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. If you have trouble with the English educational system let me know. A dramatis personae will follow after a few installments - there are a lot of characters!
ALADDIN'S AWAKENING
By
Joel
Chapter 6: Continued
Thursday September 30th 1943
Thursday, a real red letter day, my fourteenth birthday! I wondered if I would get any presents 'cos usually as it wasn't long till Christmas I didn't get much for my birthday and things were saved up for then. I had a great surprise when I got downstairs because there was a large parcel on the breakfast table as well as some cards. Ma said I could open the parcel before eating my breakfast and there inside was a pair of long trousers! How did she know my size?
"We may need to have them altered a bit. In any case you won't be wearing them to school until after half term."
She said I could try them after school and anyway there was another surprise as the French circle were meeting again at five-thirty for a birthday tea.
"Gosh, Ma, nobody told me!"
"Secrets, secrets! They all knew last week and promised to keep it quiet, so they have?"
"Yes, nobody's said a word about it and it's Matt's birthday tomorrow, he'll be fifteen, so he'll be pleased."
"I know, it's a combined birthday party. He doesn't know it's his party as well so I asked Tony who else should be invited and he said George Clegg 'cos he was friends with all of you, and, let's see,"... She picked up a piece of paper with a list on it... "David Morgan, Tim Parker, Vincent Hare and Jim Masters are in the Rugby team with Matt and so they are coming as well! Oh, and of course, there's one more, Tony Clarke, because the other Tony told me his birthday is on the second, isn't it?"
"Oh, Ma, how great, but what will we have to eat, don't forget it's games today and they'll all be hungry?"
"Leave it to me, I'm having the day off and I promise your ravenous friends won't be starved. I'll tell you a secret, Mrs Ward and Mrs Clarke are providing some things and if you look in the pantry there's a birthday cake which Mrs Gardiner made for you, and I've got some other plans as well!"
OK, marvellous, I'll have to leave it to Ma, but there would be ten of us, most of the form.
"Ma, it's most of the form, what will I say to the others?"
"Don't worry, the next ones to have birthdays amongst those invited are David Morgan and Tim Parker and I've already spoken to their mothers and they'll invite all the rest."
Good old Ma, fancy having done all this without letting on. I felt very excited. I opened the cards, among them was one from Tony and Roo, another one was from Matt and there was one from Auntie Fay, Uncle Dick and the boys. It was drizzling with rain as I set out to cycle to school and there nobody mentioned the party and I didn't let on I knew about it. In fact no one mentioned my birthday at all. Anyway, Rabbity and Van said we would be having games in the afternoon as the rain had stopped and I excelled myself and managed to score a try by being bundled over the line from a scrum, so I was pleased about that.
I was pretty happy with myself as we came off the field, rather muddy and wet, but I wasn't expecting what happened as soon as I entered the changing-room. There was a shout of 'Birthday Boys' and Matt, Nobbo and I found ourselves surrounded by all our form plus most of 4S and unceremoniously dumped into the showers, boots and all, while they sang Happy Birthday. As if by magic, as soon as they had finished, Van and Rabbity appeared and the rabble melted away. I sat up under the rushing water and could see Matt and Nobbo together under the next one, luckily someone had turned the hot taps on!
"Congratulations for surviving so long, my boys," boomed Van, "You had better get showered properly and get home or your tea will all be eaten before you arrive!"
He and Rabbity disappeared and Roo and Tony hoiked me up and out.
"Come on, you're a big boy now. You should know how to wash properly!", one of them said and with that a number of hands came at me in all directions and before you could say Jack Robinson I was stripped off and pushed under the shower again in company with Matt and Nobbo who'd had the same treatment.
Matt was grunting. "I'll kill the first bugger who throws cold water over us!" he growled. However, this did not seem to be part of their plan and we were left strictly alone as the others just got on showering and dressing.
As Nobbo stepped out of the shower he looked back at me and said cheerfully, "It's very kind of your mother arranging all this for us. I didn't know until this morning until my mum told me and said I wasn't to say anything to you or Matt, but I suppose it's alright now!"
Matt chimed in, "I didn't know anything about the party either but I'm looking forward to it. My mum said she didn't know how your mother would cope with ten of us!"
"I don't know either, if Cleggy mucks about it'll be hell!"
"He's been a bit quieter the last week or so," said Nobbo, "He doesn't play me up so much as he used to!"
This was true, I had noticed that the continual war of words which Cleggy indulged in with Nobbo, especially about still being in shorts, had diminished considerably. In fact, other than the run-in with Campion, when he got the lines, Cleggy said and did little in class to make himself conspicuous. I would ask Tony about it as he was as thick as thieves with Cleggy since camp. Talk of the devil, at that moment Cleggy came along the line already dressed.
"You were quick, Cleggy!", Matt said, "I've only just got dried off."
"While you lot were playing around I got under the showers first to make sure I got some hot water, but anyway, thanks for inviting me, I'll be there!"
With that he turned and waved and went off. We finished off dressing and I said I would have to rush off as I'd promised Ma I would be home early and they'd better come a bit earlier than the others.
I sped off home and was welcomed with the most delicious smells as I opened the back door and walked through to the kitchen. Ma and Mrs Ward were there busy putting things into dishes and bowls. I said hello and looked around.
"You're not to touch anything, no tasting, remember!" I nodded. Ma continued, "Matt doesn't know his mother is here, she's left a note to come at five."
Mrs Ward looked very busy. I hadn't really met her before but she seemed jolly and nice.
"Matt's a year older than you, isn't he?"
"Yes, he's the oldest in the class. I'm sitting next to him this year."
"Yes, he says you're very useful for his maths homework. I hope he helps you as well!"
"Oh yes, we get on well together." Matt certainly did help me, but not with homework, or, perhaps one could say it was another type of homework. "He's told me about his dad being in the Navy and that he would like to go in the Navy as well."
"Yes, I think he will, my father and my husband's father were both in the Navy so it's almost a family tradition. It will be if Matt goes in." She laughed, "It's funny, though, Robert says he's always seasick and he's very glad he's got a dry posting now!" She turned to Ma. "Have you met my husband?"
"Oh yes, when I was teaching at the Girls' School and you had to come to see about Julia's exams. He said you'd settled back here in Kerslake in '36 when your parents came back to England."
"Yes, we met at the naval base in South Africa where my father and Robert were stationed. We married out there and Matthew and his sister were both born there. But I do like being back in England, even if there is a war on!"
Ma turned to me, she generally changed the subject if the war was mentioned, "Now, Jacko, we want to get things finished here, you go through and see if there is anything of yours lying about and put it away upstairs. You could get your steam engine ready to show anybody who wants to see it and Mrs Tring has left you a present."
I went through to the front room and dining room. Both had been rearranged. The dining room table and all the furniture was moved back against the wall. Ma had put some big cushions on the floor. She came in behind me. "It's help yourself, something to start with first, then special bangers and mash and sticky buns to finish and Mrs Ward has made loads of lemonade. There should be plenty, even for you!" She playfully cuffed me and put her arm round my shoulder. "I hope you enjoy it, birthday boy!"
"Oh, Ma, it sounds great, thanks a lot!"
"You'd better thank Mrs Ward and Mrs Clarke as well because they've done quite a bit towards it and Mrs Gardiner gave me things out of her garden on Sunday."
A ring came on the bell. I was released and went to open the front door. Matt and Nobbo stood there all grins.
"Smells good, what is it?" asked Matt.
"You'd better ask your mum, she's in the kitchen."
"Mine's still at work but she's coming round as soon as she finishes. My brother's coming as well with her. I think he's heard your mum's a good cook."
Oh, Billy Clarke was coming, Matt's pal of the summer. I winked at him without Nobbo seeing. He grinned back.
"Oh, come upstairs to my room, we can wait up there, I don't think Ma wants us in the way. She said I should get the engine ready."
Nobbo was keen on this as he hadn't seen it before and I left him and Matt attaching the pulley to Mike's incredible gears when the bell went again. The others arrived in two lots, Roo, Tony and Cleggy came bearing two parcels, one small and one large. The small one contained a new school tie from Roo and Tony and the large one, much tied up and with lots of wrapping, turned out to be a pair of laces for my rugger boots! This caused great glee.
"A very useful present!" said Cleggy, "I gave it a great deal of thought as I saw you were having difficulty the other day with that moth-eaten pair you have and as a special present I'll do the next fifty lines that old Campion gives you!"
"Thanks a lot, it's you who gets the lines from him!"
"Yeah, I've got fifty spare 'cos I thought he gave me two fifty last time but it was only two hundred!"
Well, Cleggy seemed to be quite cheerful even though Tony had thought otherwise earlier in the day. I sent them upstairs to join the others as I could hear more arrivals on the path. When the bell went again the other four stood there, Vince, Dave, Jim and Tim Parker. Vince thrust a package into my hands.
"From all of us, to you, happy returns and don't forget it's my birthday on December the tenth!"
An aggrieved voice came from behind him, "Give over, Vince, it's mine before then, mine's November the fourth!" It was Tim Parker and Dave Morgan wasn't to be left out, "And mine's the eighth of December!"
"Thanks a lot, but come on in. The others are up in my room looking at the steam engine but it'll be a bit crowded."
Ma appeared in the hallway.
"Hello, lads, come in here, there's plenty of room."
I stood back to let them pass and they followed Ma, noses twitching. Ma stood at the bottom of the stairs, put two fingers to her mouth and let out a wild whistle. The four stopped, turned and gaped, mothers didn't usually do such things, in fact, I didn't know Ma could whistle like that, I certainly couldn't. She turned and winked at them, "That should get their attention! Follow me!"
It did, the other five appeared like magic at the top of the stairs.
"Who did that?" asked Tony as he got to the bottom of the stairs.
"Ma, I didn't know she could." I could see Ma had gone right up in all their estimations. I came on behind as they went into the dining room opening the parcel Vince had pressed into my hands.
"Gosh, thanks, that's marvellous! It's a pair of football socks, I need a new pair!"
"We all clubbed together to get them," said Vince.
"With Love and Best Wishes From Us All," intoned Jim very seriously, and blushed deep red at the hoots of laughter, "But that's what it says on the card."
Vince snatched it away from him. "That's my sister Eileen, she saw me wrapping them up so she added that when I wasn't looking, the little beast." There was more laughter at this and then Ma announced that with the assistance of the three birthday boys - more subdued cackles - supper would be served.
It was marvellous, everyone sat on the floor with plates and we handed round sandwiches with all sorts of fillings to start. Then Mrs Ward brought in two big tureens of mashed potatoes and Ma followed with a great dish of special sausages she said she had made herself. They were gorgeous and everyone had seconds and Dave Morgan finished off the remains of the potato and gravy. Even I felt full and then we three were instructed to bring the cake and the buns in. The buns were lovely sticky yeast cakes which Ma only made on very special occasions and Mrs Gardiner's cake was scrumptious too.
Tim Parker who was sitting next to me sighed as he swallowed the last scrap of a sticky bun, "I shall go pop if I try to eat anything more!"
From the looks on their faces I think there would have been a general explosion if more food was forced on them.
As Ma came back into the room Tony said in very heartfelt tones, "Aw, Mrs Thomson, that was smashing, thanks."
"Good," she said smiling broadly, "I do hope you all had enough. I calculated it on what Jacko eats, then halved it!"
It was my turn to blush as all eyes swivelled to look at me.
"Ma's exaggerating, I don't eat all that much."
Mrs Ward joined in, "No, you're all the same, I always say it's cheaper to keep Matthew for a week than a fortnight."
That started off general laughter and grunts of thanks and approval of the birthday meal. No one tried to stand up.
"I think you'd all better just sit and talk," said Ma, "Rest your weary selves" She patted Roo on the head, "Your jaws must be quite tired with all that work you've just done!"
"I'm not the only one! Gosh, I'm full up, though!"
We sat and talked, mainly about school and the game to be played on Saturday. I nearly asked Vince about praying but thought better of it, I would sometime, though. While we were talking the bell went again and I heard Ma opening the door. It was Mrs Clarke and Billy.
Very soon after he came into the dining room bearing a heaped plate. "Hi, fellas, this looks good!" He came over and sat in the space between me and Vince. "I'm glad I came to keep an eye on him over there." He pointed a fork at his almost comatose, younger brother. "Not often he's as quiet as that, he must be very well fed!"
"We all are," said Tim, "I couldn't eat another morsel!"
"Good, all the more for me then, I'm quite peckish. Anyway," he turned to me, "you're a touch judge for us on Saturday, aren't you? Better keep your eyes open or the Brother'll get you, eh, Vince?" He directed that at the semi-comatose figure the other side of him. Vince grimaced and nodded. Billy forked a great helping of mash into his mouth. I could see he had quite a black shadow of beard on his face. He turned and grinned again and then whispered in my ear, "I've got a little surprise for young Nobbo on Saturday for his birthday, do you want to come round, and Matt can come too if he wants!" I nodded. "About three then, don't tell Nobbo though!"
He continued to chomp his way through the piled up food and I turned to listen to Tim who said he wanted to see the engine sometime. I arranged for Tuesday as I said I had a music lesson on Monday and I knew if Mike was there it wouldn't matter. He said his lesson was Monday too and he was doing Grade 5 at Christmas. I didn't know he played the piano as well, so I told him I was doing the same and that Mrs Tring had given me the Grade 6 music as a birthday present.
Time went very quickly, the copious food had had a good effect on the normal rather boisterous group. At quarter past seven Mrs Ward came in and made a sign to Matt. He stood up and very bravely, I thought, made a little speech of thanks to Ma and his mum and Mrs Clarke and thanked everyone for coming and hoped they had enjoyed themselves. Nobbo and I were made to stand up and there were three cheers all round. There was a general exodus, Ma stood at the door and said they were to have a proper French goodbye. She then proceeded to kiss each of them on both cheeks much to their astonishment and merriment. A good time had obviously been had by all.
Nobbo, Matt and Billy remained. Nobbo said he wanted to see the engine properly so I took him up. I looked back and I could see Billy whispering something to Matt with Matt nodding agreement and then he put his arm round Matt's shoulder and hugged him up against his side. They followed us upstairs. I showed them how the engine worked and Billy wanted to know how I put the gears together. I told him I hadn't but that Mike O'Brien had done it when he came round last week.
"Oh, he's the Catholics' captain isn't he? You know him?"
I explained that his dad worked with mine and why he came round and that he wouldn't be captain on Saturday. Billy didn't seem too pleased to hear that their best players would be back.
"That's torn it, we had a good practice on Tuesday but Duncan Buchanan can't play because he's hurt his leg and he's one of our best. It's a good job Cliff Bates is playing. He was having a County trial last time - we'll just have to run faster and hope the touch judges are on our side, eh?" He leaned over and patted me on the head.
"He's always doing that to me," Nobbo said, "Patting me on the head like that. It's annoying. It's 'cos he's bigger than us and we can't do it to him!" True, Billy was about six inches taller than either Nobbo or me.
"I don't mind, I haven't got a brother so I don't get patted!"
"You can have him anytime, I get ragged all the time when he's around."
"Only in fun, little brother, you like it really. You wouldn't know anything if you didn't have me around! Anyway, I wouldn't mind moving in here if Jacko gets fed like that all the time." With that he lay on my bed and pretended to go to sleep.
"Don't take any notice of him, he's always fooling about. He drives mum nuts with his clowning."
"Family secrets, family secrets, I'll tell them all about you if you're not careful!" He rolled over and leapt off the bed and lifted Nobbo straight up in the air and then suddenly dropped him and caught him as he tumbled down. Matt and I gawped at this, we fully expected Nobbo to go crashing to the floor.
"Put me down, you fool, Mum'll hear you and we'll both be in trouble when we get home."
Billy put on an inane grin and cradled his struggling brother in his arms.
"Be quiet diddums, calm down now, sleepy byes."
Matt and I were almost in hysterics. Nobbo did quieten down, long practice at stopping his brother fooling about I suppose. Billy set him down on his feet, still with the inane grin on his face and patted him on the head.
Nobbo was about to explode when we heard footsteps coming up the stairs, it was Pa. He tapped on the door and poked his head round, he was taller and bigger than Billy.
"Your mother says if you're annoying your brother I've got to sort you out!"
Nobbo visibly brightened, "Oh, please do, I can't wait to grow up a bit more to do it myself!"
Billy took a couple of paces back, "I'm outnumbered, I surrender." He raised his hands in mock submission.
Pa grinned at him, pointed his hand as if it were a pistol and said in a very pukka voice, "You're under arrest then!" He changed the subject, "Have you enjoyed yourselves? And you, Jacko?"
We all said yes it had been smashing, the food was brilliant and Ma had done marvels.
"Good, I'm glad you enjoyed it all, I'll see you all no doubt on Saturday because I'm coming to the games, and you've" - pointing at Nobbo - "got to be there to cheer on your brother! Bye, now!"
I don't know how Pa gets all his information I suppose Mrs Clarke had told him downstairs but it had an effect on Nobbo, he stared at Pa open-mouthed. Pa turned and walked out closing the door.
"I like your dad," Billy said, "He's got a sense of humour, and so has your mum. You should have seen that ginger lad blush when she kissed him goodbye and spoke to him in French. He won't forget that in a hurry!"
"Oh, that was Vince Hare, he's OK, we'll ask him about that tomorrow."
Mrs Clarke was calling up the stairs. Billy opened the door, "It's OK mum, we'll be down." He motioned to Nobbo who went through, he turned and gave us the thumbs up sign and sauntered out. Matt and I looked at each other and didn't speak until we heard them at the bottom of the stairs amidst the general chatter going on.
"Did Billy say about Saturday?"
"Yes, he said not to tell Nobbo! I wonder what it is?"
"I don't know but it'll be fun, I like Billy, he's great. Anyway I've got a present for your birthday tomorrow." I handed him the package.
"What is it?"
"You'll see tomorrow."
He came over to me and put his arm round my shoulder. "Thanks, I've had a great time tonight, have you?"
"Yes, great," I put my mouth near his ear and whispered, "And I'm feeling very horny."
"Me too, but we can't now, I'll have to go."
"You'll do it tonight?"
He nodded, "You bet, and so will you. It'll be your first at fourteen?"
I said it would and he'd be fifteen tomorrow so he'd better celebrate that. "I wonder if Nobbo will tonight as well?"
He laughed, "I expect so, if he's like us!"
There was a general clatter downstairs as Mrs Clarke and her boys said their goodbyes and went. Matt turned to me.
"I'd better say goodbye the French way."
He kissed me on both cheeks and then brushed my lips with his. I did the same and felt my cock go rigid. He grimaced because the same must have happened to him.
"Oh Christ," he murmured, "I've got a hardon and mum will be calling me to go down soon."
"Just hope that'll go down first! Here, have a look at this Meccano magazine, it'll take you mind off it!"
It was about another five minutes before we heard his mum getting ready to go.
"OK now?"
"Yep, but I can't control it, can you?"
I shook my head and grinned.
We went downstairs where Mrs Ward was busy putting on her coat, "Come on then lad, you look if you've had enough to eat to last you a week!"
He patted his stomach, "Gosh, Mrs Thomson, that was smashing, thanks a lot for having me and all those others!"
"My pleasure, I'm glad you enjoyed it. You've got some nice friends there, they seem a very jolly lot."
Thinking about it later lying in bed, I suppose we had, there wasn't anyone I didn't like or really not get on with. My new tie and football socks were very generous presents. I wondered what surprise Billy had for Nobbo on Saturday. I'd told Ma I'd been invited over but didn't know what was planned. She said it was a surprise and I would like it, but she wouldn't say more. I liked Billy, it must be nice to have a big brother like that even if he was annoying at times.
I must ask Matt about being born in South Africa, 'cos he didn't tell me that when he showed me his stamps and does that mean he's an African? He can't be, Africans are black, so what is he? By this time my prick was ready for my first wank of my fifteenth year and as I came I held my cock in both hands and thought of Matt doing the same and then drifted off to sleep. I woke up with a start a couple of hours later lying on my side and realised I hadn't mopped up my come. Oh, hell! I would have to examine the sheets in the morning.
I looked first thing. Of course, there were tell-tale stains on the bottom sheet where my spunk had dripped off me when I'd turned over. I shrugged my shoulders, it didn't look too bad, if Ma noticed I hoped she would realise I was a growing boy. Perhaps she wouldn't notice, I doubted it. There had been a couple of times before when there were tiny stains but they were barely visible in comparison with today's evidence. I pulled the blankets up and made the bed as best as I could, Ma would only find out when she changed the sheets on Sunday. I got ready and went off to school.
Everyone was most congratulatory about the party. Those who had not been there were regaled with accounts of the amounts of food and looked suitably envious but there was no acrimony because they'd obviously been primed about the other party arranged later to which they would be invited. Ginger came in for some ribbing about the message on the card and maintained it wasn't his fault if his stupid sister did things like that and anyway Mrs Thomson was ever so nice. That set off cackles about him blushing when he said goodbye.
Matt was very pleased with the half dozen pencils I'd given him for his birthday present. I didn't tell him Granddad had given me a box of twenty-four when I'd visited his office about four years ago and I still had plenty left. I suppose I'd better give the same to Nobbo. Most of the rest of the conversation during the day was about the game tomorrow and how we would slaughter the Catholics. Matt's face looked very grim whenever the game was mentioned!
To be continued: