[Torchwatch]

Part 8
On the Thurday of the week following the second bike ride Roland was walking home from work and just approaching his home when he saw the courier's van outside Jason's house. He saw the courier take a large cardboard box from the back of the van and guessed it was his new bike and cycle clothing inside. He followed the courier up the drive to the house and waited while the courier knocked. Jason answered the door and signed for the package. Jason then got a knife and carefully cut the box open, pulling out the bike frame, wheels and other parts. It took Jason and Roland only a few minutes to assemble the bike and then Roland mounted it and rode it around the street. “It's beautiful.” he said “And it rides so well, I'll take it into the Post Office and get the money to pay for it.”
“By the way.” said Jason as Roland got ready to leave, “ I have to go to meetings in one of the other villages this weekend, I can't ride with you.”
There was no bank in the village, everyone had Post Office accounts that gave them access to their money any time the Post Office was open. Roland then rode through the village towards the shops, he noticed a couple of boys kicking a ball about on the way, they were wearing wine red shorts and matching shirts, the shorts were cut well above the knee and the boys had visible legs, they looked good. Nearer the village centre a man was taking a dog for a walk, he was wearing the same shorts and short sleeved shirt as the boys had been. There was colour in the the village, surely this was the clothing that Alex Weatherly had gone to the city to buy.
The Post Office was a kiosk at the back of the grocers, Mrs Cullen was behind the screen today, Roland approached her, handed over his account card and asked for the money he owed Jason for the bike. “What do you want so much for ?” Mrs Cullen asked “I've bought a mountain bike.” said Roland, “What's happening in this village ?” said Mrs Cullen “All these new bikes and colourful clothes, it's just not right !”
“It's change.” said Rowland, “It's coming and things are going to be better around here when the cycle route and the camp site come.”
“It's not right, everything's been so nice and quiet in this village, and that's the way we like it.” Mrs Cullen said as she somewhat grudgingly handed over the money.”
Wondering about the wine red shorts and shirts Roland went into the Outfitter a couple of doors away. Turning into the men's wear section he saw a manikin wearing the same clothes as the boys and the man with the dog. The fabric was a knitted polyester dyed to a rich burgundy colour, the shirts had a collar and vie neck but no buttons, the shorts although rather short had pocket on each hip. As he was looking at them Alex Weatherly came over asking “Can I help you Mr Druid ?”
Roland asked if he could try on a a shirt and shorts set. In the changing room Rowland stripped off his work clothes and put on the new wine red shorts and shirt noticing that the shorts had a liner and a waist cord so could be used for swimming, then he looked in the mirror. The clothes looked good on him and he noticed that his legs were tanning nicely above the knees from his time on the beach wearing the red swim briefs. Putting his work clothes to the till and presenting them and his debit card to Alex he noticed how hard he was getting.
Alex took the shorts and shirt and bagged them, but rather than taking the debit card he said “Would you fancy something to wear at the weekend, sir ?” What do you mean?” asked Roland.
Alex opened a drawer under the till and took out some red cotton briefs, they were very brief and had a pronounced pouch front, Roland's bulge grew as Alex passed them to him to feel and see. “Yes I'll take a pair of those too, please.” said Roland.
After returning the debit card Alex said “Roland, I saw you riding that mountain bike with a friend on Saturday morning, You looked so good that when I was in the city on Monday I bought my own mountain bike, if you are free on Sunday can I go for a ride with you ?”
“Yes.” said Roland taken aback, “We could go to Pelican Bay, bring a towel and swimming trunks, you'll need lunch and a water bottle.”