(Part 01)
Downshire is a relatively small English county but like a pocket battleship it packs a lot in, a short but beautiful coastline, a channel port, the Ancient forests of Dancingdean and Pepperstock, the craggy ridges and manmade lakes of the Pepperstock Hills National Park, the rolling hills of the Downshire Downs, the beautiful Finchbottom Vale and farm land as far as the eye can see, from the Trotwood’s and the Grace’s in the south to the home of the Downshire Light infantry, Nettlefield, and their affluent neighbour’s, Roespring and Tipton in the North but it’s in the Village of Shallowfield where our story takes place.
Shallowfield lay on the southern edge of the Finchbottom Vale and Shallowfield’s fortunes had always relied largely upon forestry and agriculture for its survival.
In the post war years with rationing and a shortage of work a lot of people moved away, to Abbottsford, Abbeyvale and beyond, and it only barely survived.
And the community around Teardrop Lake fared even worse.
Only a few of the houses around the Lake were thriving, a lot of the houses had been rented out and those that hadn’t were in a poor state of repair, some too such an extent they were little more than ruins.
But by the 70s things were beginning to change, thanks mainly to tourism and an increase in leisure time.
More importantly these people had money in their pockets.
This trend was reflected by the fact that the derelict Shallowfield Lodge, which had been inherited by a young couple from Lincolnshire, Rob and Sheryl Brown, was turned into a hotel.
Its completion formerly marked the rebirth of Teardrop Lake and by extension Shallowfield.
Triplets, Dale, Manny and Paul Smith had just graduated from Abbottsford University and were spending the summer with their uncle Julius, who was the Vicar of St Jude’s church in Shallowfield, which was where they met the Nichols sisters.
They had been at their Uncles for less than a week when they walked up to the village green to attend the Village summer Fête, but even though they had only been there a few days they were not newcomers as they had spent every holiday there for as long as they could remember and had made a lot of friends among the younger members of the village population over the years.
The Fête was very well attended but despite not being strangers they didn’t really know many of the people in attendance but they thought they would take a look, show willing at least, so they went on a few of the side shows and drank a couple of pints in the beer tent and by late afternoon, a combination of too much beer on an empty stomach and the heat of the sun had left them all a little light headed so they decided to call it a day and headed back across the field in the direction of the Vicarage.
But they only got about half way across the field when they were two of the Nichols girls, Crissie and Sharlene and they turned in unison to see them tottering towards them across the grass, shoes in hand and ever so slightly tipsy.
The twin girls were not only sisters, but were also best friends, quite inseparable and Manny and Paul thought them very gorgeous, and had been in love with them foe three years, but alas when they fell for them the girls were only 15, even though they kept reminding them that they were actually 15 and three quarters.
Sadly that three quarters was not going to keep them off the sex offenders register if they did what red bloodied young men of 18 might think of doing.
But they were both lovely girls and he liked them a lot but they decided to keep them at arm’s length until they turned 16, unfortunately another opportunity never presented itself in the following three years so that seemed to be that, until that summer.
Crissie was the younger of the two by a few minutes, five foot two red hair and pale complexion and cutely freckled while Sharlene was an inch shorter with a strawberry blonde hair and alabaster skin.
They were both stunningly beautiful and wearing low cut summer dresses they looked even more so.
They tottered up alongside them, each taking an arm, Sharlene as always was flirting outrageously.
“Can we come back to the Vicarage Paul?” Sharlene said
“Then we could have another drink”
“It’s not like we’re drunk or anything” Crissie chipped in
“Can we?” Sharlene said again
“Please Manny?” Crissie added
“Ok” he said, “as long as you behave”
“What will you do if we don’t?” asked Sharlene
“Will you spank us?” Crissie said and giggled
“You’ll get us shot” Paul said
Being over six feet tall and being arm in arm with the two girls gave them a height advantage of more than a foot, affording them a wonderful view down the front of their low cut dresses, they knew they shouldn’t have looked but even for good Christian boys it was difficult to resist the temptation.
Dale who was the only one of the boys not to have a gorgeous girl on his arm looked on and smiled as his brothers struggled with the moral repercussions of ogling young girl’s breasts.
(Part 02)
Being over six feet tall and being arm in arm with the two girls gave them a height advantage of more than a foot, affording them a wonderful view down the front of their low cut dresses, they knew they shouldn’t have looked but even for good Christian boys it was difficult to resist the temptation.
Dale who was the only one of the boys not to have a gorgeous girl on his arm looked on and smiled as his brothers struggled with the moral repercussions of ogling young girl’s breasts.
Sharlene saw Paul looking down her top and giggled so he didn’t look away.
Then she compared she whispered to her sister about what Manny was doing and she blushed scarlet but made no attempt to prevent him from looking either.
When they reached the Vicarage Dale left his brothers and the giggling flirts outside while he went inside to get the drinks, which given the girls inebriation and his own light-headedness he decided not to fuel the flames with more alcohol, so when he joined the others on the patio, which was now in the shade and put a tray full of soft drinks on the table which on reflection was the wisest thing to do despite protests from the girls.
And then about ten minutes, Gail Nichols emerged through the garden gate and she was also wearing a summer dress, she was the older sister, and was the one that Dale had set his cap at, and thought she was equally gorgeous to her siblings, a few inches taller with a rounder curvier figure than her siblings, but for Dale she was perfection.
“Well no surprise to find Smith boys surrounded by pretty girls” She said
“Is that why you’ve joined us?” Dale said
“I’m not one of the pretty girls” she said coyly “I’ve just come to collect my sisters”
“But we’re having fun” Crissie protested
“I’m sure you sure but it’s time to go” Gail said
“Do you want a drink?” Dale asked
“Yes please” Sharlene replied eagerly
“Me too” giggled Crissie
“I wasn’t asking you two, you’ve had enough” Dale said “I was asking Gail”
“No thanks but another time when you’re not surrounded by pretty girls” she replied “mum and dad are waiting”
“As I said before you’re one of them” he said
“I’m not pretty,” she snorted
“No, you’re beautiful” he corrected her and she turned her head away coyly.
He imagined her coy denial about being one of the pretty girls was either false modesty or she was fishing for compliments.
Just at that moment the back gate swung open and Uncle Julius walked up the garden.
“Hello girls” he said jovially and there followed five minutes of light hearted chattering and then the girls went on their way.
The Smith boys watched them as the three girls tottered down the lawn and when they reached the gate all three turned and waved and Sharlene blew a kiss.
“They are sweet young things aren’t they?” the Vicar said
“Yes Uncle” Dale agreed but to himself he added “and I have a very sweet tooth”
For years he had fantasied about him and Gail and he looked forward to when he could turn the fantasy into reality as it turned out he didn’t have to wait too long, to his surprise it was the next day, that his fantasy was made manifest.
The day after the Smith boys entertained the Nichols sisters in the vicarage garden Manny and Paul went sailing up at Teardrop Lake while Dale remained at the vicarage catching up on his reading.
But by the time they had finished on the Lake for the day back at the Vicarage, Dale had put his book down for the day and was kissing Gail Nichols for the first time which turned out to be the first step on a life long journey.
But Dale wasn’t the only member of the Smith family to have a penchant for a Nichols girl but it was a week later before cupid hit the mark for a second time.
(Part 03)
When Manny woke up on Saturday morning he was alone, Dale had driven Uncle Julian into Abbottsford for the day and Paul was in Sharpington for a stag weekend.
As it was a nice day he left the Vicarage to take a walk up to Teardrop Lake.
He followed the Lane that ran parallel to the River Brooke as it flowed from the head of the lake and on towards Shallowfield and beyond.
He headed past the Shallowfield Lodge Hotel and then the lane joined the perimeter road which circled the lake and he took the northern side.
Teardrop Lake and the surrounding woodland was privately owned and divided into twelve parcels, each with one significant dwelling on it although there were a number of cottages dotted around the woods as well, some in use and some not.
It was both idyllic and peaceful, there was little or no noise pollution and although the lake was used there were no speed boats or jet skis, only rowing boats, canoes, dinghies and skiffs.
Manny and his brothers learned to sail on the Lake
But there was more to Teardrop than the lake, there were two follies, a Watch tower, and Olwen’s chapel as well as a waterfall, brooks, streams, a 16th Century Bridge and lovers leap.
He was just approaching the 16th Century Stone bridge when he started to feel the heat so he decided to leave the road in favour of the coolness of the woods in a dense area of ancient woodland, and followed the path that threaded its way through the woods which was a well-trod path that meandered its way towards the waterfall and he was halfway along the path, he heard a voice behind him.
“Wait for me Manny” the voice said, “wait for me, wait for me”
Manny turned around but he couldn’t see who it was
“Wait for me” they continued shouting a little louder this time and then crash, a girl came running around an oak tree and hurtled straight into him and they both ended up on the floor, the girl was the object of his affections Crissie Nichols.
“Ouch” she said rubbing her left knee.
“Are you ok?” he asked as he helped her to her feet.
“Just banged my knee a bit,” she said laughing
“I didn’t think I was that close to you”
She was a very pretty girl, five foot two red hair and pale complexion and cutely freckled and his heart soared when he looked at her.
“Happy birthday by the way” he said suddenly remembering.
“Thank you,” she said grinning
She looked very cute in a yellow lacey fascinator with small white flowers.
Crissie was wearing a very smart yellow outfit, consisting of double breasted jacket, a pleated flared skirt, cream tights, and a white blouse and court shoes.
“Aren’t you a bit overdressed for walking in the woods?” he enquired
“Yes, a bit I suppose” she agreed
“Is there a reason?” he pressed
“Oh yes, it’s my Aunties wedding” she replied
“So why are you here?”
“The reception is at the Lodge but it doesn’t start until three so I had a couple of hours to kill once the photos were done, and I saw you walk by so I thought I’d hang with you” she replied as she began to brush dust off her legs and was making it worse so he fished out a hankie from his pocket and handed it to her.
“Use that” he said “that will help for the moment”
Crissie rubbed at it and winced, but again it wasn’t improving things at all.
“Come on, come to the falls and we’ll get you cleaned up”
“Ok” she said brightly, as that was precisely what she had in mind when she chased him through the woods.
(Part 04)
From the spot where they collided they headed towards Shoe Buckle Falls, so named, so legend had it, after a 17th century fugitive Cavalier who was pursued into the forest by parliamentarian soldiers but disappeared in the vicinity of the falls and all they ever found of him was his shoe buckle.
The falls were not grand or spectacular but they were nice enough.
The water tumbled and spilled over the rocks gathering briefly in deep pools and then tumbling down again to the next pool.
It was dark beneath the ancient trees and refreshingly cool as the misty spray settled on them.
The rocks and trees closest to the falls were covered in bright green lichens.
“Bad luck having to share your 16th Birthday with a family wedding” he said as they walked towards the falls.
“Oh no it was great, I got loads of presents from the guests” she said “I think I got more gifts from friends and family than the bride did”
“Talking of family, where are Gail and Sharlene?” he asked
Gail and Sharlene were her sister and the latter was also her best friend and they were inseparable.
“They’re at the Shallowfield Lodge waiting for the wedding breakfast to start” she said just as they arrived at the falls.
“I don’t think the dirt is coming off your tights I’m afraid” he said
“Oh God mums going to kill me” Crissie said
“There’s only one thing you can do then” he said “go and slip them off and rinse them in the pool, and I’ll hang them up, they’ll be dry in plenty of time for the reception”
“You’re a life saver” she said and got up and went behind a tree
When she returned she had taken off her tights and was holding the wet bundle in her hand.
“Ok I’ll take those, you go and sit down by the water” he said “but sit on my jacket otherwise you’ll be having to wash your skirt”
“That wouldn’t be good” she giggled and sat down as instructed.
And then he knelt down in front of her and took his hankie from his pocket a wet it in the pool and gently washed the dirt off her knee
“So what are you doing for your birthday?” he asked as he worked
“Mum and Dad are taking me and to a swanky restaurant in Purplemere” she said very pleased with herself.
“This might sting a bit,” he said as her dabbed at a small cut he had reveled under the dirt on her knee
“Ooh” Crissie winced as she sat perched on his jacket.
“I wish I had a plaster on me” he said “it would stop you bleeding onto your tights”
“I have one in my bag” she said triumphantly “I was worried I might get a blister with these shoes”
She went in her bag and presented him with the plaster and he had his right hand under her knee as he applied it.
And then they sat on the rocks as they soaked their feet in one of the deepest pools until it was time for her to get back to the Hotel.
After she had put her tights back on they followed the path of the falls back down towards the perimeter road.
As they approached the old bridge she stumbled and he caught her before she slid down into the glistening in the water.
“Oops” she exclaimed and turned her face towards his and he decided to seize the moment and put his lips to hers once, twice and then a third time when their mouths gently sealed on each other’s and their tongues engaged.
It only lasted a few moments and when their lips parted he said
“Happy birthday”
In response she gave a heavy sigh and said
“Wow that was a great birthday kiss”
And then she reached up to him, “Again please”
But Manny put his finger up to her lips
“Too many kisses will make you late for the wedding breakfast” he said
“Again” she pleaded and their lips met again, but this time in a longer deeper more sensual union and when he broke away Crissie sighed again.
“You know what this means?” he asked
“Yes” she said and put her arms around his neck and kissed him full on the mouth
“You’re my boyfriend”
“Yes you’re my girl” he confirmed and the after another kiss Manny walked her down perimeter road to the Shallowfield Lodge Hotel for the wedding breakfast and kissed her again.
While she was with her family he went into the village to do some shopping and later that evening he was waiting in the shadows when Crissie came out in response to his text.
“Here you are birthday girl” he said to her “I have a birthday gift for you”
“A present” she said, giggling and blushing to her roots
When she opened the little package to reveal a Gold locket and inside it read “To my girl Crissie”.
She threw herself at him and showered him with kisses
“I love it, I love it” she said and hugged him, after a moment or two she said coyly
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