Date: Sun, 22 Sep 2002 10:36:19 +1200
From: Arthur <rochopa@xtra.co.nz>
Subject: the vision 1-7

DISCLAIMER

The Vision is a work of total fiction and has writings that may not agree
with some peoples attitudes, therefore if you are offended by adult /youth
themes or allusions to suicide or are under the age of consent please leave
this site now.


AUTHORS NOTE

Welcome to the open minded readers,this story does start a little on the
dark side but I assure my readers that it does get better as you read.  I
wrote this as a thought to the lonely people out there in the hope that
they will also have hope.  The story is under copy write to the author and
may nopt be used by any pay site but can be downloaded for your own
personal use.

All comments and suggestions will be greatly appreciated and if required i
will attempt to answer all emails in person.

contact Author..... rochopa@xtra.co.nz



                               THE VISION

				By ARTHUR


Part One

           Hello Darkness My Old Friend.


Well I suppose you would like to know who I am first like most stories so
here goes, I'm 5'9" tall, slim and weigh 165 lbs, I'm also closer to 60
years old than I am to 55 so you can see I'm no spring chicken so what am I
doing here when all you want to read about is young and handsome teenagers?

Firstly I did not think I would ever be here and secondly I have to leave
something behind me so that someone will know that I was once here. Sound
confusing? Well people that's not the half of it, so I am going to tell you
about my last day on this earth as accurately as I can in the hope that
somewhere out there it will make a difference.

I used to have a very high profile job with a salary to match and then 12
months ago it all started to turn to the proverbial poop when the directors
decided to give themselves a massive bonus and the company accountant
cleared out the pension fund and all took off for parts unknown.

The rest of us were left holding the bag (empty of course) and were out on
the street with nothing, now I'm not going to bore you with all the fine
details of the company bankruptcy or all of us being left high and dry but
in the next 12 months I had to watch while the bank took the house and all
the contents, the finance company took the car and the boat (my pride and
joy) and I was then sitting in a rundown one room apartment trying to find
enough money to still pay the outstanding accounts, Well all that sunshine
and joy then lead me to where I now am and that is sitting here in a small
bay on the edge of the city limits having spent my last five dollars for
the bus fare to get here.

I had arrived before sunrise to observe what was to be my last one and had
watched as the first rays had crept over the horizon steadily pushing back
the last of the cold darkness of the night.

The sun had begun to throw all the colors of the rainbow over the water and
the reflections reminded me of diamonds, rubies and sapphires as they
twinkled and sparkled across the bay.  As the giant orb arose higher my
depression deepened at the sight of pure and unadulterated beauty of nature
knowing that this was now all that was left to me, so I settled deeper into
the sand shucking my shoes as the day warmed and allowed the sand to
surround my feet.

My thoughts began to drift over my life, lifting at the highs and drowning
at the lows, wondering what it had all been for, now that I was at
twilights door, the last of my family after 500 years of survival and now
reduced to this a last day in the sun, a last sunrise, a last sunset and
then the last moonrise, is this really the twilight of a life.

I had only one true love in my life and he was taken from me nine months
after we had found each other and although I had further relationships he
was my one and only true love and never again did that special feeling ever
flood over me.

Being that we were both 14 years old at the time we did not have the
benefit of adulthood to protect our feelings for each other so our parents
decided that we should be split up and put an end to our love, being that
it was in the fifties and it was then illegal in this country to be a part
of any homosexual involvement of any sort.

So now here I am sitting on the beach waiting for the last sunset to say
goodbye to a lifetime of joy and disappointment, the last of a family, the
last of a life.What's that I hear, I'm not to old to start again, well let
me tell you that after being told 75 times that I am over qualified (read
to old) for the position and the burden of debts and the shame as friends
and others watched my life's work disappear down the driveway in the hands
of one agent or another do you really wonder why I'm sitting here?

As the day drew on my thoughts continued to go back and forth and the
memories of the orgies of my youth and the lonely nights of my approaching
older years went around and around in my head neither making a firm
decision one way or the other only occasionally bring the beginning of
tears to my eyes at lost friends and lovers and missed opportunities.

The feel of a light chill in the air made me aware that dusk was near and I
realized that I had been sitting here all day on the beach and that the sun
had taken a toll on any skin that had not been covered during the day, not
that it made any difference as I was not going to be here tomorrow to
suffer sunburn.

I turned myself westwards so that I could see the last sunset and readied
myself for the coming of the night and the rising of that last moon and
felt good inside that I had picked a full moon to see.

Far away in the distance I could hear the distant rumble of traffic on the
motorway as the city workers made their way home after another fruitful day
of employment and I almost pitied them and their humdrum lives.The lower
edge of the orange sun kissed the horizon spreading its liquid gold onto
the water before me and reflecting beams of light up to the fine scattering
of Sirius cloud high up in the sky drawing on them like an artists pallet
the subtle colors of pink and mauve splashed with a garish orange and deep
red.

So this is it, my friend of light and life you also sink and die at the
start of nights invasion as will my soul and body at the rising of the full
moon, sink into the bosom of my sister the sea.

How slow the sun gives up it's life to the night and I stare unwaveringly
as it sinks slowly into the distant horizon, only, unlike myself, to be
reborn on a new day to shower it's strength over the land once again and to
fight the good fight to maintain it's position in the heavens.

As it dies it's daily death I began to strip my clothes, neatly placing my
shoe's and sox together in the sand, I take off my shirt and folding it
carefully to place it beside the shoes, now my trousers follow again folded
carefully and put with my shirt, all that remains are my brief's, but for
the sake of some unknown modesty I decide to leave them on as a final sign
of humanity and then turning to the east I await the rising of the full
moon and at last to end the doubt, pain, shame and the loneliness of this
earth.

A dull graying on the eastern horizon tells me of the coming moon and I
move without hesitation, but with soft and determined steps to the waters
edge, it is now only a matter of minutes to the full glory of the ultimate
giver of light and taker of life, it is now my time to see my friend the
darkness and to glory in the comfort of peace.




Part Two

        Where Have All The Flowers Gone


The strong moon beam shone like a spot light sending it's silver thread
toward me over the water, guiding my way to the final resting place in the
bosom of my sister the sea on which my ancestors had spent their search for
the ultimate quest.

The water lovingly caressed my ankles as I moved onward down the silver
trail of the moon beckoning me to follow it's seductive light.A high
pitched sound entered my head like the crying of the banshee's of old
mythology trying to pull me away from my destiny but I ignored it's
persistent cry and silently begged to be left in peace for this, my last
stroll in the moon light.

Attacking my eardrums the screeching came again and again until I could
make out the individual words.

"Mister, hey Mister, hey you hear me Mister"

I realized that the tears were streaming down my face as I turned toward
the source of the sound and there behind me on the edge of the water was a
diminutive elfin figure barely discernable in the darkness of the landmass
behind it.

"Stay away from me elf, your powers have no hold on me, begone, leave me in
my own peace"

"Hey Mister I need your help, please can you help me?"

The soft caress of my sister the sea became cold on my bare skin as I tried
to make out the figure of this imp that would attempt to interfere with my
own desire.

"Please Mister help me?"

My sister grew colder as though to reject my wish to join her in a loving
embrace in the depths and the darkness of her eternal inner self.I stood
transfixed in the water not knowing if I should go back or turn and
continue forward in my quest of peace and finality.

"Hey Mister, why are you crying?"

"Hey Mister, why you got no clothes on?"

"Hey Mister why you standing in the water at night?"

"Hey Mister, please help me!"

I know that grown men don't cry, so why am I bawling like a little kid,
shaking and wringing my hands watching the water come closer to me as my
knees gave out under me.  Then I feel the small soft hands of an angel
resting on my shoulders and that voice softly saying.

"Mister can I help you?"

Is this what they look like, the fabled imps, elves, angels of the old
books and tomes of history and why would they appear to a man without hope
or desire in his last minutes on this misbegotten planet.He had a face like
an angel not to thin but full lips and shining green eyes with a dark
fringe showing beneath the cap on his head.

An angel, with a school cap on his head ?

Hang on what the hell is going on here, I can hear the traffic in the
distance and the street lights are still glowing up on the road beside the
beach and this angel is wearing a school uniform with cap, and all in the
middle of the night on a lonely beach, his sox slowly falling down his
calves as the water soaked them and made them to heavy to stay up.

I felt the gentle pull of two small hands on my forearm as he tried to help
me from my knees and toward the waiting sand, his persistence made me begin
to move in the direction he wanted, my head hung low and the tears still
came forth down my cheeks.

"Come on Mister this way, don't cry please"

My stumbling and silent mumbling did not seem to dissuade this angel of
mercy at my side and then I was seated on the sand beside my neatly folded
clothes.

"Sorry Mister, was you trying to do your self?"

I mumbled some sort of answer, bowed my head and the tears continued to
flow as I realized I was again a failure just as my whole life had turned
out to be, why oh why had this little angel, or was he the devil in
disguise, stopped me from my final rest.

"Come on Mister you got to perk up I need someone to help me please Mister"

The insistent pleading from him finally got through to my conscious mind
and I looked at him through tear-laden eyes.

"Son I can't even help myself so how can I help you?"

"Mister, I'm lost and I don't know where I am"

"Son, I'm lost and unfortunately I do know where I am"

I could now see him clearer as he stood in front of me, he was about 14 or
15 years old with that slimness of youth and a soft almost golden tan on
his skin, he stood about 5' 6" tall and his face was quite like the little
elf depicted in the story books.

"Listen son, I don't think I'm the one you should be asking for help right
now, I don't think there is much that I can do for you."

"Well Mister it's just I don't know where to go or what to do, you see I
went to sleep on the bus after school and it stopped here and the driver
told me to get off, I've been wandering around for hours trying to find out
where I am."

"Well son I can tell you where you are but I can't do much to help you I am
afraid."

"Oh I see, okay, then can you tell me how to get home, I live in a foster
home at Banktree."

"Banktree! Hell son that's over 70 miles from here."

"70 miles! Oh god how am I going to get home now?"

"How did you sleep that long that you didn't know where you were going,
son?"

"My foster parents had me working very late on my chores last night,
Mister."

"Wait a minute are you telling me you were kept up late working so you got
no sleep?"

"Yes Mister, till 2.00am this morning."

"DAMN, DAMN, DAMN."

The boy jumped backwards, fear deep in his eyes.I looked at him, my face
softening as I realized I had scared the life out of him.

"I'm sorry son I didn't mean to scare you, it's just I can' t believe
someone would keep a young kid like you working till those hours."

"Oh, ok sorry you just gave me a fright that's all, but yes they do that to
me every night, when you're in a home like that you have to do what they
say."

I reached for my clothes and began to dress myself as I talked on with him,
I had decided that as things had not turned out as they should have I might
as well go back to my tiny prison and see if I could find room for him for
the night then look at what I could do for him in the morning.

"Look son, I live a few miles from here it's going to be a long walk as I
don't have any money with me or we could get the last bus, and I'll give
you some room on the sofa for the night, then in the morning we'll try to
get you back to your foster home ok?"

"How much is the bus from here, Mister?"

"Well how old are you first?"

"I'm 14 and 6 months, Mister"

"Ok then one and a half fare would be about $7.00 from here"

"Oh that's ok then I've $8.00 in my bag we could use that and get the bus
then, is that ok?"

The tears started to flow from my eyes again, here was a kid asking for my
help and instead he was offering me help, confusion rattled around in my
head, what sort of day was this, it was meant to be my last and here I am
trying to take on a responsibility far beyond my present status or ability
to handle.

"Look I feel pretty guilty about taking your money and I've nothing to
offer you but a couch, I've had a bit of a rough spell this last year and I
don't know if there's much I can do for you but you can have a bed for the
night at least, ok?"

"Yes thank you Mister that's good, by the way my name is Benny but I like
it when you call me son, no one has ever called me that before so you can
call me son if you like."

"Nice to meet you Benny, my name's John, and yes I think son is nice too,
if you don't mind?"

"No I don't mind I'ld really like that, ok lets go and get the bus ok?"

"Ok son it's over this way shouldn't be more than ten minutes, now don't be
surprised my place isn't much but it's warm and dry at least."

He took my hand and we made our way back onto the road and down to the bus
stop, we sat down on the bench and waited for the late bus.



Part Three

            Don't Worry Be Happy

As I handed the bus driver the fare he looked at Benny and turning to me he
said.

"You got your grandson out a bit late haven't you pops?"

"Mind your own business and drive your bus" I snarled at him.

"Ok, ok, pops don't get your back up"

I turned to Benny and gave him a wink as we set off down to the back of the
bus and took the rear most seats as the bus took off.By 10.30pm we were
standing at my bus stop having got down from the bus and Benny was reaching
for my hand to clasp as we made our way around the corner and toward my
single room.

Benny had somehow invested me with a new vigor that I had not felt for many
years and I almost felt glad that I was not now in that final embrace with
my sister, but at the back of my mind was the worry of what I was going to
do after tonight and on the morrow with this young kid.Well I suppose the
best thing to do was try to contact the foster home tonight and let
themknow where he was and that he was safe for the night and would return
to them the next day.

I opened the door to my room and ushered Benny inside and followed him in,
at least the place was neat and tidy as I had left it cleaned so there
would be no inconvenience for anyone after I was gone.

"Well here we are, sorry it's not much but it's all I have at the moment,
grab your self a seat over there and I'll find something for you to eat
ok?"

"Thank you John"

He sat himself down on the recliner chair in the corner while I turned to
the alcove that acted as a kitchen and began to look for something for his
diner.There was not much in the cupboard but I found a tin of beans and
some bread for toast as well as the last two eggs in the small
refrigerator, putting everything on the cooker I plugged in the electric
jug for a coffee as that was all I felt like and there would not be enough
for the both of us to eat and he would need it more than I would.

"John?"

I turned toward Benny and saw he had taken off his jacket and cap and was
half leaning over the small coffee table in front of his chair.

"Yes Benny?"

A look of disappointment came over his face at my query.

"Sorry, yes son?"

He beamed at the change of approach.

"Ah, John don't you open your mail?"

I wondered what he was talking about until I realized he was looking at the
shoe box full of unopened mail on the table, I had got so used to bad news
and persistent requests for money that I no longer even bothered to open
mail any more.

"No son it's only people asking for money all the time and lawyers telling
me how things aren't going to get better so I don't bother with it"

"Hmm, John?"

"Yes son?"

"Could I open one, I've never had a letter before and I'd like to see what
it's like to open one?"

I looked over at him and then realized I had a huge smile on my face at the
wonderment of a box full of envelopes being an attraction to a small boy.

"Sure you can son, do you want me to pick one out for you or do you just
want to grab one?"

"Oh really, would you pick one for me, then it'd be like it's mine, is that
ok?"

"Sure I'll do that for you"

I walked over to the box and looked inside and after looking at a few
decided to give him one from the bank thinking it would be special for him
to have such an important letter to himself and handed it to him.

"There we go son that's the most important one there so you can open that
one"

Just as I was turning to go back to get his dinner I saw the look of awe
come over his face as he took the letter gingerly in his hand try not to
rumple it and looking at the banks name on the envelope slowly turning it
over and over as he held it.As I prepared his dinner I heard the envelope
being very carefully eased open then the rustle of pages being unfolded.

"John?"

"Yes son?"

"What's a cheque?"

"Why do you ask that son?"

"Well it says on the letter that the cheque is attached"

"It says what?"

"It says the cheque is attached and there's this paper with a lot of
numbers on it"

I walked over to him and reached out for the letter thinking that the bank
had had a returned cheque of mine, but that could not be so as I had not
written a cheque for over a year.

"SHIT"

I yelled out again scaring the life out of my little friend in the process.

"Sorry Benny, hmm son, it's just I wasn't expecting this, can I have a look
at the letter now please."

There it was nice and neat, all in black and white and to think that had my
earlier plans been completed I would never have known of this except for
the inquisitive nature of what I was starting to think of as my little
angel.

The first page was a bank statement, the second was a covering letter, the
third was a letter from the manager who also was an old school friend and
had been my adviser at the bank as well and the last was a bank certified
cheque for the sum of $243,000.00 being the outstanding balance after all
costs had been deducted from the mortgage sale of my house and land.

My friend Richards letter was more of an apology for the bank having to
take the action it did and explaining that he had made sure that all my
personal effects and chattels had not been included in the sale and had
moved them to storage for me at his own expense.

I must have looked a sight or at least near to death as I felt Bennies
little hands trying to tug on my arm.

"John are you ok?" he said in a concerned voice.

Without thinking I reached down and lifted him up into the air level with
my face and gave him a big kiss right on the mouth then realizing what I
had done almost dropped him again.I became very flustered and began to
apologies frantically to him for doing such a thing to him.He stood there
as red as a traffic light blushing and scuffing his shoe in the old carpet.

"It's ok John, you must be very happy."

"Yes my littler angel you've just saved my life."

"Oh John I didn't do that, I just opened a letter for you"

"Yes but what a letter"

"Wait Benny what is your surname?"

"Umm Chapman, why?"

"Ok Mr. Chapman, while I finish getting your dinner ready why don't you
ring your home and then I'll tell you what it's all about, ok?"

He showed me a puzzled look then went to the telephone and began to dial a
number as I returned to his dinner.I placed the beans on top of the toast
and the two eggs on top of that then turned to take the plate over to him,
and was startled at the look on his face while he still held the phone in
his hand, his eyes beginning to brim with tears.

"What's the matter Benny?"

He held out the phone for me so I placed the plate on the table in front of
him and held the receiver to my ear.It was a recorded message being played
on the phone.

*If that's you Bently, then you might just as well stay where you are, we
waited for you till 4.00pm and you're not here so we're going to take this
long weekend and a few more days to go on holiday, you'll just have to fend
for your self till we get back next Friday*

I could not believe my ears and turned to Benny as I heard those deep sobs
start to come forward, these people must be right pigs to do that to a
goodhearted kid like this one.I knelt down on the floor and held out my
arms for him as he rushed over to me and placed his arms around my neck and
let the tears flow for what seemed ages and then as he started to quiet
down I placed him back in the chair and told him to start to eat and things
would seem a bit better after.

I kept cajoling him to eat until it was all gone then took the plate to the
sink to wash while he sat back a look of despair on his face.

"Ok son, now tonight is for sleeping and tomorrow is for sorting things out
ok?"

"Oh John what am I going to do, please help me?"

"Ok Benny, don't you worry for now I'll make a bed for you and then I've
some calls to make so you get some sleep and we'll fix this all in the
morning ok?"

"Ok John I do feel pretty tired now"

"Good then I'll make the bed for you on the sofa and you get your head down
then in the morning we'll see what can be done"

I readied a bed for him and as soon as his head touched the pillow he was
out to it, he had taken his uniform off with out any embarrassment and
slipped in between the sheets in his briefs and vest and closed his eyes
immediately.I went to the phone and made a few calls quietly and then went
to my bed in the corner and went straight to sleep with a light feeling in
my heart, tomorrow was going to be a very special day for us both.



Part Four

          Lets Hear It For The Boy

I awoke the next morning to see that it was still dark and then noticed the
time was only 5.00 o'clock, but I knew that I would not get to sleep again
so decided to get out of bed and have my first coffee of the day and do
some thinking.

I glanced over to the little bundle on the sofa and he was still out like a
light so tried not to make any noise and let him sleep while I tried to put
some sort of order into what had happened.While drinking my first coffee I
looked at the box of unopened mail and decided to sort it out and then
later open the rest of it, now that I had the money from the house sale I
could afford to settle my outstanding debts and look forward to a bit of a
life after all.

After sorting the mail into lawyers, banks and debts I left them on the
table again unopened and smiled to myself as I thought I would let Benny
open them as a treat for him, well you never know he might be an angel and
bring some further good luck.

I was half way through my second coffee when I heard the unmistakable
yawning and moving of Benny as he opened his eye's to a new day and the
rustle of blankets as he moved about on the sofa.

"Morning, son!"

"Morning, D... ahh John"

"Did you sleep well?"

"Yes thanks John."

"Sorry, I don't have anything for breakfast for you but we'll go out soon
and have a treat, ok?"

"Uhm, ok, but today's a holiday there wont be anyone open, will there?"

"Oh yes we'll find somewhere, but first I've a little job for you."

"Really? What is it?"

"Well I'd like you to get out of that bed and come and open the rest of the
mail for me, I think that you're a lucky sort of person and you may find
something good in there for me again."

Benny jumped off the sofa and started to make his way over to the pile of
envelopes and I had to smile at his eagerness to please.

"Ah son I think you better get dressed first."

Benny again blushed a bright red and made his way to where he had carefully
folded his clothes the night before and proceeded to dress in his
uniform.He began to open one envelope after the other not really reading
them just passing them on to me to read the contents.

"John, this's a funny one it's got a plastic card in it"

"Ah so that's the one I'm looking for"

"What is it?"

"It is my new credit card, when I talked to my friend from the bank last
night he said it'd been reactivated by the bank as soon as the sale of the
house had gone through."

A look of understanding came over his face as he digested the information.

"It's the same as real money isn't it?"

"That's right son, we can use it to have some breakfast now, so tell me
what else is
 there to open?"

"Well there's some letters that I think are from some lawyers so I'll open
them now, ok?"

"Go ahead."

He bent his head to the task and after the second one was opened he looked
up at me with an awestruck expression on his face and holding out the
letter toward me.The first thing I saw was the attached cheque and then
looked twice at the amount and could not believe what it said.

Richard had told me on the phone last night that the directors and
accountant from the company had been caught before they could flee the
country and had been prosecuted for their actions and had all that they
owned confiscated by the courts but that was all he knew.

The courts had decided that the confiscated property should be disposed of
and the proceeds should go toward the monies owed to the employees of the
company.My share was way beyond my wildest dreams and included salary,
bonuses, severance and pension funds plus interest for the past twelve
months a nice tidy sum coming to a total of $386,004.45.

I sat there in disbelief at the huge sum and new it was only because of one
small boy that it was in my hands at all, and then I knew what I had to do
and gained strength from the new purpose I now had in life.The rest of the
letter opening continued until all had been taken care of, most of which
were receipts for full payment of debts, as I knew that Richard had done
this from the sale monies as he had told me the night before, it was no
real surprise.

"Well Mr. Chapman I think it's time to go out and look for some breakfast"

He sat there looking like it was Xmas surrounded by empty envelopes and
letters strewn over the table and floor.

"Come on Mr. We've got a lot to do."

"What're we going to do now John?"

"First we go pick up my car, then we're going to eat the biggest breakfast
I can find for you"

"You have a car?"

"Yes, my friend Richard took care of it for me some time ago and put it in
storage with a few other things of mine"

I felt I did not need to tell him that Richard had saved it from the
finance company along with my pride and joy by paying the outstanding debt
on them.Benny jumped to his feet holding out his hand for me to take as we
headed for the door to catch a taxi at the stand just around the corner
from my room.



Part five

         The Only Way Is Up

Benny and I jumped into the back of the first taxi on the rank and I gave
the driver the address of the storage company where the car was stored.

"It's a public holiday today mister, they wont be open"

"It's ok driver they know I'm coming over today just get us there thanks"

The driver just nodded and started to pull out of the stand to take us to
the address.  Little Benny was beside himself with anticipation as we got
closer to the storage building and kept asking questions about what type of
car it was and if it was new and was it a nice color, but I just said to
wait and see and smiled at him and his antics.

When we pulled up at the gates and got out of the taxi Benny looked into
the wired off yard and pointed out a new B.M.W. in English racing green
parked near the front gate, oohing and ahhing over it.

"Look at that one John, is yours like that one?"

"No son it's not like that one"

Before he could ask any more questions the manager of the yard came to the
gate and opened up for us.

"Everything is cleaned and ready Mr.Chapman"

Out of the corner of my eye I saw the look on Benny's face and again smiled
to myself.

"Hey John, you got the same name as me"

"Hmm, yes funny that isn't it?"

By this time we had reached the car and I looked down at him standing
there, mouth open and stuttering.

"You said it was not like yours John"

"That's right it's not like mine, it is mine"

"Oh wow, it's really yours?"

"Yep, ready for breakfast now"

He stood by the car shaking and jittering around as I opened the door for
him and he shot into the passenger seat like he had been fired from a gun.

"Oh John, this's so neat, but why do you live in that little room if you
own a car like this one?"

"It's a long story son and I'll tell you everything later on today when
we're not so hungry, ok?"

"Yeah, great, oh wow, can we go on the road now, pleeeeaaassssseeee?"

"Ok here we go breakfast for two"

I had never appreciated a car so much as I did just then, feeling my life
starting again but this time it had more purpose than before and I had a
nice soft feeling about what was to come for the rest of the day and the
knowledge that if it had not been for a little elf on a dark beach I would
not be feeling like the phoenix of old mythology rising through the flames
of despair to a new beginning.

One of the calls I had made the previous night had been to an old friend
who had been my tailor and he had agreed, after I had explain all to him,
to be in his shop this morning for me for a bit of after hours shopping.

"You know son there's something wrong here?"

"What do you mean John?"

"Well we can't go to breakfast if my lucky charm is dressed in a school
uniform, now can we?"

"But it's all I have except for my gym clothes and they're at your room"

"Oh well we'll have to try to find something else for you to wear then,
they might not let you in to eat other wise"

"But everything's closed for the holiday"

"Oh, yes you're right, well maybe I can get someone to open up for us
seeing as it's a special day"

I was enjoying this so much it was getting harder and harder to keep from
smiling and as I pulled the car into a parking place near the local mall I
said.

"Lets have a look in here, there might be someone here to help us out"

Benny got out of the car with a dubious look on his face as he surveyed the
nearly empty mall, I got out of the car and locking it, walked around to
his side and he unhesitatingly placed his hand in mine and we made our way
toward the entrance of the mall.

The second shop in the mall was that of my friend the tailor so I stopped
at the door and knocked on it till I saw him approaching to let us in, the
look on Benny's face was priceless as Jim opened the door poking out his
hand to shake.

"John so good to see you again, I thought after what happened I was not
going to have the pleasure of your company again"

"Well you're not on your own there Jim, but it looks as though things are
going to improve, now I'd like you to meet a special friend of mine, he
needs some essentials, Jim meet Mr.Bently Chapman"

"Mr.Chapman, my pleasure to meet you sir"

He pushed out his hand for Benny to shake and at the same time giving me a
funny look at the similarity in our surnames but I just shook my head and
shrugged my shoulders.

"Good morning sir"

Benny extended his hand and shook Jim's while looking a little embarrassed
and again shuffling his feet.

"Right then, so what does the young man need John?"

"What ever he needs Jim, just fit him out as though he's going on a four
week holiday to the islands and something a bit fancy for good dining"

"Right, you want to have a coffee while I get sorted out then John?"

"Yes thanks Jim, is it in the same place as usual?"

"Yes you go ahead you know where everything is, now Bently lets get you
sorted ok?"

Jim took Benny by the hand and lead him down to the back of the store while
I made my way to the small coffee bar set up near his office.I had been
sitting down for about five minutes when Benny came rushing up calling
frantically for me and all in a fluster.

"What's the matter son?"

"He's trying to give me lots and lots of clothes and I cant take them I
don't have any money for them"

"Oh is that all, well you just take what ever he gives to you and I'll talk
to him later about how you can find the money, ok?"

"But I cant John, I don't have any money at all, and some of the clothes
are very expensive, I could never pay for them"

"Hey Mister, you're my lucky charm, right?"

Benny nodded his head but did not seem to sure.

"Well if you're my lucky charm then you've got to look like it, so you just
let Jim do his thing and all will be ok"

He looked at me and shook his head again but decided to take my advice on
face value and made his way back to where Jim was standing with a smile on
his face.A little later Jim came up to me a broad smile on his face.

"Well John, I've never enjoyed outfitting anyone as much as that young man,
by the way did you want a suit for him?"

"Yes, that'd be a great idea, can you measure him up and we can pick it up
when you have time to make it for him"

"Fine, I'm open tomorrow all day why don't you pop in then I'll have it
ready for him."

"That's very kind of you Jim but you don't have to be in that much of a
hurry, it's a holiday you know"

"Not at all John, it's my pleasure, I've never seen anybody enjoy shopping
as much as he is, I think it'd be nice for him if he could have it
tomorrow."

"Well ok then, can you put him in something nice for today I want to take
him to Del's for lunch"

"Yes fine I've got just the outfit for him and if you come back after lunch
I'll have everything packaged up for you to take home"

"Thanks Jim, that's really good of you and I do appreciate your time today"

"Ha, what I'm going to charge you for this little lot will change your
mind."

Jim departed to the back of the shop laughing fit to burst and shortly
returned with Benny in tow.

"Well what do you think?"

I could not believe my eyes, there in front of me stood a vision beyond
compare.Benny was dressed all in tan and brown that brought out the sparkle
in his eyes and the color of his hair.The shirt was a very pale fawn with a
light brown jacket, the trousers were of a darker brown with a light tan
belt which accentuated his slim waist while on his feet were a pair of tan
loafers that matched the belt.

Benny stood there so proud and smart in his new clothes I could hardly take
my eyes off him.

"Jim you've out done your self this time, he looks perfect, just like a
lucky charm should"

Jim hurmphed and beamed his pleasure at dressing Benny to perfection for
the occasion.

"Ok then John and I'll have everything ready for you later on after
breakfast, but you two better get going or it'll be lunch instead"

Nodding my thanks I took the proffered hand of Benny and we headed to the
door to have at last something to eat, I looked at my watch and Jim had
been right it was more going to be elevenses rather than breakfast.




Part six

          Good Vibrations

We got back to the car and I drove the two blocks to Del's restaurant,
holidays or not Del never closed, he had a very select clientele and was on
call for them at all times no matter what day it was.

The restaurant is tucked away and unless you knew about it you would never
notice it so Benny did not realize it was there.

"Where are we going to eat John, I don't see any place around here?"

"Oh I think I know a place that'll feed us some eggs"

We left the car and I approached a brick fronted building with a small
plaque on the door and pushed the bell on the side, it was immediately open
by Del himself.  Del was a big bluff man with the manner of a Father Xmas,
all jovial and jolly.

"Well, well Mr. Chapman so nice to see you again, it's been such a long
time"

"Yes Del it has, but I'm here to make amends for that oversight, now
what've you got for a young man that hasn't eaten for two day's?"

"Oh Mr. Chapman is this young man with you, he looks to well dressed to be
with you, is he a special client of yours?"

Del continued to laugh as he led us to my old table in a corner where we
could see everybody in the restaurant and it was noticeable that a lot of
old faces were surprised to see me here again.

"And what would you like today Mr. Chapman?"

"Del we're completely in your hands but I must warn you that this young man
is very, very hungry so I'll let you decide how he should be filled up."

Benny sat there a look of wonderment on his face as if he could not believe
he was actually sitting in this rather exclusive restaurant and this big
jolly man was treating him like a grown up.

"Very good I think I have just the thing to fix a young mans appetite"

Del departed toward the kitchen talking and chatting to everybody as he
passed by the table but never stopping just chatting on the run.

"Excuse me Mr. Chapman?"

I looked up to see Dennis, the young man who was Del's only other staff
member in the restaurant side of the business.

"Hello Dennis, how're you?"

"Very well Mr. Chapman, it's nice to see you here again."

"Well it's nice to be here again, Dennis."

"Will your guest be having the same as your self for starters?"

"Yes Dennis, that will be fine, thanks."

Dennis turned and headed toward the kitchen entrance while I watched as
Benny looked all around the restaurant, his mouth open at all he saw.As I
was watching him he glanced toward the far corner where a middle aged man
and a young Asian lad were sitting, talking and eating.

Benny looked and then looked again at the two before turning back to me
with a look of awe on his face.

"John, John, that's, that's."

The look on his face and the hushed whispering and stuttering almost
brought me to the point of laughter.

"Yes son, that's the Minister of Finance."

"Wow, then that Asian boy must be very important."

"Ahem, well yes he is sort of important to the Minister."

I did not think this was the time to tell him that nearly all of the tables
were occupied by gay men and there boyfriends and that this restaurant was
usually used mainly by gay people of the upper income bracket so that they
would have a little place to call their own which is what Del had set it up
for, and, of course so that he could spend as much time with his boyfriend
of five years namely Dennis our waiter, although Dennis was only now twenty
two years old he had wanted to stay with Del from the first moment they had
met, as it turned out at a party at my old home.

This was not the time to tell all to Benny and especially the fact that
from a very young age I had been a lover of younger men as well, this had
to be sorted out in my own mind as I do have certain ethics as far as
having intimate relations with anyone younger.

Admittedly Benny was very tempting but that, I had decided was out of the
question as the circumstances of our meeting and the type of life he had
lead would not have sat well with me, I would have always felt I was taking
advantage of the situation and that was one thing as hard as it might be,
that I could not do.

At that moment Dennis returned with our freshly squeezed orange juice and
as he placed the glass in front of Benny he looked over to me and raised an
eyebrow, to which I gave a small shake of the head knowing what he was
getting at.

Benny clasped the tall glass in both hands to lift it to his mouth and as
he took the first sip the utter enjoyment on his face said it all.

"John, it's real oranges not out of a packet"

"Yes son, Del only serves the best here."

"Mmmmmmmm, this's so great"

I smiled at the lip smacking going on in the other chair and began to drink
mine as well.  Del arrived with fresh crisp croissants with side dishes of
cottage cheese, ham sliced paper-thin and a small dish of ripe red cherry
tomatoes cut in half and lightly drizzled over with olive oil.

I began to show my little charge how to slice and add the assortment of
food on the croissants and we dug in as though we had not eaten for a
week.When we had finished Dennis came to clear the table and asked if the
meal would be served as I had always had it before, and I replied it would.

"For you both Mr. Chapman?"

"It's a special occasion Dennis so I think that it'd be a good idea to
continue as always"

"Very well Mr. Chapman."

He looked over to Benny and gave him a very big smile and said.

"You must be very special Master Chapman, you're going to enjoy this meal."

With that said he moved away while we both sat back to rest a little from
the first course.It was not long before Del arrived again with two plates
with a large quantity of eggs benedict and two side dishes of crisp smoke
cured bacon and a wrack of steaming hot toast.

Dennis was close behind him with the two glasses of my favorite champagne
in crystal flukes, he placed them one beside each of us and gave out a
small giggle as he saw the look on Benny's face.

"Oh John, this's so much better than corn flakes for breakfast"

"Yes it's a nice change, mmm?"

"Oh yes."

Benny just managed to get the last comment out before his mouth was full of
egg's benedict.We set to and began to eat some of Del's finest and there
was no need for conversation as we both enjoyed it all.

I must say I was surprised at the amount that Benny could put away but by
the time we came to the end of the meal he looked as though he would never
eat again.

"Well son, did you enjoy that?"

"Oh John I couldn't eat another thing"

"Oh that's a shame, we still have a little more to go yet and it'd upset
Del if we didn't finish it all."

"John, really I don't think there's any more room, if I have any more I'll
burst."

When Dennis came to clear the table he looked down at the bulge in Benny's
stomach, smiled, and then looked at me with another eyebrow lifted.

"Yes Dennis I think we'll chance it, don't you?"

"Do you think I'll have to call the bomb squad Mr. Chapman?"

"Oh I don't think so Dennis, we can always use a stomach pump if we need
to."

Giggling as though he was being tickled Dennis finished clearing and went
off to the kitchen.There is something satisfying to see a young man who can
hardly move and is red in the face from a little too much food with the
added pleasure of the one glass of champagne.

Finally Del appeared with the last of the meal and as he placed down the
pot of fresh brewed coffee for me he gave Benny a small bow and placed in
front of him a very large cappuccino and on the table in front of us a
plate of petit fois.

 "Well this should get us through till dinner don't you think son?"

"Oh yes John, I don't think I'll ever eat again, this's been so great and
it's only for breakfast."

"Well I don't always eat this much for breakfast son, this's special for
you, tomorrow it's back to corn flakes."

I was watching Benny trying to lick the cream off his top lip when I caught
Del's eye and he came over to the table.

"Del I have a couple of calls to make do you think you could show me to the
telephone?"

Now Del is by no means slow on the uptake and gave a quizzical look and
helped to pull out my chair.

"I wont be a minute son I just have a call to make, will you be ok for
now?"

"Yes thank you John."

As del and I made our way to the front desk he asked me.

"What was that for John, you know where the phone is after all this time"

I began to explain what I wanted to do and as he smiled at the thought of
it he moved away and I went to the phone to make some calls.




Part Seven

            If I Was a Rich Man

As I returned to the table I could see Benny talking to Del and appeared to
be in quite a shocked state so I asked what was going on.

"Oh John Mr. Del wants me to pay for the breakfast and I tried to tell him
that I've no money and he keeps saying to put it on my bill and I don't
have a bill and, and, everything."

"Ok Benny I'll try to sort it out for you then, now Del what's all this
about?"

"Well Mr. Chapman as I tried to explain to Master Chapman it's the custom
of this restaurant that the first time you dine here you're responsible for
the account."

"Yes I know that Del."

"Well I was trying to explain to the young gentleman that all he had to do
was sign the bill and we'd send him the account at the end of the month."

"Oh is that all, ok Del can we have a look at your register of clients
then?"

"By all means Mr. Chapman"

With a grand flourish Del produced the register for us to look at.

"Now then let me see, ah yes here it is, Master Bently Chapman and your
credit limit is $500.00, yes that seems to be all in order Master Chapman
so if you will just sign here then that will be settled."

I do not know what was the funniest to see, Dels serious business face or
the total confusion on Benny's, so I just said to Benny.

"Well you must be a client here if you're in the register so you might as
well just sign the bill and be done with it, Del never makes a mistake with
the register."

Benny took the proffered pen and numbly signed the bill and then Del and I
could keep it in no longer and burst out laughing until we shed tears of
joy at our little ploy, while Benny sat there trying to work it all out.

"It's ok son, you're now a formal member of Del's restaurant and you can
dine here anytime now as long as you don't exceed your limit, ok?"

"Oh John you and Mr. Del were playing a trick on me, that's not fair, I'll
have get one back on you some time."

At this last exchange we both got to our feet and Benny approached Del in a
very formal way putting out his hand.

"Mr. Del thank you for an excellent breakfast and for all your help."

"My, John he's so formal isn't he, don't you worry Master Chapman you're
now a client of Del's and there fore you can now just call me Del ok, no
more Mr."

God this boy blushes the reddest red I have ever seen, I gave a short laugh
and said we had to be away as some other things had to be done before
nightfall.It was nearly two o'clock in the afternoon as we arrived at Jim's
shop to pick up Benny's clothes and then it was on to the next appointment
with the land agent that I had rung while at the restaurant.

On the drive to Hanson Bay where we were to meet with the land agent Benny
chatted non stop about his morning and deep inside my belly I could feel
that sense of satisfaction at doing something good for some one else.

We arrived at the bay and I saw the agent standing outside the house we had
talked about on the telephone and as we pulled up to the curb the agent
came forward to the car to open the door offering her hand in greeting.

"Mr. Chapman, so nice to meet you, I've made the enquiries that you asked
me to do and the owners're willing to negotiated with you."

"Thank you for coming out on a holiday day to help me Miss Shannon but the
final decision will be made by Master Bently."

The house I had selected was right on the water front with a small jetty
leading out to the ocean so that I could then moor my boat almost right at
the from door, it was a bungalow style with three bedrooms a nice open
lounge looking out over the water, a well set up kitchen and large
bathrooms off the two main bedrooms, the dining room was beautifully set
also over looking the water And the owners wanted to sell it with most of
the chattels intact so I could use what chattels of mine I wanted to from
storage and probably dispose of the rest.

Benny stood looking out over the water as we talked and then when I turned
to him and asked if he thought it was a nice place.

"Oh John it's so nice here, I wish I could live in a house like this one."

"So you like it then?"

"Yes, yes it's so peaceful and the beach is great."

"Well Miss Shannon it looks like it's time to deal, it has the final seal
of approval as far as I'm concerned."

We went up to the house and the owners met us on the front step and we went
into the house to discuss the conditions and the price and when all was
agreed on they said that they had not lived in it for nearly a month as
they had their new house now and that I could move in at my own convenience
so I took the keys from them and arranged the cheque to be in their bank on
the first day of business.

"Well son what do you think, as your foster parents are away for a week
would you like to help me move in here and stay till they got back?"

"Oh John please can I, really, can I?"

The tears of joy were beginning to come forth now and to see him so happy
even if it was only for the next week gave me hope again that the world was
not yet dead to me.

"Ok then I'll arrange for the movers today and they can get us in here by
tomorrow even if I have to pay extra to do it so tonight'll be the last one
in the old room and tomorrow you'll be sleeping in your own room here."

"Thank you John, oh thank you so much, you've been so nice to me and I
cann't do anything for you, I feel so useless for not being able to help."

"Last night on the beach you gave me all the help I've ever needed and I'll
never be able to repay you Benny so you've done all you'll ever have to do
for me, ok?"

"But I didn't do anything for you John."

"Son you did more last night than anyone has ever done for me, you gave me
back my life and that's not a small thing to me, so that's all there is to
it now forget it and just enjoy your week and don't worry about anything
more, ok?"

"Well ok John if you say so then but I don't think I did that much for you
to treat me to all this."

"I want you to have a little of my happiness that's all, now enough of this
we've a lot to do and then we have to find somewhere for dinner tonight."