"You know, I never thought you were violent like your brothers, you seemed like an alright kid." John says as he leans back against the fence. "I guess the apple never falls far from the tree."
"Is that why you've never had kids, cause they'd be annoying as well?"
"I have a daughter actually, well I did. She didn't want anything to do with me since she never really knew me." John says.
"Oh…" Kyle mutters, feeling awkward now. "I think I need more trees from over here, I'm just going to get them." He says, walking over to the truck they were in, and also where Casey was now standing.
"Looks like you're having fun." He smirks.
"I've only been in community service for an hour and I've already put my foot in it with John. Did you know he had a daughter?" Kyle asks.
"Gina has mentioned something before. I don't know details, just that she doesn't have a relationship with John." Casey says.
"Well that would have been useful to know before this. Only 199 hours to go until I'm free of John's supervision for good." Kyle says.
"Have fun bro. I'm off to the diner for lunch, I'll try not to enjoy it." Casey smirks as he walks off.
"Idiot." Kyle shakes his head, picking up as many tree bulbs he could carry before walking back over to where John was standing.
"It's great that we can give back to the community like this. This could give the Surf Club some really good recognition." John says.
"We? You're just standing there, I'm the one digging holes and planting all of these trees!" Kyle moans.
"I'm not the one who murdered someone, now get back to it. I don't need you slacking. I want all of the trees in the back of the truck planted by the end of this community service day." John says.
"That's like 100 trees! There's no way I can dig all the holes and plant the trees in 4 hours!" Kyle complains.
"Well not if you stand around yapping all day, get to it." John orders, walking back towards the Surf Club.
"Where are you going?" Kyle asks.
"I've got some duties to carry out, I'm trusting you to not do a runner while I'm gone. If these trees don't get planted today, you won't be getting a good report." John says before walking away.
"Now I know why no one likes you." Kyle huffs, angrily grabbing the shovel leaning against the fence before deciding to dig some holes in the hopes he gets it done faster.
"Alright bro." Heath smiles as him and Brax walk over to Kyle.
"No." Kyle hisses. "John's given me an impossible amount to do before the end of the community work day. Plus I'm the only one doing community service here so that gives me even more work."
"I'm sure it's not that impossible." Brax says.
"I've got to dig about 100 holes to plant all of these tree bulbs in and I've only been given today to do it or John's giving me a bad report." Kyle says.
"Well where is John?" Brax asks.
"He's gone to do stuff in the Surf Club." Kyle says.
"Alright, give me the shovel. There's no way you're going to get all those holes dug with arms like yours, these on the other hand." Heath says, flexing his biceps before taking the shovel from him.
"Very funny." Kyle glares.
"I think the word you're looking for is thanks." Heath says. "You two ladies can plant the trees."
"I would but I'm guessing you're going to want someone making sure John doesn't come out and catch you cheating. I think you two have it covered here." Brax says.
"Yeah, good point. I don't need him slating me for anything else today." Kyle says as Brax heads off to the Surf Club.
"So are you really going to help me cause I can't fall any more behind than I am already." Kyle says.
"Well I'm digging aren't I? Just get a move on with those bulbs or you'll never be finished before your 30th birthday." Heath smirks.
"Why are you in such a good mood today? And I'm not 30 for a very long time." Kyle glares.
"No reason. Why, do you not want my help?" Heath asks.
"No I do. One bad report from John and I'm off to prison." Kyle says. "Thanks for helping me, I had a lot to do by myself. Well everyday I've got a lot to do actually."
"Why don't we see if we can get more people put on community service here to help you out?"
"Cause that would give John another thing to complain to me about if I brought more 'criminals' to Summer Bay. You know he said he thought I was a good kid but 'the apple doesn't fall far from the tree'. What does that even mean?" Kyle frowns as he plants more trees, managing to get them done a lot quicker with Heath helping him.
"It's not like this family was the best behaved when we first moved here. Maybe he thought you would have been different given everything. Just don't listen to John, he's always had bad things to say about our family." Heath says.
"Alright. And make sure you leave enough room between each hole, I don't need John complaining about anything else today." Kyle says.
"Have you got to do this every day?"
"No, I think the tree planting is just today. Tomorrow and the rest of the week I've got to clean up the whole length of the beach." Kyle says, lightly rolling his eyes.
"Geez, you're really being put to work aren't ya!" Heath says, them both getting back to it before John came back out.
"What's going on?" Kyle asks as he walks up to John to sign in.
"For some reason I've been given more half wits to babysit." John shakes his head.
"More half wits?" Kyle scoffs before throwing his hi-vis vest back on the table.
"Oi, what do you think you're doing? Put that back on right now." John orders, getting the attention of everyone else in the Surf Club, including Kyle's brothers and McCarthy, who had come to check in on them.
"No! I am done doing community service under the supervision of someone like you. All you do is make digs and give me impossible jobs to do knowing I would never be able to get it all done by myself!" Kyle snaps. "There's no point complaining about it, John, you've already said multiple times you don't want to babysit brain dead people like me so go shove that hi-vis up your ass you absolute moron!"
"You can't talk to me like that! You'd be in prison if it wasn't for me willing to take you on doing community service here." John firmly says.
"I'd rather be in prison than under the watch of a bully like you!" Kyle glares before walking out, McCarthy following him which Brax saw, so ran after them.
"Oi McCarthy, you can't send him to prison for sticking up for himself and refusing to do his community service." Brax says.
"I'm not." McCarthy says. "I was actually about to tell Kyle I would find him a new supervisor that he will actually respect."
"How am I meant to respect someone that treats me like dirt?" Kyle huffs. "And you said there were no second chances, so why are you going to find me a new supervisor?"
"I was given last week's report this morning, I was impressed with the amount of work you completed. Although I am confused about the fact that you planted over 100 tree bulbs in 5 hours as that's normally at least a 6 man job from past experiences with community service." McCarthy says. "So come on, tell me how you managed to get that done and I'll consider getting you a nicer supervisor."
"I don't know what you're talking about." Kyle mutters, glancing at Brax.
"Well how about I'll let Darryl here be your supervisor if you tell me the truth."
"Me?" Brax frowns. "Yeah right!"
"You're a respected business owner from what I've heard from residents of Summer Bay, so you know this community well. It's either that or John Palmer, there's not many other options in a small town like this."
"Heath helped me." Kyle quickly says. "He didn't think it was fair that I was given a lot of work either, so helped out when John wasn't around."
"Okay, well I'll have to check a few things over, but I'll get the paperwork sorted. I'm sure you get bossed around enough by him to know how it works." McCarthy says before walking back into the Surf Club.
"Have you actually just become my supervisor?" Kyle asks.
"Looks like it, so go and get your stuff before McCarthy changes his mind." Brax says, walking back inside with Kyle to an angry looking John.
"Oh I don't think so. You are banned from coming back into my Surf Club." John says, firmly pointing at Kyle.
"You can't do that!" Kyle frowns.
"This is my Club, I can do what I want."
"But I work upstairs!" Kyle says, glancing at Brax.
"Kyle isn't banned from anywhere. Maybe if you didn't let the power go to your head even more, people wouldn't stop respecting you." Brax says. "And don't even think about calling my brother brain dead again, or I'll be the one you'll be dealing with."
"And me." Heath says, staring firmly at John.
"Yeah, and me." Casey says, grinning at Kyle, who shakes his head.
"You lot, get outside. I want that beach done today" John orders the other people doing community service.
"Nah, you don't boss them around anymore either." Brax says, stopping the small group of people. "I'm your new supervisor, not him."
"You've got to be joking me." John folds his arm. "Since when were criminals allowed to supervise other criminals?" He asks McCarthy.
"Since they seem to have more respect from the community than certain people." McCarthy says. "When I asked you to supervise the community service group, I thought you'd be the best person for the job, but that has been proven otherwise. Your services are no longer required Mr Palmer. Hand Darryl the list of jobs that need doing and the reports, he's the new supervisor."
"So it's serious then?" Heath asks his brother.
"Yep. Who else would be better at bossing our little bro around." Brax smirks as everyone gets back to what they were doing.
"You know I'm the one that saved your life, so why am I the one that is still paying for that?" Kyle asks.
"Stop complaining Kyle, I'm not going slack on you just because you're my brother. You're going to be punished for what you did, and what better way than me bossing you around for even longer?" Brax smirks, handing Kyle his hi-vis. "Now get outside and start cleaning the beach up, I want it spotless. And that goes for all of you as well, get out there." He orders the group.
"You're going to have so much fun doing that." Heath laughs.
"That I am." Brax smirks.
"Need a hand?" Heath asks.
"Like me saying no would stop you." Brax says as they walk out of the Surf Club.
Brax didn't really want to help McCarthy in supervising a group of people doing community service and only accepted so he could make sure Kyle wasn't going to be mistreated by John again. He also thought it would be a good opportunity to make sure Kyle never thought of committing a crime again in the future, even though it was an accident in the first place. He felt a sense of belonging now, knowing people didn't see him as a bad person anymore, and he felt like he had to make sure his brothers didn't get into crime again either, this being a start.