Sweat saturated Cody's T-shirt. He raised the brim of his straw hat and wiped perspiration from his brow with his forearm. Cody lifted the next sheet of roofing iron and dropped it over the edge where it landed on its cousins.

"Oi! Time for a cuppa!" Cody peered over the edge to see Shane waving him down. "Come and have some smoko!"

Cody shoved his hammer into his tool belt and climbed down the ladder. He stripped off his hat and sodden shirt, threw them on the ground, and slumped against the wall in the shade of the old building they were demolishing.

Max ambled in for a pat. Cody pushed him away. "Too hot, mate." The dog understood so laid on the cool earth under the old house.

Shane handed Cody a steaming cup of tea from the thermos.

"You're kidding, right?" Cody gaped. "You want me to drink that shit in this heat."

"It'll cool you down." Shane jerked his head and pushed the pannikin towards him. "Trust me. Take the fucking cup." He lifted a container of cake and shoved it under Cody's nose. "Mum's syrup cake. Goes with the tea. Standard."

"You're gonna make me fat." Cody took a slice and bit into it.

Shane chuckled. "I doubt that. You work out or what?" He ran his eyes over Cody's bare stomach and chest.

"Boxing bag and weights. Beats being bored," Cody said and then took a sip of the tea and another bite of the cake.

"So, you're a boxer?"

Cody chuckled and shook his head. "Kinda. Nah."

"What's that supposed to mean? You either are or you're not." Shane swallowed a mouthful of his tea and cocked his head at Cody.

"Well, I did. Backyard shit. Made some money out of it."

"You any good at it?" Shane raised his eyebrows and grinned. "Maybe we could set something up out at my place." He studied Cody again. "I'd place money on you."

Cody sipped his tea and then looked away. "I had my fair share of hidings. I just like to keep fit now." He shifted his gaze back to Shane's face and said, "It connected me to people and shit I didn't like so I've moved on."

Shane got the message and quit. "Mandy says she might come out to see us tomorrow or the next day." He grinned. "Well me. To see me."

Cody laughed. "How's it going with her? Any luck?"

"Saw her on Saturday night. Hooked up."

"Did she give you head? Said no to me."

"You, arsehole! You asked her for head!"

Cody laughed again. His cup shook. Hot tea spilled over the edge and scorched his stomach. "Fuck!" He jerked and sat straighter. "See what you made me do."

"Serves you right, you bastard," Shane scolded. "I should tip this whole cup on you."

"Hey! I was joking. I told you she rejected me."

Shane thrust his chin forward and nudged his head. "You didn't have your shirt off when you asked her."

Cody laughed again. He shook his head at Shane.

"When she comes," Shane said. "You make sure you keep your fucking shirt on. You hear me, or you'll lose your job."

"Sure, boss. Whatever you say." Cody beamed and clipped Shane across the top of the head. "Like I said I've moved on. Got my eye on someone else."

"Who?"

Cody took another mouthful of his tea and looked at Shane from under his brows. "I'll tell you when I'm ready. Don't push, because you sound like your mother."

"Ah... fuck off!"

They both laughed, and a wave of familiarity washed over Cody. An image of him, another man, a building site and laughter flashed through his mind. It caused his breath to catch in his throat. He choked. Cody dropped the tin mug of tea and struggled to stand. He gasped for breath and leaned against the wall on his forearms.

"You alright? Shit!" Shane thumped him hard on the back.

Cody jerked his shoulders forward and nodded.

Shane lifted his fist to thump him again.

"You keep." Cody held up his hands and shook his head as he coughed again. He caught his breath. "Doing that. I'm. Gonna punch you." He put his hands on his knees and sucked in more air.

"Sorry." Shane laughed. "Thought I was helping."

"Yeah... helping to knock the wind out of me just as I managed to suck it in."

"Mum's cake." Shane scrunched his face. "Does that sometimes. Sticks to the back of your throat and comes unstuck when you least expect it." He chuckled again and shrugged. "That's the risk you take. The shit tastes good all the same."

Cody stood, laughed and shook his head. "Wasn't the cake, a ghost tapped me on the shoulder." The instant the words came out of his mouth he bit on his tongue. Fuck. He grabbed his shirt and hat. Shane gave him a strange look. Cody grinned. "Don't worry, Nana. I'm okay. Let's finish pulling this fucker down so we can have the same fun tomorrow and the next day and the one after that." He put on his shirt, pushed his hat on his head, and headed for the ladder.

Shane scrutinised Cody as he walked away and then turned to pack the cups and thermos. Before he completed the twist, he spun back to look at Cody again. Their eyes met, caught and held. It was a moment that felt like a minute.

"I'm not a fucking nana!" Shane said and pointed at Cody with his mug. "You got that! I'm not a fucking nana."

"Whatever you say." The connection warmed Cody's soul. He climbed the ladder and let the sensation ripple over him.

He'd done right.

Coming here. 

Copyright © 2025 Donna Fieldhouse. All rights reserved.

Thanks so much for continuing to read Bell Ringer. 

I hope you're enjoying the story.  Below are some expressions you may not understand.

Smoko - morning or afternoon tea.

Pannikin - tin mug.

Hooked up - had a kiss and a cuddle or more with another person. ♥

Head - oral sex on a man.

The shit - stuff. In this case, The shit tastes good. - The cake tastes good.  

I'm not sure if other countries do this but Australians tend to use the word 'shit' to describe a lot of things. Instead of using the real word we might replace it with the word shit. 

E.g. That music was awesome - That shit was awesome. Did you like that food? - Did you like that shit?  That kid is a little shit - That kid is a little monster.  

You get the picture ;)

I'd love to hear terms you might use in replace of the real word.