Date: Sun, 31 Jan 2016 08:59:49 +0000
From: David Ashford <dashford566@gmail.com>
Subject: Escape From The Ghetto by Nigel Dean

*ESCAPE FROM THE GHETTO by Nigel Dean*

I have dedicated this story to my good friend Toby Gee.  I hope you enjoy
reading it.  Please feel free to drop me a line:  david@guyzonline.com



Nigel was born and brought up in the ghetto but it was not until his
teenage years that he fully understood his position. From then on he
devoted all of his thoughts to escaping.

There were about one thousand houses in the ghetto, the first were built
after the first world war as houses fit for heroes. More were added in the
1950's as the post second world war population started to grow. Similar in
design, all were semi-detached lower middle-class homes where lived those
employed in the junior ranks of management, clerical staff and other white
collar workers. The working classes, those who earned their livings in
factories, resided up the hill and away from Nigel's world. Their lives
were accommodated in rented terrace council houses.  The two communities
did not mix.  The council house boys went to a different school to Nigel
and his friends.  Up the hill was not an escape route from the ghetto.

In the other direction, safely keeping the ghetto of semi-detached
properties between themselves and the feared council houses were the larger
detached homes.  There lived the professionals - doctors, solicitors,
accountants as well as the more senior managers of business and industry.
Continuing in the same direction, leaving those detached middle-class homes
would take you to the leafy avenues where, hidden behind tall hedges and
closed gates, were the large homes of the wealthy.  The millionaire
directors and owners of the employment providing for those in the ghetto
and those living on either side of them.

Nigel was determined he would leave the semi-detached ghetto to live his
adult life in one of the leafy mansions.  It became an obsession. Studies
at school fell into one of two categories. Those which could assist his
escape and those which would be on no use to him.  In the fifth form he
excelled in the first category gaining the top GCE O Level grades while
everything else was unnecessary and left as a failure.  The sixth form and
A Levels gave him entry to a training group within a city centre department
store. That was all part of his plan.

Edwin Garrow did not even know Nigel's ghetto existed, it was much later he
realised there were houses in which lived boys who were different from
himself. He did  know of the larger homes, those in the leafy avenues,
where several of his grandfather's executives had their homes but he did
not mix with their children

It would have been unthinkable for Edwin to have attended the same school
as Nigel or even the boys living in the homes of his grandfather's senior
management teams. Edwin went to independent fee-paying schools, first to a
preparatory school then after taking his Common Entrance Examination to a
famous boarding school in Buckinghamshire.  Of course Edwin would go to
university but first it was decided he would spend a year working within
one of his grandfather's companies.  The boy needed top gain some
experience of the real world, an experience his upbringing had so carefully
until that time kept him away from.

Lord Garrow, the Sixth Earl of Brockton, owned a series of profitable
organisations which enabled his family to live in the vast Brockton Abbey
complete with an army of servants many aristocratic families had been
forced to give up decades earlier. Unlike many stately homes it had not
been necessary to open the doors to the public, charging an admission fee
in order to make ends meet.

Before slavery was abolished within the British Empire Edwin's ancestors
owned vast plantations in the West Indies. Government compensation for the
loss of their human property was invested in textile mills.  Later Earls of
Brockton set up manufacturing companies and bought up farming land anywhere
they could. Edwin's grandfather had recently won a successful takeover bid
for a chain of ten giant department stores.

The Birmingham branch of this retail empire employed two thousand members
of staff.  Two of these were destined to be Edwin himself and Nigel. For
Nigel this was the first step towards his founding his own retail chain and
leaving the ghetto behind as a distant and unfortunate memory.  For Edwin
it was the family's idea of his experiencing the real world.  University
would follow and then he would enter the higher levels of management
somewhere within the family business.  It was his destiny.

Only the store's general manager knew the real identity of Mr Edwin Porter,
The Honourable Edwin Garrow was to be kept a secret.  Edwin Porter and
Nigel Dean were assigned to the store's soft furnishing department on the
third floor where senior saleswoman Mrs Hanson was detailed to be their
mentor.

"I've seen her before," Eddie smiled.

"Where ?"

"We studied Macbeth for A level, she is one of the witches."

Mrs Hanson placed the two boys on the same staff rota as herself. That
meant they shared breaks and days off.

Soft Furnishings was one of the heavyweight departments with high sales and
high profits.  It sold readymade curtains as well as fabric by the yard.
The big profits were achieved within made to measure contracts.  Mrs Hanson
showed the boys how everything worked, the sales they achieved would
contribute towards her sales commission so she made sure they understood
and understood well.  For simple jobs the boys would do the calculations
with the customer on the shop floor before cutting the fabric from the roll
then sending it to the workroom to be sewn.  More complex orders needed an
elderly employee to travel to the customer's home, he did not drive so had
to go everywhere on the 'bus, to take the measurements. He would then
return to the store and give these measurements to another elderly employee
who would prepare drawings and an estimate for the work.  Salesmen and
women on the shop floor produced enough orders to keep fifteen seamstresses
fully employed in the workroom.  Since taking over the stores staff were
directed to sell as hard as they could the fabrics produced by the Brockton
Mills.

Edwin and Nigel had been members of the soft furnishing department for just
one week when both produced a record breaking order. Neither involved
elderly employees on buses or an estimator making drawings, both came from
customers walking in with their own measurements.

Edwin's order was for new stage curtains and drapes in the theatre of a
local public school.  The bursar cam in on the Saturday morning knowing
exactly what he wanted.  All Edwin had to do was to complete the
calculations and take the order.

The two boys went off for lunch with Edwin in high spirits and Nigel green
with envy.

It was a busy Saturday afternoon, every sales assistant other than Nigel
was attending to a customer.  It was, therefore, to him that a fierce and
formidable laky spoke.  Nigel's first thought was he had met the second of
Macbeth's witches but in truth she turned out to be his fairy godmother.
She was the matron of an old folks home wanting curtains for a resident's
room.  Nigel helped her select the fabric then cost the order.  She was
pleased with his price so ordered curtains for all fifty rooms !

At the end of the day the department manager called the boys into his
office.  "You both deserve The Duke Of Edinburgh's Award for your efforts
today," he said.  "Here go and have a few beers before you go home." He
handed them a small bundle of folded green one pound notes.

"I've already got The Duke of Edinburgh's Award," Nigel said sipping a pint
of b eer.

"So have I. What level did you get ?"

"Silver.  I left school before I could finish the Gold."

"Same here.  I did mine with the school's combined cadet corps."

"What's that ?"

"An army thing the school ran playing soldiers on Saturday mornings."

"Oh.  I did mine with the PE department, it avoided playing football.  I
did my expeditions in The Peak District."

"Oh my god, so did I."

"Fancy going up there some time ?"

"Sure thing Edwin."

"Try calling me Eddie.  I know a good pub where I did my Silver test
expedition.

"You didn't go to a pub on the expedition did you ?"

"Of course."

"Edwin....."

"Eddie !"

"Ok - Eddie - you're not supposed to buy anything on an expedition, you
have to carry everything in your rucksack."

"Don't be such a woos !  You are allowed to ask for water, you don't have
to carry that with you.  Beer of course is only water with alcohol and a
bit of flavouring."

"But you are not supposed to buy anything."

"We didn't buy anything, we simply tipped the barman."

"Edwin, I mean Eddie, you naughty boy."

Over their next pint of beer, tipping the barman with the sales manager's
money, the boys planned their visit.  No shops opened on a Sunday, the
store organised rotas so a member would have the Saturday off in one week
then Monday the following week meaning a three day long week-end.  They
would head to The Peak District the next time their rota gave them a long
week-end.

"I've still got my rucksack and tent,"  Nigel said.

"And I've the telephone number for Biggin Farm,"  Eddie said.  "I can call
them and arrange for us to pitch camp there."

The Brockton Family actually owned Biggin Farm and several others in the
areas.  Eddie was not going to let Nigel know his family had taken over an
estate with the tenant farms in the mid eighteen hundreds and he would make
sure the present tenant of Biggin Farm did not address him as the grandson
of the Earl of Brockton.

It was two weeks until their next long week-end.  Two weeks in which their
friendship deepened as did the rivalry between them to outsell one another.

"How old are you both ?" Mrs Hanson asked one morning.

"Nineteen," they answered together.

"It is not usual to have an assistant department manager under the age of
twenty-one but I would put a pound on you both getting temporary positions
over The Christmas period."

"God forbid I am still here when I am twenty-one,"  Eddie said later.  "I
am only here because my family demanded it of me.  I want to be a lawyer so
when my year here is up I'll be off to university."

"When I am twenty-one,"  Nigel replied, "I'll be out of here and owning at
least one supermarket."

The boys were getting to know more about each other but Eddie had to invent
some of his background in order to keep his big secret. There was something
neither thought to bring into their conversations, that which would be
obvious in the lives of two nineteen year olds.

Nigel had been to an all boys school.  During his adolescence he had no
time for fantasies involving the opposite sex.  Girls could be a part of
his life when he was a supermarket owner.

Edwin knew that girls would be a part of his life.  There was lots of talk
when he had been at school but while many of his friends claimed action he
doubted any had ever experienced anything.  Losing his virginity would
happen then his family would find a suitable wife for him to continue the
Brockton line.  In time he would become the Eighth Earl of Brockton and
sire the ninth. That was his duty, that was his destiny in life. A girl
would be necessary but it did not feel important.

The boys took the train from Birmingham New Street to Derby arriving before
nine o'clock.  A short walk to the 'bus station then up to Ashbourne at the
foot of the Dovedale.  It was a nine mile hike to the camp site, five miles
to a pub which served as a convenient lunch stop.  Three pints and a
ploughman lunch later they began the final walk to Biggin Farm In planning
their Duke of Edinburgh's Award expeditions the boys calculated a walking
speed of three miles an hour across a flat surface then made allowances for
the steepness of the terrain.

By three o'clock they were close to their camp site for the night. They
would pitch camp then head off to the pub.  "It's called The Dog and
Partridge,"  Eddie explained, "but we always called it The Dog and Clogs."

"My watch hasn't stopped has it ? What time do you make it ?" Nigel asked.

"Five to three."

"Getting dark early even for November."

Thick black clouds covered the sky.  There was a strangeness all about
them.  the boys walked quickly along the footpath through the field. There
was an ear splitting crack and a blinding flash of light as a thunderbolt
hit a tree no more than fifty yards from the two friends.  Without saying a
word they began to run. Another flash, another explosion as the lightning
this time hit the grass of the open field.

The rain fell in a torrent instantly soaking the boys' outer clothing.
There was no shelter and even if there was it would have been foolish to
take it.  All they could do was to move forward as quickly as they could.
More flashes, more explosions, more bolts of lightning. As quickly as the
freak storm began it ended. The clouds parted and what was left of the late
afternoon brightened.

"That was scary."

"Yeh.  I need a piss but was too scared to go in case I was struck by
lightning."

The two were made welcome at the farm where Eddie's wishes to remain
incognito were honoured. The family insisted the boys warm themselves up
and dry their outer clothing.

"We are fine, honestly," Nigel said.

"That was some storm, you can't possibly put up a tent in the field
tonight, you can sleep in the barn."

"It's stopped raining now."

"No you must, we insist."

Although originally designed to house animals the tenants were now using
the building to store farm machinery.  Inside everything was warm and dry.
There was electric light. The boys unpacked their rucksacks and rolled out
their sleeping bags onto the floor in one of the stalls.

Nigel had a blue camping gaz cooking stove and was quickly making coffee.
Eddie had brought a brass paraffin primus stove on which he started to
juggle a meal of tinned stewed steak, dried mashed potatoes and Bachelors
Surprise Peas. " I love Surprise Peas," he said, "nothing like the lead
bullets we had to eat at school."

"Surprise Peas !  I thought they were what you had to do when you had drunk
too much beer.!

"Funny boy !"

"Talking of beer, we are going back to the pub after we have eaten ?"

"Of course," Eddie smiled.

"You know it is not so much fun going into a pub now I am legal,"  Eddie
observed as the sat down in The Dog and Cloggs.

"How old were you when you first went to a pub ?"  Nigel asked.

"Fifteen."

"Oh my god, fifteen ! Did your parents know ?"

"Probably, it wouldn't have bothered them."

"Mine would have killed me."

"My grandfather would have considered it to be part of growing up."

Even if post eighteen pub drinking was not a dare, had lost some of the
danger, some of the adventure, the friends remained in The Dog and Clogs
until closing time.  The freak storm had not repeated itself. The two mile
hike to the pub and the two mile return journey to Biggin Farm were made in
dry weather.

"Did you ever smoke ?" Eddie asked as they walked through the darkness.

"You snob,"  Eddie laughed. "My grandfather smokes and I don't think he
would like to be called working class."

"You come from a rich family, what does your father do ?"

"What my grandfather tells him to ! He's the one who insisted I took a year
working in the real world before going to university, he is the one who
condemned me to selling curtains in a department store."

"My father's not rich, I wish he was. I hate living where we do but one day
I will escape, just as soon as I start my own chain of supermarkets."

"You're serious about that aren't you ?"

"I am."

"Well don't tell my grandfather, he will probably have me come to work for
you !"

The sky was clear, the moon was bright, no sign of rain. Soon the boys were
back at Biggin Farm."

"What are you doing ?"  Eddie demanded.

"Getting into bed."

"With your clothed on !"

"I've taken my boots and socks off, and my trousers and coat."

Eddie held his hands in front of him, slightly to the side then turned them
palms up as he feigned surprise. "Do you sleep like that at home ?"

"No but it's cold here."

"No it's not. What do you wear in bed at home ?"

"Pyjamas."

"Pyjamas !  You woos !  Do you have a teddy bear and a hot water bottle as
well ?  Does Mummy come and tuck you up with a goodnight kiss ?"

"No."

"Pyjamas !  Pyjamas !  I bet even my grandfather wears pyjamas !"

"So what are you going to wear then mister clever dick ?"

"Nothing."

"You mean............ ?"

"In the nude, yes. Of course you can be a man and do the same or you can be
a wood and keep your clothes on, I have a can of deodorant you can spray on
yourself in the morning."

Nigel felt awkward, he was going to have to sleep naked the same as Eddie
but he wasn't comfortable about his friend seeing him without anything on.

"Want me to turn my back ?"

"No."

"I doubt you've got anything I haven't got." With those words Eddie cast
off the last of his clothing to stand completely naked before his friend.
"See that's me Edwin Porter sales assistant in the soft furnishing
department."

Blushing across every square inch of his skin Eddie slowly took off his
clothes.  When he had only his pants to go he drew a deep breath and
summonsed every ounce of courage.  Eddie was saying nothing but in his head
Nigel could hear the words - don't be a woos !  Don't be a woos !  Nothing
for it, off with the pants.

"There that wasn't so bad was it ?"  Eddie smiled.  "Into the sleeping
bags."

"Did you all sleep naked at school ?"  Eddie asked from the safety of his
sleeping bag.

"Sure did, we all knew a fellow's cock as well as we knew his face."

"Oh."

"Nothing wrong with that you know."

"No, of course not," Nigel said. "Did you ever do anything together ?"

"Like what ?"

"You know." Nigel formed his hand into a hollow fist and jerked it up and
down a couple of times.

"Oh yes, of course we did Wednesday was always Wank Off Wednesday,
everybody joined in. Saturday was Race Night when we would see who could
cum the fastest."

"Did you ever win ?"  Nigel wished he had not said that, cursed himself and
wanted to take tack the words.

"I may have," Eddie smiled.

Nigel's hear was thumping.  This sounded exciting.  "Did boys ever do
anything with each other ?"

"Some may have but we never spoke about it.  Personally I didn't.  There
were those who made no secret of fancying their fags but if anyone ever did
that it would have been a sound thrashing followed by instant expulsion."

"For fancying a cigarette ?"

Eddie roared with laughter. "Cigarettes, my dear Nigel !  Cigarettes. A fag
was your servant, a junior boy who had to wait on a senior boy in the sixth
form like a valet.  My fag was a snotty nosed twerp, I can tell you I never
fancied him ! I hated him, I beat him once - slippered him on his bare
arse."

"You whacked another boy ?"

"Oh yes prefects were allowed to."

"God."

"Beatings were normal, I was beaten several times.  I bet my grandfather
would say I wasn't beaten enough."

"I was caned once at school,"  Nigel said, "and slippered three times."

"The slipper was for the sixth form prefects to use, masers used the cane.
In the dorm if a boy had been beaten he had to stand naked while the other
fellows inspected his bottom then kissed him better."

"On the arse."

"Yep.  I've kissed a few arses and had mine kissed more than once."  Eddie
suddenly let out a roar of laughter.

"What was that for ?"  I was just thinking about that fag of mine after I
slippered him.  Pity those who had to kiss his spotty arse. I would love to
have watched."

"I was never a prefect,"  Nigel said, "but when I was in the fifth form I
had a friend in the upper sixth who was. When we were on second sitting for
lunch and the bell rang he would let me take a short cut through the inner
quad so I was at the front of the line.  Boys were not allowed to walk
through the inner quad during lunch time, only to move from lesson to
lesson, but this prefect would let me go through."

"Sound to me like he fancied you,"  Eddie said.  "You weren't his fag were
you ?"

"No, we didn't have fags - I'd not heard of them until you told me what
they were."

"You missed out on a lot - Wednesdays, Race  Night Saturdays."

"I suppose I did."

"Well it's Saturday today," Eddie said with a naughty giggle.

Having learned more about one another the previous evening that had been
apparent working in a city centre department store the two friends
continued their education the next morning.  Getting dressed Nigel had no
inhibitions about Eddie seeing him naked, in fact he prolonged matters to
their full.  As they hiked the length of the Dovedale Nigel began to speak
of his life outside work.

"I would love to have had a brother," he said but I do love my little
sister."

"How old is she ?"

"Fourteen,  I adore her and she worships her big brother.  Do you have any
brothers or sisters ?"

"No, there's only me."  Eddie wanted to tell his friend who he really was
but he dared not.  "What does your father do for a living ?"

"He is in charge of the wages for a firm of builders, he has no ambition at
all.  Mum's a dinner lady at a school."

"Your mother goes out to work ?"

"Yep."

"I don't have a mother, I do but I haven't seen her since I was six years
old.  She and my father are divorced."

"That's sad."

"She couldn't cope with my grandfather, not many people do.  I have cousins
but they are all abroad."

The Earl of Brocken's younger son managed the family estates on th
Caribbean Island of Barbados.  Eddie's ancestors may have had to give up
their slaves but kept their plantations.

"It was fine when I was at school, save for the holidays, but now I am
lonely with just my father and grandfather at home.  Eddie was about
to say *plus
the servants of course* but checked himself.  "I have you as a friend now,
actually you are my only friend."

"I hadn't thought about it much but the people I was friends with at school
have all gone to university, I haven't seen them for a while."

The boys walked on in silence for a few hundred yards then Eddie chose to
lighten the mood.  "Remember last night,"  he said, "when I explained at
school how we could recognise those in the same dorm by their cocks as well
as their faces ?"

"Was that really true ?"  Nigel asked.

"Of course it was.  I have this theory that no two cocks anywhere in the
world are alike, a bit like finger prints a cock is unique. Even identical
twins do not have the same fingerprints, neither do they have cocks which
are the same."

"Interesting theory,"   Nigel smiled, "ever thought about doing some
research to prove it ?"

"When I am Lord Chief Justice of England," Eddie explained, "I will enact a
law saying when anyone is arrested not only should his fingerprints be
taken and put on file but also a photograph of his cock."

"But a cock changes shape and size, at least mine does.  When I am excited
it gets hard, when it's cold I get a chilly willy and it goes all small."

"Hmm, I'd not thought about that,"  Eddie laughed.  "We'll have to find a
way round the problem."

Neither of the boys expressed their thoughts but both were eager to get
back to Biggin Farm, to cook something to eat then head off to the pub
again. Beyond all of this both hoped they would continue their learning
more of one another - on a physical level.

Sitting in the pub Eddie so much wanted to tell his friend the truth.  If
he maintained the disguise that would be deceiving his friend, someone he
so much wanted to become a special friend.

"You are serious about these supermarkets aren't you ?" He said.

"Absolutely !" Nigel replied.  "It's just getting started.  Once I have the
first branch running it will be easy to open a second, then the third,
fourth, fifth - hundreds of branches all over the country,  Sunshine
Supermarkets is what I am goint to call them Quality will be our brand
name."

"You don't want to open a department store ?"

"City centre department stores will soon be a thing of the past.  Families
all have cars these days, they want to drive to do their shopping not get
on a 'bus to a department store."

"They could drive to a department store."

"Where's the nearest car park to our store ?"

"No idea."

"There you are then.  Trust me our store will have closed down within ten
years, perhaps sooner,"  He thought for a moment the said, "Nineteen
seventy-nine, I give it ten years at the most."

"That won't please my grandfather."

"Does he shop with us then ?"

Eddie had said that without thinking but perhaps he had opened the door to
revealing the truth.  Should he tell all ?  Later.

Preparing for bed that night both quickly undressed then found any excuse
not to get into bed.  Both enjoyed being naked, letting his friend see him
naked.

"Do you recognise my cock ?"  Nigel asked.

"I am starting to.  Do you recognise mine ?"

"Indeed I do.  It's not cold in this barn is it ?"

"No the cooking stoves have made it nice and warm."

"So neither of us is in a chilly willy state !"

Eddie smiled.  He would tell his friend the truth. Then Nigel changed the
subject.

"You know you said when you were caned at school...."

"We used to call it being beaten," Eddie corrected.

"Ok beaten then. You said you used to inspected the arses of boys who were
beaten,."

"And kiss them better."

"How long did the marks last for ?"

"Why are they still showing ?"  Eddie turned round to present his bottom to
Nigel.

"I tried to check mine out with a mirror,"  Nigel explained, "but it wasn't
easy. I think they lasted about three days before starting to fade.
Slipper marks were usually gone overnight."

"The slipper is for wooses and prefects."

"Woos, that really is a silly word."

"You know you are right ! My grandfather uses it all the time and he is
incredibly silly."

"You don't like him much do you ?"

"You wouldn't if you met him !"

"What about your grandmother ?"

"Never knew her, she died before I was born."

Still naked each was waiting to make a move to get into his sleeping bag.
Eddie's mind was on moving the conversation back to where he could tell of
his background but again Nigel took things in the opposite direction. "How
regular were the beatings at your school ?"  Nigel asked.

"Not that often, never more than once a week although more than one boy may
have got it at the same time."

"Wow !" Nigel exclaimed.  "It happened every day in my school.  Let me work
it out.  Six hundred boys.  I was whacked four times in my school career.
Six hundred times four....."

"Two thousand, four hundred,"  Eddie smiled.

"Divide my five, not usual for a sixth former to be whacked."

Eddie thought for a moment, counted on his fingers, "four hundred and
eighty.  Sixth formers were not excl,uded from beatings in my school."

"Forty weeks in a school year so that gives an average of......"

"Twelve times in a week,"  Eddie smiled.

Nigel thought then said, "I must have been a goodie-goodie, I guess most
boys must have been whacked more than  four times in their school careers.
Beatings as you call them would have happened at lease twelve times in a
day - not a week !"

"Glad I never went to your school.  We had a system in the dorm called
Spankathon which we played if no dorm member was beaten during the week."

"Spankathon ?  How did that work ?"

"It happened on a Sunday night when nobody in the dorm had been beaten
during the week."

"I see."

"Everyone had to get naked."

"We're naked now."

"Then we were paired off.  One person would put his paired partner over his
knee. He then had one hundred seconds, we used to count down, in which to
slap his partner's bottom with his hand.  This was not about pain but how
red you could get the bottom in one hundred seconds.  When the whacking was
over bottoms were compared to see which was the reddest.  Everyone then
changed places and it all started again, another one hundred seconds."

"And that was Spankathon ?"

"It was," Eddie confirmed.

"I see."  Nigel pointed at Eddie and then himself. "Two of us, I haven't
been beaten this week, have you ?"

Smiling Eddie shook his head.

"And we are naked....."

"Indeed we are."

Spankathon took two hundred seconds plus preparation time, changeover and a
prolonged debate when it was all over as to who had produced the reddest
bottom.

"Nigel,"  Eddie said with a serious note in his voice.  "I want to talk to
you, I have something to share with you."

"It's getting chilly now, perhaps we should get into bed."

Eddie picked up Nigel's sleeping bag.  Yes it would work.  Did he have the
courage to do it ?  What would Nigel think ?  Would this enhance their
friendship or would it put it in danger ?  Similar thoughts applied to what
he wanted to say.  Un zipping first his own sleeping bag so it was open and
flat, then unzipping Nigel's he offered the zips together and yes it did
work, two single sleeping bags were turned into one double. He looked at
Nigel and saw agreement in his face.

"Turn out the light, let's get into bed and then I have something to tell
you."

Nigel walked to the switch on the wall, Eddie followed his bottom as he
walked across the barn floor. His stomach started to knot as he heard his
friend return.  It double knotted as Nigel got into bed alongside him,
their naked bodies closely touching.

"You know my family is wealthy,"  Eddie began.

"I guessed that much."

"My grandfather has most of the money but my father and uncle are wealthy
as well.  I actually have money but it is in trust until I am twenty-one."

"I see,"  Nigel said.

"We own an engineering company, the family does but Grandfather is in
control.  We own land in the Caribbean, my uncle manages that side of the
business. It's a sugar plantation, we used to own slaves to farm it but now
we pay people to work for us."

"Slaves ? Wow."

"We own land in this country but that is rented out to tenant farmers."  He
stopped short of telling Nigel thee were on Brockton land, his family owned
Biggin farm."

"God you are rich."

"That's not all, I am afraid."  Eddie hesitated. The confession was going
well but there were still things left to be said. How would Nigel react ?
"We own some textile mills and retail outlets."  He said this quickly so
not explaining the family owned the department store where they both
worked."

"You are lucky,"

"I don't think so, I would change places with you any day."

"My father has no ambition at all,"  Nigel said, "you wouldn't want to live
where I do.  I call it The Ghetto. The Manfred Man hit Semi Dethatched
Suburban Mr James is all about where I live and the life I live."

"My grandfather's a bully.  My uncle's OK on the other side of the world
but here in the UK nothing happens without grandfather's permission.  My
father is supposed to be in charge of the businesses but he just do what
grandfather tells him to.  I wish he was dead, I honestly do."  Eddie
pushed himself closer to Nigel who moved so he could put an arm round his
friend's shoulders.

Neither said anything. There was silence until Eddie began to speak again,
his confession was not over. "Are you OK about all of this ?"

"Of course I am."

"It doesn't spoil our friendship."

"Why should it."

"You are my best friend."

"And you are mine."

It was Nigel who awoke.  It did not feel wrong to be sharing a bed with
Eddie but nobody he knew would approve.  His parents would probably disown
him but would that be a tragedy ?  What a special friend Eddie had become.

"You are awake,"  Eddie stirred.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you."

"What are you doing ?"

"Just thinking."

"I've been thinking while I was asleep."

"Dreaming ?"

"No,"  Eddie said, "thinking."

"About what ?"

"You and your supermarkets."

"Really ?"

"I can not touch the money until I am twenty-one but then nobody can stop
me doing what I want with it.  I can then put up the money for your first
supermarket branch."

Nigel turned and  propped himself up on his elbow. It was dark so his
friend was only a shape in the night.  "You would lend me the money ?"

"Of course I would, no need to pay me back until you open branch number one
hundred."

"I don't know what to say."

"I can't do it until I am twenty-one though."

"We could be business partners,"  Nigel suggested.

"I will be at university then.  I'll help of course but at the end of the
day it's your idea and it will be your business."

"I promise I will make a success, you will not lose your money."

"So what if I do ?  One day I will have all of my grandfather's millions."

"What about your cousins ?  Won't they get a share ?"

"It doesn't work like that.  Everything passes to the oldest son, my father
then to his oldest son - me!2

Nigel pulled Eddie close to him.  "You are a special friend, a very special
friend."

It had been a wonderful week-end. Sunshine Supermarkets were now going to
happen.  the boys had deepened their friendship and taken it to an intimate
level.  But what now would happen to that intimate physical relationship ?

Neither of the boys thought what they had found over the week-end could be
described as homosexuality.  Only a few weeks ago it was against the law to
have a physical relationship with another man.  The law still said it was
only legal between consenting adults in private.  At nineteen years of age
neither were adults. As with Eddie's inheritance that was two years away at
the age of twenty-one.  Strictly speaking the boys were breaking the law.

At home in the ghetto Nigel's parents politely asked if he has a good time
but showed no interest in his answer.

When Eddie arrived at his home the butler sought him out. "Your grandfather
would like to see you Sir.  he is in his sitting room."

The Sixth Earl of Brockton stood up and smiled. "So how was your week-end ?"

"It was good thank you."

"And your young friend Nigel, did he enjoy himself ?"

"I think so."

"With the two of you away no doubt the store's profits were down."

"If they were then I am sure you can afford it but no doubt Mrs Hanson
managed without us and was pleased to take all of the sales."

"She is the old bird who is your mentor ?"

"Yes Grandfather."

"I am pleased with what you and your friend Nigel are doing in the store.
I just wanted you to know that."

"Thank you Grandfather."

"You can go now."  Like a servant Eddie was dismissed.

The next morning Lord Brockton appeared on the shop floor, he and his
chauffeur dressed in green livery walked into the soft furnishing
department. Nobody in the store other than the general manager knew he was
the owner and he had been instructed to keep away during the visit.

"Fuck !" Eddie exclaimed.

Nigel had never heard his friend speak like that. Fuck was a word at
Eddie's school that carried a mandatory beating..

"What's the matter ?"  Nigel asked urgently.

"My grandfather !  That's him over there."

"He looks very important."

"What the fuck is he doing here ?"

"Who's that with him ?"

"Bob his chauffeur. What the fuck are they here for ?"

All was soon revealed although Eddie's grandfather's place within England's
aristocratic hierarchy was not explained.

"As I m sure he has just told you," the Earl addressed Nigel, "I am Edwin's
demonic grandfather. I could bet a fiver on the word he used when he saw me
!"

"I am pleased to meet you Sir."

"This is Robert," the earl continued indicating the chauffeur. "We need to
refurnish is accommodation, he has all the window measurements so could you
take care of him ?  Help him decide the fabrics then arrange for it all to
be made up."

"Of course Sir, it would be a pleasure."

"I will leave you together while I have a word with my grandson."

"What are you doing here ?"

"Buying curtains."

"From your own department store ?" Eddie spoke quietly but with great anger
in his voice.

"You would hardly expect me to go somewhere else.  Where do you suggest ?
Tesco ?"

"Tesco does not sell curtains."

"Nobody here knows who I am,"  Eddie said. "I would like it to stay that
way."

"Not even your friend Nigel ?"

"No."

"And nobody knows who I am so we both have a secret to keep."

"But when you write the cheque to pay............"

"Silly boy, I have cash with me."

"Oh."

"I am taking Robert out for lunch, he deserves a treat.  I want you and
Nigel to join us."

"No !"

"I wish your father had a bit more of you in him but *no* is not a word I
recognise. Bob will bring the car to the store's main entrance at twelve
thirty.  I have booked a table at The Sutton Oak Hotel."

"That's miles away, we only get an hour for lunch."

" I will sort that out, just be at the main entrance for half past twelve."

"No !"

Lord Brockton smiled.

"He is not the sort of person to argue with,"  the department manager said,
"that customer of Nigel's.  He wants to take you both to look at a property
he plans to furnish.  I told him we have an estimator for that but he
ignored me.  You had better make sure he gives you a big order."

"Fuck, Fuck, Fuck,"  Eddie cursed under his breath.

At twelve thirty precisely a blue Rolls Royce Shadow pulled up in front of
the store's main entrance. Lord Brockton was seated in the front next to
his driver who jumped out, saluted Nigel and Eddie before opening the doors
for them to get in.  The store doorman was astounded.

One day Nigel would own a car like that.  One day when the ghetto was far,
far behind him.

"What is he up to ?"  Eddie wondered.

When the boys returned to work no lesser person than the store's general
manager  was waiting for their return.

"I have decided to advance your careers,"  he said to Nigel and Eddie.
"Brockton Mills in Carlisle are having a sales conference and training week
starting next Monday.  It is short notice I know but my secretary has all
the details and some generous cash expenses for you if you care to go up
and see her."

Inside Eddie was furious. "I'll kill him, I really will,"  Eddie said under
his breath."

"Where is he ?"  Eddie demanded.  "Where is the old bastard ?"

"Sir," the butler said, trying to halt Eddie's rage. "To whom are you
referring ?"

"The old bastard, the fucking sixth fucking Earl of Fucking Brockton. Where
is her ?  I am going to kill him !"

"Please Sir, you must not let his Lordship hear you speaking like that."

"Where is the old bastard ?" Eddie demanded. "Come out, come out where ever
you are you old bastard."

"Actually I am here,"  Eddie's grandfather, The Sixth Earl of Brockton,
appeared.  He dismissed the servant with a wave of his hand.

"You......you.....What are you trying to do to me ?  What were you doing in
the store today ?  Well you can take your department store and go to
blazes, I am not to work there any longer.  I don't care if I have to live
in a dirty little flat and deliver newspapers for a living I am not going
to be controlled by you.  I don't want your business empire and I do not
want your seat in the House of Lords !"

Lord Brockton stood with his arms folded looking at his grandson. "Finished
?"

"No !  I have not !  You made me go to that horrible school. You forced me
to work selling bloody curtains. You refuse to let me go to university, I
want to be a lawyer.  You are cruel, that's what you are - CRUEL ! Now you
are forcing me to spend a week at some fictitious conference at a fucking
textile mill you own.  Give me one good reason why I should go ?  One
reason !  One fucking good reason ?"

"To spend a week with your lover," the Earl replied.

It was as if the heavyweight champion of the world had delivered a blow to
Eddie's stomach.

"Let's go into the library,"  The Earl suggested taking his grandson's arm.

Eddie was stunned.  How the hell did he know ? What's more he did not
appear to disapprove of the friendship.

"Sit down," The Earl indicated a seat. "I'll pour us a drink, you are going
to need one when you listen to what I have to tell you."

With two large glasses of whisky The Sixth Earl of Brockton began his
story. "When I was your age we still had horses on the estate.  There came
to work in the stables a boy who was also nineteen. He ads I started to
become friends.  That was in 1912, I remember the year well.  In 1912 sons
of aristocratic families did not make friends with lower orders, if my
father had ever found out I can not begin  to think what would have
happened. We were only friends mind you, at that time nothing more."

"The relationship you have," The Earl continued, "with Nigel is strictly
illegal as you are not twenty-one years of age bit nobody is going to
trouble about that. When  the same thing developed for me it would have
mean imprisonment and disgrace.  You know what happened to Oscar Wilde ?"

"We studied the poem The Ballad of Reading Gaol at school."

"Wilde was imprisoned in 1997, I was four years old at the time. It took
almost a year of our friendship to grow, occasional meetings when my father
was away, then in 1913 we became lovers.  The war, the First World War, got
in the way and split us away from one another for four long years but when
we returned having both survived we returned to being lovers."

Eddie could not believe what his grandfather was saying, it was true he was
sure of that but hard to believe his dreaded grandfather had chosen to tell
him.

"You are the third person on this earth to know of this, myself, my lover
and now you.  When the war ended families like ours were decimated, so many
members of the aristocracy had been killed, society changed.  But our
family survived intact.  In earlier years the family had invested in
industry and obscenely made vast profits from the war.  Many families where
obliged to give their homes to The National Trust or turn them into
amusement parks like Woburn and Longleat, we simply carried on the way we
were.  When I became the Sixth Earl I widened our business empire, we don't
do so bad."

"What became of your friend ?"  Eddie asked.

"You know the answer to that. When the family started to use cars he became
our chauffeur."  The Earl paused, "And still is today."

"You mean it's..........."

"Robert, of course. Bob.  We have been secret lovers for fifty years.
Nobody knew, nobody.  Edwin, do you understand the magnitude of my telling
this secret to you ?"

Eddie did  not answer but said, "What about grandmother ?"

"She was a lovely lady right enough and I loved her until the day she died.
But that was with a different love to that Bob and I had."

"But...."

"As the oldest son it was my duty to take a wife and keep the line going.
Without that you would not have been born.  When the time comes you are
going to have to do the same."

Eddie did know of this duty.

"Let me now speak about your father.  I know I am hard on him, I have to be
but that does not mean I do not love him.  His younger brother, your uncle,
is a much stronger character.  That is why I have him managing our estates
in the Caribbean, if he was here he would overwhelm your father in managing
our businesses and I could not allow that to happen.  As well as the
estates abroad we own land here in England, we have the textile mill,
engineering factory and now the chain of department stores. There will be
more before my time on this earth is done, I intend to leave the Brocktons
secure for hundreds of years to come."

"Each business has a strong management team, I have seen to that, with a
managing director in charge of each.  Your father then floats round all of
the businesses overseeing activity and reporting back to me.  He does a not
bad job but when I die I fear he will not be string enough to stand up to
everyone and then things could go wrong." The earl paused. "You will become
the Eighth Earl of Brockton, it is vital you have the strength to manage
everything, you are going to have to do this when your father is the
Seventh Earl, you are going to have to support him.  I hope your fledging
friendship with Nigel lasts as long as mine has with Bob, but you are going
to have to find a special lady who you can love as well so there will be a
Ninth Earl."

"Nigel wants to found a chain of supermarkets,"  Eddie explained. "I have
told him when I am twenty-one I will be able to access my trust fund so
help him to open the first branch."

"Supermarkets are the future,"

"Nigel says department stores will lose their importance."

"I hope he is wrong,"  The Earl smiled. "If you promise me you will ensure
our line continues and continues in strength..."

"I promise grandfather."

The Earl held up his hand.  "Listen to me.  If you give me your word I will
begin a take over bid for one of the supermarket chains, Fine Fare I
believe is right for the picking.  Your friend Nigel can then be managing
director.  He won't start with one shop but with more than two hundred.
Our family already provides employment for many thousands of families, this
would add in tens of thousand more.  We have a duty to them all."

Eddie just could not believe the man he was talking to was his grandfather,
the man he had feared all his life, the man he had grown to dislike.  This
was a different person.

"You are the only person I have told my secret to, I must ask you not to
repeat what I have said to anyone.  Note even to Nigel."

"No I won't."

"So am I still the old bastard you hate so much ?"

Eddie felt a tear pricking at the back of his eye.  "Nigel does not know
you are an Earl," he said.  "He knows you are wealthy but does not know you
oen the department store and the mill we are going to next week."

"Then you are going ?"

"Of course."

"Then it may be a good idea to tell him.  You can tell him about my
launching a supermarket take over bid, tell him anything just not not my
secret with Bob."

"I think I will tell him when we are alone in Carlisle next week."

"You are a good boy Eddie, yes I know you do not like to be called Edwin,
you will make a good Eighth Earl of Brockton.  The family, our heritage and
all the people who depend on us for their living will be safe in your
hands."

Eddie went to his room and shed more than on tear. Later he went to his
grandfathers apartments and gently tapped on the door.

"I think I would like to see Nigel this evening."

"Well go and see him."

"I can drive you,"  Bob said."

"I could drive myself, I have passed my test."

Eddie's grandfather looked at Bob who smiled. "Let me give you the keys."

"But these are the keys to the Silver Shadow."

"Your grandfather has told me you now know our secret," Bob smiled.  "If he
can trust you with that he can certainly trust you with a Rolls Royce motor
car."

Eddie soon returned. "I have tried telephoning his home but nobody is
answering so there is little point in driving over.  I have brought back
the keys."

"You can tell him in the morning."

" I would rather not speak at work."

"Of course, I understand that.  Tomorrow is Wednesday, go into work as
normal then arrange for you both to take the train  to Carlisle on
Thursday.  I am sure the hotel will be able to fit you in.  It would be
good for you to have a few days together before the conference starts on
Monday."

"I could drive you."

"No Bob, I am sure the boys will not want to talk in front of you.  Leave
them alone."

"Of course Gerald."

That was the very first time Eddie had ever heard anyone address his
grandfather by his Christian name.

Eddie had a strange night sleeping.  He slept deeply, very deeply but he
kept moving to being almost awake as one thought after another rose up in
his mind.

His grandfather was not the man he thought he was but it was the old
grandfather he hated all his life. This was a stranger but someone he just
knew he was going to like .  That would change his life.  Eddie decided to
give up his demand to be allowed to go to university, there was no longer
the need. His wish for higher education had been to rebel against his
grandfather, now he would become his right hand man and take the Brockton
family forward.  Continuing the line, that worried him.  He had always know
that was his duty but such was before he met Nigel.

Nigel - Nigel would have his supermarkets and would escape his ghetto. He
could run the supermarkets as if they were his own then when he, Eddie,
became the Eighth Earl he would give the business to his friend.

These thoughts went round and round in Eddie's head while he slept but
throughout he kept returning to his grandfather Gerald and his chauffeur
Bob. Only he knew the masquerade they had kept up all their lives.  He
remembered Wilde's poem The Ballad of Reading Gaol and just how awkward his
sixth form English teacher had been as he tried to explain the reason for
Oscar Wilde's imprisonment.

The Love That Dare No Speak It's Name.  Would a day ever come when such
love would be accepted ?  Gerald and Bob had kept their secret for decades.
Would he and Nigel have to do the same ?

When Eddie went into the dining room the next morning to grab a slice of
toast before work his father was there.  He sat down to eat with him.

"What are you doing today father ?"

"I am off to Bristol, going to visit our store there.  And you are off to
the Birmingham branch ?"

"Yes, you know I am quite getting to like it there."

"That will please your grandfather."

Eddie did not say a lot to Nigel during the day, little beyond explaining
the need to travel North four days early.  The general manager's secretary
made the arrangements and booked the train tickets."

"Are you alright ?"  Nigel asked.  "You appear a bit strange today."

"I am OK, honestly I am fine.  It's just my grandfather."

"Is he upsetting you again ?"

"Quite the reverse actually.  I will tell you tomorrow."

The train had barely left New Street Station, the boys were the only two in
a first class compartment, when Eddie drew breath and mustered up every
ounce of courage.

"My grandfather,"  he began, "you know he is wealthy."

"I rode in his Rolls Royce didn't I ?"

"This textile mill we are going to visit, Brockton Mill, he owns it."

Nigel thought. "Brockton, that's the name of the person who owns the
department store."

"That's him and nine other stores up and down the country.  My father is
visiting the Bristol Store today.  There are branches in Blackpool, London,
Liverpool, Manchester, Glasgow, Leeds, Leicester and Stoke on trent."

"Blimey !"

"He owns tons of things as well but that's not it.  My name is Edwin,
Eddie, Brockton not Eddie Porter that's just a store name - an alias to
hide the fact that I am the grandson of the owner.

"This isn't a joke is it ?"

"No, not at all.  I have tried to tell you many times but either I did not
have the courage or the situation was not right."

Nigel moved to speak.

"Please do not say anything, I have to get this out now.  My grandfather is
not Mr Gerald Brockton he is Lord Geral The SIxth Earl of Briockton.  We
live in a mansion, a stately home Brockton Abbey."

"Oh god !"

"There is more, a lot more."

"What ?"

"He knows about us - you and me - our special friendship He guessed all
about it."

"Oh no, how dreadful.  I am so sorry, what have I done to you ?  Has he cut
you off ?  Please tell me he hasn't"

"No,"  Eddie held up his hand.  "He approves."

"You what ?"

"He says our friendship is fine by him."

"No. Are you sure ?  Why would he say that ?"

Eddie was desperate to explain but he was sworn to secrecy and would not
break the trust.

"Are you a lord yourself then ?"  Nigel asked.

"No.  My father is a lord, I am just The Honourable Edwin Brockton.  When
my grandfather dies and my father becomes the seventh Earl then I become a
lord. When my father dies I become The Eight Earl of Brockton."

"I see."

"I am so sorry Nigel."

"Sorry for what ?"

"Sorry for not telling you all of this before.  I wanted to, believe me,
but things were never right."

The time was not right to speak about the supermarkets, too much to load on
to his friend. Eddie was desperate to explain his grandfather's
relationship with Bob but he could not break his word.

The boys were sharing a room, how had Eddie's grandfather organised that ?
He had told the store's general manager the two would have a lot to work on
together in the evenings so best if his secretary were to book a twin room.
The boys would only use one although it would appear each morning to anyone
coming in both had been slept in.

"I must talk to you again,"  Eddie said.

"I'm still trying to get my head round all you said earlier."

"This is bigger than all of that."

"What have you done ?  Don't tell me, I know, you've got Princess Anne
pregnant and her father says you'll have to marry her or be beheaded in The
Tower of London."

"You must be kidding.  I met her once, she's a right cow !"

"So you fraternise with royalty now. What more about my friend do I not
know ?"

"Nigel, get into bed with me please.  I need to talk with you."

Naked the two friends cuddled close to one another in the small bed.
"Nigel."

"Yes Eddie."

"Fine Fare Supermarkets, what do you know about them ?"

"It's basically a private company, they've got two hundred or so branches."

"My grandfather wants to buy the company."

"Good for him, he'll make more money out of their supermarkets than he does
from the department stores."

"You don't understand, hell I am making a mess of this. He wants to change
the make to Sunshine Supermarkets and put you in charge."

Nigel was silent.

"When I inherit the plan will be to separate the supermarkets from the rest
of the Brockton empire and give them all to you."

Nigel still did not say anything.

"But right from the start in reality they will be yours."

"Why would be do that ?"

"Because he loves me and he knows I love you."

"This is the man you have hated all your life ?  This is the man who has
made your life a misery for 19 years ?"

"Yes but no.  I can't tell you why, I can not break my word to my
grandfather and tell you why but the man I hated was not him only the
person I thought he was."

"This is a dream."

"No Nigel it isn't."

"Perhaps we should go to sleep then when we wake up in the morning if
everything is as you have said then it will be real, if not then it is a
dream."

The boys were both dreaming and fast asleep when the phone rang.

"What time is it ?"  Nigel said scrambling to find the switch for the
bedside lamp.

The phone began to ring with a demanding sound filling the bedroom.

"Half past ten.  Hello,"  Eddie picked up the receiver.

"Is that all ?"  Nigel said.

"This is Reception, I am sorry to trouble you but there are two gentlemen
here asking for you."

"Who are they ?"

"Robert Hazel and Trevor Jones," Eddie heard a voice speaking to the
receptionist. "Tell him we are here concerning his grandfather."

The names meant nothing to Eddie who was far from being properly awake.

"It's grandfather,"  Eddie said, "covering the telephone mouthpiece.  He
has sent two people to see us.

"At half past ten ?"

"I'll come down in fife minutes,"  Eddie said, "just ask them to wait."

"Indeed Sir."

"You will come down with me won't you ?"  Eddie asked Nigel.

"Of course."

"If they are from Grandfather then it will be as much to do with you as me."

A sudden thought came to Eddie.  His grandfather had sent the men with a
message, permission for him to tell Nigel about Bob - that was what it
was.  But NO Eddie had only been the first person in decades to be told the
secret so his grandfather would not entrust the message to anyone.  What
was this all about ?

"They are waiting for you in the manager's office,"  an embarrassed
receptionist said awkwardly. "Let me show you the way. The manager has gone
home so they are waiting for you alone."

Inside the manager's office two uniformed police officers waited for the
boys. Their uniforms showed them to be senior officers. In an act of
deference both stood up as the boys entered.

"My Lord................."

"I am not a lord,"  Eddie corrected.

What was going on ?  Who were these two ?

"My Lord," the stranger corrected, " I am Robert Hazel Chief Constable of
Carlisle City Police.  This is my colleague Chief Superintendent Trevor
Jones."

"What is wrong ?"  Nigel asked, frightened for his friend.

"My Lord,"  Chief Constable Hazel addressed Eddie, "I am here with some bad
news. There has been an accident."

Both Eddie and Nigel felt fear in their stomachs.

"Your father and grandfather, My Lord, have been killed in a tragic
accident."

"What happened ?"

"They were on their way home from a business meeting when their car
collided with an articulated lorry."

"Who was driving ?"

"His Lordship's chauffeur."

"What happened to him ?"

"I am afraid he was killed as well."

"Oh my god,"  Nigel said, "all three of them." He took his friend's hand
and held it tightly.

"Where did it happen ?"  Eddie asked.

"Near junction fifteen for Northampton, they were returning home from a
meeting at the offices of Fine Fare Supermarkets in Hertford," Chief
Superintendent Jones explained.

Eddie had no need to hold back any tears, he was from a part of society
where tears in the eyes of a man showed a weakness of character.  Not so
with Nigel, tears began to form and run slowly down the side of his cheeks.

"We need to get home,"  Eddie said.

"Your butler is on his way now to take you home.  I understand he is
driving one of your estate Land Rovers, your grandfather's car was in the
accident."

"You are now Lord Edwin The Seventh Earl of Brockton," The Chief Constable
said. "It will be another three hours until your butler gets here, Chief
Superintendent Jones and I will stay with you until he arrives."

"That will not be necessary,"  Eddie said, "I have my friend Nigel here, he
and I have a lot to talk over. Thank you both for coming, you have been
kind but there is no need for you to stay."

"If you are sure My Lord."

"I am sure."


If you enjoyed this story, or even if you did not, please feel free to drop
me a lone:  david@guyzonline.com