Chapter 38

Dwayne opens his eyes; his head is throbbing from last night's party. He climbs out of bed and goes into the bathroom to try and clear some of his hangover. He takes a shower, has a shave and gets dressed. His clothes are all over the floor that he had been wearing at the party. He picks them up and chucks them on the back of a chair before sliding down the banisters and going into the kitchen. Stephanie, Ata and Rocky are all sitting round the table talking. Rocky is reading the paper and drinking a cup of tea.

"Good morning sunshine" Stephanie says as he sits down at the table rubbing his eyes.

"Morning, I don't think it's good though. I have the worst ever head-ache!" Dwayne moans as Ata hands him a cup of tea. "And why are my clothes all over the floor, I don't even remember taking them off" Dwayne says sleepily.

"Oh we just made passionate love all night that's all" Stephanie says looking at him waiting for his reaction. Dwayne can see Rocky laughing behind his paper.

"We did." Dwayne says looking blank

"No, I had to get you undressed because you lost all control over anything you did, you told me I was beautiful and then you fell off the bed, oh yeah but I mustn't forget when you walked into the wall and told it you were waiting for the bathroom and then when you were talking to you own reflection in the bathroom mirror, sounded like you two were having a great time" Stephanie laughs, Rocky and Ata laugh too, obviously they had already been told this story by Stephanie earlier. Dwayne puts his head down on the kitchen table.

"Did I really?" Dwayne asks looking up at Stephanie.

"I don't think I have ever laughed so much in my life," She says taking his hand and squeezing it. "But don't you worry, I still love you" She says laughing.

"Well at least I told you that you are beautiful that's the main thing right" Dwayne says looking at Chris as he stumbles through the door clutching his head.

"Not another one!" Rocky laughs as Chris slumps down in a chair, he gives everyone a weak smile before putting his head down on the table too. "Can't handle your drink either of you!" Rocky says patting the top of Dwayne's head. Rocky helps them both up and takes them outside, Stephanie and Ata look at each other before running outside too.

"Rocky no, you put my son in that swimming pool when he's in this state and you'll be sleeping on the couch!" Ata says as Rocky drags Dwayne and Chris towards the pool.

"Come on Ata, they're big boys. This is a great hang over cure, all they need is a early morning swim!" Rocky laughs "For god sake woman, I'm not going to drown my own son am I, I'll fish them out" Rocky says before throwing them both into the pool making them both suddenly snap out of their hung-over state and start swimming for the side of the pool coughing and spluttering.

"Feel any better?" Rocky asks picking them both up by their collars and dragging them onto the grass "If you don't then another dunk in the pool should make you feel better"

"No! I'm ok, no more dunks in the pool!" Dwayne splutters pulling himself up to his feet and helping Chris up.

"Thanks Mr. Johnson I feel like a million bucks!" Chris mumbles sarcastically, Ata wraps a couple of towels around them both as they head inside. "Stephanie, remind me to get that pool heated. I seem to be being pushed into that pool a lot recently" Dwayne says shivering. Rocky follows them inside still laughing about throwing them in the swimming pool.