jml297

They hadn’t always been mates. It was a well-worn story that each of them told, slightly differently, of course, about being seated next to each other in year four. Cam was new to the school, wearing a uniform that had been hastily bought from the school shop and that he’d take a while to grow into. Theo was a similar size to Cam, but quiet, with glasses that seemed to magnify his eyes.

Cam had been sneaking a look at Theo’s exercise book during the maths quiz that the teacher sprung on the class that morning. Theo had curled his arm around the page, guarding his answers. But a glance at Cam’s empty page and blank expression had changed his mind. With a shy smile, he’d shifted his arm out of the way. Cam had relaxed back into the chair and his face split into a grin. And that was the start of it.

Over the years, there had been misunderstandings when words had seemed to fail them both. Life had taken them along paths which converged, then wound off in different directions. In their 20s and 30s, contact was less frequent as they lived in different states. But in their mid-40s, they reconnected. Cam had returned to help his Mum clear out the family home. And Theo had been offered a management position in the accountancy firm where he completed his work experience decades before. The sale of Cam’s family home took a while — Cam reckoned his Mum was still emotionally attached despite her determination to downsize. But Cam wasn’t fussed. He was comfortable having no real plan for the short term, going with the flow.

They caught up at the local RSL a few times, and Cam started coming around to Theo’s for a Sunday barbie. Theo’s boys loved Cam, and within a short time were coming up with reasons to invite Uncle Cam around to help with school projects or watch them play soccer. Theo, bemused by his mate’s ability to easily fit into his family dynamics, found himself relaxing into fatherhood differently.

Cam had kids, but access was limited. Theo watched and learned from his friend, seeing echoes from their childhood when Cam’s kids visited during the Easter break. Kids had a way of connecting with the core of each other. Just like Theo and Cam had all those years ago.

This was written to a prompt in my local writing group.

Photo: Hand sculpture at Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney