Date: Sun, 29 Apr 2012 15:27:38 +0100 (BST)
From: Andrew Foote <footea81@yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: Boy on the Towpath 26

BOY ON THE TOWPATH.

Again to those of you who hold religious or spiritual beliefs or because of
the laws of your country of residence you are forbidden to access even
sensual material then I ask you to leave now.

Comments and criticisms are welcome and should be addressed to the author.

Andy.

footea81@yahoo.co.uk

CHAPTER XXVI

Shortly after Kenny left I left the boat and walked round to the brokerage
dock, careful to take a different route from those that the kids had taken,
the last thing I wanted was to have them tagging along, build their hopes
up only to discover that the asking price was well in excess of what we
could afford. No, it was better I did the initial investigation.

`Calypso Queen' was a fantastic boat, a true classic.  Painted in Mauritius
Blue with gold coach lines she looked for all the world as if she'd just
come off the slipway whereas she was in fact built in 1934 as a cargo boat,
converted into a residential boat in the 1970's.

Having collected the keys from the brokerage office I let myself in.
Obviously all personal items had been removed together with the TV but
otherwise apart from having to sort through all the bits and pieces, chuck
what we didn't want or make a list of the short falls it was almost as
beautifully appointed below decks as she was topside.

I locked up and made my way back to the office.  It was a good job I'd not
asked about the price otherwise I probably wouldn't have bothered taking a
look around.  £85,000 was way more than just over budget and although she
was without doubt worth every penny, there was no way we could justify that
overspend.


I said nothing to the kids when they returned, not wanting to build their
hopes up or even deny them the pleasure of snooping around other boats
having an eye to buy but I'll admit to my pulse racing with the prospect
that Doc would let `Calypso Queen' go for a sum far short of what she was
worth.

I'd seen her about from time to time and a more beautiful example of a late
vintage boat would be very hard to find.  She had a wonderful boatman's
cabin aft complete with a double bunk, wood burning stove which had
probably long since been converted into multi-fuel, basic galley facilities
and well- designed storage spaces.  Immediately forward was the engine room
and so far as I could recall, she was powered by a sturdy Lister JP3, the
same engine as `Movin Home', coupled to a modern PRM 150 hydraulic
gearbox. The perfect match of old and new!  Further forward was what was
once the cargo hold, now completely revamped into a sumptuous living /
sleeping area with all the modern conveniences necessary for a very
comfortable life.  The best part for me at least was the `Tug' bow!  The
boat was longer than I was looking for at seventy feet but that bow!  My
God it was massive and long enough to seat eight in comfort and with all
the storage space below? Well it didn't come any better to my mind. I made
a mental note to ask what could be done to get some sort of discount, a
deal of some sort.

Back on board and with the supper things cleared away, we sat down and
talked about the need to find something for Mae to live on.  Tom was full
of ideas, most of them quite practical but his idea of what could be
purchased for £70,000 was away with the fairies!  Mae of course had no idea
but that said I'd not seen `her' so animated, the prospect of living life
on a boat had very much struck a chord and when eventually I packed them
off to bed she gave me a massive hug and a swift kiss on my lips. Wow
doesn't come close and I had to wonder just how much Tom had said by way of
our relationship.

With two happy and well fed kids off to bed I set about formulating a plan
in an attempt to secure `Calypso Queen'.

I first emailed Maggi. She must know the Doc after all she'd been on the
cut for decades and knew pretty much all of the `old hands'.  I also mailed
some of the others that had been at Janet's funeral or our wedding, someone
must at least know him well enough to be in regular contact?  I wondered
about Dave but not being a boatman I decided against it but felt very
guilty about not telling him about this new turn of events.  My guilt got
the better of me.  I called him.

"Hey Dave? How's things in the God industry?"

"Sacrilegious bastard you are Stu! Not too shabby as things stand. How are
you two?"

"We're good thanks mate with the exception of a minor complication. Can I
bend your ear for a while?"

I went on to explain about Maeori, Hiro's requests, my judgement of the
situation and my decision to go ahead and help with Mae's transformation.
David wasn't best impressed.

"How old is this lad again?"

"Twelve, almost thirteen. Why, is there a problem?"

"well I think at the very least his father could have waited until he was
old enough to make his own mind up about something so serious?"

"Yes but in Japan there's no age at which this could happen. Hells teeth
Dave, he could've taken him to Bangkok and got it done there but without
the support on offer here, iffy medical practices and no after-support,
counselling or friends around to help, - I think as things are, this is by
far and away the best option."

"Yes but Stu, you have to ask the question. Is this lad doing this because
he really wants to."

"Dave you have to trust me on this one.  I've agonised over this very point
and I have to say I'm convinced that it is what he wants, no actually
craves.  I wondered if he was being manipulated by his very strong-willed
father but I'm positive that's not the case."

"Well okay but I'm still not happy with it Stu.  Any chance I could maybe
talk with him?"

"Sure, why not? Just talk and see how he feels but I don't want you to
upset the apple cart by telling him he's wrong. Got it?"

"Alright Stu. You have my word as a man of God.  Where's he going to live
if all this kicks off anyway?"

"Oh well we were going to buy him a boat, his Dad's stumping up the money
but finding one is an issue."

"Why is that an issue? Didn't he give you enough?"

"£70k is enough but it takes time, you know? Fuck it Dave I saw the perfect
boat today, - only £15k over our budget mind? Fantastic boat though!"

"I'll prey for you idiots but even I don't think the big guy `upstairs' can
raise £15.000 overnight!  Ye Gods Stu! How do you manage to get entwined
like you do?"

"Fuck knows Dave! Just prey your best please?!"

With that `none too supportive' conversation done and dusted I helped
myself to a large but disgusting Japanese whiskey before crashing out on
the sofa bed.  There is always tomorrow. Another day full of hope, maybe to
be dashed unexpectedly but hope anyway.

*****

Sleep didn't come so easily.  I missed Tom in my, or should I say `our' bed
and okay nothing much had taken place I really loved him and missed his
cuddles and yeah, even his snoring!  I had to find a solution to these
sleeping arrangements but if I really managed to pull off a deal and buy
`Calypso Queen' so Mae could have his own space, Tom and I could be
together again but I knew my urges were starting to get the better of me
and that was something I had to be very aware of.  Hey I'm not
super-human. I want him every bit as much as he wants me! Damn, DAMN my
conscience!

I woke several times during the night, not for any particular reason but
just my mind was jumping through hoops.  I'd wake and rationalise that I
was `doing the right thing' by Tom but the next time I woke I'd convince
myself that `heck, it's what we both want so what the hell?'  Oh GOD!!

Needless to say, when I did wake properly the following morning I felt like
shit-plus a lot.  The kids took a bit of rousing as well but I put this
down to their spent energy of the previous evening.

Tom was the first to surface, wandering into the galley and helping himself
to some tea.

"Stu can I ask you something?"

"Sure mate. What's on your mind?"

"Well... I like Mae being around and stuff but... I miss being with you.  I
don't want to sound, you know, like I don't want him around but I miss our
private times together?  Do you think that's a bad thing to say?"

"If it's of any consolation, I didn't get much sleep for much the same
reason.  Look we're going to have to follow through with this now, we have
no options open to us. Things will be very different once we find Mae a
boat of her own and we can be an item again.  Understand?"

"That's what I've always wanted – us to be an item."

I suddenly realised what I'd said and it actually shocked me. Maybe last
night's restless sleep was still affecting me but whatever I knew I'd blown
it.  Oh God help me?

"I know Tom and that's what I always wanted but held out against. I don't
know if I'm doing the right thing here but after thinking about it for most
of the night maybe we could... you know get a little closer?"

"Don't tease me Stu? Tell me you mean it please?"

"Yes I mean every word but nothing too heavy mind. Just `closer' and more
`together' right?"

"Oh wow! I don't know what to say!  I want this so very much like almost
from that first day but I kind of understood what you were telling me but
that never changed how I felt somehow.  I know I shouldn't ask but why the
change of heart?"

"No change of heart, just a change of mind really. I just came to the
realisation that after all this time we'd proved to each other that it
wasn't some infatuation, some passing phase but that what we felt for each
other was real and meaningful.  I can't see why we shouldn't... do
something about it.  I'll admit that in the eyes of the law I'm abusing you
but then I thought about something you said a long while back. `it's a
stupid law' remember that?"

"Yes actually and it is, was, okay still is a stupid law for people like us
who really love and want each other."

"That's exactly the point!  We now know it's right for us.  Neither of us
are going to be shouting about it from the rooftops for heaven's sake?  If
you want, and only if you want, I think it's our time now BUT... first we
find Mae a boat okay?"

That hit Tom like a bullet.  He flung himself into my arms almost crushing
me, tears rolling down his face and I can honestly say, I'd not seen him so
full of emotion since the death of Janet, my wife and his Mum.

It took Mae's trip to the shower room to stop his tears.  Mae looked at me
suspiciously.

"Stu hurt you Tom? Why crying?"

Tom sniffed before replying.

"No never Mae! Stu loves me and I love him. He would NEVER hurt me, not
ever!"

"Strange you cry though?"

"Like you. Tears of happiness Mae. So much happiness!"