MONDAY DECEMBER 8th   8 .15 am

I haven't got the time to tell you everything that happened on that day. It was nonstop from the moment I opened my eyes until the moment I closed them. I hope the others will fill in most of the events but there are one or two moments that I will cherish and I want to share with you all. They are the snapshots that I took with my digital camera and am looking through now as I write - the special moments from the day that I will always remember. You all have your own special ones, too, no doubt.

We woke up and lay awhile listening to the quiet house about us. Old houses are like that- they might have all sorts of creaks and strange bumps in the night but what you never hear is any sign of life from the other floors. The walls are so thick that they insulate you from that. I knew he was awake because I felt him move his legs and curl against me but he did not speak. Whatever was in his waking brain he kept it to himself. I turned in his arms and smoothed back his hair, kissed him softly and rubbed my cheek against his bristly face. "Happy Birthday, darling."

He smiled and rolled back, staring at the ceiling. "It's gonna be quite a day. How did I ever agree to this? I must have been stark raving mad." But his grin belied his words. He was enjoying it all ready. He has never been the centre of attention and has always avoided such a position. Today I was going to unashamedly force it upon him.

"You have no idea what torments I have planned for you today. It will be the last birthday you agree to for at least 12 months."

He tickled me and I wriggled away to jump from the bed and make a dash for the bathroom before he got there. My need was greater than his anyway. He let me win but stood by the door talking to me while I peed, rocking from one leg to another like a little boy, cupping his dick. "Come on, Tink, hurry up or I use the sink..." I threw a towel at him.

Just then there was a knock at our door. Hando walked in uninvited and stood outside the bathroom door as bold as you pleased. I was fairly decently attired in a pair of baggy PJs but Terry was starkers. It didn't bother H and it sure as hell didn't bother Terry either. He still carried on peeing and scratching himself lazily. Men are simply too disgusting for words.

"Do you mind, Hando, I could have been naked." I reminded him tartly as I swept past him.

"Yeah, I rather hoped you would be," he answered with a smirk. "Right, I haven't got all day. Where do you want this fucker?"

I pulled a face and mouthed. "It's a surprise!"

Hando waggled his head and mouthed, "Too fucking bad."

Terry looked bemused. "What the fuck you two up to?"

Hando pointed over to the window in the far side of our bedroom. It was the only one that gave a view of the front of the house. Terry shot him a suspicious look then gave me another. He wrapped a towel around his waist and walked over to take a look. I followed and leant on his arm to peer out too. Down below on the driveway was a motor bike standing all alone and looking dangerously macho -you know what those things are like. Now, you can ask me about the type and make and I could hazard a guess but I would probably get it wrong. It was black and silver and looked mean and fast. Will that do? Whatever, Terry had an orgasm at the sight of it.

"Where did that little beauty come from?" he gasped. I wouldn't have called it beautiful myself. Malevolently handsome maybe but it did not seem to have any feminine characteristics to me. But men are strange creatures where vehicles are concerned.

"Happy Birthday, Terry," I whispered and Hando threw over a set of keys. Terry deftly bagged them.

"Watch yourself, mate. You're a bit long in the tooth for a machine like that. Take your time..." Terry gave him a look and then opened his palm to check on the keys. He seemed genuinely surprised.

"You bought this for me?"

I nodded.

"But you hate bikes."

I shrugged. "It's not mine." 

He shook his head in amazement. "Mate, did you organize this for me?" he was addressing Hando.

"Well, what do you think? If I'd left it to this stupid bint, it would have been a tricycle with training wheels." But he smiled over at me and tilted his head. I grinned back.

"That's not all. Try these on for size." I opened the wardrobe and pulled out some gear that I had hidden. Leathers. I might have no bloody interest in motorbikes but a fine figure of a man in tight leathers? Please- don't insult me. I am a perve- first class.

Hando stepped to the door. "I'll shoot through then. I don't want to see him pulling those on or you pulling them off for that matter either. Catch you later...and hurry up with the breakfast, love, I'm could eat a fucking horse."

Terry kitted up while I sat swinging my legs and perving. What a sight. Good job my eyes are calibrated for men. The leathers slid on and he looked divine. Tight, black, soft as kid skin, leather pants with a matching bomber jacket- he wore it over a black T-shirt. I swear he was molten sex - or was that the puddle I was sitting in?

"Whose birthday is it?" I enquired as he zipped up the jacket and eased on the gloves.

"The best one I've ever had," I giggled.

Terry turned round. "Well?"

"Jesus Christ!"

"I take it that is approval?"

"Jesus Christ!" He hadn't quite arranged his dick properly. Oh, joy of joys. I adore it when a man does that and doesn't realize that while he is prowling around looking all businesslike, his todger is living a curious life of its own. It was outlined so clearly you could have used it as a stencil. He caught my glance and looked in the mirror.

"You could have told me, Tink..."

"And ruin a perfectly good grade A perve moment? I don't think so." And I ran over and gave the soft leather and the even softer flesh a squeeze. Terry grabbed me and pulled me close.

"Know what's missing? A matching set for you..."

I grinned and wiggled away to return to the wardrobe and pull out the same. "It is your birthday after all, mate. But...not now. I have too much to do. Go out and play on your bike and keep out of Mummy's way. I promise we will play biker boys and girls another day."

He picked me up and spun me about and then placed me gently on the floor. He reached over and kissed me softly. "This is something else, ya know? I really appreciate it."

"God, You'll like the bill when you get it, too. I do love joint accounts." I giggled and he threw me a look. But out he went and that occupied him for the next few hours until hunger brought him back inside. How like a boy.

Monday 8th December  10.30 am

My next significant moment came when Terry was eating a late breakfast. The rest were all amusing themselves elsewhere and we had a few minutes alone. I had to take my chances where I could- I had almost had to prise the others out of Terry's back pocket when she had seen him all leathered up. While he was eating and browsing through the newspaper he was making disgusted noises at the hoo haa about that day's main event- the parade of the Webb Ellis trophy and the England Rugby Lions through the streets of central London. The city would be at a standstill and Terry was glad he wasn't having to negotiate that particular working day. He was thankfully surrounded by likeminded Aussies, uninterested Yanks and two gentleman from pre-Rugby Britain. Only Paul and I were likely to give him any hassle- even Arthur wasn't too happy. Wales had been knocked out early in the competition.

I threw down a stack of mail. "What's all this?" he asked.

"I would hazard a guess at birthday cards. You know those strange mails that everyone else in the world but you sends out?"

He looked up at me. "Why so many?"

I giggled. "Contrary to good sense you actually have quite a lot of friends. All the sisters and brothers no doubt and some clients and work mates and...well lookee here. There appears to be a few from Oz...now who could that be??"

I was rewarded with another bemused stare. "What have you been up to?" I hunched my shoulders and motioned for him to open the three cards.  He picked one up. "Who do I know in Marubra?"

"Open it and see," I insisted. The first was inscribed:

Terry, you old bastard- catching up on me now, are ya? Thought you were dead. Try phoning once in a while? Or you still a bit short on the readies?

Happy Birthday, mate,   Steve, Lindy and the gang

It was from his eldest brother Steve who was almost a generation older than him- Terry was actually the baby of the family by a long way. I reckoned Steve was about late fifties and I knew Terry hadn't seen him or his other brother, Anthony, for years.

He read it and laughed. "How the fuck did he find me?" I merely smiled enigmatically.

"And the next..."

This read: 

Almost forgotten your name. You don't deserve this card but you're getting it anyway. And by the way you still owe me that $50 - you are such a tight bastard. Still sponging off your big brother like you always did?  Have a good one, mate. Ant, Charlene and Ryan

"Who's Charlene? Ant's wife is called Shirley."

"Shirley was his first wife. Charlene is number three. She is twenty eight and they have a one year old son, Ryan You have a lot of catching up to do, mate."

Terry blew out slowly and I could see he was visibly shocked. He said nothing and opened the third. Out fell a photograph and a letter. He began to read.

Dear Terry,

I have been dutifully sending mail to your old address but it doesn't really make much difference- you rarely reply anyway. It's a good job I love you. Thankfully you seem to have found a woman who will put up with you- do not dare mess this one up, you hear? Uma has been writing and we have spoken once or twice on the phone - she is a lovely girl. She gave me your new address and filled us in on some of your adventures over the past few years. You said you were in bloody insurance, you bastard! Now I find out you are some kind of International Man of Mystery. I am going to bloody kill you when I see you- you are going to get yourself killed. I'd rather be the one to do it- I have more reason.

Uma tells me that you two are coming to Oz in January. You miss us out this time and this is the last bloody time I send you a card- got that? Anyway she has promised to drag you over. Do come. We all miss you and there are so many new members of the family that you have never seen.

I would have come over for the party- Uma did ask us but Stephanie- my daughter- is due any day. It will be my first grandchild. Can you believe that? I can't leave her now but I would have come otherwise. I'll be thinking of you today.

The picture was taken at the last family get together- Steph's wedding last year. What a crew, hey? That is us three with all the children and grandchildren. You should have been there. What do you reckon Mum and Dad would have to say if they could have been here to see what they started?

 

Have a wonderful birthday,

Maggie, Phil and kids xxxx

He looked at the snapshot at the dozens of family members and rubbed his hand over his face. "Fuck me. Look at this bloody shower." But he was smiling broadly, a little bright eyed at the sight of them. "When did all that happen?"

"It's been almost fifteen years, Terry," I reminded him softly.

"That long?" he replied, shaking his head. "Where does the time go?" 

I hugged him. "We'll go meet them next month. It'll be fun." He chewed on his lip and looked through the cards again.

"Thanks, baby," he whispered. I smiled and left him to it. But my heart was dancing. 

MONDAY  8th December  8 pm

Supper was served in the dining room and I ushered everybody in. The buffet looked tremendous- elegant but hearty - just what this bunch most wanted. It was set out to perfection on my beautiful porcelain with candle light and flower arrangements casting a warm glow over it all. I breathed a sigh of relief at the end result of weeks of organisation. And then my eyes travelled to the photomontage above the fire place and I grinned. Wait until they get a good look at that. It had come out of a conversation that I had had with Maggie, Terry's big sister. She had asked if I would like some of his childhood photographs and I had jumped at the chance, so she had sent me a stack of them. There were some amazing shots- the only difficulty would be making a selection - I wanted to use them all.

Finally I went for a 'Terry through the ages' sort of thing. It started with a typical early months' shot- naked on a blanket. Everyone has one. Then the best one- a little nude Terry aged two with a big gun in his hands and a cowboy hat on his head. He would die of embarrassment at that. Another of him fast asleep on his Dad's knee, a little boy exhausted. I wondered where he had been that day. Then there was Terry on his Communion Day looking all saintly with his hair slicked back and dressed in white shorts, shirt and a little red tie, hands joined in religious fervour. We passed from that to Terry at the swimming pool and his Spitz-like haul of five medals in the under-eight category. He was grinning, with a familiar cocky expression -except he was missing his front teeth.

There was Terry on a beach with his family on a hot summer day- they were having a barbie. It was Christmas 1972.  We had him in cricket whites, footie gear, Rugby kit, army cadets' uniform , state under -18 Athletics champion  400metres -1979(did he do anything other than sport?), at the prom with a girlfriend- all smart, square jawed and lean, wearing a suit and carrying it off with aplomb. Finally there was Terry with his Mum about to go off to basic training in his new uniform. The pictures seemed to stop abruptly there as if his life had then entered some parallel state where normal life no longer seemed to feature.

I had spent hours staring at them and seeing him before he had acquired his poise and professional mask. I saw a young and earnest boy with an open and honest face who was a good athlete, a bit of a cheeky kid but fundamentally good at heart. I thought of all life had still to throw at him then and marvelled at how we change - and also how we still retain the core of what we are somewhere deep inside. For Terry was still this boy, even if he knew now how to safeguard him from the world out there.

And so I had assembled this display and one by one, the Sisters and Brothers called each other over to it. Of course the women were fawning over it. "Wasn't he gorgeous? Look at his curls! And his little willy...so cute...see his cheeky face there- he still pulls that now!... Doesn't he fancy himself on that one- bet the girl had a smile on her face by the end of the night... Aww- doesn't his Mum look proud of him- but I think she's crying too....awww."

Terry sauntered over to see what all the fuss was about and groaned. "Where the fuck did she get these from? This time you are dead, Tink..." But all the women chided him and told him he was the cutest little boy ever. "It's not me. I would never have worn that hat...:" he protested at the sight of his little naked self at two.

"Course it is...I can see your mole..." I giggled, pointing it out.

"We all have that mole," laughed Lachlan. "However most of us have a bigger..." Heather clapped her hand over his lips.

"Mouth," she retorted.

I defended him. "He might have been cold."

"In Sydney in December?" Lachlan added.

Terry tutted. "I was two. I grew a lot afterwards." Then they all started laughing. "Thank Christ she hasn't got one of me as Spiderman. I used to wear my undies on my head and run around bumping into things. My spidey sense got me through..." I giggled at the thought of that.

"Have you realised that is what you all looked like when you were boys? Well, apart from the fact that Jack must have been white blonde and Maximus darker but generally these could be any of you..."Isobel observed.

"Except Jack would have been dressed like a little girl- have you ever seen those eighteenth century baby boys with long blond curls and little white dresses?" I added.

Jack cleared his throat. "That was not girl's attire. That was boys' dress," he insisted.

"Bet you looked gorgeous anyway," Jack blushed and smirked at thecomment. I don't suppose he has had many compliments in his time.

"It's true though. We can imagine what all of you must have been like as babies and little boys from these," Teener mentioned with a glance at Hando. I looked at Bud who looked away, a little subdued. He would never have had pictures of himself as a child and the one of Terry and his mother must have affected him. We left him to his memories.

"Cort did you ever run around naked with your gun?" I asked giggling. He laughed. 

"Well, only when I was caught with my pants down and I was a darn sight older and bigger than that little fella..." he reminisced with a devilish glint.

"I never ran around with my undies on my head...." Jeff insisted.

"No, you probably never wore any - hoping to impress the boys," Terry shot back. But I noticed them all looking carefully at the pictures, despite their amused retorts and feigned mockery, especially those for whom such simple things had never existed. Even when everyone had moved away I noticed Hando staring closely at them and felt a twinge of sadness for all that he had missed of normal family life. Perhaps it was within his new life that he might at last come to know that simple pleasure.

MONDAY 8th DECEMBER   10. 15 pm

I took advantage in a slight lull in the festivities and a moment when everyone seemed to be around to summon them all back to the dining room to cut the cake. Forgive me if this is not one of my more honourable memories of the evening. However I really enjoyed it. The room was in darkness when they assembled and then a waiter carried in the cake replete with its 40 candles. There was a sharp intake of breath as it was revealed in all its glory. I added a few lamps to add to the brightness and to make sure they all saw what a vision of loveliness it was.

They all gasped and looked at me. "You bought that!" Heather whispered.

I shook my head. "I did not! Made in my very own oven. Isn't that right, Arthur?"

Arthur nodded. "Oh yes indeed. I saw it made myself. Baked and iced in the kitchen back there. Didn't she make a fine job of it?" He smiled and squeezed Angharad's hand.

"You couldn't make something like that...you have done something...I swear this is one of your scams..." Teener laughed

I smiled sweetly. "Prove it, love" I muttered and snorted. She laughed. "I'll find out and ...."

"Just try..." I grinned and I stepped forward to lead them all in 'Happy Birthday.' Terry looked amazed.

"You did this? Alone?"

I shook my head. "I had a little help from my friends...but, I'll tell you all about it later. Come on...let's see if you still remember how to blow..."

It tasted good too. I accepted all the praise bashfully but at least I have come clean now. But it was good while it lasted. Just like the cake.