Date: Fri, 15 Apr 2005 11:15:38 +0000 From: Jeffrey Fletcher Subject: Two Jubilees Part 40 This is a story that involves sex between males. If such a story is offensive, or illegal for you to read where you live, then do not continue, go and surf elsewhere. This is a work of fiction and in no way draws on the lives of any specific person or persons. If there is any similarity to any real persons or events it is entirely coincidental. The work is copyrighted (c) by the author and may not be reproduced in any form without the specific written permission of the author. It is assigned to the Nifty Archives under the terms of their submission agreement but it may not be copied or archived on any other site without the written permission of the author. My thanks to John and Michael who have read this through and made a number of corrections and suggestions. Any remaining errors , grammatical, spelling or historical or whatever are entirely my fault. Thank you to those who have commented on my stories. If you want to comment on the story then do contact me on Jeffyrks@hotmail.com. I aim to reply to all messages. Two Jubilees and One Spitfire. Resume:- Trevor and Ross are two middle-aged gay men ho live together in an east London suburb. Whle Ross is away in New Zealand Trevor is pursuaded into initiating a seventeen year old West Indian friend, Zach, into the joys and wonders of man with man sex. Trevor is flying out to New Zealnd to meet up with Ross. Two Jubilees and One Spitfire. Part 40. Trevor's plane landed at Christchurch shortly after mid-day. Ross was there to meet him as expected. There was a wave when they first saw each other, and a quick hug and a muttered 'Love you' as they met. They were soon in the car heading north towards Ross' home. Trevor had left an England pregnant with the promise of spring, to arrive in a country awaiting autumn. "Well, how did it go?" asked Ross as they got clear of the town traffic. "How did what go?" Trevor had a good idea what Ross was asking about. "You know! Zach." "It went well. There is one ecstatic young man back in England who has experienced something he finds mind blowing, and is full of gratitude to both of us." "Good." Ross reached across and ran his hand a couple of times up and down Trevor's thigh. "It's good to be back with you again." "What did you get up to?" Trevor laughed before answering. "My prurient Kiwi! We got up to almost everything, but no kinky stuff." "I thought you would." "I spelt out to him, in no uncertain terms, that you came first in everything. That it may well be a one off occasion." "Would you like it not to be?" "He's a wonderful young man, Ross. You know I've always been fond of him, very fond of him. He's got a great body, it will be even better in a year or soes time. I like the colour, and the feel of his skin!" "Not old and wrinkled like mine?" "And mine. Though of course, you are many months older than me. But he's great fun, we had some laughs. I told him a lot about myself. He wanted to know how we met and how we started, and what we did. I told him. Hope you don't mind." "Can we trust him?" "I am sure of that. I told him I could go to prison for what we had done." "What did he say to that?" "That he'd come and visit me in prison as often as he could." They laughed. "On the question of letting you do it with him again, I think I've got to see how I feel. Especially how I feel when Zach is around." "I understand that. He understands also." "I don't think I can wait until we get home." Trevor burst out laughing. "What's so funny." "I told Zach that we'd find the first bit of wooded privacy and get down to what really matters." "That is if you're up to it after all your doings with Zach." Ross put a hand across and felt Trevor's hard cock. "You are up to it. Good. When I was driving down I stopped and found a spot a few miles further on." "All planned then?" "Just so I can stick another pin in my New Zealand map." A few miles further on, Ross turned off on to a track and a couple of hundred yards further on they were able to park the car in a very secluded spot. "How do you want it?" asked Ross. "I think the way I like best with you, I want to sit on that cock of yours." Though the air was cool they stripped off. They enjoyed their love making, but it was not prolonged. "It's a bit cool," said Trevor. "Almost as cold as Stonehenge in the middle of summer." "But that was at night, and we were young then." Ross had brought along some food and drink, so they dressed and started catching up on their other news. "I've got something to tell you," started Ross. "Hollywood are sniffing around after the film rights on three of my books. They especially like the last two, I think because of the North American content." "That means a lot of dosh, doesn't?" "My agent says he'll screw them for every dollar he can get." "Bigger slice for him!" "Exactly." "I've got some news," said Trevor. "I'm going to apply for another job. Charles Ainsthwaite, who is, or rather was, the Prof at Reading has died. I'm going to apply. I read his obituary in the departure lounge at Heathrow. I rang Double O and she is going to keep an eye open for any advert. about the post while I'm away. But I doubt whether they will get round to that before we get back. But I thought it'd be better be sure of that." "If you get it, that would mean a move wouldn't it?" "Yes. And we can afford somewhere much better than Chelmsford Road. Fancy moving into the country?" Ross' face lit up, "I'm a country boy at heart." Ross pulled Trevor back, and rolled on top of him, smothering his face with kisses. They made love a second time that afternoon. They both knew that the relationship was back to normal when they argued about the relative merits of Mahler and Bruckner, Trevor on this occasion being the Mahler enthusiast. Trevor was greeted warmly by Ross' family and friends. They were only in New Zealand for week before they began their return to Britain with a few days in Sydney and two weeks in India. The day after their return Trevor had to go up to the LSE as term was beginning the next day. When he got back it was to find Ross with a bemused glow on his face. He looked like a cat after a day in a creamery, or a dog allowed the free run of a butcher's shop. They gave each other the customary hug. "What's happened, Ross? Has the contract with Hollywood come through?" "No. I've been seduced." "Zach?" "Yes, Zach!" Ross sat down and shook his head, with a broad grin stretching from ear to ear. Trevor laughed. "The monkey! What happened?" "About half ten there was this ring at the door. There was Zach, with his wonderful beaming smile, and innocent look on his face. 'I've come to say thank you face to face, Uncle Ross.' 'You'd better come in and have a coffee,' I said. 'And you can drop the Uncle, as I gather you've dropped it with Trev.' I went through into the kitchen and put the kettle on. He followed me and just put his arms round me and kissed me. He kept saying 'thank you'. I automatically put my arms round him, and kissed him back." Ross looked at Trevor to see how he was taking this. Trevor just grinned. "Then he put his hands on my chest, and found my tits, and pinched them. You know what that does to me!" "Cheeky monkey. I told him you liked that." "He pressed his crotch into me, and must have felt me with a boner." "And he had one too?" Ross nodded. "So you went upstairs. And enjoyed each other's company." Ross nodded. "Was he any good?" "My dear Trevor, it may just have been one short weekend of instruction but you taught him well. He was almost as good as you." Trevor roared with laughter. "For a grumpy geriatric Kiwi you're getting quite tactful in your old age." "My body wasn't geriatric today." "Today? Not just this morning." "We had two sessions. We adjourned for drinks and scrambled eggs." "How many times did he come?" Ross carefully counted on his fingers. "I think five, but it might have been six." "What it is to be a teenager?" "Yes, I did not keep up with him on that score." "Ross, I'm glad that's happened." "I thought 'what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander'." "I bet you thought of that after he'd gone," said Trevor. "But seriously, I think we need to consider carefully what sort of relationship we want with that delectable young man." "Yes, I agree, a very careful consideration. I hope we can always be a help to him, whether we do things with him or not." "I agree." Over the next few days they discussed at length their relationship with Zach, and eventually agreed on what they called the Zach amendment to the Blenheim Concordat. They saw that the danger was if one of them had more sessions with Zach than the other. They immediately agreed that they would tell each other what had transpired with Zach; and if necessary they would keep a count on the number of times each went with Zach, and neither of them was to get more than two sessions ahead of the other. They agreed that the problem would be much less once they had moved away. Strangely enough it did not arise at all during their remaining time at Leytonstone. They saw Zach; he would call round; but he made no sexual overtures, and neither did either of them. Two or three times he told one or other of them that he had been with a guy, but it was always 'a wank together', and that he did not know the other guy well enough to go any further. It seemed as though something of Trevor's instructions had registered. *** The post at Reading was advertised the first week that they were back. Trevor applied. He was interviewed and offered the job. He accepted. He would take up the post in January 1978. When Trevor got back to Leytonstone late that afternoon his beaming smile was met with a beaming smile from Ross. "You got the job!" sad Ross. Trevor nodded, "And you've heard about the film rights." "Yes. My agent has screwed them for more than I thought. I don't think I'll have to write every again." "But will you?" "Of course." "So what do you think about seeing your book as a film?" "I'll never see it. They will have to cut it so much, and they're bound to cut all the bits I like best. The characters will not be as I saw them when writing it, and it will all be with American accents. Once I have written a book I have largely lost interest, except of course for the money. Selling the film rights may mean that a few more people might buy the books." They celebrated their double achievements by having a rather better bottle of wine with their meal; there was no champagne in the house. Later that evening Trevor and Ross walked round to Gloria and Zach's flat to tell them. There was sadness on the face of both Gloria and Zach that they would be leaving Leytonstone. "I feared that you both would go off to New Zealand," said Gloria. "Reading isn't so far. We might see something of you. If there's anything I can do to help, just ask." When they came to leave Ross went first and gave Gloria and hug and a kiss. Zach came up and hugged Trevor. "I'm sorry you're leaving. Can I come and see you in your new house?" "Of course. You're very special to us both. You can come any time. Come and stay." "If I can help you?" "Thanks, Zach." Trevor gave him an especially warm hug and several kisses. Trevor was lost in thought as they walked home. "What's on you mind?" asked Ross after a while. "I am thinking about Gloria. She has worked for me, for us, for a number of years. She has always done those extra things, more than I asked. I want to do something for her." "Are you thinking of something?" "I was wondering whether to continue to pay her something. I can easily afford to carry on paying her. I think I'll make her an offer, she can either have it as a monthly payment, or it can go into a fund until she gives up work." Ross put his arm round Trevor and gave him a quick hug. "You're a good man, Trevor Russell. But I've known that for a long while." *** That summer was a hectic one for Trevor and Ross. Trevor had to make two trips abroad, and was out of the country for the Silver Jubilee of her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. *** They started looking for a house during the summer vacation. They booked in for a few days in a small hotel in Reading. Estate agents gave them descriptions of the property available. They viewed various properties but for one reason on another none seemed entirely to their satisfaction. It was their last day. "Are we being too choosy?" asked Trevor. "A number of the places would do." "Would do, as 37 Chelmsford Road does. Manageable but not ideal. No, I think we look until we find what we are both entirely happy with. We can always come back again to search." They decided to widen the area in which they would look. They went into an estate agents, and said that they would look a little further afield. "There's a place that might do," said the estate agent, "It came in about half an hour ago. It is at the limit of the area we cover, it is in south Buckinghamshire. There are some difficulties. Not everybody's choice. It is two cottages that have been knocked into one. It is a long narrow building so a lot of the rooms have windows in opposite walls. Some people don't like that. I've not even been out to look at it and measure it up yet." "Can we go and look at it. Or do we have to wait until you've been?" "I don't see why you shouldn't go. I've got the key." Half an hour later they were on their way. The estate agent had described the property, and how to find it. It was situated off a green in a small hamlet, called Potter's End. They found the place, and got out of the car and walked up to the gate. Ahead of them stood the cottage. It was a long low building, at least two hundred years old. It was built of brick and had a tiled roof. The garden was slightly overgrown but there were flowers blooming and roses round the doors. Because it had been two cottages, there were two doors at the front. "Which is the font door?" asked Trevor. "I should think the one on the left. It has the letter box." They stood at the gate and looked. "It's beautiful," said Trevor. "I think it's saying it wants to be ours." "You're surprisingly romantic at times for a hard bitten Kiwi. We'd need to get it surveyed and so on." "I feel it's right in my bones." Ross slipped his arm round Trevor. "Let's see what it's like inside." It had originally been two small cottages. This meant there was more or less two of everything, and one half was the mirror image of the other. They went in the front door. There was an extremely small entrance hall, with the stairs ascending straight ahead. The door to the right led into a large room. The ceilings were quite low, but there were windows in two opposite walls. The door on the left led into a smaller room, and from that you went into a kitchen. From the kitchen you could also go into the larger room on the right of the front door. There was also a door from the larger room into the larger room in the other half of the cottage. The far end of the cottage had a utility room, and a matching smaller room. There were also two staircases. Upstairs there were two large bedrooms, over the larger rooms downstairs. The ceilings in these were high and went up into the roof, exposing the old oak beams. These two large bedrooms were connected by doors in the thickness of the wall. This meant that both rooms would be fairly soundproof, and that you go from one part of the upstairs to the other, without having to go downstairs. There were two bathrooms, over the kitchen and utility room, and also two smaller bedrooms. Trevor and Ross spent a lot of time looking over the place. It was empty of furniture, though there were some rather worn carpets. It would need decorating as there were lighter patches on the walls where pictures had hung, and in any case neither of them liked any of the colours. In the quite extensive grounds there was a single garage. "There's room for another garage alongside," said Ross. "What do we need two for" asked Trevor. "You will need a car to get to work, and I don't want to be housebound for days on end. We'll both need a car, you simple minded Pom." "I think it will do. One of thlarger rooms downstairs as a dining room, the other the sitting room, lounge or drawing room, whatever you want to call it. The two smaller rooms can be our studies. I will not be distracted by the clatter of your typewriter." "Or me by your sighs and groans." "I don't sigh and groan!" "Oh, yes you do, my love. But carry on." "And four bedroom's upstairs." "You in one small room and I in the other," said Ross with a broad grin on his face. "If that's what you are thinking you can catch the next plane back to Kiwiland." Ross' response was to give Trevor a kiss. After nearly two hours looking the place over and discussing every detail they began to make their way back to the car. It was when Ross went to close the gate, he saw the name on an old carved piece of wood fastened to the gate. "Look Trev, at what the place is called. 'Russell's'." "But it will belong to both of us, jointly, equally." "I'm happy to live with you in a place called Russell's on one condition." "What's that?" "That a certain precious part of my anatomy has free access at anytime." "You've got a one track mind." Trevor pulled Ross to him, and a gave him a surreptitious kiss. Potential neighbours might be looking! The estate agent told them the asking price and let out that the vendors were wanting a quick sale. They said they were interested and would get the place surveyed. This was set in motion before they left Reading. The survey did not reveal any problems they had not spotted. The cottage was in a fundamentally sound condition, as it had been well maintained by the previous owner. They put in a bid £2500 below the asking price, and compromised at £1250 less. By the end of September Russell's was theirs. They decided what work they wanted done. Central heating throughout had been Ross' insistence. Planning permission was sought for another garage. The work was put in hand, and the work on the cottage completed by early December. Meanwhile they sold 37 Chelmsford Road. Isaac came back for week. "I had to come to say good bye to the old place. It has so many memories good ones and bad ones." "The worse being that shivering urchin on your doorstep in December 1943," said Trevor. "That was one of the best. How many times, Trev, I've thanked God that you came back that second time. You brought light, life and love back into my life." "You just rescued me and gave a life that was worth living." They stood and hugged, and after a minute or two Ross came and put his arms round them both. They also took Isaac down to Potter's End to see over Russell's. "It's beautiful Trevor. But what about the garden. There is a lot of ground. Are you going to pay for a gardener, or develop green fingers?" "We haven't decided that one yet. But remember my folk are farmers so there may be a horticultural gene hanging around waiting in me," said Ross. They moved on Thursday 14th December 1978. It was a damp and dreary December morning in Leytonstone. Trevor found it hard to say goodbye to his life in Leytonstone. On that final morning after the removal van had gone he went round the house. He told Ross he wanted to be alone, so Ross went and sat in the car. He stood in the middle bedroom and remember his times there with Con and Fergus. Giggling schoolboys after Isaac had bent over the bed and given them kisses. Then there had been Kundi and more recently Zach. The front bedroom, so many memories of Isaac. The first time he had produced his seed into Isaac's waiting mouth, and that last sad time with Kundi. The doodlebugs and the rockets. Downstairs in the bathroom the first steaming bath with Isaac. The kitchen where Heinie had given him a blow job, as it was now being called. The living room with Isaac's atlas, speaking German and French, countless memories. Then as he closed the front door for the last time, the picture of himself shivering on that doorstep for what had seemed to him an eternity, and even the first time when Fred had brought him the week before. He got into the car alongside Ross. "Love you, Trev." "Thanks Ross. I'm sad to be leaving, and happy at the same time. I look forward to our new home, which will be our home. You are with me, and that makes all things possible, all things well." They gave each other a kiss, and Ross started the car and they began that interminable journey yet again, round the North Circular Road still with all its roundabouts, and traffic lights, though it was being improved. Trevor was very quiet for the first part of the journey. When they turned onto the A40, the Oxford Road, the sun came out and everywhere looked brighter. They both realised that things were back to normal when they started arguing. The subject was the future of the Labour government under James Callaghan. Trevor though it wouldn't last another six months. Ross said he was not reckoning with the Houdini like survival instincts of a party in government. They arrived at Russell's nearly two hours before the arrival of the removal van. They had decided to bring only the best of their furniture. This meant that less than half the cottage was furnished that first day. The removal van pulled away, and they looked at each other. "Our home!" said Ross. "Yes, our home," replied Trevor putting the emphasis on the possessive adjective. Ross went to prepare a meal, while Trevor went upstairs to make the bed. It was a physically and emotionally exhausted couple of men that made their early way to bed that night. *** Three days before Christmas they received a phone call from Zach, saying that he had a couple of days off over the New Year, and could he come and stay. It was one of those overcast raw days when Trevor and Ross went into to High Wycombe to meet Zach's train. There was almost no wind, and there was a solid coldness to the air. Zach had never spent much time in the country, so he was all eyes as they made their way past the hill on which West Wycombe church stood. It had a golden ball on the top of the tower, where the Hell Fire Club were reputed to have met in the eighteenth century. The leafless beech trees in the woods stood as grey blurs on the hillsides. Trevor drove along the lanes towards Potter's End. Zach was shown round the cottage and the garden. There was a lot of work needed in the garden if was to look anything in the summer. The flower garden at the front needed a lot of work, but the area at the back which they called the orchard as it contained a number of fruit trees of some sort, was very overgrown, with patches of nettles and brambles. The cottage felt cold even with the central heating full on. They lit the log fire in the sitting room, but though that probably made most of the heat go up the chimney, it provided some psychological warmth. It got dark early and that gave them the excuse to pull the curtains, and put the cold outside out of sight and out of mind. They talked, ate and drank. Zach had his first glass of sherry before the meal. Zach as an illegitimate child brought up by his mother, who was herself a new comer to Britain, had had a restricted upbringing. It had been a very loving and caring home, he had never wanted for the essentials, but he was not conversant with the frills of middle class society. In some ways he was somewhat like the young Trevor who came to live with Isaac. Isaac was able to show and tell what to do, and how to do it. Zach was old enough to realise his own shortcomings. The meal that first evening consisted of four courses, simple in themselves, soup, main course, fruit salad, and biscuits and cheese. When he sat at the table he was confronted by an array of cutlery. Why was there a spoon of a particular shape on the right hand side of his table setting as well as a spoon and fork the top ot the setting? Fortunately Trevor realised the problem, and by quickly taking up whichever piece of cutlery was required, Zach was able to follow suit. Zach was to sleep in one of the small bedrooms in a single bed. It was just before eleven when the yawns of all three of them revealed that it was time for bed. Zach went up first, followed by Ross, and then Trevor. Trevor seemed to have taken on the responsibility for seeing that the place was locked, and everything safe and sound downstairs. Trevor and Ross were lying in bed. This was a time when they talked over the day. They would lie on their backs holding hands and talk. By mutual consent that had agreed not to argue when in bed. Arguing at a late hour tended to stimulate their thought processes and give them both a restless night. They were talking quietly together when there was a slight tap on the door. "Come in," said Trevor. The door opened and the face of Zach appeared. "There are so many creaks and groans and a strange hooting outside. Can I come in with you?" The look on his face was perfect youthful innocence. Trevor looked at Ross, who gave a slight nod. "If you are that frightened, you'd better come in with us," said Trevor, though he suspected an ulterior motive. In a flash the naked body, except for a pair of pants, was into their bed, between Ross and Trevor. It was now Ross' turn to look at Trevor with a query and glance at Zach on his face. Trevor responded with an imperturbable nod. "The little boy's afraid of the dark," and "Whose afraid of an old owl?" said Ross and Trevor simultaneously. They promptly started tickling Zach, who being extremely ticklish wriggled and laughed. This went on for several minutes of horseplay. "Stop!" said Ross suddenly, "What is this lad doing in our bed with his pants on?" "Let's get them off him," said Trevor. "What's this hard thing between his legs?" said Ross. "He hasn't dared to get into bed with us with his penis erect, has he?" added Trevor. His hand felt Zach's crotch. Zach was not to be beaten at this game. His two hands soon got hold of Trevor and Ross' hardening cocks. "And what about you two. You've got 'ard cocks, and me a young innocent boy scared stiff." "Scared stiff, is just about it," said Trevor. He placed a long kiss on Zach's lips. "Careful how you hold that prong of his. If what I remember about it is still true, he'll shoot his load any second now," said Ross. For the next twenty minutes Zach lay on his back and was subject to the touch of four hands, four lips and two tongues. "Turn on your side, Zach," ordered Ross. Zach turned to face Ross. Trevor immediately began to pay full attention to Zach's buttocks and what lay between. He reached for the lubricant, and Zach was greased and then Trevor greased his cock. He placed it against Zach's hole and began to push. Gently but firmly he gained entrance and his cock slid into the younger man. Meanwhile Ross burrowed down into the bed, and started work on Zach's cock. It was soon deeply imbedded in Ross' mouth. All six hands were feeling, stroking and stimulating the three bodies. They were all too excited to delay the climax for long. Zach came first, then Trevor, and finally Ross. They then went off to the bathroom to clean up. None of them delayed as the central heating was off and the cottage was beginning to feel really cold. The first back into the bedroom, Trevor, straightened the dishevelled bed. The three of them got back in. "Were you really scared?" asked Trevor. "No. But when I thought of you two in bed, cuddling and kissing and possibly more, I felt lonely and left out. So I decided to join you." "Glad you did," said Ross. "Well, if we succeed in getting some sleep tonight, you'd better sleep with us the next two nights." "Thank you, Uncle Trevor." Zach gave Trevor a kiss. Then he turned over, "Thank you, Uncle Ross," and gave him a kiss. All three 'slept dreamlessly and well'. *** Ross was the first to wake the next morning. It was nearly nine o'clock, and what little light came through the curtains seemed different. He gently extracted himself from the tangle of limbs and made his way, via the bathroom, downstairs to make a morning cup of tea. Once the electric kettle was on he pulled the curtains. A different world greeted his eyes. There had been a slight fall of snow during the night, and the sky was a soft blue. The orchard, with the trees outlined in white, looked a wonderland. He took a tray upstairs. Trevor and Zach had moved while he had been downstairs and they were now entwined together. Ross looked down on them, there was a beauty and tenderness in the way the larger and older Trevor was embracing the young dark body of Zach. He pulled the curtains and the room was flooded with the bright sunshine. There were groans from the bed at the disturbance. "There's been a fall of snow in the night." Zach leapt from the bed and went and stood next to Ross, looking out of the window. He put an arm round Ross' shoulders. Ross responded by putting his arm round Zach's waist, and then slipping it down to fondle Zach's perfect buttocks. Trevor, viewing them from the bed, thought how beautiful the two looked as they stood together with the light falling on their different coloured bodies. "I need a pee before I have a drink." Trevor got out of bed and went off to the bathroom. "This room smells like a brothel," said Trevor, as he came back into the room. "Sleep, sweat and semen." " 'ave you been to a brothel ven?" asked Zach, giving Trevor a look of complete innocence. "No, young man, no," came the answer. "Are vere brothels for men wiv men?" "Some of these sauna places get a bit close to it," answered Trevor. " 'ave you been to one?" "Yes, years ago, before I met the other man you've been sleeping with. But don't you go trying one. You'd be set upon. It'd be illegal anyway." Ross poured out the tea. "I need a piss first," said Zach, and went off to the bathroom. Ross got back into bed with Trevor. They snuggled up together. "You alright?" asked Ross. "You?" "Fine. Happy about last night?" "Very. I think it happening that way was the very best." "Yes, love. He's fun, I love him, but nowhere near as much as I love you." "Exactly what I feel," said Trevor. Zach came back into the room, and saw Trevor and Ross in each other's arms, giving each other a kiss. He stood and looked at them. "I 'ope I find someone to love like ver way you two love each other." Trevor looked at Zach. "You will. I'm sure of it." " 'Ow will I find someone?" "It'll just happen, probably when you least expect it, when you are not thinking about it. Like on that remote Kiwi beach, when my Adonis here came along. Do you know, Zach, he was so ashamed about his tiny cock, he kept it hidden in his swimming trunks for two mornings." Zach laughed. "Tiny cock! E's got a lovely one." "I know, Zach. It has kept me more than happy for the last few years." So began a memorable Saturday for them all. They went out for a walk, Zach enjoying the snow-covered countryside for the first time. There is such a difference between snow in Leytonstone, where is was soon trodden down or covered in smuts from all the chimneys, and snow in fields and woods, where it lay 'crisp and even', glistening in the sun light. They ate well and in the evening settled down to play monopoly. This revealed an unexpected side in Zach's make up. It was obvious from the start that he was playing with enthusiasm. After he landed in gaol the third time, he was suddenly silent and thoughtful. He already owned Vine Street and Marlborough Street. He suddenly made an offer to buy Bow Street, at a grossly inflated price from Ross. From that moment the game slowly began to go Zach's way. He was bouncing up and down in delight as he first bankrupted Trevor and then Ross. He was congratulated. "When you made that offer for Bow Street, I thought you were being foolish," said Trevor. "But that was the turning point in the game. Why did you do it?" "I worked it out. Vey are ver best set to 'ave." Trevor looked puzzled. "Why?" "As you go round ver board, it's all ver same where you land. But you keep getting sent off to gaol, either from the square in ver opposite corner, or because you're sent by one of vem cards. So gaol is the most commonly landed on square. You start off from vere when you come out of clink. You 'ave two dice. You can only toss a twelve one way, two sixes. Two is two ones. Three is a one and a two; eleven a six and a five. But six, eight and nine can be tossed in several ways. Eight can be a six and a two, or a five and a three, or two fours." Ross and Trevor looked at Zach in open mouthed amazement. "You worked that out?" asked Ross. "Yep. Why?" "You're not just a pretty face," commented Ross. "Were you good at maths at school?" "Wot sums and vings? No. It were boring." Zach yawned. "When can we go to bed. I'm feeling 'orny!" "There speaks the teenager," said Trevor. But Zach had given them both something to think about. *** "I've been vinking," announced Zach the next morning over breakfast, "I'm going to save up enough to put down a deposit on a motorbike." "Why?" asked Trevor, lifting his face for a moment from the financial pages of the Times. "Ven I can come down 'ere, and you won't 'ave to meet me at the station. Vat's if you'll 'ave me again." The last part was added as a tactful afterthought. "Oh, we'll have you. On one condition." "Wot's vat?" "You always sleep between us." Zach gave Ross what could only be described as a lecherous leer. "You can come between me and that sex starved Pom, who's sitting over there with his head in the newspaper, as usual!" Trevor put the paper down firmly. "If I'm sex starved, I don't know what he is. He must be suffering from sexual malnutrition in a famine. And you can talk, Ross James." "I also vought I might be able to help you outside in ver garden when it's a bit warmer." "We might do with some help," said Ross. "You're a good lad, and'll always be welcome." Zach lent back in the chair, so that it was standing on its two back legs. He put his hands behind his head. "I like living wiv two men. They don't nag, and tell you off, like women." Trevor roared with laughter. "Isaac told me off enough when I was young. Fold your clothes when you get undressed." "He still does it, though," muttered Ross in an aside behind his hand to Zach. "Did you wash behind your ears. Clean your shoes. Brush your teeth." "Fathers can nag every bit as much as Mums," said Ross. Jeff at jeffyrks@hotmail.com At least ten browny points for identifying 'slept dreamlessly and well' Only one browny point for 'crisp and even'.