Toby at the Beach - Part 2

“I’d love to come for an ice-cream with you, Toby,” Brenda answered. She told her friends she’d see them later and then turned back to the nude boy who had once again picked up his mum’s beach bag and was using it to somewhat coyly cover his ‘boy-bits’. Brenda held out her hand for Toby to take, but he gripped the beach bag more tightly in front of himself. “Surely a big strong boy like you doesn’t need two hands to lift a beach bag?” she teased.

Toby looked towards mum as if to gauge the likelihood of him being allowed to refuse Brenda’s offer. The expression on mum’s face was enough for Toby to gingerly release one of his hands from the bag. Brenda reached out and took hold of Toby’s free hand. Unfortunately Toby wasn’t strong enough to hold the beach bag one-handed in front of himself. He was forced to carry it by his side and in so doing exposed his smooth boyhood to all the holidaymakers walking along the esplanade.

It wasn’t far to the ice-cream parlour, but for Toby it seemed to take forever. No one, least of all mum, seemed to be in any hurry and when anyone stopped to talk, or just say hello, Toby found himself the centre of attention as inquiries were made as to how old he was and how much he must enjoy being in the nude on such a busy beach on such a lovely day. None of these questions were made to Toby directly and even when he did try to answer Brenda would step in to speak on his behalf making up the most outrageous stories about why Toby wasn’t wearing any swim-trunks. At one point Brenda even claimed Toby was new to nudism… which was sort of true, Toby supposed, but not in the way Brenda made it sound. And mum said nothing, simply smiled at Brenda’s quick thinking.

“Oh, yes,” Brenda, wearing her modest black one-piece swimming costume, explained as she stood next to the totally nude Toby, still holding his hand tightly, “Toby so wants to practice nudism, so his mum and I agreed to help him with his modesty issues… you know how boys go all shy at a certain age…”

Toby was stunned. He couldn’t believe mum was letting Brenda get away with telling such fibs, but whenever Toby opened his mouth to speak, mum would say, “Let Brenda finish, Toby… It’s rude to interrupt.”

“But, mum…”

Brenda took hold of Toby’s hand with both of hers. In front of about half a dozen mums and their children who had gathered in front of them, made Toby look her in the eye and spoke, “Toby… what did mummy just say?”

The small crowd watched and waited for Toby to reply.

“Come on Toby, what did mummy say?” Brenda persisted.

Embarrassed beyond belief and standing nude in front of strangers, knowing mum would not let them go any further without a reply, Toby looked down at his feet and mumbled. He couldn’t face the humiliation of looking at the holidaymakers. This resulted in a chorus of “Ahhhs!” “He is a shy one… isn’t that cute? What a shy boy… Ahhh! Look… he’s blushing!”

Then one little girl in a bathing costume not unlike Brenda’s spoke up. She was about half Toby’s age, “Mummy! I didn’t hear what that boy was saying!”

“That’s because he’s shy, dear… can’t you see how much he’s blushing?”

“Then why isn’t he wearing swim-trunks, mummy?”

“It’s because he wants to be a nudist, dear… didn’t you hear the nice girl explaining how she and his mummy are helping him…”

“... but I still didn’t hear what he was saying,” the little girl repeated.

Brenda squeezed Toby’s hand, “Come on Toby… be a brave boy and tell everyone what mummy said to you just now.”

It was hard to believe Brenda was almost the same age as Toby. It was clear to everyone how much more mature and in control she was. Mummy, they thought, must be so pleased to have a sensible young girl to help her with a boy like Toby.

“To let you finish… because… because it’s… it’s rude to interrupt,” Toby managed to say at last.

However, Brenda hadn’t quite finished embarrassing Toby and asked him what she was saying when he interrupted her. The last thing in the world a boy like Toby wants to do is admit they want to be a nudist, but Brenda insisted he tell everyone and under the watchful eyes of his mum, Toby told the ladies how Brenda and his mum were helping him to practice nudism.

This brought forth a positive cascade of “Ahhs” and “Isn’t that sweet” and “How cute”.

“You must be so proud of him,” one of the ladies said to Toby’s mum, “It’s not many boys… fourteen you say… no, not many boys that age who would want to go nude in public. My sister’s boys are so shy we can’t get them to take their shirts off and they insist on wearing those awful baggy shorts… at least they call them ‘shorts’, but they’re so long they cover their knees!”

Brenda pulled her serious face and told the lady it sounded as if her nephews had ‘modesty issues’ like the ones she was helping Toby with.

Toby thought the baggy shorts sounded great. Why shouldn’t a boy wear them? However Toby knew mum would never let him wear baggy shorts. Toby’s shorts were what mum called ‘sensible shorts’, shorts so short that when Toby sat down he could feel the lower curves of his bare bottom in contact with the seat. There was no use Toby asking for longer shorts since mum simply repeated her maxim that ‘short shorts are healthy shorts’… and once, when they were in the boyswear shop, mum told Toby that he had lovely smooth legs and it would be a shame to cover them up. The shop was full of boys with their mums shopping for the new school year, an annual ritual that Toby loathed. Each year it was the same; Toby hoping and praying for his first pairs of long trousers and each year being disappointed and leaving the shop with two new pairs of school shorts.

Of course shopping with mum for school shorts was never straightforward. Mum always managed to time their visit to the boyswear shop on the busiest day of the year. The shop would be bustling with boys, quite often accompanied by their sisters, along with their mothers wanting to purchase items from school uniform lists. When it was time for Toby’s mum to be served heads would inevitably be turned as mum announced that Toby would be requiring some more short trousers for school. It was obvious to everyone in the shop, children and adults alike, that Toby was old enough to wear longs, but customers were in for even more of a surprise when the short school trousers the assistant had laid out on the countertop elicited mum’s response, “Yes, but haven’t you anything shorter?”

Toby at this point would want to hide behind the counter, because he knew what would happen next as mum continued, “Here… let me show you what I mean… now Toby stand still while I show the assistant...”

Mum would show the assistant how thigh-baringly short Toby’s short trousers were. The assistant might reach for a tape measure only to be told by mum that she knew the best way of ensuring an accurate measurement.

“Toby stand still… the assistant needs to borrow your short trousers so that she can find a new pair just like them from the stockroom…” And with these words ringing in Toby’s ears, mum’s practiced fingers unhooked, unzipped and slipped Toby’s short trousers right down and off. Toby usually wore one of his school shirts on these shopping trips. These short sleeve Trutex school shirts had no shirt tail which meant  his little white underpants were in full view of all the shoppers.

It usually took ages before mum was satisfied with Toby’s new school shorts. Toby would have to stand, anxiously waiting, while mum sent the assistant back to the stockroom for yet another sample of short trousers to be laid on the counter-top for close inspection.

Toby was still thinking that baggy shorts sounded a great idea when mum decided they really must get a move on or the ice-cream parlour would be closed before they got there.

It wasn’t much further along the esplanade before they reached the entrance adorned with pictures of all the different ice-cream treats on offer. As they were about to enter the parlour Brenda asked mum a question which gave Toby some unexpected hope that his embarrassing nudity would soon be at its end.

“Shouldn’t we give Toby a towel?” Brenda asked.

“A towel?” Toby’s mum queried, “Oh, yes… I quite forgot, Brenda… You’ll find one in the beach bag.”

Toby couldn’t believe his luck. He was not looking forward to entering the ice-cream parlour in the nude, but now, on Brenda’s suggestion, he was to be given a towel. He put the beach bag down and eagerly opened it up so that Brenda could find a towel for him.

Brenda rummaged around among the contents of the bag until she found what she was looking for  and pulled it free.

“But… but, that’s not big enough,” Toby stammered as he looked at the small hand towel that mum had packed and Brenda was now holding.

“What do you mean, Toby? Oh! Did you think? It’s only for you to sit on silly,” Brenda told him.

“Brenda’s right… you only need a small towel to sit on,” mum confirmed.

“... but, mum…” Toby pleaded.

“Do you want me to ask Brenda to look for something else in the beach bag, Toby?” mum said pointedly.

Toby knew mum meant the leather strap and so shook his head, but not before Brenda had produced the strap from the bag like a magician conjuring the flags of all nations from a top hat.

“Is this it?” Brenda asked breathlessly, “Is this what you spank Toby’s bare bottom with?”

“Yes, Brenda,” mum replied, “I’m afraid I had to give Toby a spanking with the strap a bit earlier when he was being very silly… I’d hoped I wouldn’t have to spank him again so soon,” mum paused and looked Toby in the eye, “but I won’t hesitate to do so again if there is any more nonsense…”

Toby looked down at his bare feet once more, “There won’t be, mum... I promise…”

“We’ll see,” mum replied, “but I think you’d better keep it handy, Brenda… just in case it’s needed.”

Toby was mortified at the thought of another strapping and resolved to do whatever was asked of him even though he was totally nude. Besides which he didn’t want Brenda to see him being given of one of mum’s spankings… that would be just too much!

“Come along now,” mum said and the three of them entered the icecream parlour. It was very busy and Toby immediately spotted the boy who’d told him about the secret hideout sitting on one of the tall stools by the counter. He was about halfway through a Knickerbocker Glory.

“Isn’t that the boy you met at the showers, Toby?” mum asked, “Why don’t you go and say ‘hello’ while Brenda and I find a table…”

Toby walked over to the counter trying to ignore everyone looking at him.

“Mum says I’ve to come over and say ‘hello’,” Toby said to the back of the boy’s head.

The boy twisted round. The lower half of his face was smeared with raspberry syrup, chocolate and icecream. He was clearly enjoying his treat.

“Hey! It’s the nudie boy! We still on for later?” he asked.

“Keep your voice down,” Toby hissed, “my mum’s here and she’s got super hearing…”

“... and she’s got company… Oh, my name’s Roger… what’s yours?”

“Toby… that’s Brenda with mum… we only just met her… mum seems to like her,” Toby said.

“You don’t?” Roger guessed.

Toby shook his head. “She was making up all sorts of things when we were stopped by some ladies…”

“What sort of things?” Roger asked.

“About how I wanted to be a nudist and how she and mum were helping me get over ‘modesty issues’... whatever that means.”

“Dunno… search me...” Roger replied as he pushed a long spoon deeper into his Knickerbocker Glory. “Couldn’t half do with that wank,” he added staring wistfully at the remaining sundae in the tall glass… expect you could do with a wank after what you’ve been through…”

“Pleeease… don’t talk about… about doing it,” Toby hissed.

“What? Having a wank? Why? Don’t you want to meet up for a wank?”

“Don’t… please Roger… don’t keep saying that word...”

“What… Oh sugar! I’m sorry… I should have thought, but… blimey! I’m sorry, Toby,” Roger said apologetically as he looked and saw Toby’s penis was on the move.

Beads of perspiration trickled down Toby’s red face as he desperately tried not to think about wanking with Roger. But it was no good. The more he tried not to think about it, the more vivid his thoughts became.

Roger’s jaw dropped when he caught sight of Toby’s penis. “Cor…” was all he managed to say. He gazed with admiration as Toby’s nob stiffened. Although he felt a natural sympathy for Toby getting an embarrassing boner in public, Roger was more than ever eager to have a wank with him.

Toby’s heart was thumping. His penis was pointing straight out, unmistakably aroused. If… and when… he turned round, everyone would see he was almost erect. If he waited any loner he would be fully erect.

Roger slipped off his stool, “I’ve got an idea, Toby. If I stand in front of you, when you turn round no one will see your boner…”

“But… I’m not sure, Roger…”

“Come on… let’s give a try.”

Roger moved into position just as Toby’s mum called out from across the crowded tables:

“TOBY!! OVER HERE!! WE’VE FOUND A TABLE!!”

The two boys shuffled in the direction of the table where mum and Brenda were seated. Toby kept himself so close to Roger that his stiff penis prodded Roger more than once. As they passed by one table Toby heard a lady, at the sight of his bare bottom, say, “Oh, isn’t that cute… what a shame, dear, did you lose your swim-trunks in the sea?” But Toby was too embarrassed to reply.

When they arrived at the table mum wanted to know what the boys were up to.

“Toby… come out from behind your friend… what on earth are you two playing at?” she asked. When Toby hesitated mum reminded him that she’d asked the ever helpful Brenda to keep ‘something’ handy. Toby knew what it was and so he slowly moved to one side. His penis was caught for a brief second as it brushed the back of Roger’s swim-trunks. This caused Toby’s penis to jerk, wobbling into view with a suddenness which startled Brenda. Her hand flew up to cover her mouth as she tried to suppress a giggle.

Mum, however, did not giggle. She did not even smile.

From the expression on mum’s face, Toby knew he was in the dog house… again.

“Sorry, mum,” he said.

“It’s high time Mr Winky learnt some manners,” mum said and thereby drawing everyone’s attention to Toby’s penis, “It’s the second time he’s done that this afternoon… I don’t know what’s got into him lately…”

Roger couldn’t help himself and sniggered when he heard this. He knew why Mr Winky was so active, of course he did. Didn’t Toby’s mum know anything about boys?

Mum looked sharply at Roger and Toby thought this would be an opportunity to steer attention away from himself.

“This is Roger, mum,” he said by way of introduction.

Roger and mum said their ‘hellos’ and Roger added that he’s better be getting along. He patted Toby on the back.

“See you later, Toby,” he said.

Mum asked what he meant by that.

“Toby and me... we were going to meet up later…” Roger explained, beginning to understand what Toby had to put up with. It’s no wonder he’s ended up in the nude, he thought, glad I haven’t got a mum like that.

“Yes… yes, I realise that… what I want to know is what you boys plan to do when you meet up,” mum said.

“Oh… I dunno,” Roger replied airily, “muck about a bit, I suppose and…”

“Play…” Toby interjected before mum could draw any other inference, “Play…” he repeated, “Roger and I were going to meet up and play… that’s all, mum.”

Brenda, meanwhile, had kept her own council. She knew what boys were like and if she was any judge, the two in front of her were up to no good.

Mum wasn’t completely convinced but saw no reason to stop the boys from playing together, “... as long as you’re back by tea-time… Now, who’d like an ice cream?”

Brenda and Toby made their choices from the laminated card on the table.

“Now don’t forget to put that towel down where Toby’s to sit while I go and order your ice-creams,” mum said and headed off to the counter.

“What are you really going to meet up for?” Brenda asked as she smoothed out the towel for Toby to sit on.

“What d’ya mean?” Roger said cautiously.

“We’re going to play… you heard,” Toby added.

Brenda smiled and pushed her head in the boys’ direction. She lowered her voice, “... but what are you going to play with?”

“We’re just going to play… we’re not going to play with anything,” Toby blustered.

Brenda gave the boys one of those ‘you don’t expect me to believe that, do you’ looks that girls are taught from an early age by their mothers so they can intimidate young boys. She followed this with a well practiced exhalation of breath to underline her disbelief in the boys motives.

Roger was less defensive, “Hold on… why don’t you just tell us what you…”

Toby risked making matters worse by interrupting Roger, telling him to keep quiet, but Roger finished what he was saying, challenging Brenda to say what she thought they were up to.

Benda sat back in her seat and just smiled one of those self-satisfied smiles guaranteed to annoy boys like Toby and Roger.

Roger hated being teased by girls like Brends and was about to say something when Toby’s mum returned.

“I thought you were off somewhere?” mum asked Roger.

“I… I was, er, am, Mrs er…” Roger had clearly been flummoxed by Brenda’s Cheshire cat grin and was annoyed with himself for so being.

“Robbins… Mrs Robbins,” Toby’s mum informed him.

“Yes, Mrs Robbins… I’ll be going…” Roger said as he backed away towards the door and was through it in the blink of an eye.

“I wonder what’s got into him,” mum said slightly puzzled, “He seemed quite full of himself a couple of minutes ago…”

The ice-cream sundaes arrived. Toby had chosen a butterscotch sundae and Brenda a strawberry sundae, while mum had settled a plain vanilla sundae. It wasn’t long before Toby spilled some of his ice cream. Somehow he managed to miss his mouth and ended up slithering down his chest before he scooped it up again. When they’d all finished mum told Toby to go and clean himself up and sent him off to the gents. Reluctantly Toby, still nude, got up from his seat and went off to do as he was told.

The minute Toby was out of sight mum leaned over to speak with Brenda.

“I’m rather worried about Toby meeting up with that other boy, Brenda,” mum said in a low conspiratorial voice, “I know it seems a lot to ask, but would you mind keeping an eye on Toby. I think those boys are up to no good, but I can’t spare the time to find out what it is. You see I’ve got to go and fetch Toby’s continental suit from the dry cleaners. We’re visiting some friends of mine later and I want him to look presentable. The last thing I need is for him to lose track of time, get back late and need another lesson from my strap.”

“You want me to follow Toby?” Brenda asked to make sure she understood what was being asked of her. The thought of spying on the boys thrilled her, so she had to be sure she had Mrs Robbins’ blessing and the authority to deal with Toby if the need arose. Meeting Mrs Robbins and her son was already the best thing that had happened to Brenda for as long as she could remember. The thought of getting more involved with them and perhaps finding Toby doing something he shouldn’t… something really naughty, was even more exciting!

“Would you, Brenda? Just to make sure he doesn’t get up to any mischief with his new friend… I’m sure a sensible girl like you knows what boys are like when they’re left to their own devices.”

“I’d be happy to help, Mrs Robbins,” Brenda said as calmly as she could and hoping she wasn’t looking too eager to take on her assignment, “I think those two boys are up to something and that’s why Roger acted a bit funny just now…”

“I knew you’d understand, Brenda,” Mrs Robbins said sounding relieved, “I do hope Toby and Roger don’t get up to anything they shouldn’t… you must tell me right away if they do anything naughty… You’d better take a pair of Toby’s play shorts with you… you’ll find a pair at the bottom of the beach-bag…” Just then she saw Toby on his way back, “Better stop talking… here comes Toby.”

Mrs Robbins and Brenda fell silent as Toby returned from the gents. If he’d been a little more perceptive he’d have realised they had been talking about him in his absence. But even if he had noticed anything Toby would probably though it was just ‘girls’ talk’ and dismissed it out of hand. Meanwhile Brenda couldn’t believe she had just been entrusted with the top secret information that Toby’s mum had a pair of Toby’s play shorts hidden at the bottom of the beach bag!

“That’s better, Toby. All nice and clean again…” mum said, “Boys are such messy eaters, aren’t they, Brenda?”

“Perhaps you should bring a bib with you next time,” Brenda replied.

Toby glared at her, “That’s not fair!” he said, “Mum… that’s not fair, is it?”

“Brenda’s just teasing you, Toby,” mum replied.

“Your mum says you’re going out later to meet some of her friends,” Brenda said casually. Toby scowled as it was one of those things he disliked doing. “She says you’re going to be wearing your continental suit…”

Toby was horrified, “MUM!! Please don’t make me wear that again…. It’s horrid!”

Brenda smiled sweetly. She’d guessed that mention of the continental suit might provoke a reaction from Toby, but she still wasn’t aware of how humiliating the suit was for a teenage boy like Toby to wear.

Mum was adamant, “Toby… It’s either your continental suit or the birthday you’re wearing at the moment…”

“I think Toby’s birthday suit looks very nice, Mrs Robbins, but what does his continental suit look like?” Brenda asked.

“It’s a lovely little short trouser suit that Toby was given for his twelfth birthday by a friend of mine. It comes with a sweet little bolero-style jacket, which really shows off the adorable short trousers. Toby’s grown a bit since then, but his little suit still fits him like a glove… doesn’t it, Toby?”

Toby knew he’d be forced to wear his continental suit no matter what he said. And if he argued too much, likely as not he’d end up with a bottom that felt like it had been stung by a swarm of bees courtesy of mum’s leather strap. Or even worse, like the last outing in the continental suit when Toby’s thighs glowed red-hot from a strapping, which meant everyone could see he’d been punished.

With head bowed, Toby replied, “Yes, mum…”

“I’d like to see Toby wearing his continental suit,” Brenda said. Toby glowered at her again.

It was mum’s turn to tease, “I’m sure if you ask Toby nicely, he’d be pleased to put on his continental suit for you anytime, Brenda…”

“Mum!… that’s not fair…” Toby whined.

“Alright then, perhaps Brenda could call round later when you’re dressed and ready to go out…” mum suggested.

“Oh, I’d love to come and see what Toby is making all this fuss about… I mean, it’s only a boy’s suit, isn’t it… I wouldn’t have thought there’d be much to get upset about,” Brenda said, “I know you said it was a short trouser suit, even if hardly any boys that I know wear short trousers these days… I mean for school uniform and best,” Brenda continued, “But even so, why do boys make such a fuss about having to wear short trousers in the first place?” Brenda paused before delivering her coup de grâce, “I think Toby must look really cute wearing his continental short trouser suit.”

If it was possible for Toby to blush a deeper red, he would have done so. He hated his continental suit and cursed the fact he could still squeeze into it without too much difficulty. But he could do no more than sit and seethe as he listened to Brenda and his mum.

“He does, Brenda… everybody thinks Toby looks so cute. He doesn’t like wearing braces either,” mum explained and when Brenda looked puzzled, explained, “You see, Brenda, the continental suit is tailored to be worn with braces. The braces keep the short trousers up nice and snug, otherwise boys… and Toby in particular, have a habit of tugging at the legs of the trousers, making them look baggy and untidy…”

How could my short trousers ever look ‘baggy’, Toby thought, they’re far too short to ever look untidy. I can even feel my bare bottom when I run my fingers round the legs of the shorts. The braces pull my shorts up so tight they almost cut me in two… it’s like a permanent wedgie.

“Was there something, Toby?” mum asked her son who had remained silent while nursing a sullen pout during the recent conversation..

“No, mum,” he replied and wondered whether there was any likelihood of getting his swim-trunks back.

“Well then, you’d better get off to meet your new friend, hadn’t you?” mum said, “He’ll be wondering what’s happened to you.”

“Yes, mum… er, mum…”

“Yes, Toby.”

“Mum, can I put my swim-trunks back on now please?” Toby asked as politely as he could. He was very aware his request drew attention to the fact of his sitting quite bare next to Brenda wearing her one-piece swimming costume.

It was Brenda who answered, “Didn’t mummy say your swim-trunks needed a proper rinse?”

Toby nodded, “Yes, but…”

Before he could say any more, mum intervened, “Toby if I give you back your trunks you’ll only get yourself all sandy again and then you’ll have to go down to the showers to rinse off and before we know it you’ll be late back, so until your swim-trunks have been given a good wash to get rid of all the sand you managed to fill them with, you’ll just have to go without… do I make myself clear?” mum turned to address Brenda, “Really, I’ve a good mind to leave Toby’s swim-trunks at home the next time we come down to the beach… boy’s trunks are just not worth all the time and trouble…”

“I agree Mrs Robbins,” Brenda replied, “I don’t see why boys bother to wear swim-trunks at the seaside… I mean you see lots of boys running about and playing in the nude anyway…”

Toby was indignant, “... but they’re… they’re little kids… they’re not bothered…”

“... and you are,” mum interjected, “just because you’re a little bit older… Toby, do you  really think anyone can see any difference between you and those boys playing in the sand, do you? Do you seriously think there’s any difference between you and them? You’re all boys after all is said and done. I don’t see how there could possibly be any reason why anyone could object to seeing you running about in the nude like those other boys, Toby.”

“... but, mum…” Toby knew mum was referring to his lack of pubic hair. He couldn’t help it. It was bad enough not to have any hairs at fourteen, but for that to be used as a reason to keep him nude at the seaside was… was rotten!

Once more Mrs Robbins’ directed herself to Brenda, “In my opinion Toby has become wilfully modest this last year or so… he never used to be bothered about running about in the nude… even when I bought him his first pair of swim-trunks when he was twelve he wasn’t bothered at all when he changed in front of everyone on the beach... I’m beginning to think it was a mistake to buy Toby any swim-trunks in the first place…”

Toby realised this was a battle he wasn’t going to win. Now mum had an new ally in Brenda, a girl about the same age as he was! It wasn’t fair. Brenda was encouraging his mum… as if she needed any assistance in the matter, to have Toby go au naturel at the seaside. But Toby was fourteen! It just wasn’t fair at all.

Toby got up to go and meet Roger. At least there was something to look forward to. He liked Roger and, for obvious reasons, had tried not to think too hard of them both having a wank together later.

“Don’t be late, Toby,” mum called out as Toby disappeared through the door.

Brenda shuffled off her seat and rushed to the door to see which direction Toby had taken. She knew that in any case it wouldn’t be difficult to follow him, so she rummaged around in the beach bag and found the pair of Toby’s play-shorts Mrs Robbins had mentioned earlier. Brenda pulled then out of the bag and held them up; a pair of bright yellow shorts of such brevity, Brenda wondered if it was worth Toby bothering to put them on at all.

Mrs Robbins could see that Brenda was a bit puzzled by the play-shorts.

“There was an end-of-line sale on at the boyswear shop a few years ago. The play-shorts were ever so cheap, so I bought half a dozen pairs… all different colours. Toby was… let’s see, eleven… yes, Toby was eleven when I bought his play-shorts and they’ve lasted ever so well. There’s a bit of give in the elastic in a couple of pairs, but apart from that they’ll last a good few years yet…”

“You’d better get a move on, Brenda… you don’t want to lose Toby among all the holidaymakers.”

Brenda smiled at Mrs Robbins, “I don’t think there’s much chance of that happening… there can’t be many fourteen year olds running about completely nude…”

As she watched Brenda disappear out onto the esplanade, Mrs Robbins thought Brenda was being such a helpful young girl.