A special gathering – Chapter 1

*The main theme of this story is socks, either clean or reasonably dirty.*

It was a sunny spring day. Quintin arrived first. He lived very close by and went by foot. The house was identical to everyone else’s in the neighbourhood: Concrete houses with adorning walls of red bricks, and a roof of artificial black tiles. They all consisted of an unique ground floor and a garage, with a pebble alley and a small garden, which in this case was decorated with small rose bushes and a simple lawn. Quintin rang the bell and Nicolas opened the door. He was still barefoot in his pajamas despite being already 2 pm.

Quintin had a broad smile on his face.

“It’s done?” asked Nicholas.

“Done!” said Quintin. “I checked my account this morning.”

“How much” whispered Nicholas?

“Seven hundred forty five….”

“YIHUUUUUUUU!” exclaimed Nicholas without waiting for the end.

Nicholas jumped on Quintin and tumbled with him. They rolled in the grass.

“This is settled.” said Quintin. “I have enough funds to move to your house and we will do whatever pleases us. No work anymore. Only sports, games and fuck.”

“So when do you move in?”

“I could start tomorrow. But I have some work to do at my old apartment.”

“I’ll help you. And as your mother told you before she died: money does not make you a god, we’ll do everything ourselves. I don’t wanna be a spoiled asshole.” said Nicholas.

“I know you want to live in sobriety and dignity. I told you I love that. We will make our shopping at discount and we won’t change our habits. Except that I never want to go to the office again. Not that.”

“I understand. It does not appeal to me either, even if I never had to.”

“Your job at the hospital is not easy either.”

“You know, and uuuh if you still agree, I think I will keep a par-time there. I don’t want to abandon my patients.”

“Ok pal, I understand.”

They stayed silent for a few seconds, birds chirping around them.

“You know” said Nicholas, “you are just as beautiful as I ever dreamed…”

“You are my dream body ever” answered Quintin, there is nothing I would change if I had to invent you.”

They laughed heartily and entered their home holding hands.

Choose:

– If Nicholas had a shower today read at 1)

– If not, read at 2)

1) Nicholas had wet hair and a distinctive smell of flowery shower gel.