a good yarn,
easy to sense it holding an audience,
while they wonder is Will Bill?
After all, in line four it says 'our' rather than 'their'…
Max (never been to Tidal River)
On 20/11/2013, at 9:50 AM, Bill Wootton wrote:
> The Pact
>
> A name, just give them a name
> and the game can move on ...
>
> Tom and Will agreed to tell each other first
> when they broke our sexual ducks.
> No risk for Will - it would be a long time coming.
>
> As good as his word, six weeks later,
> Tom duly reported a bloody tale the day after
> Kate's deflowerment. Kate who Will met first
> at a party where no less a person than her brother
> said Go for it, she's keen. But conversation
> had flagged and she was a bit weedy he thought.
> Not to Tom.
> He - they - found something in each other
> which continued for months.
>
> A pity said bush-bred Tom. Back home
> I got all the fights I wanted but no sex,
> whereas now -
> Cut it out, Will said.
> No it's true - let's go down The Bloke
> and pick a fight.
>
> A year later, playing Truth or Dare
> in a rented lodge at Tidal River
> beer run dry, in company
> of a dozen or so, Tom chooses
> to call him out. Remember that
> deal we made, Will -
>
> A name,
> just give him a name.
> Long pause
> lengthens
> All looking -
> are they looking at
> a virgin?
> He's not
> but has been not
> for only about six hours
> having undergone ravishing
> with Megan who's in the room too
> but now quietly withdraws.
>
> What's the Dare?
> Ah, jump out
> that window
> says Tom.
> Without
> opening it.
>
> A name,
> and it can't
> be Megan's.
>
> Winsome,
> Will whispers.
> Megan's friend,
> not present,
> never would be
> in this company,
> unlikely ever
> to hear of the lie.
> Impressed rumblings.
>
> But Tom's not done
> Is that ... all?
> he presses,
> no other?
> Fresh pause.
> One other.
> (Why does he say it?
> Pride? Some latent
> fealty to Truth?
> Guilt?)
> Well, who?
> Can't say.
> Must say.
> No.
> Impasse
> drags on
> uncomfortably
> increasingly
> embarrassingly
> until game
> peters
> out.
>
> Unlike the friendship
> which sputtered on,
> albeit intermittently.
>
> Five years later,
> Will stepped up as Best Man
> when Tom married a Dutch girl
> near Rotterdam.
> Soon afterwards Tom returned the favour
> when Will tied the knot with his share housemate
> at the MCG on a Friday night.
>
> Megan married an accountant.
>
> Winsome, Will met twenty years after
> the pact unravelled, at a school reunion.
> A nurse now, who happened
> to deliver Megan's first baby.
> The betrayal - just never came up.
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