Chapter 13: Chip Off The Old Block

So, time marched on for the Diarmid's, as it did for everyone. Curtis and Tara grew up and eventually Luke Hans was released from prison.

On his arrival back in Appaloosa Plains, before he even went home, Luke wandered down to the beach to soak in the sun, smell the fresh sea air and bask in his new found freedom. He had been cooped up for so long, he needed to just be by himself, to think and adjust to being out. With years of no hair product, his unruly mop had gone back into its natural thick mohawk, similar to how his father's had been when he was younger. He knew his father was dead. A lot of things were different now - his wife had hardened through necessity and his kids had grown up without him. But a trip to the barber would sort out the hair trouble.

While Luke Hans gathered his thoughts at the beach, not far away, Curtis, alone at home, was having breakfast and daydreaming about how meeting his father would go and if they would do things together. It had been just the three of them for so long he could hardly imagine his father living with them now.

 As he washed up his dishes, all kinds of worrisome thoughts flooded his mind. Would his Dad be nice? Would he try to take over things at home and tell them all what to do? Things had been perfectly good without him here all this time, what did they need him for anyway? A sense of anxiety settled over Curtis. He had to admit he was not feeling so positive about his Dad's imminent arrival.

He showered and dressed and heard a knock at the door.

Suddenly he was opening the door and his father stepped into the house saying "Hi Curtis. It's good to see you!. Wow you are almost a grown up young man! Ummm why aren't you at school? It's a Tuesday....school is in right?"

Curtis didn't know what to say. He felt like Luke was both a stranger and also picking on him within minutes of being here. There was a long and uncomfortable silence in which the two of them took the other's measure. Curtis decided he didn't feel like submitting to Luke's authority right there and then. He had Study Hall on Tuesday mornings and didn't have to go to class until 11am, but he shrugged instead and said coldly "What's it to you?"

__ ~ __

Marjorie of course had organised a celebration to welcome Luke back home.  She invited a few work colleagues, her boss the owner of Plumbob Pictures, Frederick Bedlington and other friends.

Luke was overwhelmed. He was not used to social gatherings like this, but he wanted to make a good impression on everyone. So he tried to be polite and friendly, but inside he was amazed that Marjorie had done so well without him.

Lesley came over to mark the occasion. She considered it bittersweet. On the one hand at long last her son was safely home, on the other hand her son was an ex-con with years of wasted time and a tarnished reputation that would be hard to shirk. She was under no illusions.

Luke was astounded at how much his mother had aged. She looked so frail and old and ...he could tell she was still judgey.

This is Tara. She adores a good party. But she's feeling a little weirded out at this one. Total stranger jailbird father. Overly happy overcompensating mother.....

 Missing in action rebellious brother. Stiff old judgey croc grandma. And a bunch of try-too-hard people she hardly knows.

 Her grandma shuffles up to ask her where Curtis is hiding. "I haven't seen your brother all night? What's happening?" Tara thought Lesley had this animal like sixth sense, she could smell a problem like a bloodhound. Must be all those years animal wrangling. Tara really quite liked her grandma, she was a game old bird, had toughed it out raising two boys by herself. She was straight with her.

" Shh grandma, don't say anything but Curtis has skipped the place and gone out clubbing. He seemed really off today, like just looking to cause a fight, being really difficult. So I guess he's better off out of it."
"Clubbing!!??" Lesley repeated a little too loudly.
"Yeah at that cool place in town - the Ocean Room? They have a suspended water tank pool thing. He has a fake ID and everything...."

Marjorie, standing within earshot, stifled a shriek of dismay. This was not how it was supposed to go....they were supposed to be a reunited family.

Lesley told Marjorie to go back to her guests and not to alert Luke, she had a plan. She would call Jethro, who was working late at Shear Perfection and get him to track Curtis down.

Across town Curtis was soothing his dark mood with a zingy cocktail. The Ocean room was a new discovery for him, the music was loud, he was eying up a hot mixologist and feeling mellow away from the drama at home.

Luke went to the bathroom to relieve himself and freshen up. He felt a rising heat that made him want to dance and laugh for no reason. This was fun!

When he returned to the bar, standing at the bar was his Uncle Jethro.
"Heeeeyyyyy, Uncle Jessroooo!" Curtis felt surprisingly giddy and delighted to see his Uncle.
"Arryooo out to partay t'nite too!! Lemmeee shout youse one of theeeshamazing pink drinks!"

But Jethro looked less than happy to be there. "Good grief. You are wasted. How long have you been here? An how many drinks have you managed to con them into serving you?"

"Awwwww Unkers! Uncle Jeffrooo....isssmeee Curtis. Your very own nefffoooo. C'mon don' be mad! Gizzahugg! C'mon less hug it out....." Curtis felt like he was weightless, happy and carefree and could not understand why Jethro had such a sour look on his face. This place was so pretty and everyone should be happy. But Jethro was not going along with it. He pushed Curtis away and shouted at him, "Get your hands off me. You're in big trouble my lad! Come with me now and I'll take you home.We can talk to your Mum and Dad and maybe sort things out."

Upon hearing Jethro mention his father, Curtis' mood changed in a heartbeat.

"Gerrraway from me you....TRAITOR!" snarled Curtis. "You don tell me what to do! Berra runnnnn Uncle....before I lose my happy feeling and smack you up eh?"

The look on Curtis' face was demonic. His menacing tone and demeanour scared Jethro so much that he decided to back off.

  

 Curtis ordered another drink. he took it to the bathroom with him in case his goody-two-shoes Uncle decided to get all righteous on him and steal it. After drinking it he got his happy place back again and felt much better.

So much better. "These drinks are amazing!" he noted.

So good in fact he decided to strip down to his shorts and dive in the big blue glowing water tank that was part of the bar display, shouting "parrrrrty onnnnn!"

But the adrenaline rush was short lived. No one noticed that Curtis was partying in the tank. Curtis suddenly saw the cops entering the club while he simultaneously felt cold, wet and stupid.

The cops did not go lightly on him, once they took his details and discovered who his father was, they went all hard and unfriendly. Sobering up in the cruiser on the way home, he felt lucky to be getting away with just a warning. He knew the real punishment would be the look on his Dad's face when he arrived home in a cop car.

And he wasn't wrong.

Luke Hans went completely ballistic at him. "Are you an idiot or what?" he yelled. "Have I spent all those years locked up in a cell for no reason? That did not teach you any lesson at all? Do you want to end up wasting the best years of your life like I have?"

Curtis was tired and damp and very sorry for himself. "I only had a couple of drinks at a club Dad. Jeez its not like I was robbing a bank or...."

"It's against the law!" Luke cut him off brusquely. "And from now on the law is something you will respect! If anyone is going to go breaking any laws around here it will be me, and only me! We will not have another Diarmid going to prison. Okay?! Do you understand?"

Curtis nodded. It was too exhausting being all rebellious and bad and stuff. He just decided to agree and opt for a life of partying without the illegal stuff.