CAUTION. This chapter contains scenes of juvenile sexual exploration that may offend. It is not graphic, but it is necessary for the plot. There are also elements that relate to child abuse and these may affect some readers. Obviously, I hope my writing affects my readers, but not in that way.

CAUTION. This chapter contains references to rape and torture/kind of a particular kind. If not suitable, I am happy to send a plot summary by PM to anyone that wishes.

CHAPTER 10
That was rather amazing. Her lips were incredibly soft, and I found out why noses don’t squish when people snog.

CHAPTER 9
The week was a good one, as those things go. I felt safe for the first time I could remember, safe and wanted.

CHAPTER 84
I span on the bench, and the old monster was there behind me, just coming through the gate, Hywel at his shoulder.

CHAPTER 7
Our new house was far warmer than the old grey block in Anthorn, a Victorian mid-terrace of three floors, quite deep with a narrow frontage.

CHAPTER 6
That was the end of everything, it seemed. Our entire world was gone in one stupid accident.

This chapter deals with severe issues involving bullying and particularly nasty effects of child abuse. Please move on, if you can't read it, but if you want to know the essential plot outline mail me.

CHAPTER 3
After the final healing, my parents treated us to an evening at an amah’s market, our chance to stay up later than normal and eat things my Dad said we wouldn’t want to see by daylight.

CHAPTER 81
Andy and Bev were back, tanned and happy, and of course with a shedload of pictures to show everyone, not just from the honeymoon, but also from the wedding itself.

CHAPTER 1
The mynah was doing the toilet again.

CHAPTER 79
All vehicles loaded, they were off to the West at last, and of course I kept a close eye on the older two.

CHAPTER 77
After some more dancing, the DJ called a pause in the proceedings while Andy and Bev took their leave. Bev took his mike first.

CHAPTER 75
Back to the grind it was for a week, and then we were off to the Registry Office for the first wedding.

CHAPTER 73
The day finally came for our little excursion and we loaded up the car with bikes, tents and all the usual impedimenta.

CHAPTER 72
That was our trial. I had been wetting myself all through it, it was over, and I hoped never to have to go through that again.

CHAPTER 70
Margaret had sorted authority for compassionate paid leave for us, but I knew the shop had to be sorted in the end, so I made the trek back to Canterbury the day after my talk with Arwel.

CHAPTER 68
I was tired, in that state where your eyes seem displaced to the back of your skull, looking out through long tunnels that feel soaked in vinegar.

CHAPTER 65
Monday morning was another delivery day, so it was all hands to the pumps, apart from Andy. Despite his sudden advances into being human, he still had a blind spot about the quantity of work the new stock entailed.

CHAPTER 63
It was still a huge thing to me, though. Tony could rationalise all he wanted, but after everything was done, would he really be able to handle having two children, or more, so far away and effectively out of reach for their early years?

CHAPTER 62
He wasn’t putting it on as I would with Tony (mmmmm), or as he would with me, but casually, carefully, as a friendly thing. I was proud of my uncle at that point, proud of my entire family.

CHAPTER 61
Geoff looked hard at Hywel, obviously weighing him up. I got the impression that he had more than a little protectiveness in his nature, at least where his wife was concerned, and wondered what might have happened to bring that about.