Date: Sat, 21 Aug 2010 11:00:33 +0100
From: Tom <amias09@fastmail.fm>
Subject: Brief Encounters chapter 57

Brief Encounters - the ever continuing saga... eekkk!

First the mandatory warnings and disclaimers - basically don't read this if
the naughty sexual exploits of young teenage schoolboys do not appeal. The
characters depicted are fictional and not intentionally based upon any one
person... although, if you do suddenly find yourself in the middle of the
story just think how lucky you are!

This is ostensibly a work of fiction, albeit with a few memories from my
own school days plus some of the many invariably unspoken fantasies which I
and my "best friends" would only ever rarely admit or allude to when we
were at that very special, trusting and certainly innocent age.

Today, it's very hard to imagine what it was like without the internet to
immediately help conjure up fantasies based on images, webcams, stories or
chat. Our sex lives were entirely dependant upon a very fervent imagination
and thus being able to create our own fantasies usually based on friends
and what we saw happening beneath the desk or in the changing rooms! I make
no excuses for the fact that underwear features prominently in this story,
because quite frankly it did, it was a very visible and tangible connection
between us and our ever developing fascination with sex! It's important to
remember that other than the very rare sexual extrovert, we never dared
mention the subject because we were just too embarrassed and nobody
understood what was happening to us anyway!

You might call it a story about the age of discovery - usually in bed - or
if you shared a bedroom with a brother, then discovery would be in the
bathroom!

Do note, at the time of writing the story itself is not finished and for
better or worse, it has now turned into a work of some length but I will
regularly post updates and there are more than enough pages written to keep
it going! Nifty require a text file so if the formatting or punctuation go
slightly up the creek you now know why! And, also during the writing for
various reason I have had to change character names, so I hope for
continuity they are now correct!

Finally, I hope you enjoy it and please, please do let me have any comments
or suggestions and for some of you I it might even jog a memory or two,
three if you are lucky... I would be intrigued to learn!

Tom email: amias09@fastmail.fm

***************************************************************************************************


Enjoy, I hope! More to follow probably be a couple of weeks as the holiday
season is with us!

Watch this space :=)

**************************************************************************************************************


Chapter 57 – Like a rat up a fuckin' drainpipe

As always in Art's life there seemed to be unnecessary
complications. Recently these had seen an ever increasing pace and physical
demand to his sexual adventures, unfortunately none of which was helped by
being permanently sapped through his incessant masturbation. Had he
realised it, that weekend was easily demonstrating the point.

The afternoons strenuous events had unquestionably overshadowed even the
previous days fun, that coupled with the mental hype signified that Art had
now started to burn himself out and was badly needed some rest. Both Ian
and Nigel had noted that he appeared to be over tired and it had taken a
few minutes for him to get himself together before they could even leave
the shed to return home.

It was a slow journey peppered with some choice expletives by Art, who
because he didn't have any underpants found his very sensitive cock and
balls were being badly chaffed on the thick material of his jeans. Unable
to leave it alone, the more he tried to move it around to remedy the
situation the more engorged it became, until it was rather obviously fully
and now painfully erect. Much to Ian's amusement, about halfway back Art
informed them in no uncertain terms that his discomfort was now replete as
he felt that something nasty had seeped out from his equally sensitive
bumhole! With much laughter Nigel was persuaded to bend down in the middle
of the street to see if there was a damp stain from Ian's cum on the seat
of his jeans. There was!

Having walked most of the way with them Ian had to change to a different
route to get his own house. However, before leaving he unexpectedly put an
arm around them both, said something which they didn't quite catch and
rushed off before they saw how emotional he looked.

"Seems he wanted to thank us for playing with him." said Nigel.

"Wot, with his bum and that?" Art giggled.

"No, you fuckin' know what I mean." Nigel looked at Art, "like for being
mates and that. I don't think he's got none has he, really?"

"Course I knows wot he meant," replied Art, "and no, I don't think he
has. Not like uumm.. you know, who he can say things to."

"Like about sex and how he feels and," Nigel paused, "and it's all that
emotion stuff that we can't get our heads round innit?"

"Yer, exactly." said Art who was currently in the firm grip of his own
tangled emotions.

"Well, he's got us now I `spose. You don't mind?"

"No. He's nice." Art grinned. "And he's got a nice little willie!"

"Be fuckin' serious," Nigel poked him, " I `spose, it must be hard if you
ain't got no one to ask. I think Martin's another one isn't he?"

"I `spose and being able to ask somebody is so fuckin' important innit?"
said Art adopting a very sober tone, "I mean, till I met you I always
thought wanking would make me hands go all hairy."

"And have they?" asked Nigel maintaining a straight face.

"No, but me bum leaks!"

"You fuckin' idiot!" Nigel laughed.

"I am." Art replied accompanied by one of his award winning smiles.

"Art, please don't..."

"Wot?" asked Art innocently, knowing full well how strongly they felt about
each other.

"You fuckin' know exactly wot." Nigel put his arm on his shoulder, they
walked on in silence.

Several painful and thoughtful minutes later they found themselves walking
through the leafy roads of suburbia towards Art's house.

"Looks like they're all fuckin' out." exclaimed Art peering down the road
as they rounded the last corner. "Cor, Nige that's lucky, innit."

"You sure? How d'you known that?"

"Well, the fuckin' car ain't here is it?"

"I `spose not. You're so fuckin' clever ain't you?""

"Fuck off!" Art grinned. "I could have a bath, before they get back."

"You certainly need one, you fuckin' stink and yer bum leaks!"

Without replying Art started laughing. The Art that Nigel knew was
returning.

"Wot is it?" laughter being infectious soon had Nigel at it as well.

"I was thinking," said Art getting his breath, "if had been you who'd cum
up me bum twice like Ian, then... we'd.. well we'd have.. have left a
fuckin' trail of bum cum all the way here!"

"Fuckin' bum cum! How d'you fuckin' think that up!" said Nigel before he
doubled up with laughter.

Still laughing, looking totally wrecked and holding each other up they
finally walked up the garden path to the front door.

"You coming in?" asked Art as he fished through the letter for the bit of
string which was attached to the key.

"Just for a minute, I could do with a drink of water or something, it's
been a long afternoon."

"Fun though." Art turned to see Nigel leaning on the wall. "I don't think
Ian knew what to do, d'you?"

"No. And I wasn't sure meself really! " Nigel shook his head. "He soon got
it though didn't, cor he loved that second time up yer bum."

"Hmm.. so did I!" Art grinned as he opened the door and breathed a sigh of
relief as he stepped into the cool hallway.

Nigel followed, unable to help himself he stared at Art's bottom wondering
when it would be his turn.

"Truth is," Art continued, "me bum feels a bit funny, sort of nice though,
but a bit like it's had too much finger!"

"Or the skipping rope! Don't I know it! You were up me like a fuckin' rat
up a drainpipe!" Nigel grinned, "But mine don't leak like yours!"

"Well, you know it's gonna be your turn next, then you can fill me right
up!" Art confirmed the offer with yet another one of his smiles. "But,
we're gonna have to work on getting it up there first!"

What was it that attracted them to each other? Nigel hadn't been able to
work it out, he'd fallen under the magic of that smile when they'd met the
first year at the grammar school and had been inseparable since.

"D'you mean it?"

"Course, you daft fucker!" said Art. "I don't offer me bum to just anybody
y'know!"

"No, I `spose not." with that Nigel grabbed him and briefly hugged him
before realising his raw emotions were beginning to show. "Oh fuckin' hell
wot am I doing?"

Never one to show very much by way of emotion, for Nigel this was a
singular event. Yet again, that strange scary feeling had taken hold of
him, part panic, part infatuation and part desire. Whatever it was he
didn't know, but did know that there were occasions when he just wanted to
grab hold of Art and this was one of them.

"Nige, it's all right. I gets like it too." blurted Art with an honesty
that surprised them both.

"You do?" Nigel sighed. He blinked. Growing up was all too complicated.

"Yer. We ought to try and talk about it?"

"Oh fuck. Should we?" Nigel looked at him. "I don't know if I can."

"Yer, we should. It's how we feel like, innit. But not now."

Still somewhat surprised by Nigel's intense show of emotion Art swallowed
hard to clear his throat and with a slightly croaking voice suggested that
maybe they make a pot of tea. Neither looked at the other as the moved to
the kitchen and with Art crashing around trying find the necessary utensils
it gave them both the opportunity to compose themselves.

"Tea? Did I hear tea?"

Art turned to Nigel and froze with a look of horror. "Shit! It's dad... I
thought the place was empty! Oh fuck, d'you reckon he's heard anything?"

"I fuckin' hope not!" whispered Nigel. "We'll soon find out!"

"Where are you Art?" Ted's voice was getting louder as he walked down the
hallway.

"Kitchen. Nige is here as well. We thought everybody was out." said Art
nervously.

"No, only your mother and Simon, she's taken him in the car to see or
something or the other, he was bored bananas not really being able to go
out." The footsteps got louder as he approached the door.

"I don't think he could have heard." whispered Nigel quickly. "You hide
behind the table so he don't see you!"

"I escaped! Been in the garden, asleep!" said Ted smiling as he entered the
kitchen. "Poor kid, I don't think he'll be doing that again in a hurry!"

"Hello Mr W." said Nigel sounding as chirpy as he could, he moved about
trying to shield Art from too close an inspection.

"Nigel, haven't seen you for a few days, so what have you been up to
lately?"

"School and all that, course." Nigel smiled as if butter wouldn't melt in
his mouth. Sidestepping a detailed answer, he busied himself and moved
towards the kettle. "Shall I make the tea Mr W?"

"Yes, good idea, anything's better than what Art makes."

"Creep!"

His erection hidden by the table Art pulled a face as Nigel started to warm
the teapot, if proof were needed that he was indeed the more domesticated
of the pair. They both knew that whatever ruse they tried to pull they were
eventually going to explain what they had been doing all afternoon. It
would be the question they were dreading, which if linked to Art's previous
performance and the condition of their clothes there could be no plausible
answer.

"So, what have you two been doing this afternoon then?" asked Ted smiling
benignly. Sitting on the kitchen stool he looked towards Art and from what
he could see of the his demeanour he feared the worst but knew had to
maintain a calm exterior.

"Nothing naughty I hope!"

"Dad, would we!" replied Art grinning, crossing his fingers, legs and
everything else. "We've been good boys ain't we Nige?"

"Sometimes." replied Ted answering for him. Something was up, he knew Art
too well! Not only that, he was vaguely aware that there was strange smell
coming from the other side of the table, but wasn't entirely sure.

Nigel doing his best to keep them from being the subject of Art's fathers
curiosity decided to make some polite conversation and unwittingly jumped
in with precisely the wrong subject.

"Cor Mr W, that sounded serious, I mean for Simon and that, so, uumm, so
wot had he done then?"

It was too late. Art tried to kick him under the table to get him off the
subject but frantically Ted worried about Art's public promiscuity, had
already decided he was going to take the opportunity to answer Nigel's
question. Then with any luck he could ascertain exactly what they had been
really getting up to.

"Oh that! It was boys stuff, eh Art?" he grinned. "Art, do you want to tell
him or shall I?"

"Uumm.. oh shii... oh... you do it dad." Art swallowed and hoped he didn't
look as embarrassed as he felt. He did!

Wondering what he had started Nigel looked between them, unsure what was
coming next. Had the question had been a big mistake? Probably, Art looked
very flushed.

"Shall I pour the tea then?" asked Nigel trying to act normally.

"Yes Nigel, do that first. Art will get the milk, it's the fridge." Ted sat
back and watched.

Without doubt Art was looking even more unkempt than usual and judging from
the silhouette produced by the light from the fridge the bulge in his jeans
he was in a permanent state of arousal.

There was absolutely no question that Ted was getting any form of a thrill
out of enquiring into Art's sex life.

Quite the opposite in fact, as his father he was very concerned that the
boy wasn't doing what he shouldn't, where he shouldn't. From what little
information he had gleaned from Art, the perpetual semen stains, even the
nocturnal grunts and groans there was no doubt Art was a chronic
masturbator. However, it had been the earlier admission that both he and
Nigel had openly masturbated one afternoon in the park that had really
started Ted's worries. Frankly, he couldn't have cared less about Art's
habits at home, or even what he did with Nigel since boys at that age boys
just did it, constantly! No, it was the real possibility that they might
get carried away and be silly enough to do something in public to get
caught which frightened him. The fact that Nigel who in some ways seemed a
little more perceptive was there with Art that afternoon made Ted think it
worth a try to explore the matter rather than possibly have the boys be
reported.

"Are you alright son?" Ted smiled, recalling what he was like at that
age. "You look a bit peaky and your hair's a right mess, you've got
something stuck in it. My word, whatever have you two been doing this
afternoon?"

"Uumm.." Art desperately searched his brain for a reply. Other than the one
word, wanking which seemed to be flashing in big letters before his eyes,
his brain like his face was a blank.

"Oh damn!" said Nigel, as the mug of tea he was pouring mysteriously
knocked itself over. "I'm sorry Mr W, me hand must have slipped on the hot
mug."

"Don't panic, I'll get a cloth." unperturbed Ted turned to the
sink. "There's some biscuits here somewhere as well, hang on."

"Lucky it didn't drip on you wasn't it?" said Nigel to Art endeavouring to
keep up the pretence of normality

"Yer. Very." Art raised his eyebrows and quickly wiped the sweat that was
breaking out from his forehead.

Two minutes later with a clean tabletop and half a packet of ginger nuts
they were again ensconced with mugs of tea.

"And so Mr W wot had happened to Simon then?" Nigel asked eagerly, hoping
the question still might deflect the topic of conversation away from them.

"Well, Simon was very embarrassed and it was all about and.."

Art noisily shuffled his sticky bottom on the chair, the rough seam of his
jeans, still soggy with Ian's sperm was rubbing on his rather tender
bumhole. He stared at his mug. Ted glanced at him and waited till he had
finished moving.

".. and I'm sure you've heard of masturbation just as Art has, I expect
your father has told you all about it."

Ted had guessed in one form or the other this could be something of a
showstopper, it certainly was! The very mention of the word had Nigel
choking on the two biscuits he had been trying to stuff in his
mouth. Crumbs of biscuit flew around the table. Art merely turned purple
with embarrassment and stared at the table top.

"You all right?" asked Ted, rather surprised at the violent reaction.

"Yer, you do mean.." replied Nigel rather hoarsely, "master.. umm yer I,
I.."

"Yes, I'm sure you do," Ted paused for a split second unable to resist the
obvious joke which Nigel had unwittingly set up for him, "know the
meaning."

Nigel's face rapidly turned crimson, unable to look at Ted he turned away
only to catch sight of Art still looking equally embarrassed.

"And, let's be honest, we all know the mechanics of it don't we?" Ted
carried blithely on seeming unembarrassed by the subject matter. Both boys
squirmed on their chairs.

"Art, after our recent little talks and Simon's problem, we'd both agree
that in this household we no longer regard masturbation as something dirty
do we? It's just part of growing up."

"Yer," red faced, Art nodded and quickly looked over towards Nigel who
couldn't believe what he was hearing, "it's true Nige we do."

Nigel swallowed again and squeezed his mug.

"Nigel, I suppose I should ask if you father ever talks about things like
this?" asked Ted, "I imagine that some parents never ever mention the
subject, but I feel it gives a boy an honest start where sex is concerned."

"No.." stuttered Nigel, having now progressed to a wonderfully deep shade
of magenta, "me dad, yer joking.. he ain't.. I mean... I don't
think... wouldn't think he's ever had a wan..."

Absolutely staggered at Nigel's conclusion about his fathers sex life, Art
just couldn't contain himself and in utter surprise blurted out. "Wot he's
never had a wank?"

Nigel closed his eyes, why ever had he said it. Sadly it was close to the
truth, his father had always been uninterested in sex and he regarded
proving his manhood as a means to have having offspring, not fun.

"Stop it Art, don't be silly. So Nigel, your farther has never talked to
you about anything then?" Ted was genuinely surprised. "So how d'you know
anything?"

"No, he ain't. Never. Wish he had." looking unhappy he just shook his
head. "I got a bit about it from other kids and Art, from wot you told him
a couple of years back when you thought he ought know something about it. "

"I think every father ought to try and explain it a bit." said Ted. "It's
not really my place, but.. well, I mean if I can ever help to explain or
anything don't be afraid to ask."

"Yer, thanks." The one thing that was always rattling round in Nigel's head
was the inevitable question of being homosexual.

"Anyway," said Ted, " I promised to tell you about Simon and you will
realise it's all connected really, I mean about understanding it all a
bit."

"Yer, I see." Nigel nodded. "I think."

"Lets be honest, you obviously both masturbate so there's is no need to get
embarrassed." Ted smiled, "The first thing is just everybody, male or
female has or will masturbate."

Nigel took a deep breath and looked at Art. Neither was expecting anything
as frank as this and like it or not they were desperately embarrassed.

"Simon, had through his friends heard about masturbating and knowing little
about it decided to try it," Ted looked sideways at Art, "with or without
any helpful encouragement I don't know. But after as Simon rather nicely
termed it, a lot of regular practice, well he discovered that he could
finally ejaculate."

"Yer, he was so proud!" added Art smiling at his father.

Ted blinked, it was that smile. Nigel just sat there his jaw dropped
open. It seemed incredible that Art could discuss this sort of thing about
his younger brother so openly with his father.

"Well anyway," said Ted pulling himself together, "the sad thing is that
poor Simon got so carried away with doing it that, well.."

Excitedly Art butted in, "Nige, he never stopped and he'd wanked his willie
so much it was bleeding!"

"Ffffff...iiiddle!" gasped Nigel sitting back in his chair.

"So, he told me and I didn't know wot to do so" continued Art even more
excitedly, "so me and dad have been rubbing ointment on his willie to make
it better! I even took him to the school nurse! That's why he can't walk
too far innit dad?"

"Very graphically put Art, I must say! But basically yes, he was very
silly." said Ted. "Since then he and I have a talk and now, even though he
gets a bit embarrassed he understands what it's about. And, because we have
all known about it and have talked about it in a grown up way I think we
all have benefited, d'you think so Art?

"Yer." Art nodded feeling so pleased to be included in the adult level
conversation. "Hey, remember dad we had a good laugh when we went to turn
me mattress over, didn't we?"

"See what I mean Nigel," said Ted grinning, "for Art to admit that, well it
just proves it's not unhealthy but just part of life. Certainly his life!"

"Fuuu.." Nigel stopped himself from swearing. This was unbelievable
especially knowing the state of his own mattress!

"So you see, we now are able to discuss this sort of thing even though we
all know it can be embarrassing at the time. Right Art?"

"Yer." replied Art a little tentatively, knowing they had been cleverly
hooked and the subject was out in the open. There was a sinking feeling in
his stomach.

Nigel looked across at Art and bit his lip, not quite sure if he had been
cleverly ensnared as well.

Ted poured another mug of tea.  "But Nigel, please don't misunderstand me,
this situation has just developed and I don't want to know anything about
what you boys get up to, unless there is.. a problem."

"A problem?" said Nigel slowly, sensing something could be amiss, did that
the story about Simon had a moral? He looked at Art, who simply shrugged
his shoulders in despair.

"Yes." said Ted slowly. "I expect you remember that recently Art came home
looking an absolute wreck, well rather like he does now in fact.. and.. at
that time we had to have a little talk, didn't we?"

Art nodded and with a resigned stare focused on the table top. Escape there
was not.

"And, he admitted that you two had actually masturbated in the park."

"Oh fucking hell!" said Nigel under his breath.

"You can imagine I was not pleased." said Ted sternly. "And here you two
are again with Art looking and smelling as though he's tom cat on heat!"

Art winced.

"I want you to both understand that I really don't care what you do in
private, or even do to each other. But, if you two have been at it in
public again," he paused, took a breath and concluded with some emotion in
his voice, "well I'll.. I just don't know. You'll both end up getting
caught and end up in bloody borstal or something."

Ted just waited his fingers gripping the mug, after what seemed like an age
Art eventually answered, his voice breaking.

"Dad, we... we.. ain't, dad we ain't honest.. I ain't lied.."

The stress of this coming on top of preceding weeks mental and physical
active was proving the last straw. Art really couldn't handle much more,
tears were welling up in his eyes.

"It's true, we ain't done nothing in public!" said Nigel weakly. Art was in
desperate need of moral support. "We've only been..."

"We've been, what?" asked Ted firmly.

"We've been.. we've been.. oh sod it! We've been wanking... in me uncles
old shed on the allotments!" said Nigel, his voice plainly faltering.

"What! In a bloody garden shed?" Ted raised his eyebrows in amazement.

"Yer, so there... that's the truth." Nigel was looked Ted right in the
face. "Mr W we ain't been doing it nowhere that anybody can see us, have we
Art? We wouldn't lie to you.. you're too nice.""

"He's right." muttered Art laying his head on his arms on the
table. "You're too nice."

"Is that true Art? Please, look me in the face and say so." relieved Ted
had to have confirmation. "The truth. Please."

"Honest." Art looked up, tears were starting to run down his cheeks. "We
ain't dad.. it's the truth... and you can ask Ian he was there doing it
with us!"

"Who the bloody hell's Ian?" asked Ted looking astonished.

"He's in me class," replied Art sniffing, "he don't know much about
wanking!"

"It's true." muttered Nigel

Silence. They looked at each other and after few moments, Ted suddenly gave
a short laugh.

"Wot's up dad?" asked Art in surprise. He raised his head and
sniffed. "Wot's funny?"

"Well, it's surreal isn't it?" Ted looked at Arts' tear stained face and
blinked, "Here am I worried sick that you two have been exposing yourselves
in public and are going to be arrested or something and all the time you've
been giving some boy wanking lessons in a garden shed!"

Nigel visibly relaxed. "It's true, we ain't proud of it, but it's true."

"Art, now you ought to know your mother knows nothing about any of this, of
that business in the park." said Ted looking at Art, "All she knows about
masturbation is what she sees from you dirty washing and now what Simon has
done to himself."

"You didn't tell he last time?" asked Art sounding very surprised.

"No and I'm not going tell her this time either, you know very well she's
nowhere as broadminded as I am and besides, I can't imagine what she'd do
if she ever found out."

"She'd probably kill me!" replied Art with a huge sniff. Wearily standing
up, his erection still prominent he walked round the table towards his
father he threw his arms around his neck.

"But, just what have you been doing? You don't half stink!" Ted blinked
several times and hugged Art for several seconds as the tears ran down
Art's cheeks.

Nigel watched in silence, this was father and son bonding like he had never
imagined, let alone seen. The sad fact was he couldn't remember the last
time his own father had held him. He wiped his eyes with the back of his
hand.

It appeared Art was trying to say something, but nothing came out and it
was Ted that took the initiative, his voice softer.

"Just get those disgusting clothes ready for the washing machine, have a
bath and have lie down for half an hour, you look bloody awful. You've got
about an hour before they come back."

As Art shuffled off towards the stairs Ted turned to Nigel, from their
faces it was plain that both had been affected by what had happened.

"I'm sorry I had to do that Nigel," Ted blinked again, finally he looked
Nigel full in the face, "but I hope you can see why."

Nigel sniffed and rubbed his eyes. "Yer, I understand, I do.. uum.. do
you.. I.. want to.. "

"What is it?" Ted pulled his chair closer. "Can I help?"

Nigel took a deep breath, "I... I.. oh shit! I wish you was my dad.. he
don't do fuck all.. I want somebody I can talk to."

"Oh my god!" Ted blinked, both boys it seemed were as mixed up as each
other. "Oh Nigel, I'm sorry is he really that bad?"

Nodding and hiding his face in his hands Nigel was being engulfed by the
same wave of emotions as had overcome Art.

"Is that partly why you and Art so close," asked Ted. He wondered what, if
anything he could really do to help, "I mean that you can talk to him
instead of your father."

Wiping his eyes Nigel nodded again. "Yer, and if he don't know he tries to
find out. All he's gotta do is ask you innit, you love him, obvious innit?"

Now it was Ted's turn to wipe his eyes with the back of his hand. "Yes, I
do. But what are we going to do about you?"

He put a hand on Nigel's shoulder and felt the boy flinch, it had been a
long time since he had experienced a fatherly hand.

"I said it before, you can always ask me anything, anything. We'll keep a
secret if you want, even from Art. Would that help?"

"Yer, please." Nigel looked at him, his eyes wide and the tears still on
his cheeks. "You won't tell Art but... I keep thinking about.."

"About what?"

"Are we queers?" he sniffed and looked at the floor. At last he had plucked
up the courage to ask what he had been worrying about for quite some time.

"What homosexual?" asked Ted, he immediately registered with the boys
fears.

"Well, yer. Like all us boys wanking together and that?" he looked at Ted
hoping for some pearls of wisdom. "We does it all the time.. well you knows
that now, don't you?"

"Yes, I had rather guessed! I certainly know Art does!" He grinned. "You
really would like a more fatherly type of dad wouldn't you?"

"Yer." Nigel made a watery smile, "Wot like you?"

"Maybe but.. well that's not possible is it? But I'll be as honest with you
as I would be with Art, hows that?"

"Please. I'd like that." Nigel rubbed the back of his hand over his face
yet again.

"Well the truth is," Ted took a deep breath, "when I was your age, I was a
bit like Art!"

"Wot, you!" Nigel was plainly shocked, he sat upright in his chair. "Wot!
Doing it like him all the time?"

"Yes... and I had friend, a bit like you as well." Ted blushed and wiped
his eyes again. "Nigel, you have no idea how Art reminds me of when I was
his age! Please Nigel, never tell him, he doesn't know that.. so please
don't tell him, I'll tell him but when the time is right."

"Promise," said Nigel, his brain working overtime trying to put it
together, "so.. so that's why you ain't so mad or nothing innit at us doing
things together?"

"That's right, I understand exactly what you're going through," Ted smiled,
"but, I was so worried after that park thing. I just couldn't let that
happen with the thought of you doing something where you were likely to be
caught."

"I dunno wot to say." said Nigel wiping his eyes again.

"See, some boys will and maybe like your father, some won't be interested
at all. We're all different aren't we, bet you can see that with the boys
at school?"

"Yer that's right, some kids never seem to touch it at school, I can tell!"
having said that Nigel first blushed then laughed. "Looks like Simon gonna
be at it then?"

"He's at it already! Yes, I suppose they both take after me, a right pair
of wankers!" Ted laughed as well. "But, seriously to answer your
question. I think those that do will naturally seek out their friends that
do. I mean, you all change together for gym and all that, so it's only one
step from trying to see what's in somebody'd pants to having a proper look
and that leads of course the fun bit."

"That's true, I ain't thought of it like that." Nigel scratched the
ripening spot on his chin.

"I'm sure, that most boys if they are honest wonder at some stage if they
are homosexual, it's only natural if you are doing things with other boys,
isn't it?"

"I `spose." said Nigel. Food for thought.

"Anyway," continued Ted, "I'll bet that after a year or two, you two will
still be just as good friends, but in that time you will have discovered
girls as well. Then I will be panicking because I'm afraid Art has been
going around trying to make half the girls in the town pregnant!"

"We ain't done nothing with girls." Nigel smiled wistfully and rather
innocently qualified the comment. "We don't know nothing about them!"

"You will, I promise." Ted stood up. "Now come on you've had enough as well
as Art, let's get you out before Simon gets back."

"Right." slowly standing up Nigel very awkwardly reached our touched Ted on
the shoulder, he muttered. "Thankyou."

Purposely not looking him in the face Ted called out as Nigel made for the
door, "Nigel, remember I really do understand, you can talk to me
anytime... and, please look after Art he's easily led at times."

"I knows that," Nigel turned, he blinked, "and I will."



Chapter 58 to follow