Date: Sat, 09 Dec 2006 15:44:34 +0000
From: Jo Vincent <joad130@hotmail.com>
Subject: Mystery and Mayhem at St Mark's: 17

		      Mystery and Mayhem At St Mark's

				    by

				   Joel

             Some of the Characters Appearing or Mentioned:
     Others have appeared before:
Mark Henry Foster    The story-teller:  Pennefather Organ Scholar 2001
Tristan (Tris) Price-Williams  His well-proportioned boyfriend
Francis [Toad] Foster   Mark's younger brother
Ivo Richie Carr   Mark's cousin:  chunky and cheeky with it
Adam Benjamin Carr    Ditto, as his twin
Oliver Jensen   A Musical undergraduate with allure
Charles Fane-Stuart   The 'Servant of the Chapel'


               17   Guy Fawkes Day and on

     So term went on, lectures, tutorials, discussions with Fiona and Dina,
organ practice, orchestral rehearsals, choir rehearsals, running almost
every morning, some relaxation, eating, sleeping and loving Tristan as much
as possible and then it was Monday - November the Fifth - when Toad would
be staying until the Friday after.

     Tristan and I met him at the station.  He was laden with an ordinary
bag for all his paraphernalia but Mum and Auntie Di, bless their hearts,
had decided we must be starving, plus half the student population - no, not
the boaties or the rugger-buggers whose appetites were immense - as there
were two bags with extra goodies.

     "You can carry this lot," he announced, "And Dad said I was not to be
used as general skivvy and boot-boy though I had to do as I was told."

     I looked at my little brother.  Oh, my, the adolescent growth spurt
had really zoomed in with a vengeance.  Fifteen now, nearly sixteen, and
five feet nine I guessed.  He was almost as tall as Ivo and Adam.  Tris
also took one look and behind his back made the generalised wanking sign.
Cocky little brother must be tamed.  Once in College - having been vetted
by Old Albert who forbore from mentioning the likeness again - he was plied
with tea, cakes, sandwiches and the promise of a meal at eight o'clock at
the Greek restaurant after going to the fireworks on Midsummer Common.

     The fireworks were superb.  We walked over the Fort St George bridge
early enough to get a good place right by the river in front of the St
Mark's boathouse.  Toby was there and although he dwarfed all of us he and
Francis struck up quite a rapport based on a shared interest in, of all
things, skate-boarding.  The image of the massive Toby careering along on a
minuscule board was hard to imagine but his claim to fame was a medal he'd
won at some event in Bristol doing some complex move which had even Frankie
agape at the description.  But, he took all with youthful aplomb.  Oliver,
Charles, Adam and Ivo joined us for the meal and the young prince held
court.  He was politeness itself.  He treated Charles with deference and
said he'd had a card from Aldo saying he was planning to come to London
before Christmas and was definitely coming to Dad's recital.  Ivo and Adam
were given the once over as the guardian cousins who had to be obeyed.  He
was most gratified when Adam said he would take him for a spin on the bike.
He looked at Oliver with a wariness which was a bit disconcerting.  Tris
was sitting next to Oliver at the meal and they were engaged in the usual
sort of playful banter we were used to but could be easily seen as,
perhaps, flirting by the casual observer.

     That night Tris went to his own rooms as Frankie was sharing with me.
He was full of chat.  He was practising hard.  Madam Keech was entering him
for Grade Eight piano at Easter.  Mr Prentice was certain he would get
Grade Six organ at Christmas.  He was playing regularly for services and
his voice had broken properly now.  He and Jack had entered a computing
competition and were assured of a prize.  The laptop from Unc was fab or
its equivalent.  And so on.  I was getting undressed and shucked off all my
clothes and put them carefully in my wardrobe or on the shelf.  I turned
and faced him.

     "Are you ready for bed yet?" I asked.

     He looked at me standing in the nude.  He looked me up and down.
"Gosh, Marky, you've got quite a six-pack.  How did you get that?"

     I hadn't really looked that closely at myself in the wardrobe mirror.
One thing, it was on the inside of the door and the days of solitary
wanking watching myself were gone as Tris and I were sleeping with each
other every night possible.  I looked down at myself.  Yes, I suppose my
stomach was quite trim.  "It's the running I expect," I said.  I grinned.
"I hope you've brought your running kit as you'll be leading the pack
tomorrow."

     His eyes popped.  "Tris said in his last e-mail to bring it.  Who?"

     I thought I would drag it out.  "Me.., you.., Ivo.., Adam..., Tris..
and Oliver."

     He looked at me steadily.  "Are you and Tris OK?"

     "Same as usual.  Why?" I asked, guessing the answer.

     "That Oliver's after him," he said earnestly, "He's definitely got the
hots for him."

     My little brother was reading the situation more or less correctly.  I
had better tell him all.  As I was ready for bed I lifted the duvet and got
in on my side.

     "Come on, get into bed and I'll tell you all about it."

     He'd seen my state of undress so he dropped the rest of his clothes on
the floor and got in beside me.  I put an arm around his shoulder and drew
him toward me.  I left the light on as I wanted to see him as I talked.

     "No, it's not Tris he's after," I said as he snuggled up against me.
I felt his body stiffen.  "And no, it's not Tris after him, either.  I
think it will be Adam and Oliver."

     "Adam!" he said quietly.  "....is he.....?"

     "Gay....?"  I said.  "Not entirely, but he's wondering.  You could say
he's bi, I suppose."

     There were a few moments of silence.  Frankie was processing this
information.  I felt him nod against my shoulder.  "Jack says that lots of
men are bi.  He explained to me about maleness and femaleness and that sex
isn't just being male or female.  His Dad's done a study where they looked
at how people measured between the extremes and lots of people weren't
anywhere near them."

     "Yes, I think that's right, but there must be more to it than just
that."

     "Jack said that as well.  He's much better at maths than me and he
went on about other dimensions.  There was something about if men thought
they should be a female or the other way for women."

     That made sense.  As a mathematician I could see that most things
thought to be very simple could be modelled more exactly in many
dimensions.  Behaviour modelled like physical systems, I supposed.

     "Frankie," I said, "You're making a lot of sense.  It's true, I may be
gay but I don't feel any less male than the next bloke and I don't think I
should be a woman.  I just love Tris rather than Posh Spice."

     He snickered.  "I don't love her either but I wouldn't mind...."

     "...Frankie, we're having a serious conversation and if you get
sexually aroused you can sleep on the floor!"

     "OK, OK!" he said and bucked his hips, "Lie down, Fido!"

     I laughed.  "You're the only person I know who can control their....."

     "Oh, shit!" came an anguished cry, "Sorry, Marky, no control!"

     I moved delicately away, not wishing to come into contact with my
little brother's no- doubt rampant erection.

     "Fuck it!  Fuck it!  Fuck it!"  Frankie was mouthing to himself.  He
flung his arms round me and I was aware of the pressure of his rigid dick
against me.  "Sorry Marky, I can't help it.  It's like it all the time...
I even had a wank in the bathroom just now when I went in to clean my
teeth....  Please Marky..."

     I stroked his back.  I had noted the rather long time he'd taken
cleaning his teeth!  "Frankie," I whispered, "You're nearly sixteen.  All
boys your age are the same.  I even got a hard-on when I had to stand up
and read The Lay of the Last Minstrel for old Potty Prince.  He wanted to
know why I was stammering.  I could hardly tell him my dick was long and
hot and not like the poem's 'the way was long, the wind was cold'."

     Frankie's chest was heaving.  "Same.  Old Fairbrother in Geography
mentioned the Horn of Africa and I guess all in our row had them 'cause
they looked at Weso and he's African and he'd got one definitely."

     "How do you know?"

     "I was sitting next to him and I could see it in his trousers.  How
d'you think?"

     "Shush, don't get rorty.  Anyway you've subsided."  I could feel that
the iron had gone out of his soul!!

     "So you think that Adam and Oliver?" he asked.

     "Maybe.  We'll just have to wait and see.  Anyway, you've made friends
with Oliver's brother, I hear."

     He nodded.  "Yeah, Eddie's brill.  He's coming to stay sometime at
Christmas.  That's why I was worried 'cause I though Oliver might be
coming, too, and Tris....."  He clutched at me.  "I couldn't bear to see
you unhappy, Marky, and the same for Tris."

     "We're OK," I said.

     "There's a lot of his stuff in here and in the bathroom...."

     "Yes, we live together as much as possible," I stroked his back again.
"I rely on Tris a lot and I think that Oliver and Adam will rely on him as
well."  I leaned over and kissed him on his forehead.  "You ever need
advice or help, ask Tris."

     He nodded.  We rolled apart and I switched the light out and we slept.

     My internal clock woke me as usual about half past six.  I turned over
and was just about to shower the body next to me with kisses and feel for
those familiar balls and that well-known hard prick when I remembered it
was Frankie and not Tris beside me.  Actually Frankie had been spooned up
behind me and it was the hardness of his young prick I had felt pressed
against me now.  He was sound asleep so as I readied myself to get out of
bed I lifted the duvet and saw an erection I remembered so well.  Mine,
just about two or three years ago.  Not succumbing to the temptation of
feeling that well-remembered length I slid out of bed, had a quick pee and
dressed in running kit.

     I gently prodded him awake.  "Come on Frankie," I said quietly,
"Wakee, wakee.  Time for your run, good doggie!"

     A sleepy eye opened and then the other and he stared as I held up a
pair of dark red running shorts in one hand and two jockstraps in the
other.  The ginormous one and one of my mine, so far unworn.

     "Up, sweetie-pie!" I said, dropping the objects on the duvet.  I
pushed the duvet from him and grabbed his legs and pulled him out of the
bed.  "No slugging.  Go and have a pee and you can borrow my spare shorts
and wear either of these.  You'll probably grow into that rather large
jockstrap before much longer the amount you eat.  The others will be down
by quarter to so hurry and you haven't got time to clean your teeth..."

     The look he gave me would have blistered the steel hull of a
battleship.  The Toad pissed as loudly as he could and came back sneering
with a semi-rampant tool.  His sneer changed to a smile when I held up the
smaller jockstrap.  "Cor, Marky, can I really wear it?"  I nodded and it
was on in seconds.  I wondered if they made them with different pouch sizes
as he filled that one.  "And these?"

     "If you're at this College then you must wear College running shorts,"
I said.

     "Wicked!" he said as they were put on.  The vain Toad opened the
wardrobe door and did a pirouette admiring himself.  "Top?" he queried.

     "Your own," I said, "But if you're good and don't drop crumbs on the
carpet big brother might treat you to a College one sometime."

     The sneer came and went as he realised he'd better be good.

     A thought struck me.  "What size trainers do you take?"

     He looked up from tying a bow in a lace.  "Nine and a half, why?"

     Oh, my God!  Big feet!  "Just wondered.  It's something one of the
policemen said..."

     "...About those two?"  He stood up.  "Is there an investigation?  Were
they murdered 'cause I thought it all seemed a bit strange?"

     "Possibly," I said, "But no gossiping.  They've noticed some smaller
footprints actually inside the bigger ones."

     "Could be a small bloke.  Want me to have a look round?"

     "Don't you dare.  It could be dangerous."

     "I can keep my eyes open and contrary to what you might say I can keep
my mouth shut!"

     I laughed.  "I'll tell you more sometime, but..."  I wagged a finger
at him.

     "OK, OK!  Anyway, I'm ready, you're ready, where are the others?"

     We had just got to my outer door when four dark-red shorted creatures
came pounding down the stairs.  Ivo smacked Francis smartly on his very
attractive butt and before he could complain more or less lifted him out of
the main door.  "You lead.  Off you go!"

     I hadn't realised I had such a fit kid brother.  He ran steadily out
of the College, across the back bridge and turned left along the
Grantchester path.  We followed in line and he kept us going at a fair
lick.  Excessive masturbation certainly hadn't weakened his stamina!  He
stopped to turn at my usual gap in a hedge - Ivo, Adam and Oliver ran on
and the remaining three of us ran back to College.  His pace didn't slacken
and we arrived back just as Old Albert was opening the Lodge.  We waved at
him and he squinted to see who the third figure was.  Big ears and big feet
to match mine!  He must have known!

     We let him shower first and stripped off and waited patiently while he
soaped and ran so much water I wondered if the College system would stand
it.  He eyed us as he emerged and I threw him a towel.  "Haven't lost all
your tan yet, Tris," he said, "Pity you don't go as dark as us, but that
golden colour suits you.  Goes with your little blond bush!"

     "Cheeky hound," said Tris and Francis got another slap on his nice
bubble-butt.  I didn't like to add that I'd trimmed Tris's pubic hair at
the weekend.

     "You lot are kinky," he said, "That's two of you after my bum already
this morning."

     As Tris ignored him and got into the shower cubicle I poked Francis
where I knew he was very vulnerable.  Just around his lowest rib.  He
doubled over and yelped.  I grabbed him and put my foot on the wooden chair
and got him over my knee.  While he struggled I administered about a dozen
slight slaps to his firm young buttocks.  "Yeah," I said, as I let him up
and we were both heaving with laughter, "Nothing like a young
fifteen-year-old's bum in the morning to keep the oldies going."

     "Oh, Marky," he said, "I'm glad you all accept me.  I may be a kid but
I do appreciate it."

     "Frankie, they accept you because they all like you.  You may be
abominable, smelly, spotty, rude and going blind from too much self-abuse,
but you are their little cousin, or their friend's brother and they're
willing to forgive you all your imperfections.."  I grabbed him and planted
a kiss right on his very kissable lips.

     To my surprise he flung his arms around me and opened his mouth and
our tongues clashed and duelled.  He drew his head back.  "You may be my
extra-kinky brother," he said, "But I forgive you that as well.  But you
stink of sweat so get in the shower."

     Tris was out and drying himself and had witnessed that little episode.
Frankie went over to him and put his head up and he and Tris kissed, too.
As they parted Frankie grinned at him.  "I think you ought to clean your
teeth, but don't be too long or Marky will draw attention to it."  He
looked pointedly down at Tris's midriff where the biggest, stiffest, most
beautiful, very familiar erection stretched up to just below Tris's navel.
Frankie got another slap for that which did make him yelp.  I got in the
shower.

     We were dressed and getting breakfast ready when the other three came
in, also showered and dressed.  Frankie was poised with coffee-pot in hand.
He gave them all a beaming smile, Oliver especially.

     "Good," said Ivo, "I'm glad you've got him house-trained.  I can't do
a thing with that young brother of mine..."

     "Twenty minutes, remember," said Adam, "We're equal.  So sit down and
shut up.  I'll have a cup of coffee now, garcon!"  This last to Frankie.

     "Hunh!" said Frankie, "You can wait.  Oliver pass me your cup, please.
The peasants are revolting, aren't they?  Don't know why they let them out
of the cowshed..."

     "I'd be a bit careful, young sir," said Adam, "I hear you may be
visiting the farm at Christmas and......"

     "See, Oliver, I was right," Frankie went on ignoring Adam, "Threats of
violence I assume. What else can one expect?"

     "I agree," said Oliver, "Nasty, brutish, but not short.  But he's OK
really."

     Poor Oliver.  He couldn't keep up the banter, but Frankie was learning
fast.  I think Oliver was so besotted with Adam.  As it was he smiled at
him and the smile told all.  Even Toad recognised that and silently filled
both their cups.  After boiled eggs, toast and marmalade and more coffee
the others left with Tris in particular rushing off as he wanted to print
off something for his tutor.

     We all had lectures at ten and I had a session with Professor Tanner
at twelve.  I'd promised the girls we could have an hour at four as Dina
had a tutorial at two and we hoped she and I would be genned up on the
stuff we'd heard this morning.  But Toad had to be entertained.  It was
Jason's day for keeping the place tidy.  He'd decided we didn't need the
help of the cleaning lady and had volunteered to see we were swept and
dusted regularly.  I had the idea he didn't want Tris's and my arrangement
to get aired around.  He knew we lived together and slept together as much
as possible as he'd found us in bed asleep the first week when he came in
rather early.  He wasn't bothered.  We paid him well and we heard the
College gossip first hand.

     I must say Francis was more than amenable.  I asked if he would mind
going to Sainsbury's with a list.  He was used to going shopping for Mum so
no problem.  I said I would be back by about eleven thirty but I had the
tutorial before lunch.  That would have to be a snack and I would really
have to work after that.  I left in good time and the lecture wasn't too
bad.  At least I managed to get all down off the boards and did almost all
of one of the problems while the lecturer answered questions towards the
end.  I got back and found Frankie in deep conversation with Matt who had
brought in a pile of copies of Cantata 91.

     "Your brother's asking about reading Music here.  I said he'd better
talk to Oliver, or Bertie Penhaligan, it's his Finals year so he'd know all
the ropes.  Of course, he could be the next Pennefather as well."

     "I didn't know that was what you wanted to do," I said.  "Have you
talked to Mum and Dad?  Not the Royal College?"

     "No, I thought of that but I don't really want to be in an orchestra.
And what would I play?  Plenty of trumpeters around and I wouldn't be good
enough for a concert pianist.  Dad said the BBC were always looking for
musicians for producing programmes, or there's publishing, or the Opera
House, or I could teach.  I don't know.  I just want to know more and I
like playing.  Anyway, I've got a couple of years before I make any
decisions." He grinned.  "I suppose one of those new universities might do
a degree in skate-boarding by then.  That Toby would be Professor and I
could be his first student!"

     I ignored that.  We'd all had a laugh about Mickey Mouse degrees.
"Well, if you want to come here and try for the Pennefather you'll have to
practise.  Half past eight tomorrow morning we'll see how you get on with
the organ here.  What about it, Matt?"

     "OK, I'll be there."

     We had a quick cup of coffee and I had to rush off to my tutorial.  I
was much happier when I left at one.  Things were all in place.  I got back
to my rooms and the table was set in the main room.  There was a bowl ready
for soup and two nice looking filled rolls each.  Frankie was stirring the
soup on the hotplate in the kitchen.

     "Sit down," he said, "Soup and rolls, prepared by my own fair hand.
Well, the rolls; the soup's out of a tin.  Smells OK, though."

     It was OK.  I sat, he sat and we ate.

     "So what have you been doing while I've been with Professor Tanner?"
I asked as the last of the second roll slid down my gullet.

     "Oh, I practised a bit, that Haydn, and Jason popped in.  It's a nice
piano isn't it?"  He got up and walked over and ran his fingers over the
glossy black lid.  "You are lucky.  Mum makes me practice in the Shed as
she's got that girl she's coaching for her diploma and she comes most
afternoons.  She's nice though," He looked sideways at me, "She's got big
tits and when she breathes in.., phroah!...."

     "Frankie!  She's a rising star!"

     "Bloody hell, she makes me rise!" he said with a salacious leer.

     "Frankie, just keep your sexual thoughts to yourself!  And cut the
swearing!"

     "Just testing," the Toad said and sneered.  "Don't be so uptight."  He
came over and stood by me, now over fifteen he was getting taller almost
daily.  "You're lucky, you've got Tris...."

     "And you're still wondering...." I said putting an arm round his
waist.
  "Nothing so far."  He shook his head.  "Met anyone?"

     "Might have.  There's this girl who hangs round the skate park.  She's
Bozo's sister and she always offers to look after my stuff."

     "Who's Bozo"

     "Guy in my class, you know, Jamie Bowes-Chesterton.  He's brillo.  He
can do an absolutely mega classy acid drop!  And that extra gear of Unc's
on him!  Wicked!"

     I didn't like to show my ignorance of skateboarding jargon.  I might
lose face in the sight of the younger generation.  "Really?  He's good and
he looks good?  Yes, I remember him from school.  Smaller then, no doubt!
But what about her?"

     "She's only just fifteen, like me...." He looked at me with most
sorrowful eyes.  "I wouldn't, Marky, I wouldn't.  She's too nice and she's
too young."

     "Sometime, perhaps," I gave him a playful thump.  "I told you your
cousins were virgins until they were nearly eighteen so there's time yet"

     He nodded.  "I know. They told you?  Didn't they have the chance
before?"

     I nodded.  "At a boarding school most of the time, what do you think?
And I don't imagine there was much suitable bed fodder in that village.
They said there were a few girls in the Sixth Form but they were strictly
off limits.  Instant sack if anyone was found even canoodling, but they've
made up for it since."

     His eyes were nearly popping out.  "Here?"

     "Where else?  Plenty of parties and now all the colleges have a female
element, as they say, there's plenty of tottie if you play your cards
right!"

     He spun round excitedly "Whoa, can I come here?  Ooh Ooh OOh!"

     "Frankie, I thought you came every day anyway?  Though you did refrain
in bed last night."

     "Shut up, you always take the piss!  Huh, anyway you should know what
bathrooms are for, and as for you, you just snored, decrepit old thing!"

     "Puts a boy off his stroke sleeping with his little brother!"

     He laughed.  "Good one.  You're getting better!  But you were nice and
cuddly.  Must be your hairy chest.  Bet it tickles Tris!"  I leaned over as
if to slap his leg.  He moved smartly away and perched on the edge of one
of the dining chairs. "But seriously, if I came here you think it would
solve all my problems?  But it's more than another two years.  I'll die of
deprivation before then!"

     "From what I've gathered whichever university or college you went to
you'd be OK but from what you've told me, you've plenty of night-time
fantasies to keep you happy until then.  And if they're anything like that
picture you sent Tris last year there's not much left to the imagination."

     He chuckled.  "I only sent it to tease."

     "Yes, and he opened the attachment in the computer room and up pops
some female displaying her all to the angels.  Good job they're weren't
many about in the room at the time."

     "I know, he got me at Easter and held me down and smacked my arse.
He's bloody strong, isn't he?  Anyway, if anyone saw that pic they'd
think...." He stopped and held my arm.  "...sorry, Marky, I shouldn't make
fun.  But you are lucky."  He shook his head.  "You've got Tris and he's
got you."

     "And it isn't all a bed of roses."

     He looked at me quizzically.  "You're not thinking of splitting, are
you?"

     "Oh, no," I said, wrinkling my nose at him.  "We have our little ups
and downs and don't forget I didn't see much of him last year and although
we're together here now we're not under each other's feet all the time."  I
shook my head.  "And don't forget I've only been here four weeks so I'm
still learning a lot about the place."

     "But don't you sleep together most nights?  There's all his stuff in
the bathroom and they're not all your clothes in the wardrobe.  And he got
dressed here this morning."

     I nodded.  "Yes, we do, and we love each other as much as we can.  A
lot of its just being together but we do have different interests and I
suppose it's much like a marriage.  You have to work out who does what,
when and where.  He's got his work and rugger and basketball and I've got
my music and maths and I've started going to the gym with one of the
boaties."  I looked at Frankie and thought I would put on a bit of an act.
"He's very nice.  It's Toby.  In fact, he's adorable, you've seen him.
He's at least two inches taller than me, lovely broad shoulders, tiny
waist, and God, his muscles!" I rolled my eyes, "And, wow, when we get in
the shower afterwards...."

     Frankie had had enough.  "Marky, stop pulling my pisser.  I know you
too well.  And if you upset Tris I'll cut your balls off!  So there!"

     "Thank you for that sentiment.  In fact, to stop Tris being upset
we'll probably make you sleep in his room for the rest of the week."

     "OOOh, if he's there too, yes please and you could seduce that lovely
big boatie in here!"  I was being hoist with my own petard.  The Toad
sniggered.  "But I bet he hasn't got what Tris has got.  I saw it..."  He
made hard fists with both hands, banged them on top of each other and
screwed his face up.  "....when he was asleep on the roof at Unc's.  Wow."
He laughed.  "Jack says that happens at least three times a night when
we're asleep."

     "And you're just sad you can't remain awake to take advantage of
yours, I suppose?"

     "Don't have to!  It's already taken care of as soon as I'm in bed, you
know that!"  He looked at me slyly.  "Tris and you match and I'm not so bad
myself!"

     I shook my head.  There was no doubt Frankie had no inhibitions.  Was
it just with me he was so free?  "And do you discuss such things with Bozo
and your other pals?  I know you and Jack are bosom buddies...."  I
refrained from saying 'wank-buddies'.  "...And you've talked to Tris.  But
what about others?"

     He was suddenly serious and shook his head.  "I don't think Bozo knows
what's down there between his legs.  He only ever talks about boarding and
his collection of old coins.  Jello's the only other one."  My little
brother went slightly pink.  "He asked me last year whether I had much hair
'cause his was growing.  I went round his house...," He nodded.  "...and we
did it together..."  He looked a bit sheepish.  "..In fact, we've done it
quite a few times and Jack doesn't know.  Jello said he thought he might be
gay but I didn't say about you and Tris.  I just said he might find someone
but I wasn't.  I like him but we haven't done it since just before the
summer vac 'cause he'll probably leave the school as his Dad changed his
job and they're thinking of moving."

     "Is he the nice looking blond lad in your class?" I asked.  "I've seen
you chatting to him in the quad." He nodded.  "Well make sure he comes to
no harm.  That's what's friends are for."

     My brother, no longer Toad-like, nodded again.  I thought back.  Jello
and Jack weren't the only ones.

     "And what about Nesto last summer?  You two insisted on sharing a room
and you used to slope off for a siesta when the rest of us stayed on the
terrace in the shade in the afternoons.  And we noticed young Pietro ogling
the pair of you.  Anything there?"

     The Toad was back and sniggered.  "Not with Pietro though we were
tempted.  Nesto said he guesses he wanks as he's fourteen, but we thought
he might split on us to Guido, and he's so macho."

     Oh, ho, little does he know!

     "So, just you and Nesto, then?  And the siestas?"

     He laughed.  "How do you think boys can keep up their averages
otherwise!  Just because you and Tris and the Thugs are so old!"

     'Verily, verily, as the prophet said,-' I thought, '-youth is no
stranger to friction!'

     "Wretch!  And I hope you did nothing too outrageous with him.  Good
job you're not a girl - you might have come home pregnant and he's your
cousin so it's incestuous anyway!"

     He sniggered again.  "And what makes you think it might be that way
round?"

     Oh!  I had more than an inkling having seen him in action with Guido
but I might also have guessed it was something Frankie and Nesto had
discussed.  "Not another one?"

     "You bet!"  He became serious again.  "It's OK it was only..."  He
made wanking movements.  "He did ask if I would be his boyfriend but I said
I wasn't really that way.  I said I liked being with him and it was nice
just doing things together.  He said it was hell at home with his three
older sisters and he hadn't really got any close friends at school.  He
said it was very strict and the priests were always on about sin and he had
to be careful."  He shook his head.  "I like Nesto lots but I suppose he's
like me, but the other way."  He looked rather sorrowful.  "I suppose
that's all about growing up - it's a bit painful."

     "I expect so," I said suppressing the thought that I might tell
Frankie about Nesto and Guido, "But I think I've been lucky."

     He nodded.  "Yep, Nesto said he plagued his mum when he knew we would
be at the Villa again.  He told me about what you and the others had done
that other visit and he wanted more so he was glad we got on so well.
Uncle Francesco's said he could go into the business because he's such a
good artist and he's good at maths as well so he might train as an
accountant, too.  And then we've got that money coming when we're eighteen.
Mum says that'll pay for university for me."  He smiled.  "Anyway I like
Nesto a lot, he's fun though he's quiet, and he thinks you and the others
are molto bello and he couldn't get over how blond Tris was!"

     Oh, so Nesto, bless his heart, had confessed.  I should have guessed.
The shy looks, then the open stares on that first visit and the eager way
he'd joined in and then initiated several of our wanking sessions.  He'd
attached himself to Tris on our outings at the time while I was left to
cope with Frankie and his incessant demands for gelato.  I should have read
the signs.  Now he was exploring his sexuality more.  He was craving for
friendship and our uninhibited Frankie was able to talk openly with him and
share boyish habits with him.  Perhaps he'd found a partner in Guido?  That
fuck we witnessed was not just sex for sex sake but showed Guido respected
his willing companion.  But, that would all be for the future.

     "But you've got Laurent coming this weekend and from what you've told
me before it'll be beaucoup de tirent les coups, eh?  That makes four so
far!"

     He sighed.  "I can count, too!  I'm just being friendly...  And
inquisitive...  ....And I bet you were the same!"

     "Touch‚" I said resignedly.  I looked at my watch.  It was getting on
for two o'clock.

     I remembered he'd said Jason had called.

     "And what did Jason have to say?"

     "Sorry I should have said.  He came to see if I wanted to go up the
tower this afternoon.  He said Mr Tomkins says I could as long as he was
with me.  He said it's a bit dangerous as the steps are old and the parapet
needs repair and it might be a bit slippery but I've got those grippy
trainers..  Can I go?"

     I thought: he realises I'm responsible for him.  Must be growing up!

     "As long as you do what Jason says. Be careful though as I don't want
to have to ship you home in a black bag.  Anyway, you'll have done
something I've never done.  The tower's always kept locked and the clock
hasn't been going for years so the Prof says as you can see it from his
rooms.  I think there's a peal of bells up there as well someone said.  I
noticed there's holes in the vestry roof for the bell ropes.  So watch it,
mind you don't step on any old timbers."

     "OK, OK, I'll watch my step."  He sat still for a moment, then looked
up.  "How do you become a Porter?"

     I laughed.  "As far as I know you have to have a family who's worked
in the College for donkey's years or join as a kitchen boy.  Oh, and
Charley said they used to have two boys whose job was to pump the organ
before they installed a steam engine way back in 1897 and the boys then had
to stoke it but be there in case it broke down.  When they grew up they
were likely to go on as assistant Porters.  Anyway, why do you want to
know?"

     "It's funny.  Jason's not daft.  He said he'd left school when he was
sixteen but he had ten GCSE's all starred.  Why didn't he go on and get his
A levels and come here as a student?"

     "I don't know but tradition around here seems more important.  I told
you about when I came for my interview and Jason told us his family's been
working for the College for over two hundred years."  I laughed,
remembering Frankie's mention of boys and their averages.  "And I never
told you what Adam found that day when we were looking at the rooms in the
crypt."

     He was all ears now.

     "All boys of sixteen are alike any time.  There was one shut in a cell
in 1418 for being naughty like you, while he was supposed to be cleaning
his teeth I expect, and they must have caught him as it's a sin, and he
scratched twenty-one little marks over eight days." I grinned at an
open-mouthed Frankie.  "Only once on Sunday!"

     He shook his head as if in disbelief.  "1418?"

     I nodded.  "And his name was Johannes Knottus."

     He looked momentarily puzzled then laughed out loud.  "Naughty young
Knott the first," he said in a whisper.  "Bloody hell, and Jason knows?"

     "Yep, and his brother was sixteen at the time and his name's Jonathan
and you can guess what Jason said."

     Frankie's face was a picture as he mouthed silently, "Waannnkerr!"

     We were both laughing.

     "Can I go down and have a look?"

     "We would have to ask Charlie and I don't know if I should have told
you."

     "Why not?"

     "College things.  If it's history then Mr Finch-Hampton would have to
be involved.  He wants the Chapel shut and that upsets Charlie but Adam's
taken photographs and Charlie says he can write it up once he's done his
exams and Pinch-Bum can't do anything."

     Frankie nearly collapsed with giggles.  He managed to gurgle
"Pinch-Bum!  Suits him."

     "Yeah, bit of College slander - everyone calls him that because he's
got a reputation with the women around.  Not, I repeat, not to be spread
around!"

     He became a Toad again.  He raised two fingers of his left hand
slightly and curled his lip.

     I played the usual trump card.  "Anything said and I'll inform Ivo and
Adam...."

     The Toad collapsed and became sweetness and light again.  He looked at
his watch.

     "Jason said he'd collect me at two o'clock.  I'll be OK I promise.
And I'll sleep in Tris's room tonight and he can be with you."  He smiled.
"At least I won't have to listen to you snoring."


     I heard the pair of them chattering together in the passage when they
returned from the tower.  I had just tidied up my solution of a rather
fiendish little proof Professor Tanner had set as an exercise.  He'd been
so clear in setting it up I knew I had accomplished something as I looked
over the dozen or so lines.  Yes, I'd enjoyed doing it.  But then I had
those lemmas to look at before Thursday's tutorial and there were two
lectures tomorrow and they would have to be prepared for and followed up
and I had to entertain Frankie and I needed to practise before Thursday's
early service and ....  Time.

     There was a thump on the door and I went through from the study across
my lovely big room and opened the outside door.

     "You took your time," the Toad said, then grinned.  "We had a
marvellous time, eh, Jason?"

     "Tea, gentlemen?" I enquired as they almost pushed past me through the
doorway.

     "Sorry, Mr Foster," said Jason, "I was getting carried away.  Duty
calls."

     He went off quickly into the kitchen.

     "Well?" I asked.

     The Toad grinned.  "It's a bit old up there.  It is dangerous 'cause
there's bits of the parapet looks ready to fall off so we didn't go far
outside.  The bells are still up there.  One's got 1455 on it but we didn't
look at the others 'cause the floor's a bit cracked.  There's quite a big
room up there and there's lots of stuff lying around.  Found a couple of
old pennies in a collecting box and three empty old beer bottles.  Oh and
someone's written a rude rhyme up there.  We moved a bit of old board to
see what was behind it and it was there scribbled on the wall with AD1893
written underneath it."  He rummaged in a pocket and drew out a scrap of
paper.  He looked at it carefully as he read it out.

          "'Who got the biddy into bed,
          Diddled her crupper without being wed,
          That's the tail of sweet young Jenny
          And the answer is...'

     That's all it says and someone's written over 'answer' with 'father'.
And it looks as if they couldn't spell very well."

     Jason appeared carrying a tray of tea things just as Francis got to
the end of his recitation and passed me the piece of paper

     "They used to call the girls who made the beds biddies and they
stopped having girls doing it after my Great-great-grandmother fell
pregnant.  They used older ladies after that who wouldn't be so tempting to
the young men so Mr Tomkins says.  I think the rhyme's to do with her.  I
wonder if Mr Adam would photograph it and we won't tell anyone, will we
Francis?"

     The last was said with a tone which would quell any Toad.  I only
wished I had that tone sometimes.  But, if it was about his - what did he
say? - his great-great-grandmother he was taking it very calmly.

     "I think we'd better tell Charley when he comes back, eh Jason?"

     "Yes, Mr Fane-Stuart is due back tomorrow and I will tell him.  I'd
better go now as Mr Tomkins will need to be relieved."

     I said we would clear up the tea things and he looked rather grateful
as we both knew if he was too long away Old Albert's sharp tongue would be
unsheathed.

     Francis let him out and I looked once again at the furnishings around
me in the room and thought I was so lucky and I must work hard to make sure
I was worth all of this.  I stretched my feet out towards the fireplace and
imagined all the students and old Augustus who had sat just here.  I looked
into the fireplace with the imitation coals lit up by the leaping gas
flame.  At least someone had had the sense to update the coal fire that
Augustus must have warmed his toes by.  I was feeling very privileged.

     Francis came back in and was positively bouncing as he dropped into
the chair next to mine.  "Oh goody, Charlie'll be back!" he said with
enthusiasm, "And will he do an act for us?  I'd love to see one properly."

     Frankie still had the print-out of Clarissa as Cleopatra, with two
most alluring young Greeks in their very short pleated tunics standing at
head and foot of her reclining figure wafting her with huge feathery fans.
Ivo and Adam looked superb.

     I suppressed a laugh as there was the show scheduled for Thursday
evening.  It would be my first full exposure to Clarissa in that persona
also.  I had seen the rehearsals in this, my room, as I was accompanying,
on the old joanna backstage, the entrance and exit of no other than
Boadicea, with three woad-blue warriors at her beck and call.  Tris, Louie
and Toby, were to be coloured a pleasing shade of light blue - for
Cambridge - and draped in not much more than strategically placed bunches
of leaves.  And then my cousins Adam and Ivo, harnessed and reined, with
false ears and tails and streaked with black would be her mighty stallions
to draw her chariot with a scantily clad Oliver as her charioteer.
  My suggestions had fallen on willing ears.  I hadn't written the
monologue though!  And Charles only did snippets to set the scene.

     But...  What Frankie didn't know was that he'd been allocated a part
in the tableau.  He was to be dressed as a captured young Roman Centurion,
a veritable second lieutenant straight from the Roman Army's equivalent of
Sandhurst!  He was to be Gaius Mickus Dickus, who would be threatened with
all sorts of dire torture if he didn't reveal the whereabouts of Pullius
Pudius Magna the Legion Commander.  Boadicea wanted him as he had stolen
her handmaiden, young Phanny Phingersmyth, and you know what good
handmaidens are worth, even though they may pinch your baubles, and some of
those warriors had had their baubles pinched more than once!  As Frankie's
part would consist entirely of strangulated 'Aaghs' every time one of the
warriors approached him, threatening him with something from an assortment
of outrageous torture implements, which from shape or function seemed to be
directed at the more vulnerable areas below his midriff, I didn't think the
single rehearsal on Wednesday evening would prove too arduous or stretch
his acting skills too far.

     Of course, he might have to be slightly coerced when confronted with
the rather skimpy costume of a fashion conscious young Centurion which
'Mother' had run up for Charles.  The knee-length, dark-brown, tight
woollen drawers might cover some of his embarrassment.  However, the
garment above was somewhat skimpy, based as it was on one of Uncle
Francesco's creations the Toad had laughed heartily about during the summer
and I'd purloined, with Aldo's permission, thinking I might have fun
showing it around.  It was an imitation leather tunic with a minimal
Roman-style kilt below which had adorned a slim young man on the cat walk
as he had escorted one of the models arrayed in a stupendous flowery
creation of Unc's.  The embarrassment might remain once he heard why the
Romans always wore dark-brown drawers and perhaps that they might take a
hint from the Northern British they pursued so vigorously who wore none at
all.

     The other thing was that a digital camera would be used to record
vital shots of his possible discomfiture and, perhaps, one or even two
might even be e-mailed to his friend Jack for discrete distribution to
classmates.  No!  He wouldn't be embarrassed - knowing Frankie he would
revel in it.  It just remained to see!

     "Yes," I said remaining as straight-faced as possible.  "Charlie's
back tomorrow afternoon and we're rehearsing in here tomorrow evening.
I've got you a very special front row seat for Thursday - in fact, if you
talk to Charles nicely he might let you see it from the side of the stage.
I need someone to turn the pages of the music for me.  In fact, I bet he
could even have you as an extra, I know he's got a spare costume or two."

     Toad's eyes were gleaming by the time I'd finished.

     "Oh, gosh!  Do you think?  It'll be far better than being that butler
in the Christmas play!"

     As 'that butler' was the prime part he'd been allocated in the school
production of 'The Importance of Being Earnest' I just wondered how
appearing in one of Clarissa's Follies would rank?  Anyway, that hurdle was
over, he seemed willing.

     "You'll have to wait and see.  You'd better not push yourself forward,
just take it as it comes.  It's Charlie's show and I know he's been phoning
Ivo and Annabelle about props and things.  Annabelle will be here as well
and no remarks from you... She's Stage Manager as well as Captain of
Lacrosse so she's not someone to trifle with."  I didn't add that she was
very pretty and well-stacked, as Louie had described her, but she would be
with her bosom pal, Alexandra, who was very similar but who kept a careful
eye on any possibly marauding males as she had dealt the blow to
Pinch-Bum..

     "Now, have you got something to do, 'cause I must read up some more
stuff before the first lecture tomorrow?"  He nodded and held up one of the
Father Brown volumes from my study shelves.  "Good, and at seven the others
will be coming down as we're going to the Caf‚ Rouge for a meal."  The head
jiggled from side to side in joyful anticipation.

     The evening passed very convivially.  While we were eating Frankie was
telling the others of his adventure up the tower with Jason and Adam was
over the moon when shown the piece of paper with the rhyme.  He read it
through carefully and then looked at the rest of us.

     "I bet I know who Jason's great-great-grandfather or whatever was!"
He turned to me.  "Jason said it was a student and the girl was never hard
up.  So I guess it wasn't someone who shagged her and disappeared once he'd
left the place.  Sounds a bit like Charley's set-up, too."  He held up the
piece of paper.  "And I bet this was written by another student who was in
the know.  He was someone who knew about language and came from the
country.  You see, first of all he's used crupper instead of something else
a bit ruder and it means a horse's backside." He turned to his brother.
"That's right, Ivo, isn't it?  We've ridden enough and I don't suppose
anyone who hasn't been around horses would know that."  Ivo nodded and so
did the rest of us to signify our ignorance though I had the feeling I'd
seen the word in a crossword sometime.  "So there's a play on words, 'tail'
which he uses and 'tale' which you have to imagine.  Then you have to
listen to the rhythm.  It goes 'that's the tale of sweet young Jenny', keep
the rhythm going and it must end 'and the answer is Augustus Penny'!  And
that's finished off with 'answer' crossed out and 'father' written instead.
Augustus Pennefather stand up and be counted!"

     "Bloody Hell!" from Ivo, "What?" from a more restrained Tris, "Cor!"
from a transfixed Toad who was still imagining getting some young girl up
the duff, and "Could it be?" from a thoughtful me.

     "An hypothesis," said Adam, "And according to Popper a hypothesis is
only good until it is disproved."

     "Sounds plausible," I said, "But how can you prove or disprove it.  We
would need more evidence either way.  Perhaps Jason might find something in
one of the record books or diaries his family seems to have kept."

     "Jason said his long time grandmother never said who the father was
but she must have got the money somehow and what better than if the person
was here on the spot," said Ivo.

     "There's more play on words," said Tris, "'Tail' means to follow or
the follower.  It's also a legal term meaning only certain people can
inherit."  He sniggered.  "I don't know if they used it in 1893 but
nowadays it's slang for you know what!"

     Toad stared.  "What?"

     "Rumpy-pumpy," said Ivo and nudged him as I had strategically placed
them together so Toad would not get out of hand.  "Get on with your food!"

     He was not to be silenced.  "Well, if he was Jason's
great-great-grandad he must have been a nice guy 'cause Jason's OK," said
Frankie.  "The only thing is if it was that Augustus bloke why did he drown
himself?"

     "But," said Tris, "What if he didn't drown himself and was tipped off
that bridge?"

     "Another hypothesis looms its ugly head," said Adam with a laugh.  "I
suppose we could start by looking at the reports in the local paper.  What
did they say at the time?  There must have been an inquest.  I've got to
check on something about Lloyd George and what he said here at a meeting
before the First World War so I could have a quick look for Augustus's
demise before the next War."

     We decided we wouldn't say anything else to Jason until something else
was found or cropped up.  Adam said he would ask Old Albert if he could go
up and photograph the inscription as he was sure Jason would have told him.
That was all agreed and the rest of the conversation revolved about what a
grind all the work was especially as it was Ivo and Adam's final year and
they hadn't really decided what they wanted to do next.  I thought it might
be boring for Frankie but as he seemed content eating his way through the
menu I didn't worry too much.  Again Uncle Francesco's largesse came in
useful and I think Frankie was suitably impressed being treated as one of
the boys again.

     On the way back into College we called in at the Porter's Lodge.  The
night duty porter was there and pointed at the pigeon-holes.  "Came by
special delivery this evening," he said and laughed.  There was an envelope
for each of us, including in my pigeon-hole one for Francis Foster Esq.
Inside the message to each was the same, written in an elegant flowing
hand.

          'Dear One,
                    For your Diary: November 7th 2001
               There will be hot soup and a cold collation served in Set 2
Stair F at 7 followed by a rehearsal of 'Boudicca's Blast from the Past' in
Set 1 Stair F.  Costumes will be donned there at 7.45 supervised by Ms
Alexandra Coutts.  Make-up will be discussed with Ms Annabelle Lewis but
left until just before the performance.  Rehearsal will begin at 8 sharp.
Cast moves only.
               With fondest regards
                                                 Charles Fane-Stuart'

     Francis was having a quiet set of the giggles.  "Dear One," he kept
murmuring.

     "If you don't behave, young man," Ivo said coming up behind him and
giving me a surreptitious wink, "You will not be attending.  And if we have
any lip or any refusal to help in any way tomorrow night there will be
sanctions of a most unpleasing sort."

     There was immediate silence even though Frankie was now about an inch
taller than Ivo.  I wondered why I did not have the same instant control
and I was over two inches taller than Frankie?

     We all trudged up the flights of stairs to the top floor and said
goodnight to the twins at their door.  Tris unlocked his door and we three
went in.

     "Are you certain you'll be OK if you sleep here tonight?" I asked
Francis.

     "Much better if Tris stayed with me," the Toad replied.  I stepped
forward.  He stepped back and raised both hands in mock defence.  "Only
joking!"

     "I'll sleep with you if you like, but I'm feeling very horny and I
might teach you things you've never even thought of," said Tris, grabbing
hold of his arm.  "OK, Marky, sooner I get him in bed the better, eh?"  He
turned back to Francis.  "Haven't had a nice fifteen-year-old in bed for
ages!  Get your clothes off, buster, then I'll tie you down!  I like to see
their faces when they struggle!  And you can scream as much as you like the
walls are three feet thick!"

     Poor Francis looked petrified as I walked backwards to the door waving
at him.  It didn't last.  Tris gave him a playful thump.

     "Thought your time had come, eh?" he said laughing.  "You be careful
what you say.  But I'm serious.  Will you be OK here by yourself?  You
could leave a light on in this room and it'll shine into the bedroom.  I
must admit I did that the first few nights when I had the room downstairs
last year.  The roof timbers creak a bit and you might hear the drains
gurgle but I don't think there's anything else."

     "You think I might be scared in case that student....?"

     "Frankie," I said, coming back into the room, "Bryce is dead and gone.
Anyway Grandad had this room so think of him.  Gran always says how happy
he was here."

     "Of course I'll be alright," said Frankie.  "You go off..., but I
would like tea at half past six in the morning if you're not too exhausted
to go for the run!  OK, OK!" he finished off as Tris advanced on him again.

     We left him and instructed him to slip the latch on the inside of the
outer door.  We knew he'd be OK.  There were doughty inhabitants of all the
rooms on the stair.  Still, make sure the young'un felt safe.

     We didn't get to sleep until well after midnight.  I needed Tris and
he needed me.  We both came twice, first after we had each kissed our way
down our companion's body and drawing out the pent-up juices by careful
laving and sucking on each other's most wanting shaft.  We caressed each
other for ages after until, looking into each other's eyes and smiling at
each other, we gently stroked each other's hardness until a second torrent
of our love for each other spurted up between us.

     We held each other and slept.

     Tris woke first - we seemed to take it in turns.  He must have slipped
out of bed without me knowing and brewed up a good strong pot of tea.  He
woke me gently by nuzzling my cheek.  He was chuckling to himself.

     "It's quarter past six and I've just woken the Babe in the Wood.  He
was fast asleep when I crept in, so I slipped off my boxers and slid in
beside him.  Little bugger's as horny as you.  He might have been asleep
but he put his arm round my shoulder and I thought he was going to rape me
as he started grunting and shifting around!"  He laughed.  "I slid out of
bed again before anything happened and I just saw what he had poking out of
the fly of his boxers."  He poked me on the shoulder.  "You'd better watch
out.  Your little brother'll beat you soon if he grows any more.  No wonder
it's all he thinks about."  He poked me again.  "But you were the same at
his age - ever rampant and you haven't lost the urge yet." He lifted the
duvet and before the draught of colder air shrunk me he chuckled.  "No, my
Marky, he certainly hasn't beaten you yet." He reached round and picked up
a mug of tea he'd placed on the bedside table.  "I put my boxers on again
and tapped him on the arm.  All the little tyke said when he woke up was 'I
hope you're not late'.  Little tyke's got a slightly sore bum to go with
his tea now!"

     There was a rattle as my door was opened and the tyke came rushing in
still in his boxers but looking quite scared.

     "Tris, there's someone inside the wall, I'm sure!"  He calmed down a
bit.  "Just as you went there was this bumping and banging and it sounded
just as if it was the other side of the wall."

     "It's OK, Francis, I've heard it, too, especially when I was in the
other room last year.  Someone asked one of the Nat Scis what it might be
and he said it could be a shaft or something and it's the air rushing in
and out but he didn't know why.  We've all heard it at some time so don't
worry."

     "Sorry.  I just thought someone was trying to get through."

     "It's a solid stone wall and it must be thick."

     He looked at our mugs on the side table and the one Tris was holding.
"Can I get my tea and come down here?  My shorts and things are here, too."

     "Of course," I said, "But before you go upstairs poke that object back
where it belongs."

     Frankie's well-formed, quite plump, now limp penis was drooping out of
his fly.  His erection had disappeared along with his fright.  He looked
down and unblushingly manoeuvred the well-developed article back in . "Jack
told me you can't have an erection and be frightened at the same time.  So
it's true!"  My little brother was incorrigible.

     When he returned both Tris and I had slipped on our running kit and
had laid out what was left of the packs of miniature boxes of cereals I'd
bought on Monday in Sainsbury's and put the two boxes of eggs on the side
by the stove.  Frankie clad in long Matteoli tee-shirt over his boxers
ostentatiously dropped them and stepped into the jockstrap and arranged his
equipment within.  He smiled at us looking at him and slipped on his
running shorts.

     He sat and put on his trainers.  "When you two perves have finished
ogling me....."  Two perves stood either side of him.  He was lifted bodily
from the chair.  His shorts and jockstrap were lowered and a sharp slap
from each perve was administered.  He blushed mightily as at that moment
three others come in and stood and grinned at the poor lad showing his all.

     "Our turn now," said Ivo, "Got to keep the little bugger under control
all the time."

     "No!" said kind-hearted Oliver, "He's too nice to be damaged.  Come
on, pull that lot up and we'll lead them today."

     So, off we went.  Oliver and Frankie in the van.  As yesterday, Oliver
and the others carried on while Tris, I and Frankie returned.  Showering
today was swift and we were ready with eggs ready for boiling when we heard
the others return.  "Ten minutes," I said, "Then we'll put the eggs on.
You'd better start, Frankie, then you can be in charge of the toaster."

     He took one look at me, sat and selected his standard three packets,
disdainfully rejecting the ordinary cornflakes and choosing others of a
more varied kind.

     He looked at Tris who was sorting out a sliced loaf package.  "I do
like it when I'm on holiday," he said, "But I prefer those rather nice
croissants I have at Laurent's.  It makes a change from the humdrum!"

     Tris leaned across and grabbed a wrist.  "Any more lip from you and
I'll smack your backside again.  That's twice already this morning!"

     "Oooh, please!" he snickered, "That made me have the hardest...."  He
looked at us both as we stared at him.  "Oh, come on, you look like a
couple of disapproving old grannies, lighten up!"

     It wasn't lighten up, but Frankie up.  Tris and I looked at each
other.
  We were round the table in a flash, five feet nine and a half inches of
string-bean was hauled up for the second time that morning, an arm and a
leg each.  We carted him through the main room and study into the bedroom
where he was unceremoniously stripped of his top, jeans and boxers and
dropped face down on the bed.  The next three minutes was filled with howls
of mirth, banshee squawks, pig-like squeals and high-pitched screeches for
mercy as we gave him the treatment.  He was held fast with me at the head
and Tris at the legs.  He was tickled and stroked, pinched and pummelled
gently, generally mauled and roughed up in a minor way, just to show who
were the bosses.  We rolled him over and Tris and I were confronted with
quite a sight.  That night last year when he confided his worries his
erection was close on five and a half inches of slim boymeat but what we
saw now was now a much thicker getting-on- for-six and a half inches of
prime young stallion-beef and he was just fifteen.

     "Let go, please," he yelped, "Gotta go to the bathroom, quick!"

     Thinking he meant to pee we let go and he scrambled off the bed and
scuttled towards the bathroom door clutching his rampant tool.  He never
reached it.  He came to a halt and my bathroom door was somewhat repainted!
Four great squirts of come hit the woodwork as he more or less dropped to
his knees.  We rushed over to him and supported him on each side.  He was
panting heavily and his face seemed fixed in a rictus of extreme frenzy.
His prick was still jerking and dripping spunk as he held it tightly.

     "You OK, Frankie?" asked Tris, looking over Frankie's head at me and
grinning.  He let go of Frankie and raised both fists and screwed up his
face in a gesture of triumph.  He thought the Toad had been vanquished.  He
wouldn't live down shooting off like that in front of his elders and
betters.  He should have guessed.

     Frankie stopped panting and opened his eyes.  He eyed his handiwork.
"Shouldn't take me more than a couple of days to cover that completely if
you keep doing that to me!"

     Tris was not to be outdone.  He bent down and administered two very
sharp slaps to Frankie's pert young bum.  "Ouch!  That hurt!" he said, one
hand rubbing the red hand marks and the other still clutching his erect
prick which he rubbed up and down a couple of times very suggestively.

     "You carry on like that and I'll make you lick it off," I said

     He looked up at me with seemingly innocent eyes.  "I already know what
it tastes like so it wouldn't be too much of a worry."

     He put out both arms and we were close enough to be drawn in.  "I
really love you both," he said with obvious emotion, "Do all friends and
brothers have such fun?"

     What could we do but haul him up and almost crush him in real
brotherly love.  Of course, who got a trail of spunk from a still sticky
prick over his Matteoli cargoes?  Me!

     Breakfast was then re-started and he did refrain from any inciting
remarks.  The others came in.  We three said nothing and Frankie kept Tris
well-supplied with toast and kept grinning at him.  Tris played up to him
and thanked him every time a couple of rounds of hot, browned toast was
passed to him straight from the toaster.  I thought once more that one day
someone will kiss the Toad and a very handsome prince will appear!  The
others were oblivious to our secret.

     I had a lecture at eleven but Ivo and Adam had theirs at ten, the same
time that Tris and Oliver had tutorials, so by eight fifteen breakfast was
over and they all left.  Frankie promised to wash up the breakfast things
after he'd got back from playing the organ.

     When we got to the Chapel the eight o'clock service was just finishing
with Matt playing the out-going voluntary.  Once settled up in the organ
loft Frankie looked appraisingly at the organ console.  "Nice," he said.
He handed Matt a book.
  "Could I try number two, please?" It was the Bach Eight Short Preludes
and Fugues.

     "The d minor.  Certainly.  You set the stops you want."

     Frankie slid onto the bench and chose the Great eight-foot Diapason
and it's companion four-foot Principal, then a sixteen-foot Lieblich
Gedackt and an eight-foot Gedackt on the pedal.  "That's for the fugue," he
said.

     "You could try something firmer there," said Matt.  "Try the Sub Bass
instead when you get to it."

     "I'll try flutes on the Swell for the Prelude.  Is that OK.  Then I
can keep the Gedackts.  Mr Prentice said keep it simple and don't keep
changing around.  Is that right?"

     "Yes, then you can couple the Great to the Pedals for the fugue and
possibly couple the Swell to Great for the last eight bars."

     Having chosen he set off with confidence.  The tempo was right and the
articulation was good.  He carried off the semiquaver runs in the first few
bars very well.  The longer semiquaver runs in the left hand after the
pedal point were good.  Perhaps his tenuto quavers in the bass could have
been held just a little longer, but I was impressed.  Mr Prentice had
taught him well.  I was turning the pages for him and drew the Sub Bass and
Matt drew the first of the couplers for him as he embarked on the fugue.
The entries followed precisely and on cue Matt drew the final coupler.
Frankie was beaming as he held the final chord.

     "I liked that," he said enthusiastically.  "How did I do?"  He turned
to Matt.

     "Good," said Matt, "But we need to go through it bar by bar.  It might
be in a minor key but it's light and it's upbeat and it's joyful.  Keep all
those in mind.
  There are a few places where you need to watch the phrasing.  It's
difficult on the organ as you have to suggest it to the listener.  Slur the
notes a little in places and where you've got those broken chords in the
right hand support them a little bit more in the bass, then it's like a
double-bass pizzicato after that.  Same in the fugue.  Think of the
phrasing of the little theme.  It has to be exactly the same at each entry
or it loses its interest.  At least you're not playing it mechanically.
There's lots of young organists and not so young organists who grind
everything out without any feeling.  Grade Six?  You're well on the way to
Grade Eight I would say!"

     I could see Frankie swelling with pride.  He had been good.  He'd made
no slips.

     "I'll tell you what Frankie," I said, "I'm playing for the service in
the morning.  Would you like to play that for the going-out?"

      I thought he was about to burst into tears, he was so pleased.
"Could I really?"

     "I'll be practising myself this afternoon," said Matt, "I've got my
Fellowship exams after Christmas.  You come and turn pages for me and you
can play when I have a rest.  It'll be two hours.  OK?"

     "Could I, Marky?"

     "I've got lots of work to do so it'll keep you occupied.  But don't
get bored and be a nuisance."  I got the withering look.

     "Two o'clock sharp, then," said Matt.

     For once he didn't chatter when we went back to my rooms.  He was
beside himself with joy.  I made more tea and he scoffed a jam sandwich
while I looked over last week's notes.  "I can't believe it," he said as I
got my bag ready with notepad, pencils, and so on ready for the lecture.
"Mum and Dad will be so pleased.  Thanks, Marky."

     When I left to go to the lecture he said he'd practice the piano as he
had his Grade Eight exams next Easter.  I said I'd pick up something from
Marks and Spencers for lunch as I came back from the Mill Lane lecture room
and he'd better not eat too fast or he'd burp in inappropriate places while
Matt was playing.  The Toad sneer was evident.

     When I got back I could hear the hoover being used.  Jason was there
and he and Frankie were chatting over the hum as he went back and forth
over the carpet.  I just said 'Hello' and took my bags into the kitchen
first and deposited a couple of ready meals with sundry other bits and
pieces from M & S in the fridge.  I then went to the study and got out the
pad I'd written the lecture notes in.  I would have to do quite a bit of
work to understand the rather tortuous looking equations and proofs I'd
taken down meticulously from the projected slides and the notes he'd
scribbled on the three large blackboards.  One hour and all that?  Oh,
would I be able to keep up?  Jason was just finishing as I went back into
the sitting-room.  He switched the cleaner off and started coiling the wire
as he took it away to its home in the passage by the kitchen.

     "Jason's taking Adam up the tower tomorrow morning at nine," announced
Frankie, "Can I go?"

     That would keep him occupied.  I had a lecture at ten tomorrow so he
would be out of the way.  "Yes," I said, "Usual warnings."

     Jason came back from the kitchen lobby.  "I told Gran about the rhyme.
She said she'd heard it years ago but didn't know if it was just a joke."

     I thought I'd better let Jason know a little.  "Yes, Frankie showed it
to Adam last night and as it's a bit of old College graffiti he thought
he'd like to photograph it.  He said he'd try to find out more.  Did your
Gran know if it's mentioned in any of your diaries or other books?"

     He shook his head.  "I'll have a look myself.  I know where Dad keeps
the books and he doesn't mind me reading them.  Wonder what it means?"

     Neither of us said anything.  We needed more evidence but when I
looked at Frankie he smiled.  He'll keep it quiet I knew.

     Jason was ready to go.  "By the way, Mr Foster," he said.  There was
something important to impart.  "There's two large boxes addressed to Mr
Fane-Stuart arrived this morning in the Lodge.  When Mr Tomkins spoke to
him yesterday on the phone he said anything delivered was for the rehearsal
tonight.  Shall I have them sent over?"

     "Yes, you'd better.  We've all had our commands for tonight, including
Frankie.  Have you ever seen one of the performances?"

     "No, sir, but I would like to.  Mr Tomkins says there's most don't
know it's him and I can believe it having seen all those photos.  I'd like
to and he has made suggestions, proper ones I mean, about me taking a part.
I'm a bit shy not being a student..."

     "I'm sure no one would know and what I've been told everyone who's
ever taken part hasn't lost their reputation, in fact it seems their
prestige shoots up.  Anyway, who'd know you weren't a student?  You're
nineteen and you look no different.  You could have been a student, anyway,
I'm sure.  You ought to think about that as well some day."

     "It costs and no one else in the family has ever been to college.  I
like what I'm doing but I do like learning, too."  He smiled.  "And if Mr
Charles has a suitable part I might be tempted.  Anyway I'll send that new
boy, Liam, over with the boxes."

     Jason, Oh Jason!  You'd tempt a saint out of his trousers!  Anyway
what was in the boxes?

     We were just finishing the micro-waved portions of Thai chicken when
there was a knock on the door.  Nosy Frankie went and supervised a short,
very winsome sixteen-year-old red head as he brought in two large cardboard
boxes from the trolley.  Winsome he was except for the most horrendous crop
of dark-red acne pustules on his freckled face.  As I inspected the outside
of the boxes - too stuck around with brown sticky tape to open without
Charles knowing - Frankie was chatting to the lad.  Frankie went into the
bedroom and came back and handed a small bottle to the youth who thanked
him, touched his round cap and went off.

     "What's in them?" he demanded as he came back and began to finger the
larger of the two.

     "I have no idea," I said, "We'll have to wait until Charlie appears to
open them.  And what did you give young Liam?"

     "Oh, it's some spot stuff Mum got me but I'd rather show off my spots.
Jack says it shows you've got plenty of hormones."  He snickered.  "Liam
must have plenty and I bet....."  He stopped and looked almost pious.
"Jack says the more you have the more you probably have to do it and I want
to see if I get lots."  The Toad emerged.  "You've still got some and you
used to put loads of that cream on, does that mean....?"

     "Frankie, we've already discussed that."

     "Only asking.  Got to keep checking."

     "And you are not to ask Liam...." I began.

     "Would I just?  But with that lot it must be at least six times a
day!"

     "Frankie!  Don't judge everyone else by your own evil habits.  And
with the few spots you've got I suppose it's six times a month for you."

     He just gave me a Toad look and I didn't find out his daily total,
but, by the evidence of the amount he'd white-washed my door with this
morning, his hormones were working OK.

     We finished our lunch with slices of cheesecake as pud, and I had
prudently bought him two.  Even the Toad looked satisfied.

     "Make sure you shut the door properly when you go off with Matt, you
know it tends to stick." I said, "I'm going off now as I want to ask Louie
if he can remember doing the stuff in the lecture this morning when he did
it last year.  Then I'll be back working on problems.  OK?"

     "Does Louie do Maths?  I thought you said boaties were all as dim as
arseholes..." the Toad sniggered.

     "You'd better watch what you say and not repeat such things in the
company of large, muscly, rugged characters you might meet on the towpath.
There might be a loud splash!"  I laughed, "Louie's reading Maths and he's
good.  He helped me after the first lecture I had here when I thought my
brain would seize up.  Anyway, you'll meet him tonight 'cause he's one of
Boudicca's warriors and I might just tip him off about what some people
say!"

     The Toad looked suitably cowed.  "But you said it first......"

     I think my look was equally Toad-like.  I then collected all the stuff
I would need for the afternoon and waved him goodbye, pointing at the
plates which needed washing up.  The Toad sneered.  No, I was not his equal
in that accomplishment.

     All went well.  Louie showed me a quick way to approach the first
problem and Professor Tanner had gone over a host of new stuff on the
concept of limits in such a way I was smiling when I finally closed my
notebooks that afternoon.  When I saw him tomorrow I would have plenty to
show him.

To be Continued: