The Other Tom Brown's Schooldays 13 (Penultimate Chapter)

By Pueros

Chapter 13 – Heirs

(Northumberland, England, December 1803)

The traditional annual Christmastime Soddomhall School ball game, in which all 650 or so pupils, excluding prefects, participated, was taking place on the largest of the educational establishment’s playing fields. Adonis and Ganymede Houses were pitched against Narcissus and Phaethon. As customary, the boys were dressed only in tight white short shorts and thin distinguishing ribbons worn like sashes diagonally across their bare chests and backs. The ribbons were blue for those in Adonis House, red for Ganymede, purple for Narcissus and yellow for Phaeton. It was a cold but bright and dry winter afternoon.

As usual, the large rectangular playing area was demarcated by dirt pathways and the object of the game was to place the crude heavy leather ball on one of the shorter lengths of pathway defended by the opponents. The few other rules meant that the whole lengthy exercise was anarchic, with many participants tackling opponents who were never near the ball just for the fun of it or for other reasons. The latter often involved a desire for revenge for an earlier perceived slight or a wish simply to fondle an object of unrequited desire.

As usual, Tom, Christopher and Jonathan joined in with gusto but seemed to be special targets for many of the older opponents. All three spent periods on the ground after being hit, sometimes writhing in agony after their own small balls had been clobbered or, more often, grasped viciously.

No-one had scored a ‘path’ in living memory and no-one expected that to change, with the massed defences seemingly impossible to break through and the game therefore largely played out in midfield. However, the ball was suddenly thrown high into the air from a mass brawl and landed at the feet of Tom, lying on the ground in a more isolated part of the field after a particularly heavy tackle. Christopher and John had gone to him to check that he would live. The 10 years old immediately picked up the round object and stood up, even though these actions represented certain imminent and potentially agonising danger.

Christopher and Jonathan, standing either side of Tom, now tried to shield their friend as the young worried ball-carrier began to advance as fast as his legs could carry him. There was menace from the mass of Adonis and Ganymede players approaching from all around as the trio proceeded, leaving most of their Narcissus and Phaethon allies behind. However, the boy’s natural speed and elusiveness worked a miracle, aided by his chums' brave protection and his own diminutive size, which made grabbing his body, when at speed, difficult to perform.

Christopher and Jonathan took many hits but constantly somehow quickly managed to stand again to continue to guard the zig-zagging Tom. The young ball-carrier himself was toppled to the ground a couple of times, only to tumble over in such a way that he ended up back on his feet. However, all seemed over for the 10 years old’s brave effort when he was finally badly clobbered and held before many opponents dived on top of him.

Christopher and Jonathan, bodies now displaying many bruises, tried to pull some of the enemy from off the top of the growing pile of young bodies that had engulfed their friend but to little avail. In the end, all they could do was stand by and watch as the human morass continued to grow, believing that the game had reached the usual impasse. However, the two 10 years olds were delighted and amazed to be disillusioned in respect of their expectation when their friend, still holding the precious ball, emerged from the side of the huge scrimmage.

Tom immediately leapt to his feet and started running again so fast that most of the remaining shocked Adonis and Ganymede defence was quickly by-passed and now, miraculously, only three 17 years old back-stops stood in the way of glory. Christopher and Jonathan speedily followed their friend, leaving behind most of their colleagues, who had been as surprised as their opponents at the turn of events.

The three last defenders stood their ground with determination. They had been chosen for their positions of last resort because of their own excellent capabilities at the game. Tom knew this and therefore did not believe that he could outpace them on the flank. Accordingly, he shouted to Christopher and Jonathan to try to take out the two outside members of the trio whilst he dealt with the lad in the middle.

The three 10 years olds rapidly approached the 17 years olds whilst the pursuing mass of pupils in their wake gave the younger boys no chance of surmounting the last obstacles. However, without hesitation, Christopher and Jonathan, now allowed to lead by Tom, simply but courageously jumped at great velocity into their older targets, the nasty collisions causing all four boys to collapse stunned to the ground. Both 17 years olds later sported black eyes as a consequence.

Only one 17 years old now separated Tom from an almost unprecedented ‘path’. The older boy stood with arms outstretched and legs apart, ready to grapple the impertinent 10 years old, who was almost upon him.

Tom followed his friends in jumping but not into his final opponent. Instead, the boy leapt with venom onto the ground between the 17 years old’s splayed legs and his momentum carried him sliding through on the grass to the other side. By the time the bewildered last defender realised what had happened, the 10 years old was back on his feet and running to make his score.

As Tom placed the ball down on the dirt pathway, a tumultuous roar resounded. The boy looked back whence he had come to see not only his many team-mates cheering and applauding but also most opponents and all of the staff and prefects watching on the sidelines. The 10 years old had never been so proud in his young life before. This feeling was increased after a number of pupils caught up with him and lifted him onto their shoulders to escort the hero from the field to continued vociferous clamour and clapping, just as some snow began to fall.

Tom was also particularly pleased to see Christopher and Jonathan rewarded with the same well-deserved adulation. However, he was perhaps most delighted to notice later the obvious look of intense happiness and pride displayed in the eyes of James, who had been standing next to Dr. Strapam to watch the game as one of the Headmaster’s guests.

Tom had been allowed to visit James every Sunday, being collected after breakfast by Sir James Abernethy's carriage and returned early evening. The boys thoroughly enjoyed each other’s company and the various games they indulged in, especially those on top of a certain four-poster bed.

Tom had been introduced to James’ family, including the Baronet and the pretty 10 years old younger brother, Charles, and was now treated as an honoured guest. The boy no longer ate in the kitchens but in the vast Abernethy mansion’s resplendently huge dining hall, served by the butler and other servants. He had never been so mollycoddled previously, and enjoyed every minute of the experience, even though his new friend had had to remind him politely about expected table etiquette and the correct use for various items of cutlery.

Dr. Strapam had received a visit from Sir James Abernerthy himself to establish the arrangements. The Headmaster had felt compelled to agree to the Baronet’s request for ready access to his new friend for his heir, whom the father believed would benefit from the relationship because of the lonely isolation of where he lived.

Sir James had not sent his son away to school because of his own bad experiences at such an establishment but was aware that having a personal tutor instead meant that the boy would be short of companionship. Having a friend or two at nearby Soddamhall seemed an ideal solution to the problem.

Dr. Strapam’s co-operation stemmed from not wanting to upset the richest and most influential man in this part of the county. The Headmaster’s motives were, as usual, multi-faceted for, as well as helping to maintain good cordial relations with a very important personage, he knew that the Baronet would now owe him a return favour, which might be useful one day if any problems brewed.

For Tom, daily existence seemed to be getting better. He had a pair of good loyal friends at school and now another not far away. He was becoming more accustomed to having frequent sex with Dr. Strapam and Flashmale, which seemed to be less and less unpleasant. He actually enjoyed the regular sex shows with other boys he was asked to indulge in as part of the watching Headmaster’s and Headboy’s foreplay routines, especially if his partner was Christopher. The two 10 years olds appreciated each other’s bodies enormously. However, it was the weekly Sunday pastimes in which he now joined with James that had brought the biggest improvement in his quality of life. This was not just because he felt like nobility whenever he visited the mansion in which the 14 years old and his family resided, as certain mutual lovemaking was always the main highlight of the trip.

Scoring in the annual Christmastime Soddamhall ball game, and the heroic status he had assumed in the eyes of most fellow pupils of all ages, had added to Tom’s sense of increased wellbeing. However, this had now been spoilt somewhat by what Dr. Ballsoff had recently told him.

(York, England, December 1803)

The conspiratorial uncle was staying in the coaching inn in York, waiting for the roads to the north to clear of snow before continuing his journey. However, he had now been told that the dirt tracks might take many days to become passable and was wondering whether to postpone his trip and return to London. He eventually decided to stay put as he had already come this far and was determined to see the matter finished. After all, he had plans for the vast loot that he would gain access to once his nephew was no longer capable of producing an heir.

Accordingly, the man accepted the fact that he would be spending Christmas in York, content that he would enjoy the season far more that his young nephew, who should know by now, in his bleak and spartan school, what fate soon had in mind for him.

(Northumberland, England, Christmas Day, December 1803)

Only the members of Phaethon House remained at Soddamhall School, as they were all boys whose parents or guardians were either unable or unwilling to accommodate them after the break of term for the Christmas holidays. For those left behind, routine would carry on much as before, with continued lessons to broaden their knowledge of obscure Latin texts and the like. However, the one concession was the treatment of Christmas Day as if it were a Sunday, although meals would be no different to usual.

Tom escaped such disappointing and monotonous fare by being allowed to spend the day with James. However, he had previously agreed with his new friend that he would tell Dr. Strapam that he was prepared to go only if he could be accompanied by Christopher and Jonathan. The boy successfully toned down the blackmail by suggesting to the Headmaster that the heir to the Abernethy Baronetcy had expressed interest in welcoming extra playmates to his home, an action approved by his father. The Doctor of Divinity therefore acquiesced.

James and the three 10 years olds enjoyed a splendid Christmas Day, although it passed without many aspects known today, such as Christmas trees. Such features were introduced from Germany later in the century, a process accelerated after Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha became consort to Queen Victoria.

As during previous visits, the highlight of the day was the time spent on top of James’ four-poster, with the 14 years old host’s enjoyment of the recreation improved further by the addition of two additional beautiful and gregarious naked 10 years old playmates. The whole delightful event was only spoilt when it was time for his three young friends to return to Soddamhall.

All the time, Tom, not wanting to spoil the occasion by upsetting his companions, remained silent about what he had been advised by Dr. Ballsoff. In fact, the boy was determined not to tell the others anything about the matter until it had been resolved one way or another, with the 10 years old still hoping that the operation would not be required.

(York, England, Christmas Day, December 1803)

Meanwhile, the conspiratorial uncle, having enjoyed a rather drunken Christmas Day in the inn in York, now knew that the castration of his nephew was imminent as the snow had melted and the roads north were muddy but passable. He would be rejoining his coach in the morning to travel to Newcastle, where he would have to hire local transport to convey him to the 10 years old’s school. He expected to arrive at the educational establishment, allowing for the conditions, within three days.

The man appreciated that his nephew’s gelding would not take too long to accomplish and intended to begin the long return journey immediately after viewing the brat’s emasculation and rewarding the school Physician with his large fee. He also proposed to be accompanied on his trip home by the boy’s testicles, as definitive proof to the lawyers in London of the 10 years old’s permanent inability to produce a future heir.

The conspiratorial uncle smiled at the thought that his young relation would be entering the New Year of 1804 as a eunuch.

(To be concluded in chapter 14 – ‘Geldings’)