Chapter 1. Arrival.
Book Four - Chapter One
“Ow! I am sorry Auntie. I will not get on the bus. Neither will Ice. Is there not a train or taxi we can get?”
It was mid afternoon on the Saturday of the start of their holiday, and Sun was standing outside Las Palmas airport by the tour company’s shuttle bus with Ice, Marty, Callum, and Anne, having a standoff with the travel courier, Rosa, who was getting impatient. Alice, Olivier, and Anna had already boarded.
“We leave in two minutes. I will wait no longer,” Rosa threatened. “Why are you being a problem? We make this journey many times each day.”
Callum said something in Spanish and the courier gasped and put her hand over her mouth. “Wait here!” She commanded, as she ran over into the main airport building clutching her clipboard.
“What on earth did you say Callum?” Anne asked.
“I just told her why. Not sure why she ran off, though. Why don’t Marty and I get a taxi with them...? Save holding everyone up.”
Sun had now sat down on the ground and was complaining of feeling sick, a clear sign that he was now stressed. Ice was comforting him as best she could.
“Okay,” Anne replied, “but let’s just wait for her to come back before we split up. Can’t have her having a hissy fit and throwing us all off the coach.”
Rosa returned waving a piece of paper and handed it to Callum. “If he does not want to get on the bus then you will have to go and get a taxi over there.” Rosa pointed to a line of taxis on the other side of the road. “Give them this paper, it has the apartment address on it. They will know where to go. We will arrive shortly after you. Okay? I am sorry I did not know.”
“Give me the guitar, Ice,” Anne requested. “You’ll have more room in the taxi without it.”
“Ow! No Auntie. None of you must go on the bus. It is not good.... Please believe me. I am sorry but I cannot explain it.”
Callum spoke with Rosa again in fluent Spanish and she answered him angrily before shouting instructions at the coach driver to take the luggage off. Callum went onboard and told the others to get off the bus, as they were now going to the hotel by taxi.
Callum and Olivier retrieved all their luggage from where the driver had left it at the side of the coach as Marty helped Sun to his feet, and they made their way over to the taxi rank. Callum spoke with some drivers and then to Alice. “Do you want to come with me Mrs Webberley? I’m going inside to the main desk as they have said that we will be better off ordering a private minibus for 60€ as each taxi will be about 45€ and will take about 35 minutes to get there.”
“What about Sun?” Ice asked. “He needs to lie down. He is not good.”
“I’ll take him and find a seat if you all wait here with the bags,” Marty said, who was standing cuddling Sun, “Give me a hand Callum. Quick please.”
Callum helped Marty and Ice take Sun back into the terminal building, with Alice following while Anne, Olivier and Anna pulled all the bags together to keep them safe. Within half an hour they were on the way in a private minibus to the resort.
Ten miles down the road the traffic slowed down to a crawl and they passed the tour coach on the side of the road which had been involved in an accident with three other vehicles.
Twenty five minutes later they pulled up outside the hotel apartments.
“That was a good call, Sun,” Olivier remarked as they alighted. “How did you know that coach was going to have an accident?”
“Ow! I did not but something told me not to get on. I cannot explain.”
“That doesn’t matter but accident or not, that was one hairy journey. The road runs right along the cliff edge and with hairpin bends and the like, it was stomach churning. I’m glad that you stuck to your guns.”
“Ow! Thank you Olivier. I knew something was frightening me about the coach.”
They retrieved their luggage from the minibus and Alice handed over all the passports and the booking details to the guy at reception.
“Ah! Mrs Webberley. Welcome to the island of Gran Canarias and the Solar Hotel and Apartments. I am Gonzalo. I am the manager here. I have three rooms. Two Twin Rooms and one room sleeping four. There is only one key to that room because the last family did not return it to us, so I ask that you be careful and not lose it. It is Room 420 on the fourth floor.”
Callum took the key that Gonzalo was holding out. “Muchas gracias, Gonzalo.”
Gonzalo handed Alice the two other keys. “One room, 419, is next door to the big room and the other, 510, is on the fifth floor. The hotel is very full and it is not possible to have you all on the same floor. I have tried to do as your husband requested. I hope you are understanding about this. I will let you decide who has which rooms. They are both the same, with the same sea view. The elevators are around the corner. Please enjoy your stay. If you need any help with anything then please ask me.”
“Muchas gracias, Gonzalo,” Alice responded, following Callum’s lead as she took both sets of keys.
The boys let the others use the lift first and waited for the other one to arrive. As the boys rushed out of the lift Ice and Anna were already in their room, leaving the door wide open. The boys dropped their bags in the hallway and entered the room.
“Wow! Nice room…..,” Marty said, admiringly.
“.....and a great view,” Olivier added.
“Good sized balcony too,” Callum observed. “Let’s see what ours looks like.”
They all entered the boys room next door. It was on the corner of the building with two balconies, both overlooking the sea. There was a king size double bed and a smaller sofa bed that had been opened up and dressed with sheets. There was a small sitting area with four armchairs and a small kitchen area with just a microwave and a small fridge. Sun looked in the bathroom. It was large and quite spacious with a big walk-in shower as well as a small bath.
“This is big like we had in Thailand Sun,” Ice commented as she followed him in. “You will be able to manage without me, will you not?”
“Ow! Yes and thank you for thinking of me Ice. If I need help Marty is here and you are only next door. I am pleased that it will not be difficult to bathe.”
There was a knock on the main door as Alice and Anne entered.
“Looks like you boys have the best room,” Alice said as she walked over to one of the balconies. “At least you have room to spread out and not be on top of each other. Dad will be pleased, Marty, that they paid attention to his request.”
“You can at least make us all a coffee each morning Olivier?” Anne suggested, spotting the nice pod coffee machine in the kitchen area. “I’m sure Anna and Ice would love that special service too.”
“We’ll need to get supplies in,” Callum noted, “as the cupboards and fridge are bare.”
“How are you feeling now, Sun?” Anne inquired. “Are you okay now?”
“Ow! Yes Auntie and thank you. I am sorry to have made a big fuss but I could sense something.”
“Do you want to come and talk about it with me?”
“Ow! Not now Auntie. Another time...., if that is alright?”
Anne just kissed him on the forehead.
“Shall we meet at Reception…, say in 30 minutes?” Alice proposed, looking at her watch. “Just enough time to unpack before having a quick look around to get our bearings and select a place to eat tonight. We should be able to get some shopping in on the way back.”
Sun looked at Marty as Alice, Anne and the two girls left the room.
“I can’t believe they didn’t say anything,” Marty whispered to Sun quietly as he closed the door behind his mother.
“Ow! Nor can I. Neither did Ice or Anna.”
“Maybe they think I’m sharing with Frenchie and you with Callum.”
Sun giggled and put his arm around Marty’s waist, and leant into him. “Ow! Let them think this. Is this not what Uncle wanted?”
Olivier started trying out both beds for comfort, while Callum stood there watching him. “This bed is softer than the sofa bed, Webbers,” Olivier announced, as he lay prostrate with his arms above his head. “You and I can have this one and Callum…? You can have the other. You’ll be sleeping on the floor, won’t you Sun?”
“As far as the others are concerned, that is the sleeping arrangement,” Marty advised, putting his case on the sofa bed. “In reality you are sharing with Callum. Sun and I will share this bed.”
“No frigging way Webbers. I’m not having you two shagging while I’m trying to sleep,” Olivier declared, sitting bolt upright.
“And Sun doesn’t want to see me hugging you at night either.” Marty retorted. “And for your information we’re not shagging and have no intention of shagging…, especially while there is an audience. If you don’t want to share with Callum, then you two can have the beds, and I will sleep with Sun on the floor. It’s your call Frenchie, but don’t spoil things by making a big deal over nothing.”
“Nothing? You call sleeping with Sun nothing? What if Callum is not happy about you two sleeping together? Have you thought about that?” Olivier looked at Marty, glaring defiantly. Not wanting to back down or admit defeat.
“If you’re worried about sleeping next to me, Frenchie, then the bed is big enough to put extra pillows or cushions down the middle to make two singles,” Callum informed him. “I don’t really fancy kipping next to my girlfriend’s brother or with his boyfriend, who has a reputation for hugging during the night. I don’t have any problem with them sharing. Do you really think they would do anything with us here?”
“All my days Frenchie. You’re jealous, aren’t you?” Marty stated.
Olivier looked at him, but said nothing.
“Don’t be Frenchie, please?” Marty asked. “I know in situations like this we have always shared, but we agreed it was time to stop sleeping together, didn’t we?”
Olivier nodded and Marty went across and sat on the bed next to him, and put an arm over his shoulders. “I would never embarrass you by having sex right under your nose. You wouldn’t do that to me either, would you?”
Both boys looked at each other while Callum and Sun stood there, not quite knowing what to say or do.
“Let’s get one thing clear, Webbers,” Olivier answered. “I am not jealous. I love you, but not like he does. I guess I was just a bit put out about the thought of you two playing happy families while I can’t. I’ll bunk with Callum…, no problem…, and if anyone asks…, I’m sharing with you…, and Sun’s on the floor.”
Marty hugged Olivier. “Thanks Bro. It will work out fine and we will have the best holiday ever.”
“And if I want some private time with Anna?” Olivier asked, raising one eyebrow.
“There’s three balconies, Frenchie, so take your pick! But if you want somewhere a little more private and comfortable we will make ourselves scarce and will know nothing,” Marty answered, giving Callum a wink.
“So if we’re all decided then,” Callum declared, looking at his watch, “we best get a wriggle on. We’re meeting the others in twenty minutes and I want to unpack and change.”
“May I use the bathroom please?” Sun asked. “I need to change and adjust my leg.”
“Do you need any help?” Marty offered, giving Sun a cheeky smile.
“Ow! No. I will not shower. My leg feels swollen and is a little uncomfortable. I will call if I need you or Ice to look at it.”
“Let me pee first,” Olivier insisted, as he ruffled Sun’s hair as he walked past. “I know how long you can take.”
“I thought we were going to have handbags at ten paces just then,” Callum said as Olivier closed the toilet door. “He does get so wound up these days, doesn’t he?”
“Probably his adolescent hormones are now kicking in,” Marty surmised. “Before he wouldn’t have made such a fuss. Probably not wanking enough.”
Callum chuckled. “As long as he doesn’t forget himself and tries jerking off during the night with me *kipping next to him, then it’ll be fine.” *Sleeping
