, but that's a whole other conversation you and I are going to be having at some point".
Baz and Jez made to walk away when Paulette's words stopped them.
"Hold it you pair, there're jobs that need doing, laundry from each bedroom, trash from overflowing bins in bathrooms and the kitchen, the outside room needs sweeping out, the lawn needs a trim, and the roses need dead heading, all jobs your Poppa Piers usually does, and there's you guys thinking some magician waved a wand when you weren't looking and it all just happened, well henceforth it's on your shoulders so you'd best set up a rota between you, of course that means you have to actually talk to each other, good luck with getting that past Pil".
She heard them sigh, but ignored them as she said to Vinny, loud enough that the boys could hear.
"I'm going with Trevor to collect Gracie, and I don't even want to think about the mood she's going to be in when she finds out her Poppas are missing".
Paulette brought Gracie up to speed on the journey home, her tear streaked face when she entered the house a testament to how she'd reacted to the news.
Dinner was a quiet affair.
At first Pil had been missing, but Vinny had persuaded him to attend though, instead of his usual seat next to Baz, he chose to sit by Paulette and Gracie.
After dinner Vinny announced they would all be required in the lounge for a further discussion.
Once everyone was seated Vinny asked.
"So, after our chat this afternoon, do you understand what you've done wrong?".
No one spoke, or rather, no one answered him, there was silence, until Gracie banged her juice glass down on the heavy wooden occasional table, causing them all to jump.
"Vinny asked a question, and I know he wasn't asking me, so that just leaves you three, either you answer him or I'll come around this table and start slapping you, it's your choice".
Paulette sneaked a sly smile at Vinny.
Baz sighed before answering.
"I ignored Poppas instructions to come home".
Vinny asked.
"Anyone else?".
Pil spoke really quietly.
"I ignored him as well".
Vinny looked at Jez who said.
"I came home, I did what Poppa asked".
To which Vinny replied.
"I believe Paulette pointed out your shortcomings earlier, that just confirms to me, you still don't get it do you, how easy it is to hurt someone, by doing nothing when you see wrongdoing".
He then looked directly to Baz.
"You're the oldest, the one the others take their lead from, why did you do that, deliberately defy Poppa, don't you think that sends out a message that ignoring our Poppas is acceptable?".
Baz stumbled a little on his reply.
"I didn't do it to defy Poppa, I err .... I didn't want to have an argument... I knew there would be one.... with..... well ... it doesn't matter, I ignored Poppa, I know that was wrong".
Pil picked up on what Baz hadn't said immediately.
"An argument with me you meant, why don't you just say it, I'm the reason you didn't want to come home, maybe I should go away, then the Poppas would come home and you'd be happy, you'd have got rid of the faggot, that's what you and your friends are calling me in public isn't it?".
Pil's voice had gotten louder and louder until he was almost shouting, when he finished, he slammed his glass down on the table and ran back to his room.
Surprisingly, it was Jez who then turned on Baz.
"You called him a faggot, and you let your mates do it as well?, that's not what you told me, you're sick, and to think how I supported you when Uncle Van attacked you, Pil's our little brother, why would you do that, you two faced lying piece of shit, I'm finished with you".
Jez then got up and went outside.
Gracie walked around the table to her brother, for all the world it looked like she was about to hug him, until she drew back her arm and slapped him full force across the face, but more important was the chilling message she followed it up with as Baz was rubbing his sore cheek.
"You're my big brother, I'm supposed to be able to rely on you, so is Pil, so is Jez, why let your friends hurt Pil, I thought you loved him, don't you like him really, and what about me, you tell me you love me, is that true, or are you lying to me as well?".
By the time she finished speaking Gracie was in tears, as she went outside to find Jez.
Vinny moved from his seat to sit next to Baz.
Putting his arm around his brother he said.
"Come with me, I'm hoping there's someone I can get hold of who can tell you how he experienced what you've gotten yourself into, and how it almost destroyed his life".
Vinny led Baz into Milo and Piers office.
A few minutes later he came back to the lounge alone, to be confronted by an inquisitive Paulette.
"What have you done with Baz, where is he?".
Vinny pulled her into a hug.
"He's talking to someone who can tell him first hand what the outcome of his actions could be, someone who actually lost his brother for several years because he did exactly what Baz is doing, I'm hoping it will hit a nerve, fingers crossed my love".
In the office, Baz was listening to Pete in Montclair.
"I know you love Pil, that's not up for debate, I don't even need to ask, I loved Pauly, he was my brother, my best pal, he had my back just like I had his, all through school, we were a pair, you didn't like one of us, then tough, you were out, but things changed, almost overnight, some of our friends started saying Pauly was a faggot, a queer, they'd seen him holding hands with a guy, I panicked, I couldn't ask him, I was terrified, what if it was true, would they label me as one too, so I distanced myself, left him out there on his own, vulnerable, watched him get attacked, stood back, didn't help him".
Baz heard it, he could tell Pete was crying.
"Uncle Pete, I'm sorry, Vinny shouldn't have asked you about this, I don't want you getting upset".
But Pete's reply shocked him.
"I need to tell you everything Baz, and you need to listen, because I was lucky, you might not be".
After a momentary pause Pete continued.
"Pauly took a load of pills, tried to commit suicide, it didn't work, I never knew until later, but I still lost him, he ran away, he was missing for several years, those were the worst years of my life, my brother was missing because of me, I was a stupid pathetic coward, I couldn't have cared less that Pauly might be gay, I should have supported him, stood back to back with him against the bullies, he was the one who mattered to me not them, but I left him out there in the cold to suffer their hate on his own, don't be me Baz, I was lucky, many years later he came back, and forgave me, you might not be so lucky, if he runs away, he might die, please think long and hard about what you're doing".
Vinny and Paulette were sat talking in the lounge when Baz came out of the office, he was clearly choked up, but he nodded to Vinny, then headed toward the corridor where their bedrooms were situated.
He'd hesitated, then, summoning up the courage he'd knocked on Pil's door.
The reply was almost instant.
"Who is it?".
Baz didn't answer, he knew not to, Pil wouldn't have let him in.
He'd knocked again, more urgently.
This time he heard the latch turning, and he was ready.
As soon as the door opened Pil started screaming at him, trying to close the door, but Baz had been ready, his foot was stopping the door from closing, and he'd pushed his way inside, leaving the door ajar behind him.
Pil was screaming at him, tears were streaming down his face, and Baz saw the bag on the bed, already stuffed with clothes, he made a grab for his brother, crushing him in close as he sobbed.
"I'm sorry Pil, don't leave us, I'm sorry, I love you, I don't care what people say, we'll deal with it together, please don't leave, it would kill me, I've been stupid, I know that now".
And that's all it took for them to be reunited, two brothers who loved each other dearly, hugging each other tightly, sobbing deeply at the thought of what had happened, and what might have happened.
Vinny, along with Jezz and Gracie, found them some time later, curled up together on Pil's bed, fast asleep, they'd all shed a tear looking at them, praying the madness was over.
Vinny had spent nearly an hour talking to his Poppas that night.
Piers had been all for coming home immediately, saying the boys needed them, but Vinny had convinced them to stay where they were, there was an important point they hadn't cured yet, the reason his Poppas were currently missing from the house, and he was adamant his brothers would be addressing that problem in the next couple of days.
In bed that night Paulette had snuggled up to Vinny and asked.
"How did you know about Pete and his brother, who was he?".
Vinny's reply had really surprised her.
"He was Pauly Caswel-Thorn, your Grandfather, so imagine, if he'd died, your Poppa wouldn't have been adopted, you might not have existed, we wouldn't be together, it's so scary that the simplest of actions can have such a profound impact on the future".
TBC Allan
Comments are welcome to cfgw2000@aol.com.
Thank you for giving me your time, enjoy.