Date: Mon, 10 Feb 2003 19:25:58 -0000
From: Charlie Smith <charliesmith31@hotmail.com>
Subject: The Grass is Always Greener

The Grass is always Greener

Disclaimer:

The following story is a work of fiction. It is a fantasy that takes place
in the present and the past. It never happened. This story contains sex
between men and boys. The author does not encourage sex between adults and
children. If you are under the age of 18 or do not approve of gay sex, or
the subject matter is not legal in the area you reside, please do not read
further. The author welcomes constructive criticism. I answer all
emails. As usual all flames will be ignored...Please direct your comments
to.

charliesmith31@hotmail.com

Copyright Notice: This story is the copyright of the author. February,
2003.  You may distribute or copy this story however you like. PROVIDED
that this copyright notice remains intact.

A special thank you goes out to my good friend David, for his help without
whom this story would be a lot harder and less pleasurable to read.

Introduction:
This chapter is an Introduction to the story, the story starts for real
next chapter, so there's no sex in this one.

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Have you ever felt that you would like to have a second chance at life? To
turn the clock back to your childhood and know what you know now. To make
all the things you did wrong right, to have your time all over again. Well,
I sure have! Over the last few months especially.

You see I'm a fat bald fifty-nine almost sixty-year-old gay man. Over the
years, I had become very disillusioned with life.  That about sums it up.
No big trauma, just no big joys either.  Some might even call me depressed.
I just say that I'm both bored and boring, and that life hasn't been all it
was cracked up to be.

My partner for the last five years was all that I was not. He was a few
years younger than me, he was tall and slim, still had all his hair and all
his own teeth. He also had three grandchildren, yes that's right three
beautiful granddaughters. He was a widower who had lost his wife just
before we met. His grand kids were aged twelve, ten, and almost seven. He
had two children, one boy who was in his early thirties who had not
married. We both thought he was gay but had not come out. He also had a
daughter in her late twenties who had gone through a rough divorce. They
were all quit comfortable with our relationship. The girls always said that
they had two granddads. My partner's name is Albert, Albert Ibbitson; he
was also a Doctor, one of the top surgeons in his field. I on the other
hand was just a plumber. I can't remember all the times he's told me off
for saying it like that, but that's how it feels to me.

So that's how I came to be sitting in a pub on my own on Christmas Eve. You
see Albert was at his work's Christmas party. I was wallowing in my own
self-pity getting slowly pissed and looking at all the happy people having
fun. I was also looking at all the young men who were there. I have a thing
for younger men, but who would have anything to do with a fat old guy like
me?

Then this young man of about twenty came in the door alone, looked round
the pub, fought his way to the bar, and came towards me with his beer. I
was surprised when he asked if he could sit next to me, and almost got
excited.  Then I noticed that it was the only seat left in the pub. But I
told him of course he could.

"Thanks, it's fucking full tonight isn't it?" He looked up, "Oops, sorry."

"Yeah, but it is Christmas Eve, after all!"

"Yes so it is, are you on your own? You look pissed off."

"Yeah I am, my partner's at a Christmas party at work."

"Really, why didn't you go along with him?"

"It's a long story."

"I'm on my own too, so I have the time, but if you would rather not tell me
then that's ok."

"Well ok then, but you may not like what I'm going to say."

"That's ok, I may not look very old but I have a broad mind."

"Ok well, we're gay and he's a top Doctor at the local Hospital.  He wanted
me to go but I didn't want to. You see, we're not in the same league as far
as being clever. I'm only a plumber, plus I didn't want all his friends to
find out about him being gay, so I didn't go.  And here I am."

"That's ok, you sound intelligent to me and he may have wanted people to
know he was gay. There's nothing wrong with being a plumber; you can never
get one when you want one.  Why are you so down on yourself, anyhow?"

"I didn't say that I wasn't intelligent, I'm just not an academic like he
is. I used to play about when I was at school. If only I could have my time
over again I'd make sure I paid more attention to my work, and what the
teachers said. As for getting a plumber when you want one, there's just not
that many about now. Most young people these days are into computers and
shit like that."

"Is that what you'd wish for if someone asked you to make a wish?"

By this time I was getting even more drunk.

"Fuck off, and don't be silly."

"Seriously, what would you wish for?"

"Well if I did have the opportunity to make a wish then I would like to
turn the clock back to my childhood and keep the knowledge that I now
have. What would you wish for?"

"I'd wish for a pair of wings."

"Wings? What do you mean, you'd like to fly?"

"Yes I'm only on probation at the moment, but if I do well this Christmas
they may consider giving me a pair. I've been trying for a few years now
but I keep fucking it up, oops sorry." He said looking up.

"You look far too young to fly to me, how old do you have to be to fly now,
is it like learning to drive a car? Are you in the RAF?"

"Well let me ask you a question first, how old are you?"

"I'm fifty nine, I'll be sixty in March, why?"

"Well if I told you that I'm seventy, what would you say?"

"I'd tell you to fuck off and don't be so stupid."

"Yeah, that's just what I'd expect you to say. You see I'm an angel, and
every Christmas Eve I have the chance to come down to earth and grant
someone a wish. I have only one wish to grant each year, so we must make
sure that we make the right choice, and in the past I've made some bad
mistakes."

I couldn't keep my face straight and just burst out laughing, yeah right
and I thought I was the one that was pissed. I looked up at him; he looked
a little hurt so I thought I'd humour him.

"Sorry, but it does sound a bit far fetched you must admit?"

"That's the thing most people say. You either believe or you don't, it's as
simple as that. If you believe then I can grant your wish, but you must be
careful what you wish for because it may come true!"

"Yeah yeah ok ok, I wish I could turn the clock back."

"How far? Five, ten, twenty years?"

"Oh lets see, make it fifty years."

"Fifty years, you sure?"

"Yeah I'm sure." As if!

"Ok, I'll have to go and see what my boss says.  It may not happen though
you know, it depends on what they say upstairs."

"Yeah ok ok, but before you go can you just get me another pint please."

"Don't you think you've had enough already?"

"Well I'm not the one thinking I'm a fucking angel, am I? No, just get me
another."

Twenty minutes later he was back with my beer.

"Where you been?"

"I was just talking to another two people to see what wish they would make,
I have to ask another and then I've got to go back and report. So you're
sure you would like to turn the clock back fifty years?"

"Yeah I'm sure." I said trying to suppress another laugh.

"Just one last thing before I go, I have to tell you that if your wish is
granted you cannot change the future in any way. All you're going to get is
knowledge and awareness.  Be careful what you wish for, it may come true."

"Ok, and yes I'm sure."

"Ok, I have to go now, Merry Christmas," he said holding out his hand.

I shook it saying, "Merry Christmas to you as well."

After he had left I looked at my watch, eleven thirty five, I'd better get
going. I downed my pint then got up to leave.

"Night Harry!" they shouted.

That's my name by the way, Harry. Harry Collins.

I walked slowly back to our house.  It was a cold miserable night. I
trudged back thinking of the young man who said he was an angel. I wonder
if he was! He certainly didn't look drunk. When I got to the front door I
couldn't put my key in the lock for ages. Eventually I managed to get it
in, I walked straight into the kitchen to make a cup of tea. I took it up
to our bedroom put it on my bedside table and got into bed. I drank my tea
then lay down to sleep but it wouldn't come.

I did eventually fall asleep, and it seemed like only a moment later I felt
the bed move as my partner got in.

"Harry, are you awake?"

I was in the type of sleep where you're not asleep but neither are you
awake. So I didn't answer him as he snuggled up to me wrapping his arms
around me.

I awoke again some time later, how much later I didn't know. I could hear
Albert softly snoring but he seemed to be a long way away in bed. I turned
over to feel his back. There you are I said to myself as I snuggled up
closer to him. Then I felt him move and turn onto his back.

"Fuck off and get back to your own side of the bed." A voice said.

I sat up wondering who the fuck it was. I tried to look but it was to dark
to see anything.

"Who are you?" I heard a voice say. That didn't sound like my voice!

"Having another nightmare, you soft twat?"

That's not Albert, who the fuck is it?

I felt for the lamp on my side of the bed. It was just a wall; the bed was
pushed right up to the fucking wall, no table and no lamp. How the fuck can
that have happened? I laid back down wondering what had happened and where
I was.

I was tossing and turning from one side to the other, every time I did that
the bed bounced about.

I felt 'him' sit up and move, the light went on almost blinding me.

"Keep still, you little twat," 'he' said.

I shielded my eyes from the light to see 'him' looking at me. He was a
young boy of about fourteen or fifteen. He had wild dark brown eyes.

"How the fuck did you get in here? And who are you?"

"Don't you use the F word on me, you're not old enough, and I'll tell mum
and dad if you do."

I laughed, "Don't be fucking stupid."

"I told you not to use that word, you're only nine years old!"

"Nine?"

Oh my God!

Then a voice came into my head, be very careful what you wish for, as it
may come true, you are now nine years old, the year is 1952. You must NOT
change the future in any way....

To be continued...