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Gentlemen, I give you The Teacher.
There was a clattering and scrapping as chairs were scraped
across the floor as the few still sitting stood. A clinking of glasses
rounded the room and then a thunderous rendition of  The
Teacher . The man in question beamed and blushed and then held
up his hand.
 Thank you, thank you all. After a speech like that I can only
say one thing. I wish you buggers had tied him up better. Laughter
rang around the room and several booted feet stomped the floor.
 It is sad that I am leaving so many good and skilled friends
behind. Leaving behind, yes we may be, but you will never be
forgotten, and you are always welcome to visit. You should have
little difficulty finding me on the island, I just ask that you don t all
come at once, we only have two guest rooms, and the lava and ash
in the garden is a little tough to pitch a tent in, though I ve no doubt
there s a few here that d try. I am not good on speeches and I am
worse at goodbyes. So back to the beer lads, again thanks, and I ll
put some beer in the fridge for you should you come calling. Thank
you.
There was a stamping of feet and a banging of glasses on the
table and the serious part of the evening began, drinking, and then
drinking more. A hut next to the mess had been prepared with beds
and the expectation was to drink to the point where they just
managed to hit the bed before they collapsed.
 Won t be able to help what?
Debbie had returned and caught the last few words of their
conversation.
Home Truths
 You, with anything, when you go off to Uni, we won t be
around, that s what I meant.
Debbie laughed and reached for her glass and almost falling,
rather than sitting, into the space on the sofa between her aunts.
 Aunty, and that is both of you axially, she began,  I don t
even know where I am going to University yet. If it s nearby, I don t
have to leave home and anyway I have another year at College yet.
 Debbie, darling.
 Yes Auntie Juraldeen. Debbie was beginning to show the
effects of the wine, and Geraldine thought to herself that they ought
to slow her down, Edward wouldn t be best pleased coming home
to the smell of vomit. She continued.
 Debbie, I am worried, and so is Anne.
 What about?
 You, boys, you know, the whole thing, boyfriends, lack of
experience.
 Debbie put your glass down, its wavering a bit, Anne
interrupted.
 Don t tell my Dad.
 What?
 Promise first?
 Well of course. If you are going to say something in
confidence, then of course we won t tell your dad.
 Well, look, I do, well you know, and look, well, you don t
have to worry, okay?
 But we do worry.
 Look, Auntie, and Auntie, look, I am telling you that you
don t need to worry, I am a big girl and I can look after myself,
okay.
Geraldine got up and walked through to the conservatory
flipped the lid of the hot tub. She put her glass down on the work
surface and then faced Debbie once more.
 I think we ought to go in to the tub, no glass in there, so
change to plastic glasses. And Debbie, just because you tell us not to
worry, doesn t mean we won t, and anyway why should we keep that
from your dad? He s is always going to worry about you too.
Debbie stood up and paced back and forth, her lips pursed
and her hands wringing. She stopped pacing and turned to face her
aunts/
King s Ransom
 Look, you didn t listen. I am telling you, you don t need to
worry. It s too late to worry, okay, only, just I don t want to talk
about it, okay?
Anne looked at Debbie, and then at Geraldine.
 You mean, you already have? When, I mean, who with, I
mean, you don t have time.
 And more to the point, Geraldine interjected,  did you use
precautions.
 Yes I do have time, loads of time, you guys are always out at
work, and I get loads of free periods and I am not a little girl
anymore, and yes I did, and no I am not saying anymore. Hot tub.
Debbie looked around and then said,  no cossie, I forgot.
Anne stood and pulled her dress over her head and, as she put
her hands behind her back to undo her bra, she said  just us girls,
we usually skinny dip.
Debbie looked at Anne and then across at Geraldine who was
also stripping and shrugged.  I hope the door is locked, I don t
want Uncle Edward coming in and seeing my bits.
Geraldine smiled wryly,  at least you ve still got all your bits
my dear, she thought to herself. She pulled the small zip down at
her side and stepped out of the dress. Turning her back she leant
forward slightly and pulled her prosthetic out and then undid her
bra. Her pants were next and then she turned to face Debbie. Anne
had seen her scar on many occasions, Debbie had not, and
Geraldine was surprised at how difficult it was to face her. She
decided that perhaps she really did need the reconstruction;
Debbie s eyes on her scar were a strong incentive.
Geraldine was first in the tub, sinking down, only her head
above water, Anne soon followed.  Come on Debs, no need to be
shy, Geraldine called. Debbie was stood in her bra and pants and
had been transfixed at the sight of her Aunt s breast. She hadn t
known what to expect, and the sight of it had shocked her a little,
and she had just stopped undressing. Her Aunt s words brought her
back to the present and she quickly stripped off her underwear, and
climbed into the pool, a little self conscious that as she climbed in
she was being intimately revealing.
Anne pressed the air button and streams of bubbles added to
the water jets and the water, clouding the water and raising the noise
Home Truths
level slightly. She looked at Debbie and, shaking her head, she
spoke, following on from the earlier conversation.
 Good grief, how could we not have known, who is he, come
on, spill the beans.
 I am not saying anything, and anyway, why do you assume
it s a  he 
 You can t leave us in limbo like this, come on girl. These are
important issues. Anne said, her voice rising an octave as the
sentence unfolded.
 It s just more usual for a girl to go with a boy, that is why we
assumed a boy, Geraldine added.
 Auntie G, you haven t seen all the clients that we have, most
of them are out and out dykes. With that kind of exposure, I could
be forgiven for thinking most women are gay.
 Is that who it was Debbie, one of our clients, I mean, that is
a bit, well, wrong really. Anne s voice had recovered from its earlier
rise in pitch, and now harboured overtones of concern.
Debbie sank her head under the water and listened to the rush
of the water jets and bubbles as they entered the tub. It was a
surprisingly calming and almost soporific noise, more relaxing than
her aunts and there interrogation. She resurfaced and enjoyed the
sensation of the water running from her hair and across her face.
 Guys, please drop it, okay? It wasn t any clients and it is [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]