Plot Summary
Colin Mumford, a 12-year old Australian, is sent to stay with relatives in England while his brother is being treated for cancer. In England, he meets a Welshman named Ted, who claims that his friend is also suffering from cancer. Ted offers to introduce Colin to one of England's leading cancer experts. The expert contacts Ted's doctors in Sydney, and confirm that Luke's cancer is terminal. Colin storms back to his Aunt's house distraught, where Alistair gives Colin the idea that a possible cure may be found in South America. Colin convinces Alistair to stow away with him on a cargo ship to South America the next day. However, when Colin admits that he slashed the tires of several doctors' cars and that Ted caught him, Alistair tells Colin that Ted could be blamed for this, so Colin delays their trip to South America and visits Ted the next day.
Colin visits Ted at his home and finds that he has been badly injured. Ted tells him that he was attacked by people in the street who disliked him because he is a homosexual. He then confesses Colin that his friend dying of cancer is actually his lover, Griff, who is dying of AIDS. Ted is unable to walk, so Colin promises to visit Griff for him. Colin goes to the hospital and meets Griff, bringing him a letter from Ted and Griff's favourite food, tangerines. After enjoying a conversation with Colin, Griff requests that he come to visit him again. After Griff is taken back to his ward by a nurse, Colin finds a spare wheelchair in the hospital which he takes back to Ted's house. Colin then takes Ted to the hospital to see Griff using the wheelchair and the couple thank Colin greatly for reuniting them. Several days later, after Ted has recovered, Colin goes to visit the couple in the hospital; but upon arrival, he learns that Griff has passed away.
When Colin arrives home, Aunt Iris tells Colin that she found out everything from Alistair. They are both punished by only getting cold baked beans for dinner, and the house is fortified against any escape attempts. Colin abandons his plans for traveling to South America and decides to accept Luke's fate. He requests to Aunt Iris that he go back to his family, but she forbids it, telling him that breaking out will not help either, because they will not allow him on the plane with his return ticket unless he is seen off by an adult guardian. The next morning, with much difficulty, Colin sneaks out of the house and meets Ted at the airport. Ted signs Colin's forms and they say their goodbyes. After Ted leaves, Colin is about to board the plane until Aunt Iris, Uncle Bob and Alistair show up. Iris and Bob try to take him back home, but Alistair shouts up, convincing them to let Colin go back to Australia. They see him off, and Colin travels back to Sydney to see Luke. The story ends with Luke waking up, happily seeing Colin.
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