Joshua Miles - 20. A Picket Fence

It was early Saturday afternoon. Malcolm’s parents had gone to the club, Joshua was entertaining at Anthea’s and Malcolm was home alone.

On an impulse, he decided to raid his father’s bar. Although underage, he had drunk alcohol before. His parents believed that if teenagers were going to drink then it was better they started at home, under adult supervision and with appropriate warnings. Consequently he was allowed one beer or a small glass of wine at family functions.

However, this time he went straight to the spirits. After one whisky he was feeling quite merry and jovial; after two whiskies, full of bravado. But after three whiskies depression set in and he felt very lonely, missed Joshua and desperately needed him.

He knew where Anthea lived, as Joshua had told him when he described her big beautiful house. It was then he decided to go and rescue his mate from the clutches of those women.

He got his bike out of the shed and pedalled up the drive, but as he approached the front fence, the bike veered off the path, onto the grass and smashed into the picket fence. Unable to extract the front wheel from being wedged between two pickets, he abandoned the idea of cycling and staggered down the street to the bus stop.

Two bus changes later, found Malcolm at the corner of the street where Anthea lived. After locating the property and walking slowly up the driveway he approached the front door, but found it was locked. He then went down the side of the building until he came across a large patio that had open double doors to the house. As he approached the doors he could hear giggling, chatting and general merriment coming from inside and not far away. He entered and followed the sound of laughter till he came upon a large living room with a group of women gathered around a dining table. There in the middle of that table was his man, he had come to rescue.

He approached the gathering, which immediately went quiet until Anthea asked who are you? This prompted Joshua to look up and ask “Malcolm, what are you doing here?”

He was still having trouble forming sentences in his brain, so before he could answer, Anthea said welcome Malcolm, have you come to see what Joshua does and to learn? That’s great, we’re really looking forward to seeing you at the underwear party. Why don’t you show us what you’ve got and get up on the table.

“I haven’t come to indulge your fantasies. I’ve come to rescue my man from your clutches.”

“Malcolm!” Joshua snapped “It’s nothing like that, I like working for these ladies”

“Oh you’re easily bought by their plastic dollars, but do they respect you?”

“Young man” said Anthea “I think you’ve got this all wrong. Joshua is a respected part of our group, who gives good service and nothing untoward goes on here. In fact we are looking forward to you joining us next week for the underwear modelling”

“I’m not joining your cougar group and no woman will lay a hand on my body”

“That’s your choice of course, but Joshua obviously has a different opinion”

Joshua rolled over and sat crossed legged on the table. “Malcolm I really think you owe Anthea and her friends an apology for your behaviour. If you don’t want to do the modelling, you only had to say so”

Anthea then reached out a hand to Joshua and assisted him to get down from the table. “I think it best you take your friend home and help him sober up” Then looking at Cynthia asked “Would you call the boys a cab?”

Joshua went to the guest room to dress, but left the payment on the bed, figuring he had not really earned it today. Malcolm was waiting at the bottom of the stairs and put his arm over Joshua’s shoulder as they both headed for the door. This was more to support himself than Joshua.

When he tried to apologise, Anthea said “You have nothing to apologise for. Take your man home and talk it out”

“What about my bike?”

“I’ll have someone drop it around to your place tomorrow”

“Thanks”

She then accompanied them to the taxi, gave the driver enough cash to cover a fare to Kingsford and wished them both well.

“Well, that was a bit rude” commented one of Anthea’s guests.

“It might seem that way, but although it may have been fuelled by alcohol I believe it came from the heart was really an expression of protection and young love.

Anthea then indicated to the wine waiter to top up everyone’s glasses. When this was done she said “Ladies, let’s wish the boys well in their lives and farewell to an era, we’ll call the Joshua months”

<>

Very little was said in the taxi on the way home. As they approached the front door, Joshua said “Give me your keys. I don’t think you could find the lock in your condition”

Malcolm fumbled around in his pockets but could only find his wallet.

“You mean you went out without your keys. Are your parents home?”

“No, they’re at the club”

“That means we not only have to wait for them but also we can’t hide from them your drinking. At least if we could get inside I could put you to bed and let you sleep it off. Is there a spare key anywhere?”

“No”

“Then I’ll look for an open window”

Joshua returned five minutes later “The place is locked like a bank, any ideas?”

“We’ll just have to wait for mum and dad”

“How about going to my place, have a sleepover and be sober in the morning?”

“Will that be ok with your ols?”

“Sure, they’re cool”

<>

They slept most of the night in each other’s arms and awoke refreshed and ready for the day.

“Do your parents know I’m here?”

“Sure, I explained everything, they understand and won’t tell your parents so long as it doesn’t happen again”

“That’s great, thanks, I owe you”

“Well that’s twice you owe me”

“What else?”

“You lost me my job yesterday, so you’ll have to pay your own way when we go out”

“Sorry about that, I just didn’t think it was right for you”

“And shouldn’t that be my choice?”

“I suppose so, but I love you so much I just want what’s right for you”

Joshua just sat there silently, so Malcolm asked “What did I say that bothered you”

“Ah…um…did you say you loved me?”

“Is that what you heard?”

“Yes”

“Then it must be what I said”

Joshua took Malcolm’s head in his hands and gave him a long wet kiss. The he pushed Malcolm slightly away and said “I love you too”

“So we’re now officially a couple” replied Malcolm

“That’s how it works, so we need to talk about something”

“What?”

“Scott”

“Oh yes, that. If we’re now a couple, then we can’t be a threesome”

“Exactly”

“So do we tell Scott?”

“Probably not necessary, we haven’t given him what he wants, so he’ll most likely give up now and look for someone else”

“Yeah, let’s just leave it fade away”

“But speaking of fucking, we need to talk about that” said Joshua

“Do you want to do it?”

“I’m not sure, but I am curious. Maybe some time we could try it”

“Ok, you’re on the next time we spend the night together”

“Hey, we forgot something. We haven’t had a chance to try the sounding rods”

“You wanna go back for that?”

“Well….maybe…maybe not. But then again, it did feel like a lot of fun” concluded Joshua.

“So, you’ve been selling your butt to those women and now you’re gonna give it away to Scott”

“Is that what it looks like?”

“It does if the cost of trying his sounding rods is a fuck up the arse”

“Maybe not then”