Date: Sun, 6 Jun 2004 15:54:40 +1200
From: Arthur <rochopa@xtra.co.nz>
Subject: Altez part 4

				ALTEZ

				Part Four

				By Arthur



At midday on Monday you again sit alone on the wooden bench outside your
office as the sun shines its heat down on your chest. Somehow the first
workday of the week doesn't seem so hard to face as it did before.

Your mind is a tumultuous jumble of thoughts as you watch the passersby
going about their daily business. Thoughts of the last two days and the
visitor from a dreamland of your mind, overtake all your senses, was David
real? Did you really sit there with a young teen talking about gay sex,
what the hell came over you? It's going to be another two years before he
is even of legal age, bloody fool.

Now what's going to happen to you, you should have known before you opened
your mouth, that all teens can't keep secrets, he's sure to talk to his
friends about the weekend with the dirty old man. Stupid old fool, oh well,
what's done is done, you'll just have to wait and see what happens and
prepare for the worst, shit.

Better get back to the office and get this day over with, it started so
well and now it could end with a disaster all because you couldn't keep you
bloody mouth shut and your dreams to yourself.

Thank god another day is over, one more closer to retirement, now what will
I do? Go on the net and read something on the story site, or should I go
out and start on the garden before it gets totally out of control. Damn
bones don't feel up to all that bending down to clear the weeds, maybe
tomorrow.

A drink I think, nice cold drink with a bit of something in it to give it
some bight, yep the sun is over the yardarm so you can have a couple before
dinner time. Now what to do? Wonder if there's anyone interesting in the
chat room? Yep that will do for now, bit of light chatter and another drink
should take the stress of your thoughts away.

Opening mIRC you add the room name and then watch as the familiar nick
names and chatter start, the usual welcomes come up on the screen and you
become immersed in the light hearted banter of the chat room. Time passes
at its own pace and before long the room is darkening with the first hint
of the coming night.

Have you really been sitting here chatting for two hours or more? Ok so you
know how to waste time and take your mind off the real reason for your
jitters and the turmoil in your head. What? You didn't think you had a
conscience? Is this feeling of guilt really so foreign to you? Idiot,
you've lived most of your life with guilt and uncertainty, get used to it,
fool.

Ahh damn it, time to get some dinner started, sign off the room and get
your tired ass in the kitchen. Well that looks like the end of another day
of sameness and boredom, the gift of the weekend is soon pushed aside by
the realities of your life.

The interlude of your young visitor can not be forgotten but you have a
deep seated feeling it won't happen again, he was just a kid with nothing
to do and wanted only a bit of light relief or amusement to break the
boredom of his own short years.

The rest of the week has a familiar sameness to it as day follows day with
the never-ending tedium of the past years of your life. No hint of your
young friend coming back to say hello or to sit and chat in his youthful
innocence. Oh well, put it down to another facet of life's small delights
and disappointments.

So it's Saturday once again, what to do? The garden still waits for you but
there is a feeling of diffidence deep inside you, what for? Why bother?
Just a pointless exercise, there's no one to take over from you when you
breath your last. Why even go to the trouble any more?

Something lots your mind as you look back at those fleeting thoughts, is
this what they call depression? Did that kid really affect you so much that
you now feel there is nothing worthwhile anymore; was it his influence or
have you been running down that path for longer than you realized.

The house now seems so dead and cold after the brightness of the last
weekend, there's a lack of homely warmth in every room as you wander
aimlessly about looking for some reason to keep going.

The night comes and you have accomplished nothing of any importance during
the day, your mind is now wandering in the depths of past glories and
moments of satiated lust. Memories, that's all you have to keep you warm
now, the short lived joy of his presence no longer has any meaning, a mere
dalliance of an old mans dream.

Damn it all, why can't you get him out of your mind, this is just leading
you down a path of morbid non events. Ok so you're depressed, get over it,
there's still some life left in you and as a last resort you will just have
to go on living with your memories to give you any satisfaction.

Right then, you're back to the old ways, eat, sleep, work then turn around
the next week and do it all again, you knew this was what was going to
happen a long time ago, you're type has always ended their lives alone and
given their last years over to loneliness and dreams, so what's new?

Sunday dawns with the same misery as your own head feels, the misty rain is
falling from a dank overcast sky, so fitting for your mood, no more
brightness of young smiles given freely, no more light hearted banter or
deep meaningful discussions, just the continuous rambling of old memories
as they tell you old stories of long past victories that no longer have
real meaning.

Another week is coming to an end, tomorrow is Friday and the last day of
tedium at work, after that you have the new weekend to look forward too,
maybe the garden might get looked at this weekend, maybe he will visit
again but you hold no real hope of ever seeing him again, after all, it's
been nearly two weeks since he came so unexpectedly into your life.

Lightening never strike in the same place twice, right? Damn it all old man
get him out of your head, you've been moping around for two weeks and
letting his influence take you to places you should never visit.

Was that a knock on the door? No, must have been the wind, what was that?
Sounded like a bird tapping on the window.  Damn better go look, probably
those bloody kids selling sweets door to door.

A cold draught of early dusk air greets you as you open the door; the sun
is making its last effort to live the day as its myriad colours settle
lower in the west. On the doorstep is the shape of a young man or youth;
you notice he is dressed in the uniform of the local secondary school
although his shorts are a bit too big and fit loosely on his narrow hips.

The tails of his grey regulation shirt show below the dull green pullover
that is covering the belt top of the grey shorts. The shorts themselves
could almost be called long shorts or, short longs as they hang down to his
knees in their loose bagginess. No shape can been seen of the young body
underneath and the bare calves lead down to a pair of open sandals with his
cute toes showing through the ends.

Lifting your head to his face you see something familiar in the shape of
his jaw line and the sparkle in his hazel eyes, his hair is swept tightly
back against his head and no sign of the spikiness and blonde highlights
show under the angled cap on his head.

"David! Great to see you again, come in, make yourself comfortable."

"Thanks Ted, you don't mind me coming around?"

"I told you last time David, that you can come around anytime you wanted."

"Thanks."

He is back, he really came back, your hearts jumps as you watch the
smoothness of his movements when he walks into your home, the atmosphere
changes instantly as he lights up the house with his presence.

"Take a seat David, so what have you been up to the last two weeks?"

"Not much, I wanted to come over last weekend but Mum's boyfriend grounded
me for not putting out the garbage last week."

"Ah is that what it was, I thought perhaps you didn't want to come visit
anymore."

"Oh, I'd never do that Ted, I really liked that time here, I sort of missed
not seeing you and talking to you. I've been thinking heaps about what you
said to me and I want to ask you some more stuff."

"Sure, any time you want David."

"Well first I got a sort of problem, I don't know if you can help but I
have no one else to ask."

"I'll help if I can David, just tell me what it is and we'll see what can
be done."

"I got into a bit of trouble last Monday after school, the cops caught some
of us with a case of beer in the street and we were...well... we had an
open can in our hands when they stopped us."

"On a school night you're out on the booze?"

"An older friend was going back to visit his family in the islands and was
having a farewell party so we were going there, one of my mates wanted to
start drinking while we were walking to his house so we opened a can each,
the cops caught us just as we were doing it."

"Ok, lets leave that part, I'm sure you will know better next time."

"You...you're not disappointed with me for getting into trouble?"

"Why should I be disappointed in you David, you did nothing I didn't do
when I was your age, the difference is that I didn't get caught. You made a
mistake, if you learn from it then it's a good lesson."

"Ah ok, so this is what you meant by everything having consequences?"

"You got it buddy, so what's the problem then?"

"I had to go to the youth court on Tuesday, they fined me $200 and said I
have to pay it by the end of next month."

"You want to borrow money off me to pay for your own mistake?"

"No, no, I couldn't ask you to do that, I just wanted to know if you knew
anyone that wanted someone to work part time so that I can pay them. I
don't know Ted, but I'm sure that you would probably lend me the money if I
asked but you said that I have to be responsible for my own mistakes, so I
want to get a job after school and earn it."

Is he what you thought he might be or is he turning out to be so much more
than you could have thought. So much is heard now days about the greed and
selfish attitude of the young in our society and now this young man comes
around and admits his wrongs and is prepared to pay for his mistakes.

Now what the hell can you do to help him, to just give him the money, and
you can afford it, would be to defeat what he see's as his duty to himself,
ok so what can be done?

"So you want to pay for your own mistakes, is that it?"

"Yeah, it's my problem not someone else's, I've just got to find a job."

"Well I can give you some work to do, it's not much but if you're genuine
then it may help a bit, you interested?"

"Yes, anything."

"Ok buddy, I'm getting a bit long in the tooth to look after the grounds
around here, if you want it then you can come around for four hours a week
and get them back into order. I'll pay you $10 an hour and you have to put
in a minimum of four hours a week, ok?"

"You mean it? I can really work here for you?"

"I told you before David, I won't lie to you, the gardens getting too much
for me and I need some help, you want the job then it's yours."

"Great, when can I start?"

"Bit late this week, what about Saturday morning?"

"Ahm, I have my league game on Saturday mornings, we finish about 11.30,
could I come around after lunch time to do it?"

"Hey no trouble, after lunch would be good for me, it'll give me some time
to sleep in the morning."

"Great, thanks Ted, you're so good to me and I'll really work hard but I
don't know what to do, will you teach me?"

"Course I will, I don't expect you to know everything at your age. Ok then
Saturday is it, now would you like a cold drink or something?"

"No thanks Ted, I have to get home or I'll be grounded again and won't be
able to work for you."

"Ok buddy, you get along and I'll see you Saturday afternoon."

So he is in need, well at least he wants to help himself and not be a
burden or a bludger on others. You go with him to the door, as you open it
for him to leave he turns and looks at you, then, with a little nervousness
reaches out and quickly wraps his young arms around your chest in a quick
embarrassed hug before shuffling his feet, with a small smile leaves you
standing in the doorway with a stunned look on your face.

"Night Ted, thanks."

You mumble in your own embarrassment.

"Night buddy, and thanks, you know for the hug."

His answer is a quick look over his receding back and sending you his
radiant smile with a little wave of his slender hand.

Now your heart is singing, the house feels lighter and fresher, the very
air is humming with youthful vitality at his exit, now the day has a
feeling of hope and joy as you watch the figure fade into the growing
darkness of the oncoming night.  Just one more day and one more night till
you see him again, yes it's all worthwhile, the waiting and uncertainty is
all worthwhile.

Hell, it's only 10.30am, still a couple more hours before he appears, your
aging body is jumping like a nervous virgin as you pace from room to room
in anticipation of his arrival. Come on idiot, he's coming to work not to
fill your bed, settle down and get some reality into your dreams.

The knock on the door makes you jump in surprise, even though you have been
waiting for this moment for the last few hours, you go to the door and
there he is, a gear bag slung casually over his shoulder, his boots tied by
the laces and hanging from the side of the bag.

His tee shirt is loosely hanging on his frame and the grass marks are
prominent on his bare knees, his long slender legs glow in the afternoon
sun and lead up to another pair of sports shorts, again these are very
short as they all are for club shorts in rugby league.

These are a dark maroon with a gold stripe down the sides, now you are sure
that there is a small shape of a bulge at the crotch but he stands there
totally unselfconsciously in his beauty and assurity of his youth.

"Hey Buddy, come on in, you look a sight, did you win your game?"

"Yeah, we creamed them."

The cocky giggle of satisfaction in his voice brings a smile to your lips
as you feel as though you had been a part of his fortune.

"Well you look a bit of a sight, do you want to get cleaned up first?"

"Nah thanks, I'll get to work and maybe I can have a shower after, if
that's ok with you Ted?"

"Sure, you can put your gear in the kitchen and we'll go outside so you can
see what's to be done."

He moves past you into the kitchen with a confidence of a person in
familiar territory, does he feel so at home here that he can move with so
much authority, his tight butt moves with seductive smoothness under the
silken sports shorts as he bends to place his bag on the floor.

Even with the grass stains on his legs his golden thighs lead your eyes up
to where they disappear into the narrow legs of the shorts, a shiver runs
through your body as you watch the litheness of his every action.

As he straightens up you give yourself a mental shake up and get back to
reality as he looks expectantly at you for guidance.

"Come on David, I'll show you where everything is and what's got to be
done."

You can feel him following you closely as you move through the back door to
the rear garden area, the lawns will need cutting but he can do that during
the week as it will only take an hour or so. The garden itself is the
present priority as it is nearly time to get the new vegetables in for next
season.

Showing him the small tool shed, you explain the tools and what they are
for and how to look after them when he is finished for the day. His
attentive attitude and willingness to learn makes your heart sing with an
unknown force as you run through everything he will need to know.

At last you leave him to get on with his work and return to the kitchen to
ready some snacks and drink for him, the day is hotting up and he will need
to take it easy until he is used to working like that.

Glancing out the window you can see him studying everything first before
starting to chop and dig out the overgrown weed patch that you call a
garden. His steady movements and short rests to survey what he is doing
bring to mind the way you used to rush into everything and then blow
yourself out before the job was done.

This boy took his time and showed maturity far beyond his years in his
slower way of studying a problem before taking it on. Once he has decided
the best way to tackle it then he gives it everything he has until he gets
the result he wanted.

With a start you realize you have been standing at the window in spellbound
attention as he worked away at his chosen part of the garden, time to go
put the laundry in the washer and get your own work done for the day.

Leaving the scene of your many day dreams you make your way towards our own
duties, the thought of him as he worked diligently outside causing you to
over fill the soap container before you return to the here and now.

"Damn."

You return to the kitchen and look around at the clean bench and as though
a light went on in your head you smile and begin to take things from the
cupboards in preparation to make a little treat for your worker.

Hot buttered cheese scones with fresh whipped cream and raspberry jam with
a cold drink to top it off, yeah, never known a boy to reject hot scones
and cream. This change in your attitude is, you realize, due totally to
your new young friend, how long since you even felt like doing something
special in the kitchen, but, for this boy, nothing was going to be too much
trouble.

It seemed no time at all when you heard a sound behind you at the rear
door, turning you glance up at the clock on the wall above the oven as you
pull the hot tray of freshly cooked scones out and place them on the bench.

"Hey David, how is it going out there?"

"Good, I'll have all the weeds out and the start of the digging done by
today. Uhm, do you think I could have something cold to drink; I'm sort of
hot and dry, it's harder than I thought doing gardening."

"Yeah sure, come on in here and grab a coke from the fridge, you don't have
to kill yourself out there, just take it easy until you're used to it."

"But you want it finished today, don't you?"

"No David, there's no hurry, I would rather you took your time and did it
right, than try to hurry it and only do half the job. If you do everything
like that then you will always do it right the first time and don't have to
go back and do it again."

"Ah ok, that sounds a good idea."

Your stomach trembles as you watch him tilt his head back as he places the
cold can to his lips, his Adams-apple sliding up and down as he swallows
the cold liquid. A sheen of perspiration covers his glowing body as he
drinks deeply; across his top lip there are small beads of sweat forming
amongst the burgeoning moustache of a few dark hairs.

Somewhere deep inside you shiver as you watch the byplay of his many
muscles in the act of swallowing, each one sending a message of expectation
to your insides.

"Thanks Ted, I better get back to work or the boss will fire my ass before
I get paid, hey something smells really good."

"Eh..uh...yeah, ok, thought you might like something to eat when you
finish, you're not against hot scones are you?"

"No way, I love them, mum doesn't do any cooking like you, just buys stuff
in the takeaway for dinner."

"Doesn't she cook at home for your family?"

"Nah, well not much, you know, eggs and easy things but not like you do,
like dinner and everything, well better get back to it, see yah after."

"Sure, take your time, no hurry remember."

"Ok, thanks for the drink."

"Just help yourself if you need another one later."

"Ok."

Watching him smoothly move back outside you can't take your eyes away from
the delightful movement of his tight butt and golden thighs. A shake of
your head clears your thoughts as the bell rings loudly for your laundry to
be taken out to hang up in the sun.

So much promise in that lithe young body and you know you will never get to
be a part of the exploration of it, still you have his company and his
trust, to tell the truth, do you really need more than that to feel once
again useful and needed?

TO BE CONTINUED: