by Drew Hunt
“Another park,” Matt observed, seeing the one on his right. “I’d forgotten how many green spaces there are in central London.”
“Yes, they’re our lungs. This one’s St James’s Park.”
The group then passed Clarence House, where the Queen Mother used to live.
“Prince Charles lives there now, doesn’t he?” Martin asked.
“Yes, gov,” Ken said.
They saw St James’s Palace on their left. They then went under Admiralty Arch into Trafalgar Square. The cab did an almost full circuit of the square, it being one-way traffic, and turned into Whitehall and drove down its entire length.
“On our right we have some mounted horse-guards,” Ken announced.
“Want to mount a guardsman, Uncle Matt?” Colin asked quietly.
Martin sniggered. “He might be more successful in trying to pull the horse.”
Colin laughed, and Matt blushed.
“This is the gated entrance to Downing Street—sadly you can’t go down there anymore and have your picture taken standing next to the copper who used to be on duty outside the door of Number Ten,” Ken said.
“That’s a pity,” Matt said.
“Now on our right is the large white stone obelisk of the Cenotaph.”
Colin thought of his granddad who had died during the D-Day landings.
“And into Parliament Square,” Ken continued. “The large statue here on the right is of Winston Churchill. He faces Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, which are on our left. I wonder what he thinks of the goings on in there these days.”
As they drove past, the heavy chimes of Big Ben told the passengers that it was four o’clock.
The trio spent a little longer enjoying the sights; as darkness began to fall, Colin asked Ken to take them back to Marble Arch. Matt paid the fare, and gave Ken a decent tip.
“Okay, sports, what now?” Matt asked.
“Well, we’re at the western end of Oxford Street. We might as well walk eastwards to Oxford Circus. That way we’ll be able to visit Selfridges, Debenhams, D.H. Evans, and John Lewis. They’re all on the left-hand side of the street, so we won’t have to take our lives into our hands and keep on crossing the road.”
“Sounds good to me. Whaddya think, Martin?” Matt asked.
“Fine, I’m sure I’ll be able to find Colin something in one of the department stores. He’s so awkward to buy presents for.”
“I am not!”
“Matt, whenever we go out to buy a new gadget—he likes gadgets—we spend ages going from one shop to the other examining in minute detail every aspect of the darn things. He ponders over each one, then he haggles about the price, and finally, after we’ve mucked about for hours, he makes up his mind. We usually end up getting the first thing he saw.”
“I like to be thorough.”
Martin rolled his eyes.
* * * *
The shops and the pavements outside were packed. Martin didn’t particularly enjoy the crush or the endless pushing, but he had two strong men to keep him safe, so he was happy.
When they were standing outside John Lewis, Colin suggested they split up. Matt agreed. Martin knew his boyfriend wanted to go buy his gift. And Martin needed to get Colin’s.
Matt led Martin inside, and the two pushed their way to the electronics department.
“Are you sure? They are pretty expensive,” Matt said, looking at the price tag on an Xbox.
“He’s been drooling over one for weeks. But because it’s purely visual and I won’t be able to play any of the games with him, he decided not to get one. He told me he wasn’t buying it because of the cost, but I know different. I got a decent Christmas bonus from work, so that’s what he’s having,” Martin said decisively.
“I like shopping with you. I was expecting to have to spend ages looking round different things.”
“Nope. Because I’m blind I can’t window shop, so I make up my mind what I want beforehand, then I go in, buy it, and get out, simple.”
“I like your style, mate.”
Matt picked up one of the boxes and they joined the queue of people waiting to pay. “Who will Colin play the games with?”
“Well, I understand there are a lot of solo games, but there’s a kid across the street who’s into things like that, too. he and Colin spend ages poring over techy magazines together.”
Once the Xbox was paid for and gift wrapped, a service that Martin greatly appreciated, they went to meet up with Colin.
* * * *
Colin was in the electronics section of another department store, trying to decide which digital radio was most user friendly from a blind person’s point of view. None seemed completely right, but Colin was aware that Martin didn’t muck about when it came to buying presents, so he knew he didn’t have a lot of time to browse. Choosing one, he made his way to the music department and picked up a couple of CDs he hoped Martin would like. Colin was uncomfortable. He normally took his time when he shopped; even though he knew Matt was with Martin, he still didn’t like leaving his man for long, especially in such a busy place.
* * * *
“The Crissy lights are pretty,” Matt said when they had turned right into Regent Street. “Martin, they’ve strung them up above our heads and they stretch across the street.”
Martin nodded.
“They’re much better than the time they decided to use lasers instead,” Colin observed. “Those didn’t go down very well at all.”
As they walked down the curved street, packed with shoppers, Colin and Matt attempted to describe the coloured lights to Martin, but as he’d been blind since birth, Martin wasn’t able to understand the concept of colour. Though he had to admit, the two men made a valiant effort.
“Hamley’s!” Colin said excitedly, spotting the famous toyshop. “Oh, I’ve got to go in there!”
Matt laughed.
Martin knew Colin wouldn’t be able to resist—he was just a big kid when it came down to it.
Martin and Matt stood to one side, the latter describing how his nephew looked as though he were regressing back to his childhood as he played on many of the games that were on display. “He’s hovering over the Xboxes.”
“It doesn’t surprise me. He’ll be so stoked on Christmas morning when he sees he’s got one of his own. Mind you, I’ll have to talk him round—he’ll say that I shouldn’t have got it for him as I won’t be able to use it.”
“Ya think?”
“Yeah, bless him. He’ll say I ought to have got something which the pair of us could use, but I don’t mind at all. I know he’ll get a load of pleasure from playing on it, that’s all I’m bothered about.”
“It’s great you don’t mind him having hobbies which you can’t join in.”
“I’m a disabled man. There’s loads of things I can’t do, so I just accept the fact and move on. Having Colin in my life…” Martin swallowed, he always got a bit emotional when talking about his relationship with Colin. “Has made me happier than…well, put it this way, I didn’t know what happiness was until five years ago this Christmas. Before Colin, my life was narrow, empty, and lonely. Now…” Martin wiped away a stray tear. “I’d do anything to keep that man happy.”
Matt squeezed Martin’s hand. Martin knew the man understood.
“Listen, while we’re here, I might as well get a few small pressies for the kids.” The Rodgers family was quite a large one.
* * * *
“You okay?” Colin asked, seeing Martin starting to limp a little. They had just walked the length of Regent Street.
“It isn’t too bad,” Martin said.
“Why didn’t you say anything earlier? We’ll get a cab and go home.”
“No, she’ll be apples, as Matt would say.”
Matt laughed. “We’ll make a dinkum Aussie out of you yet, Martin.”
“I’m fine, Col, honest. Besides, I want to experience the London underground.”
“If you’re sure,” Colin said. He was making an e
ffort not to do the overly protective boyfriend thing.
“It’s not too bad, but if we could make our way to the tube station quite soon, I’d be grateful.”
“There’s two options,” Colin said, wondering which would be best. “We can get on the northbound Bakerloo line at Piccadilly Circus, and get off at Baker Street station and change onto the Jubilee line, and ride the five stops to Kilburn.”
“Right,” Martin said.
“Or we can walk along Piccadilly and get the Jubilee line from Green Park, then we wouldn’t need to change at all.”
“You got a map of the whole underground network in your head, Colin?” Matt asked.
“No, just the local stations around home. I think we’d be best going to Piccadilly Circus and changing. I don’t think you’d have to walk as far, then.” Colin could see Martin was starting to look tired.
“Okay.” Martin nodded.
“It would be best if we got a cab, you know.”
“I just wanted to see what the underground was like, that’s all. I’m fine, don’t worry.”
Martin was holding on to Colin’s elbow for guidance. Colin pulled his elbow in against his body for a moment, squeezing Martin’s hand. This was Colin’s way of telling Martin that he loved him.
In return, Martin gave Colin the I love you, too signal by squeezing his elbow.
As they approached Piccadilly Circus underground station, Martin said, “Something wet just brushed my cheek. Is it snowing?”
“It’s just starting to, yes.”
“Oh, fantastic, snow at Christmas time,” Matt said, smiling broadly. “Chrissie falls in the middle of summer at home. It always seems a bit silly sending out cards with snow and stuff on them.” Matt tilted his head up to the sky to catch a few flakes.
Colin bet the snow falling had made his uncle’s Christmas.
* * * *
The tube station, like the shops and the pavements, was very busy. Colin kept Martin well away from the edge of the platform as they waited for the next train to arrive. Just before it did, Colin told Martin to expect a whoosh of warm air.
Martin sneezed.
“Sorry, I forgot to tell you how dusty it gets down here,” Colin said, handing Martin a paper tissue.
The three men had to cram themselves into the carriage, it was standing room only. It irked Colin that none of the seated passengers was willing to give up their seat for Martin.
Apparently sensing Colin’s mood, Martin gave Colin’s elbow a squeeze. “It’s all right, Col.”
Colin relaxed a little, but it wasn’t all right. He glared at a young guy with a small Hamley’s carrier bag on his knee who sat to their left.
The three of them changed trains and rode the few stops to Kilburn. Coming out of the underground station, Colin noted the snow had ceased, and there was no trace of any having fallen, either.
* * * *
The few days that remained before Christmas were spent by Avril in the kitchen baking a seemingly endless array of sweet and savoury items. Colin had tried to sneak off with a spare sausage roll or minced pie, but Avril usually caught him.
Deciding it was best to stay out of the house, Colin suggested to Matt and Martin they get the obligatory visits to the relatives out of the way. Martin was advised some members of Colin’s family were a little conservative, so it would be best if they didn’t hug or kiss in front of them.
Martin said he’d do his best to keep his hands off Colin’s gorgeous body. “But it’ll be a struggle.”
In the end, Matt’s presence distracted most of the attention away from Colin and Martin, so they didn’t have to field too many awkward questions as to why Martin was there.
* * * *
“Martin, you awake?”
“Uh, I am now.”
“Oh, good. Can I open my present, then, please?” Colin asked.
“What time is it?” Martin asked groggily.
“Um, half past seven.”
There was something in Colin’s voice that Martin, even though he wasn’t fully awake, picked up on. He felt along the bedside table for his wristwatch. Flipping open the lid, Martin read the time. “No, it isn’t. It’s only half past six!”
“Oh. I must have misread the time,” Colin sulked.
Martin shook his head. “Come here, you.” The two spent a few minutes kissing, but Martin could tell Colin wasn’t getting into it fully. “Go and get your uncle, then. He said he’d describe your facial reactions to me as you open your presents.”
“It’s still a bit early.”
“Exactly,” Martin said smugly.
“You!” Colin hurled a pillow at Martin.
Martin laughed and successfully managed to fend off Colin’s attack. “It’s okay, I warned him to expect an early call. I told him you always get up early on Christmas morning.”
“I do not!”
“Yeah, right.”
Martin felt the bed shift as Colin got out of it. He heard him put on his dressing gown and leave the room.
* * * *
“Wow, oh, wow!” Colin said. “Martin, these aren’t cheap, you shouldn’t have—oh, you shouldn’t.”
“Yes, love, I should. I know you’ve wanted one of them for months now.”
“But I don’t think you’ll be able to use it.”
“Told you he’d say that, didn’t I?” Martin said, turning to Matt.
“Sure did, sport.”
“Thank you.” Colin leaned over and kissed Martin on the lips. “But didn’t you say there was more than one present?”
“Ah yes. The other ones are at home. I didn’t know what games to get for it, so rather than buying the wrong ones, I called Gary. He’s the boy who lives opposite,” Martin said to Matt, “and he promised me he’d go out and get you a couple of the ones that you and he had been drooling over.”
“You must have spent a lot. I haven’t, well, what I’ve got you didn’t cost what this did. I feel a bit—”
Martin reached over and silenced Colin with a kiss. “Col, you gave me a Christmas present five years ago. You gave me yourself, you gave me a life, you pulled me out of a horrible and lonely dark existence into a world of life, love, warmth and happiness.” Martin knew he was crying, but he didn’t care. “A lifetime’s worth of fancy video game consoles will never match the gift you gave me. And still give to me.”
Colin put down the Xbox, took Martin into his arms and gave him the tightest of squeezes. “I love you. I can’t put it into words like you just did, but you’ve given me your trust, your heart, and your love. You’ve given me what I’ve never had before.”
Martin heard Matt get up and leave the bedroom. Part of him ached for the older man.
* * * *
“Thank you, Mrs Rodgers, for a lovely meal,” Martin said, pushing back his plate.
“Please call me Avril, or better still, Mum.”
“Thank you, Mum,” Martin said, swallowing the lump in his throat. “It’s nice to have a meal which I haven’t had to cook myself.”
“Our Colin’s no cook, is he?”
“No, but he has other qualities,” Martin said cryptically.
Colin nudged Martin with his foot.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t able to serve up any Brussels sprouts. I could have sworn I’d bought a bag of them,” Avril said.
“Please don’t worry about it. Mrs…um, Mum.”
Martin took Colin’s hand under the table and gave it a squeeze.
* * * *
“It’s been great having you, Martin,” Harry said, leaning into the open passenger window. It was the day after Boxing Day and Colin was ready to drive back north. “I’m glad you and Col have sorted out your differences.”
Martin smiled. “Me, too.” He reached for Colin’s hand. “And thank you for having me. It’s been a bonza Chrissy, as Matt would say.”
Matt laughed.
Colin started the car. “Mum, I’ll ring you when we get home, okay?”
“Thanks, son.
”
Martin knew Colin’s mother, in common with most other mothers, worried whenever their children were travelling.
Colin let out the clutch and the car moved forward. Martin pressed the button to wind up the window.
“You okay?” Colin asked.
Martin thought about the great Christmas he’d just shared with a loving family, about the many gifts he’d received, about the wonderful man sitting next to him. He smiled. “Couldn’t be better.”
THE END
To aid the reader’s understanding, here is a brief glossary of some Australian terms used in the story:
Arvo—afternoon
Beyond the black stump—a long way away
Bloke—man
Bottler—“your blood is so precious, it’s worth bottling”
Chrissie—Christmas
Dinkum—genuine, real
Galah—stupid, dumb, silly; from the bird of the same name, which has those characteristics
Pom or Pommy— Englishman
Ridgy-didge— honest, sound, in good working order, legal
She’ll be apples—“everything is/will be okay”
Sheila—woman
Ute—A small open-bed truck
Woop Woop—a small place far away that you wouldn’t visit
Colin and Martin’s Australian Christmas
For all those who waited patiently (or not so patiently) for this third episode.
“Hey, Col, Martin, over here!”
Martin Kellam, holding his civil partner’s arm, smiled at hearing the familiar voice of Colin’s uncle Matt.
“G’day, mate,” Martin called out. He’d been practicing his Aussie accent but he knew it was pretty terrible, a fact confirmed when Matt laughed.
“Gawd,” Martin felt two strong arms engulf him. “It’s great to see you. Uh…sorry.”
Martin found and kissed Matt’s cheek. “Don’t start all that again. Blind people say that they’ll see each other all the time.”
“Thanks, mate.” Matt’s words were punctuated with slaps on Martin’s back.
Martin got a second squeeze before Matt moved on to his nephew.
Colin’s words were muffled; Martin guessed his partner’s face was pressed into Matt’s wide shoulder.
