Usual Disclaimer: If you are not of an age to read this because of the laws of your country or district please desist. If you are a bigot or prod-nosed fundamentalist of any persuasion find your monkey-spanking literature elsewhere and keep your predilections and opinions to yourself. Everyone else welcome and comments more than welcome.
This is a very long tale. It unfolds over a good number of years. What is true, is true: what is not is otherwise.
ALADDIN'S AWAKENING
By
Joel
CHAPTER 20
Part One
Monday March 6th 1944
It was cold and a bit slippery when I set out next morning for my run. I was most amazed when Tom appeared as soon as I reached their gate.
"Come on," he said jovially, "Race you to the park!"
He immediately slowed down as he nearly went arse over tit, as he put it, and we proceeded at a much more sedate pace which gave him the opportunity to tell me all his news. I found out Duncan had brought back a great collection of cigarette cards, old books and other highly desirable items and that the funeral had been a truly dismal affair. Duncan had also been most amused by the cock-kissing episode and thought we were very enterprising and brave! With the chatting we didn't realise it but we ended up turning off and taking a much longer route home. I was certainly ready for breakfast!
The numbers in class were still depleted, just the nine who had been there on Friday. Matt wanted to know what I'd done over the weekend but I just said I'd tell him later. Later had to wait until Wednesday when he and the others came for the French circle. Tony announced we had all been invited to Ulvescott Manor for Easter weekend. I had to decline the invitation as I was going to the O'Brien wedding and Matt said he couldn't go as his Dad was coming down from Scotland on Easter Saturday for the weekend. Tony looked a bit annoyed at the disruption of his plans but said he would sort it all out with Aunt Mary. No doubt we could go after the weekend as he and Roo could stay on. We nodded agreement and he said he would organise it. Tony the boss was on form!
After Ma had finished Tony and Roo had to hurry off to go to Scouts but Matt stayed on. While we waited for food we chatted but I didn't tell him all that happened with Tom though I did show him the third drawing done by Mike. I'd put the first two up with the others and Matt had seen them the previous week but I'd got the third one out before I went to school that morning and secreted it in my bottom drawer.
Matt was most impressed and said he wished he could have a drawing done like that and wanted to know when Mike did it. Of course, I had to tell him all about Mike and me and some of our adventures. He said it wasn't fair as I'd found out all about my third musketeer. Poor old Matt, he really had a thing about Duncan and he seemed quite wistful because I'd been away with Mike. To cheer him up I suggested he should come for a run each morning as Duncan had said he would start in earnest this week. He hadn't so far - but I expected he would - and Matt needed some practice! He brightened up at that suggestion and said he would. In any case, we arranged that I should go round to his house the next day to do homework.
Surprise, surprise! Matt appeared at our back door before seven thirty on Thursday morning. I was only just getting into my kit when Ma called up the stairs to hurry me up. I thought she meant Tom was there and wondered what had got him out of bed so early. Another surprise, he was ready and waiting when we arrived at No. 22.
We set off and said we would start with a circuit of the park and if Matt carried on there we would go off and come back to pick him up later. He was much slower than us, our practice must be working! A further surprise when we entered the park again was that Duncan was running round beside Matt! We left Duncan and ran back to Matt's with him. He was in his seventh heaven, he'd run with Duncan!! Of course, Tom and I then had to run back which meant we had done much more than our usual distance. We decided we would run to Matt's first in future and then do a route from there!
I'd just got to school that morning when it started to pour with rain. It continued all morning and games that afternoon were cancelled. We spent the afternoon in the library where whispered intelligence informed us that Henry Gale had been absent himself all week so hadn't been at the Cadet parade either on Monday or yesterday. Ill, or keeping out of the way? We got all our homework done but I still cycled home with Matt. He said he was stiff as hell after the run so he was glad we hadn't had games. We soon got rid of some localised stiffness, though, and spent an hour revising our First Aid. We wondered if Benno was getting better as he hadn't been either to school or St Johns.
**
The next couple of weeks were rather mixed. Numbers fluctuated in the class as some returned and others succumbed. Only Matt, Tony, Cleggy and I continued manfully throughout and the only reward we got was the injunction to help those who returned with the work they had missed!
Tom, Matt and I ran every day and Duncan joined us most days. Even though Matt hadn't been running as much as us he was determined and by the day before the School Run was catching up fast. But, there was even greater excitement for him.
On the Friday before the Run the Head Beak announced at assembly that a representative team from our school and the Catholic school would be playing Fensham School on Maundy Thursday and by kind permission of the Abbot would be staying there two nights. He said our school would be providing Buchanan, Collins, Clarke and Symes from the Sixth Form, Collins, Hobbs, Walker and Payne from the Fifth Year with Ward and Wells from the Fourth Year as touch judges and reserves. This caused quite a stir and there was quite a ripple of excitement among the Fourth and Fifth Years. I was standing next to Matt as the announcement sunk in and he turned a deep red and stared straight ahead. Of course, there was much praise for him being chosen, even as a touch judge, but more importantly as a reserve, when we left the Hall. I wondered why Tom hadn't been chosen but he didn't seem too worried about it when we met up for our run on Saturday and he didn't mention it when we met again that afternoon to deal with his homework.
When I arrived he was alone and chuckling to himself. He was also holding a thick book which was unusual for him to do voluntarily as it was obviously not a school book.
"Hey, Jacko, come on up," he said as he opened the door to my knock, "You must have a look at this!"
This proved to be one of the books Duncan had brought back from Scotland. I glanced at the spine as he handed to me, still with his finger stuck in the pages. It was a volume of poems by Robert Burns.
"What have I got to read?" I asked, puzzled.
"Look, here, dirty sod!" he pointed at the opened page.
I peered down at the old print and read out,
"'I sit and count my sins by chapters;
For life and spunk like ither Christians,'."
He subsided into giggles and swiftly took the book and thumbed through.
"And here!" he commanded.
I peered again and followed his finger down the page to where it stopped and read again,
"'With an air that showed a man of spunk'."
He was quite beside himself as he looked down at the page.
"I haven't read about anyone tossing themselves off in a book before," he said delightedly, "That first one counts them up 'cos they're sins like Ginge says, doesn't he?"
I was grinning hugely myself because, at least, I had read the word in a dictionary and knew it's ordinary meanings. Should I let on? No, I thought I would lead Tom on a bit.
"Of course they must have tossed off in those days!" I said emphatically, "What about Onan in the Bible?"
"Who's that?" Tom demanded. Then he grinned. "Oh, yeah, I know! He spilled his seed on the ground didn't he? Yeah, of course he must have tossed himself off and it's in the Bible! I'd forgotten that!"
He peered down at the book again.
"I'll have to show Duncan this. He's always on about Burns and his poetry and all he does is write about tossing off!"
"Only two lines in a thick book like that?" I countered.
"Doesn't matter," said Tom decisively, "He's still saying he beats his meat a lot."
"So you're a man of spunk as well, are you Tom?" I asked slyly.
He made an abortive grab at me and grinned back.
"Yeah, I s'pose so. You are anyway. Perhaps not so much a man yet, but a boy of spunk!" he concluded triumphantly.
Silly clot, I thought. Better let him off the hook.
"Have you looked it up in the dictionary?" I asked, nonchalantly.
"Wouldn't be in there, it's rude!" he retorted.
"I suggest you have a look."
He eyed me quizzically and went out of the room and returned a few moments later with a large, thick dictionary. He quickly turned the pages, mouthing out the alphabet as he went along.
"Gosh!" he said with an tone of amazement, "Here it is! Oh, hell, all it says it's tinder or a spark, or it's plucky. Nothing about tossing off!"
I laughed, "Do you feel plucky now?"
He made as if to throw the book at me but dropped it on his bed and advanced on me rapidly. Next thing I found myself upturned like the book with my flies open and a heavy hand groping for my cock. I was just about to retaliate in some way when we heard the back door open and shut noisily. Tom leapt up and I scrabbled around to do my flies up. Heavy footsteps came up the stairs.
"It's Duncan," whispered Tom unnecessarily.
We crept over to his desk and settled down to work. Silence reigned for a few minutes then the heavy footsteps were heard again and the door was flung open.
"You misbegotten little toad," roared Duncan, "What have you been doing in my room and where's my dictionary?"
Tom turned to face Duncan with a quite innocent look on his face.
"I only looked for some socks for Church Parade tomorrow and had a look at that pile of things you brought back from great-uncle Robert's funeral. And your dictionary's there." He pointed to the volume on the bed.
Duncan strode to the bed and picked up the book and grinned at me - the first acknowledgement I was in the room.
"Tom, wanting a dictionary? There's only one word beginning with dick he's interested in, eh, Tom?"
Tom flushed bright red. I was rather amazed Duncan would refer to Tom's major interest so openly. I thought I would add to his confusion.
"He only wanted it to check on a word in that book by Burns," I said calmly. "He's quite interested in Scottish poetry now and he must have read it thoroughly to find it."
Tom muttered something between clenched teeth and I didn't relish what might happen to me later but I carried on.
"He was rather perturbed about the rude nature of some of Burns's phrases," I said, trying to keep a straight face as I reached over and turned the still open book over. I pointed at the first page Tom had shown me. "These lines here."
Tom made a grab for the book but Duncan was quicker.
"Where?" he demanded, "What lines?"
"About a third of the way down. But I explained to him there were other meanings so he wanted to check in your dictionary."
Duncan quickly spotted the lines and let out a roar of laughter.
"Oh, Tom!" he managed to get out between guffaws, "You are priceless!"
Tom put on a woebegone look.
"I didn't know. I've only heard it for... ...you know what. And stop taking the mickey - just because you and Jacko are so clever. All the boys in my form just say that for... ...when they do it...," he finished lamely.
Duncan went over to Tom and put a brotherly hand on his shoulder.
"Now, Tom, for goodness sake cheer up. We're only pulling your leg. Jacko's the best pal you could have..." he paused in this eulogy of me, "...even if he knows more meanings than you, and one of those rather suspect!" He grinned again. "At least you've looked at a book without any bidding."
He picked up the dictionary and went out with a wave to me as he did so. As soon as the door closed Tom rounded on me.
"You scheming bastard," he snarled, "You did that deliberately to make me look a fool! I'll pull your sodding bollocks off for that!"
He stood up but he couldn't keep a straight face either and was soon convulsed in laughter.
"I don't know how you do it, Jacko. You say things to Dunc so straight out - like that time you started to tell us about that Scout camp Tony Marcham went to. Dunc wanted to hear all about it and asked me if you'd told me more."
I had composed myself after expecting a physical onslaught.
"I did tell you more later."
"And I told Duncan. He said he wasn't surprised 'cause Jim Chater was always at it." He grinned hugely, "Duncan said he was known as 'Spunk-Dust Jim' in the Sixth Form and I bet that's not in the dictionary.'
I had to agree and mentally added another new term to my personal dictionary! The problem now was no matter how horny we felt there was no way we could indulge in case Dunc the Spunk - oh dear I'd better not say that to Tom, at least not yet! - came in. We buckled down to the homework and I was surprised that Tom managed to do so well. My coaching was having an effect! We heard his mum come home and I had some tea with them, much amused by the little grin which played at the corners of Dunc's mouth as he eyed his brother. That night in bed I thought of Tom's horny hand on my dick and wondered if Tom and Dunc were also adding to the supply of spunk dust just like me.
Tom was ready and waiting on Sunday morning and he said we should have a long run today and do our ordinary runs on Monday and Tuesday before the Run on Wednesday. We set off and ran into the park and had done two circuits when Matt came puffing up. We did two more circuits then, just as we were leaving the park, Dunc ran up. He said he was going to do a long run as well and hared off in the opposite direction leaving a rather forlorn looking Matt. We cheered him up by running all the way back to his house and then circled back and approached my house from the other way. As we got to the gate I said to Tom he might as well come and see if Ma had enough porridge for him. We collapsed dramatically over the back doorstep. Ma pointed upstairs so we went up and had a bath. Before I'd got the taps running fully Tom had stripped off and, as I turned, leaned back to display an enormous, for him, stiffy. My kit was off in seconds and consecutive bursts of come splashed into the rising water in the next minute or so as we tossed off with tremendous speed side by side. Christ, that run had made us both randy as hell!
Ma had made triple helpings of porridge and we certainly needed it. I made it a triple for the day that night as well!
A few more had trickled back to school on Monday morning and there were plenty of sick notes asking to be excused from the run on Wednesday. Huggy put on a sour face and suggested those who were unfit in body had better improve the fitness of their minds with plenty of healthful mental exercise. After that it was sour looks all round as he piled on the homework for everyone. What with my piano lesson, St Johns and Huggy's homework I only had energy for one burst of physical exercise.
I slept very soundly and was awakened by Ma banging on my door saying Tom was already down below waiting. I scurried around and ended up having to rush off downstairs without any pants under my shorts as I couldn't find where I had flung them the night before! It was damp and cold so no fear of anything dangling too low - boastful me!
Mike had already arrived when I got home after school and was waiting on the back porch.
"Our Head Beak said there's a combined team going to play Fensham next week. Are you in it?" I asked him as I unlocked the door and preceded him in.
"Yep, I am, and there's Bernie Doyle and Jamey Gould and a few others of our lot," he replied.
"Matt's been chosen as touch judge and reserve and Billy Clarke and Andy Symes are in as well," I added impishly.
"Oh, bejasus, that pair of hairy bastards!" he said with feeling, "I'd better mind myself hadn't I!"
"But you'll be in the same team!"
"Doesn't matter, if what you told me's true they'll be after my blood!"
"Or something else, if I remember what Billy said!" I said laughing.
"It's no laughing matter, young Jacko, with that pair of desperadoes! But I'll survive, no doubt."
"Better say two lots of prayers before you start!"
He took a friendly swipe at me.
"They'll need my prayers if they do anything!" he laughed and sat down.
"But, I've got things to tell you. When I get back I'm moving in here!"
He grinned at my puzzled look.
"Oh, don't be too worried. It's only for a couple of days because there are so many of the family coming to the wedding I'm being chucked out of my room and your mum said I could have the spare room here."
He was just telling me this when Ma arrived with the news that as well as Mike's great-aunt and uncle another old relative would be staying so he would have to share with me! I said I wouldn't mind as long as he didn't snore as loud as he had up at the farmhouse. He eyed me and I knew I would be dealt with in some way when he got the chance. Anyway, Ma went on chatting to him so I went off to my room and sat and ruminated about what I'd heard that day. Of course, the news that Mike would be staying over Easter weekend put me in a great quandary later that night as I'd resolved I wouldn't have a wank before the Run but thinking about it gave me a raging hard-on. My resolve won!
However, I woke in the morning with clear evidence of a massive wet dream. Bloody Hell! I might as well have enjoyed a good wank and sod the consequences!
We'd all decided not to have a run that morning so I lazed over breakfast and Ma wished me luck as I set off for school.
Most people were rather subdued during the morning and even more so while we were changing after lunch in readiness for the great event. Even Cleggy kept his mouth shut while Rabbity was instructing us about the procedure. The starts were staggered with the Sixth Form setting off at two o'clock, then the Fifth Formers fifteen minutes later with us at half-past. Tom, Matt and I stood together in the line-up and as soon as Rabbity blew his whistle Tom hared off. I glanced at Matt who grimaced and we set off at a steadier pace but soon found ourselves well ahead of the rest. In fact, it wasn't long before we caught Tom up as he was muttering about getting a stitch already.
After a quarter of an hour we three had lost the others in our year and it wasn't long before we were in striking distance of some of the Fifth Form stragglers. I thought I would press the pace a bit as I was well into my second wind so I upped my stride and left the other two. I could hear them plodding along behind me and gradually Tom began to catch me up. I passed a couple of the Fifth Formers who were looking decidedly green, then some more and quite suddenly realised I was almost there. Glory Be! I beat Tom over the finishing line, with Matt coming in third. Not only that, all three of us had beaten the previous record for the Fourth-Form Run! This cheered Tom up as he had looked a bit glum at first because Duncan had already won the Sixth-Form Run.
Ma and Pa were highly delighted when I told them and I got five bob for the effort from Pa. I celebrated that night properly and had a very satisfying conclusion to a momentous day!
The Head Beak announced the results at assembly next day and some suppressed merriment was caused by the order of the first six in our year as we three were followed by Carter, Masters, Bates. The H-B obviously didn't cotton on but beamed down benevolently and said the cups and medals would be awarded on the last day of term by the Chairman of Governors and all the runners and winners should be given a round of applause now.
Poor old Ned. There were several references to his habits during the day as the H-B had announced he did it! I heard him tell Johnny Wills he would deprive him of his capabilities if he keep on about it which didn't prevent him cycling off with Johnny after school!
Nobbo asked me on Friday afternoon if I would like to go to the flicks with him on Saturday. Why not! We all had end of term fever even if the beaks were piling on the homework agony. The other attraction was the prospect of the tea promised afterwards!
Saturday morning I rolled out of bed and without thinking got kitted up ready for a run. I was halfway down the stairs before I remembered the run had come and gone. I carried on regardless and did the usual route and passed Duncan delivering papers on the way. He, very rudely, waggled a finger against his temple as if I was daft but I ignored him and ran on. Ma, of course, wanted to know what had come into me but I just said I'd got into the habit of running and I quite liked it. She unkindly reminded me that I had my piano exam on Thursday so a few runs up and down the keyboard might be a good idea. So, French over breakfast, two hours on the piano, a rest, German over lunch and escape to Nobbo's and a funny film.
Nobbo had a coughing fit as we came out of the smoke-filled darkness. I'd noticed three of the Fifth Years sitting together some way in front of us and they had been smoking quite openly so I supposed they must have been sixteen.
"Phew," gasped Nobbo after calming down, "I can't see why people smoke!
I bet the people at the back can't see the screen! Billy says he's not going to start and I didn't like it when I tried one when I was at junior school."
I'd never had the urge to start either. Years before I had shared a surreptitious fag with Tony in the potting shed at the end of his garden and we'd both promptly choked and vowed never again. I suppose I had got use to Pa's pipe which was continually in his mouth but there were never cigarettes in the house to tempt me.
"Me neither, horrible habit," I said emphatically, "My dad smokes a pipe and I don't mind the smell of that, but I don't want to start that 'cause you ought to see the horrible muck he gets out of it!"
He nudged me in the ribs. "Not all habits are horrible, though, are they!" he snickered. "Anyway, did you see who was in the back row when we came out?"
I shook my head.
"Only Henry Gale and some girl! Wait until I tell Billy!" Nobbo said conspiratorially, "He says Henry's still annoyed over what we did to him and the others but he can't do anything without making himself more of a fool than he is!"
"What about Billy? Is he annoyed?"
"No," laughed Nobbo, "He thought it was ever so funny and he wishes he could have seen it! It's only Henry and Rankin who got annoyed and they're both leaving next term anyway as soon as exams are over."
"You say you saw Gale in there," I said, nodding in the direction we had just come.
"Yep, he was in the back row with some girl from the High School. Billy says they're all whores and he wouldn't touch one with a barge-pole!"
Crumbs, what did he mean? I would have to enquire. But I had information to impart.
"I heard Henry Gale was shagging some woman regular every Friday."
This stopped Nobbo in his tracks.
"Go on, where did you hear that?" he asked with amazement.
"Tom Buchanan told me his brother said he got it when he delivered her meat from his father's shop."
Nobbo guffawed, "I like that, but Billy hasn't told me that!"
"He must know, 'cos Tom said he's been going there for two years."
"Where?" demanded Nobbo.
My turn to laugh and turn the knife.
"No use you applying for the job, I've got my name down for it already!"
"Liar," riposted Nobbo, "I don't believe you!"
"Tom has too, and Roo and Andy Symes," I lied expansively, "We're all getting a turn in June after Gale goes in the Army and she can have her choice."
Nobbo was really wound-up now.
"You're too young," he retorted.
"Gale was only in the Fifth-Year when he started and we'll all be there after next term... Oh, except Andy Symes 'cos he'll be in the Second Year Sixth!"
Nobbo gripped my arm.
"You're having me on, Jacko, aren't you?"
"Truth, Nobbo!" I lied again, "When I fetched our rations last week I told Mr Gale I was ready and willing to be a delivery boy and he said I could join the queue and winked."
"I don't believe you!" was Nobbo's suspicious response.
"Wait and see!" was my specious response.
We continued walking in silence with Nobbo ruminating over my story.
"Why don't you go down and see Mr Gale?" I asked, stirring it up again.
"No, I don't fancy it," he said, lost in thought.
"You don't fancy having a shag!" I said emphatically.
This brought him out of his reverie.
"No, I don't want to be a delivery boy!" was his curt response. "Not for meat anyway."
"Tom says you get your rations for delivering the rations," I continued, grinning to myself. "Think of that!"
Nobbo turned on me. "You wouldn't know what to do," he said sneeringly, "You're only fourteen!"
"So are you. You're younger than me, anyway," I retorted, "But we won't be for long, eh, Nobbo!" I punched him playfully on the arm. "Then we'll be fifteen and ready for anything!"
He turned and grinned at me. "You're ready for anything now, aren't you?"
I nodded vigorously in response to that and we continued walking in silence. We reached Nobbo's road just as Billy was coming out of their front door and walking towards us. He smiled broadly when he saw us.
"Enjoyed yourselves, you two, eh?" he asked cheerfully, "Can't stop, got to see a man about a dog!"
He didn't wait for a reply but sauntered off down the road in the direction we had come and disappeared in the gloom.
"I wonder where he's off to?" mused Nobbo.
"Seems cheerful enough. Perhaps he's got a date with one of those whores you saw Henry Gale with!"
Nobbo shot me a sharp glance, "I don't think so. He can't be bothered, he says, too much trouble, but he does go somewhere."
That was obvious, he was going out, somewhere! But where?
No one was in at Nobbo's. He said his mum was on duty until ten but there was some tea in the pantry. We sat by the fire and ate up the food and drank tea and then went up to Nobbo and Billy's room. There was a pile of discarded clothing on the floor. Billy had changed before going out and left it where he dropped it all. I sat on the bottom bunk as Nobbo began picking things up and opened the wardrobe to deposit the debris inside.
"Here!" he commanded, "Don't tell Billy if I show you this."
He fumbled at the floor of the wardrobe and up came a piece of wood. >From under this he drew out a notebook.
"It's Billy's diary," he explained, "Have a look."
I could make nothing of it. It seemed a meaningless jumble of letters and numbers.
"I've worked most of it out," confided Nobbo, "He moves letters along but I sorted it out 'cause there's always more E's. Look, that word's `Easter' 'cause there's two W's and that K's an S."
I stared at the page as he pointed again and continued. "And those two are `Paul Wright'. I guessed that as they are in there lots of times and it helped with ten of the letters."
He grinned up at me.
"Do you know what it say's there? It's three years ago."
I shook my head.
"It says Paul Wright's got a bigger thing than him."
He turned over a good few pages.
"He changed the code in between but this is last year and it says here he's beaten Paul Wright. Look, he says his is six and a half and Paul Wright is six and a quarter."
Gosh, I still had some way to go.
"What does he say about you?" I asked goadingly.
"He knows I've looked at it." He flipped over a couple of pages. "He says here `Nobbo is a nosey little sod and will get a good hiding if I catch him reading this'." He snickered, "But he hasn't caught me, though he knows, but there's some bits I can't get, especially since Christmas."
He turned to the last page of entries and I peered at the array of meaningless gibberish.
"If I could read that I would know where he goes at the weekends. He's always out now and I have to promise not to tell mum."
To be Continued:
Note: I would appreciate comments from anyone who has had the stamina to keep going with the story. Many thanks to those who have already written. Jo.
Previous stories of mine have been published on Nifty.
Spying on My Brothers: (45k: Incest Section: Apr 15 2000)
Easter Rugger Tours (Dir: HS Section: Jun 10 2000)
Jordan's Story (84k: HS Section: Jul 23 2000)
Flip's Tale (Dir: HS Section: Apr 17 2002)
Taming the 'Phobes (Dir: HS; Military: August 04 2002)
Read and Enjoy.