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 97:
"There is
something that you both need to know," Helen tells us in the kitchen.
She pauses.
"What?" Karl asks.
She hesitates, as
if searching for the words.
"It's about
Anakin," she tells us. Again, she pauses. "Anakin is actually a girl. His name,
her name is really `Anja' but she wants to be identified as a boy. And we need
to treat him as a boy, so I'm not sure whether the sleeping arrangements are
appropriate."
I'm sure that Karl's
mouth, and mine, are both in fly-catching mode.
"WHAT?" I unintentionally
blurt out. "How can a girl be a boy?"
Chapter 98 – Anko
"If it helps you to think that way," Helen replies, "OK.
But, please, do just go along with it. His mother told your Dad and me that
Anakin is serious about being a boy. He's not just acting. In his mind he IS a
boy."
"In his mind, does he have a penis, then?" I ask, then
instantly feel myself blush the colour of embarrassment for asking Helen that
question.
"Yeah!" Karl adds. "How can he be a boy without a
penis? You can't just think that you have a penis if you don't have one!"
"Maybe he had one in a dream," I offer. "And, maybe he
hasn't properly woken up yet."
"I don't know!" Helen says, raising her upturned
palms. "Maybe I should ask his mother to come and talk to you both about it,
and you can ask her any questions that you have."
Karl and I look at each other. No words. Helen takes
that as a sign to return to the dining room.
"A boy without a penis?" I say to my brother; at the
same time gripping Junior through the front of my pants. "Go figure!"
Helen returns with Anakin's mother.
"Let's serve everyone some of your apple pie first," she
tells me. Then we can talk.
We carry 6 bowls of apple pie, ice cream and cream to
the hungry eyes around the table.
"We're going to have ours in the kitchen and talk a
bit about the plans for the week," Helen tells them.
I think that people around the table are more
interested in their dessert than in us.
"I am sure that you boys have many questions about
Anakin," the mother says to us. "Let me start with how he became a boy, and I
will try to keep it as short and simple as I can."
This should be interesting! `Girl without a penis' becomes
`boy without a penis'!
"The children's father was a very good motor bike
racer," the mother starts. "From a very young age, Anja liked to be with him
and to help him work on his bikes and go with him to watch him racing. He
showed her all about bikes, and by the time she was about seven, her father
said that she was already an accomplished mechanic."
I'm tempted to ask about the other two girls, but I shovel
a spoonful of apple pie into my mouth instead. And I listen.
She continues, "Her father said that Anja was just
like a son that he always thought he might have, and they spent a lot of time
together, riding, fishing, hiking, exercising, working on the bikes. Her father
treated her as a son."
I can imagine myself doing all of those things with my
Dad. It would be great fun!
The mother adds, "But, unfortunately, just before the
children turned nine, their father was killed in a racing accident. We were all
very upset, but Anja was devastated.
After a long family discussion, we allowed her to stay
with Lars, Helga and their children. Anja `adopted'
Lars as her second father, and she and Bjorn became more like brothers than
cousins.
It was Lars who told me of Anja's determination to be
a boy, like Bjorn. And it was he who gave her the nickname of `Anakin', from
the Star Wars movie that they all liked to watch."
Aha! Of course! Anakin Skywalker from Star Wars, which
I saw with Ma, Pa and Mum in Brisbane! Now I remember!
"From that time onwards, Anja has become Anakin,
denying that she is a girl, and insisting that she is a boy. Looking back, it
happened in stages. Even when she was young, Anja would pout and say, `I wish I
was a boy'. Then, later, it became, `I want to be a boy', often accompanied by
heavy foot stamping. After her father died, she would say, `I WILL be a boy'.
And, after staying with her aunt, uncle and cousins
for over a year, she returned to us, announcing, `I AM a boy. My name is
Anakin'."
I have to ask the question, even though I feel very uncomfortable
about it!
"Excuse me, but how does Anakin deal with not having a
... what boys have?"
She replies, "That was the biggest issue that we all
tried to reason with her about. She actually believes that some boys have one
and some boys don't. In her mind, she is just one of the boys that doesn't."
A boy without a penis! I can't get my head around it!
It's Helen who asks another question that I was
thinking about. "How do Nora and Emma manage, with their triplet sister, Anja,
insisting that he is a boy?"
"The girls and I talked about it," their mother
replies. "They have both agreed to treat Anakin as a brother. They're OK with
that. However, I dread the time when all three start to mature. They are
already twelve, so it won't be long, I think."
Karl and I look at each other, then at Helen, who says
to us, "There are some things that you probably don't understand yet. Maybe I
should have your father explain to you what happens when a girl begins to
mature."
I know about girls being able to have babies. But I
suspect that there's more!
We re-join the others at the table.
Nora and Emma are very complimentary about my apple
pie.
"Kurt is an excellent cook," Helen tells them.
"Would you like me to teach you to make one, while you
are here?" I say to them.
"Oh, yes, please," they answer enthusiastically in
unison.
Anakin says, emphatically, "Boys don't cook. Girls
cook. Boys fix and race bikes."
I'm proud of my Dad, who replies, "Some boys can fix
bikes, and some boys can also cook."
That's truer than `some boys have a penis and some boys
don't'!
The mother adds, "And some men are such good cooks
that they become famous chefs and write books about food and have their own restaurants
and television programs."
I can tell from his expression that Anakin isn't
convinced. Does he think that I am a girl? What will he do during the week if
he discovers that some `girls' have a penis? I really hope that he doesn't!
Things are confusing enough!
I ask him directly, "Anakin, do you like apple pies?
"Oh, yes, very much!" he answers. "This was
delicious!"
"And would you be happy if your sisters learned to
cook apple pies for you this week?"
"Oh, yes!" he replies, smiling at me, than at each of
them.
It's Helen who then announces to Anakin, "All right.
So, this week, we will have our best apple-pie maker show the girls how to cook
them for you."
Anakin grins. End of discussion about him being a boy
because he can fix a bike, and me potentially being a girl because I can cook
an apple pie!
However, there are still the sleeping arrangements to settle.
I think that I should leave that discussion to Dad, Helen
and the mother to work out.
The rotor blades start slowly and the noise builds.
We all wave goodbye to Danny.
The large helicopter rises slowly, turns and heads
east, back towards Cunnamulla.
Dad says, "Danny has agreed to be part of a plan to
bring people from Cunnamulla to The Village, to see the rejuvenated town and to
stay at the pub or to rent one of the new houses, or to fly to Jintabudjaree to
view Mr Grant's house and see William's paintings, and also to bring people
here as home stay guests. And people will be able to travel between all three
places. We could be seeing a lot more of Danny."
I hope so. I like him. Handsome too. Pity about him
having a `serious girlfriend'!
"Jacko," Dad says to him. "Why don't you and Karl take
the girls in the Land Rover for a trip up to the lookout via the northern
workers' hut? And we will all have afternoon tea when you get back.
I look at my Dad. My raised eyebrows and nodding head ask,
`What about Anakin and me?"
"And, Kurt," he tells me, "Why don't you go with them,
and take Anakin with you, on one of the quadbikes?"
I see the face of the boy with no penis light up.
In my mind, I can tell that Helen, Dad and the mother
would like some time alone to talk about `things'.
Dad and we all walk across to the sheds where the
bikes are stored and the Land Rover is parked. Dad gives everyone a brief
safety talk, and retrieves two helmets. Karl and I don't usually wear one when
we are riding. Perhaps we should. Our guests definitely must!
"See you at the top," Jacko calls to me as he closes
the driver's door and slowly drives off.
I explain to Anakin that we'll give them a bit of a
head start so that we are not `eating their dust', and that he will be sitting
behind me, and holding onto me for support.
Seated comfortably on the quad bike, and with Anakin settled,
I start the bike and give it a few revs to warm it up.
"Stop!" he calls.
"What's wrong?" Dad asks, coming up beside us,
concerned.
"When were the spark plugs last changed?" Anakin asks
him.
Dad shrugs, "I'm not sure. Not recently at any rate."
"I think that we should check them," Anakin announces.
I'm not going to argue, and I reckon that Dad isn't
either. I turn off the bike.
Dad retrieves the spark plug spanner but, as he is
about to use it, Anakin holds out his hand.
In pretty quick time, he is showing to my Dad what he
perceives is a problem.
"You have any new ones?" Anakin asks.
My Dad goes to a drawer and returns with the
replacements, delivering them into Anakin's waiting hand.
New spark plugs secured, he tells me to start the
bike.
"The fuel mixture is wrong!" he says to my Dad.
"Screwdriver?"
In less than a minute of adjusting and listening,
Anakin has the quad humming.
"Well, I never!" Dad tells him, scratching his head.
"That could be the problem!" Anakin answers, grinning,
then climbs up behind me.
Cheeky brat! But, I have to admit, he definitely knows
what he's doing!
"Thank you," my Dad tells him, and the two of them
bump fists as I drive off slowly.
"It's running better than ever!" I tell Anakin over my
shoulder. "You're really good!"
I enjoy the feel and sound of the well-tuned quad. I
should ask my Dad why it has never run this well previously. Did Mr Cameron
look after it?
Anakin starts with his hands on my hips. Then, as I
drive a little faster, his arms move around my waist. I feel his hands slowly
but surely edge towards where Junior is located.
Junior has partially woken. I'm not sure what Anakin's
intentions are. And, I'm not sure that I actually want to find out! If he was a
12-year-old boy, with a penis, it might be different.
I slow the quad and stop.
"What's wrong?" Anakin asks me. Is he fearing being `told-off'
for his wandering fingers?
I pause. Then answer, "How would you like to drive?"
I can tell that any thought of him discovering whether
or not this cook has a penis disappear instantly.
"Are you serious?" he asks, very excitedly. "Oh, yes
please!"
We swap places and I encourage him to accelerate
slowly.
"I know what I'm doing," he answers. "Hang on."
I hope that he doesn't intend to try to do a wheelie,
especially with me on the back!
I point the way.
He starts more slowly than I did. Then he accelerates,
slowly, as I told him.
However, where I would have eased off, he continues to
increase speed.
And I do hang on!
Although the ground is mostly flat, he does a great
job of avoiding the odd bump and ditch and clump of grass.
My initial fear turns to excitement. Hell, yeah!
Approaching the northern workers' hut, Anakin slows
down, stops, then turns the bike off.
We both get off and remove our helmets. He stands,
facing me, with one hand on his hip and asks, "Well?"
Many things go through my mind. His lack of a penis is
totally irrelevant!
The only thing that escapes my mouth is, "I think that
we could have a lot of fun this week!"
His response is a huge grin.
I say, "But, let's not mention this to anyone else,
yet. OK?"
A thumbs up then a fist-bump seals the deal.
With me driving again, we join the others at the
lookout. Helmets onto the seat.
"What kept you?" Karl asks. I can tell that it's one
of his smart-arse remarks rather than implying something.
I tell him, "The bike needed new spark plugs and then
Anakin tuned it. It really hums now!"
Jacko comments, "We heard you coming up the hill. It
certainly sounded a lot `healthier' than usual." Then he adds, to Anakin,
"There are three more of these if you would like to tackle them."
Jacko is smiling. Anakin is beaming. Karl looks
stunned. The two girls have sulking looks on their faces. Like Karl's face sometimes
does when I receive praise for something!
From the height of the `lookout' Jacko points out to
our three guests the features of the landscape in the afternoon sun. The trees.
The rock. The birds.
They are all super excited when they see a small mob
of 5 kangaroos below!
"Kangaroo! Kangaroo!" they shout, jumping up and down.
One of the girls asks, "May we please go and ride
one?"
I look at Karl. We are both shocked. Ride one? Whoever
put that idea into their heads?
It's Jacko who replies, "Sorry, young lady. But those
kangaroos are wild animals. Firstly, if they are roaming around, you would
never be able to catch one. They can hop faster than the Land Rover. Secondly,
they are dangerous. They have huge claws that could slice you open. I once saw a
large one kill a dog that attacked it. If we can get close enough to look at
them one day, when they are resting in the shade, you will be able to see their
claws for yourself."
Anakin trumpets, "I'll bet that I could..."
I cut him off, "Smart boys wouldn't even attempt it!"
I add, "No matter how brave they are."
The `Smart', `Boy' and `Brave' silence him!
I hope that this is not going to be a week where he is
a danger to himself or to us, by trying to prove something!
I think that it will take more eyes than mine to
protect him from harm. Dad, Jacko, Karl and I need to
talk!
Jacko insists that Anakin and I go first, heading
back, which results in no opportunity for the `boy' to drive the quad again.
As we enter the house, the girls rush to their mother
and shout excitedly "Mama, we saw kangaroos!"
"Did you enjoy riding on the bike, Anakin?" his mother
asks.
I'm hoping that he can contain his enthusiasm at
driving the quad and keeping it a secret.
"It was excellent!" he replies. "But Jack said that we
couldn't ride on a kangaroo because they are wild and can be dangerous, but we
might be able to get close to them when they are resting."
He looks at me and winks. I know why! Despite knowing
that he's really a girl, I like him.
"Jacko!" most of us tell him at once.
Dad adds, "We all call him `Jacko'. Friends sometimes turn
people's names around a bit, and add an `o'. So, Jack becomes `Jacko'. David
becomes `Davo'. Robert becomes `Robbo'. And, Thomas can become `Thommo'."
Jacko looks at Anakin, points, and tells him, "And you
could even become `Anko'!"
The boy looks stunned. From `Anja' to `Anakin' and now
`Anko'?
He looks from Karl to me and asks, "So, could I call
you Karlo and Kurto?"
"That doesn't always work," I reply.
"You can call me `Anko', if you like," he tells us,
smiling. "In fact, I think I like it!"
It's Karl who spots the large plate of cookies in the
middle of the dining table. "Hey! What are all those?"
Helen replies, "Something different. After checking
that nobody is allergic to peanuts, I made a variety – some with peanuts, some
with Corn Flakes, some with raisins, and some with chocolate chips."
If William was here, he would definitely try all four
and then back up for seconds, at least!
But, he's not here, so I'll just have to try them all
for myself. LOL.
I take a small plate and put one of each kind onto it.
Anakin copies exactly what I do.
I'm into the cookies and coffee when I become aware
that Anakin, opposite me, is imitating my every move. Which cookie I bite; when I
take a sip; when I rest and listen.
I stare at him and he stares back, then, winks quickly
and turns away.
OK! So, we have a secret! Good, but I hope he doesn't
use it against me. If I let him do what he wants, he won't tell that I let him
drive the quad bike? What's that called? Blackmail?
Dad interrupts my conspiracy theory. "When you're all
finished, we can move the luggage and set up the beds for tonight."
We pitch in to carry the girls' luggage, and their
mother's, across to the bunkhouse. The mother selects the bed nearest to the
toilet and showers. The girls take adjoining beds at the opposite end of the
room. Exactly what Karl and I would have chosen.
Jacko gathers his belongings and we head across to
where the ute is parked. Anakin's and our bags are added to Jacko's, in the
tray.
I'm surprised when Dad brings his bag and adds it to ours.
I stare at him.
"I haven't had a sleep-out with the boys for ages," he
tells me. "It should be fun!"
"When you're all set up," Helen tells us, "Come back
for dinner, and we can play some of your favourite games."
I wonder whether Dad's decision to sleep with us is
the result of a discussion that he's had with Anakin's mother and with Helen.
It's probably not that he distrusts anyone; just `keeping an eye on things' and
perhaps making appropriate suggestions.
"I can carry my own," Anakin tells us as we begin to
remove our bags from the ute.
Jacko, Karl and I head
inside.
Dad hangs back and is talking to Anakin. Watching from
inside, we can tell that their discussion is finished when they bump fists.
"So, which bed to you want, Anko?" Jacko asks him.
"Where is everyone else sleeping?" he replies.
Dad and Jacko indicate their preferences. Karl next to
Dad. Me next to my brother and Anakin chooses the one next to me.
"I hope that you boys all remembered your pyjamas!"
Dad says.
If we didn't have a boy with no penis sleeping in with
us, we may not have needed them!
Karl, Anakin, Jacko and I all
hold up our pj pants and tops in separate hands.
I look at Jacko. I didn't even consider that he might
wear pyjamas! Actually, they look like the pair of Dad's that Karl and I gave
him two Christmases ago!
I look from Jacko to Dad, who winks at me.
I was right!
We will all be wearing pjs!
"Pick a towel and put it on the end of your bed," Dad
tells us, pointing to the stack of towels on the shelf in the corner. "We'll
shower before bed, to help keep the bed clothes clean."
Anakin heads straight for the towels and chooses a boy-coloured
blue one!
I'm really tempted to take the pink one, just to see
his reaction. However, green is good!
Back at the house, I smell dinner as I walk in and reckon
it to be a combination of our usual roast lamb and vegetables.
However, when I see them, the vegetables look very
different. Still recognisable, but not as I had expected.
They are different, but delicious!
Maybe it's the herbs, or how they have been prepared.
"Did you make these?" I ask the mother, smiling.
"Yes," she answers, grinning back at me. "Do you like
them?"
"I certainly do," I tell her, and ask, "Could you
please make them like this again, sometime this week? And, if you don't mind,
I'd like to watch you and take some notes"
Helen adds, "Kurt has his own recipe book," referring
to my red gift from Mrs Cameron.
Anakin looks at me, suspiciously.
I'm not sure that my interest in his mother's cooking,
or Helen's comment, has done anything to convince him that I'm not actually a
girl.
Karl, Dad and I do the
washing up while Helen, Jacko and the mother are helping the triplets select
some games to play.
"Tonight," Dad says to my brother and me, "Underpants under
your pjs. We wouldn't want anything to accidentally pop out in front of Anakin,
would we?"
Karl and I both laugh at the thought of it. I know
what Dad means. It has happened a couple of times previously, while we weren't
wearing undies. But, then, there were only the three of us at the old house.
"You'd better tell Jacko," I tell him.
"Already done!" he replies, grinning. "And, Anakin's
mother was going to tell him to do the same."
"Except," Karl throws in, "He has nothing that could
pop out. Has he?"
"Remember what you agreed," Dad answers him. "Just go
along with it."
Karl wins more hands at poker than anyone else. Jacko
wins at dominoes. The visitors are excellent at Chinese Checkers. It's not
exactly cheating, but I reckon that they have been helping each other by
setting up jumping runs for the next person.
Anakin kisses his mother goodnight. Or, more
correctly, he allows his mother to kiss him. He ignores his two sisters.
I say goodnight to everyone and hug both Dad and
Helen. When the mother holds out her arms for a hug as well, how can I refuse?
"OK, Anakin," Dad asks, "Do you want to shower first
or last?"
"I'll go last," he replies. "I don't want to use any
more water than you do."
Very considerate!
If Dad and Anakin weren't here, I'll bet that Karl
would want to shower with me or with Jacko. Purely to `save water'!
Dad's pyjamas look good on Jacko!
Dad leaves his top unbuttoned.
Karl has his top slung over one shoulder, and I notice
Anakin looking at his body.
Having pulled up my undies and pj pants, I stroll back
out with my top in my hand then slowly proceed to put it on, after allowing
Anakin to `check me out'. Up top, that is.
"OK, Anko," Jacko grins at him, and pointing toward
the shower. "It's all yours."
Anakin is very quick, and I hear the water shut off.
After a few moments, I follow Dad's shocked expression
to see Anakin standing in the doorway, not dressed how I had expected. He walks
to his bed, and all our eyes follow him.
He's got to be kidding!
(to be continued)
-----
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.
-----
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
-----
If you're interested, I have 26 (A-Z) short stories
at
https://www.nifty.org/nifty/gay/adult-friends/massage-tales
-----
Please support the efforts at Nifty. Every little
bit helps to ensure that
authors' stories are posted. Do it here: http://donate.nifty.org/donate.html