To be read after Virginity Gone and Innocence Lost....
Like all the other Cadets, I spent interminable hours marching up and down, round and round the three main squares at The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
Drill, we were told, was good for discipline and once, after the best part of two years, it had been mastered was, in reality, quite enjoyable. There is something very satisfying about the coordinated movement of hundreds of immaculately smart fit young men. The crisp crunch of gravel under perfectly shined boots, the flash of white webbing against deep blue uniforms and the crash of hundreds of rifles being struck, as one, are deeply imbedded memories.
It was a hot humid day and the film Young Winston was being made at Sandhurst. We were dressed in late 19th Century uniforms and had spent the best part of two hours standing in the baking sun while the lead actor Simon Ward was fussed over by makeup. His attempts at drill were pathetic.
It was while we were practicing the scene for the Sovereign's Parade that I first saw Corrine Tower. She was dressed in a thin cotton dress that hardly seemed to fit her; the sun shone through her dress and revealed a profile that was enough to excite any young man. She was totally unaware of the effect she was having on us. She must have been the focus of attention for every cadet on parade Her cool innocence and beauty were in stark contrast to the infuriatingly rough, hot and scratchy uniforms that rubbed our necks.
She watched us as we went through take after take. Finally, after 4 hours, when Mr Ward had managed to coordinate his efforts with ours and the take was in the can, we were invited, by Mr Huggins the Academy Sargent Major, to show Mr Ward our appreciation for the time he had kept us waiting. Ward was unceremoniously grabbed and dragged to the lake when he was propelled, spluttering with indignation, into the green mire that enveloped him completely. It was a pathetic victory but enormously satisfying.
Corrine was the daughter of one of the civilian lecturer's at Sandhurst. Roy Tower taught me War Studies and seemed to have a soft spot for me. He invited me to tutorials at his house and over a period of time I got to know Corrine. She was tall, very busty and spoke with a stunningly sexy lisp. At 16 she was quite young, but her body was ripe and her body language appeared to offer a chance to share in her perfection. Her skirts were always just that bit too short and the way she moved was slightly awkward. Often I would see her knickers or a peep of a breast. I am sure it was not deliberate, she was far too innocent to deliberately tempt me that way.
At Sandhurst the June Ball is the social event of the year. Corrine wanted to go to the ball. However she had not been asked. Her father's reputation as a protective and rather harsh man had put off many a young Cadet. He asked me in January if I would consider taking Corrine to the Ball in June! Unwilling to limit my options but not wishing to upset my tutor I agreed with some hesitation.
I thought I had no choice and while I was happy to take Corrine to a Ball in June, I knew that my chance of fucking her was nil.
We went out together a few times in January and February. She lived in Frimley and we walked and talked on the common or in Camberley. We spent our time holding hands and going about the business of discovery. She was an only daughter and her father supervised her every move. I had to report to him before I took her out and especially when I brought her home.
We went to the cinema and out to the pub. We kissed and hugged but I was worried about taking matters further. I ached to fuck her. When I went to Wales on exercise she left me a note saying she would miss me and hoped I would miss her. She gave me a tiny white embroidered kerchief that she had a T and an F entwined on it.
We became good friends. I could tell her anything.
The College Valentines Day Dance was a hastily arranged affair. Corrine wanted to go and wanted me to take her. I asked Roy and finally, after a weeks delay, and although he said he was very reluctant at first, he agreed that so long as Corrine was home by 1 in the morning, she could go.
I was to collect her at 8pm, my "brand new" 6 year-old mini, was as clean as it had ever been. I went to their house and was met by Roy. He was clearly agitated and while I drank a very small gin with gallons of tonic he paced up and down taking large slugs from what smelled to be a very large gin with a hint of tonic. He was constantly muttering under his breath.
Tina Tower came into the room and squeezed my arm as she greeted me. "Look after her Tim, she's all we have" she said as a quiet aside.
Corrine appeared, timidly, in the drawing room, looking stunning in a blue velvet dress, that was cut daringly low over her bust and split invitingly high up her right thigh. She looked at me with a pleading expression. "Tim – Daddy wants to talk with you" she lisped. It looked as if she had been crying for a week.
Roy asked me to join him for a word in his study. The invitation was one that expected only one reply. "Yes sir! immediately!"
In his study, which was warm leathery and smelt of cigars I realised that Roy was more worried about this situation that I was
"Corrine knows what I am going to say" he started. "I am trusting you Tim, but I am warning you .... if you lay one inappropriate hand on my daughter you will be out of this academy before you can say spit"
With that he produced a condom from his pocket. "This was in Corrine's handbag. I trust you didn't give it to her?
I was in a difficult position. Firstly I knew it wasn't mine. Secondly Corrine was either coming prepared or had been tricked by a friend. If I said it was mine it would probably end the date. If I said nothing poor Corrine was going to be deep in the mire. I had a packet of three in my wallet anyway!
"Don't bother to answer" he said with a degree of resignation "I can see that you knew nothing about it" "Francesa says she bought it in case things happened with you Tim" he added. "You know she is infatuated with you?"
I spluttered a few feeble protestations but I could see that Roy was on a prepared script.
"I trust you Tim and I know you know how wrong it would be to have any reason to use one of these. Look after my daughter. Be back by one". He came forward shook my hand and left the room.
There was something perfectly old-fashioned and honourable about the way he had behaved. He was like a fish out of water and yet he had swum strongly in centre stream. I knew where I stood and had huge respect for him.
Corrine rushed in and lisped "Its becauth I love you Tim, I'm tho thorry." Pleath take me to the danth"
Tina was at the door, tears in her eyes. "Go on you two" she said. "She means it Tim" she added as an aside. "Look after her"
We went to the car, I held the door for her. As Corrine got in she smiled and whispered in a sad and resigned way
"Take me anywhere Tim, juth get me away from here"
