Those Left Behind - 28. A forest in Germany

Next morning they were just finishing a scratch breakfast when a woman appeared; wearing just t-shirt and shorts, she looked rather athletic.

Damian piped up, “It’s Otto and Franz’s Mother.”

Introduced as Anna, she apologised for the fact that her sons had managed to introduce themselves before she had. Her visit, though, was because there was a Young Rangers meeting today, two of the Forest Rangers would take a group kids out. Otto and Franz were going, would Damian and Adam like to join them?

You bet! Anna assured them that the rangers spoke excellent English, and Ludo reflected that the boys had done well enough yesterday. So, by 9.30am, they were done, with the cabin tidy. What next? Plans to go in search of swimming places with the boys were put on hold. Ludo and Arthur drove to the nearest shops and bought more supplies, and by mid-morning were well on their way for a long hike. Arthur had maps; the paths were marked. They could go further without the boys. Bliss.

Except, of course, neither man was in particularly good shape. The terrain was uneven, yet highly attractive. A number of brisk walkers strode past them, and after a couple of hours they were feeling in need of a proper rest, rather than the short stop they had envisaged.

“There’s something here. Says water.”

“Not the river?” The river had proved picturesque but hardly conducive to swimming, more like rafting or something.

“No. Looks like a lake.”

“Pond, more like”, they grinned.

It was, indeed, a small lake, surrounded by trees. There were notices that children should not swim unsupervised. The only other people there were a couple of men idly swimming. There was a shingle beach, of sorts; they sat and considered. Swim in their knickers and put up with dampness later, swim in the nude and hope they got away with it, or simply paddle? Then one of the swimmers walked out of the lake. He was naked. Both the men were. Arthur looked at Ludo and raised his eyebrows.

Ludo shrugged, “If the locals do it…”

They stripped off and dashed into the water. Fuck it was cold.

Arthur grinned, “No worries about being naked, the water’s so cold it fair shrinks me willy.”

They weren’t in long, but it was refreshing, and the sun felt good on their skin as they waited to dry off whilst munching their lunch.

The two other swimmers walked over towards them. Close to, they were somewhat older, tanned all over with one looking positively kippered. Now, Ludo and Arthur, if they’d walked over to say hi to the two men, would have pulled on some shorts or something. The men, who introduced themselves as Jürgen and Gerdt, did not. As a result, as Ludo and Arthur were sitting down, they found themselves having a conversation with a pair of flaccid penises.

The two Germans wanted to know where they were from, where they were staying and such. Were they walking? Jürgen and Gerdt knew lots of quiet places around here, would they like to see? Ludo and Arthur apologised, they were somewhat out of practise when it came to walking and were tired; also, they had to get back to collect their sons. The mention of children seemed to signal the reduction of the Germans’ interest; they bid Ludo and Arthur goodbye.

“Were we being hit on?”

Ludo shrugged, “It looked like it. You fancy it?”

Arthur wobbled his head from side to side, “Not really. They don’t exactly get the blood stirring the way some people do”, and he gave Ludo’s groin a stroke accompanied by a salacious grin.

“You fancy finding one of these quiet areas?”

Arthur smiled, “That’s the general idea.”

A short distance away from the lakeside it was easy to find a secluded area, away from prying eyes. Of course, they’d done everything arse over tit, and short of another swim would have to go home sticky. Thank the Lord for Arthur’s wet wipes. But it was worth it. There was something magical about being outdoors and abandoned.

Walking slowly back Arthur smiled, “I could get used to this. Perhaps we could do it at again home?”

“Sex outdoors? We were lucky last time, that there was no-one else around. And where else? The Arboretum?” They both laughed at the idea of hiding in the rougher bits, trying to avoid those prying eyes.

They were in decent time, so their walk back was by way of a diverting stroll.

“Damian will want to know what all these trees are.”

“Reckon the rangers should be able to help with that.”

Ludo sighed, “I’m glad we came.”

“A sort of end to things.”

“And a beginning. Our first holiday together.”

“Been an eventful year.”

“You OK, we OK?”

“Of course”, Arthur squeezed Ludo’s hand, “Why on earth shouldn’t we be?”

“It’s just. Sorry I’m not very good at saying this. But I’m really glad all this happened. You and me and that. I can’t imagine life any other way. When we get back, I think we should pick a date properly to formalise things.”

“Yes, I think that’s an excellent idea. We should get things organised.”

“I was thinking, next Spring once the divorce is settled.”

“I’ll make a lovely Spring bride.”

“With the boys as page boys.”

“In kilts.” The two laughed and wandered along fantasising about unlikely wedding scenarios.

The boys had indeed had a good time, and Damian had acquired a significant amount of information about trees in the forest, much of it in the form of leaflets in German. But with the help of Google translate they managed.

It was one of those holidays, nothing happened, and everything happened.

They had drinks twice with Otto and Franz’ parents, Anna and Jozef. He was Eastern European, but just as pale blond as his wife and sons. Drinks had turned into food, Anna brought out bread, salami, cheese and salad, and more. Certainly, no need to eat again that evening. The boys had tucked in. Second time they had drinks with them, Ludo and Arthur had wanted to do food, but Anna had insisted, laughingly adding that besides it gave Jozef an excuse to buy more local food. Jozef was a big guy all round; he clearly loved his food and was knowledgeable about what each cheese and cold meat was.

They were good company, and when the inevitable question came, how did Ludo and Arthur come to be here, the mention of the court case brought sympathy but no excessive questioning. The couple simply moved on to chatting about more interesting things.

And Damian had decided he now wanted to be a Forest Ranger, such was his enjoyment of the Young Rangers events.

Ludo and Arthur were hit on once more. Walking whilst Damian and Adam were being escorted round the forest, hunting for bugs this time, they had met a young German hiker whose name seemed to be Lofty (or perhaps Lofti). He was indeed tall, slim, with a wispy moustache. They had met him at the lake and this time the suggestion of finding a quiet place had been nervously mutual. But once hidden in the shrubbery, there was certainly nothing retiring about Lofti, and they had fun. Indeed, they were almost late for Damian and Adam’s return.

Hansi checked in on them occasionally and towards the end of their stay, they received another state visit, with another stew, venison this time and equally delicious; politeness overcame the boys’ dubiousness of the meat, and once tried the stew was pronounced terrific. With her, carrying the hot box, came a young man called Edwin (German ‘w’ of course). Tall, personable and charming, he stayed to eat with them and was clearly more than a box carrier. He worked in a local building firm and in fact his firm had constructed the new cabins. There was much talk of these, their eco features and such. By the end, Arthur and Ludo decided that Edwin was indeed far more than box carrier, and that Hansi had done rather well for herself. Considered as a replacement for Andreas, Edwin was a bit of alright.

They had brought a supply of exercise books which Damian proceeded to fill with endless drawings of trees, bugs and more. Adam was equally engrossed, though his diary was more that of a conventional ten-year-old. At the end of the holiday, Damian came up to Ludo and presented him with an exercise book, on the front it said Damian’s Holiday Diary.

“That’s for Mum, for you to give her next time you go.”

Ludo had no doubt that Jackie would be touched and delighted by the gift.

Otto, Franz and their parents departed the day before Ludo and Arthur and the boys were due to leave. The boys were furious in their intentions to stay in touch, but privately the men doubted that would happen. The German boys’ parents had been friendly but not overly intimate, thank goodness. No awkward holiday friendships there.

With Hansi it was different. They bid each other farewell and agreed that they would come again. But, hanging in the air, there was the knowledge that they would no doubt see her again in the UK, for Andreas’ trial.

The journey back was as tedious as that going, and this time the traffic seemed to be against them. But they got there. Eventually.