All characters are fictitious, If a character name is used in connection with a side, it’s just co-incidence if that given name belongs in that side. Insofar as song lyrics being included I don’t know the legalities or etiquette involved, I have given the opening few and last few lines if that is all that is needed or the song in full if the text needs it and credit to the author in either case, traditional songs are treated the same but credited as Traditional.

This is a fiction story, not fantasy and while there is a lot of passion and some very erotic action in later parts and in book two if you are looking for raw action then I am sorry but this isn’t the book for you.



Chapter Three
Love?

“Ok, you stay there whilst I get myself sorted out and then get things started”. I push back the duvet and unzip my bag, getting out I scoot to the edge of the bed and locate my t-shirt and trousers, sliding into them next stop is the bathroom, toilet and wash my hands. Coming out I come face to face with Jenny, she stretches a little and says, “Morning again.” and gives me a peck on the lips as she passes me to go to the bathroom herself. I fill up the kettle and put it on one of the back rings, they are quicker than the front ones, and go for a delve under the oven for a couple of frying pans, just as I get down Jenny tries to exit the bathroom, not possible as my size tens are in the way. Keeping hold of the pans I get up and tell her that “it’s all clear now, safe to exit”.
As she comes out of the bathroom and heads back to the bed I say “cheeky, I didn’t know you had the same fashion sense as John Major!!”
“What do you mean?”
“In an interview it emerged that he tucked his shirt into his underpants, the cartoonist Steve Bell always portrayed him with his pants outside his trousers, check where you have your t-shirts tucked.”
“If you were a gentleman you wouldn’t be looking.”
“I never claimed to be a gentleman, now scoot back onto the bed and give the chef your breakfast order, bearing in mind that if you are staying here, and I really do hope that you will, there probably won’t be any more solid food till tonight, The options are sausages, bacon, black pudding and hash browns, no eggs I’m afraid, I can’t handle them so I don’t bring any.”
“Everything except black pudding for me please.”
“Two of each?” I ask.
“If it has to last till tonight then yes please.”
I go onto auto pilot then, This is the breakfast Lynda and I had every time we were away with the van and the Morris, Lynda staying in bed until I put the bacon on to fry, Then she moved quickly, up, dressed and out to the awning, lay the table and cut and butter the bread before the bacon was too crispy.
“This will take twenty five minutes before we can eat; mugs of tea will be ready in two or three minutes. Are you up for a few verses of Drunken Sailor while I’m cooking?” She nods in the affirmative.
I begin it in what I hope is a comfortable key, as soon as I start Jenny joins in. “What shall we do with a drunken sailor, what shall we do with a drunken sailor, what shall we do with a drunken sailor early in the morning. Wey-hey and up she rises, Wey-hey and up she rises, Wey-hey and up she rises, early in the morning.
What shall we do with a drunken sailor, what shall we do with a drunken sailor, what shall we do with a drunken sailor early in the morning.” Again I harmonise on the wey-heys with long heys. Wey-hey and up she rises, Wey-hey and up she rises, Wey-hey and up she rises, early in the morning.
“That’s good, no need for more revision there. I assume you know your way round an MP3 player, see if you can find a reason for it all, by Eric Bogle,” I get the teapot out and the tea bags,
“Let me know when you have”
“Found it.”
I lean across and turn the radio on, switch input to Aux and turn the volume up a bit. “Have a good listen, if or when we do it, I’ll do the bass, you take the high line. If you have a look in the top draw by the wardrobe you should find the Eric Bogle songbook so you can follow the words.” The kettle starts to whistle so I make a brew while the song is going,

(Bass)
Summer’s smiling on the city, it’s another lovely day in Sydney,
Sunshine pouring down like honey in a golden waterfall
But in the room where Clare is dying, no sunshine sends the shadows flying,
No children gather round her crying, there’s no one here at all,
Except perhaps for the man who sees each little sparrow fall.

(Tenor)
Don’t talk to me about lonely souls crying,
Dark quiet rooms and old people dying.
I don’t want to hear, I don’t want to hear it at all.
Tired old people die alone every day,
Don’t blame me, I didn’t make it that way.
That’s just how it is, don’t look for a reason in it all.

(Bass)
Winter weeping on the city, a wet and windy day in Sydney,
Rain drops rolling fat and heavy down Clare’s window pane.
The rain upon the tin roof beating, disturb the rats as they are feeding.
Back to the nest they all go creeping, leaving Clare alone again.
It’s been a long and lonely time since Clare could hear the rain.




(Tenor)
Don’t talk to me about the meaning of life;
don’t sing your songs that cut like a knife.
I don’t want to hear, I don’t want to hear it at all.
Lonely old people ain’t my concern,
from dust we come, to dust we return
And that’s all there is, don’t look for a reason in it all.

(Bass)
Springtime’s come at last to Sydney; flowers are blooming in the city.
In all their multi coloured glory, they rise to greet the year.
Memories in chain recalling, footsteps on the front porch falling,
Voices through the window calling, is anybody here?
Clare Campbell’s lost and lonely soul is a long, long way from here.

(Duet)
Don’t talk to me about life’s seasons,
don’t ask me for answers, don’t ask me for reasons.
I don’t want to hear, I don’t want to hear it at all.
From the moment we’re born, we start to die;
A man can go crazy if he keeps asking why.
That’s just how it is; don’t look for a reason in it all.
“Wow, that’s going to be difficult to perform,”
“It isn’t as difficult as it sounds; just concentrate on the tune of the second part, once you can carry that all you have to do is sing the words. The difficult bit is the duet at the end, we will probably both sing the same words and tune.
“Tea up, when your bit comes up have a go.” I pass her a mug of tea, following the song in my mind I know that in…Four ..Three..Two.. One..
“Don’t talk to me about lonely souls crying,
Dark quiet rooms and old people dying.” She comes in perfectly, it seems as if she would be more comfortable singing a tone or two higher, but she continues to sing along with the song, as I continue with breakfast, “last time through Jenny,” I say, “I am putting the bacon in now, how do you like your bacon, crispy or just cooked.”
“Just cooked, I don’t like my food burnt to death thanks.” While the bacon is starting, I turn on the water heater and then open the cupboard to get the bread, cut a couple of slices and butter them, turn ninety degrees and drain all the water off the bacon, turn the bacon and then turn up the heat under it. Take the bread and refilled tea pot out to the table. Back inside get two plates out and the cutlery. “Breakfast up, Jenny, come and get it.” I plate up, remembering not to give her black pudding.
“Hey, I’m not even dressed yet, I can’t go out like this,” she says holding out the Faversham T-shirt.
“If it’s ok in front of me it should be ok in front of everyone else, but if you’re worried just slip your trousers on, but hurry, this chef doesn’t like serving cold food!
“Ok I’ll go like this if you’re sure, which side should I sit.”
“You choose, it makes no odds either way.” She goes to the far side of the table so that her back is to the window; I place her plate in front of her, and return inside for my plate and the assorted pills and potions that keep me running smoothly.
“This is a smashing start to the day, do you live like this all the time, or just to impress the visitors.”
“This is normal when I’m in the van, the rest of the time its Shreddies or Gerbil food.”
“What’s Gerbil food?”
“That’s one of the less impolite names for Muesli.” Silence descends as we work our way through our breakfasts, I have to confess I am very hungry today, whether it was the nervous energy used yesterday or the smaller portions for dinner last night, or something else I don’t know. Jenny tucks in with all the enthusiasm of a youngster who knows they will burn it off. My body stores it as fat like an old miser hoarding pennies. I pour another mug of tea for myself and offer the pot towards Jenny, she nods yes, so I pour her one as well. As I wipe the last of the fat from my plate with the last of my bread, I lean back and let loose a very satisfied sigh. Jenny is not far behind in finishing hers, “That was brilliant, I need at least ten minutes settling time before I think about washing up,” she says.
“Don’t worry about that, we’ll let breakfast settle for a bit, maybe take a lap around the field, to see who’s about, I might even let you get dressed first!”
“I was so comfortable I forgot that I came straight out.”
“Smile please, visitors approaching the door now,”
“Who is it?” She asks, trying without much success to stretch my t-shirt down to mid thigh.
“Hello Ken, Sue, how are you both this morning?”
“We’re ok, Thanks. Looks like you are running late today, Have a lie-in did you? I see at least one of you managed to get dressed, Frank, I’m disappointed in you, keeping a disorderly van.”
“Ease up Ken; Jenny’s blushing so much that I’m scared the awning might catch fire.” I said. Sue chipped in, “Give them some peace, it was their first night!” “Please, the pair of you, stop trying to embarrass us, I’m immune as I’ve known you too long. Yes, we did get up late, but yesterday was a bit of a ‘mare for Jenny, so after we left you we spent an hour talking about this and that, played some music and it must have been close to midnight before we got settled. So why are wandering around, at this time of day wouldn’t you normally be kitting up by now?”
“We wanted to make sure you were ok, this being your first solo, sorry this was going to be your first solo since Lynda died, and we didn’t expect you to find company quite so quickly.”
“Yes we’re ok, thanks, just letting our breakfasts settle before beginning the chores, and working out what to do with the rest of the day; I assume it’s a liquid lunch at the Gordon around one o’clock, and according to the program Bounty Hounds are on about then.”
“That sounds like a plan then, see you later” said Sue “Bye”
“That’s got the middle of the day sorted, I don’t know about you but I’m going to pop my pills and potions and then go horizontal for a bit” I take my Glucosamine, Cod Liver oil capsule and wash them down with the last of my tea, “coming to listen to some music for a bit.”
“Why not, although I feel guilty leaving the table like this.” Inside the van I switch on the radio to Aux and laying back on the bed suggest Jenny chooses the music from the MP3 player, I am surprised to hear Morris music, The Mother of all Morris, to be accurate and definitely not the best Morris CD I have, but well worth listening to.
“Is there any particular reason you chose this one.”
“No, but this is a Morris weekend, and I ought to at least know a little about what I will hear.” She says as she lays back on the bed beside me, “cuddle me please?” she asks as she lifts her head to allow my arm to go around her shoulders and she rest her arm across my stomach, this isn’t very comfortable after a big breakfast so I move her arm up a bit, ‘Oh why is this so addictive? I never felt this way with Lynda although I was twenty five years younger then.’ By halfway through the CD I am starting to feel heavy eyed and know this is no time for another jaunt with the faeries, Jenny is still awake and moving to the music so I don’t have worry about disturbing her too much when I start to get my arm out from under her,
“Sorry but I was getting too comfortable for our own good, if Ken and Sue come past and see the plates still on the table we will never hear the end of it, you stay here and I’ll get started.” As I start to get up from the bed I am suddenly yanked back by my t-shirt, “I said I would do the washing up Mr Chef, now sit, if you want something to do play a tune on something or sing another song of the sea.”
On her way past me I make a grab for her with the idea of delaying her getting to the sink, as I hold her she turns in my arms and pushes me back on the bed, bending down she kisses me soundly on the lips, “now behave and play something.” I was that surprised all I could do was to watch her go to the sink; she had such a wiggle going on under my t-shirt I could do nothing else. “While you’re starting on the washing up I’ll have a wash and do my teeth, see you in a bit.” After a few minutes I come out to find most of the washing and drying done so I begin putting stuff away, in another couple of minutes and it’s all done. Your turn for the bathroom, do you fancy another brew when you are finished” “Yes please.” Once the kettle is on I turn off the water heater.
“Don’t come out until after I tap on the door, I am going to get changed,” all the blinds are down so I just close the door and strip, sort out clean clothes Dead horse t-shirt, loose flannel check trousers and clean underwear, no socks as I will be wearing sandals so I am sorted, what can I do to help Jenny? She only has the clothes she wore yesterday; best wait till she comes out. I tap on the bathroom door and a minute or so later she comes out wrapped in the bath towel, “I forgot to take my clothes in, I will have to make do with what I had on yesterday.”
“I know they don’t fit you anywhere near properly, but you’re welcome to have a rummage through my t-shirts, one of them might tie in around your waist, or maybe we can get creative with the sewing kit and a couple of bandanas, later on when we go down the town we could splash out in one of the charity shops to get you a couple of changes of clothing.” The kettle starts to whistle and so I turn to the cooker and start to make the tea, after I poured the water into the pot I turned round just as Jenny was about to put on a Widders t-shirt, her back was to me and the towel was on the bed and she was bare, obviously a rare sight, very slim, hips flaring nicely and I thought it was the cut of her coat! I can see the swell of her breast in the wardrobe mirror, very, very nice, no visible droop. Thighs firm and well muscled as she worked on her balance as the t-shirt slid down over her bust, time to turn away, I don’t want to be caught peeping.
“Well, what do you think?”Asks Jenny, I can feel myself blushing, ‘bugger it I’m fifty, why should I colour up over an innocent question?’ I finish pouring the tea before I turn around to look, being aware that she only had the t-shirt on but not knowing it if you get my drift, “That looks good, can you give it a bit of shape, put your hand on your hips and gather a bit of material, she looks very uncertain so I walk up behind her and holding her hips move her towards the mirror on the wardrobe as I gather a few inches of material each side and ask.
“What do you think? Over trousers with a bandana to hold it close should look good. ” From her viewpoint and mine over her shoulder the tee looked good but from a hip level view it would be much more interesting.
“Yes, I like it, could you turn round so I can finish dressing, please.”
“Eh, errh, oh yes, sure.” I sort of fluster out and finish making the tea. Tea’s up.” She is now fully dressed except the t-shirt is loose, I go to the middle shelf of the wardrobe and pull a lilac and black bandana and folding it parallel to the diagonal fashion a belt of sorts, I drop to my knees, “come closer please,” I place the bandana around her just above her hips and tie it with a necktie knot on her left hip, once it is in position I re-arrange the t-shirt gathers to keep as much of the artwork square but with good shape for her body. “There you go, how does that appear to you.”
“That looks very good; you really are very talented you know, what sort of work do you do?”
“I don’t,” while continuing my answer I get off my knees and swing round to sit on the bed, Jenny sits beside me.