Tuckamore Bay

first cousins

Matty took the cold wet cloth from Bill's eyes. She had been with him all night, after helping him back to the main house.

"Now  open your eyes very slowly."

Bill did as she told him. Like he had been doing all night.

"Any better?"

He blinked several times. He could not see clearly, but at least he could see something more than white light.

"I think its getting better. I can almost make out shapes now."

"Don't youse knows bitter den to star into the light of a light'ouse?"

"Whose that?"

"Close your eyes again, Bill," Matty suggested, as she put another cool cloth across them.

"I heard a man's voice."

"That was no man," Matty informed him.

"That is just Freddy Simpson. He is putting on your screen windows for you."

Bill heard a man's laugh.

"Yes, me son. I 'ears dat youse 'ad a fight with a gull. An da gull, he won."

"Just put up the screens, Freddy," Matty snapped at him.

"Deys all be up, Matty."

"Even the one in the bedroom?"

Bill heard Freddy laugh again.

"Ise figured dat Ise leaves dat one off, jest in case 'is girlfriend comes back ag'in. Wes don't wanna be da ones to break up a romance."

Matty let out a long sigh.

"Freddy, listen very carefully. You have ten minutes to get that screen up or you won't get the dozen beer I promised."

"Den cans Ise 'ave a 'alf dozen fer doin' 'alf a job."

"What about I give you no beer, a swift kick in the ass and tell Gertrude that you tried to kiss me."

Freddy grunted.

"Youse be a bitch sometimes, Matty. Youse knows Gertie would kick da shit out of me."

"Nine minutes, Freddy," Matty reminded him.

Freddy walked away, muttering and swearing under his breath.

"Womens bes always wantin' to bes kickin' da shit out of me."

"He sounds like a real winner," Bill laughed.

"Freddy's okay. Its just that his elevator doesn't go all the way to the top floor. He's basically harmless."