The insistent sound penetrated his dream. It was irritating and would not go away. Gradually his brain identified it as two noises; the high one, that was the telephone and the lower . . . that was the girl snoring. He carefully unsealed one eye. For some reason the other was sore and reluctant to budge, it seemed to be swollen shut. Of course, it was that elbow he'd received in the rugby scrum; probably be black for weeks. Nor was the first eye doing too well, peering against the dazzling October sun streaming between half drawn curtains.
The telephone. . . yes. He reached across her, the effort nearly exhausting him. God, what a celebration it had been. Unable to keep his head up he cushioned it on her soft boobs, clamping the receiver to his free ear.
'Roger Brown,' he croaked.
'Morning Rog. How are you this bright and shiny morn?'
'Easy Cedric, keep it down man. What excuse do you have for disturbing a dude's well earned rest?'
'Time you were up and doing. Or have you already got it up and are doing some poor innocent young thing?'
As if to reproach his lack of action the girl stirred underneath Roger and stopped snoring.
'No, just a tough rugby match yesterday followed by a triumphant victory celebration. So if you'll get off this line until a civilised hour I just might become human again.'
'Is that what you call it? Sorry Rog, but it's already nearly lunch time. Look. . . I've got a bit of a problem and need some advice. Tami and I are coming into town this afternoon, so can we drop by later? Say between four and five.'
'By all means - if you're up to slumming it.'
'You forget I was a student once. Well, I better let you get back to your sore head. Till this afternoon then.'
As Roger twisted back across the girl to replace the 'phone a firm nipple popped into his open mouth. Automatically he sucked it hard.
'Eh, what's the time?' She drowsily asked.
He checked the clock on the bedside table. 'Coming up to twelve.'
'God, and I'm on duty at two.'
'That's okay, gives enough time for nursie to attend to this morning woody I seem to have contracted.'
'You medical students are all the same. Never satisfied.' She opened her legs, eased him to a comfortable position and passively accepted his thrusting. It was a perfunctory shafting and it wasn't long before she had routinely relieved him of his sperm and disappeared to the shower.
The splash of the water in the distance barely registered as he reviewed the previous night. She might well be top of the list of bedable nurses, and in laying her he would be the envy of most of his fellows but, as he had now discovered, an appetising appearance did not guarantee even a mediocre meal. He couldn't remember ever having been so disappointed in a girl. She might be all right if one were desperate to scratch an itch, but not for him. He wouldn't be taking her again.
Lethargically he wondered what Cedric wanted. Medical students soon learn that they are looked on by many as a source of free advice, even before they really know anything; still he hadn't thought Cedric would be one of those.
A late gift to his grandparents, who had long prayed for a son, Cedric was ten years younger than the sister who had borne Roger at the tender age of nineteen. The bare nine years between them meant Cedric and Roger were more like brothers than uncle and nephew.
And he was bringing 18-year-old Tamara. Interesting. It would be nice to see her again, it must be over three years since they had last met. Then she had been a fast developing teenager, with the promise of becoming a real beauty. She was Cedric's ward, or at least everyone assumed she was. Though it was difficult to imagine a court granting him custody, so maybe he just acted as if he was and waited to see if it bothered anyone. That would be typical Cedric.
He'd been twenty one, and Roger twelve, when he'd forsaken the family home for his own bachelor pad in a run down block. Living in the flat above, Naomi had been a single mother with a seven year old daughter - Tamara. Being, as those of mixed race often are, an exotic and rather beautiful woman Naomi had proved irresistible to Cedric and although she was somewhat older a relationship had quickly blossomed. It had seemed that marriage might well follow, then the big C struck and in only a few months Naomi was gone. Many said Cedric was too young and inexperienced, too overcome with grief, to be the guardian of a young girl but, as always, he did his own thing and moved Tamara into his flat.
The shower stopped and the nurse came back vigorously drying herself. Finished she dropped the towel and moved to fully open the curtains. His good eye was getting used to the bright sunlight streaming in. Despondently he viewed the way she flaunted her nakedness at him; most men would be conned into lustful pursuit, only to find her pedestrian and tedious. What a waste of a good body.
Stiffly he clambered from the bed and took her place under the shower. Turning it as hot as he could bear, he luxuriated as his stiffness and aches were slowly soothed away. By the time he had towelled himself dry she had left with a "see you on the ward tomorrow". He pulled on track suit bottoms and an old rugby shirt and set about the task of roughly tidying the flat.
-oOo-
It was nearly five before the front door bell rang.
'Beware all Greeks bearing gifts,' Cedric announced, marching into the flat clutching a six pack of beer. 'Which way for the glasses.'
'You're in student land now,' Roger told him. 'Here we take it straight from the can. Anyway the nearest you've ever been to Greece is the Hellas Bar in Soho.'
'Don't be so literal. One tries to create an ambience. It's time we civilised you. Anyway I don't want you infecting Tami with your loutish upbringing.' He strode toward the small kitchen. 'Come on Tami, don't dally.'
'I seem to remember you were the major influence on my upbringing.' Roger objected. He turned to close the front door behind Tamara. 'Hello, how are you?'
She gave him a puckish grin, 'Maturing nicely.'
Suddenly he was aware of her; aware in a way he'd never been before. Was she attractive, beautiful even? He didn't know, it didn't matter, she was Tamara and suddenly he knew he wanted nothing more than to have her as part of his life.
Settled in the living room, the latest tidings shared, the beer almost gone, Roger said, 'And what's this problem you wanted my advice about?'
Sheepishly Cedric stared at his feet. 'A few years ago I was a little foolish. I got the opportunity to buy a house. It meant I could give Tamara a proper home. But I couldn't quite raise enough cash, so I took the extra from the company's funds. I didn't tell Peter, my partner, because he's straight laced and I knew he wouldn't agree.
'Well I've paid most of it back, but last month Peter found out what I'd done. He hit the roof. Said it was illegal and threatened to call the police and have me charged with theft - dissolve the partnership. However he said he would overlook the matter on one condition.' Cedric paused.
'And that is?' Asked Roger.
Cedric stared silently at the carpet for several moments then very quietly said. 'That he gets to deflower Tami.'
Astonished Roger looked at Tamara, 'How come you're still a virgin?'
'I promised Mother not to do it until Dad said I was ready.'
Cedric looked up again. 'When Naomi was dying we both made promises to her. Tami was too young to really know what it was about, but I said I would do my best to see she didn't lose her cherry until she was of age and knew what she was doing.
'Naomi also knew that the first time can be bad news if it's the wrong man. Since she trusted me, she asked that when the time came I should initiate Tami myself. I want to keep faith with her.'
There was silence for several minutes then Roger said, 'I have listened and I'm not sure what to say. What makes you think I can help? What about you Tamara? What do you have to say?'
