Chapter 16: Never trust a good thing
Cheryl had just picked up Brax and Heath from school and groaned as she walked through the door with her boys talking in front of her.
"Make sure you two go and be'ave yourselves and don't get under my hair."
The boys nodded and ran off to Brax's room to play. A short while later Danny walked through the door with open arms and a large smile on his face. Cheryl saw he was carrying a bag of two parcels.
" 'ow's me wife?" Danny walked over to Cheryl and gave her a hug and kiss.
"What put you in such a good mood?" Danny pulled out a huge wad of cash from his pocket. "This." He flapped the money in his hand.
"I just pulled off the best deal in the business and we got the mother load." Danny smiled and kissed Cheryl again.
"Geez how much is that?" "$800 big bucks." Cheryl hugged her husband it meant they would have more money for 'important things'. Danny pulled away.
"Where's me boys?" "There in their room." Danny walked towards the hallway and yelled, "Darryl! Heath! Come out here."
Upon hearing their father's voice the two boys froze and dropped their toy soldiers. "Brax what did we do?" Heath asked panicked. Brax patted Heath on the shoulder. "I don't know mate. But I'll take the fall whatever it is okay? I won't let you get hurt." Heath looked to his brother worried. Brax too was wrecking his mind to think of something they had done or forgotten to do.
Brax held Heath behind him as the two walked into the living room and looked to their father.
"My boys... Both of you come here now." Danny said sternly. Brax held Heath's hand and the two cautiously approached their father.
"Dad, we're sorry if Heath and I did anything wrong...We'll make up for it...we swear." Brax spoke softly, thinking that if he apologized for what they done wrong they would get off the hook a little easier.
"Tut, tut Darryl, so distrusting. Have you or Heath done something wrong that I should know about?" Danny narrowed in closer to his boys.
"No Dad." Brax whispered and squeezed his brother's hand. Danny stood up tall.
"You boys been good for ya mother and at school?" Not quite sure what to say Brax replied a quiet "yes" while Heath nodded slowly.
Danny watched them for a moment before he reached over to the table and grabbed the bag containing the two parcels and held them out to them. Brax stared at the parcels confused.
"'ere take 'em. One's for you Darryl and one's for Heath."
Heath let go of Brax's hand and stood next to his brother taking the parcel. "Dad what is this?" Brax asked.
"Don't ask questions Darryl, just open the damn thing before I change my mind on giving it to ya."
Brax and Heath looked at each other and unwrapped the parcels. Both boys developed a surprised smile when they saw what they were holding. Brax had a surfing book that showed all about the techniques of surfing, and understanding boards and waves, it was a book Brax had had his eye on for some time and Heath had a fire engine set, with a built in extending ladder and toy hose. Brax looked up at his father. It was rare if ever that they received presents from their parents.
"Thanks Dad." Brax said quietly. "Yeah thanks Dad." Heath replied.
"Yeah alright, don't go all soft on me just cause I get ya something nice." Danny told them firmly.
"Brax, do you wanna play fire engines with me?" Heath asked.
Brax smiled at his brother. "Sure, let's go."
Brax tapped Heath's arm and the two ran off back into Brax's room to play with Heath's new fire engine set. As Brax and Heath played with the fire engine set, Brax couldn't help but get suspicious that their father had given them a present, something didn't seem right.
When Brax knew Danny had gone back out to get some alcohol for him and Cheryl, leaving Cheryl in the living room, Brax had to investigate. Brax stood up and tapped Heath on the shoulder, "I'll be back in a minute."
"Where are you going? I wanna come." Heath got up and went to follow.
"You can't this time mate. I need to check something."
Brax snuck out of his room and watched his mother on the couch. Brax snuck into the doorway of his parents' bedroom and was about to go in when he was startled and jumped when he heard an unexpected voice behind him, "Brax, I thought we not allowed to go into Mum and Dad's bedroom without permizzon."
"Geez Heath you scared me. Don't sneak up on me like that. I told you to stay in the room."
"What are you doing?" "Nothing. Now go. You can keep an eye on Mum down the hallway and let me know if you see her get up to come this way."
"Aren't you gonna get in trouble?" "Not if Mum and Dad don't find out. Now please Heath." Brax whispered, trying not to disturb his mother.
Heath walked down the hall and watched his mother whilst Brax continued into the room. Brax carefully snuck around snooping for anything he could find, until he finally came across a pouched wallet hidden deep in the mattress of the bed. Brax opened the wallet and gasped when he saw chunks of money notes. Brax heard a car door slam and knew his father was back home and he could not risk getting caught, Brax quickly shoved the money back in the wallet and stuffed it back in the mattress and turned to see Heath at the door.
"Brax Dad is home and Mum is getting up." "Thanks mate. I'm coming." Brax quickly glanced around the room to make sure he didn't mess it up in a way his parents would notice someone had been snooping and ran out of the room.
"What were you doing in there Brax?" Brax pushed Heath back into his room "nothing you need to worry about mate."
Heath lent back down to grab his toy and Brax soon followed, as the two continued to play, but Brax couldn't help wondering where his father got so much money from.