Six Days in April

Chapter 9: Jayden Strikes Back

With the matter of whether he would be staying at Melbourne Grammar now pushed aside, Jayden thought he needed to finally have that talk with Chezdon.

"Hello, Chez, it's Jayden. Things have been pretty busy with me. Among other things, it looks like I'll be at Melbourne Grammar next year after all."

"Jayden, that's great news! What happened?"

"I'd rather tell you in person, Chez, perhaps when we've gotten through all this other stuff."

"OK, Jayden, whenever might be good for you. When would you like to talk, then?"

"What are you doing now, Chez?"

"I was going to go for a run, but if now is a good time for you, my run can wait."

"Why don't we meet at the South Melbourne Market? There's a coffee shop by there, very private, hardly anyone's ever there, and I know you've never turned down a cup of coffee."

Chezdon thought about Jayden's comment and thought that maybe he needed to re-evaluate drinking so much coffee, much as he had sworn off alcohol. His bowels and bladder would likely appreciate the thought, even if his brain  didn't. And it might do a world of good with his smile. Not that he seemed to have much to smile about these days.

"Sure," Chezdon responded.

"Would 20 minutes work?"

"Meet you then."

Meeting at the Market along Cecil Street, the two boys walked quickly to a coffee shop across the street. While Jayden enjoyed a cup of coffee, Chezdon opted for some iced tea.

"Since when, Chezdon Morrison, do you drink iced tea?" Jayden asked in as sarcastic a voice as he could muster.

Chezdon laughed and responded, "Since I realized that I was drinking too much coffee. And I might think it's too much tea soon, too. Enjoy the view, Jayden, while it lasts. It might not be for much longer."

Jayden just looked at Chezdon as he smiled, too. "I heard about the photo of you that that shrink took. Apparently, it showed your better half," Jayden said with a hint of a smile.

"Jayden, that's a tender subject."

"Aye, Chez, tender does seem to be the right word, actually. I heard from someone the suggestion that you could have used some make-up."

"My face wasn't the focus of the photo."

"Who said anything about your face?" Jayden chuckled.

"Okay, Jayden. Bad attempt at humor noted."

"I've started to wonder if we couldn't put together a calendar of boys from the school positioned just like you were. We could launch it as a fundraiser. All seniors. Maybe a junior like you thrown in for good measure."

"Jayden, even for you, that would mark a new low. Humorous, perhaps, but low." Now it was Chezdon's turn to chuckle. "Jayden, you're a wonderful guitar player. Hell, you were in a band. Why don't you focus on that instead of..." Chezdon paused. "Instead all of this sex crap."

 "Chez, we've had our share of fun together. We possibly know more about each other than either of us realizes. But no one seems to give me much attention any more. No one gives a crap. I've lost my family, essentially. No parents. Not any that I respect, at least. That was the appeal of Brody. He accepted me. He seemed fun. Little did I understand back then--it seems so long ago, even though it wasn't. What did I have left to work with?"

"Jayden, aside from your comments needing some revision if they're to accord with reality, you have a lot more to work with than sex. You've always had the interest, I grant you, but nothing like the last couple of months, it seems."