Widowed Professor Keith Stewart was a dry and crusty academic who was Professor of History at Abbottsford University.
He was in his fifty-fifth year and was considered by everyone who knew him in academic circles to be as dull as ditch water and capable of talking about nothing but his subject, in detail and at length.
But no one was ever as they seemed and he was no exception.
He lived in the quaint chocolate box English Village of Mornington-By-Mere, which was the beating heart of the Finchbottom Vale.
There were a number of cottages and small houses in the part of Mornington Village known as Manorside and he lived at number 1 Dulcets Road Cottages which was his bolt hole, his escape from the academic world where he could enjoy his well-appointed library and his well upholstered chair.
His daughter Julie was away at University herself and as much as he loved her he loved having the house to himself more and that was because he had a lover.
Laura Prins was a single parent and lived in the house next door with her son Liam but he was also away at University.
Keith would spend four days a week in Abbottsford where he would spend the majority of his time in his rooms reading and looking forward to getting back to the arms of the voluptuous Laura.
Their relationship began at Christmas ten years earlier when he had too much wine and kissed her, and to his great delight she kissed him back.
At first they snatched moments here and there, when they found themselves alone, such as when their children were at school, or at a friends or later on when they were working, but in the three years since the children went off to University they had enjoyed each other whenever and wherever they wanted, and they really wanted to a lot.
So when all his lectures were cancelled for the day he took the opportunity to get home to Mornington and spend the day in the loving arms and ample bosom of his Laura.
As she wasn’t expecting him back he phoned her from the car but it went straight to voice mail.
He was disappointed not to have spoken to her but he pressed on regardless and by the time he reached the village it was early afternoon and the sun, which had burnt off the early cloud had steadily grown in strength.
He parked the car on the drive and when he went in through the side gate he was surprised to find that the French doors were open to the Morning Room, so called as it was the room that got the morning sun, but he used it as his Study.
He walked towards the open doors and was about to burst in and chastise whoever it was that had violated his inner sanctum.
But as he got closer he noticed that although the doors were open the curtains were not so instead of entering the Morning room from the garden he chose to peer through the gap between the curtains first and he spied a scene which changed the Professor mood in an instant.
His next door neighbour and lover, Laura Prins was sitting in his favourite leather chair.
He loved that chair with its faded and cracked Brown Leather, which was well stuffed and comfortable.
But at that moment he loved it even more as Laura sat in the chair with one leg draped over the arm and she was wearing his daughter Julie’s old school uniform and she was smiling because she knew he was watching her.
“Come in professor”
So he did as instructed and pushed the curtain aside and stepped in.
“How did you know I was coming?” he asked
“I spoke to Liam this morning and he told me that lectures had been cancelled” she explained “And I knew what you would want to do with your free time”
“You know me to well” he said as he closed the distance between them “I’m clearly too predictable”
“I would have been very disappointed if you hadn’t come home” she said
“Well I wouldn’t want to disappoint you” he said and bend down her kissed her expectant lips
“You never have yet” she said coyly
An hour later the middle aged schoolgirl had more of her uniform on the floor than on her and he was no better.
“Time to get you up to the dorm girl” he said and slapped her buttock
“Yes Professor” she responded, then she pushed past him and ran giggling up the stairs.
“They wouldn’t call me dry and crusty, or dull if they knew how I spent my afternoons” he said to himself and smiled.
Friday 23 June 2017
Tales from the Finchbottom Vale – (89) Afternoon Delight
It was in the late 1980’s when Neil Tipper, a Uniform Police Constable in Finchbottom, was on holiday with a group of fellow officers.
They were staying in an apartment on the Island of Andros in the Cyclades chain.
It was a quiet island due to the fact it was a two hour ferry ride from the mainland but Neil thought it was worth it.
The lads had been there for two days when quite by chance they met up with some familiar faces.
A group of girls from the Vale and among them was Debbie Parsley a girl he had known at school in fact she was his first crush.
There had always been something smouldering between them, although they had never been out together, they had come close once or twice but it never quite happened for them.
But there they both were on the same island at the same time and with no attachments and it was apparent straight from the start that there was still a spark.
An ember which glowed beneath the Greek skies and burst alight with a kiss on the sands of Agia Marina beach one bright warm day which led inevitably to burning passion in his apartment where the made love for the first time.
Neil stood in the bathroom doorway and watched her stir as the afternoon sunlight painted patterns on her naked contours as it shone through the billowing curtains.
Her hair, still damp from their passionate exertions, clung to her face and neck and beads of sweat sparkled on her luscious skin.
She lay on her side, knees drawn up to her belly, showing off the wonderful sweep from her narrow waist to a curvaceous hip and then onto the perfect roundness of her sumptuous buttocks.
Debbie rolled on to her back as she stirred again and the magnificence of her was there before him with patterns of light and dark dancing over her gorgeous form.
Her nipples aroused as the soft breeze wafted over her and Debbie’s eyes opened and she smiled broadly when she saw Neil watching her.
She sat up and brushed the hair from her face then moved onto her knees and stretched, leaning back until her hands touched the bed behind her, supporting herself on clenched fists and throwing her head right back putting on a display until her black hair tumbled down her back.
His eyes slowly scanned the beauty of her form the cascading black hair, down the cords and sinews of her neck to the fine structure of her shoulders.
He then scanned slowly down, consuming every inch of her naked torso, her firm breasts, the softness of her flat belly and her curved hips and round buttocks before reaching her long taught thighs.
Neil left the doorway and picked his way through the discarded clothing on the floor to reach the bed where she now sat on her haunches looking at him with a radiant smile illuminating her face with eyes that said “again please”
They were staying in an apartment on the Island of Andros in the Cyclades chain.
It was a quiet island due to the fact it was a two hour ferry ride from the mainland but Neil thought it was worth it.
The lads had been there for two days when quite by chance they met up with some familiar faces.
A group of girls from the Vale and among them was Debbie Parsley a girl he had known at school in fact she was his first crush.
There had always been something smouldering between them, although they had never been out together, they had come close once or twice but it never quite happened for them.
But there they both were on the same island at the same time and with no attachments and it was apparent straight from the start that there was still a spark.
An ember which glowed beneath the Greek skies and burst alight with a kiss on the sands of Agia Marina beach one bright warm day which led inevitably to burning passion in his apartment where the made love for the first time.
Neil stood in the bathroom doorway and watched her stir as the afternoon sunlight painted patterns on her naked contours as it shone through the billowing curtains.
Her hair, still damp from their passionate exertions, clung to her face and neck and beads of sweat sparkled on her luscious skin.
She lay on her side, knees drawn up to her belly, showing off the wonderful sweep from her narrow waist to a curvaceous hip and then onto the perfect roundness of her sumptuous buttocks.
Debbie rolled on to her back as she stirred again and the magnificence of her was there before him with patterns of light and dark dancing over her gorgeous form.
Her nipples aroused as the soft breeze wafted over her and Debbie’s eyes opened and she smiled broadly when she saw Neil watching her.
She sat up and brushed the hair from her face then moved onto her knees and stretched, leaning back until her hands touched the bed behind her, supporting herself on clenched fists and throwing her head right back putting on a display until her black hair tumbled down her back.
His eyes slowly scanned the beauty of her form the cascading black hair, down the cords and sinews of her neck to the fine structure of her shoulders.
He then scanned slowly down, consuming every inch of her naked torso, her firm breasts, the softness of her flat belly and her curved hips and round buttocks before reaching her long taught thighs.
Neil left the doorway and picked his way through the discarded clothing on the floor to reach the bed where she now sat on her haunches looking at him with a radiant smile illuminating her face with eyes that said “again please”
Those Memories Made on Teardrop Lake – (89) The Second Adventure
Gary Smith and Carla Lund, were staying on a camp site in the Finchbottom Vale that was once a working railway station before it fell afoul of Dr Beeching and his cuts, in a place called Sharpinghead.
The two of them were staying in a converted signal box which was comfortable enough but because of the limited floor space it had bunk beds which didn’t go down well at all with Carla, she wanted a double bed and plenty of comfort and more than a little loving.
“What the hell are they?” she said when she saw the bunks
“A challenge” Gary replied flippantly but she was not impressed
“We’re not 13” she said,
It was not an insurmountable problem as far as he was concerned but she just wasn’t the adventurous type.
Although Gary could remember the time when she was, a time when she enjoyed a kiss and a cuddle in the woods back in the days when they were courting but she seemed to have forgotten just how much.
The bunk beds were bad enough but Carla really lost it when she realised there was also no toilet or bathroom en suite and the nearest facilities were 60 yards away.
She stormed out and left Gary to unpack and she was gone for hours, in fact Gary was already asleep in the bottom bunk when she got back.
The next morning just after first light he had to get up to the toilet, he wasn’t going to bother dressing but trotted the 60 yards to the toilet in his pants.
When he returned to the signal box he quietly closed the door and was just tiptoeing across the room when he spied, highlighted in the early morning light, Carla’s naked buttocks protruding from beneath her duvet and written on a post it note, stuck to one buttock was one single word “Sorry”.
And that was when he woke her in the dawn light and the adventure returned to their marriage.
After that first surrender to adventure Carla felt alive and tingling all over and was keen to try some more while Gary was just intent on enjoying it while it lasted.
As it was a beautiful day Gary suggested they take a drive over to the Dancingdean Forest.
They parked up and then walked along a well-worn trail for about half an hour and then Gary led them off-piste into the more heavily forested wood.
And a half an hour later they came to a small rocky clearing and then they sat down and had a drink.
“I like it here” she said
“Yes it’s nice, but another half an hour” he said, “and we should reach the lake”
“No I mean I like it here” she said and kissed him an opened mouthed, darting tongue, stirring the loin’s type of kiss.
“What’s going on?” he said “We came here to see the lake”
“I came here for adventure” Carla giggled and kissed him again and it was too dark to go to the lake by the time she had finished with him.
The two of them were staying in a converted signal box which was comfortable enough but because of the limited floor space it had bunk beds which didn’t go down well at all with Carla, she wanted a double bed and plenty of comfort and more than a little loving.
“What the hell are they?” she said when she saw the bunks
“A challenge” Gary replied flippantly but she was not impressed
“We’re not 13” she said,
It was not an insurmountable problem as far as he was concerned but she just wasn’t the adventurous type.
Although Gary could remember the time when she was, a time when she enjoyed a kiss and a cuddle in the woods back in the days when they were courting but she seemed to have forgotten just how much.
The bunk beds were bad enough but Carla really lost it when she realised there was also no toilet or bathroom en suite and the nearest facilities were 60 yards away.
She stormed out and left Gary to unpack and she was gone for hours, in fact Gary was already asleep in the bottom bunk when she got back.
The next morning just after first light he had to get up to the toilet, he wasn’t going to bother dressing but trotted the 60 yards to the toilet in his pants.
When he returned to the signal box he quietly closed the door and was just tiptoeing across the room when he spied, highlighted in the early morning light, Carla’s naked buttocks protruding from beneath her duvet and written on a post it note, stuck to one buttock was one single word “Sorry”.
And that was when he woke her in the dawn light and the adventure returned to their marriage.
After that first surrender to adventure Carla felt alive and tingling all over and was keen to try some more while Gary was just intent on enjoying it while it lasted.
As it was a beautiful day Gary suggested they take a drive over to the Dancingdean Forest.
They parked up and then walked along a well-worn trail for about half an hour and then Gary led them off-piste into the more heavily forested wood.
And a half an hour later they came to a small rocky clearing and then they sat down and had a drink.
“I like it here” she said
“Yes it’s nice, but another half an hour” he said, “and we should reach the lake”
“No I mean I like it here” she said and kissed him an opened mouthed, darting tongue, stirring the loin’s type of kiss.
“What’s going on?” he said “We came here to see the lake”
“I came here for adventure” Carla giggled and kissed him again and it was too dark to go to the lake by the time she had finished with him.
Thursday 22 June 2017
Downshire Diary – (88) Naughty on any Level
Apart from her normal duties as district nurse Shannon Pond took it upon herself to provide additional services, partly to make sure they regained their self-worth, but on occasions it was more than that but only once did it go beyond the professional.
One of her all too familiar haunts was Shaftsbury Towers in Finchbottom, a rundown modern day slum tenement.
When she got there she found, not for the first time, that the lifts weren’t working and so she had to yomp up 15 flights of stairs up a stairwell that stank of urine.
She was more than a little flushed when she reached her destination, short of breath and short of patience.
Her first patient was Dakota Hogan, a pretty terminally ill 19 year old girl, who was quite naturally depressed.
Shannon was almost 35 and very experienced in her field and she had watched many young people dying before their time.
Shannon knocked on the door and a moment or so later Mrs Hogan, the patient’s mother answered the door.
“Hello dear” she said
“Hello Mrs Hogan” Shannon said “How’s the patient today?”
“The same” she said blankly “I don’t know how to help her”
“Just be supportive” she said
“It’s hard though dear” she said putting on her coat and going to the foot of the stairs.
“Dakota! The nurse is here” she shouted up the stairs “the pretty one with the blonde hair”
Shannon smiled and Mrs Hogan said
“You can go up when you’re ready, I need to do some shopping”
On that day Dakota was in a very positive mood and Shannon had the easiest visit she had had with her, which improved her own mood, but she knew from experience that it was likely to be a false dawn and that there would doubles be darker days ahead.
When she reached the stairwell the lift opened and Mrs Hogan got out.
“Oh wonderful, they’re working again” Shannon said
“Yes dear, thank god” she said “How’s the girl?”
“You know, I think she’s a bit brighter” she replied
“Oh I do hope so dear” Mrs Hogan said
She was thankful that the lift was working again as she was feeling a bit leg weary.
Shannon said her goodbyes to Mrs Hogan and stepped in and when she turned around she saw Tom Hughes jogging towards the lift.
Although she was often willing to go the extra mile for her patients she always drew a line at crossing the line with family or friends of the patient.
But Tom’s mum wasn’t her patient anymore, and as she fancied him like mad, she pressed the hold button.
“Thanks” he said
“No problem, how are you? How’s your mum?” she asked as the lift began to descend
“Good” he replied
“I bet you are” she thought and began flirting with him but her flirtations were abruptly halted when the lift started rattling and shaking and threw the pair of them into one corner.
“I don’t mind if I do” she said and kissed him.
“I’ve wanted to do that for so long” he said
“Me too” she concurred and the lift started moving again.
By the time they had reached the ground floor and emerged into the lobby she was the picture of respectability again and they had a dinner date for that evening.
One of her all too familiar haunts was Shaftsbury Towers in Finchbottom, a rundown modern day slum tenement.
When she got there she found, not for the first time, that the lifts weren’t working and so she had to yomp up 15 flights of stairs up a stairwell that stank of urine.
She was more than a little flushed when she reached her destination, short of breath and short of patience.
Her first patient was Dakota Hogan, a pretty terminally ill 19 year old girl, who was quite naturally depressed.
Shannon was almost 35 and very experienced in her field and she had watched many young people dying before their time.
Shannon knocked on the door and a moment or so later Mrs Hogan, the patient’s mother answered the door.
“Hello dear” she said
“Hello Mrs Hogan” Shannon said “How’s the patient today?”
“The same” she said blankly “I don’t know how to help her”
“Just be supportive” she said
“It’s hard though dear” she said putting on her coat and going to the foot of the stairs.
“Dakota! The nurse is here” she shouted up the stairs “the pretty one with the blonde hair”
Shannon smiled and Mrs Hogan said
“You can go up when you’re ready, I need to do some shopping”
On that day Dakota was in a very positive mood and Shannon had the easiest visit she had had with her, which improved her own mood, but she knew from experience that it was likely to be a false dawn and that there would doubles be darker days ahead.
When she reached the stairwell the lift opened and Mrs Hogan got out.
“Oh wonderful, they’re working again” Shannon said
“Yes dear, thank god” she said “How’s the girl?”
“You know, I think she’s a bit brighter” she replied
“Oh I do hope so dear” Mrs Hogan said
She was thankful that the lift was working again as she was feeling a bit leg weary.
Shannon said her goodbyes to Mrs Hogan and stepped in and when she turned around she saw Tom Hughes jogging towards the lift.
Although she was often willing to go the extra mile for her patients she always drew a line at crossing the line with family or friends of the patient.
But Tom’s mum wasn’t her patient anymore, and as she fancied him like mad, she pressed the hold button.
“Thanks” he said
“No problem, how are you? How’s your mum?” she asked as the lift began to descend
“Good” he replied
“I bet you are” she thought and began flirting with him but her flirtations were abruptly halted when the lift started rattling and shaking and threw the pair of them into one corner.
“I don’t mind if I do” she said and kissed him.
“I’ve wanted to do that for so long” he said
“Me too” she concurred and the lift started moving again.
By the time they had reached the ground floor and emerged into the lobby she was the picture of respectability again and they had a dinner date for that evening.
Mornington-By-Mere – (88) The Widow and the Widower
Mornington-By-Mere is a small country village lying in the Finchbottom Vale nestled between the Ancient Dancingdean Forest and the rolling Pepperstock Hills.
It is a quaint picturesque village, a proper chocolate box picturesque idyll, with a Manor House, 12th Century Church, a Coaching Inn, Windmills, an Old Forge, a Schoolhouse, a River and a Mere.
But Mornington-By-Mere is not just a quaint chocolate box English Village it is the beating heart of the Finchbottom Vale and there were a number of cottages and small houses on the Purplemere road and Dulcets Lane which formed the part of Mornington Village known as Manorside and Marcus Clooney lived at number 4 Brewery Cottages with his son and daughter.
But this story takes place away from Mornington when he was staying at the Worsted Viper Hotel in Purplemere and was not at all happy because he had reached the age of 58 and had acquired an unfortunate body shape, and the consequence of that was that gravity had become his enemy and a simple mirror was now his nemesis.
In the privacy of his own home he was able to minimise his exposure to the spiteful honesty of the looking glass and therefore perpetuate the falsehood that he was 20 years younger and 4 stones lighter.
He had found to his cost however that he could control his exposure to a much lesser degree in the wider world.
For example shops and stores all possess a multitude of polished surfaces and shopping centres are all bedecked with glass and mirrors, but by far the worst in his experience were hotels, in particular the one he was staying in at that moment.
It was a nice hotel, no question about that, in fact it was a rather grand and elegant place and the venue for what he very much hoped would be a dirty weekend.
However the downside to staying in an above average Hotel was the number and the positioning of mirrors.
A whole wall in the bathroom, a full length mirror in the hall and another monster above the writing desk (come dressing table), but the worst by a country mile was the bathroom.
There is nothing that dents the confidence more than seeing your naked form as others might see you if you were fortunate enough to reach that level of intimacy with them.
It was when Markus was in the shower, that he caught sight of himself, and the full horror of what he saw was not even diminished when viewed through the steam in the shower, the water droplets on the shower door and the condensation on the mirror.
In short the image did not leave him possessed of any self confidence in fulfilling his hopes of soon reaching that afore mentioned level of intimacy with a not unattractive widow of his acquaintance Rebecca Vineyard, in the room across the hall.
Marcus’s face had stood the test of time well enough but his body had been badly abused
“I bet Rebecca looks better in the bathroom mirror” he said out loud
He was quite presentable for his age when dressed in his dinner suit and the accessories, and without being conceited he was confident he could leave her satisfied, so to speak, if he got that far but his great fear was that he would leave her disappointed with his natural appearance.
Fellow Mornington resident Rebecca Vineyard meanwhile, was having much the same internal discussion as she stood before her own mirror, though even after 3 children and a hysterectomy her body had not reached the level of decline that his had although everything generally was a little further south than it used to be.
Finally she deemed herself satisfied with the final look, she just hoped it would suffice for him, for she had expectations.
However the final presentation was only achieved with undergarments that pulled her in and held her up and her fear was that the way she looked at that moment might well be enough to get him into the bedroom but with everything removed she was worried he wouldn’t go back for seconds.
After they ate dinner they sat at the table drinking and eventually they bade the long-suffering waiter a good night, even though it was almost 3 am, and headed, somewhat unsteadily towards their rooms.
Accompanied by raucous laughter they stumbled into the lift and unable to press the button for the floor that they actually wanted they decided to hit them all.
When they reached the first floor Rebecca announced
“This is me”
Markus was on the same floor and said
“Would you like me to see you to your door dear lady?” he asked and attempted a bow
“That would be very gallant kind Sir” she responded trying to curtsy.
He walked her rather unsteadily to her door and once she had managed to finally use the swipe card correctly and open the door she announced.
“Come in for a nightcap” she suggested and before he had chance to decline she dragged him into the room where after some intense negotiations it was decided that coffee was the order of the day.
“You can make the coffee while I just make myself comfortable” she instructed and when she emerged she was wearing only a nightie which left little to the imagination
“Wow” he exclaimed and five minutes later they were in bed together and Rebecca confessed
“It’s been a long time”
“How long?” he asked
“Too long” she replied and kissed him
The next morning at the breakfast table they sat across from one another, Marcus wore a smug look of satisfaction while Rebecca wore one of tiredness.
The “exhaustion” however did not prevent her from taking him back to her bed before lunch.
It is a quaint picturesque village, a proper chocolate box picturesque idyll, with a Manor House, 12th Century Church, a Coaching Inn, Windmills, an Old Forge, a Schoolhouse, a River and a Mere.
But Mornington-By-Mere is not just a quaint chocolate box English Village it is the beating heart of the Finchbottom Vale and there were a number of cottages and small houses on the Purplemere road and Dulcets Lane which formed the part of Mornington Village known as Manorside and Marcus Clooney lived at number 4 Brewery Cottages with his son and daughter.
But this story takes place away from Mornington when he was staying at the Worsted Viper Hotel in Purplemere and was not at all happy because he had reached the age of 58 and had acquired an unfortunate body shape, and the consequence of that was that gravity had become his enemy and a simple mirror was now his nemesis.
In the privacy of his own home he was able to minimise his exposure to the spiteful honesty of the looking glass and therefore perpetuate the falsehood that he was 20 years younger and 4 stones lighter.
He had found to his cost however that he could control his exposure to a much lesser degree in the wider world.
For example shops and stores all possess a multitude of polished surfaces and shopping centres are all bedecked with glass and mirrors, but by far the worst in his experience were hotels, in particular the one he was staying in at that moment.
It was a nice hotel, no question about that, in fact it was a rather grand and elegant place and the venue for what he very much hoped would be a dirty weekend.
However the downside to staying in an above average Hotel was the number and the positioning of mirrors.
A whole wall in the bathroom, a full length mirror in the hall and another monster above the writing desk (come dressing table), but the worst by a country mile was the bathroom.
There is nothing that dents the confidence more than seeing your naked form as others might see you if you were fortunate enough to reach that level of intimacy with them.
It was when Markus was in the shower, that he caught sight of himself, and the full horror of what he saw was not even diminished when viewed through the steam in the shower, the water droplets on the shower door and the condensation on the mirror.
In short the image did not leave him possessed of any self confidence in fulfilling his hopes of soon reaching that afore mentioned level of intimacy with a not unattractive widow of his acquaintance Rebecca Vineyard, in the room across the hall.
Marcus’s face had stood the test of time well enough but his body had been badly abused
“I bet Rebecca looks better in the bathroom mirror” he said out loud
He was quite presentable for his age when dressed in his dinner suit and the accessories, and without being conceited he was confident he could leave her satisfied, so to speak, if he got that far but his great fear was that he would leave her disappointed with his natural appearance.
Fellow Mornington resident Rebecca Vineyard meanwhile, was having much the same internal discussion as she stood before her own mirror, though even after 3 children and a hysterectomy her body had not reached the level of decline that his had although everything generally was a little further south than it used to be.
Finally she deemed herself satisfied with the final look, she just hoped it would suffice for him, for she had expectations.
However the final presentation was only achieved with undergarments that pulled her in and held her up and her fear was that the way she looked at that moment might well be enough to get him into the bedroom but with everything removed she was worried he wouldn’t go back for seconds.
After they ate dinner they sat at the table drinking and eventually they bade the long-suffering waiter a good night, even though it was almost 3 am, and headed, somewhat unsteadily towards their rooms.
Accompanied by raucous laughter they stumbled into the lift and unable to press the button for the floor that they actually wanted they decided to hit them all.
When they reached the first floor Rebecca announced
“This is me”
Markus was on the same floor and said
“Would you like me to see you to your door dear lady?” he asked and attempted a bow
“That would be very gallant kind Sir” she responded trying to curtsy.
He walked her rather unsteadily to her door and once she had managed to finally use the swipe card correctly and open the door she announced.
“Come in for a nightcap” she suggested and before he had chance to decline she dragged him into the room where after some intense negotiations it was decided that coffee was the order of the day.
“You can make the coffee while I just make myself comfortable” she instructed and when she emerged she was wearing only a nightie which left little to the imagination
“Wow” he exclaimed and five minutes later they were in bed together and Rebecca confessed
“It’s been a long time”
“How long?” he asked
“Too long” she replied and kissed him
The next morning at the breakfast table they sat across from one another, Marcus wore a smug look of satisfaction while Rebecca wore one of tiredness.
The “exhaustion” however did not prevent her from taking him back to her bed before lunch.
Tales from the Finchbottom Vale – (88) The First Adventure
Gary Smith and Carla Lund, were staying on a camp site in the Finchbottom Vale that was once a working railway station before it fell afoul of Dr Beeching and his cuts, in a place called Sharpinghead.
The two of them were staying in a converted signal box which was comfortable enough but because of the limited floor space it had bunk beds which didn’t go down well at all with Carla, she wanted a double bed and plenty of comfort and more than a little loving.
“What the hell are they?” she said when she saw the bunks
“A challenge” Gary replied flippantly but she was not impressed
“We’re not 13” she said,
It was not an insurmountable problem as far as he was concerned but she just wasn’t the adventurous type.
Although Gary could remember the time when she was, a time when she enjoyed a kiss and a cuddle in the woods back in the days when they were courting but she seemed to have forgotten just how much.
The bunk beds were bad enough but Carla really lost it when she realised there was also no toilet or bathroom en suite and the nearest facilities were 60 yards away.
She stormed out and left Gary to unpack and she was gone for hours, in fact Gary was already asleep in the bottom bunk when she got back.
The next morning just after first light he had to get up to the toilet, he wasn’t going to bother dressing but trotted the 60 yards to the toilet in his pants.
When he returned to the signal box he quietly closed the door and was just tiptoeing across the room when he spied, highlighted in the early morning light, Carla’s naked buttocks protruding from beneath her duvet and written on a post it note, stuck to one buttock was one single word “Sorry”.
And that was when he woke her in the dawn light and the adventure returned to their marriage.
The two of them were staying in a converted signal box which was comfortable enough but because of the limited floor space it had bunk beds which didn’t go down well at all with Carla, she wanted a double bed and plenty of comfort and more than a little loving.
“What the hell are they?” she said when she saw the bunks
“A challenge” Gary replied flippantly but she was not impressed
“We’re not 13” she said,
It was not an insurmountable problem as far as he was concerned but she just wasn’t the adventurous type.
Although Gary could remember the time when she was, a time when she enjoyed a kiss and a cuddle in the woods back in the days when they were courting but she seemed to have forgotten just how much.
The bunk beds were bad enough but Carla really lost it when she realised there was also no toilet or bathroom en suite and the nearest facilities were 60 yards away.
She stormed out and left Gary to unpack and she was gone for hours, in fact Gary was already asleep in the bottom bunk when she got back.
The next morning just after first light he had to get up to the toilet, he wasn’t going to bother dressing but trotted the 60 yards to the toilet in his pants.
When he returned to the signal box he quietly closed the door and was just tiptoeing across the room when he spied, highlighted in the early morning light, Carla’s naked buttocks protruding from beneath her duvet and written on a post it note, stuck to one buttock was one single word “Sorry”.
And that was when he woke her in the dawn light and the adventure returned to their marriage.
Those Memories Made on Teardrop Lake – (88) After Graduation – Manny and Crissie
(Part 01)
Downshire is a relatively small English county but like a pocket battleship it packs a lot in, a short but beautiful coastline, a channel port, the Ancient forests of Dancingdean and Pepperstock, the craggy ridges and manmade lakes of the Pepperstock Hills National Park, the rolling hills of the Downshire Downs, the beautiful Finchbottom Vale and farm land as far as the eye can see, from the Trotwood’s and the Grace’s in the south to the home of the Downshire Light infantry, Nettlefield, and their affluent neighbour’s, Roespring and Tipton in the North but it’s in the Village of Shallowfield where our story takes place.
Shallowfield lay on the southern edge of the Finchbottom Vale and Shallowfield’s fortunes had always relied largely upon forestry and agriculture for its survival.
In the post war years with rationing and a shortage of work a lot of people moved away, to Abbottsford, Abbeyvale and beyond, and it only barely survived.
And the community around Teardrop Lake fared even worse.
Only a few of the houses around the Lake were thriving, a lot of the houses had been rented out and those that hadn’t were in a poor state of repair, some too such an extent they were little more than ruins.
But by the 70s things were beginning to change, thanks mainly to tourism and an increase in leisure time.
More importantly these people had money in their pockets.
This trend was reflected by the fact that the derelict Shallowfield Lodge, which had been inherited by a young couple from Lincolnshire, Rob and Sheryl Brown, was turned into a hotel.
Its completion formerly marked the rebirth of Teardrop Lake and by extension Shallowfield.
Triplets, Dale, Manny and Paul Smith had just graduated from Abbottsford University and were spending the summer with their uncle Julius, who was the Vicar of St Jude’s church in Shallowfield, which was where they met the Nichols sisters.
They had been at their Uncles for less than a week when they walked up to the village green to attend the Village summer Fête, but even though they had only been there a few days they were not newcomers as they had spent every holiday there for as long as they could remember and had made a lot of friends among the younger members of the village population over the years.
The Fête was very well attended but despite not being strangers they didn’t really know many of the people in attendance but they thought they would take a look, show willing at least, so they went on a few of the side shows and drank a couple of pints in the beer tent and by late afternoon, a combination of too much beer on an empty stomach and the heat of the sun had left them all a little light headed so they decided to call it a day and headed back across the field in the direction of the Vicarage.
But they only got about half way across the field when they were two of the Nichols girls, Crissie and Sharlene and they turned in unison to see them tottering towards them across the grass, shoes in hand and ever so slightly tipsy.
The twin girls were not only sisters, but were also best friends, quite inseparable and Manny and Paul thought them very gorgeous, and had been in love with them foe three years, but alas when they fell for them the girls were only 15, even though they kept reminding them that they were actually 15 and three quarters.
Sadly that three quarters was not going to keep them off the sex offenders register if they did what red bloodied young men of 18 might think of doing.
But they were both lovely girls and he liked them a lot but they decided to keep them at arm’s length until they turned 16, unfortunately another opportunity never presented itself in the following three years so that seemed to be that, until that summer.
Crissie was the younger of the two by a few minutes, five foot two red hair and pale complexion and cutely freckled while Sharlene was an inch shorter with a strawberry blonde hair and alabaster skin.
They were both stunningly beautiful and wearing low cut summer dresses they looked even more so.
They tottered up alongside them, each taking an arm, Sharlene as always was flirting outrageously.
“Can we come back to the Vicarage Paul?” Sharlene said
“Then we could have another drink”
“It’s not like we’re drunk or anything” Crissie chipped in
“Can we?” Sharlene said again
“Please Manny?” Crissie added
“Ok” he said, “as long as you behave”
“What will you do if we don’t?” asked Sharlene
“Will you spank us?” Crissie said and giggled
“You’ll get us shot” Paul said
Being over six feet tall and being arm in arm with the two girls gave them a height advantage of more than a foot, affording them a wonderful view down the front of their low cut dresses, they knew they shouldn’t have looked but even for good Christian boys it was difficult to resist the temptation.
Dale who was the only one of the boys not to have a gorgeous girl on his arm looked on and smiled as his brothers struggled with the moral repercussions of ogling young girl’s breasts.
(Part 02)
Being over six feet tall and being arm in arm with the two girls gave them a height advantage of more than a foot, affording them a wonderful view down the front of their low cut dresses, they knew they shouldn’t have looked but even for good Christian boys it was difficult to resist the temptation.
Dale who was the only one of the boys not to have a gorgeous girl on his arm looked on and smiled as his brothers struggled with the moral repercussions of ogling young girl’s breasts.
Sharlene saw Paul looking down her top and giggled so he didn’t look away.
Then she compared she whispered to her sister about what Manny was doing and she blushed scarlet but made no attempt to prevent him from looking either.
When they reached the Vicarage Dale left his brothers and the giggling flirts outside while he went inside to get the drinks, which given the girls inebriation and his own light-headedness he decided not to fuel the flames with more alcohol, so when he joined the others on the patio, which was now in the shade and put a tray full of soft drinks on the table which on reflection was the wisest thing to do despite protests from the girls.
And then about ten minutes, Gail Nichols emerged through the garden gate and she was also wearing a summer dress, she was the older sister, and was the one that Dale had set his cap at, and thought she was equally gorgeous to her siblings, a few inches taller with a rounder curvier figure than her siblings, but for Dale she was perfection.
“Well no surprise to find Smith boys surrounded by pretty girls” She said
“Is that why you’ve joined us?” Dale said
“I’m not one of the pretty girls” she said coyly “I’ve just come to collect my sisters”
“But we’re having fun” Crissie protested
“I’m sure you sure but it’s time to go” Gail said
“Do you want a drink?” Dale asked
“Yes please” Sharlene replied eagerly
“Me too” giggled Crissie
“I wasn’t asking you two, you’ve had enough” Dale said “I was asking Gail”
“No thanks but another time when you’re not surrounded by pretty girls” she replied “mum and dad are waiting”
“As I said before you’re one of them” he said
“I’m not pretty,” she snorted
“No, you’re beautiful” he corrected her and she turned her head away coyly.
He imagined her coy denial about being one of the pretty girls was either false modesty or she was fishing for compliments.
Just at that moment the back gate swung open and Uncle Julius walked up the garden.
“Hello girls” he said jovially and there followed five minutes of light hearted chattering and then the girls went on their way.
The Smith boys watched them as the three girls tottered down the lawn and when they reached the gate all three turned and waved and Sharlene blew a kiss.
“They are sweet young things aren’t they?” the Vicar said
“Yes Uncle” Dale agreed but to himself he added “and I have a very sweet tooth”
For years he had fantasied about him and Gail and he looked forward to when he could turn the fantasy into reality as it turned out he didn’t have to wait too long, to his surprise it was the next day, that his fantasy was made manifest.
The day after the Smith boys entertained the Nichols sisters in the vicarage garden Manny and Paul went sailing up at Teardrop Lake while Dale remained at the vicarage catching up on his reading.
But by the time they had finished on the Lake for the day back at the Vicarage, Dale had put his book down for the day and was kissing Gail Nichols for the first time which turned out to be the first step on a life long journey.
But Dale wasn’t the only member of the Smith family to have a penchant for a Nichols girl but it was a week later before cupid hit the mark for a second time.
(Part 03)
When Manny woke up on Saturday morning he was alone, Dale had driven Uncle Julian into Abbottsford for the day and Paul was in Sharpington for a stag weekend.
As it was a nice day he left the Vicarage to take a walk up to Teardrop Lake.
He followed the Lane that ran parallel to the River Brooke as it flowed from the head of the lake and on towards Shallowfield and beyond.
He headed past the Shallowfield Lodge Hotel and then the lane joined the perimeter road which circled the lake and he took the northern side.
Teardrop Lake and the surrounding woodland was privately owned and divided into twelve parcels, each with one significant dwelling on it although there were a number of cottages dotted around the woods as well, some in use and some not.
It was both idyllic and peaceful, there was little or no noise pollution and although the lake was used there were no speed boats or jet skis, only rowing boats, canoes, dinghies and skiffs.
Manny and his brothers learned to sail on the Lake
But there was more to Teardrop than the lake, there were two follies, a Watch tower, and Olwen’s chapel as well as a waterfall, brooks, streams, a 16th Century Bridge and lovers leap.
He was just approaching the 16th Century Stone bridge when he started to feel the heat so he decided to leave the road in favour of the coolness of the woods in a dense area of ancient woodland, and followed the path that threaded its way through the woods which was a well-trod path that meandered its way towards the waterfall and he was halfway along the path, he heard a voice behind him.
“Wait for me Manny” the voice said, “wait for me, wait for me”
Manny turned around but he couldn’t see who it was
“Wait for me” they continued shouting a little louder this time and then crash, a girl came running around an oak tree and hurtled straight into him and they both ended up on the floor, the girl was the object of his affections Crissie Nichols.
“Ouch” she said rubbing her left knee.
“Are you ok?” he asked as he helped her to her feet.
“Just banged my knee a bit,” she said laughing
“I didn’t think I was that close to you”
She was a very pretty girl, five foot two red hair and pale complexion and cutely freckled and his heart soared when he looked at her.
“Happy birthday by the way” he said suddenly remembering.
“Thank you,” she said grinning
She looked very cute in a yellow lacey fascinator with small white flowers.
Crissie was wearing a very smart yellow outfit, consisting of double breasted jacket, a pleated flared skirt, cream tights, and a white blouse and court shoes.
“Aren’t you a bit overdressed for walking in the woods?” he enquired
“Yes, a bit I suppose” she agreed
“Is there a reason?” he pressed
“Oh yes, it’s my Aunties wedding” she replied
“So why are you here?”
“The reception is at the Lodge but it doesn’t start until three so I had a couple of hours to kill once the photos were done, and I saw you walk by so I thought I’d hang with you” she replied as she began to brush dust off her legs and was making it worse so he fished out a hankie from his pocket and handed it to her.
“Use that” he said “that will help for the moment”
Crissie rubbed at it and winced, but again it wasn’t improving things at all.
“Come on, come to the falls and we’ll get you cleaned up”
“Ok” she said brightly, as that was precisely what she had in mind when she chased him through the woods.
(Part 04)
From the spot where they collided they headed towards Shoe Buckle Falls, so named, so legend had it, after a 17th century fugitive Cavalier who was pursued into the forest by parliamentarian soldiers but disappeared in the vicinity of the falls and all they ever found of him was his shoe buckle.
The falls were not grand or spectacular but they were nice enough.
The water tumbled and spilled over the rocks gathering briefly in deep pools and then tumbling down again to the next pool.
It was dark beneath the ancient trees and refreshingly cool as the misty spray settled on them.
The rocks and trees closest to the falls were covered in bright green lichens.
“Bad luck having to share your 16th Birthday with a family wedding” he said as they walked towards the falls.
“Oh no it was great, I got loads of presents from the guests” she said “I think I got more gifts from friends and family than the bride did”
“Talking of family, where are Gail and Sharlene?” he asked
Gail and Sharlene were her sister and the latter was also her best friend and they were inseparable.
“They’re at the Shallowfield Lodge waiting for the wedding breakfast to start” she said just as they arrived at the falls.
“I don’t think the dirt is coming off your tights I’m afraid” he said
“Oh God mums going to kill me” Crissie said
“There’s only one thing you can do then” he said “go and slip them off and rinse them in the pool, and I’ll hang them up, they’ll be dry in plenty of time for the reception”
“You’re a life saver” she said and got up and went behind a tree
When she returned she had taken off her tights and was holding the wet bundle in her hand.
“Ok I’ll take those, you go and sit down by the water” he said “but sit on my jacket otherwise you’ll be having to wash your skirt”
“That wouldn’t be good” she giggled and sat down as instructed.
And then he knelt down in front of her and took his hankie from his pocket a wet it in the pool and gently washed the dirt off her knee
“So what are you doing for your birthday?” he asked as he worked
“Mum and Dad are taking me and to a swanky restaurant in Purplemere” she said very pleased with herself.
“This might sting a bit,” he said as her dabbed at a small cut he had reveled under the dirt on her knee
“Ooh” Crissie winced as she sat perched on his jacket.
“I wish I had a plaster on me” he said “it would stop you bleeding onto your tights”
“I have one in my bag” she said triumphantly “I was worried I might get a blister with these shoes”
She went in her bag and presented him with the plaster and he had his right hand under her knee as he applied it.
And then they sat on the rocks as they soaked their feet in one of the deepest pools until it was time for her to get back to the Hotel.
After she had put her tights back on they followed the path of the falls back down towards the perimeter road.
As they approached the old bridge she stumbled and he caught her before she slid down into the glistening in the water.
“Oops” she exclaimed and turned her face towards his and he decided to seize the moment and put his lips to hers once, twice and then a third time when their mouths gently sealed on each other’s and their tongues engaged.
It only lasted a few moments and when their lips parted he said
“Happy birthday”
In response she gave a heavy sigh and said
“Wow that was a great birthday kiss”
And then she reached up to him, “Again please”
But Manny put his finger up to her lips
“Too many kisses will make you late for the wedding breakfast” he said
“Again” she pleaded and their lips met again, but this time in a longer deeper more sensual union and when he broke away Crissie sighed again.
“You know what this means?” he asked
“Yes” she said and put her arms around his neck and kissed him full on the mouth
“You’re my boyfriend”
“Yes you’re my girl” he confirmed and the after another kiss Manny walked her down perimeter road to the Shallowfield Lodge Hotel for the wedding breakfast and kissed her again.
While she was with her family he went into the village to do some shopping and later that evening he was waiting in the shadows when Crissie came out in response to his text.
“Here you are birthday girl” he said to her “I have a birthday gift for you”
“A present” she said, giggling and blushing to her roots
When she opened the little package to reveal a Gold locket and inside it read “To my girl Crissie”.
She threw herself at him and showered him with kisses
“I love it, I love it” she said and hugged him, after a moment or two she said coyly
Downshire is a relatively small English county but like a pocket battleship it packs a lot in, a short but beautiful coastline, a channel port, the Ancient forests of Dancingdean and Pepperstock, the craggy ridges and manmade lakes of the Pepperstock Hills National Park, the rolling hills of the Downshire Downs, the beautiful Finchbottom Vale and farm land as far as the eye can see, from the Trotwood’s and the Grace’s in the south to the home of the Downshire Light infantry, Nettlefield, and their affluent neighbour’s, Roespring and Tipton in the North but it’s in the Village of Shallowfield where our story takes place.
Shallowfield lay on the southern edge of the Finchbottom Vale and Shallowfield’s fortunes had always relied largely upon forestry and agriculture for its survival.
In the post war years with rationing and a shortage of work a lot of people moved away, to Abbottsford, Abbeyvale and beyond, and it only barely survived.
And the community around Teardrop Lake fared even worse.
Only a few of the houses around the Lake were thriving, a lot of the houses had been rented out and those that hadn’t were in a poor state of repair, some too such an extent they were little more than ruins.
But by the 70s things were beginning to change, thanks mainly to tourism and an increase in leisure time.
More importantly these people had money in their pockets.
This trend was reflected by the fact that the derelict Shallowfield Lodge, which had been inherited by a young couple from Lincolnshire, Rob and Sheryl Brown, was turned into a hotel.
Its completion formerly marked the rebirth of Teardrop Lake and by extension Shallowfield.
Triplets, Dale, Manny and Paul Smith had just graduated from Abbottsford University and were spending the summer with their uncle Julius, who was the Vicar of St Jude’s church in Shallowfield, which was where they met the Nichols sisters.
They had been at their Uncles for less than a week when they walked up to the village green to attend the Village summer Fête, but even though they had only been there a few days they were not newcomers as they had spent every holiday there for as long as they could remember and had made a lot of friends among the younger members of the village population over the years.
The Fête was very well attended but despite not being strangers they didn’t really know many of the people in attendance but they thought they would take a look, show willing at least, so they went on a few of the side shows and drank a couple of pints in the beer tent and by late afternoon, a combination of too much beer on an empty stomach and the heat of the sun had left them all a little light headed so they decided to call it a day and headed back across the field in the direction of the Vicarage.
But they only got about half way across the field when they were two of the Nichols girls, Crissie and Sharlene and they turned in unison to see them tottering towards them across the grass, shoes in hand and ever so slightly tipsy.
The twin girls were not only sisters, but were also best friends, quite inseparable and Manny and Paul thought them very gorgeous, and had been in love with them foe three years, but alas when they fell for them the girls were only 15, even though they kept reminding them that they were actually 15 and three quarters.
Sadly that three quarters was not going to keep them off the sex offenders register if they did what red bloodied young men of 18 might think of doing.
But they were both lovely girls and he liked them a lot but they decided to keep them at arm’s length until they turned 16, unfortunately another opportunity never presented itself in the following three years so that seemed to be that, until that summer.
Crissie was the younger of the two by a few minutes, five foot two red hair and pale complexion and cutely freckled while Sharlene was an inch shorter with a strawberry blonde hair and alabaster skin.
They were both stunningly beautiful and wearing low cut summer dresses they looked even more so.
They tottered up alongside them, each taking an arm, Sharlene as always was flirting outrageously.
“Can we come back to the Vicarage Paul?” Sharlene said
“Then we could have another drink”
“It’s not like we’re drunk or anything” Crissie chipped in
“Can we?” Sharlene said again
“Please Manny?” Crissie added
“Ok” he said, “as long as you behave”
“What will you do if we don’t?” asked Sharlene
“Will you spank us?” Crissie said and giggled
“You’ll get us shot” Paul said
Being over six feet tall and being arm in arm with the two girls gave them a height advantage of more than a foot, affording them a wonderful view down the front of their low cut dresses, they knew they shouldn’t have looked but even for good Christian boys it was difficult to resist the temptation.
Dale who was the only one of the boys not to have a gorgeous girl on his arm looked on and smiled as his brothers struggled with the moral repercussions of ogling young girl’s breasts.
(Part 02)
Being over six feet tall and being arm in arm with the two girls gave them a height advantage of more than a foot, affording them a wonderful view down the front of their low cut dresses, they knew they shouldn’t have looked but even for good Christian boys it was difficult to resist the temptation.
Dale who was the only one of the boys not to have a gorgeous girl on his arm looked on and smiled as his brothers struggled with the moral repercussions of ogling young girl’s breasts.
Sharlene saw Paul looking down her top and giggled so he didn’t look away.
Then she compared she whispered to her sister about what Manny was doing and she blushed scarlet but made no attempt to prevent him from looking either.
When they reached the Vicarage Dale left his brothers and the giggling flirts outside while he went inside to get the drinks, which given the girls inebriation and his own light-headedness he decided not to fuel the flames with more alcohol, so when he joined the others on the patio, which was now in the shade and put a tray full of soft drinks on the table which on reflection was the wisest thing to do despite protests from the girls.
And then about ten minutes, Gail Nichols emerged through the garden gate and she was also wearing a summer dress, she was the older sister, and was the one that Dale had set his cap at, and thought she was equally gorgeous to her siblings, a few inches taller with a rounder curvier figure than her siblings, but for Dale she was perfection.
“Well no surprise to find Smith boys surrounded by pretty girls” She said
“Is that why you’ve joined us?” Dale said
“I’m not one of the pretty girls” she said coyly “I’ve just come to collect my sisters”
“But we’re having fun” Crissie protested
“I’m sure you sure but it’s time to go” Gail said
“Do you want a drink?” Dale asked
“Yes please” Sharlene replied eagerly
“Me too” giggled Crissie
“I wasn’t asking you two, you’ve had enough” Dale said “I was asking Gail”
“No thanks but another time when you’re not surrounded by pretty girls” she replied “mum and dad are waiting”
“As I said before you’re one of them” he said
“I’m not pretty,” she snorted
“No, you’re beautiful” he corrected her and she turned her head away coyly.
He imagined her coy denial about being one of the pretty girls was either false modesty or she was fishing for compliments.
Just at that moment the back gate swung open and Uncle Julius walked up the garden.
“Hello girls” he said jovially and there followed five minutes of light hearted chattering and then the girls went on their way.
The Smith boys watched them as the three girls tottered down the lawn and when they reached the gate all three turned and waved and Sharlene blew a kiss.
“They are sweet young things aren’t they?” the Vicar said
“Yes Uncle” Dale agreed but to himself he added “and I have a very sweet tooth”
For years he had fantasied about him and Gail and he looked forward to when he could turn the fantasy into reality as it turned out he didn’t have to wait too long, to his surprise it was the next day, that his fantasy was made manifest.
The day after the Smith boys entertained the Nichols sisters in the vicarage garden Manny and Paul went sailing up at Teardrop Lake while Dale remained at the vicarage catching up on his reading.
But by the time they had finished on the Lake for the day back at the Vicarage, Dale had put his book down for the day and was kissing Gail Nichols for the first time which turned out to be the first step on a life long journey.
But Dale wasn’t the only member of the Smith family to have a penchant for a Nichols girl but it was a week later before cupid hit the mark for a second time.
(Part 03)
When Manny woke up on Saturday morning he was alone, Dale had driven Uncle Julian into Abbottsford for the day and Paul was in Sharpington for a stag weekend.
As it was a nice day he left the Vicarage to take a walk up to Teardrop Lake.
He followed the Lane that ran parallel to the River Brooke as it flowed from the head of the lake and on towards Shallowfield and beyond.
He headed past the Shallowfield Lodge Hotel and then the lane joined the perimeter road which circled the lake and he took the northern side.
Teardrop Lake and the surrounding woodland was privately owned and divided into twelve parcels, each with one significant dwelling on it although there were a number of cottages dotted around the woods as well, some in use and some not.
It was both idyllic and peaceful, there was little or no noise pollution and although the lake was used there were no speed boats or jet skis, only rowing boats, canoes, dinghies and skiffs.
Manny and his brothers learned to sail on the Lake
But there was more to Teardrop than the lake, there were two follies, a Watch tower, and Olwen’s chapel as well as a waterfall, brooks, streams, a 16th Century Bridge and lovers leap.
He was just approaching the 16th Century Stone bridge when he started to feel the heat so he decided to leave the road in favour of the coolness of the woods in a dense area of ancient woodland, and followed the path that threaded its way through the woods which was a well-trod path that meandered its way towards the waterfall and he was halfway along the path, he heard a voice behind him.
“Wait for me Manny” the voice said, “wait for me, wait for me”
Manny turned around but he couldn’t see who it was
“Wait for me” they continued shouting a little louder this time and then crash, a girl came running around an oak tree and hurtled straight into him and they both ended up on the floor, the girl was the object of his affections Crissie Nichols.
“Ouch” she said rubbing her left knee.
“Are you ok?” he asked as he helped her to her feet.
“Just banged my knee a bit,” she said laughing
“I didn’t think I was that close to you”
She was a very pretty girl, five foot two red hair and pale complexion and cutely freckled and his heart soared when he looked at her.
“Happy birthday by the way” he said suddenly remembering.
“Thank you,” she said grinning
She looked very cute in a yellow lacey fascinator with small white flowers.
Crissie was wearing a very smart yellow outfit, consisting of double breasted jacket, a pleated flared skirt, cream tights, and a white blouse and court shoes.
“Aren’t you a bit overdressed for walking in the woods?” he enquired
“Yes, a bit I suppose” she agreed
“Is there a reason?” he pressed
“Oh yes, it’s my Aunties wedding” she replied
“So why are you here?”
“The reception is at the Lodge but it doesn’t start until three so I had a couple of hours to kill once the photos were done, and I saw you walk by so I thought I’d hang with you” she replied as she began to brush dust off her legs and was making it worse so he fished out a hankie from his pocket and handed it to her.
“Use that” he said “that will help for the moment”
Crissie rubbed at it and winced, but again it wasn’t improving things at all.
“Come on, come to the falls and we’ll get you cleaned up”
“Ok” she said brightly, as that was precisely what she had in mind when she chased him through the woods.
(Part 04)
From the spot where they collided they headed towards Shoe Buckle Falls, so named, so legend had it, after a 17th century fugitive Cavalier who was pursued into the forest by parliamentarian soldiers but disappeared in the vicinity of the falls and all they ever found of him was his shoe buckle.
The falls were not grand or spectacular but they were nice enough.
The water tumbled and spilled over the rocks gathering briefly in deep pools and then tumbling down again to the next pool.
It was dark beneath the ancient trees and refreshingly cool as the misty spray settled on them.
The rocks and trees closest to the falls were covered in bright green lichens.
“Bad luck having to share your 16th Birthday with a family wedding” he said as they walked towards the falls.
“Oh no it was great, I got loads of presents from the guests” she said “I think I got more gifts from friends and family than the bride did”
“Talking of family, where are Gail and Sharlene?” he asked
Gail and Sharlene were her sister and the latter was also her best friend and they were inseparable.
“They’re at the Shallowfield Lodge waiting for the wedding breakfast to start” she said just as they arrived at the falls.
“I don’t think the dirt is coming off your tights I’m afraid” he said
“Oh God mums going to kill me” Crissie said
“There’s only one thing you can do then” he said “go and slip them off and rinse them in the pool, and I’ll hang them up, they’ll be dry in plenty of time for the reception”
“You’re a life saver” she said and got up and went behind a tree
When she returned she had taken off her tights and was holding the wet bundle in her hand.
“Ok I’ll take those, you go and sit down by the water” he said “but sit on my jacket otherwise you’ll be having to wash your skirt”
“That wouldn’t be good” she giggled and sat down as instructed.
And then he knelt down in front of her and took his hankie from his pocket a wet it in the pool and gently washed the dirt off her knee
“So what are you doing for your birthday?” he asked as he worked
“Mum and Dad are taking me and to a swanky restaurant in Purplemere” she said very pleased with herself.
“This might sting a bit,” he said as her dabbed at a small cut he had reveled under the dirt on her knee
“Ooh” Crissie winced as she sat perched on his jacket.
“I wish I had a plaster on me” he said “it would stop you bleeding onto your tights”
“I have one in my bag” she said triumphantly “I was worried I might get a blister with these shoes”
She went in her bag and presented him with the plaster and he had his right hand under her knee as he applied it.
And then they sat on the rocks as they soaked their feet in one of the deepest pools until it was time for her to get back to the Hotel.
After she had put her tights back on they followed the path of the falls back down towards the perimeter road.
As they approached the old bridge she stumbled and he caught her before she slid down into the glistening in the water.
“Oops” she exclaimed and turned her face towards his and he decided to seize the moment and put his lips to hers once, twice and then a third time when their mouths gently sealed on each other’s and their tongues engaged.
It only lasted a few moments and when their lips parted he said
“Happy birthday”
In response she gave a heavy sigh and said
“Wow that was a great birthday kiss”
And then she reached up to him, “Again please”
But Manny put his finger up to her lips
“Too many kisses will make you late for the wedding breakfast” he said
“Again” she pleaded and their lips met again, but this time in a longer deeper more sensual union and when he broke away Crissie sighed again.
“You know what this means?” he asked
“Yes” she said and put her arms around his neck and kissed him full on the mouth
“You’re my boyfriend”
“Yes you’re my girl” he confirmed and the after another kiss Manny walked her down perimeter road to the Shallowfield Lodge Hotel for the wedding breakfast and kissed her again.
While she was with her family he went into the village to do some shopping and later that evening he was waiting in the shadows when Crissie came out in response to his text.
“Here you are birthday girl” he said to her “I have a birthday gift for you”
“A present” she said, giggling and blushing to her roots
When she opened the little package to reveal a Gold locket and inside it read “To my girl Crissie”.
She threw herself at him and showered him with kisses
“I love it, I love it” she said and hugged him, after a moment or two she said coyly
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