The Feint Smell of Rain

This is the true story of a chance meeting, and the events that followed it, that had a profound impact on my life.

I have changed the names of the people involved, but all places are the actual places where the events took place. It is set in South Africa during the 1970's, a very conservative and turbulent place at the time.

The story contains scenes with drug use by, and sex between, underage boys. These scenes are there merely to tell what actually happened, and are only included where it is deemed to be necessary, to know the circumstances under which it took place and to advance the story line.

If it is illegal in your territory to read this, or if you object to any of the above on any other grounds, do not continue.

It is a poignant tale of love, discovery, triumph and tragedy experienced by two teenage boys.

The Feint Smell of Rain

Chapter 11

We left Jenna's place at seven on Saturday morning. Bernie had to be at work at eight and Brenda opened his shop at eight thirty.

When we arrived at the flat, Alinah was hard at work getting the vegetables that Wayne brought with ready for freezing. The new chest freezer was delivered late the previous afternoon and we found a place where it fitted, between the fridge and the sink area in the kitchen. This made the kitchen even more cramped, but Alinah did not complain one bit.

We had oats, milk and sugar for breakfast, before I went to bed and Ben and Wayne left with Bernie for the bank. I was tired and in no time I was fast asleep.

I woke up around ten when Ben softly kissed my neck.

"You back?" I asked sleepily.

"Mission accomplished." he said as he spooned and hugged me tightly.

"I have to be home tomorrow."

"I know... I don't know what I am going to do without you here." he said softly.

"I wish I could stay." I said.

"We'll work it out. I'll phone every night." he said comforting me.

"I love you." I said.

"I love you too."

We were woken up later by a commotion inside the flat. I checked the time. It was just after four. The boys were telling something to Alinah in a very exited tone. The smaller ones were crying at the same time. I tried to listen, but could not hear what the problem was. Ben got out of bed just as there was a knock on his door and then on Bernie's.

"We have a crisis!" Wayne shouted from outside.

I also got out of bed and when Ben and I opened the door to go to the lounge, Bernie just came from his room.

"It seems that someone has taken Andrew." Wayne informed us.

"Who?" Bernie asked.

He said he is a policeman," Jason said "but I don't know, he did not wear a uniform."

"Let's calm down and then you tell us what happened." Wayne said to Jason and also tried to calm everyone else down.

We sat down in the lounge. The boys were pale and Jamie sniffled uncontrollably as he got onto Ben's lap.

"We were at The Wilds, where we always hang." Jason said. "Andrew asked this guy if he wants to suck his dick. The guy looked interested and then all of a sudden grabbed him and said he is a cop and is taking him to jail. Andrew tried to fight but the guy was too strong for him."

"Could you see where he went with him?" Bernie asked.

"We ran away... back here, but I saw him handcuff Andrew and put him in the back of a car." Jason told us.

"Was it a police car?" Wayne wanted to know.

"No, it didn't look like it." Jason said.

"He is going to bring him here." Alinah said. "I know, I have seen them take many boys before. They don't take them to the police station."

"You sure, Mama?" Wayne asked.

"Mama is right." Ben said. "They take them to their parents. Andrew will not let them take him home."

"Oh, God!" Bernie said and put his face in his hands.

"These ones must go hide somewhere outside." Alinah said. "They should not get them all here."

"Good thinking Mama." Wayne said.

"They can come with me to my room." Alinah offered and took off her apron. "You can come tell us when we can come back."

"Okay. You boys go with Mama," Bernie said. "Well come get you later."

"And don't worry," Ben added "we will sort this out."

The boys timidly went with Alinah. Jamie clung to her dress, and continued to cry.

"What now?" I asked.

"All we can do is wait." Ben said.

"Does not help we go and look for him, they can be anywhere." Bernie remarked worried.

"I am going to phone Edward." Ben said and gestured to me to follow him. "I hope he is home. He will know what to do."

We walked to the phone booth on the corner and Ben dialed Edward's number. I saw the relief on his face as Edward answered. Ben explained as best he could what the situation was and patiently answered Edward's questions. Then he hung up. "He is on his way."

The two of us went back to the flat. As we walked we expected a whole contingent of policemen to descend on us at any moment. Edward arrived less than ten minutes after we were back inside the flat. We explained the situation to him again and what Jason told us.

"Yes, I don't think they'll book him." He said. "He is way too young. They usually also don't proceed unless the parents are present."

"There is no way he will go to his parents." Ben said. "He hasn't seen them in years."

"When he breaks down and realize that he has to take them somewhere, he will bring them here." Bernie said. "I always drilled it into them that if anything such as this happens, they must come back here. We will do our best to get out of it together."

"You're right, we all know it." Ben agreed.

"Just yesterday we had a discussion about the boys." Wayne told Edward. "We were going to approach you for advice. This is not an ideal situation for them, but we also do not want to send them back home, where things will just be worse. We also do not want them to land up in an orphanage somewhere."

"That is about the only options you have." Edward said.

"I thought of putting them in a boarding school somewhere close to where I live in the platteland (country side), if we can get the permission of their parents." Wayne explained what he had in mind. "They can visit me over weekends and holidays."

"And you would pay for it?" Edward asked.

"Yes." Wayne answered.

"Why?" Edward asked again.

"Because I can... and want to." Wayne said. "Look, I've been asked the same question by Benny and Bernie. I came and got the boys here, when I met Benny. They, and Benny were hustling. It was as it was. I asked no questions. I enjoyed my new found freedom here in the city, to be who I am, without worrying about what people said. And I was accepted by you guys, without any questions or reservations." He gave a chuckle before he continued. "And I fucked my brains out... you all know that."

" Then Gran died, and I decided to stay on the farm, even though I missed the city and all I had here. Last week, on the spur of the moment, I took the boys with me. Benny told me about him not hustling anymore. Then during the week, I had an epiphany. Certain things happen for a reason in life. I had to come here last week, to be a witness to the change in Benny. I had to ask the boys with, to be a witness to the change in them, when away from... this life. Come to think of it, I have to be here now, with this... crisis. This validates what I decided to do. I need to help these boys, because I can. It is in my power to do something, and I have to."

We all sat in silence for a few minutes, touched by what Wayne said. Edward broke the silence when he said softly, without looking at anyone. "The least I can do is to try and help as best I can, I suppose then."

"Thanks" Wayne said. "I also thought to ask Father Rothman... you know him?"

"I do, from St. Mary's." Edward answered.

"I am sure he will help" Wayne said.

The next moment Andrew appeared in the doorway with a tall young man holding onto his one shoulder. Ben and Bernie jumped up. "Are you okay?" Bernie asked concerned.

Andrew did not answer, just nodded his head.

"This young man says that this is where he lives." the man said.

"Yes." Bernie answered.

"I am Constable Winkler from the SAP (South African Police) in Norwood." he said and showed his identification card. "I found this boy soliciting for sex in The Wilds."

"You can leave him." Bernie said. "He won't run away." The cop released his grip on Andrew's shoulder and he went and sat on a bed with his head bowed down.

"Come in and sit down Constable." Edward invited the policeman in. "Let's try and sort this out. My name is Edward Carrington. I am a lawyer."

The policeman came inside, but appeared to suddenly be uncomfortable. "I did not book him for anything, Sir..."

"Good. Please call me Edward."

"We'll make some coffee." Ben offered as the policeman sat down. I followed him to the kitchen. Ben filled up the kettle while I got the mugs ready.

"I've seen that guy before..." Ben whispered to me. "At Europa... quite a few times, over the last six months."

"You think he's been there... officially?" I asked.

"I saw him hook up with guys. I think he is gay."

We made the coffee in silence as we listened to the conversation in the lounge.

"You can call me Ron. I am off duty." the policeman said.

"What are you planning to do... about Andrew?" Bernie asked.

"I just thought I'll talk to his parents."

"You can talk to me." Bernie said. "I am his brother."

"You know what he is doing in the park?" Ron asked.

"I did not know. I'll deal with him." Bernie lied.

Ben and I went back to the lounge with the coffee. As Ben held out the tray to Ron he said. "I've seen you at Club Europa before. I remember faces."

Ron looked at him surprised and his face went white.

"Don't worry, we're all gay here." Ben smiled at him. "We're not going to rat you out."

"I... I..." Ron started.

"That explains why you did not go and make more trouble?" Edward said and asked at the same time.

"And why you were in The Wilds on a Saturday afternoon." Ben said. "We all know what goes on there."

"Benny!" Bernie scolded him.

"Come on, Bernie. Ron here is a kindred spirit." Ben laughed. "We can be glad that it was him that got hold of Andrew, and not some other cop. Am I right?" he asked Ron.

"It is dangerous, what he is doing." Ron said uncomfortably.

"I gather that you did not report this to anyone else?" Ben asked.

"No need to put the constable under cross examination, Benny." Edward said.

"Just let me continue, M'lord." Ben smiled. "My motives will be revealed soon. You did not report it?" he asked Ron again.

"No, I thought I'd deal with it myself."

"Excellent. That was a good move." Ben said and turned towards Edward. "Edward, I think that Ron is just the man to help us with the parents. What better do you want? A lawyer, a cop and a priest!"

"Andrew." Bernie said. "Go get the other boys at Alinah's place. You don't mind if I send him, do you?" he asked Ron.

Ron shrugged his shoulders and Andrew left.

"Benny is right." Edward said. "We can do with your help, Ron." He told Ron a little about the boys and also about the plan that Wayne came up with for them. "And this is ideal. Now the boys know that there are consequences to what they do."

"Specially Andrew himself." Bernie said. "I do not think that there would be any difficulty in convincing the other three. My apologies for the lies. Sometimes it is necessary. "

"You should get them off the streets." Ron said. "There will be a crackdown from Monday on prostitution in Hillbrow and surrounding areas. The Wilds is one of the places that will be targeted."

"We need you to help convince the parents of the boys to fall in with the plan." Edward said to Ron.

"I'm in. It would be a pleasure to help." Ron offered. "But how did they...?"

Ben filled Ron in on the domestic circumstances of the boys and how they ended up with him and Bernie. "What you need to do now, when the boys come back, is to explain to them why it would be in their best interest to accept what we want to do." Ben continued. "Your biggest problem will be Andrew, the boy you caught."

"I'll try my best." Ron said.

Alinah came in a little later with the boys. I noticed the shock on Ron's face when he saw the two smaller boys. He looked at them and then at us and we could see that he did not expect them to be that young.

"This is Ron." Ben told the boys. "He is a policeman and he needs to talk to you guys." Ben looked down at Jamie who clung to his side. "Don't be scared, little man. Ron cares about you as much as we do." He made the boys sit down on the carpet and gestured to Ron to proceed.

"What you guys are doing is very dangerous." He started. "There are a lot of creepy people out there who prey on boys like you. You have been lucky that nothing bad happened to one of you yet. We get reports daily of murders and kidnappings of boys on the streets. That is the worst that can happen. Next week we... the police, are going to start arresting boys like you. If you get arrested, you will be sent to a place of safety. It is like a jail for boys and it is not nice there. You boys do not want to end up dead or locked up, do you?"

The boys all shook their heads silently.

"Wayne wants you boys to go to boarding school near him." Bernie continued. "What do you think about that?"

Jason immediately smiled broadly. The other ones looked unsure.

"What is a boarding school?" Peter asked softly.

"Remember when we went through that one small town and I showed you the school and the hostel." Wayne asked. "At a boarding school... you live there during the week and go home on weekends and school holidays."

"It is a jail?" Peter asked again.

"Of course!" Andrew piped in.

"You are completely wrong, Andrew." Wayne said. "Because the farms are so far from town... you saw yourself how far... the people leave the kids at school for the week because they can't take them there every day. There are a few rules at the hostels, but that is nothing bad. It is just to make things run smoothly. I was at boarding school from grade one to matric and I loved it."

"Wayne said that he will go and get you on Fridays to go to the farm." Ben said. "And you can go there during school holidays and come visit us as well."

"Would you guys like to do it... attend boarding school?" Bernie asked.

"I would love to." Jason smiled.

"It would be nice to go to the farm every weekend." Peter said.

"I will miss you, Bennie." Jamie said and went up to Ben and put his arms around his neck.

"I will miss you too, little man. A lot, but you heard what Ron said. It is dangerous for you boys here." Ben hugged Jamie and held him tightly.

"You guys just want to get rid of us." Andrew said accusingly.

"We took you in... off the street, didn't we?" Bernie told Andrew. "We did it because we cared about you, and we still care. That is why we think that it is the best thing for you boys. You got caught today. You were lucky it was Ron... it could have been another policeman. You could have been you locked up... and we don't want to be called to the mortuary to go and identify your dead body either."

Andrew could not counter Bernie's argument. "I guess we have to go then." He said with a shrug.

"When do we leave?" Jason asked.

"I have to get a few things in place this week." Wayne said. "Hopefully we can be on the farm again this weekend."

Ben gave the boys money for burgers. "Mama has been too busy to cook today. You guys go eat at the Wimpy."

The boys left quietly. Alinah came into the lounge and said something in Zulu to Wayne and Ron. Her eyes were red and she struggled to contain her tears.

"Mama said God is smiling down on you two." Ben translated.

"Wayne got up and gave her a hug. "I know you are going to miss your boys, Mama." he said. "You can come and visit them."

"God heard my prayers, Umfana (young man)." Alinah said.

"Thanks, Mama." Wayne said.

Edward, Wayne and Ron worked out a plan of action. They would go and see the priest on Monday and then go and visit the parents on Tuesday and Wednesday.

"What are you doing tonight?" Ben asked Ron.

"I have no plans, I only work on Monday morning again." he said.

"I am working, but I am sure the guys are going to hit the clubs. Maybe you can join them." Ben suggested.

"Maybe..." Ron started nervously.

"Bernie is going to Big D. Fred and I will go to Europa. You are more than welcome to join us." Wayne said.

"You are gay?" Ben asked Ron.

"I... I am, but it is difficult." Ron said.

"We understand. You do not have to worry about us." Edward put him at ease.

"You are all... solid... nice guys. I noticed." Ron said.

"Solid screaming queers!" Ben laughed. "Just the thing a closeted cop like you need in your life."

Later I walked with Ben to Pigalle.

"This is your last night." Ben said while we walked.

"I wish I could stay longer."

"We both know it is not possible. You go early in the morning again, like last time?" Ben asked.

"I can stay until later. I think there is a train around one." I answered.

"I would like that... to sleep with you next to me one more time before you go."

"And I would like to have long and dirty sex with you before I go." I smiled at him.

Ben stopped in front of me and gave me a long French kiss. "Fuck the people." he said as he broke the kiss. "We are the only people that matter."

We walked hand in hand all the rest of the way to Pigalle.

When Jenna arrived, Ben and I helped her to carry her instruments in as usual. At half past ten I left to go and meet up with Wayne at Europa. On the way there I bought a cold drink at an all night cafe and swallowed a pill Ben gave me. The same we had on our first night out. When I arrived at Europa, Wayne and Ron were waiting for me near the entrance.

We went up into the club. The place was packed and thumping as usual. Ron and I tagged along after Wayne, who greeted a lot of guys on the way. He was popular and I understood what Ben told me before about him being a prime target of the guys in the clubs. He looked the part too. Where I have only seen him in his khaki shirts and short pants with his veldskoens (animal skin shoes) before, he was dressed in an expensive bell bottomed denim and a flowing white shirt that emphasized his tanned chest and arms. His mop of blond hair was slightly tamed down, but still fashionably unruly and his face clean shaven.

Ron on the other hand was dressed more conservatively. He wore brown Oxford bag trousers and a green jersey over a beige shirt. He was tall at about six two, without his two inch platforms, and had a lean athletic build. He was no stud, but also not unattractive. He obviously, because he was a policeman, had short black hair, brown eyes and a patchy five o'clock shadow from his black facial hair, that showed even though he was clean shaven. He also had a thin moustache.

We bought beers and went down onto the dance floor. The thump that came through the floor made my feet itch immediately. I started to dance and the other guys joined in. I was not worried about the fact that I was a poor dancer, I just let loose and enjoyed myself. Wayne was a much better dancer, but Ron was a bit reserved and hardly moved at all. I did what Ben did to me the first night and put his arm around my waist and danced close to him.

After we danced like that for a few songs, I felt his hard-on press against me. I moved away from him a bit and brushed lightly with the back of my hand down his body and over his bulging pants. I smiled at him, raised my eyebrows, brought my hand up and gave him a reprimanding finger wag. Wayne saw what happened and smiled at us. He danced closer and took my place in front of Ron and immediately pulled him closer and landed a kiss on his mouth. Ron blushed, but gave Wayne a shy smile.

I went over to the bar. When I got to the front I bought three beers. I turned around and saw Brenda standing next to the dance floor. I put two of the beers in his hands and gestured to him to wait and went back to the bar to buy him a gin and tonic. Once I had it, I went back over to him and pushed him gently with my body down into the dance pit towards Wayne and Ron. I held out his drink to him and he handed the beers to them. Then I grabbed him around the waist with my one arm and started to dance with him. At first he protested profusely, but I refused to let up. I gave him a self satisfying grin and he realized that it was payback time for him making me waltz with him the previous week at Big D.

Brenda did not stay on the dance floor for long before he sashayed flamboyantly off to the cruising bar pulling me by the hand behind him. "I'm too old for bopping that that, Honey." he smiled when we sat down at a table. He took out a mirror from his hand bag and looked at himself while he gently pushed at his perfectly coiffed blonde wig.

"How old are you?" I asked.

"Shame on you, Honey! How can you ask a lady her age." he winked with a smile.

"Sorry," I apologized. "just curious."

"Let's just say... old enough, Honey."

"I noticed you got on quite well with Dimitri last night." I said.

"Nice man... very interesting and well travelled. We both spent some time in Paris." he said. "But don't hold your breath, Honey, the man is not my type and I am not his."

"He is nice..." I agreed "a bit driven though. Always busy."

"That is the nature of an entrepreneur, Honey. You need to make your business successful. Your life depends on it." Brenda said.

"You are successful... I noticed."

"It takes hours of hard work, Honey. It took me twelve years to get my business where it is today. And in the fashion world you have to keep your finger on the pulse to stay relevant." He explained. "You noticed the pants that Wayne is wearing. All the rage in America... Levi's. Just a year ago, he would not have been allowed past the door in a denim."

"Shows his arse off nicely." I smiled.

"There you have it, Honey! The difference between a Levi jean and just any other denim. The cut... that's why people are willing to pay ridiculous prices for them. It is the future of fashion, Honey, the label... and by that I do not mean designer fashion labels, but the label as fashion statement by itself."

"I have no idea... what you are on about, but if you say so." I smiled.

"To know these things is the difference between my business being a success or a failure in the future, Honey." Brenda said seriously.

Tino came past and stopped at our table. "Brenda!" he greeted. "You look ravishing tonight." He complimented Brenda and bent down to give him a kiss on the cheek.

"I haven't seen you inside the club for a while, Honey." Brenda said.

"You know how it is, lots of things that have to be taken care of behind the scenes."

"I was just telling the young man about the sacrifices of business." Brenda said.

"Aah, Benny's friend." Tino extended his hand to greet me. "Dimitri tells me Benny is doing great there by him."

"He is. He wanted to come by to thank you for sending him there." I said. "Things have been a bit hectic lately though."

"It's all good." Tino smiled.

"We are very proud of the boy." Brenda said to Tino.

"I hear he is turning his life around... but he has always been a good boy." Tino said. "I knew his mother well. She was a lovely... very beautiful girl, before the drugs got the better of her."

"Tragic life." Brenda said pensively. "Although, I never really knew her... just seen her around."

"I am glad that Benny... is trying to break the cycle... to get away from the lifestyle." Tino said. "You could not blame him for getting into it... hustling, having grown up with prostitution around him."

"He'll be fine. The boy is doing well." Brenda said.

I did not hear the rest of their conversation. I thought about what Tino had just said, about Ben growing up with prostitution around him. Prostitution was something women did, not men or boys. That meant that Ben's mother was a prostitute.

"Honey." I heard Brenda say. "Where are you?"

I realized that Tino was not with us anymore. "Ben's mom was a prostitute?" I asked Brenda.

"You did not know, Honey?"

"Ben told me about her... and that she died of a drug overdose." I said. "But that was all."

"I am sorry, Honey." Brenda said. "We did not mean to... gossip... about your boyfriend."

"I know, I know. I understand certain things better now." I expressed my realization. "What Ben is doing now is really something... huge... significant. And this is why he considers himself to be... different... not worthy... sometimes."

"Those of us that know him, knows just how special he is, Honey. I, for one, always knew that one day he would... make something of his talents. Don't let what you learned here tonight change your opinion of him."

"I love Ben. Nothing anybody can say can change that, to the contrary, I love him even more... if possible, and I am even more proud of him."

"Benny is a lucky boy... and so are you, Honey."

"I am, Brenda." I said. "I really am."

A little while later Wayne and Ron came walking in hand in hand and came over to us. "Something to drink?" Wayne asked.

"I'll have some of that you've got in your left hand there, Honey." Brenda winked. "Where did you find that dish?"

Wayne laughed and introduced Ron to Brenda.

"I have seen you here before." Ron said to Brenda.

"Couldn't keep your eyes off me, Honey?" Brenda teased him. "Sit down... let this tranny get to know you better." Then he told Wayne. "The usual, Honey."

Wayne looked a bit confused for a moment. "Oh yes, the drinks." He went over to the bar and Ron sat down with us at the table.

"So, how long have you been in our neck of the woods, Honey?" Brenda asked Ron.

"I've been in the city for about six months." Ron said.

"And how did Wayne get hold of you?" Brenda pried further.

"I... I actually only met him... them today." Ron told him.

"Here in the club? I noticed Fred dance quite close to you earlier, Honey." Brenda gave me an accusing look. "You know that he is spoken for?"

"No, I did not." Ron said and looked at me. "But... I was the innocent party."

"So you sprang an innocent boner?" I giggled at Ron's sudden discomfort from Brenda's insinuations. He blushed blood red when I said it.

"I... I..." Ron struggled to explain.

"Shame on you, Honey... A boner... you get a boner for someone else's man?" Brenda said and feigned mock surprise at Ron.

Ron was momentarily lost for words, but then a smile broke across his face. "You guys are having me on here."

"Welcome to the club." I smiled at him.

"So you don't really have a boyfriend?" Ron asked me.

"He does, Honey." Brenda answered before I could say something.

"Ben... he is my boyfriend." I said. "And we are totally and completely committed."

"Make a note of that, Honey." Brenda said to Ron just as Wayne put the beers and Brenda's gin and tonic down onto the table.

Wayne sat down next to Ron who immediately leaned over and gave him a kiss and then whispered in his ear.

Wayne flashed a wide smile. "Bingo! My first fuck in five months." he announced.

Ron blushed again and smiled sheepishly.

"Good going, Honey." Brenda smiled at Ron and then winked at me. "How long are you going to be in the city, Honey." he asked Wayne.

"I have some business to take care of." Wayne said. "Hopefully I can be back on the farm by next weekend."

"You look well, Honey." Brenda told Wayne. "The fresh air is doing you good. Nice tan... and you picked up some weight."

Wayne smiled and winked at Brenda. "You know how much an over active sex life can take out of you." he quipped.

"I won't know, but I take your word for it, Honey." Brenda laughed. "Go fuck your lungs out! I can see you are not into serious conversation now, the brain is playing whatever Ron whispered in your ear over and over."

"Ron said that we must go get a room somewhere after our drinks are finished." Wayne chuckled. "I feel like downing this beer, but that is bad manners in sophisticated company."

Brenda smiled at him then asked me. "When are you going home, Honey? Tomorrow?"

"Yep, have to." I said. "I'll catch a train at round about one."

"How long does it take... to get home?" Wayne asked.

"About an hour, in the train. Then I will go to my bud, who I am supposed to be on vacation with. I'll phone my Mom from there to pick me up." I explained.

"I'll drive you." Wayne offered. "Ben can go with and you can have some more time together."

"You would do that?" I asked excitedly. "Ben can see where I live."

"I do it with pleasure." Wayne said. "What are friends for?"

"You've become very... altruistic, Honey." Brenda said to Wayne with a slight hint of sarcasm in his voice."

"What is it with you people?" Wayne laughed. "Was I really that bad a person?"

"Well, Honey, to be brutally honest, I always thought you were a bit... selfish... egotistical." Brenda said with a smile.

"Oh dear, what a revelation when you see yourself through other people's eyes!" Wayne said. "All I did was to try and catch up on all the screws I lost out on... growing up in the boonies!"

"Record still stuck in your head, Honey." Brenda teased him. "Down that beer and get this man out of here." he winked at Ron.

Brenda scratched in his handbag and put a bunch of keys on the table. "Go to my place, and use the spare room! I don't want cum stains on my satin sheets."

"You serious?" Wayne asked.

"Go fuck your brains out. I'll only be home by... maybe four, Honey." Brenda said. "Shoo, come on, get out of here."

Wayne jumped up and bent down in front of Brenda and gave him a hard kiss on the lips.

"Honey, Honey, you know my dick is stuck somewhere unmentionable. You want all my hard work hiding it to be in vain?" Brenda chuckled.

Wayne dragged Ron behind him and gave a last wave with a huge grin just before they disappeared out of the bar.

"Oh, youth!" Brenda sighed. "I just love it."

Brenda and I talked some more, but the drug was working and I just wanted to dance. Brenda politely refused to dance with me and I went to dance alone. I felt great, energetic and fearless. I danced and danced and eventually I was sweating so much I took off my shirt and tied it around my waist.

Every now and then some guy would dance closer to me and flirt. I played the game back and led them on seductively. I let them touch me and put their arms around me, but when I saw the inevitable kiss come, I would turn away and wait for the next advance. I enjoyed to feel sexy and in demand. It was a whole new experience for me.

After a while one guy would come back time after time, but did not try to kiss me again after the first two attempts. He was about my height and was well built with a hairy torso and an immaculate six pack. I eventually allowed him to have his hands on my shoulders while he danced an arms length away from me. He stared into my eyes the whole time and I returned his stare without flinching.

He started to rub his hand up and down the front of my body, and it sent an exciting tingle through me. I did the same to him. He danced closer and closer to me until we were against one another, and continued to rub each other with our hands between our bodies. We started to grind our pelvises together. He was rock hard and so was I.

I felt a tap on my shoulder which I ignored at first. I felt the tap again, harder than before and looked to see who it was. Brenda stood behind me and I could see in his eyes that he was not happy. He gestured with his forefinger for me to follow him. I did immediately.

We left Europa and went down the stairs into the street below. Brenda said nothing and I felt extremely guilty as I walked one step behind him. When we got to his TR3 about half a block down the road, he shot me an accusing look before he inserted the key in the lock to open the car. When he was inside he leaned over and opened the passenger side lock. I climbed down into the low seat next to him.

"You got a bit carried away there, Honey." He eventually said as he started the engine.

I did not say anything.

"You were on the precipice... the edge... I got you just in time, before you fell into something you'd regret."

"I..." I said but Brenda interrupted immediately.

"These guys... Honey... they know how to reel you in. That is what they do. You think you are in control, but they are. It is all a game to them, to show you that they can fuck you... eventually."

"I wouldn't have..."

"I watched you for a while, Honey." Brenda continued as we drove around the block up the hill. "You have a lot to learn, believe me."

"I just enjoyed myself, Brenda. It was nice..." I tried to explain.

"I know. It is nice to be wanted. And you are a handsome guy. You are still going to get a lot of attention." Brenda said. "But you have a boyfriend, Honey. One that is working now, because he wants to be a better person... for you. By this time on a Saturday night, before you came along, he would have had three or four guys already... and that is apart from paying tricks. He loves you, Honey. Don't break his heart."

Brenda stopped in the road in front of Pigalle. "Off you go, Honey, your boyfriend will be glad to see you."

When I was outside the car I leaned in and said. "Thanks, Brenda... I'll be more careful in future. Sorry."

When I walked up the stairs to Pigalle, I looked at my watch for the first time in hours. It was three thirty. I wondered if Ben would still be there or if he left with Jenna, but when I approached the tables outside, I heard the sweet sounds of Jenna's guitar. Ben was sitting in his usual place, busy with a drawing, and someone sat opposite him.

I went and sat at the counter and ordered a Coke, then turned around and watched him work. I became aware again of the things that attracted me to him in the first place. His flawless complexion, with the blush on his cheeks and his full red lips. The brown hair, now a bit longer than when I met him, that hung gently just below his eyebrows. And his hands, that caught my eyes immediately when I met him. Expressive, artistic hands.

When he finished the drawing a few minutes later and had handed it over to the customer, he leaned back in his chair and stretched out. I saw him smile to himself before he put his head back and closed his eyes. I walked over to and gave him a quick kiss him on the lips. He opened his eyes and immediately smiled when he saw me.

"I love you more than anything... forever and always... know that." I said softly as I leaned over him with my hands on the armrests of the chair.

"I know." he said.

I sat down next to him. "You had a good night?" I asked.

"Excellent!" He smiled "How was Europa?"

"Thumping... Brenda was there as well... and I saw Tino." I answered.

"I must still go and see him." Ben said.

"I told him... but that you were too busy to get there yet."

"Wayne?" Ben asked.

"He hooked up with Ron." I laughed. "Brenda gave them the keys to his place."

"Really? Brenda does not really like him."

"He hinted that way." I said. "I think he might have changed his opinion a bit. Maybe Edward and them told him about Wayne's... you know, about him... sponsoring you."

Ben chuckled. "Nothing stays secret with these guys."

"I like your friends." I told Ben. "They look out for one another."

"Your friends too." Ben said. "Yes, we care. We're mates, all in this together."

When Ben and Jenna knocked off we again helped her with her gear, but when she invited us for coffee we declined. We walked, mostly not talking, but very much aware of each other, to the flat.

Ben made a nice large three blade joint and we lay on the bed in the room while we smoked it. The curtains and windows were open and the day was slowly breaking outside and gradually filled the room, dimly lit by the lights of the city outside, with more light.

"Wayne said he'll drive us... me home." I said to Ben.

"That's great. I can see where you live." he said.

"It would be nice to show you my room."

"So, I have you with me a little longer today." Ben looked at me and pressed his body closer to mine.

We lay like that with the feeling that the weed produced slowly enveloping our senses. Our arms and legs were entwined and we looked wordlessly at the patterns the smoke whirled into in the air above us. We were happy and content and at absolute peace with the love and joy that destiny allowed us to experience with one another.

After Ben stumped out the last of the roach in the ashtray and lay back on the bed, I gently ran my finger over his chest, first circling the one nipple and then the other a few times. I put my flat hand on his chest and felt his heart beat underneath it. His skin was velvety, warm, slightly moist and very sensual.

He softly and ran his finger up and down the side of my face while I looked down into his tired and sleepy eyes. Then I pulled my fingers through his hair and he closed his eyes and softly sighed as he gave himself over to my gentle and slow strokes through his silky hair.

"I love you." I whispered and kissed him tenderly on his soft lips. He put his one hand around the back of my head and gently pulled it closer as he opened his mouth and pried my mouth open with his tongue. We kissed for a long time.

Later I closed the windows and the curtains and got the lube from the bedside table drawer. I kicked off my shorts and pulled down Ben's where he lay on his back on the bed. Then I gently turned him on his side and lubed his hole and my dick. As I pressed my finger in him he whispered. "Fuck me long and slow."

I penetrated him slowly while he lay on his side and gently moved in and out at a slow pace. "You feel so warm inside." I said and licked his ear.

I fucked him for a long time. At one stage I thought he fell asleep and stopped the slow in and out motion, but he pressed his arse back to let me know to carry on. I continued for another long while before he said. "Take me from the front, I want to kiss you."

I pulled out of him and he rolled onto his back and lifted his legs to allow me access to his backside. I re-entered him and he pulled my head towards his and passionately kissed me. I knew that he was ready for me to fuck him hard and cum deep inside him.

I increased speed gradually until I got a good rhythm going. I felt my orgasm rising from my toes and gradually engulf my whole body. When I released my cum inside him, I felt his arse muscles contract and we shivered in one another's arms as we came in perfect unison. I collapsed with my weight onto him and as I wanted to pull myself from him he held me tight and kissed me again. After about five minutes my soft dick was gently expelled from inside him.

He stopped kissing me. "You are my best fuck ever... I love you so much." he whispered. I rolled off him and he turned onto his side and I spooned him and held him tightly. When we woke up four hours later, we were still in the same position.

Just before four, Ben and I slid onto the passenger side of the large bench seat of Wayne's Ford F100 pick-up for the ride home. We sat close together and I had my arm around his shoulders. Wayne got onto the M1 at the Smit Street on ramp south towards Uncle Charlie's. We did not speak as Wayne guided the big Ford over and past the slimes dams that the highway snaked through.

When we reached the Potch Road next to Kliptown in Soweto Ben said. "This is the second time in my life that I am out of the city."

"You serious?" I asked surprised.

"Yes, the last time I was small and we went for a day out to some game reserve near Krugersdorp with one of my Mom's boyfriends." he said.

"Wow Benny, I really have to take you to the farm sometime. I know you told me before that you never been out of the city. Man needs the closeness of nature sometimes... to make you realize the insignificance of human existence." Wayne said philosophically.

As we drove and the mines and smaller mining villages started to appear, Ben wanted to know at each one if it was where I lived. "You like a kid on a long trip." I laughed. "Be patient, it is not long to go."

After an hour I pointed the gates to our place out to Wayne. I got out and opened the gate for Wayne to drive through. After I closed it again, I got in next to Ben again. "Where is the house?" Ben asked.

"Just behind the trees. You can park in front of the garage." I said to Wayne. "And remember guys, you gave me a lift from Dave's house, because you came in this direction."

"Oh, my God! It is a mansion." Ben said as the house came into view. "And the garden is like a park. If it was in Joeys, it would have been in Houghton or Parktown!"

I never really thought about the house I had lived in for my whole life as a mansion. My dad had it built about twenty years before. It was situated on two acres. He planted a lot of trees which shielded the house from the surrounding properties. The house itself was a mock Tudor double story with five bedrooms upstairs and the living areas on the ground floor.

Wayne stopped in front of the garages and we got out. Snowy, our Toy Pom, danced excitedly around my legs and I picked him up. I grabbed my bag from the back and we walked towards the kitchen door. My Mom sat at the kitchen table with the Sunday Times spread out in front of her.

"Hi Mom!" I greeted her and went over to give her a kiss. As usual she turned her cheek and I kissed it.

"I was wondering when you'd be back." she said. "Enjoy the vacation?"

"It was nice." I answered and then introduced Ben and Wayne. "They gave me a lift home."

She acknowledged them with a nod. My Mom was considered by the people around us to be a snob. Our few good house friends knew that the perception was the wrong one. She was a reserved person who did not mix easily with strangers. My friends always felt a little intimidated in her presence. She was always well dressed and perfectly groomed as she was that Sunday afternoon. Although already fifty, with graying hair that she did not try and hide, she was always complimented on her beautiful skin.

"I am glad to see you stayed out of the sun this time." she observed.

I shrugged my shoulders. "I tried." I lied.

"Go pour your friends some cold drink, but first take your bag to the room." Mom said and continued to read the newspaper. "Were you guys also on vacation." she asked and looked up at Wayne. "I see the sun burned you a bit. You must be careful, too much sun is very bad for the skin. You should always use sunscreen."

"I... I'll try." Wayne stumbled a bit lost for words.

"Let's go put the bag in the room." I said.

"The room is clean for a change, keep it that way." Mom said as we left the kitchen.

We went up the stairs to my room. I threw the bag on the bed and put Smokey down next to it. Compared to Ben's room, mine was fairly nondescript. There were two single beds with a large antique wooden desk between them. Next to my bed I had a music centre and my record collection. I was not allowed to stick things to the walls and I had a blocked poster of Marilyn Monroe's face in silver and black above the desk and another one of a red sunset against another wall. The one wall had a built in cupboard in, through which you go to get to the bathroom I share with the bedroom next to mine.

"Very nice house." Wayne said.

Ben looked through the window. "You have a pool and there's a tennis court. You never told me you were rich!" Ben gushed.

"Rich?" I laughed. "Mom's a civil servant! And I don't have a cent in my name. Let's go get something to drink."

I took them to the snooker room, the only room I was allowed to entertain my friends in. In the back corner there was a bar. I took a Coke from the fridge and poured three glasses. The room opened onto a large covered patio next to the pool. I directed Ben and Wayne outside and we sat down on the rattan chairs.

"Why would anyone go on vacation if they lived here?" Ben asked to no one in particular.

"I didn't, remember," I said "I visited you."

"You know what I mean." Ben laughed.

We drank the cold drink and then Wayne wanted me to show him the grounds. On the one side of the pool there was a sauna and bathrooms in a small summer house. Behind it was the tennis court and on the one side next to it and behind the garages, a vegetable garden. Wayne was very interested and was impressed with the herb garden.

"You know what? All these nice herbs and Mom is the worst cook you can imagine." I laughed. "I think Sipho, the gardener, sells most of the produce for his own pocket."

"You have a full time gardener?" Ben asked.

"You know how glad I am about that!" I laughed. "Means I don't have to do any mowing."

"I think I should make a nice garden there on the farm too." Wayne said. "We must go. It is getting late." he added as the sun set behind the trees in the west.

I took Ben's hand and we went behind the garage. Wayne discreetly moved around the other side to his pick-up.

"I am going to miss you." I said to Ben and kissed him.

"Thanks for spending the time with me." Ben said. "I got so used to have you there, I..." He put his head against my chest and started to cry softly.

I held him tightly as my own tears also started streaming down my face. "I love you so much. You must phone me every night, please."

Ben nodded. "I will." He looked up into my eyes. "When will I see you again?"

"I'll try next weekend." I promised.

We walked slowly back around the garage. Wayne was waiting near the kitchen door. "We must greet your Mom." he said.

We went into the kitchen. My Mom was still reading at the table. "The guys just want to say goodbye." I said not looking at her to hide my red eyes.

"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Harris." Wayne said.

"Thanks for dropping Fred. Saved me the trip."

"Our pleasure, Mrs. Harris."

"You boys going far?" Mom asked.

"Johannesburg." Wayne answered.

"You must drive carefully."

"Bye, Mrs. Harris." Ben said from behind Wayne.

"You must lock the gate." Mom told me unnecessarily out of habit.

"I will, Mom." I said as we left the kitchen.

I rode with them to the gate. "Phone when you get home." I said to Ben. "And I hold thumbs for tomorrow. And let me know about the boys." I said as I got out. Ben and I kissed through the window.

"Love you." he said.

"Love you more." I smiled timidly. "Thanks for bringing me home, Wayne."

"No problem." Wayne said and prepared to drive off.

I kissed Ben again. "See you guys."

"See you." they said.

I stood and watched as they drove down the road until they disappeared around the first corner. I locked the gate and walked slowly back to the house with tears welling up in my eyes. I walked around to the patio where we sat and tried hard to compose myself. I collected the glasses and put it on the bar counter and then locked the patio doors.

At the kitchen I stopped at the door. "I am going to my room, Mom. I am tired."

Mom looked at me. "What's wrong with your eyes?" she asked.

"Don't know... hay fever, I think."