Johnny seems nice though. As you know Robert is an arseholeâ¦â I sum up the group.
âJohnny is the best of them, his best man. He had arranged a stag weekend in Scotland for them all in log cabin. But Robert decided he would like a ski weekend so paid for it all. The others agreed when they knew it was free,â Sofia adds.
âThey are a really terrible mix so I will try to keep an eye on them.â
With their pictures taken, the group mooch around waiting for another bonding opportunity. Robert shouts over to me: âWe are off to load up on porn mags. Fancy a âMen Onlyâ staggette?â He moves off laughing to himself, neither getting nor expecting a reply.
âLook out for him for me. I donât trust you but I trust them less.â Sophia has now seen me as less of a threat and a potential advantage of me being here.
âI promise,â I square up to her to convey my sincerity.
Dan rushes back, looking for signs of what has gone on between Sophia and I.
âYou look after him.â She squeezes my hand as Dan sits down
Sophia passes Bepe to me after all. âLady naughty,â he offers for no particular reason.
âWhat have you two been talking about?â he asks.
âYou know us girls Dan, talking wedding dresses!â Why did I say that?
âNo prostitutes!â Sophia states firmly with pursed lips, setting out the worst result of Danâs trip that she can imagine.
âOf course babe. You know they will do something embarrassingâ¦â Dan implores and I agree with him.
Is Dan the same? Now next to me his grey hairs at last acknowledge some years have passed. I worry he is sleepwalking into this marriage. But did I choose correctly seventeen years ago?
C HAPTER 5
Dan 14:27
âWe better get through security guysâ¦â Johnny decides to take up the mantle of being my best man. The group shuffle back into the coffee shop. Cups are drained, coats are grabbed and bags are strapped.
âLets give Juliet a ride on the conveyor belt then.â Robert is looking at the rubber doll again but enjoying the association with the real person. Max and Steve cackle approval and follow in quick time, latching onto the Alpha male.
I help my wife-to-be and son gather themselves. For once we move silently, to the edge of Departures. The residual smell of the coffee shop lingers on my clothes, adding to the body odour rising from my armpits, caused by both my travel trepidation and parental agitation. The blue ribbons of the airline queue march my stags in a zigzag path towards our destination. More signage affronts me. H OLD BAGGAGE . I NSPECTION POINT . Are they giving marks out of ten for the grace with which I can lift my luggage now? Stupid literal clashes of words clatter around my head.
âCanât let him out of your sight hey,â Chris says to Sophia, completely misjudging the mood as I we stand outside the security coral. âWe will go. Goodbye Sophia.â Chris accepts no response from Sophia, using his broad hands and rounded shoulders to usher Juliet and Johnny towards the security inspection. They are keeping a face-saving distance from the others.
âYou shouldnât be going now. Have you considered that?â We hang back and Sophia expresses her unease after our scare.
âI donât want to leave you both.â I have not really reconsidered making the trip after the Bepe scare. But what would happen to the others? This whole trip would be merciless for Johnny and Juliet. I canât let them down. I start to seek redemption in Sophiaâs eyes, something that will never be wholly given.
I sweep Bepe up in my right arm; I see the dark stain deep in the crotch of his trousers way too late. He holds his genital area trying to push the wet back in. The warm glow of urine transfers into my microcorduroy shirt. There is comfort in this familiarity, that we can share anything. Bepe sets about my neck
âJohnny is the best of them, his best man. He had arranged a stag weekend in Scotland for them all in log cabin. But Robert decided he would like a ski weekend so paid for it all. The others agreed when they knew it was free,â Sofia adds.
âThey are a really terrible mix so I will try to keep an eye on them.â
With their pictures taken, the group mooch around waiting for another bonding opportunity. Robert shouts over to me: âWe are off to load up on porn mags. Fancy a âMen Onlyâ staggette?â He moves off laughing to himself, neither getting nor expecting a reply.
âLook out for him for me. I donât trust you but I trust them less.â Sophia has now seen me as less of a threat and a potential advantage of me being here.
âI promise,â I square up to her to convey my sincerity.
Dan rushes back, looking for signs of what has gone on between Sophia and I.
âYou look after him.â She squeezes my hand as Dan sits down
Sophia passes Bepe to me after all. âLady naughty,â he offers for no particular reason.
âWhat have you two been talking about?â he asks.
âYou know us girls Dan, talking wedding dresses!â Why did I say that?
âNo prostitutes!â Sophia states firmly with pursed lips, setting out the worst result of Danâs trip that she can imagine.
âOf course babe. You know they will do something embarrassingâ¦â Dan implores and I agree with him.
Is Dan the same? Now next to me his grey hairs at last acknowledge some years have passed. I worry he is sleepwalking into this marriage. But did I choose correctly seventeen years ago?
C HAPTER 5
Dan 14:27
âWe better get through security guysâ¦â Johnny decides to take up the mantle of being my best man. The group shuffle back into the coffee shop. Cups are drained, coats are grabbed and bags are strapped.
âLets give Juliet a ride on the conveyor belt then.â Robert is looking at the rubber doll again but enjoying the association with the real person. Max and Steve cackle approval and follow in quick time, latching onto the Alpha male.
I help my wife-to-be and son gather themselves. For once we move silently, to the edge of Departures. The residual smell of the coffee shop lingers on my clothes, adding to the body odour rising from my armpits, caused by both my travel trepidation and parental agitation. The blue ribbons of the airline queue march my stags in a zigzag path towards our destination. More signage affronts me. H OLD BAGGAGE . I NSPECTION POINT . Are they giving marks out of ten for the grace with which I can lift my luggage now? Stupid literal clashes of words clatter around my head.
âCanât let him out of your sight hey,â Chris says to Sophia, completely misjudging the mood as I we stand outside the security coral. âWe will go. Goodbye Sophia.â Chris accepts no response from Sophia, using his broad hands and rounded shoulders to usher Juliet and Johnny towards the security inspection. They are keeping a face-saving distance from the others.
âYou shouldnât be going now. Have you considered that?â We hang back and Sophia expresses her unease after our scare.
âI donât want to leave you both.â I have not really reconsidered making the trip after the Bepe scare. But what would happen to the others? This whole trip would be merciless for Johnny and Juliet. I canât let them down. I start to seek redemption in Sophiaâs eyes, something that will never be wholly given.
I sweep Bepe up in my right arm; I see the dark stain deep in the crotch of his trousers way too late. He holds his genital area trying to push the wet back in. The warm glow of urine transfers into my microcorduroy shirt. There is comfort in this familiarity, that we can share anything. Bepe sets about my neck
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