Teega's father, Konka, and his mother, Wilma, sit in the morning sun on the balcony of their ornate caravan drinking hot, steaming coffee. Their youngest son, Machu, is sitting on the grass below the balcony on which they sit, reading. Animal furs hang from the balustrade, fox and rabbit and possum. There are white sheep hides and deep red cow hides.
The sun shines. The wind rustles in the trees.
Teega makes his way across the meadow to the banks of the river, with its long grass and its willows hanging down into the water on the other side. He stands on the bank looking up and down the river. Percy stands by his side, looking up and down the river with his young master. Teega looks one way down the river. He looks in the other direct in a cursory way, then he looks back down the river.
He seems transfixed, gazing long and hard along the meandering river bank. Suddenly, a smile comes across his face, he can feel it, it is involuntary. He can feel his cheeks crease with joy. Percy looks up, alert, looking in the same direction Teega is looking. In the distance, the long grass is parting and a blond haired boy appears out of the under growth, with a black dog. He approaches Teega, smiling. Teega's heart races, not that that is visible to anybody. Maybe Hugo knows.
"Hugo," Teega says.
"Teega," Hugo says. He smiles coyly at Teega, who likes the way Hugo smiles.They lay down in the long grass looking up at the bright blue sky. Percy and Bamba touch noses, they sniff arses and then lay down together in a pool of sun near their masters. Teega sneaks looks at Hugo. He sees Hugo's blues eyes looking back. They both stare towards the unblemished blue sky. Teega's hand moves through the long grass until it finds Hugo's hand. Their fingers intertwine. Teega's heart beats a little faster.
"Did you have any trouble getting away?"
"No," said Hugo. "I told you I wouldn't." He looks at Teega and smiles.
Hugo is from the next village, the next caravan train. He and Teega met when their two gypsy tribes met to play competitive ball in the clearing. They didn’t need to speak of their attraction, they both just knew it instinctively. The two boys have been sneaking to the river bank to meet up ever since.
"Have you been waiting long?"
"No."
Teega reaches out to touch Hugo's face. Hugo pulls his head away and then smiles. He reaches out to touch Teega's face, his finger tips brush against handsome Teega's skin. Teega closes his eyes, as Hugo's fingers drift down his jaw line and over his mouth, then over his chin and over Teega’s neck and chest. Teega moves his hand across the grass and onto Hugo's leg and then on to Hugo's stomach, where it rests. Hugo's hand slides over Teega's.
"I've missed you."
"I've missed you too."
The sun is warm like honey. The two boys lie in the sun holding hands, silently, just being together.
"Do you want to swim?" says Teega.
“If you do,” says Hugo.
Teega jumps up and pulls off his lamb’s wool shirt. He stands bare-chest in front of Hugo. Hugo is watching him. Teega rubs his hands over his chest and down over his ripped stomach. Hugo smiles.
“Come on,” says Teega.
Hugo raises himself up onto his elbows.
Teega undoes the waistband of his animal skin pants. The front of the pants fall open and Teega drops them to the ground. He stands naked in front of Hugo.
Hugo tilts his head to one side and smiles. Hugo’s eyes slowly scan Teega’s body. Teega can’t help but feel pleased with himself.
Teega holds out a hand to Hugo. Hugo takes Teega’s hand and is pulled up to his feet.
“Come on!” Teega takes a few large steps to the waters edge and dives into the river. The world is blotted out. The water is cold on his body. He pushes himself up through the surface of the water into the air. He flicks the water from his wet hair and wipes his hand over his face to clear his eyes.
Hugo is standing at the waters edge.
“Come on!” calls Teega.
Hugo pulls his shirt off. Teega gets a buzz from seeing Hugo’s naked chest, which is muscular and well defined. Hugo gazes at Teega.
“Come on!” calls Teega again.
Hugo undoes his pants and they fall to the ground. He stands on the edge of the river naked, Teega can’t help but admire him.
Hugo dives into the water with a “plaoof” sound's his body breaking the surface of the water.
Teega waits excitedly for Hugo to resurface. Suddenly he feels hands on his body and Hugo surfaces directly in front of him, centimetres away. Teega is suddenly looking at Hugo’s handsome face dripping water. Hugo’s blue eyes, water cascading over them, momentarily. Teega’s breath is taken away momentarily. The world stops and it is suddenly just he and Hugo in the world together. The two handsome boys smile at each other. Hugo moves his face towards Teega, Hugo’s arms rap around him and their smooth chests rub together, their lips touch, Teega closes his eyes and they are kissing. The moment of bliss is so exquisite that it hurts and Teega pushes away, diving side ways into the water. Hugo dives after him.
Hugo feels the cool water rush over his body as he spears through it. He suddenly feels Hugo’s body over his, Hugo’s smooth chest rub against his back. He slides out of Hugo’s grip and slides through the water splashing up through the surface, Hugo’s wet body is sliding over Teega’s wet skin. They roll around together in the river, laughing, panting, regaining their foothold in the river floor and standing up to face each other again. They were laughing and touching each other, holding each other in each other’s arms.
Percy barks from the bank. Bamba barks too. Hugo looks around instinctively. He looks back, laughing. Teega laughs too, then he puts his fingers to his lips and whistles. Percy jumps into the river and starts swimming towards them. Bamba runs up and down the bank, as Percy gets further and further away from him, then he hesitates, squats down on his haunches, gets up again runs up and down barking again, then he leaps into the river.
“Come on, I’ll race you to the other bank,” says Teega. He jumps sideways and swims hard to the other side. He can feel Hugo hot on his heals.
Teega pulls himself out onto the bank first gasping for breath. Hugo jumps out moments later and lays next to Teega breathing hard.
"I beat you..."
"Only just."
Moments later, Percy leaps onto the bank next to them and shakes, showering the two boys with water.
“Hey,” shouts Hugo.
“Percy,” exclaims Teega.
Bamba jumps out of the water moments later and shakes too.
“Hey,” yells Teega.
“Bam,” calls Hugo.
Teega rolls one way, Hugo rolls the other. Bamba and Percy shake again.
“Ahhh,” call the boys again.
Teega jumps to his feet. He grabs for Hugo’s hand, Hugo grabs Teega's hand and he pulles Hugo to his feet.
“Come on, lets run.”
Teega and Hugo run up the bank of the rivers, their bare arses glowing white in the morning sun, their muscular thighs propelling them forward. Percy and Bamba run after them, their tails high.
Teega dives into the river. “Fffffftttttt pfffffffff, the water slides passed his ears.
Hugo dives into the water too, Teega hears Hugo's body slide into the water behind him.
Teega slides through the water like a torpedo, sliding through the cool blue as far as he could, holding out to the last moment, then he kicks and his arms scoops through the water in front of him.
Teega brakes the surface of the water. He looked around and Hugo brakes the surface of the water just next to him. Percy and Bamba’s heads are coming towards them. Teega smiles at his handsome, blond mate, then starts swimming for the other bank. Hugo swims after him.
Teega climbs out of the river and hugs himself in the cool breeze, jumping from one foot to the other. Hugo climbs out of the river after him.
“Still too good for you,” says Teega triumphantly.
“One day I’m going to beat you.”
“One day…” Teega can’t stop himself from smiling. “I’ll let you.”
Blonde Percy comes running out of the river, with Black Bamba right behind him.
Teega pulls his animal skin pants on over his wets legs. Hugo pulls on his shirt. Teega pulls on his lamb’s wool jacket over his muscular chest. Hugo pulls on his pants. They both pull on their boots.
Teega picks up his backpack and his walking staff. “Come on!” He runs, but runs wanting Hugo to run after him. Hugo runs after him. Just before they reach the forest, Teega turns around puts his fingers to his mouth and whistles. “Per…cy!”
Both dogs bark and run after their masters.
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