Published: 28 Nov 2016

Esca hadn’t seen Luke for over a week. While the incident at the Two Mile worried him, more concerning was his feelings towards the lad or how he could contain them from developing further. He did wish to do so, more than anything but how to maintain any level of relationship with Luke in a small town environment, this was constant in his thoughts. If it were the city they could disappear into the background noise of the multitude but here even a sidewards glance, a passing smile could be noticed. He would at best have to wait until Luke was eighteen. Then at least the legal implication would be lessened, leaving only the branding as homosexual to be a concern, he thought he could contend with that.

Saturday’s decision to clean up the shed found Esca carrying, car parts and broken furniture to the nature strip. There had been a council circular promoting a pickup for the following Wednesday. Esca wasn’t feeling social minded, or cared if the junk remained in the shed or not, whoever purchased the property could deal with it but it gave him something to do, while taking his mind from thinking about Luke, also gave him more room for the Ute.

“Want a hand with that?” It was Luke stepping out of the scrub over the wire fence from behind the house and as handsome as ever, bringing a happy smile to Esca’s face.

“I thought you left town or was angry with me.” Esca teased from behind a box of blackened and ancient cooking pots. “Take these to the nature strip,” Esca suggested, passing the collection to Luke before collecting a second box.

“Na, had to lay low, I was late back from the Two Mile and had trouble convincing dad I took the wrong turn in the bush on my way home.” Luke answered with a grin, sending Esca’s paranoia into overdrive.

Returning from the small pile of trash he had accumulated on the nature strip Esca decide he was finish with clearing the shed. The rest could remain to become part of the chattels with the sale of the house.

“Want a beer?” Esca offered.

“Na better not.”

“Coffee?”

“Okay.”

Esca guided his friend into the house and closed the door. “About that trip to the Two Mile, I don’t think we should chance being seen around town together again.” Esca disclosed, regretting his words almost as they left his lips.

“School holidays next week.” Luke cut in disregarding Esca’s statement.

“Even more so, there will be kids everywhere.”

“I’m going to stay with an Aunt in Ravenswood for a week.”

“That will be a change for you; a different lot of people to spy on.” Esca humoured.

“I’m growing out of all that – well sort of.”

Ravenswood was a timber town of similar size thirty kilometres to the north, equally country and as lacking in entertainment. Its main difference was its timber mill survived and with the price of gold rocketing an old but small mine reopened bringing with it jobs, while stealing workmen from neighbouring communities.

“What’s your Aunt like?” Esca asked for no other reason than it was a question and he felt he must say something.

“She’s an old biddy but I like her. She lets me do what I want and doesn’t tell the Olds what I’m up to.” Luke paused allowing his face to beam broad with smile. “I was thinking.” He added.

“Oh yea, it’s dangerous when you think – go on what is it?”

“There is a run down Motel not far from her place, why don’t you stay there and we could meet?” Luke proposed eagerly.

“How long have you been cooking this one up?”

“Since I was told I was going to stay with my Aunt.” Luke quickly answered.

“When are you leaving?”

“Two weeks, this Saturday, dad’s driving me. You know I’ll be eighteen in four months and I look older.” Luke’s declaration was given to apply strength to his suggestion. Adding after his birthday he could make up his own mind and do what he wished. A greater part of that wish would be spending more time with Esca.

“And I will be twenty in six months but you’re not eighteen now. Esca quickly added to dampen his friend’s enthusiasm.

“Come on it will be fun.” Luke persuaded.

“I’ll let you know next week.” Esca’s resolve was weakening.

“Promise?”

“I Promise I will think about it.”

During the following days Esca thought much about Luke’s suggestion. It excited him, also frightened him. Such a meeting may be mistaken to be a commitment, or at least a promise of further involvement. Esca believed, even if he wished it, he wasn’t in any position to enter into a long term commitment. Any day his mother could sell the house, or life become so difficult he may have to leave town at a moments notice. If this were to transpire it would only make life emotionally difficult for himself as well as Luke.

At week’s end that emotional entanglement proved stronger than common sense and Esca agreed.

Ravenswood was enjoying its evening meal when Esca arrived, taking a room at Luke’s suggested motel. On leaving home he had received scrutiny from Sergeant Barnes while stopping for petrol. Barnes peered into the cabin of the Ute then in the back. Finding nothing of interest grunted and continued on his way towards the Railway Hotel. As the Policeman departed he flashed a glance across to Esca. A look that seemed to say he knew something about the lad and was working on it. Or was it only his paranoia. Esca left town thinking it was fortunate he was alone, while the glance he received from the policeman remained in his thoughts until reaching Ravenswood. Why did Barnes persist with his harassment without actually following on, if he actually had something, why not present it and get it over with? It remained a mystery.

The motel was as Luke described, rundown but comfortable, it did have television and a well stocked fridge bar at prices beyond Esca’s reach. Across the street lay the small park where Luke proposed they should meet.

In the late afternoon light the park appeared gloomy, somewhat clandestine under its canopy of eucalyptus and willow trees, with a boarder of acacias ready to burst into their golden display. After settling in Esca found a cafe for fish and chips. Taking his meal to the park, he found a bench.

Above dark clouds gathered ever thicker and it commenced to drizzle. By the time Esca reached his room, heavy rain was thundering on the metal roof of the motel, so loud he could hardly hear the television programme. Esca switched off the television, instead stood at the open door to his room, watching the park become drenched in the downpour. A single street light cast a yellow glow onto the measly arrangement of playground equipment; a swing with a crooked support and a rusting metal slide.

“I don’t think this is a good idea.” Esca mumbled having second thoughts, as a truck’s tyres whooshed through the sheet of water covering the road surface. The truck’s lights illuminating his room as it passed. Seconds later another at speed, its air brakes squealing as it descended the steep hill into town, passing the road sign requesting not to do so.

The transports continued until early morning, before giving way to the occasional car. Each passing, even with drawn curtains filled the room with high beam light. Esca turned his face away from the window in an attempt to sleep. Eventually it came.

The heavy rain of the previous night lessened to an annoying drizzle with the morning but by the time Esca had showered it stopped, leaving a dull overcast sky to greet his first day in Ravenswood. After dressing he parted the curtains to peer into the damp park beyond, half expecting to see an eager early Luke. The park was empty. A young woman, dressed for work, quickly crossed the park in the direction of the main street. Esca checked the time, almost eight thirty. There was still more than an hour before their arranged meeting, so time for breakfast. Searching the room’s cupboards he located the obligatory satchels of coffee, tea and two miniature boxes of breakfast cereal but the refrigerator lacked milk, only holding the overpriced sampler bottles of alcohol.

A quick walk to the shops found nothing open. Back at the motel management had not yet surfaced, even with the screeching of parrots feeding on the bottle-brush blossom behind the Motel. More second thoughts were commencing to take control. Part of him wished to climb back into his vehicle and return home. “What are you doing here?” he asked loudly of himself while turning the pages of a magazine he found in a drawer. It was filled with advertising and glossy photographs of happy contented women – under dressed and over made-up. Closing the magazine Esca once again walked to the window. “Well I’ll be buggered,” he declared, discovering Luke seated on the swing with the bent support, slowly pushing it into motion with his legs, his eyes fixed on the motel and Esca’s Ute, parked close by his room. Esca walked to the door. Without hesitation Luke rose from the swing, waved and approached.

“I had a feeling you were going to chicken out.” He said on entering into the motel room.

“I said I would come.”

“I’ve never been in a motel room before.” Luke commented scrutinising the room as would one doing a unit inspection. “Bathroom,” He commented, his voice echoing into the shower recess. Returning to the bedroom he seated himself on the end of the bed, bouncing up and down on its springs.

“Big bed,”

“It’s just a double.” Esca answered, feeling his statement to be somewhat obvious.

Now he was nervous. What next, did they go for breakfast, sightseeing or should he throw himself down on the lad. He closed the door, standing motionless for some time his hold still on its handle. He turned to see Luke smiling, lying full length across the bed, his hands clasped behind his blond dreadlocks.

“Well, I’m here.” Luke declared.

Esca felt ridiculous, he was the one with experience but was acting like a kid playing at it behind the school shelter shed. His memory digressed. On the one such occasion it had been easy, it just happened. One moment it was sex talk, then show and tell, before a quick tug and it was over never to reoccur. He couldn’t even remember the lad’s name.

Esca thought of their meeting at the Two Mile, which was similar to the episode behind the school shed. He forced a smile, feeling like that proverbial fish out of that well-known water.

“Do you want to go for breakfast?” Esca asked nervously.

“I’ve had breakfast,”

“What about a drive?”

“I have to go shopping with Alice; I said I’d be back around eleven.”

Esca lay himself across the bed next to the now sitting Luke. He stretched his arms and yawned loudly. To his relief it was Luke who took control. His hands were under Esca’s shirt, lifting it high before removing his belt.

“You’re eager.” Esca nervously laughed his body tense under the touch.

“Only have an hour or so.” Luke declared taking control of the stiffness below the fly buttons. Esca firmly grasped Luke’s hand.

“Easy fellow you’re making me nervous.” Luke released his hold on Esca. “What kind of things did you and George get up to?” Esca asked. His question designed to ascertain how far he should go with the lad.

“Everything,” Luke answered proudly before placing his lips onto those of Esca.

Between visiting Esca and running errands for his Aunt, there was little time for much else. There were a couple of short tours of the surrounding country side but mostly the two were found in bed with Esca discovering Luke had not learnt, as he had declared, everything from George only the fundamentals and Luke’s initial offer to be rooted was his way of asking for sex and not the act of penetration. Even so the simple exploration of bodies was erotic enough for Esca and with each visit Luke not only advanced his knowledge but his eagerness. By their third encounter Esca had also lost the clumsy anticipation he had experienced on that first day and both were naturally settling into each other’s company.

“When we return home can I visit you at your house?” Luke asked from the room’s shower. It was to be their final day together as Luke’s father was to collect him the following morning.

“Want to go for a drive?” Esca avoided the question. Entering the bathroom he stood silently watching soapy water trickle down Luke’s body gathering at the mass of blond pubic hair before descending lazily along his flaccid spent shaft.

“Why don’t you join me?” Luke suggested. Esca quickly responded taking on the task of back scrubber, feeling his friends muscles relax and tighten under his touch.

“You’ve a great body.”

“Thanks, you didn’t answer my question.” Luke complained.

“What are you going to do at the end of the year when you finish school?”

“Don’t know; there’s no work in town, probably go on the dole like you.”

“When are you eighteen?” Esca asked, turning the lad to face him.

“Three months, one week and four days.” Luke answered quickly and precisely.

“Who’s counting?”

“You still haven’t answered my question.” Luke demanded, allowing a rare serious side of his character to surface. Stepping out of the shower he quickly grabbed the only dry towel. “Beat ya,” He declared drying himself vigorously before passing the now soggy towel to Esca.

“You know most of the town would love to lynch me. If they found out I was corrupting one of their boys, I think they would take pleasure in nutting me before placing the rope.”

“If anyone did the corrupting it was me.” Luke admitted, snapping the elastic band of his underwear against his youthful skin, allowing the thin material to constrict against his backside, forming a perfect valley between his pert buttocks. To the front the white material generously outlined the form of his member as if he were still naked, creating shame to hide such perfection beneath the rough texture of denim. He did so and sighed. “You know I wouldn’t do anything to bring you undone.”

“I’ll tell you what, if you’re still interested in three months one week and four, no five days, the day after your birthday, come and visit me at home.”

Luke finished dressing then patting the oversized metal mounted cowboy that was his belt buckle, reluctantly agreed with Esca’s decision.

“I’ll still see you up on Butcher’s Hill?” He grinned eagerly.

“Come here.” Esca drew the lad close until Luke’s chin rested in the nap of his neck. “What time does you father pick you up tomorrow?”

“Don’t know but I guess I better stay at the house.”

“What about tonight?”

“Suppose I should stay with my Aunt, I don’t think I should push my luck staying away all night.”

“I guess so.” Esca sighed, releasing his arms from around Luke’s body.

‘Oh well I suppose nature will take its course,’ were Esca’s final thoughts as he booked out of the motel late that afternoon. He sighed and closed the door while once again casting his gaze into the park, half expecting to see Luke seated on the swing. It had been a most delightful week with Luke. The only missing pleasure would have been spending a night with him. To wake with the first light to his ever smiling face and the feel of his body close to his own.

The journey home appeared longer and with each mile the image of Luke walking away from the motel returned. Three times the lad had turned and waved, each time from a greater distance; growing smaller in perspective until as a miniature he turned down a distant street, lost to sight. Even then Esca could not draw his sight away from the empty street and the corner where Luke had turned.

Gary would appreciate your thoughts on his story. Gary dot Conder at CastleRoland dot Net

29,249 views