Having got to grips with myself, life quickly returned to normal and I spent the next couple of days with my parents having paid them a surprise visit. It was so good to see them, although I didn’t live in their pockets emotionally we were very close and I guess I was still their little boy, so I was discreet in how I described my job as a model patient and my friendship with Marc, Ethan, Tang and the other guys at University. On my return I prepared for the coming trip, treating myself to some new clothes and travel bag and generally enjoying the free time I had left until Saturday.

Having been jolted awake early on Saturday morning by my alarm clock I grabbed some breakfast, got dressed, picked up my travel bag which I’d packed the previous evening, locking my door securely behind me I made my way to the University. I really should have got a taxi because my bag was heavy and by the time I reached the campus I was hot and tired; taking a few minutes breather I watched the pigeons enjoying the quietness of the campus. When I’d cooled down I walked the short distance to the meeting point to find two coaches, some sixty students and their luggage, four members of staff and of course Marc waiting for me. Joining Marc and the other members of staff (Dave, Tom, Neil and Callum all of whom I knew intimately) I asked if I was late, No, Tom replied but another five minutes and you would have been!

With that the two coach drivers appeared and invited everyone to start loading their luggage into the stowage areas of the coach, when that was done the students crammed onto the coach jostling each other in a good natured way hoping to get the best seats for themselves. Tom turned to us and whispered there’s no need for us to rush, we had seats reserved for us at the front of the second coach. Once the stampede was over we climbed on board and found our seats – Dave and Tom in the front two seats, then me and Marc, finally Neil and Callum behind us. As we settled ourselves Dave turned round looked at the four of us with a dirty grin and asked if we’re looking forward to this trip. When we replied that we were, he said good because so was he and Tom and that they were anticipating a very enjoyable time for all of us especially if we enjoyed getting our rings stretched to the max! He laughed at our expressions; we clearly hadn’t expected him to be quite so frank in their plans for us. All this hilarity attracted the attention of the other students and they called out what was going on, don’t worry lads, Dave replied, you’ll find out soon enough! He sat down again with a very dirty chuckle.

Marc turned to me whispering in my ear asking what I made of it all. I shrugged my shoulders, saying that we’d find out soon enough but whatever is going to happen probably won’t be anything like we imagine