Nervous Kid by Colin Dereham

Author:Colin Dereham [Colin Dereham]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Colin Dereham
Published: 2022-10-27T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

After rolling our full bellies home, we both settle on the couch. Oscar switches on the TV. “Ugh. News. Boring. Why does dad watch it?”

Yeah, why indeed. It’s depressing. I’m expecting Oscar to change the channel to some awful anime rubbish, some horrible action cartoon. Once again, though, he goes straight for my favourite classic comedy channel. Several episodes of ‘Bewitched,’ several of ‘The Golden Girls’ and a few of ‘ALF’ thrown in for good measure—and the kid laughs throughout. At one point, he cuddles up close, nestling against me the way he did with his dad. My little nephew. I instantly turn to mush.

Oscar doesn’t even move when Dominic rushes through the door, charging up the hallway all a-fluster. “God, boys, I’m sorry it took so long!”

Oscar turns his head from where it’s snuggled in the crook of my arm. “That’s OK, dad.”

Sweet kid. But somehow I think that apology was aimed at me. “Don’t worry about it, Dominic.” I look down at Oscar. “We had fun, didn’t we?”

“Yeah, it was awesome!” He turns back to Dominic with glee. “We went to the beach and we swam and we went to Maccas and I had a quarter pounder and McNuggets and chips and a strawberry shake. But I didn’t have enough room for a sundae.” He looks up at me, a forlorn expression on his face.

“I promise we’ll get one another time, matey.” I don’t wanna disappoint this kid.

Dominic’s brows are raised in a dubious kind of amusement. I don’t know whether he’s upset about the junk food, but I couldn’t give a shit. What else are secret uncles for?

Late that night, with Oscar back at his mum’s, Dominic and I are cuddling in bed, our naked bodies pressed together, our hands roaming each other’s skin, brushing over each other’s fur. “I can’t thank you enough for what you did today, Ryan.”

He seems deeply touched. His brow is wrinkled and his mouth is set in a tiny upward curve. A gentle glow filters through the curtains and dances across his eyes, making them shine in the dark.

“Lontra, that kid is my nephew. He’s family, and I’ll do anything, alright?”

“You don’t know how much that means to me, baby,” he whispers. He takes hold of my hand and squeezes it. “Anna and I have been talking. She wants time alone with Dennis, so Oscar will be spending every second weekend here with me.” He searches my face. “Will you be OK with that? It won’t stop you coming to see me, will it?”

I reach up and stroke the back of my fingers against the dense softness of his beard. “Nothing will, lontra. Absolutely fuckin’ nothing.” I smile at him. The relief on his face is charming. “Anyway, that little bugger’s well and truly stolen my heart.”

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