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You are here: Home > Story Shelf > All Authors > N Fourbois > N Fourbois | The Ghetto, Gone but not Forgotten | Part 3

The Ghetto, Gone but not Forgotten

Part 3

by N Fourbois

It was late when the plane landed, even later by the time the luggage came through on the carousel. Philip phoned ahead to his club to warn them that he, Simon and Adam would be arriving at about midnight. They caught the Heathrow Express to Paddington and then took a cab to the club. The flight from Florida had tired them and unable to sleep during the flight, they hoped they would get a normal night's sleep without the effects of jet lag. They could relax on Sunday and then be in a reasonable state for school on Monday.

Philip was in the middle of his breakfast when the boys entered the dining room. Although rather debounced from the rigours of the flight, all three did look pictures of health with their sun bronzed bodies standing out among the grey pallor of those who had braved the end of the English December and the beginning of its January. Physically the boys were at a peak of fitness since apart from sunbathing on the beach they had been on the go during most of the hours of daylight, swimming, running, walking, playing tennis and visiting the local attractions. At night between bouts of sleep they enjoyed each other's bodies and without the pressure of time they could experiment and bring their acts of coitus to an even higher level of physical, emotional and spiritual satisfaction. It was nice to have three weeks just to think of themselves while the problems and adventures of their friends were thousands of miles away and would be experienced without the need for them to intervene.

"Good morning, boys. How did you sleep?"

"Fine," said Simon.

"We were hardly expecting to," added Adam.

"There's something to be said for single beds. Ididn't have Adam kicking me in the middle of the night."

"Thank you, Simon, but that's a little too much information. Take your time over breakfast, but once you've finished I want to leave and get home as quickly as possible."

"That's okay," said Adam. "We only unpacked the minimum we needed and we've packed that already."

When they pulled up at home Brabazon was quickly on the doorstep to greet them.

"An agreeable trip, Mister Philip?"

"Thank you, Brabazon. Now, boys, your first job is to walk across to Mrs Green's and fetch Lucy." Lucy was overwhelmed and overwhelming when she saw her humans for the first time in three weeks. For the rest of the day she wouldn't leave them and insisted on following them around the house.

Over dinner that evening Philip asked the boys

"What are your arrangements this week?

"Back to school tomorrow," said Adam.

"Have you got a hockey match on Saturday, Simon?"

"Not this week, Dad. It's pre-season training, then it's a match every Saturday except for half term. With the all-weather pitches the only thing that can stop us is snow, but then some schools have underpitch heating, but we haven't."

"Can you give me a list of games and I'll get my PA to put them in my diary. Now that I don't have to travel I should get to all of them. What about you, Adam?"

"I'll have some cross-country fixtures, but I shan't know what they are till I get to school tomorrow. There'll only be three or four and again only the snow can stop them."

"Let me have them as soon as possible. You'll have to e-mail them to me. After three weeks off Ishall have to stop up in town this week to catch up. So I'll see you two before you go to school in the morning, then it will be Friday evening. I think I'd better get Brabazon to fix up hair appointments for Saturday. What time does hockey training finish, Simon?"

"Four at the latest."

"And do we need any dental appointments for mouth guards?"

"No, Dad. That was sorted for both of us before the rugby season began."

"Adam and I will pick you up at school and get you into town before the barber's shop closes."

"Hairdresser's, Dad."

"You look hairier than Lucy." Lucy looked up and her face showed she was affronted by the remark. Neither boy liked to wear his hair long, particularly considering the number of times they got it wet during the day, and they felt they looked that much more masculine with it short. Gay they might be, effeminate definitely not. "Now you're both still okay with going skiing at half term?"

"Yeah, sure. That'll be cool," replied Adam and Simon.

"I'll phone the Legges and the Carltons after dinner just to check numbers. The latest I've heard is that Angelica is 'not going on holiday with that stuck up bitch', by which I take it she means Isabella and she's booked into a residential equestrian course for the week, while Isabella 'wouldn't be seen dead with that poof of a brother, his gay friends and that horsy lesbian of a sister even if they were the last people on earth'. So it looks as if we've all won." They all laughed without taking the slightest offence. Despite the little they saw of her, the boys liked Angelica and in the way Tony looked after William, she looked after Tony. Well, not quite in the way Tony looked after William. "And you're content about staying at home for the Easter holidays?" The boys nodded. "It's always a busy time of year for me with the end of the financial year. So it's hard to get away from work."

"It will be our first anniversary too," said Adam.

"And we want to celebrate it at home," added Simon.

"How are you going to celebrate it?"

"Making babies." Philip looked askance.

"Simon, there's no need to be coarse. I don't know what's got into you today. You're not with your school chums now." Simon blushed as he realised he'd overstepped the mark.

"Sorry, Dad."

"Put it down to his hormones, Philip. We haven't made up our minds yet," said Adam to take the pressure off Simon. "The latest suggestion is a formal dinner party rather than one like our birthday party as we'd like the adults to be there, but we've got three months to think about that yet."

When the meal was over Philip went into his study to telephone. He confirmed the numbers with the two families and Amanda Legge said that they would like to bring Mark along so that William wouldn't be the odd one out. The odd one out would be Philip himself. Simon went off to catch up with his e-mails while Adam lay on the sofa in the living room reading the new issue of GY magazine which had arrived while he'd been away. He was interested in the editorial which said that they had collated the results of the questionnaire and that from the following month they would be including many of the suggestions in a new format, including some that he and Simon had made. In particular they would adopt the coupon system for subscribers, but advised them to put a regular order in at a local newsagent. The arrangements remained the same for foreign subscribers and so Otto would continue to receive his copy through the post. Adam couldn't wait to tell Simon.

Monday morning half past seven. The boys gave Philip a hug and he kissed both of them before he climbed into his car for a week's work in London. At seven forty, still twenty-five minutes before sunrise, Adam and Simon put their yellow reflective gear over their anoraks, checked their front and back lamps and climbed onto their cycles for the ride to school. Fortunately most of it was on dedicated cycle tracks which cut down the possibility of an unwanted collision with a car, though pedestrians could be wayward and not realise that the path was not a pavement, but indeed a cycle track clearly marked out as such in red asphalt. Still pedestrians were softer than cars.

As usual there was a great gaggle round the lockers as boys unloaded rucksacks and loaded them with the books they needed for lessons until the first break. The noise was louder than on a normal day as everybody wanted to say hi to those they hadn't seen during the past three weeks and find out what they had been up to in the Christmas holidays. Simon and Adam hugged Tony and were in turn hugged by William who just happened to be passing by on his way to the Year 8 area. School began with the Headmaster's Assembly, longer than usual on the first day, and the remaining part of the first period was used up with admin. Then it was back to routine lessons. At lunchtime the members of the Cockatoo Club gathered at the far end of the dining hall with Adam in the chair.

"As it's the beginning of term we'd better have a plenary session." Some of them looked agog. "Come on, lads, wakey-wakey," said Adam. "You've done three years Latin, some of you more. Plenus? Full, and Ionly started last April." The penny dropped. "Let William and Mark finish eating and we'll get them across." Adam didn't need to worry. Soon the peripatetic William was casually mincing past, waving his hand in a circular motion and batting his eyelids. With a smile he said

"Hi, guys." Even the way he said it was getting more and more louche.

"Tony, I could swear that boy gets gayer with each day," said Paul Taylor. "What are you teaching him at home?"

"Very little. He seems a natural and knows it all already."

"William, mon petit choux," said Fran, "be an absolute angel and ask that bijou little friendette of yours to come and join us."

"Simply ask him to join us," contradicted Steve. Everyone just gave him a withering look. Not even one could bother going into laughing policeman mode.

There was nothing really important to discuss, but there might have been. It became clear that Simon and Adam were sorely missed over the Christmas period. The van den Bergs' residence was the hub of the Club's social life, not only for being centrally placed, but because of its facilities and open hospitality. From the chair Adam advised that they really must get down to uniting with the gay pupils in other years. That was after all one of its founding functions, to discover who they were and offer basic help and succour where needed. Robin sagely pointed out that if they became too big the Club would have to meet in year groups as it would be impossible to have plenary sessions - he stressed the word - over lunchtimes. That was not foreseen as a difficulty once the groups got established and did depend on the statistic of one in ten being gay being true.

"Well, there are eight of us in this year group of a hundred," said Simon "and there's bound to be somebody in the closet."

"Has anyone anything else to bring up?" enquired Adam.

"I haven't got a boyfriend yet," piped up Sam Welham.

"I'll have a chat later," said Adam. "No promises, but I might have an idea." There was no other business and so early for them Adam closed the meeting and the boys went off for their various activities.

For the first time since Adam's arrival at the school this was the parting of the ways for him and Simon. They went off to the changing rooms and got changed together. Adam was in winter dress, particularly as he was feeling the cold after his three weeks in Florida. Under his white shorts he was wearing black lycras which flattened everything, even his minimalist butt and made his shorts look empty. Over his running vest he wore a long sleeved tee shirt of thick cotton. His days of elegance were over until the warmer days of spring arrived. Simon on the other hand was as attractive as ever, in fact dressed in the same way as he was on the day they met at the wishing well. Adam did some warm-up exercises in the changing room before he went out. Captain Simon was off to organise his hockey squad. Sam Welham came and joined Adam.

"If you're free on Saturday, Sam, come across to our place. Say eleven. Simon will be on pre-season hockey training."

"Hey, is that offer still open?"

"Which one?"

"I can give you a knee-trembler if I catch you."

"Only on the cross-country course, and no cheating like taking a short cut. Okay?"

"Hmm."

Adam had lost a bit of his form during the holiday, but so had everyone else, perhaps more so, and he still ran home the winner by about five minutes. He grabbed his tracksuit, put it on and wandered across to the all-weather hockey pitches. He soon picked out Simon and even as a non-player he could appreciate the skill of his boyfriend. What that boy couldn't do with a hockey stick. Adam started to feel cold and so he went in and took a long shower, not only to warm up, but to indulge in some boywatching and checking out. He was always fair about it. He would never hide anything and usually stood under the shower with his hands on his head, posing. The way people stared you would think that ninety percent of the school was gay, not a putative ten percent. At that moment Simon came into the shower room and stood by him under the same showerhead.

"I just adore the tanlines," said Sam Welham. "See you've been wearing jammers, not speedos."

"Yeah," said Simon, "we thought we'd have a change."

"And if you wear speedos on the beach in America," said Adam "people think you're gay and we can't have that now, can we?" The water was beginning to grow cold and so our boys went to dry off and get dressed. They went into tea and then off to prep.

The week passed quickly and it was suddenly Saturday. The boys had an extra hour in bed until Simon had to get up and go off to his hockey practice. Still an hour was enough for them to lie together in hot passion. After getting on for a year together they were able to judge in silence each other's needs and desires. Lovemaking just got better without their knowing why or how. Finally Simon wrenched himself away from Adam, showered and dressed. At least it wasn't school uniform on this occasion. Adam rinsed his face and put on a tracksuit and nothing else. He needed a shave, but as he was going to the hairdresser's in the afternoon he thought he may as well have it done there professionally. Mrs Green had provided an early brunch as it was Brabazon's weekend off, not that either boy ate very much. Food was always there for later in the day, or for Adam at least. This was a little bit hard as Philip was tucking into a hearty breakfast. He was off for a round of golf after he had deposited Simon at school. As they left, Simon kissed his boyfriend goodbye, a new experience for they had never been apart for so long since they got together. Just like an old married couple.

Adam went upstairs, followed by Lucy, to tidy his and Simon's rooms. He did not want Mrs Green on his back. It felt strange not having his other half around, but he knew that it was something he would have to get used to, for the spring term at least. He loved the feeling of moving around the house just in a tracksuit. He had nothing on underneath and he liked the way everything was jiggling around freely. He put is hand down the front of his bottoms and gave his balls a good scratch. 'Ah, that's much better,' thought Adam. 'I must cut my fingernails or I'll get Simon complaining. Time for a swim, I think. Sam won't be here for a couple of hours yet.' He went downstairs, still followed by Lucy, left her in the kitchen and told Mrs Green where he was going. When he got down to the swimming pool he shed his tracksuit, pulled on a bright red speedo, a matching swimming cap and a pair of goggles, then dived into the pool for his routine of fifty lengths.

Meanwhile upstairs there was a ring at the front door and William was in the midst of calling out 'good morning, Brab...' when he noticed it was Mrs Green who answered the door.

"Good morning, Mrs Green," said Tony in rather a superior tone of voice, patting his brother on the head as he did so.

"Good morning, boys. Are you after Simon and Adam?"

"Just Adam," said Tony. "Simon's got hockey practice."

"He's in the swimming pool at the moment. You know your way down there." When the boys arrived in the pool area, they saw this lithe figure weaving its way through the water. They shouted hallo, but with the noise of the splashing water and way Adam kept his head below the surface they were unable to make themselves heard. They just had to wait and until he finished they could only stand and admire the speed and the way his body cut through the water with perfect tumble turns at each end. At the end of fifty lengths Adam climbed up the ladder and out of the water, surprised to see that he had an audience of two. He was quite a picture in his red speedo and Tony had to give William a nudge to stop him staring. Tony of course was quite used to seeing Adam in speedos from school, but Will was standing there wide-eyed and open mouthed.

"Hi, lads," said Adam. "Didn't expect you."

"I thought I'd better come with Will. He's got a big favour to ask you."

"What's that, Will?" asked Adam, knowing that he would find it difficult to refuse Will anything, but he certainly didn't expect what was coming.

"Adam," said Will, "you know you said that if I wanted to know anything about sex I could ask you?" Adam couldn't actually remember the occasion, but it sounded right. "Mark and I have decided that we want to have real sex together." Adam looked at Tony who just rolled his eyes. "And you said it needs a little preparation otherwise it will hurt and you could do some damage. So I was wondering if you'd teach me how." Tony rolled his eyes again.

"Shouldn't you be asking Tony that?"

"He wants it to be you," interrupted Tony.

"And you agree with that?" Tony shrugged his shoulders and nodded.

"You know what Will's like."

"Okay, the full works?" Tony nodded. William grinned and nodded without actually knowing what the full works were.

"Let me get showered and we'll go up to my room."

Adam stripped off his speedo, goggles and bathing cap and walked into the shower, keenly watched by William. Adam was pleased to let the hot water cascade over his body, especially down his back and into his crack which was still partially stuck together with Simon's dried spunk. He dried himself off and put his loose black tracksuit back on. He wished he were wearing some support for he already had a semi on at the thought of preparing William and it wouldn't remain a semi for long.

The three boys climbed the stairs and found Mrs Green just finishing off cleaning Adam and Simon's rooms.

"Won't be a minute, Adam, and you can have your room back. I'm just off to the shops then. Mr Brabazon left me clean out of fresh vegetables for tonight. I'm thinking of making a steak and kidney pie. Is that okay with you, Adam?"

"You couldn't make it one of your special steak and kidney puddings, could you, Mrs Green? They're the tops."

"Anything for you, my dear."

"Can we stop too?" said William.

"I thought you had a date tonight," said Tony.

"We could cut out Burger Star for one of Mrs Green's steak and kidney puddings."

"Get along with you, William. You go out and enjoy yourself. If you're good, I might put one in the freezer for you. A nice young lady is it that you're taking to Burger Star?"

"Certainly not," said William indignantly. "A cute young man and he's my boyfriend."

"Oh," said Mrs Green and left it at that. "There you are, Adam. Everything spick and span again for you and Simon. I must get on. There's plenty for you boys to eat in the kitchen. Just come down and help yourselves when you're ready and I'll make you a drink."

"Thank you, Mrs Green," said Adam. "We'll see you later."

Adam walked through the bathroom, hung a 'Do not Disturb' notice on Simon's door and locked it. He did the same to his own.

"You're sure you want this, Will?" He nodded. "You're not on a promise tonight, are you?" William looked puzzled at his brother.

"No," said Tony. "They're not having a sleep over."

"So when are you doing the dirty deed?" said Adam.

"Probably when we're on the skiing trip," answered Will.

"You've got five or six weeks yet. So you're sure you want this? The full works?" William nodded. "It might be uncomfortable at first and you must tell me if it hurts you. It won't happen on purpose." He fetched two black cases out of a cupboard, one large one, one small one. "Now if you're going to enjoy the experience fully, the key is personal cleanliness. You have to think of your boyfriend all the time. Take all your clothes off." Will didn't have to be asked twice. Adam felt himself getting hard again. "This is no good," he said and went across his wardrobe again, pulled out his tightest dance belt, pulled off his tracksuit bottoms and slipped on the belt with his balls and dick pointing north. At least that was under control now. Again William stared. Tony had seen it all before. He was a little sorry Ben didn't do dance at his school. He would like to have seen him in tights. Still, that was a little adventure they could have on one of their romantic weekends. "When did you last take a dump?"

"This morning. I had a shower after."

"That doesn't clean you inside properly. It wouldn't be very pleasant if Mark got your shit on his dick, would it? So the first thing is to have an enema and we have to do that in the bathroom." Adam took the case with the enema kit with him into the bathroom. "Simon and I bought this on eBay. It was our Christmas present to each other." He ran a jug of warm water. "Lie across my lap." William immediately got a stiffie. "Can't you control that thing of yours?"

"You can't control yours," Will replied cheekily. Adam got up and fetched jockstrap.

"Put this on." Will waited for his dick to go down and obeyed. "Second attempt." Adam lubricated the nozzle with lavender oil. Nothing but the best for Will. He spread Will's cheeks and aimed at his rosebud. He had had plenty of practice with Simon. It slid in easily, though William gasped.

"Mmm, feels good."

"Mark's dick will feel better." Adam poured a small amount of water down the funnel and gently squeezed the bulb. "Tony, can you lube up this butt plug for me? How does that feel, Will?"

"Funny, but nice." Adam let a little more water in and some more.

"That should be enough. Now try and keep this in while I pull the nozzle out and insert the plug. Ready, Tony?"

"Yeah, here it is." With a quick action Adam pulled the nozzle out and inserted the plug like a professional.

"How do you feel, Will?"

"Like I've got a bit of stomach ache."

"That's normal. Now try and keep it in like that for ten minutes. If you can't, tell me. When we take the plug out you've got to be ready to sit on the toilet and let it all out." Adam looked a William. His normally flat stomach looked a bit distended under the jock. Will was really good and kept it in there for ten minutes. He crouched over the loo and Adam quickly withdrew the butt plug. The world fell out of Will's bottom. "Look at all the stuff in the pan. That wouldn't have been very pleasant for Mark. It might even have put him off making love to you." Adam flushed the loo. "Now get into the shower and clean yourself up and then we'll do the next bit. Put the jock back on afterwards. Your such a randy little toad it'll keep that trouser snake of yours under control." Meanwhile Adam spread some towels out on his bed. When Will was ready, he came into bedroom. "Kneel on the bed. That's it. Your butt's so clean Mark could lick it now."

"Lick it? Yeuk!"

"Don't knock until you've tried it. One of the nicest things is when you've had bareback sex is to lick up your spunk when it oozes back out of your lover's arse. Then you can kiss him and share it." William didn't look convinced. "Am I right, Tony, or am I right?"

"You're right, Adam. Ben can't get enough of it. Nor can I, come to think of it."

"Very important part now, Will. Lubing up. I've done my bit. It's brotherly love from now on." Adam handed Tony a tube of K-Y, which he started to apply.

"Ow, that's cold," cried Will. Tony worked in one, then two fingers. It was easy.

"You're going to be a natural bottom, Will," he said. "You sure you haven't done this before?"

"Yeah, sure, but I think we will now."

"Tony, we can't leave him like this. Drop your pants. You've got to finish him off or the whole lesson will be wasted. Remember what we've always said. It's best to get experience as a bottom before you try to top so that you know how sensitive the bottom is. Do you want this?" Adam asked Tony offering him a condom.

"Can't you do it for me, Adam?" said Will.

"I've told you before my dick belongs to Simon and he's not here to give permission." Tony refused the rubber.

"It's all in the family." Adam lubed his dick and Tony got down to work on his brother. He worked away slowly at first, finding his brother easy to mount when suddenly Will shouted

"Aaagh! I'm sorry, Adam. I've pissed in your jockstrap."

"When you take it off, take a look. That's not pee. It's spunk. Tony's done such a good job on your prostate gland that it made you come off. Now you know why I wanted you to wear a jock." Meanwhile Tony had come inside his brother and had withdrawn. "Don't move, Will. I want to take a snap of your butt with the spunk dripping out so that you know what I'm talking about. They call it a cream pie." Adam took a couple of snaps and handed Will a towel. "Go and clean yourself up."

"Three showers in a day and it's not even eleven o'clock," said Will with a pretend resentful look and a pout.

"Agh, eleven o'clock," exclaimed Adam.

"Whassup?" said Tony.

"I almost forgot. Sam Welham's coming across for eleven."

"My, you've got a busy day."

"Yeah, and it's all within the spirit of the Cockatoo Club. Let's go and see what Mrs Green's got for us."

"We'll get going after that. Get a move on, Will. I'm seeing Ben this afternoon. He's got hockey practice too, but just this morning."

"What are you doing?"

"Just hanging out, but it will be nice to see him after a week."

When they arrived in the kitchen Mrs Green was back and she made the boys large steaming mugs of hot chocolate with whipped cream, marshmallows and a glacé cherry on top of the cream. The front door bell rang and she went to answer it.

"What's that over there?" said Tony. When Adam and Will looked round, he whipped the cherry off the cream in William's mug and popped it into his mouth.

"Hey, Tony, you stole my cherry," cried out Will. Tony and Adam burst out laughing. "What?" said Will. "It's not funny."

"Yeah, but don't mention anything to Mum and Dad, or even Angelica, especially Angelica," said Tony.

"That's right," answered Adam with as str8 a face as he could manage.

"Even though it was my brother?" Howls of laughter.

"Even though it was your brother," replied Adam, the tears rolling down his face.

"Hey, guys, what's so funny?" said William his face as puzzled as ever.

"You tell him, Adam," howled Tony.

"Firstly, Will, you didn't notice Tony nick the cherry off your hot chocolate?" said Adam as he got up, went to the cupboard and fetched the carton of glacé cherries and buried two in the cream on Will's drink.

"Yeah... okay."

"You fell for the oldest trick in the world and then you started saying Tony stole your cherry. You know what that means, don't you? When someone has proper sex for the first time, they lose their cherry and the person they have sex with steals their cherry." William at last saw the funny side and started laughing as well. Adam took him in a hug. Then the boys took a sip from their hot chocolate.

"I've got ever such a funny feeling in my bottom."

"It'll be an even funnier one when you get on your bike," laughed Tony.

"It's a nice one. I quite like it."

At that moment Sam Welham came in.

"Hi, guys."

"Hi, Sam."

"Would you like some hot chocolate?" asked Mrs Green.

"Go on," said Tony. "It's ever so good." Meanwhile she had put a mug in front of Sam. "We're off when we've drunk this. Just a quick call."

"That lasted two hours," piped up William.

"And whose fault was that?" enquired Tony, raising his eyebrows. William decided to keep quiet. Adam and Sam said

"See you later," as Tony and William rode their cycles down the drive.

"Thank you, bro, that was awesome. When can we do it again?"

"We ought not to. That's what boyfriends are for. Not that I saying it won't happen. You can be such a little PT at times."

"PT?"

"Prick teaser. Mark doesn't realise how lucky he is, Will."

"We're not boyfriends, you know. Only best friends and partners."

"What's the difference?"

"We're not in love with each other or into any of that soppy girlie stuff." Tony laughed.

"Just you wait. One of these days you'll be into all that soppy girlie stuff as you call it, whether with Mark or somebody else, and you'll thoroughly enjoy it. By the way I meant what I said about not saying anything at home about what we did this morning. Mum and Dad are very tolerant with us and you don't want to gross them out now, do you?"

"My lips are sealed, bro, which is more than I can say for my bum at the moment," and Will giggled that Will type giggle. "What did you think of Adam in that red speedo?"

"Stonking, but not so stonking as Ben."

"He was more than stonking, he was gorgeous and if he and Simon ever split up I want first refusal."

"I shouldn't worry yourself too much about that. They are in it for life."

"Boo."

Meanwhile back at the van den Bergs' Adam and Sam had finished their drinks and Adam took him off into their downstairs office. He unlocked one of the desk drawers and took out Roland Bedford's French vocab book.

"I'm not sure that this will tell us very much, but it's the only possibility I can think of. For a start it's not a list of the school's gayboys, only a list of Bedford's clientele who might well be str8, but still in it for the fun, or more likely for the money. Now let's see, Year 9."

"No I want someone from our year. I don't want to be accused of baby-snatching."

"No, it's all right. This is from last June when we were still in Year 9. Anyway, Year 9 is scarcely baby snatching. I always think they're the tops. They're really at their hottest in then. It's all downhill after that. Even we've grown hunkier since last year and lost some of that adolescent attractiveness."

"I'd still like to feel your balls," said Sam.

"If only I had a quid for every time a guy said that to me..."

"I'll give you pound for a feel."

"They're worth a great deal more than that. Still, stop flirting. It's not going to happen."

"It's not fair. You had mine... and a bit more... and I still fantasise about it when I'm having a wank."

"And I enjoyed it, but then life's not fair. You quickly get used to that fact when you lose both parents and get put into an orphanage." Adam didn't know what had come over him. He never usually talked in such terms, not even to Simon. Perhaps being without Simon for the morning had made him more introspective. "There's only one name here that we know nothing about. I think Roly Bedbug must have kept clear of his own year in his commercial dealings."

"Who's that?"

"Greg Wilding."

"Oh, or Greg Wildthing as he's called... and not without good reason, so I hear."

"I don't know him. I still only know the kids in my classes and the rugby and cross-country groups."

"He's tall, blue eyes, fair wiry hair, slightly curly."

"Oh, I think I know who you mean now."

"I hadn't thought of him," said Sam. "He's not a bad looker either."

"Otherwise it's a year below, a year above or you try your luck with a complete unknown."

"Tell me what you decide and if it doesn't work I'll give you names from other years."

"Okay, thanks, Adam. I'd better go. I'm due home for lunch. And don't forget. If you split up with that gorgeous hunk of a boyfriend of yours, give me first refusal."

"You're the second person to say that to me today. You'll be giving me big ideas about myself. No, sorry, Sam, at the moment it'd be fourth refusal, but then that's the price of popularity."

"Or of such a hunky body. See you on Monday, Adam, and thanks."

Adam still had another three hours to kill until he had to go and meet Simon. Philip wasn't back from his round of golf and Mrs Green was busy in the kitchen making this evening's steak and kidney pudding.

"I'll teach you how to make one of these, Adam, if you like. You might find it useful one day."

"Perhaps another time, Mrs Green. I can't settle or concentrate at the moment."

"If you can't go six hours without him, how are you going to manage when you really have to spend some time apart?"

"We hope it won't happen, but we'll worry about it if it does."

"Tch, young love," and she got on with mixing the suet for the pudding.

He decided to get changed and go for a run. Even though this term he ran on three afternoons a week at school, it was still to big a gap for him from Thursday to Monday not to do any running. 'I'll take Lucy,' he thought. 'I suppose she'll come with me without Simon. She goes off with Mrs Green.' He changed into his trendy running kit, just singlet and matching shorts, emerald green and black patterned. Simon loved to see him in it as the slits in the sides of the shorts gave glimpses of his buns and package. Lucy was only too keen to come along. Once she heard the clink of her lead she was up and out of her basket and wagging her tail at Adam. It was chilly and damp out, but once he was warmed up he was happy that he had left his tracksuit behind. He walked more and more briskly to the park with Lucy on the lead. Once there he did some stretches, let Lucy off the lead and started jogging. When he felt ready he gradually sped up and took the path through the wood and up the hill to the wishing well. Lucy of course won the race and was sitting by the well waiting for him. If Sam Welham could run like that he would have to keep his promise, but on present form there was no danger of that unless he were to pick up an injury, a pulled muscle or hamstring half way round the course. Injuries hadn't been written into the contract. It was clear that Sam fancied him. Still it might never happen.

When he reached the summit, Lucy was lying on the ground being stroked by a boy and a girl, presumably brother and sister closely supervised by their parents. When Adam arrived Lucy got up and ran towards him wagging her tail.

"Hey, is that your dog?" demanded the boy. Adam looked at him. He was absolutely stunning, perhaps a year younger than himself, no more, clear pale blue eyes, straw coloured hair, but certainly not strawlike in texture, an open face with ruddy cheeks. He could not tell any more for his anorak came down almost to his knees and just showed blue jeans and trainers.

"No, she belongs to my boyf... to my brother."

"Miles, Gillian. we're going now." It was the children's mother. Gillian got up and ran after her parents.

"Won't be a minute, Mum. I'll catch you up." Miles looked over into the wishing well. "Have you ever made a wish here?"

"I have."

"Don't tell me what it is. It won't come true."

"It did."

"Just now you were going to say boyfriend, but you changed it to brother?"

"That's right. He's my brother by adoption after my parents died." That was the second time in one morning that he had had to confront his parents' death. "But he's my boyfriend too. We met at this wishing well. That's the wish that came true."

"So you're gay?"

"Yees... does that frighten you?"

"No, of course not. You see, I've got gaydar - and I'm gay too. My parents don't know that. Well, that's not quite true. My mother knows, but my father doesn't. He doesn't like gay people and makes remarks about them." Miles smiled such a sweet smile at Adam. "I'd like a boyfriend."

"Why don't you make a wish? It worked for me, even though it took six months. So don't be impatient."

"I haven't got any money." Adam fished around in his pocket and produced a coin.

"Have this one on me," he said as he pressed it into Miles's hand. Miles closed his eyes and threw it over his shoulder into the well. "Don't tell me what it is. It won't come true." Miles opened his eyes and laughed. "I've got a friend who's looking for a boyfriend. He's a bit younger than me and very good looking. How old are you?"

"Fourteen."

"He's fourteen. He'll be fifteen next month."

"I was fourteen in the Christmas holidays."

"I'll have to bring him running with me, but it'll be difficult on a Saturday. I'll have matches to go to."

"Here's my mobile number. Ring that if you want to get in touch. What's your name by the way?"

"Adam. You're Miles."

"Oh, you heard. You know, you're quite a hunk. I would mind you as my boyfriend."

"Goodness, you're the third person that's said that to me today. I won't be able to get my head through the door."

"Miles!" It was Miles's father who had climbed back up the hill to fetch him. "Come along. It's lunchtime."

"Sorry, Dad. I was just talking to Adam and didn't notice the time. Bye, Adam. I've got to go."

"Bye, Miles." Adam's voice trailed off as he watched Miles's neat little body run off after his father. He was beginning to feel cold. He put the piece of card into his pocket. "Come on, Lucy. Time to go and see the ducks."

By the time he got Lucy home, hosed down and dried off it was gone two. He put on a tracksuit and went into the kitchen for a snack lunch. It was still strange to be there without Simon, although Mrs Green chatted away while he ate. When he had had his fill he went upstairs and decided to take a bath since he had been running, and because he hadn't changed immediately afterwards his muscles were beginning to seize up. While he was in the bath he heard Philip arrive home. He pulled the plug, got out, dried himself and put on his jeans, a tee shirt and a loose pullover. Adam was one of those fortunate people who, no matter what they wore, always looked smart even in the most casual of wear. He found Philip in the kitchen having a snack and asked him how his game of golf had gone. Philip was pleased for although he was out of form through lack of practice he had managed to come second in his foursome. Adam told him what he had been up to - in outline rather than detail - and how lonely he had been without Simon, even with the others there. They climbed into the car, drove off to school, picked up Simon who looked pretty radiant after a day's exercise in the open air and Philip dropped them outside the hairdresser's.

"Thanks, Dad. We'll make our own way home afterwards."

"Str8 home, no diversions via Burger Star. Remember Mrs Green's got a hot meal waiting for us."

"I'm starving already," said Simon. "I didn't want to eat much at lunchtime."

With appointments they went str8 into the chairs, leant back and let it happen. Although they had already washed their hair that day they had it done again with all the oils and conditioners. They resisted the temptations to have highlights and tinting. It would not have gone down well at school and the last thing they needed to do was to draw attention to themselves. Adam had a shave, but Simon decided he might be charged a search fee if he asked for one. It was fortunate Brabazon had an account there for neither boy had thought about bringing any money with him. On the way home Adam told Simon about the day he had had - in detail rather than outline - and how lonely he had felt without him.

"I'll make it up to you tonight," promised Simon.

"And tomorrow morning?"

When they arrived home Mrs Green had laid dinner in the kitchen. It was nice and warm in there after she'd spent the afternoon baking and steaming and stewing. They couldn't say so, but they enjoyed it more with her when Brabazon had a weekend off. The atmosphere was not so lugubrious, less formal, more homely. She sat down with them for dinner, even with Philip there, and of course they never went short of conversation. Afterwards the boys went into the television room, got bored with the programmes - Ant and Dec and Sadly Come Dancing - dozed on the sofa and made that an excuse for an early night.

Philip insisted that the following day was to be a day of rest - nothing more stressful for the boys than a heated game of snooker in the games room and a gentle walk for Lucy in the afternoon. He would be working from home the following week though he knew he would have to spend at least one day in London. He would try to make that Thursday.

The week at school passed quickly. Simon was building up for the first hockey match. As captain he knew his place was safe, at least for the first match. On the cross-country runs Adam was safe from Sam Welham's attentions, but there was no room for complacency. Sam was improving his finishing positions. There was nothing to report from the Cockatoo Club meetings, even from Sam and his pursuit of the Wildthing. All had gone quiet there.

On Saturday morning Philip and Adam dressed themselves up warmly against the January winds when they took Simon off to school for his morning match. Hockey did not have the following enjoyed by rugby; school cricket had even less. It was also difficult to spectate for the all-weather pitches were on raised ground and in compounds surrounded by high chainlink fences to cut down the possibility of an injury from a high flying ball. Adam was entirely new to the game, but being a natural sportsman he soon sussed out the way the game was played and realised it was similar to the old fashioned way soccer was played decades ago. He could remember his father talking about it. Simon was playing at centre-forward which basically meant he was there to score goals. He was initially bemused by shouts of 'Look for the square ball', in his imagination waiting for this hard white cube to come into play. Even without any expertise in the game he could see that Simon and two other members of his team stood out from the rest of the XI as class players. If he were to get onto the pitch he knew he could run, mark and position himself like the others, but when it came to stick skills he would be absolutely lost. He was amazed each time he saw Simon disarm his opponent in a tackle. When he wasn't watching the game he could watch Simon, the way he ran, the way his body twisted and turned, the way he captained his team, coaxing here, cajoling there, making decisions. This was a side of Simon he saw neither at home nor at school, and the beam on Philip's face betrayed the way his heart was beating with pride. How beautifully turned out his boyfriend was in white shorts, royal blue and scarlet quartered top and matching hooped socks. Just to think that boy was all his, although Philip might have disputed that if he dared mention it. To cap it all the school team won three goals to two with Simon scoring two of them.

They clapped the teams off and after a quick hug Simon disappeared to get changed and have team lunch with chips, baked beans and whatever. How Adam was anxious while he had to remain with Philip and go and have the cup of tea and sandwiches provided for parents. Once home Adam tucked into brunch. He needed something hot inside him, and this time he was referring to food, for he was still feeling the cold from standing on the touchline, not that it mattered. After all, he did it for Simon. Philip was off out again. He had postponed his game of golf until the afternoon so that he could watch Simon. He would have to be content with nine holes, though the evenings were visibly beginning to get out. Simon and Adam were just wondering what to do when, after a ring at the front door, Brabazon announced Master Anthony Legge and Master Benjamin Carlton. As Master William Legge was not with them that meant they had an ulterior motive for their visit. At least some progress had been made. Brabazon allowed them immediately into the kitchen instead of inviting them to remain in the library until Adam and Simon went to greet them. They hugged each other under Brabazon's disapproving look, which only disguised what he was really thinking. Ben's hockey team had won one-nil and a blow by blow report of each game sent Brabazon scurrying for his pantry.

"We were wondering if we could borrow your facilities," enquired Tony.

"We're going to the pictures on a date, but then my parents are picking me up at ten from Tony's." It had originally been Simon and Adam's idea to provide them with 'facilities' anyway and they pondered how difficult it must be for them during term time having to wait for the weekends until they could spend some 'quality' time together. The four disappeared upstairs. Why shouldn't Adam and Simon have some 'quality' time together at the same time?

Tuesday proved to be an interesting day. At morning beak Adam and Simon went off to the boys' toilets to take a slash. Adam was miles away as he was checking out the kid on his left. Old habits die hard. He had long given up checking out Simon. He was trying to determine whether this lad was circumcised or had just pulled his foreskin back its full extent. He was thinking he'd like to experiment with a cut boy because he'd never had sex with one before, when he heard a voice call out 'hey, Adam'. He didn't recognise it, but then there were over seven hundred voices in the school to recognise. He couldn't look round without the risk of spraying one of his neighbours or wetting the floor, or both. When he'd finished, he shook off and quickly tucked his dick away in his slip as it was threatening to stiffen up. When he could finally turn round towards the direction of the voice he saw a Year 9 boy in front of him he vaguely recognised. The boy smiled and said

"Hi, Adam. Remember me? I'm Miles from the wishing well."

"It's not that far," replied Adam dozily and then realised who was talking to him. "Hey, Miles, I didn't realise we went to the same school." He explained to Simon that this was the boy he'd met at the wishing well a couple of Saturdays ago. He wanted to give him a hug.

"Neither did I. I had a feeling we'd met before, but when I finally saw you in school yesterday I knew where."

"Has your wish come true?"

"Not yet. It's only a fortnight or so and you said it took six months for yours to come true."

"See you around, Miles, and be sure to tell us if there are any developments."

At lunch Adam made sure he sat next to Sam Welham.

"How's it going with Greg Wildthing?"

"It isn't. He said he's got a boyfriend outside school and doesn't want anything to do with the Cockatoo Club. I think he blames us for the Bedbug's demise."

"And he may not be that wrong," said Adam. "Now I wonder if the outside boyfriend could be Bedford. Wildthing was definitely well on the credit side in the notebook."

"Anyway that's his decision," said Simon. "You can't help people who don't want to be helped."

"I said we might have to think again, and about someone outside our own year. I've got an idea, Sam, but I'll tell you later." Lunch on Tuesday was a relatively leisurely affair as it was dance followed by gym. Sam was not a dancer. He played squash or tennis before the gym lesson. Lunch broke up, but Simon and Adam remained seated there with Sam. Adam told him about his meeting at the wishing well, described Miles and told him he was also looking for a boyfriend. "He's fourteen and you're still fourteen. I didn't even know he went to our school until I saw him today. And I don't know his surname either, although there can't be many Miles in Year 9."

"A few days and weeks though," added Simon facetiously.

"Have you got your school list handy, Si?" He handed over his school list.

"Here it is. Long. His surname is Long. Let's go and see whether we can find him." The three made their way to the Year 9 changing rooms. Adam went inside. He had to remember he was on a mission and keep his eyes to himself. He had never been amongst such a collection of attractive boys since he had been in Year 9 himself. So many boys' beauty peaked at that age. "Is Miles Long here?" Adam shouted out. "I've got a message for him." Out of a gaggle of boys he emerged just dressed in shorts. Adam wondered what his earlier difficulty had been. Now he would have recognised Miles from anywhere.

"Hi, Adam," and he gave him a sweet smile.

"Go and slip a top on and your trainers. There's someone outside who wants to meet you." Adam went back outside and waited with Simon and Sam. It wasn't long before the Year 9 boy appeared.

"Hi."

"Miles, this is Sam. He's a friend of ours and he's family like us."

"Family?"

"Gay, and he's looking for a special friend. We've got to go and get changed for a dance session. See you later." A bell rang from the direction of school.

"OMG, we're going to be late," said Simon "and that'll mean wrinkles in my tights."

"C'mon, Si. I'll str8en them out for you."

Simon and Adam didn't get a chance to talk to Sam again until tea.

"Well?" said Simon.

"Well what?" said Sam

"How did it go?" asked Adam impatiently.

"All right."

"Just all right?"

"We couldn't say much because we both had to get changed for our lessons." Simon expelled a long breath. "But..."

"Yees?" said Adam and Simon together.

"We're going to meet at break tomorrow morning."

"And?" said Simon.

"Well, that's it. We don't really know each other. We don't even know if we've got anything in common or whether we're going to like one another. They headed for tea feeling that a satisfactory afternoon had turned out to be rather unsatisfactory.

The weather took a turn for the worse. During Tuesday the wind turned to the north-east and although the sky was clear and the air pure and clear, it was obviously blowing directly from the Arctic. It continued that way throughout Wednesday. Simon and Adam wrapped themselves up in tracksuits for their hockey and cross-country sessions. During the Cockatoo Club meeting Sam let our boys know that Miles was coming to his house on Saturday to hang out and so that they could get to know one another. No, it wasn't a date and no, they didn't plan to do any stuff together.

On Thursday the wind dropped, but there was still a slight airflow from the north-east and it didn't get any warmer. Adam, Sam and Simon's group was stopped from doing cross-country for fear the cold could damage their lungs or cause hamstrings to be pulled. They were sent to the swimming pool with the Year9s. Of course they saw Miles there and were impressed with the way he filled his speedo. He shyly waved at them and said hallo, but mainly kept his distance in front of his mates. They couldn't even get near in the showers afterwards. On Friday the air pressure started to drop. The Met Office started to give out snow warnings, not that our boys heard them. On Saturday it didn't bother to get light. Philip took Simon and Adam into school in the car for Simon's hockey fixture. They were all well wrapped up. Unusually Simon's team was allowed to play in tracksuits with their team strip over the top. They had a nine o'clock push-off because they had to stagger the matches throughout the morning to make full use of the all-weather pitches. It was still so dark they played under floodlights. After a quarter of an hour the first snowflakes began to fall. By half time the snow was settling. The one weather the all-weather pitches could not cope with. The game was abandoned. Simon collected his kit without changing and Philip drove the boys home while it was safe to do so. Once home Simon took a hot bath and afterwards he and Adam sat by the window watching the heavy snow as it came down. At last they felt warm.

Meanwhile across the other side of town Miles had turned up at Sam Welham's house. He locked up his cycle before ringing the door bell. He felt warm after his ride, despite the days of cold wind. He was glad to get inside. Mrs Welham offered him a cup of tea.

"Get Miles to put his cycle in the garage, Sam. Ithink it's going to rain before the morning's out." But it didn't rain. It came on to snow and because the ground was frozen it settled with no difficulty. The boys went up to Sam's room, played CDs and chatted. At eleven Mrs Welham called them down for a drink and snack in the kitchen and Mr Welham joined them. It was still snowing quite heavily, but that didn't seem to worry anyone. The boys wrapped up and went out into the back garden. After throwing snowballs at one another for ten minutes they decided it would be fun to build a snowman. Sam went into the garage and got some bits and pieces together, a couple of bits of charcoal for his eyes, some pebbles for his teeth, a carrot and even a bobble hat to keep him warm. Sam stuck the carrot in. It was still snowing quite hard.

"Hey, Sam, you can't put the carrot there," cried Miles in fits of giggles, "and especially at that angle." Both boys were laughing heartily. "It's supposed to be for his nose."

The two boys were obviously hitting it off together, so well that they didn't notice the time.

"What time is it, Sam?" Sam looked at his watch.

"Half past twelve."

"Hey, I've got to be home for one." The boys went into the kitchen.

"Mum, Miles has got to go now. He's expected home for lunch."

"I don't think you'll be going anywhere," said MrWelham. "Do you realise how much it's snowed?"

"Of course we do, Dad. We've been out in it."

"Then take your shoes off and go and have a look out of the front of the house." They did as they were told and were surprised to see what was normally a busy road at Saturday lunchtime at a standstill. The council hadn't brined or gritted the roads. While they were watching, one car was trying to move, but gave it up as a bad job. Otherwise there were just parked cars with a thick covering of snow. Even the two pedestrians were struggling. They left Sam's bedroom and went back down to the kitchen.

"I think we'd better ring your parents, Miles. Cheryl's stopping at her friend's."

"That's my sister," said Sam. "I've also got a brother, but he's at university."

"Can you write the number down for me, please, Miles, and I'll give them a call."

Five minutes later Mrs Welham came back.

"Well that's settled then. Miles, you can stop here and have something to eat and we'll review the situation this afternoon. We've got plenty of food. That's the least of our worries." Now he became Miles from home. "We'll put the local radio station on while I'm getting the lunch. You two can go and wash your hands."

Meanwhile, back at the van den Bergs' Adam and Simon looked glumly out of the window while they were waiting for Brabazon to call them for lunch. Simon was still brooding after his hockey game had been abandoned halfway through. The snow was really thick and the reports on local radio had been bad. There wouldn't even be the chance of the odd visitor in this. Most of their friends they had seen at school during the week, but the boys liked it when Tony brought Ben over and they hadn't seen him for ages. Also a visit from William was guaranteed to liven up the proceedings. Like his brother he had learnt that he could bring Mark with him and have a little private time together. The boys had already built their snowman and Lucy had enjoyed running around with them in the snow. She really got excited whenever it snowed and during their snowball fight she had tried to retrieve the snowballs as she would a normal one, but soon gave that up as a bad job.

The boys heard the dinner gong sound. They rushed to the kitchen for the cold weather had made them hungry and Simon had eaten just a light breakfast before his match. Brabazon had prepared a simple single course of faggots, peas mashed potato and gravy. They devoured it hungrily while Philip ate his meal more slowly and with a little more decorum. As they were finishing the telephone rang. Brabazon announced

"Mrs Legge. She wants to know if Master Anthony and Master William are here."

"I'd better go and speak to her, Brabazon. Simon and Adam, were you expecting them this afternoon?"

"Sort of," replied Simon.

"What does that mean?"

"We have this arrangement for Saturday," said Adam "that if we've got no matches or other arrangements then we're at home and they can just turn up if they want to."

"They usually call us on their mobiles first."

Philip came back from talking to Mrs Legge.

"They left to come here at half past eleven on the cycles. They've got Ben and Mark with them, but both their mobile phones are at home and on charge. They thought Ben and Mark had theirs, but of course we don't know the numbers and they don't know ours because they're not programmed in."

"We'd better go out on a search party," said Adam.

"I'll come with you," said Philip. "It's pointless trying to use the car in this. Do you know which way they come?"

"It's more or less a direct route," said Simon. They put their cold weather gear on and their walking boots with the deep tread. They decided to take Lucy as she would enjoy the walk.

"Have you two got your mobiles?"

"Yes."

"We'll try calling them as we go on our way." Philip explained to Brabazon what was happening and suggested he got some hot soup on the go and otherwise manned the telephone.

When they got outside the snow was still falling heavily and visibility was just a few yards. The first thing that hit them was the silence. No traffic and the snow muffled whatever sound there was. No one else was venturing out onto the streets. Adam tried his iPhone. Nothing. He couldn't get a signal. Simon tried his. The same.

"It's the same thing that happens with satellite television when it rains heavily or snows. The signal's so weak that it gets blotted out," explained Simon. They marched on doggedly - and that was not just Lucy - through the grey of the January afternoon. They must have been going a quarter of an hour or so when Adam stopped and said

"Listen!" In the distance they could hear voices. Lucy was listening too and not only could she hear them better, but she recognised them and started to bark. "Let her off the lead, Si." Simon released her and she ran off into the gloom. Finally they heard her bark excitedly as she found her quarry and the three rushed towards the sound. Into view came four teenagers pushing their cycles in high spirits as if nothing had happened. And in reality nothing had happened. They were safe and sound and there were hugs all round.

Simon and Adam explained what had happened at home and why they had come out on a search party. Tony said that progress was slow because they couldn't use their cycles, but they'd reached the point of no return and decided to press on regardless. Ben and Mark had realised too that they couldn't get a signal for their phones, otherwise they would have checked in. When they arrived at the van den Bergs' they stowed their cycles in the garage. It was still snowing.

"I don't think you'll be needing those any more today," said Philip.

"But we've got to get home," protested William.

"I don't think there's anything we can do about that all the time it's snowing," replied Philip. "Get ready to spend the night under canvas." The boys took their outdoor clothing off in the porch and Brabazon took it in to dry out in the lobby. They all fled into the kitchen where a large saucepan of chicken and vegetable soup was on the stove threatening to bubble.

Once they had all had their fill of soup they felt much better. They didn't want to go outside again. They had had enough. Simon went upstairs and selected a DVD which the boys watched in the television room. When it finished they looked out of the window. The snow had stopped and the sky was clearing. Although sunset was fast approaching it was lighter than it had been all day, sufficiently light to see that there was no way the boys were going to get home that night. With the sky clearing the temperature quickly dropped and the soft snow was fast becoming hard ice, making it dangerous under foot. Philip dropped into the television room and made the decision for the boys.

"You're prisoners here for the night whether you like it or not. Brabazon is calling your parents at the moment, but we need your phone number, Mark." You never saw a happier band of prisoners. "When Brabazon's done that we'll sort out some rooms for you."

"A room," corrected Simon.

"Ben and Tony are used to bedding down in ours," said Adam "but we can't fit in William and Mark as well."

"I'll get Brabazon to sort out the guest room with the twin beds." Simon followed his father out of the room.

"Dad." He gave a little cough. "I think they would appreciate it if they could have one of the other rooms with... um... a double bed... like us."

"Okay, Simon. I've got the message. I'll tell Brabazon that there'll be seven of us for dinner tonight. In the kitchen. Seven o'clock, okay?"

"Great. Should be a fun night."

"That's a bit more than I need to know."

"You're the best, Dad. What you do need to know is that we're going swimming now. Work up an appetite." Philip looked at his son.

"You know, Simon, you're growing fast at the moment. You're becoming quite a young man rather than a boy." Simon blushed. "It's just that when you started organising things then, you reminded me of myself at your age. Things still all right with you and Adam?"

"Couldn't be better. Things have settled down a bit. We've learnt about being together, being a couple and looking after one another. Now we're relearning being individuals, mainly because we have to do things separately like hockey and cross-country. You do know Adam's something special at cross-country, don't you?"

"I do now. Is there anything we can do to help him?"

"I think the school will do all that." Philip gave his son a hug."

"You'd better get back to the lads." Simon went back into the television room.

"Anyone for a swim?"

The boys didn't need asking twice. Since this was Mark's first time at the van den Bergs' Adam took him on one side, as the rest rushed downstairs, to explain that it was nude swimming and to ask whether he had any problem with it.

"No," he replied. "Except..." He hesitated. "What if I get a stiffie?"

"You get a stiffie. It's happened to all of us and still does. We'll ignore you and you dive into the water until it's gone down. Don't worry if you get checked out. It's your first time with us and we all do it. Remember we're all gays together."

Meanwhile on the other side of town Sam and Miles were in a similar situation. Miles couldn't go home either and what had started out as just hanging out for the morning ended by becoming an unexpected sleep over. It didn't matter for both the Welhams and the Longs had to cancel their arrangements because of the snow. The boys played games in the afternoon and after tea they watched television with the family.

"Sam, I've set up the camp bed in your room for Miles. Is that okay?'

"Fine, thanks, Mum."

"And I've put some pyjamas, a towel and some washing kit out on the bed for you, Miles."

"Thanks, Mrs Welham."

The boys stayed downstairs until about ten when they decided they'd had enough TV for one night and after a mug of cocoa they said good night and went upstairs. They took their time getting undressed for bed for being in different years they used different changing rooms at school and previously had only had a fleeting glimpse of each other's body during Thursday's hurriedly put together swimming lesson. They eventually climbed into their beds, but as they hadn't done much physical activity during the day they didn't feel in the slightest bit tired or sleepy. Sam put out the main light and left his bedside lamp on. They just talked and must have gone on for some time for they heard Sam's parents and sister go to bed and still they were talking. What do adolescent boys talk about eventually when they are in that situation?

"Miles, have you ever done stuff?" he whispered, quite a natural question from a boy who was seeking a boyfriend.

"What? Sex stuff?"

"Yes."

"Only wanking. I've never had the chance to do anything else. That's how I discovered I was gay. 'Cos I think about boys when I'm doing it."

"Have you ever done it with another boy?"

"No, just by myself. What about you?"

"I've only done wanking, too."

"With another boy?"

"Yeah, it happened at school. Well, not exactly at school." Sam didn't want to say he'd been jerked off by Adam, or that it was during a cross-country run. That might have given too much away.

"Hey, Sam, can I tell you something?"

"What?"

"I've got a stiffie just talking about this," and he started giggling. "You can wank it if you like."

"Do you really mean that?" They were still whispering.

"Sure, but I'll have to get into your bed. There's not much room in this one." He giggled again.

"What are you waiting for?" Miles pulled back the duvet and hopped out of bed. He dropped his pyjama bottoms. He hadn't been exaggerating. He was sporting a full size boner and his testicles, although proportionately small, were hanging loosely underneath, not particularly low, but enough to fix Sam's gaze.

"You like what you see?" Sam nodded. "What you see you get." Miles giggled again. Sam was already stiff.

"You can do me afterwards, if you like."

"If I like? I like."

Towards three o'clock both boys woke because it was too hot for them snuggled up together in Sam's bed. Miles got out, put his pyjama bottoms back on and climbed into his own bed. Sam put the bedside lamp out.

The half dozen at the van den Bergs' house were having an adolescents' afternoon. After swimming and the usual fun and frolics under the showers they got dressed and went up to the television room. They turned the set on, but didn't really take much notice of what was going on. Mark had found that skinny-dipping was no big deal. He hadn't disgraced himself, but perhaps he ought to learn to keep his mouth closed and his tongue inside it when he was checking out the others. Not that it caused any offence for since he was a first-timer the others, apart from William for obvious reasons, were keen to check him out and they were all intrigued by his idiosyncratic angle of dangle. William was leafing through the latest copy of GY magazine.

"Hey, listen up, you guys. There's this article that says that we adolescents are at our most beautiful when we change from boys to men. Listen to this. 'Yes, adolescents are a particularly engaging age group. Ithink that a big part of it is that for a certain short period of time, the adolescent boy is very pretty to look at. As I have written before, I like to think that each and every boy has this blossoming time. Yes, they get ugly at times too, but somewhere between twelve and fifteen boys take on a unique physique and visage. It may only last a couple of months because they grow so fast.' Mmm, pity you four are over the hill. Still, Mark and I still have it to come." Tony threw a cushion at his brother.

"No, wait," said Adam. "There's a lot of sense in that. Weren't we saying at a recent Club session that we thought we were more attractive in Year 9 than we are in Year 10? We've grown hunkier. Will, who wrote that article?" William looked closely at the page.

"He just signs himself as Max. You can contact him by e-mail to comment, but it's only a hotmail address. That doesn't tell you anything." At that moment they heard the dinner gong.

"Time to wash our hands for dinner," said Simon.

The boys crowded into the kitchen. Philip was already there. Brabazon had cooked one of his special meals for young people - butcher's burgers topped by fried eggs with baked beans, bacon, sausages and, of course, his famous blunt ended chips. This was followed by ice cream and a selection of fruit, and it all left the boys satisfied for the rest of the evening. After practising at the Cockatoo Club the boys could take such a meal slowly and chatter away sociably during it. Philip was fascinated listening to their conversation and gained many an insight into their world and the way they thought, and learnt a lot more about their life at school than he ever heard from Simon and Adam. They had no inhibitions about allowing him to enter their gay world. The conversation remained within bounds and never descended to the coarse or unseemly. Philip felt proud of the collection of friends his boys had surrounded themselves with, but with the exception of Mark, he knew their families and would not expect anything else. It was gone half past eight when the meal broke up and the boys disappeared upstairs 'to do something on the computer'.

"Now, Mark," said Simon "we have a tradition that if you visit our house, you have to sign the guest book."

"That's no big deal. Where is it and I'll sign it?"

"It's a virtual guest book and it's on the computer." In the meantime Adam had booted up the machine. "You'd better see what sort of things are on here. Right, Will, as Mark's your boyfriend, okay if I show him your entry?"

"Fine by me. He won't see anything he hasn't seen before," replied a giggly William, "but we're not boyfriends, just best friends and partners."

"And sex buddies," added Tony.

"And sex b..." repeated William until he realised what he was saying. "Shut up, Tony." By this time everyone was chortling with laughter at Will's expense. Finally he saw the humour of the situation and joined in. Meanwhile Simon had brought up his entry. Adam was standing at the back of the crowd looking at the screen. As the pictures changed and Will appeared in less and less clothing, he unconsciously started licking his lips and the little man inside his sweats began to stir. He put his hands in his pockets and started re-arranging himself. He could feel the moistness round the groin area. Fortunately his sweats hung loose on him for although the bulge stood proud, the assembled company was spared its detail. Adam was thinking back to the article on adolescents in GY mag. This was exactly the period in his life that William was going through. He was absolutely stunning. He did not feel that these thoughts were at odds with his love for Simon. This was unbounded lust and within a few weeks they will have disappeared for ever. Luckily the others had their eyes glued to the screen as well. William decided he would enjoy the kudos and his consequential tarting meant that the spotlight would not land on Adam.

"Are you all right with that, Mark?" asked Simon.

"No worries. Why should there be after this afternoon?" and he started stripping.

"Hey, hold on a minute. We want your photo in clothes first." Adam was pleased Simon was taking the snaps. He didn't think he could keep his hand from shaking. "Now you just need to write a bit about yourself."

"Can I see what the others have written first so I know what to say?" This was not such a naïve question as it sounded for Mark felt that having been open to inspection by the others while he was being photographed, he was now entitled to see the rest posing and no one raised any objection.

With the ceremony of signing the guest book over, Mark put his clothes back on and watched as Adam loaded the snaps onto the iMac. As more photos than were needed had been taken he reserved the right of censure and only allowed the ones he liked to remain.

"You haven't got the best of me." said Mark.

"What's that then?" asked Simon.

"You'd have to be at school and snap me in my speedos and gym kit."

"Could be arranged," smiled William.

"Okay, Will, over to you. E-mail us the pics."

"Do you know what?" said Will. People tried to ignore him. "I feel incredibly horny," and he leered and made a lewd Michael Jackson gesture with his hand between his legs. "And so is Mark, if I am not much mistaken." Everyone laughed at his precociousness. They knew he put it on for effect and that it wasn't the real William.

"It's long past his bedtime," said Tony.

"No, it isn't," retorted William.

"I think Brabazon will have some cocoa ready about now," intervened Simon and six boys made their way noisily down to the kitchen.

Philip was sitting in the warm of the kitchen reading the newspaper. When the boys arrived, Lucy got up out of her basket and went to greet them. Simon quickly took her outside so that she could settle for the night. Then he gave her her biscuits. Philip was pleased to have someone to talk to. It was eighteen months since his wife, Simon's mother, had died and he was beginning to come to terms with it. In the intervening time his work had - compensated for the loss is not the right word - taken his mind off the loss, but now this workload had been reduced with the hiving off of the South African branch. He was devoting as much time as he could to Simon and Adam, but also realising that they, especially as they were approaching sixteen, had their own lives to lead and although he had given each of them life in two distinct ways, that was the point. He had given them those lives and had no claim to them. He was pleased the boys had arrived in the kitchen. He loved their company, but was wise enough to recognise he had to wait for them to come to him. He must never impose himself on them. The conversation was lively. Even Brabazon joined in, a rarity unless he was sitting down at a meal with the boys.

William may have felt horny and ready for bed, but the proceedings in the kitchen easily lasted an hour before the boys made their way upstairs. Adam and Simon loved the company of their friends. Even if they had not been bound by the covenant of the Cockatoo Club they would have enjoyed it for they just got on well together as a group and even Mark felt in no way out of it. Saying good night in Simon's room they had a group hug. Ben and Tony went off to sleep in Adam's room and Mark and William went off to the guest room.

"You'd better take this with you, lads," said Simon and handed them an overnight valise. After Mark closed the bedroom door behind them, Simon and Adam gave a sigh of relief. "Alone at last." They took a look out of the window before getting ready for bed. The sky had cleared and the air was still. A near full moon shone brightly. The temperature had dropped and the earlier soft wet snow had frozen into frost and ice.

"Come here, Simon." Adam put his arms round his waist and his hands on his buns and pulled him in to himself. "Si, I so love you. I want to make long passionate love to you tonight. I want to make babies with you." Adam kissed him on the lips, pulled back and looked into his eyes. Any feeling of lust for William had long vanished, consumed by the deep love he had for Simon. They kissed again and while doing so Adam slipped the waistband of Simon's sweats and slip over the cheeks of his butt. Adam caressed them, teasingly touching his crevice with his fingers, teasingly probing for his hole, when all of a sudden the bedroom door burst open and Will dressed only in his burgeoning shreddies made his entrance.

"Whoops! Sorry, guys." William rapidly backtracked, knocked the door and entered without waiting for a reply. "Hey, guys, can I borrow the enema kit, please? Tonight's the night." Simon rolled his eyes, Adam looked at the ceiling. Passion had just flown out of the window. Both boys were to be congratulated on their silence and forbearance. Adam fetched the kit from the bathroom. Simon pulled up his slip and sweats. "Thanks, guys," said William and as he went out of the door he turned round and called out "Hey, nice butt, Si," smiling, batting his eyelids and slamming the door behind him. Adam immediately locked the door while Simon slid the bolt across on the door to the bathroom. That was the first time anyone other than Adam had called Simon 'Si'. Adam and Simon kicked their slippers off and went and lay down in each other's arms on Simon's bed.

It was just after eight when the sun rose in a clear blue sky. The lack of cloud had just intensified the cold. Underfoot the ice was slippery and brittle. The last to appear at brunch were Mark and William. They entered the kitchen to the sound of cheers and although everyone was keen to know how they had got on, no one dared broach the question, well not while Philip and Brabazon were there.

"I've been listening to the local wireless reports," said Philip. "The council will be sending out the gritters this morning and people should only make the most essential of journeys. The sun should bring a partial thaw by midday and it will freeze again tonight. I suggest you make yourselves at home for the morning and we think about getting you home about one o'clock. If you want to phone you can use the one in the downstairs office. And forget your cycles. Even if you manage to stay upright, you'll cut your tyres to shreds at the moment. The bikes will be safe enough with us and you can sort them out next weekend." Meanwhile the boys were tucking in to a hearty breakfast. Finally Adam went out with William to show him where the phone was.

"All right, Will?"

"Yeah, sure. My bottom aches a bit and Mark's more so. Did you notice the way he was walking this morning?"

"I'll keep an eye open," laughed Adam. "I don't think I need to know any more."

"By the way, I put the kit in the bathroom between your room and Simon's. We cleaned it up the best we could."

"It's okay. It'll need to soak in disinfectant." Adam patted Will on the bottom as he ushered him into the boys' office and closed the door behind them. "Will, has anyone ever told you how stonkingly beautiful you are?"

"Mum has."

"That doesn't count."

"Mark."

"He doesn't realise how lucky he is." William picked up quickly what was going on and slipped into tart mode. He batted his eyelids and smiled.

"Do you think I look stonkingly beautiful, Adam?" Adam started to colour up. Will was enjoying this. "Do you want to do something with me?"

"Mmm, no. I've got Simon for that. I just love looking at you." William looked up at Adam and gave his sweetest, tartiest smile. "You'd better make your phone call." Adam left the room, put his hand down his white sweats and re-arranged himself before going back to join the others in the kitchen.

"You were a time," said Tony. "Was my brother misbehaving again?" Adam blushed anew.

"No, I went to take a slash," he lied.

"You want to learn to shake off properly," said Ben. Adam looked down and spotted the damp patch on his sweatpants, while the others dissolved into laughter. Adam made a mental note not to wear white again when William was around.

The kitchen door burst open and William shouted out

"Hey, Tony, Mum wants a word with you." Tony got up and walked to the office. Will sat down in his place and smiled tartily at everybody.

"Well, what are we going to do this morning?" said Simon.

"Skinny-dipping," called out William.

"We'll call that swimming," retorted Simon. "We'd better wait until our breakfasts have gone down a bit. Vomit clogs the filters." Mark wretched.

"Did we need to know that?" said Ben. Tony came back from his phone call.

"What are we doing this morning?" he enquired.

"Your randy little brother wants to go skinny-dipping," said Ben.

"Hormone trouble," said Tony. "Was I like that at his age?"

"You didn't have a boyfriend when you were my age," said Will.

"Well, you haven't... or so you keep telling us."

"I've got lots of friends who are boys and my best friend is Mark and he makes me feel as randy as hell." Mark smiled and put his arm around William. At that moment there was a discreet cough. Brabazon had come in to clear the used crockery and cutlery. The boys got up and went down to the games room. With a snooker table, a pinball machine, darts and a table soccer game there was more than enough to keep six boys amused. Adam had changed and put his 501s on. Their loose fit round the waist and tight fit round the hips accentuated his package and butt. It was out of the frying pan and into the fire as William was unable to keep his eyes off him. Adam tried to ignore his attention seeking, but was having a right royal battle within himself fighting the lust he was experiencing. He kept close to Simon and when the others were concentrating on their games he took Simon to one side to explain what was happening to him.

"It's okay," Simon re-assured him. "I can see what he's doing and he's going to have to be told. Did you see that article in QY mag? It compared gay teenage relationships with str8 ones and it said that it's quite normal for boys to have several relationships with girls until they find one they commit to. And it's the same for us gays. Except that I completely missed out on that stage and you committed on your second relationship... after what was his name? Jack?"

"But I'm so scared, Simon, that I'll give in to him and do something silly. I do feel lust for him. He is so attractive. And I know he is just begging for it. I don't want him destroying our relationship and then going on to destroy someone else's."

"I'll talk to Tony. Don't worry. I know you love me and I love you. After last night there can be no doubt about that. Every time we make love properly, it gets better."

"Hey, what are you old married couple gossiping about now?" It was Tony.

"Just the person I need to talk to."

"I'll go and challenge Ben to a game of darts," said Adam.

"Tony, it's William. We know he's got the hots for Adam and Adam's very fond of him... more than fond of him, but it's going too far. Adam's scared he's going to lose control and do something silly. Fortunately he's talking this through with me and we don't have any secrets." Tony nodded to show that he understood. "I suppose what I am really saying is can you talk to him? If he goes on as he is we'll have to ban him from the house and he's such a livewire and lovely kid we don't want to do that."

"Mmm, I see what you mean. He talks more about Adam at home than he does about Mark, which is wrong for a start. It's sometimes hard to understand him. He doesn't always say what he means. Like that time he denied being gay when it was obvious to the rest of us. I might have to talk to Mum and Dad, but I don't really want to because they would find out that he's having sex and I don't want to dump him in it. Of course they might know already. They know about me and Ben... I think... but then Will's still their little boy. Being in the middle I've been allowed to grow up. I think too while they accepted me as being gay, it was a bit of a shock to find that both of us are, and they're asking themselves where they went wrong." Tony and Simon looked at one another. They saw understanding in each other's eyes and hugged. "Look, Simon, I'll tell him that if he doesn't... what shall I say? curb his enthusiasm? ...he'll be banned and before we get to that stage he can only come to your house if he's with another member of the family." The boys made their way back to the others.

"Who's for a swim?" called out Simon. There was a cheer and they made their way through to the swimming pool while Adam popped upstairs to say that they were using the pool.

"This must cost a fortune to heat," said Ben.

"Not really," answered Simon. The whole area is below ground level and well insulated so that it doesn't lose much heat and if you go out into the garden and look up you will notice the solar panels on the roof. They work even at this time of year and even if not so well when it is cloudy too, and that all goes to heat the hot water system in the house. If we have to we can boost it with gas. In fact the water bill is greater than the heating bill." The boys were all used to the drill and stripped off in the changing room. Tony and Simon zoomed in on William in order to protect Adam, although Will didn't realise what was going on. He soon would when Tony got him home. After half an hour of fun playing games in the water the boys showered off, got dressed and went upstairs, surprised to find that it was already noon. They were met by Philip who announced that parents would be arriving in an hour's time to take their offspring home. The sun had melted the snow and ice sufficiently for the cars to get through and it was important to get home before the big freeze up at night. Meanwhile they were to feed in the kitchen and the parents would be offered a drink in the library. It would give the Kettrees a chance to meet the Carltons and Philip before Mark went off on the skiing holiday with them at half term.

Something similar was happening at the Welhams' house. Mr Long had just turned up in the car to take Miles home for lunch. He chatted to the Welhams over a cup of coffee while the boys said their goodbyes upstairs in Sam's room. It was the first time either of them had kissed another boy. The previous night's session of mutual masturbation had cemented the pair together in more senses than one. Finally they were ready for Miles to go. He had nothing to get together and so they went downstairs to the kitchen to greet his father. Again the bicycle would have to wait until the following weekend to be taken home. How many of them would manage to get to school the following day?

Finally quiet had descended on the van den Berg household. Philip retired to the seclusion of his office to plan his week's work, which he realised would be severely hampered by the weather. Simon planted himself on the sofa in the television room to catch up on some science programme. Adam took himself upstairs to read his book while Brabazon sought the solace of his pantry. The television programme finished after half an hour and Simon went upstairs to see what Adam was up to. On the outside of his bedroom door he had hung the 'Do not disturb' sign. So he went into his own room, through the bathroom and gently opened the connecting door, peered in, saw Adam lying on his front and heard gentle sobbing. He tiptoed across the room, bent done and kissed his tearstained cheek. Adam wriggled petulantly, refusing Simon's advances.

"It's all gone wrong," he sobbed through the tears. Simon said nothing and let him talk in his own time. "Simon, I've let you down."

"How do you mean you've let me down?"

"With William."

"You haven't let me down."

"I have. I've been chasing him and tarting with him." Simon could see no point in arguing. He shucked off his trainers and climbed onto the bed next to Adam and stroked his hair. "I feel such a fool."

"I haven't noticed anything." This was true. He hadn't, such was his hundred percent trust in Adam. He turned him over so that he could look into his face and saw the pain on it. He kissed his cheek again. "You haven't... er... done stuff with him... have you?"

"No, but I could so easily have done something."

"I must admit he looks as if he would have if you'd given him the chance. Tony's noticed him chasing you and said he's going to talk to him when they get home." Adam gave a weak smile. Simon took his hand and pulled him upright. "Come on. We'll go and wash your face and then I think you had better show how much you love me, and in return I'll show you how much I love you." Simon led Adam into the bathroom. He carried on through and put a 'Do not disturb' notice outside his own bedroom door. Once Adam had washed and dried his face they climbed back onto the bed and Simon cuddled him.

"You know what day it is today?" Simon suppressed the facetious reply. "It's my mother's birthday." Simon realised he had come across the real reason for his lover's depressed mood. "She would have been forty." They lay together in each other's arms soothing each other until Simon judged the moment right and began to remove Adam's tee shirt. It had grown dark by the time they woke from a slow, but passionate session of lovemaking. Adam realised that his love for Simon was as sound as ever. Adam felt that he was in need of some physical exercise after being confined for the weekend. The boys went down to the swimming pool, put on their speedos and swam fifty lengths of the pool.

As the boys came back up from the changing room, Brabazon was striking the dinner gong. A quarter of an hour before dinner would be served in the dining room. They would have to change as Philip liked to maintain a certain standard on Sundays. Simon had an opportunity to explain to his father that Adam was feeling down and while he didn't mention the business with William, he did tell him about Mrs Neave's birthday. Brabazon brought in a leg of roast pork and place in front Philip ready for him to carve. The boys helped themselves to vegetables. Outside it was a bright moonlit night and the temperature had dropped mercilessly. Either he or Brabazon would have to take the boys to school by car the next morning. The warmth of the dining room and the taste of a good dinner had restored Adam and he joined in the conversation over the meal. Philip stretched it out as long as possible to keep the three together and so jolly Adam along if need be. At one point Simon slipped out on the excuse that he had to make a call, of nature implied, but to make a different kind of call to Tony on the phone. He explained what had happened and Tony replied that he had talked to his brother who was now in his bedroom in floods of tears at the thought of having hurt Adam.

"I'll have to go," said Simon. "We're in the middle of dinner. Talk to you tomorrow."

School the next day was odd. First of all the snow gave the classrooms an eerie glow as the light reflected up from the ground. Secondly a number of pupils who lived farther away or out in the country failed to make it in. They missed Robin Banks, but with the farm perhaps that was to be expected. To ease the situation lessons were held in the morning. After lunch the boys did their prep instead of activities and sport and were then allowed home early before it got dark and it froze again. The temperature had risen and at sundown the snow and ice was still melting, but to make things more difficult it rained substantially over night, the skies cleared and the temperature plummeted. Tuesday was a more dangerous version of Monday. It was Thursday before things got back to normal and over lunch Robin regaled the Cockatoo Club with the extra work they had to do on the farm to keep the livestock safe and cope with being cut off. One problem they did not have to contend with was food. They had plenty in stock, both for the animals and for themselves. On Thursday the afternoon routine was restored and Adam and Simon could run the cross-country course. While warming up and waiting for the start Sam Welham had a chat about his weekend with Miles. Indeed once they started, while Adam steamed ahead, Simon and Sam ran round together and continued the conversation. Although returning first Adam was cross with his time which had deteriorated from lack of training. Swimming at home had helped to maintain general fitness, but he had missed his Monday and Wednesday runs. He got into the changing room quick, stripped off the white running vest and shorts, then his black, skin tight tracksuit, and got under the hot shower to coax his shrunken and shrivelled bits and pieces into something resembling a useful set of genitals.

Saturday morning Simon had school hockey. His team too suffered from lack of practice during the week. Although it was an away match he hadn't that far to travel and was able to get home by two. In the afternoon Ben, Tony, William and Mark turned up to retrieve their cycles. William had noticeably toned down his behaviour towards Adam, who in turn considered he shared some of the guilt for whether it was consciously or unconsciously he felt that he had given out some come on signals. Similarly at Sam's place, once the cycle situation was sorted out, he was going to sleep over at Miles's house where they were hoping to have their first proper kiss and maybe do something else. Otherwise Simon and Adam were going to have the rest of the weekend to themselves when Simon could carry out a little repair work and maintenance on his fragile boyfriend.

A couple of weeks later the boys were really looking forward to getting away to Switzerland at half term for their skiing holiday. First, however, they needed to kit themselves out and that would mean a day in London for a shopping trip. Saturdays were out because of school sporting commitments. Philip decided that rather than rush up to town and fit everything on Sunday, they would go up late Saturday afternoon and spend the night at the Club. It would give the boys as well as Brabazon a break. As sod's law would have it, Simon was playing away in the afternoon and Adam had the first inter-school cross-country competition of the season. Philip's interests were immediately split, Adam said he didn't mind if he watched Simon's game as the only thing to see in a cross-country match was the start and the finish. Adam was in sufficient form to come first, but it was touch and go as the opposition's front runner was on his shoulder from the start and as they made their dash for the funnel, Adam had enough left to sprint. However when the points had been added up, his team had come second. Cross-country was an odd competition for it was essentially an individual's sport and the contrived way it was made into a team sport went against the grain. Again because of the low temperature he had run in a tracksuit to prevent muscle damage, but it slowed him down. He soon divested himself of his muddy kit and put it into a plastic bag. He wondered what Mrs Green would say when she saw it, but he hardly saw her during term time, only if Brabazon was having some free time at the weekend. He was first into the shower and took up a commanding position to carry out an inspection of the opposing team as they came in to get the mud off. It was not the best time of year for checking out because by and large the cold caused a certain contraction of the equipment, but that cer tainly hadn't affected the boy with whom he had been battling it out round the course and as an excuse to touch him went up and congratulated him and was amazed when they hugged and he could feel the boy's dick press against his. It was no accident. After team tea Adam had to hang around for Simon's team coach to arrive, but fortunately Philip's car had just driven in through the school gates so he at least had somewhere warm to wait and someone to talk to.

"How did the match go, Philip?"

"They won 2-1, but had to fight for it."

"Did Simon score any?"

"Not today, but he did set up the two goals and let his teammates put them away."

"Well, that's Si for you, generous to a tee. That'll mean they'll play better for him next time."

The coach arrived and Simon, as the good captain he was, saw all his team members off before dumping his kit in the boot of the car and climbing in behind Adam. Philip whisked the boys off back home where they put their kit in the linen basket, changing into their casual clothes in double quick time. Meanwhile Brabazon had loaded the luggage into the car. Simon grabbed the overnight 'valise' and the boys got into the back of the car together.

"What have you got there, Simon? Do you want to put it in the boot?"

"It's just our valise."

"Your what?" said Philip.

"Our overnight case."

"What do you want that for? Brabazon packed everything you need. It's only an overnight stay."

"Dad! You shouldn't be asking questions like that. It's private for gay people."

"Oh, sorry."

When they arrived at Philip's club, the commissionaire greeted him with

"Good evening, Mr van den Berg." Philip handed him the car keys and he and the boys got out and went up the steps and into the club.

"Do you boys want to eat?"

"Yes, please," said Adam. "I'm starving."

"So am I," said Simon. The opposition's team tea wasn't as good as ours. Just a few curled up sandwiches and a cup of tea. I didn't eat very much." Philip signed in and dealt with the receptionist. While they were being shown up to their rooms, Simon exclaimed

"Oh, sugar, I've left the valise in the car."

"I wouldn't worry about that," said Philip. Simon continued to make his protests by which time they had arrived at their room. When the page opened the door, their luggage had already arrived and there on the bed was the valise, but Simon was too busy admiring the page's butt to notice at first. Philip smiled.

"I'll see you two in the lounge in a quarter of an hour," and he went off to his own room. While the boys were freshening up, Simon said to Adam

"Nothing with garlic tonight, okay? I don't want to have to wear a gasmask when I'm making love to you tonight, nor one in the morning because of your garlic flavoured farts." Both boys burst out giggling.

"I take it from that you're topping this evening?"

"That's right. I want to feel my balls tight up against your butt cheeks and squirt my spunk so deep inside you that it comes out of your mouth."

"Ooh, Si, I love it when you talk dirty to me like that." At that moment the telephone buzzed. Simon answered. It was Philip.

»Are you two joining me for dinner tonight or are you already in the middle of making mad passionate love, in which case I apologise for disturbing you.« Simon blushed and looked at his watch. It was over half an hour since they'd left Philip.

"No, Dad. You know Adam's frigid anyway."

"Ooh, you little fibber. Wait till I get hold of you," cried Adam who had heard the whole conversation.

»Well, save it until after dinner. See you in two minutes.«

It was of interest how they were becoming more open with Philip about their relationship. Perhaps that was a sign of his accepting them as young adults rather than as children. The more interesting point of course is that, were they a heterosexual couple, they certainly would not be leading such a fulfilling sex life at their age and status.

The boys tied their ties and put their jackets on and hurried on down to the lounge to meet Philip. They apologised for their lateness while avoiding the reason for it. A waiter showed the family to a table in the dining room and handed them menus. Having made their choice they sat back and waited for it to arrive, chatting about their plans for the next day.

"The stores don't open until midday on a Sunday," said Philip "and so I suggest you have a lie-in tomorrow morning and we have a late breakfast. I don't want you going off to school worn out and with black rings under your eyes on Monday."

"Suits us," said Simon giving his partner a lascivious look which Philip either didn't see or chose to ignore. As far as adolescents go Adam and Simon were urbane and extremely well brought up, but even they could lapse into grosser moments when the hormones were driving them.

"I thought if the weather's sunny, we could take a walk in one of the parks - Green Park is nearby - and then walk to Lillywhite's for our skiing kit. We get supplied with skis and boots at the resort. So we just need outer wear, thermal underwear - long johns." The boys made a face. "It's no different from wearing tights, or we could go to M&S and buy you thick ladies tights."

"Now you're talking," joked Adam.

"I need a new suspender belt," carried on Simon.

"You can buy that with your own money," said Philip with a look of mock exasperation. "We'll need gloves, goggles and a hat, and I think that will do. Is there anything else you need while we're in London? Generally, I mean, not just for the skiing holiday."

"Can we think about it and tell you tomorrow?" said Adam.

Much as the boys wanted to get upstairs for a night of passion, they made the meal last for they knew Philip spent a lot of time on his own and valued their company when they were together. Finally it was time to say good night. He kissed both boys on the cheek and gave them a hug and went off to read the papers in the lounge. Reaching their room they locked the door behind them and Simon grabbed Adam and pushed him against the wall. Tonight was Simon's night and he was very much in charge.

"Hey, wait a minute, Si. Let me get my clothes off."

"It's all right. I'll do that for you. Anyway, you remember that letter in GY mag?"

"Which one?"

"The one I showed you from Hulka69. 'Push him against the wall and kiss him while you feel him up, and unbuckle his belt, and if he has an erection, you know he's yours! The sweet surrender I call it!'"

"Did you have to learn that off by heart, Si?"

"I didn't. It just stuck in my mind."

"I still want you to seduce me, not rape me," and Adam pulled his boyfriend into him, piercing his lips with his tongue.

After a little foreplay they broke and Adam said

"I'm just going to freshen up a little," and before he disappeared into the bathroom Simon shouted

"Don't shower. I want you as you are."

"I'm not going to. I'm taking a pee and making sure my hole is fit to take that hungry prick of yours."

"I'll tell you what we ought to do before we start, and that's shave your crack. The wire wool you've got growing in there will cut my poor little man to shreds."

"Your poor little man, ha ha. I like that. It's longer than mine knows how to be. But you're right. I should have done it last night. I'll be out in a couple of minutes." Adam came out of the bathroom naked, his partly swollen dick waving from side to side like a water diviner's rod. Simon had spread a large towel on the bed and Adam knelt on it bending so low that his butt cheeks spread naturally. Simon got a wet flannel from the bathroom and wiped it over the hairy area and then rubbed in some shave gel. He took one of the Club's courtesy razors and smoothly shaved away all the visible hair. Simon was getting quite expert at rendering this service to his boyfriend. His own butt was as yet as smooth as a baby's bum and didn't require any attention.

"Do you want me to put some aftershave on this?" Simon asked in jest.

"Just you dare. It'll be the end of your fun for the night if you do. Tell you what. You may as well lube me up while I've assumed the position."

"Mmm, the lavender oil tonight, I think."

"And cut your finger nails first!"

Simon fetched the valise out from under the bed and unlatched the lid. This was not the common or garden valise costing a few pounds which they had handed out at their birthday party. This was the executive version, the DBs of valises, with the cost running well into three figures, and which the boys had bought themselves as an unofficial Christmas present to each other, blowing the family 'under-ten-pounds' rule. This was the luxury leather bound edition, the 'his & his' version which contained at least two of everything. In the lid was the instruction booklet. The top layer consisted of all you would expect plus a bit more; a selection of different kinds of condoms, K-Y gel, lavender oil and baby oil, two dildos, two metal and two leather cock rings, but that was not half of the contents. A further key was required to open up the bottom layer and this was a step up for it contained the toys again in pairs, handcuffs, hoods and blindfolds, gags, nipple clamps, male chastity devices and velcro ankle restraints. This gift to each other had been their little secret. They had been attracted by the ads and an article in GY magazine and it had only arrived a couple of days ago. But for tonight the bottom layer would remain firmly locked. They were not yet ready for the adventures it offered. The top layer would suffice.

"Do mine," said Simon.

"Do your what?" asked Adam

"Lube my hole up."

"You won't need that until the morning if you do a properly crafted job on me tonight."

"No, I want to try one of those dildos inside me while we're making love. I want to imagine you're inside me while I'm inside you, a sort of threesome with only two."

"So my boyfriend's a perv?"

"You know that already," Simon grinned.

"And I love him for it. Okay, assume the position." Adam completed the job, went to the valise, took a condom out of its foil and slipped it over one of the dildos and gelled it. "Ready, Si?"

"Ready, Adam." Simon shuddered as he felt the cold of the K-Y against his hot hole. It slipped in like a dream. So used to Adam's girth as it was Simon's hole never any difficulty taking a penetration. It gave him an instant erection. "I think I could live with that, like spending a morning at school with it up there."

"And if you farted, you'd shoot the kid behind you."

They put all but one bedside light out. By now they were so passionate that they'd forgotten to clean their teeth. They climbed onto the bed and were soon clamped together in a passionate tonsil-tickling kiss. Finally Adam could take no more and begged Simon to stick his dick in. He raised Adam's legs into the air and slid it in. Again practice makes perfect and Simon slid it str8 in until his pubes met Adam's balls when he leant forward and kissed him hotly. Adam felt Simon's balls swing against his butt cheeks, which added to the thrill. He was sure Simon's dick had grown again. It felt farther in than it had ever done before, or was that his imagination running away with him? Did he really have nerves that far up? However, he was convinced he really had when he eventually felt Simon's hot seed spurt deep into him. Simon rested on top of him until nature took its course and he slipped out.

"Turn over," whispered Simon, his voice catching as he tried to regain his normal breathing. Adam did as he was told and Simon's tongue licked the semen leaking from Adam's hole. It tasted strange mingled as it was with lavender oil. Simon turned his boyfriend over and shared the produce of their lovemaking with a kiss. As they calmed down Simon realised that he had not brought Adam to a 'prostate orgasm' and offered to finish him off.

"No, that was awesome enough by itself. I'll save it for the return fixture in the morning." He reached over and extinguished the light. The two cuddled up together and promptly fell asleep.

It must have half past three when Adam woke again, feeling as randy as hell and with a raging stand. He snuggled up to Simon's back and tried to line his dick up with his crevice, but no go. Simon hadn't removed the dildo from the previous session. Adam tried to ease it out and Simon gave a little grunt as he half woke, but it was firmly clamped between his walnut-cracking buttocks. Fortunately it was the type with a wide base or it might have disappeared right inside. Adam was badly in need of relief or he would never get back to sleep. There was only one thing for it - a quick hand job. Finally he spurted his seed and he lapsed back into sleep. In his semi-conscious state and the dark he hadn't noticed that most of his load had landed in Simon's hair.

It was just getting light when both boys woke facing one another. They smiled at each other.

"Morning, Si."

"Morning, my love. You were fantastic last night, the best ever."

"I couldn't have done it without you, my darling boy. I haven't forgotten that you're on a promise," and he kissed Adam.

"You'll have to take that dildo out first."

"I'd quite forgotten. I had this wicked dream that you'd spent the whole night up me..."

"And it was a bit of plastic all the time. That does a lot for a girl's ego." Simon tugged at it but it was reluctant to come out."

"There's only one thing for it," said Adam. "You've got to pretend you're taking a dump." Simon went off into the bathroom. Adam heard a few grunts and the word 'success'. Simon disposed of the rubber and left the dildo out for cleaning and disinfecting. He returned from the bathroom, running his fingers through his hair.

"Yeuk, what were you up to last night, Adam? My hair's stuck together like the pages of a porn magazine and for the same reason."

"You weren't trying to give me a blowjob while I was asleep, were you?'

"No."

"It must have been a wet dream. Sorry, my love." Simon climbed back into bed beside him, they kissed and got on with the job of making love.

It was ten o'clock by the time the boys got down to breakfast. Philip was already in the breakfast room. So they joined him saying good morning and giving him a kiss.

"Did you sleep well?"

"A very good night," said Adam and the boys looked at one another and grinned sheepishly.

"Get yourselves a hearty breakfast and that should last you until we get home. I'll phone ahead and Brabazon can prepare Sunday roast for us. The sun's shining. The air's chilly, but it might warm up in the sun. We'll go for a walk and feed the ducks before we go shopping."

After breakfast the boys tidied their room and left their luggage ready to be put in the car. They met Philip at reception and ventured out into the chilly air. It was warm in the sun and they enjoyed their stroll in the park, wishing they had Lucy with them. She had to content herself spending the weekend with Mrs Green. As midday approached they walked towards Piccadilly Circus and Lillywhite's store. The shop was a paradise for the sportsman, whatever his sport, and they took the lift to the floor where winter sports kit was on display. The salesman was very helpful. The boys decided on salopettes and Philip followed suit. Simon and Adam decided to buy the same pattern light blue and yellow, the shades of the Swedish flag, while Philip went for something a little more conservative. The admired the body-hugging suits, but common sense prevailed for with salopettes there was a good chance that they would still fit if they went skiing again the following year. They bought the accessories and left the carrier bags to be picked up later as they wandered round the rest of the store. With him now running cross-country three or four times a week Adam stocked up on trainers, shorts, vests and a couple of Slazenger jocks - 100% best cotton apart from the elastic, the straps enclosed in a cotton lining.

"Do you need anything else while we're here?" asked Philip. They each selected a couple of long sleeved tee shirts with polo necks and started giggling at the thought that they usually wore them to cover up love bites, and a couple of polo shirts. Simon needed a new hockey stick. There was abetter selection here than in the school shop. They then walked up Regents Street to Oxford Street to buy some underwear as they were outgrowing what they had. Again that brought guffaws and giggles from the pair, which Philip decided to ignore. They settled on Aussiebum. They'd never tried it before, but it looked good in the adverts and a great alternative to tighty-whities.

By the time all this was done it was beginning to get dark. So they took a taxi back to the Club and Philip asked for his car to be brought round. Less than a couple of hours later they were being welcomed by Brabazon. It just remained for the boys to fetch Lucy from Mrs Green's house and they could sit down to the sumptuous meal which Brabazon had been preparing for them.

After a long wait half term finally arrived. School ended after morning school on Friday to allow for the Speech Day half day holiday and apart from Ben it allowed the families to get ready before the early start on Saturday morning. With a headcount of three van den Bergs, three Carltons and four Legges plus one, Philip had organised a minibus to take them to the airport and pick them up on return. The minibus went to each house in turn and by five o'clock all eleven of them were on their way. Mark had stayed over with the Legges, but there hadn't been any fun. There would be plenty of time for that in Switzerland. They landed at Bern-Belp just after noon where a coach was awaiting them and other skiers from England to whisk them off to their hotels in Wengen. On arrival there was not time to unpack. They had to go str8 off to be fitted with skis and boots which they carried back to the hotel and securely stored in the cellar until the following morning. They could then go and find their rooms. They all had double rooms. The boys were pleased that they were in a separate wing from the adults. It gave them just that little bit of freedom they wanted. Adam and Simon wondered how they were going to get on a twin bedded room, but they were sure they had the ingenuity to overcome that problem.

At seven they gathered in the hotel lounge with all the other members of the party for a briefing from the courier. Instructions were given, lift passes handed out and it was explained that they had lessons in the morning and were free to do what they wished in the afternoon. Breakfast was at eight and they had to be at the bottom lift with their skis by nine, and as it was a Sunday the queue would be longer. After that they went off for dinner and found that they were seated at one large round table in the dining room which accommodated all eleven of them. By the time the meal was over they were all ready for early bed after such an early start and the fact that they would have to get up sharply the next morning. No lie-in! The boys groaned, but not for quite the reason their parents thought. Probably for the first time since they had come together Simon and Adam slept in separate beds.

Next day the boys were as good as their word and all six were down before eight o'clock. They looked great in their various ski outfits. Ben and Tony were impressed at the corporate identity of Adam and Simon and the fact that they were wearing the same design of salopettes in a bright colour immediately made them stand out in the crowd, not their innate beauty. And if you believe that you'll believe anything. All the boys looked round the dining room searching for talent, but spotted none. They hoped their luck would be better on the slopes. Philip and Simon had been skiing before, but since it had been some time ago they decided they would join the beginners' class, both as a refresher course and to keep the group together. The eleven left the hotel after breakfast and made their way up the street towards the cable car. It was outside the top station that they were to meet their instructor. He was a very good looking young man called Urs. Simon and Adam fell in love with him str8away and hoped he was gay, only to be disappointed later in the week when they saw him surrounded by a bevy of female beauties in the hotel bar. So far boywatching had been disappointing. They had been served by waitresses at dinner the previous evening and at breakfast, so no luck there. While they were waiting to start they looked around the rest of the class. It consisted of families, obviously all English speakers, but the children of their age all appeared to be daughters and the sons far too young for their attentions.

Urs introduced himself and said they were waiting for one more family who had left the bottom station and would arrive on the next cable car. Our boys heard the hum of the car going over the pylons and of the electric motor from the engine house. They heard the clatter as the doors opened and the passengers left the top station. Two parents with children aged nine or ten emerged and made their way towards our group and then finally lagging ten yards behind a youth with tousled blond curls, a sleepy, but attractive, craggy face, wearing a body-hugging red ski suit.

"Now there's a challenge," Simon said to Adam.

"Mmm, I wonder if they're staying in our hotel," rejoined Adam. "You know, Si, I feel a sauna coming on before the week's out."

"And no towels."

"Put your tongues away." Ben's advice brought Adam and Simon back to reality.

"I have the premonition, Ben," said Adam "we're going to get our hands inside his knickers before this ski course is over."

"For an old married couple you two are absolutely evil," said Tony with a chuckle "and you don't even know whether he's gay."

"I don't think he is," said Adam.

"Yet," added Simon.

"And that makes the challenge even more exciting. We've always had fantasies about seducing a str8 guy." As he caught up with the group Simon and Adam parted the semi-circle around Urs and made room for him. "Hi, my name's Adam."

"And mine's Simon." It was obviously that he was not fully awake and was just discovering that 9 am did exist in the school holidays.

"Hi, I'm Owen." His hands were full and so they couldn't shake.

"Is this your first time?" asked Simon.

"What? Skiing? Yeah." He spoke in the rasping tones of an adolescent.

"Me too," said Adam.

"Where are you staying," asked Simon.

"Hotel Post."

"So are we. See ya around. If you want to hang out with us, you're welcome. These are our friends. Tony, Ben, William who's Tony's brother and Mark." They all said hi.

At that moment Urs started to speak. He introduced himself and gave a little talk on safety matters and what they were going to do on the first day. It was most important that if they fell, they got up as quickly as possible. Otherwise someone would assume they had had a serious accident and call out the rescue and in Switzerland you paid for that. He walked the group over to a gentle slope behind the cable car station and started to explain the basics such as putting on the skis correctly. It was already getting quite warm in the sun and he broke off to get his class to put on some more sunscreen.

"Have any of you skied before?" Only Philip and Simon put their hands up. "Then please be a little patient. Before we start, the most important thing to remember is 'in die Knie gehen', to bend the knees. If you look at experienced skiers you will see they crouch as if sitting on an invisible chair. If you can do that, you will find it much easier."

The morning went very quickly and the lesson finished at twelve.

"What are you doing for lunch, Owen?" said Adam.

"We've got packed lunches."

"So have we. You can come and eat it with us."

"I shall have to ask my parents first. They may want me to help with my brother and sister."

"Don't worry. We'll see you back at the hotel."

"You two are pushing your luck, aren't you?" said Ben.

"Mmm, maybe," said Simon.

"That's what holidays are all about," added Adam. "Love 'em and leave 'em. After all we'll never see him again after this week."

"And he's worth carving a notch on your bedpost for, like Otto."

"We never did succeed with the bellboy at the hotel in Florida, did we?"

"But you did see Otto again," said Tony.

"Yeah, great, wasn't it?" said Simon. "Anyway, we've decided. We're determined we're going to have him."

"Meaning?" said Ben.

"A shag would be good," said Adam.

"But we'll settle for a wank or a blowjob. Pwaw! I'm getting hard just thinking about it."

"We should've got suits like Owen's and shown off our butt cheeks and packages," said Adam. "You never know where we might have ended up."

The families ate their packed lunches in the café over drinks. The boys decided that they would practise in the afternoon, but the hard work of the morning had taken its toll on the adults. They made up their minds they would go down to the village and explore. Exploring probably meant shopping followed by Kaffee und Kuchen. The only stipulation they laid on the children was that they were to stick together and look after one another. No problem there. Adam and Simon were amused to notice that the group of five adults had become six. A lady of comparable age had joined them and was attentively being looked after by Philip.

The boys had a fantastic afternoon together. Simon's old skiing skills soon came back while Adam took to it in the way he adapted to any sport. He was a natural, but the star of the afternoon was Mark. He was utterly fearless, was able to carry out the lessons of the morning and was the one who fell the least. He had a natural ability to balance. Everyone clapped him on the back at the end of the afternoon when they made their way to the cable station for the descent. Simon and Adam spotted Owen and his family ahead of them and quickened their step. The other four hurried to keep up with them. Finally he was four or five places ahead of them in the queue. The cable car arrived and there was a surge forward to get on. As Adam and Simon squeezed on board, the barrier came down and the door closed leaving Tony, Ben, William and Mark behind. They would have to follow on in the next car. Our boys pushed their way through towards Owen's family. He introduced them to his parents and little brother and sister, then held in a pincer movement he was entertained by our two boys bent, if I may use that word here, on eventually stealing his cherry. In the throng inside the cable car they got away with feeling his butt.

"We're going to the sauna when we get back," said Adam.

"There's one in the hotel," added Simon.

"I've never had a sauna before," said Owen.

"They're great," said Adam, "especially after a day like this. They'll take all your aches and pains away."

"Why don't you come and join us?"

"Yeah, cool. I've got a bit of free time. You see, this is my busy day. It's Mum and Dad's wedding anniversary and they said if I look after Kate and Paul today, I won't have to again during the holiday. Dad wants to take Mum out to night."

"Oh, that's a blow," said Adam, "because we're all going out tonight and thought we'd invite you."

"Any other night but tonight. But I'll come to the sauna with you. Tell me, are all those lads you're with family?"

"Yeah," said Adam.

"No," contradicted Simon. "That's not what he means. He means are we all related?"

"Oh, no," said Adam. "We're all mates from school."

"Except for Ben and he's Tony's boy..."

"Best friend," interrupted Adam just in time.

"We met him when we were on holiday in Germany last year and though he lives near us he goes to a different school."

The cable car reached the bottom station and the passengers filed out carrying their skis with them. There was a way to ski down to the resort which the boys would discover later in the week when they had had a little more practice. On reaching the hotel they locked up their skis, sticks and boots in the basement and went upstairs. Owen showed our boys his room which he shared with his little brother. After getting rid of gloves, goggles and rucksack he followed Simon and Adam to their room. Armed with towels they made their way down to the sauna. It was big enough to take about eight people. There was nobody else in there and the boys stripped off and went and sat in the men's steam room. Little did Owen realise that he was a victim undergoing the process of being trapped. With supreme confidence Adam and Simon spread their towels out on a bench, stretched themselves out on them and immediately proceeded to get a stiffie. They said nothing. Indeed they pretended not to notice, but all the time they were observing Owen for his reaction. They were yearning to check him out, but if this ploy succeeded there would be plenty of time for that later. At this stage they had to feign complete indifference, act as if it were the most natural thing in the world. But Owen was indeed entering the trap. Try as he might he couldn't prevent himself from checking our boys out. He could not disguise his interest, particularly when his own dick started to react. His sexual interest was aroused. Simon and Adam kept him engaged in small talk until Adam posed the leading question.

"Hey, Owen, have you got a girlfriend?"

"Not really," he replied. "I haven't had time to get into that yet, although one or two girls at school have thrown themselves at me."

"I know what you mean," said Simon. He didn't. "We're so busy we just don't have time for them, especially this time of year. Adam's into cross-country and I play hockey and that takes up a lot of our time."

"Also our school's a bit different from most. We start at eight, do all our classroom lessons in the morning, then activities in the afternoon, followed by homework and then we go home at six."

"Doesn't that get a bit much?"

"Can do in the winter when the days are so short," said Adam, "but it does mean we can concentrate on academic things better in the morning and when we do get home our time's our own."

"There are boys at Ben's school who live some distance away that don't get home till six and have homework on top of that."

"So are you two brothers?"

"Only by adoption. You tell him, Adam."

"My parents died in a traffic accident and so I became an orphan and Simon's father offered first to foster and then to adopt me. And here I am." Owen still could not keep his eyes off their erections. Adam and Simon used all their willpower not to look at his, much as they wanted to.

"I think it's time to get into the cold pool," said Simon. He got up, the others followed him out of the sauna and they dived into the cold pool, swam a length, got out and dried themselves off.

"Just think," said Adam, "if this were Finland, we'd go out and roll in the snow." Any hint of a stiffie had rapidly disappeared in all three boys. In Simon and Adam's case their balls were trying to take refuge far up inside with their belly buttons, but they were interested to see that Owen's weren't. They were tight, yes, but fully visible. The lustometer was rapidly rising. They got dressed and returned to their rooms for a little R & R before dinner. Simon knocked at his father's room, but he wasn't there.

"So, Si, what did you think of that?"

"What? Dad not being in his room or Owen?"

"Owen, dumbo."

"Looking at that stiffie he was sporting, I think we have him interested and it'll just take time teasing him until he bites. It's a case of I'm str8, but if there's a bit of the other available, I'll take it and become bi."

"I'm after his arse and that's it. On the other hand, if it gets to Friday evening and I've got to be content with a BJ or a jerk off, so be it."

"Hey, Adam, were you really after the bellboy in Florida?"

"Yeah, sure. Didn't you know? I thought you were interested too."

"Well, okay, yes, I was, but I knew he was a no go area 'cos he only did it for money."

"You didn't tell me."

"Didn't I? Oh, sorry, I thought you knew. I'd seen some money pass hands and it was more than a tip for cleaning shoes. Give me a hand to shove these two beds together. I'd forgotten what it was like to sleep in a single bed and I don't think I want to be reminded." That done they took off their salopettes and went and lay on the bed together.

The six boys all met again at dinner.

"Hey, where did you two get to?" asked Ben.

"We had a little business to attend to."

"We were in the sauna," said Adam and Simon simultaneously.

"You had to attend to some business in the sauna?" clarified Tony.

"Can't you do that in your own room?" said Ben in a tone of mock disgust.

"With your lascivious minds you obviously misunderstood the business," said Simon.

"Okay, what was it?" demanded Tony. Adam lowered his voice so that the adults wouldn't hear.

"You know that boy Owen we met during the lesson this morning?" They nodded.

"We've set ourselves a challenge," said Simon.

"We're going to steal his cherry by the end of the week," said Adam.

"And if we do, he can have our arses too. We've got till Friday evening and tonight's out because he's babysitting."

"You won't get anywhere there," said Ben. "He's as str8 as a die."

"We agree," said Simon. "That's what makes it such a challenge. Do you want to bet on it?"

"Knowing you two, you'll succeed," said Tony. "What's the bet anyway?"

"If we make it," said Adam "we pound your butt. If we don't, you and Tony can pound ours."

"That's not much of a bet," said Tony, and making sure Mark and William were not listening he continued "We were going to suggest a gangbang later in the week anyway."

"Come on, you four, we're starving." It was Mrs Carlton urging the boys to come and sit down at the dinner table.

Once they were all seated the waitress came and put a steaming bowl of soup in front of them. They were certainly ready for that.

"So what are you boys going to do this evening," enquired Mrs Legge.

"We want to go and explore the village," replied Tony.

"Don't be too late back. You've got another strenuous day in front of you tomorrow."

"We found an inn that does a rather good hot chocolate," said Tony's father.

When the meal was over, the boys excused themselves and went to get their anoraks and walking shoes on before braving the cold. The parents retired to the lounge and ordered drinks. It probably took the boys all of a quarter of an hour to explore before they retired to the recommended inn to drink hot chocolate. They were in an animated mood, feeling really refreshed after being out in the sun and mountain air all day. They piled in and found a free table near the log fire. Adam involuntarily made a face as the waitress came up to take their order. As the most experienced in German he gave the order. William and Mark were impressed.

"What's your problem with the waitress?" Mark asked Adam when she had gone to fetch the order. Adam was a little taken aback. "Well, you made a face when she came to the table."

"Did I? Sorry, I didn't mean to."

"He would have preferred a macho young waiter," interjected Simon by way of explanation.

"Did I really make a face or are you trying to wind me up?"

"You really made a face," said William. "You did it in the hotel too."

"You met Otto, didn't you, Will?" said Tony

"Wow, did I meet Otto? We had quite a chat together."

"A bit more than a chat, I believe," his brother added. William blushed. Ben was silent, thinking back to his encounter with Otto in the hotel medical room. "If you had been with us in Germany last summer you would understand our interest in waiters."

"What's that all about, Will?" asked Mark. "Remind me to tell you later when we get back to the hotel," whispered William.

"It's not that you don't like women?" provoked Tony.

"Not at all. It's just that I don't want to see them naked or have sex with them. And so give me... what was it Simon said? ... a macho young waiter any day." The waitress brought six hot chocolates on a large tray. When she had gone, Ben said

"You'll probably find that the boys can make more money as ski instructors in the winter and do waiting jobs in the summer." The hot chocolate came in large glasses with a flake, lots of whipped cream and baby marshmallows sunk into it. The taste was a lot different from English hot chocolate.

The boys chattered away and sex was never really far from their minds, controlled as they were by an adolescent surge in hormones.

"So," said Mark to Adam "did you become gay when you were in the orphanage?" Mark, of course, was the least experienced of the six and therefore had the steepest learning curve to climb.

"No," replied Adam, "I became gay, like all of us here, on the day I was conceived. Or at the latest on the day I was born," he added trying to mollify the starkness of his answer. The last thing he wanted was to appear to be putting Mark down. He welcomed questions and openness, even if it meant evangelising on behalf of his homosexual brethren.

"Okay," said Mark, who may have been the youngest, but was still prepared to stand his ground. "Did you have your first experience in the orphanage?"

"Oh, no. I had a boyfriend before that," and he told them about Jack and splitting up. "So when I got to the orphanage it didn't take long to discover who the gay boys were. In my room there were already two boys who were mates, but not gay. So it was a bit of a 'two's company, three's a crowd' situation. I recall my first night, though. I was going upstairs and a kid called Chris M... stopped me on the landing and said 'Show us your dick'. I was bit surprised and said 'Show me yours first', and he did. I remember it well. It was quite long and had a lot of overlapping foreskin. A powerful weapon, but not nice to look at. Then I unzipped my flies and got mine out. 'Mmm, I like a nice chunky dick. See you in the showers after house meeting and you can feel my balls.' That was enough to turn me on. I had a job tucking it away. At least I'd found one sympathetic person, and since splitting with Jack I'd had to make do with jerking off and when you've had sex with someone else wanking is certainly second best." There were nods of agreement from everyone, which caused the older boys to turn round and give Mark and William questioning looks. Mark blushed. "When I got to the showers that night, Chris was already there. He beckoned me to go under the shower with him and pulled the modesty curtain across. 'This is where you come for a wank, or in the bog,' he said. 'It's a no no to do it in bed. You keep your roommates awake and we get lectures on what they call bedwetting.' He certainly knew his craft. He'd give me some of the best seeing-tos I'd had before meeting Simon."

"Spunk stains. I've told you about them," Tony said in a stage whisper to William.

"I've already told you about the boy we nicknamed the Duck."

"You've only told me," said Simon. Adam regaled them with the tale about the one boy in the home he found really attractive and yet could get nowhere with him.

"You could always find a wank buddy and it didn't necessarily mean they were gay, either. They just liked a bit of action with someone else." Adam's audience was enthralled. "So you see, if you wanted sex it was never very far away."

The boys made their way back to the hotel and reported in. They spent a few minutes with their parents and then said good night, claiming that they were tired, but what had earlier been six horny boys were now six super horny boys whose dicks and balls were weighing significantly heavily in their trousers.

On Monday morning they had already fallen into the routine. Only today Owen was more awake and ready to get started. Our boys had already decided to bring him into their circle and at the top station while they were waiting for the class to gather they had taken him, his parents and brother and sister across to their own parents to introduce them.

"I'm Jack Cache and this is my wife Margaret." After handshakes all round, they chatted away merrily until Urs, the instructor, said good morning.

Having covered the basics the day before they were allowed to take the Schlepplift which was for pairs to sit on a horizontal bar and be dragged up the mountainside on their skis.

"It is important that your partner is roughly the same weight to use this lift," said Urs. After one or two accidents the class got used to it and they all eventually found themselves at the top of a long gentle slope. Today they were going to learn a more efficient way of stopping rather than the snowplough. Once they had mastered that they could be more adventurous in their skiing. The children found no difficulty in carrying out new techniques, the younger the easier. Adam and Simon were always particularly attentive as far as Owen was concerned. Tony and Ben watched with amusement as Owen became more and more ensnared in the boys' charms. There was no hurry. They had until Friday night to reach their goal. This was lust at work, and what might be call 'professional pride' but for the fact that they were most adept amateurs with no question of infidelity, just honed teamwork which, if successful, would leave the victim with the conviction that he was the only recipient of pleasure.

The families ate their packed lunches together in the café at the top station and afterwards the ladies decided to descend to the village while the menfolk and the children carried on skiing. At the end of the afternoon they decided that they would ski down to the village rather than queue for the cable car. The boys thought that it was the first 'real skiing' that they had done.

On arrival at the hotel Simon and Adam announced that they were off to the sauna, giving Owen little choice, taking him with them and saying that they would meet the others again at supper. Sitting in the sauna Adam and Simon pretended to doze, but this was to lull their victim into a false sense of security for from time to time they would open their eyes to see what Owen was up to and their little plan worked. First they busted him checking them out and secondly he was sporting a boner worthy of the objects of his attraction. Without saying anything they moved across and sat either side of him. They did not want him to talk for if he had said anything it would have just revealed his embarrassment while what they did want him to feel was at ease with the situation, as they were the previous afternoon. Sitting by him they could stroke his thigh, first the outside, then the inside and finally the prize itself as Adam wrapped his fingers round Owen's throbbing cock and gently moved the truncated foreskin he had up and down over the glans. When he was about to say something Simon leant across and kissed him full on the lips and this went on until Owen shot his load across his chest. Simon quickly took some on the end of his tongue and gave Owen another full French kiss.

Owen felt himself recover from this experience, this discovery of something he had never even considered, something latent in his being. He felt invigorated by it. It was somehow vastly superior to anything he had up to now experienced by his hand alone and before relaxing in the glow of it took his towel and wiped away the remaining liquid white gold, the produce of his loins. Some minutes later, after recovering from their adventure they dived into the cold pool, dried themselves off and got dressed. Owen joined his parents, brother and sister on the terrace of the hotel while Simon and Adam went up and knocked at Philip's door, but finding him not there went down to the hotel bar where they saw him in conversation with the lady they recognised he had been entertaining before, the lady who was apparently attending the ski course on her own.

"Hi, boys. Come and meet Mrs Anstruther."

"How do you do, Mrs Anstruther," the boys said as they shook her hand.

"Do call me Belinda," she replied. "Mrs Anstruther makes me feel so old. Now let me guess. You must be Adam and you must be Simon. Your father has told me so much about you and all the things you have achieved." The boys blushed.

"Can you stop for a few minutes?" said Philip "or are you in a hurry to do the next thing?" The boys sat down and Philip ordered ice creams for them. They took to Mrs Anstruther str8away. She didn't talk at them, but treated them as equals, as adults, and without appearing to be nosy she got them to talk about themselves and each other in a relaxed way. The time passed quickly until Philip said that it was time to get ready for the evening meal.

"You don't mind, boys, if Mrs Anstr... Belinda joins us for dinner, do you?"

"Not in the least," the boys replied.

When they got back to their room Simon asked

"Well, Adam, what do you think of that?"

"What?" said Adam, being deliberately obtuse.

"You know, Dad and Belinda."

"Considering what we're doing with Owen, we're not in a position to say too much. I say good luck to him, although I realise you must have other concerns."

"What? You mean Mum?"

"Yes."

"Over the past few months I've thought about it a lot. Life's got to go on and I don't want to see him alone for the rest of his life dependent on us two for company. It sounds as if she has not had things easy with her husband dying comparatively young and she's got no children. Perhaps we're thinking too far ahead. After all they only met yesterday and on holiday. She may live at the other end of the country and they will probably never see each other again after Saturday."

"Come on, Si, if we hurry we've just got time for a quick shower together before dinner and don't forget, we've got to work out how we're going to seduce Owen."

"So far it's been a lot easier than I expected. I've still got a bit of a conscience about seducing a str8 guy."

"Look, Si, he's either str8 or he isn't and nothing we're going to do will alter that. And the minute he says no we stop. It's Monday today and so we've got five nights left. According to my estimate he'll lose his cherry either Tuesday or Wednesday night. Our problem is deciding how. We'll invite him to come out with us this evening. Anyway, we can talk about that later. Right now Ineed you in that shower, and urgently."

Adam and Simon came downstairs just before seven with looks on their faces like the cat who had just got the cream, and in one sense that might have been true. In the lounge there was a great gathering of van den Bergs, Legges, Carltons, Caches and Mrs Anstruther who seemed to enjoying joining in the throng. Philip, the apparently appointed spokesman, clapped his hands and called for silence. It was only to say that as our band of friends had grown so big there would be a re-arrangement in the dining room. The waitresses had been asked to set up two round tables, one for the grown ups and one for the children. Paul and Kate had been warned by their parents that they had to be really grown up or they would be made to sit on the boring adults' table. The arrangement worked out well with our boys' insistence that Owen should sit between them. Ben was sitting on Adam's other side, Tony next to him and then William. That left Mark, Paul and Kate to complete the circle. Ben leant over to Adam and said quietly in his ear

"You're up to something, aren't you?"

"Might be," replied Adam.

"Lamb to the slaughter."

"We'll let you know if something happens."

"When," said Ben and laughed.

"What was that all about," said Tony.

"Only what we were talking about earlier and we were right."

"What was that?" said William.

"Mind your own business, little brother," said Tony tapping the side of his nose with his forefinger.

"Oh, you mean Simon and Adam getting off with Owen?" answered William in a voice loud enough to be clearly heard on the next table where all the parents were sitting.

"Will!" shouted Tony. Then it went quiet and everybody did look round. "See what you've done now, you little squirt," continued Tony in a loud whisper.

"Just remember that you grew up from a little squirt too," was William's retort.

"William, would you like to come over and sit on our table?" It was Amanda Legge's voice.

"No thanks, Mum."

"Then just keep your voice down, dear, okay?" William blushed and in a quiet voice started to explain to Mark what it was all about. Fortunately Paul and Kate Cache were spared the conversation.

When the meal was over Owen went to ask his parents if he could go into the village with the other boys.

"Don't be too late going to bed when you get back and try not to wake up Paul."

"We won't be late. You'll probably be in the bar still."

"Okay, dear. Enjoy yourself."

Dressed against the cold the seven boys made their way along the main street to the inn they had visited the night before. It was a little busier, but they managed to find a table, if not next to the log fire. There was a gaggle round the bar and with a couple of mates and surrounded by a bevy of the local girls they spotted Urs enjoying the off-duty perks of a ski instructor. Again the group ordered hot chocolate and chatted in a lively way. Except Owen. Finally Simon asked him why he was so quiet.

"No, it's all right. I was thinking. That's all." It was true. He was thinking and after five minutes he could control himself no more. "Tell me, guys. I hope you don't mind me saying this, but are you by any chance..." He hesitated here. "Are you by any chance..." He dropped his voice. "...gay?"

"Where on earth did you get that idea from?" responded Tony.

"Don't wind him up," said Ben. "It's too serious a question for joking. That's right. We're all gay."

"Except William," joked Simon. "We've got serious doubts about his sexuality."

"I am gay," William protested immediately in that loud voice that announced it to the whole clientele of the inn, who, fortunately, were not listening and were certainly not listening in English. Will blushed as soon as he realised he was the butt of their humour.

"Does it make any difference?" asked Adam.

"No, that's just it," said Owen. "I'd have thought it would, but you people all seem so normal."

"We are normal," said Adam "except that we're attracted to males and not females."

"Are you gay?" asked Mark who up to then had just sat there listening and taking everything in.

"No, at least I don't think so. I like the girls at school and I think they like me. I haven't got a girlfriend of my own, but... Idon't think that means anything at our age." Adam and Simon looked at one another and smiled. "At school they say queers go round sucking each other's cocks and sticking their pricks into boys' bums." The friends went silent. Adam put his hand on Owen's are and said quietly

"Owen, we can't deny that happens. We prefer to say we make love with one another and we try to avoid the cruder expressions. But there is more to it than that. Take us for example. You see here three devoted couples. Simon and I have been together for almost a year, Ben and Tony met on holiday last summer and Mark and Will got together before Christmas. Except for Ben we all go to the same school. However, one thing, Owen, we're all out at home and at school, but we do refer to ourselves as gay. Most other words such as queer are rather offensive. Do you want to go back to the hotel now?"

"No, certainly not. I like you all. It's just that I'm a bit confused. I always thought that qu... sorry, gay people were repulsive or effeminate and to be avoided."

"Some of them are," conceded Adam. "We trust we're not and how many str8 people do you know who are repulsive, or even effeminate?"

"I'm even more confused now - like in the sauna when I was curious and wanted to look at you with no clothes on. Does that make me gay?"

"No, not at all. Kids our age do it all the time. It's part of growing up. We compare for instance. For a start we want to know whether we're normal."

"What about when I popped a boner?"

"Or two," interjected Simon. Adam gave his boyfriend a look, sufficient to say that he wasn't being helpful.

"We all pop boners. We do it all the time. Don't we, lads?" The others nodded in agreement. "And usually at the most embarrassing time possible." More nods.

"I've got a stiffie at the moment," said William.

"Thank you, Will."

"That's because Mark's been stroking me under the table." Every one looked at him indulgently.

"And when you jerked me off," continued Owen, "I enjoyed it."

"Again, put it down to your age," said Adam. "If you were gay, you would know it by now. And if you are, do what we all do. Be proud, get on with life and most of all enjoy it."

The others were enthralled with the way Adam dealt with the situation. They all looked up to him. Simon simply adored him that much more. It was that night that he became the 'godfather' of their gay community and later of the gay community in the school. He was after all the most experienced of the group, the one who had suffered most in life and come out the other side strengthened by his suffering.

The time had come for the boys to return to the hotel. They found they needed to go to bed early because of the physical demands of the day. All the boys were fit by any standards, but skiing used different sets of muscles and while downhill was fun, they always had to do the uphill bit to begin with. They paid up, put their anoraks on and said good night to Urs on their way out. When they got outside they found it was snowing. At the hotel they went into the bar and surprise, surprise, their parents were all there enjoying a drink together. Before they said good night they were told that the following evening they would be going out all as a group because there was some entertainment in one of the hotels, something called a 'bunter Abend'.

Locked in their room Adam said to Simon

"Well, what do you make of that?"

"Hmm, it just increases the challenge. I don't think it tells us anything we didn't know before. But I have a plan."

"A cunning plan?" said Simon in his Baldrick type voice.

"Not cunning so much as progressive - slowly, slowly catchee monkey. Tomorrow could be decisive and I see the foul and dastardly deed being perpetrated on Wednesday," and Adam got down to explaining to Simon what he had in mind.

"Sounds great and if it doesn't work we'll still have had a good time trying to make it work. My only objection is that Owen will still be going round with the idea that gay people just want to stick their dicks into other boys' bums."

"And apart from 'just' I can do nothing other than agree with you, but in the way that str8 kids want to put their dicks into girls' pussies, we have to think of it in other terms. We can't actually deny the reality of the situation. I can remember my father saying something about holidays and going away from home, those are the times and places to make your mistakes and to be able to walk away from them reasonably unscathed. To be a little cynical it's doubtful we'll ever see Owen again after Saturday, but... and this is a big but, if we can succeed in sending him away having had a really positive and enjoyable experience we may have gained a friend.

"And if we don't?"

"Then I shall be extremely ashamed of myself, my lack of expertise and skills and of the fact I have failed miserably. Let's forget all that until tomorrow. I have something else on my mind."

"What's that, as if I didn't know?"

"I want to feel your hot seed being squirted so deep into my entrails that I can taste it at the back of my throat." At that he pushed Simon against the wall and kissed him while feeling him up. He unbuckled his belt, and since he had an erection, he knew he was his! "The sweet surrender I call it!" he said quoting Hulka69 from GY magazine.

When the boys woke up, they looked out of the window to see that the overnight snow had stopped, but the sky was still overcast. They hauled themselves into the shower, into their skiing kit and into breakfast. With no sunshine everything was that much a greater effort and finally, just after nine, the class had assembled at the top cable car station. The lesson progressed through the morning, but seemed hard work. There were flurries of snow. The plus points were that not so many people were skiing and that the fresh snow was easier to ski on than the iced snow they had had before. Since conditions improved little during the day the boys made the decision over lunch to ski down to the resort and try some of the other entertainments available. They secured their skis, sticks and boots in the hotel cellar, put on their walking boots and made for the skating rink. After an hour there they decided on Kaffee und Kuchen and were not surprised to see that their parents had beaten them to the Konditorei. On the way back the boys called in at the supermarket to buy some fruit, sweets, chocolate and cans of pop. Climbing their way up the street on their way back to the hotel Owen was heard to complain about the way his muscles were aching.

"I know just the thing for you," said Adam. "You need one of our special massages. Simon and I give them to each other all the time." Simon gave an intake of breath, his mouth opened wide. He just could not believe what was happening. It was as if some divine force were giving them a helping hand to carry out their stratagem. And Owen seemed incapable of resisting. When they arrived back at the hotel he gave Paul his shopping to put in their room and followed Simon and Adam, again a lamb to the slaughter, to theirs.

"See you at dinner, lads," Simon called out as they split and went to their own rooms.

"We're going for a sauna," called out Mark, holding William by the hand.

"Mind if we come too?" said Tony.

"Now don't play gooseberry," said Ben. "I'm sure we can find something else to do." Tony took the hint.

Fortunately it was nice and warm in their room as Adam and Simon stripped off their salopettes and their polo necked shirts. They looked really handsome in their modern longjohns which had the similar effect as wearing tights. Simon spread a large towel over one of the beds and Adam said

"Get your kit off. Yes, all of it, just like in the sauna. You'll need to shower after anyway." They got all their requisites ready, the main one being baby oil. Lavender oil was deemed too precious. As Owen stripped they admired his tackle. They had seen it before. It was not large, not unduly small, but neat, elegant even, enhanced by his pubic hair, which struck a contrast with the tousled appearance of the hair on his head and the bum fluff makings of a moustache just visible on his top lip. For Adam the point of interest was his foreskin. It had obviously been cut, but not completely removed for it still covered the wider part of his glans. "That's a neat job," said Adam. Simon wondered how he had the nerve to make such a comment.

"What, my dick?" replied Owen unabashed. "Yeah, I was lucky there that they didn't take the whole lot off. I had what they call a phimosis. It hurt to pull my foreskin back. So I had to go to hospital and have some cut away. The surgeon was pleased with the job. It was bit embarrassing to start off with, but by the time all the doctors, the surgeon's students and the nurses had had a look at it, it didn't matter any more. I had to lie on my back in bed afterwards with a cage over it under the sheets, a real tent," and they all laughed.

"Okay," said Adam "you've got to lie face downwards on the bed." Simon handed him his iPod.

"Put this on. The music will help you to relax."

"Relaxing is the most important thing. That's the whole aim of a massage, to get those tight muscles to loosen up," said Adam. "One more thing. Put these on." Adam handed him a set of the complimentary sleep goggles you get during a flight. "Now, don't worry. If we do anything you don't like, tell us and we'll stop str8away."

Owen took up the position and Adam poured some baby oil on his hands and started to rub it in. Then he poured some onto Owen's shoulders and went to work. Little grunts of pleasure emanated from Owen which encouraged Adam in his work. He gradually worked his way down his body until he reached his buns.

"This is the first risk point," said Adam. They had really given Owen the iPod so that they could speak freely about what they were doing. Adam squeezed and kneaded the flesh of Owen's buttocks and the little grunts of pleasure continued, only louder. They could see from the way he adjusted his body position that he was getting a boner. Adam gave Simon the thumbs up, ran a little oil into Owen's crack and put some more on his hands. He proceeded to work it into his crevice and finally reached the sphincter itself which under his expert hands easily gave and allowed his finger in without clamping down on it. The smile and the grunts from Owen continued. One finger was followed by two and Adam gave Simon the nod. "Time for plan B." Simon went across to the carrier bag of shopping, took out a banana, carefully removed a rubber from its foil and rolled it over the banana, handing it to Adam. With great skill Adam gently inserted it into Owen's butt. He jumped a little, not from the size, but because it hadn't acclimatised to room temperature. Adam moved it in and out until finally Owen writhed and shot his load over the towel. The massage was over. Adam withdrew the banana and handed it to Simon who deftly removed the condom, skilfully peeled the banana without touching the flesh, offered it to Adam who took a bite and consumed the rest himself, disposing of the skin in the waste bin.

They let Owen lie there for a few minutes to savour what had happened to him, before removing the iPod's earphones and telling him to take the blindfold off.

"How do you feel?" said Simon.

"Great. I don't know what you did, but it felt sort of wow!"

"Okay," said Adam, "into the shower and get dressed before you start to feel cold and undo all the good work."

When Owen was dressed and they were convinced he had positive feelings, they sent him back to his room, telling him they needed a little R & R before supper. Once he was gone the boys cleared up, washed their hands and lay on the bed together. Simon set his alarm so that they wouldn't be late for dinner.

After dinner the four families left their hotel to make their way to the venue for this evening's bunter Abend. The youngsters didn't really know what to expect, but they enjoyed themselves watching a show of local songs, dancing and humour, obviously aimed at entertaining tourists, and that particular night the English speaking ones. It was getting on for ten when they made their way back. The cloud cover had cleared, the moon was shining and frost was in the air. When they got back to the hotel the young people went str8 to bed. With the strenuous day behind and ahead of them they needed whatever sleep they could get. There were no fun and frolics that night.

By the following morning the fine weather had returned and it was noticeable how the bright sun had lifted their spirits. The skiing was getting more exciting as Urs, their instructor, took his class farther afield, using different lifts and pistes and teaching them new skills on the way. They loved the views dominated by the high mountains, the Jungfrau, Mönch and Eiger. The thrills and spills of the day put right out of Simon and Adam's minds the task they had set themselves for the late afternoon. In fact they were later getting back to the hotel than usual. The sun was near to setting and by the time they had secured their skis, sticks and boots in the hotel cellar they realised there was too little time between then and dinner to get a satisfactory result. After dinner they had plans to go ten-pin bowling, but before going for a shower and a change of clothes Adam and Simon had the presence of mind to suggest Owen spent the night in their room on a sleep over, but he couldn't get his parents' attention to ask them, and he knew better than to ask them in front of everybody else. That would constitute pester power and trigger an automatic negative response. He would work on Thursday night, which then left a safety net for Friday.

"We're on," said Owen as he came down to breakfast on Thursday morning. "I can sleep over with you tonight. And no questions were asked."

"We'll give you a night you won't forget," said Simon

"Why? What's going to happen?"

"Wait and see. It's our treat."

Thursday was a revision morning, something the boys didn't need, but the adults appreciated it before the test the following morning. The boys decided to stay up on the pistes in the afternoon since this would be their last full day. The whole party was beginning to look bronzed from the sun, which would set them up for the rest of the winter once they got back to England. The boys skied down to the resort and reached the hotel just before sunset. They had time for a little rest before dinner. They wanted to save themselves for the evening.

Over the last couple of days Adam and Simon had been so preoccupied with their own plans that they had had scarcely noticed what was going on around them. In a quiet moment Philip took them aside and said

"I shan't be joining you for dinner tonight. I'm taking Belinda out to a restaurant for a quiet evening together. It will be the last chance before we go home." The boys raised their eyebrows, but said nothing more than

"Have a good evening." When he had gone Adam turned to Simon and said

"We're having a good time. Why shouldn't he?"

"You don't think he's... that they're going to..."

"Don't even go there. Si. It's no more our business than it is his about what we do. Or rather what we do is his business because we're still minors. And we're not legal in Switzerland until we're sixteen." Even so, it did give Simon something to think about.

Just then William bounced up to the pair.

"Hey, can you two keep a secret?"

"Better than you can, Will, I bet," said Adam. William pretended to look hurt. He grabbed Simon and Adam by the shoulders and pulled them down so that he could whisper in their ears.

"Mark's going to do it to me tonight." The other two looked nonplussed. "You see, up to now I've only done it to him, but now he feels he's ready for it - and I have been for a long time, know what I mean? It's been so long it feels as if my hole has been sealed up."

"Thank you, Mr Subtlety," said Adam.

"Make sure you use plenty of vaseline," added Simon.

"We don't use vaseline," retorted William indignantly. "We use the real thing. Which reminds me. Did you hear about the two gayboys who couldn't tell the difference between vaseline and putty?" Adam shook his head, not meaning no, but meaning sad git. William gave a snigger. "Their windows fell out."

"That one's got whiskers on," said Simon. "You'll have to do better than that."

"Enjoy yourselves," said Adam.

"I'll tell you all about it."

"I expect you will."

Adam and Simon regained their room. They took off their salopettes.

"You know, Si, those longjohns really suit you."

"When Dad suggested them I was thinking of those awful loose white cotton ones with the big flap, like the ones you see in old plays and films on the television. I didn't dream they could look sexy."

"Come and lie on the bed with me."

"Remember we're saving ourselves for this evening."

"We'll be okay all the time we keep our longjohns on. We won't get near. I just want to hold you."

"Just hold me?"

"Well, hold you and see what happens," he grinned.

At seven there was the great gathering in the dining room even with two missing. When the meal was over, the boys donned their outdoor clothes. That evening they were going to try their hand at curling. Once they had practised a little and got used to it they could give each other a run for their money, but no way did they meet the standard of the local lads. The local lads did, however, provide a distraction of a different kind. The mountains produce a very attractive and healthy boy, but they didn't get involved in case there was hassle if the locals found out that our boys were gay. Simon and Adam kept an eye on Owen to make sure he'd be in the mood later that evening. After the session of curling had ended they all made for the inn they had been to before for a mug of hot chocolate. After that five of the seven boys appeared anxious to get back to the hotel and the other two tagged on behind.

Back at the hotel they reported in and sat with the parents for a few minutes before feigning how tired they were and wanted to go to bed.

"I've put your overnight things in a bag for you, Owen," said Mrs Cache. Ben, Tony, Mark and William looked at him and he went red. The fact Adam and Simon didn't stare at him, but did go red, gave the game away. William was just about to say something when a look from Tony stopped him in his tracks. Everyone said good night. Simon and Adam noted that Philip and Belinda weren't back yet.

In Simon and Adam's room the three relaxed and chatted over munchies from the minibar. Simon asked Owen how he had enjoyed the Tuesday experience and Adam promised him that the Thursday one should be even better. Simon got Owen up against the wall, applied the Hulka formula and while their attention was elsewhere Adam prepared the necessary equipment, including taking the duvet off the bed and spreading a large towel over it. Tissues, lube and condoms ready, Simon got him to lie on the bed and Adam went to work massaging Owen's buns, gradually working his way into his crack and easing open the sphincter. There was a sharp intake of breath from Owen as Adam rubbed fresh cold K-Y inside his hole. Simon had prepared himself and rolled a rubber over his erect prick, climbed onto the bed and without even asking if Owen was ready, lay on top of him and inserted his cock without the slightest resistance. Adam washed his hands, got the rest of his kit off and watched with a critical eye. Simon worked like a professional, starting slowly and as the grunts of pleasure came from Owen, he sped up and came to orgasm. He withdrew immediately and meanwhile Adam had sheathed his weapon and before Owen had a chance to move had taken his boyfriend's place on top of him. As he was chunkier there was some token resistance, but Adam slid in with a grunt followed by 'Aaah!' from Owen. Adam had achieved his goal and was determined to take his time finishing off. Simon took great pleasure and pride watching his boyfriend at work and appreciating from a different angle what a master of his craft he was. It was Adam who brought Owen to orgasm and made him soak the towel he was lying on. As he climbed off Adam said

"You were fantastic, Owen. Now it's your turn to do one of us - or both of us if you want to."

"Give me a chance, Adam. I've only just come off and that was a big one."

"It looks as if he's going to surprise us in the middle of the night."

"We'd better get lubed up just in case," giggled Simon.

The boys slept through the night despite... despite what had been said and despite the fact that two single beds pushed together for three can be very uncomfortable for the one in the middle, but without waking they shifted position subconsciously during the night. It was just gone six when they woke. It was not yet light.

"Right," said Owen "are you up for it?"

"What both of us?" said Adam yawning. "If you can give it, we can take it."

"You'd better try Adam first as you'll need a really hard boner to get into his butt."

"Take a pee first. It'll take the pressure off your bladder." While Owen was in the bathroom, Simon lubed his boyfriend up and tried to make penetration as easy as possible. When he came out, naked Owen was still semi-hard and with a hand from Simon he was soon fully erect again and Simon deftly slid a condom over it and added a bit of lube. Adam took up the position. Owen hesitated and through lack of experience had difficulty lining up Adam's hole. Once he located it with his dick he pushed gently, found it giving and gave a hard thrust. Adam shouted out. He was used to something more gentle from his lover, but the pain immediately turned to pleasure. Owen was certainly a grower rather than a show-er. Even if he lacked finesse and consideration for his partner Owen did an effective job and came very quickly inside him. He climbed off very quickly, slipped off the condom and cleaned himself up with a tissue, rolled over and immediately went back to sleep.

"What about me?" cried Simon plaintively.

"Come here, you gorgeous creature," growled Adam. "I'll soon sort you out."

The alarm beeped at a quarter past seven and the boys were soon showered and dressed. The arrival at breakfast would have been worth videoing. Our three entered the breakfast room with grins all over the their faces, followed by Mark and William with silly grins, then similarly Tony and Ben, but in front of everybody Belinda and Philip arrived last, together, and beaming from ear to ear.

Breakfast over everyone collected their gear and made their way to the cable car station. Adam and Simon had drawn away from the rest and were in earnest conversation.

"But you can't ask him, Si. It's none of our business. After all, he doesn't ask us what we've been up to and he's got a darn sight more right to do so with us than we have with him. He's over twenty-one and a widower."

"But did you see the smile on their faces and the way they looked at one another?"

"Yees?"

"That proves it."

"It proves nothing except we've got prurient little minds and as I said before, it's none of our business," said Adam. "I'm not even going to discuss it any more."

"Are you two okay?" It was Ben calling across.

"A lovers' tiff?" enquired Tony.

"Something like that," said Simon.

"No, we're fine," said Adam at the same time.

"Hey, Mark," said William in a hoarse whisper, "what does prurient mean?"

The sun was shining for their last day in the mountains. The whole class had gathered by nine and Urs took them up the Schlepplift. They didn't realise that using the Schlepplift properly was the first part of their ski test. They were put through the various manœuvres they had been taught and then it was on to a different lift, a Sessellift where they sat in chairs to be carried to the top of the piste. Urs came down behind them to observe how they dealt with the various types of terrain and used their techniques to negotiate the piste. All this seemed to pass very quickly, but by the time they had returned to the top station of the cable car it was almost time for lunch and Urs was pleased to be able to inform them that they had all past their Schitest and that he would be in the hotel at seven to present their certificates.

Our group broke for lunch at the café, but immediately afterwards they had to return to the village. With the confidence gained they all skied down instead of taking the cable car, but once at the hotel there was work to be done. They collected their outdoor footwear so that they could return their skis, sticks and boots to the hire company. After that the party split. The boys decided to go swimming, the men went for a beer and the ladies decided that they had some urgent shopping to do and this would be the last opportunity. As Swiss children only go to school in the morning, there were quite a few at the swimming pool and our boys were happy to spend the time boywatching, although Paul and to a lesser extent Owen didn't know what to make of that. After that they went to look for souvenirs. Simon and Adam had to find something for MrsGreen for looking after Lucy, as well as something for Lucy herself, and Tony and William needed to find something for Angelica. Ben felt no compunction whatsoever in that direction as far as his sister was concerned.

"They don't appear to manufacture dildos with spikes on," he was heard to observe drily. Finally they ended up in the inn with the fantastic hot chocolate before making their way back to the hotel for a little R&R, and - boring! - packing.

Back in the hotel the boys went off to their rooms. Adam made mad passionate love to Simon, Ben made passionate love to Tony and William and Mark spent the time wrestling with one another on the bed trying to grab each other's balls and ended up by giving each other a jerk off. Owen and Paul did their packing and went off to the games room to play table football.

At seven the whole party gathered in the hotel lounge and Urs was there to greet them. Once everybody was settled with a drink he gave a little speech, saying how well they had done and he awarded each of them with their certificates of proficiency. The last to receive his was Mark and he won an especially loud round of applause for he had been adjudged best in class for progress and ability and most promising skier. Each of the four older boys had their noses slightly put out of joint, but there were no hard feelings and they were pleased to congratulate Mark and give him a hug as one of their own. A nice touch was that as the youngest participant, Kate, received a posy of flowers with her certificate. The courier rounded off the proceedings by giving out the details for the journey back. Breakfast would be at seven which raised a general groan, but the return travel arrangements were slightly different. The luggage had to be in the reception area before breakfast. It would be taken away and they wouldn't see it again until they landed in England. Travel to the airport would be by train. Once the arrangements had been dealt with they all adjourned to the dining room for dinner. It was a jolly affair and by the noise they were all enjoying themselves, talking about their experiences during the holiday. Their faces were bronzed from the time spent in the sun and they were pictures of health. During the lively conversation Tony leaned over and whispered

"Hey, Simon, feel like a bit of wife-swapping tonight?"

"No," answered Simon.

"Me neither," replied Tony.

"What was that about," asked Adam.

"Oh, nothing much," said Simon. "Tony wanted to know if I was interested in wife-swapping tonight and I said he had nothing worth swapping."

"I love you, Simon van den Berg," and he kissed him on the cheek and stroked the inside of his thigh under the table.

"Not as much as I love you, Adam Simon Neave van den Berg," and placed his hand on Adam's and moved it up his leg a little.

"Hey, you've got a stiffie," said Adam.

"What do you expect, Adam? You have that effect on me."

"But at the meal table," said Adam in mock disgust.

"Hey, Mark," said William "Simon's got a stiffie. I just heard him tell Adam."

"So have I," said Mark.

"Shh!" said Owen crossly. "If Paul and Kate hear I'll get awkward questions."

The adults made sure the meal lasted a long time as they didn't want the boys going out that night.

"There's a disco in the cellar," said Judith Carlton, addressing the youngsters' table.

"We might look in," said Ben "but I don't suppose they'll let us dance together." Judith looked a bit relieved at that reply.

"It'll probably be a good idea to have an early night," said Amanda Legge.

"This is a stitch-up," said Tony.

"You'll probably right, dear," said his mother as if she hadn't been listening to a word that had been said. There wasn't a great deal of dissent as Ben and Tony, William and Mark would be sleeping in their own beds the following night and tonight would be the last opportunity of 'sharing'. Adam and Simon could always find ways to amuse themselves.

Philip appointed himself as chief waker for the following morning. He set his alarm for six and rang round the various rooms, then again a quarter of an hour later to make sure no one had gone back to sleep. By seven the cases were neatly stacked in the hotel lobby and a quiet set of adults and children were in a subdued manner getting on with their breakfasts. It was easy to tell who had ignored advice and had had a late night, for whatever reason, the night before. At a quarter to eight they were all assembled with their hand luggage and the courier for the trek to the station. They had reserved seats and so they piled onto the train and waited for the off. Three changes later they arrived at Bern-Belp, the airport, and with the minimum of fuss waited for their flight.

In no time they landed in a dull drizzly England and in the luggage hall while they waited for the carousel they said their goodbyes. Simon and Adam hugged Owen and could swear he grew hard as they did. Philip gave Belinda a particularly warm hug, but she passed no comment. As they left the customs area their driver was standing in arrival with a card saying 'Van den Berg'. They followed him and soon gained their minibus. It was not long before the three families were dropped off. The Legges would look after Mark until his parents arrived. The van den Bergs were the last to be dropped and were immediately greeted by Brabazon. The boys had Sunday free to prepare themselves for school and on Monday Philip would away in London for the week to catch up with work there.

When Adam woke up on Sunday morning, his first words to Simon were

"I must get some exercise. I need to go for a run. I've got county cross-country trials coming up soon. Are you coming with me?"

"What's the weather doing?"

"Fine, damp under foot and no wind."

"Okay, you've persuaded me, but if you want to run ahead, wait for me at the wishing well and I'll catch you up there."

"I think it's the lycra today." Adam went into the bathroom to splash his face with water and when he came back he pulled on his lycra one-piece running suit.

"You'll need something on under that," said Simon.

"Nah, it should be all right. There won't be anyone around this early on a Sunday morning and I like the feeling. Just tight enough to stop my junk flopping about all over the place and loose enough to make me feel like a man."

"And if you pop a boner?"

"Then I pop a boner. If it gives a thrill to some old dear on her way to church or some old queen fumbling in his trousers, then I shall have done my good deed for the day and made at least one person happy." Simon put on a jock and his tight tracksuit bottoms with a hockey top. "What are you putting all that lot on for?"

"If I see much more of your butt in that lycra, or that well defined package, I shall pop a boner and the drag will slow my running down."

"You now know the difficulties I have to endure when we have an inter-school match and trials and I meet boys I've never seen before. I bet you've never met an ugly cross-country runner."

"Mmm, that's true. Come on, let's get started on this run before I get a pair of scissors and cut that lycra suit off you."

"I wish."

Adam showed Simon no pity. From now until the end of April his running was a serious business if he was to do well in the county trials and fixtures. Why hadn't his old school put him in for them? Come to think of it, they didn't do much cross-country and probably hadn't spotted his talent. And if it hadn't been for Simon, he probably wouldn't have developed it himself. After a short break at the wishing well they ran back home, but Adam knew that all the time Lucy was winning the race he had more to do. Back at home he said to Simon

"I'm going for a swim." Simon knew that meant fifty lengths and thought 'If you can't beat them, join them.'

They managed to turn up in the kitchen minutes before ten. Philip was already there, just putting the finishing touches to the Sunday Telegraph cryptic crossword.

"Morning, you two. Just got up?"

"Cheek," said Adam. "We've gone for a run, had a swim..."

"And taken Lucy out," added Simon.

"Don't eat too much breakfast, boys. We're having lunch at one. I want to go up to town today. That means I can get a full day's work done tomorrow without getting up before the crack of dawn."

"Feeling your age after last week, are you?" teased Simon. It was Philip's turn to say 'cheek'.

"I thought I did very well keeping up with you youngsters."

"Of course you did, Dad," said Simon in a not terribly convincing tone.

"Thank you very much for organising it, Philip," said Adam. "It was a thoroughly enjoyable week."

"Thank you, boys. I enjoyed the company."

"We noticed," said Simon, but Philip was not to be drawn on the subject of Mrs Anstruther. In time honoured fashion he immediately used diversionary tactics.

"The Legges and the Carltons are jolly good company, and the Caches fitted in well too. You seemed to get on very well with their boy. Owen was it?"

"You jolly well know it was," countered Simon.

"Was he er... was he..."

"Gay?" filled in Simon.

"If he was, he never told us," answered Adam.

"Was Belinda a lesbian?" Philip's first thought was that Simon's question was unnecessary and rude, but before he could react he realised that his sons were helping him to paint himself into a corner and that his tentative question about Owen had been equally rude and provocative.

"Touché."

The boys considered they had earnt a rest for the remaining part of the day. There was catching up to do; reading e-mails and answering them, getting their things up together for school, uploading their photos and mailing them off to Ben, Tony, Mark and Owen, reading the Sunday newspapers - Philip always encouraged them to read the newspapers - as well as the new edition of GY magazine which had arrived while they were away.

"I want you to shave me tonight, Si. My butthole's getting hairy again and I always like to look my best in the showers."

"What, pubes as well?"

"Just my balls and groin. You can trim the rest with the electric razor." They changed into jacket and tie for lunch for this was something else encouraged by Philip.

When they were seated round the table, Brabazon brought in a roast leg of lamb for Philip to carve. The boys helped themselves to vegetables.

"I think it would be a good idea if we discussed how we're going to celebrate the anniversary of your coming together," said Philip. "We've mentioned one or two things already."

"We decided we're not going on holiday during the Easter break, didn't we?" said Simon

"And we'd like a proper grown up dinner party for all our friends," said Adam.

"Not like our birthday party."

"So how many would that be?" asked Philip.

"How many can we cater for?"

"Brabazon," said Philip. "Perhaps you could help us a minute."

"Certainly, Mr Philip."

"What's the maximum number we can cater for at a dinner party?"

"I can extend the table to seat twenty-four. I regret the chairs might not match. The menu might be more of a problem because of oven space. We could just produce a roast dinner if I persuaded Mrs Green to use her oven at home as well. Or a buffet?"

"No, Brabazon. We are looking for a formal dinner."

"Black tie, Mr Philip?"

"I don't think so. That wouldn't be fair on the young people present. But you understand the standard of fare we're looking for now?"

"Yes, Mr Philip."

"There you are boys. That's your answer, and you understand why we must start planning now. It's March later this week. How long is it to Easter? Thank you, Brabazon." Brabazon returned to his kitchen. "So who are you thinking of inviting?"

"We've talked about this. Count them up, Adam, as I say who they are. Us three, five Legges, three Carltons."

"Three Carltons?" queried Philip.

"Three Carltons will be quite adequate," affirmed Adam.

"William's friend Mark, Robin Banks, the farmer, and his parents."

"We'd better ask Paul Taylor then."

"Sam Welham - we owe him - but not his parents. We don't really know them. And anyone else you think ought to come."

"I make that seventeen definites," said Adam "and that's assuming they can all come."

"So we are well within limits," said Philip. "I'll leave you two to liaise with Brabazon over the menu. Don't tell me. I want it to be a surprise."

"We'll get on the computer this afternoon and design the invitations," said Adam.

"Then you can check them over for us before you go," said Simon.

"If I've already gone, you can always e-mail them to me at the office."

"It's this dress code thing," said Simon. "It would be fun if we could all wear evening dress."

"It might be okay for the grown ups, but it would not be fair on the younger ones. It's a celebration, not a time for great expense."

"You put 'lounge suits'. That sets the standard and I'm sure the parents will make sure that their offspring don't turn up in cut-offs and ripped tee shirts," said Philip. "Of course you know what would set the standards for you boys?"

"What?"

"Wearing your school uniform."

"Pants," exclaimed Simon.

"Wait," said Adam. "That's not such a daft idea. We're all proud of our school, aren't we? Or we wouldn't want to represent it at sport. And coming from another school I can see that we really do have something to be proud of, and I'm sure Ben's proud of his school for the same reason."

"I think I have the feeling of the meeting," said Philip in his most official tone. "I'll have a chat with the parents once they've accepted the invitations."

When this was settled it was time for Brabazon to clear the main course and bring in the pudding.

"We think it will be between seventeen and nineteen, Brabazon. The boys will discuss the menu with you," said Philip. "In good time," he added turning to Simon and Adam.

When lunch was finished the boys disappeared upstairs to design the invitations.

"Let's get out of this jacket and tie before I do anything else," said Simon. He took his jacket, tie and shoes off. "That's better." Adam slipped off all his clothes, pulled on a pair of lycra shorts, a long tee shirt and a pair of flip-flops.

"God, do you have to do that, Adam?"

"What?"

"Wear lycra shorts and nothing else. You know how they turn me on. I'm already getting a stiffie."

"I have got something on," protested Adam innocently. "A tee shirt."

"You know what I mean. Nothing under or over your lycras, and that tee shirt's a tease."

"Then you'll just have to control yourself, my darling Si, and get those trousers off before you come in them," and he blew him a seductive kiss.

"You'd like that, wouldn't you?"

"Which? Getting your trousers off, yes, coming in them, no. Such a waste. I'd rather you came in my butt or my mouth, or even my hand."

After calming down they sat in front of Adam's iMac where they could spread out all their ideas on the large screen before coming up with a final decision. While Simon was putting the final touches to it before printing off a sample, Adam lay on his bed leafing through GY mag.

"Who's on the centrefold?" asked Simon.

"Brent Corrigan."

"Brent who?"

"Corrigan. He's a gay American porn movie star and he looks a bit tasty. He's hung, nearly as well hung as Tony and not much taller. Tight balls like mine. I'll know more when I've read the interview. He's got quite a sparkle in his eye." Simon carried on with his artwork. "He's twenty-three," said Adam "and predominantly a bottom. He lied about his age to get his first job in films, and his real name's Sean Paul Lockhart."

"He obviously lied about that too," said Simon. "What do you think about this?" Adam stood behind his boyfriend and read over his shoulder.

"'Adam and Simon request the pleasure of your company at dinner on Saturday, the XXth of April to celebrate the first anniversary of their friendship.'" Simon said

"I wish we could find a better word than friendship. Companionship makes us sound like OAPs, union is a technical term."

"How about relationship, or even special relationship?"

"That sounds better. After all no one's under any misconception about us, and that's another point. We haven't decided on a date."

"If we do it over the Easter weekend it doesn't have to be on a Saturday. '7 for 7.30 pm. Lounge suits.' Looks great. You're certainly more artistically bent than me."

"I'm glad you added the word artistically," Simon teased. "I'll check with Dad we've got the wording right."

"How about adding the words 'No gifts, please'?"

"That's a good idea."

"And what do you think about inviting Tony and Ben to stay for the night? They're always good fun and I know they don't get a great deal of special time together."

"Do you mean 'quality time', Adam?"

"Probably, but quality time's become a cliché and I avoid clichés like the plague."

"I've noticed," Simon retorted drily.

"I've had another idea. If the following day is not a Sunday we could have the Cockatoo Club over for a swim and football."

"Sounds good to me. Oh my god, Adam, you're doing it again," Simon suddenly shouted.

"What?" cried Adam. "I didn't even touch you."

"I just have to smell your body or your breath..."

"Pheromones."

"And I pop a boner. You make me feel so horny."

"And that's my fault?"

"Get up against the wall."

"What now? We've only just had lunch." Simon had stood up and was putting the 'Do not disturb' notices on the bedroom doors. He ran back pulling the zip down on his trousers and pinned Adam up against the wall and started kissing him madly. Adam responded and it looked like a competition for who could eat whom. In his passion Simon pulled Adam's lycra shorts down and slipped his tee shirt over his head.

"Get the lavender oil while I get theses clothes off." Once he'd fetched the lube, he pulled the duvet back. With their clothes scattered all over the floor Simon took it and oiled up first Adam's hole, then his own dick and took him doggy fashion. He pounded him in a frenzy, his balls slapping against Adam's butt with every thrust. He pulled out and wrestled Adam onto his side, pushed his dick in again and kissed him. Another pull out and he was on top of him, kissing him in the missionary position until finally his loose balls tightened and with every lunge Simon forced his seed into Adam's sanctum sanctorum. Adam was on a high.

"Finish me off, Si," he gasped. "You can't leave me like this." Simon moved down the bed and fondling Adam's balls he took his dick in his mouth, sucking as voraciously as he had kissed him before when without warning Adam shot his load all over Simon's face. He immediately deflated, licked the spunk off his cheek and shared it in a slow lingering kiss. The boys lay down on the bed, pulled the duvet over themselves and held each other in an intimate cuddle. "Now you know why I love you so much, Simon van den Berg. With you there's unexpected excitement round every corner," he whispered and they kissed deeply.

"I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Probably Madam Palm three or four times a day."

"School's the worst time. I get so horny and can't do anything about."

"I haven't forgotten the time in the broom cupboard."

"You didn't mind?" They both giggled at the memory.

"I didn't mind. I just didn't quite know what you were up to. In fact I really enjoyed it... except for the cold wet sticky feeling in my trousers afterwards. It was a good job we had games."
"Sometimes I want you so badly I can't concentrate on my lessons."

"What would have happened if we hadn't met?"

"I might have had different boyfriend - Tony, say, - but we wouldn't have been able to live together and it wouldn't have been the same. It would have been even worse if I'd been hetero. Still, don't let's talk about it. The important thing is I've got you and you've got me."

"I so love you, Simon. You can do whatever you like with me whenever you want to and I'll go on loving you."

"Does that include boywatching? You wouldn't think me unfaithful or slutty?"

"It includes boywatching. You know how much we both enjoy it and I don't mind sex with another boy as long as we're both in on it, like with Otto and Owen. And I'd never think of you as a slut. We both have needs, like I did with Sam Welham."

"Perhaps we ought to get him to sleep over after our dinner?" said Simon.

"But he's got a boyfriend."

They were woken by the house phone. It was growing dark. They had no idea how long they had been asleep.

«I hope I'm not disturbing anything...» It was Philip's voice. «but I'm off in half an hour. If you want me to see that invitation before I go, you'd better get your butts down here.»

"It's okay, Dad," replied Simon. "We'd fallen asleep." Two boys had never showered, cleaned themselves up and dressed so quickly. Thank goodness for school training.

With the addition of RSVP Philip approved the invitation and suggested they held the dinner on Easter Sunday, then if their chums wanted to come over on bank holiday Monday and the weather was fine, they could have a barbecue. The date was set.

Brabazon was busy putting Philip's luggage into his car. When he had finished the boys gave Philip a hug and he kissed them on the cheek and they said goodbye for the week. Brabazon accompanied his master to the car. On his return he announced

"Master Simon, Master Adam, by the time you have returned with the hound I shall have prepared a cold collation for you." The boys took the hint and put their outdoor shoes on, fetched Lucy's lead and called her. It was a short walkies. They had given her a proper one in the morning.

After they had eaten, the boys went and looked at what was on television and decided they would be better employed getting their things up together for school in the morning. It was noticeable how the nights were getting out and they were looking forward to the time when they could go outside in the evening. At least they were coming home from school in the light now.

Finally they settled down in the sitting room.

"Adam, have you finished reading GY mag?"

"No, but you can read it if you want to. I'm just thinking through what I've got to do this week. It's county trials on Saturday. I want to make sure I'm fit for them."

"Hey, Adam, listen to this," said Simon looking up from the edition of GY magazine he was leafing through. "There's this headline. 'Jason & Kieran (14) Enjoy Married Life' and there's a back view of them in their black school blazers."

"Oh? I haven't reached that bit yet," said Adam.

"Under the picture it says 'You might think these are two average Year 9 boys until you spot...' Then there's a blown up pic inset. '... two identical bands of gold on their ring fingers.' Then the article starts properly. Do you want to read it?"

"No, read it out to me, Si. It sounds interesting."

"«Jason and Kieran, who want to guard their anonymity, live and go to school in a northern town in England. They appear to be just best friends until you learn that they have been 'married' for over six months.

«In an interview Kieran said 'We have known each other ever since Jason's family moved in nextdoor when we were five. We immediately became mates. Then I suppose we must have been twelve or thirteen when we discovered it was something more. We were just fooling around and went a bit further than usual. It was then we discovered we might be gay.'

«Jason took over. 'Being gay is nothing new in our family. I have a gay uncle who's out and so my parents are quite enlightened and tolerant.'

«Jason's father said 'I took the boys camping on a fishing trip one weekend and they must have forgotten that their tent wasn't exactly soundproof.'

«Kieran's mother added 'I wasn't surprised. I have two other sons and Kieran was always the different one. We love him as much as the other two and I'm so pleased he's found happiness. We've always got on well with Jason's family and that helped.'

«The boys were asked how they came to be 'married'. 'It was a string of coincidences,' said Kieran. 'When my grandfather died, his granny flat became free and I volunteered to move into it so that me and my brother could have our own rooms. It was about that time that Jason and I came out, first to one another and then to our parents. It started as a joke really. I was spending so much time with Jason that my father said "You two ought to get married."'

«'That set us thinking,' said Jason 'and it was a bit difficult for Kieran's dad to go back on his word. So we got a copy of the civil union procedure off the internet, rewrote it for us with our own wedding vows.'

«'Jason's uncle liked the idea so much he volunteered to act as the registrar and we held a ceremony with just the two families. No friends, unfortunately, because we needed to keep it private.'

«Where did you go for your honeymoon? 'We had a long weekend at Alton Towers,' said Jason. Has your school said anything about wearing jewellery? 'No,' said Kieran. 'The only rules are that you have to take it off for any sports or workshop activity.' 'They're much stricter on smartness such as tucked in shirts, top buttons and ties done up properly,' said Jason. Both Jason and Kieran regularly play rugby, cricket and hockey for their school. Do you ever get teased or ragged in the changing rooms? The boys laughed and shook their heads. 'We're not flaming queens,' answered Kieran 'and we do try to be discreet.'

«'We know our marriage has no legal standing until we're sixteen and can enter into a civil union,' said Jason. 'But it's fun pretending,' said Kieran with a grin from both boys.

«Kieran and Jason appear intelligent, well-adjusted, happy boys, far better adjusted than many heterosexual boys their age.» That's it. So what do you think, Adam?"

"Good luck to them. It hasn't done us any harm and we're not even married. Let's see the pics. Oh, that's pants. Can't even see their butts. They could be anybody. I could do with an early night. How about you, Si?"

"Do mean an early night where we get eight hours sleep, or an early night where we don't?"

"Don't you ever think of anything else?"

"No, I'm usually too tired. Come on, Adam. Let's get some cocoa before I fall out of love with you," Simon protested affectionately.

The following day it was back to the school routine. The chums were pleased to see each other again and the Cockatoo Club met in lively form over lunch. They were discussing the various things they had been up to. Five of them were able to dominate the conversation with their exploits on the skiing trip to Switzerland. It soon became clear that Robin Banks's friendship with Paul Taylor had flourished as Paul had spent much of the week on the farm and had been helping out as much as he could despite February not being the most inspiring time to do so. Adam did not have much to eat for lunch as in the afternoon he had something to prove, not so much to his fellow runners, but to himself for he knew he had to be on top form with the county cross-country trials on Saturday. Simon needed to bring his team back into form for a match on the same day. Adam warmed up with Sam Welham. He mentioned nothing about the forthcoming dinner party as the invitations would be delivered by the postman and a written reply was expected. This, however, did not stop Adam from subsconsciously licking his lips while he watched Sam going through the routine while in his mind's eyes he was anticipating the fun they would have once he and Simon had lured Sam into their bed. Boyfriend or no boyfriend, Sam had become an object of Adam's unbounded lust, which would not be stilled by a quick fumble in the showers or behind a holly bush. 'I won't be satisfied until I can feel my balls sandwiched with between his butt and my groin.' He had time on his side, or at least he did providing Sam gave a positive reply. With spring in the offing the runners could wear shorts and running vest and each time he saw Sam bend and reveal a bare buttock with the strap of his jock running across it there was an involuntary twitch inside Adam's own jockstrap. 'I must pull myself together,&rs quo; thought Adam. 'There's work to be done and plenty of time for that after the run.' The cross-country master ticked off the names on his list and it was time for the off. To an outside observer Adam was as good as he ever was, taking an early lead and gradually leaving his fellows behind, but he knew the week out at half term was taking its toll for while the speed was there, the ease of effort wasn't. Two more runs on Wednesday and Thursday, rest on Friday, trials on Saturday.

When he met Simon for tea after the games session, Simon couldn't wait to tell him that he too was being sent for county trials with two others, but the hockey ones were being held on Wednesday of the following week and it meant that he would be out of school for the day. Adam gave him a hug and wished him all the best, being careful not to give in to the temptation of adding a kiss, since they were at school. How easy that would have been.

Time moved slowly that week, more so for Adam than for Simon. Simon relied on various skills to gain selection; Adam's depended on one thing - coming within the first nine, preferably the first six in one race. There was no second chance. He knew what 'big fish in a small pond' meant. Wednesday's run was easier for Adam and after Thursday's session he felt he had regained some of his old form.

Replies to the boys' invitations were starting to come in. The Carltons and Legges had replied positively. Paul Taylor was away on holiday with his parents. The Bankses asked if they could bring their younger son as well, otherwise they would have to decline. That was no problem, particularly as Paul had dropped out. On Thursday Sam Welham slipped an envelope into Simon's hand which stated he would be delighted to stay over for the night.

"Don't forget you'll need your running kit," added Adam with a grin. "No, I'm serious."

"He is," Simon assured him.

"We are," repeated Adam. Mark Kettree accepted and would sleeping over at the Legges' with William afterwards. When the boys arrived home on Thursday evening they found a letter awaiting them addressed in a beautiful hand which they did not recognise. When they opened it they were taken aback to read that Mrs Belinda Anstruther was delighted to accept not only the invitation to dinner. It was not until the weekend that they learnt from Philip that he had invited her to stay for all of the Easter holiday.

"Well, we did ask him if there was anyone he'd like to invite," said Adam.

"Interesting," said Simon enigmatically.

Saturday was a typical damp day for the beginning of March. At least the ground wasn't frozen and it wasn't raining... yet. Philip drove Adam to the trials which were to be held at a school outside the county town. Fortunately Simon had an afternoon away match. So all he had to do was to get himself into school for midday. He couldn't settle at home and so he took Lucy for a walk. It made him realise how dependent he'd become on Adam's company.

Back at the trials there was little to see. Before the competitors got changed, they were briefed on the course and Adam was relieved to see that the markers were adults who could be clearly picked out in their orange dayglo tops and bottoms. Some of the schoolboy markers he'd encountered at school matches could be decidedly iffy, particularly if they were overzealous in the their desire to see their own school win. He looked around at the Under 16 competition. His first instinct was to boywatch, but he shook himself out of that, with a reminder of what he was here to do. Plenty of time after the race. There were too many entrants for him to count. He concentrated on his warming up, which he started in his tracksuit. When he felt sufficiently loose he discarded it and handed it to Philip who wished him good luck before he made his way to the start. He checked that his competitor's number was securely pinned to his vest. He inwardly despised the runners who pinned them to the front of their shorts. They were no fun. Not that Adam was giving much away. He had selected his loosest fitting vest and shorts. He wanted to wear some school kit, but it would have been to tight. Long distance runners are long thin sinewy people of a nervy disposition. Although Adam didn't quite fit into that category the nerviness was infectious and he longed for the off. He was not in the mood to talk to his fellow runners; he just wanted to get going. Finally it was time for the start and they were given the off. He knew he had stepped up a class by the jostling when the pistol was fired. He kept clear of that for injuries from barging and spiked shoes weren't unknown. If he was as good as he thought he was he could afford to give a few seconds there to remain safe. Before they left the school grounds the leaders had broken away from the mass. He was fifth and it hadn't cost much effort to get there. Adam was not wearing spikes. You could never anticipate the terrain. Indeed the first part was along the public highway until they reached a stile which slowed them down and then took them across farmland. He was content to remain at five for the moment. He had plenty in reserve and he could hear that number four was already beginning to find the pace hard going. As they reached the summit of a gentle incline he dropped behind Adam. 'Thank goodness for that run up to the wishing well,' thought Adam. As they reached the low land again the going was becoming distinctly wetter and heavier. He kept going, he'd got his second wind and he was running well. A glance behind showed him that there was quite a string ahead of a bunch. The boy he had overtaken was just in front of the bunch. The next stile was easy for him as there was no bunching. It took him onto a main road, but the grass verge was wide enough for running on and they had been warned to keep off the carriageway. After half a mile it was off along another public footpath along what was called the ravine. He moved up another place as the boy in front of him lost concentration from peering over the edge and Adam had something left to enable him to catch up with number two. The path led steeply down to a stream which ran past a mill house complete with waterwheel, another distraction which he had to ignore. The harriers ran through what was basically the back garden of the mill house and onto a residential road. It was quiet with no traffic, just parked cars to contend with. Adam knew he was on the home str8. He had enough in reserve to put on the pressure and with a changed of gear he easily overtook number two. Number one was about ten yards ahead. They soon passed the first stile they had climbed over, then they were back into the school fields. It was time to take on the first man. Adam got to within two yards of him and he heard him coming. He too had something left and started to sprint on the home run, and Adam started to sprint as well. It was going to be down to a battle in the funnel, but he had left it just those few seconds too late. The boy in front pipped him to the finishing line.

The winner was bent double with his effort. Adam leant back to fill his lungs with air, cursing himself that he'd left the finish just that little bit too late. He went over and congratulated his rival. They hugged and Adam felt himself grow hard as their bodies met. The blood was obviously flowing well down there too. The winner smiled and held Adam in the hug perhaps a smidgin too long. However, he recovered his composure, safe in the knowledge that he would be selected to represent the county and that he might even have a gay teammate. Number three came up and shook hands. Then Adam looked for Philip to get his tracksuit back prior to going off and changing before the officials gave out details of the county competition. It was on the first Saturday of the school holidays. In the showers he consoled himself with a long bout of boywatching, before getting his school uniform back on, completing the admin and going for squash and biscuits.

Philip drove Adam to a pub for a spot of lunch before they went off to the school where Simon's match was. They arrived a quarter of an hour before the bully-off, or push-off as it's known these days, in time to see Simon lead his team out onto the all-weather pitch. Simon looked resplendent in his scarlet and royal blue quartered shirt and white shorts. Adam had eyes only for him and little interest in the game as a whole. He followed Simon's every move, was amazed at the skill he showed with his stickwork, how he positioned himself on the field and led his XI more by example and encouragement. At halftime when the boys gathered round for their oranges Adam marvelled at the idea that Simon was his and he was Simon's. He talked to Philip, conveying the love and admiration he had for Simon without really trying to. It gave Philip a glow of pride and satisfaction that one of his ideas in life outside the world of commerce had been so successful. At last he managed to catch Simon's eye before the second half began and with a thumbs up sign to convey the message he had been successful in the morning's trials. If Philip had asked Adam the score he would have been unable to tell him.

Once he had been able to communicate with Simon Adam felt more settled and was able to watch more of the game, rather than one player. The home team was dressed in black shorts and black shirts with gold sleeves and a gold trim. Adam hated black shorts. They were complete and utter passion killers, worse than navy blue. He refused to buy any himself and acknowledged that at least with navy blue continued washing would lighten the colour into something more revealing. He had to endure navy blue at school for that was the colour of their rugby training kit. White shorts were reserved for representing the school, an incentive to get into the team if ever there was one. As his eyes strayed among the home team, as well as his own school team, he mentally played the game of what they had on underneath, easy with his own because jockstraps were de rigueur, but the game progressed to the one he and Simon would play when they were boywatching in the town square, of trying the guess the size and shape of the tackle underneath. Monogamy suited Simon and Adam, but it wasn't allowed to suppress the natural curiosity of two gay adolescents. They fed off each other's unnatural curiosity. Being open about it strengthened rather than undermined their relationship. Imagine the strains and stresses if the two boys had to suppress their interest for fear of proving unfaithful to the other by entertaining a form of lust for other boys.

The final whistle blew and Simon's team were clapped off the field as 4 - 2 victors. It had been a hard fought game. Simon had that healthy red glow on his cheeks which he displayed after physical exercise when in top physical condition. Once the formalities were over Simon came across and hugged his boyfriend. The other players whom of course Adam knew came across and said hi! Some even thanked him for coming to support them. Because of their open relationship they all knew why, but that didn't matter. Adam was there and Simon was a popular captain and since he was in school uniform they said they would smuggle him into tea as a reserve. Philip acquiesced to going into the tea for parents and visitors alone, but it didn't worry him as he knew most of the parents anyway from his close support of the hockey and rugby teams, and in any case even his own sons did not know that his company secretly sponsored the two teams with money that contributed towards kit and team transport.

After tea Simon dutifully accompanied his team back to school on the coach and Philip and Adam picked him up there. The car journeys gave Philip the opportunity of getting to know Adam better. After the lapse of all this time he would encourage him to talk about his family life, particularly about his mother and natural father. He had no worries about the relationship between Adam and Simon. He couldn't have asked for two better adjusted boys and all the time they were cheerful and courteous about the house, hardworking at school, he could easily turn a blind eye to the sexual side of their relationship, encouraged probably by the fact that their closer friends were also gay and in active relationships. He drew great strength from the Carltons and Legges and was grateful for their friendship. Now approaching two years after the passing of his wife, Philip himself was on the threshold of romantic involvement. He was heartened to hear that his boys were aware and particularly Simon had no objections. Adam did not go as far as saying 'How could we when you tolerate, even encourage our relationship?', but that was the subtext of the tête-à-tête in the car.

Once they had picked up Simon, Adam could give him the full lowdown on his race and selection.

Back at home they were greeted by Brabazon who was relieved of the duty of feeding the two boys that evening.

"Just leave one of your cold collations for me and something for the boys to snack from, should they become peckish, Brabazon, and take the rest of the evening off."

"Thank you, Mr Philip."

"And I believe Mrs Green is on duty tomorrow?"

"That is correct, sir."

"By the way I shall be working in town until Friday and leaving Sunday evening. And boys, before you settle down, there is one abandoned hound who would appreciate a walk before it gets dark."

"Come on, Lucy. Walkies," said Simon.

"I'd get changed out of school uniform first, if I were you," said Philip. After a quick change the boys took her to the park and lake, but after the strains and stresses of the day, they declined the incline to the wishing well.

The arrival of March meant that the boys only had three weeks left at school before breaking up for the Easter holidays. Despite the attractions of hockey and cross-country the Spring term was always the dismal one with little else to cheer it up. At least they were now going to school and coming home in the light. There would be a major school production, either a play or a musical drama, at the end, but the boys had opted not to audition for they felt fully committed already.

Wednesday arrived. Before they went off to school, Simon said

"Hey, Adam, can I borrow your white rugby shorts for the trials?"

"Which ones?"

"The ones with the short but flared legs, the French ones. You never know. It might impress someone."

"Yeah, I'll fetch them for you. And while you're at it, wear your dance belt rather than a jock. If you're showing off your arse it will look more elegant and in those shorts it won't affect your package. In fact it might show it off better if someone's looking up your shorts."

"As they do."

"As we do," countered Adam.

Simon was taken off for the county trials with two of his teammates in a school minibus by one of his hockey masters. They took place in the south of the county. It was an interesting day. Simon was a good hockey player by any standards, but so were the boys from the other schools and he realised that it was not going to be a push over. After an exhausting day he learnt that he had been selected for the county training squad which would meet in ten days' time on a Sunday. His fellows from school were not selected and being in the squad was not the same as being in the team and gaining a county cap. Adam still gave him a hug when he arrived back at school just in time to cycle home. Once they were home Simon telephoned his father. While not exactly banned, mobile phones were not encouraged at school and one of the crimes that attracted the greatest opprobrium was to have one go off in a lesson, not only because of the disturbance, but more for the stupidity of the owner in not turning it off. Adam and Simon felt their iPhones were far too valuable to take to school, or even to sports trials, because of the risk that they might 'go missing'. Over dinner in the kitchen Simon told Adam and Brabazon about his adventures at the trials, while Adam filled Simon in about what he had missed at school, which was in fact very little. Adam had completed the cross-country course in his best time yet, but otherwise he had missed Simon. He acknowledged how socially dependent they had become, which had led to a little gentle mickey-taking when the Cockatoo Club convened at lunch, to the point where a place was set and left empty in memory of absent boyfriends. When Brabazon wasn't listening, Adam mentioned that he thought Sam Welham was getting hotter and even going as far as tarting.

"But he's in a relationship," objected Simon."

"Ugh, do you have to use that phrase?" said Adam. "It sounds like the worst kind of PHSE jargon. Anyway you can see for yourself tomorrow, Si. See whether he does it to you."

"If it goes on, we might have to invite him here for the weekend and sort him out."

"I wouldn't object, and by the way we did," said Adam. "Do a sort of 'Owen Cache' on him, 'relationship' or not."

The boys went off to the sitting room to zap through the TV channels.

"Adam, I couldn't tell you in front of Brabazon, but I really disgraced myself in the changing room afterwards today."

"You didn't come off in the showers, did you?"

"Almost as bad. I was changing next to this stud, very much like Ben, small in height, thickset, all muscle, flat stomach. He was obviously checking me out as well. Then I saw his equipment - his dick had to be seen to be believed. Not so long as Tony's, but even chunkier than yours and..."

"Yees?"

"He was circumcised - neatly, not like some, hatchet jobs, and behind it, loose, but not what I would call low hangers, balls the size of chicken's eggs. I completely lost it and popped this really hard boner. 'I gather you like me,' he said. 'Do you want to feel them?' And were they heavy. Anyway, we went and showered together and I could see we were both getting looks - admiring looks at that. I turned the cold water onto my dick, which dealt with that, and we got chatting. His name is Oscar. Evidently we're playing his school on Saturday week, so you can see him if you're there. And he got into the squad as well."

They couldn't find anything they liked on the television.

"Do you know what?" said Simon. "I'm going to take a good long hot bath to relax my muscles..."

"And that rampant dick of yours."

"Ah, that's what I wanted to talk to you about. Then some deep penetration, some real ball-slapping stuff."

"In that case I'm off for an enema while you're in the bath because if you're going to do that, I want you to rim me, both before and after."

"It's really turned out to be my lucky day," said Simon.

"And I promise I won't fart in your face."

"I love you so much I wouldn't care if you did."

There was a gentle cough at the door. It was Brabazon.

"Master Simon, Master Adam, there's a hound in the kitchen that wouldn't object to being exercised before you retire for the night."

Time passed quickly as time always does when you're busy. Adam and Simon's concentration alternated from schoolwork to their personal sporting goals, to their love and affection for one another and to their mutual attraction to other boys. For it must never be forgotten that while this account of two young men's shared lives rarely dwells on the work they performed in class, there was strict reinforcement both from Philip at home and their masters at school to produce academic results. No one ever denied that that was the first purpose of school, including the boys themselves. The unique division of labour devised by their school laid emphasis on the importance of the academic side in so far as it was sacrosanct in the morning and the one and a half hours of prep, or homework, in the late afternoon. While the philosophy stated that every boy was expected to achieve academically, otherwise their parents were advised that perhaps their sons were not attending the right school, the activities offered in the afternoon were wide and there was something to appeal to each pupil, the emphasis given to sporting activities and the development of the physique where our boys were concerned could leave the impression that the first priority of the school was indeed sport. This could not be further from the truth. As far as our two were concerned dance extended them culturally as well as physically, but if we had time talk to the other characters we have met in the story, particularly the close friends of Simon and Adam, we would immediately realise the width of opportunities offered.

Adam and Simon realised too that they were making little progress or contribution towards the aims of the Cockatoo Club, but once the Summer term arrived they would have more time to relax physically and spend more time supporting any gay boy in need of help. The fact that the Club still met over lunch, had become as it were an unofficial institution within the school, was a testimony to its serious intention and the depth represented by the other members who did carry on its work without the direct intervention of our two. But let us return to our moutons and fast forward ten days to the last Saturday of term.

Things worked out for Simon and Adam. In the morning it was the last match of the season for Simon's U15 hockey XI and in the afternoon it was the last school cross-country fixture for Adam, both at home. Philip realised that he would be spending all of his Saturday at school, sacrificing his round of golf, something he did with pleasure given the circumstances, knowing he would be in Adam's company in the morning and Simon's in the afternoon. Also a cross-country competition had the advantage of being over in less than an hour.

That Saturday morning turned out to be a beautiful early spring day, noticeably warm after the winter cold. Simon had an 11 am push-off and this was the match against Oscar's school, the Oscar whom Simon had met at the county trials. When the away teams' coach arrived the dutiful captain welcomed the U15 XI and immediately made contact with Oscar, chatting with him on the way to the changing rooms. The junior matches were at nine forty-five, the seniors at eleven to stagger the use of the pitches. When the match began Simon found he was being marked by Oscar. It was the clash of the Titans, neither giving any quarter for it became a personal battle for supremacy. The skills were equal, Simon's fitness slightly better. On the touchline Adam immediately picked out Oscar from the others. He pointed him out to Philip. He understood Simon's feelings and had to meet him himself after the match. He was a star. The match ended with a 1- 1 draw, ironically the goals being scored by Simon and Oscar. Honours were even.

After the match Adam said he was going into lunch with the team. He wouldn't be eating anything, apart from Brabazon's banana sandwiches, because he had to run in the afternoon. He went off to the changing rooms. He didn't say that it was because he wanted to meet Oscar, but Philip was nobody's fool. The teams lined up in the dining hall for their steak and kidney pie, baked beans and chips. Adam held back until Simon took Oscar over to the Cockatoo Club's table. The meal over Simon said

"Oscar, I know a quiet place. Sure you're okay with it?" Oscar and Simon stacked their trays on the trolley and Adam followed them back to the changing rooms now vacated, but left unlocked for the cross-country runners. Adam locked the door from inside and checked that everyone else was gone. Hulka69's rule came into play. Simon pushed Oscar gently against the wall and kissed him while feeling him up and unbuckling his belt. He had an erection, he knew he was his! The sweet surrender he called it! Simon dropped his own trousers and slip.

"Oscar, it's all yours. Wank it or suck it." He came quickly despite the previous night and the morning's activity. "Your turn now. Adam." Adam swiftly undid the clip on Oscar's trousers and unzipped them. His boner was distorting his boxers. Adam pulled them out over the protuberance and let them drop to the floor. Just as Simon had described. Absolutely beautiful. Adam dropped on his knees and took it into his mouth. No time to be wasted. He quickly brought Oscar off, swallowed his cum and licked his dick clean. A professional job. It returned to its flaccid size and for a cut dick it was so attractive.

"My turn now," said Adam, undid his belt in no time, pulled his zip down and let his pants follow his trousers to the floor. Oscar chose to wank him off. It was all over in a couple of minutes. Simon had already got the mop from the cleaners' cupboard to wipe the floor over. The boys dressed themselves and in less than ten minutes returned to the dining hall. As they passed the staff table, Simon said

"Just showing Oscar where the toilets are," and smiled.

"It's great to see the teams mixing," they heard Simon's hockey master say as they walked back to their table.

Simon carried out his duty of seeing the team off on the coach and he and Adam went to find Philip. They sat out on a bench until it was time for Adam to meet with the rest of his team.

A cross-country fixture requires a lot of organisation. First the markers had to be placed in position. There were three other schools, each with a Senior, U16 and U14 team of six. At Adam's school the arrangement was that they ran the same course at the same time. To differentiate the age groups the runners were given a coloured label to pin to their vests and three clearly marked funnels were set up. Adam changed with Sam Welham. The wank he'd had from Oscar hadn't calmed him down. He did get nervy before an official race and he had to use all his will power not to get too aroused over Sam. They warmed up together. He spotted the boy who had beaten him in the county trials, but Adam was on home ground. He knew how to pace himself. He'd speak to him after the race. The competitors were called to the start. They were off. Adam had forgotten his nerves and his horniness. He was away up with the Seniors and his rival. He got over the stile, always a bottleneck, and out onto the open fields. He was away. He was fitter than at the trials. He knew the time he was capable of. He was in front. He didn't have to look behind. His body was working well.

Back at the finish Philip and Simon were kicking their heels. Simon got volunteered to hand out the tickets at the end of the race. He looked at his watch. He knew Adam's time.

"Five minutes to go, Dad. I'm off to the U14s' funnel." He'd hardly got there when the first runner came into sight. Everybody was expecting it to be a Senior, but no. He could easily see it was Adam. He jumped up and down with excitement and cheered him on. Adam ran into the U16 funnel and crossed the line. He was not even exhausted. He handed his ticket into the recorder. A minute later the first senior came into view. Simon had to stay at his post, though he wanted to give Adam a big hug, which Philip did for him. It gave Adam some satisfaction when his rival separated himself from the bunch of Seniors to cross the line and receive the number two ticket. He hadn't even realised that there was an U16 runner head of him. Adam went to shake his hand, but remembering what had happened at the trials, hugged him and got the same reaction.

Adam had a lonely day on Sunday. He sat in the car while Philip drove Simon off to county squad training and when he drove him back. There was no point staying. There was nothing to see and they would have been in the way. When they returned they knew the outcome before being told when they saw Simon and Oscar grinning from ear to ear. They were both in. They would be away for two days at Oxford in the Easter holidays and play three matches.

Tuesday evening the van den Bergs and Legges attended the school production of Westside Story. Great fun and the cast were obviously enjoying themselves. Friday at one school broke up for the Easter holidays. The boys returned home and apart from taking Lucy for walkies they had a lazy afternoon. The following day Adam had county cross-country.

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