Growing Up Chase

By Rebel Yell

Part Three (Age 10)

"You need to stop this sort of thing now." Rob stopped just outside the door to the den, having been sent to summon his father and uncles for dinner. Grandfather had died last week, and today was the funeral. Rob thought it odd that no one had cried. He was an altar boy, and most funerals at least a few people cried. Then again, Grandfather hadn't been very nice. At least not to Rob. He wasn't mean either. He was just there, sitting and staring and always watching. He'd nod silently if Rob did something he of which he approved, and frown if Rob misbehaved somehow. Whilst at the funeral today, Rob had tried to remember every time his grandfather spoke to him. He could remember only five times.

"I'm not sure I understand, Frank." That was his father, sounding tired. Maybe Dad was missing Grandfather after all. Dad didn't think much of showing emotion, so he was probably just being strong.

" She's turning him into a right poofter! Piano lessons and dance classes? He told Caroline she has a modeling shoot arranged for him? Boy his age ought to be playing football, boxing or rugby - at least cricket. Does he play any sport?"

"Victoria has certain interests to which she wants to expose her son. I don't see the harm in Rob spend a bit of time with her." Uncle Alex, his dad's brother, was Rob's favorite uncle. He lived in Melbourne, though, and he didn't get see him very much. "Lord knows the boy hardly sees her at all. Honestly Rowan, if she wants to be a party-girl model again, if she's not interested in being a wife and mother - leave her. Take Robert and move out."

" He needs to be tougher. Last time he was 'round our place he let Harry run roughshod over him. No backbone to the lad." Rob really didn't like Uncle Frank, or his cousin Harry. " He's a right poofter is all I'm saying. Nip it in the bud now, or you watch - he'll be a little pillow-biter before he's twenty.'

"Dad?" Robert spoke from outside the doorway, making it seem he was just approaching the door. "Mum says dinner is ready." The men filed out the room, and Robert looked at the floor diligently. He knew what a poofter was, and a pillow-biter (Harry had explained, graphically, the last time Robert had stayed there). Maybe he was one, he didn't know. It didn't sound very nice though, and he couldn't imagine wanting to be one. He'd go to hell if he was - that's what Mum had said. She didn't know he was wondering, but he'd asked about men who were…like that, and she'd said that it was sad because sometimes people just couldn't help doing things that were wrong, and they ended up going to hell because of them.

"You heard all that didn't you, Rob?" Uncle Alex dropped a hand to his shoulder, and squeezed a bit harder than was comfortable. Uncle Alex was really big, and he sometimes hugged too hard. He didn't mean to hurt, but he did.

" I play football you know. I tried for rugby, but the coach said I was too small still this year. I tried boxing too, but Mum didn't like it. She said I'd break my nose, and ruin myself or something. I don't not do it because I'm a…one of those." Mum had also said he oughtn't use that word, the one Uncle Frank used.

" Well, mums worry about stuff like broken noses."

" I think she was more worried I'd look funny in the pictures."

" Probably a fair assessment." Uncle Alex never lied to him, never pretended that Rob had normal parents who loved him as much as normal parents did.

" Dad just wants me to get high marks. He doesn't care about sport. Mum wants me to be handsome. But I think…Mr. Freeman wants me to go for swimming - I'm very good. Not at the backstroke. I'm only good at freestyle."

"Do you want to join this…is it a local team?"

" Yes. But I have to get Mum to sign some paper so I can."

" Have you asked her?"

" No. But I don't think she'll say no. I can't break my nose swimming can I?"

" Not unless you swim face first into the wall."

" That's silly." Rob giggled, "I'd hit the wall with my arm or something first wouldn't I?"

" Of course."

" She doesn't like football. I got a black eye a few weeks ago. It was cool. I couldn't see out my right eye. That wasn't so cool, but Abby Bancroft thought it looked cool."

" Do you like Abby, Rob?"

" She's nice. She swims for Queensborough too. Backstroke."

" Nothing to do with you wanting to join the Queensborough swim club yourself?"

" Well…maybe a little. She makes me…feel funny. Sort of like laughing and being scared at the same time."

" Rob, I don't think you need to worry too much about your Uncle Frank thinking you're a poofter."

" But…what if I am?"

" Then I don't think you'd care much either way if Abby thought your black eye was cool."