Chapter 3 -- Cammo's First Days
Having shown Cammo around his unit, Todd told him it was time to get some new clothes.
"When did you last have a hot shower?" Todd asked.
"The day me father belted me mum to the floor, about three years ago," Cammo replied. "Had a wash in the drain this morning though."
Todd knew there wasn't much could be done about the clothes Cammo had on, they weren't in too bad a condition, but he could let Cammo have a shower, something that he'd not had for a very long time. Jeez, how was it that the authorities could ignore this situation, just hoping it would go away, mere kids living like animals in the most unsavoury of places imaginable. Cammo had a shower, emerging from the bathroom fifteen minutes later, a towel around his waist, a satisfied smile on his face.
"That was so cool, I didn't realise how much I missed it till now." There was the beginning of enthusiasm coming back into Cammo's voice.
He went back into the bathroom and put his old clothes back on, they were only `clean' on this morning, after all. They piled in the car and made their way to K-mart, Todd telling Cammo he was sure he'd find something suitable there.
"How long since you had a decent pair of jocks Cammo?" Todd asked.
"Dunno," Cammo replied, "but I `aven't worn none for the last three years."
Todd shook his head in disbelief. After an hour and a half at K-mart, they both had almost as many bags as they could manage between them. New everything, two pairs of sneakers, seven pairs of socks, seven pairs of jocks, two pairs of jeans, shirts, t-shirts, jumpers and a very cool parker for the cold winter ahead.
"There," Todd said, "that should last you a while."
Cammo was smiling broadly, he hadn't had anything new for those three long years, and now, here he was, bags full of new gear and in the company of a guy he trusted fully, a trust that was growing by the hour.
"Thanks Todd," Cammo did remember a few of the manners he'd been taught as a child.
"That's cool," Todd replied. "Now, lets get home and sort this stuff out by putting it in your wardrobe. Might even let you wear some of it if you're good."
Cammo's eyes swivelled sharply to Todd but saw he was smiling.
"Don't worry Cammo, I just want to be the one to throw that crap you're wearing now into the rubbish." Todd had seen the expression in Cammo's eyes, conveying the thought he wouldn't be allowed to wear the new clothes. "Hey, before we get home, what say I take you to visit the barber? Sorry man, but you really need a haircut."
The barber, now there was someone Cammo hadn't seen in three years, his hair usually being chopped by one of the kids. It was long, it was scruffy; Cammo thought a visit to the barber would be cool. "Yeah, looks like shit at the present," he said, "maybe a visit would be OK."
Todd dropped him at the local barber, giving him enough money to pay for the service and telling him to get it cut anyway he wanted. Twenty minutes later, Cammo emerged, Todd almost not recognising him. His long, scruffy, sandy coloured hair was now neat and tidy, emphasizing his looks. Cammo got in the car and Todd just stared at him, jeez, now he'd been shorn, he really was a looker. Cammo saw Todd's looks.
"Whazzup?" he asked.
"Nothing," Todd was smiling, "almost didn't recognise you, that's all."
"Oh thanks," Cammo said, mock hurt in his voice.
What was that look he saw in Todd's eyes? There was something there, but for the life of him he couldn't put his finger on what it was. He'd seen it before in Rocky's eyes, usually before Rocky entered him. Was that what Todd wanted, to get him in his bed and make love to him? Cammo knew if it ever came to crunch time, Todd would have no problems, he could almost imagine his carer, his arms around him softly, making gentle love to him. Nah,' he thought, couldn't be, he's me carer, he couldn't want that. He'd get it though if he did want it, I've never trusted anyone like I trust him, it's weird.' He ran these thoughts over and over in his mind until they arrived home, unloaded the car and entered the unit. The new gear was taken from the bags and hung in the wardrobe, Cammo standing back when the task was completed, staring in awe, he hadn't had so many clothes since he was with his parents.
"I reckon you ought to try them on," Todd said, "they're yours after all."
A sudden thought sprang into Cammo's mind, he'd try an experiment, one he was sure would tell him one way or the other what he wanted to know.
"Can I have another shower first?" he asked, "These old clothes were clean but they're still old and may've made me dirty." It was a pretty lame excuse but it was all he could think of on the spur of the moment.
"Course you can," Todd replied, "You can have fifty a day if you want. Just chuck those old things out the door and I'll put `em in the rubbish."
Cammo entered the bathroom, his plan was working so far, Todd didn't seem to notice he hadn't taken any of his new clothes in with him. He ran the shower, enjoying the warmth of the water, soaping himself before rinsing off, turning the taps off and drying himself. His thoughts had got him hard while he was in the shower and, folding his towel onto the towel rail, he exited the bathroom totally naked and very erect. Todd was still in his bedroom sorting out the gear as Cammo entered. He turned, his eyes immediately running over every inch of Cammo, finally coming to rest on the point of his obvious interest. Cammo heard him swallow noisily, an obvious sign of interest in something, and Cammo was pretty sure he knew what. His words were very low key.
"Whazzup Todd?"
Todd was unable to speak. There before him was the image of things he only ever dreamed about, never before had anything like this ever happened to him. Five feet eight of nearly sixteen-year-old perfection, naked and erect stood before him, asking him what was up. It wasn't yet, but Todd could feel it was well on its way.
"N-nothing Cammo," Todd stuttered, "Everything's c-cool." His eyes were still focussed on Cammo's erect member, his face reddening slightly.
"Never seen a naked guy before?" Cammo asked.
"Y-yeah, but this is too much." Todd left the wardrobe, brushed past Cammo and exited the room.
Cammo was right, there was interest, and a lot of it as well.
"Come back Todd, shit, sorry man, I didn't mean to upset ya." Cammo's words echoed down the passage.
Todd stopped, turned and made his way slowly back to Cammo's room, standing in the doorway eyeing his young charge. "Sorry man, just a bit embarrassed, that's all."
"No need," Cammo replied, "I've found out what I wanted to know now."
"What?" Todd asked, his voice a little uncertain.
"That you're interested in me." Cammo stated. "Look man, I trust you more than I've trusted anyone in a long time, and I like you as well. If you want anything, and I mean anything, ya only gotta ask, I'm not exactly innocent ya know."
Todd was flabbergasted; he didn't believe what he'd just heard. "I think I know what you mean Cammo, but you've got to realise that could never happen. One, I'm your carer and two, you're not sixteen yet and sixteen is the age of consent. Even if that was what I wanted, it could never happen, jeez, I'd spend the rest of my life in gaol if anyone found out."
"Yeah, maybe, but who's gonna tell `em?" Cammo stated his point quite bluntly.
Todd sat on the bed, his mind in a whirl. Cammo had virtually told him he could have him at any time, something, after seeing him the way he was now, Todd was yearning for, even though he liked the chicks as well.
"Jeez Cammo, this requires an honest response." Todd always thought honesty was the best policy. "Look mate, you are one of the most attractive guys I've ever laid eyes on, you've got an incredible bod, beautiful legs and a handsome face, and that thing in front of you..., well! Yeah Cammo, I am attracted, very attracted. When you told me a few minutes ago I only had to ask, I didn't believe my ears, I've got to admit there's nothing I'd like better, but you got to see my side of it, I told you what could happen."
Cammo approached Todd, standing naked beside him, very close. "Yeah, I know that but like I said, who's gonna tell `em? I certainly ain't, and I'm sure you wouldn't. Shit Todd, it'd just be between you and me, our very private secret, like I said, I ain't exactly innocent, I've had guys in me quite a few times before."
Todd was stumped; he didn't know how to respond. Everything he had ever found to be attractive in a guy was built into Cammo. His own cock was at serious attention owing to the conversation, thankfully out of Cammo's sight, but at rigid attention. Cammo sat next to him on the bed, placing his hand gently on Todd's left knee, stroking softly, climbing ever higher until it reached the upper thigh. For the first time in his life, Todd didn't know how to respond. Should he just sit there or should he stand and walk out of the room? He felt the hand traverse his thigh, now gently stroking the inner part, slowly approaching the source of its obvious interest. Finally, it touched.
"Shit man, you're as `ard as concrete," Cammo said, "See, told ya I was right, gi's a look at him Todd."
Todd had begun to tremble, he could feel Cammo's naked body beside him, smell his fresh aroma and sense the longing emanating from him. He could feel Cammo's fingers gently stroking his cock through his trousers sending cold shivers up and down his spine. What was he to do? He wanted this guy like nothing else and it was obvious Cammo wanted him but, enough was enough. Todd stood, feeling Cammo's hand fall away.
"I can't Cammo, as much as I'd love to, I can't. You're still a minor mate, if anything happened between us, like I told you, I'd spend the rest of my life in gaol.
The look in Cammo's eyes was something Todd didn't want to see, a look of total disappointment, he appeared devastated with the result. His voice was soft and tinged with the disappointment he felt. "OK, I guess I'll have to wait a coupla weeks, `til I'm sixteen. Would'a been good now but there it is, if you change yer mind, just let me know."
Todd smiled at Cammo. "I won't change my mind Cammo, I can't. You know that and I know that. Nothing against you mate, nothing at all, I've told you how I feel but I've also told you how it is, I'm your carer now and, well, I've told you the rest as well." Although disappointment was flooding through him, Cammo felt a stronger liking for Todd, a stronger trust. He knew Todd wanted him, wanted him badly, he certainly hadn't kept that a secret, but he'd explained the way it was, and although disappointed, Cammo's feelings for him were growing stronger. Maybe when he was sixteen, who knew? He was only eleven days away from that age now, the age of consent, the age he could ask Todd if he wanted to and not have Todd throw the underage bit at him. These things were going over and over in his mind before he heard a distant voice.
"Hey Cammo, you OK man?"
Cammo snapped back. "Yeah Todd, sorry, I was right out of it then. In eleven days I'll be sixteen, and on my birthday, sometime, I'm gonna ask ya again. I'll be sixteen and that'd be a real cool present. Jeez, even a box of matches would be a cool present, I ain't `ad presents for three years, apart from the ones you bought me today." He stood from the bed and wrapped his arms around Todd. "This ain't like me Todd, well it wasn't till I met you. Thanks fer what you done today, I feel almost human again."
Todd responded by putting an arm round Cammo's shoulder. "You're welcome my friend, I get the very strong feeling you and me are going to get on famously."
"Yeah, hope so," Cammo replied. "There's only one other thing you could do and you know what that is, don't ya?"
Todd smiled. "Look Cammo, I'll make a compromise with you. You can walk around here naked anytime you want and I'll do the same, but, if either of us gets hard, we can look, sure, but touching is out. That OK with you mate?"
"Yeah, cool." Cammo responded. "But you will remember what I said about my birthday, won't you?"
Todd flashed Cammo a very old fashioned look and walked out of the bedroom. That had been close, too close, but he knew he'd done the right thing. Cammo's birthday? He'd just have to wait and see. True Cammo would be legal age in eleven days, but he was going to have to do a lot of soul searching to make sure of his position. The kid had made him as horny as a billygoat, told him things he'd usually only tell his closest mates and touched him in a place reserved for only very close friends. It had been close, too close, and there was a lot of thinking to be done between now and eleven days time. Todd went out to the kitchen and put the jug on to boil. Cammo joined him several minutes later, resplendent in his new gear and looking perhaps a tad self-conscious. With his hair cut, he was very good-looking, cute almost, and Todd felt the desire building within him again. Todd made coffee, sat at the breakfast bar with Cammo and chatted, the conversation entering many subjects. He found, even though Cammo had been on the streets for the last three years, his knowledge of affairs around him was fairly keen. It was obvious his primary education and year seven had taught him well, his brain had retained many of the skills he'd been taught. There was even some enthusiasm starting to come back into his speech with no coaching from Todd, the atmosphere of where he was now, so very different from where he'd been for the last three years. By the end of an hour and a half's chat, it was obvious to Todd, Cammo was going to do OK, all that really needed fixing was his grammar. At fifteen, or nearly sixteen, Cammo should have been in year ten, and from what Todd had seen so far, he'd have no real problems in that year. He'd see about that on Monday, when Cammo could be presented to the school and given an oral test into his skills. At this stage, he was sure year ten was the go, and with a bit of extra coaching on his English, Cammo would make the grade, no problems.
"School?" Cammo asked, a little disgust in his voice. "I ain't seen the inside of one of them fer three years. Still, if I wanna live with you, I know I gotta go." He smiled. "Just for you Todd, yeah I'll do it."
So that was set. Come Monday, Cammo would be presented to the local High School and tested on his abilities, something Todd was sure, apart from his English, he'd excel in.
To be continued.