When I finally caught up with Max, a few days afterwards, he just smiled and handed me a small photo album. We found a quiet spot, round the corner from the main yard, and he watched as I flipped through the pages.
“You have got to be kidding me,†I eventually said when I handed him the book back. “You did all this in one afternoon?â€
Max just smiled as we both thought back to the previous Saturday....
“Have a good time, Tom, and make sure you come back in one piece!â€
I waved to my mom as I walked down the path, my rucksack on my back as that old song used to say. It was early spring, and the start of the hiking season for my scout troop, so we were going to the local woods for a planning and preparation day. As it was a Scout trip, I had my uniform on, the scarf fastened round my neck with the woggle.
As I turned to walk to the bus stop, I saw Max playing in his yard. I walked over and asked him if he was doing anything in particular, but he just shook his head.
“Nah – just staying out of Mum’s way,†he said with a shrug of the shoulders. “What are you up to?â€
“Hiking all day – I’m out until six tonight.â€
He looked tame in that way that showed he was thinking of a plan. "Are your cousins over this weekend?†he eventually said.
“Nah – they have a recital tonight. Why?â€
“Oh, no particular reason. I’ll see you later tonight.â€
I waved and walked off – forgetting for a moment that Max had something of a crush on my mum. Has I realised what he had planned – but then, I only heard the full details second hand later on.....
Once I waved Tom off, I knew that I had a chance of fulfilling my fantasies about his mother. Not that I wanted to hurt her in any way, but given the games we had played recently I really wanted to see her tied up and gagged again. This time, however, Tom would not be there, so I had to use a different approach.
Running into the house, I gathered everything I figured I might need into a rucksack, told my mum I was going to see Tom, and walked out of the door. As I hoisted the rucksack onto my shoulder, I tried to contain my own excitement – if I did this right, I was going to have a fantastic day.
It’s a short walk to Tom’s house, so I climbed the stairs onto the patio and knocked on the door. Mrs Vandenburg came and answered the door, in a white t-shirt and faded denim shorts. Her feet were in a pair of old tennis shoes.
“Oh hello Max,†she said as she looked at me, “What can I do for you today?â€
“Is Tom in? I wanted to see if he was free to play a few games.â€
As she looked at me, I wondered what was going through her mind, especially when I mentioned games. She frowned and said “I’m sorry, Max, Tom is at a scout camp all day today – I’m not expecting him back until about six.â€
“Oh,†I said as I frowned, knowing full well my friend was not coming back until later, “I see. Well, thanks anyway...†His front door opens onto a corridor that runs right through the kitchen, so I could see the long grass in the back yard.
“Mrs Vandenburg,†I said quietly, “I can’t help seeing your grass is a bit long out back. I’m not doing anything today – would you like me to cut it for you?â€
“Well,†she said as she turned and looked at the yard, “It could do with a trim. Would your mum mind if you did it?â€
“I’m sure she won’t, Mrs Vandenburg,†I said with a smile, “but you can call her if you like and ask.â€
“No – no, I‘ll take your word for it.†She opened the screen door. “Come on in – you can leave your rucksack in the hallway. The mower is in the shed out back.â€
The first part of my plan was a success – and I didn’t mind the hard work, not if the rest of the day went as I hoped it would...
It took longer than I thought it would to cut the grass – it was an old hand mower, and the ground was uneven – but by early afternoon I had finished and bagged up the cuttings. As I wiped my forehead, I saw Tom’s mum standing in the doorway to the house.
“Nice job, Max,†she said with a smile as she stood there with her arms folded. “Why don’t you come in and I’ll fix you a sandwich and a drink.â€
“Thanks, Mrs Vandenburg,†I said as I walked into the cool kitchen. Sitting at the dining bar, I watched as she made me a corned beef and tomato sandwich, and handed it to me with a tall glass of milk.
As I sat and ate, she sat on the other side of the bar and watched me. I have to admit, as I glanced over and saw the way her t-shirt covered her chest, I was having some rather naughty thoughts, but I tried to keep them to myself. It’s just the way the material stretched over her breasts...
“Penny for them, Max?â€
I looked up and blushed. “Sorry, Mrs Vandenburg,†I said quickly, “I just – well, Tom is lucky to have a good looking mum like you.â€
“Oh – and you don’t think your mum is good looking?â€
“No – I mean, yes, but she’s my mum...†I stopped myself, afraid of what might come out.
“It’s all right, Max – you’re a young boy, and there’s nothing wrong with thoughts like that.†She stood up and walked to the window. “you really did a great job out there – is there anything I can do for a reward for you – do you want some money or...â€
“No thanks, Mrs Vandenburg – unless...â€
“Yes?â€
“Well, I got this new camera for my birthday. Would it be all right if I took a few pictures of you – just for myself?â€
“What sort of pictures – tied up?â€
I shook my head, not wanting to jinx what might happen. “no, just ones of you posing – that’s all.â€
“All right, Max,†she finally said with a smile, as I saw the way the light through the window lit up her blonde hair. “You can take a few pictures – let’s go into the front room, the light is better in there.â€
As she opened the door, I went and quickly got my camera from my rucksack. “Where do you want me sitting,†she said as we went into the front room.
“Just in the chair, please,†I said as she sat in an armchair. She put her hands on her lap and smiled as I took a couple of shots. “I always wondered what it would be like to be a model,†she said as she leaned forward and cupped her chin in her hands, “Will you let me see these photos when they are done?â€
“Sure,†I said as I kept taking some photos. I had to fight how I was starting to feel, especially when to my surprise she lifted her legs up and draped them over the arms of the chair, he shorts riding up slightly as she did so.
“Go on Max,†she said as she out her hands behind her head, “I won’t bite.â€
In my dad’s room are some photos of his great-uncle from the Second World War, standing in front of a plane which had a blonde haired woman with her head thrown back on the front. I swear, that is exactly how Tom’s mother looked at that point – just like that woman.
I kept taking more photos as she stood up and walked over to the couch, lying on her stomach and smiling as I took shot after shot after shot. “this is great, Mrs Vandenburg,†I said – and quite honestly as well.
“I think that’s enough for now,†she eventually said as she sat herself on the couch and indicated I should sit next to her. I looked up into her face and said “You were fantastic – have you ever modelled like that before?â€
“Not really, no,†she said as she tucked her legs up and turned to look at me. “I always wanted to, though – Max’s father used to have books of these models from the fifties and sixties that I liked looking at. He was gone before I had the chance to try it out.â€
She looked at me as I sat there, fidgeting. “Do you think I really am beautiful, Max?â€
“Yeah,†I said before I realised what I had been asked. She laughed and said “I’ll take that as a compliment – you’re too young to have learnt how to lie about things like that. Have you ever taken photos of your mother like that.â€
“Yes, I have – why?â€
She leaned forward and looked at me. “After you came a few weeks ago, I had a word with your mother. She told me how you learned to tie ropes like that – and that you had tied her up a few times.â€
I blushed at that – my games with my mum are a secret between us. “It’s all right, Max – your secret is safe with me.†She smiled as she held my face up. “So long as the person been tied up doesn’t mind, and you don’t hurt them, it’s just a game, so don’t be ashamed of it.â€
“Thanks, Mrs Vandenburg,†I said as I lowered my head again. “Did I hurt you?â€
“Hurt, no. Surprise, yes – especially when you stuffed those handkerchiefs into my mouth. Do you do that to your mother as well?â€
“Yes – it helps her to keep quiet when I tickle her.â€
She laughed at that, and said “I can understand why you think that – but surely it doesn’t need to be like that.â€
I looked at her – if it was going to be any time soon, now was the time. “Well,†I began, “Different gags work in different ways and to different degrees of silence.â€
“What do you mean?â€
“Well, I can show you if you want – I have some with me.â€
“Oh I see – did you think Tom and you could play a game with me?†I looked into her eyes and said “No – he wanted to try them. But, if you wanted to...â€
I looked at her, wondering if she would rise to the bait. Eventually, she looked at the clock and said “Why not – let me go to the toilet while you get ready.â€
She stood up and walked out of the room, while I let out a low whistle – stage two was completed.