TRILOGY: ITALIAN BROTHERS BOOK 1 - THE CORPORAL By Andrej Koymasky (c) 2000 Written on October 21st 1995 Translated by the Author English text kindly revised by a friend
USUAL DISCLAIMER
"ITALIAN BROTHERS 1 - THE CORPORAL" is a gay story, with some parts depicting graphic scened of sex between males. So, if in your land, religion, family, opinion and so on this is not good for you, it will be better not to read this story.
But if you really want, or because YOU don't care, or because you think you really want to read it, please be my welcome guest.
CHAPTER 6 - The Patron Saint's Festival
During the month of September, the village prepared for the solemn Patron's festival. It was a custom that on the first Sunday of the month, they put the names of the village's boys between the age of sixteen and twenty in a special box to draw the name of the "servant", who would have the privilege to wash the statues of the two saints and to dress them with the ancient paraments for the solemn procession.
When the Canon pulled out the small cardboard square and read the name, Enzo had a jolt in his heart -- he had been chosen! This meant that for one week he would have to live in the "cellar", a kind of small chapel that was behind the apse of the Mother Church, where the statues would be set for the preparation. The bed for the servant would be set behind the altar with the relics of the two saints. Every day, three different families would bring him meals, in the morning, at lunchtime and in the evening.
On September 19, the last day of the boy's work before the festivity, Ruggiero gave Enzo a parcel, "This is a present for you -- there are new clothes. The servant should be well dressed. You have to wear them, from tomorrow."
"We cannot even see each other for a whole week!" the boy sadly said.
"No, on the 23rd it will be my family's turn to offer your supper, and it will be me to bring it to you," the young man said with a mile.
"You, sir?" the boy said, brightening up.
"And we will be alone, do you understand?" Ruggiero added with a shrewd smile.
Enzo lightened up, but quickly became dejected again, "But we can't do it there, it will be like doing it in the church."
"Why not? What's wrong with there? We love each other. And I can't wait any more."
"Me neither, but..."
"So, you don't want me?" the young man asked seriously.
"I... yes, I want you, but..."
"Doing it there will be like marrying. Don't you want that?"
"Marrying?"
"Sure, with the statues of Cosimus and Damian as our best men. It will be like consecrating our love. So, then, should I come, or should I send some other member of my family?"
"I'll wait for you..."
"And will you be mine?"
"I'll be yours, sir, sure. I'll count the days..."
That evening, when he got back home, he noticed that the neighbors had decorated the entrance door of his house with flower garlands, as it was a custom. Enzo went up to the terrace and washed more carefully than usual. Going downstairs to his small bedroom, he looked at the clothes that Ruggiero gave him. He caressed them -- they were beautiful, made of a soft and light, elegant fabric. He never had something so elegant and precious. He thought, smiling to himself, that wearing them would be like feeling the caresses of his man all over his body. And then there were even shoes and socks.
While he was falling asleep, he remembered the date that his lover set up for them -- he was not able to say no to him, and now he was torn between two opposite and strong sentiments. On the one hand, the thought of making love in the cellar with the saints made him fearful; but on the other hand, he was longing to be able to unite with Ruggiero again. He didn't have the concept of sacrilege, it was way too complex for him. It was rather a kind of superstitious fear, the fear of mixing up sacred and profane. Nevertheless, they would be absolutely safe there, because he would be the only one to have the cellar's keys. And the person who brought the food would stop to pray with the servant and then to eat with him, therefore they would have enough time. And there was also a bed behind the altar, so for the first time they could do it in a bed.
But the two saints, Cosimus and Damien, would get angry with him? Or would they instead protect them? Ruggiero seemed sure, he said that it would be like getting married, but when two people marry in the church, they don't make love there. Yes, the cellar was not the church, but there was an altar like that in the church, and candles and flowers... Would doing it inside there bring him good or bad?
Nobody ever ate and slept in the church, but on the contrary, he would eat and sleep there. For a week, that place would be like his own home, therefore he could also make love in there as his man wanted. Moreover, was it not a sign that they drew his name? Enzo thought, starting to put himself at peace with his conscience. The two saints must have known that Ruggiero and him loved each other and that they were looking for a way to be alone and in intimacy, therefore...
And then, who knows if the two saints weren't also lovers? To look at the statues on the facade, it really seemed that they were looking at each other like two lovers. Yes, it had to be really so, the boy thought while he fell asleep, now assured. Therefore they would protect them since the two saints had made him as their servant for that year.
On the following morning, he woke up and put on the beautiful clothes that Ruggiero gave him. For the first time, he also wore underwear and felt it was enjoyable. He felt really good. In a while, they would come to take him to the cellar and officially appoint him as the servant of the two saints.
When his father saw him, he smiled, "God, how handsome you are in these clothes! You could look like a master. All the girls will have eyes just for you. You have been lucky, my son," he said with a satisfied look. Enzo smiled at him and sat down at the table, waiting. "Normally the servants will get a good marriage," his father added.
"But I really don't think I'll marry," the boy said, thinking of the promise of Ruggiero.
"You say that only because you're still young."
"Why didn't you marry again, after Mom died?"
"Because... after your mother, no other woman can be compared to your mother."
"Did you love her very much?"
"We loved each other very much. She was unique, your mother, a saint."
"Do you miss her very much?"
"Like land to a shipwrecked person, my son!"
Enzo was about to say something when they heard the singing of the people coming to fetch him. His father stood up, looking towards the door.
They knocked on the door and a voice said, "Vincenzo Rota, the Saints chose you as their servant. Don't make them wait!"
His father opened the door and Enzo stood up. He went out and he was immediately surrounded by a group of young men who had been chosen to carry on their shoulders the stretchers for the statues of the Saints. The cortege, followed by the people singing the ancient lauds, went towards the Mother Church. The boy's father followed the cortege, smiling with pride and satisfaction.
When they arrived in front of the church, the Canon, sided by the altar boys with the cross, candles and the thurible, was waiting for him on the portal. Enzo climbed the stairs alone and knelt in front of the Canon. With the side of his eye, he noticed Ruggiero among the crowd, and felt happy.
"Vincenzo Rota, are you ready to serve our patron saints for this week?" the Canon asked him.
"I am ready!" the boy answered kneeling down.
Then the Canon first sprinkled him with holy water, then waved the thurible in front of him three times, intoning the "kyrie eleyson" and everybody answered in a choir from the square. Then the Canon made him stand up, took the big key from a red velvet cushion and handed it to the boy, "Here is the cellar's key. Go to serve the Saints and pray for this community," he said.
Then he led the boy along the central nave, turned to the right of the main altar and entered the short corridor leading to the cellar. The people, who stopped inside the church, intoned the saints' litanies.
Reaching the massive door of the cellar, Enzo slipped the key inside the keyhole and opened it. Only he and the Canon entered. They knelt in front of the altar, behind which was the wooden sacellum with the statues of the saints. After a short prayer, the Canon again explained to the boy his tasks, and made him repeat his instructions until he was sure that the boy understood and memorized everything. Then he showed him how to go up to open the doors of the sacellum, where his bed was and also the table for serving meals.
"You will come to the rectory to wash yourself and for your bodily needs. Now I will leave you. You will take off your clothes and wear the tunic that is on your bed, and you will wear it until after the procession. Remember to put new candles on the candlesticks each morning and to blow them out before going to bed."
When Enzo was alone, he shut the heavy, wooden door adorned with figures with the key. He went to the bed behind the altar, took off his jacket, waistcoat, trousers and shirt, and hung them on the wooden hanger neatly, then put on the white cotton tunic with a purple waistband, and sat down to wait. That first day people would come to knock on the big door begging him to open the sacellum and to "wake up" the saints, but he would have to answer from behind the door without opening it, "Go in peace, I will pray for you." The day after, he would open the sacellum doors and he would allow those who came to knock to look inside the cellar through the door's peephole.
On the third day, the Canon with the sedan bearers would come, and they would take down the two statues from the sacellum and put them on the floor in front of the altar. On the 23rd, he would have to wash the two statues with a small, soft cloth immersed in water of roses -- Saint Cosimus in the morning and Saint Damian in the afternoon. And on that evening, Ruggiero will come to bring him his meal. And they would be alone. And at last he would give himself again to his man.
On the following day he would have to proceed to put the precious ancient attires on the statues, then on the 25th the bearers would come back to solemnly set the statues on their throne on the sedan for the procession. And finally on the 25th his seclusion would end -- they would take the two statues to the church and after the solemn sung Mass there would be a procession through the village, and he would lead it.
After the procession he would have the task of undressing the two statues and assisting at their collocation inside the sacellum. He would close its doors, then he could change his clothes and go back to his home. On the day after, he would resume his job. Don Calogero promised him that he would give him his regular pay for that week, moreover, his father would receive gifts of food from the village people.
People coming to give him food had to first kneel with him in front of the altar to ask the saints for blessings, then they would stay to serve him his meal and to eat with him. Then they would kneel in front of the altar again for the traditional prayers, they would take back the plates and the leftovers and leave.
Everybody vied to bring the most delicious food, in the most beautiful plates, and they brought the best wine. Enzo never ate so well -- he ate calmly, in silence, savoring all that good food. Those who brought him food always asked him to pray with them to ask for some favor from the two patron saints. Before leaving, Enzo had to give them one of the candles from the altar.
And the day of the washing came. The two statues, life-like in size, carved in wood, represented the two young saints wearing only the short legionary skirt. The two half naked bodies, carved and painted with extreme realism, were beautiful. While the boy was washing away one year's dust with the rose water, their bodies glowed and seemed even more beautiful and muscled. The candles' flames reflected on the statues' surface and Enzo thought they were sensual. He washed them carefully without forgetting the slightest fold, almost with loving care. Then he waited in trepidation and anticipation for the evening.
When the church bells chimed eight o'clock, a knock was heard on the cellar's door.
As the ritual required, Enzo asked "Who are you?" but with emotion.
Ruggiero's voice answered from the other side of the door with the ritual words, "A poor sinner."
"What do you want?" the boy continued, shuddering at the pleasurable sound of his man's voice.
"Open, please, I brought you a meal."
"I need nothing."
"But I also have to ask a favor from our saints."
"In this case, I will open," Enzo said and turned the key in the keyhole.
He opened one leaf and Ruggiero was in front of him with a big basket in his hands. Ruggiero entered and Enzo shut the door again. Ruggiero put the basket on the floor and took the boy in his arms, kissing him.
"Didn't you come to ask for a favor?" the boy asked in a low voice, excited.
"Yes, that we can love each other forever, that you could be mine forever, that nothing and nobody would ever part us!"
"I have been praying for this ever since I got here."
"Do you want me inside you?"
"Yes."
"Take me to the bed, then."
"Come," Enzo said, leading him behind the altar.
"God, how much I desire you, Enzo!"
"Make me yours," the boy whispered while Ruggiero was untying his purple waistband.
The young man undressed him, carefully folding everything and putting the waistband, the tunic and the rosary on the wooden ladder. He took off his shoes and socks, then his vest and finally also his underpants. Meanwhile, Ruggiero's eyes, as well as his hands, caressed Enzo's body. The boy felt desires in these hands and eyes, and quivered with anticipation for the young man to appease the hunger inside him.
Enzo was in awe and fascinated, almost as if it was his first time. He shuddered when the man pushed him on the bed and lay on top of him, still dressed.
"Don't you want to take off your clothes?" he asked in an excited murmur.
"You do it," Ruggiero invited him with a sweet smile.
With trembling hands, Enzo started to undress the body that was dominating him, until he managed to bare it. Then he took Ruggiero's turgid tool in his hands, "Oh, at last..." he sighed and got under that hot and quivering body, until he could put his lips on the rigid rod.
"What are you doing?" the man asked. Enzo didn't answer, but made the rod slip between his lips. "Ah, what are you doing?" the young man murmured again, but with a pleased tone. The boy felt strongly aroused -- he loved feeling it throb, strong and hot, and feeling the excitation of his beloved rapidly increasing.
Ruggiero was caressing the fold between his butt and teased the pulsing little hole with a finger. "Don't you want me here?" he asked with desire in a hoarse voice.
"Yes, indeed. Fuck me, make me yours." Enzo readily answered while the man, no longer able to control his desires, penetrated him with virile vigor until he was firmly inside the boy. He remained inside, without moving, while his strong arms hugged Enzo against himself. Ruggiero deeply kissed him in the mouth.
"I'm all yours, sir!" Enzo murmured when the man took his breath.
"Did I hurt you?"
"Yes... no."
"Do you want me to pull out?"
"No! It's too beautiful. Don Ruggiero?"
"Yes?"
"It is like we were married, isn't it?"
"Sure, you are mine."
"Do you like me?"
"I cannot possibly love you more."
"You really love me, sir?"
"More than my life."
"Make me feel it, then..." the boy begged.
Ruggiero started to move inside him, caressing and kissing him. Enzo held on to him with his arms and legs, abandoning himself to the splendid sensation that his man was giving him, forgetting the light pain of the penetration, moaning softly at each thrust of the strong and passionate young man.
"I love you," the boy murmured. Ruggiero looked at him with luminous eyes. "I love feeling you inside me." Enzo added with a light satisfied sigh.
"And I love being inside you."
"I'm happy!"
"You are my boy. Forever," Ruggiero said, continuing to joyfully move inside him, caressing the boy all over his body and lingering in the most sensitive spots..
When they lay down, panting and satisfied, Ruggiero asked him, "I hurt you, didn't I? Are you sore?"
"No, definitely not. Just a little bit at the beginning, but then... it's too beautiful. But when could we do it again?"
"I don't know. But now you have to eat. We have to get dressed again."
"Yes. Time always passes too fast. I would like to be able to sleep with you once. No, not just once... forever."
"But do you think I'll let you sleep?" The young man asked with a sly tone, caressing the nape of his neck.
Enzo smiled in a bliss. They got dressed.
The boy ate rapidly, which is different than usual. He still wanted to have time to be embraced by his man.
Ruggiero was looking at the two statues. "They are beautiful," he said.
"Not as beautiful as you are. And then, you are flesh and blood."
"Anyway, they are beautiful."
"Do you think they will protect us? Or will they be angry with us?"
"Angry? But why? Don't you see that they are smiling at us?" the young man said, going near him to embrace him.
"Anyway, I'm happy!" the boy said, curling between his lover's arms. Ruggiero caressed him and kissed him again, for a while, before parting.
On the following day, Enzo took out the clothes for the two saints from the casket and started to dress them. Meanwhile, inside himself, he prayed for them to protect his love for Ruggiero, to protect and bless both of them so that they could manage to meet soon and to make love, and if possible, to live together.
Finally came the 26th of September and there was the procession of Saint Cosimus and Damien. At last Enzo could wear his beautiful clothes again and go back to his home. During the procession, he got a glance of Ruggiero and they exchanged a light smile from afar. But Enzo already missed the intimacy with his man. In those days he asked himself why did they fall in love with each other in that way -- after all, in spite of everything, they still knew so little about each other... If Ruggiero knew him better, would he be disappointed at him?
After that day, they could see each other everyday. They could, from time to time, exchange some words, brush against each other or stole a kiss when nobody could see them, feeling the desires inside them increasing and strengthening, day after day.
After he got back home, he took off the beautiful clothes and folded them carefully, then he put them away. He would wear them only on Sundays, so he would not ruin them and could make them last longer. He put on his old breeches and the loose shirt. His father had prepared supper.
"With all the food they gave us in these days, we can eat well for a good while," his father said.
"Yes, sure."
"Has it been hard this week, being secluded in the cellar?"
"No, not at all."
"Was the bed soft?"
"Yes."
"Did you feel good?"
"Good," the boy answered with a smile, recalling when he shared it with Ruggiero to make love.
"Don Matteo's son, don Ruggiero, is likeable," the father said at a certain point.
"What?" Enzo asked astoundingly, looking at the man.
"Yes, he came to give me a good basket of cheese, salami and wine. And at the tavern this week, he offered me wine several times. He is a kind young man. And he also says that you are a really good worker."
"Really?" the boy asked thoughtfully, then asked his father, "Does he go to the tavern often?"
"No, I saw him just a couple of times before. Lately he comes more often. He is getting used to our village again, evidently. He is an easygoing person, not one who always acts like a lord, like some corporals that I know."
Enzo nodded. His father changed the subject. After supper Enzo went to the belvedere. His mates welcomed him with a mix of respect and mockery all at once.
"What did the Saints tell you?" Rosario asked him.
"That you mustn't go to the whorehouse so often," Enzo answered, laughing.
"But I went just that time!" the boy protested.
"Right, one time too much!" Enzo answered, and everybody laughed.
"And did they tell you something about me?" Luigi asked.
"And how! But I can't tell you. I would be too ashamed," Enzo merrily answered.
Being the center of attention among his mates gave him a sense of euphoria. He noticed that Ranuccio was observing him in silence and remembered when he tried to warn him. Who knows what his mate was thinking about him now? He looked for Cesare -- the boy was looking at him quietly. Did Ranuccio tell him what Enzo told him? He would have liked to know that. Since he was absent for a week, he didn't know if something had changed. Did the two friends really have a relationship, or was it just some stupid gossip among their mates?
"You wore gentlemen's clothes, Enzo, when they came to fetch you. When did you have them made? Were they expensive?" Alduzzo asked him.
"No, it was a present, I for sure didn't have the money for such clothes."
"One of the influential families often offers a new suit to the Saints' servant, don't they? To me too, two years ago, don Alfio's family offered a suit," Luigi said.
"Why don't you wear it any more?" Cesare asked.
"I am keeping it for when I get married," Luigi answered.
"Wouldn't it be too tight then?" Rosario asked.
"At this point I don't grow tall any more, if I just don't become fat. But I don't have to worry about that. Even then, in any case, my mother can alter it," Luigi answered.
Enzo nodded, and was happy that the conversation took a different direction and that he didn't have to explain who gave him his beautiful suit.
Ranuccio bid goodnight and went home. Cesare remained with the others. Then Manuele also left, then Enzo said goodbye and left the company. While he was going back home, he thought that maybe there was really nothing between Cesare and Ranuccio, or thanks to his warning, they decided not to go home together. On the one hand he thought that it was none of his business, but on the other hand, he would have liked to know whether he was the only one having a relationship with a male. Once Ruggiero told him that he couldn't be certain about their village, but when he was in Palermo, he met several people preferring the love between males. It was not such a rare thing as Enzo had thought.
Ruggiero told him that he had his first experience with a man when he was in a boarding school at Aci Reale. One evening, on a street near the sea, he was approached by a young officer. At first, they just chatted and developed a liking for each other. Then they went to swim together, naked, as it was common among men. Back on the shore, while they were waiting for the sun to dry their bodies, at a certain point they started to horse around playfully, and they became aroused. Then the young officer held him tight, brushed against his body and said that he wanted to make love. He thought that he could probably try... and he enjoyed the experience very much.
At times Enzo felt jealous of the many adventures that his Ruggiero seemed to have had, but then he told himself that he had no reason to be jealous -- those were things that belonged to the past. Now the young man was swearing that he intended to be faithful to him because he was in love with him. When Ruggiero whispered to him "I love you", Enzo felt a pleasant warmth flooding inside him, he felt an intense pleasure. At times he answered "I do too", but often he said nothing, selfishly enjoying the happiness that his man's words provoked in him. Anyway, he thought, Ruggiero could certainly read his love in his eyes.
Who knows how two people fall in love with each other? Somebody that you never noticed before, or who was just one among many, could suddenly become the only one, the most important one, essential to your life. Everything suddenly changes like magic. Yes, it is true, love must be the brother of magic. By the way, magicians sell love potions. But Enzo and Ruggiero didn't need any.
While he was in his little bed, he recalled when they united in the bed behind the cellar's altar. It had been wonderful, and having united there gave something sacred to their love. The intense scent of the flowers filling the cellar, of the ancient wood, of wax and incense, increased the intoxication of their desires. The light of the candles lapped their bodies, reflected in their eyes. When Enzo gave the candle to Ruggiero afterwards, his lover said that he would keep it forever, as a memory of that special union.
"Cosimus and Damien, witnesses of our love, protect it forever," the boy prayed in his heart.
CONTINUES IN CHAPTER 7
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