Date: Mon, 17 Oct 2011 21:03:07 +0100 (BST)
From: Andrew Foote <footea81@yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: Boy on the Towpath 7

BOY ON THE TOWPATH.

(Chapter VII)

This is a love story that contains only references to intimate bonding
between an adult male and a minor. No sexual activity takes place however
if the laws of you country of residence, spiritual beliefs or customs it is
illegal for you to access such work, them please leave now.

All comments however critical will be answered and should be addressed to
the author.

Thomas.

(footea81@yahoo.co.uk)

And so life went on.  I visited Janet and Tom every Tuesday and Thursday
evening on the excuse that I was helping him with his maths but if truth be
told I just wanted to be near him.  I would go back to the boat with
confused emotions.  I knew my feelings for him were more than just
`paternal' and whilst I would try and brush them aside as best I could, I
would find myself playing out various scenarios in my mind and that
disturbed me.

At the house I had time to study him as he worked and I would try and
rationalise exactly what I found so wonderful about him.  He was a small
boy for his age -- perhaps four foot six inches tall and whilst he was
slender he had good muscle definition for his age.  Small hands and feet,
dark brown hair cut to `regulation' length and dark brown eyes set wide
above high cheek bones and lips I so wanted to kiss and never stop.
Yes. To me he was nothing short of perfection and I ached for him.

This did nothing but fuel the fire of love that burned out of control deep
inside me and I knew that he would only have to come on to me one more time
and I would be powerless to resist thus committing what for me was a
cardinal sin, that of robbing a young boy of his innocence and childhood.
To me there were just two options open. Cut and run or stay put and hope
that I had the will-power to contain my feelings.  Either course of action
would be painful but the first wouldn't just hurt me but also Tom and Janet
so it had to be the latter.


*****


Tom was always a regular visitor to the boat, sometimes just for the day
but more often than not he would sleep over but a week before the school
summer holidays I managed to persuade Janet to visit as well.  She had
always refused in the past saying that it was a man thing and she didn't
want to intrude.  Quite what she thought she would be intruding on beat me
but I never forced the issue as it gave me more prime time with Tom and him
with me however on this occasion she accepted.  I planned a BBQ hoping that
the shitty weather that had dogged us for the past couple of weeks would
improve so it was with a sense of relief when that day dawned bright and
clear.

They arrived at three in the afternoon so I lit the BBQ and we settled in
to a bottle of wine, waiting for the charcoal to catch.  Janet produced an
envelope.

"Something I think you'd like to see Stu."

Tom groaned inwardly.  "It's my end of year school report."

I started to read through it and the deeper I went into it the broader my
grin became!  Aside from French his grades didn't dip below a `B' but the
best was the last. Mathematics.  "A minus! Tom you're a bloody genius!
Congratulations buddy!"

Toms face fairly lit up!  "Mum you never told me I got an `A'? Wow!!"

"No I didn't! I wanted it to be a surprise for when we were together and
you know who you have to thank for that don't you."

Tom hurled himself at me and clung on for dear life.  "I... I don't know
what to say?"

"I think the way you are choking the life out of Stu says pretty much
everything! Did you read the teachers comment Stu? He says `The most
marvellous turn-around in achievement I have ever seen in all my years of
teaching. Thomas's work is well thought out and well presented. He has
participated in class with great enthusiasm and his new-found love of the
subject truly confounds me. Very well done Tom!'  I received a letter from
the school today. He asks if I can go to the school on Monday afternoon to
see him. What are your plans Stu because I'd like you to come with me if
possible?"

"Well okay I can do that but he only asks for you."

"If you were Toms Dad then he would ask for both of us and let's face it,
you're as close to him as any father could be so I think it's right you
should be there. Will you come?"

"Yes. Gladly."

Now I'm not given to blushing but here I am with a face like a damned
beetroot!  Janet smiled and nodded her head.

"That says more than words ever could. With the possible exception of
myself, no one loves my son more than you."


*****


Arriving at the school gates the following Monday afternoon we met Tom. He
was talking to his friend Paul who when he saw me, eyed me suspiciously and
raced off on his bike.  Janet suggested that he waited in the car whilst we
had our meeting.

We reported in at the reception and after a few minutes a rather jolly old
gentleman introduced himself.

"I'm Graham Frost, Thomas's mathematics teacher and you must be Thomas's
mother. It's very nice to meet you!"

"Likewise Mr Frost. May I introduce you to my very dear friend Stuart
Cavanagh? I hope you don't mind but I asked him to come with me this
afternoon."

"You're very welcome Mr Cavanagh. A pleasure to meet you. Shall we all go
through to my study?"

We sat down around a table and Frost poured us some coffee before parking
his rather portly frame beside us.

"I'm so pleased that you were able to come this afternoon because the thing
is, I'm lost for words.  The meteoric escalation in young Tom's grades is
unprecedented to the point where I was wondering if he was cheating!  Not
the case.  I set a rather knotty problem for the class to solve and your
boy was the only one in the entire class to get the correct answer.  I then
asked him to redo his calculation on the blackboard in front of everyone
and it was a good job I don't have a heart condition.  His methodology was
just... Well... Perfect and his calculations -- without using any aids
other than his brain were spot on the mark!  Now I've been teaching for
over thirty-five years and I have never seen anything like it and I've had
the privilege to teach some very bright pupils.  Please tell me how this
transformation took place?"

Janet nodded her head in my direction.  "It's all down to Stuart here.  He
managed to spark interest in him and he's just gone from strength to
strength."

"Really! Well Mr Cavanagh you performed a miracle with this young man! Like
to tell me how? I would be very interested!"

"Application. Applied mathematics. I I used his interest in other areas and
gave him some practical examples of how maths could be used to solve
practical problems. In truth the rest was up to him. I'm not a teaching
professional like yourself."

"Maybe you should be!"

"No chance!  I'm very fond of Tom so in that way it was easy in as much as
he would listen to me.  One-on-one I could probably do if the kid wanted to
learn but you have to do battle with classes of what, - twenty, thirty
pupils some of which have only one goal and that is to get away from school
each day as fast as possible?  I couldn't do it Mr Frost and I take my hat
off to you, I really do!"

"Ha!! Your point is well made but there are rewards and I'm not referring
to the bright pupils but sometimes for those who under-achieve.  One girl
for example.  Had no idea of even the basics!  Four years after leaving
school she wrote to me. She had started her own business and was prepared
to pay me for private tuition!  I refused of course --- payment I mean but
helped her get an HNC in accounting!  From a complete no-brainer to HNC? I
can retire in a years a happy man!"

"I understand exactly what you mean! Tom was by his own admission a
complete no-hoper. It's just that spark that's needed and with the number
of kids you have under your wing there's no way you can tailor your
approach to all of them in a way that suits their individual needs.  An
impossible task!"

"Yes possibly so Mr Cavanagh. None the less you've done a wonderful job
with, may I say, a wonderful young man.  His behaviour has improved beyond
all recognition as well. He is a delight to be around.  Anyway I've taken
up too much of your time already. Keep up the good work both of you!  It'll
be my last year next year and I can't wait! Please let Tom know how very
pleased I am with him!"


*****

Back at their house we talked about what Mr Frost had said and it became
apparent that something was on Janet's mind.  I didn't dig for fear of
overturning what had otherwise been a fabulous day. None the less something
was on her mind.

Tom went to bed and we separately said our `good-nights' to him.  He looked
almost frightened when I left his room and I so much wanted to stay with
him and to understand what was troubling him but that wasn't an option.

I came back down the stairs and Janet looked up at me.  Gone the rosy
cheeks of elation and pride but replaced by a greyness I'd not seen before.

"Are you alright Jan? You look really `off-colour'?"

"Another time Stu. Not tonight but soon please.  There are things that have
to be discussed.  I'm not up to driving you home tonight. -- Sorry but
you'll have to walk back.  Thank you for tonight. It made such a difference
knowing that someone else...!  Please Stu! I need to be on my own for a
while."


*****


That night I had trouble sleeping.  Tom had been justifiably pleased with
his school report but there had been an undertow of melancholy throughout
the evening with both he and Janet very subdued.

I didn't see either of them until the following Thursday when the school
year ended for the summer.  Tom called me to ask if he could come to the
boat that evening and stay over until the Saturday morning much to my
relief. I had started to worry that maybe I had said or done something to
make him feel he wasn't welcome however he arrived still in his school
uniform carrying an overnight bag.

He was still very subdued but I thought better of questioning him thinking
that if he wanted to talk it was better instigated by him rather than me
but as we cuddled up in bed on the Friday night, I had to try and get to
the bottom of whatever was troubling him.

"Tom?"

"Umm?"

"Tell me to shut up and mind my own business if you want but you've
something bothering you, haven't you?  Do you want to talk about it?"

It seemed like an age before he answered me.

"I don't... I mean I can't... Mum asked me not to... say anything to you."

I could feel his body shake as he tried to stop himself from crying.  I
turned over so we were face to face and held him tight to me.  There was
nothing sexual about this but I could feel his pain and just felt the need
to protect him somehow.

"Let it go Tom. Give in to those tears. It isn't good to bottle it all up
inside.  No more questions I promise."

For a full fifteen minutes he sobbed his eyes out. My chest was saturated
with his tears but finally he calmed down and reached over for some tissues
and blew his nose.

"Thanks. I feel loads better now."

"Good. I'm pleased. Just remember that you mean the world to me and if and
when the time comes to talk, I'm here for you always."


*****


The next day Tom did seem brighter.  We tidied up the boat and with him at
the helm we motored down to the service quay to get the effluent tanks
pumped clear.

I look back now after all these years and still marvel at how proficient he
was with the boat -- thinking ahead and structuring every manoeuvre as if
he was born into it.  He was more than good enough to take the boat down by
himself but I was new here and didn't want to upset the harbour master!

With lunch out of the way Tom made ready to leave telling me that he was
sleeping over at Peters house that evening but actually wished he could
stay with me but Janet had made the arrangements already.

"Summer's here bud. We can go out for a week or more so long as your Mum
says it's okay!"

Tom smiled weakly up at me.

"Yes. You must talk to her."

With that he was gone turning once to wave at me leaving me with my
thoughts.


Later that afternoon I tried to call Janet but the phone just rang out.
The same result that evening and the following morning and I rationalised
that perhaps she'd taken the opportunity to get away for the weekend but
deep inside I was afraid. No I was scared that something was going
down. Something serious.



*****


"Stu? It's Janet. I'm really sorry it's so late but I had to make sure Tom
was asleep before I called you."

I glanced at the clock. Midnight.

"Anytime is okay. What's the problem? Are you two alright?"

Without directly answering my question she went on.

"I need to talk with you. Soon. Can you make tomorrow evening or should I
say this evening say around 6.30?  Peter's folk are taking the boys to
Disney Land in Paris for a couple of days so I'll have the house to
myself. Please Stu you have to say yes?"

"Yes of course I'll be there but..."

"Tomorrow Stu. -- Thank you." And with that the phone went dead.

No sleep for the remainder of that night despite a couple of very large
brandies.  Every possibility went through my mind.  Was she going to
re-marry? Maybe her new man didn't think I was a good guy for Tom to be
around.  Was Tom unwell? Was she unwell?  Were they moving out of the area?
Had she thought my behaviour with Tom inappropriate and was going to the
police?

The next day dragged like no other as I just stumbled from one
half-finished job to another until the time came to set off and on arrival
my hand was visibly shaking as I pushed the doorbell.

Janet let me in and offered me a seat. Walking to the drinks cabinet she
said "You like a good brandy don't you? Alan was given this, it's a good
vintage and right now I need one and I think you will as well -- probably
the entire bottle by the time I've finished!"

She took a seat right beside me, took a large mouthful of her drink and
took hold of my hand.  With great composure she started to explain.

"It isn't good news Stu. For a while now I've not been feeling 100%,
nothing I could put my finger on, just odd and out of sorts so I decided to
go to my doctor and get checked out.  A few days later he called me in and
told me that one of the blood tests was suspect and he was referring me to
hospital for further investigations as there was a possibility I might have
cancer."

She paused to take another sip of her drink and I downed mine in one, my
hand shaking so much that the glass rattled as I sat it back down on the
table.

"So this weekend I was admitted to hospital and they put the rule over me
and the upshot of it all is yes. I have cancer."

I interrupted her.

"But these days the understanding of it means there are effective
treatments out there."

"For some. Unfortunately not mine. I have been diagnosed with Pancreatic
cancer. The symptoms don't become apparent until it's too late for any
effective treatment. The most they can do is give me chemotherapy and even
then at best I've perhaps twelve months to live.  Stu I've declined
treatment.  Knowing that the clock is ticking down with each passing day
would make me suicidal."

"How... How long?"

"Three weeks but now I need you to do the most single biggest favour ever!"

I have received over 250 emails concerning `Towpath' and only one has been
nasty.  I know the content isn't sexual so far but none-the-less I hope you
stay with it.

footea81@yahoo.co.uk