Trouble Plus Trouble. - 11. Chapter 11

Double The Trouble.

Chapter 11.

Peter and Matthew finished their training early the next day and were showered and dressed by the time the other team members started to arrive.

The walk to Matthew's place passed in a flash because they were both in a talkative mood and then when they reached the house they started on school-work and kept on right through till eleven o'clock with only a stop for their meal. Rob brought some supper up for them and told them to stop working before their brains went loopy, but you could tell he was really pleased about it. Peter felt good too because so many things had happened lately that studying was only just keeping up.

"What is it?"

They'd had their shower, quick as usual, and Matthew was sitting on the edge of the bed with an awkward questioning look on his face.

"Um. Andy told me today that I should practice that grabbing with you, but we don't have to if you don't want to."

Peter couldn't figure this out. They'd practised down at the beach and Matthew hadn’t shown any hesitation at all.

"Well it's all right with me. I already practised with Andy last night and you saw what Phillips did yesterday."

Matthew nodded.

"It just seems more personal without Andy and Marty that's all."

Now Peter understood what Matthew meant, but instead of the hug which he felt like giving, he dropped his towel and whisked Matthew's away. Wow. He already had a half boner. Three times in a row Peter caught Matthew and then three more. Perhaps he should let Matthew win? He slackened his defences but Matthew knew what he was doing straight away.

"I'm glad you let me win yesterday Peter, but you don't have to now."

They kept going for another five minutes and Peter won every time. Matthew was right. It was much more personal with just the two of them and when they dived under the sheet they both still had the boners they’d had all through the practice. Matthew switched off his bedside light and they spoke softly. Peter was lying on his back, wondering if Matthew would start that little tickle on his side. Sure enough. There it was. He jumped and gave a soft laugh then enjoyed the tingles in his skin. After a minute it stopped. Why did it stop? He could feel Matthew's finger resting in one spot on his skin, so he nudged himself against it then smiled in the darkness when the little tickle started again. The next time it stopped Peter gave another nudge but this time nothing happened. There was a warm place where Matthew's hand was resting but with it there was a sense of quietness.

"Matthew?"

The soft whisper got no response and Peter's own senses quickly faded away.

***

"Take it with you Peter and have a think about it. I'm sure you're a likely candidate."

Peter was sitting in Mr Crossman's office with sheets of information in his hand which he didn't have to think about. He'd already made up his mind.

"What do I have to do? Is there an entry form?"

"No, I just put you on the list and you sit for it in second semester."

A couple of minutes later he was on his way to the library to find Matthew and spend the rest of his study period.

"What did he want?"

They'd been wondering that since this morning when Mr Crossman had asked Peter, at the end of their maths lesson, to see him during his study period.

"There's a bursary thing and he wants me to try out for it"

"Bursary?"

"Yes, it's like a scholarship. Some teacher who was at the school for a long time donated money and it pays for all of next year's books and fees."

"Wow. And Mr Crossman picked you?"

"Well there’ll be other people too."

"You'll get it Peter. You're the best in our class and Mr Crossman really likes you."

"There’s the other two classes Matthew, and it's not just who's the best. Look at this."

Peter showed Matthew the sheet of information which said that attitude was as important as ability in choosing a recipient. Matthew promptly said that Peter was still sure to get it.

"This says it's for physics too."

"Yes, and you have to study them next year as well."

That wasn't an issue because both maths and physics were already part of Peter's plans. Matthew put a finger to his lips and looked over to shoulder. The librarian was giving them the eye for talking too much so they worked till the bell rang then met Andy and Marty and walked to the pool.

"What are we doing for training Matthew?"

"Hard work. Eighty percenters for the whole hour and every fourth lap I’m going to time you at a hundred percent. You'll probably feel stiff tomorrow."

"He's stiff everyday Matthew."

"Very funny Andy. How would you know?"

"You told me."

That was true, and not having a comeback, Peter changed the subject back to swimming.

"Are we going to keep working like that for the whole hour? It'll be hard."

Andy pounced on that.

"That's what we said. It's always hard."

Everyone grinned while Peter shook his head in mock disgust. The training was hard. The hardest he’d ever done, and the relief at finishing was matched with a feeling of achievement. Andy and Marty were just as wrecked, and with various comments about the slave driver, they took their gear into the changing room.

"Hey, it's the Beginners Club."

Peter went into alert mode and put his clothes down on a bench well away from Phillips, who was standing with Kenny and Justin, drying himself.

"Hey Marty. It's the Wankers club. I think we interrupted them. Look at the red knobs."

Kenny made everyone laugh when he checked himself then realised he'd let himself be tricked.

"So Bluey. Can you to make it to the end of the pool yet?"

Phillips was back on the beginners thing.

"Only just. But we're working on it."

It was a typical Matthew kind of answer. Peter liked it, but not Andy.

"Ha, working on it’s right. They could show you what to do."

Phillips looks surprised and then a grin spread across his face.

"Betcha balls on it?"

"Yeah. ...Betcha balls."

Peter wondered what the slight hesitation before Andy's answer meant.

"Me against Bluey and Big D.?"

Andy nodded, and now Phillips looked at Peter and Matthew.

"Betcha balls?"

It was obvious they were being challenged to race, but why did it feel like there was more involved? Matthew nodded and since Andy had a sort of go-ahead look Peter did the same.

"How far?"

"Fifty metres."

"Now?"

Andy gave a nod and Phillips, looking very pleased, pulled his speedos back on. Now? Why did Andy have to say that? After all the hard laps Peter knew he wouldn't be able to swim his fastest. And what were all the grins about? Kenny, Justin, Marty and Andy all looked like the proverbial Cheshire cat. He did his best but his muscles had no push left and he finished just behind Phillips. Matthew won of course, not by much, but Peter suspected he’d done that on purpose, and when they pulled themselves onto the tiles Phillips obviously couldn't believe it.

"Sh-t. Bluey! What's going on? No one knew you were that good and I thought Peter was a new swimmer?"

Matthew shrugged and smiled.

"He is, but coach saw that he could be good and asked us to work together."

"So why didn't he coach him himself?"

Matthew shrugged and smiled. They all had their showers and Peter wondered why Phillips kept grinning at him all the time.

"Well at least I beat you Big D.. I'll check you out on Monday."

"Um, okay."

Peter dressed quickly. He wanted to get out of the changing room so he could find out what was going on.

"You should have beaten him Peter. I thought Matthew said you could."

"He was wrecked from all our training Andy. If you'd left it till Monday I think he might have."

"Oh well, we'll help him."

"Help him what?"

"Shave his balls. That's what you were betting about."

Peter just gaped while Andy explained it all. Oh God. No wonder everyone had been grinning at him.

"What did Phillips mean when he said he'd check me out?"

The parting comment had taken on a new light with the new information.

"Ha, knowing him, he'll have a good grope to make sure you’re smooth enough."

"I am smooth Andy. We could get away with not doing it."

Peter already knew the answer, but it was worth a try.

"No way."

Marty obviously agreed with him and Matthew was shaking his head in agreement as well. Kind of stunned, Peter listened as Andy and Marty planned it all out.

"Yeah, that's the best idea. There's no one at Marty's place and if we do it now you won't be thinking about it all the time like you do."

Andy headed the car in the right direction while Peter tried to come to terms with it.

"I wish you'd said Monday instead of today. I might have beaten him."

"Yeah, but he'd have been ready then, and brought a razor with him. I don't think you'd want him to do it in the shower room if you lost."

"Oh."

Thank God it hadn't happened that way. With the trials on, the whole team would have been there. Fifteen minutes later Peter was lying on a towel on Marty's bed, feeling very stupid, his T-shirt rucked up to his chest and wearing nothing else. They’d decided Matthew was the right person to do the actual deed, but Andy was still making a production out of getting everything ready. First there was a wet, warm wash-cloth, to soften the hairs he said, but all it did was start his boner going, and then about ten times as much shaving cream as was really needed got squirted all over his groin.

"Oops, a bit too much. You can clean that off Matthew. Hang on. I missed a spot."

Swish! And Peter's belly button was filled.

"Hey, take his T off Marty. We don't want that getting all soapy."

Swish! Swish! His nipples were covered.

What an idiot. Peter couldn't help laughing through his nerves as Andy proceeded to empty the can. Under his chin it went, in his ears, his head, his face, and all over his chest and stomach. There were sputtering sounds as the can ran out of foam then apprehension built as Matthew moved closer. Peter knew he was used to using a safety razor, but it was still worrying. The first problem was clearing away the mass of foaming white cream and by the time it was transferred to a mess on his stomach his boner had been given another boost. This was good for a stir after Andy's earlier comments about being hard all the time, but then Matthew took over the proceedings and carefully scraped the razor over Peter's sac. At first he wasn't too successful because Peter’s balls kept tightening. It took quite a while but he worked out a technique of stretching a section with his free hand, shaving it, and then stretching another section. The slow progress and constant handling sent his boner harder and harder and Andy and Marty were having a field day with their comments, especially when Andy made a big deal about giving a hardness report and checking every minute or so. When it finished, Peter, feeling like a snowman, headed for the shower. When the cream was all washed off he made an examination but couldn't feel any difference.

After a quick dry off he still couldn't really tell. He thought he was smoother, but he’d never checked like this before, and it could be his imagination. In his haste to get to the shower he'd left all his clothes in Marty's room. Rats. Andy was certain to demand an inspection. God! His privates hadn't been private since he moved and they seemed to be getting more and more public every day.

"Does it feel different?"

"Um. I'm not sure."

"Not sure? How come?"

"It does feel different but there was menthol or something in the shaving cream and that's what I can feel the most."

Marty thought that was funny and went to get some aftershave but Andy stopped him.

"Ouch! That would be cruel Marty. Leave him alone now. He's been a good sport."

He grabbed Peter in a headlock, skull knuckled him and let him go. How did he do that? In an instant he’d made Peter lose the feeling that he'd been steamrollered. They all smiled then, and in a second he was on the bed again getting a friendly tickle treatment. It didn't last long and he was finally able to get some clothes on. At half past five Peter and Matthew walked across the road from Andy’s and let themselves in. Peter put the roast in the oven and set the temperature, then they had a drink and went up to his room. There was half an hour before Beth got home and then another hour before Andy and Marty were due.

"Were you worried Peter?"

"When?"

Peter had been worried stacks of time today.

"When I was shaving you?"

"Um, not really. It was embarrassing and I was kind of nervous but I could tell you were being careful. It mostly happened before I could even think about it. Andy was right about that."

"I wish I'd known what that race was about. I would have let Phillips win."

"You would?"

"Yes, it would have served Andy right for dumping you in it like that."

"But you would have had to get shaved then."

"I know. But it would have been all three of us. Everyone on the team will be stirring you now. They’ll be stirring Phillips too, but he's not new like you are."

Peter pushed Matthew on the bed and sat on him.

"I don't mind Matthew. Andy's had me doing all these things I can hardly believe, but he's been right every time. There hasn't been one unfriendly thing from anyone at the whole school. It's weird for me. Like I'm on a different planet or something. I keep expecting something bad to happen."

"It's because you’re friends with Andy and Marty. They're like kings to everyone else."

"That sounds funny. King Andy and King Marty."

"What about Phillips? Does he worry you?"

"How do you mean?"

"Um, he's always trying to grab you."

"Ha! He's embarrassing and he doesn't just try. He does it so much in the shower room that Andy and Marty think he likes holding other guys dicks."

"Do you think they're right?"

"They might be. If he does the grabbing thing with you, you’ll see for yourself. He holds you far longer than anyone else does."

"He would have got killed at my old school if he was there."

"Mine too."

"Andy and Marty don't seem to mind?"

"No, they like him. I do too, especially after this afternoon."

Matthew looked like he didn't believe this.

"Not the shaving thing. It was Andy who started that anyway. I mean the way he acted when you beat him. He wasn't one bit angry and you heard him getting excited about having the best swimming team ever. He’s pushy but it's a friendly kind of pushy, a bit like Andy."

Matthew was nodding.

"It's like there's a competition between them to see who's the boss."

"Andy is. Just like I'm the boss of you."

"Oh yeah. Prove it."

They were still wrestling in a lazy, laughing kind of way when there was a knock on the door. Peter tugged his T-shirt into place and went to open it.

"Hi Mum."

They shared hugs and when Matthew came over he got one too.

"The wild animals are at it again?"

"Matthews the animal. I'm civilised."

"Oh yes? And polite to your guest too."

"Matthew? He's not a guest. He's part of the family so I can be as honest as I like."

"Honest? Well Mr Honest, tell me how long the roast's been in the oven?"

"Half past five. Oops. It's time you turned it down Mum."

"Turn Peter down for me Matthew. He’s getting too big to handle."

The next hour was spent basically preparing all the food, and with the smell of the roast pervading the house Peter was practically drooling by the time Andy and Marty arrived. Admittedly it was almost an hour later than they normally ate. The food was wonderful and at the end of it they were all sitting satisfied when Andy produced a major surprise. He'd been in fine form the whole time, making everyone laugh by stirring Marty mostly. Peter nearly choked on a spoonful of peas when his mum asked if anything interesting had happened that day and Andy said.

"Yes, Peter had a really close shave."

Matthew gawked, Marty laughed, and when Peter turned red Andy explained there'd been a really close race at the pool. Peter could see his mum knew there was more to it than that and changed the topic even if it was obvious.

"Mr Crossman asked me to try out for a maths and physics bursary."

"A what?"

Andy and Marty were looking at him now. He'd only been asked in the last period at school and they hadn't heard this yet.

"It would pay for my fees and books next year if I got it."

"Of course you’ll get it. You've got brains dribbling out your ears."

"Marty. That sounds gross."

Beth had the smile which showed she was especially pleased. There was some embarrassing talk about how clever Peter was and then Andy asked Beth when her next free weekend was.

"How free do you mean Andy?"

"We want to take you to our waterfall. You told us you'd like to see it and you need to go while the weather’s still warm."

Wow! Peter didn't know anything about this and he loved the smile which lit up his mum’s face.

"You're serious Andy? …What about two weeks from now?"

She'd already made up her mind and when Andy and Marty nodded it was another done deal.

"Will we try to finish in one day, or would you like to camp for a night?"

"After you all said how good your camping place was there’s no choice is there?"

There was more talk and Andy said he and Marty would do all the organising, food and everything.

"Food? No one's ever said you two were good at cooking."

"Mum. You wait till you taste Andy's potatoes in the ashes. You'll never forget them."

Beth laughed and said that wasn't very helpful information.

"Matthews coming isn't he? I want all my heroes there."

They obviously hadn't assumed anything else and when they started talking about tents a happy smile passed between Peter and Matthew. But what was that about heroes? Peter's attention perked up because he recognised something unusual in the tone of his mum’s voice and wondered what it meant.

"It's my turn for a surprise now. I hope you like it."

Beth left the table and when the other three heads gave Peter a group look he shook his own to register his puzzlement.

Was she for real? This was an embarrassing. Sitting on the tray his mum was carrying, were four bowls of dessert. A large scoop of ice cream with chunks of chocolate stuck into it, hundreds and thousands sprinkled on top, a wafer poking up, and a large swirl of bright red raspberry topping, featured in each bowl.

"It's a Peter special. He used to have this whenever I wanted to give him a treat."

Well that was right. Ten years ago.

"So it's a treat for all of us is it?"

"Andy, you're the clever one in this lot. Of course it is."

There were three enormous grins plus a certain amount of puzzlement on Peter's part as four spoons were wielded.

"Marty, want to swap my wafer for a piece of your chocolate?"

Peter thought he might scrape his hundreds and thousands off but the others all ate theirs so he followed suit.

"Hey what's this?"

Marty was poking his spoon at something inside his ice cream. Oh no. It must be the lolly hidden inside the ice cream trick that he used to look forward to. He was really going to be stirred about this. A quick glance showed that Beth was really enjoying herself.

"Sheba!"

It was Andy this time and he didn't sound like he'd found a fizzy lolly.

"Eat up boys. I expect you to finish all your sweets you know."

Marty and Andy were both taking no notice of her. Andy used his fork to fish something out of the mixture of ice cream and syrup. My God. Peter saw the gleam of silver through the red and white. Marty followed suit and by the time Peter was prodding his spoon into his ice cream, Matthew had separated another pile to the side of his bowl. Beth collected four sticky necklaces, washed them in warm water, then dried them with a clean white cloth and returned to the four who were watching silently.

"Peter told me what you did to help him last week end and how much it meant to him, so this is a thank you from both of us. Matthew. You're first."

Looking startled, Matthew scrambled out of his chair then stood quietly in front of Beth while she fastened the glistening silver chain round his neck and gave him a soft kiss on the forehead.

"We'll call this one the intolerable chain Matthew."

Wow, it was like a ceremony. His mum surely knew how to make things impressive. She went through the same procedure with each of them saying Marty had the upside-down chain, Andy had the handshake chain, and Peter’s was the happy chain, then sent them up to the bathroom so they could check themselves out in the wall mirror.

“Holy hell Peter. Beth’s unreal. What did she have to do this for? I didn't know what to say."

Andy’s designer t-shirt was hanging on the towel rack while he did his looking.

"I didn't either Andy. She used to put lollies in my sweets when I was little and I thought she was doing it again till I saw the look on your face."

Marty had his shirt off now and was shoving Andy to one side so he could see himself properly. Matthew took his turn, then Peter, before they went back to the living room with the silver chains hanging outside their shirts.

Beth admired them then explained that she knew how rough Andy was so she got the strongest links the jeweller had available. Matthew said he felt like one of the Knights of the Round-table being honored by the Queen.

"Well thank you Matthew. That's very gallant. I'll call you Merlin then. You've got the right initial and it suits you best."

Her face lit up.

"Andy’s Arthur. He was the leader and Marty has to be Sir Lancelot. He was the handsome warrior."

"Marty? Handsome?”

“You're all handsome Andy, but Marty is the one who's going to break hearts."

Marty went red as.

"What about Peter? You've left him out."

"He's the one who searches for the holy Grail. I think it's Perceval but I'm not sure.".

It sounded good but Peter didn't quite know what his mum meant, even though Matthew was nodding in agreement.

"The Holy Grail? Like in Indiana Jones?"

"Not quite like that Andy, but yes."

A quarter of an hour later Peter was talking with his mum and trying to thank her for the necklaces.

"They're from both of us Peter so you don't need to thank me do you?"

"Well I wouldn't have bought myself one would I?"

"Smarty. I couldn't leave you out could I? Andy would probably have told me off."

They both smiled at that.

"It worked well. They all like them. When am I going to see you swimming?"

Swimming. That was a funny change of topic.

"Swimming? What for Mum? You've seen me swimming stacks of times."

"Matthew tells me you could be a champion. So I want to see how a champion swims."

"He's crazy then. He’s the champion. Not me. He beat the fastest swimmer at school this afternoon and I don't think he was even trying."

"So when can I see you both? Are you swimming this weekend?"

"Just tomorrow, for half an hour. We've got trials on Monday so I’m meant to relax for a day."

"Good, Matthew won't mind if I come along will he?"

"No, knowing him he’ll probably try and help you."

"Is it a public pool?"

"Mostly. It's a community pool and they have hours posted to let you know when there's full access and when it's restricted to school."

"I don't get much time to do anything with this new job. It will be good to have a swim."

"Is your new job too hard?"

"What? No, it just takes me longer because I’m new at it. What time are we swimming tomorrow?"

"Half eleven."

"Lazy duffer. That's so you can sleep in isn't it?"

"I haven't slept in for three weeks, so it's about time. Something always seems to stop it."

They chatted for a while then went to their rooms. Peter had a book he wanted to finish by eleven o'clock in the morning.

The end of chapter 11.

Iarwain.