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July 196- In the first week of the Summer holiday Ben was again in pursuit of sybaritic activity. Back in his old haunt one morning a figure sprinted past him on the side of the pool. Ben saw a blur of sun-snared hair and bronzed flesh. The figure abruptly stopped, turned and walked slowly to where Ben stood. Revealed too suddenly beauty is like as blow that inflicts its own brand of pain, poignant and lasting, from which one recovers only slowly if at all. Ben saw hair afflaunt like gilded Autumn leaves above a small oval face that recalled romantic love poems - a magical countenance that was all the more disturbing, more appealing because it was touched with a reserved, almost mystical melancholy. The lad’s steady gaze met Ben’s as his thick curling lashes fluttered down shyly.. Ben became aware of a careful, almost penetrating scrutiny. Hastily Ben contorted his features into a semblance of a reassuring, if nervous smile and the boy’s dazzling response left Ben totally defenceless, overwhelmed. In the boy’s level gaze Ben seemed to read a subtle question to which he had already supplied the obvious answer. The boy took a step towards Ben and more clearly the teacher discerned the childish curve of his cheek, the limpid blue/green white of his eyes, the unclouded brow and the full-lipped pouting mouth vulnerable in it’s extreme youthfulness. “Hello, what’s your name?” asked Ben tremulously. Some kind of cosmic fusion had occurred joining them indelibly together, an immediate rapport.The words seem to rush from the boy’s lips as if he was in some kind of hurry. “Meet me at the cafe in ten minutes, OK?” And the boy walked quickly away. Ben went to his cubicle to change wondering what the youngster had in store for him. When he reached the cafe area in the foyer the young man was sitting at a table sipping a can of Coke. Ben sat and asked him again, “What’s your name then?” “Michael,” replied the boy. Ben asked him a little more about him. Michael was nearly thirteen years old and was a boarder at The Royal Wanstead School, a bortding school for boys with one or more parents deceased or departed. He had just finished his second year at the school. Apparently Michael had seen Ben at the pool a number of times but had been too nervous to come up and speak to him. The boy asked Ben how old he was. “How old do you think I am?” replied Ben evasively. “About seventeen or eighteen?” guessed Michael. Ben did not wish to disillusion the boy and told him that he would soon be in his last year at boarding school himself. At the age of twenty-one Ben could easily pass for seventeen. The pair arranged to meet at the pool the next morning. After their swim Mike and Ben returned to their cubicle to dry and dress. When both boys were naked Ben stood with towel round his neck in the cramped confines of the tiny cubicle.... They arranged to meet again the next day but the boy never showed up and Ben assumed their short-lived relationship was over. However a few days later Michael turned up at the pool and as before they changed together after their swim. The following day the couple met at the pool as arranged but Michael insisted they go for a walk instead of a swim.. Ben took Michael to the local woods that held so many memories for him. They strolled casually together in the Summer sunshine with Ben’s arm around Mike’s shoulder. On the grass outside the small cafe Michael said, “Let’s have a wrestling match,” and grabbed Ben in a bear hug. They fell to the ground rolling over and over until Ben ended up on his back with Michael on top of him. Ben could feel Michael pressing against him as he looked up into the youth’s semi-serious gaze.. They lay there for a full minute or so in silence before the boy rolled off looking a shade flustered. It was a fortnight before Ben saw the boy again. He had been on holiday with his mother. After their swim Michael invited Ben back to his house to meet his Mum. Ben was reminded how girlfriends often took their boyfriends back home to meet their folks. After a lengthy bus ride and a short walk they arrived at Michael’s home. It was a well-appointed affair with large bay windows on ground and upper floor and a beautifully kept front garden. “Where’s your Mum then?” asked Ben. “Oh she’s at work. Come and see my bedroom.” Ben’s heart-rate trebled as they climbed the stairs’ For a boy who was almost thirteen Michael’s room was impeccably clean and tidy, not a toy nor book out of place and no dirty clothes on the floor. Michael dived onto his bed giving the young teacher a mischievous grin, then patted the bed indicating for Ben to join him. Ben sat primly on the edge of the bed somewhat nervously and Mike said quietly, “I like you, Ben, I like you a lot. Do you like me?” "I’m fond of you, Mike,” whispered Ben. “How fond of me are you?” asked the boy looking steadily into Ben’s seductive blue eyes. “I’m very fond of you,” answered Ben. Michael was still not satisfied. “How very fond of me are you, Ben” “I...I...love you really,” admitted Ben. Mike giggled and Ben leant over him and kissed him lightly on his blushing, peach-like cheek, now aware of the warm redolence of the boy’s body. “There’s only me here, Ben. It’s not like the swimming pool. It’s kind of...more private.” ............ |