Date: Wed, 14 Mar 2018 11:09:08 +0100 (CET)
From: john.matthews@tutanota.com
Subject: The Apennine Boys School Part 4

The School - Part 4

We settled into the House office and Sean started talking.

"We call this place The School. It is officially known as 'The Apennine
Boys Preparatory School'. We are very private and very exclusive."

I started to speak, but Sean interrupted me.

"Hold on a little, please. Let me explain, and then ask anything you
want. Where was I?... Oh yeah... We have a liberal philosophy, which I am
sure you have already picked up and we are always open to new ideas.

"Prof Clement has always been a supporter of the School, and though we are
elite, there are lads here who come from the poorest backgrounds and are
given a chance via scholarships.

"The School was started by the Italian Count Cristofero Perigrino di Milano
in about 1610. This was his castle and estate. He had a penchant for young
boys, and liked to see them educated as well as gracing his bed. He also
found out that many tutors also liked lads, and made sure he only employed
staff who would fit in with his ideas.

"The lads would of course grow up. Some went on to University under his
patronage, others into professional types of jobs simply because they were
literate. Remember this was the early 1600s. As the majority of kids
educated here were from very poor backgrounds or were orphans, they had no
other real home other than The School. They would return often and talk to
the Count about what they were doing and so on. He was their real
father-figure. More by accident than design the Count was able to glean a
lot of political and commercial information from these now educated boys
and men. He put it to good use.

"He was able to increase his already considerable holdings and forge
certain political alliances. He was very astute. He started his program
when he was about 22, and by the age of 40 was a very wealthy and
politically powerful man indeed.

"The school started to take on the boys of lads who had been educated
here. Remember that most of them were now serious professionals and could
afford high fees. He insisted that the lads were to be liberated from all
the evils of the Church and State and the fathers were to agree that the
education was solely in the hands of The School and there would be no
interference. Most of the graduates remained unmarried for obvious reasons,
but some did reproduce, though there are good records which show they all
were true to their bonding with their 'brothers' from The School.

"They met at least four times a year, and shared information and always had
sex with each other. It was a way of bonding. Many were properly
lovers. What we call 'Families' were created. The older graduates took care
of the new graduates and slowly but surely a very tight, wealthy network
grew up, centred around The School. It is truly a brotherhood.

"We are wealthy, international now and very, very private. The kids get the
best education, possibly in the world, from some of the best teachers in
the world. However, and there is always a however, we have to be very, very
careful in our selection of teachers. They have to be the best, and they
have to be gay. That is a hard, but not impossible, combination to find.

"Now the big question is, 'Why you?' isn't it."

I kept my mouth shut. Unusual, but I did.

"You were brought to our attention by Prof Clement. He explained your
educational theory, and I took the time to read your dissertation. It was
the direction I had unconsciously wanted The School to head in. However, I
only had half formed ideas and no clear guidelines. I liked the idea of a
permanent mentor. Of course, every teacher is a mentor of sorts, but a
single, permanent mentor who actually lives with and guides the students
through all their schooling was a tremendous concept.

"I dismissed the idea because it meant a commitment by the teacher to have
the same kids for 11 years. Then I rethought. Leo has been here the
shortest time, and that's three years. He does not want to leave. Ben Vasso
has been here for 33 years, and he doesn't want to leave - incidentally, he
was one of my teachers, and there are others here. We have never had a
single teacher leave in the whole history of the school - retired, yes, but
they have always kept constant contact. So I thought getting a teacher to
commit to 11 years wouldn't be a bad idea or difficult, for that matter.

"I have organised a single teacher per house for the rest of the kids' time
in school, and this is a start in the right direction, but we need an
expert in your method, and someone to take on the new entrants.

"Every year we have 10 or so new entrants. They come here scared, excited
and for the first time in their lives, away from their fathers. They are
usually uninhibited as their fathers have been here before and know the
drill, but nevertheless they can be scared. This is especially so with the
one or two little street kids.

"We want you to take on the role as the Year 1 mentor. The salary is 150K
Euros per annum."

I must admit I did gasp.

"It is also non-taxable."

"Jesus!"

"Now, you are well off, I know. But that is still good money."

"It sure is!"

"Now," Sean continued, "It was very important that we did background checks
on you. You came up trumps, except for one issue. Prof Clement thought
there would be no problem, because he remembers you saying on several
occasions that kids should have freedom to express their sexuality whenever
and with whomever they want."

Before I could say anything the door flew open and a very small whirlwind
came whizzing through talking at about 100 miles an hour.

"I'm sorry Sean," said the tiny Speedo clad tornado, "Bran said you wanted
me and I couldn't find you anywhere, but I've been looking for you really,
all over the place and I didn't think you'd be here because it's all new
and painted and everything and I hope I'm not in trouble..."

"Arkady, Arkady... settle down and catch your breath," shouted Sean over
the little fellow's diatribe.

"You are not in trouble, Arkady... in fact you have been a very good boy to
try so hard to find me."

The little blond headed tyke must have been all of six, possibly seven. He
had run in front of me and I could see that his Speedo only covered about
half of his little arse. He was tanned all over, but I couldn't see the
front.

"Arkady, I want you to meet Drake. I am hoping he will be your teacher from
now on."

The little fellow turned half sideways and looked at me. He flashed a
toothy grin, shouted "Yippee!" and jumped on my lap.

"You must be G's friend," he more or less yelled. "Yippee! You will be my
teacher, won't you...pleeeease. G likes you so much and I..." his voice
dropped to a whisper in my ear, "Want YOU to take my cherry. Will you,
pleeeease."

"Christ," I thought, "What the fuck is happening here? I've just been
propositioned by a six or seven year old?"

Sean excused himself for a moment, and I heard the tell-tale splash of piss
hitting water.

Arkady wriggled on my lap.

Sean shouted out, "I'm just making coffee for us, how do you want it?"

"Straight no ice, thanks."

Sean laughed out loud and I realised what I had said.

"Milk, no sugar thanks," I corrected myself.

Arkady wriggled again and whispered, "I like you. Do you like me?"

What could I say? "Of course I like you, my man."

"Am I really, truly your man?"

"At the moment you are," I replied.

He seemed happy with that and wriggled a little more.

"OOOO, you've got a boner. So have I. Look!"

He pulled open the front of his excuse for swimwear and I saw a tiny hard
on poking up. He grabbed my hand before I could do anything and said
"Feel!"

He pushed my fingers on it. It was hard indeed. I just wanted to kiss and
suck it. I thought that it might be discreet if I moved him off my lap and
tried to get my cock under control before Sean returned.

I tried to dislodge him but he hung on like a limpet. His body was so soft
and cuddly, part of me didn't want him to go, but the professional in me
was made of sterner stuff. However, the professional was conquered by the
whirlwind. He put his head on my chest and just sighed a little contented
sigh.

Sean came in bearing coffee and a glass of whiskey - no ice. I looked at
him, looked down at Arkady, grinned and shrugged.


The little fellow had seemed to have gone into a bit of a trance or doze.

"Arkady," said Sean gently, "Will you find Bran and ask him to come here
and see me, please."

Arkady leaped of my lap, appeared to become a whirlwind again, and shouted
"Sure!" while he was racing down the stairs.

I shook my head. "What was that?"

Sean handed me my whiskey.

"That," he said, "Was, and is, our Arkady. He is one of the new entrants of
this year."

"My god," I replied, "I thought he was a whirling dervish."

We laughed.

"He's a gorgeous kid," said Sean, "And his being here is very unusual. His
brother is Bran, whom G told you about. Did he ask you to take his cherry?"

"Well, yeah..." I was a bit hesitant about this bit of the conversation. I
took a long pull on my whiskey.

"That's great. He really likes you then."

"Huh?"

"Bran told me quite some months ago, that Arkady was looking forward to
losing his cherry - I rather think he called it 'having his first
fuck'. When Bran asked him who was the lucky person going to be, the little
fellah said that he would know when he met him."

"You don't have a problem with this," I asked.

"Nope. And this is one reason we have to be so careful in our choice of
teachers. They have to be accepting of boy love. Of giving love, both
affectionate and sexual to boys, and accepting it from them. In other
words, open sexual and emotional experimentation, with the mentor taking a
leading role."

"Oh," I said in a very small voice.

"Are you OK?" asked Sean. He seemed concerned.

"Yes... but I think I have just died and gone to heaven..."

Sean laughed. "OK, just wait till you have 10 or more of those little
dynamos happening..."

"However, before you accept or reject anything, there is one other issue I
need to discuss."

"Sure, what is it?"

"For the first time ever, I have a student who I think is above genius
level. He is brilliant. He received a perfect score in his IB, and he wants
to be a teacher. Here."

"Bran," I said.

"Yep. Bran. He is brilliant with the kids. He could teach a brick readin',
writin' and 'rithmetic, but he needs to formalise his skills. He is quite
adamant, however, that there is no way he is leaving The School. Of course,
I can just make him go, but he is too brilliant to lose. Hence we are
asking you, almost begging you, to mentor him as well. Prof Clement can get
him enrolled externally."

"If anyone can, the Prof can."

"Yes, but Bran must have a qualified supervisor."

"Aha," I grinned, "The plot thickens. So if I were to agree to supervise,
then it would be a done deal, as our North American cousins say."

"Yeah," he said. "Something like that." He smiled. "You would of course be
paid extra."

"Jesus," I grumbled, "I don't need to be paid extra. Not to put too fine a
point on it, I actually AM independently wealthy, and if I were to
supervise, it would be because I want to. And anyway, most everything seems
to be laid on here in any case. Money is the least of my problems."

"Ok, ok, point taken. But you will be paid. I would like you to meet the
lad."

I smiled. "Me too - I've met his brother and his lover, and if they are
anything to go by, he must be something special."

Sean smiled at me, knowing the awkward moment was over. "He should be here
any moment."

We drank coffee and whiskey for a couple of moments. I was trying to digest
the information that Sean had given me. He had already placed a lot of
trust in me by actually bringing me to The School and, albeit gradually,
allowing me to understand the dynamic of what was happening here.

The man read my mind again. "I am certain you appreciate the trust I've had
to have in you to tell you all this."

I looked up, startled.

"However," he continued, "I have four excellent witnesses to your nature
and character - and I really trust their judgement of you."

"Who are they?" I asked, puzzled. "Who would know me that well?"

"One, Professor Clement..."

"Yeah, maybe."

"Two, Giovanni, three, Leo and four, Arkady."

"Those four trust you completely. Children know. Arkady took to you
immediately. He's a bright energetic child... and affectionate. But the way
he took to you was a phenomenon I have never seen before. I also can judge
that as I have known both his brother and him since they were born. G is no
child but has fallen for you in a big way and said you were kind and loving
- that's big praise from him - and Leo says he's found a friend. When Leo
says 'friend' he means it. The prof, well he does really know you, and
trusts you completely. Me, and I would possibly be the fifth, have to make
a very considered judgement. And based on what I've seen and heard thus
far, I believe you would fit in very well. I really want you to stay. What
do you think, up to this point?"

I considered his question very carefully.

"I had a feeling of 'belonging' last night when we were eating. I had to
check that out, because I don't like snap decisions, and the feeling crept
up on me. G was someone special. I think he is the loveliest young man I
have ever met. We shared something special and I will never forget that. I
like him immensely and would probably do anything for him that I could. I
think I have found my first real friend around my own age in Leo. Yeah, him
I love in a way of friendship. There is certainly friendship between us,
and the sex has been the sex of friends, not lovers. Arkady is Arkady. He
is so warm, affectionate and all boy. When he settled on me, it felt just
right. I loved the sensuality and his downright horniness, but I loved his
nestling into me as well. I just loved it. He felt like my kid."

"Hmmmm, and the Prof?"

"What can I say? When he came around to my point of view when doing my
thesis, it was better for me than actually getting the degree
conferred. What more can I say?"

"Well he really loves you. He thinks of you kinda like a son, I think. -
Ah, and here is Bran."

A light tap at the door heralded the entrance of Bran and the end of the
talk of Giovanni, Leo and Arkady. He didn't appear to have the energy of
his little brother, but he certainly exuded a charisma and sense of control
which I thought if unleashed would generate energy that would make his
little brother appear to be a gentle zephyr.

"Bran, I would like you to meet Dr Drake Fillan. Drake, this is Bran."

"Dr Fillan," Bran acknowledged shaking hands, "I have heard a lot about
you."

"My name is Drake, and I have heard a lot about you too. All of it good."

This lad was a vision of loveliness. He was as dark as his brother was
fair. They certainly looked alike in terms of their facial structure,
slightly tilted eyes of a deep mauve, beautiful red lips and high
cheekbones. Wonderfully tanned skin with an olive hue was mostly covered by
satin track pants. He was going commando which was evidenced by a rather
cheeky but mobile bulge. I wondered if he had a little tiny puppy down
there. He had on a sleeveless tee-shirt which he filled out nicely. He was
barefooted. Bare feet seemed to be OK around here. Arkady had also been
bare footed. He was about the same height as Giovanni, and I could see they
would make a striking couple. I felt a little pang. I would so love to see
them together. His voice was a light tenor and I couldn't quite place the
origin of his very slight accent.

Sean said, "I'm going to leave you guys to have a chat. Try and convince
Drake to stay, please Bran."

"No need to say that, Sean," replied Bran, "I want the best as my
supervisor, and Drake is the best."

He smiled at me, and I felt I needed to sit down. However, I was a brave
little soldier, and managed the vertical without embarrassing myself.

"Right," I said, "Let's get down to business."

Sean left us to it, and told Bran to bring me over to luncheon about 1
o'clock. Lunch was to be a smorgasbord again, so I wasn't to be too anal
about the time.

"OK, son, I want you to be as open with me as you can about your hopes and
dreams. I want you tell me as much as you can about yourself. I am also
hoping that you can trust me to do..."

He interrupted.

"Oh Drake, I know I can trust you. I spoke to G yesterday and he told me I
can trust you and lots of other wonderful things about you... and thank you
for treating G so nicely and for respecting him... and me."

I assumed Bran meant my asking permission of Giovanni to go the whole way
with him.

I impulsively reached out and touched his hand. He grabbed my hand, held it
and whispered, "Thank you."

"You are a very lucky man to have G, Bran - and I sense he is very lucky to
have you."

We sat for a few moments thinking of G.

"OK, now tell me about yourself."

He did. He told me his hopes of being a teacher in The School. He told me
of his desire to have a lifelong partnership with G. Maybe even have a
'School Family'. (I really needed to know more about that - but I thought
later would do.) He told me that he wanted to study with me and learn my
methods. He told me this was because Sean was directing the school in this
way, and he wanted to follow in Sean's and my footsteps. Quite frequently
he peppered his monologue with "and G says..." which I found endearing.

At 17 and a half he had an excellent grasp of educational theory. I was yet
to see the practice.

I had certainly made my mind up. I was going to stay at The School. I was
going to teach and mentor 10 or so little kids until they
matriculated. Then I was going to start all over again.

"Bran, I am going to take you on as my student."

His eyes sparkled with joy. He almost leapt up and hugged me. I held up my
hand. He sat quickly.

"I should tell you though, I will expect nothing but excellence. I expect
you to face difficulties and problems which could be considered almost
insoluble. I expect you to find solutions, and once you have tried, you
will discuss the potential solution with me and we will try and nut out the
best solution together. I don't want you, at any stage, to be stressed. I
want you to be totally open with me. This is especially so with academic
problems, and as far as you wish to be, with personal problems. I want to
share with you. I am a teacher, as well as an academic - but above all I
will mentor you."

He was drinking in my words and the serious face made me laugh.

"What's wrong?" he asked me seriously.

"Your face... you look so serious. Lighten up."

He visibly relaxed and smiled. The room lit up. Again I thought, "Lucky G."

"Bran, I have two questions. The first is why are you called Bran - Celtic,
and your little brother is Arkady - Russian?"

"My father is a Celtic Italian, and my mother is Russian. I got the Celtic
name and Arkady got the Russian one. I guess I was lucky enough to name
him."

"Ahhhh..."

"And the second question, Drake?"

"Can you act?"

"What? Drama is part of what we do here. I have been told I can act."

"Good," I replied. "Being a teacher is performance art. You are now going
to perform. Imagine I've just said I'm not going to teach here. Now imagine
that you have to go into a room full of people and you're carrying this
disappointment, but not really wanting to let them know how hurt you are."

He started to laugh.

"What?" I asked.

"You want us to go to lunch and make them think that you have decided not
to stay."

This kid was quick.

"That's exactly what I want."

"Let's do it." I think he had an evil sense of humour. As bent as mine. I
want everyone taken in. The hardest nut to crack will be your... will be
Sean. He has to believe it. We perform as of now."

Bran's shoulders squared. His head went up. This was exactly the opposite
to what I was expecting. I more or less expected 'the slump showing
disappointment'. He was a consummate actor. He put some tension in his
shoulders which I knew would not be there normally. He tightened his jaw
fractionally. He was so believable as a warrior proud in defeat, that I
began to believe him. It was good, very good.

"Right Bran, let's go to lunch."

He dropped the pose for a moment.

"Drake, thank you."

He hugged me and I felt his joy. I hugged him back. We both were happy. Now
to be sad and determined.

He struck his pose again. It was as if that last moment had never
occurred. I stuck my hands in my pocket and we both walked over to the main
building. Bran became the perfect host - too perfect. He kept up a patter
with me that was pleasant as a good host should. However, his voice had the
slightest brittle edge to it. Anyone who knew him would think there's
something wrong, but what? He helped me fill my luncheon plate and we sat
at the table with the others. We sat together, but with a slight distance
between us. Not the normal distance of diners, but a few centimeters
further away from each other than would be normal.

Sean glanced at us from the other end of the table. I noted the slight
tension in his eyes and I could see him mentally shrug. He appeared to have
the ability to put aside things he couldn't change and deal with them
later. I liked that. The conversation around the table became slightly
subdued. Leo, open faced Leo, looked like his dog had died. He finished his
meal, excused himself from the table and started to leave.

"Leo," I whispered.

My voice carried to him. He stopped and turned around.

"Just a moment, please."

He stayed put, and I clambered onto my hind legs.

"Sean, Leo, Bran, gentlemen, I wish to thank you for your wonderful
hospitality. I have had a wonderful time and I wish to thank you for it. I
am here to assist you for the remainder of my stay and I hope that I can be
of some small assistance. Unfortunately, I do have to return to the UK.

"The reason for this is I have to pack my bags and my library so I can
properly mentor Bran and have decent library on hand."

A sort of rustling occurred around the table and Leo's face was one of
puzzlement. Sean's eyes were sparkling in a way I had recently seen, but
didn't twig where.

"I look forward to mentoring Bran, teaching the Year Ones and working with
you all. May we all have a pleasant association."

At this point Bran jumped up, hugged me. His pose completely dropped and
applause and roars went round the table.

Sean just leaned back in his chair and laughed. He laughed and
laughed. Leo's jaw was hanging slack...

"Leo," Bran yelled, "Shut your mouth, there's a bus coming."

He and I sat down again.

Sean stood up. "Gentlemen, gentlemen... a bit of decorum, please. Leo, do
sit down, you're making the place look untidy. I think I can say 'welcome'
to the newest member of staff. Dr Drake Fillan. Leo, if you are not going
to sit down, make yourself useful and get half a dozen Veuve, please! And
gentlemen, let me also say I think we have just seen one of the best acting
jobs in the history of this school. Well done, well done, Drake and Bran."

Leo had organised the champagne and corks were popping. He walked up behind
me and gently placed his hands on my shoulders. I waited a moment for him
to say something and then...

"Jesus!" I yelled, "What was that?" A sharp pain had instantaneously shot
across my shoulders.

"That was payback," grinned Leo. "Don't mess with me again, or I'll do it
to your dick!"

"Fair cop," I laughed. "Hey Bran, want to come for a trip to the UK?"

"Sure. Well, we'll need to get started soon."

I looked at Leo. "Should we start out tomorrow? We should drive, do you
think?"

"Way to go," said my friend. "We can give Milan a miss, and be in Calais
the day after tomorrow."

"No way. We stay in Milan tomorrow," argued Bran.

Leo and I laughed. But I must admit my heart sank a little when Leo talked
about missing Milan. After all, I wanted to see G again as well.



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