Jason’s Journey

‘How long have you bloody known?’ Frank Lord loomed over Mary. She sat silently at the kitchen table calmly drinking her cup of tea as her husband ranted on at her. ‘I take it no one was ever going to actually tell me? But why the bloody hell should I know anything I’m only his bloody father.’  He sat down heavily on the chair opposite and slammed his hand down on the table top, ‘Well? Are you just going to bloody sit there or are what?’

Mary put her cup on the table, shifted on her chair so that she now sat side on to Frank rather than facing him and placed her hands on her lap. That Frank had learned the truth about Jason and why his marriage to Alice had ended in divorce wasn’t a surprise. It was inevitable that he would find out one day. It was the fact it had been her ten year old granddaughter that had told him which caused her distress so rather than answer his question she asked one of her own. ‘I’ll talk to you about our son when you calm down and stop swearing Frank but before I do I’d like to know exactly what Sarah said. I’m struggling to understand why a ten year old child would know why her parents divorced and how on earth she knows about her father’s sexuality?’ She turned her head to face her irate husband and stared him down.

No one else in Frank’s world could speak to him or control him the way Mary did. At just over five feet tall she was over a foot shorter than her husband and her slight frame and the care she took in her physical and mental wellbeing meant she weighed considerably less than he. She was David to his Goliath but had no fear of him and tolerated none of the bluff and bluster he used to such good effect on others.

Frank worshipped Mary. She had been his ‘Princess’ when they were married and that was how he still thought of her. Her friends and family had argued against the marriage citing Frank’s temper and radical views as reasons not to accept his proposal, but she knew a different Frank to the one they saw. Her Frank was charming and intelligent and he treated her like a delicate Dresden China Lady. She had learned early on in their romance that the political views he expressed were borne out of a fear that his way of life was under threat from immigration, social liberalism and on occasion pure bloody mindedness. When they were alone together the trust and respect they had for each other allowed him to relax and think more rationally about some of the subjects against which he railed and for Mary to slowly educate and inform him on things that caused him most anger and resentment. Thanks to her influence and patience he was no longer a member of any ultra-right organisations and had stopped socialising with anyone who was. She had transformed him from a hot headed bullying bigot into a thoughtful tolerant man who loved his family and was an excellent employer to those who worked for him. His one blind spot remained homosexuality and she had always known why.

Before he was even ten years old and in his final year at primary school Mary had known that Jason was different to other boys his age and so had Frank, although he could never bring himself to admit it. Jason went along with his father’s plans for him and for the first twenty or so years of his life had never rebelled against or strayed from the path he had been placed on. He had even married Alice and much to everyone’s delight and Mary’s surprise they had produced two wonderful daughters. Yet throughout their twelve months of courting and eight years of marriage Mary had known this day would come. The day when Jason’s secret was revealed. The day Frank would discover his son was gay, a puff, a queer, a cocksucker. For Frank is was the thing he dreaded the most - the humiliation and stigma of having a bum-boy for a son. His pride and self esteem had been horribly undermined by lies and subterfuge and what made it even worse for him to deal with was his wife’s involvement in the cover-up. But Mary had prepared for this day. She had long ago decided that in a war between father and son in which she would be forced to chose a side she would put her child’s happiness before her own. She had seen the destruction of his inner self that lying about his sexuality had caused her son. His lack of happiness, of losing the one he loved and hurting those he tried to. She had thought long and hard about what she would say and if necessary ultimately do to protect and support Jason. She had hardened her heart. She remembered a phrase she had heard on the tv a few nights ago – she was ready to take Frank down.

She saw that Frank was struggling to answer her, which could only mean that he had engineered his ‘discovery’. She strongly suspected that he was using Sarah, their granddaughter, as an excuse for bringing to light a subject that had been hidden in darkness for too long. ‘I hope you haven’t been using Sarah as some sort of naïve spy in all this, because if you have Frank Lord then God help you.’ She saw a panicked look enter his eyes as his face turned red with what she knew was embarrassment. ‘You damn well have haven’t you? Haven’t you?’ Her voice was commanding and powerful and the fact that she had sworn, however mildly, warned Frank that he was in trouble. But his pride was hurt and he was angry.

‘All I did was ask her a few questions. If she repeated them to her mum that’s not my fault.’

‘Not your fault? Not your fault? How can you sit there and say that? She is ten years old. Has it even crossed your mind what that child is thinking now? How she is feeling about her mum and dad?’ Her voice conveyed the disgust she felt and Frank heard it. ‘You’ve done some pretty awful things in your time Frank but this takes the biscuit.’ She shook her head at him and for the first time in the thirty six years they had been married he saw not love and understanding in her eyes but anger and loathing for what he had done. He shrank into himself under her withering gaze.

Mary stood and walked out of the room leaving him alone with his shame and anger. It seemed as though a million things were whirling around in his head; questions, excuses, lies, anger, sadness, self-pity, disgust, resentment but above all hatred for what his son was. The pressure inside his skull was palpable. He fought back tears, resisted the urge to smash something, anything. He wanted to hit out to push his fear and anger onto someone else. He felt as though he would explode at any minute.

He heard Mary talking in the hall and when she came back into the kitchen she was wearing her coat and carried her handbag and a small suitcase. He looked at her with confusion. ‘What are you doing Mary? Where are you going?’

Mary took no pleasure in rubbing Frank’s nose in the mess of his own making and she knew that when she told him where she was headed he was likely to blow a gasket but she steeled herself and stood firm. ‘I’m going to London to stay with my son. I’d appreciate you not trying to contact me unless it’s to apologise to both of us.’

His anger bubbled over and his temper got the better of him. ‘What have I got to apologise to him for woman?’ he bellowed. ‘He’s the fucking puff not me. He’s the fucking queer that ruined a marriage not me. I’m not the one who’s been lying to everybody for the last thirty years, my shit shoveller of a bastard son is.’ In his frustration he picked up Mary’s discarded cup and threw it blindly. She watched as it smashed into and through the kitchen window before shattering on the patio. The shock of what he had just done brought Frank to silence. He looked from the broken window to the woman he loved above all others. He knew in his heat that he was wrong. He knew deep in his very core that he had known about Jason all the time. He knew he had to beg forgiveness. But he was a proud man and stubborn with it. He spoke quietly his voice full of bitterness, ‘Go one then woman, go.’ Mary turned and walked to the front door her head held high as tears of frustration, anger and sadness fell from her eyes. Just before she closed the door behind her he spoke again. ‘If you want to chose that queer over me so be it, but don’t think you can ever come back here. He’s no son of mine and I’m done with the pair of you.’

Mary paused then without turning around walked to the taxi he had heard her ordering earlier. The driver, an man of Asian descent,  took her bag from her opened the rear door and helped her into the car. He put her bag on the seat next to her then closed the door got back into the driving seat and drove off. Frank was left staring out of an open front door whilst he stood alone in an empty house.

                                                       ……………………..                                                                                    

Totally unaware of the drama unfolding two hundred miles away, Jason and Marvin were enjoying each other’s company over lunch at a small café near to where they lived in Richmond upon Thames. Marvin woke that morning feeling a little disoriented as he sleepily looked round the unfamiliar room. He slowly remembered where he was and looked to see if Jason was still with him. He sighed with relief when he saw the beautifully peaceful face laying on the pillow next to him the lips slightly parted in a contented smile. At least my snoring didn’t drive him away he thought to himself. Jason was laying on his front with his right leg drawn up and had clearly been too warm in the night as the duvet had been all but kicked off with only his left bum cheek and thigh still being covered. Marvin rolled onto his side and propped his head up on his right hand so that he could study the sleeping form at his leisure. He reached out and gently put a finger tip on the knee bent towards him and slowly traced circles on the warm skin. Jason’s legs were covered in thin black hairs that did nothing to hide the strong muscle under the skin from all the exercises he put himself through at the gym. Marvin’s finger was soon joined  by the rest of his hand as he stroked his way along the thigh to where it met what he thought of as one half of the most perfect bum he had ever seen.

Jason had the slim muscular build of an athlete a total contrast to Marvin whose musculature was heavier and much more ripped thanks to the many hours he spent in the gym. He enjoyed exploring the finer less bulky body admiring the way the muscles flowed together under the blemish free skin. He followed the bikini line over the rounded buttock and ran his hand up the side of Jason’s torso to his shaved armpit. Jason had been prevaricating about having all his body hair removed ever since he had first seen Marvin naked in the showers at the gym. He found looking at a totally naked man incredibly erotic and after some encouragement from Marvin had finally allowed himself to be presented to Marvin’s Body Image expert who had waxed and shaved him. They had decided to leave the hairs on his legs as they were so fine and looked very sexy.

Marvin’s fingers brushed into the smooth arm pit, his touch was so light to be almost feather like. Jason responded to his exploration for the first time. Goose bumps appeared across his entire body and a groan of pleasure escaped his lips. Marvin leaned in and kissed Jason’s shoulder at the same time putting the flat of his hand on the small of his back. As he then kissed and licked his way along the shoulder to the neck and ear his hand moved in firm circles cross the lower back and arse cheeks of his now aroused and awake bed mate. ‘Mmmmm…..’snice.’ he mumbled opening his eyes and focusing on the smiling face in front of him. Marvin pressed his lips to the sleepy mouth and tenderly encouraged his friend and lover to roll over onto his back. Once he had him where he wanted him Marvin began to explore Jason’s chest and six pack stomach. He pinched and rolled the large brown nipples between finger and thumb until they were hard and erect enjoying the reaction it caused as Jason began to breathe more heavily and move sensuously as the pressure on his tits grew and the pleasurable pain he was inflicting became more intense. Marvin lowered his mouth to the flexing chest and licked his way towards the hard nub. His tongue flicked back and forth across it then he took it between his teeth and began to bite down at the same time squeezing the other nipple harder, twisting it until Jason could stand no more and his back arched upwards and a guttural cry filled the room. Marvin kissed Jason again, this time with more force and passion pushing his tongue through his lips and teeth and taking possession of him. Jason, now fully awake returned the kiss as his hands travelled all over the body he had fantasised about. The sheer power and size of the muscles he rubbed and stroked and squeezed drove his excitement and need to heights he had not known before. He recalled sex with Mark being good and enjoyable but this was on a different level. His whole body was responding to Marvin’s ministrations, twitching and convulsing as his cock just seemed to get harder and harder. He almost rose off the bed completely when he felt a firm grip take hold of his pulsing manhood and then began to pull his foreskin back and forward across the sensitive helmet. His exclamation of pleasure filled not just the bedroom but the whole house this time and when Marvin moved down his body and took his cock into his mouth and started to suck and lick and pump him, he knew that this is how heaven would feel – if he got there! He felt fingers brush his balls then move down to his perineum then into the warm valley between his arse cheeks. It pushed into the crack searching for the pleasure button concealed in it’s depths. Once Marvin felt the puckered ring he took his mouth from the leaking tap that was Jason’s dick and licked down the shaft to the tight but big ball sac. He put a hand behind Jason’s knee and pushed the leg back as far as he could revealing his boy pussy to his hungry gaze for the firs time. ‘Fuck Jay your fucking beautiful.’ Marvin exclaimed. ‘Man that is awesome.’

Unable to contain himself Marvin’s mouth and tongue dived at the exposed most intimate part of the man he now totally claimed as his lover. The clean musky scent of his man was intoxicating and the taste of him as he licked and probed the tender anus almost drove him wild. Jason responded by pushed his mancunt into his face and begging him to lick him deeper. Then all the barriers came crashing down – Jason surrendered himself totally to his new lover.

‘Fuck me Marvin. Fuck me now.’ He did not need to be asked twice. He knelt between Jason’s legs and raised them over his shoulders. Jason grabbed the lube form his bedside drawer and squeezed a copious amount onto Marvin’s fingers so he could rub it over and iflat nto the eager cunt. Marvin then coated his achingly hard fuck tool. He pressed the head against the tight hole and rocked back and forth onto it, pushing a little harder on each forward motion. He felt the tight ring relax and give under the pressure and suddenly he was passed Jason’s outer defences and sliding into his waiting love channel. It had been over ten years since Mark had popped Jason’s cherry and since then he had only had sex with Alice. He had never cheated on her and had spent their eight years of marriage trying to bury his true nature. Marvin’s was only the second cock he had given his boy hole to and although Mark had only fucked him once, the emotions and feelings he experienced as the hot hard dick entered him seemed to be the most perfectly natural thing he had ever felt. He had expected pain and discomfort but apart from a slight stabbing sensation as his hole was first breached he felt nothing but pleasure. Jason’s hands bunched into fists as Marvin pushed in until his balls came to rest against him. He felt his own balls brushing against the hard abs of Marvin’s stomach and when he looked down he was surprised to see the puddle of cum on his own. Giving him time to adjust Marvin paused when he was balls deep and smiled down at Jason happy to see him enjoying himself.  He knew he was going to fall in love with this man and welcomed the prospect without fear or apprehension. Jason began to get impatient so he dug his heels into the bed and pushed his arse onto the rod invading his guts. He could feel every one of Marvin’s eight and one quarter inches as it filled him completely and now wanted him to make love to him.

Marvin held Jason’s legs at the ankles spread them wide and lifted his arse up off the bed. The ease with which Marvin held him as he began fucking his cock in and out of his arse reminded Jason that he was having sex with someone who not only knew what he was doing but also had the strength and stamina to be able to satisfy him.

‘Everything okay Jay?’ Marvin’s cock continued it’s steady pace .

‘Oh yes everything’s fine …….aarrgghhhhhh.’

‘Good. Now do you want me to really fuck you? Do you want me to ream your cunt and make you scream like a girl?’

‘Yes. Yes. Fuck me Marve. Fuck me hard.’ Marvin pulled back till just his helmet was inside Jason then without warning slammed it back into him almost bruising his balls as they slapped hard against the bottom of Jason’s bum. To Jason it felt as though he had received an electric shock and when the force of the thrust carried the end of the invading tool past his inner sphincter he did indeed scream. His arms flew above his head and his hands took a firm hold on the bedhead. His back arched so much that Marvin had trouble keeping control of him. He felt the cock withdraw then slam back in. Again and again Marvin pounded into his lover’s eager cunt then wrapping Jason’s legs around his waist he forced him further back on to his shoulders so that his arse was totally at his mercy. Then he started to fuck him. Hard and long, short and fast, he teased and played with him never letting Jason settle into a rhythm. He loved the feeling of the tight love tunnel as it gripped and slithered around his sensitive dick.

Sweat poured off both men as Jason continued to take a pounding. The smell and sound of sex filled the air. The bed that Jason had laughingly said would be cleaner than Marvin’s now wasn’t. Neither man cared as their fuck became more and more physical. Jason reached forward and dug his fingers into Marvin’s magnificent chest racking them down across the hard nipples to the hard abs flexing as the alpha male pummelled him without mercy. Marvin could feel his climax gathering itself, ready to explode deep inside the hot gut. ‘I want you to cum with me Jay. Okay?’ Jason nodded and reached for his cock. ‘No, don’t touch yourself. I’ll tell you when. You’ll cum when I do? Got it?’  Again, all Jason could do was nod and grunt. Marvin’s thrusting got faster, deeper more erratic. He felt the hands holding his ankles suddenly grip tighter, the cock pistoning in and out of him felt bigger, harder. ‘Now Jay, now. Cum for me Jay.’ Jason felt Marvin explode deep inside him and it triggered his own shattering orgasm. Rope after rope of his man milk flew from the end of his unrestrained cock. It sprayed over both of them hitting arms, legs, faces, hair and torsos. Marvin was shocked at the intensity of his orgasm and as he came back down to earth couldn’t believe how much of his juice was already leaking out of Jason’s pussy.

Their breathing began to steady. Marvin’s cock stayed hard and he continued to rock slowly and almost imperceptively in and out of the cum filled mancunt carefully watching his lover’s face to ensure he was happy and comfortable. Jason opened his eyes and relaxed allowing his legs to fall back onto the bed. He reached up to Marvin’s chest and pulled him to him so they could hug each other. Basking in the afterglow of the most intense sex either had ever had neither of them spoke.

Jason felt the pleasure tool inside him soften, shrink and eventually slide out of him. Marvin took that as his queue to roll off his man and to lie beside him. They lay side by side simply holding hands their fingers entwined saying nothing, enjoying the silence. Jason was completely blown away by the intensity of the sex they had just had. He hadn’t experienced anything like it before. Sex with Mark had been good but that was all. There had never been any emotional involvement, except for the last time they had met. Sex with Marvin was so very different. For a start he had felt special and as a result had been more relaxed. He totally trusted Marvin whereas there had always been something about Mark that had held him back. He knew now what it was. Mark was married and Jason had been hiding his real self from everyone except Mark. They met for sex out of a mutual necessity. Sex with Marvin was total. Neither man had any need to hide from anything or anyone. Jason had never been so happy.

While Jason was working out why he enjoyed sex with Marvin so much, Marvin was coming to terms with the fact that as Toby had once warned him, he was hooked on someone. He had to acknowledge that finally, when least expected and with someone he would never have dreamed would affect him so much, he was falling in love. Perhaps I already am, he thought. He turned his head and looked again at the perfect profile of the man next to him. ‘My God Jay,’ he whispered. ‘You are fucking gorgeous.’ He rolled onto his side and cupped Jason’s chin in his hand gently bringing his face round so they could look each other in the eye. ‘You are the most beautiful man I know and I don’t want you wandering off with anyone else. Okay?’ Jason chuckled and nodded.

‘Okay, I won’t then.’ They kissed tenderly before Marvin pushed himself up and sat cross legged on the bed. He became nervous and for once a little unsure of himself, fidgeting with the duvet and unable to look directly at Jason. ‘What is it Marve? What do you want to say? It’s all over your face that you want to tell me something so come on tell me.’

‘I meant it when I said I don’t want you going anywhere or running off with someone else.’

‘I know. That’s why I just said I wouldn’t.’

‘It’s just ……..’ He suddenly felt tongue tied and awkward. ‘Fuck, I feel like a bloody teenager again.’ He took a deep breath. ‘Okay here goes.’ He finally looked directly at Jason, ‘Will you be my boyfriend please Jay. I’ve never had one before so I might be crap at it and I’ve always thought I was bi – sexual not gay. But you make me feel different, like I want to be with you every day. I don’t want anything or anyone else when I’m with you. So what do you think?’ He looked so nervous and worried that he was about to say no, that Jason decided to come straight to the point.

‘I’ve never had a boyfriend before either so I guess we’ll just have to work it through together.’ It took a moment for what he had just said to register with Marvin but when it did a huge smile was plastered over his face.

‘That’s that sorted then. Good.’ He bounced off the bed. ‘Do you fancy something to eat cause I’m bloody starving.’ And two hours later, showered, shaved and dressed they could be found having lunch at a café not far from where they lived. Fortunately for them they had eaten and were just about to sit back with their coffees when Jason’s phone rang. He saw the name on the screen and answered it quite happily.

‘Hi Mum, what’s up?’ Marvin watched with growing concern as the smile left his partner’s face to be replaced by an expression he had not seen before. Fury. Jason sat listening to his mum saying nothing in response until the end of the call. ‘Don’t worry mum, you can stay as long as you need to. Get a cab from the station don’t fight with the tube. And mum, call me when you get to Kings Cross…………I will……Yes mum………….okay, see you soon.’ Making sure the call was disconnected he put his phone face down on the table. He looked at Marvin then down at his hands, then back at Marvin. Tears were forming in his eyes and Marvin could tell from his behaviour that they were tears of anger and frustration.

‘Do you want to talk about it or do you want to go home?’

‘Let’s walk. By the river.’ Jason stood and walked off towards the water. Marvin paid the bill and followed Jason to where he was waiting for him by the river bank. They walked in silence until there was no one within earshot and they came to a bench. Marvin sat, Jason remained standing staring out over the sluggish waters of the Thames. Marvin reached out and took hold of his hand.

‘Come and sit down mate then you can tell me what’s happened.’ He gently pulled on Jason’s hand to encourage his compliance. He saw his lover’s shoulders slump forward as Jason lost his battle with his emotions and tears began to run down his face. Marvin was on his feet with his arms around him in seconds. He held him tight and, rubbing his back as his mum had done for him when as a boy he was upset. He felt Jason’s arms wrap around him as he buried his face in the comfort of his neck. If people looked or commented about two prime specimens of manhood holding on to each other in distress neither Marvin or Jason noticed. Marvin was totally focused on his man and Jason was too angry and sad to care what anyone might think. As he felt Jason beginning to regain control of himself he guided him back to the bench and they sat down. ‘I know that was your mum on the phone and I’m guessing she had bad news.’ Jason nodded. ‘Has someone died?’ He shook his head. ‘Has there been an accident, is someone hurt?’ Another shake of the head. ‘I don’t know then Jay………is someone ill?’

‘No it’s nothing like that. It’s dad. He knows.’ Marvin waited for clarification. None was forthcoming.

‘Knows what?’ Then even as he asked he knew the answer. ‘I get it, he knows you’re gay and he’s gone ballistic. He’s rowed with your mum and she’s left him and she’s on her way here.’ Jason looked at him in amazement and started to smile.

‘How the fuck do you do it? You must be bloody psychic or something.’ He began to laugh. ‘My mum is bloody amazing. I mean why do it now? What’s the fucking point of her doing it now? It’s all a bit too late really isn’t it? Why didn’t she do this then when I needed her to? Perhaps I wouldn’t be so fucked up.’ He slumped back into the bench looking defeated and lost.

Marvin wasn’t about to let him wallow in self-pity, deciding instead that tough love was called for. ‘And where exactly would she have gone ten or fifteen years ago? What would have happened to you if she’d left you with him? What would you have done if she’d left?’

‘She could have taken me with her. We could have gone together.’

‘Really? And he’d have let her walk out with you would he? Come on Jay get real. There was nothing she could have done. From what you’ve told me about him your dad’s a complete and utter cunt. He’s a bully and a bigot. He would probably have knocked six buckets of shit out of you and done God knows what to your mum. The man needs locking up.’

‘Yeah yeah okay. Your probably right.’

‘There’s no probably about it. Your mum stayed because it was the best of a bad lot. At least you were safe and she kept it from him. Sounds like a brave woman to me.’ He’d said enough for now, he could tell from he change in Jason’s posture and his eyes were clear and bright again.

‘You know you shouldn’t really talk about my dad like that. I mean he is my dad.’ Marvin turned to face him ready to tell him exactly what he thought of Frank Lord then he saw the familiar cheeky smile and dancing eyes that told him he was being wound up again. Laughing, Jason said, ‘but your right. He is a cunt.’ Then they were both laughing and before they knew it were kissing. It was a tender kiss full of love. ‘Well,’ Jason exclaimed, ‘today is full of firsts.’ Marvin looked at him  quizzically so Jason explained. ‘This morning I had sex for the first time with my new boyfriend during which I was fucked for the first time without a condom – and I have to tell you it was fucking excellent -  my mum has left my dad and to top it all off I just kissed the man I love in public.’

‘What did you just say?’

‘Do pay attention,’ Jason quipped. ‘I said that this morning I had se…..’

‘NO, not that. The last bit. The bit about the kiss.’

‘Oh you mean the part where I said I’d kissed the man I love in public.’

‘Yes but how do you know? I mean when did …..’

‘When did I know I love you? I was certain about ten minutes ago, when you held me and kissed me and didn’t care about anything but me. I’ve been hoping and wondering about you for months. That’s why it took me so long to agree to move in with you, I was scared. I am still scared. I’m frightened I won’t be good enough or strong enough or exciting enough. I’m frightened that I’ll lose you like I do everyone else. I’m frightened that you’ll get tired of me and my fucking family.’ He laughed again. ‘So no pressure Marvin. Or maybe we should stop before we start.’

‘Have you any idea how big a knob you can be? Stop before we start?’ Marvin stood up and it was very clear he was angry. ‘I’ll give you something to be frightened of shall I? Watch this and be afraid I don’t do it every fucking time we’re out together.’ He jumped up onto the bench put his hands around his mouth like a mega phone and shouted as loud as he could.

‘I LOVE JASON LORD AND HE LOVES ME.’ He turned and faced in the other direction and repeated his action. ‘I LOVE JASON LORD AND HE LOVES ME…………do you want me to say it again?’

‘Marvin get down. Everyone’s looking at us.’

‘I don’t care. LET EVERYONE LOOK.’ He smiled down at him. ‘I love you, you bloody idiot. And I don’t give a flying fuck who knows.’ He jumped down and took Jason in his arms. ‘Please don’t be frightened Jason. I’m not planning on going anywhere unless you come with me. You’re stuck with me mate so get used to it. And if you think that kiss was special wait till I’ve finished this one.’ He pressed his lips to Jason’s, twisted him round so that he was bent backwards supported in his arms and made love to his mouth. He poured as much love and passion into the kiss as he could then when it finished and they were both stood upright he told him, ‘now that was special. A special – I love you and don’t ever forget it kiss.’ People on the riverbank started to applaud, then whistle, then whoop and shout to show their support for the two lovers. Shouts of ‘ENCORE’ rang out.

‘Bow and smile.’

‘What?’

‘Bow and smile or I’ll shag you over the bench for an encore.’

‘You fucking would to. Pervert.’ So they held hands ad bowed with a flourish and a wave then turned and walked towards home, arm in arm.