This Charming Man

Twenty Three

The track was still flooded and a small boat was supposed to transport me and Mr Weekes over to the platform but with no boat in sight and Mr Weekes already slipping off his shoes and socks and rolling up his pants, it looked like our only option was to walk. As much as I insisted, Mr Weekes refused to make me carry his suitcase and lugged it over his shoulder instead.

"It's too heavy for you," he kept saying.

The platform was deserted as always. We took a seat on one of the two benches either side of the lamp post and I watched Mr Weekes dry his feet and put his shoes back on.

"What's the time?" he asked, finally sitting up and I glanced over his head at the clock face hanging from the lamp post.

"Nearly 7 o'clock."

"Oh. That's not a lot of time," he said and I frowned in confusion as he started searching through his jacket pockets. "Is the train usually on time?"

I hesitated. "I-I don't actually know. Do you need some help, Mr Weekes?"

Instead of answering, Mr Weekes gave a triumphant laugh and help up two folded pieces of paper. "Ha! Found 'em!"

My heart stopped and my eyes widened when I realised Mr Weekes was holding two, not just one, two train tickets between his fingers. He held them out for me and flashed me a satisfied grin. All I could do was stare. I'd never seen real train tickets before and the fact that they were there, just there right in front of me, Mr Weekes just holding them like the little pieces of paper they really were, was completely incomprehensible to me.

"Aren't you going to take them?"

I blinked back into focus and looked at him. "M-Mr Weekes, I can't, I... I really can't. This is too much..."

Mr Weekes scoffed and put them in my hands anyway, closing my fingers around them. "Don't be stupid; this is nothing. Consider it a gift for looking after me so well this week," he smiled and patted my hands. I opened my hand and stared down at the little crumpled pieces of paper.

"Mr Weekes, I..." I began.

"Oh wait, I almost forgot! See," he took them both out my hands and held them up, one in each hand, "This one is specifically for you, okay? Make sure you use this one. Remember, it has a sun stamp on it," he said and put it back on my palm.

"And this one; this one has a crescent moon stamp it. And I want you to give it to Ryan," he said.

I blinked. "R-Ryan?"

Mr Weekes nodded and smiled. "Specifically for Ryan, okay?"

I swallowed. "O-okay."

Mr Weekes sighed and rested his hand on my shoulder. "Look, I know you fell out with him but it's nothing, trust me. This time next week, neither of you will even be thinking about it. And look," he paused to sit up and ruffle his hair, "I-I know it's none of my business but honestly, Brendon, I think Ryan might be better for you in the long run."

I paused and looked at him. "Wait. Wh-what?"

Mr Weekes shuffled, looking uncomfortable. "I-I just think since... Well you can't exactly be with me; I-I'm a lot older than you and I live far away a-and I think, you know since you and Ryan have known each other for so long and..."

His voice was drowned out by the approaching steam train and we both looked up as the train pulled into the station. Mr Weekes breathed out and smiled at me.

"I-I guess this is it then," he said, quickly standing up.

I swallowed and hesitated before standing up and helping Mr Weekes with his bags. He was avoiding looking at me. "Do you honestly think I should be with Ryan?" I asked and he glanced at me briefly and nodded.

"I-if you want to, of course. It'll be easier for you."

I frowned. I felt a light blush bloom on my cheeks and I wrapped my arms around Mr Weekes' waist tightly before he could see it.

"I think I'm gonna miss you," I mumbled into him and I smiled slightly, listening to his laugh echo in his chest.

"I think I'm gonna miss you too, kid," Mr Weekes said and brushed away my bangs to kiss to my forehead. Behind us, we heard the conductor clear his throat and I squeeze his waist once before stepping back.

"Got your tickets, right?" Mr Weekes asked and I held them up with a smile.

Mr Weekes planted a kiss on my forehead and winked. "See you soon, Brendon," and he turned and stepped on to the train.

I kept on waving, even after the train was out of sight. The wind whipped at my clothes and ruffled my hair out of place as I watched the billow of smoke disappear behind the cliffs. I breathed out steadily, then stuffed the tickets into my pants pocket, picked up my shoes and began wading along the track back to the bath house.