Adventures Of The Disparate Crew

The Bicycle P.3

For Christine, My bike-loving aunt. Thank you for all you've done for me.

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Blurb:

Left with alone with Kelly after school, Ariki was going to take the bus home, like he always does But, Kelly offers an alternative means of transport...

Kelly and Ariki learn something about each other and forge a deeper connection in the process.

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Part Three Of Three

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As Kelly was led inside the townhouse, they gawped in amazement. The place was nothing like their house!

"Och aye, pure dead brilliant digs ye'v git here!" Kelly burst out, impressed.

Ariki's golden-brown face took on an embarrassed look, slightly wary of what Belinda's reaction would be to Kelly's bluntness.

Luckily, Belinda, the gracious woman she was, took it in her stride.

"Why thank you, Kelly." She said, smiling.

They arrived in the kitchen, and there was a flurry of movement behind the bench. Belinda shook her head, a slight smile playing on her lips.

"Come on, don't worry darlings, it's only Ariki and his friend."

Kelly craned their neck, confused. Who could she be talking to?

Kelly got the answer when a childish voice piped up, "No, I'm not coming out."

Almost immediately, another voice spoke up, resembling the other greatly, "I won't either. Ari's friends are weird."

Belinda and Ariki's faces turned to looks of discomfort, but Kelly was just confused.

"'Scuse me, Belinda, bit who's behind th' bench?"

Ariki groaned, and replied, "Ugh, they're my adoptive sisters, Isabella and Emma."

Suddenly, everything made sense.

"Och, richt. Bit 'ow come ye didnae tell me ye hud siblings?"

Ariki shrugged and apologised. "It must've not occurred to me."

"Anyway," He continued, and gestured to a bench stool, indicating Kelly should sit down. "I'll fix you up some afternoon tea."

Kelly sat down, and someone gave an annoyed shriek, and Kelly stood up in a hurry.

"That's the garage!" Someone cried indignantly. "Go sit somewhere else!"

"Yeah!" Another voice echoed.

"Sorry, Isabella, or is it Emma? It's juist tha' Ariki told me tae sit 'ere, and..." Kelly held their hands up desperately; Kelly had no idea how to deal with little kids.

Fortunately for Kelly, Belinda intervened before things could get ugly.

"Isabella, Emma, that's enough. Pack up your things, and move into your bedroom."

There came a wail of protest at this, but Belinda held her ground, and a sigh came, and at last, the two girls stood up.

Kelly gasped in astonishment, "Why, ye'r twins!"

That was true. Both girls had big light-brown eyes, sandy-brown hair in a bob, and pale skin.

"Who are you?" One girl asked.

"M-me?" Kelly said, pointing to themself.

"Yeah, you!" The girl repeated, somewhat rudely.

"Och, richt. A'm Kelly Mitchell-Rikhotso, 'n' 'tis nice tae mak' yer acquaintance, Isabella 'n' Emma."

"Your voice sounds weird." One of the girls said.

Belinda looked horrified and admonished the girls sternly. "Girls! Where are your manners?"

Kelly just laughed. "Haha, guid one!"

Then turning to Belinda, they reassured her, "Dinnae worry Belinda, I git tha' a lot. I dinnae mynd, honestly."

Belinda seemed to relax but still eyed the girls sternly. "Now come on darlings, and leave Ari and his friend in peace."

Belinda spun on her heel and trooped out of the kitchen, followed, if somewhat reluctantly, by Isabella and Emma.

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Left alone with Kelly, Ariki felt somewhat nervous.

For a few moments, there was an awkward silence

"So, what would you like to eat?" Ariki asked, trying to break through the quiet.

Kelly was brought out of their stupor with a jolt, and their face lit up. "Och, right. Wha' dae ye have?"

Ariki groaned and began looking through cupboards as he talked.

"What do we have? We have a whole pantry of stuff, could you be a bit more specific?" Ariki inquired.

Kelly looked at Ariki's frustrated face and burst out laughing. "Och aye, yer face!"

Kelly then calmed down and replied with a grin. "Dae ye hae cheese 'n' bickies? Lik', th' savoury ones, ye know."

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"Thank ye fur this, Ariki, 'tis delicious!" Kelly said happily, eating away.

Ariki had to smile at Kelly's enthusiasm. They were sitting on stools at the kitchen bench, eating straightforward fare that Ariki had concocted. After much rummaging around in the expansive kitchen, he had come up with a plate of biscuits, cheese, and to Kelly's delight, baked beans.

"Why are you so happy, they're just baked beans!" Ariki had said incredulously.

To which Kelly had replied, "I juist ne'er git anythin' lik' that a' hame, Ma says they're tae sugary. Which is a pity, considerin' how I love thaim so."

Once the remainder of the food had been eaten away, Kelly sighed with contentment and jumped off the stool.

Before Ariki could say anything, Kelly had gathered up all the plates and put them in the sink.

"Hey, I'll do that...!" Ariki protested, but he was cut off.

"In mah hoose, we hae a rule. If ye wur served a meal, ye'r th' one wha cleans up afterward." Kelly waggled a finger as they spoke, and Ariki grinned.

"But you're not in your house, are you?" Ariki pointed out, but Kelly was unfazed.

"I wull be cleanin' up, regardless o' th' rules in yer hoose."

Ariki held up his hands in defeat, and Kelly grinned, focusing their attention on the dishes.

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Ariki stood and waved until the chocolate-brown-skinned figure on the bike had disappeared entirely around the corner. Lingering a moment longer, he finally retreated into the house, the door closing behind him.

Walking back into the kitchen, he retrieved his homework out of his school bag and began filling out the maths problems. A few moments later, there was a tap on his shoulder, and Ariki almost jumped out of his skin.

"Ahhh!!"

"Oh, sorry Ari dear, I didn't mean to startle you." A concerned voice said, and he relaxed, realising it was Lindy.

"Oh, sorry Lindy, I didn't hear you come in," Ariki said, laughing at his jumpiness.

Belinda smiled and sat down next to Ariki at the bench. "Do you mind if I interrupt your homework for a few minutes?"

Ariki nodded and slid the paper sheets over to one side.

"Sure, what's on your mind?" He asked, facing Lindy, she had his full attention.

"I was just wondering, could you please tell me a bit about Kelly?" Belinda asked, and Ariki groaned inwardly.

"Well, Kelly's a Scottish-South-African, but born in Scotland. Moved here around two months ago, and lives somewhere near the school."

Belinda's eyes opened wide at this. "Scottish-South-African, eh? Interesting."

Belinda was silent for a few seconds, processing this information.

"Well, I like Kelly so far. I think...." Belinda trailed off.

"Oh, that's what I was going to ask you." She said, suddenly remembering something. "Is Kelly a boy?"

"No."

Belinda nodded, and said, "Well, she's a very nice girl."

Ariki sighed, and said, "That's the problem. Kelly isn't a girl, either."

Belinda looked completely shocked for a few seconds, and stuttered, "How can you not be either??"

Ariki shrugged, and replied, "No idea, but Kelly is."

Belinda's face changed and suddenly looked worried.

"Oh dear, Kelly must be one of those gender-neutral people I've read about."

Ariki hid his facial expression, dreading what she would say next.

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"Why, what's wrong with that?" Ariki asked, suddenly slightly fearful.

"Oh nothing, it's just I'm a bit concerned for Kelly," Belinda said, unaware of Ariki sending daggers at her with his eyes.

"In, in what way?" Inquired Ariki, and what Belinda said next calmed him down.

"It's just that, people like that tend to be discriminated against."

Belinda took a deep breath and continued. "Now, I don't know Kelly that well, but I already think Kelly's a good person."

She grabbed Ariki's shoulders, and locked eyes with him, fire in her eyes. "Promise me, Ari, promise me, you'll always help Kelly, okay?"

Ariki, slightly shocked, just nodded. "Of course."

She relaxed, removed her hands, and stood up.

She waggled a finger at Ariki playfully, and said, "Make sure you finish your homework before dinner."

Ariki grinned, and said "Okay."

Belinda smiled, and walked out of the kitchen, leaving Ariki alone once again.

----- >>>>>> The End <<<<<< -----

"We may have all come on different ships, but we're all in the same boat now."

- Martin Luther King Jr.