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You are here: Home > Story Shelf > All Authors > N Fourbois > N Fourbois | Special Friendships, Part Three

Special Friendships

(English Version)

by N Fourbois

PART THREE

And so over a year had passed since Marc and Elly's wedding and the significant events of the stagnight. Lewis and Ben were now hoping they could settle down to a fortnight of relative peace until the beginning of their respective terms and with them the first posts of their careers. However, it was not to be so. On the Monday morning Lewis received news that his flat had been sold, more or less at the price he had asked, but the couple now had to hurry up to Scotland to arrange for the removal of Lewis' belongings to Cambridge. That took a few days, but then he had to hand over the keys to the estate agent and beat the removal van to reach the Nook before it did. Some of his furniture fitted nicely into his floor or the communal ground floor. Other items had to be stored in the garage until he could arrange for their sale. Most important his model railway could be set up in the loft although it would be the Christmas holidays before any attempt was made at that. With the receipt of funds from the flat he could offer his partner a substantial sum towards the cost of buying the Nook. Not only did that put their relationship on a more equitable financial footing, but it had tax advantages as well. It also enabled Lewis to buy a car which he needed for school and gave him some financial independence over and above his salary.

In the meantime the twins had been as good as their word. The portraits had been photographed and duly processed on the computer and they had presumably known what Ben and Lewis were looking for, as they would not have produced better themselves, had Ben been supervising the shoot with his professional knowledge. Lewis and Ben received identical packs with individual exposures of Jack and Ted in the agreed sports gear and retaken with them together, plus a CD-ROM of the prints. There were also additional shots which no less attracted their attention. Equally Seb had enabled them to keep their part of the bargain by previously supplying the bodysocks in their chosen colours and they too had made due appearance in the folios.

However, before school began in September there was to be one occasion into which, it later became clear, the twins had manipulated their unsuspecting parents when they could claim Ben's and Lewis' undivided and undisturbed attention.

Christina Batty appeared on the doorstep of the Nook one morning and was readily invited in for coffee. She obviously felt some embarrassment at the request she was about to make, if only because the neighbours had known each other for such little time. Phil and Christina had a short time ago arranged a long weekend away without the boys who were to be left in the charge of her sister and family. Unfortunately her sister had broken her leg and they did not feel it was fair to impose two fourteen year old boys on her in that state for the bank holiday weekend. Jack and Ted were not backward in coming forward to suggest that they could stay at home and Ben and Lewis might be their babysitters. They'd be perfectly happy with that and if mother didn't ask they certainly would, and they couldn't possibly spoil their parents' weekend away by accompanying them. In any case there was no spare accommodation. Phil and Christina were unable to come up with a better solution either. Our heroes were more than happy to help in any way they could and readily agreed without a thought for the implications. In fact they thought that Christmas and their birthdays had suddenly all come at once. The twins might have to muck in and give them a hand with some jobs about the house and garden, but they were so outgoing and ready to make the best of everything that they readily accepted anything that was provided for them and the Battys insisted they should cover all the expenses the four incurred. Christina promptly called Jack and Ted across from their house and they were sat down in the kitchen while the ground rules were set out by their mother. Lewis and Ben couldn't help smiling to themselves as it became clear that while Christina believed she was in charge, her sons had actually wound her round their little fingers and rather too readily agreed to all the conditions she made. Lewis and Ben agreed despite hardly getting a word in edgeways.

Accordingly on the Friday morning Jack and Ted brought their kit across which they deposited in the spare room in Ben's wing, dutifully waved their parents goodbye as the Mercedes departed down the drive and were now, theoretically at least, in the charge of their brand new nextdoor neighbours who, excited at the prospect, had formed a plan of work and entertainment for the weekend for which they sought and easily gained the agreement of their young charges.

The first thing that sprang to Ben's mind was the impending rugby season. With all the excitement of decorating, moving into the Nook and moving Lewis out of his Glasgow flat personal fitness had gone by the board. So not without an ulterior motive he sent the twins off to change and he was not disappointed when after their return and warming up they took off their tracksuits to reveal the Lycra running suits and Ben was pleased he had decided to wear his, as yet hidden by his unshed tracksuit. It was not entirely coincidental either that Jack had brought the digital camera across with him, and he was certainly ready with it when Ben finally decided he had thoroughly warmed up. The main workout consisted of a run through the lanes and public footpaths and to prevent any monotony Ben had planned a programme of fartlek. The one who needed the most encouragement was Lewis as Ben found even he really had to put in an effort to keep one step ahead of Jack and Ted. On their return and after a short break they got a rugby ball out and practised their routines which had been so successful in gaining them their schoolboy county caps. Lewis volunteered to prepare a snack lunch.

Ben was really impressed with the effort the twins had put into the the whole morning and soon realised that they were out to impress before the real competition for team places began in September. Somewhat recovered from his earlier exertions Lewis came out and used the opportunity for a photo call with Jack's digital camera as well as his own normal one, taking advantage of the good light as the sun approached its meridian.

Finally Lewis called all three in for lunch. The boys went and stuck their heads under the cold tap and, disappointingly, put their tracksuits back on. Over the lunch table in the kitchen they discussed the arrangements for the weekend. Lewis had made sure that there was copious iced water on the table to compensate for the morning's dehydration. This afternoon work had to be done and although Lewis and Ben made it clear throughout that Jack and Ted were free to come and go as they wished and do whatever they wanted the twins enthusiastically offered to join in with whatever was going on. First job after lunch was the Sainsbury's run. After that the grass had to be mowed and immediately Ted offered their family's brand new sit-on motor mower and they would cut the lawns for both houses. In the evening it would be dinner and relaxation, television or a video. On Saturday Ben and Lewis thought they might try the new leisure centre and country club that had recently opened at which Jack broke in and said that they had been given a year's premier membership as a birthday present and that they could each sign a guest in free for a day as part of the deal. Then Ted said "What are we doing in the evening?"
"Nothing in particular," replied Lewis.
"Why?"
"Well. we'd like to cook you a meal," said Jack.
"We're quite good actually," said Ted.
"Though we ought not to say it ourselves," completed Jack.
"And what about Sunday?" they enquired in unison.
"Well again you don't have to do this, but as we told your mother we've had a family day organised for rather a long time, but we can work round it," said Ben.
"Will Seb be there?" asked Jack.
"I imagine so," answered Ben. Their faces lit up
"We're on," said Ted.
"We have a little unfinished business still to transact," said Jack. Lewis and Ben looked puzzled, but made no enquiries. They thought it might concern bodysocks.
"By the way," said Ben, "you might find this strange, but we've made the arrangement that all the men wear 501s."
"We do things like that," explained Lewis.
"It's a form of corporate identity and without you might end up paying for the drinks."
"We're too young," piped up Jack.
"Since we met you we've found nothing strange," said Ted.
"Wouldn't wear any other jeans," said Jack.
"Haven't you seen us in ours?" said Ted.
"Knowing you two you'd have noticed," said Jack and the twins winked at one another.
"Then on Monday," said Lewis with emphasis and a cough before the conversation got out of hand we thought of the Duxford air display."
"Sounds good to us," retorted Jack and Ted.

As good as their word Jack and Ted helped with the shopping at the supermarket. Ben invited them to put whatever they wanted into the trolley as they would need things for their Saturday night cooking adventure. On their return to the Nook they took charge of mowing the grass and while on the motor-mower they covered the two gardens. Meanwhile Lewis and Ben did the laborious part of cutting the edges. At the end of a warm afternoon Ben organised cold drinks and Lewis arranged the garden furniture on the patio and they sat back sunning themselves to get the last touches of a tan before autumn set in.

Finally it was time to cook and the twins disappeared over to their own house for an hour. On their return our boys' pleasure was enhanced to see that they were sporting the new bodysocks that Seb had procured for them, both in turquoise blue which certainly suited their eyes and complexion. The suits fitted perfectly over their packets and buttocks and Lewis and Ben found it essential in order to honour the occasion to change into theirs.

On their return Jack said
"Ben, as a professional, you know about this sort of thing."
"What's that?"
"Are you supposed to wear a jockstrap with these?"
"I would in public to guard against the unpredictable stiffy," said Ben, "but in private it's up to you. Whatever you feel comfortable with."
"Well, we're not in public at the moment, are we?" said Jack.
"And we're not wearing one anyway. So it doesn't matter really, does it?" added Ted with a smile and an air of defiance towards his brother.
"We've noticed," chimed in Lewis smiling.
"And we've got no criticism whatsoever, either," commented Ben, also with a smile, or rather a grin.
"We love you the way you are," said Lewis provocatively.
"But," continued Ben, "if you do, you ought to wear one of those dancer's jockstraps, dance belts they're called, the ones with the single strap that goes up your crevice". The twins' eyes lit up.
"We haven't tried one of those."
"You can get them in Cambridge at Pate's, but they do tend to flatten out your packet rather than enhance it.." Ted's face fell, Jack's lit up.
"It won't make any difference to us with our packets," he said.
"Pate's is where you got yours, then?" said Ted cheekily, eying up the pair with a critical mien and making those measuring gestures with his thumb that artists do when they are sizing up perspective.
"We're not wearing one, eith...." Lewis' voice trailed off as he realised the verbal trap he had fallen into. All four laughed heartily. Ben and Lewis loved the banter and were quite prepared to take it as they were to give it.
"Photo calls apart it's the first chance we've had to wear them," said Jack as they both felt the the admiring glances made towards them.
"Just feel the material," added Ted, seeing how far they could go, and both Ben and Lewis took this as permission to pat and stroke their bottoms, which, forgetting for the moment that the twins were only fourteen, they found satisfyingly firm. Ben enquired whether they were allowed to drink wine at home and upon an affirmative opened a bottle of claret and set four glasses on the dining-room table.

The four were happy to sit and chat over the meal. Somehow the conversation strayed onto checking out guys' packets and Ben explained how the twins could enhance theirs, especially in their bodysocks. He described the modelling techniques with trainer laces and cock rings. Indeed he gave them a couple of spare leather and velcro ones he had and while he and Lewis were making the coffee the twins used the time alone to help each other peel their bodysocks, apply the leather straps and replace the bodysocks. They agreed it was a strange sensation at first, but not a disagreeable one, but they would have to wait before being able to admire themselves in a mirror.

Lewis and Ben reminisced over the story of how they had become so friendly with the Batty family (for 'family' read 'twins') and as the wine had in fact loosened the twins' tongues Ben took this as an opportunity to satisfy his curiosity.
"Well, Jack and Ted, you know the story from our point of view. Let's hear it from yours."
"Oh, that's easy," said Ted.
"As you said, it was built on a series of happy coincidences," continued Jack. "Let's go back to the beginning, that maths class at the comp. There you were, Ben, among the visitors. I could hardly believe my eyes. So I turned to Ted and said 'Isn't that the bloke in Stud, you know the one in the Lynx advert?'"
"'You should know. You've got it on your poster board,' I replied. 'He's amazing,' you said." Then Jack continued.
"I had butterflies in my stomach and then I noticed that you were looking at us. You weren't paying the least bit of attention to the lesson. Okay, we weren't either, and when we made eye contact you smiled." Ben blushed. "That's when we decided we would chat you up at the end of the lesson and I was going write a note and slip it into your pocket." Ted took up the story.
"We just loved it afterwards and we knew you fancied us, as well. Anyway, that was the end of it until we received the photos. You didn't put your address inside. So we couldn't thank you and all we found out after was that you were in a group from the University Department of Education."

Jack took over.
"And that was it until that time on the station in the Easter holidays. From the way you hugged each other we knew you were either brothers or 'partners' and you don't look like brothers. I went weak at the knees to see you again, Ben, and Ted went weak at the knees when he saw you, Lewis, and from the conversation we knew you were interested for a start."
"We've always had people chatting us up," said Ted.
"Especially at the rugby club," interrupted Jack.
"But you were the first guys we ever felt like chatting up. When we told you we had changed schools and you said you were teaching at our new one, we couldn't believe our luck."
"So that's when we started planning, not all at once, but over a period. First of all the kit. After that there was never any doubt you fancied us. Then we worked on the shower. Neither of you ever came to supervise us in the showers and now we know why. So we had to try something else and it didn't take long to realise that you always did some sort of fitness after the lesson before coming back to the pavilion to shower and get changed yourselves. It was so routine." Jack let Ted continue.
"It was easy enough to hide, both ourselves and our kit. You thought everyone had gone home - you even checked. We waited until we saw you coming back, stripped off quickly and hid in the showers until you'd gone into the staff changing room when we switched on the showers and you found us. You didn't have your towels with you, so we were on equal terms, as it were, and did your eyes pop out of your heads!"
"Mind you, ours did as well," said Jack. "We also sent you some holiday snaps through the school post. Objective achieved. School went on smoothly until you left, but the news that you at least, Ben, would be back in September, plus you were to be our rugby master really cheered us up."
"But no way could even we have known that Mum and Dad were going to buy the house nextdoor to yours and now we're neighbours."
"Friends," contradicted Jack.
"Family friends," countered Ted. Ben and Lewis raised their eyebrows in pleasant surprise, but said nothing.

Finally it was time to clear away which the twins joined in with and they spent the rest of the evening all four sat cosily on the settee in front of the television, obviously enjoying the closeness of their bodies enwrapped as they were in Lycra. At eleven they climbed the stairs after a strenuous day. Ben was sleeping in Lewis' room lest any of the things that go bonk in the night should cause a disturbance.

II

Saturday turned out to be a great success. With hindsight it was obvious that the twins had between them organised the events while wisely giving the impression that Ben and Lewis were in charge. Everyone was down to breakfast by half past seven and shortly after eight they were loading bags of sports equipment and personal kit into Ben's car.

When they arrived, our two young men were, since it was their first visit, visibly impressed with the set-up. The concern was divided into three parts. The twins signed their guests in at the leisure centre. They had their photo taken and within five minutes were each issued with a go-anywhere do-anything day pass and a locker key. The leisure centre was the usual windowless building one would normally expect, while connected to it by a glass passageway was the country club which was set out as a hotel. It contained bars, lounges, a restaurant, a self-service cafeteria, two conference rooms, even a hairdresser's and shop, each marked with the expected dress code. In fact on the top floor were hotel rooms. Outside as well as an eighteen hole golf course were tennis courts, cricket nets with a bowling machine and swimming pool, more for recreation than the more serious indoor pool.

The four started in the fitness room as a warm-up and it was clear why Jack and Ted at so tender an age had such well defined sixpacks. After that they split, the twins to play squash, Ben and Lewis to play badminton. At eleven they met in one of the bars and after liquid refreshment went off to the skating rink. Lewis remarked to Ben that neither lad gave any quarter or performed any task half-heartedly and Ben was impressed with the way they dressed in the appropriate immaculate kit for each activity. As all four were beginning to feel the effects of their efforts, they went off to the cafeteria dressed in their tracksuits for a long lunch break which ended with their reading the papers in the scruff lounge. They discussed the afternoon programme - tennis followed by the swimming pool, followed by what the twins called a particular treat to end with, but would then say no more.

Ben and Lewis mused over their relationship with the twins. It was less than six months since they had met and since then a strange sequence of coincidences had occurred to form a relationship which had transcended the normal pupil-teacher relationship and they were fast becoming firm family friends without overstepping the bounds of unacceptable familiarity. Ben wondered how he would fare with them at school next term, but their track record had given him nothing to worry about so far.

On the tennis court they split to make a more even game. Had Ben and Lewis performed the impossible? 'We are after all the Atomic Twins - we're difficult to split,' echoed in their minds. 'Anatomic twins - now that's far more interesting,' thought Lewis, but kept the thought to himself. Ben naturally partnered Jack while Ted willingly played with Lewis and it was a hard fought game with the set going 7-6, 7-7 and so on until they had to play a tiebreaker to keep within their allotted time with Ben and Jack finally gaining the victory.

Then off to the indoor swimming pool. As they had the changing room to themselves the twins inaugurated a posing competition, not so much to show themselves off, but as a prelude to what was to come. In the pool they chased one another up and down the chutes, ducked each other and took full advantage of the wave machine. Exhausted they left the pool and dried themselves and as Jack wrapped a towel round his naked body he said
"And now off to the sauna!" Likewise clad in nothing but a towel all four went off to the sauna which they found empty. They discarded their towels and disported themselves on the benches, too tired to talk, just relaxing after their physically demanding day. Halfway between waking and dreaming Ben's thoughts went back to that fateful time after squash when alone in the shower with Lewis he was unable to disguise his passion. That had been the culmination of the getting to know Lewis process, caused by a lust he could no longer suppress. Fortunately it led Lewis on. It could have gone so disastrously wrong, but he took it as a compliment and in his dream Ben relived the moment until he woke up with a start realising that it was no longer a dream, but reality. As he opened his eyes he expected to be the object of everyone's amusement, the butt of jokes. Yes, all three were obviously entertained, but it was nothing new for Lewis anyway. However, there was no cause for superiority as he had led the way and the other three were all in the same state and yet no one was embarrassed, except perhaps Ben himself who dearly wanting to relieve his passion by his own hand could only banish the thought by replacing it with a desire to give Jack a hand. And from the look on Jack's face his thoughts were not dissimilar. They simultaneously all burst out laughing which released the tension. At least they were all on an equal footing with nothing to hide.

Ted announced that it was time for the last activity and he led them through the cold shower which killed off any remnant of passion, out of the sauna picking up their towels, past the changing room where all their gear was, following a sign marked Jacuzzi. Again they shed their towels and jumped in and once the bubbles flowed so the giggling began and they relaxed again. After a thoroughly enjoyable day they dressed, handed in their locker keys and passes and climbed into the car for the journey home.

---oo0oo---

Once there Lewis set up some cold drinks in the garden and they sat and chatted about the day's events until Ted said
"If we're cooking supper tonight, it's time we got started." At that Jack jumped up, asked their babysitters to give them a brief guide of the kitchen and then banished them upstairs or into the garden until supper was ready, probably in an hour's time, prisoners in their own home. Neither could deny being exhausted, although their tiredness was accompanied by that self-righteous feeling that comes after physical effort. So they slipped upstairs to Lewis' room, set the alarm clock, divested themselves of their sports clothes and lay on the bed dozing in each other's arms. The alarm did its work. They showered together and without bothering to dress again Ben made his way naked across to his wing, towel and dirty clothes in a linen bag, just as Jack came out of the twins' room before looking for their hosts in order to announce that dinner would be served in ten minutes. There was no embarrassment whatsoever. Admiration, yes, adoration, maybe, envy not in the slightest for Ben and Jack matched up very well in their physiques and Jack had the temerity to slap Ben on his bare bottom as he left to go downstairs again. While dressing he thought how lucky he was to share his affection with Lewis, but also realised that neither was he left entirely untouched by Jack. Phrases like 'the sort of son I would like to have' and the transparent 'I'd like to marry sister' ran through his mind and in conclusion he came to appreciate his brother's situation where he had openly fallen in love with two people at the same time. His eyes fell on his signet ring and he instantly reaffirmed to himself his commitment to Lewis. As a by the by it dawned on him that it was too easy to forget just how young the twins in fact were especially as he and Lewis had really accepted them as contemporaries.

When he went downstairs Lewis was already in the sitting room enjoying a glass of sherry. One had been poured for Ben. Within minutes Jack and Ted invited their hosts to take their places in the dining room and acting the part they held their chairs as they took their seats. If it had not been obvious before it became so today that Jack always attached himself to Ben while Ted attended on Lewis. It had been the twins' choice, but it certainly suited them. On the table already served were bowls of Mediterranean tomato soup complete with basil leaves. They must have raided their mother's larder while Ben and Lewis were upstairs. This was followed by poached salmon cutlets in a sauce accompanied by boiled new potatoes and a mixed salad.
"We've taken the liberty of opening a bottle of wine," said Jack as he filled the four glasses on the table with a German Mosel. To finish a fresh fruit salad and assorted cheeses were offered and from the variety compared with the previous day's shopping Lewis and Ben not only deduced that they had in fact raided the larder at home, but that Christina had connived before going away in the provision of ingredients and it would have been a great disappointment, had they refused the twins' offer of playing chef. And to boot they could not fault the quality of either the production or the presentation. Was there no end to these lads' gifts?

The evening had been most civilised and over coffee Ben and Lewis extolled Jack and Ted and expressed their gratitude for their efforts. With tongues loosened by the bottle of Mosel the conversation ranged over various topics from their early life. The twins talked about the difference the lottery win had made to their lives, Ben talked about Buckton College, the prep school where he had taught for a year and perhaps what was most fascinating for the twins the interrelationships of his family. They asked about Marc and Seb in particular. Lewis also talked about his schooldays and coming out when he was fourteen. The boxer-brief argument was given an airing in a way that only Jack and Ted could air it.
"Do you say all this to your Mum and Dad when they buy you clothes?" asked Ben.
"Do we ever!" said Ted.
"We get a clothes allowance and we buy our own usually. Okay, Mum or Dad will come with us if we're getting something big or formal like a suit or school uniform," said Jack.
"But everyday things we get ourselves, some of it off the internet," finished Ted.
"We also get stuff when we're on holiday in America."
"It's different..."
"... and cooler, and what costs a pound here costs a dollar there, so we can get more for our allowance."

The conversation continued in similar vein and our heroes felt they had been regally entertained by the twins. Furthermore when they went to do the washing up they found that it had already been done.
"Nothing is too much trouble for you, sirs," they said in unison and with a bow, but despite the irony in the word 'sirs' it was a remark made with obvious genuine feeling.

Despite coffee, the exertions of the day finally overcame them and soon all four made their weary ways up to bed.

III

Since they had been living at Oddstones Marc, Elly and Seb would attend the parish church each Sunday and now Ben and Lewis were resident in the village they joined the extended family. They were admittedly surprised when Jack and Ted asked if they might join them and even more surprised when they got themselves up early, disappeared back home and returned wearing very smart dark suits. They looked so grown up and handsome. The villagers in general supported their church very well and in sufficient numbers to retain their own priest who had been at the church more years than many of the congregation could remember which led to the fear that when he finally retired they might well have to share whoever was available and 'whoever' would more than likely be of the modern tradition and, dare one say, happy-clappy, or even worse a woman. The family preferred the early service for the rector with full support of his churchwardens had resisted calls to modernise that service and week upon week it would be read from the Book of Common Prayer.

The family always walked from home to the church unless the weather was particular inclement and their timing was such that the Oddstones group and the Nook contingent converged on the lychgate from opposite ends of the village at the same time. Self-indulgence led to a communal family hug and the twins were not to be left out. Had anyone been looking they would have noticed the particularly warm and tight embrace between them and Seb, but no one was looking. During the service the twins sandwiched Seb between them, both in their pew and when they went up to take communion. On the way out the rector enquired after Jack and Ted's parents and they explained that they were away for the weekend, something about a second honeymoon to celebrate their wedding anniversary.

When the extended family was leaving, the first autumnal mist was lifting as the sun gained height and ever armed with their digital camera the twins asked for a group photograph which Elly readily volunteered to take so that she could avoid being in it. Eventually the party split up. From the gossiping a bystander might not be blamed for thinking they had been parted for months. With calls of "See you later" and another hug between Seb and the twins they made their separate ways home to breakfast.

At the Nook breakfast was a leisurely affair aided by the Sunday papers, but eventually Jack and Ted disappeared over to their house to download the camera as they wanted to take some prints along with them to Oddstones. Later they were to be seen in the garden practising their rugby passing and promptly at half past eleven they returned dressed in the regulation 501s ready for the walk to Oddstones. Admittedly they thought they were having their leg pulled, but had decided to play along. However, Lewis and Ben had changed into theirs and on their arrival they discovered that with one exception all the males had played the game, that exception being Tony whom no one had remembered to tell. (Exempt on grounds of age, everyone joked.) Margaret, Jessica and Adam were also there by now. The only family missing were Marc, Jessica and Ben's parents who found the journey too much for just one day, especially on a bank holiday weekend, and had declined the invitation.

The temperature had risen with the sun and the three ladies had worked hard to lay lunch al fresco in a shaded part of the garden. Marc and Seb busied themselves ensuring that everyone was fully supplied with liquid refreshment. After the housewarming at the Nook Ted and Jack were no strangers and everyone went out of their way to ensure they were fully integrated and entertained to the point where they were successfully separated without the need for a surgical operation, but when lunch was served they closed in from opposite ends of the garden to ensure that at table they had Seb sitting between them and from his face you could see that Seb was thoroughly relishing their company. The photographs had been duly produced to general approval, but Jack was still carefully guarding another envelope under the table. Conversation was lively over the traditional roast, pork on this occasion, and the meal easily lasted two hours before the family rose from table. Another family tradition, the menfolk cleared away and loaded and unloaded the dishwasher. This now included Lewis of course - privileges had their corresponding duties - but not the twins who were still considered guests. Strangely, though, after carrying dirty crockery and cutlery through to the kitchen from the garden Seb was nowhere to be seen and that was unlike him. Still they had more than enough to help with the tendency to get in each other's way. After that it was relaxation in the garden for the men or the sitting room for the women who could discuss babies to their hearts' content, and an after-dinner nap was also in order.

Five o'clock and time for tea. The ladies dutifully got up to enquire after the wishes of their menfolk. Elly returned to the garden to ask Lewis if he had seen Jack and Ted and only then did he realise he hadn't seen or heard them all afternoon. He went inside to ask Ben and they duly made their way to the kitchen to report when they heard an almighty racket on the stairs as three bodies bounced their way down ignoring the odd step and chatting nineteen to the dozen. It was the twins and Seb. Each of their faces had the look of the cat who'd got the cream and Jack was no longer guarding that envelope. Ben's sharp mind immediately flashed back to the evening of Marc and Elly's wedding day feeding him the idea that the twins had finally succeeded where he had failed. Not that it mattered to him now and they had certainly made no secret of working hard for it. Still he mustn't jump to conclusions.

Tea was served on the patio and everyone sat around and chatted until Jack asked if he could take some more snaps to finish the film off - not bad for a digital camera! Without further ado he organised everyone into various groups and clicked away or organised someone else to, while he joined this group or that. When the tea things were cleared away it signalled a natural end to the lunch party and two by two everyone took their leave. Ben, Lewis, Jack and Ted were the last, mainly as the twins were still talking to Seb. As they parted the passion of the hug had not diminished from the morning after church and Ben smiled to himself. He had to confess to some professional jealousy. On the way home he asked the twins whether they had enjoyed themselves. They had.
"Where did you disappear to this afternoon?"
"Oh. we were up in Seb's apartment." He knew he would get no further than that. There was no use trying. But he wasn't deflected from his theory either when five minutes later Ted casually said
"Seb might be able to fix us up with his friend from your modelling agency." They arrived home and spent the rest of the evening in a heated game of Scrabble until bedtime.

IV

The following day spent at Duxford turned out to be most entertaining for our four young men. The Battle of Britain flight had managed to muster all the few remaining airworthy Spitfires and Hurricanes which formed up in a flypast. Even when there was no flying the fringe entertainments kept them occupied. The worst aspect of the excursion was the traffic in the evening and it was eight o'clock before they finally arrived back at the Nook.

Cooking that evening was out of the question, so they quickly showered and changed and walked to the village inn for dinner. The sky glowed in the west for the evenings were fast drawing in. They all felt that incandescent warmth that comes after a day in the sun. Conversation was subdued, even from the twins, for no other reason than that the weekend had scarcely been restful and that its exertions were catching up even on them. Over dinner Ben bought them each a beer. He knew from experience it would get them talking and he wasn't wrong.

"How do you get on with Seb?" he blandly asked in his ingenuous way.
"Great," they replied together.
"It's odd because he acts like he's our big brother," said Ted. "He tells us funny stories and over the years he's been there, seen it, done it and he feeds in advice without being pushy."
"What were you talking about for so long yesterday afternoon? We wondered where you'd got to."
"Oh, stuff. He's got a such fund of stories."
"And the people he's met through his work."
"We gave him some of our photos because of the possibility of doing some modelling like you, Ben."
"He also showed us his collection of jockstraps," said Jack warming to his subject, "and he let us try some on." Lewis and Ben gave each other a knowing look.
"We'll let you see some pictures," continued Ted.
"There's one of me in David Beckham's," said Jack.
"And one of me in Michael Owen's," added Ted.
"How did he get hold of those?" asked Lewis.
"He's never mentioned them to us," said Ben.
"There was a charity auction advertised on the internet a couple of years ago of famous personalities' clothes and kit. Mainly shirts, shorts, suits, dresses, hats, tracksuits, even trainers and boots and through friends he talked them into thinking there would be little call for jockstraps and persuaded them to come to a private arrangement."
"He's got one of Ian Botham's."
"And Linford Christie's, but even we couldn't do justice to it," said Ted.
"It was much too big round the waist," Jack quickly added, but with little chance of convincing anyone.

"Anyway, that apart, we've decided to invite him to become our unofficial godfather," said Jack.
"We're not quite sure how Mum and Dad are going to take it, but we'll work on that."
"You see, our real godfather died when we were about five.
"He was a conjuror and did magic tricks for us." "And we felt we'd missed out."
"It means he can be a friend of the family like you two are now."

The twins were probably working on their parents over that, as well. Lewis and Ben were getting used to the way one twin would start a sentence and the other would finish it and didn't find it so bewildering now. In fact they'd noticed how they'd begun doing it themselves since they'd been living together.

They went on to discuss many of the other things they had done and could not express their gratitude sufficiently. On the other hand Lewis and Ben praised them for the way they had joined in and made themselves so handy about the house. They had enjoyed their company and would be pleased to babysit for them again should the opportunity arise. Lewis and Ben were dying to discuss the sexual overtones of the weekend, fully aware of the effect the twins had had on them, but could not bring themselves to do so for fear of seeming to encourage them. But in truth while they had responded undeniably positively to the twins' attractiveness and tarting they could honestly say they had not initiated anything despite the many opportunities and temptations.

It was not long after they had finished their meal that they made their way home through the lanes so completely dark that they wished they had brought torches. Once indoors Lewis asked Jack and Ted whether as a special treat and because they had been so responsible they would like to taste one of his available in Scotland only malt whiskies. Again the twins' enterprise won through and he poured them each a measured tot into a glass while pouring an unmeasured one for Ben and himself with the advice to drink just one small sip at a time and savour it before swallowing. In both the first sip caused coughing and spluttering, but the second was savoured and eventually appreciated. However, the overall effect after they had finished was that they both went very red in the face and became giggly as they sprawled over the settee. It was obviously time for bed. Our heroes first took Ted and Jack into the kitchen and insisted they drank a large glass of water, then accompanied them upstairs to their room just to make sure they were safe. They left a tray with two glasses and a large carafe of water on the bedside table and told them if they felt thirsty in the night to drink some water. There is no implication that they were drunk. They were not, just giggly, but our lads didn't want to take any risk with other people's property. Jack and Ted assured Ben and Lewis that were perfectly all right and just wanted to sleep. They wished them good night at which Jack took Ben's hand and stroking his palm with his forefinger drew him towards him, put his arms round his waist, his hands on his buttocks and kissed him good night on the lips. They lingered for a few seconds feeling the contours of each other's body before Jack released him, climbed onto the bed without undressing and immediately fell into a deep sleep.
"He's okay," assured Ted. "He always does this. Passes out on a barmaid's breath. He'll wake up after an hour and I'll help him to get undressed," he said with a knowing smile as he took his shoes off for him. Our lads wished Ted good night, told him not to worry about calling them if he needed to and disappeared downstairs.

"Tomorrow's the 1 September," said Ben once they were seated in the sitting room again. "One week until school begins."
"We'd better get down to some work, I suppose," Lewis replied.
"Still, time for bed, said Zebedee," or rather Ben and they cleared away the glasses, climbed the stairs, undressed and got into bed.
"Good night, Ben," said Lewis.
"Just a moment. I'm afraid Jack started something that's got to be finished," and Ben took Lewis in his arms and gave him a full, hot-blooded good night kiss.

---oo0oo---

"Good morning, everyone," they cheerfully chorused. The twins were down to breakfast the following morning at seven thirty sharp, carrying their bed linen and towels which they put into the washing machine. Ben and Lewis were just putting the final touches to the Daily Telegraph crossword.
"How did you sleep, Jack?"
"Like a log."
"Breakfast?"
"Yes please, I'm starving."
"Bacon, egg, fried bread, mushrooms, baked beans and sausage okay?"
"I could murder them," came the reply as Jack poured himself a bowl of muesli.
"It's all right," said Ted.
"I've told him. He can't remember a thing."
"All I can remember is being downstairs and then the next was I woke up about midnight frozen stiff. Did I really kiss you, Ben?"
"That's right. You did, but I wouldn't call it frozen stiff."
"Damn shame I can't remember. Must catch you another time," and by now he was heartily tucking into his full fry.
"Obviously no harm done," added Lewis.

Breakfast over the twins collected their things together and with hearty thanks they disappeared across to their own house. They had a morning of fitness, rugby practice and photo processing on the computer ahead of them. By eleven the Mercedes was parked in the drive and within the hour Phil and Christina were ringing the front door bell, carrying a large old-fashioned picnic hamper between them. They were immediately invited in and offered tea or coffee.
"The boys have told us all about their weekend with you," said Phil.
"We couldn't stop them talking. We haven't been able say anything about ours they were so excited," continued Christina. They lifted the hamper onto the table. Sellotaped to it was a card in an envelope.
"We've brought you this to say thank you," said Phil.
"The boys must have eaten you out of house and home," Christina went on. "I don't know where they put it all and there's not an ounce of fat on them."
'I've noticed,' thought Ben.
"You didn't have to," said Lewis. "It's been great fun and they certainly kept our family entertained on Sunday."
"I'll drink to that," said Ben and after last night immediately wished he hadn't.
"In the envelope there's some cash to cover the boys' expenses. If it's not enough, don't hesitate to say so." Ben and Lewis peered into the hamper and were taken aback at what was there. It was all kinds of non-perishable food and drink. It would take them a month on holiday to get through that. They left the envelope for the moment, but expressed their gratitude as Phil and Christina made their excuses.
"All the unpacking and washing to do and a bucket of cold water to throw over the boys to calm them down. I don't know where they get all their energy from. Yes, we had a super weekend and it's made it even better to know that Jack and Ted were in such good hands." After the Battys had been shown out, Ben and Lewis undid the envelope. They gasped. The sum inside was far in excess of what they had spent.

V

In September school began and both Ben and Lewis faced a gruelling first term. For them life had finally become serious with the ensuing stresses and tests on their relationship. However, facing the trials of probationary teachers they were strengthened by their mutual support and comfort. Together they were able to ensure that there was life beyond school, even if during term time that was only on a Sunday. Lewis did have two full days at the weekend, but the U15 rugby team would take up Ben's Saturdays. At least he could stay in bed longer unless it was a morning away match, but morning matches on the other hand gave him a free afternoon.

With their various common interests, not least of which was their shared sexuality, Lewis' and Ben's friendship with the Batty boys inevitably developed. To begin with there was the school run. Ben and Lewis would take turns driving to and from school, unless there was something special to detain them such as staff meetings or parents' evenings, and it would have been churlish not to take their nextdoor neighbours with them. The boys livened up the journeys with their chatter in the back seat. In fact our couple often wondered whether they rehearsed the comedy routines at home on the evening before. Despite the temptations the twins never compromised their professional relationship with Ben although they had plenty of opportunity. If they were in school uniform it was always 'sir' and 'Ben and Lewis' in casual clothes. Ben not only had them in his rugby squad, but discovered they were members of his fourth form maths set, as well. The potential problem with the U15 rugby XV did not really evolve. The twins could prove their superiority as halfbacks to their fellow pupils with such little difficulty that there was no visible or audible dissent. By then they were already very well accepted by their peer group and obviously well liked. Ben was so sure of their ability that he let the decision, publicly at least, be announced by his deputy. Jack and Ted not only strengthened the XV by their own contribution, but released talent that increased competition for places elsewhere in the team. What had been a mediocre season as U14s turned out to be the most successful school U15s in the memory of any of the pupils. The acid test came when Ben heard that Buckton College was planning a tour in the area and he used his contacts to arrange an extra fixture. The match was a high-scoring success of entertaining rugby and when the whistle finally blew for no side honour was satisfied with a draw.

But we have gone off at a tangent. It is family and village life we should be discussing at this point. First among the September social rounds was the Battys' housewarming party which took the form of a barbecue organised by the local butcher. All of Ben's family had been invited, but when it came down to it only Seb, Marc and Elly besides him and Lewis were able to attend and it was to their great surprise when the announcement was made that Seb was to become Jack's and Ted's new godfather. Ben and Lewis had given it no more heed since that pub dinner after Duxford and Seb had certainly kept quiet about it. They were able to meet the aunt with the broken leg whose accident had indirectly given them such an entertaining and pleasurable bank holiday and it came out in conversation that all the parties involved would be delighted for Lewis and Ben to 'babysit' for the twins again, should the occasion arise, and the occasion certainly was going to arise if Jack and Ted had anything to do with it.

As autumn progressed the days were fast closing in and Ben and Lewis realised that they hadn't organised anything for half term. They felt a need to get away to find some sun, but not only that. They were both exhausted and had been so fully committed to making a success of their school life that they had neglected not only house and garden, but more particularly each other. If they stopped at the Nook, they knew they would would fiddle and waste the break. On the Friday a week before half term started they sat down together after dinner and formed a plan of action. Firstly they would ask their cleaner to double her hours over half term. The weekend would be spent tidying the garden, enlisting the twins' aid since they would willingly cut the grass provided they could use the sit-on motor mower. Ben and Lewis would do the rest. Then they trawled through the teletext for last minute holidays. Not wanting to repeat Mykonos just yet they found a slot for Tenerife, leave Saturday and return the following Saturday, and a phone call secured it. It was such a bargain that they did not worry over much about the accommodation as long as they could build on the physical side of their relationship. The five Ss - siesta, swimming, supper and sleep - that was what they were after, especially getting away from the chores of their everyday existence and being waited on.

In the extended family there were also developments. Marc, Jessica and Ben's parents had finally taken the decision to sell up in the west country and to come and live in Cambridgeshire. They had found a bungalow in the country on the other side of the city near to Jessica and Adam. Both Ben and Lewis felt some relief for they did not really want to be overshadowed while they were building as it were their lifetime partnership together. The parents were safely settled in for Christmas. However, Christmas required some planning which took place over a family Sunday lunch. There were practical considerations. The parents' bungalow was patently too small to take them all. Both Jessica and Elly were growing large with child, Elly especially, and she was petite under normal circumstances, and so it would not be fair to lumber them with the arrangements. Therefore it was Ben and Lewis to the rescue as they readily volunteered to host Christmas Day for the family if others would provide any accommodation required. However, it did not come to that for in the end for it was Tony and Margaret who insisted that everyone should come to them. Lewis and Ben did admittedly utter a sigh of relief.

When Christmas finally arrived they were more that ready for it and in the end it panned out rather well. At the Mythe School the end of term celebrations included the rugby dinner, the school play and the carol service. At least Lewis could accompany Ben to the last two and he was heartened by the number of boys who remembered him from TP. The week before Christmas saw the usual panic with shopping, writing cards and the general preparations such as decorating the house.

The holiday was a period of rest and recuperation for our two young men, punctuated with the usual round of social events with the family and of course with their neighbours, and by the way, after negotiation neither had found any necessity to mark the boundary between their properties by any other means than those the surveyors had used in the summer. The openness of their gardens was emblematical of the openness between the two (for want of a better word) families.

On Christmas Eve along with the Batty family Ben and Lewis stepped through a light sprinkling of snow to Oddstones for drinks and then on to church for midnight mass, Seb under the constant supervision of his new found godsons. After church the party split to return to their own homes. Once indoors Ben and Lewis exchanged gifts, a pair of cufflinks made from two sovereigns for Lewis and an exercise bike for Ben. They thanked each other under a sprig of mistletoe in the traditional way. Lewis poured two glasses of exclusive malt whisky which they drank in front of the television watching the remnants of a Will Hay film before returning to the mistletoe as a prelude to retiring to bed.

After the late night came the late morning. It was nine o'clock when Ben woke. As Lewis was still slumbering, he put on a pair of shorts and went and made tea. It was strange. He was proud of his body and knew it was in superb condition. He had no compunction whatever in stripping off all his clothes and yet he would feel physically uncomfortable if he walked round the house naked. He could never understand the culture of nudists. He brought the tea up to the bedroom and in the manner of the tale of Sleeping Beauty the prince gently woke his loved one and presented him with a cup of tea. Lewis smiled sleepily and looked at his watch. The family space wagon would pick them up at eleven o'clock. They had another hour before they had to get up. Ben peeled off his shorts, climbed back into bed and warmed himself against Lewis' naked body.

By eleven they were up, showered and smartly dressed, standing by the front door in anticipation each armed with two large carrier bags of Christmas presents duly packed and labelled with the combined love of Ben and Lewis.

A thoroughly happy day was spent with all the family at Tony and Margaret's. This would be the last Christmas with only two generations. Elly and Jessica were pampered to the last degree, especially by their respective mothers. Christmas was still celebrated traditionally. This year the main fare was goose, an advantage of living in the country. Lunch lasted until the Queen's speech and afterwards the presents were distributed and opened. The menfolk were finally allowed to take their afternoon nap while the womenfolk could talk of babies. The evening was time for silly games and drinks except for the duty drivers. Towards midnight the party broke up and Lewis and Ben climbed into the space wagon with the Oddstones contingent for the journey home. Our two young men chilled out for an hour until they finally decided to go to bed, and after calling by the mistletoe their day finished in the same way as it began.

However, it was Boxing Day that was to provide the surprise treat and even Lewis was taken aback. They were invited nextdoor to the Battys' for lunch and Lewis and Ben dutifully turned up at twelve. It was Boxing Day in the true sense since the six gathered together would later exchange their Christmas boxes. After a chat over sherry Phil and Christina suggested that while they were making the last preparations for lunch Jack and Ted might like to take Ben and Lewis to their den and show them their Christmas presents. No sooner said than done. The twins had decorated their room for the festive season and while our young men were recovering from the surprise Jack skilfully manœuvred Ben, and Ted likewise Lewis, under the two prominent sprigs of mistletoe and before they knew what was happening the twins wrapped their arms around them and took full advantage of the yuletide tradition by giving each a long and passionate kiss. The two pairs of bodies held such a tight embrace that all four could feel the passion aroused in themselves and their partner. When they finally split, Jack looked Ben in the eyes and sai
"Do you remember that last morning at your place over the bank holiday in the summer? I said I would catch you another time? Consider yourself caught." Meanwhile Lewis was still making sure that he was giving as good as he got. Any thoughts of professionalism had long gone out of the window. The flirting had to stop when Christina's voice was heard calling up the stairs that it was time for lunch.

However pleasurable the rest of the day was, it was an anticlimax compared with the aperitif all four had just enjoyed. Each was astonished as to where the last half hour had gone. Ben had some professional qualms, but they were soon dismissed by the satisfaction of the moment. He was relieved that he had taken his pleasure with Lewis that morning or he could have been on edge for the rest of the day. Without the professional relationship Lewis had thoroughly exploited the whole affair content in the fact he had neither instigated it nor been untrue to his lover. By the time the four had washed their hands for lunch all feeling of tightness, if not dampness, had vanished from their trousers. Lunch extended into tea and further into the evening. Finally they got round to the exchange of gifts and Ben and Lewis were equally surprised as they were delighted to receive from the Batty family, signed by each member, a year's premier membership to the local leisure centre and country club they had visited in the summer. Each membership card was placed inside a folder with a picture of the relevant twin posing at a sporting activity.

New Year it was Lewis' and Ben's turn to host the celebrations at the Nook. It was almost a repeat version of house-warming with the full family and the Battys. Our two lads organised a buffet supper, which made the arrangements easier, and organised various entertainments which the two sisters-in-law had to sit out. However, they had brought their knitting. The twins behaved themselves exceptionally well and even at midnight followed Lewis' and Ben's restrained example in confining themselves to hugs with the one exception of their godfather. It was two o'clock before the party finally broke up and after all their hard work in entertaining Ben and Lewis could retire, only to fall asleep immediately. Still, they made up for that in the morning as they had the whole day before them and to themselves.

VI

January brought the first piece of excitement of the New Year to the extended family when without any complications Elly gave birth to her and Marc's twin baby boys, and none outside the family took greater interest in them than Jack and Ted, especially as in this case the new born were identical twins. In due time they were christened Thomas and Guy in deference to Marc's great schoolfriend and the man who had indirectly contributed, perhaps unwittingly, to the happiness and support of so many of the younger members of the family. Boosted by their success Marc and Elly produced Sebastian some seventeen months later and he was named in honour of his uncle. Not to be outdone Jessica brought Benedick into the world two months after the arrival of the twins and with Adam's further assistance gave birth to Elizabeth in the same month as Sebastian was born. With a new generation the centre of gravity of the extended family altered. Now for years to come all eyes were on the new arrivals with interest in their future development.

At a family Sunday lunch to celebrate the birth of the twins the company gathered was reminiscing and because of the time of year the topic of conversation naturally alighted on the skiing holidays in Austria.
"Why don't you men take one again this year," suggested Elly.
"I can't leave you and the twins so soon," replied Marc.
"Why not?" chorused the two grandmamas in unison.
"That would give us a chance to come and give a hand without interfering." The two grandfathers looked at one another trying not to laugh. It was just the opportunity both had been looking for and the conversation had all the signs of devious feminine preplanning. The three bachelors said
"We're up for it."
"Count us out," piped up Adam.
"We've made other plans for the next few weeks," added a radiant Jessica.
"What do you think, Marc?"
"I'll discuss it with Elly when there's no pressure, but why don't you all go ahead anyway?" Marc was on a term out, partly leave for research, partly paternity leave, so he could not argue that he was unable get the time off. Seb was a free agent and he had some time owing to him. Ben and Lewis had half term.
"We're in for a bit of taxi-driving," said the grandfathers.
"Anyway, you youngsters won't want us holding you back."
"You know what?" piped up Seb. "I think it's about time I treated my godsons. Leave the bookings to me and I'll see what I can do for a party of six." Seb knew that if his sister and mother were in favour Marc virtually had his case packed.
"Maurach?" he continued.
"Is there anywhere else?" said Marc whose heartstrings had been plucked by nostalgia.
"So you're coming?" said Ben.
"Wait a moment. Elly, shall we go and make some tea?" He was interested. It was conference time.

Marc and Elly disappeared to the kitchen. Seb disappeared upstairs. Meanwhile the rest of the family played Pass the Parcel with Thomas and Guy in a communal hugging session until Margaret decided it was time for a nappy change which gave the two grandmamas an excuse to go and add their two pennyworth in the kitchen. Even at this early age nappy change showed that the twins were truly their father's sons. As the grandfather clock struck five, tea was wheeled in on a trolley. Seb reappeared on cue. Decisions had been made. It was all systems go. Marc was coming and the Batty boys would be entrusted to the tender loving care of their godfather for a week. Twenty-four hours later Seb had done the biz and flights, transfers, hotel and ski hire had been fixed up.

The journey to school in the car next morning was interesting, to say the least.
"I hear you're coming skiing with us at half term," the twins said to Lewis and Ben. They smiled wryly as they thought it was the other way round.
"Yes."
"Seb said he wanted to treat us as we were his godsons," said Ted.
"And we're going to treat him," added Jack.
"We've got a little surprise up our sleeves."
"What's that?" asked Ben naïvely.
"If we told you it wouldn't be a surprise," answered Ted.
"But he'll enjoy it. We'll make sure of that," continued Jack. "It's something all three of us have wanted for a long time." As the car disgorged its contents Ben and Lewis thought no more about it and nor should they.

Half term was late that February which meant it should be that much warmer on the slopes as the sun finally began to gain some height. Although it had been some years since the last family trip to Maurach for skiing the routine had hardly changed. Marc and Ben's father took the six to Luton in the family space wagon for seven o'clock on the Saturday. Flight to Munich, coach over the frontier to Maurach, arrival late afternoon, get kitted out, dinner, crash out after a long day, Sunday morning revision skiing lessons. Our six had elected to be housed in the annexe not only for sentimental reasons, but also for the extra facilities such as the swimming pool, sauna and fitness room. Marc and Seb stayed in their usual room, the one where as sixteen and fourteen year olds and after six months of wooing and longing, not to mention manipulation, they had finally consummated their relationship. A year later they had connived so that Adam and Jessica had a couple of hours alone together in that room and in heterosexual form they followed their older brothers' example and a dozen or so years later both relationships were as strong as ever.

Seb had also organised the weather. Fresh snow had fallen just before their arrival and as was usual for early spring in the Alps the sun shone warmly and the locals were already sporting that winter suntan. Marc and Seb were concerned about the twins. They had not skied before and naturally had to go into the beginners' class, but being the natural sportsmen they were and along with their honed fitness they easily picked up the skills they were taught in the morning and were anxious to exploit them in their free time in the afternoon under the expert tuition of the neighbour with the qualification in PE. Ben had never viewed himself as a Schilehrer before, but his combination of training and years of experience on the slopes made sure that the youngsters progressed speedily and by midweek they were equal to any task the others were attempting. All four would ensure that Jack and Ted had a good time in the evening and took full advantage of the après-ski activities. They were not given time to get bored and in any case they were entrepreneurial by nature. Since being at the Mythe School they had started German and with two graduates in German in the party and Ben having gone through the Buckton College system it was poor Lewis who was left out in the cold linguistically. Of the adults he was also the least experienced skier. He had once been on a school trip to the Highlands. So he was not a complete beginner. To assuage his conscience, since he was supposed to on study leave, Marc had arranged to spend the Wednesday and Thursday with a German colleague at Munich university. When the twins heard this their eyes lit up, unnoticed by the others, for although they would miss Marc's company it made their plans for Seb's surprise that much simpler. Only Lewis and Ben had heard anything about it and that was in the car on the way to school a few weeks back and since that day they had given it no more thought. So Wednesday was the appointed day. It was too easy really and unwittingly Ben and Lewis fel l in with their plans.

They had already expressed the wish to spend a little time by themselves. The day's skiing had gone like all the other days. The five skied down to the hotel from the top station, but instead of the customary swim Lewis and Ben decided for once they would go off for Kaffee und Kuchen followed by shopping and catch up with Seb and the twins at dinner. This left the way free for the twins for they knew Seb well enough for him not to go off on his own and leave them behind. That would have been irresponsible even if he had wanted to. So they took their customary swim and finished off in the sauna. That relaxed all three and put them in the right mood.

Afterwards they went and changed for the evening. As arranged they had dinner together and spent the time chatting in the hotel bar until the twins said they were tired and Ben suggested that an early night was in order. All five made their way back to the annexe and said good night before going off to their rooms. As they had the annexe to themselves, once they were in they locked the front door and had no need to worry about the outside world. Lewis and Ben were so occupied with one another that half an hour later they did not hear the twins' door open as, clad only in their dressing gowns, they padded their way along the corridor to Seb's room. A light tap on his door and they went in without waiting for an answer. Seb was reading, in bed in his normal night attire, namely his birthday suit. Jack and Ted greeted him cheerily and Seb was overjoyed, if taken aback, to see them. They hung their dressing gowns on the peg behind the door, walked across the room to either side of the double bed and climbed under the duvet. When Ben went to wake the twins in the morning they were not in their room. He just heard the telltale giggles from Marc and Seb's room and immediately knew that not only were they up and about, but they had also given Seb his treat. What he didn't know was that now Plan A had been executed Jack and Ted would be working on Plan B, an even greater challenge, and that Plan B involved him and Lewis. However, that would not be for some time yet.

The mood during Thursday's skiing was light and frivolous. Everyone knew why, but no one was anxious to talk about it, least of all Seb. Marc would return from Munich in time for dinner, so Ben and Lewis suggested all six should go out for a drink afterwards, but with one view to loosen tongues. To start with Lewis stood everyone a beer over dinner to start the ball rolling, but kept off the taboo subject. Anyway, Marc's academic adventures in Munich were the main topic, even if it left everyone but Seb cold. He had managed to see some Thomas Mann archive material which would have been useful to him when he was writing his thesis. However, he accepted philosophically that one never ceased learning and that that material alone had made the whole stay worthwhile. Marc asked if he could be excused from going out for a drink. He was knackered from the travelling and had a few things to catch up with and he was determined to enjoy the last day of skiing.

The five wrapped themselves up warm, for it was a frosty moonlit night, and disappeared off to the Goldener Apostel. For Seb this was a sentimental journey, but he wasn't letting on. Well, not yet. They settled down at a quiet table. Only Seb knew that it was the table. He ordered the beers and as planned the conversation got going. It was Ben whose curiosity got the better of him and he blurted out with
"You lot were making enough noise last night." He was trying his luck. He had been too involved in his own love life to pay any attention, but they weren't to know that.
"Why? Was Lewis stopping you from getting to sleep?" came the rejoinder from Seb.
"Go on. We know about it. You may as well spill the beans."
"Well, there's nothing to tell. I was quite happily reading in bed when there was a tap at the door. I had a visit. It went on a bit."
"You can say that again," said Ben.
"Till the morning," said Lewis. Seb continued quite unabashed.
"The visit was from two thoroughly irresistible young hunks..." Jack and Ted giggled. "...and I don't think what happened after that was much different from what was happening in your room." Seb ended defiantly and with a self-satisfied smile complete with the twinkle in his eyes. Jack and Ted were looking at one another, nudging each other, obviously proud of their efforts and enjoying the moment, and still giggling uncontrollably.
"Your turn will come," they said to Ben and Lewis with tears of mirth rolling down their cheeks as some kind of consolation which they took as simply a throwaway remark.

Ben was just about to order some more beers when the door opened and who should come in but Marc.
"I thought I might find you here. Has Seb told you what this pub means to us?" The beers arrived. "Shall we tell them, Seb?" and the story of their first declaration of love after their first night spent together was passed on to the next generation.
"And it was at this very table," concluded Seb.
"And am I to gather that you two lads had your wicked way with my boyfriend last night while I was away?" The twins gasped.
"How did you know?"
"Well, it doesn't take a Sherlock Holmes to know that. Firstly, Seb and I gave up using Lynx some years ago. Secondly, there are no secrets between us and thirdly you don't often see four dressing gowns hung behind the door of a room for two."
"You don't mind?" asked Jack suddenly becoming serious.
"No, why? We've always been brought up to share and I hope you had as good a time with him as I do. I'm looking forward to hearing all the details when we get back. It's got me going already."

There was a natural pause and Marc looked at his watch. They paid up and took their leave.
"We've got a strenuous day tomorrow - Langlauf - cross-country." Outside it was quiet, so quiet that Seb and Marc walked up the road to the hotel with their arms round each other's waist. Following suit Jack took Ben and Ted took Lewis. Despite the cold Ben felt his trousers tighten. On reaching the annexe they went up to their rooms, but all had a communal hug and kissed each other good night.

Although new for the twins and Lewis Friday was exactly what the other three had come to expect, but no less enjoyable for that. A thoroughly good time was had as they skied to areas not touched before. In the evening the presentations and a particular fuss was made of the twins for having made the most progress as beginners. After the party the packing and early to bed for the early start in the morning.

VII

At Luton they were met by Tony with the family space wagon for the journey back to Cambridge. The twins and Lewis and Ben were the first to be dropped off. The Batty family reunion clearly showed they had all missed each other over the week, but Christina Batty, appreciating how tiring the long journey must have been, insisted that once they had unpacked Ben and Lewis were to join them for a hot meal, in the kitchen, no ceremony, and they could go as soon or as late as they wished. Much of the conversation over supper was about the week. The twins could announce that while they were away not only had they secured their places in the County rugby XV, but they had been invited for an England schoolboy trial. This news brought congratulations all round, certainly for the boys, but also for their rugby master who modestly denied any responsibility whatsoever. All four had Sunday to get ready for school, which at the Nook meant a battle with the washing machine, tumbler dryer and iron. Ben and Lewis joined the family and the Battys for church and were invited round to Oddstones for lunch. That way they were spared the Sainsbury's run and cooking

When they returned home late Sunday afternoon they finally had time to relax. Ben made some tea and they sat on the sofa in each other's arms simply pleased to be by themselves at last. Now they could talk and Ben broached the one topic that had been taxing him over the last few days.
"What did you think about Jack and Ted spending the night together with Seb when Marc was in Munich?"
"Is that the green-eyed monster rearing its ugly head?"
"I've got to say I was envious, not jealous, but envious certainly."
"You see, it had to come and I suppose there couldn't have been a better opportunity. It was inevitable and when you think about it, I'm surprised it hadn't happened before."
"I must admit I thought it had, but I was clearly wrong there, and I'm amazed how calmly Marc took it."
"Since he's been married to Elly, Seb's really been a free agent. If I understand the situation correctly, he didn't encourage them. They made the decision and it wouldn't surprise me if they've made a similar decision about us."
"What do you mean?" asked Ben naïvely, but obviously curious. He would always rely on the fact that Lewis was more experienced in these matters.
"Think back to last Thursday when we were going back to the hotel from the pub."
"You mean when the twins did split up and they walked us up the road with their arms round our waists."
"Yes. What did you say to me afterwards?"
"What? About experiencing that tightness in the trouser department again?"
"Yes."
"But you know me. It doesn't take much to work me up."
"I know," giggled Lewis "and they're only too well aware of it as well. But remember they always split up the same way. Think of the tennis, for instance, and let's face it. You fancy Jack - that's obvious from your body language - and I prefer Ted..."
"Fancy Ted!"
"Okay, fancy Ted, and they know it and what's more they fancy us in the same way. I tell you, it'll only be a matter of time until they try it on with us and don't tell me you'll say no. I know I certainly won't and providing they started it, I'm not deceiving you and you're getting your fair share as well I won't have any conscience."
"You mean, you wouldn't object if I gave in as well?"
"Look, we're a team, Ben. They're a team. It would just be the teams working in a different way, but we'd still be teams. So the answer's no and I think our relationship would gain from the experience. Anyway, I'm suffering the same frustration as you."
"I've got to admit I'd love to give it go," concluded Ben wistfully, "even if it's only to get it out of my system." He gave Lewis a long intimate kiss and they disappeared upstairs for a quiet hour together before getting on with the chores.

The Monday brought school and on the return journey Lewis could hardly contain his excitement, but had to until they had deposited the Batty boys. He had received a letter from the Mythe School, sent to him at the comp, with the details of a chemistry post and an invitation to apply.
"So they didn't just say it to make me feel good," he said to Ben. The closing date was the end of the week. From the application it was clear that his address was the same as Ben's, but no questions were asked and after interview he was offered the post which he duly accepted. Jack and Ted continued to blossom at the Mythe, certainly in their sport, but also and importantly in their academic work. They did represent the county at rugby, something which brought Ben even closer to the Batty family. Indeed they attended their England schoolboy trial and were on tenterhooks to see whether they would finally gain a cap.

So without their noticing, a year, an important year for our two heroes, was quickly elapsing. The summer term was blissful and relaxed. The twins from their reputation for rugby were siphoned off as 'natural sportsmen' into the cricket squad. Ben had both his fourth and fifth form taking public exams, not to mention the sixths. Ted had taken his and passed with flying colours. Jack had not as he was carrying on with maths in September and so came their first divergence with him taking sciences at A-level and Ted planning and an arts course.

The half term holiday started as usual on the Friday and on the way into school in the morning the twins asked if Ben minded bringing back a friend in the car as he was stopping with them during the weekend for a sleep-over. If it was any trouble their father would collect all three after school. Of course, it wasn't any trouble and Ben and Lewis thought no more about the conversation. Only, on recollection, the twins had never invited any friends home before, nor had they gone off to stay with other boys. One needed to look no further than their distinctive lifestyle to realise why. At four o'clock Ben's heart leapt to discover who it was. He had not given it any more thought during the day and there was no reason why he should have. The lad who was waiting with Jack and Ted was none other than Paul, his former rugby captain. It was only in retrospect some years later that Ben realised that his choice of rugby captain would not only fall on one of the outstanding members of the team - that went without saying since for one thing he had to be able to hold his place against any competition - but to a man they had all been particularly rugged types or more precisely good-looking youths who had at first subconsciously, but later more deliberately taken his fancy with a combination of character, sense of humour and physical attraction. So as the three loaded their kit into the boot of his car he could not help but admire their taste in friends and hope he might see something of Paul around home over the weekend and even said as much on the journey home.

Ben motored off to pick up Lewis and even he could not hide his obvious interest when he saw the 'stranger' in the car. The 'stranger' in fact needed no introduction as Paul and Lewis recognised each other immediately from TP. Half an hour later they were depositing their passengers outside the Nook and as Christina Batty came out of the neighbouring house to greet the guest she mentioned to Lewis and Ben that they would be welcome to join them for the barbecue they were having on Saturday evening. Ben was not a great fan of barbecues. They were a great recipe for ruining good food as well as a ready way of picking up campylobacter, as they had been taught in their health education lectures while at college. Anyway his libido soon overcame all the logical objections and Lewis needed no persuading anyway. Over that weekend Ben spent an inordinate amount of time seated at his desk in his study as the window gave a panoramic view over the gardens of both houses.

On the evening of the barbecue both Ben and Lewis entertained Paul. On casually enquiring about the intentions behind the weekend sleep over Ben was quietly told by the twins that they would give him the lowdown later at which, driven on by curiosity, Lewis and Ben's teamwork came into play. Chatting away Lewis led Ted and Paul up the garden path while Jack, who was visibly and undeniably keen to spill the beans, metaphorically, not those being served with the sausages, walked Ben over to the gazebo.

"It all started after games earlier this week. We were drying off in the changing room after our showers and there's Paul standing stark naked on a bench shouting 'Who's going to give me a BJ?' Of course there were the usual shouts of abuse, but Ted turned to me and said 'Now there's an invitation we couldn't possible refuse.' For obvious reasons we didn't say much then. As you know, we keep a pretty low profile as far as our sexuality's concerned."
"Should I be listening to this?" half joked Ben, but he wanted to in any case.
"Come on," protested Jack, "I'm talking to my hunky neighbour, not my maths master."
"Point taken. I was only giving you a get-out in case I embarrassed you."
"I think we lost all sense of embarrassment ages ago."
"That's if you ever had any in the first place."
"Anyway, while all this verbal abuse was going on I went and took one of his shoes and hid it. Then Ted and I took our time getting changed, but it had the effect we wanted. Everybody else was changed and gone home with just us and Paul left. Mr Griffiths put his head round the door and told us to hurry up. Naturally we said 'Yes, sir!' and he went off quite content. So we helped Paul look for his shoe which Ted found and we did a pincer movement on him and chatted him up. Yes, he was serious. No way were we going to do anything at school. So here he is spending the weekend with us and having a thoroughly good time once he was sworn to secrecy."
"Do your Mum and Dad know what you're up to?"
"They've always been very good ever since we came out. They must know what Ted and me get up to, but they've never asked and after the initial invitation to talk to them whenever we wanted to they've never interfered. As you know, when we moved into this house they planned it so that our room is nowhere near theirs and Paul's in the spare room next to us."
"And is Paul enjoying himself?"
"We've made sure of that and there's more to come." Meanwhile Ted, Lewis and Paul were coming back to fill up their plates.

The following morning after church Ben and Lewis walked back slowly with the boys while Phil and Christina Batty went on ahead. Unsolicited Paul could hardly stop describing what a good time he'd been having without giving any details away at all. Little did he know at that point that he was among friends. Nor at that point did Ben and Lewis know that the twins had especially asked their parents to invite their godfather to Sunday lunch that weekend.

VIII

Ben and Lewis had a busy half term under the motto: a change is as good as a rest. Paul was taken home by Christina Batty and the twins on the Monday morning, but not without the three boys calling in for him to say goodbye. Chatting after Paul's departure Lewis and Ben found they had independently come to the conclusion that they might have won a new friend. Neither denied that they had found him cute and as Ben had already admitted to Lewis the decision to make him his rugby captain hadn't, as previously explained, been solely based on his rugby ability. He had wanted to forge an eventual relationship with him and although it took several months it was now obvious that the seeds sown in the preceding autumn were now just beginning to germinate. The twins were sufficiently astute to know what was going on which was supported by an order Ben and Lewis had given them for photos of the weekend's activities.

At the top of their list of holiday activities was lovemaking. On schooldays this was largely confined to a quick kiss and a cuddle night and morning, but with the early sunrises they both naturally woke early, but found they could use the extra time in bed to attend to the other's desires, usually a continuation or reversal of what they had been doing the night before. So they could enjoy each other, still get up at a reasonable hour and not waste the day. Before breakfast there would then be some form of physical exercise, usually a run, certainly not a jog, round the village footpaths, then back home for a shower, breakfast and the Daily Telegraph crossword. Together they could usually complete it over breakfast except for Friday's which always seemed that much more difficult and took to lunchtime. They then had a choice of things to do: necessary house and garden maintenance, - their cleaner saved them the chore of ordinary housework - making full use of the year's leisure centre membership, stocking the larder, fridge and freezer, which with washing and ironing seemed a perpetual task, or doing something more culturally stimulating. This half term it was cathedrals and they managed to take in Ely, Norwich and Peterborough plus an outdoor performance of Romeo and Juliet in Cambridge, but usually they liked to spend a leisurely evening just together over a meal out or one they had cooked themselves followed by an early night. During that week they saw little of the Battys who, they found out after, were here, there and everywhere though they had not gone away.

However, that was soon remedied on the following Monday morning when four completely relaxed people made their way to Cambridge in Lewis' car. The banter was non-stop and the twins got as good as they gave, but for all that it was not really necessary for them to relate, which they did, however, with relish, how they had run out of vaseline just before the weekend. When Lewis, not to be beaten, suggested they could have used butter, Jack quickly came back with the riposte that it would have melted in the summer heat before he could get the ballbearings back in the axle of his bike pedals. Lewis had been concentrating too much on the driving to notice the trap they were setting up and everybody's amusement but his was registered by the mirth echoing round the car.

Tuesday's journey home in Ben's car was far more serious. The twins had a problem that was taxing them and as open as they were it did not take them long to air it.
"You know little Harry in our class, Ben?" started Ted.
"He's being led a dog's life at the moment," continued Jack.
"What's that all about, then?" asked Ben. Lewis knew who they were talking about from TP and he was one of the boys who used to be mentioned in dispatches.
"He's harmless enough," said Lewis. "I remember him from the games lessons. Quite a gutsy little kid. Kept ferrets, didn't he?"
"That's the one," said Ben. "Quite a character, a cut above some of the others."
"Well, that prize idiot Graham was stuffing him into a book locker until we came along," said Jack.
"Those lockers can't be more than three feet high," said Ted.
"What can we do about it?" the twins said together.
"Can we have time to think about that one?" answered Ben. "The traffic's a bit heavy at the moment and I need to concentrate on that." Ben beeped the horn as some eejit in the left hand lane of the roundabout cut him up to take the last exit.
"Come across to our house when you've finished your homework and had your tea"
"Might be a bit late," replied Ted.
"That so-and-so of a maths master of ours has set a stinker of a prep," completed Jack.
"Even the swats in the library at lunchtime were finding it hard," went on Ted.
"If it doesn't hurt it's not doing you any good," countered Ben who knew he was only having his leg pulled.
"There'll be cocoa on the table from eight," said Lewis.
"Put it in mugs and we'll drink it," said Ted.
"If you can't do better than that we've got two problems to discuss," said Ben.

Back at the Nook the contents of the car were disgorged and about to go their separate ways when Christina Batty came out of the front door and invited Lewis and Ben in for a cup of tea. The boys were dispatched to get their homework done.

"I wanted to have a word with you," started Christina, "but I'm afraid with the excitements of the last week we just haven't had five minutes to ourselves." Ben dunked his third ginger biscuit while Lewis sipped his tea. "I'm afraid this partly involves school and I don't like burdening you with things like that in your free time, Ben. People wouldn't misuse their lawyers like that for fear of getting a bill, but I know how fond the boys are of you both and it's something they've been talking to Phil and me about over half term." In his mind Ben congratulated her on her public relations, but in his heart knew that he and Lewis would have done anything for those two boys, indeed as they would have done for their parents as well.

"It started that weekend when the boys invited Paul to stay with us. We've always wanted them to bring their friends home, but when we discovered their little problem..." Lewis and Ben glanced at each other at the words 'little problem' and Christina blushed. "I'm sorry, Ben and Lewis, believe me. I know homosexuality is not a problem, neither for you two nor the twins, or even for Phil and me now. It's just that it's been a steep learning curve for us and perhaps we're sometimes not as sensitive as we should be."
"Don't apologise, Christina," Ben said soothingly. "As you know in our private lives of which you, Phil and the boys are part we are perfectly open about being gay and we don't mind the words 'gay' or 'homosexual' or even 'queer' in the least."
"Mind you we hate some of the other words when they're used by heteros," added Lewis. "It's like the word 'nigger' when used by black people themselves. They take it, but it becomes a big no-no when used by white men, or do I mean Caucasians?" That relieved the temporary moment of tension.
"Mind you, we still have to be very careful about being openly gay in our professional life or it could become a 'little problem' and like the boys we keep that very much to ourselves at school," said Ben.
"Still, we've driven you off the subject, Christina," said Lewis. "Well, you haven't actually, boys... Whoops, there I go again, treating you as though I'm talking to the twins."
"We take that as the highest compliment," said Ben.
"As if we've been fully accepted by you," continued Lewis.
"We just love it," finished Ben. Christina laughed.
"It must be my day for opening my mouth and putting my foot in it. And there you go, just like the twins, one starting a sentence and the other finishing it. Would you like some more tea, er ... boys?" she said with a giggle. "And another ginger biscuit, Ben?"

That made a break in the proceedings while she put the kettle on, made a fresh pot and took a tray up for Jack and Ted.

Settled back down in the kitchen she made a fresh start.
"As I said, it started that weekend when Paul was staying with us. All five of us were talking over dinner when it turned out that Jack, Ted and Paul are not the only gay pupils at school and while they feel safe enough, there are one or two that are having a hard time of it and they wondered what to do."
"I wonder if that ties up with what they were saying in the car this afternoon?" asked Ben and Lewis told Christina what had been said on the journey home and that Jack and Ted were coming across to them later to discuss it further. "They were obviously wound up about it," said Ben. He thought for a moment. "We can't say too much until we've heard what they've got to say, except feed through any relevant information and I'll talk to the right people at school. But one suggestion I have got. You obviously enjoyed having Paul as a house guest for the weekend."
"We certainly did. We just wish they'd invite more people home. There's never a dull moment in this house, as you know."
"Well that's what I was going to say," Ben went on. "You're obviously very sympathetic to our 'little problem'," he said both teasingly and provocatively. "I was going to suggest you got the boys to invite any gay classmates home for the weekend. They'll have a good time, more importantly they'll realise they're not alone in the world and some of them might be so holed up in the closet that they can't even talk to their own parents about it."

At that moment there was a noise and two hungry boys came tumbling down the stairs and rushed through the door to ask if tea was ready yet.
"Is that the time already?" said Christina looking at the kitchen clock.
"We'd better get going," said Lewis.
"Have you done your maths yet?"
"Piece of piss," answered Jack with a grin.
"Jack!" shouted Christina. "Please!"
"Sorry, Mum. Sorry, Ben. Sorry, Lewis."
"Sorry, Ted," added Ted.
"I'll tell Mum what you said upstairs if you don't watch it," said Jack and stuck his tongue out at him.
"We're off," said Ben.
"Thanks for the tea," said Lewis.
"And the biscuits," added Ben.
"Bye, Christina, bye, boys, see you about eight," together and they let themselves out of the kitchen.

---oo0oo---

At eight o'clock the door bell rang and in came Jack and Ted with a clatter as usual. Ben's jaw dropped. As usual Lewis maintained his composure for Jack was dressed in sandals, light blue Lycra shorts and a white tee-shirt of sufficient length to tease, while Ted had stated his individuality by wearing a pair of yellow Speedos with a yellow tee-shirt of similar length. The boys knew immediately they had made a hit and checked out Lewis and Ben to see if there was any external proof, but were disappointed on that score. They settled the boys down with cocoa and biscuits and then got onto the serious matter they had come to discuss.

They recapped on the business of Harry being bullied by Graham, but, Ben was surprised, that was not the actual point of their business, just the introduction. They would sort out Graham and Ben warned them to be careful in case they got themselves into trouble, either with their mates or the school authorities. Lewis realised he was just a bystander in this matter, but Ben wanted him to stay as he would value his impartial advice.

The twins settled down to their double act.
"There are two problems really, both connected," started Jack.
"One is Harry and the other is the odd homophobe in the school," finished Ted.

Over the fifteen months or so he had known them Ben had tried to work out who was the dominant twin. He knew Jack was the elder by minutes, but because they were fraternal twins with different characters they complemented each other so well that he could discern no permanent dominance, only that in their double act Jack usually started and Ted usually finished. Even when he had watched their horseplay and wrestling in the garden they were so evenly matched that he could never forecast the winner. In school he realised that their brains worked differently. Jack was the convergent thinker that made him the better mathematician and scientist while Ted was the divergent thinker that made him the better at English and languages, but even that was hard to discern in their half-termly grades.

"Graham keeps calling Harry gay and that's catching on with the others."
"Is he?" asked Ben.
"We don't know for certain," said Ted. "You see he's small for his age..."
"But certainly not in the trouser department," interrupted Jack. "We've checked him out."
"But then we've checked out ninety percent of the guys at school," added Ted.
"You're wandering off the subject," warned Lewis.
"Sorry," said Jack. "As I said, he's small for his age with very fine features and so he looks precious and fragile."
"He's not," said Ted.
"He's a very gutsy little wing forward on the rugby field, as you know, and misses out just because of his size."
"But a couple of weeks ago he got an erection in the showers and ever since then Graham's not only been bullying him, but giving grief about being gay."
"Yet it was Graham who couldn't keep his eyes off him," said Ted.
"And we hate seeing him have such a miserable time because he used to be such a happy kid," said Jack

"And so the second part of the problem, and of course this affects us indirectly. Graham is stirring up a homophobic atmosphere where there wasn't any before."
"So we're a bit apprehensive because it's bound to come out sooner or later that we're gay," said Ted.

Lewis went out into the kitchen and took the boys with him to help him make some more cocoa leaving Ben to think. Ben was oblivious to the squeals, giggles and laughter that came from the kitchen while he focussed his thoughts. When the three returned he was ready. He dunked three custard creams in his cocoa and delivered his conclusions.

"Right. I take the point that you are going to have a quiet word in Graham's ear. As I said, be careful you don't land yourselves in trouble, but I'm a great believer in schoolboy justice and peer group pressure and I am sure Paul would be only too willing to help you out. Secondly, I'll have a word with the relevant form tutors so that they can keep an eye on those two. Fortunately they are not in the same tutor group. Then I'll find out whether there is an official policy concerning gay pupils and what the attitude is generally in the school and we'll go from there. Thirdly, and this goes back to something we talked about with your mother this afternoon, here's something you can do to help. You obviously like Harry or you wouldn't have got so emotionally involved and gone to all this trouble. So make sure he knows you're his good buddies and I suggest you invite him to spend a weekend out here as soon as possible. It'll be a risk as it was with Paul as far as your reputations are concerned, but I think you've got to think in terms of coming out at school eventually in the way that I'll eventually have to face it too. What do you think, Lewis?"
"That's probably as far as you can go for now. When I was a boy at school we had the same problem, but times were different and far less tolerant towards gays. The gay boys at my school formed a little group and we had a sympathetic member of staff who took an interest in us and we all looked out for one another - and had a lot of fun together I might add - but of course it was all rather clandestine."
"So you think we ought to form a school club for gays, a sort of HomSoc?" asked Ted.
"I don't think even in these enlightened times the Headmaster would go that far, but if you have a close knit group of friends from school that come out here for the weekend and stopovers in the holidays, I think between us we could help a lot of people," said Ben.

They chatted after that until the phone rang. Lewis took the call. It was Christina Batty to remind the boys they had school the next day and that they should be getting along to bed. Ben looked at his watch. It was nearly ten o'clock. They wondered where those two hours had gone. As they said their thank yous and good night the twins took their neighbours in turn in a hug of gratitude and affection and without giving it a moment's thought Ben stroked Jack's buttocks firmed up by the Lycras. Dressed as they were it was obvious to any casual observer that the affection was greater than the gratitude.

Ben briefly asked Lewis if he had got it right and Lewis agreed, but the hug with the twins had put them in the mood for an early night. They quickly washed up the cocoa things and disappeared upstairs to bed. There was no way they could know that at the same time Jack and Ted were enjoying each other's company in a similar manner.

IX

Wednesday afternoon in Lewis' car brought news of a small amount of progress. With Paul's help recruited before assembly the promised word in Graham's ear was had, which brought about some relief to Harry's situation and the three invited Harry to make up a foursome at lunch. They wised him up and he was to let them know if he had any more trouble from Graham or anyone else for that matter. All three jollied him along and were heartened to see some of the old happy Harry return as his eyes started to sparkle and when he laughed his whole face lit up. They engineered the conversation round to whether he would like to spend the weekend with them at their house. Paul encouraged him by saying what a wonderful time he had had with the twins when he was there. Thursday morning in Ben's car the twins announced the good news that a couple of telephone calls had settled a visit for the coming weekend. The sticking point had been who was going to look after the ferrets, but Harry's sister agreed to that after being reminded that he fed and watered her horse when she was away. During the journey home after school it got even better. Harry, Paul and the twins had gone into town and Harry took them through one of the narrow alleys, appropriately called Love Lane, and showed them some graffiti which advertised Graham's gay sexual favours. No mistaking it was him as the telephone number tallied and it was a favourite haunt of the Mythe School smokers. The twins would bring their digital camera the next day against the unlikely event that he might cause any more trouble.

Friday afternoon three boys and a master were to be seen waiting in the school carpark for Lewis to pick them up. Harry needed no introduction. Lewis greeted him as a long lost friend, the luggage and schoolbags were stowed in the boot and with the aid of a shoehorn the passengers loaded into Lewis' car. The first topic of conversation after the usual politenesses was that the lunchtime photographic session had been successful which made Harry prick up his ears, but no more than that was said. Back at the Nook our heroes helped the boys unload and wished them a good weekend.

On Saturday they had the Sainsbury's run and family things to do after that, so it wasn't until Sunday that they caught up with the news. It was a full turn-out for Family Eucharist at ten that Sunday with Oddstones meeting the Nook and the Retreat. The only difference was that in deference to Harry, Jack and Ted appeared at church in their 501s and a short sleeved shirt instead of their normal exceedingly smart dark suits. Being petite Harry could wear his as if they were tailored. The only difference, and had this not come up in conversation it would have taken an eagle-eyed expert to spot it, was that the twins were wearing their genuine American made Levi's while Harry's were made under a European franchise. As the discussion proceeded after the service, Seb pointed out the differences and added that you could get the genuine articles on the internet for half the British price and that even with adding in the cost of shipping they would be significantly cheaper than buying them England. There was also a mass debate as to whether you should remove the leather size label from the waistband at the back with a majority in favour of removing it.

It was Marc and Phil Batty's turn to act as sidesmen that Sunday and so they hadn't attended their normal eight o'clock Communion. The fact that they had paired up for that duty ensured a mass gathering of the two clans. Afterwards it was parish coffee, so there was time to chat and tacit teamwork would make some exchange of information possible. Ted paired up with Lewis and Jack with Ben, giving Harry a choice of whom he was going to walk home with. Fortunately he chose Ted and Lewis. He probably felt less uncomfortable if he didn't socialise with his maths master. But that had been the plan so that Ben could get the lowdown.

Friday evening in the Batty house had been low key as was the intention. First job to be done was to get homework completed to leave the rest of the weekend free. The Mythe had a system of getting school exams out of the way in the first half of the summer term. That had several advantages. The pupils could enjoy the long light evenings of May, June and July without having revision on their consciences. Equally the staff could get their marking and reports over and done with. If anyone needed to repeat an exam to secure promotion to the next year that could be dealt with without prolonging the agony until September. It also cleared the decks for those taking public exams in the second half of term as they did not have to concentrate on two things at once and time was left to build up to the social week at the end of the school year during the first week of July. However, we digress.

Meanwhile Christina Batty, Lewis, Ted and Harry had walked on ahead. Ben and Jack offered to give Phil Batty a hand clearing away, but he told them to go as he needed to talk to the rector about some parish business. As the others were now out of sight Jack and Ben went and sat down on a bench in the churchyard by the lychgate. It had been cold in church and the summer sun was just about warming their bodies.

As we said, Friday evening had been low key and after homework had been done and the conducted tour, the three boys had simply chilled out with tea, computer games, throwing a ball around in the garden, snacks and just general hanging out together, but most important of all processing the pictures on the computer of the graffiti they had taken in Love Lane at lunchtime. The twins were fortunate with their parents for although they were expected to carry out chores in the house and garden to earn their pocket money, they also appreciated that adolescents need time to be idle and daydream and listen to their music. Although having a guest meant they were excused chores for the weekend, such was their upbringing that they cheerfully got on with them anyway and involved Harry in loading and unloading the dishwasher and later on Sunday, cutting the lawns, even letting him drive the sit-on mower, and they would never do their own grass without mowing Lewis and Ben's. Again we have digressed.

Harry had naturally been put in the guest room next to the twins' den. When he had been in there playing on the computer and had seen the huge double bed he asked out of natural curiosity whether they slept together and was told that they had always done so because they were twins.
"'Compared with spending nine months together in the compact space of the womb,' said Jack, 'sleeping in the same bed is sheer luxury.' 'And he still kicks me just as much,' added Ted with a grin, and nothing more was said.
"About half past ten we all said good night to Mum and Dad and went upstairs. Not that we went to bed. We two changed into shorts and tee-shirt to get comfortable and in front of Harry as a small preparation for what we had planned for him and to see whether he would check us out. We watched a video until about midnight when Harry said good night and went off to his room. Mum and Dad are very good. They don't worry about us once we've said goodnight unless we're ill of course or we make a row. I think they realise we might be up to something they'd rather not know about. Anyway, once we put the light out we did what we normally do on a Friday night and went to sleep."
"What's that?" asked Ben as a tease.
"We went to sleep, didn't you hear me?" Jack came back as quick as lightning. "Yesterday we had a great day. Dad took us off to the country club and left us there, then we went off to the pictures in Cambridge for the early evening showing and then Dad picked us up and brought us home. But it gave us a chance to talk to Harry and also we were a bit naughty with him, but let's face it, he enjoyed it and joined in being naughty too in the end. For a start we showed him the pictures on our poster boards in our den and he picked up on that straightaway that they were all male pics and he even asked if we weren't allowed to have any pin-ups of page three girls on our boards and we told him straight we weren't interested and preferred page three men. He didn't know what to say to that, but he couldn't hide his interest. We checked out his trousers while he was looking at them. And he asked about your modelling photos, and the family ones with Seb and Marc. He couldn't keep his eyes off the ones in the bodysocks.

"Next thing, he didn't have any kit for the leisure centre. Well, that was no problem. We've got plenty of spare kit that we've outgrown. The only trouble was that he was so small that we had difficulty carrying out what we'd planned and that was to give him the smallest kit we could find. Anyway it worked a treat. He had his own trainers and white socks, so we found him some white shorts, a singlet, tee shirt and sweatshirt, then a jockstrap and some scrungies and a pair of tracksuit bottoms plus a towel. So there he was kitted out. And if it was too small we had some spare in our own kit bags we could have lent him."
"What are scrungies?" inquired Ben.
"You know. Proper swimming trunks like racing swimmers wear, not boxers, Speedos."
"Where did that expression come from?"
"We picked it up when we were staying with some Australian cousins, liked the word and used it ever since.

"When we got there we played our normal trick when getting changed. This is what's so good about being twins. We've always got the other one for support and when we're with someone like Harry we automatically put him in the minority. We quickly stripped off all our clothes before even opening our kit bags, then slowly put our kit on for Harry's entertainment. We learnt that from Seb. He said he used to do that at school for a bit of fun. When Harry changed into that old kit of ours I could have taken him on the spot. He was hot, man. We might as well have given him a bodysock to wear. Still, there was work to be done. We warmed up in the fitness room, played squash taking turns, then went off for an early lunch. Out on the tennis courts in the afternoon and then back for a swim in the indoor pool before being really naughty.

"Throughout the day it was becoming clearer to both of us that Harry was in fact gay. He didn't only check us out at every opportunity, but kept his eye on any guy the slightest bit cute who came into range and so Ted and I decided we'd go in for the kill, especially after hearing about what happened in the showers at school. The sauna. No problem. All during the day he had not been the last reticent in showing off his body and there was no reason why he should've been. Luckily we had the sauna to ourselves. You usually do. So we made ourselves comfortable on our towels and I looked at Ted, he looked at me and nodded and we lay back with our eyes closed and gave ourselves erections. When I opened my eyes, Harry's were out on stalks and they weren't the only stalks he was displaying. We all burst out laughing. 'Can I ask you something?' he said to us hesitatingly. 'Are you two gay?' 'Whatever made you think that?' said Ted teasing him, but I judged the moment to be wrong and quickly said 'They don't come gayer than us. What about you?' He didn't know what to say. In fact through the steam I'd say he was close to tears. I put my arm round him. By then our stiffies had gone down, but when I cuddled him he started to get hard again. Ted leant against the door of the sauna in case someone came in. 'Don't worry. We're your friends. We noticed that you were getting a bit of a rough time at school after you got that boner in the showers a couple of weeks ago. It happens to all of us. It's just that we've learnt to laugh when it happens to us and that's why we wanted you to come and stay with us this weekend, so you'd know who your friends are,' I said 'I don't know for sure whether I'm gay or not,' he replied. 'I've suspected for some time and then I got a hard-on in the shower and knew it wasn't an accident. I saw Paul there and I really wanted to touch him and then I remembered something he'd said a few weeks back in the changing room about someone wanting to give him a blowjob.' 'Don't worry about him,' said Ted. ' He's a friend as well and he'll look after you. We're all going to look out for one another after what Graham did to you and I think once one of those photos gets stuck to his locker door he won't be giving anybody any more trouble again.' We got a smile out of Harry then. We all went for a cold shower, then into the jacuzzi and after we got changed we had a snack in the cafeteria and Harry opened up.

"He'd thought he was gay for some time, but had no one to talk to about it. He didn't dare mention it to his parents because from some of the things his father said he knew he'd go spare. So he just ignored it until he got the boner in the shower that time. From then on one or two people at school made his life a misery. I won't mention any more names at the moment, though it might come to it in the end. Ted and me with Paul will see what we can do first. The three of us came to a decision. It was from something Lewis said, but we want to discuss it with Mum and Dad and Paul doesn't know yet, but he'll be involved too. We want to make our house a sort of refuge for gay pupils at school. They can come and visit and feel safe and be open about their sexuality and if they want to talk to someone about it for advice or sympathy even we'll find someone for them. With your family connections that won't be hard. Will you help us, Ben?"
"I think you're being very brave. Providing your parents and Lewis come on board, the answer is yes. I don't think there will be any difficulty there, but I'm not working against them. I want to work with them. We'll talk some more when you've spoken to them. Leave Lewis to me. You won't know this yet, and it's not to go beyond the Batty family until it's announced officially - promise?"
"I promise."
"Lewis is coming back to the Mythe to teach next term."
"He's not?"
"He most certainly is."
"Well, that'll be a powerful team."
"But at this stage leave the School out of it. I don't know what the official line is, but if we act as purely private individuals I can't see a problem. What happened for the rest of the evening?"
"Not a lot really," said Jack.
"We caught the bus into Cambridge, went to the cinema, sat Harry inbetween us." 'The Atomic Twins,' thought Ben to himself.
"He was entirely relaxed," Jack continued.
"We held his hand and put our arms round him for a bit and otherwise just enjoyed the film. It finished about half past seven. We gave Dad a ring on the mobile and he came and fetched us. At home we had something to eat and sat in front of the television until bedtime, said good night and went upstairs. We did stuff together for a bit and when we started to get ready for bed he asked us if he could sleep in our room. You can't not help a friend and we weren't going to let him sleep on the floor so we stripped and showered as we normally do for bed. He did the same and we put him inbetween us in the big bed."
"I'm not going to ask what happened next," smiled Ben.
"And I'm not going to tell you except, one he wants to sleep with us again tonight, two we were all glad church wasn't until ten this week and three..." in a mock stage whisper "...our Harry's no longer a virgin!"

"Hello, you two. No home to go to?" It was Phil Batty.
"We just got chatting, Dad," said Jack, "and then thought we might as well wait for you. You've finished your conference with the rector, then?"
"Yes, went on a bit."
"What the conference or the rector?"
"Good bye, everybody." That was the rector as he passed them on his way to the rectory. Phil counted his blessings that he hadn't had a chance to answer the question. At that all three made their way home to various Sunday lunches.

As Ben drove to school on Monday morning there were three very happy bunnies in the back of his car.

X

Monday afternoon in the car on the way back from school Jack and Ted almost fell over themselves to talk about the weekend. Sunday after church had really been an idle day, but the one thing they had done was to talk. The three boys made it clear they were quite happy to stay at home after the exertions of Saturday and the twins explained that Harry just wanted a normal Sunday to hang out rather than be entertained one hundred percent of the time. Lunch was as drawn out and leisurely as it always was, whether at the Battys' or, when they were invited, at Oddstones. Jack and Ted had a superb opportunity to discuss with their parents and in front of Harry their idea of having a kind of safe-house for the gay community at school at their home. Providing there were certain ground rules Phil and Christina seemed to support the idea. It would be just for boys at the Mythe School. They couldn't cope with greater numbers and at least they had some idea of whom they would be hosting and if things went wrong they had a family to contact. They were not experienced enough to deal with strangers, nor did they have the resources and they were certainly not an extension of Social Services! Phil made that very clear.
"I now know why we moved to a house called 'The Retreat'," commented Christina.

All three boys sorted the dishwasher afterwards and then as promised took turns to teach Harry how to control and drive the sit-on motor mower. Then they took skateboards round the village, came back home, had tea in the garden, went and watched a bit of television in the twins' room and did their best to make the graffiti photos clear and legible before printing a few copies for possible use at school.
"And did you use any?" asked Lewis.
"Only one at the moment," said Ted.
"It's sellotaped on the inside of Graham's locker," said Jack.
"With the distinct hint it could be superglued to the outside should certain things happen again," said Ted.
"You know, I've suddenly gone very deaf in my left ear," said Ben "and the noise of the traffic in my right is just too much." The twins giggled.
"So what happened for the rest of the evening?" enquired Lewis.
"Not a lot. We had a snack downstairs. Mum and Dad chatted to Harry. Then we all said good night and went to bed."
"And a very good night it was, thank you very much, nudge, nudge, wink, wink, say no more" completed Jack straight from the Monty Python's Flying Circus DVD.

Amid all the laughter Ben drew up outside the Nook. The boys got out, grabbed their school bags from the boot and with a cheery cheerio and a thank you disappeared into their own house. Lewis and Ben went straight in, put the kettle on and made a cup of tea.

The twins went in, greeted their mother, went up and changed out of their school uniforms into something more comfortable for a warm summer's day and went down for a quick bite to eat before doing their homework. They had always been conscientious about their schoolwork, even when they were at the comprehensive school where things were not quite so strict as at the Mythe. They knew once it was done the rest of the evening was their own. Over the tea table Jack said
"We were thinking of going over to see Seb this evening."
"Is that all right?" asked Ted.
"We want to tell him about this weekend."
"He might be able to help us," said Jack.
"You'd better be ring him first to see if it's okay," said their father.
"And do make sure you're back before it gets dark. Those lanes can be quite dangerous at night."
"Yes, Mum," they chorused and Jack went to telephone. Ted said
"That gives us until ten."
"You'd better be back before then. You've got school tomorrow and we don't think you got a lot of sleep over the weekend."
"Dad! Jack, did you hear that? I don't know what he thinks we get up to."
"Tell us, Dad, it might bring some excitement into our dull little lives," and they zoomed out of the room denying their father the right to reply.

After working off their surplus energy on the lawn and chatting up Lewis and Ben while they were having their tea on the patio it was time to go and visit their godfather. They shouted cheerio to their parents through the kitchen window, hauled their bikes out of the garden shed and cycled off down the path and out into the lanes to Oddstones. When they arrived Elly let them in, gave them each a great big wet kiss which they wiped off on the sleeve of their tee shirts while she went to telephone Seb.
"Two awesome 15 stone, I mean 15 year old hunks for you, brother dear. I almost fancy them myself."
"Please send them up, sister dear, and don't make promises their bodies won't fulfil. They know the way." Four feet stomped up the stairs two at a time until they reached Seb's apartment. He was working out on his rowing machine and dressed in the most fetching yellow one piece. They hugged him and he kissed them on the cheek. This time they did not wipe it off, but just took a moment to breathe in the pheromones from his fresh masculine perspiration. He towelled off the excess sweat and went to get some cold squash for them all to drink.

"Sit yourselves down," said Seb. "I hear you had a pretty wicked weekend."
"We'll tell you all about that later, but we want to run some ideas past you first," said Jack.
"We've pretty well got Mum and Dad on board and Dad said that if we get it right..."
"A business plan, he called it," interrupted Jack. Ted continued.
"...he'll finance it within reason."
"He was even talking about getting it charitable status."

Seb already knew about the background to why Harry had spent the weekend with them. The twins had started to confide him a lot since they had adopted him as their godfather and they respected his experience and opinions and the fact that he was less emotionally involved. So after bringing him up to date with the discussions since they had met at church they popped the vital question.
"Seb, would you become our independent adviser?" asked Ted.
"You always seem to come up with the right answer," said Jack.
"I feel flattered," answered Seb. "You're right, I suppose, about being independent, but I'm not sure about having the experience. I've always shied away from official 'counsellors'. The ones I've met always seemed more in need of counselling themselves than capable of giving it."
"That's why we want you."
"Thank you, Jack. That does my confidence a lot of good."
"We didn't mean it like that," said Ted.
"What we meant," continued Jack, "is that you are independent and have always got it right, and been successful, and so you could share that success."
"I see what you mean and I suppose you're right, really," answered Seb with that smile and the accompanying enchanting boyish twinkle in his eyes that always betrayed how much he liked the people lucky enough to receive it.
"We love you, Uncle Seb," and they grabbed him, pulled him onto the sofa and cuddle him in a rough way.
"Careful. Mind my new one piece. If you stretch it the wrong way, it could be quite painful." His loins were already beginning to fight against the Lycra.
"And I haven't said yes yet."
"But you will, won't you?"
"How could I refuse such a hot pair of godsons?. I'll give it a go, but without any promises." And poor Seb had to suffer quite a rough house while the twins hugged and kissed him.

To spare himself any further damaged he got up and made some more squash and brought in some biscuits.
"Well, tell me how you got on with Harry. You haven't told me any of the details yet."
"We've told you," said Ted.
"No, I meant in bed."
"Of course he did, dummy," said Jack summoning up all his brotherly love. Jack looked at his watch.
"We'd better be going or we're be in for a nagging."
"Thanks a lot, Seb. We love you," and he got a final hug and a kiss from both of the twins before they went down the stairs, two at a time as always, said good night to Marc and Elly and rode off on their bikes. Their twins were safely tucked up in the nursery.

---oo0oo---

When the twins got home, they said hallo to their mother and father and over a cup of Horlicks recounted their conversation with Seb, but as time was getting on and it was school the next day they soon disappeared upstairs, took a quick shower and got ready for bed. As usual they checked their e-mails. They had discussed setting up a website for the Retreat and the Dining Club, but decided against it after talking to Seb, Lewis and Ben for fear of bringing their school into disrepute for probably they would never have gained permission for such a venture and it could not be detached from the school and have remained credible. While Jack was waiting for Ted to cut his toenails, he logged on to <www.selfpics.org> to make sure their pictures were still there - they had posted some of those they had taken for Ben and Lewis - and while searching through the pages he suddenly stopped.
"Hey, Ted. Come and take a look at this." He had stumbled across a picture of a boy, allegedly eighteen, posing in a black tanktop and a white silken slip. With his strawberry blond hair partially hanging down over his bright blue eyes and a faint line of fair hair leading the viewer's eye down from his navel to his packet in that loose, white, silken slip he was hot, the cutest of cuties, and this was perhaps the key to the whole attractiveness of the boy and his pose, for although he was not 'big' by any stretch of the imagination, the slip made the most of what he had got and rendered the whole photograph extremely sexy.

"Let's see the other pictures, Jack," Ted said as he noticed there were four more appended. They looked at them in turn and were far from disappointed.
"Scroll down and let's see his details." Jack scrolled down. There were not many details. Male.
"I can see that all right," said Ted. He was gay and Aries.
"The ram," said Jack.
"I wonder," said Ted.
"March/April birthday," said Jack.
"He's not eighteen, surely?" said Ted "And from Sweden. Must tell him there's no double e in Sweden."
"Why? What's your Swedish like? E-mail address: <slavedrengen@hotmail.com>. Write that down, Ted." "'If you like more pix of me, please send some of you similar to mine. Love Niklas.'," Ted continued to read.
"I like the 'Love Niklas'," said Jack. "A little job for after school tomorrow. That should make Master Niklas's day. It's a good job we've got broadband with the amount of stuff we can send him. Hey, it's nearly eleven. We'd better get to bed."
"Download it all so we don't have to search through all those pages again. It won't take a minute." Jack downloaded the pictures and Niklas's write-up, encrypted them and shut down the computer. They climbed into bed before putting out the light and quickly falling asleep.

XI

The summer holidays soon arrived. Ben needed a couple of weeks to wind down and while waiting for Lewis to finish his term he got on top of the garden and house maintenance.

The twins, however, having boundless energy and being irrepressible, had planned to go camping on the first weekend. Because of lack of time the refuge idea had not really got off the ground yet, but they were just as keen on it as ever. Consequently they invited Paul and Harry to join them. They had gained permission from one of the farming families, whose son Daniel they knew at school, to use some land on their farm which was situated some ten miles from Cambridge on the other side of the city and Phil had promised to transport the four and while Paul's father brought their kit along on a trailer, which they did on the Friday afternoon.

The weather was set fair, but it was scarcely a question of survival camping anyway. They took with them the family's large trailer tent which at a push could sleep six. It meant that they could sleep together which would be more fun than splitting up into two-man tents. When they arrived at the farm they were shown to a wooded area in which there was a clearing of perhaps half an acre. This secluded field lay on a slope which ran down to a stream, not particularly deep, but with clear flowing water which their friends from the farm assured them was safe to drink as it came from a spring on their land and they'd had it tested. If the weather did turn nasty they could come up to the farm buildings and shelter in a barn providing they didn't cook in it, but looking at the sky that did not seem likely. If they made their way to the dairy in the morning they could have fresh milk and if all else failed they could walk down to the village for something to eat, but they had decided it would have to be an emergency for them to do that. Otherwise what was the point of camping?

The group consisted of four hard workers and so it was not long before the tent was erected. Meanwhile Harry had gone off into the wood to collect fuel for a campfire. They had allowed themselves the luxury of air beds which Paul blew up with a foot pump and and put into the large room of the tent and then they spread their sleeping bags out on top. Jack and Ted got down to the task of digging out the turf for the fire and once Harry had returned with the first load of wood they collected kindling and started the fire off so that they could cook supper. The other little luxury they had with them was small generator, for although the days were so long when it did eventually get dark they would not have to fiddle around with torches when they went to bed and they were determined that the weekend's fun shouldn't stop just because the light had faded.

All this had been hot work. So the boys decided it was time for a swim.
"How many people did you see about, Harry, when you were collecting wood?" asked Jack.
"None," he replied. "It was all very quiet."
"Right! It's skinny-dipping time," said Ted and the twins instantly stripped off all their clothes leaving Paul and Harry no choice but to follow suit. Not that it was a worry for them since they had both been initiated into such activities at the Retreat and from changing for games had been no strangers to showing off their bodies prior to their sleep-overs there. They ran down the field and jumped into the stream. The water was just the right temperature to cool them down after their hard work and after splashing around for a few minutes a game of dick tag naturally ensued with Paul always making himself easy to tag so that he could be it and chase the other three. The game came to a natural close when the freshness of the water started to take its toll. The twins and Paul climbed out of the water and dried themselves off between flicking their towels at each other, while Harry just lay in the water chilling out when he uttered a chilling scream. He rushed out of the stream and firmly attached to his cock was a fish about a foot long. Jack, Ted and Paul rushed over to him.
"Don't pull it off," shouted Ted and as they got there Jack took it firmly by the jaws while Ted held it. He eased the jaws open wide enough to slide it off without the teeth sinking into Harry's flesh. Harry gave an immediate sigh of relief. Ted hit the fish over the head. Harry had a slight flesh wound which Ted noticed as he dried him off with his big white starched towel.
"We'll put some TCP on that and you'll be fine," said Jack.
"I assume you're up to date with your tetanus jabs as you're a rugby player?"
"They're fine. I had a booster last week."
"We'll cook that so and so tonight and see how much he likes going down your throat," said Paul.
"Can anyone here gut a fish?"
"Easy," said Harry "for anyone who keeps ferrets."

After this the boys got dressed, more as a protection against midges than the temperature, and after a short break they got down to preparing their supper - eggs, bacon, beans with the addition of fresh fish amidst arguments as to what sort it was.
"If it had been a pike I wouldn't have a cock left," said Harry.
"I know," said Jack. "It must be a roach, or rather a cockroach! Boom boom!" The other three immediately hurled anything they could grab at him.

It was nine by the time they had finished eating and they suddenly realised they hadn't put up the toilet tent. Ted and Jack did that while the other two cleared away and did the washing up before it got dark. As the sky was cloudless there would probably be a glow in it throughout the night. With the chores done they were content to sit around the fire and just chat. Already Harry's little adventure had been exaggerated into the stuff that legends are made of.

Suddenly the conversation concluded with Jack announcing
"I feel like a kip," at which he got up and started up the generator and there was now light in the tent. It was a signal for all four to go to bed. They stripped off their clothes which they stowed away neatly in their rucksacks and conveniently forgot to put any on as they all nestled down together among the sleeping bags.
"Let the fun begin," commanded Paul and it did begin. Even Harry had lost any tenderness he might have had from his wound. When the giggling and the squeals finally did die down Ted got up and switched the generator off.

Ted was woken at some unearthly hour by the dawn chorus. He looked at his watch. Quarter past four and he snuggled down amongst the sleeping bags with a warm body next to him. In his state half way between waking and sleeping he did not even bother to think who it was, but just pressed himself against it. In its sleep the adjacent body just cuddled and warmed him and he fell back fast asleep almost immediately. A couple of hours later he woke again and had to force himself apart from Harry's body. The feeling of sticking plaster being ripped off woke his erstwhile partner. They looked across the tent to see Jack sprawled out underneath Paul.

Having had enough sleep all four decided to get up. The twins ran naked down to the stream and jumped in. After the experience of the previous day Harry wore his slip. He and Paul decided to take it more leisurely and decided to use soap instead of just water for their morning ablutions. Suddenly they stopped for among the twittering of the birds did they not notice a quiet clicking sound. Before they could think any more about it they heard a thud and a boy, camera in hand, jumped out of a nearby tree.

Getting over the initial shock they realised it was Daniel, the son of the farmer on whose land they were camping and a classmate. Their first reaction was embarrassment, not so much at being discovered by one of their classmates, but rather by being caught on candid camera.
"God, you gave us a fright," said Harry.
"You'll pay for that," said Paul.
"Not with these pictures I won't," said Dan. Meanwhile the twins had spotted what was happening and they ran over and greeted Dan like a long lost friend. The dynamics of the group had altered, but Paul just continued pushing his point.
"No photographer's shop would print them. They'd send them to the police." Paul kept on digging the hole he was in. Dan just grinned. He knew he was winding him up.
"Right, but for the wrong reason. It's a digital camera." Collapse of stout party, but finally Paul had realised it was a wind-up. Jack and Ted fell about laughing while Harry stood there with his mouth open simply not knowing what to think or to say. "Anyway, come on up to the dairy and you can have some of this morning's milk."

Our four campers quickly got dressed and followed Daniel to the farmhouse.
"You're obviously enjoying yourselves out here," said Dan.
"Well, it's a bit of fun for us away from home for a couple of nights," said Ted.
"We quite often spend weekends together at Ted and Jack's house, so we thought we'd get away from home for a change," said Paul.
"What do you do?" asked Dan.
"Stuff," said Jack quickly just in case the conversation was going too far.
"Like you were this morning?" asked Dan. The conversation had gone too far.
"Nah," said Ted.
"We haven't got a stream running through our garden.
"Hey, lads, that's a big tent you've got there. Do you think I could come and camp out with you tonight? I'll have to ask Mum and Dad first." The lads looked at one another. Jack and Ted were experts in non-verbal communication and their telepathy was at work.
"We're having a jockstrap party tonight," piped up Harry. "Are you okay with that?"
"What's that?"
"We just wear jockstraps and nothing else," he answered.
"I haven't got a problem with that."
"You're on," said Jack and Ted in unison. They tacitly acknowledged to each other they might have a challenge on that night. Paul's eyes lit up at the mention of the word 'jockstrap'. Where on earth did Harry get that idea from? Luckily he never travelled without at least one. The twins wouldn't have agreed if they didn't have one with them and Harry wouldn't have suggested in the first place if he didn't. Added to that Daniel, being a farmer's boy and having to help out, was quite a meaty boy. There might be some mileage there, though he'd never thought it of him. And yet, he did take those photos, so he was obviously interested.

Safely tethered in one of the fields was the farm's breeding bull whose attributes even made country-boy Harry's eyes water. Once in the dairy they said good morning to Dan's father who asked them how they had slept that night and who received a suitably vague answer in return. He gave the boys a two litre plastic can of milk straight from the cooler.
"Keep it sealed in the stream and make sure you drink it by tomorrow morning. It's not been through the pasteuriser. And if you don't finish it, bring it back here. I'm in for a hefty fine if it pollutes the land or water. And there's plenty more if you need it."

At that point Daniel's mother appeared in the dairy and Dan introduced the guests.
"Have you boys had breakfast yet?"
"We're just going back to make it now," answered Jack.
"We just need to build up the fire," said Ted.
"Why don't you come into the kitchen and have some here? I've just popped out to get some fresh eggs from the hen house," said Daniel's mother. None of the boys could resist and they followed Dan into the farmhouse.

The kitchen was huge with its own range and a large scrubbed wooden table in the middle and it wasn't long before hot steaming mugs of tea were placed in front of the boys. Under the direction of Daniel they set the table while his mother got on over the stove with frying bacon, heating baked beans and scrambling eggs. The boys queued up to make their own toast, then got down to plates of cereal. It was surprising how time had flown and what had been an early rising had now become almost half way through the morning. At least at half past nine it seemed like it. Dan's mother shouted up the stairs
"Tom, breakfast" and just as our boys were leaving a dishevelled blond boy of about eleven appeared in the kitchen and grunted "Good morning", taken aback to see so many people round the breakfast table. He formally shook hands, but it was only Paul who really noticed the potential that had walked in. In the scramble to say thank you and good-bye Dan had almost forgotten to ask the vital question.
"Mum, can I camp out with Jack, Ted, Paul and Harry tonight?"
"It's Tom's turn to help with the milking tomorrow morning, so I don't see why not."
"Cool. Thanks, Mum. I'll bring my kit down this afternoon, lads, okay?"

At this our four left and trooped back down to their campsite carrying the can of milk.
"Did you see that?" said Paul whistling through his teeth.
"What?" chorused the others.
"Dan's little brother Tom and not so little I would say."
"You're a horny bastard," said Jack.
"Baby snatcher," said Ted.
"Not such a baby, more a babe!" said Paul. "You wait till we come up for the milk tomorrow."

But as luck would have it they didn't have to wait that long. During the rest of the morning they did what kids their age do when they're out in the country by themselves away from the prying eyes of adults. It was not all leisure as the fire had to be started up again for lunch. Their unexpected invitation to breakfast had meant they hadn't needed it early morning and it had gone out. Jack and Paul went off into the wood chopper in hand to stock up on logs while Ted and Harry stayed behind to get the fire going and get things ready for their midday meal, which was basically the breakfast they hadn't eaten. It was safely stowed away in the coolboxes. When everything had been cleaned and cleared away they just chilled out dozing in the sun to make up for their lack of sleep the night before.
"You know what I should have done?" said Harry.
"What's that?"
"Brought my ferrets. There were enough rabbits around here at dusk and dawn to keep them entertained and we could have skinned them and had rabbit stew."
"Can you skin a rabbit?"
"Yeah, dead simple, especially when they're fresh. You cut the paws off at the knee joint and the head, then just use a sharp knife to unzip the fur down the front and it should peel off easily. The only tricky bit is when you slit down the front to get the guts out. You don't want to cut into the entrails or you'll ruin the meat."
"What does it taste like?" asked Jack fascinated.
"Mmm, rabbit I suppose," answered Harry which brought forth a whole lot of thicko noises, but no one really knew whether they were meant for Jack or Harry.

The sun was warm, but a cool breeze stopped it from getting too hot. By this stage they were all dressed in shorts and trainers. Ted went and fetched the football out of the tent and while they were playing Daniel turned up with his kit and his brother. Dan was no mean looker himself, but next to his brother Tom, he appeared plain. Considering he was only eleven he was well developed. He was wearing football kit (inevitably Manchester United with a number 7 Beckham shirt, but we won't dwell on that). As soon as he saw the game going on he dropped what he was carrying and joined in, or rather took over. He was here, there and everywhere, tackling Paul, who was the biggest, and Ted, who was the heaviest, without the least care and getting away with it even though the other five all had four years' advantage over him and when he decided to boot the ball he had more power behind the kick than any of the others, including his big brother.
"Apart from the farm he just lives soccer," said Dan.
"Yeah," responded Tom and punched the air. Having warmed up he removed his shirt and that stopped the game. He was Adonis in miniature. His body was all muscle and sinew, not an ounce of excess flesh or fat on him, and it was topped by an open, good-looking face, angular, but handsome and noble and interested, with large blue eyes and an infectious smile finished off with a blond thatch cropped short for the summer. Tom was not slow to realise the attention he was getting and played up to it flexing his muscles and posing. He had one of those voices you couldn't tell whether it was broken or not, but as he shouted you could hear it was starting to gain the coarseness of the adolescent voice and his shorts, although not tight, because of the loose integral slip of football shorts betrayed a sizeable packet for an eleven year old. The competition to chat him up outstripped the previous competition of getting possession of the ball during the game.
"I'm coming to the Mythe next term," Tom said.
'You'll lead a charmed life there,' Paul thought.
"You'll have to play rugby there," said Ted.
"I'm cool with that," said Tom.

They all relaxed and sat in the sun chatting. Harry fetched them all cans from the coolbox. He made a mental note to ask Dan to ask his mother to put the blocks in the freezer. Meanwhile Paul was plotting. 'I've got to see the full monty,' he thought to himself and bided his time while engaging Tom in conversation. The late afternoon sun had grown hotter and it was clear everyone was feeling the heat.
"I'm going for a swim," Paul announced and stripped all his clothes off.
"Are you coming, Tom?" he said in such a way it would be hard to refuse. Not only Tom, but they all stripped naked, although Harry still seemed a bit wary after what had happened, but he decided in the end to take everything off and ran after the others. He was determined to keep moving in the water this time.

Paul was not disappointed, he was impressed even, for Tom could have held his own (Is that the right expression?) in the showers with any of them. 'What will he be like when he's our age?' wondered Paul. After they had all had their splash and cooled down they dried themselves. Tom had to go and they said good-bye with cries of
"See you tomorrow." He had obviously scored a hit, not only with Paul. Dan unpacked his kit which included a range of goodies his mother had sent along such as sandwiches, home-made cake, crisps and other snacks.
"Where am I sleeping?" he asked.
"In here with us. There's room for six. Just put your sleeping bag on one of the air beds," said Jack.
"And keep your personal kit in your rucksack," said Ted.

It was time for supper. They wouldn't need to cook after what they had eaten during the day. Dan's mother's provisions would be sufficient.
"We'd better put the cider in the stream or it won't have cooled down in time," said Ted and off he went with Harry to do it.

Then they all settled down chatting nineteen to the dozen.
"When does the party begin?" asked Dan keen on the evening's entertainments.
"The whole weekend's a party," replied Harry.
"No, the jockstrap party."
"Not till we go to bed." Dan was even more puzzled.
"Did you have a jockstrap party last night?"
"No, course not. It was birthday suits last night."
"Oh." Dan was a bright boy at school, but he was definitely slow on the uptake during the holidays.
"Explain."
"You don't get it, do you?" said Ted.
"It's obvious, but before we tell you, think it through. Start with early this morning," said Jack.
"What were you doing and what were we doing?" said Paul.
"I was taking photos - by the way I've downloaded them. I'll show you tomorrow. - and you were just having fun and frolics."
"Yes, go on," said Harry.
"How? What did you photograph?"
"You were skinny-dipping..."
"And you were interested, thus the photos. You didn't have to take them," said Ted.
"And you asked if you could camp out with us tonight," said Jack, "because...?"
"I wanted to join in the fun." Applause and cheers all round because the penny had finally dropped. Dan blushed and laughed.
"Don't you realise we're gay?" asked Paul.
"Well, it did cross my mind, but against all logic I thought no, impossible, not them. You all seem such normal blokes."
"Of course we're normal," said Jack.
"It's just that we like sex and we like it with other guys."
"We can't stand the poofs and the drama queens either," added Ted.
"Give us a boy's boy any day."
"And are you cool with that?" enquired Harry.
"I suppose I am or I wouldn't be here. I've never given it any real thought really. At school people get ragged about it, but I've never thought any more about it than that." It went quiet for a few seconds as Dan thought things over.

"That bottle of cider should be cold enough to drink by now," said Ted and along with Jack he went down to the stream to fetch it. Harry sorted out the fire, Paul got five cups ready and Dan unpacked some more goodies from his mother's supplies. It was finally beginning to get dark and a little cooler with just a glow in the north western sky. The fire gave off enough light to make the party cosy. In the distance they could hear an owl hooting and the rabbits were venturing out of their burrows and the boys enjoyed a feeling of intimacy and solitude as they lay on rugs drinking their cider and snacking.

"Have you ever had any gay experiences, Dan?" asked Paul.
"Only one and that wasn't so long ago."
"Do want to tell us?" said Harry.
"If you tell me yours," replied Dan.
"You're on," chorused the others.
"From what you've seen and heard we can't really deny it now," said Ted. Dan started and then our four campers then told of their own experiences and how they had become friends and were determined to fight the bully boys and homophobes at school.
"If you like what we do tonight. we'll invite you out to our place for a sleep-over when we get back from our holiday," said Jack.
"Where are you going?" asked Dan.
"Only America," said Ted.
"Only America," repeated Dan.
"That would be luxury. For us it's difficult to get away from the farm with the beasts to look after."

The time had gone on unnoticed and it was nearly midnight, although there was still a glow in the sky. The fire had burnt down to embers, the cider was finished. Harry got up and put some damp wood on so that it would burn through till morning. Jack went and started up the generator for the light in the tent. It was time for them to change into their jockstraps and go to bed. Daniel wore his cricketing model, Jack and Ted a Bike 10 and a Duke respectively, souvenirs from their last American holiday, Paul a Puma and Harry an Intersport.

After a considerable amount of banter and horseplay they decided it was time to go to sleep, or for those that couldn't sleep to get down to some action, which meant five out of five of them. They sorted out the sleeping bags, put Daniel between Paul and Jack with Harry sleeping between the 'Atomic' Twins. Ted switched off the generator and in the dark the real fun began.

In the morning the atmosphere was unbearable to any human being with the smell of adolescent boy, a mixture of sweaty armpits and sweaty bottoms, dried semen, smegma, cheesy feet and of course the result of eating so many eggs the day before. Not that any of the inhabitants of the tent noticed anything amiss, they just revelled in it.

Despite the bright sunshine the boys slept in late, tired from their nocturnal activities. In fact they were woken by Dan's brother Tom who had brought a fresh supply of milk down from the dairy.
"God, the stink in here!" he said as he unzipped the tent door, and without knocking.
"My pig wouldn't spend more than ten seconds in here." What he saw was confusion, a confusion of sleeping bags, a confusion of bodies, some with jockstraps on, some naked. Paul perked up when he saw Tom. He was now smitten with the boy and had even had to relieve himself again in the middle of the night because he couldn't get to sleep again from thinking about him.

The others were still not really awake. Paul found his jockstrap and slipped it on. He grabbed some shorts and a tee shirt and didn't worry about the fact they weren't his, then put his trainers on, ostensibly to collect the milk from Tom and take it down to the stream to keep it cool. But all he could see in his mind's eye was Tom. Unabashed he took Tom in a hug. Oddly he didn't recoil, but returned it. Paul must have grabbed Harry's stuff, it was so tight, but that didn't matter. It just showed off his pecs, his nipples and of course his packet, which was bulging again, that much better this time, and it hadn't gone unnoticed by Tom, whose bulge was more from the eyes than the loins. He was so taken by Tom that he walked him back to the farmhouse in order to chat him up and on his eventual return his first words were
"Hey, lads, have we got room for Tom in the tent tonight?"

The others had been so impressed with him on the Saturday, especially with his football, that they didn't want to say no. So they asked Daniel to stay another night and left the decision to him as to whether his style would be cramped by his 'little' brother.
"That'll depend on Mum and Dad. Our cowhand comes in on weekdays, so we don't have to help with the milking, but I don't mind."

Sunday was their last full day at the camp site. Mrs Batty was going to collect them and the tent trailer about eleven o'clock. Meanwhile the other trailer was to be loaded and ready for Paul's father to collect it and take it back to the Retreat when he had finished work. The boys would sort everything out in the evening.

Sunday filled itself as Sunday does. It was time for the boys just to hang out. Daniel gave them a guided tour of the farm. He even gave them the chance to milk a cow which just produced a look of something between indifference and disdain from the cow concerned, but very little milk in fact. Harry was the most successful, but as Jack said, that was from the practice they had had last night. Chores such as fetching wood and cooking had to be done, as well as keeping some semblance of order at the campsite. Between them they were a pretty well disciplined set of lads who certainly wanted to give Daniel's father a good impression so that they could come another time. When the afternoon milking had been done, (both sons had helped there) Tom turned up with Dan and his kit and some serious football got underway. Afterwards the boys stripped off for a swim, Harry assuming that lightning would not strike in the same place twice, as it were, and after supper had been cleared away they sat around the campfire having a singsong, mainly rugby songs, until tired on their third night they went to bed a little earlier than usual. They did not even bother with the generator. The only difference tonight was that with six of them it was rather cramped and gallantly Paul offered to go and sleep in the other room of the tent, except that he not only took his kit and an air bed with him, but also with no reticence whatsoever Tom. The rest were too busy entertaining each other to worry about it and Paul had a promise to fulfil.

It was about half past seven when the others emerged from the tent to see Paul and Tom down by the stream after swimming and completing their ablutions. As they walked up towards a roaring fire, their towels over their shoulders, there was no need to ask if they had had a successful night.

With the work done the boys had half an hour to wait before Christina Batty was due, so they wandered up to the farmhouse to say thank you and take their farewell from Dan and Tom's parents. They sat in the kitchen over mugs of coffee. From the way Tom kept staring into Paul's eyes anyone could see that a bond had been forged between them that would live on in their memories for the rest of their lives. You always remember your first time. Finally it was time to go. The boys had another eight weeks of school holidays in front of them.

---oo0oo---

For Daniel and young Tom the experiences of camping were only the beginning of a new routine over the summer holidays. That night they both slept like logs, so it was the following night, or more precisely the morning after that things happened.

Tom woke up about five-thirty. It was light. He had been woken by his father getting up to go and milk the cows and he knew that mother usually got up at the same time to make sure he had his first breakfast and then she got on with chores, either in the house or around the farmyard. Tom pulled on a pair of shorts and a tee shirt and wandered along to Dan's room. Without knocking he quietly opened the door and climbed into bed with him. He was breaking new ground, but after the weekend he felt he had to put into practice what Paul had taught him and while he was not one hundred per cent certain what his brother's reaction would be, he did know that if he did get pissy, he might have to use the weekend's activities as a bargaining chip, or more bluntly as blackmail. However, it was unlikely to come to that for the two brothers did get on very well together and so he climbed under the duvet with his big brother.

Daniel did not stir. Tom did not know whether he was asleep or just pretending to be. He just snuggled up to his back warming his own body on him. He stroked his brother's chest. Daniel moved.
"Are you awake, Dan?"
"I am now." Tom had shifted his hand away. Dan took hold of it and with this encouragement he tried his newly learnt skills.

It was nine o'clock when they heard their mother shouting up the stairs. They looked at each other as if to say 'Thank God she didn't come up to wake us'. Tom slipped on his tee shirt and shorts and hurried along to the bathroom, calling out a reply to his mother on the way. For Dan and Tom the summer holidays were to be a different kind of learning curve from school.

XII

For their holiday Ben and Lewis had decided to tour central Europe camping on the way, but finally common sense took hold of them as they realised they were no longer students, but professional men, and went for the comfort of hotels. They made sure they were back by the middle of August for they wanted to celebrate the first anniversary of their act of commitment at the Nook. It was very quiet there for the Batty family had gone off to America and our boys took on the rôle of security guards. The night before their anniversary, a Saturday, they celebrated with the family at the Nook because they wanted to be by themselves on the actual day. On the Sunday they attended early service at the village church, then disappeared up north in the car. They had booked an excursion on the Keighley and Worth Valley railway to include lunch on the train. They trusted that with little traffic on a Sunday morning they would comfortably arrive in time. Arriving home late that evening they were puzzled to find a large card waiting for them, signed by Jack and Ted. The puzzle was twofold. How did they know and who delivered it? They could only think that a member of the family, probably Seb, had a hand in it. Still, he was going to get the blame anyway until proved innocent. The day had been most enjoyable for Ben and Lewis. They felt healthily tired on their return. They went for a shower, for sentimental reasons put on bodysocks and relaxed over a tot of malt whisky each. When they felt the time was right they retired to bed and celebrated the remaining part of their anniversary in the traditional manner. The celebrations continued when they woke the following morning until they finally rose at ten, showered and got on with the rest of their lives.

---oo0oo---

By now the summer holidays were waning fast for Ben and Lewis, but as Marc still had almost two months until the university term began he had taken Elly and the family off on holiday. So things were quiet. Seb was still working, but not keen on being alone at Oddstones he had invited his lifelong prep school friend Guy to stay for the weekend. The ardour of their youth had died down and despite their shared sexuality they had become, as the saying goes, just good friends, and very good friends at that. He thought his godsons would be interested in meeting Guy who could keep them entertained with the wealth of his experiences and having exacted from his friend a solemn promise that he would not try anything on, Seb invited them over for an afternoon and an evening. He did not dare mention to Guy that Jack and Ted considered themselves an inseparable item for that would have immediately issued him with a challenge and he had no doubt where that would end, though perhaps he had unwittingly underestimated the moral and mental strength of his godsons.

Jack and Ted accordingly arrived at Oddstones after an early lunch. They were introduced to Guy by Seb and the first handshake firmly established a rapport. First on the programme was go-karting at a local track, followed by tenpin bowling in Cambridge finishing with dinner at the village inn. Fortunately the weather was fine, as it could be over East Anglia in August. The karting lasted longer than expected and it was late afternoon before the four reached the Cambridge bowl. Seb and Guy took on the twins and honours were equally divided as they won one game each before it was time to motor back to Oddstones. Once there everyone freshened up and changed into something more suitable for the evening, this time pre-arranged corporate identity - white polo-necks. They spoilt themselves by driving to the inn, but on the other hand Ted, Jack and their kit had to be deposited back at the Retreat at the end of the evening.

Installed in a cosy corner Guy fetched the beers while Seb organised the menus. In such a small village community they were known and welcomed as regulars. By now Seb had been living there with Marc at Oddstones for some four or five years and although they had only been resident for a year Jack and Ted were already well known and accepted characters in the parish which took a particular interest in their progress at rugby.

When the food arrived Seb took charge of the conversation and guided it round to the opportunity for Guy to tell the twins his life story. Guy had been as good as his word and behaved impeccably towards them. All afternoon he had kept them entertained and although he could not deny having noticed their obvious merits he had confined his interest to conversation. Although they had never met before, the twins did not come cold to Guy. After all they had seen photos of him in Seb's apartment and they were never too reticent to ask questions. On the other hand, being such close friends, Seb and Guy readily confided in each other concerning their adventures and that included the last skiing holiday in Maurach. So the ball started rolling with the rather ingenuous question from Jack, for he knew the answer anyway, as to how they had first met.

"At prep school, some eighteen years ago wasn't it, Guy?" said Seb giving him an entrée.
"I suppose it must be." Guy took up the theme. "We arrived together, were in the same house, the same dorm, the same class and later on the same teams."
"Just imagine if we'd hated each other's guts at first sight."
"But we didn't. We took to one another straightaway."
"When did you find out you were gay?" interjected Ted.
"That's hard to say. Okay, at boarding school you found out the meaning of the word like so many others you had never heard within your first month surrounded as you were by older boys always ready to initiate the innocents that arrived at the age of eight, but it wasn't until the lower shell year, wouldn't you say, Seb?"
"What's that?" asked Jack.
"The second to last year, aged twelve. What they would probably call year seven now," said Seb disapprovingly.
"We were the first to adolesce," said Guy.
"Must have been all that milk they gave us," said Seb.
"Still it got us out of the choir," Guy went on. "They didn't know how to cater for breaking voices."
"They didn't know how to cope with little boys who sang 'penis angelicus'..."
"...and then after three years of Latin claimed they thought the a of panis was pronounced like the a in pane," giggled Guy.
"Anyway, we suddenly discovered we had the equipment..."
"And how!"
"...and did what boys do together. We certainly enjoyed it and looking back we had quite a thing going between us that any grown-up would be proud of, until about a year later we were caught and nearly expelled."
"Saved by your scholarship," interjected Seb with a cynical tone.
"Still, we didn't have long to go before we left. So we outwardly conformed and inwardly did the best we could in sheer defiance to show them that the system wasn't going to get us down, whether it was in lessons or sport."
"And they hated every minute of it because they publicly had to acknowledge all our successes like your century in one cricket match and my hat trick in another, when in their minds we were outcasts and they were looking for the slightest excuse to get at us."
"Boy, we were glad to get out of there, and yet we always liked school in general and I think we both made that point at public school."

"So is that when you knew you were gay?" said Ted pressing his last question home.
"What did your parents do?" said Jack almost simultaneously.
"One question at a time," rejoined Guy. "First of all we were to be suspended, prior to being expelled, we thought, but my parents were abroad at the time and exeat weekend was coming up and I was due to go home with Seb anyway. So to save face they suspended us for the weekend."
"They wanted to hush it all up, anyway."
"Some suspension. Seb's parents had to come and fetch us."
"Normally we would have gone home by train."
"And your Mum and Dad were jolly decent. They talked to us and seemed to understand and explained a lot to us and so it was that weekend, I suppose, that we came to understand that we were both gay. In fact they gave us a lot of encouragement on how to deal with it. Meanwhile they had managed to get hold of my parents by e-mailing the hotel. So after a telephone call there was a sense of agreement. What I particularly remember was that neither Seb's parents nor mine were ever angry or cross with us. They didn't tell us until we had left prep school, but they thought it had been handled rather clumsily."

Seb took up the tale.
"We knew that summer term was our last together. Guy had won the scholarship to King Edward's and I was going to go to Buckton College like Dad, and that's where I met Marc. We fell in love and have been together ever since." The twins just sat there all ears.
"As Seb said, I went on to King Edward's and I was determined to enjoy myself, and I certainly did that. Work hard, play hard. You see, we were never in love, were we, Seb?"
"No, but extremely close friends in an exclusive relationship who did enjoy a lot sex together."
"All right, we were passionate about each other. At King Edward's I had everything going for me. Scholar, so I was surrounded by the most intellectually stimulating lads. Good at sport, so I was surrounded by the most physically stimulating lads and many of them were bright boys, as well. And don't forget sport usually makes you both sociable and popular. Finally I was not only good-looking, even if I say so myself, but hung like the proverbial donkey and with a willingness and the ability to exploit it."
"I'll drink to that," said Seb and drained his glass. Jack slid a tenner across the table and asked Seb to arrange a refill for all.

During the account the twins had neglected their meal and while Seb was getting in the drinks they caught up before it grew cold. However, while their hunger was being satisfied their appetite for what happened next to Guy was still being stimulated.
"So tell us about King Edward's," they chorused. Guy was only too pleased to do so.
"Well, when you're the new boy you keep a pretty low profile until you know who's who and what's what, don't you?" The twins nodded obediently. "Within the first week or so of being there I was called a lush, propositioned and touched up several times, but I knew what I had on offer and it was going to be on my terms and to my advantage. I don't think I have ever been seduced in my life.
"I can think of one exception," chipped in Seb.
"That's right. Go and spoil it. ...since leaving prep school," Guy corrected himself among the general laughter. "Anyway, some time before the first half term holiday we were changing for a rugby match one Saturday morning in the same changing room as the U16s. I'd already seen this fifth former about the school and thought to myself I'd like a bit of that and according to my researches he wouldn't be too unwilling either and once I saw him getting changed that's when I set myself the challenge. He knew I was watching him and I undressed tartily and took time adjusting my jockstrap and shorts while smiling at him. After our match I hung back watching the U16s' game until they were finished, went into the shower with them and made an assignation in the music school that evening when most of the school would be in town at the pictures or whatever. I did some piano practice until the door of the practice room opened. The practice rooms had no windows and were soundproofed. We moved the piano across the door to bar it. I allowed him to have his wicked way and he deflowered me, but it wasn't all one-way traffic, I can tell you. After that my reputation was made and the spin-off was that my musical ability improved no end. In fact my nickname was the Music Man from that rugby song. As I said, I was prepared to make the running and I only had those I wanted to have. It saved me quite a few prefects' detentions and I was able to introduce many a small boy to the delights of the physical side of life. You see I had a reputation for being very gentle and considerate."
"Add to that the fact he's an extremely smooth operator."
"And life being full of coincidences I hear I met one of your neighbours on a exchange with a school in Glasgow."
"Oh?" said the twins, obviously interested.
"You'll see him tomorrow," said Seb "and you know his partner, in the Biblical sense, anyway." The four had not noticed how late it was getting.
"To cut a long story short, from that time on I've always been very lucky with the many guys I've met," said Guy.

"Okay," he said, "you've heard my life story. What about yours?" Jack and Ted gave each other a look. The telepathy was at work.
"Right," said Ted taking a deep breath.
"I suppose as a twin one of the first lessons you have to learn is give and take."
"We'll give," said Jack.
"What do you want to know?"
"What was the question you asked me?" replied Guy.
"When did you find out you were gay?"
"That's hard to say precisely because we grew up with it and didn't really know any different until we went to secondary school."
"You see, we have always slept together, dressed and undressed together, bathed and showered together, fooled around together," continued Jack, "so intimacy was no big deal. As brothers we've always loved one another."
"We realise it's not the same with every brother and sister,..." interjected Jack.
"...but we really do hate being separated," said Ted.
"Then three things happened about the same time," said Jack, "when we went to the comprehensive school."
"Firstly we learnt about sex - more from the other boys..."
"And girls!"
"...than in science lessons."
"And girls really put us off when they started talking about their periods and you could smell them," said Jack.
"And then secondly the equipment arrived," said Ted "and from checking out the other guys at school we knew we were more premier league rather than first division."
"And did we check them out!" said Jack. "That was one thing that was so great about transferring to the Mythe."
"An all-boys school with a whole new lot of cute boys to check out and I know this might sound terribly snobby, but they were a better class of guy in every respect," said Ted.
"And thirdly," said Jack "on discovering the equipment we played with it, both our own and each other's, coupled with the fact that we had always kissed good night from little babies, as we did with Mum and Dad, but we went a little further with the kissing from things we heard at school and found out the delights of tonsil tennis and what followed on after."
"Did your parents know what was going on?" asked Seb.
"Sure, not that we realised straightaway, but looking back it was obvious," said Ted.
"Don't forget we were living in a much smaller house at the time, so I suppose there was the noise we made and the stains on the sheets, but they never got on to us about it." Jack continued.
"Two boxes of tissues appeared on our bedside tables. Mum and Dad asked us if we wanted separate beds. We said no. Then when we were going to move that asked us if we wanted separate rooms. Again we said no."
"By then Dad had a chat with us," said Ted "and asked the direct question..."
"...and got a direct answer," said Jack "and we had a communal hug."
"Since then both Mum and Dad have been very understanding, they've never hassled us and they've tried to find out and do what's best for us."
"We've got a really fantastic Mum and Dad," finished Jack.

The four had not noticed how late it was getting. They drank up and went out to the car. Seb and Guy duly delivered the Batty boys untouched and unscathed to the Batty house, as promised, and went in for coffee before disappearing back to Oddstones.

The following morning it was quite a reunion at church. Guy and Lewis met for the first time since the second leg of that school exchange all those years ago and Ben was naturally delighted to see once again the one who had revealed to him his true sexuality and set him on the path to domestic bliss.

XIII

With September came the new school year. Jack, Ted, Paul, Harry and Dan were entering the fifth form and Ben returned with the confidence of having a fine set of public examination results behind him and the confirmation of his probationary year, both in writing and from a personal interview with the Headmaster. He was so pleased that Lewis was now on board at the Mythe and not just for practical reasons. He continued to teach just Jack for maths, but no longer saw either Jack or Ted on the games field as he took on the challenge of a new U15 squad. In any case there would always be the entertainment from the back seat of the car each morning and afternoon.

The boys too took up from where they had left off. Paul made a point of seeking Tom out during morning break on the first day of term to give him a welcome and assure him that there was someone besides his big brother to help and look after him. Daniel regularly attended the lunch group which gained an itinerant membership of those who had enjoyed hospitality at the Retreat. In fact amongst themselves that's how they referred to the daily gathering, as a dining club named 'The Retreat', or simply as 'the Club', and of course it only had any significance to those who had gone on a sleepover at the Battys'. Hardly a weekend would go by without someone from school being entertained there, which now not only included Daniel, naturally, but also his younger brother Tom. If statistics could be relied on there would be a minimum of thirty pupils who might qualify for an invitation. Graham, however well qualified he had turned out to be, was never one of them. Indeed one incident in particular showed how he had burnt his boats.

It was Tuesday and going home time from school. Jack and Ted climbed into the back of Lewis' car, more ebullient than ever if that was possible, which was surprising as they had spent an afternoon in the classroom and they were usually livelier after games afternoons. Ben and Lewis had been teaching games and so they were still enjoying the benefits of fresh air.

"What's got into you two?" asked Ben.
"We had a particularly good meeting of the Club at lunchtime," answered Ted while Jack giggled beside him.
"It must have been good," said Lewis "if you're still on a high like that." He drew out onto the main road from the school car park.
"Are you going to tell us about it?" asked Ben "or have we got to remain in a state of suspense all the way home?"
"Are you sure you want to hear?" asked Jack.
"You might have to turn a deaf ear," said Ted.
"Try us," said Lewis and Jack started.
"As we said, the Club was in informal session over lunch and there happened to be a spare seat at our table."
"Then up came Nick Cooper," continued Ted "and asked if he could join us." Ben's jaw ingenuously dropped.
"I didn't know he was ..."
"He's not," said Jack.
"That's the point," said Ted.
"In fact," went on Jack "he's the hetero stud of the fifth form."
"He was the first lad in our year to have sex with a girl," said Ted.
"Yeuk!" said Jack putting two fingers in his mouth and making vomiting noises in the back of the car.
"A huge loss to men everywhere," continued Ted and he tutted.
"Anyway," said Jack after recovering from his bout of nausea "he asked if he could join us. 'You'll have to show us you dick first,' said Daniel. 'Why? You've checked it out enough times already, all of you,' replied Nick. 'That's why,' retorted Harry. 'I haven't,' said Tom. 'That's your tough luck,' said Dan." Ted took up the story.
"Then Paul said 'Let's feel your balls then.' 'Piss off,' replied Nick 'the quality's too good and they're far too heavy for you ladies to handle' to which Harry added 'We're the best judges of quality ball round here.' But we like Nick so we told him to go and fetch his food and come and join us."

"But that's only half of the story," said Jack.
"While Nick was queuing up to get his food Graham came along with his tray and tried to sit down without asking. Tom slid into the seat to stop him. 'It would be polite to ask first,' he said, just like that, a first former to a fifth former! Even we were agog at that."
Ted went on. "Then he said sarkily 'May I sit down here, please, and have my lunch?' Quick as a flash Tom (again!) said 'No, Graham, and stop rubbing yourself against my shoulder. I've got more in my HO1s soft than you've got half-hard in your blue Y-fronts.' We were too amazed to laugh. 'I don't wear blue Y-fronts,' countered Graham weakly. 'All right, Marks & Sparks ladies' knickers,' said Harry."
Then Jack took up the tale. "I then said 'The answer's no in any case. We don't like you.'"
"He learnt that on our course at the School for Tact and Diplomacy," interrupted Ted and went on. "At that point Graham seemed almost in tears. 'It's not fair. You don't want me. The others don't want me just because I'm gay.' 'That's not quite true,' said Jack. 'None of us want you - that bit's true - but it's got nothing to do with you being gay. It's because you're a bully and a hypocrite. There's an empty table over there.'"
"Then he went off in a huff just as Nick was returning with his food and sat down. We told him what had happened and we all wet ourselves with laughter."

"Deaf ear turned," said Lewis.
"And another," said Ben "but it was funny all the same and it serves him right." They were both laughing along with the twins. At that point the car turned into the drive up to the Nook and the Retreat. Christina Batty was doing some gardening.
"Hi, boys!" 'Boys' included all four of them. "I could hear all that laughter before I heard the car engine. It must have been a good joke. Lewis and Ben, would you like to come in for a cup of tea? I'm hoping that laughter's going to be infectious. Over tea the twins regaled their mother with the story almost as they had just told in the car, but in expurgated form and without any sign of the laughter diminishing.

---oo0oo---

Autumn half term saw a week's return to Mykonos for Lewis and Ben, just for the sun, you understand. They had long ago exhausted the cultural and intellectual possibilities of the island and would use it simply for relaxation and recuperation in congenial company and surroundings. As they stayed at the same hotel, they were becoming known and welcome guests. They returned to England completely chilled out late Saturday afternoon.

As the clocks had gone back that night it was no difficulty for them on Sunday morning to get up in time for eight o'clock communion, expecting to see the rest of the family there. However, since they only saw Christina Batty they realised that Phil, and therefore by implication Marc, had their sidesmen's duties to perform that Sunday at the later service and so the Oddstones contingent would attend then. On the way back to the Nook they accompanied Christina, looking that much more bronzed beside her, and told her about the week in Greece. They had a little momento to give her as thanks for keeping an eye on the house over the week and asked if they could pop across during the morning to give it to her once they had got the washing and ironing done after their holiday.
"Come over when you're ready, boys," she replied. Lewis and Ben had got used to her calling them 'boys'. In fact they rather liked it from her and took it as a special term of endearment particularly as the twins were the only other people she ever addressed as 'boys'. "I'll tell you what," she continued. "We're having a buffet lunch today. Why don't you come and join us? There'll be plenty of food."
"We'd love to," replied Ben and Lewis together.

"Where are Jack and Ted this morning?" asked Ben.
"Are they going to the later service?" asked Lewis.
"Yes, we've been having a big 'Retreat' sleep-over this weekend. I don't think we've ever had so many together before at one time," answered Christina.
"That's why I went to the eight o'clock service. Phil, Jack and Ted will then bring the whole group along for family communion and I can get on and arrange the buffet in peace. Then tonight we're going to have all their friends' mothers and fathers there and end with a Guy Fawkes party and fireworks and then the parents can take their boys home ready for school tomorrow. We could never have coped with the transport otherwise. At this rate we'll have to buy a minibus to cope with this sort of thing." Lewis and Ben knew they would too, if they thought it necessary. "Seb'll be there for lunch and he's staying for the evening. You're welcome to that too. We'll need some help with crowd control."

Ben and Lewis, relaxed as they were, grew breathless from Christina's sheer energy and enthusiasm. They could see where the twins got theirs from. When they reached the Nook they said goodbye to Christina and promised to be across for twelve. They had a quick breakfast and got down to the chores and lesson prep for the following day so that they could attend the revelries with a good conscience. Later as they sat over their mid-morning coffee Lewis looked Ben in the eyes and said
"You know what this means, don't you?"
"What?"
"Going nextdoor with all the twins' friends from school there?" Ben thought for a few seconds.
"I think I'm getting your drift, Lewis." Then simultaneously
"We're going to be outed?!", one in a questioning tone, the other as a statement.

Neither looked shocked. Indeed a broad grin appeared on Ben's face.
"You don't mind, Ben?"
"Not really. How about you?"
"For myself it doesn't worry me. I've been through it. It's you I concerned about." Ben had a sharp mind which could cover the pros and cons of a problem in seconds. Lewis could see the process going on at that moment.
"Look, this is what I think," said Ben. "We've always said we would have to come out at some stage. In fact we already have to our family and to our neighbours. When you applied for your job at the Mythe, your application had this address on it. If the school authorities had been concerned they could have made enquiries, or more easily not have offered you the job. Think of all the friends of Jack and Ted we've driven between the Retreat and school and they've all been very pleasant, sociable boys and the same as us, gay. Let's face it, none of them are stupid, they'll have realised we live together and I haven't noticed any reaction at school. Mind you, I'm not prepared to get up at Morning Assembly and announce it, but if it trickles out, as it will do if it hasn't done so already, I'll live with that. What do you think?"
"As I said, you're the only one I'm concerned about, Ben. If you're happy, I'll go along with everything you said and let it happen."
"I'm happy," said Ben and to seal it he got up and kissed Lewis on the lips.

Just before twelve our boys went up to change before going across to the Battys'. They saw Phil return from church accompanied by Seb. When they were ready they picked up Christina's present and a bottle of ouzo for Phil and went across and rang the doorbell at the Retreat. After a warm welcome they handed over the gifts and Phil said
"Come into the living room and have a quiet sherry before you meet the mob. They're all kicking a ball around in the garden at the moment." As they entered they saw Seb who got up and gave them a welcome-back hug.
"Thanks for your postcards. We got them yesterday," he said. As he released them they noticed that he was wearing a tastefully made rainbow coloured plaited leather bracelet.
"That's nice," said Ben.
"You like it?"
"Yes," replied Lewis and neither realised that Seb could possibly be holding something back. Meanwhile Phil had poured them a glass of sherry each and Christina had joined them.

After Lewis and Ben had talked about their holiday Christina suggested that they and Seb should go out into the garden and do a sheepdog act to get the youngsters in to wash their hands and start on the buffet which was nicely laid out in the conservatory. When they stepped out into the garden a cheer went up and the twins rushed up and gave all three a hug. They introduced their godfather, adding that the other two guests needed no introduction at all. Two things were noticed immediately by Ben. The first was that they were all wearing rainbow plaited bracelets identical to the one Seb was wearing. Among the boys were the usual guests: Paul and Harry (he had brought his ferrets out with him this time and put them to work on the local rabbits), Daniel and his brother Tom, some that even Ben and Lewis didn't know, but to Ben's greatest surprise amongst them was Matt, his U15 rugby captain for that year. Among the hearty greetings they received and returned Ben grew thoughtful and wondered whether its was just coincidence that for the second year running he had selected not only an extremely cute boy as his captain, but one who was gay as well. Was he developing that doubtful gift of gay-dar?

The boys queued up in a civilised manner for their food in a way that they never would have done at school and everyone sat about the garden in small groups consuming it and chatting animatedly until the twins stood up and called for quiet.
"As you know," started Jack, "at a meeting of the Retreat Club we talked about corporate identity and we decided and voted on it as well that at Club functions outside school we would wear rainbow bracelets."
"A vote was also passed," continued Ted "that members not wearing them would be liable to a forfeit, such as Cokes all round."
"We have with us today three of our honorary members," said Jack.
"Seb, Lewis and Ben, would you put your hands up, both hands." A big cry of 'Oooh' echoed round the garden and Ben and Lewis blushed as they realised they had been set up and a chant of 'Cokes all round' went up.
"But to be fair," said Ted, "they have been abroad on holiday and we haven't told them yet," and another cry of 'Oooh' went up.
"So," said Jack "we have great pleasure in awarding them their rainbow bracelets." Another great cheer went up.
"And also," said Ted "since they are honorary members we would also like to present them and Seb with these matching leather necklaces." More cheers as Jack slipped the bracelet over Ben's hand and placed the necklace round his neck and Ted did the same for Lewis while they shared Seb and this was accompanied by a hearty round of applause. Jack and Ted added during the presentation that it wasn't generally known that all three had provided members of the Club with immense support and it was time that they were given some credit. Between shouts of 'speech! speech!' Ben said to Lewis
"Like it or not we're outed now," and the three confined their remarks to thank you for the 'honour' conferred.

After the little ceremony Seb, Ben and Lewis split up and chatted to the boys. Ben, guided by his curiosity, naturally drifted towards Matt. He asked him how he had enjoyed his half term holiday before embarking on what he really wanted to know.
"I didn't know you were good friends with the Batty boys, Matt," he started.
"Well, I wasn't particularly until this term, sir." The term 'sir' jolted Ben into the reality of their professional relationship. "I think it was something to do with rugby. We saw a lot of each other in the changing room and got talking. After their U15 season with you they asked how I was getting on and they congratulated me when they found out you made me captain." That jogged Ben's memory as the twins had shown quite a bit of interest in who was to be captain during one of the car journeys towards the first fixture in September. "Then they said join them for lunch some time. I didn't at first, but I'd seen that their group always seemed to be enjoying themselves and that it wasn't just fifth formers, but others as well. So I did one day. Then I found out what they had in common and I fitted in."
"What was that?" asked Ben pushing his luck.
"Don't know really," replied Matt obviously not wanting to state the obvious.
"I like your bracelet," said Ben, changing the subject, but not changing the subject.
"I like yours too. It goes especially well with the necklace."
"Tell me," said Ben putting on an air of naïveté, "Have they got any special significance?"
"I dunno," answered Matt in that tone which meant that Ben was not going to discover any more. So he talked to Matt about the rugby, telling him what a good job he was doing as captain, before going on to speak to some of the others. He knew Jack and Ted wouldn't hold anything back on Matt in the car the following morning.

Lunch over Lewis and Ben disappeared back to the Nook while Seb excused himself and came with them for a quiet half hour. After he left, Ben and Lewis did what they normally did on a Sunday afternoon when they had no other arrangements, they disappeared upstairs to enjoy each other's company in a more physical manner.

They returned to the Retreat in the evening for the Guy Fawkes party which not only included a splendid firework display, but also the traditional bonfire and the burning of the guy and it didn't go unnoticed that it was wearing a ragged Mythe School tie and a mask that had been made by the twins from a blown up photo of Graham. During conversations with the parents who had arrived earlier it became embarrassing for Lewis, and Ben even more so, at the kind and appreciative comments they received for helping their sons, if not with rugby then with their 'little problem'. At nine the party broke up as it was back to school on the morrow. It was ten by the time Seb, Ben and Lewis had helped Christina, Phil and the twins clear up. Lewis and Ben ran Seb back to Oddstones in the car which meant another hour with Marc and Elly before they could finally go home to bed.

---oo0oo---

The following morning it was Lewis' turn to drive to school. So Ben could concentrate fully on following up the story of how Matt had been invited to join the Retreat Club. He did employ some subtlety, praising the party the day before and working round to how surprised he was to see Matt there. He hadn't known he was gay. How did the twins find out? Meanwhile Lewis concentrated hard on the traffic to prevent himself from bursting out laughing at the way Ben was doing his research.
"It was right at the beginning of term," started Jack.
"As you know we share the changing rooms with the U15s," said Ted "and we spotted Matt was checking us out as we got changed for the games lesson."
"That's only because we were checking him out," giggled Jack.
"So we moved our kit so that after the session we would be changing either side of him," continued Ted. Jack said
"The U15s finished their session after us."
"The master in charge always makes them work extra hard on a warm down afterwards."
"But as we'd been doing a bit of posing we hadn't had our shower yet, so we made sure we showered with him and while we were there we carried on posing to see what he'd do."
"Well, although nothing was said, we could tell he was interested and after the shower we got dried and dressed with Matt in the middle."
"Then Ted picked up his jockstrap, said 'Whose is this?', gave it a great sniff and said it smelt too sweet to be mine."
"Andy was speechless, so I glanced at the nametape and handed it back to him."
"All three of us continued to get dressed," said Jack "and by then there weren't many left in the changing room so I groped him and Ted groped his bum and..."
"...his face lit up and he did it back to us."
"Since then we've taken a bit of an interest and got to know him."
"We always change together now."
"We asked him to join us for lunch."
"And when we heard he was U15 captain, that convinced us." Ben blushed. The twins could see in the rear-view mirror that Lewis was having great difficulty in keeping a straight face.
"We invited him out to the Retreat for a weekend as soon as we could and is he hot stuff!" finished off Jack.

Despite the heavy Monday morning traffic the journey had flashed past and it seemed as if it were only five minutes later when the quartet climbed out of Lewis' car to begin the second half of term.

XIV

The second half of term wore on. As the days grew shorter they became ever more dismal with the journeys to and from school mainly in the dark. While the occupants of the back seat were quiet in the morning with the entertainment mainly provided by Wake up to Wogan the twins were sufficiently wide awake to compensate in the evening.

"We've had this idea for Christmas presents for Club members," piped up Ted.
"And we'd like to run it up the flagpole to see if it'll fly," added Jack.
"Where did you get that awful expression from?" enquired Ben.
"General Studies - Business Studies module," answered Ted.
"Sounds about right," said Lewis.
"You realise that there are actually real people in these management teams who talk like that?"
"Yeah. That's why we like to take the piss out of them," said Jack.
"What's this idea?" asked Ben.
"You know the WI sell those calendars with pictures of the members nude. Well, we'd like to do the same for the Club," said Ted.
"We've taken quite a few over the months and we've still got time to take more if we need them and it would be easy enough to print them off as calendars on the computer and give them a spiral-binding," said Jack.
"Have you got twelve suitable models?" asked Ben.
"If we had you two and Marc and Seb we'd have eleven," said Ted.
"I think that's your first sticking point," said Ben.
"You don't have to be naked," interrupted Jack very quickly.
"You've missed the point," continued Ben.
"With a small print-run for your closest friends, i e the Club, you could get away with it, but once you make it inter-generational you are looking for trouble as you don't know who might eventually see it. It would be potentially embarrassing for us professionally and we could lose our jobs and possibly end up in court."
"We didn't think of that," said Ted.
"Fair enough," said Lewis "that's why it was a good idea to talk to us first."
"If you still want to go ahead," said Ben "you could have six photos with two months per page, but no mixing adults and minors."
"We know your parents are pretty understanding," said Lewis "but be careful about the parents of the friends you're giving them to. They might not be so tolerant."
"Thanks," said Jack.
"That's why we thought we'd better talk to you." Meanwhile the car had arrived at the Nook and the twins parted saying thank you and good night.

Christmas and New Year was as festive as ever spent with the extended family and the family nextdoor who by now were almost family anyway. Indeed, Lewis and Ben duly received on Boxing Day a large envelope each in which was to be found a Club calendar. The cover of Ben's comprised a personalised picture of Jack in Speedos on the beach at Mykonos and Lewis received his calendar with a similar picture of Ted on the front. The pictures inside were in fact quite tasteful while not lacking a certain eroticism. The twins had obviously put a lot of thought and effort into the production.

Elly was pregnant again, expecting in June, as was Jessica with her baby due the same month. There was some relief that there were no twins on the way this time. The Batty twins celebrated their sixteenth birthday. Encouraged by Elly and the grandparents, or more precisely the grandmamas, our six took off for a week's skiing during the February half term, but broke a habit of a lifetime by going to Switzerland for a change. Excitement had grown into routine and so it wasn't until the Easter holidays that there was anything new to report.

Over the Easter weekend the Battys were suddenly called away to look after a sick relative. Of course Ted and Jack could have gone with them, but argued that they would only have been in the way and that they could use the time for revision and that although they were now sixteen Ben and Lewis wouldn't mind looking after them. Anyway they won the day and of course Lewis and Ben were only too pleased to entertain them until after the bank holiday. As part of the arrangements the four would have lunch at Oddstones on Easter Sunday, which pleased Seb. However, the twins would like to cook for Ben and Lewis on the Monday evening and as they had done so previously and to a high standard they said yes. The meal went very well. Perhaps the alcohol on offer was more than before and once everything was cleared away all four were in a merry mood, but what had not gone unnoticed was that the twins were tarting, flirting and teasing at every opportunity until finally a game not dissimilar to kiss-chase with a feather duster broke out which had our heroes chasing the twins round the house until they made a dash upstairs to make their escape. They split and Ted went into their room with Lewis running after him while Jack hid on the landing until Ben arrived when he made a quick dive for Ben's room. The trap had been sprung. The doors of the two rooms closed abruptly and separately Jack and Ted took their prey. After all that waiting Plan B had been put into operation and when it came to it they encountered little if any resistance. On Tuesday breakfast was extremely late that morning by the time Jack and Ben had emerged showered, bright eyed and bushy tailed and fully dressed while Ted and Lewis emerged dishevelled and grinning from ear to ear in tee shirt and shorts.

---oo0oo---

It was the beginning of the summer term again and the bright days brought with them a certain brightness of character and mood among our boys. First day back at school the Club was in session over lunch. As Paul brought his tray across to their table young Tom piped up with what everyone else was thinking.
"Hey, Paul. I like your packet in those new trousers of yours." One or two of the members choked on their lunch, whether from a sudden splutter of laughter, mild shock at the audacity of their youngest member towards a senior and respected pupil of the school or most likely the fact that he had uttered what they were all thinking. Tom's elder brother Dan just calmly carried on with his meal as if nothing out of the ordinary were happening. There was little his sibling could do to surprise him. Tom's voice was at that uncontrollable stage of breaking and its tone at that moment was one of a coarse loudness which echoed around a noisy dining room audible to even the most insensitive ears. It was one of those chance moments when every person in a crowd of a hundred and fifty, say, stops talking simultaneously. The master on duty had certainly heard it, and as that was Lewis he suddenly turned away and found that the cutlery on the trolley needed some urgent re-arrangement.
"What?" said Tom, the sandpaper in his vocal chords just as rasping, his bright blue eyes blinking and a look of puzzled innocence on his face.
"You're an embarrassment as usual," explained Dan scarcely glancing up from his food.
"Don't worry," said Paul, putting his arm round his shoulder in a hug, taking his seat beside him and getting on with his lunch.

The eating part of lunch continued and the boys had lapsed into general conversation. It was interesting as this time last year they would have bolted their food in order to get outside and make the most of their lunch hour kicking a football around the play ground or school fields. However, none of them had realised the civilising effect their close friendship had had on them all. They were not to know that this had been noticed by the staff and that they were respected for being a very mature group of boys. It is doubtful though that the staff had realised what the cohesive force was, either, and Ben and Lewis were unlikely to have enlightened them.

"So you like Paul's new trousers, Tom?" said Ted returning to the earlier incident.
"You can't only tell what sex he is, but his religion as well," interrupted Harry before Tom had a chance to answer. The Club burst out laughing. Those sitting on the opposite side of the table could see a reproachful look on Graham's face as he was taking his tray back to stacking shelves.
"Go on, Tom," said Nick.
"Tell us about it. Us heteros don't understand."
"What do you mean, 'us heteros'?" said Jack. "You're the only straight one here." Paul intervened.
"You'd all like these trousers, even you, Nick. They're made of a new material. Not only do they keep their creases without getting wrinkled, but they've got Lycra in them which makes them stretch and so they fit the contours of your body without ever feeling tight and so you can show off your packet."
"As you do," added Matt flippantly.
"As you all do," asserted Paul.
"Fancy doing some shopping after school, Ted?" said Jack. "Ben and Lewis are on games so they won't be going home straightaway and we'd have to wait for them anyway." The twins had an allowance and they were responsible for buying their own clothes and it was generous enough to allow for school uniform.
"Good thinking, Jack. I've got my bank card on me."

"Why don't we have a competition for the best packet?" That was young Tom again.
"You wouldn't win, little girlie," said his brother.
"Mine's bigger than yours, dork."
"In your dreams, peewee."
"How's it going to work?" asked Harry.
"You'd have to have different classes."
"Why's that?" asked Matt.
"Well, your packet's going to look different in, say, swimming trunks or rugby shorts than it does in your school trousers."
"That's true, and you couldn't have the same person winning every class. You'd have to give everyone a chance."
"Well, that's me out," sighed Jack.
"Get off," said Ted.
"And who are you going to get to judge it?" asked Nick.
"If we held the competition at home, we could ask our godfather," suggested Ted.
"Who's going to able to enter?" asked Jack.
"Anyone in the school," said Tom.
"That's a mighty big party," said Jack. "It might take some persuading with Mum and Dad."
"You could always come to our farm," said Tom.
"Try explaining that one to Mum and Dad," said Dan. At that moment the five minute bell rang for afternoon school. As a man the Club rose, went and stacked their trays and went off to class. Jack went off to find Ben and Ted Lewis to ask if it was all right to go home a little later so that they could do some shopping.

In the end the packet competition became just a flight of fancy, but it did show how lively lunch was when the Club was in session. Next day Paul had two rivals.

---oo0oo---

After lunch young Tom wandered off with Paul as he did most days. A special relationship had developed between them since that night they had spent together in a tent on Tom's family's farm. Paul had not only stolen his cherry that night after infatuation at the first sight of his young companion, but in a tender and considerate way had introduced him to the joys of sex, and while continuing to take an interest in him both in and out of school he had charmed the junior's path through school during his first year at the Mythe. They were not boyfriends. Paul was nowhere near ready to commit himself to a boyfriend. He was too promiscuous and he realised it. He knew too, not in in a bigheaded manner, but in a matter-of-fact way that he was perhaps the most desirable boy in the school and that his only real rivals would be Jack and Ted if they ever decided to split. His openness and honesty made him acceptable to all his schoolmates. He could have any gay boy he wanted and many a straight one as well probably if he set his mind to it. But he was enjoying the good life with things as they were and at that period in his growing up any restriction on his sex life would have destroyed his soul.

However, he acted as patron, adviser, mentor, big brother towards Tom and it was his advice and experience that Tom was after now as they wandered off to get their books.
"You know we're always on the look out for new Club members?"
"Yes."
"Well, I think I've found one, but I don't know what to do next."
"What's he like?"
"His name's Alexis, he's a little tubby, not fat, but certainly not an obvious stud. He's got blue eyes and blond hair, a bit long and girlie, but there's something about him I like."
"Have you checked him out?"
"Naturally. I've checked out everyone in the first year. Give me a name and I'll tell you what he's like. Mind you, you don't find many whose balls have dropped at the age of twelve. Always reckoned it was living on a farm that did it for Dan and me. Physical work from and early age and lots of milk."
"Anyway, let's get back to this Alexis. I think I know who you mean. If I'm right there's not much in the trouser department."
"You haven't seen him with a boner on. He gets them quite often. Certainly grade III and I hope a grade I"
"What's this 'grade I' business?"
"Well, when I'm checking out boys, I give them grades, unless they're ungradable, which I suppose means plain-looking or no character. Grade I means I'd like to get him into bed, grade II I wouldn't kick him out of bed, Grade III he'll be a definite grade I when the equipment arrives, and grade IV 'Yeuk! No way! Vomit!"
"Give me some examples."
"Take the Club for example. They're all grade I, even my brother. Grade II would be someone like Nick, who'd be a I anyway if he wasn't straight. There are lots of IIIs in my class and Graham's a typical IV."
"So you fancy Alexis, Tom?"
"In a way, yeah. I don't know. It's just a physical thing really. The look on his face says he's up for it." The second bell rang.
"Hell, we're late. Must go or I'll be in big trouble. Are you rushing home after school?"
"No, Paul, I've got computer club."
"I'll catch you outside room 7. I don't suppose this Alexis goes as well, does he?"
"Yes."
"Great. See you then."

Afternoon lessons went slowly for Tom. Double art. At least he didn't have to concentrate too much, although they were doing portraits and they'd gone through the theory of proportion and were on the drawing part now. His mind wandered. When he wasn't thinking of Alexis, he was thinking of Paul. Either way he got a stiffy.
"Are you getting on, Tom?" His art master's voice brought him back to reality.
"Yes, sir, of course. I'm just trying to get some inspiration."
"Whose portrait are you drawing?"
"Alexis, sir" 'Shit! What made me say that?' he thought to himself. Alexis looked across at him, raised his eyebrows and grinned, or was that a smile? Either way for Tom it was a big come on signal.
"Come out here to the front, Tom. I want to demonstrate a point of proportion." Tom face turned a deep red.
"Do I have to, sir?"
"Yes. It will make you wake up." He was working in shirtsleeves. He didn't have a jacket on to cover himself and because they were drawing and not painting he hadn't even bothered to put his craft apron on. 'Here goes,' he thought, 'not only have I got this great throbbing boner, quite out of proportion, but they're all going to have to look at my body.' He slowly rose from his desk hoping it would go down in time, but only seemed to stiffen up even more. He heard someone snigger, but he didn't know who. The class had suddenly become extremely attentive and even Mr Masters, the art master, realised he had picked the wrong person, but there was no going back now. He wasn't really listening as he was being demonstrated on. 'Why did I have to wear boxers today?' he thought. Meanwhile his cock had found the slit which was making it worse. 'I'm going to wear a jockstrap to the next art lesson.'
"Thank you, Tom. You can go and sit down now." Relief, except there was a spontaneous round of applause and he knew it wasn't for Mr Masters' demonstration. As he sat down Alexis turned round, smiled and winked at him. Joe next to him pinched his bottom.

Finally the afternoon session was over.
"Are you going to computer club, Tom?" That was Alexis.
"Yes."
"So am I," and they put their books away and walked along to room 7. Paul was already waiting there.
"Hi, Tom."
"Hi, Paul."
"Hi, Alexis."
"H-hi, umm Paul," stuttered Alexis.
"I'll see you in a minute, Alexis," said Tom and he went off with Paul for a chat. They had a good ten minutes before computer club was due to start.

"I've had a disastrous afternoon," and Tom told Paul about the art lesson.
"It doesn't look that disastrous to me. You might have saved yourself some effort. What you've got to do now is work on it. Become friends, sit next to him in class, change next to him for PE. He's obviously interested. When you're confident he is, start touching him and eventually touch him up. Try and get your hand into his trouser pocket. You won't get that far, if he's not up for it. Then finally, the universal answer - the sleepover. I see what you mean about his trousers, but you know him better that I do."
"Thanks, Paul. Better go. Computer club's starting. See you tomorrow."
"Cheers, Tom. Give that brother of yours a bit of finger from me."
"Will do. Bye."

Computer club started and Mr Tucker explained that they were going to continue e-mails from the previous term.
"I want you to team up with a partner, everybody." 'My lucky day,' thought Tom as he grabbed Alexis. You could see the 'thinks' bubble coming out of Alexis' head with exactly the same thought. "Now you've got your partner, split up and sit at computers on the opposite side of the room. 'That didn't last long,' thought Tom disappointed at being deprived of a few feelies under the bench. "What we're going to do today is set up a hotmail account so that you can chat to your partner. The temporary cloud lifted from Tom's head. 'Now that has possibilities,' he thought. "First think of a name, then open up Outlook Express and wait for further instructions. The term bona fide came into Tom's head. He had only been doing Latin since coming to the Mythe and didn't know what it meant, but he had read it somewhere and liked the sound of it. That was the name for his account. They followed Mr Tucker's instructions and finally had their hotmail accounts open. They wrote the address down on a piece of paper and gave it to their partner. Alexis giggled when he saw it. He immediately thought of the art lesson that afternoon.

They started to exchange messages. <Hi Tom! Did you enjoy art this afternoon?> <No!> A memorable first hotmail message. <One or two of the guys found you hot when you were modelling.> They had always been discouraged as school policy from using text-English when e-mailing. <Who?> Two messages - total two words. <Me for a start.> Tom's finger was poised over the delete key in case Mr Tucker came along, but he was at the end of the room at the moment. <And?> Tom was consistent, though forgetting his embarrassment, he conceded to himself it was getting interesting. He just had time to read the list of names when he saw Mr Tucker out of the corner of his eye and he hit the delete key.
"All right, Tom?"
"I was, sir, but I hit the delete key by mistake and I've lost it all." He heard Alexis giggle from the other side of the room, then froze when he heard him say
"It's all right, sir. I've still got the messages. I'll send them again."
"Ask me if you need any help," and Mr Tucker moved on. <You jerk!> Tom had progressed to a two word message.

The conversation developed and by the end of the session Tom and Alexis had, subject to parental permission, fixed fixed up a sleepover for Friday night. The first Saturday of term there was a voluntary net practice, but if you wanted to be in the cricket team it wasn't actually voluntary and Tom and Alexis did. Computer club finished they walked to their form room together to put their books in their lockers and pick up their homework. There was something that Paul had said that Tom couldn't get out of his head. Since there was no one else in the room, just as Alexis was putting his books away Tom went up really close behind him, but hearing the approach of the cleaner's hoover, they parted quickly and carried on getting their books. As they walked towards the bus station, Alexis said
"I hope Mum and Dad say yes. I'm really looking forward to Friday, now."

The following Monday Alexis was formally introduced to the Club at lunchtime with an invitation to spend a weekend along with Tom and Dan at the Retreat.

XV

It had taken nearly two and a half years, but finally Ben and Lewis had succeeded in splitting the Atomic Twins. They had in reality split themselves. The relationship between the four only deepened and like the one between Marc and Seb was destined to last and be fulfilling long after Jack and Ted had left the Mythe. The twins' continued success at sport was no doubt an unspoken advantage in their university applications later, particularly their schoolboy England caps. Feeling the need to get away from home, but still not ready to separate altogether they successfully applied to Oxford and were accepted by the same college, reading different subjects, naturally. During their time up they gained their blues and ironically faced their friend Paul at the Varsity match.

Now that they were of age it would be nothing for the five or six with Seb and Marc and maybe Paul to go off on holiday together, often returning to that erotic Greek island where they could freely give expression to a passion which showed no signs of diminishing.

The development of Paul's relationship within the group was particularly interesting. It was not long before he became another of Seb's honorary godsons. Nothing remarkable in that. However, the close relationship between Seb, Marc and Elly along with the three children inevitably meant that Marc and Seb did not 'see' as much of each other as they had in their younger days. The emotional bond of their youth was as strong as ever and would receive physical confirmation whenever the opportunity allowed, but Seb's interest in his new godson grew into an affair of the heart which was readily reciprocated by the younger, who after leaving school remained in Cambridge to read for his degree.

During one of the vacations when the twins were down from Oxford Paul had been stopping over with the Battys for a long weekend. As was usual on such occasions Lewis and Ben held open house, firstly because they were glad of a chance to spend time with their protégés and secondly because it was less compromising for the twins to misbehave at the Nook than in their parents' house, despite the enormous understanding and tolerance Phil and Christina Batty had shown over the years since adolescence and coming out. Marc and Seb were over for the afternoon and all seven were chatting about what to do that evening when Paul came up with the idea of going clubbing, something that had never entered their heads before as they were always content with their own company. Marc pulled out, partly for family reasons, but also realising that it might not be the right thing for a person of his age, and a don now at that, to be seen in one of Cambridge's more doubtful night-spots. Lewis too thought that even though they were doing nothing illegal as far as professional discretion was concerned it might be better to go somewhere other than Cambridge, although since Jack and Ted had left the Mythe, Ben and Lewis had officially come out and it was generally known that they were an item and undeniable that they were living together. In fact, they had gained more respect for coming out and certainly enjoyed the tolerance of their colleagues at school and presumably the parents.

However, we are straying from the point. The twins arranged with their parents that as they would be late they would negotiate with Ben and Lewis for themselves to stop over with Paul at the Nook. They had done this before and Phil and Christina knew the three would be in safe hands and they had the sense never to question what went on, otherwise they might have discovered that these days such sorties could inevitably lead to "wife-swapping" parties. Anyway, the boys were still too keen on their sporting activities to do anything that might damage their prowess there.

Seb volunteered to be duty driver and secured the use of the family space-wagon. At eight o'clock, after dumping their overnight bags in various rooms, they ventured forth, suitably dressed for the occasion - brightly coloured tanktops, jockstraps - tonight's corporate identity - (The twins provided Paul with a brand new Bike 10 they'd brought back with them from one of their trips to America.) under tight trousers or 501s (also the genuine article brought back from the States) and the odd bandanna, a particular favourite of Seb's. Discretion had won the day and they headed for Gloss in Huntingdon.

Their sheltered existence meant surprisingly that they did not really know what to expect. As they had been paired up for years they had never felt the need to go cruising or to pick anyone up. Lewis got a round of drinks in and they sat watching the heaving masses, some just drinking, others obviously predatory, others still dancing to the music, so loud that conversation became a challenge. They were mildly interested in the types there, but felt no bond with them. None of them were turned on by the extravagantly effeminate, but were on the other hand interested in the fashions of the obviously butch. In fact, one callow youth stood out in the crowd, young, fair hair above an amiable, smiling face which betrayed an enjoyment of life, muscular, or rather sinewy, in a lithesome body, his striped tanktop hiding little of his upper body and his tight 501s masking little of his lower body, particularly his tight little bottom. But then he gained the attention one way or another of most of the guys there, but he remained aloof. Or was it shyness? Although he could obviously afford to be since he could have had anyone there.

Our six decided to dance, but not before setting themselves a challenge. They were a sociable group and would not just dance with their partners, but swap. More likely than not they would dance less with their own partners, and it was intimate dancing. As the evening went on, one thing became clear. Paul's interest in Seb was matched only by Seb's interest in Paul. But first of all the challenge. All six worked as a team and started a conga. No one else joined in. That didn't matter. What mattered was that they could surround the aloof young beauty and against six he didn't have a chance. Straightaway he surrendered charmingly - safety in numbers, he thought - and they could do what they liked with him and in the crush of the dance floor they probably did and nowhere was he left untouched. But our six were not cruel. They eventually sat him down with them next to Paul, the only unattached (theoretically, at least) member of the party, discovered his name was Carl and bought him a drink. He had difficulty doing up the buttons of his 501s which had come undone during the 'conga' and, despite his difficulty, now conspicuously to his great pleasure. Our lads entertained him royally, but they had had their fun and after securing a telephone number eventually released him, with smiles all round, but hardly grope free, to search for pastures new.

Our six decided they had seen all that there was to see, experienced all they wanted to experience there and with a burning desire to leave the music behind them went out into the cold night air. They soon regained the space-wagon and got Seb to turn the heating on full. It was midnight when they returned to the Nook, rather than the planned two or three o'clock. The security lights assured Phil and Christina of their safe return and they poured out of the space-wagon into the Nook. The first thing was to make themselves comfortable. The car journey had warmed them up and they disappeared upstairs to divest themselves of excess clothing. Dressed in tee shirt and jockstrap (nothing had changed there over the years) Seb hauled a sixpack out of the fridge and distributed it to the assembled company.

The six had become three twos leaving Seb with Paul who after the dancing had become inseparable. They chatted for half an hour or so, but decided if they were to have a decent night they would go to bed. The twins had already decided to split and Jack followed Ben to his room and Ted followed Lewis to his. Left alone downstairs Seb took Paul into a tight embrace and teased his tongue inbetween Paul's lips.
"Your room or mine?" said Paul when they came up for air.
"Mine," said Seb.
"I'll help you fetch your kit."

Despite an average of four hours actual sleep that night all six were up bright and early in time for family communion. The Battys and Paul were invited to Oddstones for family lunch. Paul was now family!

---oo0oo---

And so over the years the good Lord continued to smile over the inhabitants of our small village (and their extended family) twenty minutes by car from Cambridge, once the rush hour was over.

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