CHAPTER 22


I  was up bright and early and scurried around making sure I had packed all I needed.  I'd tried on one of the pairs of Chris's corduroy shorts the night before and found they fitted me perfectly.  So, togged up in those, with long socks and grey shirt and a knapsack on my back, I felt ready to begin the journey to Ulvescott.  But, first things first, I had to stoke up with a good breakfast and then cycle to Matt's to pick him up.  He was ready and was similarly attired except he had on a pair of rugger shorts.  His eyes widened when he saw me but he said nothing other than he hoped it wouldn't rain.  To cheer him up his mother came out to wave us off and, of course, as mother's do, told him to mind he behaved himself.  So, dead on the dot of nine, we set off on the road out of Kerslake.

     Although Matt was obviously pleased to be on the trip I sensed from the terseness of some of his answers and the lack of his usual chattiness that something was perturbing him.  However, as we cycled along his mood lightened and especially when I asked him about the weekend he was more animated.

     "Dad's been promoted," he informed me, "He was up in London all week and he heard he's being made Captain from the first of May."

     "Gosh, he's one up from Pa, 'cause he's only a Lieutenant Colonel," I said, impressed.  I had read up the equivalence of ranks in my diary when Pa got his uniform.

     "Yes, he's to be in charge of all training in Scotland and there's something frightfully important coming up.  I couldn't find out what 'cause he and Mum kept stopping talking when I was around."

     "Doesn't your sister know?" I asked, remembering how she had told him about the tests at the range.

     "No, she said I was too young to know anything.  She said I stink again," he added peevishly.

     I wondered if this was the source of his quietness.  I tried something else.

     "I hear you played at Fensham," I said encouragingly, "Mike told me you took over as scrum half because Hobbs got injured."

     "Yeah, that was great.  I got two of the last tries started," he responded much more cheerfully.  "Dunc said I did well."

     "How did you get on with Duncan?" I asked, "Mike said he and the others had a marvellous time."

     This was enough to set Matt off.  He was back to his old self.

     "Oh, so did we," he enthused, "Except that bloody bus breaking down."

     "Yeah, Mike told me about that."

     "Did he tell you Rabbity broke his leg?"

     "Mike said it was his ankle," I corrected him, my St John's knowledge distinguishing between leg and lower joint.

     "Oh well, it doesn't matter, it just meant we didn't have a beak with us so Dunc and your Mike were in charge."

     "And what did you find out about Duncan?" I asked pointedly.

     Matt looked at me slyly and smiled, "Lots!"

     "Tell us, and I'll tell you what Mike told me."

     "Promise you won't say."

     Oh ho, I wondered what revelations were to come!

     "Course not," I replied, thinking I had plenty to tell him about Mike as well.

     "You know we didn't get there until about nine o'clock and we had to eat and be in our rooms by ten before the lights went out?"

     "Yes, Mike told me that and he said he and Billy went straight to bed and slept."

     Matt grinned at me and swerved and nearly fell off his bike.

     "So did we and we'd only just got undressed when the lights went out.  It was a bit odd because we couldn't see a thing but Dunc had a torch and that was just enough to see to get to bed.  We were both dead tired and I must have dropped off straight away 'cause next thing I knew it was morning and Duncan was up and shaking me to wake me up."

     "Nothing happened?" I enquired.

     "No, not that night!"  He flashed me a grin.  "And from what the others said everyone was pretty tired and not too pleased!  Anyway, some of the boys there showed us around during the morning and we had an early lunch because we were playing at two o'clock."

     "And you played?"

     "Yeah, I was touch judge for the first half and then 'cause Hobbsy hurt his leg I went on.  I was a bit scared 'cause some of their team were pretty big but they were slow.  That Bernie Gould said afterwards they were typical big thick Irish!"

     "Not so thick as you, eh, Chopper?"

     "Who told you they called me that?" he demanded but more with a hint of pride I detected.

     "Mike did, of course.  He said you were the youngest and the biggest!"

     He sat upright on his bike with a beaming smile.

     "Yeah, after we'd showered they made me line up in the changing room with Mike and Billy and Andy Symes and two of the other team and I beat them all!"

     'Line up'!  'Pride of the line-up'!  I immediately thought of Mr Gardner's jokey remarks to Pa yesterday.  Perhaps if my cousins had big pricks so did their father and uncle!  I wondered if I would too!  Something to hope for 'cause mine was growing fast!

     "What about Dunc?" I asked guilelessly.

     "And him, he was the tallest but his thing looks very stubby when it's hanging."

     "What happened then?"

     "Oh, their lot sang some songs," he glanced at me, "They were very rude.  Something about virgins and another about girls and candles and one about..." He paused.  "...about a steam engine with a prick.  I didn't know any of them but some of ours joined in as well.  I asked Andy afterwards and he said I'd soon learn them when I was in the Colts' team."

     This sounded a bit like Rhys's sing-song.  I began to hum a tune and then tried a refrain which had stuck in my mind.
     "`Round and round went the fucking great wheel,
       In and out went the prick of steel,...'"

     I stopped as I couldn't remember quite what came next.

     "That's it," exclaimed Matt, quite excitedly, "Where did you learn it?"

     "Down at Cardiff at Christmas.  My cousins took me to their game and they sang lots of songs and I remember that one."

     Matt was quite impressed.

     "D'you know any more?"

     I shook my head.  "No, I only heard them once, but that one was so funny.  All I remember it went faster and faster and blew up and they were all covered in shit!"

     "Yeah, they did actions to it as well, we all had a good laugh, especially that last bit,” he laughed as well.  “Anyway, we hung around in the changing room for ages singing and chatting and then had some tea and I found one of the boys there's got a brother up at my Dad's ship.  He said Dad is known as the Old Man and he'd tell his brother he'd met me."

     "What's the school like?"

     "It's creepy.  It's all old and part's got old monks in it and some of them teach like those Brothers at the Catholic school.  Gerry said he likes it - that's the one I was talking to - and he's there all the time 'cause his family's in Ireland."

     "Anything else?" I asked, eager to know of further events but Matt was another where food played a major role in existence.

     "Oh, yes, we had dinner!  They have lunch at half past twelve and then dinner in the evening!" he laughed, "And one boy has to read while everyone eats.  That was good, 'cause he read a ghost story and Andy Symes kept saying he wouldn't be surprised if we saw plenty!"

     "What did you do after dinner?" I asked, wondering if night would fall.

     "We sat around and then we went to our rooms about nine 'cause the lights are turned out at ten o'clock."

     "Even for Sixth-Formers like Duncan?"

     "Oh yes, they just go out.  They did the night before like I told you.  Anyway," he sniggered and I thought we're about to get to the interesting bits, "I went to the lav and then had a wash and when I got back to our room Dunc was standing with his back to the door and he hadn't got anything on!"  He giggled.  "I thought he was playing..." he paused and looked at me, "...You know, tossing off, 'cause I could see his arm moving up and down.  Then I saw he'd got one foot up on a chair and he was rubbing his leg."  He looked and saw my intense interest.  "He was only rubbing liniment into his leg," he guffawed, "Got you, you thought like I did, didn't you?"

     I nodded and grinned wanly back.

     "Well, I went round and looked at him and he held out the bottle and said did I want some and would I put some on his back 'cause he ached like hell.  I said I'd never tried any and he said it was good stuff for aches and pains so I slipped my dressing gown off and took the bottle from him.  Have you tried it?  It's good!"

     "No, I've seen it and my cousin Gareth uses it 'cause I've smelt it as well when he's rubbed it in."

     Matt wrinkled his nose.  "It's a bit strong but it doesn't half warm you up.  I rubbed some into my legs and then Dunc said he was ready for his back to be done."

     Matt stopped and grinned at me.
     "That's when I disgraced myself - I couldn't help it."

     "What happened?"

     "I put some on my hand and Dunc bent down over the chair so I could reach better and I rubbed it on his shoulders.  He said that was good but he wanted it a bit lower as well and he wanted plenty on so I poured some out from the bottle onto the middle of his back."  He laughed at the recollection.  "Gosh, he jumped when I did that and he clenched his bum and said I had to watch it as he didn't want any to get near his balls 'cause it would hurt.  Well I rubbed it all in all over his back and then I moved down over his bum.  He twitched a bit but I rubbed it well in and he kept saying 'Ooh, good' but then he straightened up and d'you know what?"

     I shook my head.

     "He'd got a hardon!" he crowed triumphantly.
     "What happened then?" I asked with even greater interest, "What's he like?"

     He answered my second question first.

     "It's not very long, but it's thick," he said, wrinkling his eyes and swerving dangerously again, "Then he grabbed it and began to do it...   ...You know, toss himself off."

     "What about you?" I asked intrigued.  I knew what would have happened to me given the task of massaging Duncan!

     "Oh, I stood and watched, then d'you know what he said?"

     "No, I don't!"

     We had to slow down and stop as a convey of Army trucks came up behind us.  As they went past squaddies leaned out of the backs of several of them and waved.  One shouted out that we were to warn our sisters he was on his way.  He's got his little bayonet fixed another shouted to hoots of laughter.

     "He can have mine for keeps any time," Matt said with feeling, "You're lucky you haven't got one.  She's always telling me off and to do things."

     We stayed silently watching as at least forty assorted vehicles rumbled past, then we set off again.  I had to remind Matt where he was in the story.  Having moaned about his sister he became more animated again.

     "So what did he say?"

     Matt whispered, "'Hold my balls, please' and he said it a couple of times."  He giggled and reverted to his normal voice. "That's when I disgraced myself 'cause I did as I was told and caught hold of him."

     "Well he asked you, didn't he?"

     "Yeah, but he started jumping up and down and tossing off ever harder and going 'Ow, Ow, Ow!'.  He caught hold of my wrist but did it so all I could do was to hold on tighter.  Then he shot his stuff all over the floor and I let go."  He giggled.  "He still jumped about and he was holding his bollocks with both hands and still going 'Ow, Ow, Ow!'.  I'd forgotten I'd got liniment on my hand and I put it all over his balls.  He calmed down in the end and I don't think he knew whether to laugh or be angry.  He kept gulping and I just stood there.  I wondered what he would do."  He whispered again. "And, of course by then my dick was stiff and he just pointed at it so I did it and I got liniment on my cock!  Gosh, it was hot!" he finished, raising his voice.

     "And he watched?"

     Matt nodded vigorously.  "Yep, and I shot loads!" he said proudly, "Then I had to wipe it all up with his towel and when I was bending down doing that he got loads of liniment and rubbed it all in my back and laughed and said I'd disgraced myself by making his balls ache!  Then the lights went out and he smacked me on the bum and we had to find our beds in the dark."

     "Separately?"

     He grinned again. "At first, then I crept out and got in with him and whispered he hadn't said good night!"

     "What did he say?"

     "Nothing at first, just put an arm round me 'cause it was very narrow and I nearly fell off the edge.  He said he expected they were made like it to keep boys to their own beds.  We just talked for ages.  He wanted to know about me and my friends.  I said we were friends and he said you were a bright lad and a good influence on his brother who's a lazy tyke but had started to buck up his ideas this year."

     "I like Tom," I said, "He's worried in case he doesn't do well in School Cert because Duncan's much better than him."

     "Yeah, he said Tom was a bit disappointed he didn't win the Run but it was his own fault as he didn't practice as much as you."

     "Yeah, but he did come second and he got a medal."

     We cycled on a bit and I saw the turning up ahead which Pa had said was a quicker way across to Ulvescott.  I signalled to Matt and we turned off.  We were making very good time.

     "Hey, d'you know Dunc's got quite a bit of hair on his chest?" he continued once we had gathered speed again, "I had my head on his chest and it was tickling my face.  I asked him when it started to grow and he said it began when he was seventeen and was spreading quite quickly.  He said his Dad was very hairy so I said my Dad was as well so he said I should look out soon 'cause it appeared very quickly.  I put my hand on his chest and it was quite crinkly.  Then you know what happened?"

     I didn't need to answer as I guessed correctly.  Matt chuckled.

     "My thing went all stiff and he put his hand round it.  Then he said it was bigger than he'd thought and was I happy!"  He giggled. "I said I was, what about him?  He just laughed and said of course he was.  His was stiff too 'cause I felt down and held it.  He asked if I knew about the measuring wall in the Sixth Form room.  D'you know about it?"

     "No, what is it?" I asked, puzzled.

     "He said I wasn't to spread it round 'cause it was a Sixth Form tradition but you'll go in the Sixth Form, won't you?"

     "I expect so!"

     "That's alright then so I'll tell you."

     Another secret, not perhaps so important as the tests at the range, but Matt was about to let it out.

     "It's a tradition when you get in the Sixth Form if you have a long thing you have to measure it against the wall and see if you beat the record."

     "How d'you do that?" I asked, mystified.

     "Oh, there's a wall that sticks out and you have to lean on it and put your thing when it's stiff along the bit that goes off it and they put a scratch on the wall.  D'you see?"

     I saw!

     "Yeah, and he said the record is eight and a half inches!"

     This intelligence was delivered in an awestruck voice.  I was given time to digest it.

     "Yeah, it was some boy before the war but he got killed at Dunkirk so Dunc says and the one with the biggest now is that weedy prefect Ronald Drake who's nearly eight inches.  I told Dunc mine was about seven and a half and he said he could believe it and tell it to keep on growing!  He said his was just on six inches and that was OK for him.  Golly, we went on talking for ages after that and I knew I couldn't wait any longer so I slipped out and got my towel and put in the bed and he just pulled on me a few times and I made loads of stuff and so did he!"
     "You did it to him?"

     "Unhn," he nodded energetically, "I wanted to stay all night but it was pretty uncomfortable so I went back to my bed and went to sleep but I'll tell you what I did when I woke up early."

     He grinned at me impishly.

     "It was still all dark so I crept across and knelt down by his bed and did it how we like it, you know?"  He opened his mouth in an O shape and nodded.  "He woke up while it was only a bit hard but after that it was ever so stiff and he was moaning and jerking and I sucked ever so much and he came.  Lots," he said proudly.   "Gosh, then he said he'd never had that done to him before and where did I learn it.  I said I hadn't learned it anywhere but we'd done it several times, haven't we?"  Matt screwed his nose up at me and went on, "He said `That Jacko's a randy little bastard!' then he did it to me... ...Just with his hand," he added.  "Then I got in with him and we dozed off until it was time to get up."

     Oh, so Duncan knew something more about me!  I wondered if he knew Tom and I had done it like that, and other ways!  Matt's tongue was a liability!  But not to worry!  "I thought you said the bed was too narrow," I said without commenting on the revelations.

     "It was really but he made room and I didn't mind!  And then when we got up he wanted to have a good look at me and I said I wanted him to do it to me again.  He did, but he didn't want it again.  He laughed and said I was worse than Tom who spent most of the time with his cock in his hand!  I said I didn't care 'cause it was my best friend.  Dunc laughed again and asked if it was a better friend than you were!  So I said only when I wasn't with you.  I thought that was good, eh?"

     Trust Matt to suppose it was good, being compared with someone's prick!

     "Crumbs, is that all you think I am, another prick!"

     He did look, to his credit, a bit abashed.

     "I didn't mean that, Jacko, it was only a joke."

     "OK, only a joke," I said, as stern as I could without bursting into laughter.  I glanced at my watch, it was just on eleven.  We had been cycling steadily and we didn't have much further to go.  I was feeling peckish and Ma had thoughtfully given me some sandwiches which were in my saddlebag. I also needed to pee so as we passed a small wood I thought it would be a good place to stop, eat and get relief.

     "I've got some sandwiches and I want to pee," I stated, "Shall we stop for a few minutes?"

     "Gosh, I forgot to bring anything to eat," he said wistfully.

     We cycled into the wood along a narrow lane and stopped by a large tree.  We put our bikes down and I got the sandwiches out and, luckily, Ma had made plenty.
     "Must have a pee first," I announced and walked round the tree and was busy having a slash when a very worried looking Matt appeared.  The jolly, tale telling Matt of a couple of minutes before was no more.

     "Jacko, can I ask you something?" he said rather unsteadily.

     Oh, crumbs, what was it now?  Smelly feet, trigonometry, lop-sided balls?  All were from a selection of topics already dealt with.  I shook my cock and buttoned up.

     "Yes, of course!"

     "I'm worried," he began, "I think I might have caught something."

     "What d'you mean, caught something?" I asked, I hoped with a spark of interest.

     He fumbled with his shorts and pants and carefully drew out his prick.

     "I think I've got the pox!  What shall I do?" he almost wailed.

     My only knowledge of the pox was a jumble of information imparted to me by Alun about what happened if you fucked girls you didn't know or who wanted money for it.  I was intrigued, when had he had the opportunity?

     "How did you catch it?" I asked, now with rising interest.

     "I don't know but they were talking about it after dinner at Fensham.  One boy said you could catch it from lavatory seats or even just letting girls hold your dick.  And I think I've got it."

     "Alun told me you get it from fucking dirty girls," I informed him, "Have you?"

     He shook his head violently, "No, no but you and Duncan and that Chris Payne have all held it."

     I didn't like being classed with dirty girls and I was sure Duncan wouldn't either.  But the third person?

     "Chris Payne?"

     "Yeah, I had to take his rugger socks back Friday afternoon.  I'd picked them up by mistake and then he wanted to see my thing so we did it together!"

     Twice in the morning and again in the afternoon!

     "He held it twice!" he continued.

     Oh, twice in the morning and twice in the afternoon!!  I supposed I'd better see what pox looked like.  Alun's description of suppurating holes all over one's cock had me crossing my legs at the time.
     "Let me have a look!" I said, "You show me."

     The lengthy object was held out for inspection.  True, there was a sore place on the skin on the side just below his knob.  It looked as if a blister had burst and was rather red and raw.

     "When did you notice it, Matt?" I said taking a close-up look at the inflamed area.

     "This morning," he said quickly, "It hurt when I washed."

     'Dr' Thomson made a rapid diagnosis!  I didn't think it was the pox, more likely wear and tear.  I pursued this line.

     "You say you did it with Chris Payne twice?"

     He nodded.

     "Did you do it again Friday night?"

     "Yeah, I had to, I couldn't get to sleep."

     I counted up, five plus two the night before.

     "What about Saturday, Sunday and Monday?  How many times? Anybody else?"

     He looked a bit abashed.  "No, just me.  Dad was home Saturday so that was only three times, and on Sunday..., um, three."

     "What about yesterday?"

     "Five," he murmured.

     "Five yesterday!" I said, astounded, "Oh, Matt, that's not the pox!"  I counted up quickly.  "Eighteen times since Thursday!  You've torn the skin."

     "I can't help it, I have to keep doing it," he shrilled, his voice rising from its usual depths and, as if on cue, his dick began to rise as well. "Look at it!  And it hurts!"  He pulled his pants and shorts up in one movement and thrust the thickening object inside.

     "I wouldn't worry, Matt.  It's OK, you've just rubbed it raw."

     "It's sore though and you're sure I haven't got the pox?" he asked trustingly.

     "I'm sure you haven't but I'll ask Duncan if he's got it, 'cause I haven't!  And I don't suppose Chris Payne has 'cause he's in the Salvation Army," I said, giving Matt more worries.

     "Don't say anything to Duncan, please!" he said pleadingly grabbing my arm, "I'm sure you're right, I just got so worried."

     "We'll have a good look when we get to Ulvescott," I said, mentally adding 'and give Tony and Roo a good laugh'.

     He gave me a rueful grin as we picked up our bikes, remounted and started off again.  But after pedalling a few hundred yards Matt seemed much relieved and without any prompting went into a long recital of how good a bloke Chris Payne was and what he'd told him of his and his room-mates exploits on the Thursday night.  From what I gathered it was the usual round robin with the five of them vying for champion status in the come stakes.  They all won!  Four times each!  And, of course Chris wanted to know about Matt and Duncan and this led to the already noted two each!!  Crumbs, knowing Pat I expect his lot had the same urges so I could only speculate on the amount of seed spilled over those few hours by the combined KGS and Catholic school team!

     I'd just finished telling Matt about Pat staying overnight when we entered the road leading to Ulvescott Manor.  It was only eleven forty-five so we had done the journey much quicker than the last time.

     "We're early," I said after consulting my wrist watch, "I wonder if they'll be at the gate?"

     My question was responded to with the sound of a low woof.  Bran was already there and as we approached we could see his head sticking out through the bars of the gate.  A second woof greeted us as we got off to walk the last few yards.  The side gate swung open and an excited Bran bounded through followed by Roo and Tony, both in their Scout togs.

     "He's been so excited since breakfast time," said Roo, "He made us follow him ages ago."

     Bran came up to me, sat and extended a paw.  I shook it and patted him on the head.  He moved on to Matt and did the same.  Then he came back to me and licked my bare knee.

     "Aunt Mary said she told him yesterday you were coming and hadn't mentioned it again but he knew this morning because he kept going out onto the steps and looking down the drive," Tony informed us.  "Then at half past eleven he came and got us out of the kitchen and we've been at the gate waiting for you ever since!"

     We pushed our bikes up to the house and, after I had rescued some things from my saddlebag, Tony and Roo took them from us and went round to the stables with them.  Mrs Crossley greeted us most effusively and said that lunch would be at one o'clock if we liked to go up now and sort out our room.

     Bran preceded us up the stairs and waited outside Piers' old room until we joined him.  He was right.  Tony and Roo must have been sharing the Horsebox as there was no sign of any of their clobber.  I tipped my haversack out on the bed and had put all my things in the tall cupboard by the time Roo and Tony reappeared.  Matt was in the lav, inspecting his damaged cock no doubt.  I said I would have a quick bath and shucked off my clothes and they and Bran came into the bathroom with me.

     "Was the wedding OK?" Tony enquired.

     I gave a quick résumé as the water flowed into the bath and was just stepping in and explaining how Pat Halloran had got Mike and Pa home when Matt came out of the lav.  He was obviously still a bit worried but responded to my suggestion of a bath by also undressing and slipping in beside me.

     "How was Fensham?" Roo asked him, "Did we win?"

     He said we had and he'd played and did they know Rabbity had broken his ankle.  They didn't know that and wondered if he would be OK for Wednesday night as all the Scout groups in Kerslake were having a great get together and a big quiz.  That's why they were going home on Wednesday morning as both were in one of their teams.

     I got out of the bath first and had almost dried myself when Matt got up to get out.

     "Does your dick still hurt, Chopper?" I asked solicitously.

     "Why Chopper?" asked Roo simultaneously with Tony's "What's the matter with his dick?"

     Matt cast me an evil look so I filled in the answers for him.

     "Oh, that's his new nickname, Mike O'Brien told me," I said, "They were most impressed with the size of his chopper at Fensham that's what he's called now."

     Both laughed much to Matt's speechless embarrassment.

     "What's that about your dick hurting?" asked Tony again.

     "I've hurt it," said Matt lamely.

     "Where?  Let's have a look," demanded Roo, coming up to Matt on the other side.

     Matt stood rather uncomfortably with the towel over his shoulders looking daggers at me.

     "Oh, come on, Matt," I said, "Show them, they'll only sympathize."

     "Jacko says I've torn the skin," he said, holding his cock up in the palm of his hand and displaying the reddened area.

     "He thought he'd caught the pox," I said, "But it's only rubbed raw."

     "Shut up, Jacko," Matt snapped, "I can't help it!"
     Roo and Tony exchanged glances then looked at me.

     Tony spoke first.  "What does he mean?"

     "I'm sorry Matt I said it, but you tell them. They'll understand.  And tell them about you being in disgrace with Duncan," I added, hoping they wouldn't guffaw too loudly.

     They were all attention as Matt told them about the game and the line-up in the showers afterwards and the attachment of the new nickname.  As we dressed he went on with the incident of Duncan's hot balls which amused them mightily.  Matt by this time had recovered his usual good humour and recounted his fears of having the pox with my diagnosis of over-indulgence to great hoots of laughter and back-slapping from both of them.

     "Eighteen times since Thursday?" queried Roo, "Oh, my God, no wonder you're wearing it out!"

     "He's not broken any records yet," I added, "'cause Mike O'Brien said Pat Halloran had to confess to twenty-six times one week and Matt's only got two days to go!"

     "What about today?" demanded Roo,

     Matt shook his head.  "I was too busy getting ready and anyway I was too worried!"

     Tony was looking at his watch.  "It's nearly one o'clock and lunch'll be ready.  Come on, hurry up you two!"

     Matt and I looked at each other and grinned at each other.  Friends again, I hoped.  Roo, Tony and Bran led the way out and I put my hand on Matt's arm.

     "Friends, eh?" I asked

     He nodded and nudged me with his shoulder.

     Over lunch we found out that they had spent the weekend exploring the estate out as far as the POW camp.  They had seen Hans and Herr Vogel and had managed to communicate that we would be coming to stay today.  As Sunday had been wet they'd also explored the attics thoroughly and said they'd found all sorts of interesting things.  After lunch Aunt Mary wanted some things from the village shop so Tony and Roo went off to fetch them and I, Matt and Bran went round to find Hans and Herr Vogel in the wood cutting barn.  Both were there with a much diminished stack of large logs and a big stack of small cut logs.  They were very effusive in their greetings and Matt showed how fluent he was getting.  I heard him having a go at describing the run to Herr Vogel and then displayed his medal which he kept in his pocket.  I hadn't brought mine and it would have been too embarrassing to show Hans my pips which I had in my pocket!  We shifted several barrow loads of small logs and said we would return after Tony and Roo had gone in the morning.

     Tony and Roo had disappeared when we returned to the kitchen in time for tea so we cleared up our share and Matt came to hear me play through pieces I'd learnt for the exam.  Bran came too and sat by my side watching intently as I went through my repertoire.  The other two reappeared about half five and we went up to change and get ready for dinner.  Tony and Roo kept exchanging glances as we waited for the bell and I sensed there was something afoot but Matt seemed oblivious and chatted away about what a good bloke Duncan was and how much he'd enjoyed going to Fensham and wasn't Chris Payne a good sort, etc. etc.

     Miss Pike had appeared when we paraded ready for dinner.  There were just the six of us as the three Land Girls were preparing their own food that evening.  Tony and Roo were a bit put out as there was to be a special dinner the next night as it was Miriam's birthday and they had to go home because of their quiz but Miss Pike and Aunt Mary gave them plenty of practice with general knowledge questions while we ate.

       After dinner the two ladies retired to play cards and we four went into the library.  Roo and Tony had been chosen to answer questions in the geography section so they were keen to look at maps while Matt and I got on with reading our First Aid books.  I told Matt what Pat had said about bringing some uniform blouses for us to try and he wondered if Benno would pass.  This reminded me of two things so I went over to where the other two were scrabbling through atlases.

     "Hey, Roo!" I said, interrupting his perusal of India, "Isn't your brother in the same form as Benno's brother?"

     He looked up as if ready to be interrupted.

     "Yeah, skinny little lad, isn't he?" he replied, "Kenny says he's a real swot.  I think his name's James or something."

     "Benno told me ages ago he caught him tossing off in their shed," I said sotto voce, "And Benno says he's only twelve and a bit."

     The other two looked up and took notice.

     "Benno said he shot stuff as well," I continued in a slightly louder voice.

     I saw Tony take a quick glance at the door, which was firmly shut.

     "What about your brother?" I asked Roo, "Does he..., you know?"

     Roo looked at me very seriously, and shook his head.

     "No, I don't think so.  Kanga's the same age as him, but he's got nothing down there, it's all quite tiny and he hasn't got any hair at all.  I know, 'cause I saw him in the bath last week."

     Matt got up and stood by me at the table.

     "I had hair then and I did it when I was twelve and a half so he could, I suppose."

     Tony piped up, "Have you caught Kanga doing it?"

     Roo shook his head again.  "No, I haven't but we do have separate rooms.  I don't think he knows anything about it 'cause he's seen me in the bath and he's only said my thing's got hairs round it and he hasn't asked me anything about it."

     Tony slapped the atlas in front of him.  "What you mean is he thinks Peking, Nanking and wanking are all towns in China, eh?"

     We fell about, it was the best joke we'd all heard for ages and Tony said he'd made it up on the spur of the moment.  Good for him!

     "Benno said he'd try to find out how he knew about it but I haven't had a chance to ask him yet," I said when the laughter had subsided.

     "Does that mean that you and Benno....?" asked Roo.

     I nodded.  "And Matt!"

     Matt nudged my shoulder.

     "Any way, how's your competition going?" I asked, "You know..., ...all our Form?"

     Roo smirked, "Oh, we've extended it, it's not just Cleggy and me now, Tony's in the race as well.  I don't know Cleggy's total score but we've both got four to go, isn't that right, Tony?"

     Matt nudged me again, "What's the competition?"

     "As the boy said, to see which one of us tosses you all off first, all seventeen, including us!"  Roo informed him.

     "Crumbs, you've both done thirteen...?"

     "And more," Roo said loftily, "I've done five in 4S as well and the another two at camp."

     "And you've whacked off three Sixth-Formers, Matt," I reminded him, "And Tom Buchanan in 4S."

     He counted off on his fingers, "But only six in our Form!"

     I turned to Roo, "Who are you missing?"

     Roo grinned, "One up for you two!  Neither of us have managed to catch Benno, he's very elusive."  He held up three fingers, "Then I've still got Johnny Pearson, Reedy and Willsy."

     "And I've got to get Tim Parker, Pete Fry and Danny Ross.  Shouldn't be difficult from what Roo says.  Except for Benno."

     I did a think. "All the others you haven't got are Cadets, except for Tim, aren't they?"

     "Yeah, Tim's in the Scouts, but he's not in the school troop, and the Cadets are on camp this week so we'll be looking for them next week, eh Roo?"

     Roo nodded and grinned.  Matt still seemed a bit puzzled.

     "Why do it with all that lot?  I've only done it with people I want to."

     "Oh, come on, Matt," Roo said.  "You like it as much as we do and it's all a bit of fun.  And we've had no refusals!" he added with relish.

     We settled down again until just after nine when Tony shut his atlas and said he'd had enough and if he didn't know the answers, too bad!  Aunt Mary and Miss Pike were just clearing up their cards as we went through into the drawing room so we said goodnight and went upstairs.

     All the cycling and eating had exercised my innards so after undressing and washing I went into the bog for a good sit and contemplation.  There was no sign of the others as I washed my hands but I could hear muffled gurgles and mutterings coming through the closed door of Piers' room.  I cautiously opened the door and poked my head round in case they had something planned for me.  They hadn't as they were busy on Matt.  A tangled mass of three nude bodies met my eye.  Matt was bent over the bed with his feet dangling with Tony lying across his shoulders holding his head face down on the eiderdown.  Roo was bent over him holding his arms down and was just lacing a boxing glove on Matt's left hand.  His right hand had already got one on it.

     "Right, that's done," announced Roo, "Keep him held down while I check he can't get them off."

     He tugged at the objects in turn while I came over and stood by the bed.  Roo slid off the bed and came and stood by me.

     "What's this for?" I asked, "Where did you get those?"

     "Oh, we found them in a box in the loft on Sunday and brought them down to have a look at them," Roo informed me with a laugh.  "Anyway, they'll stop him damaging his prick any more.  My cousin said the Head Beak of his Prep School always made boys wear boxing gloves in bed if they were caught playing with their cocks 'cause then you can't do it."  He slapped Matt's bare bum. "He said one Saturday there were twelve of them all lined up outside the Head's study waiting for him to inspect their mitts all gloved up before they went to bed.  Frank said it didn't work though 'cause the others in the dorm rubbed their cocks for them when the coast was clear.  He said they had to wear them for a week and if they were caught again they got six of the best on their bare arse."  He addressed Matt.  "And if we catch you doing it again you'll have to have six as well."

     With that he picked up a riding crop taken, I assumed, from the wall of the Horsebox and lightly flicked Matt across the buttocks.  A muffled roar came from Matt as his buttocks flinched.  I inspected Matt's bum.

     "Crumbs, he's hairy isn't he?" I said, noting quite a change in the few weeks since I'd seen him close up like this.  "And there's some goes up there," I continued, pointing at the base of his spine where a new dense sprouting was clearly visible.  

     "Looks like the rear view of a gorilla," said Roo sticking out a hand and stroking the black patch.  He then bent over and parted Matt's dangling legs.  The rear view of a hairy sac with two plum sized balls and the end of a thick dick came into view.  Roo put out a finger and prodded one of the balls, none too gently I thought.  Matt kicked backwards and roared again.  Roo closed his fingers round the hanging mass.

     "Shut up hairy monkey, and keep still while we inspect you."

     Matt subsided into silence as Roo placed his hands, one on each buttock and parted them.  A pink puckered ring appeared.

     "Sing, sing, or show us your ring," warbled Roo in a falsetto voice.

     "Let's have a look," said Tony sliding off Matt's back and standing in line with us.  Tony had a rampant hardon.  Matt stayed where he was arms stretched out over the bed.

     Tony moved to stand between Matt's legs and dipped his prick down with his fingers and brushed the tip against Matt's ring.  Matt twitched but, otherwise, lay still.  Tony brushed the tip over the crease again and left behind a smear of colourless liquid.  Matt jerked his rump up and down and I realised he was also getting a hardon and needed to rearrange his position.

     "Your turn," Tony said to no one in particular.

     Roo changed places with him and repeated the movement but this time pressed his knob end slightly against the unyielding wrinkle.  With his hand he rubbed his knob against it.  Matt responded by bucking his hips and as Roo pressed apart his cheeks it looked as if the ring opened and closed slightly.  Roo stood up and I took his place.  By this time I had a sizable globule of lubricating fluid about to drip from my knob end.  I quickly wiped it smack onto the crinkly hole.  I pushed and in response Matt relaxed and my knob went in a little way.

     "Been there before?" Roo whispered hoarsely.

     I nodded and withdrew.  Roo quickly took my place and pressed his end right on the pink crease and two inches of his prick went straight in.  There was a momentary pause then Matt twitched his arse quite violently and the rest of Roo's dick disappeared.  Roo flopped down onto Matt as his own midriff jerked.

     "Oh, Christ!" he groaned, "I've shot already!"
     Gosh, that was quick, ten seconds at the most!

     With some difficulty Roo stood up and watched as Tony aimed his prick at the now opening and closing hole.  He went in deep in one go and rocked back and forth leaning right over Matt's back and licking him on the back of his left ear.  Both he and Matt were panting noisily until with a long drawn out moan Tony also collapsed on Matt's back.  As he stood up his still stiff tool emerged liberally coated with come.  I could hardly wait for my turn and, without feeling any resistance, my prick found its way in fully, up to the hilt.  Matt's muscles were working overtime, massaging and squeezing my length as I pulled it back and forth.  As the spasms began to hit the base of my cock I pressed down as hard as I could and pressed his cheeks even further apart so I was as deep inside him as possible as I shot.  I lay exhausted for a few moments then backed out.  Roo, meanwhile, had slipped into the lav and returned with a handful of loo paper which he divided up between us putting Matt's share in the crease of his bum.  Tony and I turned Matt over who lay, legs still over the side of the bed, with a look of extreme pleasure on his face and the most enormous hardon.

     Tony bent over him and very carefully took the end of his prick into his mouth and began to suck him.  I put a hand out and cupped Matt's balls in the palm of my hand while Roo leaned down and dabbed at his right nipple with his tongue.  Matt's mouth opened as he lay with eyes closed as Tony worked his foreskin back over his knob.  I moved my hand up and put my thumb and first finger on each side of the thick shaft and pulled down carefully.  Tony's head bobbed up and down and then Matt shot his load.  All was done very quietly, the only sound being Matt's laboured breathing.  Roo bent over Matt again and unlaced the boxing gloves.  Tony and I stood and watched and then the three of us silently filed into the bathroom where we lined up to wash our pricks.  As I waited my turn for Roo to finish Matt came out of the bedroom and went straight into the lav.  Just as silently when done we filed back into Piers' room and the other two got into bed beside me.

     "D'you think he's OK?" I asked, "You don't think he minded?"

     "No," said Roo authoritatively from the far side of the bed, "He's OK.  He might have been a bit bothered about the gloves but he liked the other.  Didn't you?"

     "Yeah," I said, then continued, "But you came very quickly, didn't you?"

     Roo snorted, "I usually do, don't I, Tony?"

     Oh, so it wasn't a first for them.  Should I say anything?  I thought not at the moment.

     "Can't hold it, can you, old man!" Tony said with an air of worldly wiseness and long experience. "He can't seem to contain himself when it's like that."

     "Have you done it like that much?" I asked Roo who was lying next to me.

     "Quite a bit, eh Tony?" he replied, turning to Tony on his other side.  Tony made no comment so Roo continued, "My cousin Frank showed me last summer.  He says they all do it at his school, so we tried it, didn't we, Tony?"

     This time Tony nodded and grinned. "What about you and Matt?" he asked.

     I nodded and grinned too, "Only once.  I did it to him.  I don't really fancy that great thing pushing in me."

     Tony giggled, "'Some men are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them', don't you remember last year in Twelfth Night Cleggy kept repeating that when Old Mother Riley had us for English that day?"

     I remembered it well as it was an early indication of things beginning to grow and change without being fully aware of what was going on!  Then the light went out in the bathroom as Matt came padding through and stood by the bed.

     "Are you lads OK?" he asked brightly then looked across first to Tony.  "Thanks Tony, that was marvellous and it didn't hurt my sore spot at all," - he leaned over and prodded Roo in the side, -  "But it was a pity about your premature ejaculation though, Roo!"

     Roo sat up.  "What's that?" he asked aggressively.

     "Oh, you coming too soon like you did," replied Matt quite matter of factly.

     "Where did you hear about that?" asked Tony uncertainly.

     "Hey, it's getting cold out here, let me in and I'll tell you!"

     We three closed up and Matt got in beside Roo.

     "Duncan Buchanan told me all about it when we were at Fensham.  He said it was every young lad's sexual nightmare, all ready and then a sudden outflow before full enjoyment.  He said there were two other nightmares, all ready and a sudden deflation..."

     "What d'you mean sudden deflation?" interrupted Roo.

     "Losing the rigidness of your erection, as Duncan said, but you don't suffer that one, do you?"

     "No, I just come too quick," admitted Roo.

     "And Duncan said I wouldn't suffer the third one," continued Matt, "'Cause I wouldn't need to stuff a pair of socks in my pants when I went out with girls like Martin Coombs had to last year for the School Dance."

     "What d'you mean by that?" was Roo's third question.

     "In case they think your cock's too small when you dance with them and press up against them," Matt said in all seriousness.  "Not that I intend going to School Dances because I don't know any girls and I'm not particularly keen on them anyway."
     Tony was giggling madly at all this and burst out, "And you've missed out the fourth nightmare, Matt!"

     "What's that?" asked Matt, sounding really perturbed, "Duncan only told me three."

     "Skinning your dick through rubbing it too much, like you've done!"
     "I'm not worried about that now since Jacko said I haven't got the pox!" said Matt quite confidently, "If that's all that happens I'll just have to be more careful."

     "Or get your friends to line up to do what Tony's just done," I said, then added, "But you'll need three or four willing helpers a day at your present rate!"

     "With big mouths," added Tony.

     "Cleggy would do for one," said Roo.

     "I think Danny Ross is a bit mouthy.  He'll do for another," I added, "But what about Henry Gale, he opens his mouth very wide when he roars at the Cadets!"

     "I don't need any helpers," Matt said, "I'm quite capable of being careful!"

     Tony gave me a dig.

     "Come on Jacko, let's leave these two here and get to our own bed."

     I hadn't realised we were already parcelled out, but I complied most willingly and we went off carefully in the dark to the bed in the Horsebox.  Needless to say it wasn't long before we'd given each other another wank and then dropped off to sleep.

*
     I woke up quite early and wondered for a moment where I was.  The snoring body next to me gave me a jolt until I recalled the events of the night before.  Tony was on his side facing away from me so I pressed a finger into the crack of his arse until I located his ring then aimed my usual morning erection at the centre.  He was tight but after a little lubrication with a wet finger I managed to slip just my knob end in.  Tony woke with a start.  He whispered that I should wait a moment and moved away as I withdrew and waited as he slipped out of bed in the dark.  He was a good Scout being well-prepared because as he slid back in he felt for my dick and anointed it with a cool stickiness.

     "It's Vaseline," he explained.

     The universal lubricant!  Tom was not the only one to know its various uses.  Tony lay on his front with his legs apart.  I aimed again and with a slight push I was in and away.  He grunted more than I did as I rocked back and forth and it wasn't long before the customary spasms began and I shot my load.  I lay on his back for some time still feeling my cock rigid inside him and his own spasms massaging its length.  I gradually withdrew and, in the gloom, went to the bathroom and washed myself down.  Tony was waiting for me as I re-entered the bedroom.  He led me to the bed and bent me over it as he positioned himself behind me.  I felt a warm sticky rod pressing between my cheeks and an enquiring finger probing against my ring and pushing the muscle apart slightly.  I relaxed and his sticky knob pressed harder against me then quite suddenly he was in and pushing back and forth.  I could feel my muscles responding to this quite automatically and we rocked together most pleasurably for a couple of minutes or more until he whispered urgently in my ear that he was coming.  His breath was whistling slightly as his thrusting speeded up and, with a final explosive gurgle he collapsed across my back clasping me around the chest.  He eventually disengaged himself and also disappeared off to the bathroom.  I followed him in after a minute or so as I heard the bath running.  We got into it together and soaked and chatted for ages until Tony indicated his rising cock.  Mine rose in sympathy so we tossed each other off before emerging with rather reddened and well-used appendages.

     "Gosh, mine's a bit sore now, Jacko," Tony whispered confidentially, "I hope I haven't skinned it like Matt!"

     I knelt down and examined his pink tool carefully.  He did the same to me.  We decided there was no sign of damage.

     "We've given them a bit of rough treatment so perhaps we're made of stronger stuff than Matt," Tony said inspecting his own rod again. "Hunh," he grunted, "They say you shouldn't play with yourself.  I think my thing always wants me to play with it!  It gets up by itself, even if I don't think about it the bastard just goes stiff."  He nudged me.  "I got a tremendous hardon in Huggy's Maths class last week for no reason at all.  Roo saw the bulge and kept poking it with his pencil!"

     I told him what Tim Parker had told me about the boys in the Third Year.

     Tony laughed.  "Didn't you know that's what Danny Ross and Jim Masters used to do last year under their desks?  Vince told me 'cause he used to sit in the next desk and watch them.  He said they always had their hands in their pockets especially when old Campion was droning on."

     I'd certainly missed out on these excitements but I was well satisfied with my own achievements at the present moment!

     "Hey!" I said with puzzlement, "We've made plenty of row in here but I haven't heard the others stirring."

     Tony shook his head.  "Must be still sound asleep," he said, "Let's go and see."

     We wrapped the towels round us and pushed open the door to Piers' room.  The shaft of light from the bathroom fell on the bed and the two sleeping figures.  They looked very peaceful facing each other with their heads back and mouths slightly open.

     Tony nudged me.  "Look at Matt's Adam's apple, doesn't it stick out!" he whispered, "No wonder he has a deep voice.  Dr Birch says when he sees one of us getting one it's not long before we move out of the front row of the choir.  My voice is dropping so he says I can sing in the altos until after the summer and then he'll try me in the tenors."
     I remembered that Tony was a stalwart member of his church choir and I supposed Dr Birch must be the choirmaster.

     He nudged me again, "Tom Wright who's in the choir with me moved into the tenors at Christmas and he's only just left the Elementary School..."  He giggled. "... and he says your voice drops when your balls drop, what about you?"

     My balls were certainly dropping and I put a hand to my throat and could feel a bony ridge.  I'd also noticed I had some difficulty in making my voice behave at times because it alternately squeaked and rumbled when I least expected it.  I'd also noticed the grunts and squawks of several of my classmates over the past few months.  From observation balls and voices were dropping all round!  I shoved a hand under Tony's towel and grabbed his goolies - gently, so he wouldn't bellow.

     "Yours are definitely dropping and you'll be singing bass if they go on down much further!" I said, giving them a friendly squeeze.

     "Hunh, not so far as Tom Wright's, and his are huge too!" he said admiringly.

     "How do you know?"

     "Usual reason," he said, putting his hand down onto mine to protect his balls.  "He's like you, shoots a lot!" he continued, "And he had to have an operation 'cause one of his balls was stuck up inside."

     "When was that?" I asked.

     "Oh, when he was eight or so, 'cause that's when I saw his dick and things first.  We made him show us his scar after choir practice one night.  You can't see it now 'cause it's all covered in hair.  Anyway, it doesn't seem to have done him any harm, he shoots a lot like you."

     "You never told me you'd done it with him."

     "I forgot, there's him and Archie Peck as well.  He's still at the Elementary School and he says they're always at it.  Like us!" he added.

     Our conversation had had no effect on the sleeping pair.  I disengaged my hand from his bollocks and prodded him in the side.

     "Come on, we might as well get dressed and go down and see if breakfast is ready.  We can wake them up just before we go down."

     We wandered back to the Horsebox and got our togs on.  Tony had pulled the curtains back and the weak sunlight lit up the room.

     "I wish we were staying on," Tony said wistfully, "There's only bloody Kats at home and I suppose she'll be whining and groaning because her friends aren't with her."
 
     I hadn't seen his sister Kats for over a year.  I always thought she was great fun as she was always laughing or joking about something.  Perhaps it would have been different if I'd had a sister.  Matt seemed disenchanted with his but on the other hand Mike didn't seem to mind his quartet too much.

     "I like this place," he continued, looking out of the window, "Dad will inherit it when Aunt Mary goes.  Then I suppose I will."

     "Your Dad will get this place?" I asked, astonished.

     "Yeah, he's the nearest living male relation to Aunt Mary, so he's in her will.  I'd like to live here."

     I thought for a moment.  "So would I," I said with feeling, "Kerslake's OK but this place is lovely."

     "Right then, when it's mine, you can come and live here as well!" Tony said with finality.

     As we were getting dressed I remembered about the Scout togs that had belonged to Chris.  Tony said he would like to have them and would come to have a look next Tuesday afternoon.  While he was saying this a bump at the door announced that Bran had come to see us.  How the dog knew I was in the Horsebox rather than Piers' room I didn't know but as soon as I opened the door he sat and held out a paw for his usual greeting.  What a dog!  He then made his way through to the other room pushing the half-closed doors open very carefully.  I followed him and watched as he sat by the bed and nosed at Matt's back until he woke.  Matt turned over and was rewarded by a quick face lick.  He crawled out of bed and saw me at the door.  Bran followed him over as he came towards me.

     "What's the time?" he asked wearily.

     "Time you were up and about," I replied, "It's nearly breakfast time.  Even Tony's up and dressed."

     Tony appeared at that moment dressed in his second best Scout's uniform, scarf, woggle and all.  Matt beamed at both of us.

     "Had a rather busy night," he said, "Roo's OK now.  No problems.  But we didn't sleep very much."

     "What do you mean?" demanded Tony.

     "Oh, I woke him up at two o'clock and again at five and he didn't shoot his stuff so quick.  I'm a bit sore there now," he added, still smiling, "But I think he feels he's better now."

     Tony shot me a quick glance.

     "What about you?" he asked Matt.

     "Oh, I'm OK," he said looking down at his dangling cock, "He did it to me afterwards both times, you know..."  He pointed to his mouth.  "...How I like it best."

     We went over to the bed where Roo was still sleeping soundly.  Tony pulled the clothes back roughly.  Roo slept on with a seraphic smile on his face.  Tony reached out and grasped Roo's semi-stiff cock.

     "He may have had it a couple of times in the night but he seems ready for more," he murmured as he worked away at the rapidly stiffening tool.

     Roo woke suddenly and opened his eyes wide.  He realised quickly what Tony was doing and turned onto his back flinging the bedclothes well away from him.  He closed his eyes again and opened his mouth.  His balls were now drawn up tight below Tony's pounding fist.  He let out a series of groans and then shot a thin stream of spunk back over his stomach.  He groaned again as Tony stopped and let go of his still dripping rod.

     "Ta," was his only comment when he'd regained his breath and he was then quiet for several seconds.  Finally, he opened his eyes, smiled his seraphic smile again and looked down at the drops of come he'd produced.

     "Gosh, that was good," he enthused, sitting up and watching as the droplets trickled down towards his prick hair, "Has Matt told you about during the night?"

     "Yes, you've been a busy couple of bees," said Tony, "Matt says he's got a sore hole now as well as a sore prick."

     Roo's smile faded and he looked worriedly at Matt.

     "I didn't hurt you, did I?" he asked

     I saw Matt twitch his buttocks.

     "No, I'm feeling great.  Are you OK now?"

     Roo stood up and nodded and I thought for a moment that Bran was going to lick the come off him but instead he nudged him and more or less propelled him to the bathroom.  We looked on and then Matt followed him.

     "Gosh, I forgot that dog was watching," said Tony.

     "You'll teach him bad habits," I said.  I poked Tony in the back. "He'll want a wank too if you're not careful."

     Tony made a face.  "He's got big enough balls, they're just like Matt's aren't they?"
     True, Bran sported a large hairy pair which size for size were a match for Matt.  Gorilla arse and wolfhound balls!  While I was thinking this Bran loped back into the bedroom to join us.  He sat down on his haunches and peered up at us, his tongue lolling.

     "Waiting for breakfast, eh?" Tony asked and patted him on the head.  He got up and went to the door.

     "We might as well go down.  Those two can follow on later," Tony announced opening the door for Bran who led us along the corridor.

     Breakfast was all laid and ready so we tucked in saying the other two would be down shortly.  I'd had two boiled eggs and some toast before they appeared looking quite awake given the busy night they'd had.

     "Nothing like a good egg," said Tony, winking at me across the table.  Roo giggled and Matt was about to say something when Aunt Mary came in with two parcels and some egg-boxes.

     "These are your lunches and these are for your mothers," she said, pointing at the two sets of objects, "And make certain those boxes are not visible to the general populace or everyone will want some!  And make sure you ride carefully.  Sergeant Gibbs says there are a lot of troop movements at the moment so the roads round here are busy."

     I said we'd been passed by a convoy as we came the previous day and a general conversation about the progress of the War and the forthcoming Scout quiz occupied the time until Roo and Tony were ready to go.  We walked up the drive with them and Bran barked a farewell as they set off.