Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2001 17:05:58 -0400
From: paul paris <shaksbeer@ureach.com>
Subject: The Private Part Of The Gardener       Part 1

The story you are about to read is fiction. It was the second story I
wrote. The first seemed to go down quite well considering the emails that
have come my way so I hope this is up to the first. It is a story about a
man and boys, their life meeting and so forth. No part has any reference to
a true encounter but maybe the wishes of some are within.

Being a story that does contain sexual matter I suggest that you check if
your country permits this kind of thing. Do be careful.

I have the copyright so if you wish to copy this for any purposes then do
ask. Fee paying sites will be ignored

The author has nothing to do with this except he wrote it. I have
proofreaders being dyslexic and like my first story I wrote I have been
told to keep it as it was written with very few changes.



		     The Private Part of the Gardner.


				 Chapter 1


I was not a millionaire but comfortable. I had stocks and shares that made
my life boring some times. I would see most people go off to work while I
had my feet up watching the fumes from their exhausts zoom of in the
distance. I had better explain about me before I go further. I used to be a
stockbroker. I was like my father and his father going right back to the
times if Scrooge and Marley if they were real. I am sure they never had the
same, but people like them were about. I had a great big house that was
bequest to me after my parents had died. There was about 5 Acers of land
that contained my pride and joy. I had a garden of various flowers and
trees. At the back were several single trees that kept me happy with
various fruits throughout the year. I did my bit so as not to be classed as
tight fisted by offering fruits, I did have plenty, to the schools for
harvest festivals. Even some cider that I made sure went to the right
places. Now this is when you may think I was tight. I had a few gardeners
to help me so remembering my work; you don't get anything without hard
work, when I was asked I always agreed but on certain conditions.

"Hello is that Mr Barker, this is the governor of the local school. We were
wondering if you had any fruit that we could have for the harvest
festival?" I waited as if I was thinking. "Yes I could spare some things.
Please arrange for 5 children to be here on Saturday morning at 10am to
collect the items. I will store the goods in my cool house until they can
be collected on the following Monday."

Yes I was a bastard but I was never given anything in my life so a little
hard work never did anyone harm at all. I was prepared with a speech to
ensure that the children knew the rules. The Gardner called me saying the
children had arrived. I introduced myself. I gave them each a basket being
precise what they could pick and collect. I also mentioned that they could
have some of the things for themselves. Well I had to pay them somehow. I
watched them all go for the bushes and trees. They were quite fast in their
work. The baskets went into the cool shed and I allowed them into the lodge
to clean up. 2 girls and 3 boys all with stained hands from the fruits
rubbed hard until it was useless. I produced some cleaning fluid, which did
the trick so they were almost as clean as they arrived. 2 of the boys hung
back as we walked to the gate. "Hey do you see those Lupines?" they looked
happy enough "The budding wallflowers and dog roses together are great." I
got to the gate. "Billy what's that called?"  The other boy went to look.
"I have never seen them before." I looked at them. "They are called Cane
bras aspitie, better know as the Cuckoo Pint." The boys looked at me while
the others trudged through the gate. "Thank you sir. On behalf of the
school I have been asked to thank you for being so generous." I
acknowledged what he had said. "You are most welcome Billy. Remember it's
the Cuckoo Pint."  The children waved goodbye Billy slightly longer. "They
be sweet youngens this year sir." Normally I would have made some remark
about him getting on with all the work there was to do, but today I forgot
thinking how meaningless that comment would be after I could only agree. As
I walked back to the house I looked at all that grew around me then prided
myself in the fact that I knew all their names. I made up a fire that
evening with dry wood from the shed. I had lost a Cedar in a gale so
planted others to replace it. I cut up the fallen tree and the house was
beginning to smell wonderful. I took a crystal glass of Brandy hand crafted
for my father and sat back to enjoy my evening meal. For some reason those
flowers kept coming in my head. I reached for a book on the shelf and
opened it. Inside were all the flowers from the garden perfectly dried?
This was a perfect accompaniment to round the meal off.

 Sunday it rained but it never stopped me working in my greenhouse. My
father did some strange dealing sometimes so that was the reason I had
exotic plants in the greenhouse. They needed to be looked after with great
care. I did this myself. I never trusted the gardeners to even open the
locks I had on the doors. I would loose all time when I was in there. I
would look forwards to that day.

Monday came and the Governor of the school arrived to collect the items in
the cold room. She brought 3 children with her for the legwork enabling us
to talk, which I did not really want to.  After a quick introduction I
showed her where the things were. Before she could talk I noticed that I
recognised one of the boys. "Good morning Billy." Carrying a small tub he
managed, "Hello there sir. How is the Cuckoo Pint?" I do not smile but I
had to give way to a small grin. "Very well young man. Wide open so today
will be nice and sunny." I shook the governors hand while they all climbed
back into the car. "Oh sir this is for you. I hope it is right?" They then
drove down the drive and the gate was quickly closed. I went to get a cup
of tea. Slightly late this morning due to the disruption, I sat enjoying it
when I looked at the envelope Billy had given me. Upon opening I saw
something incredible. There in front of me, almost perfectly drawn, were
the flowers he had seen with his friend. Underneath it read "Flowers from a
most beautiful garden."

I called on one of the most trusted people who worked for me, the head
gardener. "I have a job for you. On Saturday we had 5 children who
collected items for the harvest Festival. There were 3 boys. Please find
out without too much fuss who they were and where they live. Names,
addresses and anything else that you might think I should know. Do not ask
why but this will be your job until it is complete."

It was a few days before an apologetic head gardener came back to me. I
made us tea. It was the first time so he was suspicious. "Sir, the eldest
boy was Robert Morgan he is 13 and his father is the Post office owner.
Then we had William Rick's known as Billy. Bit of a sad case there. He
lives with his Uncle and Aunt. Parents killed while he was young. Mother
caught Pneumonia, never survived. Father, committed suicide. Then Terrance
Zavorich.  He is 9 and original child of the Aunt and Uncle. Billy is
almost 11. Robert is the brain at the school and Terrance is expected to
pass for a Grammar school. They all go the middle school until early next
year when Robert goes to the Comprehensive, William will stay where he is
and Terrance will go to the higher school being a Grammar. Families are
coping. Mr Rick's being best of all as a Postmaster. Mr Zavorich was
Williams Godparent so has taken responsibility ever since. They did not
want the child at first but after a long chat with an agency called Relate
it seems they have taken things on. School records show they are well
behaved but William and Robert are a bit of a handful."

"How did you get all this information? I think you should have been a
private detective."

He dropped all the documents on the table the left saying he had to prune
the roses now the sun was out. I made sure his pay was increased this
week. That day was the very first I never checked the greenhouse. I never
thought about it, I did in fact forget what I normally did.

I read all the papers over and over again. I then read a letter left to me
by my mother who passed away just after my father. "Son, we have always
known that you will make up your own mind about what to do with the
house. All I ask is for you to help one or two people so that this does not
all go to waste. If you find something have your heart opened to their
needs. Your father and I always knew about your ways and we never, ever
hated you for being you. Don't lock yourself away because of who you are.
Your dearest mother.

I had read that letter so often after she died that just like today I could
not stop the tears thinking beyond my own life. I had been a hermit for
over 10 years. I am 28 now. Having your last parent die when you had just
finished collage was not a nice thing to happen. I carried on with the
family work from home. I made money time and time again. I could stop but I
needed to be busy. Until now I had never had a cause but I just might have
found an answer.

I sat down at the desk making call after call. The family solicitor had not
heard from me in 9 years so I could imagine what he thought was going to
happen. I sent form after form to him asking all different questions. When
I had all the answers, I called on the school. I asked if I might be
permitted to visit them. Now I was almost a hermit so to get a request was
very strange. I made various noises about seeing if the goods I had sent
were enough and I could only judge that myself.  I was invited to the
service. I called in a tailor who measured me for clothes appropriate for
the service. Word got about that "The Hermit" would be going to the service
so almost the entire place turned up wanting to see me and not the service.
I was going to buy a new car but was told my father's car was still
roadworthy. I hiered a new gardener then made the head gardener my driver.
He signed a secrecy agreement. I wont go into that but he would be very
well off if he agreed. He signed with his legal person their so in the two
weeks since I started I had begun a roller coaster ride that could not be
stopped.

The car was brought out of storage. There I was the proud owner of a
Bentley. I looked smart even; ah we had to give the gardener a name. It
suddenly all felled into place. In my garden I had an Apple tree that had
the greatest Apples I have ever tasted. I made my way to the door.
"Worcester shall we go." We both had a laugh. The house realised that I had
laughed because from that moment we both changed.

I began to know how the Queen felt because as soon as the car left the
drive through the gates I was watched. I began to feel very strange then
wondered if I had done the right thing. As we arrived at the school the
headmaster greeted me. The people and children made the noise like bees in
a hive. I was shown to the school and offered the obligatory trip around. I
declined saying that after the service may be more convenient. I spoke to
Worcester giving him some instructions that he should follow to the letter.
I could see that they had made a tremendous effort with the Harvest
Festival so was happy to stand at the back. I had never been to the school
before but quite enjoyed it. I was asked to say a few words being the guest
of honour. Now panic set in. I was led to the front. For a while I stood
silent "I have been asked to say a few words, but in my eyes and thoughts
the display can say more than I ever could." I got a cheer but wanted to
run. A lot of boxes were brought on and filled by the pupils then passed to
all the old people. The rest would be going to other needy causes. I was
very pleased with the way things went. I was introduced to most people
until "Hello Sir. It's raining today so the Cuckoo Pint will be closed." I
saw a small face standing with two adults "Hello they're William or is that
Billy. You are quite right they are all closed up today. By the way thank
you for the picture I have it with some others I have in my Library."

After a quick tour I was greeted again. "Sir I understand you wish to speak
with us?" I shook hands with a small frail man and woman, " Mr and Mrs
Zavorich lets go talk. I know you live away from here so I will offer you a
lift." They accepted. Their children had one last class to finish. "I got
this letter from your driver saying that you could help us." I slipped back
in the chair. "Its William I believe I can help. He collected some things
for the festival. I noticed that he was very knowledgeable about flowers.
He was the first person I have spoken to in 10 years. He sent me a picture,
this one. It is very good. I would like to know how you would feel if I
were to help in Williams education." There was a dim look on their faces.
"Oh why could this not have happened sooner? You see sir we are moving in a
week's time so there will be no chance. I thought quickly. "I am going to
suggest something to you then I want you to talk it over. I know William is
your Godson. How would you feel if I was to offer to educate him hear under
my roof. I know things could not have been easy for you. I will become like
his extra Uncle. I would ensure that he gets the best education. He could
stay with me so that you do not have to uproot him. Then you will have more
time to yourselves and your son. It is a lot to think about. I have
prepared this folder for you to read. It will tell you what is on offer for
the boy. If you agree then there are 3 papers you both must sign and I will
do the rest. One thing do bring William to Tea with you whatever the
answer.  I want him to see something that only my father and I have ever
seen. It's a thank you. Any questions just call the gentleman or me at the
top of the page. Oh and reverse the charge please I do not want you to
incur any expenses."

Worcester showed them out of the car. I said "Get me home and don't hold
back." I became a hermit again. For six days I pottered about in the
Greenhouse hoping beyond dreams that I may get a call. On the evening of
the 6th day I got a call saying that the family had asked a lot of
questions. Just after I replaced the phone I got another call. "What time
would you like us to call for tea. The offer is still on?" I told them that
I would send a car. When they arrived I could see that they had all dressed
up. I was in the gardener's clothes. "Hello all. Please do come in."
Through the large door came the family. "Mr Baker I believe that these are
yours. We have signed them and spoken to William. He is not sure but we
thought your offer might make his mind up. We have packed a few things of
his because if he agrees we believe that it best to make the break as soon
as it's viable. We are moving tomorrow but the guarantee that William will
keep in contact is agreeable. We are doing this for his benefit and no
other." I smiled "Now tea is on the table. Worcester will take care of you
but William I want to show you something." I walked with the small boy
through the house until we reach a big glass door. "Here is a key to open
the lock. I have to ask you to never tell anyone what is in the room you
are going to open." He was happy to agree so opened the lock.

The heat escaped taking our breath away. Inside the dome greenhouse was a
tropical forest. There were plants not seen before except in botanical
gardens. Bananas, Peach, orange, several pineapples and flowers not seen in
the normal garden. "This is beautiful." I told him that only my father and
I had ever seen this before so now he was the third. I wanted to share this
with you because you are like this, very special. You could go to the best
schools. Stay at school or live here. Become as happy as I am when I am
with you but mostly become what your Mother and Father could never dream
you could be." I sat on a bench while he looked around. "I cannot call you
Mr Baker?" I laughed. I will let you decide what to call me but the
decision is up to you. I am going to get some tea." Still looking William
asked to stay for a while. I told him to lock up then join us when he had
finished. I made my way to the kitchen and joined the family. "I have left
the choice to William so now we just have to wait."

It was almost an hours before William came back to us. Due to the
greenhouse he was wet through. "William what have you been up to?" He
looked at me. " I have been looking around and I got caught in a
sprinkler." The boy was a natural keeper of secrets. "Uncle, Aunt would it
upset you if I was to stay?" They were very honest but assured him that
they would be doing this for his own happiness. "I will then with your
permission stay. I want to make Mum and Dad proud of me but I also want to
thank you for all you have done so this will be for you as well" Decision
made. The boys although not brothers did not seem that close. Everyone said
goodbye and the case was taken from the back of the car. As the car drove
off I did spot a tear falling from his eyes. I did not comfort him but
allowed his distress to escape for his own sake. I took the case then felt
a hand in mine as I took him up to choose a room. He took the one next to
mine. I made a big fuss over him and he allowed me to help him unpack. With
clothing in his hands I gave him the choice of where he could put it. I
wanted him to start, as we were to go on. Freedom of choice. Shirts, not
new all hung up. Trousers, well kept Top drawer. Shoes, 2 pairs and 1 pair
plimsolls. Underwear. All kinds, all colours. Bottom drawer. I pair
pyjamas, brand new. Combine those things with what he had on he had been
cared for.

We went down to see the rest of the house. I told him that the only 2 rooms
he must not go into without me were the greenhouse and Library. I showed
him the books. "Now William what do you like to read?" Like most children
he answered "Everything." I took some books and took them to the large
armchair. I encouraged him to sit on my lap then one by one he read. First
all about his new school. "Have I got to wear that hat?" I smiled at
him. "I did and it did not harm or hurt me." All about the house he was to
stay in or come back each night to me. He chose to come home so the Bentley
was going to be well used. I asked all his other questions. I showed him my
mother's letter she left when she died. He read it a few times. "When you
Mother said that she and your Father knew what you were what did they
mean?" I thought for a while. "Billy do you trust me? I got a strange
look. "You called me Billy are this going to be serious?" I laughed out
loud. "Billy My father offered to help another boy when I was at school
just like I am going to help you. This might be hard for you to understand.
I will never get married." Billy looked completely puzzled. "You see I now
have another secret that no one must know." He sat up straight. "Don't tell
me that you have another secret room?" I smiled "No it's not that kind of
secret Billy I just do not like girls. I am a man who loves boys." Billy
looked away. He stood up and placed all the books away. "Have you got any
guns?" Now I was confused. Did he want to keep one under his pillow in case
I ever went to him? "Yes Billy I do. In that metal cabinet. It can only be
opened with a key." He looked at it. "If you will look after me does that
mean you trust me?" I tried to hold his hand but being this was a serious
question he was not in the mood for comfort. "Billy I will look after you.
I promise." Billy came towards me "Can I have the key to the gun cabinet?"
I thought long and hard. "If it means that much to you then yes."  I took
the key from a locked case and gave it to him. "I will be back don't move."
It was 10 minutes before he came back giving me the key to the greenhouse.
He was damp so I guess he had put the key in there. "Now no one can find
it. He sat back on my lap. "I would never take them out they were my
Fathers." He squeezed right up." My dad had granddad's gun.  Mum came home
one day from work with bad Flu and he was in bed with the boy who delivered
the newspapers. I saw them. I heard them argue. He said what you told me.
He sometimes went with boys. Mum ran out. I tried to get her to stop. Dad
shot himself. It was not long after that mum died. Aunt said it was of a
broken heart. I now know about you and I wont let you shoot yourself." I
hugged young Billy as he cried long and hard. When he calmed down Billy
wiped his eyes and nose upon his sleeve. "Do you have a paperboy or is it
Worcester?" I stood him up to look straight at his face. "Billy I have
never really had anyone. I was hoping it was going to be you?" I never made
a move to take this any further but just sat there looking at the young man
who was just about to make one of the most important choices in his life.
"Billy it is alright if you say no. I still want to give to all the best
things I can give you. You are someone who deserves to have the good things
I can give. Your family do not move till tomorrow so if you would rather go
back to them then that's okay to. All I ask is because you know my three
secrets I will trust that you will never speak about them to anyone. You
even have the choice at if you are called William or Billy but do not
forget you have to think about a name for me as well." Billy turned away. I
am tired so do you mind if I go to bed?" I stood, taking his hand I took
him upstairs. "Your bathroom is in that room. If you need anything just
call my name." I walked downstairs locking up while time passed.


Part 2 of The Private Part of the Gardener. Will follow

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