Wonderland
Driving home after evening surgery, Jack thought about the changes the last
week had brought and, particularly, about the young man who, in one short
week, had worked his way into his life and his heart.
Not that he was certain his feelings were returned. Yes, he was sure Dominic
liked him and clearly enjoyed his company but what wasn't clear was whether
the boy wanted more. Sometimes he thought yes and at others, no. Just now
he appeared to regard Jack in the same light Judy did: as a reliable older
brother or mentor; someone to turn to with their problems; someone who could
be relied upon to pull them back when trouble loomed or life became too
much.
Well if that was what Dominic needed just now then that was what he would
provide, thought Jack. Goodness knows, the kid needed the support. Coming,
as he had, from the close knit, highly disciplined ballet world into one
without structure or direction was clearly a frightening and disorientating
experience. However much the boy had wanted out, he'd lost the main focus
of his life and clearly needed help and support to rebuild and achieve his
new ambition. Jack was more than willing to provide that support. And if,
in the future, there could perhaps be something more? Well.. he'd see.
If nothing else, Jack thought, he was going to curb those damn tantrums! He'd stopped Judy throwing them so he was positive he could do the same by
Dominic. Admittedly she'd been about six at the time so maybe the same
methods wouldn't work but. Then again. He'd been more than tempted on
occasion and had come very close to it that first evening but the kid was
nineteen, for goodness' sake! He couldn't.could he? The car pulled up to
the house and he put the matter on a mental back burner to consider later.
As he opened the front door, a white cat flew out. This was strange when he
considered it as he only owned a black one. So were the white powder cat
prints going up the stairs. He stood momentarily on the doorstep, unsure
whether to follow the cat or investigate the footprints. A crash and yell
from above decided him. He dropped his bag and coat and raced upstairs.
Following the powder trail into the front bedroom, he was greeted by the
sight of Dominic's legs protruding from a seething pile of books and
shelves. Moving forward to dig him out, Jack also noticed in passing, that
the there appeared to be wallpaper strips everywhere; quite an achievement
given the very small amount of plaster showing on one wall. However, in all
fairness, that might have been because of the large hole in the centre of
the bared plaster. The fine dusting of white powder everywhere continued
to be a mystery however and one that would have to wait until he'd recovered
what was left of his young friend.
Clearing books from where he thought the head should be he observed
"I'm starting to wonder if I come home or fall down a rabbit hole when I
open that front door."
"It's not my fault!" the pile wailed, a little to the left of where he was
working. He adjusted his efforts accordingly and a surprisingly intact
Dominic was soon recovered.
"It was that damned cat!"
Jack laughed. Taking Dominic by the hand, he led him out of the room.
"Come on Alice. You can tell me all about it downstairs. I really can't
handle Wonderland without at least a cup of tea to sustain me."
Dominic followed muttering. "You're the one falling down the rabbit hole.
That makes you Alice"
A cry of " More tea. More tea" floated up the stairs by way of response
On entering the kitchen, they found a pale grey Derek waiting for them. He
was sitting in a pool of powder in the middle of the floor attempting to
wash himself and looking the picture of dejection. The look he cast Dominic
suggested that he disputed the boy's apportionment of blame for the
accident.
Putting some newspaper on the table, Jack scooped up the cat, dumped him in
the middle of it and began checking him over.
"What is this stuff anyway?" He asked.
"Plaster."
"How on earth? Never mind. His brush is in that drawer. Can you get it?
We'll have to try and brush it out."
"Wouldn't it be easier to give him a bath?"
"Have you ever tried bathing a cat? Anyway, if we get this wet it'll go
solid. He'd set." Jack finished with a grin.
"Wouldn't that be a shame" muttered Dominic, handing over the brush and
turning away in search of comfort in the form of the biscuit tin. A light
smack on the backside from the brush stopped him mid tracks
"Huh?" Rubbing his cheek, he turned to glower at Jack who grinned
unrepentantly down at him and then handed him back the brush.
"You covered him in plaster, Sunshine. You get to clean him off."
Laughing at his scowl, Jack ruffled Dominic's hair. As the boy began
half-heartedly brushing the squirming and disgruntled cat, Jack reached for
the tin and began to noisily appreciate chocolate biscuits, much to Dominic's annoyance. His final observation, that they really must add them to the
shopping list for tomorrow, proved too much for Dom. He dropped the cat,
who bolted out the door, and grabbed the tin from Jack.
"You bastard, you've eaten them all."
"Don't swear and there are plenty left." Jack laughed
"What are you, my mother?" Dominic muttered, pulling himself up to sit on
the counter and hugging the tin to his chest as he checked over the precious
contents.
"No but whilst we're on the subject, put that paper in the bin and go wash
your hands. Plaster dust will do you no good if you eat it and I don't want
it spread all over the kitchen." Jack took the tin away from him again and
pushed him off onto the floor.
Dominic tried to snatch the tin back but Jack held it up out of his reach
"Go on kid. Get cleaned up"
Squaring up to him Dom tried jostling and jumping up to retrieve his prize
but without success. Finally, he finally resorted to whining.
"Jack that's not fair. Lemme have just one."
"No. I told you, get rid of that powder and wash up first. I don't want
it everywhere."
Stamping in frustration, Dominic turned to obey.
"I don't believe it! You actually stamped your foot!" Jack was highly
amused
"I did not!"
"Yes you did. It take it it's a habit?"
"I don't stamp!" said Dominic through gritted teeth.
"Hey.. Calm down. It's no big deal."
"I don't stamp!" Dominic yelled this time and stamped to emphasise his
point.
Jack couldn't help laughing. The boy looked so ridiculous. This did
nothing to help Dominic's mood. He swung around to the table and swept the
paper off in frustration.
"Now that's enough." Jack was no longer amused. "I don't care how upset
you are, you will not throw things around in this house. I'm sorry I teased
you but that is no reason to behave like that!"
Dominic glowered at him. Then, in direct challenge, he walked over to the
crockery piled on the draining board. One swing of his arm sent it flying.
Meeting Jack's eyes, his glare clearly asked: What are you going to do about
it then? He swiftly found out.
Taking one step forward Jack grabbed Dominic's wrist and yanked him back
over to the table. Before the boy realised what was happening, Jack had sat
down and Dom was face down over his knee.
"I warned you I didn't like tantrums," said Jack and then proceeded to drive
his point home with hard, fast smacks that covered every inch of the boy's
backside.
Dominic had progressed from yells of protest and pain, through intermittent
pleas to straight sobbing before Jack slowed down. Then, as he suddenly
realised what he was doing, he stopped. Dominic slipped off onto the floor.
He knelt there, looking up at Jack, both hands clamped to his bottom. His
face was tearstained and blotchy and he had a look of stunned amazement in
his eyes. Looking down into the beloved face Jack couldn't believe what he'd done. There was no doubt in his mind that Dominic had thoroughly deserved
that spanking but what right had he had to give it? Not being able to bear
the look on Dominic's face a moment longer he leapt to his feet muttering "I'm sorry" and headed for his room upstairs.
He sat on the edge of the bed with his head in his hands and listened to the
slow footsteps up the stairs and then the inevitable sounds of someone
moving around in the next room packing. He thought about what he'd lost.
He loved that impossible, adorable boy. He desperately wanted to help him
and keep him safe but, in one fell swoop, he'd lost him. How could anyone
possibly forgive something like that? Particularly as, if he was honest
with himself, he had to admit that he would do the same thing again if
similar circumstances arose.
The door quietly opened and he looked up to see Dominic standing there,
jacket in hand, with a packed bag on the floor by his feet.
"I just wanted to say goodbye and thank you and.I'm sorry."
Jack opened his mouth to speak but Dominic hurried on
"No. Please let me finish and then I'll be gone. I'm sorry. I screwed up
again. I think you could have been the best thing that ever happened to me
but.well.I guess I just had to screw it all up. I suppose it wasn't to be.
I just wanted to say thank you for trying and...I'm sorry."
As he turned to go the meaning of his words penetrated Jack's consciousness.
He jumped up saying
"No. Wait. You didn't screw up. I did. I had no right to do that to you,
whatever you'd done."
"No-one's ever done that before." Dominic commented quietly as he looked
back. The raw vulnerability in his face as he made that admission cut
deeply into Jack's heart. "Look. I'm sorry I screwed up. I always do in
the end. I kinda thought this might be different but I should have known
better. I'm sorry."
Turning to leave, he was stopped again by a soft voice calling his name. As
he turned around Jack said
"Don't go."
Dom looked confused.
Walking towards him Jack continued "You are undoubtedly the most infuriating
brat on the planet and you thoroughly deserved that spanking, but I didn't
have the right to give it to you, not in that way anyway. I'm sorry and I
don't want you to leave.
"You don't?"
"No."
"Why not?"
This was not the response Jack had expected.
"Because I love you, idiot child."
Dominic's eyes slowly widened and filled with tears as he stood, glued to
the spot, apparently in shock.
Jack grew concerned "I'm sorry. Maybe I shouldn't have said that just now
but I do and I don't want you to go. You don't have to."
"You love me?"
"Yes" This was getting worrying. The news appeared to have robbed the boy
of the few wits he possessed.
"Really?"
"Yes really. Is that so surprising? I love you and I want you to stay.
Will you?"
Dominic's answer toppled them both back onto the bed and left him breathless
but with an armful of delightful, wriggling impish charm.
"I take it that's a 'yes'?" He asked finally, sitting up and pulling Dom
into his lap for another hug. Dominic returned the hug but then quickly
slipped off to kneel on the floor.
"Sorry but you were pretty through. I'm not sure I want to sit down just
yet." He said ruefully. Adding anxiously, "You're not going to do that
again are you?"
Jack thought about the question.
"Dom I don't think I can promise not to." He said finally, "I love you very
much and I don't want to hurt you but, to be brutally honest, if I see you
behaving like a six year old again, I don't think I'm going to be able to
stop myself."
"No-one's ever done that to me before." Dominic repeated.
Jack smiled. "You're joking."
"No. Mum didn't believe in it and Dad was never around enough to notice.
To be honest, he probably wouldn't have cared much if he had. Mum was all
he was really interested in, and Cathy to a lesser extent."
"That explains a lot! Well life just changed Kiddo. I'm around and I care
and, unless you want to become intimately aquatinted with the pattern on the
carpet, I suggest you keep a hold on that temper of yours." Jack punctuated
each point with a tap on Dominic's nose and then pulled him back up for a
hug to remove any sting his words might have left.
Wrapping his arms around Jack's neck Dom pushed and they rolled back
together onto the bed, Dominic ending up on top. Sitting astride his
captive, he grinning wickedly down at him saying, "I'm sure I can find a
way to make you change your mind."
"Don't bank on it" Jack responded gently fondling his buttocks and then
moving his hands up Dominic's back to pull him down again for another kiss.
Sometime later, as they lay drowsy and sated in each other's arms, Jack
commented
"There's something I've been wondering about."
"Hmm?" came the sleepy reply.
"Just what did happen with the decorating?"
End
Epilogue
Seeing that the other two appeared to have gone to bed, Derek wondered into
the empty front room again to have a proper look around, now that that new
one wasn't hanging around making all that noise.
Yes, he definitely approved. All this paper on the floor had possibilities,
much better than the bare look the one that opened the cans seemed to
prefer. He had a little practice sit in a large pile of strippings whilst
surveying the rest of the room. The bag of dust was still there. That had
been fun. He'd really enjoyed rolling in that. He considered having
another go but decided against it. They'd only get worked up again, he
thought. And it tasted awful!
Then his eye turned to the large hole in the middle of the wall. What was
that for? He wandered. The little one had seemed awfully pleased with it.
He'd made enough noise when it happened but Derek couldn't for the life of
him think why anyone would want such a thing and anyway, if he'd really
wanted a hole in the wall why didn't he just hit it with the heavy thing?
Why stand on the ladder, use the heavy thing to pry things out of the wall,
then climb from the ladder onto the shelves, pull all the shelves down on
top of himself and throw the heavy thing at the wall as he fell? He'd never
understand humans, thought Derek.
He jumped up onto the windowsill and watched the birds in the tree opposite,
dismissing these strange humans and their foibles from his mind. So long as
they could open a tin of cat food and provide the occasional warm lap why
should he begrudge them their strange habits.