In the following story, all of the characters are totally fictive and the setting is real. For whomever it would be illegal, immoral or prohibited for any other reason whatsoever to read a story about love between two young men is kindly requested to refrain from continuing. A free picture album illustrating this story (pdf) is available upon request at maringiustinian@gmail.com. Please remember to help Nifty stay online by sending your contributions. This being said, I hope you enjoy the tale.
RIVER RATS
by Marin Giustinian
Loire Valley, France, Summer of 2019
Farlan Sinclair had just finished his Secondary 3 at the age of sixteen at Broughton High School in Edinburgh. He was the only child of Alastair and Margaret McKenzie, both professors of Scottish literature.
His mother's sister, Eleanor, was married to a Frenchman, Daniel Dumont, Osteopath. He had learned his skills studying in London. When they moved to Daniel's home town, Saint Mathurin sur Loire, Eleanor opened a flower shop. They lived in a large home overlooking the river. They had two children, a daughter, Louise living with her boyfriend in Paris, and a son, Jocelyn, the same age as his cousin, Farlan.
Before the Mackenzies left Edinburgh to go teach at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, they went for trip, motoring on the continent and visited the Dumonts in Saint Mathurin. Both Jocelyn and Farlan were eleven at the time.
Jocelyn was an outdoors boy. He enjoyed riding his bike, swimming, climbing trees, and getting dirty, whereas Farlan was more reserved, more of a bookworm, playing video games, watching television by himself. Farlan's French was a disaster and Jocelyn's English not much better. During that visit, they hardly were able to really get to know each other, much to their mothers' regrets.
Four years later, the Sinclairs' divorced and Margaret returned to Edinburgh with Farlan. She found a small job tutoring first year students at the University of Edinburgh. As soon as Farlan's school year was over, they flew to France for a stay with Eleanor, Daniel, and Jocelyn in their village on the banks of the Loire.
Farlan was awestruck when he saw his cousin, Jocelyn, now a very becoming young a man, wore extravagant clothes, his long silky blond hair seemed to float like a halo around his head, and he was very outgoing with Farlan. He was cocky, a bit arrogant, and terribly physical, with loads of sex appeal -- the extreme opposite of Farlan.
As for Jocelyn, he found his cousin moderately good looking. He liked Farlan's reserved side with his sharp, if not cutting sense of humour. He was gentle, never seeking to be noticed, and hated sports. He had never sought to entice somebody and wasn't in the least aware of his charms.
Neither were eager to be involved with girls. Both boasted that they had time for that later.
When Farlan met with Jocelyn again, his Canadian French proved to be quite proficient and Jocelyn's English had become fluent. The only thing that betrayed Jocelyn not being from the UK was his hopeless French accent.
This time the cousins bonded immediately. Jocelyn insisted on having Farlan sleep in his room upstairs with its own en suite bathroom. Farlan felt honoured. The afternoon of Farlan's arrival, Jocelyn took him for a long walk along the river bank. They chatted seemingly for hours about their aims in life, their likes and dislikes, their fears, and their hopes, too -- like all teens do.
Farlan was stunned by the beauty of the Loire, the light, the islands. He stated, "Jocelyn, this river is one of the most beautiful sights I've ever seen. I didn't remember it like that when we were together five years ago."
"You always had your nose in a book!"
Laughing, Farlan confessed, "That's right... I still read a lot but now the big bad world doesn't terrify me any more... well I mean, it terrifies me a bit less."
Jocelyn replied, "Growing up, I became aware of how it is out there in the big bad world, and it scares me. I guess that why I like to get away by myself on the island over there. It makes me feel secure."
"Makes sense!" replied Farlan.
"Would you like for us to go and camp over there? With my canoe we can get there in an hour or so if the current is okay."
"I'd love to! When do we leave?"
"Tomorrow if you want."
"Yes, sounds great!"
"Do you know how to handle a canoe?"
"I went on a canoe/camping excursion with my scout troop in Nova Scotia."
"Then it's decided. We'll pack our stuff tomorrow morning and leave after lunch."
Margaret, Daniel, and Eleanor immediately gave them permission to go do their thing together and have fun!
After dinner, the cousins retired to Jocelyn's room. Upstairs, it was hot.
"Do you want the shower first?" inquired Jocelyn pulling off his pants and T-shirt.
"You can go," replied Farlan, "I've got to dig out my toiletries."
Once they washed up and cooled down, they climbed on Jocelyn's bed, clad only in undies and settled in for another long chat about their trip the following morning.
"Is there anything particular you'd like to do, fish, swim, paddle over to other islands, or do like me, and just be scandalously lazy?"
"Jocelyn, I want to forget parents, school, and everything else. I want to be just me and you on an island and enjoy the natural beauty of it all... I like the idea of being scandalously lazy too!"
"Farlan, I'm damn glad you're here!" exclaimed Jocelyn grabbing his cousin in a spontaneous hug.
Farlan laughed and said, "Me too, Jocelyn! More than you can imagine!"
For a moment, they just sat there, smiling, foreheads touching.
Farlan softly said, "If I'm completely honest, Jocelyn, I have to tell you that I really need to just be totally aimless for a while! The divorce, the return to Edinburgh, the new school, no friends... well all that's left me exhausted. I want us to take our time to skinny dip, fool around, and simply enjoy being brand new old friends."
"Thanks for saying that, Farlan. I'm with you all the way, cousin! I sort of need that too," whispered Jocelyn.
Farlan felt relieved. He got off the bed and went over to the open window. He leaned on the sill, staring at the moonlight shimmering on the ripples of the river. Yawning as if he wanted to swallow the soft summer breeze, inhaling a distant fragrance of rose floating in the air. Indeed, he was very, very glad to be exactly where he was.
"Do we leave the window open?"
"Of course!" replied Jocelyn as he cast of the blanket on the bed.
Farlan crawled in his bed against the wall on the other side of the room.
Jocelyn exclaimed, turning off the lights, "Good night, cousin, sleep tight. You really do smell good!"
"Thanks. We smell the same. I like that!... I like it a lot. Sweet dreams."
Fluffy white morning clouds lazily paraded in from the West. The sky was a deep blue. Jocelyn crawled out of bed, scratched his crotch and went to pee. He returned and leaned over Farlan, still dead asleep, and gently shook him, "Come on cousin, wake up! It's time for us to get ready!"
Farlan stretched like a cat, attempting to open his eyes. He succeeded to utter, "Be with you in just a minute."
While Jocelyn was taking another shower, Farlan pulled himself out of bed and made his way to the toilet to pee, and then waited his turn in the shower. Jocelyn stepped out, his wet skin glistened in the sunbeams flowing through the small bathroom window. Farlan looked at him with admiration.
"Jocelyn, you're an absolute beauty!"
Beaming, Jocelyn draped a towel over his left shoulder and struck a pose, nude like a Greek statue.
"So you like me naked?"
"Don't be silly. Of course I like you whatever!"
They packed their personal stuff in the same sack and went down for breakfast. Then they took their time packing the canoe with the tent, the sleeping bags, food and cooking gear, etc. At lunch they were so excited that their mothers had to ask them to calm down or get out.
They said good-bye to everybody, loaded the canoe on the portage cart, and left for the river. At one thirty on the dot, they were underway. Farlan paddled in the bow and Jocelyn behind. At first, their coordination was a bit hesitant but little by little, they became perfectly synchronised. After a few minutes, they were moving in unison.
Fifty minutes later they beached on Sorin Island and hopped out.
"Here's our kingdom for the next few days."
"Will we be by ourselves here?"
"I've never been bothered. We're alone, unless somebody else comes to bivouac and if somebody does come, we'll welcome them stark naked. If they don't mind, they'll be good company. If they're offended, they'll leave us alone."
"So let's start living naked now!" shouted Farlan, throwing his clothes in the air.
Jocelyn laughed and stripped along with him.
Pulling out his sunscreen, Jocelyn asked, "Could you smear this on me?"
"No problem"
Jocelyn rubbed the lotion in, on Farlan's back, then turning him around, he continued. Farlan enjoyed the attention.
"You're not bad yourself, Farlan. Nice cock."
"I like it myself!"
Jocelyn laughed and said, "Can you do me too?"
"I'd love to!"
Gleaming with sweat and lotion, they walked, cocks pointing the way, into the woods to look for a place to set up camp. They finally found a clearing hidden among the trees, invisible from the mainland.
Sorin Island is small, covered with tall ash, poplar, and sycamore trees. It's about a quarter of a mile across the water from the little village of La Bohalle on the right bank. It measures more or less 320 yards long and 120 yards wide. There's a small spring flowing with fresh water near the centre and the shore is scattered with driftwood galore, not to mention the dead branches under the trees. The GPS on Farlan's phone read 47.417242, -0.386592.
Indeed Sorin Island was the perfect spot for their retreat. Heat danced on the silver riverside sand. Was it the freedom of movement, the sun and the breeze, the rising attraction of one for the other? Whatever, they stayed both halfway hard as they unloaded the canoe.
Once that was done, they dashed over to the blind side of Sorin. The water along the beach was immobile, inviting. In a split second, both were splashing around like mad, grabbing each other, tumbling, swimming, laughing. They played like that for a rather long time. The more they fooled around the more they bonded. At one point, Jocelyn teasingly squeezed Farlan's now very erect cock. Farlan giggled and groped Jocelyn's equally aroused sex. There was an instant of hesitancy; neither dared move. They grinned at each other, cocks still in hand. Nothing more was said, nothing more was done.
"Let's gather wood for the fire, and then we'll pitch the tent, and spread the bedding," stated Jocelyn.
"Perfect!"
They dashed off in opposite directions along the strand picking up driftwood until their arms were full.
The stand of trees cast a welcoming shade on their campsite. Jocelyn had a small cooking fire going for an early dinner of brown rice and spicy Toulouse sausages. Farlan popped the cork of the bottle of red wine Jocelyn had 'borrowed' from the family cellar and poured a glass for each.
"Do we dress for dinner, Jocelyn?"
"I think we should. There's no wind and around this time, the mosquitoes might like us for their dinner as well."
The mosquitoes left them in peace. They enjoyed the dinner, even more so the wine. After cleaning up the dishes, they took the tarp down to the beach and stretched out side by side, gazing at the changing colours of the river. Their clothes felt good as the temperature dropped with the setting sun.
"Do you have a wish ready for the first shooting star we see?" lazily inquired Farlan.
"And you?"
"Yes, but I can't say what it is. Otherwise it won't come true."
"You're right..."
"I bet we're wishing the same wish."
"Probably," replied Jocelyn caressing Farlan's bare foot with his.
"Yeah, I'm sure we're wishing the same thing."
The minutes drifted into a hour as twilight fell, soft and silent. The distant song of a bird floated on the flow of the shimmering waters. Jocelyn slid up closer to Farlan, their thighs and shoulders touching. Farlan turned his face towards Jocelyn's and whispered, "I want to kiss you."
"I want you to kiss me," uttered Jocelyn.
The moment was ripe like a fig on the verge of falling.
Their lips met, their quivering tongues danced together inside their mouths. That first meaningful kiss shook their souls. Jocelyn had never felt such a fire burning inside, neither had Farlan.
A genuine love kiss can change the course of a life. They devoured each other's mouths, breathed each other's breath, then stretched out, taking a pause, caressing their boners.
Farlan yelled, "Look! Our star's shooting!"
Jocelyn rolled over on Farlan and began to say, "Our wish..."
Farlan covered Jocelyn's mouth with another kiss as he squeezed his cousin's rock hard cock straining in his shorts.
Finally, Jocelyn managed to say, "That's my wish too... In the tent... Now!"
And the flood gates opened.
Their scanty clothes flew. Clad only in moonlight they ran hand in hand to the tent. Both sleeping bags were unzipped open, cast haphazardly inside. They laughed out loud, frolicking together, Farlan covering Jocelyn's writhing body with famished kisses. Jocelyn revelled in the sensuous attention he was receiving. Without really realising it, Farlan was subjugating Jocelyn. He tantalised Jocelyn's tits, licked his pits, and returned to kissing and nibbling his lips. Then Farlan gripped Jocelyn's oozing cock and lapped the glans. Jocelyn shuddered, then moaned. He had lost all of his bearings as he discovered the orgasmic energy of another lad delighting him, conquering him, drowning him in an endless surge of pure, physical pleasure. As for Farlan, he was living for the first time in his life the freeing experience of self-assurance. He discovered the marvel of giving love. All hesitancy had vanished as he sweated, sucking on Jocelyn's throbbing cock, swallowing, drooling on the verge of gagging. He was maddened with a compelling desire to quench his thirst at his cousin's fountain, drinking his precious semen, his liquid soul. Jocelyn seized Farlan's head, and fucked his throat. Farlan's eyes wept; his throat opened. He swallowed, holding his breath, then came up for air. Jocelyn quaked, gasping, and suddenly screamed. Farlan swallowed his creamy reward under a shower of shooting stars.
Drunk with love and gratitude, Jocelyn threw Farlan on his back and swallowed in turn his slender, erect cock, never gagging, never hesitating. Farlan nearly fainted. He fisted Jocelyn's silky hair and trembled on the brink of a massive orgasm. In his wildest dreams he could have never imagined such a torrent of ecstasy. Jocelyn's throat caressed Farlan's shaft and that was it. He too drank deeply of the rich surge of semen. Farlan convulsed with each ejaculation as several escaped drops of cum dribbled from Jocelyn's lips. They both collapsed, spent, exhausted, then laughed. Farlan stated, "That was a powerful shooting star!"
"Amen! We did it! Now you are in me and I'm in you... Hallelujah! We shot stars into each other. I'll never be the same," asserted Jocelyn.
"We'll never be the same, never ever!" corrected Farlan.
"I guess that means we're in love with each other," replied Jocelyn licking his swollen lips.
"I guess you're right! Kiss me!"
They began to harden once more.
"Jocelyn, are you sleepy?"
"Not yet."
"Let's go outside and make another wish..."
"The same?"
"Why not?"
Day 2
They woke still enlaced. The night had been lively, better than a dream. They hummed as they slowly crawled out into the mid morning sun. They giggled as they peed then ran to the river. There, they soaped and shampooed each other, admiring the bubbly foam slowly drifting away.
They enjoyed a lazy brunch and then went to the shore to swim and to talk about the marvels of the night before. Other canoes and kayaks passed by. They didn't hide their nudity and waved. Then, close to two o'clock in the afternoon, they spotted three kayaks heading in their exact direction. Three young fellows beached and came up to the boys standing, nude as always. They greeted their unannounced visitors in French.
"Bonjour, pouvons-nous vous aider?"
Shrugging, the oldest of the three replied, "Sorry, we don't speak French. Do you speak English?"
"No problem. Can we help you?"
"No, we're just stopping to take a swim, cool off, like you. We don't plan to stay long. We're Dutch on holidays kayaking down the Loire. We left Tours three days ago and have to be in Ponts de Cé this evening."
"Well, have a good swim!" replied Jocelyn.
All thee of them wore wooden cross pendants around their neck, and when they stripped, they kept them on.
"You still have your necklaces on," exclaimed Farlan as they began wading into the river.
"We're novice Franciscan Friars. We never take them off."
"You mean you guys are monks? Christian monks! Skinny dipping?" questioned Jocelyn, amazed.
"That's right! Come on in and join us!"
All five hit the water. They swam, splashed teasing each other. The monks yelled something in Dutch and then grabbed Farlan, tossing him in the air. Farlan splashed down laughing like a babe. Then it was Jocelyn's turn. Soon they were climbing on each other's shoulders, striking silly poses, and falling in the water, over and over. Soon they were exhausted and went back on the beach to dry in the sun.
Jocelyn still had problems about them being monks.
"I didn't think you guys were allowed to skinny dip and have fun like we just did," he said as they were toweling off.
"We haven't pronounced our vows yet, but you know, Franciscans are closer to nature than most of the other brotherhoods. The 'Fioretti', the poems by Saint Francis praise God for creating the beauty of nature. They are famous... and very beautiful. You should read them."
"What's the name again?" eagerly requested Farlan.
"Fioretti, that means Little Flowers."
Another monk told them more, "The legend of Saint Francis has it that when his father had summoned him to court for having spent too much of his money, Francis stripped off all his clothes, threw them at his father and the judges and walked out of town naked. Several of his friends did the same, following him. They decided to live together in poverty, praising God's nature. That's how our brotherhood came into being. I'm sure Saint Francis and his followers must have often enjoyed what we're enjoying now."
Jocelyn and Farlan were even more amazed.
Farlan asked, "And what's your message, your mission for the world today, as Franciscans?"
"Our mission is to perpetuate Saint Francis's message in these times of waste and greed. More than ever, mankind must learn again the virtues of frugality and the urgency of protecting nature, all of nature, and above all, human nature. Love is the most natural thing in the world. Our flesh is our personal part of nature. Flesh needs love, both spiritual and physical."
"What did Saint Francis say about gay people?" asked Jocelyn, with deep concern.
"Saint Francis never said anything against anybody. It is impossible that God could condemn a person's nature. He can condemn the harm they do to the planet or to other people, but he can't condemn people on how they were born. It's simple! Gay people are born gay. They don't choose to be gay. Nobody makes them become gay. It's simply in their nature to love people of their same sex. It's just another way of loving. For God, that's no problem. After all, God IS love."
Farlan added, "When I was in Canada, some of my classmates studied the Gospels. One of them said that Jesus was gay, talking about his love for Lazarus, for John, and about the young man fleeing the garden naked, the night Jesus was arrested."
The elder of the three replied, "Why not... Gay or not, Jesus is still the spiritual son of God. That's what's really important. The rest is irrelevant. Jesus never condemned gays. He never said with whom we should fall in love. God is not religion. Religions are human doings. Jesus had no religion. He wasn't a Christian and once he was adult, he was never considered as being a 'good' Jew. Religion killed Him."
"We'll have to think about that..."
"You two are in love, aren't you?"
"How do you know?" quipped back Jocelyn glancing at Farlan.
"We felt it from the moment we saw you two together, greeting us on the beach. Your love enhances you. It glows around you."
Jocelyn took Farlan's hand. With a heart-melting smile, the youngest of the three monks walked up and put his hand on theirs, bowing his head. The two others simply said, "Amen."
That sacred moment struck the cousins deeper than they expected. Jocelyn shed a tear. Farlan looked at him whispering, "I love you."
"Thanks for the company, boys!" shouted the monks as they dressed.
"Thank you for giving us your blessing!" answered Farlan.
"Now take care! We must head on! It's God who blesses you... and above all, be yourselves, obey your nature, and stay happy! The world needs men like you!"
Jocelyn and Farlan waved as the monks paddled away. They just stood there looking at the three kayaks slowly disappear around the bend.
Turning to Jocelyn, Farlan sighed, saying, "I've got to go in the shade and rest some."
"Are you all right?" inquired Jocelyn a bit worried.
"I've never been better, but I'm sore as hell from all the activity, paddling, swimming, gathering wood, making out, cutting up, sucking, deep thinking, and you name it!"
"If you want, I can give you a good massage with the sunscreen. Would you like that?" offered Jocelyn.
"I would LOVE that!"
In the cool of the woods, Farlan laid face down on the fireside tarp. Jocelyn took the sunscreen and knelt beside him. He kneaded Farlan's neck, shoulders, and back for a long moment. Farlan hummed. Jocelyn then straddled Farlan's thighs and massaged his back down to the glutes, spreading them. His finger slid over Farlan's anus, making it wink. Then he moved further down, massaging Farlan's legs. By that time Farlan was both completely relaxed and extremely alert. He twisted around a bit and gently took Jocelyn's hand, placing it again between his buttocks. The signal was clear. Jocelyn spread Farlan's legs and knelt in between. He slathered Farlan's glutes with lotion and began massaging them, pulling them apart, exposing, rubbing the tiny hole. The urge to plunge his face into Farlan's rear overwhelmed Jocelyn. With the tip of his nose, Jocelyn caressed the smooth, firm skin, then licked the pinkish orifice. Farlan moaned his pleasure. Jocelyn's cock oozed with his own slick. His straining erection throbbed with each heartbeat. His slender index slipped inside Farlan, touching the firm little nut inside. Farlan gasped and then pled, "Fuck me! I need you to fuck me. I need you in me, in me now."
Jocelyn positioned his glans on Farlan's anus. Farlan writhed seeking his comfort, then he uttered, "I'm turning over. I want to see you, kiss you as you fuck me."
Jocelyn immediately leaned down and kissed Farlan's lips, then lifted his legs onto his shoulders and let Farlan place his dripping cock. Jocelyn was trembling with lust. Then Farlan suddenly seized Jocelyn's buttocks and pulled. Jocelyn fell forward, his cock ramming into Farlan. Farlan hissed, writhing an instant, then whispered, "Don't move. Stay like that."
Jocelyn tenderly kissed Farlan's lips, then they gazed into each other's eyes.
"I love you, Jocelyn. Go for it!"
"But you hurt..."
"Not really... Just love me like I love you and go!"
Jocelyn began, slowly at first, to slip deeper, then back a little. His breathing was erratic, his nostrils flared. He hastened his pace, losing control as instinct took over. Farlan rolled his arse, pushing up to meet Joscelyn's churning thrusts. Undulated in unison, their bodies melded, Jocelyn's lips snarled; Farlan's mouth was agape, his eyes rolled back, lost in an orgasmic whirlpool spinning inside him. Jocelyn suddenly arched, threw his head back, and howled, gushing his soul, surge after surge, into Farlan's delicate entrails.
Their cocks spewed at the same time. Jocelyn collapsed, breathless, on Farlan. His cock slowly slipped out while Farlan cradled him, rocked him, biting the lobe of his ear. Returning to his senses, Jocelyn slid over on his side and gazed at Farlan with marvel.
Farlan slowly caressed Jocelyn's smooth cheek, uttering, "You can't imagine how wonderful it was, Jocelyn. Unbelievable..."
"Whenever you want, I'm yours to take, Farlan. I'm not the imagining kind. I want to live what you lived. I want you to live what I lived too. I want you to bury your perfect cock in me and fuck me as long as you can."
"Tonight"
"Are you still sore?"
Farlan laughed and said, "Not in the same places! I'm just hungry!"
They ran back to river to wash off the sweat and cum, cool down some, and then fix dinner.
That night Farlan fucked Jocelyn. He lasted a bit longer than Jocelyn did. Jocelyn cooed, groaned, panted, bucked his arse, clenching Farlan's nimble, firey penis with his deepest muscles. Jocelyn was wide-eyed with ecstasy. His anal orgasm repeated itself twice, each time stronger, wilder. Slowly, step by step, they went absolutely wild. Jocelyn was ferocious, famished for Farlan's cock pounding inside him. Farlan jabbed, pushed, and churned with unexpected force, setting Jocelyn on fire -- a fire that only his semen could extinguish. And then the cum surged. Jocelyn shot streams of his cum in the air, falling on Farlan's face, flying into his own hair. He convulsed as Farlan arched, trembling, burying his cock deeper with each urgent shove, flooding Jocelyn's entrails over and over, gasping, on the verge of fainting.
Immobile, unable to move, each struggled to catch his breath, mouths agape, eyes wonderstruck.
After a while, Jocelyn sighed and whispered, "I see what you mean..."
"Yeah... me too. I'm empty and in heaven!"
They shared a long kiss as they slid into sleep, legs enlaced, abandoned in each other's embrace.
The silent moon cast silver pools of light on the river as it flowed and was always there, advancing and yet present too, just like the paradoxical motion of love itself.
Day 3
Jocelyn discovered himself as a savage, relentless bottom as well as a diligent top. He begged Farlan to fuck him again in the morning. This of course was no problem for Farlan, having become an avid top himself. Both were now keyed to each other in perfect balance, giving and taking, drinking and fucking.
Insatiable, they indulged in wonderful, passionate sex all morning long, delighting each other in all the ways gay beginners of sixteen could imagine.
After a meagre lunch, there was no more food left.
"I guess it's time for us to go back to the house and figure out how we can stay together, be it in Scotland, here, or elsewhere... Whatever, we can't be separated!" asserted Jocelyn as they shared the last banana.
"We'll handle that! Love's on our side! The monks blessed us after all!" affirmed Farlan.
Jocelyn called home, asking his mother to come pick them up with their gear and conoe. She told them to be in front of the church at La Bohalle at 4:00 PM.
They broke camp, packed, and paddled over to the mainland. When their mothers saw them standing side by side, tanned and relaxed, they congratulated them on how well they looked. Once they were back home, they put their few dirties in the washing machine, took a long hot shower and then shaved the fuzz off their upper lips and the few whiskers that had appeared on their chins.
While they were dressing, Farlan asked, "Jocelyn, do we tell them everything or wait awhile before coming out to them?"
Jocelyn thought an instant and replied, "Let's wait... Okay?"
"Okay"
Scrubbed, shampooed, and scented, they galloped down the stairs for the daily aperitif wine and snacks in the garden. Both were nervous, always physically close to each other.
The three parents greeted them with extremely sweet smiles, saying, "We want to hear it all! Tell us everything. What do two normal teenage boys do on a tiny island by themselves for three solid days?"
Jocelyn glanced at Farlan saying, "You start."
Farlan winked, and began by giving a long description of the campsite. Then Jocelyn spoke about their fun swimming, preparing their meals on the fire, and the visit of the Franciscan Friars.
"In fact there's not much to tell," concluded Farlan, shrugging, "Do you want to add something, Jocelyn?"
"I think we've said it all..."
"Well, according to the way you two look together, I guess you're lovers by now," stated Daniel, taking another sip of his wine with a sly smile.
The cousins glanced at each other. Jocelyn's answer was his cheeks turning crimson red. Farlan stuttered, "Yes, Uncle Dan, we're in love and believe me, it's serious."
Daniel couldn't refrain from chuckling, winking at the ladies.
Almost offended, Farlan retorted, "What's so funny?"
Jocelyn butted in, "Don't laugh, Dad! I love Farlan and he loves me! So... So what?"
"Really... If I'm not prying into your business too much, we'd like to know how it happened?" calmly requested Margaret.
Jocelyn replied, "We fell in love the first night on the island. It's the fault of our shooting star!"
Farlan added, "That's right, the star shot and we fell in love, just like that," snapping his fingers.
Eleanor and Margaret couldn't help giggling a bit more.
"And you say it's the shooting star's fault... Where's the fault? Love is love! Boys, you are so funny!" exclaimed Eleanor.
"Funny, Mum?" echoed Jocelyn, a bit peeved.
Margaret answered, "Listen, you river rats, mothers know what they feel! When Eleanor and I brought you home a while ago, there was so much love in the back seat of the car, we could have sliced it with a knife. We both knew that you two were gay. We had already talked about it... but never had we imagined you could, as you put it, fall in love for the first time, together, just like that, at your age!"
"It can happen, especially at their age, just like that -- and clack!" declared Daniel, snapping his fingers.
Farlan and Jocelyn were staring at everybody as if they had gone insane.
Daniel continued, "Boys, I'm really glad for the both of you. Now pay attention to what I have to say. Every guy has his gay side, some more than others. Me, for instance, when I was studying osteopathy in London, I had a wonderful three month affair with this American guy. We really enjoyed each other, in the best, most brutal, craziest ways possible."
"Dad!" exclaimed Jocelyn, hardly able to imagine his own father doing what he had heard.
Farlan glanced at his aunt. She winked back with a smile.
"Uncle Dan, we're not like that!"
"I guess nobody's story's the same... But even if our affair didn't last long, for the time it lasted, it was fabulous. Some guys just go through a gay phase and then straighten out, others stay gay for a lifetime... What's important is that you enjoy being who you are whatever the phase, whenever it happens. So enjoy loving each other the way you love to love each other, and stay in love as long as you are happy together. Squeeze the juice out of every moment and remember, whatever the future holds for you, be thankful that your love was and/or still is true."
Farlan looked at Jocelyn with the sweetest smile ever.
Daniel continued, "But I'm warning you, if your love lasts, and I feel it shall, beware of the way 'normal' people can damage it, trying to make you behave like them, saying it's for your own good. Be polite, but shun that bullshit! Love and let live. Be true to yourselves and enjoy your own lives!"
There was a moment of suspended silence as Daniel's words soaked in.
Margaret then spoke, "I suppose you're going to want to live together..."
Both boys nodded at the same time.
Farlan looked at his mother with pleading eyes, and implored, "Mum, if we can't stay together, I'll die!."
"You're not going to die that soon, Son..."
Farlan held his breath.
"Because, from now on we're going to live in Saint Mathurin."
"WHAT?" screamed Farlan and Jocelyn together.
"I said, we're going to live here from now on! Forget Edinburgh! Am I clear?"
The boys looked at each other, stunned.
Margaret continued, "Farlan, do you remember that pottery course I took in Halifax three years back?"
Farlan nodded, still struggling to wrap his mind around all the new information that was falling on him.
"Eleanor and I are going to be business parters. I'm going to furnish pottery for her flower shop. I've found a garage to rent for my workshop. I can also organise pottery courses there as well."
"And when was all that planned?" nervously inquired Jocelyn.
"While you two were making mad love together out there on your little island!" jested Daniel.
Jocelyn nodded.
Stuttering, Farlan then asked, "And where are we supposed to live, Mum?"
"Eleanor and Daniel are going to have the old gardener's house fixed up for me. You two are going to have to live together upstairs."
Daniel chuckled, "Is that a problem for either of you?"
Farlan looked at Daniel, sighing as if his uncle was a moron.
Eleanor then spoke up with a very serious voice, saying, "Jocelyn, when Farlan's mother wrote me about her problems, about her husband, Farlan's father, leaving their home with another woman, then the divorce... and Farlan's distress going through that sordid ordeal, I answered her by telling them to come here."
Jocelyn instinctively put a protective arm around Farlan's shoulders as they both listened.
Eleanor continued, "My sister needed to build herself a new life -- and so did you, Farlan. So she came with you to see if a new start here was possible -- with our help, of course."
Margaret stood up, put her glass on the table, and spoke in turn, "So Farlan, that's how and why we're here together. And now that we're all informed, I've got a special request for you two lovebirds. I'd like to teach you how to spin a potter's wheel, shape, and kiln your own creations so that later on you can produce pieces to sell in the shop -- and why not elsewhere -- along with me. Are you interested in learning the trade?" she asked, opening her arms.
The two boys bolted off the bench as if their pants were on fire and grabbed Margaret, throwing her off balance. All three fell on the lawn. Daniel and Eleanor laughed with all their might. Margaret managed to stand as the boys continued to hug and kiss each other, gleefully rolling together on the grass.
At the end of dinner, Daniel asked, "So fellows, what are your plans for the rest of the summer?"
Farlan replied, "Since Mum said we were river rats, I guess Jocelyn and I'll go back to the island for a while. I need Jocelyn to help me with my French. I feel that what I learned in Canada isn't enough for math and science in the lycée over here.Then we'll come back to begin our pottery lessons when Mum's workshop's ready."
Jocelyn nodded as he cut himself another slice of cake.
"Good planning," replied Daniel, adding, "You two must keep the island for yourselves. All men need their male-space."
Eleanor echoed, "Male-space? What are you guys talking about?"
"That's our business, Mum!" quipped Jocelyn, mouth full as cake crumbs fell on the tablecloth.
"Absolutely correct, son! What would you two say if I bought you a good four seasons tent with a little paraffin heater? That way, you can recharge your vital energy all year long."
"Dad, you're the best!" exclaimed Jocelyn rushing up to Daniel.
"And a fantastic uncle, too!" added Farlan as he joined the three-way smoochy man hug.
The subject was closed.
Epilogue
Margaret returned to Edinburg alone to prepare the removal. She returned with her car a day before the lorry arrived in Saint Mathurin.
During the winter, the lads stayed busy at their potter wheels, doing their high school work at home because of the Covid, and returning as much as possible, to their male-space on Sorin Island.
Margaret met the man of her life at a cocktail party just after the first lockdown. She'll be moving in with him, leaving her little gardener's house to Farlan and Jocelyn.
Probably after high school the boys will take over her business. They love pottery! The success of their sales prove that they had excellent taste.
And so, my friends, this is how Jocelyn and Farlan dared to live, with reckless abandon, their own way of life. They remained simple, steadfast, and strong, gently growing into good men, doing so quite... quite naturally.
A free picture album illustrating this story (pdf) is available upon request at maringiustinian@gmail.com.