Date: Mon, 12 Mar 2012 12:02:39 +0000 (GMT)
From: Andrew Foote <footea81@yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: Boy on the Towpath 22

There are no references to inappropriate activity in this chapter however
it is sensual and mildly erotic.

If due to the laws of your country of residence, religious or spiritual
beliefs you are not allowed to access such material then please leave now.

DEDICATION.

I would like if I may to dedicate this chapter to two outstanding
individuals.

Firstly to a very good friend of mine who recently passed away following a
brief but savage illness

TREVOR MURRAY.
May you rest in peace.

Secondly to a very brave and courageous young man who has gained my utmost
respect and admiration for the way he has dealt with recent life changing
events.

ANDY MITCHELL.
May you live long and prosper mate!
My love and sincerest best wishes go out to you.
I'm here for you always.


CHAPTER XXII.


Back on board the conversation returned to the subject of Maeori as already
it seemed strange not to have him around.  I won't deny that it was nice
there just being the two of us again but none the less it felt as if
something was missing almost.  Tom was unusually quiet so I broke the
silence.  "You're very quiet mate? Is everything alright?"

Tom looked up from his book.  "I'm fine. Why do you ask?"

"Okay I'll put it another way.  How are you really feeling, you know, deep
down?"

Tom put the book down and gave a moment's thought to the question.  "I
dunno? Odd maybe, like there's something not quite right.  Your paranoia
might just be catching `cos I come back to what you said earlier about Mae
and the more I think about things, the more I also wonder about him."

"In what way exactly?"

"Okay you're absolutely right, he's stunning looking and not only that, I
really like him.  We enjoy doing the same things, we have the stupid sense
of humour and so I can't get my head around why I don't fancy him. It just
doesn't add up somehow."

"That's interesting because while I feel an attraction, it isn't because I
fancy him either. It's more like I can't keep my eyes off him, like he's a
`Stu-magnet' or something but never have I thought about him sexually.  I
mean how come he's so bloody pretty?  No boy should ever be so pretty.
Good looking, cute even but if you were to put a dress on him he would
become perhaps the best looking girl I have ever seen."

"Maybe that's why neither of us are fighting over his virginity!"

I had to laugh at this last comment of Toms.  Maybe he had a point. Too
girly for a couple of gay guys to handle but never the less it was good to
know that I wasn't alone with my thinking.  We shared the remains of a
bottle of wine, something unusual for Tom being the night before a new
school day but I judged we both deserved it.

In bed, rather than me keeping a bit of a distance, I cuddled into Tom, my
bits safely tucked away in a very tight pair of briefs.  "I love you mate?"

"I know it Stu and I love you too.  Just be sure that never changes. I'm
not sixteen for another two years!"


*****


The following morning the usual panic stations getting everything sorted
ready for Tom to catch the bus to school and me trying to get the boat tidy
ready for Hiro's visit.

"Right, I'm off now Stu but I wish I could stay around to find out what the
big secret is?"

"Well you can't and anyway there's probably nothing much but rest assured,
I'll fill you in tonight."

A brief kiss and Tom chased up the dock leaving me on my own to speculate
about the day ahead.  It was odd but I felt nervous!  Not much fazes me but
I was starting to feel very apprehensive and no matter how much I tried to
convince myself that it was all going to be very straight forward, the more
I came to the belief that it wasn't and that something pretty mega was
about to hit.  I tried to tell myself that whatever I could always back
out, refuse to be a part of anything but deep down I knew I'd been boxed
in, manipulated by a very astute man and that actually my options were
limited.  Fortunately I wasn't kept waiting for very long.


*****


"May I come aboard Stuart?"

"Hello Hiro, come on in. Can I get you some coffee?"

As he entered the boat, he was overshadowed by the enormous man I'd seen
getting out of the car the first day I met him.  Hiro said something to him
in Japanese and `man-mountain' placed a couple of large boxes on the after
deck before giving both Hiro and myself a swift nod of his head before
disappearing.

"He's one big fellah Hiro!"

"Ah-so! Toshi is my driver and my body guard. A good man if a little
uneducated.  A coffee would be very welcome at least for now. Later we try
some Japanese whiskey. I have brought twenty-four bottles for you to enjoy,
all of them different and I would appreciate your honest opinion once
you've sampled them."

We chatted over coffee and it was very obvious that Hiro was if anything,
even more apprehensive than me. That alone didn't do much by way of
settling my nerves.

He glanced at his watch.  "Eleven o'clock. I think whiskey would be good
now.  In truth I need it, not that I'm an alcoholic you understand but I
need it for how do you say? Dutch courage?  You see what I have to say to
you is very difficult for me as it concerns the true reason for my bringing
my child to England and I have to insist on your absolute discretion."

"Naturally whatever you tell me will remain a confidence but I cannot and
will not keep a secret from Tom.  I have never lied to him and I do not
expect to start now."

I poured two hefty measures of whiskey and handed one to Hiro who took a
large mouthful before composing himself.

"You were right before when you pointed out that my child could receive a
very fine education in Japan but there is one thing that the Japanese
system cannot provide, this I will come to later but first I would like you
to tell me what you think of Maeori?"

"I like him very much and what's more, so does Tom. Tom tells me that
Maeori is his best friend.  He is obviously very intelligent, he's very
polite and courteous so yes, he's a really nice kid."

"Thank you but your observations. How do you see him?"

"In what respect?"

"You look at him. What do you see? It is important that you tell me
honestly Stuart."

My turn to pull a large mouthful of whiskey.

"Oh God! Um, okay I see an unbelievably `pretty' young boy and if you're
looking for honesty, almost too pretty for a boy to look. I mean if he were
a girl he would be perhaps one of the prettiest girls I'd ever set eyes
on."

"You are right and this is the problem.  Maeori is indeed a boy but he
shouldn't be."

"I'm... not sure I understand?"

"You have an expression in the west. `Comfortable in the skin you're in' I
think. Is that correct?"

"Yes that's correct."

"Maeori is not and never has been.  You see he is how do you say, a mirror
image of my late wife even down to his mannerisms. He knows how he feels
and I know how he feels.  The only part of him that is truly `boy' are how
you say, genitals."

"Sweet Jesus! Poor kid."

"Yes absolutely. Poor child maybe but not so that something can happen to
make the situation more tolerable?"

"I'm guessing here but I assume you're talking of gender reassignment?"

"Indeed. Simply put I'm talking of a sex change.  I know that this sounds
very business-like to you, uncaring even but you must understand Stuart, I
love Maeori and I only want the best life for however he wants to be.  Yes
I wish things were different but they are not and so I have to make a
difficult choice, either for Maeori to continue as a very unhappy person
living his life as a male or to acquiesce for the sake of happiness and
fulfilment."

"You chose the latter."

"Yes. It was the only real choice to be made."

Now I don't know why I was so taken aback by this. After all Mae did seem
kind of out of place what with his stunning looks but none the less I was
still very confused.  He played with Tom with all the normal boyish energy
I would expect of another lad, their friendship was very apparent to the
point of closeness and affection but not in any way sexual.

"I understand Hiro but I'm not sure how we fit in to this.  Mae is going to
have a fairly rough ride at school I would have thought and with you 8000
miles away isn't going to make life much easier for him.  Isn't it possible
for him to undergo this procedure in Japan?"

"I answer you in reverse order Stuart.  It is not possible in my country at
this time.  People go to Singapore, Malaysia or Thailand for such things
and I'm not prepared to allow this.  Here you have the finest medical
practitioners, physiological help and above all, the privacy of your system
here means that it will not get into the media which elsewhere it might.
So far as schooling is concerned, I intend that Maeori will be privately
educated when the time comes he can no longer continue at Rugby but more of
this at another time.  Your position and also that of your boy Tom is
essential.  Maeori will need help and guidance beyond what the
professionals can offer and with your credentials and background I can
think of none better to provide this.  The icing on the cake is that Maeori
has a true friend in Tom and this will give the stability and normality
that Maeori will need as his life changes.  I know I am asking a very great
deal from both of you which is why I am prepared to offer you a financial
reward should you agree to help us."

I refilled our glasses not caring that we would be wrecked come lunchtime.
This wasn't anything like what I'd expected to hear and my mind was doing
cartwheels so I considered my response carefully.

"This isn't anything to do with money Hiro.  I'm not a rich man but I'm
comfortable so financial enticements are not necessary.  My concern has to
be with my current situation and by that I mean Tom and his well-being and
education so you must understand that I must tell him everything. We've
never had any secrets and I don't intend to start now.  If he's happy then
I must also talk with Maeori in order to make absolutely sure that he is
also happy with the situation.  Do we have an understanding?"

"Yes. Yes we do Stuart.  I have to tell you that my offer of financial help
was only to recompense you for any how do you say, out of pocket expenses
and also that if Maeori needs anything and I mean ANYTHING, you can provide
and not feel an empty wallet!  You must also tell Thomas and I agree that
he must also be fully aware of the circumstances before you commit to
this. His part in this is very important too as Maeori will need someone of
his own age that he likes and can talk to."

"I'll talk to him tonight once he's back but also I will need something
like an itinerary as to what Mae is going to have to go through."

"I have done this already and it will be emailed to you tomorrow but let me
just say, it is not a fast process. There are many things before the final
transition. We are looking on years not months Stuart. We all need to learn
patience."

"Okay.  I've a lot to think about Hiro so unless you have something else to
tell me, please I must ask for some time alone so I can talk to Tom with
all the facts squared away in my head and also before I get too pissed!"

"Hi, so des Stuart! We say `red faced' but I also like `pissed'!  I will
leave now but please call me if you have questions as I'm sure you will and
when you have made your decision then we must talk again."


*****


Once Hiro left I considered our conversation.  One thing was certain. The
mystery surrounding Maeori's obvious if not overt femininity had been
cleared up but now I was having to seriously consider the possibility of
having not only having to raise my gay teenage stepson but also having to
take care of, mentor or whatever a Japanese boy who is wanting to undergo a
sex change!  This bizarre set of circumstances actually had me giggling
just contemplating them but then again it was more than likely caused by
the God awful whiskey that Hiro had brought along.  I studied the bottle
and opted for another stiff shot before heading for a couple of hours on my
bunk hoping that my subconscious would come to the rescue and provide some
clarity.