Home Alone

The knocking came once more, and The Gonk began to shake. Whether that was out of fright, or out of him beginning to give way. Charlie didn’t know. All he did know was that something had definitely spooked it.

Whoever it was continues to hammer on the door, but they cannot even push it open more than a centimetre. The Gonk had seemingly welded itself to the floor in an effort to stop the potential intruder.

“Hey dickhead. Dad and your Mum want us both downstairs.” It was only Jonah, and Charlie relaxed slightly. For a moment he’d thought it was something much worse than his older brother.

The door rattles again as Jonah tries to open the door, unaware that it was being blocked by The resilient Gonk. “What the fuck are you doing in there? And who were you talking to?”

Charlie thinks fast, whilst he didn’t need to worry about Jonah thinking that he was insane. He also knows that explaining The Gonk even to his brother, would be impossible. So, he looks around his room, trying to find something, anything to give him an excuse as to why his door was seemingly locked. But he couldn’t.

“Nothing. Just erm. Give me a minute.” Charlie said as he pointed to the wardrobe. The banging from the door had stopped.

“Jesus. Are you that fucking desperate for a wank after getting dumped.” Jonah said disgusted. Not at the prospect of Charlie wanking off, more the fact that he might have walked in on it.

Charlie’s face goes red at this. And he closes his eyes from embarrassment. But seeing no other option, he relents.

“Err. Yeah.” Charlie said, trying to make his face loose its colour.

There was no response to this. Then came the sound of footsteps disappearing down the stairs that were behind the door.

Charlie slumps against his bed, his head in his hands. That was until The Gonk unstuck itself from the floor and walked up to him and started poking Charlie in the leg.

Slowly, Charlie raises his head out from his hands.

“He. Not Charlie friend?” The Gonk asked.

Charlie had to fight the urge to laugh out loud. That was the understatement of the century in his mind. But not wanting to scare The Gonk, he settles with a simple shake of the head.

“No. Not Charlie friend.” Charlie replied.

What he didn’t expect, was for The Gonk’s eyes, to glow red. The colour seeping through the hair like the white strands were translucent.

“Me hurt. Not Charlie friend?” The Gonk said. The voice that had been playful and happy to begin with. Was now deep, and it even began to shake.

Charlie looked up at this alarmed. That had not at all been what he’d been saying, or what he had asked for. He could fight his own battles with his brother.

“What. No. He’s just a dick.” Charlie rattled off quickly. The less time he had to think on it the better. Just in case that tiny part of his mind that would very much like to take The Gonk up on the offer won out.

“Me. Not hurt him?” The Gonk said, his previous voice returning with the question.

Charlie smiled. At least that message had gone through. “Yes. You can’t just hurt people. Like ever.”

“No. Hurt people?” The Gonk said.

“Yes. Never ever.” Charlie replied.

“Thargox no hurt people.” The Gonk said.

Well at least he knew The Gonk’s name now.

“That’s your name?” Charlie asked, before remembering that he had failed to ask that particular question. Still, it was probably better than referring to it as ‘it’ for the rest of the holiday.

The Gonk nodded eagerly.

“And yes Thargox no hurt people.” That was tested though as his brother’s voice once more came through the door. “Dickhead! Are you deaf or something!” This time, it sounded like his brother was shouting from the bottom of the stairs.

Charlie looked at the door once more, wondering if he’d made the right decision to not sic The Gonk on his brother when he had the chance. Before getting steadily to his feet, and leaving the room.

When he came back down to the living room, Charlie was amazed to see that all The Gonks were gone. His Dad’s work he was sure of it. But whoever had moved them, had made the place look a lot less welcoming. The room seemed large and empty now, with only furniture in it.

He saw Jonah sitting on the sofa looking at his phone, looking almost bored with the whole situation.

Slowly, Charlie took a seat next to his brother, and waited for the inevitable punch, or shove, or kick, telling him to find his own seat. But none came, which scared him a lot more than the physical abuse.

Still, they both kept as much distance from each other as possible whilst an unhappy looking Monty and Skyla watched them. Behind both his parents, two suitcases were packed.

“Bit of bad news for you both. It would seem that there have been some complications with your Grandad’s will. And the lawyers need us back home right now to sort it all out.” His Dad said.

Jonah shrugged at this. Charlie looked up at the both of them.

“You’re cancelling the holiday. B-but I got all into the top set of every class.” Charlie said.

“Nerd.” Jonah mumbled under his breath, but Charlie ignored him.

“You promised that if I did that then we’d go away for the holidays.” Charlie said, he would make his Dad remember that. It had taken a lot of work to achieve that, and even more so to get his Dad to honour the bargain.

“I know it’s not fair son. But this needs to be sorted.” Their Dad said. It was weird, hearing the tone of remorse in his Dad’s voice. It was normally absent in their conversations.

“Which is why you two will stay here for the time being. And me and your Dad will come back as soon as this mess is sorted.” His Mum said.

Jonah looks up at this sudden news in horror, Charlie with concern. This could either end up being the best thing ever, or lead to his death.

“What?!” Jonah shouted, looking first at his Dad, and then at Charlie, then back at his Dad.

“Really?” Charlie said, the more he thought about it, the better it sounded. It meant he only had to hide Thargox from one person instead of three. And that one person would never come into his room, so make that no-one.

“Really. You’re eighteen now Jonah. I’m sure that you can handle looking after your little brother.” Their Dad said, but Jonah cut him off.

“Half.” Jonah said, as he always did whenever someone referred to them as brothers. Their Dad ignored the comment, and all Jonah could do under his gaze was sulk down into the sofa.

“Odds are it will only be a few days, then we’ll come back here and join in on the holiday.” Their Dad said. Then his face became serious as he looked at the two brothers. “I only have two rules. No alcohol, and no-one in this lodge whose last name isn’t Dawson.”

Charlie looked hopefully at his brother. Maybe it was time to bury the hatchet, try to start a new part of their lives. But the look Jonah gave in return showed that he thought that this must be some kind of vindictive punishment. It would have been impossible in Charlie’s opinion for even his parents to not sense the tension.

“Anyway. This should also give you two a chance to bond properly. It might be the last holiday we have with the four of us.” Their Dad declared, and with that they both picked up a suitcase each and headed for the door.

“Wait Dad.” Jonah said, getting up and rushed forwards. Their Dad turned around and waited for the rest of the question. Which given the way that Jonah was rocking backwards and forwards on his feet, might never come.

“Yes Jonah?” Skyla asked, breaking the silence.

“What are we supposed to do for food?” Jonah said, his paralyse broken, though he addressed the question to their Dad alone.

Their Dad paused at this, seeming to think on the worst possible outcomes, then took out his wallet and handed over his credit card, tossing it to Jonah’s fumbling hands.

“I’ll be monitoring every transaction. That is for food only, understand?” Their Dad said. And Charlie knew that he would. He’d once tried to spend money on toys with that thing when he was younger, and his Dad knew instantly.

Jonah stood in the doorway, looking at it as if he could somehow will their Dad to come back. But the sound of the car engine rumbling back down the driveway was more than enough of an answer for them both.

“It won’t be too bad.” Charlie said tentatively, though keeping a safe distance from his older brother.

“Shut up.” Jonah retorted angrily, rounding on him. “It should have been you and that whore going.”

“Don’t talk about Mum like that!” Charlie shouted back, anger flowing through him like it hadn’t since he’d been dumped.

“Your Mum!” Jonah yelled. He shoved Charlie to the ground, where he collided painfully with the sofa.

Charlie leapt back to his feet, ready to fight. But then stopped. Jonah outweighed him by about thirty kilos. And it was thirty kilos of height and muscle that no amount of brains could make up for.

So, he did what he always did whenever he or anyone else he hung out with at school did whenever they were outmatched by bullies they’d somehow insulted. He ran. Charlie ran up the stairs, taking them too at a time, and not stopping until he was back in his room, the door properly locked.

Finally, back in his bedroom, Charlie slumped down onto his bed, head in his pillows. The news of his parents’ departure temporally driving The Gonk from his mind.

Thargox however, determined to be remembered, clambered onto his bed. And after seeing still no sign of recognition, The Gonk began relentlessly poking Charlie in the leg.

It took a while of the incessant prodding before Charlie answered, though whilst keeping his head in his pillow.

“What.” His voice was muffled as his face was still pressed firmly against the pillows.

“Charlie. Seem sad.” Thargox said after a pause.

Looking up, Charlie, his eyes red stared at Thargox.

“I’m fine.” Charlie said, hiccupping slightly and rubbing the redness from his eyes. After finishing, and seeing the way that Thargox was tilting his head from side to side once more, Charlie reiterated the point. “Really. I’m fine.”

But even he didn’t believe it, and neither it seemed did The Gonk.

“Is it not Charlie friend?” Thargox asked. And Charlie nodded.

“I don’t know what else I can do to make him like me?” Charlie said looking at the door. He wondered if he should force the repair to the relationship. Jonah wasn’t going to make any effort, so it was going to be up to him. But the words uttered downstairs still rang through his head.

“He. No nice. You no nice back.” Thargox said, and the eyes beneath the hair began to glow red.

Before Charlie could do or say anything. The sound of hurrying footsteps from outside his door could be heard sprinting away, followed by the sound of a door slamming. It was his brother, Charlie knew, eavesdropping on his conversation the way that he’d eavesdropped on his parents.

He looks up at the sound of the door slamming. So does Thargox. The Gonk made to move towards the door, before stopping itself.

“I guess. I dunno. He wasn’t always a dick to me.” Charlie said, he remembered a time when. Well, they hadn’t exactly always gotten on. But Jonah had been nice to him once before. Before the incident.

“He. Was nice?” Thargox asked.

“Yeah.” Charlie replied and began to thumb through the pages of his sketchbook, purely for something to do with his hands. “I don’t hate him. Not really.” Charlie elaborated, hoping that Thargox would get that point. It was honestly the truth. Jonah hated him, not the other way around.

“Why he no nice?” Thargox asked.

Charlie did not reply to that question. He knew why, but he didn’t feel like using The Gonk as a therapist anymore tonight.

Despite asking the question, Thargox did not press the matter any further. For which Charlie was grateful for. But just in case, and to end the conversation before any more questions could be asked, he quickly flicks off the light on his desk.