Chapter Twelve
The last week of the holiday, the weather was beautiful. Mike and Nann spent every day in the canoe usually sailing to there little beach via the bridge, then once under they would head for the sand, and enjoy time laid just in the water. The love these two had for each other was seen at the chief's mess, and all the chief's and their wives thought they were made for each other. Even Dorothy accepted Nann now and realised that her 16 year old son had made firm plans for the future and was sticking to them. Nann was looking more beautiful every day, she was now a golden brown that a lot of the wives envied. And everyone knew that she was Mike's girl. As for Mike and Nann, well they were in love, she had eyes only for him, and anyone who tried to make a pass at her got short shift. Once when they were on their beach, Nann had nipped across the road to get a couple of bottles of cold 7 up, as she came out of the cafe a sailor tried to give her the old come on, even going so far as to pinch her bottom. Nann laid into him so hard, his two mates had to drag him away. When she told Mike what had happened, he stood up ready to confront the guy, but Nann said, "it's alright sweetheart, he won't be trying that on again, at least not with me. On their beach, laid on the towel they would gaze into each other's eyes, kissing and talking, two sets of fingers exploring, so that by the end of the summer Mike knew every mole, scare and blemish on Nann's body. and Nann was the same, she also knew the body of this man she loved, and when he touched her, she would tingle, and get goosebumps all up her spine, but it felt so good.
On the last Saturday of the holiday, the chief's mess arranged a bus banyan to Mellieha Bay. The bus would leave the Manoel Island club at 18-30 and would leave Mellieha Bay at around one in the morning. The idea being, that everyone could have a midnight swim. Loads of food was laid on, hot dogs, burgers, chicken legs and hot potatoes. And of course the booze, beer, wine and soft drinks. Everyone on the bus was in a cheerful mood, Mike and Nann had commandeered the back seat, and sat listening to the noise of the rest of the families. Nann sat with her legs over Mike's and Mike held her thighs. "are you wearing your costume under that dress," Mike asked, Nann, giggled, "it will be dark when we get to the beach, why would I need a costume." The run to the beach took about an hour, and as Nann had said, it was almost dark by the time they had parked up. A couple of the men set up the fire and the bar, while the rest of the families got themselves sorted out along the beach. The fire gave off a warm glow around the area, and then across the bay, the moon came up, a full moon that lit up the whole bay giving the bay a sort of blue cold look, except it was not cold, in fact, it was a very warm night. People were already in the water swimming and splashing about, there was a lot of laughing and giggling going on, Mike and Nann were sat on the beach, close to there two families, but then far enough away to be able to do there own thing. "Are you coming into the water," Nann asked Mike, "Why not," Mike said, "naked," he asked. Nann looked at him in the moonlight. "Well everyone else is, why not us." Mike removed his clothes and put them folded on the sand than standing, looking at Nann, he watched her as she allowed the dress to drop to the sand, and her naked body became visible. Taking her hand, they ran into the water together, swimming out for some hundred yards where they played around, splashing each other until Mike grabbed her around the waist and dragged her under the water, then holding her in his arms they kissed. Coming back to the surface gasping for air they laughed together. Making there way back to the shoreline, they lay in the still warm water, their bodies exposed to prying eyes from the waist up, as they lay on the wet sand, they realised that they were totally alone, the rest of the families had headed for the food table and were now waiting in line for something to eat. "Mike," Nann said, "its the end of the month, and you know what that means for me, no swimming for the next week." Mike was fully aware of what Nann was saying, and when she pulled him onto her body and allowed him to open the door, he did so with her love. As Nann hit that so called cloud nine once again she went to cry out, but Mike placed his mouth over hers so that the cry was lost to those around them, as they made love in the water they both whispered there love for each other, and how they wanted this to last forever. Once they had gotten there breathing back to normal they made their way back to there cloths and towels, drying off Mike suddenly realised that once Nann had her dress on, she would be naked underneath it, he went to say something, but Nann came towards him, putting her hand inside his back pocket, under his hanky she pulled out a bra and pair of panties, which she put on. "When did you do that," Mike asked. Nann looked at him as she was zipping up her dress. "In the club, you bought us a drink, I went to the ladies and removed my underwear and whilst we were enjoying our drinks I put them into your back pocket." "Why didn't you tell me," he asked, "I tried to make the signs clear enough on the bus, I was laid with my legs over yours, and when you held onto my thighs, I thought you had gotten the message, but you hadn't, so, sorry love, but you are learning, aren't you. As Mike held her in his arms he tapped her bottom, "what was that for, she asked, "that my crafty little darling was a love tap, a pat on the bottom to tell you, that when we cannot kiss or cuddle I still love you. Walking back from the food area with a plate each of hot dogs and chicken wings and a couple of buttered rolls, and Nann grabbing a couple of 7 ups they got back to there towels and sat down to eat their banyan meal. "Well love," Mike said, "Monday I start learning about the navy, but it's only a half day, Monday to Thursday, so we can have the weekend's together, plus the afternoons. Nann put her arm around Mike's shoulder, "well I have a new job as well," she said. "I start work at the N.A.A.F.I shop in Valletta, again, its only four mornings a week, but I do get a pay packet every week, so with your money from the chief's fund and my money, we should be able to carry on quite comfortably. What do you think." Mike thought for a moment, then said, "well I still have £50 leftover from the tombola winnings." Nann looked at Mike in the moonlight. " How much," she asked. "£50," Mike said. "How much was the ring then," she asked, Mike, looked at her in the fading moonlight, "why," he asked, "don't you like it," Nann gently slapped his shoulder, "you know I do," she said holding her hand up to look at it in the night sky, she looked at that ring every day, and the more she looked at it, the more she was in love with it and the man who put it onto her finger. "I told you, I will never take this ring off, as long as you love me." Mike kissed her, "Of course I love you, always have, always will," he said. "Michael," Nann said, when you get back to England, you will write to me, won't you." You daft bugger," he said, I'll write twice a week, and that's a promise." he smiled at her, and she pulled him towards her so that she could kiss him. "Right," Mike asked, "do you want you want to go for one last swim," Nann looked at Mike in the gloom, the moon had now gone, the only lights were from the stars in a cloudless sky. "No," Nann said, "let's just stay here, it's nice and quiet."
Together on the sand, they held hands and talked about nothing and everything, Mike made her giggle and Nann made him laugh out loud. As the night drew to a close, they joined the rest of there families ready to board the bus. The only one who seemed out of it was Kelvin, he had spent part of his holiday with his new friend fishing and having a great time, his words. But tonight, he seemed lost, with the two dads talking shop, and the two mums talking shopping, his brother making sheep's eyes at this new girl in his life, then Kelvin had to somehow make his own enjoyment. He did find a couple of lads his own age, and by all the screaming going on, the three of them had, with snorkels goggles and reed grass had spent the night giving the ladies a cheap thrill. Or maybe just scaring the living daylights out of them. But overall, both families had had a great night and like Ken and Roger said on the bus going home, "To all you wives, we are very grateful for the work you put in to make this night one to be remembered for a long long time. all the husbands clapped and cheered and were seen kissing there wives most of the way back to Manoel Island.
It was well past two in the morning when the bus got to Sliema, there were a load of drunken sailors milling around, some heading for there ships, other sat on the low wall with there heads in there hands. As the bus came along the front, two sailors the worst for wear, fell in front of the bus, rolling around in the road laughing. The bus stopped and Mike's father and Roger got off, they went to help the two sailors, but they were in a sorry state, as Ken went to pick up the worse one, he decided to be sick, all over the road, down his trousers and all over his shoes. His shipmate seeing all of this decided to crawl on hands and knees to the pavement and sit down, however by crawling as he had done, he had ripped the knee of his white trousers and the knee area was turning red. Ken and Roger picked up the real drunk and sat him next to his mate. As all this was happening, the shore patrol arrived in their wagon, they parked behind the bus. seeing a naval bus in the middle of Sliema at two am seemed dodgy, so they were going to investigate. Walking the front of the bus the petty officer of the patrol saw Ken and Roger and recognised them both, then after a few words, the two sailors were dispatched to the patrol wagon and taken away. Ken and Roger rejoined the bus, as Ken sat next to Dorothy, he said in a loud voice that everyone heard, "Those two won't be going ashore for a couple of weeks," everyone laughed, and the bus continued it's journey back to Manoel Island.
Parking up outside the club, everyone got off, Nann and Mike were the last to leave, as everyone got off Mike held Nann in his arms and kissed her, then getting off the bus they headed for there separate cars and both families headed home.
Sunday was a funny day, the family went to church as usual, but only Kelvin was in the choir now, but he did enjoy it, Mike sat with his mother and father, but since his voice was changing, he only sang to himself, if he sang out loud with the rest of the congregation, it sounded terrible. After the service, they all went to the mess for a drink, and whilst there Mike was called by his father to meet one of the chiefs. "This," his father said, "Is Chief Petty Officer Williams, he is the Chief Buffer on the Island, and this is the man you will be reporting to in the morning." "Good morning young Palmer," the buffer said, "so you want to be a seaman do you, well we will have to see what we can do, won't we. Ok," he said, " I need you to be at the police gate at nine sharp, I will meet you there," then looking at Ken and winking, then back at Mike, he said. "And don't be late, your in the navy now." As Mike walked back to his mother and Kelvin who was now sat drinking the remainder of Mike's 7 up Mike sat down. "Who was that," Kelvin asked, Mike smiled at him and his mother, "that's my new boss," Dorothy smiled at her son, "do you still want to go into the navy," Mike looked at his mother. "I'll let you know at the end of the week," he said. "Ok son," Dorothy said, "it's your decision." That afternoon Mike and Nann didn't take the canoe out, Nann had said that she would rather go for a quiet walk, so after a light lunch the two of them walked slowly into Sliema, they stopped at Tonys bar for a cool drink, in the bar they chatted about the coming months, and there plans. Nann was already planning to take half of her wages and put them into a savings account. And Mike had said, they could use the money from the chief's fund, and once he had joined the Royal navy, he would start saving, so that when they were together again, they would have money in the bank. Mike also said, that if his first ship came to Malta, then any money he had, they might be able to set up a joint account. Nann squeezed his arm. "You have our life together pretty much planned out don't you sweetheart," she said. Mike looked at her a cheeky grin on his face "Well," he said, " you seem to think that we belong together, so I am just making sure that we will be able to live comfortably on the money that we have." Nann squeezed his arm again then kissed him. "I love you so much," she said, "I wish we could get married now before you go back to the U.K." Mike thought for a moment, then said, "not a good idea," he ran his fingers through her soft hair, she held his hand alongside her ear. "Why not," she asked, he looked at her and gave a sigh. "Because my dearest one," he said," we don't have anything." Nann looked at him. "We have each other," she said indignantly." Mike looked at her and smiled. "You cannot run two lives on just love," he said. "I know," Nann said, she gave a huge sigh, "I know.
They left Tonys bar and walked along the waterfront, it was still hot, but there was a slight breeze coming off the water, so it wasn't too bad. Mike had his arm around Nann's waist, and she had her hand in the back pocket of his shorts, they made a very handsome couple and those that saw them smiled and said hello. At Manoel Island Nann said she was feeling tired and could they take the bus. Mike didn't argue, he stood with her and waited for the bus to come along. They found a seat and plonked themselves onto it, Nann closed her eyes. " Are you ok love," Mike asked, she looked all in, there was very little colour in her cheeks. "Just very tired," Nann said, then looking at Mike she said, "Sweetheart, would you mind if we said goodnight now, I think I am going to go straight to bed when I get home." "Of course not," Mike said, it's been a long day and very hot." At Msida, Nann kissed Mike, then getting up she headed for the door of the bus, as the bus came to a stop Nann got off. As she stood and watched the bus pass her she waved to Mike and blew him a kiss. As the bus turned the corner Mike watched as Nann made her way to her flat.
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