Summer Camp

CHAPTER 2 – TICKETS ARRIVE & AN INVITATION GIVEN TO MARC

Sitting at the dining table we sipped our coffees, munched on a round of toast for breakfast idly chatting about last night and our plans for the day ahead. I was planning on paying my parents a surprise visit as I hadn’t seen them for several weeks although I spoke to them regularly by telephone. As to Marc he was going to stay for a little while before returning to his home ready for the arrival of his two sons back from staying with their mother. I had just finished clearing up the breakfast things when there was a ring on the doorbell, opening the door I did my best to mask the impatience I was feeling, the time I had with Marc was precious! Standing there bright and breezy was the postman with a large envelope, “Good morning Sir, sorry to disturb you. I have an item here requiring your signature.” Smiling in reply I signed where indicated, thanked him and closed the door pondering what it could be. Marc appeared to be as intrigued as I was by the way he hovered over my shoulder trying to see the contents of the envelope. Uh uh! You nosy so and so! I giggled trying to stop him from looking, to no effect because he simply wrapped his arms around my waist and wouldn’t let me go. Okay okay I said gasping between fits of laughter, I’ll open it now.

Sitting down again side by side at the dining table I tore open the envelope and spread the contents over the table. Instantly I recognised the letter headed paper, it was from the University signed by Dr. Tom Wallis (Head of Student Services) and contained as promised two complimentary tickets (one in my name, the other was for a guest of my choosing) for one week’s stay at the summer camp. Tom’s letter outlined the timetable of events for the Summer Camp along with instructions on when and where I was to catch the coach and what to bring with me. It also reminded me that the terms and conditions of my contract which would still apply during the trip (after all although it was a ‘holiday’ I was still being paid by the University and therefore technically a member of staff). Wherever we will be based will be considered “campus” and the applicable terms were:

1. Whenever the employee is on campus he is obliged to comply with all requests made of him by senior management including lecturers. In return no request will be made which will incur permanent physical harm.
2. The employee will treat staff and students with respect at all times, in return he will be treated with all due respect afforded to members of staff.
3. During lectures and other teaching scenarios the employee is obliged to comply with all reasonable requests made by students providing it does not contravene terms 1 & 2.
4. The employee shall maintain a professional attitude at all times to facilitate the increased learning of the students and success of the University as a seat of medical excellence.
5. The employee agrees not to divulge any information to the public unless expressly permitted by the University.

We would be leaving next Saturday morning at 08:00 from the University Campus by coach and returning the following Saturday late evening. We were to bring outdoor clothing along with casual wear. I must have been lost in thought because it took a couple of taps on my shoulder by Marc to bring me back to the room. Oh sorry, I was miles away I said smiling at him. Well? Who’s the lucky person who’s going to accompany you on this free holiday then? He asked. Oh, I don’t know, I’ll have to have a long hard think about it.... deliberately overacting the innocent look. Clearly this was not a satisfactory response because with a mock frown he started to tickle me in the ribs demanding the correct answer. Wriggling and doing my best to get away I finally managed to gasp out the answer he was waiting for – he was going to be my guest to accompany me on my “holiday”. Satisfied he let me go with a broad grin on his face, and then gave me a quick kiss before announcing that he’d love to join me. Glancing at his watch and cursing under his breath he announced that he really had to pack his kit up and head on home, his boys were due home at lunch time and he needed to make a arrangements for their care while he was away next week.

Following him upstairs, I watched him pack his overnight bag and discussed our plans for the coming trip. Due to his home commitments we agreed not to meet again until Saturday morning on campus although no doubt we’d speak on the mobile or via email. Standing on my doorstep as he was leaving I gave him a big bear hug and waved him off, all the while doing my best to keep a smile on my face so he wouldn’t feel awkward about leaving me. The only consolation I had was watching his muscular back and pert bum walk down the road knowing that only a few hours ago it had been mine for the taking. Closing the door behind me the house felt suddenly empty, pull yourself together lad I thought, it won’t be long until you see him again and Marc’s clearly keen to spend time with you so stop being such a drama queen.

CHAPTER 3 – TWO COACH LOADS OF STUDENTS & A TRIP TO SCOTLAND

Having got to grips with myself, life quickly returned to normal and I spent the next couple of days with my parents having paid them a surprise visit. It was so good to see them, although I didn’t live in their pockets emotionally we were very close and I guess I was still their little boy, so I was discreet in how I described my job as a model patient and my friendship with Marc, Ethan, Tang and the other guys at University. On my return I prepared for the coming trip, treating myself to some new clothes and travel bag and generally enjoying the free time I had left until Saturday.

Having been jolted awake early on Saturday morning by my alarm clock I grabbed some breakfast, got dressed, picked up my travel bag which I’d packed the previous evening, locking my door securely behind me I made my way to the University. I really should have got a taxi because my bag was heavy and by the time I reached the campus I was hot and tired; taking a few minutes breather I watched the pigeons enjoying the quietness of the campus. When I’d cooled down I walked the short distance to the meeting point to find two coaches, some sixty students and their luggage, four members of staff and of course Marc waiting for me. Joining Marc and the other members of staff (Dave, Tom, Neil and Callum all of whom I knew intimately) I asked if I was late, No, Tom replied but another five minutes and you would have been!

With that the two coach drivers appeared and invited everyone to start loading their luggage into the stowage areas of the coach, when that was done the students crammed onto the coach jostling each other in a good natured way hoping to get the best seats for themselves. Tom turned to us and whispered there’s no need for us to rush, we had seats reserved for us at the front of the second coach. Once the stampede was over we climbed on board and found our seats – Dave and Tom in the front two seats, then me and Marc, finally Neil and Callum behind us. As we settled ourselves Dave turned round looked at the four of us with a dirty grin and asked if we’re looking forward to this trip. When we replied that we were, he said good because so was he and Tom and that they were anticipating a very enjoyable time for all of us especially if we enjoyed getting our rings stretched to the max! He laughed at our expressions; we clearly hadn’t expected him to be quite so frank in their plans for us. All this hilarity attracted the attention of the other students and they called out what was going on, don’t worry lads, Dave replied, you’ll find out soon enough! He sat down again with a very dirty chuckle.

Marc turned to me whispering in my ear asking what I made of it all. I shrugged my shoulders, saying that we’d find out soon enough but whatever is going to happen probably won’t be anything like we imagine it to be like. Did it matter? We’ve enjoyed the previous week’s activities so we’ll probably enjoy this week’s activities too. So I guess its sit back and enjoy the ride, so to speak. Indeed, Marc agreed, it just depends on who’s doing the riding!

Within a few minutes the coaches pulled away and started our long journey northwards to Scotland. You won’t be surprised to hear that the journey was tedious to say the least, six hours on the road with a couple of convenience breaks. For a while the six of us sat and chatted but the conversations naturally died out after about an hour and before long I was drifting off to sleep for most of the journey, using Marc’s beefy shoulder for a pillow. Whenever I stirred I could feel his hand resting on my thigh, slowly caressing it. Smiling to myself I would drift off again.