Ultimate shoulder rides

PETE: I was 17 and life was good. In the year since I left school , I had got a job and although certainly not earning ?film star wages? it gave me an independence and confidence that came with it. I had always struggled with my confidence throughout school. I had to pass an exam to go there which I somehow did and I regretted it. I never felt as though I truly fitted in.

Now, I had a job, had real friends ? they had always been there, I just kinda drifted away from them a little by going to a different school than they all did.

I was having driving lessons and my test was 3 weeks away, I had already started saving up or a car and my next thing on my list was to rent a place of my own. Probably a flat in the town centre.

I was now going out with the stunningly beautiful Lynne Jones too. Lynne had been in my year at school and although my heart ached for her, I never had the confidence to let her know how I felt. I had convinced myself that she he was too good for me anyway.
As well as being the prettiest (and fittest) girl in school she was also going places as she was super intelligent, was in the top sets for everything and was destined to be have a high powered and successful career.

I couldn?t even speak to her without getting tongue tied. Gladly, she did not seem to judge me based on this.

Lynne had never showed any interest in my taste in music. We had gently ribbed each other about our respective tastes in music but I was not expecting her to want to come to the Rory Gallagher gig. I knew that she would be happy for me to go.

?Are you sure that you want to come? It will be loud and you will be surrounded by rockers and all that goes with them. The smell of sweat and beer. All the stereotypes you tar them all with.?

LYNNE: As we entered the foyer of the Guild Hall, I was surprised at how many people were already there. Like Pete, checked shirts and denim jackets seemed to be the dress code. Leather bike jackets with tassles, long hair and beards abounded.

The smell of Patchouli Oil ? Pete had told me what that awful smell was ? was overpowering.

We handed out tickets in before browsing the tour merchandise on sale.

My god! The prices. Surely nobody pays these?

Pete laughed and shrugged his shoulders.

PETE: I glanced at Lynne and saw her standing there, wide eyed and looking absolutely devastatingly beautiful. She had an incredible curvy figure. Her jeans hugged her shapely legs and fantastic bum.

I laughed when I saw her facial response to the prices on items on sale. She was right though. I did not buy anything. Paying for the car and insurance had put a worthwhile dent in my finances.

?Should we go into the main hall? The support act will be on any minute now??

LYNNE: Stepping into the main hall was like stepping into another world for me. It was dark, the dance floor was already half populated with rockers. They were everywhere.

PETE: As soon as Rory came on stage there was the customary and inevitable surge. They were getting a bit too close to my Lynne and for a moment she looked genuinely frightened of these souls jumping and not bothering where they were landing or show any awareness of personal space.

LYNNE: I moved closer to Pete as the dance floor quickly filled up moments before Rory Gallagher came on stage. I did feel uncomfortable as these rabid rockers shook their heads and jumped up and down almost on top of me.

?Where has all this lot come from?? I demanded of Pete.

His answer was brief.

?The bar? he said with a wink.

Pete began to gently guide me away from this heaving mass of denim, leather, checked shirts and tour shirts.
I thanked him for this. I also realised his kind gesture was taking us further away from the stage as we ended up at the back of the hall.

I had difficulty seeing. I stood on tiptoe holding onto his arm to keep my balance as I tried to peer between the gaps between heads but any success was short lived.

I looked up at Pete who as well being able to see was happily nodding his head to the music played by his hero.

He looked down at me. An expression of concern across his face.

PETE: I could see Lynne was having difficulty seeing the stage. She had been standing on tiptoes but it was unfair and unrealistic for me to expect her to continue with his.

I leaned toward her to speak into her ear. I knew the answer but asked the question anyway.
?Can you see??

LYNNE: I couldn?t see at all but I did not want to spoil this for Pete. This was his gig. He had looked forward to it for so long. I was not going to ruin it by complaining.

I could not kid him. He regarded me for a several moment, as though he was going to say something but he did not say anything. Not straight away. Pete blurted out a question that threw me momentarily.

PETE: I had suddenly become that shy , tongue tied 12 year old boy again. A memory of a similar situation flashed across my mind. When I was about 14, I somehow plucked up the courage to offer an older girl, Janet Banks, a seat on my shoulders to put some Christmas lights up.

?Do you want to sit on my shoulders? so that you can see? I heard myself ask Lynne


LYNNE: I looked at him.
?Really??
He nodded, perhaps wondering whether he had made a terrible mistake.
?I would love to so, yes please.? I said.

PETE: God, she is agreeing to this. So how do we do this I thought to myself.

Lynne made the decision for me. She stood in front of me and shuffled back against me. I watched as she moved her feet apart and place her hands out away from her body. She looked back over her shoulder at me. And smiled as she mouthed ?Ready?

I placed my hands on her hips and lowly dropped to one knee behind her.

I gently squeezed my head between her thighs. I felt my ears brush heavily against her jeans only stopping my forward motion when I felt my shoulders stop against he backs of her thighs.

I felt Lynne?s weight increase as she sat down on me.

LYNNE: I felt my heart race as Pete gently placed his head between my legs. I placed my hands on his head. I felt his long hair, soft and smooth. I slowly lowered myself so that I was sitting on him.

I waited.

PETE: I straightened my back and felt my head press against her.

? You ready?? I half whispered half shouted.

I felt Lynne?s thighs tighten around my neck and her grip tighten on my head with her hands.

I started to push upwards. Lynne?s weight increased. I saw her feet start to leave the floor.

I heard or maybe felt her softly squeal as I began to lift her.

LYNNE: The crowd dropped away as I rose above them. Suddenly , I could see everything.

Pete was now standing upright , his back and knees locked ramrod straight. I felt him, steady and strong underneath me. He placed my shins in the crooks of his arm to hold me securely.

I felt safe.

I adjusted my position to centre myself on his shoulders. I felt myself move closer to his head so I was now sitting over his core.

I tightened my thighs around his neck and had the fingers of both hands against his head.

PETE: Lynne shifting her position was better for me. I felt her tighten her thighs, her fingers running through my hair. I can do this, I thought to myself.

LYNNE: I looked down at the top of Pete?s head which was clamped firmly between my upper thighs. I ruffled his hair as I leaned down towards his head.

?Are you alright down there?? I asked him as he smiled up at me.

PETE: ?I?m fine, thanks. How are you doing up there?? I asked

LYNNE: Wonderful!? she replied before adding ?I feel as though I am flying.? before adding as an afterthought , ?You wont drop me will you??

PETE: ?Not a chance of that. I?ve got you so don?t be worrying about that. Just enjoy the show. I?ll let you know if I need you to come down.?

LYNNE: Pete was always looking out for me. It occurred to me that he was sacrificing his view and possible enjoyment of the gig simply because he chose to let me sit on his shoulders so that I could see everything.

I felt safe. Safe enough to lock my feet behind his back and take both hands off his head.
I raised both arms and let the beat hit my chest. It was intoxicating.

I even recognised some of the guitar bits and song lyrics from the LP and tape had given to me. I sang along as best I could. I moved my body to the music. I became conscious that I was squeezing my thighs tightly around Pete?s neck just as a euphoric reaction to the joy that I was experiencing.

I apologised. He typically told me he was fine even if his face was becoming red and I could feel his breathing pattern starting to change.

I felt part of this gig. As I was more than ?with Pete, I was ?on Pete? and I was loving it.


PETE: Lynne?s weight was starting to take its toll on me as I was starting to experience a burning in my shoulders. Lynne squeezing my neck between her thighs, as a response to the music and hearing music that she was familiar with rather than wanting to do me damage, probably did not help.
The same could be said for her moving her body to the music. It was also seriously turning me on.

After several more minutes and realising that I was starting to tire.I looked up at Lynne.

LYNNE: I felt Pete look up at me. His face was not as red but he did seem to be tiring. I noticed tiny beads of sweat along his hairline. I knew it was time to get down. I nodded my head to him and signalled that I was ready to get back down.

I brought my legs down his back and slid down him, my hips rubbed against him until I felt the floor beneath my feet.

My legs felt a little unsteady. Pete turned to face me. We embraced long and hard. I no longer had the interest in the gig. I was only wanting to enjoy this moment with Pete and hoped it would last forever.

PETE: We watched the rest of the gig from the floor. Lynne standing in front of me while I wrapped my arms around her and rested my chin on her beautiful head. The smell of her shampoo was intoxicating.

I was in love so it would be.

LYNNE: We held hands as we walked back to the car. I rested my hand on Pete?s even while he changed gear. I also rested my head on his shoulder.

PETE: The Rory tape started to play the track ?Moonchild? I felt Lynne look up at me. I looked down at her and saw her smile.

LYNNE: I knew this song. It was the first full song I heard while sitting on Pete?s shoulders an hour or so earlier.
?Our song this,love? I told him.

PETE: ?Why our song? Not hat I am complaining?? I added.

LYNNE: I explained the significance of this song. Together , well mostly Pete, we recalled the other tracks after Moonchild. We were both surprised to count five others which meant that I had been on his shoulders for about half an hour. 30 whole minutes.

PETE: Before long we arrived at our pub and somewhere between excitedly and nonchalantly strolled inside.

Five of our friends were there and they greeted us warmly.

My mate Andy asked me how it was. I gave him the serious overview , tracks played highlights. Yeah. Only highlights.

LYNNE: Mandy asked me if I had enjoyed my night. She was surprised when I enthused about just how much I had enjoyed myself.

Ailsa asked about the view as she had been at a gig at The Guild Hall and had hardly seen anything of the act.

I smile before going to stand directly behind Pete who was sitting on a stool next to me. I placed my hands on his shoulders.

PETE: I felt Lynne place her hands on my shoulders and tought for a moment that she was about to climb onto my shoulders...again...but in the pub?!

LYNNE: I patted Pete?s shoulders before looking at my friends and proudly announcing ?I had the best seat in the house.?

PETE: There as a collective gasp amongst our friends as they knew what Lynne was referring to.

LYNNE: I told them I had been on Pete?s shoulders for ?most of the gig.?  I winked at him when he almost choked on his pint.

PETE: Ailsa asked me how I had managed to have Lynne sitting on me ?all that time?

? To be fair , she as not as heavy as I expected her to be? I explained

LYNNE: ?Oh you cheeky bugger. Right , you?ll be feeling more of my weight before you are much older. And don?t try and tell me that you hated it.? I winked at him and kissed him full on the lips.

I then sat on his knee. Yes, comfortable but not as comfortable as his shoulders had been.

?I bet your shoulders will hate me in the morning.? I laughed.

PETE: Maybe they would but they would forgive her , of that I was certain.

I took another swig from my pint before wrapping my arm around Lynne?s waist . Her hair smelled lovely...still.

People feature in your book of life ? some for a couple of lines , a paragraph or even a full page or two.

Lynne Jones occupied several chapters of mine.

Life does what it does and Lynne and I were to go our separate ways but only after we had had more adventures and shared experiences of life as a couple.

My shoulders did forgive her.

I will never forget her.

I still play the Rory Gallagher album ?Stage Struck? which was recorded on the tour I took Lynne to.
Needless to say that the memories this album and the song Moonchild and the vivid memories it evokes...(sigh)

I was playing this particular song earlier on my MP3 in the car. I thought I would share the memory with you.

Thank you for your time.

Pete