Please note, this story is based on real events, the names of the protagonists have been changed.
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Too Young to Marry
"Take it down" said the older, almost retired major
"get it down boy, are you stupid"
"No sir" came the reply
"What is it with you young soldier's eh, no education, no experience"
The Major was what is know as `Old school' he's not interested in the new seemingly casual world that he is now forced to inhabit and it's job's like this that make him wonder how on earth did he swop the excitement and ambition of so many conflicts for the relatively mundane task of seeing that an old country house was made ready for the annual summer ball of army veterans and their friends and family.
"It's getting late boy, we'll have to go soon"
"Yes sir, anything else sir?"came the reply.
"Not at this juncture I shouldn't wonder, made a mockery of the lighting already, the gods only know how it'll be done by the weekend now"
The major had, in effect made a mockery of the whole thing himself and will succeed in laying the blame on someone else, as he always did.
The Major had secrets, of course, at his age and with his military reputation he would have to, secrets are like curses to a man of his stature, the past should be remembered with glory and success in the military, but instead they will be remembered by him (and a very few others) with regret and shame, the veterans summer ball is something to look forward to after all, also something to dread lest a slip of the tongue or an unexpected revelation destroy the thin veneer of a respectable career.
"Who is this old geyser then?"
"Dunno, just some old Major, don't know his arse from his elbow"
"I do know one thing though; I'm stuck with the old git until the summer ball in Bickley house"
This produced a round of laughter and a slap on the back from his mates, Lee wasn't your ordinary Squaddie however, far from it, he was only a private, 22 and even he didn't realise why he always got snaffled from ordinary duty to help out with these kinds of functions.
"Tell you what Lee, bet you don't get any pussy at that function"
"I don't wanna go" Lee replied looking pensive "it's gonna be boring and, well I'm gonna be running round after the old major all night, fuck it"
"Just wait till everyone's had a few and get pissed yourself mate" came the reply.
"Pissed? Yeah right" Lee's mind was elsewhere, he wasn't thinking about anything in particular, that's just the way he was, jumping at orders, a beer every night and, well and a big fan club that he's not even aware of, after all he is 5ft 10", blond hair, nice body.....well nice, big hands, big feet, blue eyes, nice big tackle and somehow a nice enough nature, sort of innocent.
The Major was there, as promised, brandishing his gloves out side on the pebbled drive way that you always seem to get in these country houses.
"What kept you Private..... eh? Private er"
"Private Williams sir" replied Lee in haste
"Oh yes, er Williams, that's your name eh, forgot"
"Well er Williams, got a bit of job on today, we have to move some of this stuff into the outhouse othewise it might get damaged by the guests"
"Yes sir" replied Williams
"The instructions are, and they are quite clear, is that anything fragile in the hall has to be shifted, er, god knows what that means? After all you could break the floor if you'd had one too many Sherries eh?" The major laughed and looked over at Lee who faced straight ahead as if he'd not taken any of it in.
"Well er, chop chop then, let's get to it lad"
The major was trying to be on a par with Lee but it just wasn't working, the age difference and the gap between them hung large and gaping, this was a job that would be done with the minimum of conversation.
It was getting hot, July in England can be hot, believe it or not, in fact approaching 25 degrees was a fair old temperature and the movement of heavy objects a chore, especially when it goes on for a few hours.
"Fancy a break, er Private Williams?" asked the Major, he was at his most convivial, the heat, the shared labour moving lights, pictures, trophies even had given him some vigour and he temporarily forgot who and where he was.
"Married are you lad"
"No, no sir" replied Lee nervously
"Oh, I see, still you young types don't go in for that sort of thing in a hurry these days do you"
He retorted.
"No I suppose not" replied Lee
"Well, er, Williams, if I had my time again I would think twice about getting hitched so young, 22 I was, how old are you now"
"22 sir"
"22 eh, god look at you, 22 why would anybody want to marry you" the major asked the question in that kind of way that only English people can.
"After we've finished this lot we must have a drink, for all the hard work that's been done lad, you wouldn't mind that would you? You're not one of these fitness fanatics are you?"
Lee replied straight away, almost as if it was an apology
"Me, no sir, I drink every day, well only a couple of pints, sir"
The outhouse was as big as a cottage, it was now almost full to the brim with clutter from the main house and inside at least it was cooler.
"I snaffled these from the kitchen" the Major produced two bottles of real ale, obviously from the local village and proceeded to knock off the tops, military style with his hand on the side of an old crate.
"Here we go lad, you must be thirsty by now" he enthusiastically handed a bottle to Lee who gratefully took it and drunk almost half of it in one gulp.
"Steady boy" the Major laughed, for the first time that day.
The two of them sat there, it went silent, the Major leaned over and peered closely at Lee's now naked torso.
"What's that on your chest?"
Lee looked down briefly at the swallow tattoo on his left pec
"oh I had that done in Hong Kong Sir"
"Bloody good job it is, reputable place I take it" asked the Major
"oh yes sir, very clean, and I wasn't pissed either, oh sorry sir"
"Don't worry lad, you think I haven't heard a bit of bad language in my time, I've heard it all you know"
The Major laughed and elicited the same response from Lee.
Lee's torso was exquisite, it was hot, the smooth skin was slightly red and the sweat still ran down his chest, he had one of those lines of hair running from his belly button down into his pants and his slim muscular abdomen seemed to move in different directions every time he breathed in, when he sighed and when he spoke.
"Can I ask you something private Williams" the major asked, almost nervously
"Ask me sir? Of course you can sir"
"What's all this for lad"
"What's all what for?" Lee replied, genuinely confused
"All this, the veterans ball, all this work, all the platitudes and falsehood, all this..." he paused "All this sucking up to people that i've hated all these years"
Lee looked uncomfortable and shifted nervously; he instinctively put his hand to his neck and wiped the moisture from it.
"Hated sir?"
"Yes boy" barked the Major "hated"
"Well sir, I....."
The major sunk his head on his lap and heaved as if he was being sick
"Sir, sir are you alright sir" Lee enquired in all sincerity
"I'll be ok lad, just the heat and the beer probably" he raised his head, his eyes red and hollow i appearance, wiping his brow with his hand.
"Before the day is done lad, I ask one thing of you, we may never be acquainted in this situation again and well... er, I know it a liberty of me to ask, but would you do me a great favour?"
"Yes sir, what is it sir" replied Lee, now quite alarmed.
"Can I please take this opportunity to put my head on your lap?"
There was silence for what seemed like eternity.
"Head on my lap, sir?"
"Yes boy, would you do me that honour, you i don't really discuss this sort of thing with many people, but you, well you seem to have the disctinct appearance of him, from what i remember and the agreeable nature too, see my son was killed when he was 22, in a conflict, of course what else would it be" he stated bitterly
He continued
"I remember my marriage at that premature age and of course, of course you are now 22"
There was a long silence again.
Lee was nervous but realising the sincerity of the request and the fact they were alone he offered up his approval.
"Well er sir, of course you can sir"
The Major stumbled forward on the dusty floor and nuzzled his silver haired head into the lap of Private Williams, then he sobbed and grabbed the young man's torso with a violent grasp with his thick chaffed fingers as if a baby to its mother's breast, the sweat and masculinity reminding him he inhabited a man's world and the reminders of the lost opportunities of the past would haunt him still.