Saturday, 27 May 2017

Tales from the Finchbottom Vale – (65) The Gentle Giant and the Christmas Maid

(Part 01)

Aaron Keller was a great bear of a man, standing 6’ 6” tall, barrell chested with hands like shovels.
But he was brought to his knees by a skinny Little waif standind 4’ 11” by the name of Toni Kendall.
They were both in their mid twenties, both had flaming red hair but he was a gentle giant who barely spoke and she was a little livewire who never shut up.
The other thing that they had in common was more significant and that was the fact that they were in love, though neither of them knew that they were the recipient of that love.
Aaron couldn’t imagine that a beautiful little thing like Toni could ever be interested in him, and she thought he was probably looking for someone as quiet as him.
They both worked at Maxlin’s Holiday Camp in Sharpinghead, she was a chalet maid and he was a general handyman.
Aaron lived in Sharpinghead but Toni was from Finchbottom and as the summer season was coming to an end she was running out of time, if nothing happened between them they would go their separate ways and they would be unlikely to see each other again, but if she got her way, and got her man, she would stay on.
She had been following him around the camp for the whole summer in the hope that he would take her in his arms, but no matter how much she flirted with him the result was the same and she cursed his shyness.

Toni finally got her man when they were on what was known as mothball duties, closing down those chalet that would not be needed during the winter season, which meant a major clean and then all the furniture was sheeted.
Because she was so tiny she managed to enlist the help of the gentle giant with moving the furniture, though she was more than capable of doing it herself, because she was much stronger than she looked, she just used it as an excuse to get close to him.
But despite her managing to get Aaron to help her, it didn’t really help her in the way she wanted because she was such a chatterbox, so even if he could have found the words he wanted to use he would have struggled to get a word in edgeways.

However every thing came good in the end when They were on their fifth chalet and all was not going well for Toni as she was hoping he might have made a move on her by that stage, afterall they were alone and had been in very close proximity on many occasions.
She was also annoyed at her self because although she was a confident sparky girl she hadnt just come out with it and ask him out.
What Toni wanted though was for him to ask her but nothing happened so she decided that she had to make him get physical.
Toni started by undoing the braces on his overall as he picked things up and when he reatached that one she undid the other and so on and so fourth until he took action.

However she didn’t know when she started messing around quite how physical he would get.
But she wasn’t complaining when the gentle giant had her draped over his shoulder and he was playfully smaking her knicker clad buttocks while he watched the reflexion of his handywork in the mirror.

(Part 02)

Toni didn’t know when she started messing around with Aaron quite how physical he would get.
But she wasn’t complaining when the gentle giant had her draped over his shoulder and he was playfully smaking her knicker clad buttocks while he watched the reflexion of his handywork in the mirror.
However he only gave her another two strokes before Toni called a halt to proceedings.
“Put me down” she screamed “Put me down now”
“What’s wrong baby girl?” he said playfully “Have you had enough?”
“Just put me down” she insisted, and as he lowered her to the floor he cursed himself under his breath for going too far, but he couldn’t help it, he was really having fun.
“I’m sorry” he said when she was stood looking up at him “I went too far didn’t I?”
“Don’t be sorry” she snapped and pushed him backwards onto a chair “You haven’t gone far enough yet”
“Oh?” he responded as she inched towards him and when they were nose to nose she kissed him.

After that first time they couldn’t keep there hands off eachother and suffice is to say that she didn’t return home to Finchbottom and stayed on at Maxlin’s and the prospect of spending all winter kissing and canoodling kept them warm.
Though they didn’t have many opportunities for work time kissing and cuddling as they didn’t often work together but when they weren’t working they didn’t go out in the world much.
But halfway through the winter they got to work together again when they had to reopen some of the chalets they had mothballed earlier in the year in preparation of the Christmas season and that was when they told each other that they loved them.

It had been over a year since Toni and Aaron got together but they were as mad for each other as ever and their second Christmas together was on the horizon.
When November finally arrived Toni decided it was time to decorate for Christmas but no one could remember where the decorations were put after the previous year.
After two weeks of searching every nook and cranny they were finally spotted in the loft in the staff block by the head of housekeeping, Christine Evans.

In the staff accommodation village there were rows of chalets, similar in design to the guest accommodation but much smaller, and at the center was the staff block.
This contained offices, store rooms and a common room, with comfortable chairs, where staff can sit around and relax, drink coffee and watch TV or just sit around talking.

Christine Evans hadn’t actually seen the decorations herself as she had never been in the loft, and that was because she was scared, partly of the dark but mainly of cobwebs and spiders, but one of her staff had seen them.

(Part 03)

Toni and Christine were stood talking in the common room when Aaron walked through the door.
“Did you want to see me?” he said to Christine
“Yes, we’ve located the Christmas Decorations” she replied
“So come on big boy” Toni said cheekily “it’s time to get the Dec’s down from the loft”

The entrance to the loft, where the Decoration’s had been seen, was via a large hatch way in the common room ceiling.
Aaron reached up one of his great paws and pulled the catch and the hatch swung open and then he pulled down the loft ladder.
“Are you going up?” he asked Christine knowing the answer
“No fear” she said and shivered
“Go on then Danger Mouse” he said to Toni “You go first”

Without hesitation she was straight up the ladder and Aaron followed quickly behind her and enjoyed the view up her skirt of her jiggling buttocks as she wiggled up the ladder, he enjoyed the view above the top of her long socks.
She knew that he would and frankly would have been disappointed if he hadn’t.
He would have pinched her bum if Christine hadn’t been looking on.

Once they reached the top Toni switched the light on and started looking around but despite the light the corners were quite gloomy.
So Aaron switched on his torch which Toni immediately snatched from his hand.
It was quite a large space and was used as an additional storage area during the peak season and during the course of the year the boxes of Christmas decorations, which had been put up there after the previous year’s festivities, were gradually pushed further and further back from their starting point.
“There they are” she squealed excitedly and rushed to the far corner of the loft.
She then got down on her hands and knees and began pushing boxes in Aaron’s direction.
“Oh shit” she exclaimed
“What wrong luv?”
“The Angel has fallen out of the box” she said sadly “and it’s fallen down behind this thing”
The “Thing” she was referring to was the wooden “A” frame that held the roof up.
“There it is” she said as she shined the torch beam into the darkness.
It hadn’t fallen too far but it was difficult to get at because of all the boxes in the way.
“Can you reach it?” she asked you’ve got longer arms than me”
“A T-Rex has longer arms than you” he retorted and laughed but he clambered up however he couldn’t get close enough to the objective to bring his long reach into play.
“I can’t get close enough” he said as he crouched down “I’ll just have to move these boxes”
“That will take too long” she said impatiently
“I’ll just have to wriggle between the woody things, you can hold onto my legs so I don’t fall”
“Ok” he replied and she headed towards the biggest gap while Aaron moved some of the boxes to accommodate his huge feet.
The gap she went for was a little above Aaron’s waist height but it was higher for a skinny little waif of 4’ 11”.
He was helping her through the small opening between the roof supports and she wriggled and squirmed like a little ginger fish.

(Part 04)

He was helping her through the small opening between the roof supports and she wriggled and squirmed like a little ginger fish.
“How are you doing?” he asked
“I’ve almost got it” she replied “another couple of inches should do it”
“Ok” he said and manhandled her a bit further and in the process the hem of her skirt was pulled up towards her waist and he was so mesmerised by what came into view that he absentmindedly caressed her plump little buttock .
“What was that?” She asked
“Cobwebs” he lied
“Ok” she replied doubtfully but he didn’t pay attention his mind was on other things as he took something from his pocket.
“I’ve got it” she shouted triumphantly “pull me back”
So he began retrieving her small frame from the darkness and lowered her to the floor.
“See I’ve got it” she said holding the angel up proudly
“Well done, its very nice” he said “But I thought you’d be more interested in this little precious parcel”
“Whats that?”
“I don’t know but it has your name on it” he said
“Has it?” she exclaimed and thrust the angel into his chest and tried to snatch the little parcel from his great paw but as Aaron was such a great bear of a man, standing 6’ 6” tall and she was
a skinny little waif standind 4’ 11” he easily held the gift out of her reach.
“Gimmi, gimmi” she said “you meanie”
“Calling me names isnt going to work” he said
“You used to be a nice boy” Toni said “But now you’re just mean”
“Ok I’ll take it away then” Aaron said and walked towards the loft hatch
“No don’t take it away” she pleaded and hopped up and down
“Please, please, please”
“I dont think you deserve it”
“But I do” she said “I really do”
“oh ok then” he relented and gave her the little parcel which she tore into in seconds to reveal a ring box and she gasped
“Whats this?” she asked in a whisper
“Open it and see” he instructed and after a deep breath she opened the box to reveal a solitaire diamond engagement ring and she gasped again.
“Is this what i think it is?” she asked
“I don’t know” he said “What do you think it is?”
“Is it an…. Engagement ring?” she asked in a childlike voice
“Yes” he replied
“You want to marry me?” Toni asked
“Yes” Aaron said and she launched herself at him and wrapped her arms around his neck, almost breaking the angel in the process, and kissed him.

Tales from the Finchbottom Vale – (64) Feeling Alive

(Part 01)

Twenty eight year old Paul Ingram was involved with an older woman, a forty year old woman to be precise, who was a beautiful unhappily married, soon to be divorced Carrington Chase educated woman, called Francesca Carrington-Webber.
Paul and Francesca both lived in the village of Forest Dean situated equidistant between Shallowfield and Childean, she lived in a huge house that backed onto the The Forest Ridge Golf Club, and coincidentally Paul worked for the Golf Club.

They became involved after three chance meetings, two on a train and the third more significant one was on the Promenade in Sharpington, where he came upon her small huddled figure on the bench ahead of him in some distress and after some tender moments of consolation lead to them making love in his caravan.

Since that night they had had a non-physical relationship and on the rare occasions that they managed to get to spend some time together they always made the most of it, sometimes they had to create opportunities and sometimes they just happened and sometimes one of them managed to surprise the other but the biggest surprise came on the Halloween weekend when she arrived at his caravan dressed as a witch and announced that not only was she divorcing her husband David but that she was staying the night.

On the rare occasions that they managed to get to spend the night together they always made the most of it but sometimes they had to create opportunities for example on the day of Derek Bronson’s funeral on a cold February day.

The Bronson’s were Francesca’s next door neighbour’s and Daphne was one of her closest friends and obviously on the day of the funeral she was in pieces and she leant heavily on Francesca.
Francesca’s mum stayed in her house and looked after her children and Daphne’s mother looked after the Bronson children IN Purplemere and Francesca looked after the widow in the Bronson house.
The warm weather of the spring was still in evidence on the day of the funeral and during the wake Daphne completely broke down and so Francesca had her taken home and the doctor was called.

Dr. Lutchford came downstairs carrying her bag and said
“I’ve given her a sedative” she said “So she’ll sleep until morning”
“Thanks doctor” Francesca said and as she closed the door behind her she smiled and got her phone from her pocket and typed a message.

Paul Ingram was still at the wake and talking to some friends when he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket so he discreetly excused himself and read the message.
“Come now!!!”

He discreetly slipped away from the funeral and headed towards the Vicarage and then he turned down the lane by the church, which led to the path that crossed the golf course and from there he traversed the course until he reached the back of Francesca’s house and then he remembered he wanted the house next door and went in the back gate and ran across the lawn and tapped on the door.

(Part 02)

He discreetly slipped away from the funeral and headed towards the Vicarage and then he turned down the lane by the church, which led to the path that crossed the golf course and from there he traversed the course until he reached the back of Francesca’s house and then he remembered he wanted the house next door and went in the back gate and ran across the lawn and tapped on the door.

When the door opened the elegant figure of Francesca stood before him.
“Hello Paul” She said brightly then pretended to be solemn with a half-smile.
“You called madam” he asked
“What kept you” she retorted
“I had a call from a horny middle aged woman who didn’t leave a name” he said “so I tried the pretty ones first”
“You cheeky sod” she said “if I didn’t love you so much I’d send you on your way”

She was giggling as he took her in his arms, and when she stopped laughing he became aware of her hot breath on his neck, and her arms tighten around him and she began to nuzzle his neck and he could feel her breath panting on his skin.
“I don’t think that’s a very good idea” he said
“It’s alight Daphne has been sedated” she retorted and began nibbling his ear “So we won’t be disturbed”
“Don’t you find me sexy dressed like this” she whispered “everything I have on is black you know”
“I always find you sexy” he said “And I love you in black, but you are dressed for a funeral and not only is this the widow’s house but she’s upstairs”

“I know all that” she admitted “I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you like she lost Derek, I don’t even want to think about that”
“I’m not going anywhere” he said trying to make light of it
“Daphne didn’t think Derek was going anywhere” she said “And look what happened to him”
“I know it was very tragic” he agreed “But that won’t happen to me”
“I just want you to make love to me and make me feel alive” she pleaded while still nuzzling his neck and her hands began to caress up and down his back as her nuzzles turned to kisses.
In response to her plea he reciprocated the caresses and in an instant her soft lips were on his.

So on Daphne Bronson’s expensive Persian rug Paul made Francesca feel alive and then they lay beneath a throw and shared the words of love that had become the normal converse between them after making love.
Then Francesca needed to get up for a pee and she returned to find he had begun to get dressed.
“What do you think you’re doing?” she asked disapprovingly
“Getting dressed” he replied
“Well you can stop that right away” she said
“Why?”
“Because I’m going upstairs to check on the widow and then when I return you’re going to make me feel alive all over again” she said and giggled.
Paul looked at her as she laughed while wearing only stockings.
“Well I don’t think you should go dressed like that” he said
“Ooops” she exclaimed

Tales from the Finchbottom Vale – (63) The Propper Attire

(Part 01)

The Finchbottom Vale is nestled comfortably between the Ancient Dancingdean Forest to the south and the rolling Pepperstock Hills in the north, those who are lucky enough to live there think of it as the rose between two thorns.
And at the far eastern end of the Vale was the traditional seaside resort of Sharpington-by-Sea, complete with a Victorian Pier, seafront hotels, crazy golf, The Palladium ballroom, well maintained gardens, promenade, theatre and illuminations, all the usual things to have a great time by the seaside, as well as amusement arcades and of course the Sharpington Fun Park.

The four friends had spent the morning playing a foursome at the Sharpington Dunes Golf Club, they all lived locally in the town of Sharpington-By-Sea and three of them had houses that backed onto the course.
Their foursome had become a regular fixture on their social calendars after widower Dave Whitaker had taken early retirement at the age of 50.
It seemed the right thing to do at the time, his children had flown the nest, his wife had passed and his job had lost its lustre, so he retired and he had never regretted it for a moment.
Retirement enabled him to spend time with his three favourite ladies of leisure, Sarah Price, Katie George and Wilhelmina Winten.
Sarah and Katie were both wealthy grass widows and ten years younger than he was and spinster Willi was three years older and was a retired PE Teacher.
After spending a very pleasant morning on the course they lunched at the club as was their habit and as they sat down at their regular table Willi announced
“I can’t be late home today, Marta is coming to help me tidy the attic”
“It must be important if you’re going to cut your lunch short” Sarah said and they all laughed.
“If truth be told I do rather look forward to the days Marta comes to help me” she said when the laughter had subsided
“She’s really such a nice girl and very good company”
Which was when, the waitress, Georgina, arrived at the table to take their order.
“So you’re not coming to mine for drinks this afternoon Willi?” Katie asked
“I’m afraid not” she replied
“What about you Sarah?”
“No not today” she replied reading a text on her phone “somethings come up”
“Just me and you then Dave” Katie said
“Ok with me” Dave remarked
So after a very nice lunch in very pleasant company, and feeling a little over indulged, they had a rendezvous by their trolleys and prepared for the short stroll across the 18th fairway, apart that is from Sarah Price, who was the only one of the group whose house didn’t adjoin the Golf Course.
“I’ll say goodbye now” she said “I need to pop to the pro shop before I head home”
So Sarah headed in the opposite direction while the other three walked their trolleys across the 18th fairway.
Willi lived 5 houses along from Katie’s house which was next door to Dave’s, so they said goodbye and she walked home to get showered before Marta arrived and Dave went home to get changed and Katie went to her house to freshen up and prepare for Dave’s arrival.

(Part 02)

So Sarah headed in the opposite direction while the other three walked their trolleys across the 18th fairway.
Willi lived 5 houses along from Katie’s house which was next door to Dave’s, so they said goodbye and she walked home to get showered before Marta arrived and Dave went home to get changed and Katie went to her house to freshen up and prepare for Dave’s arrival.

Before leaving home he checked himself in the hall mirror and nodded his aproval, he was still a good looking man of average height and in good physical shape and he still had a full head of sandy hair.
It was about half an hour before Dave walked into Katie’s garden, which was very, in fact it was beautifully kept, and much nicer than his own, but then you get out of it what you put in, and Katie put a lot in to hers.
Whereas his garden was simply functional and he put absolutely nothing into it at all and no effort was expended whatsoever.
All his efforts with regard to the garden went into cutting the grass and sweeping the patio.
Katie on the other hand loved her garden and loved working in it and the result was there for all to see, a delightful English country garden.

He walked towards the house and he found that there were drinks on the table beneath the parasol and soft music coming from an MP3, but no sign of Katie.
So he walked toward the kitchen door and stepped inside and there in the middle of the room stood Katie, wearing her golf hat, her golf shoes, argyle socks and her golf glove, and absolutely nothing else.
“Wow” Dave said as he stared at the beautiful woman in front of him in the beautifully accesorised golfing outfit, or what there was of it, Katie was a beautiful woman when fully clothed, but naked she went off the scale.
Despite her being the wrong side of forty she had maintained her figure exceptionally well, only her long brunette hair now had to be enhanced with colouring.
After taking his time to admire her nakedness he then added
“I may be wrong but I think that may infringe the dress code”
“is that right” she said “And what are you going to do about it?”
“What are my options exactly?” he asked
“Well you can report me to the club captain” she replied “or you can make love to me like you normally do”
“I think I’ll do the latter then” he said
“Good choice” Katie replied and removed her glove.

Tales from the Finchbottom Vale – (62) Early Morning Call

Twenty eight year old Paul Ingram was involved with an older woman, a forty year old woman to be precise, who was a beautiful unhappily married, soon to be divorced Carrington Chase educated woman, called Francesca Carrington-Webber.
Paul and Francesca both lived in the village of Forest Dean situated equidistant between Shallowfield and Childean, she lived in a huge house that backed onto the The Forest Ridge Golf Club, and coincidentally Paul worked for the Golf Club.

They became involved after three chance meetings, two on a train and the third more significant one was on the Promenade in Sharpington, where he came upon her small huddled figure on the bench ahead of him in some distress and after some tender moments of consolation lead to them making love in his caravan.

Since that night they had had a non-physical relationship and on the rare occasions that they managed to get to spend some time together they always made the most of it, sometimes they had to create opportunities and sometimes they just happened and sometimes one of them managed to surprise the other but the biggest surprise came on the Halloween weekend when she arrived at his caravan dressed as a witch and announced that not only was she divorcing her husband David but that she was staying the night.

On the rare occasions that they managed to get to spend the night together they always made the most of it.
But in the early hours of one Sunday morning in January he was violently shaken awake.
“You have to go,” Francesca said urgently
“What? When?” he said
“In about an hour” she replied, and giggled as she wrapped herself around him.
“So why did you wake me so early?” he asked
“Why do you think?” she replied and began nibbling on his ear
“Now this is the kind of early morning call I like,” he said just before her lips migrated to his.

Francesca had woken him early in the morning so he could sneak out before the neighbours were up and about; but she decided to wake him extra early so she could enjoy him again before he left.
After doing precisely that she left him in bed on that dark Sunday morning in January while she went and washed the lust from her gorgeous body.
Paul smiled to himself and slipped out of bed and tiptoed to the bathroom after her.
He could see her well-defined shape through the glass, and he was already aroused before he opened the door and joined her in the cubicle.
“And what do you think you’re doing?” she asked
“I’m just making sure you don’t miss anything” he replied
“I don’t think anything will be missed darling” she said and kissed him as her soapy hands began to caress his torso.
“In fact I think I’m probably going to get everything”

Afterwards she phoned her mum and said she was running late as something had come up and after a long lingering goodbye kiss by the back door he walked home across the golf course in the half-light with an extra spring in his step.

Friday, 26 May 2017

Tales from the Finchbottom Vale – (61) The Lady in Tears

(Part 01)

It was at the Lord Lieutenants Summer Ball when Dave Knapp found Lady Antonia Johnson-Claassens on the moonlit terrace and his first thought was that he might at last have found someone who he could have an intelligent conversation with, but as he got closer he noticed she was crying.
Dave had been on the prowl for someone with half a brain all evening, his sister, who was supposed to have been his plus 1 had cried off due to one of her bad heads, but when he set off on his after dinner sojourn he didn’t think he would run into Lady Antonia.
Although they did have history of running into each other at such events, they had known each other since University, and when they did attend the same functions they always sought the other out.
However since her engagement to some chinless Rupert, any kind of converse with her had been off the menu and when he saw she was crying he didn’t see that changing.
So although the first sight of her whetted his appetite he instead ended up wetting the shoulder of his dinner jacket with her tears.
When she had calmed down and her sobs began to recede she tried to tell him what was wrong but the tears started to well up in her eyes again and then they ran down her cheeks as she sobbed her heart out and she sat down on the wall.
So Mr. Chivalry again stepped into action and he knelt on the floor beside her and offered himself up to comfort her with arms open wide “I’m sorry” she said gratefully accepting his open arms and burying her tearstained face in his neck.
Dave made encouraging noises and stroked her back but being a shoulder to cry on was the full extent of his expertise.
They held that position for some time until Antonia’s sobs began to get shallower and shallower and eventually abated.
But still she held on to him tightly and began to nuzzle his neck and he could feel her breath on his skin.

He comforted her for about an hour in all and when all the tears were gone she told him what was wrong, her fiancé Nigel had chosen the night of the Summer Ball to break off their engagement, not only that but he did it at the party.
She had been very much in love with him, he wasn’t quite the love of her life, but nonetheless to say that she was heartbroken would have been an understatement and then she asked him to drive her home.

When they got to Lady Antonia’s, he drove the car onto her drive.
“Put it in the garage” she said “the remote is in the door pocket”
Dave opened the garage door as instructed and drove in, then closed the door behind them.
They got out of the Range Rover and after retrieving her shrug from the back of the car they went into the house safe from prying eyes.
They emerged in the kitchen where Antonia took the shrug from him.
“Make a hot drink will you” she said “while I get changed”
So Dave boiled the kettle and made them coffee.
He was sat on a stool drinking his when Toni rejoined him in the kitchen about 15 minutes later.
She had indeed changed, she had changed out of the expensive designer ball gown she arrived in and she was now standing in the doorway wearing a tiger onesie and fluffy slippers.
This was not the image Dave associated with her, in his mind’s eye he saw matching black silk underwear, black stockings, and high heeled shoes.
“I thought this would be a bit more comfortable” she said cutely

(Part 02)

Lady Antonia stood in the kitchen doorway wearing a tiger onesie and fluffy slippers.
“I thought this would be a bit more comfortable” she said cutely
“It certainly looks comfortable” he admitted “Not a sexy outfit is it?”
“I don’t feel particularly sexy today” she said sadly
“I didn’t say you weren’t sexy” Dave corrected her
“You’re only saying that because you feel sorry for me” she said
“Oh no I’m not” he said forcefully, more so than he should have, and it didn’t go unnoticed as she raised an eye brow
Dave and Toni had known each other since university and he had fancied her from the first time he laid eyes on her during fresher’s week, but he had never said anything because she was out of his league.
“I’ve always thought you were sexy, I’ve always thought you were special, far too sexy and special for the types you go out with… or get engaged to”
“Why have you never said anything?” she asked
“Because you’re Lady Antonia Johnson-Claassens and I’m just Dave Knapp the English professor” he retorted “you’re in a different class to me, in every sense”
Lady Antonia said nothing in response as she was taking it all in, she never in her wildest dreams imagined that he felt that way about her and it took her by surprise because she had always felt the same way about him, but she had kept silent because she was afraid.
Afraid of being rejected and of being laughed at, after all he was really smart and she was just dumb Lady Toni.
“So what is it that makes you want me” she asked as she walked towards him in her fluffy slippers
“Is it because I’m posh totty?”
“I do like posh birds” he confessed “but that’s not what attracts me to you”
“So what is it then?” Antonia said as she stood in front of him looking at the floor.
“It’s everything about you” he replied “Your sparky sense of humour, your laugh and your wit and intelligence”
“Now I know you’re lying” she snapped “because I’m not clever, you just saw silly Lady Toni crying over a bloke and you thought, I’m in with a chance”
When she had finished Antonia turned away and then Dave countered
“When I first saw you on the moonlit terrace I actually thought I had at last found someone, after a desperately banal evening, with whom I could have an intelligent conversation, because you are intelligent and you are not stupid by any measure and whoever told you that you are is the stupid one, and when I saw you were crying my first thought was not of a bit of leg over, it was to comfort you, not to judge”
As he was talking he was putting his dinner jacket on to leave and when he had said his piece she still had her back to him but she asked quietly over her shoulder
“You really thought that?”
“Yes” he replied
“Then you don’t think I’m a dullard” Toni said
“No I don’t, nothing could be farther from the truth”
“You don’t just think I’m a vacuous clothes horse? With nothing meaningful to contribute to the world”
“Who on earth has been saying these things to you?” he asked angrily
“Was it Nigel?”
She didn’t respond verbally as she was crying again but she nodded, Nigel was her ex fiancé, Dave walked up behind her and lightly stroked the tops of her arms.
“Don’t cry honey” he said

(Part 03)

She didn’t respond verbally as she was crying again but she nodded, Nigel was her ex fiancé, Dave walked up behind her and lightly stroked the tops of her arms.
“Don’t cry honey” he said
“I can’t help it” she replied and fresh tears immediately welled up in her eyes as she turned towards him, so he took her in his arms and she dissolved completely into tears.
“Its ok honey” He whispered, “let it all go”
And as she sobbed uncontrollably into his chest Dave kissed the top of her head.
He held her close and stroked her back as she sobbed until she lifted her head and said
“I’m getting you wet again”
“I don’t care” He replied “I’m content just holding you in my arms”
On hearing that she broke down again.
Dave was holding in his arms the very beautiful woman he had been in love with since university as she sobbed her heart out and he consoled her with his inadequate words.
Antonia held on to him tightly and began to nuzzle his neck and he could feel her breath on his skin and very soon her nuzzles turned to kisses and she pressed up against him so close a cigarette paper couldn’t have passed between them.
Dave could feel Antonia’s breath on his face before a moment later he felt her lips on his and she kissed him slowly and deliberately.
It was a wonderful feeling for him, to be kissed by the woman he loved, and it was every bit as deliciously sensual as he imagined it would be.
So no one was more surprised than him when he called a halt to proceedings.
“No this isn’t right”
“Why? What’s wrong?” she asked bemused “I thought you wanted me”
“I do, with all my heart” he said “I have dreamt of this since fresher’s week”
“So kiss me then” she urged
“Not like this, not when you’re upset and emotional” he said “Not when you’re on the rebound”
“I’m not on the rebound” she snapped
“But you only broke up with Nigel three hours ago” Dave pointed out
“You may get back together with him or tomorrow morning, in the cold light of day, you may feel differently towards me, and you would only regret anything that happened between us tonight”
Toni didn’t respond immediately but sat down on the kitchen stool and looked thoughtful for few minutes before speaking
“So you do want me”
“Yes”
“But you want to wait, you could have me now on a plate, but you want to wait” she said
“That’s right”
“Oh God I want you even more now” she said as she rushed towards him and hugged him and after minute or so she asked
“How long”
“A month” he replied
“A month” she retorted
“Yes” he confirmed “And if you still feel the same way, then we’re in business”
“Am I allowed to see you?”
“Yes” he replied “and we can talk on the phone whenever you want”
“Ok” she agreed “But…”
“But what?” he asked suspiciously
“Will you stay tonight, in case I need another hug” she asked
“Of course” he replied and kissed the top of her head.
So he stayed the night in her spare room and one month later he stayed the night in her bed and they were married six months later.

Mornington-By-Mere – (66) Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fond

Edward Vineyard was a 23 year old English graduate who worked for the Shallowfield and Childean Chronicle and the last couple of weeks things had been quite uninteresting for him, firstly because nothing of any interest happened in the Finchbottom Vale or even the wider environs of Downshire for that matter during those two weeks and even if there had been something even mildly interesting he had been stuck righting fluff pieces on flower shows and gymkhana’s.
The other reason life was so dull for him was that his 24 year old girlfriend Patsy, who had her own special way of helping him pass the time with her insatiable appetite, had gone away on holiday with her parents.
So he took himself completely out of Mornington for the two weeks which allowed him to drive all over the Vale chasing non stories in a very dull couple of weeks in the Downshire area, which made the time drag even more.

At last the time came to end his self-imposed exile from the Village and he returned to his parents’ house in Mornington and the first thing he did when he got back on the 4th of June was to go in search of Patsy, he had really missed her and it surprised him just how much and he hoped that she had missed him half as much as he’d missed her.
But it was busy in the village as it was the weekend of the Mornington Beer Festival which was a two day event and as was the norm it was being held in the grounds of Mornington Manor which was only a short walk from his parents’ house in the Close.

He was hoping to touch base with Patsy, who he hadn’t seen since she got back from Spain, and maybe go to the pub for a few drinks but she was working all weekend, because of the Beer Festival so he knew he wouldn’t see her “properly” until Sunday evening when he could expect a proper Patsy hello.
But he went in search of her anyway and after chatting with a few friends he was told
“She’s working in the main beer tent”

He fought his way to the bar in the main marquee and bought a pint of Mornington Ale and settled in the corner, hoping to catch a glimpse of her but he had been sitting at the table for an hour and had almost finished his second pint before he spotted her and then she was able to grab a 20-minute break and they sat in a quiet corner of the gardens where they could share an occasional kiss, but alas she wouldn’t show him her white bits, but as she was getting up to go back to work he did get his hand up her skirt high enough to squeeze her bum before she slapped him.
But it did give him a taster and he was left with a philosophical outlook knowing there was lots more for him to investigate and explore when he saw her next time on Sunday night when her shift at the festival was over.

Mornington-By-Mere – (65) The Everyday Dream

(Part 01)

In the quaint chocolate box English Village of Mornington-By-Mere, which was the beating heart of the Finchbottom Vale, David Cooper was sat on the sofa with his girlfriend Sharon Taylor.
Sharon was a soldier in the Downshire Light Infantry and had only recently returned after 3 months away on exercise only to drop the bombshell that she had been posted to Cyprus for a 12 month tour.
The bonus was that she had a month’s leave before she had to report for duty.
So they made the most of the time and spent as much of it as possible together.
“You’re very quiet, what’s wrong?” he asked
“Nothing” she replied
“Come on, there’s something on your mind” he insisted
“I’ve only got four days left of my leave” She explained “before I have to report to barracks in Nettlefield and then a week after that we go to Cyprus”
“I know” he said
“Well there’s something I want to do before then” she said
“You’ll have to wait for my mum to go out first” he said
“No not that” she retorted
“It must be something important then” he said with concern
“I want you to take me to the Regimental Ball in Nettlefield?” she asked and tensed up
“Is that all?” he asked
“Yes, but it’s important” she replied “I’ve never been before, because I never had anyone special enough before to go with, but now I do”
“Of course I will darling” he said
“Good because I’ve already bought the tickets” she replied cheekily

David lived in the centre of Mornington in a house in The Close with his family, whereas Sharon lived on the opposite side of the village on the other side of Manor Wood where there were a number of cottages and small houses on the Purplemere Road and Dulcets Road which formed the part of Mornington Village known as Manorside and the Taylor family lived in Dulcets Road in a house called Green Fields.
Which was where he picked her up from on the night of the Regimental Ball and when he saw her his jaw almost hit the floor, she looked so stunning in a burgundy coloured cocktail dress, borrowed from her mother and matching shoes and handbag from her best friend.
He thought Sharon looked like a proper girl, not the daring soldier, afraid of nothing and nobody, she was a girl, gentle and vulnerable, and little bit frightened, and he couldn’t have been more in love with her than he was at that precise moment and when he walked into the Ball with Sharon on his arm he felt so proud.

They had a wonderful night, excellent food, a live band and lots of dancing, and neither of them really wanted the night to end, but end it did and at 2 am they were walking through Memorial Park in the moonlight heading towards the Hotel when David broke the silence as they were passing the bandstand.
“There’s something I need to talk to you about” he said and her heart was in her mouth, her worst fears were being realised, he was breaking up with her because she was being posted to Cyprus.
“I don’t know the best way to say this” he began and her stomach turned over.

(Part 02)

“There’s something I need to talk to you about” he said and her heart was in her mouth, her worst fears were being realised, he was breaking up with her because she was being posted to Cyprus.
“I don’t know the best way to say this” he began and her stomach turned over.
“I’m going to take two months off work, unpaid mainly, like a sabbatical, so I can come to Cyprus right in the middle of you tour, I’ve already spoken to my boss and he’s happy, so we’ll be together for Christmas and New Year” He said without pausing for breath.
“What do you think?”
“What do I think? I’ll tell you what I thought, I thought you were going to dump me” she said and slapped his arm
“Why would you think that?” he said
“Because I’m going away” she replied
“Which is why I want to come and spend time with you”
“Won’t you get bored while I’m on duty?” she asked
“No, Cyprus is a nice place with plenty to see” he replied “and there will be plenty of pretty girls to occupy me while you’re serving queen and country”
“You do know that I’m trained to kill don’t you?” Sharon said and laughed before adding more seriously
“Are you sure you want to come to Cyprus?”
“Look I’ve only just got you back in my life and I’m not letting you slip through my fingers again” he said
“I’ve decided that you’re a keeper”
“Does that mean what I think it means?” she asked
“It better had, otherwise I’ve bought this for nothing” he said “and took a ring box from his pocket”
“Oh my God” she exclaimed “Really?”
“Well what do you think?” he asked
“I…” she began and then put her head in her hands then she took a deep breath and stood to attention
“I think you need to ask me a question” she said
“Oh it’s like that is it?” he said and knelt down
“Sharon Elisabeth Emma Taylor, will you marry me?”
“Oh I don’t know” she said indifferently
“Fare enough” he replied and put the ring back in his pocket
“I got the ring on sale or return anyway” David added
“Don’t you dare” she said and got him in a half nelson until he gave her the ring “of course I’ll marry you, it’s all I’ve ever wanted”
“What to be married?” he asked
“No, to be married to you”
“Then I am your dream come true?” he said
“Well now you put it like that I appear to have set my sights rather low” Sharon jibed
“Is that right?” he said taking her by surprise and extracting himself from her head lock and turned the tables on her and bent her over the hand rail and spanked her arse hard
“Ow” she barked
“Sorry did I spank the rufty tufty soldier too hard” he said and spanked her again
“Oww” she said “that hurt”
“So what’s your answer?” David asked and slapped her buttock again
“Ok you brute, I’ll marry you”