him away from the others. They went through the back of the kitchen into a living room.
‘Here, take a seat,’ she said. ‘I want to have a talk to you.’
Tony sat and looked at the floor. Here it comes, he thought.
‘I guess you’re feeling pretty upset about what happened last night?’
Tony nodded.
‘Yes, I thought so. It was a bit of a mess, wasn’t it?’
Again he nodded.
‘But you did the right thing.’
He looked up at her, wondering if this was a trick or something.
‘Yes, dear. You did the right thing. You thought the French couple were in danger and you did something about it. That took guts, and all of the people out there know that.’ She waved to the door leading back to the lounge. ‘Last night I made you apologise. I’m annoyed with myself for that. So it’s my turn to say sorry.’
Tony nodded his acceptance. He didn’t know what to say. Rarely had an adult apologised to him like this.
Betty continued, ‘Jamie Duggan came in this morning and replaced the marshmallows and gave the couple a lovely gift pack of other things. He wanted to see you, but you couldn’t be found. Anyway he’s coming back this evening and he wants to meet with you and Christine, and Nick and Rose also. He wants to sort things out so there are no more bad feelings. It only leads to misunderstandingand the sort of thing that happened last evening.’
She stood up. ‘So, what do you think? Are you ready to come out and open your presents?’
He managed a bit of a smile. ‘Yes, please.’
‘Then what are we waiting for?’
The next few hours were wonderful. After some awkward moments at the start, Tony became immersed in the giving and receiving of gifts. Everyone got something. It was great seeing the enjoyment the guests got from their simple gifts of New Zealand things. Then it was time for the residents to swap their presents. Tony was voted to be first. He was both embarrassed and pleased. He couldn’t help but smile as he handed out the things he had bought. It felt even better than he had imagined.
Tony got only two gifts: one from everybody, and one from Rose. The collective gift was a digital camera—one with mega-everything. He was thrilled, both with the gift and the thought that they cared enough to combine and get something so good.
The present from Rose was equally special. She had made a simple pendant out of a bit of the greenstone. While everyone was watching, she made him stand as she put it over his head and tucked it in place. Then she kissed him on the cheek, and all the others cheered. Tony went bright red. It was so embarrassing—yet also real nice.
Lunch was a barbecue. It was highly popular with the overseas guests. Many of them telephoned their families at home to tell them about the special New Zealand Christmas they were having.
In the afternoon, Rose and Tony went down to the bays with the new camera: seagulls, seals, flax, flowers, even rocks—you name it, it got photographed. Tony couldn’t stop smiling. The day had started out the worst ever, and now it was the best ever. This was his first real Christmas, and he knew he would remember it for the rest of his life.
Chapter 15
On Christmas evening, Tony and the others gathered in a quiet part of the lounge to wait for Jamie Duggan to explain himself. Tony glanced around the group: Nick looked uncomfortable, Christine was anxious, only Betty and Rose looked relaxed about the situation.
Duggan was composed, yet there was a tenseness that all could see. ‘Ma home town is Glasgow in Scotland,’ he began. ‘Tha’s where I was born and educated. Ma parents were well off and I have to say tha’, unlike many in tha’ city, I had everythin’ a boy could want. A good house, plenty of food, and excellent schools. I didna want fer much.
‘After university, I decided to see the world before I settled down to a job. I travelled and worked through Africa, Asia, Australia, but it wasna long before I ended up in the
‘Here, take a seat,’ she said. ‘I want to have a talk to you.’
Tony sat and looked at the floor. Here it comes, he thought.
‘I guess you’re feeling pretty upset about what happened last night?’
Tony nodded.
‘Yes, I thought so. It was a bit of a mess, wasn’t it?’
Again he nodded.
‘But you did the right thing.’
He looked up at her, wondering if this was a trick or something.
‘Yes, dear. You did the right thing. You thought the French couple were in danger and you did something about it. That took guts, and all of the people out there know that.’ She waved to the door leading back to the lounge. ‘Last night I made you apologise. I’m annoyed with myself for that. So it’s my turn to say sorry.’
Tony nodded his acceptance. He didn’t know what to say. Rarely had an adult apologised to him like this.
Betty continued, ‘Jamie Duggan came in this morning and replaced the marshmallows and gave the couple a lovely gift pack of other things. He wanted to see you, but you couldn’t be found. Anyway he’s coming back this evening and he wants to meet with you and Christine, and Nick and Rose also. He wants to sort things out so there are no more bad feelings. It only leads to misunderstandingand the sort of thing that happened last evening.’
She stood up. ‘So, what do you think? Are you ready to come out and open your presents?’
He managed a bit of a smile. ‘Yes, please.’
‘Then what are we waiting for?’
The next few hours were wonderful. After some awkward moments at the start, Tony became immersed in the giving and receiving of gifts. Everyone got something. It was great seeing the enjoyment the guests got from their simple gifts of New Zealand things. Then it was time for the residents to swap their presents. Tony was voted to be first. He was both embarrassed and pleased. He couldn’t help but smile as he handed out the things he had bought. It felt even better than he had imagined.
Tony got only two gifts: one from everybody, and one from Rose. The collective gift was a digital camera—one with mega-everything. He was thrilled, both with the gift and the thought that they cared enough to combine and get something so good.
The present from Rose was equally special. She had made a simple pendant out of a bit of the greenstone. While everyone was watching, she made him stand as she put it over his head and tucked it in place. Then she kissed him on the cheek, and all the others cheered. Tony went bright red. It was so embarrassing—yet also real nice.
Lunch was a barbecue. It was highly popular with the overseas guests. Many of them telephoned their families at home to tell them about the special New Zealand Christmas they were having.
In the afternoon, Rose and Tony went down to the bays with the new camera: seagulls, seals, flax, flowers, even rocks—you name it, it got photographed. Tony couldn’t stop smiling. The day had started out the worst ever, and now it was the best ever. This was his first real Christmas, and he knew he would remember it for the rest of his life.
Chapter 15
On Christmas evening, Tony and the others gathered in a quiet part of the lounge to wait for Jamie Duggan to explain himself. Tony glanced around the group: Nick looked uncomfortable, Christine was anxious, only Betty and Rose looked relaxed about the situation.
Duggan was composed, yet there was a tenseness that all could see. ‘Ma home town is Glasgow in Scotland,’ he began. ‘Tha’s where I was born and educated. Ma parents were well off and I have to say tha’, unlike many in tha’ city, I had everythin’ a boy could want. A good house, plenty of food, and excellent schools. I didna want fer much.
‘After university, I decided to see the world before I settled down to a job. I travelled and worked through Africa, Asia, Australia, but it wasna long before I ended up in the
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