Westpoint Tales
by Kiwi
Entangled Tales - 82 - Party Time!
Two and a bit weeks later, Saturday morning - the last Saturday before school went back - the bedroom door flew open and Justin burst in.
"Rise and shine, my Sunny One! The sun is shining, the birds are singing and it's a beautiful day."
"Fuck off, Justin!" Billy pulled the duvet over his head and burrowed down in the bed. "It's too early. Why can't you just sleep in the mornings?"
"Billy, come on. It's after 7 o'clock already - less than 5 hours to blast off. Wake up, my Friend. Today's the day that you start making millions!"
"Oh, yes!" Billy sat up in the bed. "Millions of burgers. Come and give me a kiss for luck."
"You don't need the luck, but I'm not saying no to that."
Five minutes later, Billy was pushing him off. "Okay, okay - that's it! Go away, Sweetcheeks. We'll finish this tonight when we're celebrating."
"We'll celebrate all night, but we've got time to finish something first."
"We have not. Get off me, you randy bugger! Go and have your shower, Justin."
"Sure that you don't want to come with me?" Justin tilted his head to one side, winking furiously.
"Absolutely sure. That could take all day. Today is D-day."
"Make that B-day, Billy's Burgers' day."
Justin disappeared into their small shower; Billy stretched then lay back, thinking. Today was the day all right. It was finally here - B-day. After years of dreaming, months of planning and two weeks of sheer bloody hard work, (and lots of money spent), Billy's Burgers finally went on sale today. Well, not on sale actually. They were going to give them away today, from 12 midday until late.
Their sparkling new "Billy's Burger Bar", was all set up and ready to go, in the old Adelphi Milk Bar and Tearooms building. Almost all set up - the vending machines hadn't arrived. Apart from that it was all complete and ready for business.
They wouldn't be using the shop today anyway, except as a kitchen. His mum had even arranged for extra microwaves, ovens and grills to be set up just for today.
The food was to be taken, in hampers, around to the Square where it would be handed out from the temporary Burger Bar set up in the old club-rooms underneath the Grandstand. Burgers and fries, coleslaw and OJ, free all day long.
The staff wouldn't be free though, most of them. This whole business today was costing a bloody fortune! But, Justin said they could afford it and Billy's Burgers was going to be launched in style with heaps of publicity.
The radio - West FM - had been pushing it all week and they were going to be broadcasting live from the Square. Robbie Keenan was going to be the on-air DJ and also the compere for the all-day, free, concert featuring mostly Whozzat but also Time Out and other acts.
It was open to anyone who wanted to give it a go and a lot were, including some of the cast of 'Oliver'. Justin and Jonathan were both going to sing and Billy was as well. The concert was gong to be on the stage set up on the back of Kadie's father's longest truck and trailer. Crispian was filming for footage to be used in Whozzat's movie.
The Square was already ringed by the Ferris wheel, roundabouts, dodgems and sideshow-alley of Spreydon's amusements, from Nelson, and the stalls of the regular, monthly, market had been set up there as well.
As soon as Justin came out of the shower, Billy dashed in there and was washed off and out again before Justin had even finished dressing. He also dressed quickly and they went downstairs to start working.
Supplies of the OJ and the coleslaw were already around at the Square. The ovens there were loaded up with the paper bags of chips by 11am, and then they started sending the hampers of burgers around there as well.
Promptly, at 12 noon, two small planes took off from the airport and they crossed the river to fly, low, over the town. One was streaming dark-blue smoke and the other trailed light-blue. A long banner unfurled from one - it bore the double 'B' logo with the cartoon of Billy's smile and the text read "Billy's Burgers." It was closely followed by the second plane, whose banner proclaimed, "Simply the Best."
Robbie Keenan, with West FM's outside broadcast unit, described the scene in the Square as the lights went up on the stage and Whozzat began the first song of the day. It was, of course, "Simply the Best." The two planes flew off on a circuit around the town, trailing their banners and the coloured smoke behind them.
Another huge banner unrolled from the grandstand roof. (All of the banners, logos, and other artwork had been done by two local kids, Jordan Taylor and Jason McDonald, who were both gifted artists). The long queue in front of the grandstand surged forward as the doors were opened and helpers began passing out the supplies.
Whozzat's second song was 'North'n West Coast Sun', which was enthusiastically welcomed by the local crowd, but no-one enjoyed it more than the slender blond-haired singer up on the stage. Song followed song as Whozzat sang and played up a storm.
When they took a break, the entrants in the children's fancy-dress competition paraded across the stage. The judging was soon completed and the winners announced by Tom Craddock, the Mayor of Westpoint. Billy went up on the stage, in a corny , white, cook's jacket and hat, and he handed out prizes to the winners and Billy's Burgers' vouchers to everyone who had entered.
The Mayor made a short speech, welcoming Billy's Burgers to town and Billy responded with thanks and a promise of value for money and speed and efficiency of service.
"Next week sees the opening of our next burger bar, in Brownsville and in Hoki, Riverston and Rosstown in the following weeks. Westpoint comes first, but - look out world. You ain't seen nothing yet! Our promise will always be - Billy's Burgers - simply the best."
The new group on the stage behind him, 'Time Out', began their version of the theme song as the crowd applauded. Billy and Tom Craddock came down from the stage and the party continued as Time Out played for the next hour.
They were joined by the members of Whozzat and all the musicians of both groups, including Tony on an extra keyboard, played together as Justin Reynolds, with his battered old guitar, crafted a masterpiece in music. "A song for Westpoint - 'Over the Rainbow.'" All movement around the Square stopped as they stood and watched and listened to his angelic voice.
At the fading of the applause, he started again, acapella at first then joined, crashingly, by the combined bands, as he sang and danced his way through 'Avenues and Alleyways". To Daniel's amazement, Justin's dancing was every bit as good as Tones'. Finished this song, he waved and then leapt from the stage and returned to his work in the grandstand.
Whozzat played a couple more songs, and then they were joined by Claire 'Nancy' Lewis and other cast members from Oliver, all in costume, and they did a medley of songs from their show. These included 'Food, Glorious Food', which would turn out to be the front-page headline in Monday's edition of the Westpoint News.
In the late afternoon, Whozzat took an extended break and just wandered around, being kids in the crowd, while the Westpoint Country Music Club held the stage. A hilarious, and fun, impromptu line-dance spread around the Square.
When the mike was open to all-comers, a group of little kids from the North School came out and Robbie asked the crowd to welcome 'The Next Generation' in their first-ever public performance.
Ross and Robert Mathieson, on twin guitars and vocals, led them and another boy and two cute little girls made up the group of five. Excited and extremely nervous, they stumbled their way through a country classic - 'Cotton Eyed Joe'. People were patient and applauded politely, the kids were cute.
A red-faced Robert announced their next song - 'West of South', the West Coast children's song. They began but froze with nerves as it all got too much for them. The kids were packing up and fleeing the stage, weeping and embarrassed, when Justin and Jonathan went up to save them.
Jonathan called them all back and they both encouraged them to give it another try. Justin and Jonathan stood beside Ross and Robert and, smiling, played air-guitars as the Next Generation started up again. They spun out the introduction as the singers kept delaying starting, so Jonathan sang the first line.
"This land that bears a world-known name,"
Robert grinned shyly and sang the second.
"'tho but a little spot."
Jonathan pointed at Justin who, with an encouraging hand on his shoulder, sang along with Ross.
"Is first up in our Hall of Fame
"who shall say it's not."
As they continued the song, Jonathan and Justin sung less and less and Ross and Roberts sung more confidently until, by the end they were meshing together well and enjoying them selves.
"This land that bears a world-known name,
'tho but a little spot.
Is first up in our Hall of Fame
And who shall say it's not.
It's first up in our Hall of Fame
And who shall say it's not ot ot.
Ha Ha! We're in West of South
Ha Ha! We're in West of South
Ha Ha! We are. Ha Ha! We are.
The beauty, peace, camaraderie
The wild coast so free,
God's crazy thing - the Tasman Sea
Right here for you and me
God's crazy thing the Tasman Sea
Right here for you and me.
Ha Ha! We're in West of South
Ha Ha! We're in West of South
Ha Ha! We are, Ha Ha! We are.
And as we gather here today
A grand and hearty crowd
We love the West Coast come what may
We've joined together proud
We love the West Coast come what may
We've joined together proud.
Ha Ha! We're in West of South
Ha Ha! We're in West of South
Ha Ha! We are, Ha Ha! We are."
(Words and music by Kath Payne - thanks Kathy).
Justin and Jonathan left the stage and stood out the front while the kids carried on with a third and a fourth song.
Afterwards, Cecily brought Ross and Robert into the grandstand rooms to thank Justin for helping them. They had already seen Jonathan outside.
"Hey, no problem. It was fun. Friends should help each other, right?"
Robert agreed and thanked him, shaking his hand, and then he left, with his mother, but Ross hung back until they'd gone.
"I don't want you to be my friend, Superboy."
"You don't? Why not then?"
"I want you to be my brother."
"That's very, very cool, Ross. I'd love to be your brother, but don't call me Superboy. Please call me Justin."
Ross flung his small arms around Justin's waist and hugged him. "Thanks, Justin. I love you, you know."
"Whoah! I love you too, Little Brother. Now, bugger off - I'm busy here."
Ross ran off to join his twin and Cecily came back from where she had been watching that exchange. "Thanks Justin. You really are a Superboy, you know. That boy just worships you."
"Well he shouldn't. I'm no Superboy. Hopefully, he'll grow out of it."
"I don't know about that. He's picked a great role model anyway. Thank you for everything, Superboy! 'Bye Justin."
The afternoon rolled on into the night. Jonathan returned to the stage, with a guitar, and, backed by Time Out, he sang a medley of Roy Orbison songs - Falling and Pretty Woman - which were interspersed by bits of 'Lana" (L,a,n,a - aa,aa; L,a,n,a - aa, aa), and 'Claudette', ("Pretty little pet, Claudette.")
When Whozzat returned, Justin went up and sang another of the 'Big O's songs - 'Running Scared'. Most of the locals knew what he was saying. Billy certainly did. ("Then, all at once, he was standing there. So sure of himself, his head in the air - my heart was aching, which one would it be? You turned around and walked away with me!")
At 10 o'clock, Billy went back up on the stage and announced that the kitchens were closed. And, as soon as the burgers on hand were gone, that would be it.
"No more until you come and buy some already!"
He thanked everyone who had helped to make the day a success - the workers, the entertainers, the crowds and, especially, Justin. "This one is for you."
He sang, with Whozzat, the old Scaffold song - 'Thank you Very Much'.
He finished, saying, "Okay, the food has nearly gone, but the amusements are still going. The music will continue until we're all too pooped to party and there's fireworks coming soon, so don't go away."
He jumped off the stage. Justin caught him and hugged him briefly, then, holding his hand, towed him over to their car which was parked at the end of the grandstand.
"Justin, what are we doing? I've just told everyone not to go away and you're dragging me off."
"Come on Sunny - drive. We've got to go somewhere, we'll come back later."
They got in the car; Billy started it and reversed out into the street. "You'll have to tell me where we're going if I'm driving."
"Out of town - up to the Lover's Lane in the gravel pit up on the hill."
"Okay, sure. But, why?" He started off up the road.
"To watch the fireworks over the town, of course. C'mon Sunny, we'll be late."
But they weren't. They got to the gravel pit in plenty of time and turned around to face, looking back, across the river and at the town. Justin turned on the car-radio and they sat listening to Robbie's countdown to the fireworks.
"10,9,8. . . 3, 2, 1". Whozzat's music started and Tony growled the opening words of Simply the Best as the first rockets streaked up and exploded above the town.
Justin and Billy sat cuddled together in the dark, enjoying the music and the distant display over their town. They savoured the end of one of the busiest and most exciting days of their lives. Billy kissed him and squeezed him tight.
"Thank you, Justin. Thanks for everything. This whole day has been bloody brilliant!"
"It has, hasn't it? And it was worth it too. All for you, Sunny. You and your bloody brilliant burgers. You think that people will remember them tomorrow?"
"They'd bloody better! This whole day must have cost a fortune."
"Yeah, probably. But it was worth every cent. We're going to make millions, Billy."
"I hope so. I really hope so. We're going to have to sell a lot of burgers to pay for all that. We're not going to have a party in every town we open in, are we?"
"No, not again. We'll just have a free day for burgers and maybe a Whozzat concert in each new town. We'll give them a free concert in the afternoon and they can pay to see them perform at night and they can sell their CD's and stuff."
"I hope you've got this right, Justin. What if it doesn't work? What if it all goes belly-up and we don't make any money? We could lose everything."
"We won't, it will work. Even if it doesn't, even if we did lose everything, I'll still be rich as long as I have you."
"We will be rich. No matter what happens, we'll always be rich. We can always sweep the streets together."
"Yeah, together! I love you, Billy."
"I know you do. Do you know that I love you?"
"I know."
Rockets exploded coloured balls above the lights of Westpoint.
Sunday morning, 7am, Justin was back at the Square. He couldn't continue his run though. He'd grown to love this place. The Square was great for sports and socializing, but today it was a mess!
The birds, seagulls, pigeons and sparrows, were busily cleaning up the dropped chips and food scraps, but there was also a sea of paper bags and wrappings along with drinks containers and straws. They were not going to eat them.
With a sigh, he abandoned his running plans and went back to the Adelphi to borrow some of his grandmother's rubbish bags. Returning to the Square, he began picking up the mess. He wasn't resentful - he didn't have that in him - but as he worked, he resolved to have plenty of rubbish bins around next time, and, big signs saying, "Please!"
He started cleaning along the track towards the grandstand, and was immediately joined by people of all ages stopping and helping. The crowd grew, as crowds do, and even though it was early in the day, by the time he'd worked along in front of the grandstand there were people everywhere and a massive community clean-up was underway.
Although he had trouble believing it, and couldn't understand it, Justin really was well-loved by the people of this town. If he ever ran for Mayor, he'd win by a landslide. Besides, this was their park too and what better way to say thank you for yesterday's party?
A council truck arrived and they emptied their bags and containers into it. They continued working until the whole area, right out into the surrounding streets, was cleaned up. The whole job was finished in no time at all and Claire, Lucas and Dee all came back to the Adelphi for breakfast.
The dragon-lady growled at them when they came in, as they had feared, but, on being told by her grandson to, "Be nice, Grandmother", she fed them cheerfully enough.
Billy came stumbling in, wrapped in a dressing-gown, his hair all awry, rubbing his eyes and frowning around the room as he headed for the coffee pot. Bob grinned and said, "are you absolutely sure that that one is not your grandson, Kathy?"
Kathleen frowned at him, and then smiled at Billy and patted his shoulder. "He's as good as, aren't you, my Lovely Boy?"
"Hey, Grandmother!" Justin protested. "That's MY Lovely Boy!"
Billy sat down next to him. "Shut up, Justin."
"Good morning to you too, my Lovely Boy." Justin hugged his shoulders and kissed his cheek.
Billy blushed and sipped his coffee. "Damm, Justin!"
"It's okay, Billy," said Lucas. "We've all been embarrassed by Justin's loving. It's only natural that you're going to get it the worst. He loves you the most."
"Well, Duh! Lucas. But I love you too."
"Shut up Justin."
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