Kurt

 

Life in The Village, and the `coming of age' of a student at its remote school,
through his own eyes.

This is an original work of pure fiction (just an expression of a fantasy)
by Robert A. Armstrong (a pseudonym)

Copyright 2013-2023.  Robert Armstrong.  This complete work of literary art is protected by US, Australian and International copyright law. It is the sole property of the author and may not be reproduced in any form whether in whole or in part without the prior express written consent of the author.  
Licence is granted to Nifty Archive Alliance, Inc. for electronic publication on the Nifty.org website. All rights reserved.

The resemblance of the characters by action, name, location, or description to any real person is purely coincidental.

If it is illegal, or offensive, for you to read stories involving interactions of a sexual nature between adults and youths, then what are you doing here?

 

From Chapter 99:

I decide to add, "And, a man or a boy can have his male friends. `Mates', we call it in Australia. Close male friends, but that doesn't mean that his `mates' are his `boyfriends' or that they are gay."

Anakin answers, "So, maybe Bjorn and I are just mates, like Karl and Kurt?"

"That's probably right," Dad answers. "Having a good mate doesn't mean that you are gay."

I hear a sigh, perhaps a few sighs, of relief in the room.

I think that the discussion is over.

However, as I stare towards the blackness of the ceiling, Anakin says, "I would really like to be mates with you all this week." I'm about to reply, but he continues, "Kurt, do you have special feelings for someone? And, do you have a girlfriend?"

Chapter 100 – Relief Turns To Anxiety

What? He surely can't be checking with me to see whether s/he could be my `girlfriend', especially after insisting that she, Anja, the girl, is he, Anakin, a boy! It can't be that!

Why would he even ask me that? Does he think that I wouldn't have a girlfriend?

So, how do I answer him without lying or revealing to my Dad something that I don't want him to know? About me not being interested in girls.

I breathe deeply and swallow hard, which gives me a few precious seconds to think.

"To answer your first question, Anakin," I say, "Yes, I have a very special friend. After he had a very serious accident, I helped him when he couldn't walk or speak very well, and we have become really good mates ever since. Last school holidays, he stayed here with us and, I'm going to stay with him and his parents at the Gold Coast next week."

"What about a girlfriend?" Anakin asks, obviously keen to not let that question go unanswered.

"None, that I can talk to you about," I tell him (and with everyone else in the room listening).

It's the truth, and people can interpret my words any way that they like!

However, Anakin still isn't done! "So, is she one of those girls in Big Town?"

I reply, using my skill at avoiding direct answers and choosing my words carefully, "Well, it would have to be either Big Town, or Cunnamulla, way out here, wouldn't it?" Then I turn the conversation back onto him. "What about you? Do you have a girlfriend?"

"Skit, nej!" he replies.

My Dad laughs.

Anakin's words are close enough to English for me to understand his denial.

Anakin adds, "Only a good mate, like you have. He's my cousin, Bjorn."

 

The week is passing quickly.

The whole family are enjoying the activities that we planned for them. Even the work. The girls' favourite is feeding the chickens and collecting eggs. And we even managed to fit in a helicopter ride to Jintabudjaree and The Village. Thanks, Danny!

(I can open the door at Jintabudjaree and Mr Grant trusts me there when he's not home.)

 

Today, Jacko, Karl, Anakin, and I are taking the bikes for a spin. Anakin and I leave Jacko and Karl at the northern workers' hut `to rest a while', and we continue to the lookout.

While talking about the time staying with his uncle, aunt and cousins, Anakin inadvertently reveals that he and Bjorn actually have a bit of a secret `thing' going on; more than being just cousins and more than just mates!

Despite giving him my word that I won't say anything to anyone, Anakin won't tell me anything more. He is afraid of getting Bjorn into trouble. And I reveal no personal details about me and Andy, except that we, mates, like to hang out together and sometimes, we even `dare' to shower together! Secrets. Promises.

I can only imagine the details of Anakin's relationship with Bjorn! And I am – wondering about it!

 

It's the family's second last day with us, and I keep my promise to show the girls how to cook apple pies, as they have reminded me twice already.

Anakin, as he has done all week, sticks to me like gum-tree sap, (Hey, they're not called `gum' trees for nothing!), watching intently, but without getting in the way.

When the girls' two pies go into the oven, I sit down with them in the lounge room to ensure that they have recorded the recipe correctly.

Anakin leaves us and wanders off by himself. In the direction of the sheds.

I hope that isn't where Jacko and Karl went!

 

It's only a few minutes later when Anakin arrives back. He seems to be in a bit of a hurry, and plonks himself onto one of the individual lounge chairs.

I look at him. He glances at me once, but then avoids my eyes. He appears uncomfortable.

Then Karl appears, and stands, looking straight at Anakin, as if waiting for an answer to a question.

Something has happened!

I need to say something. What comes out is addressed to the trio of visitors, "What game do you think that we should all play before lunch? Any preference? Cards? Dominoes?"

"Chinese Checkers," Nora and Emma answer together.

There is no point in Anakin offering any other suggestion. He's already out-voted!

"Anakin," I put to him. "You know where everything is by now. Would you please get the game out and set it up on the coffee table, while Karl and I see if we can be of any help in the kitchen?"

I give my brother a sideways nod to head in that direction.

However, I steer him straight past the kitchen, to his bedroom, and I close the door.

"What's going on?" I ask him. "Anakin came back looking very nervous about something, and then you appeared right behind him, and without Jacko. Why?"

My brother turns red. "He caught us!" he half-whispers.

"Doing what?" I ask.

Karl, reluctantly, tells me, "After we saddled the horses, Jacko and I were in one of the empty stalls, with our jeans down, playing with each other. I suddenly looked up and Anakin was watching us. I didn't hear him coming."

"And?" I ask.

Karl says, "I pushed Jacko away, pointing at Anakin. Then, we quickly pulled up our jeans and Jacko told him, `Sorry Anko. You shouldn't have seen that.' Then he tried to explain, `We were just, um, helping each other to, um...'."

"Anakin just said, `It's OK. Bjorn likes that too!' Then he put his hands over his mouth and ran off. I followed him to see if he was going to tell anybody what he saw."

"All right!" I tell my brother. "Just act as though nothing has happened. If Anakin mentions about seeing you and Jacko down in the stalls, why don't you just say that the pair of you now have the horses all ready for a ride after lunch."

"But, what if he tells his mother what he saw me and Jacko doing?" Karl says, nervously.

I encourage him. "I have a feeling that he won't do that!"

"How come?" he asks.

I reply, "No real reason. Just trust me."

 

We start our Chinese Checkers in silence, allowing one of the girls to have the first move.

As the game progresses, I notice Karl and Anakin, almost opposite each other, taking quick glances at each other, but never at the same time.

I'm surprised when our `he' guest says, "Hey, Karl, you're really good at this game!"

I think that their eyes actually connect for the first time.

I'm relieved when they both smile and then grin broadly towards each other.

Potential disaster averted! Anakin isn't going to tell!

Karl wins the game. Anakin is one move behind him. They shake hands.

The finishing order for the other three of us is irrelevant.

Anakin smilingly asks my brother, "Is there anything down in the horse stalls that I can help you to finish off, Karl?"

Karl looks at me and I raise my eyebrows. Has Anakin just asked what I think he has asked?

My brother just shrugs, then grins at me. He tells Anakin, "Why don't we go and see?"

Is Karl going to let Anakin jack him off? And what else will happen? What might my brother discover about Anakin's body?

I feel a movement. Not now Junior! Go back to sleep!

"OK, girls," I say. "Let's go and check on those pies."

 

Returning with my brother after about ten minutes, Anakin announces, "The horses are ready now for anyone who wants to go for a ride!"

Karl obviously told him to say that!

Karl and I lock eyes.

I raise one questioning eyebrow.

That same goofy grin! Then he gives me a wink and a single nod.

S/he did it!

My brother and I have been separated all week, by my shadow, Anakin, or by Dad wanting Karl's help with something. I can't wait to have Karl all to myself tomorrow night, before I fly off for a week with Andy! And, not just to find out what happened with Anakin! I'm busting to erupt in his hand, or his mouth, or between his legs! I've resisted every aching temptation to do it myself!

 

Morning. The big helicopter arrives in time for Danny to have breakfast with all of us.

There is a lot of chatter around the table, with everyone re-telling their experiences through the week. `Chickens' and `eggs' and `horses' and `bikes' are mentioned throughout. But, so is the trip to Jintabudjaree and The Village and the `apple pies'.

 

With all of the luggage loaded, there are hugs and thanks all round. Karl and I both receive hand-shakes, a hug and a `Thank you so much' from Anakin.

And, with promises to keep in touch, the farm-stay guests are gone.

 

Night.

"OK. Spill the beans!" I tell my brother, as I slide into his bed and snuggle up behind him, with Junior already very anxious for some relief! "What happened with you and Anakin, down in the horse stalls yesterday?"

"Well, he led me straight to the stall where he saw me and Jacko," he mutters. "And, he got me to stand and lean on the wall, exactly where I had been earlier."

He pauses.

"And, then what?" I ask, holding an impatient Junior against Karl's `nice', firm glutes.

Karl says, "He put one hand on the front of my jeans, and just held it there until he could feel my dick get hard, which didn't take long! Then he said, `You gonna pull em down, or do you want me to do it?' So, I let him do it."

Junior is getting more impatient. I work him in between Karl's legs, and try really hard not to start pushing too fast.

Karl continues, "He undid my belt, the button and then the zipper. He helped them drop to my ankles while he kept feeling my stiffie through my underpants. Then, he put his hand inside and pulled it out and started slowly jerking it. And, he knew what he was doing too! I was already leaking because his hand was slippery straight away."

Speaking of leaking and slippery, Junior is way ahead of me, and I start to push, through my brother's legs, and back. After a week, this is so incredible, that I'd almost forgotten how good it feels! Hey! Not really!

Karl: "Anakin said only two things; `Nice!' and `Yours is just like Bjorn's, only a bit fatter.' And, it was pretty obvious that his hand had a lot of experience at jerking off a guy's dick. Like you, and Jacko, and William do to me."

"What were you doing, while Anakin's hand was so busy?" I ask, holding my brother's hips and pushing Junior really hard, and then reaching around to find his own dick totally stiff. And leaking.

"Nothing," he replies. "I just stayed leaning against the stall and enjoying it. He did ask me if I wanted to feel his body too, but I told him, `No. It's OK. Thanks. Just keep going. You're really good at this.' And it didn't take long before he had me spurting onto the straw. And, you'll never guess what he did then."

"Tell me!" I answer, and add, "Have you got your spunk rag ready? You're gonna need it for me in a second."

"He sucked the last bit of spunk off the end of my dick," Karl says.

This sets Junior off! Massive spurts while I groan at the feeling, and at the imagination of Anakin doing that to my brother.

Maybe it's the memory of it, plus the action of my hand, and Karl very quickly needs to use his rag as well.

"How come you didn't want to feel his body when he asked you?" I groan, as my breathing slows down.

"I don't know," Karl replies. "Maybe I was afraid of what it might be like, without a dick. But, I do know one thing..."

"What's that?" I ask.

"I think that you and I might have some fun when Bjorn and his family come to stay!"

 

I hadn't expected Danny to arrive in a helicopter to take me to the airport! A surprise from Mr Grant. Dad knew about it, which is why he wasn't in a hurry to drive me to Cunnamulla! And here I was, panicking, that I was going to miss the connection to go and see Andy!

After a week of me having no sex, with our guests here, apart from spurting twice with my brother last night, Andy and I have a lot of catching up to do!

Not now Junior!

 

"Ladies and Gentlemen, we are about to begin our descent into the Gold Coast, please ensure that your seatbelts are fastened." I hear the pilot announce, "And we should have you on the ground in fifteen minutes."

One lady, one gentleman and me.

"Gold Coast?" I ask Dennis, the familiar and friendly Lear jet steward. "I thought that we were going to Brisbane!"

"Not this time, Kurt," he replies. "This one is Cunnamulla direct to the Gold Coast. So, you won't need a ride from Brisbane. Tom Grant arranged it."

I love Mr Grant.

 

Even before the plane stops near the terminal, I can see his face. Andy's. Arm waving excitedly. Can he see me waving back?

It's only when I start walking across the tarmac that I see Andy's mother and his stepfather, Brian. Also waving. And smiling.

Difficult choice! Do I shake Brian's extended hand first? Or accept Mrs Thompson's open arms? Or hug my boyfriend, who, I can tell is excited to see me. Part of him is giving it away!

What do you reckon?

Ladies first. Boyfriend last so that I can linger with him a little longer. It will be much longer tonight!

"It's so good to see you again, Kurt," Mrs Anderson tells me. "I understand that you've just had your first farm-stay guests. How was it? You'll have to tell us all about it over lunch! How is Helen? She mustn't have long to go now. When are the twins due?"

 

I tell them all about the activities that we provided and especially how the two girls, Nora and Emma, virtually took control of the chook pen, and how I taught them to make apple pies for their `brother', Anakin.

I haven't told Andy everything about Anakin yet, and his `helping hand' with my brother.

"And your mother?" Mrs Thompson reminds me of her keen interest in Helen and the babies.

"Just a month to go, now," I reply. "Although both Dad and Helen have told Karl and me that sometimes babies can come early, especially twins. While I'm here with you, Dad is going to take Helen into Cunnamulla to stay with one of her friends, so that she can be close to the hospital in case my two sisters become impatient and want to meet us all early!"

That produces a laugh.

"I know exactly what you mean," Mrs Thompson tells me. Then she points at Andy. "He was one of the impatient ones. Two weeks early."

Brian adds, "Yeah. Just like today. He was up before the seagulls, and asking what time your plane was going to land."

"I wasn't being impatient!" Andy reacts. "Just, maybe a touch excited to see Kurt again!"

"No! He was impatient!" Mrs Thompson tells me. "He has a written list of everything that you two are going to do this week. It was ready a fortnight ago, as if you were going to arrive the next day. I've seen it. You're in for a busy week!"

"Prepared!" Andy corrects her. "Excited and prepared!."

I'll bet that there are some things which aren't on Andy's list! But, they would be at the top of the one in his head, or if there was a version he didn't want his mother to see. LOL.

 

Between lunch and dinner, Andy and I walk in the direction of the mall, then turn back. All the while we talk; about how boring his school had been this term and about how un-boring my week with our farm-stay guests was. I explain Anakin as we as I can.

"We have some `trans' people at school," he responds. "It seemed weird at first, seeing a mate come dressed in a girl's uniform and two attractive girls appear as boys. But, everyone just treats them as individuals now. Genders and pronouns don't matter much."

"Pronouns?" I ask. "What's that got to do with things?"

"You know what pronouns are, don't you?" he stops and stares at me. "In place of nouns."

"Of course!" I tell him. "But, what did you mean? Pronouns don't matter. What pronouns?"

"Well, when we used to talk about Mike, we used to say `he' and `him'. Now, as Michelle, we have to refer to ... that person... as `she' and `her'. That's what she wants."

"OK," I say. "I suppose that it's harder when you always knew Michelle as `Mike'. It was much easier for me with Anakin. I never knew him as anyone else. His mother explained to Karl and me that `she', Anja, wanted to be `him', Anakin. So, that was that!"

"Were there any problems?" Andy asks. "Like taking showers or needing to stop somewhere to take a pee?"

"Not at all," I answer. "It all worked out well. We did see his nice abs though. Like yours!"

Instead of taking hold Andy's hand, as I feel like doing, I just give it a couple of nudges, then tell him the details of the first night, and then about Anakin offering to jerk Karl off, after discovering Jacko doing it with him.

"Did he do it?" Andy asks, now more interested than earlier, and nudging my hand back, as though it is accidental because we are walking so closely together. In case anyone sees us!

"Yep," I tell him. "And Karl told me that he was pretty good at it too, and reckoned that he'd been practising on his aunts' 16-year-old son."

I'm not sure whether I should tell Andy that Bjorn is coming to stay with us later in the year. So, I don't. Not yet.

 

After dinner, we have our showers and head for Andy's room, with the claim of wanting to chat more and to just catch up. We really can't wait to `get into it'!

I enjoy the feeling of Andy's body. All over. His pecs. His abs. His hairs. His stiffness – longer than mine. His balls. His firm backside. I've missed him!

We agree not to unload inside each other, so that there will be no leakages in the morning.

The second single bed in Andy's room isn't used until we are both exhausted. Thank goodness for spunk rags and tissues, otherwise things could be extremely messy!

 

It's only the smell of breakfast that wakes me! Then I see Andy, sound asleep, face-down. So, I get out of bed and lay myself on him, which wakes him.

"Good morning, boyfriend," I tell him, then kiss his neck.

"Smells like breakfast is ready," he says. "Let's go and check out whether we have time for a shower first. Otherwise, we can wait until they go to work, then take as long as we like!"

We roll, and both plant our feet on the floor. Then stretch.

"I think that I need to wash my face and hands in cold water on the way to the kitchen," I tell him. Then looking at the massive tent in his own pjs, I add, "And so do you!"

 

"So, what's on your agenda for today, love," Mrs Thompson asks Andy, as we sit down.

"Firstly," he replies, "We're going around to the beach to see if any of the guys are there and we'll say hello, so they'll know that Kurt is already here, as I told them. Then we'll stroll down to the mall and have a good look around. And Tom and Will have invited us to lunch."

"Your mother and I both have early starts today," Brian tells us. "Will you two be able to do the dishes after you've finished breakfast, please."

"No trouble, Brian!" I tell him. "I've been doing a lot of that lately. And was good having farm-stay guests to help."

"You can treat me like one of your farm-stay guests," Andy says to me. "And, I'll be happy to give you a hand."

I read more into what Andy has said than I reckon Brian and Mrs Thompson do.

 

After they leave, Andy and I clean up. Not only the washing up, but the whole kitchen. Spick `n' span. Everything in its place.

We head for the bathroom, turn on the shower to warm up, then go back to strip off in Andy's bedroom. It's impossible not to hug him and feel him all over. He's so handsome and clever and funny. I love him so much!

Andy leads Junior back to the shower room. I follow closely behind. LOL.

Andy and I both know where this shower is going to finish. However, I want to have as much fun as I can beforehand! I hug him from behind and enjoy the heat of the water on my head and running down my face and my back as I lean in to Andy. Right in between his legs, which he clamps hard around Junior.

He hands me the soap. I wash as much of him as I can reach then allow the water to rinse him off.

We do this to each other for a while until it's impossible to simply `play' any longer.

I kiss his neck.

"You go first," he tells me, and bends forward slightly.

Lots of soap, and I push into him very slowly. All the way. OMG. This feels so wonderful!

As I push Junior forward, Andy pushes his glutes back onto me. We get a rhythm going.

When I start to feel the tingle, I stop.

"Wait! Now, you do it," I tell him, "Then, we can spurt together!"

I love the feeling of Andy's body entering mine. Pushing. Pulling back. He holds my hips and pushes hard. Fast and hard. Long and slow.

"OK!" he calls. He pulls out then we face each other and we jerk ourselves. He spurts first. Junior is too excited to wait more than a couple of seconds longer.

We hug. We clean each other. We kiss.

The hot water is relaxing!

 

We put on shorts, T-shirts, and thongs, `flip-flops' as some people call them.

We take the lift from Andy's place, on the fourth floor, down to the ground, then stroll around a couple of corners and head for the part of the beach near everyone's favourite dressing shed.

"They're not here," Andy tells me, obviously a little disappointed. "Let's look in the dressing shed. Perhaps they are having a shower."

He raises and lowers his eyebrows. `Having a shower' means a bit more for these guys in this place! Like when Andy and I have a shower.

There's nobody here, except a stray dog that bolts for the doorway when he sees us.

"Maybe they were here earlier," Andy says. "Oh, well, there will be other times to catch up with them."

 

We head back towards the mall, much keener to look at the shops than we were yesterday, which was really just some walking time to catch up on a few `essentials', like Anakin.

"I haven't bought you a present yet," I tell him, "I've been saving my money. Let's see what we can find that you like."

"I was waiting to see what you wanted, too, before I bought you anything," Andy responds.

The crazy T-shirts are more interesting than the shoe shop. But there is nothing in either that we really want.

Lots of women's clothing shops, two hairdressers, various restaurant that aren't open yet, nothing interesting in the newsagent's, and nothing of much value in the $2 shop.

It's too soon after breakfast to buy a vegetable juice.

The Games Shop looks interesting. "Hi Jarrod," Andy tells the shopkeeper as we stroll in.

"Hi Andy," he replies. "Long time, no see! How long has it been? One day?"

Andy turns to me and explains. "A lot of us kids hang out in here during the holidays. Jarrod lets us play any games that we want to try." He looks at Jarrod. "Anything new?"

"Nothing since yesterday," he replies, grinning.

Andy points out a few of his favourites, but doesn't want me to buy any of them for him.

"See you, Jarrod," I tell him as we leave.

He's actually quite handsome!

We are heading for the mall exit when something catches my eye in the jeweller's shop, as we pass it.

"That's nice!" I comment to Andy, pointing to a two-strand necklace. "I've never seen anything like that."

"Yes," he answers. "Pity it's jewellery for a woman."

"What do you reckon it's made from?" I ask Andy.

"I'm not sure," he tells me. "I see white and gold and black."

"Why don't we go in and ask?" I suggest.

He looks at me and grins.

Can he read my mind?

"Good morning, gentlemen," the lady greets us. "How may I be of assistance?"

I speak up. "There's a two-strand necklace in the window. White, black, and gold. We were wondering what it's made from."

She retrieves it from the window and places it on the counter.

"Bone, brass and onyx," she tells us. "Beautiful, isn't it?"

"Yes," Andy and I reply together.

She hands it to me, and, after examining the beautiful workmanship, I pass it to Andy.

While we are admiring it, the lady says, "It's made by a local craftsman. And he does them in single and triple strands as well."

"Really?" I comment, more than ask.

"Ladies buy a triple-strand for a formal occasion," she says, "And some men have bought a single-strand one."

Andy and I look at each other. Our expressions ask the question, without needing words.

"How do you work out the length?" I ask. "Too short would choke me, and too long, I'd look like my mother."

Did I just say `me' and `I'?

"Would you like to try it on?" she asks. "This one is adjustable, and we can work out the best length for you."

It almost sounds as though I'm already buying one!

I turn around and she places it around my neck, then adjusts it.

"Look in the mirror," she tells me.

"Perfect!" Andy says. "It looks terrific on you!"

"It just needs to be two white cylinders shorter," the lady comments.

"May my friend please try it on too?" I ask.

"Of course," she answers. She removes it from my neck then places it on Andy, then says to me, "My, what beautiful manners you have."

"Thank you," I tell her, and I feel myself blush.

"Just one cylinder shorter for you," she says to Andy.

"It looks terrific on you too," I tell him. "Apart from the double-strand."

The lady stands, looking at us, saying nothing.

"We've both just had a birthday," I tell her to break the silence, "And we were wondering what to get each other."

"And my friend is only here for this week and then he has to fly home, out west," Andy says to her."

"Where do you live?" she asks me.

"Two hours drive west of Cunnamulla," I reply.

"Cunnamulla?" she says, looking surprised. Then she comments, "My family lived there for about six months while my father was shearing sheep." She hesitates. "I don't suppose you've come across a family by the name of O'Sullivan?"

"Yes, I have, actually," I say.

She tells me, a little excited, "There was a family named O'Sullivan that moved into the house across the street from us. They had just sold a property much farther west. Their daughter was older than I was, but she became my best friend. She and I, plus some of our other friends, used to play skipping and hopscotch after school."

I'm not expecting this to be anyone I know! That would be too much of a coincidence!

She continues, "But, then, you wouldn't know her or her brother or parents. They probably moved on long ago, possibly by the time that you were born."

"I might know somebody who might know them," I tell her. "What were their first names?"

"I can't recall the parents' names," she replies. "I just called them Mr and Mrs O'Sullivan. However, I'll always remember Helen and John. Actually, now that I think about it, I'm sure that he had the same name as his father, but people referred the dad as `Jack'."

I feel my mouth drop to fly-catching mode. `Old Jack' O'Sullivan was the name of Helen's father!

"What's wrong?" the lady asks. "Are you feeling all right?"

"Helen O'Sullivan you say?" I ask cautiously.

"Do your parents know her?" she asks. "Helen would be in her early thirties now. We corresponded for a while, but then we lost track of each other after my family kept moving around to wherever my father's shearing work took him, and Helen divorced her no-good, gold-digging husband. Very sad!"

I'm feeling quite emotional!

"I actually know a lady who used to be Helen O'Sullivan," I tell her. "But, she's now Helen Andersen."

"Married again?" the lady replies. "Well, I hope that she's found a good one this time!"

I tell her, "If your friend is the same person that I know, then yes, she's very happy, and she and her husband are expecting twin girls within the next few weeks."

"May I ask a really big favour?" the lady asks me.

"Of course," I answer.

"Would you please pass on my name and contact details the next time that you meet Helen? Just in case she's the same person."

She writes on a slip of paper and passes it to me.

Then she apologises. "Oh, I am so sorry! You came in to check out the necklace, not to talk about my schoolgirl friends."

"That's OK," I tell her, then ask, "How soon could you have one each made up for me and my friend? And, how much would they cost?"

She tells us the price, and my heart takes a nose-dive.

Andy sees my disappointment and says, "Don't worry, I'm sure that Mum and Brian will make up the difference for us. I'll ask them tonight."

"They could be ready in two days," the lady tells us. "And if your parents use AfterPay or PayPal, you can have them straight away and pay them off."

Andy and I look at each other. What a wonderful pair of presents these would make for each other! "Let's do it!" he tells me. I might even be able to rustle up the cash by then."

"What names shall I put on the order, with the sizes?" the lady asks.

"I'm Andrew Thompson," Andy tells her. "And my friend, here, is Kurt Andersen."

The lady starts to write the names down. Then she stops. "Andersen?" she asks. "The same name as Helen's new husband?"

"Yes," I smile at her. "He's my Dad, and Helen is now my step-mother." I add, "And, yes, I reckon that they have both got themselves a `good one'."

She reaches for a tissue, dabs her eyes, and blows her nose.

"And, these are birthday presents from you to each other?" she asks.

"Yes," Andy and I say together, grinning at each other, then at her.

"In that case," she replies, "I'm going to give you the biggest staff discount that I can manage! In fact, it will just be the cost that the craftsman charges me for them."

"But then, you won't make anything," I tell her. "That's not fair."

"The value of possibly renewing my acquaintance with Helen, is far greater for me," she says. Then, she reaches for another tissue.

 

I really want to hold Andy's hand, as we walk to Mr Grant's parents' place for lunch.

So, I do. I reach for his hand, interlock our fingers, and give them a squeeze. Then I let him go.

"Hello, Mrs Grant," Andy and I both greet her.

I add, "It's very kind of you to invite us for lunch."

"Not at all," she replies. "It's my pleasure."

"How is your mother, Andrew?" she asks him.

"She's really good, thank you, Mrs Grant," he tells her. "And she asked me to pass on her best wishes to you."

Mrs Grant turns to me. "And I understand that the stork will be visiting your house very soon now!"

I've heard that expression somewhere!

"Yes," I reply. "But I hope that it's not while I'm away. I'd like to be there to see my two baby sisters."

"So, has it been confirmed?" she asks. "That they will be girls?"

"Yes," I tell her. "That was settled months ago."

I don't tell her that I knew before the doctors confirmed it. There would require too many explanations!

"Hey, guys!" Will calls, coming down the stairs two at a time. "I thought that I heard your voices."

We hug.

"Kurt. Andy." I hear. And Mr Grant joins us. One step at a time.

We also hug.

I'm expecting a pat on the backside from him, but this is obviously the wrong place and the wrong time for that.

"Hey!" Amelia greets us, and introduces us to her friend, Beth.

There's no hugging. Not even handshakes. Just smiles.

 

During lunch, Mr Grant asks about our first farm-stay guests. I don't mention Anakin by gender or pronouns. Lol. Just the activities that everyone enjoyed.

William tells us how much he misses everyone at school and what he has been doing.

Mrs Grant asks a lot about Helen and her twins (soon-to-be my sisters).

"Hey," Amelia says to Andy. "Beth and I are going to the movies at the mall. Afternoon session. You two want to come with us? Kind of like a double date."

Beth laughs, "Wow. Yes. Come on you guys. That would be fun."

I'm not so sure.

However, Andy looks at me, smirks and then replies, "Yeah. Sure. Why not!"

Mr Grant and Will both grin at me.

I'm suddenly feeling very nervous about this! Going to the movies with two girls is not the same as seeing Star Wars with my Mum and Ma and Pa and my brother!

"Come on, Kurt," Andy says to me. "Let's go back to my place and put on some jeans and Polo shirts, and change into our sneakers."

 

"So, who do you want to sit with?" Andy asks me. "Amelia or Beth?"

"I was hoping to sit with you!" I tell him. "But, I certainly couldn't sit with Mr Grant's little sister."

"OK," he replies. "You're with Beth, and I'm with Amelia."

 

At the theatre, Amelia announces, "I'm paying for everything. "Birthday presents for you both! Thomas told me."

Four tickets. A large tub of popcorn to share, and choc-tops and a soft drink each. Both girls have Diet Coke. Andy wants orange and I get a lemonade.

I don't know whether Amelia is actually paying, or whether Mr Grant gave her the money.

"Thank you," Andy tells her, and gives her a peck on the cheek.

I do the same. It's the first time that I remember kissing a girl! Except at Dad and Helen's wedding, where just about everybody kissed everyone else. Kissing Mum and Ma and Helen doesn't count!

Even though it's just a quick kiss on the cheek, it's not the same as kissing Andy, and I feel Junior suddenly wake up.

Not now Junior!!

Beth and Amelia sit together, with me alongside Beth and Andy next to Amelia.

Here I am at the movies with my boyfriend, with two girls separating us! Ouch!

We eat our ice creams, sip on our drinks, and pass the popcorn back and forth.

By the time the main feature comes on, we all have both hands free, except for when the popcorn is being passed back and forth.

About five minutes into the movie, I feel a hand on my thigh. It is just above my knee but it is slowly creeping higher. I wish that it was Andy's! OMG. What do I do?

No, Junior!

 

(to be continued)

 

 

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If you like the story, and haven't said 'hello' yet, please take a couple of minutes to email me.

rob.zz@hotmail.com

I try to reply to everyone, though maybe not immediately. Please be patient.

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The partly-parallel version to this story, `Schoolie', told through the eyes of Tom Grant, gives the backstory specifically for Tom, William, Andy and Jintabudjaree.
Find `Schoolie' at
https://www.nifty.org/nifty/gay/adult-youth/schoolie

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If you're interested, I have 26 (A-Z) short stories at

https://www.nifty.org/nifty/gay/adult-friends/massage-tales

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