This story contains sexual situations between males. If material of this nature offends you then you should not read this story. If you are under 18 years of age you are probably not legally allowed to read this story. This story is purely a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons living or dead, or to events that may have occurred, is purely coincidental. The author claims all copyrights in this story and no duplication or publication of this story is allowed (except by the web sites to which it has been posted) without the consent of the author.
It had been a while since I'd seen Ty so distressed. The last time was the night we heard that Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan had detonated a roadside bomb and that his brother Lachlan was possibly one of the fatalities.
He was grappling with Daniel's empty hospital room and what that might possibly mean, and I knew he was trying not to fear the worst. He lifted his head from his hands and said to me, "We have to find out what's happened."
"Just ring Mandy, mate," I suggested.
"I haven't got her number in my mobile yet, or Daniel's. They're in my notebook back at the hotel."
"Then let's go."
We started down the corridor to the lifts, but Ty swung left to the nurse's station to try his luck again. He asked a different nurse about Daniel but got the same response. He asked for Mandy's telephone number but was told they couldn't give out telephone numbers without permission.
"Can I speak to Rachel?" he asked.
"She was on the night shift," he was told.
He was in danger of losing his cool when I steered him towards the lift, and all the way down to the ground floor he grizzled about `stupid bloody hospital rules', oblivious to the fact the people sharing the lift with us knew who he was.
As we walked through the foyer of the hospital he turned and faced me, suggesting perhaps he might ask at reception to speak to Daniel's oncologist in the hope he could shed some light. As he spoke, I looked past him and thought I saw Mandy disappearing into the Pharmacy.
"Stay right here!" I commanded as I moved quickly in the direction of the crowded Pharmacy. I looked around and was about to put it down to wishing thinking, when I spotted Mandy sitting in a chair with her back to me.
"Mandy!" I called, and she turned. The relief I felt when she smiled back was overwhelming. "Where's Daniel?" I asked as I sat down next to her.
"He's in the car," she replied. "He's allowed to come home today. I'm just picking up some of his medication."
"Thank God," I sighed. "Ty and I dropped in to see him just now and his room had been cleared out. The nurses couldn't tell us anything, and Ty's been really worried."
"I'm so sorry, Mike," she apologised. "Everything happened so quickly. Daniel was going to text Tyson but his phone is out of charge."
Her name was called and she collected what appeared to be a crate of assorted drugs.
"So Daniel's alright?" I asked.
"The oncologist is really pleased with him," she smiled. "He's finished this round of treatment, and the doctor thinks his positive attitude is really helping with his recovery. That's all because of Tyson."
"Well, Ty, and some excellent medical care," I replied.
"You have no idea how excited he was seeing Tyson on TV, singing that song for him," Mandy said, momentarily tearing up. "His smile lit up the whole room. He was like he was ... before he got sick."
As we walked through the foyer, it was Ty's turn to smile when he saw Mandy and slumped with relief before rushing to greet her. Mandy explained what had happened and apologised profusely for leaving Ty out of the loop.
"No worries," Ty assured her. "Just as long as Dan's OK. Can I see him?"
"Yes, of course," Mandy assured Ty and she led us to the lifts to the basement car park. When Mandy pointed out her car, Ty fastened his pace. He was spotted by Daniel who got out of the car and headed towards him. Their hug was genuine and touching, and Daniel's face was a picture of happiness.
"Mate, you had me worried there for a moment!" Ty laughed. "But you're looking great!"
"Thanks Tyson!" Daniel beamed. "The doc says I'm doing good. I've got to take the medication and I'm not allowed to do anything stressful for a while, but otherwise, I'm feeling great!"
Mandy and I caught up to them and Daniel, still in Ty's embrace, turned to me. "Hey Mike!" he enthused.
"G'day mate!" I smiled, squeezing his shoulder. "You look terrific. It's great to see you out of that hospital bed!"
"We were dropping in to let you know I'm in the middle of a promo tour at the moment," Ty said. "I'll be away from Sydney for a few days. It's for my new DVD. I've got a copy for you at the hotel."
"I've already got it!" Daniel grinned. "Mum bought it for me. The first thing I'm going to do when I get home is watch it!"
"Mate, send me a text and let me know what you think," Ty replied. "Text me whenever you like. And as soon as I get back, we'll catch up and do something, hey?"
"That'd be awesome. Thanks Tyson!"
Ty helped Daniel back into the car while I walked around to open the driver's side door for Mandy. Before she climbed in, she walked away from the car with Ty and spoke to him quietly.
"I just want to thank you again Tyson," she said sincerely. "You have no idea what this means to Danny. You've made him the happiest boy on the planet. He talks about you constantly. He wants to be just like you!"
"Like I said before, Mandy, this is such a privilege," Ty replied, giving her a hug. "He's a great kid and if turning up and saying `hi' can help him in any way, I'm there!"
Ty and I watched and waved as they drove off, before heading back to my car. I dropped Ty at the hotel and, in view of porters and the concierge, our farewell was sedate.
"Wish you were coming with me Mike," Ty sighed.
"So do I," I laughed. "But one of us has to have a real job so the other one can gallivant around the country kissing people and shaking hands!"
"I'd rather be kissing you!" he smiled.
"Piss off mate. I've gotta get back to work. Love you."
"Love you too, mate," Ty sighed before jumping out of the car. He stood to watch me drive off and in the rear vision mirror I saw two girls approach him with paper and a pen. "Tyson Hill Inc." was officially `back on duty'!
Tyson Hill was also `back on the road' which meant for the next few days, I was on my own again. Strange to think of it that way with a house full of people; even though I was surrounded by these people I loved, I really missed not having Ty to turn to in the middle of the night, and to wake up and hold each morning.
Fortunately, those few days were hectic. I had a lot of work that needed to be finished before the Christmas break, and the household was focused on its own pursuits. While Lachlan and Ellie arranged for more furniture to be shipped to their new home in Stanthorpe, Steve checked out of his backpacker's accommodation and moved in with us ahead of his relocation to Queensland. And Scott spent time poring over university directories, trying to find a course that would not only interest him but show Lachlan that he had a "plan".
We were all together for dinner some evenings, and others it was just George and me, eating antipasto. My days were busy, but my nights were lonely. I realised that it was difficult for me to sleep properly without Ty by my side, and now that he was back on track, I didn't even have the small comfort of Scott to wake up with.
I had several quick conversations with Ty, but his schedule was gruelling and our calls were limited to quick updates, and reassurances that we loved one another. It was only on the night of his final in-store signing that we managed a long conversation, both of us glad that he'd be back home the following afternoon.
We talked through our plans for the next few weeks and it was Ty who brought up the fact that with Christmas fast approaching, we were heading towards our first `anniversary'. We chuckled at the notion of acknowledging it. We had already agreed not to bother with Christmas gifts for each other; what more could we possibly need? But perhaps we'd celebrate a year of perfect happiness in some small way.
"I might get you a voucher for a tattoo parlour," I laughed. "You can have my name tattooed on your cock!"
Ty chuckled. "The good thing is he'd be able to tattoo `Michael Stewart' and your date of birth!"
I'd only just disconnected my call from Ty when the phone rang again. This time is was Frank, who was ringing to check that was all on track for the family migration to the Stanthorpe for the festive season. We discussed the logistics of Lachlan, Ellie, Scott and Steve arriving first, with Ty and me arriving last, just before Christmas.
"Will George be with you?"
Embarrassingly, the thought hadn't crossed my mind. "I don't know, Frank," I admitted. "We haven't talked about it. I imagine he will be, he's got nowhere else to go. Is that OK with you and Dot?"
"Of course it is, son," he assured me. "We've got plenty of room, especially now Lachlan and Ellie and your brother Steve will be staying at the Shaw place."
I chuckled. "It's the Hill place now, Frank!" I reminded him.
"You let me know what day and time you'll be flying into Brisbane and I'll come and collect you," Frank offered.
"Thanks Frank," I replied. "But Ty and I talked about it and there's a bus from the airport that goes through Tenterfield and then to Stanthorpe, so we thought we'd do that this time."
"A bus??" Frank said. "It'll be Boxing Day before you get here!"
"Nah, I checked," I laughed. "It's three hours, twenty minutes by bus, and three hours by car. So we figured we'd do the bus and you'll have that time to get on with whatever has to be done at the farm."
"Well, Dot won't be happy," Frank mused. "But you boys do what you think is best."
We discussed the `favour' I'd asked Frank to do for Ty and me, which had clearly been playing on his mind.
"Are you sure about this Mike?" Frank asked cautiously. "Ty always seems to be spending money and this seems excessive."
"It's good of you to be concerned, Frank," I reassured him. "But we're really only talking about using the money Ty had already given Scott for his trip, and that was refunded. And Lachlan donated the money Ty gave him to the trust fund. So Ty's just doing what he intended doing all along."
"But Dot and I are worried that he's just going to give all his money away, and he'll have nothing left," Frank said.
"No chance of that, Frank," I assured him. "Ty's doing very well financially. He's got very good accountants who keep everything on track."
"Thanks for the reassurance, son," Frank sighed. "Now, there are a couple of things I need to discuss with you confidentially."
"Shoot," I said.
"These are kind of personal things, all to do with the boys."
"And you're asking me?" I was surprised.
"They're things that would make all of them fly off the handle," he explained. "Besides, they'd just close ranks around each other, as you know. But I just need to know these things, to put my mind at rest."
"OK," I replied hesitantly. "I'll answer as best I can."
"Well first, Lachlan," Frank said quietly. "Don't get me wrong, Dot and I love Ellie -- she's a really lovely girl - and Dot is over the moon about the twins. But it's just it was all so ... sudden. I just need to be sure that Ellie's ... well, that they really want to be together."
I laughed. "That's a no-brainer Frank, believe me. They're head over heels in love. And they're perfect for each other. Lachlan can't wait to be a dad, so you have no worries on that score."
"But how did they meet?" he asked. "They never did say."
I chose my words carefully. "Ellie was part of Lachlan's therapy team," I said vaguely. "They met a few times and they fell for each other. Classic love story really, mate!" I chose to leave out that bit about the therapy being a massage with happy ending.
"Well, that's a weight off my mind," Frank sighed. "I had to ask. Now, about Scott. He couldn't wait to go off travelling and he was barely gone a week and suddenly he's back in Sydney because he's homesick. I think I'm missing a part of the story?"
Again I had to think carefully; no way was he going to know about the mushrooms. "This is just between you and me Frank, OK?" I asked.
"Of course, son," Frank replied.
"Simon, the guy Scott was travelling with?"
"Yes?"
"He and Scott were more than friends."
"Oh. Scott's having sex with other men?"
I fought the urge to laugh. "Simon was Scott's first relationship, Frank," I replied delicately. "And he waited until he was legally an adult."
"So what happened?"
"They had a big bust-up and Scott was pretty upset by it so he came home."
"What was the bust-up about?"
"I don't know, Frank. These things happen, whether it's straight or gay couples."
"Why didn't he tell us?"
"He wanted to be with his brothers."
"Yeah, that figures!" Frank sighed. "Is he alright now?"
"He's getting there Frank," I reassured him. "He's pretty much back to being himself."
"He's Dot's baby, you know. She worries about him the most."
"I know, Frank," I replied. "But when there's a problem, Ty and Lachlan always get him sorted."
"Nothing's changed," Frank said. "Now, about Tyson and this sick lad."
"Daniel?"
"Yes. Now I hope this doesn't sound harsh, but I just need to know that this kid isn't just trying to get money out of Tyson. You know what an easy touch he can be."
"Frank, you couldn't be more wrong mate," I stressed. "What happened was, Daniel's mother wrote a letter to Ty and told him about how sick her son is with cancer. Daniel's a huge fan of Ty's, just like Ty was with Jimmy Barnes at that age. All she was hoping for was an autographed photo for Daniel, to lift his spirits."
"Does Tyson know for sure that the boy's really sick?"
"It was Ty's idea to drop in and visit him in the hospital and believe me Frank, he's a very sick kid. Meeting Ty has been like this dream come true for him. And Ty really likes him and wants to help."
Frank chuckled. "Well, that certainly sounds like Tyson. He's always been like that. I suppose you know about all the injured animals?"
"Yeah, Lachlan told me," I laughed. "Even the rat!"
Frank guffawed at the memory. "Sorry about the questions, son," he said seriously. "It's just that our boys aren't with us any more and we don't always know exactly what's happening in their lives. I hope you don't think I'm being nosy."
"Not at all, Frank," I said. "You're just being the great Dad you've always been."
Frank chuckled. "Yeah, tell that to the boys!
"Don't you worry, Frank. They know ..."
I was just taking a quick coffee break after another draining mid-afternoon meeting when my mobile rang and I smiled when I saw it was Ty.
"Hey fella!" I greeted him. "Been thinking about you today."
"Yeah? Whatcha been thinking?"
"It's X-rated," I replied. "Can't discuss it on the phone."
Ty chuckled. "Do you need to see a doctor?"
"Probably," I agreed. "Hopefully he'll be able to prescribe something to make the swelling go down."
"Right! Take one hot rock star and go straight to bed!"
"Sounds like a plan!"
"Ah, actually it's not quite the plan," Ty sighed. "Sorry to drop this on you but Vince and I are about to fly into Sydney and Vince wants Monique to meet us to go through some media requests."
"Oh," I said. "Why don't you ask them over for dinner? You'll probably be there before me and I'll look like I've `dropped in' to hear what's being proposed?"
"You don't mind?"
"Nah, course not. I'll ring George and get something organised."
"Thanks mate. I love you.'
I grinned and couldn't resist breaking into song; "He loves me, yeah! yeah! yeah! He loves me, yeah! yeah! yeah!"
Ty giggled. "Jesus! I've told you before. Don't ever sing ..."
I pulled up in the street outside our home, unable to park in the driveway because Vince and Monique's cars were blocking the entrance.
I rang the doorbell and was ushered inside by George. I was shown into the lounge room and greeted warmly by everyone. I shook hands with the guys and gave Monique a kiss before handing Ty a large sealed envelope. "These are some papers to sign for the Stanthorpe property," I said.
"Thanks mate," Ty smiled. "You wanna stay and have a bite to eat?"
"Looks like you guys have business to discuss ..."
Vince jumped in. "Stay and eat," he suggested. "You might be able to make Ty see some sense in some of these offers."
"Well, OK, if that's OK with you?" I asked, looking at George.
"Of course Mr Hill," George replied. "Ellie and I have made plenty."
"Thanks George," I said, before turning to Monique. "So what's up?"
"We've had some great approaches from major media, and they're all fantastic opportunities to plug the album and the DVD."
"This oughta be good," Ty smirked.
"At least let her put them to you Ty," I suggested. "Let's hear them Mon."
As George poured wine, Monique opened her folder and started from the top. "GQ would like to do a six- page colour fashion spread with you. You'll be dressed by Hugo Boss, shoes by Ferragamo, you'll have your choice of stylist, and you'll get to keep one of the suits."
"Nope," said Ty. "Nothing to do with my music. Next!"
Monique sighed. So early.
"OK, the producers of `My Generation' want you to be a panellist. You'll be answering questions specific to your generation. They've agreed to show a clip from the DVD."
"Um, no," Ty said. "It's one of those rent-a-star shows. I'm not a celebrity, Mon. I'm a musician."
"Jesus!" hissed Vince.
"Problem Vince?" Ty ventured.
"Come on, Ty," he replied. "GQ, `My Generation' ... this is high profile media. People kill to get this sort of coverage, and they're offering it to you."
"Vince," Ty sighed. "I'm a singer and songwriter. I'm not going to turn up and be cheesy for the camera, just to get my name up in lights. We've had this discussion ..."
"OK," Monique continued. "`Men's Health' magazine wants to do a spread on how you manage to stay so fit. It's not titillation. It's a legitimate health magazine."
"What do I have to wear?"
Monique's shoulders slumped. "A Speedo," she sighed.
"Next!"
"OK, Weekender' is running a series on Celebrity Siblings' and they want to do a photo and a piece on you, Lachie and Scott."
"Oh fuck off!" Ty spluttered. "My family is off limits."
Vince jumped in. "This isn't an interview Ty, it's a feel-good piece on you and your brothers. With a nice photo."
"I'm not putting my family through this kind of stuff."
"How do you feel, Scott?" Monique asked.
"You mean I'd get my photo in a magazine?" Scott replied.
"Yep. And because it's Tyson, you'd probably get a full page."
"That'd be so cool!"
"Really?" said Ty, looking at Scott in amazement. "You'd like that?"
"I've never been in a magazine before!"
Ty shook his head. "Lach?" he asked.
Lachlan laughed. "I don't mind if you use my good looks to further your career, Ty!".
"Seriously, Lach," Ty groaned.
"Yeah mate, I'll do it. It's harmless. Tyson Hill and his even-better-looking-brothers. It'll give us a photo to appreciate when we're old and gray."
"OK Mon," Ty chuckled. "You've had a win. We'll do the brothers spread!"
"Seeing we're on a roll, `Playgirl' pitched again for you to do a nude centrefold for their April issue?"
"Yeah right, that's gonna happen!" Ty guffawed. "I've told you before Mon, my penis is for my eyes only!"
Lachlan snorted. "I've seen it a million times!" he guffawed.
"So have I!" giggled Scott.
"I've seen it too," Vince volunteered. "I mean, I wasn't looking or anything, but you didn't try to hide it."
"Guys!" said Ty, exasperated.
"Come on Ty, even I've seen it!" chuckled Monique.
Ty's eyes narrowed. "When have you seen my penis?" he asked.
"When you got drunk after you signed the record deal!" she laughed. "You needed to pee but you couldn't stand up!"
"Yeah, but it was Vince who helped me to the toilet!" Ty protested.
"Correct!" said Monique. "But he drew the line at holding your penis, so I had to take over. And with my help, you peed all over the floor!"
Ty sighed. When George walked into the room with a platter of cheeses, biscuits and dried fruit Ty groaned, "Help me, George. Tell them you haven't seen my penis?"
"I've seen it more times that I care to think about, sir," George responded.
"Should I let a magazine show it to the world?" Ty asked.
"My advice would be no, sir. The little things in life should be held dear."
"You're fired, George!"
"Very good, sir. Of course, dinner won't be served ..."
"Oh. You're rehired until 8p.m."
While George and Ellie prepared a pasta dinner for eight, Lachlan and Scott disappeared to shoot some pool. Vince, Ty, Monique and I talked about how Ty and Daniel writing a song together might benefit Daniel and his mum. Vince and Monique pushed the publicity angle, but Ty wouldn't buy it.
"I will not use a sick kid to get my name in the papers," he said firmly.
Vince grizzled, while Monique took a different tack. "It's not exploiting Daniel, Ty," she said. "With some carefully placed media spots, you'd maximize sales, and that can only benefit Daniel. Never underestimate the way the Australian public rallies for a good cause."
"I know, Mon," Ty sighed. "But he's sick. He doesn't need to be in the media spotlight, and there'll be the cynics who think I've jumped on a bandwagon. I just want to help his mum financially, and give him something positive to focus on. Can't I just have this to myself?"
Monique knew when to drop the subject. "Any chance you'll do the Nine Network Carols telecast this year? National, prime time, choice of carol ..."
"Nah," said Ty. "Pass."
Vince finally cracked it. "For fuck's sake Ty!" he said between gritted teeth. "Out of all those opportunities, you're only agreeing to a magazine spread, and only then because your brothers want to do it."
Ty was instantly defensive. "We've had this conversation before Vince," he hit back. "I am not a celebrity. I'll be a good client and promote my albums and DVDs, as per my contract, but I am never going to be a `rent-a-celebrity'."
Vince was riled. "You could go from 4-times platinum to 6-times platinum just by turning up at some of these things for an hour!"
"Or I could spend that time at the hospital with Daniel. It's 60 minutes better spent, mate."
Ellie showed me once and for all she was really now a part of the family when she got her timing right. "Dinner!" she announced as she walked through from the kitchen holding two big bowls of pasta. Ty and his brothers were goners and Vince, being the good Italian boy he is, was sniffing, trying to identify the smells.
"Garlic," he said matter-of-factly. "Parsley and onion. Bacon, egg. That would be Carbonara!"
Ellie smirked, and held out the second bowl. Vince sniffed, and rattled off the ingredients. "Napoli! Broccoli, eggplant and pumpkin. Freshly shaved reggiano!"
Ellie giggled. "I'd applaud, but I can't!" she laughed. "You get the only a second helping of George's tiramisu! And believe me, George's tiramisu is worth a second go!"
Mealtime meant conflict was a no-go zone for the Hills and apparently too for Vince, so dinner was an enjoyable experience, especially when Scott showed us some of the poses he'd created in his head for the photo shoot with his brothers.
Even funnier was Scott being hit in the head by a flying bread roll after he asked, "What if people see the photo and realise I'm actually cuter than you, Ty?"
We talked about Ty's `meet and greet' DVD signing tour, Lachlan and Ellie's progress in shipping furniture to their new country home, and Steve's updates on tradesmen he'd set in place to start work on the renovations just after Christmas. As we ate dessert (surprise - ice cream and chocolate sauce!) Ty seemed pensive.
"What's up, Ty?" Vince asked.
"Nothing," he mused. "Just thinking about the Carols ..."
Vince perked up. "You'll do it?" he asked hopefully.
"Nah, not the televised show," Ty replied. "I'll be back home. But I might see if I can get a gig at the Stanthorpe Carols In The Park. We went every year when we were growing up."
"Mum and Dad still go," Scott piped up. "That'd be way cool."
"Yeah, but don't say anything to them. It'd be a nice surprise."
Things wound up fairly quickly after coffee was served. Vince and Monique left after wishing us all a happy Christmas, and Ellie helped George with the clean-up. Ty let it be known that he was hanging out for a good sleep in his own bed and with knowing nods from Lachlan and Steve, and a snicker from Scott, we said goodnight and retired.
As soon as our doors closed, I suggested we have a shower before hitting the sack, and Ty looked at me apologetically.
"Mate," he sighed. "Much as I want a bit of legal lovin', I really need a good sleep. I just can't sleep properly in hotel beds on my own. I just want my own pillow and your chest."
I smiled as we stripped off our clothes and slid between the sheets. Within seconds, I was on my back and the man I loved had snuggled in. He leaned up and kissed me on the lips, before resting his head on my chest. In less than three minutes, his even breathing told me he was out like a light.
I woke the next morning to the exquisite feel of Ty's lips wrapped around my rampant cock; he'd finished the night with his head resting on my chest, but was starting the morning a little further south. He employed all the moves he knew pushed my buttons. and as my fingers raked through his curly hair, it didn't take long before I flooded his mouth with man mayonnaise.
We kissed and caressed until George arrived with a tray, and over breakfast we refined our plans for the next few days. Ty knew that today was my last day at the office before the Christmas break and I tentatively mentioned that work's Christmas party was late in the afternoon.
"I have to go, mate," I sighed. "You've been invited too, of course, as well as our other big clients. But you don't have to."
Ty mulled it over for a short while. "I don't mind making an appearance," he said. "What's say we go to the party for a while and then split? We could drop in and see Dan for Christmas?"
"Great idea!" I replied. Ty grabbed his phone and called Daniel while I shaved and showered, and I enjoyed hearing Ty and his teenage mate catching up. As I dressed, Ty explained that Daniel was excited at the thought of seeing him, but had been apologetic about their home, a rent-subsidised flat in Woolloomooloo. Christmas, Ty reflected sadly, would probably be a lean one for Dan and his Mum.
I had time for a coffee on the balcony before work and as we sipped, Ty phoned the David Jones city store and organised for a huge Christmas hamper to be prepared for Mandy. He made sure it had all the trimmings; breast of turkey, leg of ham, gourmet gravy, fresh vegetables and fruit, plum pudding, brandy cream, cranberry jelly, mince pies, paper bon bons, napkins, chocolates, champagne and wine.
With his hand over the mouthpiece he asked, "Is it OK if I have it delivered to your office? We can take it with us when we leave."
"Of course," I nodded. "We should get something for Daniel too."
"Yeah," Ty grinned. "Got that covered already."
Lachlan joined us, wearing his boxers and a tee shirt and a few minutes later, Scott wandered out, dressed as always in Lachlan's army boxers, tee shirt and tags. Before he sat down, he kissed Ty on the cheek and then Lachlan.
"What's that for?" Lachlan asked.
"I dunno," Scott shrugged. "Just `cos."
"No kiss for me?" I pouted.
"Not in front of Ty," Scott giggled. "You know how he gets ..."
Ty looked at his younger brother through narrow eyes. "I told you before, asshole," he smirked. "Hands off the cute lawyer. He belongs to me!"
I reluctantly stood and grabbed my briefcase. "Gotta go, boys!" I said. "Office party starts at five, Ty. If you get there at 5.30, we can probably sneak away about 6.30."
"A party?" Scott enthused. "Can I come?"
"Afraid not, mate!" I chuckled. "It's an asshole-free zone!"
"What? A roomful of lawyers?" Scott shot back. "Yeah right!"
My working day was pretty much a non-event. There was an office lunch at a local restaurant and very little work was done in the afternoon as everyone prepared for the onslaught. I'd much rather have been at home with the guys, getting ready for our trip. I had a mental image of Ty wandering around the house, not sure how to pack for a few days away, and could only remain hopeful that George would -- as always -- get everything organised.
I managed to slip away for an hour mid-afternoon and went shopping for the gift I'd planned to celebrate one deliriously happy year with Ty. Carrying my purchase in its carefully packaged box, I smiled all the way back to the office as I envisaged Ty's face when he opened it.
The company's most valued clients started arriving spot on 5.30 and I shook hands and mingled for 45 minutes before Ty was shown into the boardroom with one of the country's most famous female singers, and the buff soapie star I'd managed to keep out of the papers when he was caught earlier in the year with drugs.
I shook hands with all three and introduced them around to the other partners, and then mingled some more while Ty charmed the office girls who'd managed to corner him. I smiled at the thought that he could have had any one of them, if he wanted. But he didn't. He wanted me!
The chairman of the company made a pleasant speech at six, before expensive bottles of Grange Hermitage were gifted to our high-profile clients. At 6.30, I made eye contact with Ty, who immediately took himself off in the direction of the toilet. Instead, he detoured to my office and I met him there a few minutes later.
"Party's in full swing now," I said. "We can just disappear down the back stairs to the car park."
I was surprised to see that Ty had put his guitar in my office before making his entrance, but I assumed he was going to sing something for Daniel. He took the guitar and wine while I carried the food hamper he'd ordered downstairs and we placed everything on the back seat of the car. Five minutes later we were on our way to Woolloomooloo, Ty with a road directory on his lap directing me.
We pulled up outside a dismal looking council apartment block, its drab exterior and overgrown lawn and garden beds serving only to highlight the sorry circumstances of the residents. Looking up we noticed wet washing handing from modest balconies and in one or two windows, flickering lights from scantily-dressed plastic Christmas trees.
Ty and I looked at one another as he turned his collar up and pulled down his beanie. Slinging his guitar over his shoulder, he said, "Come on."
After finding no elevator, we made our way up three flights of stairs, me struggling with the weight of the hamper. We finally got there and made our way to Apartment 303. Ty knocked, and the door was quickly answered by Mandy who looked delighted to see us. We both kissed her cheek as we stepped inside and she immediately apologised for the lack of room.
"I'll just go and wake Daniel" she said.
"No, let him sleep," Ty quickly replied.
"But I promised I'd wake him as soon as you arrived," she said.
"Let him sleep a little longer," Ty smiled.
"Would you like a cup of tea?"
"That would be great, Mandy. Thanks."
We sat down on the threadbare lounge while Mandy disappeared into the narrow kitchenette. I placed the hamper on the coffee table and we listened to a loud argument going on in the apartment next door.
"I'm sorry about the noise," Mandy apologised as she carried mugs of tea on a tray. "Those two argue day and night."
As she sat her eyes fell to the hamper and she looked at me. "It's for you and Daniel," I smiled.
Mandy leaned forward and looked in the hamper before cradling her head in her hands and crying. Ty was quick to move to her side and put his arm around her.
"Hey, no tears!" he said gently. "It's Christmas!"
"Oh Tyson," she snivelled, "You and Mike have been so, so kind to Daniel. And to me. I just don't know how I can even begin to repay you both ..."
"Repay us?" said Ty, raising his eyebrows. "You don't have to repay us. This is just something for you to share at Christmas, Mandy. Like I keep saying to you, this is a privilege."
"Mum? Is that Tyson?" came Daniel's voice from the bedroom.
"Yes, Danny," she called back, wiping her eyes. "He and Mike are here. Would you like some help getting up?"
"No, I'm good! Hey Tyson! Hey Mike!" he chirped.
A minute or two later, Daniel shuffled from his tiny bedroom in well worn pyjamas. He looked frail but his face was a picture of excitement.
"You need a hand mate?" I asked.
"No, I'm okay."
Daniel made his way to the couch and as Ty stood, he threw himself into Ty's embrace. "Hey sport!" Ty "You're lookin' good!"
"Yeah, it's just the tablets make me sleepy," he replied, as he moved to give me a hug. He spied the hamper and said "what's this?"
"Tyson and Mike brought us a hamper for Christmas!" Mandy beamed. "There's ham and turkey and plum pudding and ... everything! Real Christmas food!"
"Holy shit!" said Daniel, his face lighting up.
"Danny! Language!"
"Man, last year we had party pies for Christmas lunch! This is awesome! Thanks Tyson. Thanks Mike."
"There's enough food for 10 people!" Mandy said, wide-eyed.
"Maybe you and Mike could come and have Christmas lunch with us?" Daniel asked hopefully.
Ty replied as gently as he could. "We're going home to see my parents in Stanthorpe for Christmas, mate," he said. "We won't be back until the first week of January ..."
Daniel did his best to hide his disappointment as he sat in an armchair. "But," Ty continued, "there's a couple of things I want to talk to you both about."
Daniel and his Mum looked at Ty expectantly.
"I've spoken to my manager and he thinks it's a great idea if you and I write a song together!"
"You're shitting me?"
"Daniel!"
"Like, we'd write a song and you'd record it?"
"That's the idea, Dan! We haven't worked out whether it'll be an album track or a single yet, but the best part is, we've cleared it with the publisher and whatever songwriting royalties come in from it will go to you!"
"Really?" Daniel asked. "Um, what does that mean?"
Ty looked at me. "I'll let the lawyer explain!"
"What that means is you'll take 100% of the songwriting royalties. If the song does as well as Ty's previous singles, you could potentially make tens of thousands of dollars."
"Oh God," gasped Mandy, who started to cry again.
"Don't cry Mum!" Daniel pleaded, moving to the couch to embrace his mother.
"This just can't be happening. It's like a dream and I keep thinking I'm going to wake up."
"I'm going to write with Tyson Hill!" Daniel whooped. "When?"
"Well, that's the other thing," Ty grinned. "I'm thinking when we get back from Queensland, you can come and stay at my place in Point Piper for a weekend and we'll get stuck into then. I've got a music room with a piano and we can work on a lyric. If your Mum says that's alright?"
"Of course it's alright!" Mandy smiled as tears slid down her cheeks. "Are you sure?"
"You bet I'm sure!" Ty replied. "I have a housekeeper who's looked after people with medical needs before so that's not a problem. You're welcome to come too Mandy, there's plenty of room."
Daniel looked at his Mum. "Maybe Mum would like to have a break?" he asked cautiously. "She spends all her time looking after me and never has any time for herself."
"It depends on how well you're doing, Danny," Mandy replied. "This is so kind of you. Really."
"Unbelievable!" Daniel whistled. "I get to hang out at Tyson Hill's place!"
"Why don't you show Tyson and Mike your room, Danny?"
"Sure," said Daniel as he stood and shuffled back to his room with us in tow. Ty and I were both taken aback as we stood in the doorway. The room was small -- minute in fact -- but almost all of three walls were covered with pin-up posters of Ty from various music magazines over the past couple of years.
"Man, this is amazing!" Ty whispered, as his eyes fell to the dressing table and the pile of discs -- his CDs and DVDs, and every single the record company had released. From the bottom drawer, Daniel retrieved several scrapbooks which bulged with newspaper and magazine clippings tracing Ty's career, virtually from the start.
"Mate," whistled Ty. "I reckon you've got more stuff than my Mum! And she's really on to it!"
"Would it be OK if you signed them for me?"
"Of course, mate! Get me a pen!"
Ty sat and inscribed everything Daniel had collected, while the teenager looked on with the world's biggest smile. When he'd finished we stood and Ty said, "We've gotta get going, mate. We'll talk while I'm away and work out when you can come and stay, yeah?"
"You bet!" Daniel said excitedly, as we walked back through the lounge room to the front door. Daniel's eyes fell to Ty's guitar. "You got a gig?" he asked.
Ty looked puzzled for a moment and then he twigged. "Oh, almost forgot," he laughed, as he picked up the guitar and handed it to Daniel. "This is for you! Merry Christmas!"
Daniel's eyes immediately filled with tears. "Your guitar? For me? Are you fuckin' kidding?"
"It's one of the ones I played on the tour you came to. I want you to have it."
The look on Daniel's face defies description. He couldn't have been happier if Ty had handed him a million dollars.
Ty tried hard to disguise the fact he was welling up as he hugged his young mate and reiterated, "No tears! It's Christmas! We'll see you guys in 2012!"
After a heartfelt goodbye, we made our way back through the litter-strewn hallways to the car. As I started the engine, Ty leaned back in his seat with his hands on top of his head and expelled air.
"Jesus Christ, party pies for Christmas lunch," he groaned. "I really need to step outside our little bubble sometimes Mike ..."
The next day we bade farewell to Lachlan, Ellie and Scott who flew to Brisbane a day ahead of us, while Ty spent the day doing TV commercial voice-overs for his `in concert' DVD. I was fascinated by how long it took for the advertising agency to be happy with Ty simply saying "this is my 2011 concert tour, up close and personal" and "out now, while stocks last".
Of course, Ty grumbled his way through the whole process. "Jesus," he hissed at me between takes. "It sounds like I'm gagging for money. I hate this shit."
By the time the session was finished, he was brooding, so I phoned George and picked him up at the house before taking the two of them out to dinner at Pink Salt, and after a beer and a watermelon and rose petal martini, Ty was once again relaxed and looking forward to Christmas. We had a light meal and Ty teased George about how good the restaurant's food presentation and service was.
"Yes, you're right," he sighed. "But take a look around. Nobody here is eating with their fingers. Or throwing bread rolls. Or passing wind. It's a whole new world for me."
Ty chuckled. "Speaking of a whole new world, I've invited Daniel to spend a weekend with us in the new year," he said. "You're okay with that, George?"
"Of course sir," George replied. "I'll set up the spare room for him."
"He's quite a sick boy, mate," Ty ventured. "It might be a challenge."
"Sir, I've dealt with a crabby old woman who had a stroke, discovered her inner Tourettes and lost control of her bodily functions. Lymphoblastic leukaemia will be a stroll in the park."
Ty smiled. "But there's all sorts of medication he has to take ..."
"Just put me in touch with his mother sir, and I'll draw up a chart. He'll get what he needs, when he needs it. And I'm sure he'll get from you two more than he might ever hope for."
Ty slumped. "That's beautiful George. Thank you!"
"You're welcome sir," George smiled back before offering as an aside, "Just sucking up ..."
Back home, George started the packing process while Ty and I went over the list of things we needed to do to ensure that Christmas was one to remember for the people we loved.
Later in the evening, bags almost packed, George joined us on the balcony for a glass of wine, some cheese and some olives. We took a moment to toast him, and Ty thanked him for keeping the household rolling along and the whole family functioning.
"It's been a privilege sir, quite honestly," George said quietly. "I'm very grateful for the way you've both helped me and made me a part of your lives. Feeling a part of this whole family has made this the best time of my life."
"Really?" Ty marvelled.
"Certainly sir," George smiled back. "I'd do it for nothing, gladly."
Ty laughed. "So, we can stop paying you?"
"If you wish, sir," he chuckled as he stood up. "I'll make your breakfast in the morning and then I'll call the news crews and invite them around for a cup of tea ..."
Ty and I looked at one another.
"I'm off to bed now, gentlemen. And you're both probably overdue for a `nap'. Please don't worry about the film crews tomorrow. I'll ask them to take off their shoes."
Ty started to laugh and was still giggling when I steered him into the bedroom. I closed the door and grabbed him before he had time to slip into the bathroom. "I checked out the entertainment news online today," I smirked, "and according to famous.com, you've been voted the `Greatest Ass In Rock'."
"Yeah? Is that a surprise?" Ty grinned back.
"Don't know," I shrugged. "I'd need to be convinced."
Ty stripped off his clothes and paraded `rock's greatest ass' before me as he cleaned his teeth.
And between 11.10pm and midnight, he convinced me ...
Ty and I nearly fell out of bed with fright when George cleared his throat. We'd woken and got busy, oblivious to the fact that it was almost time for breakfast. Ty lay on his back while I lay further down the bed, my head only just covered by the top sheet as I polished his pulsating cock with my mouth.
George had knocked and we hadn't heard, so he'd opened the door and found us `in flagrante'. Granted, he couldn't actually see what I was doing, but it was pretty obvious I wasn't cleaning the lint out of Ty's belly button.
I hastily rearranged the bedding and settled against the pillows, while Ty lifted his knees to disguise the obscene tent in the sheet. He gave a frustrated sigh; he'd been so close ...
"Sorry to interrupt your meal with a meal, sir," George deadpanned.
"Not very funny, George," Ty harrumphed.
"Come on Ty!" I chided, tickling his ribs. "We'll have breakfast and then we can have a shower! I'll lock the door!"
Ty smirked. "Is there much packing left to do George?" he asked.
"It's practically done, sir," George replied. "Just your toiletries to go. Henri will be around in an hour to collect Scruffy and Floppy and then we'll be ready to go."
"Are you sure they'll be OK there, George?" Ty asked.
"Of course, sir," George assured him. "They'll be spoilt rotten. On Christmas Day, Scruffy will get pork, ham and turkey. And Henri walks the full block every day, sir. The last time we did that walk, I counted more than 30 lampposts and trees."
"He'll be fine, Ty," I chuckled. "We're only gone for a few days ..."
As George closed our door behind him, Ty threw the covers back and headed for the bathroom, his penis no longer quite as distended as it was. I was right behind him and as I maneuvered him into the shower and turned on the jet, he grabbed me and kissed me so hard I ran out of breath.
"Steady Tyger!" I grinned as I sank to my knees.
I nuzzled my face against his tummy before licking the dark treasure trail that led to the swollen goods. He was three quarters hard when I sucked his cock into my wet mouth, and as he held my head in his hands he swelled to full erection.
I gave Ty the full treatment and his soft moans told me I was doing a sterling job. The moans quickly turned to groans and suddenly Ty was on the tips of his toes, his stomach clenched tight, as he tried to draw out those exquisite moments before he busted his nut.
In those final seconds, I stepped up the pace and held his tightening balls in my hand, and with a long, deep growl he unloaded in my mouth. I held his hips as I pulled off him, lest his knees give way, and I gazed up and caught the look of sheer bliss that washed across his handsome face.
"Man!" he panted. "Forget two front teeth. THAT'S all I want for Christmas!"
We dressed and presented ourselves to George, who poured us both an espresso before he wandered around the house, double-checking that all the windows and doors were securely locked.
As our cab pulled up promptly at ten, I checked that we had wallets, keys and flight documentation. We helped load the baggage into the cab and within minutes we were zipping through traffic on our way to the airport. When we arrived, Ty sat in a corner trying not to look famous while George and I checked in. Our boarding passes were issued and George started to make his way to the departure lounge.
"Where are you going, old man?" I laughed.
"To the departure lounge to wait," he replied. "I'll see you when it's time to board."
"We're all flying business class, George," I chuckled. "The business lounge in this way!"
"Really sir?" George asked as he caught up to me. "I've never flown business class before."
"Well you're in for a treat, mate!" I smiled as I herded Ty towards the double sliding doors that led to a fan- free zone. Well, mostly a fan-free zone.
We had literally just sat down with our flat white coffees and a plate a sliced fruit when a smartly dressed businessman sidled up. Looking slightly embarrassed, he shuffled from foot to foot until he caught Ty's eye. Ty looked at him questioningly.
"I'm really sorry," he apologised, "but you're Tyson Hill aren't you?"
"Yes, I am," Ty replied with a smile, shaking the man's hand.
"I hate to ask this, but my twin daughters are your biggest fans. Would you mind signing an autograph for them? It would make their Christmas!"
"You're flying off to see them?" Ty asked.
"No, they're sitting just around the corner. We're having Christmas in Melbourne this year."
"If they're here, why not bring them around to say hello?" Ty suggested kindly. "You can take a photo."
"Really? You'd do that?" the man asked in amazement. "I'll be right back."
Ty looked at me and said, "Sorry. Just seemed like a nice thing to do."
"It is a nice thing to do!" I smiled, as Dad and two completely gob-smacked teenage girls rounded the corner and came face to face with their idol.
Ty stood and shook their hands and as their faces flushed, they were introduced as Melody and Chloe. Ty stood between them, put his arms around their shoulders and flashed his celebrity smile while Dad took his snaps.
The father thanked Ty again and shook his hand and just as they were about the return to their seats, Ty leaned over and kissed each girl on the cheek and wished them both a happy Christmas. They disappeared in a flurry of girly squeals and immediately started texting.
Our flight to Brisbane was smooth and uneventful, and we amused ourselves by watching George take advantage of every little extra' that business class travel afforded him; free gin and tonic, a light meal, a bottle of water, a blanket to put over his legs, and several bags of nuts which we noticed he kept slipping into his hand luggage for later'.
As usual we remained in our seats until the plane had emptied, and even then we were further delayed by the flight crew who all wanted to speak to Ty and wish him a happy Christmas. I collected our luggage while George positioned himself so that Ty was hidden from view, and we stayed in a huddle for 30 minutes until our bus to Stanthorpe arrived.
Before we boarded George thoughtfully bought some salad wraps, chocolate chip cookies and bottled water, no doubt aware that a Hill brother who had to ensure almost three and a half hours without food would likely end up very grumpy.
Fortunately, there were only four other passengers on board, and the three of us were able to spread out at the back of the bus. George settled himself and immediately started reading one of his many Doris Lessing novels, while eating complimentary airline nuts and sipping complimentary water.
Ty and I talked through the logistics of Christmas and his plans to surprise his family by singing at the Stanthorpe Carols In The Park. After we'd establish a final itinerary in our heads, Ty lay back and snoozed with his head in my lap. I soon tired of watching scenery roll by and managed to nod off for a while, before we both woke when the driver called out that we were an hour from our destination.
Ty sat up and George was ready with food, which Ty devoured like a man who'd not eaten for days. He chatted with George while I called my Mum and sister Lyn, and then spoke to my Dad in New Zealand. By the time we'd finished the food we were pulling in to the bus terminal in Stanthorpe and, surprisingly, Frank waiting for us.
Ty raced from the bus and scooped his father up off the ground, squeezing him half to death in a bear hug. George and I followed and were greeted warmly by the Hill patriarch.
"How did you know what time we'd be arriving Dad?" Ty asked.
"Only one bus a day at this time of year, son!" Frank grinned. "You don't have to be Einstein!"
We piled the luggage into Frank's Merc and headed for the farm. Before the rest of us had unfastened our seatbelts, Ty was out of the car and bounding up the porch steps where he picked Dorothy up and smothered her with kisses.
"You put me down, Tyson!" she giggled. "You'll hurt your back!"
"Gee it's good to see you Mama!" Ty said excitedly. "You look great! And I'm thinking I can smell a roast?"
"Yes son!" she smiled. "All your favourites."
I helped Frank with the baggage while George made his way up the stairs and gave Dorothy a kiss. Frank and I dropped the suitcases on the porch and Dorothy reached up and gave me a hug.
"Hello Michael!" she beamed. "It's so wonderful to have you and Tyson back so soon, and for the whole family to be together for Christmas. And Tyson looks so happy, dear!"
Before I could reply, Scott bounded out through the front door and jumped all over us. "Now let Tyson and Michael alone, Scott!" Dorothy admonished. "You're behaving like an excited puppy!"
"I'm just glad to see them Mum," Scott grinned.
"Hey asshole!" Ty chuckled as he gave his brother a hug.
"Tyson!"
"Sorry Mum!"
That night we enjoyed a full-on Hill family dinner. Lachlan, Ellie and Steve joined us at the farm and everyone pitched in to help Dot feed the throng. It was -- as always -- a superb roast and George was generous in his praise of Dot's cooking. The noise level was intense with everyone sharing news and opinions -- and I enjoyed being reminded that this was a family who spent a lot of time laughing.
Ellie was dressed in a simple white shirt and smock, and for the first time we all realised she really was getting bigger. Lachlan, ever the gentleman, kept checking she was feeling alright, and as the conversation flowed he would lean in every now and again and kiss her gently, or stroke her hair. None of us missed the loving glances that passed between them throughout the evening, or the occasions when Lachlan mouthed `I love you' to the woman he so obviously adored.
Indeed, it was Lachlan who wound things up on the early side that night, telling his Mum that Ellie needed her rest. I was pleased to see that Steve was the first on his feet clearing plates and stacking dishes to be washed, giving George a well-deserved break.
Once they'd left, Ty, Scott and I washed, dried and put away the dishes while George made a protesting Dot a cup of tea and settled her in the lounge. We joined them in time, and talked about how the next few days would be handled.
Ty managed to sneak away long enough to ring the organisers of the Carols and was happy to report back to me that they were delighted to have him as a surprise guest. He would however, need to rehearse with the band in the morning, so we devised a plan that would get him away from the house.
"Will you boys be joining us for the Carols?" Dot asked hopefully.
"Of course, Mum," Ty smiled. "Wouldn't miss it for the world!"
"I'll be picking apples in the morning for your Mother's apple sauce and for the apple pies," Frank announced. "You boys up to giving me a hand?"
"Um, I need to see Lachie and Steve and talk about some of the renovation details," Ty said.
"What, on Christmas Eve?" Frank asked.
"Scott and I will help you Frank," I offered. "Ty can do his thing and we'll catch up later in the day."
Dot disappeared into the kitchen and returned with a tray of her famous hot chocolate ("I use real melted chocolate dear, that's the secret") and a plate of biscuits. Once that was finished, we all headed for bed.
Ty and I were once again sharing his old bed and as I'd come to expect, there was no sex. But he certainly didn't rule out kissing and cuddling, and after much of both we fell asleep in each other's arms.
Morning came soon enough, with the Hill household kicking into gear around 5.30a.m. We weren't physically woken then, but there was no avoiding Frank's early morning exuberance and the sound of his singing in the shower just down the hallway.
Ty woke first and stretched. He wrapped himself around my body momentarily and kissed me. I tried to shrug him off but he quite rightly pointed out that the house noise was only going to increase, so I may as well give up any thought of sleeping in. The decision was made when our bedroom door opened and Scott scuttled in, and hopped in bed next to me.
"Morning men!" he giggled. "I have a little wind I'd like to share ..."
"Don't your dare, you dirty little fucker!" Ty threatened, but it was too late.
I sang softly, "I can hear the distant drums and sounds of bugle calls were coming from afar ..."
"Don't sing," Ty sighed.
"Don't be disgusting Scott," Frank bellowed as he appeared in the doorway with a towel wrapped around his waist. "You boys need to get up and dressed. There's work to be done."
"Remember I'm meeting Lachie this morning Dad," Ty reminded his father. "Mike and the asshole are gonna pick apples."
"Hit the showers guys!" Frank instructed. "You've got 15 minutes before breakfast is ready."
The three of us filed into the bathroom and in rote we showered, shaved, dressed and turned up in the kitchen just in time for pancakes and maple syrup, bacon, eggs, fresh apple juice and toast with Dorothy's homemade marmalade. Ty cleaned up, kissed his mother, hugged his father and disappeared into town.
Scott and I pulled on our gumboots and followed Frank outside. For the next hour, I was schooled in the different varieties of apples grown in the Granite Belt - Delicious Striped Red, Royal Gala, Granny Smith and Cripps Pink (marketed under the trade mark name Pink Lady, FYI).
It was Granny Smiths we picked for the sauce and the pies. The pie is designed to be sweet, according to Frank, but Grannys give it a hint of tartness. Ty's Dad enthralled me with the history of the Granny Smith; it originated in Australia in the late 1860s and is believed to be a hybrid of the European Wild Apple. Each one contains on average 0.17 grams of fat. I had two immediate thoughts. Frank knows his apples. And how did I get to be a lawyer without knowing this stuff?
We picked enough apples for a dozen pies but apparently, the ones we picked were the premiums. And long after we returned to Sydney, there would be more apple pies ...
I offered to help Dot peel the apples, but she had George on hand and I was politely shooed from the kitchen. I sat in the lounge with Scott, who showed me some of Dot's early scrapbooks of Ty's career, before he`d met Vince and been signed by a major record company.
The first thing he handed me was a photo of himself on stage singing with a band, and fairly recently by my estimation.
"I didn't know you were doing some singing, mate!" I said, surprised.
Scott giggled. "It's not me!" he said. "That's Ty when he was 19!"
"My God!" I exclaimed. "It's like looking at you!"
"Yeah, I know. Whenever I'm here and I go to the shops, all the old ladies who've gone crazy keep calling me Tyson!"
Frank had wandered in and was tying the shoelaces on his indoor shoes. "I've woken up in my chair some nights," Frank smiled, "with Scott sitting opposite me. More than once I've almost called him Tyson!"
"Lachlan's the odd one out!" I laughed.
"Yeah, his dad is the milkman!" Scott giggled.
"Scott Hill!" Dorothy chided as she walked into the room. "What a terrible thing to say about your Mother!"
"Sorry Mum!" Scott smirked.
"Your Mother has never looked at another man. Why would she?" Frank grinned. "Besides, she's always been fond of the old Frank-furter!" he guffawed.
"Frank!"
"Sorry Dot!"
The afternoon went quickly enough. Ty called and let me know he was rehearsing with the band and backing singers at a local motel and that things had gone very well. I asked what he'd be singing but Ty wanted to keep it as a surprise. He was driving back to Sugarloaf Road to pick up Lachlan, Ellie and Steve and would be back at the farm within an hour for the trip to the Carols.
There were kisses and hugs all around when the Sugarloaf crew arrived, and we chatted for a while as Frank and Dot pulled together the blankets and picnic hampers we'd be taking to the park. Dot seemed momentarily taken aback that Ty was so sloppily dressed with a beanie pulled down over his head to hide his trademark curls. It was Lachlan who reminded her that if we all wanted to enjoy the Carols in peace, Ty would need to be incognito.
To drive to Weeroona Park, Lachie, Ellie and Steve piled into the Merc with the folks, while Ty, Scott, George and I took Ty's car. We did several laps of the block around the park until Frank was satisfied that our parking spots were safe.
We found a comfortable spot on the lawn with a great view of the stage, and as dusk settled a beautiful little community carols service began. It had a homely feel to it, but the stage was lavishly decorated and both the sound system and lighting were top notch; I wondered whether my guy had had anything to do with upping the ante?
Choirs sang and some excellent local singers did a carol, sometimes two. Between times we saw local dancing classes strut the Christmas routine they'd been learning for months, and pre-school choirs dressed up as elves prancing about to the delight of parents and grandparents.
Between times, a jovial MC did introductions, and kept referring to a very special guest coming up later in the evening.
"He means Santa, of course," Dot whispered to us. "Santa always appears!"
We got stuck into the delicious food Dot and George had prepared and, because Dorothy believes Carols -- like Church -- should be an alcohol-free experience, we sipped on hot chocolate from a thermos. I knew that Ty was avoiding most of the food, and the milk, because he was trying not to eat anything that might affect his singing, but Dorothy was none the wiser and kept fussing about why he wasn't eating.
"I think Tyson's coming down with something, Frank!" she announced. "Maybe he should go home to bed?"
"I'm fine, Mum," Ty assured her. "I'm just not hungry. I, er, ate quite a lot at Lachie and Ellie's."
"But you're always hungry, son," Dot insisted. "You're probably getting a cold. You should have an early night. Frank, you should drive Tyson home."
"If Tyson says he's fine, Dorothy, he's fine!" Frank replied. "End of story."
"Well don't blame me when he spends New Years in bed," Dot grumbled, as she continued to fuss through a few more carols. When the MC announced a local church choir as presenters of three uplifting Christmas songs, I knew Ty had heard his cue. He started to get up when Dorothy pulled him back down.
"Where are you going, son?" she asked anxiously. "You're not sick are you? See Frank, I knew you should have taken him home."
"I'm fine Mum!" Ty whispered in exasperation. "I saw Cameron over the other side of the park, and I'm just going to say hello."
"You mean that chubby boy you used to play with at school?"
"He wasn't chubby, Mum! And we didn't play', we hung out'."
"Well say hello to his parents, but don't stay long. We'll be going home right after Santa arrives."
Ty promised his Mother he wouldn't be long, before circuitously weaving his way backstage. We listened to the choir singing "Joy To The World", "Good King Wenceslas" and "Silent Night" before the MC once more took centre stage to thank them.
"You know, Stanthorpe has been blessed with some famous sons," he began. "We gave the sporting world Greg Ritchie, the television world Ben Dark and the music industry `Australia's Got Talent' finalist David de Vito, who performed for us earlier ..."
Dorothy seemed annoyed. "You'd think they'd mention Tyson!" he griped. "Frank, can you believe that?"
The MC continued, "But we'd have to all agree that the man who has really put Stanthorpe on the Australian map is our very own Tyson Hill!"
"Oh!" said Dorothy, as the crowd cheered. "Is he going to sing? Frank? Michael?!"
"We promised you a very special guest tonight folks," the MC announced as he moved to the side, "and here he is. Stanthorpe's Tyson Hill!"
The look on the faces around me was priceless; they all looked at each other and then all eyes turned to me, as Ty walked on stage to tumultuous applause. I just grinned at the family -- my family -- and turned to watch my guy work his magic.
Dressed in tight black pants with a burgundy silk jacket over a simple black tee-shirt, Ty waved as the band struck up the opening chords of a familiar favourite.
"I saw Mummy kissing Santa Claus, underneath the mistletoe last night; she didn't see me creep down the stairs to have a peep; She thought that I was tucked up in my bedroom fast asleep ..." Ty sang, and Dorothy immediately started to cry. Tears ran down her beaming face all through the song until Ty finished: "Oh, what a laugh it would have been if Daddy had only seen, Mummy kissing Santa Claus last night."
When the applause died down, Ty thanked the audience. "What a buzz it is to be here with you all tonight," he said. "For so many years I've been sitting out there with you, with my Mum and Dad and my brothers, and to be on stage singing for you tonight really is something special!
"You know, funny thing about that song. That really happened! When I was about six, my Dad Frank Hill was asked to fill in as Santa Claus at a local event, so he disappeared early on Christmas Eve. Quite early in the night, my brother Lachie and I were bundled off to bed, but I woke up around midnight and I just had to know whether Santa had been.
"I tiptoed out of the bedroom down the hall, and I could hear Christmas music playing in the lounge. I poked my head around the corner and what a shock I got! There was my Mother -- Dot Hill -- KISSING SANTA! It never occurred to me that Dad had arrived home and hadn't changed out of his costume. I ran back to my room and woke Lachie up to tell him. He sat up, called me a liar, and punched me!"
Lachlan chuckled at the memory, and Dot leaned over and kissed Frank. "I sang that tonight for my Mum! I've been able to sing a few songs for family recently. On my last tour, I sang a beautiful old country song I learned as a kid from my Dad, and I sang for my brother Lachie at the benefit concert for his fallen countrymen Lieutenant Matthew Burgess and Private Rodney Maguire at their funerals in Sydney.
"Lachie's only recently found out that he and his beautiful partner Ellie are going to parents to twins in a little while, so Ellie -- this next song is for you ..."
"A ray of hope flickers in the sky, a tiny star lights up way up high, all across the land dawns a brand new morn, this comes to pass when a child is born ..." he began, and this time it was Ellie's turn to cry.
It was an awesome experience to hear Ty's crystal clear, strong voice tackle something so gentle and beautiful, but he nailed it, and as the song came to an end many people in the crowd stood and clapped.
Ty took his bows, before continuing, "Lachie and I used to LOVE Christmas and opening our presents from Santa! But the BEST present we ever got didn't come from Santa, it came from our Mum and Dad. It was our little brother Scotty, who came along when I was 12. When they came home from hospital, Lachie and I just took Scotty from Mum, and she didn't see him again until he was 15!"
The crowded laughed and cheered, as Ty got comfortable on a stool centre-stage and placed his mike back on its stand.
"Once Scotty was in nappies and crawling around all day, it was like Lachie and I had a new pet! And even when he started to walk and talk, he was our best mate. He's the one immediate family I've not yet sung a song for, so I thought I'd make that right tonight. Here's a beautiful little song from the very early Seventies. It's from the pen of Mac Davis, and was made a big hit by Bobby Goldsboro ..."
"There he sits with a pen and a yellow pad, what a handsome lad, that's our boy!; BRLFQ spells mum and dad, but that ain't too bad, that's my boy!; You can have your TV and your nightclubs, and you can have your drive-in picture show, we'll stay here with our little man near, we'll listen to the radio, me and Lachie just watching Scotty grow ..."
As the crowd clapped along, it was a damp-eyed moment for the whole Hill family. What made me tear up was watching Lachlan put his arm around his younger brother and ruffle his hair. The crowd was singing along on the chorus by the time Ty finished the song; "We'll be there in a minute or so, think we'll stay right here and say a little prayer before we go, us and God, watching Scotty grow."
Sustained applause from the audience and beaming smiles from the Hill family led to Ty still on stage, and I was surprised by how eager the audience seemed to be for more. It looked for a moment like Ty was about to sing again, but he turned and looked skywards as we all heard distant bells.
Ty grinned at the audience as the bells started to get louder. "I'd love to stay here and sing for you all night, but I know when I've been upstaged!" he laughed. "It's been a pleasure to be your guest tonight, but the REALLY special guest is about to arrive. Merry Christmas everyone -- God bless you all! And here's the guy you've all been waiting for -- Santa Claus!"
Ty exited stage left as Santa entered to the right, to a backdrop of the combined choirs singing "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town."
Dorothy leaned in and gave me a kiss on the cheek. "You knew about this, didn't you, you naughty boy!" she giggled. "And I thought Tyson had a cold!"
"He really wanted to do this," I told the family. "He wouldn't tell me what he was singing though, so it was as much of a surprise for me as it was for you."
"That song for Scotty was ace, eh?" whispered Lachlan. "I've never heard him sing that before."
"He probably learnt it just for tonight," said Frank. "He learns songs very quickly."
When Santa's welcome was complete, the MC talked to Santa, who started off by saying "I was watching tonight's show on close circuit television in my sleigh, and I heard Tyson Hill talk about his Mum. And I want everyone to know ... I did not kiss that woman!"
The crowd dissolved in laughter and Santa continued, "It was that imposter Frank Hill! And people have been blaming me all these years!"
Santa walked up and down the stage throwing lollies to the children at the front of the audience, while everyone -- us included -- joined in the evening's finale, "We Wish You A Merry Christmas".
I sat and listened as Dot and Frank excitedly relived Ty's whole performance, as the crowds began to disperse. After a while, Dorothy realised that Ty was taking a long time coming back to us.
"I think he's probably staying backstage," I assured her. "He'll either be waiting til almost everyone's gone, or he'll have been cornered by fans. Let's go collect him."
We all stood and helped pack up before making our way to the backstage tents where, sure enough, Ty was chatting with local fans and old friends, signing autographs and posing for photographs. We waited patiently until they'd all had their moment, and Ty made his way over to us. He was immediately set up by Lachlan and Scott and then everyone hopped in with a hug and excited banter.
Everyone -- Ty included -- was still on a high and once we were back at the farm, George made everyone a nice cup of tea and a slice of Christmas cake.
Lachlan and Ellie eventually said they were leaving with Steve, and after we'd bid them goodnight Dot suggested we all turn in because it was late.
"And Frank," she said, "I think we can all sleep in tomorrow morning. The chickens can wait an hour for their feed!"
"Yes Dot, we'll all be up at seven," Frank smiled. "That's when I've told Lachlan, Ellie and Steve to be here."
Frank winked at Ty and me. He knew as well as we did, there'd be no sleeping in for us on Christmas morning ...
Always happy to have your feedback. marcusis32@live.com.au
FOOTNOTE:
You can hear other versions of songs referenced in this chapter via the following links:
I Saw Mummy Kissing Santa Claus (John Mellencamp): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsat4e8jgHA
When A Child Is Born (Johnny Mathis) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J14r535GSmg
Watching Scotty Grow (Bobby Goldsboro) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OLHevJPHR8