Escape From The Ghetto by Nigel Dean

ESCAPE FROM THE GHETTO by Nigel Dean

I have dedicated this story to my good friend Toby Gee. I hope you enjoy reading it. Please feel free to drop me a line: david@guyzonline.com

Nigel was born and brought up in the ghetto but it was not until his teenage years that he fully understood his position. From then on he devoted all of his thoughts to escaping.

There were about one thousand houses in the ghetto, the first were built after the first world war as houses fit for heroes. More were added in the 1950's as the post second world war population started to grow. Similar in design, all were semi-detached lower middle-class homes where lived those employed in the junior ranks of management, clerical staff and other white collar workers. The working classes, those who earned their livings in factories, resided up the hill and away from Nigel's world. Their lives were accommodated in rented terrace council houses. The two communities did not mix. The council house boys went to a different school to Nigel and his friends. Up the hill was not an escape route from the ghetto.

In the other direction, safely keeping the ghetto of semi-detached properties between themselves and the feared council houses were the larger detached homes. There lived the professionals - doctors, solicitors, accountants as well as the more senior managers of business and industry. Continuing in the same direction, leaving those detached middle-class homes would take you to the leafy avenues where, hidden behind tall hedges and closed gates, were the large homes of the wealthy. The millionaire directors and owners of the employment providing for those in the ghetto and those living on either side of them.

Nigel was determined he would leave the semi-detached ghetto to live his adult life in one of the leafy mansions. It became an obsession. Studies at school fell into one of two categories. Those which could assist his escape and those which would be on no use to him. In the fifth form he excelled in the first category gaining the top GCE O Level grades while everything else was unnecessary and left as a failure. The sixth form and A Levels gave him entry to a training group within a city centre department store. That was all part of his plan.

Edwin Garrow did not even know Nigel's ghetto existed, it was much later he realised there were houses in which lived boys who were different from himself. He did know of the larger homes, those in the leafy avenues, where several of his grandfather's executives had their homes but he did not mix with their children

It would have been unthinkable for Edwin to have attended the same school as Nigel or even the boys living in the homes of his grandfather's senior management teams. Edwin went to independent fee-paying schools, first to a preparatory school then after taking his Common Entrance Examination to a famous boarding school in Buckinghamshire. Of course Edwin would go to university but first it was decided he would spend a year working within one of his grandfather's companies. The boy needed top gain some experience of the real world, an experience his upbringing had so carefully until that time kept him away from.

Lord Garrow, the Sixth Earl of Brockton, owned a series of profitable organisations which enabled his family to live in the vast Brockton Abbey complete with an army of servants many aristocratic families had been forced to give up decades earlier. Unlike many stately homes it had not been necessary to open the doors to the public, charging an admission fee in order to make ends meet.

Before slavery was abolished within the British Empire Edwin's ancestors owned vast plantations in the West Indies. Government compensation for the loss of their human property was invested in textile mills. Later Earls of Brockton set up manufacturing companies and bought up farming land anywhere they could. Edwin's grandfather had recently won a successful takeover bid for a chain of ten giant department stores.

The Birmingham branch of this retail empire employed two thousand members of staff. Two of these were destined to be Edwin himself and Nigel. For Nigel this was the first step towards his founding his own retail chain and leaving the ghetto behind as a distant and unfortunate memory. For Edwin it was the family's idea of his experiencing the real world. University would follow and then he would enter the higher levels of management somewhere within the family business. It was his destiny.

Only the store's general manager knew the real identity of Mr Edwin Porter, The Honourable Edwin Garrow was to be kept a secret. Edwin Porter and Nigel Dean were assigned to the store's soft furnishing department on the third floor where senior saleswoman Mrs Hanson was detailed to be their mentor.

"I've seen her before," Eddie smiled.

"Where ?"

"We studied Macbeth for A level, she is one of the witches."

Mrs Hanson placed the two boys on the same staff rota as herself. That meant they shared breaks and days off.

Soft Furnishings was one of the heavyweight departments with high sales and high profits. It sold readymade curtains as well as fabric by the yard. The big profits were achieved within made to measure contracts. Mrs Hanson showed the boys how everything worked, the sales they achieved would contribute towards her sales commission so she made sure they understood and understood well. For simple jobs the boys would do the calculations with the customer on the shop floor before cutting the fabric from the roll then sending it to the workroom to be sewn. More complex orders needed an elderly employee to travel to the customer's home, he did not drive so had to go everywhere on the 'bus, to take the measurements. He would then return to the store and give these measurements to another elderly employee who would prepare drawings and an estimate for the work. Salesmen and women on the shop floor produced enough orders to keep fifteen seamstresses fully employed in the workroom. Since taking over the stores staff were directed to sell as hard as they could the fabrics produced by the Brockton Mills.

Edwin and Nigel had been members of the soft furnishing department for just one week when both produced a record breaking order. Neither involved elderly employees on buses or an estimator making drawings, both came from customers walking in with their own measurements.

Edwin's order was for new stage curtains and drapes in the theatre of a local public school. The bursar cam in on the Saturday morning knowing exactly what he wanted. All Edwin had to do was to complete the calculations and take the order.

The two boys went off for lunch with Edwin in high spirits and Nigel green with envy.

It was a busy Saturday afternoon, every sales assistant other than Nigel was attending to a customer. It was, therefore, to him that a fierce and formidable laky spoke. Nigel's first thought was he had met the second of Macbeth's witches but in truth she turned out to be his fairy godmother. She was the matron of an old folks home wanting curtains for a resident's room. Nigel helped her select the fabric then cost the order. She was pleased with his price so ordered curtains for all fifty rooms !

At the end of the day the department manager called the boys into his office. "You both deserve The Duke Of Edinburgh's Award for your efforts today," he said. "Here go and have a few beers before you go home." He handed them a small bundle of folded green one pound notes.

"I've already got The Duke of Edinburgh's Award," Nigel said sipping a pint of b eer.

"So have I. What level did you get ?"

"Silver. I left school before I could finish the Gold."

"Same here. I did mine with the school's combined cadet corps."

"What's that ?"

"An army thing the school ran playing soldiers on Saturday mornings."

"Oh. I did mine with the PE department, it avoided playing football. I did my expeditions in The Peak District."

"Oh my god, so did I."

"Fancy going up there some time ?"

"Sure thing Edwin."

"Try calling me Eddie. I know a good pub where I did my Silver test expedition.

"You didn't go to a pub on the expedition did you ?"

"Of course."

"Edwin....."

"Eddie !"

"Ok - Eddie - you're not supposed to buy anything on an expedition, you have to carry everything in your rucksack."

"Don't be such a woos ! You are allowed to ask for water, you don't have to carry that with you. Beer of course is only water with alcohol and a bit of flavouring."

"But you are not supposed to buy anything."

"We didn't buy anything, we simply tipped the barman."

"Edwin, I mean Eddie, you naughty boy."

Over their next pint of beer, tipping the barman with the sales manager's money, the boys planned their visit. No shops opened on a Sunday, the store organised rotas so a member would have the Saturday off in one week then Monday the following week meaning a three day long week-end. They would head to The Peak District the next time their rota gave them a long week-end.

"I've still got my rucksack and tent," Nigel said.

"And I've the telephone number for Biggin Farm," Eddie said. "I can call them and arrange for us to pitch camp there."

The Brockton Family actually owned Biggin Farm and several others in the areas. Eddie was not going to let Nigel know his family had taken over an estate with the tenant farms in the mid eighteen hundreds and he would make sure the present tenant of Biggin Farm did not address him as the grandson of the Earl of Brockton.

It was two weeks until their next long week-end. Two weeks in which their friendship deepened as did the rivalry between them to outsell one another.

"How old are you both ?" Mrs Hanson asked one morning.

"Nineteen," they answered together.

"It is not usual to have an assistant department manager under the age of twenty-one but I would put a pound on you both getting temporary positions over The Christmas period."

"God forbid I am still here when I am twenty-one," Eddie said later. "I am only here because my family demanded it of me. I want to be a lawyer so when my year here is up I'll be off to university."

"When I am twenty-one," Nigel replied, "I'll be out of here and owning at least one supermarket."

The boys were getting to know more about each other but Eddie had to invent some of his background in order to keep his big secret. There was something neither thought to bring into their conversations, that which would be obvious in the lives of two nineteen year olds.

Nigel had been to an all boys school. During his adolescence he had no time for fantasies involving the opposite sex. Girls could be a part of his life when he was a supermarket owner.

Edwin knew that girls would be a part of his life. There was lots of talk when he had been at school but while many of his friends claimed action he doubted any had ever experienced anything. Losing his virginity would happen then his family would find a suitable wife for him to continue the Brockton line. In time he would become the Eighth Earl of Brockton and sire the ninth. That was his duty, that was his destiny in life. A girl would be necessary but it did not feel important.

The boys took the train from Birmingham New Street to Derby arriving before nine o'clock. A short walk to the 'bus station then up to Ashbourne at the foot of the Dovedale. It was a nine mile hike to the camp site, five miles to a pub which served as a convenient lunch stop. Three pints and a ploughman lunch later they began the final walk to Biggin Farm In planning their Duke of Edinburgh's Award expeditions the boys calculated a walking speed of three miles an hour across a flat surface then made allowances for the steepness of the terrain.

By three o'clock they were close to their camp site for the night. They would pitch camp then head off to the pub. "It's called The Dog and Partridge," Eddie explained, "but we always called it The Dog and Clogs."

"My watch hasn't stopped has it ? What time do you make it ?" Nigel asked.

"Five to three."

"Getting dark early even for November."

Thick black clouds covered the sky. There was a strangeness all about them. the boys walked quickly along the footpath through the field. There was an ear splitting crack and a blinding flash of light as a thunderbolt hit a tree no more than fifty yards from the two friends. Without saying a word they began to run. Another flash, another explosion as the lightning this time hit the grass of the open field.

The rain fell in a torrent instantly soaking the boys' outer clothing. There was no shelter and even if there was it would have been foolish to take it. All they could do was to move forward as quickly as they could. More flashes, more explosions, more bolts of lightning. As quickly as the freak storm began it ended. The clouds parted and what was left of the late afternoon brightened.

"That was scary."

"Yeh. I need a piss but was too scared to go in case I was struck by lightning."

The two were made welcome at the farm where Eddie's wishes to remain incognito were honoured. The family insisted the boys warm themselves up and dry their outer clothing.

"We are fine, honestly," Nigel said.

"That was some storm, you can't possibly put up a tent in the field tonight, you can sleep in the barn."

"It's stopped raining now."

"No you must, we insist."

Although originally designed to house animals the tenants were now using the building to store farm machinery. Inside everything was warm and dry. There was electric light. The boys unpacked their rucksacks and rolled out their sleeping bags onto the floor in one of the stalls.

Nigel had a blue camping gaz cooking stove and was quickly making coffee. Eddie had brought a brass paraffin primus stove on which he started to juggle a meal of tinned stewed steak, dried mashed potatoes and Bachelors Surprise Peas. " I love Surprise Peas," he said, "nothing like the lead bullets we had to eat at school."

"Surprise Peas ! I thought they were what you had to do when you had drunk too much beer.!

"Funny boy !"

"Talking of beer, we are going back to the pub after we have eaten ?"

"Of course," Eddie smiled.

"You know it is not so much fun going into a pub now I am legal," Eddie observed as the sat down in The Dog and Cloggs.

"How old were you when you first went to a pub ?" Nigel asked.

"Fifteen."

"Oh my god, fifteen ! Did your parents know ?"

"Probably, it wouldn't have bothered them."

"Mine would have killed me."

"My grandfather would have considered it to be part of growing up."

Even if post eighteen pub drinking was not a dare, had lost some of the danger, some of the adventure, the friends remained in The Dog and Clogs until closing time. The freak storm had not repeated itself. The two mile hike to the pub and the two mile return journey to Biggin Farm were made in dry weather.

"Did you ever smoke ?" Eddie asked as they walked through the darkness.

"You snob," Eddie laughed. "My grandfather smokes and I don't think he would like to be called working class."

"You come from a rich family, what does your father do ?"

"What my grandfather tells him to ! He's the one who insisted I took a year working in the real world before going to university, he is the one who condemned me to selling curtains in a department store."

"My father's not rich, I wish he was. I hate living where we do but one day I will escape, just as soon as I start my own chain of supermarkets."

"You're serious about that aren't you ?"

"I am."

"Well don't tell my grandfather, he will probably have me come to work for you !"

The sky was clear, the moon was bright, no sign of rain. Soon the boys were back at Biggin Farm."

"What are you doing ?" Eddie demanded.

"Getting into bed."

"With your clothed on !"

"I've taken my boots and socks off, and my trousers and coat."

Eddie held his hands in front of him, slightly to the side then turned them palms up as he feigned surprise. "Do you sleep like that at home ?"

"No but it's cold here."

"No it's not. What do you wear in bed at home ?"

"Pyjamas."

"Pyjamas ! You woos ! Do you have a teddy bear and a hot water bottle as well ? Does Mummy come and tuck you up with a goodnight kiss ?"

"No."

"Pyjamas ! Pyjamas ! I bet even my grandfather wears pyjamas !"

"So what are you going to wear then mister clever dick ?"

"Nothing."

"You mean............ ?"

"In the nude, yes. Of course you can be a man and do the same or you can be a wood and keep your clothes on, I have a can of deodorant you can spray on yourself in the morning."

Nigel felt awkward, he was going to have to sleep naked the same as Eddie but he wasn't comfortable about his friend seeing him without anything on.

"Want me to turn my back ?"

"No."

"I doubt you've got anything I haven't got." With those words Eddie cast off the last of his clothing to stand completely naked before his friend. "See that's me Edwin Porter sales assistant in the soft furnishing department."

Blushing across every square inch of his skin Eddie slowly took off his clothes. When he had only his pants to go he drew a deep breath and summonsed every ounce of courage. Eddie was saying nothing but in his head Nigel could hear the words - don't be a woos ! Don't be a woos ! Nothing for it, off with the pants.

"There that wasn't so bad was it ?" Eddie smiled. "Into the sleeping bags."

"Did you all sleep naked at school ?" Eddie asked from the safety of his sleeping bag.

"Sure did, we all knew a fellow's cock as well as we knew his face."

"Oh."

"Nothing wrong with that you know."

"No, of course not," Nigel said. "Did you ever do anything together ?"

"Like what ?"

"You know." Nigel formed his hand into a hollow fist and jerked it up and down a couple of times.

"Oh yes, of course we did Wednesday was always Wank Off Wednesday, everybody joined in. Saturday was Race Night when we would see who could cum the fastest."

"Did you ever win ?" Nigel wished he had not said that, cursed himself and wanted to take tack the words.

"I may have," Eddie smiled.

Nigel's hear was thumping. This sounded exciting. "Did boys ever do anything with each other ?"

"Some may have but we never spoke about it. Personally I didn't. There were those who made no secret of fancying their fags but if anyone ever did that it would have been a sound thrashing followed by instant expulsion."

"For fancying a cigarette ?"

Eddie roared with laughter. "Cigarettes, my dear Nigel ! Cigarettes. A fag was your servant, a junior boy who had to wait on a senior boy in the sixth form like a valet. My fag was a snotty nosed twerp, I can tell you I never fancied him ! I hated him, I beat him once - slippered him on his bare arse."

"You whacked another boy ?"

"Oh yes prefects were allowed to."

"God."

"Beatings were normal, I was beaten several times. I bet my grandfather would say I wasn't beaten enough."

"I was caned once at school," Nigel said, "and slippered three times."

"The slipper was for the sixth form prefects to use, masers used the cane. In the dorm if a boy had been beaten he had to stand naked while the other fellows inspected his bottom then kissed him better."

"On the arse."

"Yep. I've kissed a few arses and had mine kissed more than once." Eddie suddenly let out a roar of laughter.

"What was that for ?" I was just thinking about that fag of mine after I slippered him. Pity those who had to kiss his spotty arse. I would love to have watched."

"I was never a prefect," Nigel said, "but when I was in the fifth form I had a friend in the upper sixth who was. When we were on second sitting for lunch and the bell rang he would let me take a short cut through the inner quad so I was at the front of the line. Boys were not allowed to walk through the inner quad during lunch time, only to move from lesson to lesson, but this prefect would let me go through."

"Sound to me like he fancied you," Eddie said. "You weren't his fag were you ?"

"No, we didn't have fags - I'd not heard of them until you told me what they were."

"You missed out on a lot - Wednesdays, Race Night Saturdays."

"I suppose I did."

"Well it's Saturday today," Eddie said with a naughty giggle.

Having learned more about one another the previous evening that had been apparent working in a city centre department store the two friends continued their education the next morning. Getting dressed Nigel had no inhibitions about Eddie seeing him naked, in fact he prolonged matters to their full. As they hiked the length of the Dovedale Nigel began to speak of his life outside work.

"I would love to have had a brother," he said but I do love my little sister."

"How old is she ?"

"Fourteen, I adore her and she worships her big brother. Do you have any brothers or sisters ?"

"No, there's only me." Eddie wanted to tell his friend who he really was but he dared not. "What does your father do for a living ?"

"He is in charge of the wages for a firm of builders, he has no ambition at all. Mum's a dinner lady at a school."

"Your mother goes out to work ?"

"Yep."

"I don't have a mother, I do but I haven't seen her since I was six years old. She and my father are divorced."

"That's sad."

"She couldn't cope with my grandfather, not many people do. I have cousins but they are all abroad."

The Earl of Brocken's younger son managed the family estates on th Caribbean Island of Barbados. Eddie's ancestors may have had to give up their slaves but kept their plantations.

"It was fine when I was at school, save for the holidays, but now I am lonely with just my father and grandfather at home. Eddie was about to say plus the servants of course but checked himself. "I have you as a friend now, actually you are my only friend."

"I hadn't thought about it much but the people I was friends with at school have all gone to university, I haven't seen them for a while."

The boys walked on in silence for a few hundred yards then Eddie chose to lighten the mood. "Remember last night," he said, "when I explained at school how we could recognise those in the same dorm by their cocks as well as their faces ?"

"Was that really true ?" Nigel asked.

"Of course it was. I have this theory that no two cocks anywhere in the world are alike, a bit like finger prints a cock is unique. Even identical twins do not have the same fingerprints, neither do they have cocks which are the same."

"Interesting theory," Nigel smiled, "ever thought about doing some research to prove it ?"

"When I am Lord Chief Justice of England," Eddie explained, "I will enact a law saying when anyone is arrested not only should his fingerprints be taken and put on file but also a photograph of his cock."

"But a cock changes shape and size, at least mine does. When I am excited it gets hard, when it's cold I get a chilly willy and it goes all small."

"Hmm, I'd not thought about that," Eddie laughed. "We'll have to find a way round the problem."

Neither of the boys expressed their thoughts but both were eager to get back to Biggin Farm, to cook something to eat then head off to the pub again. Beyond all of this both hoped they would continue their learning more of one another - on a physical level.

Sitting in the pub Eddie so much wanted to tell his friend the truth. If he maintained the disguise that would be deceiving his friend, someone he so much wanted to become a special friend.

"You are serious about these supermarkets aren't you ?" He said.

"Absolutely !" Nigel replied. "It's just getting started. Once I have the first branch running it will be easy to open a second, then the third, fourth, fifth - hundreds of branches all over the country, Sunshine Supermarkets is what I am goint to call them Quality will be our brand name."

"You don't want to open a department store ?"

"City centre department stores will soon be a thing of the past. Families all have cars these days, they want to drive to do their shopping not get on a 'bus to a department store."

"They could drive to a department store."

"Where's the nearest car park to our store ?"

"No idea."

"There you are then. Trust me our store will have closed down within ten years, perhaps sooner," He thought for a moment the said, "Nineteen seventy-nine, I give it ten years at the most."

"That won't please my grandfather."

"Does he shop with us then ?"

Eddie had said that without thinking but perhaps he had opened the door to revealing the truth. Should he tell all ? Later.

Preparing for bed that night both quickly undressed then found any excuse not to get into bed. Both enjoyed being naked, letting his friend see him naked.

"Do you recognise my cock ?" Nigel asked.

"I am starting to. Do you recognise mine ?"

"Indeed I do. It's not cold in this barn is it ?"

"No the cooking stoves have made it nice and warm."

"So neither of us is in a chilly willy state !"

Eddie smiled. He would tell his friend the truth. Then Nigel changed the subject.

"You know you said when you were caned at school...."

"We used to call it being beaten," Eddie corrected.

"Ok beaten then. You said you used to inspected the arses of boys who were beaten,."

"And kiss them better."

"How long did the marks last for ?"

"Why are they still showing ?" Eddie turned round to present his bottom to Nigel.

"I tried to check mine out with a mirror," Nigel explained, "but it wasn't easy. I think they lasted about three days before starting to fade. Slipper marks were usually gone overnight."

"The slipper is for wooses and prefects."

"Woos, that really is a silly word."

"You know you are right ! My grandfather uses it all the time and he is incredibly silly."

"You don't like him much do you ?"

"You wouldn't if you met him !"

"What about your grandmother ?"

"Never knew her, she died before I was born."

Still naked each was waiting to make a move to get into his sleeping bag. Eddie's mind was on moving the conversation back to where he could tell of his background but again Nigel took things in the opposite direction. "How regular were the beatings at your school ?" Nigel asked.

"Not that often, never more than once a week although more than one boy may have got it at the same time."

"Wow !" Nigel exclaimed. "It happened every day in my school. Let me work it out. Six hundred boys. I was whacked four times in my school career. Six hundred times four....."

"Two thousand, four hundred," Eddie smiled.

"Divide my five, not usual for a sixth former to be whacked."

Eddie thought for a moment, counted on his fingers, "four hundred and eighty. Sixth formers were not excl,uded from beatings in my school."

"Forty weeks in a school year so that gives an average of......"

"Twelve times in a week," Eddie smiled.

Nigel thought then said, "I must have been a goodie-goodie, I guess most boys must have been whacked more than four times in their school careers. Beatings as you call them would have happened at lease twelve times in a day - not a week !"

"Glad I never went to your school. We had a system in the dorm called Spankathon which we played if no dorm member was beaten during the week."

"Spankathon ? How did that work ?"

"It happened on a Sunday night when nobody in the dorm had been beaten during the week."

"I see."

"Everyone had to get naked."

"We're naked now."

"Then we were paired off. One person would put his paired partner over his knee. He then had one hundred seconds, we used to count down, in which to slap his partner's bottom with his hand. This was not about pain but how red you could get the bottom in one hundred seconds. When the whacking was over bottoms were compared to see which was the reddest. Everyone then changed places and it all started again, another one hundred seconds."

"And that was Spankathon ?"

"It was," Eddie confirmed.

"I see." Nigel pointed at Eddie and then himself. "Two of us, I haven't been beaten this week, have you ?"

Smiling Eddie shook his head.

"And we are naked....."

"Indeed we are."

Spankathon took two hundred seconds plus preparation time, changeover and a prolonged debate when it was all over as to who had produced the reddest bottom.

"Nigel," Eddie said with a serious note in his voice. "I want to talk to you, I have something to share with you."

"It's getting chilly now, perhaps we should get into bed."

Eddie picked up Nigel's sleeping bag. Yes it would work. Did he have the courage to do it ? What would Nigel think ? Would this enhance their friendship or would it put it in danger ? Similar thoughts applied to what he wanted to say. Un zipping first his own sleeping bag so it was open and flat, then unzipping Nigel's he offered the zips together and yes it did work, two single sleeping bags were turned into one double. He looked at Nigel and saw agreement in his face.

"Turn out the light, let's get into bed and then I have something to tell you."

Nigel walked to the switch on the wall, Eddie followed his bottom as he walked across the barn floor. His stomach started to knot as he heard his friend return. It double knotted as Nigel got into bed alongside him, their naked bodies closely touching.

"You know my family is wealthy," Eddie began.

"I guessed that much."

"My grandfather has most of the money but my father and uncle are wealthy as well. I actually have money but it is in trust until I am twenty-one."

"I see," Nigel said.

"We own an engineering company, the family does but Grandfather is in control. We own land in the Caribbean, my uncle manages that side of the business. It's a sugar plantation, we used to own slaves to farm it but now we pay people to work for us."

"Slaves ? Wow."

"We own land in this country but that is rented out to tenant farmers." He stopped short of telling Nigel thee were on Brockton land, his family owned Biggin farm."

"God you are rich."

"That's not all, I am afraid." Eddie hesitated. The confession was going well but there were still things left to be said. How would Nigel react ? "We own some textile mills and retail outlets." He said this quickly so not explaining the family owned the department store where they both worked."

"You are lucky,"

"I don't think so, I would change places with you any day."

"My father has no ambition at all," Nigel said, "you wouldn't want to live where I do. I call it The Ghetto. The Manfred Man hit Semi Dethatched Suburban Mr James is all about where I live and the life I live."

"My grandfather's a bully. My uncle's OK on the other side of the world but here in the UK nothing happens without grandfather's permission. My father is supposed to be in charge of the businesses but he just do what grandfather tells him to. I wish he was dead, I honestly do." Eddie pushed himself closer to Nigel who moved so he could put an arm round his friend's shoulders.

Neither said anything. There was silence until Eddie began to speak again, his confession was not over. "Are you OK about all of this ?"

"Of course I am."

"It doesn't spoil our friendship."

"Why should it."

"You are my best friend."

"And you are mine."

It was Nigel who awoke. It did not feel wrong to be sharing a bed with Eddie but nobody he knew would approve. His parents would probably disown him but would that be a tragedy ? What a special friend Eddie had become.

"You are awake," Eddie stirred.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you."

"What are you doing ?"

"Just thinking."

"I've been thinking while I was asleep."

"Dreaming ?"

"No," Eddie said, "thinking."

"About what ?"

"You and your supermarkets."

"Really ?"

"I can not touch the money until I am twenty-one but then nobody can stop me doing what I want with it. I can then put up the money for your first supermarket branch."

Nigel turned and propped himself up on his elbow. It was dark so his friend was only a shape in the night. "You would lend me the money ?"

"Of course I would, no need to pay me back until you open branch number one hundred."

"I don't know what to say."

"I can't do it until I am twenty-one though."

"We could be business partners," Nigel suggested.

"I will be at university then. I'll help of course but at the end of the day it's your idea and it will be your business."

"I promise I will make a success, you will not lose your money."

"So what if I do ? One day I will have all of my grandfather's millions."

"What about your cousins ? Won't they get a share ?"

"It doesn't work like that. Everything passes to the oldest son, my father then to his oldest son - me!2

Nigel pulled Eddie close to him. "You are a special friend, a very special friend."

It had been a wonderful week-end. Sunshine Supermarkets were now going to happen. the boys had deepened their friendship and taken it to an intimate level. But what now would happen to that intimate physical relationship ?

Neither of the boys thought what they had found over the week-end could be described as homosexuality. Only a few weeks ago it was against the law to have a physical relationship with another man. The law still said it was only legal between consenting adults in private. At nineteen years of age neither were adults. As with Eddie's inheritance that was two years away at the age of twenty-one. Strictly speaking the boys were breaking the law.

At home in the ghetto Nigel's parents politely asked if he has a good time but showed no interest in his answer.

When Eddie arrived at his home the butler sought him out. "Your grandfather would like to see you Sir. he is in his sitting room."

The Sixth Earl of Brockton stood up and smiled. "So how was your week-end ?"

"It was good thank you."

"And your young friend Nigel, did he enjoy himself ?"

"I think so."

"With the two of you away no doubt the store's profits were down."

"If they were then I am sure you can afford it but no doubt Mrs Hanson managed without us and was pleased to take all of the sales."

"She is the old bird who is your mentor ?"

"Yes Grandfather."

"I am pleased with what you and your friend Nigel are doing in the store. I just wanted you to know that."

"Thank you Grandfather."

"You can go now." Like a servant Eddie was dismissed.

The next morning Lord Brockton appeared on the shop floor, he and his chauffeur dressed in green livery walked into the soft furnishing department. Nobody in the store other than the general manager knew he was the owner and he had been instructed to keep away during the visit.

"Fuck !" Eddie exclaimed.

Nigel had never heard his friend speak like that. Fuck was a word at Eddie's school that carried a mandatory beating..

"What's the matter ?" Nigel asked urgently.

"My grandfather ! That's him over there."

"He looks very important."

"What the fuck is he doing here ?"

"Who's that with him ?"

"Bob his chauffeur. What the fuck are they here for ?"

All was soon revealed although Eddie's grandfather's place within England's aristocratic hierarchy was not explained.

"As I m sure he has just told you," the Earl addressed Nigel, "I am Edwin's demonic grandfather. I could bet a fiver on the word he used when he saw me !"

"I am pleased to meet you Sir."

"This is Robert," the earl continued indicating the chauffeur. "We need to refurnish is accommodation, he has all the window measurements so could you take care of him ? Help him decide the fabrics then arrange for it all to be made up."

"Of course Sir, it would be a pleasure."

"I will leave you together while I have a word with my grandson."

"What are you doing here ?"

"Buying curtains."

"From your own department store ?" Eddie spoke quietly but with great anger in his voice.

"You would hardly expect me to go somewhere else. Where do you suggest ? Tesco ?"

"Tesco does not sell curtains."

"Nobody here knows who I am," Eddie said. "I would like it to stay that way."

"Not even your friend Nigel ?"

"No."

"And nobody knows who I am so we both have a secret to keep."

"But when you write the cheque to pay............"

"Silly boy, I have cash with me."

"Oh."

"I am taking Robert out for lunch, he deserves a treat. I want you and Nigel to join us."

"No !"

"I wish your father had a bit more of you in him but no is not a word I recognise. Bob will bring the car to the store's main entrance at twelve thirty. I have booked a table at The Sutton Oak Hotel."

"That's miles away, we only get an hour for lunch."

" I will sort that out, just be at the main entrance for half past twelve."

"No !"

Lord Brockton smiled.

"He is not the sort of person to argue with," the department manager said, "that customer of Nigel's. He wants to take you both to look at a property he plans to furnish. I told him we have an estimator for that but he ignored me. You had better make sure he gives you a big order."

"Fuck, Fuck, Fuck," Eddie cursed under his breath.

At twelve thirty precisely a blue Rolls Royce Shadow pulled up in front of the store's main entrance. Lord Brockton was seated in the front next to his driver who jumped out, saluted Nigel and Eddie before opening the doors for them to get in. The store doorman was astounded.

One day Nigel would own a car like that. One day when the ghetto was far, far behind him.

"What is he up to ?" Eddie wondered.

When the boys returned to work no lesser person than the store's general manager was waiting for their return.

"I have decided to advance your careers," he said to Nigel and Eddie. "Brockton Mills in Carlisle are having a sales conference and training week starting next Monday. It is short notice I know but my secretary has all the details and some generous cash expenses for you if you care to go up and see her."

Inside Eddie was furious. "I'll kill him, I really will," Eddie said under his breath."

"Where is he ?" Eddie demanded. "Where is the old bastard ?"

"Sir," the butler said, trying to halt Eddie's rage. "To whom are you referring ?"

"The old bastard, the fucking sixth fucking Earl of Fucking Brockton. Where is her ? I am going to kill him !"

"Please Sir, you must not let his Lordship hear you speaking like that."

"Where is the old bastard ?" Eddie demanded. "Come out, come out where ever you are you old bastard."

"Actually I am here," Eddie's grandfather, The Sixth Earl of Brockton, appeared. He dismissed the servant with a wave of his hand.

"You......you.....What are you trying to do to me ? What were you doing in the store today ? Well you can take your department store and go to blazes, I am not to work there any longer. I don't care if I have to live in a dirty little flat and deliver newspapers for a living I am not going to be controlled by you. I don't want your business empire and I do not want your seat in the House of Lords !"

Lord Brockton stood with his arms folded looking at his grandson. "Finished ?"

"No ! I have not ! You made me go to that horrible school. You forced me to work selling bloody curtains. You refuse to let me go to university, I want to be a lawyer. You are cruel, that's what you are - CRUEL ! Now you are forcing me to spend a week at some fictitious conference at a fucking textile mill you own. Give me one good reason why I should go ? One reason ! One fucking good reason ?"

"To spend a week with your lover," the Earl replied.

It was as if the heavyweight champion of the world had delivered a blow to Eddie's stomach.

"Let's go into the library," The Earl suggested taking his grandson's arm.

Eddie was stunned. How the hell did he know ? What's more he did not appear to disapprove of the friendship.

"Sit down," The Earl indicated a seat. "I'll pour us a drink, you are going to need one when you listen to what I have to tell you."

With two large glasses of whisky The Sixth Earl of Brockton began his story. "When I was your age we still had horses on the estate. There came to work in the stables a boy who was also nineteen. He ads I started to become friends. That was in 1912, I remember the year well. In 1912 sons of aristocratic families did not make friends with lower orders, if my father had ever found out I can not begin to think what would have happened. We were only friends mind you, at that time nothing more."

"The relationship you have," The Earl continued, "with Nigel is strictly illegal as you are not twenty-one years of age bit nobody is going to trouble about that. When the same thing developed for me it would have mean imprisonment and disgrace. You know what happened to Oscar Wilde ?"

"We studied the poem The Ballad of Reading Gaol at school."

"Wilde was imprisoned in 1997, I was four years old at the time. It took almost a year of our friendship to grow, occasional meetings when my father was away, then in 1913 we became lovers. The war, the First World War, got in the way and split us away from one another for four long years but when we returned having both survived we returned to being lovers."

Eddie could not believe what his grandfather was saying, it was true he was sure of that but hard to believe his dreaded grandfather had chosen to tell him.

"You are the third person on this earth to know of this, myself, my lover and now you. When the war ended families like ours were decimated, so many members of the aristocracy had been killed, society changed. But our family survived intact. In earlier years the family had invested in industry and obscenely made vast profits from the war. Many families where obliged to give their homes to The National Trust or turn them into amusement parks like Woburn and Longleat, we simply carried on the way we were. When I became the Sixth Earl I widened our business empire, we don't do so bad."

"What became of your friend ?" Eddie asked.

"You know the answer to that. When the family started to use cars he became our chauffeur." The Earl paused, "And still is today."

"You mean it's..........."

"Robert, of course. Bob. We have been secret lovers for fifty years. Nobody knew, nobody. Edwin, do you understand the magnitude of my telling this secret to you ?"

Eddie did not answer but said, "What about grandmother ?"

"She was a lovely lady right enough and I loved her until the day she died. But that was with a different love to that Bob and I had."

"But...."

"As the oldest son it was my duty to take a wife and keep the line going. Without that you would not have been born. When the time comes you are going to have to do the same."

Eddie did know of this duty.

"Let me now speak about your father. I know I am hard on him, I have to be but that does not mean I do not love him. His younger brother, your uncle, is a much stronger character. That is why I have him managing our estates in the Caribbean, if he was here he would overwhelm your father in managing our businesses and I could not allow that to happen. As well as the estates abroad we own land here in England, we have the textile mill, engineering factory and now the chain of department stores. There will be more before my time on this earth is done, I intend to leave the Brocktons secure for hundreds of years to come."

"Each business has a strong management team, I have seen to that, with a managing director in charge of each. Your father then floats round all of the businesses overseeing activity and reporting back to me. He does a not bad job but when I die I fear he will not be string enough to stand up to everyone and then things could go wrong." The earl paused. "You will become the Eighth Earl of Brockton, it is vital you have the strength to manage everything, you are going to have to do this when your father is the Seventh Earl, you are going to have to support him. I hope your fledging friendship with Nigel lasts as long as mine has with Bob, but you are going to have to find a special lady who you can love as well so there will be a Ninth Earl."

"Nigel wants to found a chain of supermarkets," Eddie explained. "I have told him when I am twenty-one I will be able to access my trust fund so help him to open the first branch."

"Supermarkets are the future,"

"Nigel says department stores will lose their importance."

"I hope he is wrong," The Earl smiled. "If you promise me you will ensure our line continues and continues in strength..."

"I promise grandfather."

The Earl held up his hand. "Listen to me. If you give me your word I will begin a take over bid for one of the supermarket chains, Fine Fare I believe is right for the picking. Your friend Nigel can then be managing director. He won't start with one shop but with more than two hundred. Our family already provides employment for many thousands of families, this would add in tens of thousand more. We have a duty to them all."

Eddie just could not believe the man he was talking to was his grandfather, the man he had feared all his life, the man he had grown to dislike. This was a different person.

"You are the only person I have told my secret to, I must ask you not to repeat what I have said to anyone. Note even to Nigel."

"No I won't."

"So am I still the old bastard you hate so much ?"

Eddie felt a tear pricking at the back of his eye. "Nigel does not know you are an Earl," he said. "He knows you are wealthy but does not know you oen the department store and the mill we are going to next week."

"Then you are going ?"

"Of course."

"Then it may be a good idea to tell him. You can tell him about my launching a supermarket take over bid, tell him anything just not not my secret with Bob."

"I think I will tell him when we are alone in Carlisle next week."

"You are a good boy Eddie, yes I know you do not like to be called Edwin, you will make a good Eighth Earl of Brockton. The family, our heritage and all the people who depend on us for their living will be safe in your hands."

Eddie went to his room and shed more than on tear. Later he went to his grandfathers apartments and gently tapped on the door.

"I think I would like to see Nigel this evening."

"Well go and see him."

"I can drive you," Bob said."

"I could drive myself, I have passed my test."

Eddie's grandfather looked at Bob who smiled. "Let me give you the keys."

"But these are the keys to the Silver Shadow."

"Your grandfather has told me you now know our secret," Bob smiled. "If he can trust you with that he can certainly trust you with a Rolls Royce motor car."

Eddie soon returned. "I have tried telephoning his home but nobody is answering so there is little point in driving over. I have brought back the keys."

"You can tell him in the morning."

" I would rather not speak at work."

"Of course, I understand that. Tomorrow is Wednesday, go into work as normal then arrange for you both to take the train to Carlisle on Thursday. I am sure the hotel will be able to fit you in. It would be good for you to have a few days together before the conference starts on Monday."

"I could drive you."

"No Bob, I am sure the boys will not want to talk in front of you. Leave them alone."

"Of course Gerald."

That was the very first time Eddie had ever heard anyone address his grandfather by his Christian name.

Eddie had a strange night sleeping. He slept deeply, very deeply but he kept moving to being almost awake as one thought after another rose up in his mind.

His grandfather was not the man he thought he was but it was the old grandfather he hated all his life. This was a stranger but someone he just knew he was going to like . That would change his life. Eddie decided to give up his demand to be allowed to go to university, there was no longer the need. His wish for higher education had been to rebel against his grandfather, now he would become his right hand man and take the Brockton family forward. Continuing the line, that worried him. He had always know that was his duty but such was before he met Nigel.

Nigel - Nigel would have his supermarkets and would escape his ghetto. He could run the supermarkets as if they were his own then when he, Eddie, became the Eighth Earl he would give the business to his friend.

These thoughts went round and round in Eddie's head while he slept but throughout he kept returning to his grandfather Gerald and his chauffeur Bob. Only he knew the masquerade they had kept up all their lives. He remembered Wilde's poem The Ballad of Reading Gaol and just how awkward his sixth form English teacher had been as he tried to explain the reason for Oscar Wilde's imprisonment.

The Love That Dare No Speak It's Name. Would a day ever come when such love would be accepted ? Gerald and Bob had kept their secret for decades. Would he and Nigel have to do the same ?

When Eddie went into the dining room the next morning to grab a slice of toast before work his father was there. He sat down to eat with him.

"What are you doing today father ?"

"I am off to Bristol, going to visit our store there. And you are off to the Birmingham branch ?"

"Yes, you know I am quite getting to like it there."

"That will please your grandfather."

Eddie did not say a lot to Nigel during the day, little beyond explaining the need to travel North four days early. The general manager's secretary made the arrangements and booked the train tickets."

"Are you alright ?" Nigel asked. "You appear a bit strange today."

"I am OK, honestly I am fine. It's just my grandfather."

"Is he upsetting you again ?"

"Quite the reverse actually. I will tell you tomorrow."

The train had barely left New Street Station, the boys were the only two in a first class compartment, when Eddie drew breath and mustered up every ounce of courage.

"My grandfather," he began, "you know he is wealthy."

"I rode in his Rolls Royce didn't I ?"

"This textile mill we are going to visit, Brockton Mill, he owns it."

Nigel thought. "Brockton, that's the name of the person who owns the department store."

"That's him and nine other stores up and down the country. My father is visiting the Bristol Store today. There are branches in Blackpool, London, Liverpool, Manchester, Glasgow, Leeds, Leicester and Stoke on trent."

"Blimey !"

"He owns tons of things as well but that's not it. My name is Edwin, Eddie, Brockton not Eddie Porter that's just a store name - an alias to hide the fact that I am the grandson of the owner.

"This isn't a joke is it ?"

"No, not at all. I have tried to tell you many times but either I did not have the courage or the situation was not right."

Nigel moved to speak.

"Please do not say anything, I have to get this out now. My grandfather is not Mr Gerald Brockton he is Lord Geral The SIxth Earl of Briockton. We live in a mansion, a stately home Brockton Abbey."

"Oh god !"

"There is more, a lot more."

"What ?"

"He knows about us - you and me - our special friendship He guessed all about it."

"Oh no, how dreadful. I am so sorry, what have I done to you ? Has he cut you off ? Please tell me he hasn't"

"No," Eddie held up his hand. "He approves."

"You what ?"

"He says our friendship is fine by him."

"No. Are you sure ? Why would he say that ?"

Eddie was desperate to explain but he was sworn to secrecy and would not break the trust.

"Are you a lord yourself then ?" Nigel asked.

"No. My father is a lord, I am just The Honourable Edwin Brockton. When my grandfather dies and my father becomes the seventh Earl then I become a lord. When my father dies I become The Eight Earl of Brockton."

"I see."

"I am so sorry Nigel."

"Sorry for what ?"

"Sorry for not telling you all of this before. I wanted to, believe me, but things were never right."

The time was not right to speak about the supermarkets, too much to load on to his friend. Eddie was desperate to explain his grandfather's relationship with Bob but he could not break his word.

The boys were sharing a room, how had Eddie's grandfather organised that ? He had told the store's general manager the two would have a lot to work on together in the evenings so best if his secretary were to book a twin room. The boys would only use one although it would appear each morning to anyone coming in both had been slept in.

"I must talk to you again," Eddie said.

"I'm still trying to get my head round all you said earlier."

"This is bigger than all of that."

"What have you done ? Don't tell me, I know, you've got Princess Anne pregnant and her father says you'll have to marry her or be beheaded in The Tower of London."

"You must be kidding. I met her once, she's a right cow !"

"So you fraternise with royalty now. What more about my friend do I not know ?"

"Nigel, get into bed with me please. I need to talk with you."

Naked the two friends cuddled close to one another in the small bed. "Nigel."

"Yes Eddie."

"Fine Fare Supermarkets, what do you know about them ?"

"It's basically a private company, they've got two hundred or so branches."

"My grandfather wants to buy the company."

"Good for him, he'll make more money out of their supermarkets than he does from the department stores."

"You don't understand, hell I am making a mess of this. He wants to change the make to Sunshine Supermarkets and put you in charge."

Nigel was silent.

"When I inherit the plan will be to separate the supermarkets from the rest of the Brockton empire and give them all to you."

Nigel still did not say anything.

"But right from the start in reality they will be yours."

"Why would be do that ?"

"Because he loves me and he knows I love you."

"This is the man you have hated all your life ? This is the man who has made your life a misery for 19 years ?"

"Yes but no. I can't tell you why, I can not break my word to my grandfather and tell you why but the man I hated was not him only the person I thought he was."

"This is a dream."

"No Nigel it isn't."

"Perhaps we should go to sleep then when we wake up in the morning if everything is as you have said then it will be real, if not then it is a dream."

The boys were both dreaming and fast asleep when the phone rang.

"What time is it ?" Nigel said scrambling to find the switch for the bedside lamp.

The phone began to ring with a demanding sound filling the bedroom.

"Half past ten. Hello," Eddie picked up the receiver.

"Is that all ?" Nigel said.

"This is Reception, I am sorry to trouble you but there are two gentlemen here asking for you."

"Who are they ?"

"Robert Hazel and Trevor Jones," Eddie heard a voice speaking to the receptionist. "Tell him we are here concerning his grandfather."

The names meant nothing to Eddie who was far from being properly awake.

"It's grandfather," Eddie said, "covering the telephone mouthpiece. He has sent two people to see us.

"At half past ten ?"

"I'll come down in fife minutes," Eddie said, "just ask them to wait."

"Indeed Sir."

"You will come down with me won't you ?" Eddie asked Nigel.

"Of course."

"If they are from Grandfather then it will be as much to do with you as me."

A sudden thought came to Eddie. His grandfather had sent the men with a message, permission for him to tell Nigel about Bob - that was what it was. But NO Eddie had only been the first person in decades to be told the secret so his grandfather would not entrust the message to anyone. What was this all about ?

"They are waiting for you in the manager's office," an embarrassed receptionist said awkwardly. "Let me show you the way. The manager has gone home so they are waiting for you alone."

Inside the manager's office two uniformed police officers waited for the boys. Their uniforms showed them to be senior officers. In an act of deference both stood up as the boys entered.

"My Lord................."

"I am not a lord," Eddie corrected.

What was going on ? Who were these two ?

"My Lord," the stranger corrected, " I am Robert Hazel Chief Constable of Carlisle City Police. This is my colleague Chief Superintendent Trevor Jones."

"What is wrong ?" Nigel asked, frightened for his friend.

"My Lord," Chief Constable Hazel addressed Eddie, "I am here with some bad news. There has been an accident."

Both Eddie and Nigel felt fear in their stomachs.

"Your father and grandfather, My Lord, have been killed in a tragic accident."

"What happened ?"

"They were on their way home from a business meeting when their car collided with an articulated lorry."

"Who was driving ?"

"His Lordship's chauffeur."

"What happened to him ?"

"I am afraid he was killed as well."

"Oh my god," Nigel said, "all three of them." He took his friend's hand and held it tightly.

"Where did it happen ?" Eddie asked.

"Near junction fifteen for Northampton, they were returning home from a meeting at the offices of Fine Fare Supermarkets in Hertford," Chief Superintendent Jones explained.

Eddie had no need to hold back any tears, he was from a part of society where tears in the eyes of a man showed a weakness of character. Not so with Nigel, tears began to form and run slowly down the side of his cheeks.

"We need to get home," Eddie said.

"Your butler is on his way now to take you home. I understand he is driving one of your estate Land Rovers, your grandfather's car was in the accident."

"You are now Lord Edwin The Seventh Earl of Brockton," The Chief Constable said. "It will be another three hours until your butler gets here, Chief Superintendent Jones and I will stay with you until he arrives."

"That will not be necessary," Eddie said, "I have my friend Nigel here, he and I have a lot to talk over. Thank you both for coming, you have been kind but there is no need for you to stay."

"If you are sure My Lord."

"I am sure."

If you enjoyed this story, or even if you did not, please feel free to drop me a lone: david@guyzonline.com