THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF CLIFF & DEREK
Part 46
THE FINAL CHAPTER
Written by Trevor Johnson
Edited by Richie
(Life after School)
Please note this story contains boy-to-boy sexual activity and if you don't enjoy this kind of story read no further.
This story is also based on actual events but all the names and locations have been changed to protect those involved.
This story is not to be published, or reprinted, without the express permission of the author.
By the time Derek and I were in our late twenty's we'd settled down to a life of domestic bliss. We were by now very wealthy and didn't have to work unless we wanted to, plus some of the investments we had made with our money payed off quite handsomely.
We even invested in several plays which didn't make a lot of profit, in fact a couple of them we lost money but it felt good to put back into an industry which had been so kind to us. These losses made our accountants happy because they could write it off and try and keep us out of the supertax bracket.
Ian and Roland still lived with us when they weren't on the road with some play or other. It appeared that they were very much in love although Roland from time to time would look longingly at me and I suspect he still had strong feelings towards me.
The remaining two boys Jason and Michael were in their last year of being tutored at home by Jonathon who had proved to be a great asset but would no longer be needed by the end of the year as the boys would be attending university. Both of them remained devoted to each other and Sir Anthony dropped by every so often to take the boys out somewhere.
We still had our protector Gordon and our two resident nurses come housekeepers David and Brian, who because of Derek's health we decided to keep on. While we had relaxed our security at the house we still always had a couple of guards on duty just to make sure.
We went on a couple more cruises and also visited Michael and Robert who had settled in the Bahamas with their three Spanish boys who were now very handsome men. Money was no object to either of these guys and they looked after us well whenever we visited. John and Bruce continued to stay in touch and we went down to their school to conduct acting and theatrical workshops at least twice a year and I always performed with the school band and choir for a charity concert once a year.
Our lovemaking had settled down as we became more mature and little bit older but we still made love almost daily and on the weekends sometimes twice we were so much in love. I must admit I got lazy not bothered if I worked or not. So when Bob my manager suggested a European cabaret tour I was of two minds to take it or not but Derek said , It'll be good just as long as Bob doesn't make it too strenuous."
I passed this on to my manger stressing that if it was too hard I would pull the plug immediately. He agreed and for once it wasn't too bad. He had hired a tour bus which Derek and I travelled in along with my eight piece band except on some long distances when we both flew on to the next destination.
We started off in Paris, France before travelling through Luxemburg and then to the Casino at Monte Carlo were we stayed for three nights and played to packed houses of the elite of Europe. We visited Belgium, Italy, the South of France, Spain, Portugal and Greece and it was a great trip.
Most of my band members had been with me for a few years and we looked upon them as close personal friends, especially my keyboard player Peter Francis, a brilliant musician who was also my musical director. None of my band was gay but accepted Derek and I as a couple, no problem at all.
So this was the kind of lifestyle we led and suffice to say we were very happy and contented. Derek's health remained a worry and regular doctor check-ups showed that his Leukaemia was still hanging around. Apart from bouts of tiredness he didn't complain, although some days I could see in his eyes that he was making a big effort to hide the pain.
Although our birthdays were two months apart we decide to have a big thirtieth birthday bash and combine it into one great event. We decided to have it in a big conference centre rather than at the house as we had done on previous occasions. We had everything catered so that none of our staff had to do anything but enjoy themselves.
Peter and John flew over from Boston. Michael and Robert and the Spanish mob as we called them along with a host of our friends came from all over the world including Rama from India. We hired another band so my guys could also enjoy themselves along with wives and girlfriends, plus I hired and flew in Tom Jones as the guest artist.
The champagne flowed and the food was great in fact everyone agreed it was one of the best parties we had ever staged. The presents we received were staggering but the custom made solid gold Rolex watches Rama gave us were the best and we found out later when we came to insure them they were valued at a quarter of a million pounds each.
Peter and John also brought us gold in the shape of matching gold and diamond cuff links. It was also an emotional time with Gordon giving us Diamond encrusted tie pins which must have cost him a couple of month's wages to say the least. We hugged and kissed him with tears in our eyes as he thanked us for employing him when he wasn't sure were the next meal was coming from and how much he had enjoyed the twenty years of service he had the pleasure to give us.
Derek's parents said they were ashamed that they didn't have anywhere near as much money as some of our guests and couldn't afford to buy anywhere near as lavish presents.
We took them in our arms and I said, "You gave me the best gift any person could possibly have when all those years ago you gave me your only son Derek." We all started to cry and I continued, "Without Derek my life would have been empty and meaningless but he gave me something to strive for, he motivated me to bigger and better things."
In fact we gave the both of them something this time presenting them with the deeds of the house they lived in, a new car, a bank account and a number of sound investments insuring they would never have to worry about money again. Likewise, we set up a trust in my dear mothers name to help abused and abandoned children.
Over the next two years Derek's health gradually began to worsen and in early July nineteen seventy two he was admitted to a private hospital. He became very pale and anaemic, lost weight becoming just a shadow of his former self, his hair gradually fell out from the chemicals they used to try and save him.
I moved into the hospital to be near him all the time and for four weeks only left his side to shower, change and attend to my own toiletry needs. We spent our days holding hands, cuddling and talking about the great times we had together, about all the adventures and mishaps we had along the way.
I'll never forget the time and date of August two at ten thirty in the morning when the doctors asked to speak to me outside of the room, "I'm sorry Mr Steele we have done all we can for Mr Driscoll and it is now only a matter of time before he leaves us." I burst into tears telling them they were wrong but deep down I knew they were right.
I went back in after drying my face trying to look brave but Derek held onto me whispering," I know Cliff and I'm prepared for the end. I love you my darling and will wait in heaven for you to join me some day. While I ask you to never to forget me please don't mope and mourn me for ever, but enjoy the remainder of your life on earth, promise me that?"
I couldn't answer him and we remained together for the next two days as I watched him slowly fade away. Family and friends dropped in over that time to say goodbye but I have no idea who they were except his parents who maintained a bedside vigil with me until at six forty five in the evening of August four nineteen seventy two after mouthing the words I love you, Derek passed away and a part of my life ended.
The funeral was a blur to me and was organized mainly by Gordon, David and Brian. My doctor kept me sedated most of the time. Derek's wish was to be buried back in Malvern next to my mother and the plot next to that was reserved for his parents.
I was told later that the funeral was a big affair with mourners from all over the world but it was all very vague to me. Peter and John of course were there by my side most of the time and all our friends including Sir Alex Guinness, Cliff Richard and heaps more. The church and our home were filled with flowers and the sympathy cards numbered in the hundreds.
One card with the royal coat of arms on it did catch my eye later it simply said Our deepest sympathy on your loss' and was signed Elizabeth R. Our wedding rings were both buried with Derek. At the wake' afterwards at a local football stadium I have no recollection of at all because I became very drunk and remained in that state for the next two years.
I just couldn't cope with life without my lover and even made a couple of attempts to take my own life. Over that period of time I drank away all our fortune and lost everything including the house, cars, boat and all our money and investments. Bob tried booking me for a couple of shows and I didn't even bother turning up and lost more money when the club owners sued me.
After that even my manager stopped bothering as I sank deeper and deeper into a drunken state of depression. Two years on and I'm not sure what happened but I would like to believe that Derek came to me in a dream and one day I woke up and said to myself this is no good. I've got to get my life back on track because this is what Derek wanted.
I went cold turkey and can remember sitting in the corner of my one room apartment as the little green men and yellow snakes kept crawling all over me and I shook uncontrollably sweating and then shivering from the cold. It took almost a week before my head began to clear and I could begin to think rationally.
In my mind I decided that it was no good for me to remain in Britain and borrowed enough money from the Salvation Army, in fact to buy a one way ticket to Australia. Why did I decide to go to Australia? I think it was because it was the farthest place away from my demons.
I had some cousins living in Sydney, New South Wales who looked after me when I first arrived. Then I met a lady in Brisbane Queensland who continued to help me remain sober and I eventually married her.
Getting married was a mistake because I didn't fully enjoy the sexual side of our marriage and eventually we stopped having intercourse altogether. I wound up having a few affairs with guys which were mainly one night stands.
I think this is a good place to bring my story to an end. From that day in nineteen fifty four when I was first seduced at school by that cute young guy with curly hair and one lock of hair that always hung down on his forehead until I lost him in nineteen seventy two, those were the happiest days of my life. Not a day goes by after all these years that I don't think of that wonderful man who became my partner. If he were still alive I'm sure Derek and I would still be together. I do miss him but life must go on.
The End
Writers Corner:-
Not much left to say except I must apologize for the short chapter. I did intend to make it much longer but I was finding it so difficult to write. I cried a lot as I recalled the events. I did list and between writing sessions talked with friends who I knew would cheer me up.
I hope you enjoyed the two books which are the chronicles of two people in love.
On a happier note I will be shortly writing a new story entirely different from any others I have composed so far so watch out for that and of course Davey (formerly titled Rebirth) and Living in a lie will continue to be written.
Please provide me with some feedback if you have the time and inclination.
Hugs,
Trevor
Supertev699@hotmail.com
Editors Corner:-
Guys,
I do not know what to say. I cried this entire chapter. It is such a rare thing to find a love that deep. So if you ever find it, fight like hell to keep it. Make sure your partner knows from your words and actions that he is the most important person in the world for you.
Please let Trevor know what your thoughts are about this beautiful love story.
Richie