graduation 15 - 16

Author: inm851
Title: graduation 15 - 16
Date: 21 May 2011

“Guys you look as if you're about to run, do I need to chain you down?” He laughed but stopped and looked at us seriously. “You'd have to get the lift to work, find the door out then get through the gate without the guards seeing you, then of course there's the irons and suits. Pretty noticeable! The guards are mostly all marksmen.” He laughed again.

“Well Al gave you a head start on chaining me down!” I forced a grin, “That's why I haven't used my arm.”
“It was fucking accident, I didn't mean to, you shouldn't have jumped me!”

“Guys.... Come round here Bill.”
“Why?”
“Just come round and see, or will I come to you?”
“No I'll come.” I walked slowly round the table and stood beside him with my right hand down by the belt.
“Thought it was the other one?”
“It's already locked boss!”
“What the fuck is wrong with you two? Turn round.” He expelled a sigh. “Right round! Shit!”
“Go and have a fag and relax!”

“Do we get a hearty meal as well?” I asked him.
He laughed, “Don't know about that but seriously considering putting my boot in your arses a few times!”

“Sorry.”

“What you done now?” Serge asked as he came through the door.
“Nothing. I don't think anyway.” I looked at Eric.

“Dave I don't know. Maybe you can make sense of it, they make their quips as usual then apologise and go quiet. Billy go and sit down I told you. There's something bothering them I think.”

“It's him Sergeant Dave, no, Eric not Billy, he was telling how we could escape and get shot!” Alan said worriedly.
Eric looked shocked and bewildered, “What! It was a joke, you looked like a deer that just smelled a lion nearby! I thought you were winding me up.”
“What about the phone call then and Ian?” I was asking Eric but watching the serge.

“What phone call Eric?”

“Phone call I didn't make any calls in here... Oh wait, Jim called when I was in here, obviously having a fuck-fest or whatever straight guys do on a Friday night. I don't know about Ian.”

“What about the call. guys?”

“He said we were part of the problems and you wanted the gang in to help and you needed to get rid of us.” I said.
“Yeah and Ian said you would arrange an accident, so we couldn't tell, but we wouldn't talk anyway. You could have us commuted and just keep us chained away from anyone who might cause problems if they knew who we were!” Alan added breathlessly.

“What the fuck Eric. As tiresome and troublesome as the other two can be at least they think before they, well Andy does, speak!”
“They're winding us up Dave! Come clean guys... You ARE winding us up? Shit I never said anything like that! C'mon...I mean commuting what that shit about?”

“You did! You said you heard about a couple of troublemakers and they were commuted and never got outside of the prison walls. They were kept chained in their cells most of the time.” Alan explained.

“Yeah. I remember they had their sentences commuted to life from the death sentence.”

“What did you think he meant Alan?” Serge asked him as he sat opposite him.
“Just what I said, you cut their voice box so they couldn't speak and kept them locked away!”

“I only knew a few guys that were muted, lifers who made everyone miserable with their constant sexual barrages, they thought they wouldn't have to do the hard labour, in case they offended the public. They found otherwise, I think there are still a couple out on road gang or farm work.” He looked at me, “You thought the same?”

“No, I had pictures of commuting convicts on the bus or train going to work somewhere. But we already told you we wouldn't mention anything about the place when you asked if we could keep it all a secret. You wouldn't need to mute us if we were inside the prison all the time?”

“Fuck's sake Eric what exactly did you say. Shit! Mature they may be but they still are kids just like Ian is still a kid. Well more mature than my middle nephew and no far behind the elder one. No Eric shut up. They are not shitting you, they're shitting themselves because they have heard something!”


“Guys one side of a conversation doesn't necessarily mean what you may take it to mean.” Serge spoke to Alan and me.

“I don't know I'm always waiting for them to put that wide 'gotcha' grin on!” Eric looked at both of us looking for a ray of hope I think.

“Did you read their files? You know what kind of life...”
“FUCK! Does everybody know what's in those fuckin' files except us!” I was exasperated, “It wasn't his fault, it wasn't my fault it was just the families we were born into! Maybe if our mothers were living it would be different... I mean what's the chances of being born within minutes and your mothers dying in childbirth.”

“Not much and it's Mother not Mothers!” Eric corrected.

“ERIC!” serge grabbed Eric by the shoulder, “FUCK! Don't you know about tact and timing.”

“Mother? What bout our Mothers.....You mean........” He vomited all over the table and got the serge.
That brought me out of the trance I had fallen into. I grabbed a hold of him and held him as he retched and sobbed, “That's why they didn't want us together? What about the photographs? You're my brother, real brother?”

“Twin Alan, Billy is your twin! I'm sorry I wasn't thinking when I blurted it out. I actually wanted to tell you but Dave said we should do it when you were together.. uhm and probably under better circumstances! I'm sorry. To both of you, I'm sorry.” Eric kept going to move but serge wouldn't let him. “Dave just let me go I need ...”

“OK!”

“I'm sorry guys!” Eric said as he stood.
The door opened and Jim Riley came in, “Hey guys The fixer is here. Where's that thug of a nephew Dave........ Coffee yep, fresh coffee sounds good, shift Eric, I'll keep you right. Just shout when you're ready for it!”

“I'm sorry Billy, I'm drooling shit all over you shoulder an back. WHY!” Alan's tears still flowed.
“I don't know, big little bro', guess we were split so they still had something of her or maybe so they could get revenge on us for taking her away from them. I'd often wondered who my father, s'pose it's our father, was, sure as hell wasn't them gormless pieces of shit..” I looked at the sergeant, “Do you know? Or should I say what fucking else do you know and still have to tell us?”

“Just hold on to each other a while, I need to clean up a bit. Just talk to each other try and make some sense of it all.” He turned as the door opened.

“Always cleaning up after you and your boys these days it seems.” Riley threw a towel at the serge, “C'mon boys let's get you over here on this couch and I'll clean this up. You got fags, your coffee is here.”

He untangled us and shifted us over to the couch where we sat pressed hard side by side just touching one another on the hand, arm, shoulder.

“Apologised to him for drooling on him, filled my lap and not a word.” Serge muttered as he wiped off his lap.
I whispered to Alan...
“Dave.” Riley nodded to Alan who was looking at the serge.
I nudged him, he looked at me, then back to the serge, “Gggotcha!”
“Yea, real good too!” Serge blinked rapidly and walked smartly out the door muttering 'damn kids who'd have' em, never me a gay fucker... I fuckin' did though'

“No shit!” I said out loud.
Riley finished cleaning the table and floor. “You want some company? Cost you one of them cigarettes though!” He wrapped a blanket around us. He nodded to Alan when I frowned at him.

I looked, Alan was shivering and shaking, I hadn't noticed because I was shaking a bit too.
He nodded when I mouthed 'Its shock?'

“It is OK to let go and have good cry you know, you don't have to be strong all the time.” He was still holding Alan's hand but not the same way as he had steadied it when he waited patiently refusing to take the lighter and do it himself, “You'll manage fine, Jeezus a chained up convict and he expects me to light my own cigarette. Get a grip a real good grip it won't break.” That's when I noticed Alan had dropped the lighter and was holding Riley's hand tightly. I stared at his hand.

“Why don't I use you as bookends, budge up.” He waggled his arse in between us, “Now guys,no and I mean NO funny business. I'm straight, well unless needs must, but I had to come out of my nice warm wife....zz bed to come here, seems to be all I do these days. Some of us have to be straight with all them other bent fuckers or fuckees out there. No I don't have a problem, hell they're my best mates.”

“But no completely you mean! You do..uhm.” I stopped and raised my head off his shoulder.
“What... Oh yeah, dip my wick yeah. No don't let others dip theirs, so don't start begging me neither of you.” He squeezed us both.

“Why you doing this boss?” Alan whispered to him.
“Doing what?”
“He means being nice to us, but we appreciate it...”

“It's difficult to understand, I can see that. I like you, you know kids I like kids. Don't like seeing them hurting. You have to be special to get Dave in a state, you know I thought your buddy Jim was going to heave him over the desk earlier and I swear old iron ass had a glimmer of fear for a moment. Can be a freaky...erm fearsome guy for his age. You charmed him or something, evil eye maybe. I'm not going to look in your eyes, no sir!”

Alan nudged me and I looked up, he had his eyes closed tight. Then one opened and snapped shut. Is it a mirror you had to use to look at that snake headed woman in Greece. Saw the film, awesome! You guys seen it?”
“Yeah, Jason and the Argonauts and there were others, Hercules and I don't know what the others were called, all those weird monsters.” Alan was becoming more lively.

“Shh!” Riley winked, “Dave for fucks sake we could do with some coffee in here!”
After a few moments, “Bill what was the 'no shit' comment for?”
“What?”
“When Dave was leaving!”
“Was just agreeing with him, some folk shouldn't have kids. He's not one of them.”
“And?”
“You know who they are? Course you do being occasional fuck-buddies.”

“How do you know?”
“Oh I believe you're straight most of the time but he's different.”
“Yea but I...”
“The four brothers? Well he is not old enough to be their father and they, well the ones I've met, are just like him not only in looks, they all have issues with temperament and self control. They, Eric and Ian want to be like him. Eric down, they didn't have as hard a time as him. He came out the services to look after them when his, aunt most probably, died. Hell 25 and you have 3 kids, 14, 12 and what 9 or 10 year old children. What, ... he stayed with his dad and the childless aunt took the others, he felt guilty about abandoning them so let them think he was an uncle. He should tell them, it would help all of them.”

“WOW!”

“Thought you might need some fresh coffee. What you grinning at?”
“We were talking about you, we waited till you went for the coffee!” Riley said.
“Billy says you should tell your, tell them who you are. They'll understand better, clear up some of their confusion, fill holes in their hearts.” Alan said, “Like you and Eric did for us.”

“You told them! Jim!”
“He didn't!”
“Who did? He's the only one here that knows so...”
“Billy just said he didn't serge and you didn't tell him the whole story. What was it boss. He came out the service to settle down and ended up with his aunt's kids, did you tell him that your dad was a bastard? That's why you were glad they went to your aunt, not ideal but better than being left with him, You joined up to get away from him when you were sixteen.”

“I've never talked about stuff, you're right Riley. It's the 'evil-eye'!”
“You should talk about it to someone, he'd be good to start with, a bit of a nutter but he is good.
When you have a boys night out together, or in his case in and out, try talking about it. I'm sure he could listen and maybe find his own stuff isn't so hard to handle. No boss everybody has issues of some kind. I found Jim and through him his family. I didn't really know how to react when someone touched me. I mean laid a hand on my head or on my shoulder without it bouncing on me. First time I put my arm round my brothers shoulder, was weird, he felt quite relaxed next thing we were rolling around the ground! Jim helped him as well to sort out the touching not the rolling on the floor, well maybe with a different kind of rolling. Shit when he puts his arm round you, you know you don't want to mess with him.”

“It never bothered me when Jim touched me Billy, I just knew he wouldn't hurt me, his whole family is like that though. You were right, I remember it felt good to have someone not threatening you but then the doubts came and I couldn't stand waiting for him to slam a fist into me or throw me on the floor so I attacked him first. We rolled on the floor. Ha! He rolled on the floor while I tried to pound him into it! He never fought back or gave up holding onto me!'”

“Shit! You guys are scary. Puts you off having some of your own!”

“Why you trying so hard then? ' Never out of the wife ...ZZZ bed'. You love kids! You want your own and you'll be a good dad! Worry like fuck! Threaten them, punish them but you'll hurt more than they do and they'll love and respect you for it!”

“Is Wilson and Menzies out there? Shouldn't they experience the 'the twin evil eyes'.” Riley looked at Dave.
“Does Jim know, if he knows he'll have told his family... twins I mean.”
“If he could put Paul down long enough Billy.”

“Shit no he would still be holding him as he told them, be good for his confidence and self respect, Paul's I mean not Jim. He's, no they are both lucky. Where's Ian? We need to talk, maybe you should talk to the three of them first serge.”

“I talk to them all the time.”
“Dave you know what he means. Damn if you don't he'll , he won't tell them, but he'll make them come and ask you awkward questions.” Riley said.

“I wouldn't break a confidence, I could have said something to Ian earlier but didn't.”
“I did say you wouldn't tell them Billy.”
“I know what you said I was agreeing with what you said.”
“All of it?”

“Yes and he's possibly right!” Serge said.
“Possibly?”
“Fuck you Riley!”
“I don't take as you well know! I'll give though... He agrees with you Billy,” Riley chuckled. “just can't come right out and admit it.”
“A lot like him, he'll get there. He's good, be better if he could shed the guilt.”
“You think?”
“Yeah, he should talk to Eric first, he'll need his support for the other two.” Adam chimed in.

“I'm still standing here in front of you, you know!”
“Where should you be?” Riley asked.
“Give me a break guys where the fuck do I start.”
“Ask my big little bro on the end there.” I said with a laugh.
“Easy! Bring him in. I blurt it out. And you go and talk to one another about it! or...”
“Or??”
“You do realise he's totally miserable, out there thinking about Ian, how he's let him down as the big brother. You know that feeling sir. He's scared the shit out of me and my brother..older smaller brother... and let you down. He thinks everybody is angry with him or thinks he's a right tosser or loser. You know that as well?”

“Shit! What about Ian and Andy?”

“When you and Eric are sorted, the rest will fall in place, both of you should sit down with both of them. Before Eric blurts it out! Ian I don't care for him much he hurt my brother when he was still just my cousin and friend. It won't last, can't last because of him, but let him stew, regardless of what he says.”

“He … Do you still like him after all he put you through.” Serge watched me.
“He just went about it wrong, all he had to do was talk some before, each would have done what the other wanted.”

“Do you know what each other is thinking?” Riley asked in puzzlement.

“We were both brought up in very similar hostile environments independently, we share similar traits for finding trouble. We both had criminal records before we met mostly for the same things, more necessity to survive than greed, got a bit worse when we met up of course. Jim was a steadying influence and his family of course.”

“You said that without moving your lips!” Riley stared at me.
“Two separate people with one voice. Sometimes it is good to listen to your younger brother. It encourages you as well as him.”
“No evil eye just the magic of believing in each other, it works with friends as well and they don't necessarily have to be fuck-buddies, gay, straight, black, white, etc., etc.” Alan finished.

“You sound the same too, even more than you did, voice wise!”

“Eric broke...”
“the last barrier to our...”
“bonding and healing.”

“You know for a straight guy..”
“You seem comfortable sitting cuddling and holding gay boys.”

He laughed, “I am comfortable with you two, very!” He laughed on... “Dave, help me out here … Dave?”

“He's gone to sort himself and his brother.”
“Ah, What was said applied to him as well as Eric. He still has to shed the guilt that actually belongs to his father and his sister, the aunt!”

“You said you didn't know everything?” Alan whispered to him.
“I didn't, but all the wee gaps and holes seemed to be filled when you said some things. No, when he said them. Doesn't matter who said it...”


Chapter 16


“Thought you were straight Riley. Never thought I'd see you cosy up to the livestock, never mind the queer ones. Abuse 'em and throw 'em back in the cage type you seemed to be!”

“Hmm wonder how the werewolf would react if he heard you now Paul? Be more than a playful tap on your butt!”

Wilson laughed as Paul stood with his mouth open and a well flushed face. “Lighten up Menzies, they're close to him and probably knew.”

“Don't know what you're talking about Riley and you should mind your own business Wilson!”

“Sorry!” Wilson said. “Anyone need to go before we go then?”

“Can take me sir!” I said standing.
“Fine come on then boy. What about you?”
“Boss Riley'll take me. He probably needs to go anyway.” Alan said staring at Paul.

“Fine! I'll just fucking wait till you're all done then!” Paul mumbled. “Oh Dave said we might be better gagging them.”
“I think it was a joke Paul!” Wilson said. “The way he said it.”

“Hmm, don't know about that!” Riley mused, “Nah, Wilson's right. No need for gags. Hoods! If the pair of them don't stop with the 'evil eyes' though!” He chuckled.

“Why do you never call him by his first name? You do with the others even Mr Menzies although he usually just uses surnames?” Alan asked Riley, “It seems a bit rude to me.”

“You think I give a fuck about what you think, you little shit...” It was Menzies that responded.
“That's a bit childish Menzies!” Wilson stated forcefully, “He wasn't even talking to you.”

“It's OK Mr Wilson, he's not angry with Alan, just trying too hard. Can be just as difficult as not trying at all.”

Riley chuckled, “Here Will, I'll see to them, have a fag or something.”

“You little bastard!” Will Wilson grinned at me.

We went off with Riley.
“Think I need to shit!” Alan said.
“You're always full of it!” I laughed.
“I don't have to sit down to piss smart arse!” He laughed back.
“I don't have to it's just more convenient!”

“What about you Sir?”
“Never mind.” He said as he hooked Alan's chain to the wall.
He hooked mine in the next cubicle.
“I'll be here so don't bother trying to sneak out!”
“Boss! How far would we get?”
“So we chose to be on the outside and others think we don't want to get too close or involved. That's what you're trying to say!”
“That's what I did say, fuckin' moron! Well not exactly but meant the same thing!”

Riley shouted, “Stop dawdling we'll find out shortly!” Then pushed the door open.

“Where is it we're taking them?”

“Home. Well not their old one, the new one.”
“Like this?”
“No we have to go to the fitters first.”

“So are we going to the Murphy's?” Alan asked.
“No. You'll see them tomorrow. Well Jim and his dad are coming out, don't know about his mother.” Paul answered. “She's a ...well you have to meet them.”
“We have!”
“I think he was talking to Will and me, with the last bit Alan.” Riley explained.
“So we're staying here for tonight?”
“No Billy not for tonight. Apparently your families don't seem to care where you go as long as it's not to them. But we've found somewhere for you. Dave Stevens has that should be!” Riley had a grim look.

“NO shit!”

“It's not what you are thinking guys.” Paul was grinning, “We worked something out by the way, from what you said earlier.”

“Good. Can we go now. Been a hard day, I'm totally fucked!”

“Fine, Let's go then.”

We arrived at the fitting place in a lot shorter time than it took us to come from it, I exchanged worried looks with Alan. This was our new home, must be if it wasn't 'for tonight'. I had no idea what we had to come here for, what else could we be fitted for, a cap, boots, surely they'd just pick them up at sometime. Why did it take three officers for two kids! Make that five officers, Eric and the serge were waiting for us.

“Where's Ian?” I looked around but nobody seemed unduly concerned.

“He's fine Billy. So who's first?” Serge answered and patted the table. “We need to strap you down.”

“Yeah fine! Then can we get some sleep?” Alan muttered from my side.

I was stretched out on the table. My ears were padded like the first time. I saw Eric standing over me. He gently turned my head away and started to drill the collar.

“Wasn't that a bit easy Boss?”
“Just aluminium, drill a hole, a few punched with the hammer, different with the proper rivets though!”

He did the same to the rest of the cuffs.
“OK swap with Alan.” Eric slapped my thigh.
“What about? I thought you were going to...” I was afraid to speak the words out loud.
Eric laughed, “See Dave, he sees to that end of things.”

“Oh OK!” I went and stood beside the serge.
“You'd be better standing on that stool, save me bending.” He pulled my pants down, “Jeez you stink down there boy!”
“You're surprised?”
“No really, need to remember and train you in hygiene when you have it on again. At least with a locking ring it does get removed completely. No that lifers ever need that part removed. Lift that shirt up.”
“You going to use that drill! How will you know it's the bolt and no me you're drilling. Or you just going to wait till the blood spurts in your face!”

“Maybe you should lay on the floor, Paul and Wilson can hold you down, where's that metal I had to put between him and the belt.”
“Here Dave and it's Will if you don't mind.” Wilson said.
Serge turned, “OK Will it is, sorry.” Turning to me, “You two had a go at them too I see. Maybe I'll no bother with the metal plate!”

“What did you do to Ian Serge?”
“Nothing! He's fine. I told you. Just lie still. I'm going to start drilling.”

The drill started but stopped almost immediately, “STILL I SAID! Fuck! Near went through my finger. Eric keep him on the table it'll be easier than this.”

I'm sure it was just minutes but seemed longer, I sighed in relief when serge announced he was finished.
“OH GAWD DAVE!” I heard a horrified voice and felt something running across my belly.
“Just lie still boy!” Paul Menzies held me down by my arms crossed over my chest. I yelled at him to 'let me up' and 'let me see'.
Paul helped me sit forward, “GOTCHA!” Wilson gloated.
“I'm bleeding, fuck I'm bleeding!” I moved my hand slowly to the pool of water on the floor and started to sway, then I rolled my eyes and flopped back onto Paul.
“Oh Shit” … “You Fucking idiot!” “Bill.... Bill... There's no blood. You're OK!” were some of the comments, I heaved a few times to cover any giggles that might escape.
I opened one eye and saw all the faces peering into mine, “GOTCHA ! Right back ya bastards!”

“Take the little shit through to the cages before I drill holes in his fucking head!” Serge said as he heaved me onto my feet.
“You lot should be through there with me then, what you did was worse than me pretending I fainted, I might have a weak heart for all you know!” Serge just pressed the trigger on the drill as we stared at each other.
“Should have left the fucking chains on him!”
“Serge? C'mon serge!” I pleaded, “Fuck you then serge with a fucking toilet brush! A shitty one at that!”
Paul burst out laughing as he steered me through the door. “GO!”
“Wait, I've to pick my own?”
He pointed to one further up that was closed and left. I checked the door, it needed a key to open it, so I sauntered up to the cage door. “Ian?” I knelt down.

“Yeah it's me. Come to gloat?”
“Why would I? I didn't know what they did, they wouldn't say. I did ask.”
“Why? Were you hoping they'd whip me like I did to you?”
“No! I wouldn't mind if they asked me to whip your butt though, I might just have said 'YES PLEASE!'” I chuckled nervously.
“You're not pissed with me then?”
“I was for a wee while. You could have asked.”
“You're crazy!”
“Yup! S'pose I am a bit. Takes one to know one...”
“The others are all pissed at me. Everyone of them had something to say to me. Think I've fucked up my chance of a job here.”
“Have they said that?”
“More or less. I didn't think it through right. I was just too fucking horny! Sorry! I mean that too! No just saying it.”
“I thought they had brought us here to put heavier chains on us but they took them off. They might still of course.”

“Didn't they tell you? No they wouldn't. They never told me anything either.”

“I do know we're home, nobody wants us back home.”
“Home?”
“Yeah. We asked if we were staying here for the night and they said 'No'. So they must be keeping us here permanent. They said your Uncle Dave arranged it.”

“He did. I overheard that much. You're going home with him.”
“And Eric and you.”
“Don't know about me, Eric just said we'll swap that for the two of them or something. They wouldn't take the chains off if they were keeping you here you dumbass!”

“Well you can't be staying here either dick-head or they would have had chains on you.”

“They locked my cock up!”
“They put one...” I dissolved into laughter and every time I tried to apologise for it I just laughed harder.”
“It's no funny man! I'm gonna burst if I can't get my nuts off!”
“Aww. You can ...it's messy and smelly though!”
“Find me a slave and can't use it properly!”
“Yeah. You can. You can have him fuck you or suck on his cock!... If I was him I'd jump at the chance! Even if I'm no him I might be persuaded to help out.”
“I don't even know how long they're planning on making me wear the fucker!”
“Fucker!... Oh no it's no good whatsoever for that! I know! Can't even jack off."

"Are you sure you are still all right with... everything ....us? I was serious about wanting you! Can get you inked and ringed like me."

"Yeah. It was a misunderstanding. It, this might sound daft, but it was."
"What was?"
"Hot... erm ...You being the boss of course!"
"You could have stopped me if you really wanted?"
I laughed, "Aye right. A chained down convict.. and gagged!"
"Seriously! I would have known if you really wanted me to stop. I wanted to know how far I could go. I wouldn't make a good convict, I couldn't see me taking all that shit and treating you the way you're treating me!"

"Flattery will get you ... hmm, well nothing seeing as your locked in a cage."
"Bastard!"

He moved over and knelt with his forearms through the bars.
"Would I look like that?"
"Like what?"
"Like that, your arms, through the bars, your tatts."
He gave a short laugh, "Yeah, but no quite the same. I want you to get something unique."
"Like?"
"You don't have to like!"
"No it was a question. Unique, like what design, I still want wolves."
"That's OK!"
"Well, you gonna tell me. If it's not like yours what do you see on my skinny frame?"
"It'll be a surprise."
"How can it be a surprise I'll have to be there!" I laughed.
"Yeah. Chained down and hooded of course."
"You're nuts you know."
"Crushed nuts you mean." He was ruffling my hair while I looked up at him holding his wrists. "Something wrong with this picture though!"
"I like it but I know what you mean. I should be in there!"
"You feel the same?" He chuckled, "YES! You wouldn't blush otherwise.... Damn this fuckin' cock-cage! I would feed it you through the bars...."

"Boss, I could..."

"Billy... Time to move!" Serge stuck his head round the door.

"What were you going to say Billy?"
"You..."

"NOW boy!" Serge shouted.
"Serge what about Ian? ... Serge?"
His head appeared again, "You could always go in the cage next to his."
"Coming Serge!" I turned to Ian, "I'll work on it. I won't give up, you won't have to wait here."

“Serge! I.... What?” I asked as I saw the semi-circle of men waiting for me.
“We wondered how long it would take when you came through that door, that's all.” Serge grinned.

“Oh... Well wouldn't you want to know what was going to happen. You said we were going to a new home. Where exactly is that? Here? We're not staying here for tonight, does that mean we're staying permanent? Why take the chains off then?” I could tell they were puzzled. “Well?”

“That all? Nothing else you want to ask? … About anything?” Eric asked me.

“No. Unless you mean Ian. I saw for myself, he's OK. Locked up and in a cage too. Serves him right. Thought you might have whipped his butt as well. A couple of days is better than nothing.”

“A couple of days?” Someone asked. It was Alan in a blue boiler suit.
“What the fuck is that?” I asked him.
“Well they still never found our clothes.”

“We did find out where they went.” Serge said, “One of your buddies threw them down the chute in processing.”
“Yeah it was him, would love to see his face when his folks get a letter asking for re-imbursement. Seems lifers clothes go down the chute and are incinerated. These fuckers didn't check the cams until the collection for disposal had been done. So they found me this. The rest drowned me but I'm sure you'll manage.” Alan grinned.
“Bastard! I'll stick with the stripes, they fit no too bad!”

“Billy?” Eric grabbed for my attention, “What did you mean about a couple of days?”
“When did I say that?”
“When, after you spoke to Ian.” Eric replied.
“Oh about him. Yeah he said you told him he'd spend a few days locked up. Noticed you didn't put the chains on him!”
“I thought...” Eric began.
“I know boss, I wanted to make him feel better, give him hope so I was nice to him. Just imagine how he'll feel when it didn't work. Get me to sympathise and forget all about everything so you could let him out.” I enjoyed the shocked looks they had, well except for Alan. “So what about me and Alan, what's happening with us?”

“You were going with us, Dave, me and...” Eric's voice trailed off.
“Were?” Alan picked up. “Change of plans then....”
“Looks like it Al, seems Ian was definitely shitting me as well. Think he was going with us.”

“No, he didn't know that bit and you are coming home with us, unless you don't want to, of course.”
“What's the alternative Serge? We stay here? For how long? Probably put us into the system, days, months, forever?”

“You actually think we could do that?” Wilson asked with sincerity.
“According to Serge and Boss Riley... Yup!” Damn that 'yup was out before I could stop it and Alan exploded in laughter.
Strangely most of them ignored him, “We probably could but we're not that cruel!” Eric was quite serious.
“No! You locked your own brother up in a cock-lock and kept him caged for hours. Well if you do that to family I don't s'pose you'd think it cruel to lock two innocent children away!”
“Nice!” Alan laughed harder, “They actually locked up his cock! So sweet!”

I found myself being lead through to where we got the uniforms.
“Alan was right, but if we get one that'll go over that it won't be too bad.” Serge explained.
“I'd be fine like this serge.”
“I know you little shit!”
“So you knew I was shitting you all but weren't 100% certain till now!”
“Hmm. Innocent fucking children and your last comment confirmed it. OK I was beginning to wonder before that!”
“You already told Alan what was happening.”
“Yes. He didn't say much, should have known that grin was more than relief that he wasn't staying here. Eric did suggest that we did keep you here and Ian. I'm sure he was only half joking as well! Seems your brother is a bit different away from you. Or...”
“So he thinks, he'll learn! Guess Al is digging his claws and teeth in deeper!”
Serge laughed for a few minutes. “Think we'll give you an oversized set of stripes the next time. You look ridiculous, lets see if we can find a smaller suit.”
“So you don't mind about them?”
“Eric and Alan or you and Ian? You know Ian and Eric are almost total opposites.”
“I thought that earlier but Eric reacts more... erm forcefully when he's pissed! Ian gets more gentle, he's not bad or anything. I could live with that!”

“All three of my nephews think convict is synonymous with slave.”
“Brothers! Serge. How long will we be staying with you?”
“The summer at least. If you are still doing the video? Or Jim's folks said you were welcome there.”
“We won't get anything from our 'families'. What do we do about that? Money I mean.”
“Part prison budget and part wages.”
“You can get us jobs, everybody in the town knows about our bad-boy image? Have tried for jobs before in the holidays.”
“Well we'll just use you as slaves, food and board will be all you need.”
“What about entertainment? We still have to get out and about before you lock us up!”

“I'll leave that to Eric and Ian! That looks fine, let's go.”
I folded up the cuffs on the legs and arms of the boilersuit and stood up. I felt light headed.
“Whoa. You've not got the extra weight of the irons. Noticed you still shuffled along.”
He was right of course I had stood up as if the collar was still there, which seemed to make my head snap back when I was upright, and as I followed him through to the others I shuffled as lifting my legs to walk made me feel weird. I lifted my feet to high to compensate for my leg irons and was somewhat unbalanced. I sniggered.

“Guys... You're not seriously leaving him here all night? … If you are I'm gonna stay right here with him.”
“You're not.”
“I fuckin' am!”

“Fine! Just leave the stupid fucker here serge!” Alan rolled his eyes.
“He's not staying here! He can have the cage next to his buddy though.”

“Guess that plan backfired?” Ian had sat watching me being pushed into the cage next to his.
“Sorry. I tried though. At least I volunteered to stay with you for company.”
“Kinda stupid.” He sniggered, “You thought that would make them change their minds, didn't you!”
“Nearly did, your big fuckin' brother made me believe you were coming with us and when we were leaving, you weren't there. I should have thought before I spoke, or better still stayed quiet.”

“Eric? He wanted to whip my butt and leave me in one of the wee close confinement cages earlier.”
“No not Eric.” Shit! I thought quickly. “Serge. Oh I forgot, he's your uncle. Just he isn't much older than you and Eric.”

“Think I'm gonna like having you around!” He was kneeling, “Get down here and get closer.”