Date: Wed, 21 Apr 2004 12:56:21 -0400
From: Sequoyah <sequoyah@charter.net>
Subject: Re: Mountain Magic Chapter Twenty-Two

Mountain Magic

Chapter Twenty-two

Warning
The warns heading oterh chapters remain in effect.

Dedication

This chapter is dedicated to Michael in thanksgiving for his hospitality
while I was in Seoul and to David, editor, for taking time to visit.

To David, Al and Scott, editors.

Comments
sequoyah@charter.net

Chapter Twenty-two

After breakfast, the three of us sat at the kitchen table, nursing cups of
coffee and discussing what we would be doing while the grandparents were
gone.

"I didn't have to go to Asheville Monday for piano lessons, but I do have
lessons today and Friday. In fact, I need to be rolling soon," I said when
I looked at my watch and discovered it was already 9:00.

"I need to go into Clarksville when you go," Jason said. "Jake and I are
going to work out schedules and responsibilities for the new crew since you
will no longer be working."

"When are you meeting with him?" Wesley asked.

"He suggested we have lunch together. He said he knew I'd be trying to live
on peanut butter and jelly while Grandmom is gone."

"Then why don't we take the truck into Clarksville later? Douglas has to
leave right now and we'd just have to wait around for your meeting and
all."

"Sounds good to me," Jason said.

"Well, I'm off," I said as I walked around the table and kissed Jason. "See
you later, lover," I added.

My time with Professor Jamison went extremely well. After debating about a
lot of pieces, Professor Jamison had finally said, "Look, you are going to
have to work on a lot of music if you play again with the symphony. This
"Western North Carolina Sampler" is a freebie for the public. You,
nonetheless, want to work on something worth your time and effort. I think
it would be a good idea to pick something which is showy--the occasion
calls for that--but something that would be usable later. The first
movement of Tchaikovsky's Concerto No. 1 comes to mind. The concerto
certainly served Van Cliburn well."

"I had thought about the first movement of the Grieg, but the Tchaikovsky
would be ok."

"Nothing wrong with the Grieg," Professor Jamison said, paused, and added
with a smile, "A thought occurs--always a dangerous situation. I know
Alexas is still working on the program and there would be no good reason
why you couldn't do a piece in both halves of the program. That way you're
not tied to one long piece and can come up with two rousers. The pieces
probably shouldn't be extremely well-known. People tend to applaud
themselves when they recognize a piece, and don't and listen to the music--
at least that's my cynical theory."

"In that case, one has to be a Litolff, something from his Concerto
Symphonique, either two or four," I suggested--tentatively.

"Ok, and something from one of Rachmaninoff's concertos."

Before I left we had decided I would do the third movement--Allegro
scherzando--of Rachmaninoff's Second Concerto in C minor. Eventually I
would learn all it. The second piece we chose was was actually two, the
second and fourth movements of Litolff's second Concerto
Symphonique. Professor Jamison suggested I work on other movements of the
concerti just to keep things in perspective, but concentrate on the
movements I'd be playing for the "Western North Carolina Sampler" in
February. He also told me he wanted me to have as much experience as
possible playing with the symphony in preparation for the summer. He also
underscored the fact that I needed to stay on top of my practicing. "The
performance will be upon you before you know it," he said. I wouldn't
actually start practicing with the orchestra until late January. When that
started, I'd have to go to Asheville two evenings a week.

Driving back to Clarksville, I was daydreaming about Jason. I think Wesley
was at least half serious about "showing us how" to make love, but we were
doing very well--very, very well, thank you--on our own. Of course, how
long we would be able to "stay outside" was a real question. We both had
been doing a lot of reading on the internet, and so far were pretty ok with
the line we had drawn, but both Jason and I had admitted we had liked
kissing our lover's cock and having ours kissed and were pretty sure--damn
sure!!--we'd like other things a mouth could do down there.

Also, I did wonder about how we were going to tell the grandparents, and
knew that couldn't be put off forever. Both Jason and I were convinced that
we wanted to tell them rather than being "discovered". I was sure if we
were up front about being gay it would be much better than being caught
with our pants down or--more likely--off.

I had the Jeep's radio on, but was paying little attention to it until I
heard "The Circle of God's Chosen." When I heard that, my ears really
pricked up.

The announcer had broken into the regular program with a special
announcement. "At 10:00 this morning a raid was made on the enclave of a
religious group calling itself The Circle of God's Chosen. The group
established a compound in a remote area of Haynes county, known locally as
Sadies Cove, several years ago."

"A previous raid had resulted in the arrest of three adults who were
charged with child abuse. At the same time, six children were taken into
custody by Children's Protective Services. The three adults were released
under bond and obtained a restraining order against Protective Services
forcing the release of the six children."

"In ordering the release of the children, Judge Harrison Patterson said,
'As I stated in dismissing the charges against the parents charged earlier,
I believe what this country needs is more parents who believe in strict
discipline and a Christian home. The place of children is with their
parents and if more parents took their religion as seriously as members of
The Circle of God's Chosen, I'd have fewer juvenile delinquents showing up
in my court.'"

"According to local law enforcement officials, Judge Harrison dismissed the
charges against the adults arrested in the first raid when told children
and adults had left the cult's compound. 'Those parents and children are
together where they belong and the law should let them be,' Patterson
commented, in ordering the charges dropped."

"Today's raid came as a result of a report from an emergency room
nurse. Teachers, nurses, doctors, all who work with children, are required
by state law to report suspected child abuse. The nurse suspected abuse in
the case of a ten-year-old girl brought to the emergency room suffering
from a broken arm and other injuries. The injuries, and evidence of earlier
ones, appeared to be the result of beatings and sexual abuse. Arrests were
made and others are anticipated. Deputy District Attorney Joseph Anderson
has stated that these charges will not be dropped and he has the backing of
the State Attorney General's office in the matter. 'This time I want it to
be clear that discipline does not, and cannot, mean beating a child and I
promise to do everything in my power to get that message across loud and
clear,' Anderson said."

"According to a case worker, Children's Protective Services also had an
anonymous report of a fourteen-year-old brought to the hospital emergency
room in November suffering from exposure. The fourteen-year-old had also
been severely beaten. He was found in a ditch several miles from the
group's compound by three students on their way to Coldsprings High
School. The teenager has since become the legal ward of a Haynes county
family."

"Sheriff Tommy Hall, when questioned, said,'We have been led to believe the
young man's family belongs to The Circle of God's Chosen. We, and other law
officials, want to contact the young man as a possible witness in the case
against members of that group.' When asked why he was not subpoenaed, the
sheriff said to protect him, all records concerning him, his hospital stay
and his placement were sealed, and Judge Frazer has refused to issue a
warrant opening the records."

"When contacted, Judge Frazer said the young man had suffered enough and
was making a good adjustment to a normal life with a normal family. 'If he
chooses to come forward, I applaud his courage. If he chooses not to, I
respect his right to happiness without having to re-live a nightmare. So
far as I am concerned, that settles it.'"

"Lawyers for both the Asheville Citizen-Times and TV 13, WLOS, have
challenged the judge's decision claiming the public's right to know. When
asked to comment on the challenge, Judge Frazer said, 'The public has no
right to know anything involved in the situation under question and the
Citizen-Times and WLOS can challenge all they want to, but the record
remains sealed.'"

"'Without legal authorization we must refuse any effort to gain information
about the young man,' Mr. Robert Gillis, the hospital administrator, said."

"State and local law enforcement officials are hoping the fourteen-year-old
and his guardians will come forward on their own and that he will agree to
testify against his abusers."

I wondered if Jonathan had heard the news and, if so, what he would do
about it. I knew he wanted to put his life in Sadies Cove behind him and
that he feared having to go back. Hank said Jonathan was having fewer
nightmares, but there were still nights when he held the young man for an
hour or more after a particularly violent nightmare. The nightmares almost
always involved him being dragged back to the compound by someone or
something.

Well he'd have to make that decision himself, because I was sure none of us
would put pressure on him to testify. Even though it would be good to stop
the child abuse in the name of religion, I knew we would all back Jonathan
in any decision he made.

It was almost 1:00 when I got back to Clarksville. When I checked by the
music store, Mrs. Dennison told me Jake came by to pick up Jason, and the
others had gone to Wendy's for lunch. "They said for you to meet them there
if you got back before too late. They left about ten minutes ago."

When I got to Wendy's the three were still standing in line, not yet having
placed their order. There were only a couple behind behind them so I just
got in line. Standing with the Deep Cove crowd was a very good-looking
young man: six feet two or three, well built, solid, with bright red curly
hair and a very fair complexion. His eyes were an astonishing green and he
had a sprinkling of freckles across his nose. I thought I knew him, but
couldn't remember when I had seen him if I had. I guess he just looked like
someone else I knew, but I hardly thought I'd forget someone as hot as he
was. "Hi, Guys," I said as I got in line.

The three turned around and Wesley said. "How'd it go today?"

"Great," I replied. "Really great. Listen to the radio this morning?"

"Nope, we were busy and have some great news for you," Hank said.

"So do I--well, maybe not great, but definitely news. Save me a place."

The elderly lady in front of me turned and asked, "Those your buddies?"

"Yes, Ma'am," I answered

"Then go on ahead of us. We're in no rush."

"Thank you, but you have been waiting."

"Go on ahead," the man, her husband I guessed, said. "Enjoy your buddies
while you are young and have time."

"Thanks very much," I said and stepped ahead of them.

When I did, Hank said, "Douglas, this is Tom MacCarter. He's new around
here. Tom, Douglas McElrath, another brother." We shook hands and before we
could get into a conversation, the cashier was ready for our orders. As
soon as they were ready, we went to a center table and sat down. "So what
is your news?" Hank asked.

"Wait a minute! I just remembered. Sorry, Tom, I thought I recognized you
but couldn't think why. I just remembered. You were behind us at Grace for
the Christmas Eucharist."

"That's it," Tom laughed. "We've all been trying to remember where we had
seen each other."

"Yeah, I looked around for you at the service, but I didn't see you."

"Dad had gone from the communion rail to check the weather and came back
and got us. He was afraid we'd be snowed in--or out, I guess. We were
snowed in, but we did make it home first.

"Well, what's your news?" Hank asked. I told them what I had heard about
The Circle of God's Chosen, including the appeal for Jonathan to come
forward and testify against the leader and his parents. "I didn't realize
it, but the whole group can be charged as accessories to child abuse IF
they knew it was going on."

"Oh, they knew all right. They darn sure as hell knew." Jonathan said.

A week or so ago while Jonathan was out of the room, Hank told us Jonathan
was learning to cuss. "He's as funny as a crutch and just about completely
inept when it comes to real cussing."

"Even when a kid was punished like I was--with only the parents and
preacher present--the rest of the group would know because what had been
done would have been described in a prayer meeting. Sometimes the
punishment was carried out when everyone was in the meeting house. They
knew all right. I hope something is done, but I'm afraid to testify. I'm
afraid I'd just vanish."

"You know we'll stand by you regardless," I said. As I did, I realized Tom
had a very puzzled look on his face. I wasn't about to tell him about
Jonathan, that was for Jonathan to do. I guess Jonathan noticed Tom's
puzzlement because he gave him the Readers Digest condensed version of how
he happened to be living with Hank's family, omitting why he had been
beaten. "But I believe you said you had news as well."

"We sure do," Hank said. "Tom came by the store asking about some group he
might play with shortly after we got in this morning."

"Before I could get into that, Hank asked if I'd like a job in the music
store," Tom laughed.

"I had told Dad I'd like to work a regular schedule with Jason and the crew
and he thought it was a good idea. He suggested he hire someone part-time
to take my place and I told him I thought I should pay for a worker. He
didn't want to do that, but we finally agreed I'd pay half. Since Dad had
an opening, Tom will be working at the store. That's not all, Tom plays
fiddle and mandolin. Tom, Douglas plays classical piano. Anyway, Tom's
looking for a group to play with."

"Sounds great," I responded. "What brings you to the thriving metropolis of
Clarksville, Tom?"

"I have lived all my life in College Park--guess you wouldn't know College
Park. It's between Atlanta and the Atlanta airport. Anyway, I had lived
there all my life until Christmas break. Both my parents were looking
forward to retiring and when they asked last summer, I told them I would
like to get out of Atlanta." Tom paused, got a far-away, pained look on his
face and seemed to not be with us. Suddenly he realized he wasn't speaking,
blushed and said, "We've had a place over on the North Fork of the Pigeon
river where we have spent part of our summers as long as I have been around
and for the last two--three years we've spent some weekends or a few days
there."

"They asked me how I would like to live there year round. I suspect they
expected me to choose to stay near the city, but I thought it would be a
good change for me. We have been coming up most weekends since last summer,
getting the place in shape for year-around use. We finished Thanksgiving
break."

"Mom and Dad had planned to retire at the end of this school year. Then
both of their schools got in the middle of a squabble between the school
board and the State Board of Education. My parents were both thoroughly
disgusted and, when they were talking about it one night at dinner, I asked
if they couldn't retire right then and they said they could. 'Well, then,
retire and we'll move at the end of the first semester,' I said. They both
asked how I felt about leaving my school and classmates my senior year. We
talked about that and I finally convinced them I had no real attachment to
the school, College Park or anyone. They agreed we'd move as soon as our
schools got out for Christmas break."

I extended my hand and said, "Welcome to Haynes county and Coldsprings High
School, and I hope you don't regret your choice. What grade are you in?"

"He's a senior," Wesley said. "Two new additions to the senior class."

"Yeah, and we still have to figure out how to get your Charlotte ass in
school. We gotta get you enrolled," Hank said to Wesley.

"Why can't you just call and have your old school fax your transcripts?"
Tom asked. "That's all I had to do. Enrolling is easy since you just get
signed up for the classes you were taking, or something close to the same
thing."

"Ok, Hank," I thought. "Get out of this one."

Both Hank and Wesley stammered around, digging themselves in deeper, until
Jonathan said, "Seems Wesley's former school has a rule about not sending
transcripts until everything is cleared up and Wesley hasn't been able to
get everything done. Problem with some nonsense about parents and
addresses." You could almost hear a sigh of relief from both Hank and
Wesley. Tom looked doubtful, but said nothing.

We finished lunch and then went back to the music store. As soon as we were
inside, Hank said, "Tom, you want to find a group to play with, why don't
we start a group? Jason's not here but he plays guitar, as does Wesley. I
play banjo and a little fiddle. Found out last week Jonathan played bull
fiddle for The Circle of God's Chosen's Heavenly Choir. May take a bit to
get him sinful enough to play naughty music, but I suspect he will corrupt
quickly. I think we have a bull fiddle here he can use. So why don't we get
together and see if we are worth listening to?" Hank asked.

"Sounds good to me," Tom said and everyone else nodded approval.

"Can we all be here tomorrow morning, say at 10:00?" Hank asked. Again
there was agreement.

Just then Jason walked into the store. He joined us at the back of the
store where Hank told him about trying to get a group together. He liked
the idea.

When we got home, Wesley and Jason got out their guitars and started
playing, finding out what they knew in common and trading tips and
techniques. I listened to them for a while and realized that I was not
going to enjoy a concert; this was practice. Since they were upstairs in
the den, I left them to their own devices and went downstairs to my own
practice.

An hour and a half later, I felt Jason's presence rather than seeing or
hearing him as he approached my back and placed his hands on my
shoulders. I turned my head to see him bending over me. His kiss was very
soft, but nonetheless sent an electrical charge through my body.

"Love me?" Jason smiled.

"More than I can say or prove. Never, ever doubt that."

"I don't, and I love you every bit as much. All day I have caught myself
thinking about you, daydreaming about you. This time last year I was
struggling to stay in school, find a place to stay warm and dry, to find
something to eat. Now I have a real home, a real future and, best of all, I
have you. At long last I feel complete, whole."

I was overwhelmed with both Jason's words and the intensity with which he
spoke. "Jason, you leave me at a loss for words. I mean yes, I know I love
you and that you love me, but I guess I haven't really thought about it
beyond just loving you and being loved by you. Kinda like I was a lot
concerned with lust, hormones and the newness of it all." Having said I was
at a loss for words, I was proving otherwise, but then I really did run out
of things to say.

I turned around on the piano bench and locked my legs around Jason, who put
his arms around my neck. He leaned his forehead against mine and we gazed
into each other's eyes. He ran a finger around my lips, smiled and leaned
in for a great kiss. When he broke the kiss I said, "Jason, I remember how
very lost I felt--in spite of how my grandparents cared for me, loved
me--when I first saw you across the park. In the moment when our eyes met,
I knew how lonely and hurting I was, but at the same time I felt as though
you would be my healer and you have been."

"A year ago?" I continued, "In spite of all I felt toward the Wilsons, I
was a lot the same. I was a selfish--very selfish--snobbish, insufferable
brat. I don't think I knew what real caring love was. I looked at my
parents as the source of what I wanted, hated that they were making ripples
in my world by the increasingly obvious problems in their marriage. Unlike
you, I had all the things I wanted and, while I didn't realize it, I was as
lacking in understanding, care and love as you were in physical needs. But,
in a real sense, I was forced to trade all the things for a life where
things aren't too important and one in which I know the love of a good
family and of a good man. As much as I regret the loss of my family, what I
have now makes it more than bearable."

Jason smiled, ran his tongue around my lips and then invaded my mouth. We
were locked in a very passionate embrace when Wesley called from the
kitchen, "Are you two planning on living on love or do I need to start
supper?"

I was surprised when I looked at my watch and discovered it was time to do
the evening chores. "Why don't you start supper and Jason and I will get on
the evening chores."

"Chef's choice?" Wesley called from the kitchen.

"Chef's choice," Jason responded. Truth of the matter was Wesley could do
little in the way of cooking beyond grilled cheese sandwiches and soup or
bacon, grits and eggs, but what he fixed within his abilities was up to
him.

I had forgotten all about the radio broadcast, and remembered it only while
Jason and I were milking. "Jason, have you heard about the raids on the
compound up in Sadies Cove?"

"No, something happen up there?"

"Yeah. I heard about it on my way home from Asheville." I then told Jason
what I had heard and added, "The authorities have made an appeal for
Jonathan to come forward to testify. Unless he does, nothing that happened
to him can be used against them because the hospital will release nothing
about him--not even his name and much less what had been done to him or
where he is."

"I wonder if the Dennisons know that?"

"Surely they do," I responded. "I mean it has been on all the Asheville and
local news programs. The sheriff would have seen to that. I know Hank and
Jonathan know about it since I told them at lunch."

"I think you should call and find out what's going on when we get to the
house," Jason said. "I don't know what Jonathan will do--how he'll respond-
-but he should know he can testify if he wants to. I know it would be
painful, but that bunch needs to be stopped. It's one thing to have any
religious belief you want and it's another to mistreat people, especially
children," Jason said, with not a little passion and feeling.

When we got back to the house and had taken care of the milk and washing
up, Wesley had the table set, a plate of bacon and eggs and a bowl of grits
waiting while he took toast out of the oven. While he did that, Jason
poured glasses of ice cold milk. I have heard people talk about glasses of
warm milk helping you get to sleep, but the very thought of warm milk makes
me gag.

We sat down to supper and none of us started eating. Instead we were just
sorta sitting at the table, heads down, waiting. Finally Jason said, "Let
us pray," which surprised me no end. He said a short grace and we all dived
in to the food.

"Darn, I forgot," Wesley said suddenly. "Jonathan called and asked if we
had heard any more about the raid on the religious compound. He said he'd
like to come over after supper and talk about it. I told him we'd be happy
to listen. Right?"

"By all means," I answered.

After we had eaten and cleaned up, we were all in our den, doing nothing,
while the TV droned on. I suddenly realized the Asheville TV station was
doing a fifteen minute special report on the situation in Sadies Cove.

The TV newscaster repeated what I had heard earlier: "Authorities are
asking anyone knowing about the abusive activities carried on at the
compound to contact them at the number on the screen. An unidentified
caller had phoned the sheriff about a situation which happened last
November. Channel 13 has learned a teenager was treated at Haynes Medical
Center then, but the hospital is under a non-disclosure order and will not
release any information about the young person. Deputy District Attorney
Joseph Anderson is especially interested in contacting the teenager. 'His
testimony would be invaluable in our investigation,' he said."

It was half an hour later when Hank and Jonathan arrived. Jonathan looked
very down--little wonder. We all went upstairs to the den and, before he
sat down, Jonathan said, "Look, Hank and I have talked with Mom and Dad
about my testiying. Mom and Dad said the decision was mine to make and they
would support me regardless of what I decided. I know I need to go talk
with the authorities, but I am frightened. I'm afraid someone from that
bunch will do something to me."

"There is the threat of police action if they try anything," I said.

"But what good will that do?" Jonathan asked. "The police are all over
their case now and the people arrested earlier disappeared. I heard they
have warrants for others they haven't been able to locate."

"Do you think they can find you? Do anything to you?" Wesley asked. "The
hospital is giving out no information."

"Of course they know where I am. My parents signed releases so Mr. and
Mrs. Dennison could be my legal guardians. They know where I am all right."

"But they wouldn't dare try anything at your place or with any of us around
you," Jason said.

"Yeah, I know, but I'm still worried," Jonathan said and looked it.

"Look," I said, "we'll make sure someone is with you at all times. I
seriously doubt anyone from that place will do anything if there is someone
or someones with you. We'll just have to make sure you are safe, Lil' Bro."

I didn't realize just how upset Jonathan was until he burst into tears and
grabbed Hank who was sitting beside him. Hank hugged him tight.

"What do you think I should do about testifying? I'm really, really afraid
to do that, but if I don't, they might get off and keep harming
kids. Besides, Dad said whether I testify or not, they know where I am if
they want to try something. I sure don't know what to do."

"I'd say you have to make that decision," I said. "I'm sure we all have an
opinion about it, but it's you that will be exposed. I will tell you this,
anyone of us will defend you to our dying breath."

"I sure hope it doesn't come to that, but what Doug says is true," Jason
said.

"How about if we go with you to talk to Mr. Anderson, the deputy district
attorney tomorrow. You can explain your fears and see what he has to say?"
I suggested.

"Sounds good," Hank said. "How about it?" Jonathan agreed and we decided
since they were all going into see about playing together, I would go with
Jonathan to see Mr. Anderson.

We all reassured Jonathan again that we'd protect him, and when he said he
felt better, Jason suggested we go down for ice cream and cake.

"You have cake?" Hank asked. "How is that possible with you three in the
house?"

"You think we'd eat all the cake? Look at our fine figures. We have to keep
them, so we don't eat cake," Jason said.

"Yeah, right!" Hank responded.

In the kitchen I asked, "Coffee?" and got nods from all except
Jonathan. When I asked, "Milk, Jonathan?" he nodded. While I was making
coffee. Jason spooned up ice cream and Wesley cut large slices from half of
a coconut cake Grandmom had for Christmas.

As we ate and drank we talked about the possibility of the group actually
playing together--bluegrass or at least mountain music. "Tom knows a lot
about such," Wesley said and laughed. "Seems real funny that a guy from
Atlanta knows more about mountain music than some of us hillbillies. He's
even played in honky tonks around Atlanta."

"Well, the only thing I know how to play is church stuff," Jonathan
said. "Don't know how that's going to fit in."

"I suspect it will take a very short time for you to learn to play very
wicked and sinful music," Jason said with a melodramatic sneer as he gave
Jonathan a noogie.

The rest of the evening was spent in light-hearted conversation about
things you might expect: music, food, school. There was, for a bunch of
teenage boys, very little talk about girls. Surprise, surprise!

After Hank and Jonathan left, I suggested Jonathan's fears were not
altogether unfounded. "Anyone who would beat their own child the way
Jonathan was beaten can't be trusted."

"They can't be expected to act in a rational, normal way either," Jason
said.

"Well, it's time we got to bed. Who's sleeping-in tomorrow?" I asked.

"Why don't you," Jason said, "since you don't have to go to Asheville."

"I'll never turn down a chance to sleep-in and you know it," I replied.

When Jason and I got in bed we talked about the situation with
Jonathan. Both having seen what his own parents and the preacher had done
to him, we were really worried about him offering to testify. "I know we
meant it when we said we'd protect him to the death, but we're normal. What
if we slip up?"

"The only thing is for us to do the very best we can and hope for the very
best outcome. Anyway, there's no way we can do anything about the situation
tonight," I said, but that didn't mean we stopped talking and worrying. We
talked about the fact that whether or not he testified, Jonathan would be
just as much in danger one way as the other since, as he said, the Sadies
Cove bunch knew where he was and could grab him anytime. The result of our
talking and worry was we were not in the mood for any hot and heavy
love-making, but never underestimate soft, loving kisses and being held.

I didn't wake up until Jason leaned over and kissed the end of my
nose. "Your breakfast awaits, Sleepy Eyes," he said as he kissed first one
then the other of my eyes. Dragon mouth and all, I reached up and pulled
his lips to mine, giving him a good morning kiss. "Bathroom routine, now!"
Jason said, making a face.

I took care of nature's call and dragon mouth and when I returned to the
room, Jason was waiting for me and didn't object at all to a hot, heavy
good morning kiss.

Wesley put the last of the breakfast on the table as Jason and I walked
in-- sage sausage, pancakes and syrup. We each had a glass of milk with
breakfast and when we had finished, got cups of coffee. As we sat drinking
coffee, Jonathan and Hank arrived on their bicycles. Hank poured himself a
cup of coffee and made it half milk with enough sugar to make it
syrup. Jonathan got a glass of orange juice.

"Jonathan and I talked with Dad again this morning. He is also kinda uneasy
about Jonathan's situation but, as he pointed out, Jonathan is right. That
bunch in Sadies Cove knows where Jonathan is and knows he is being urged to
come forward and testify."

"Yeah, like he said, it really doesn't matter whether I offer to testify or
not. Either way they cannot know I will not. Guess I may as well do like we
talked about last night, since it's not going to change anything so far as
what the abusers think."

After we finished our coffee and juice, we put the cups in the sink and got
ready for Clarksville. When we arrived, Tom was already at the music store
even though it was a half hour before the group was to get together. Wesley
explained briefly what Jonathan was facing without going into any details.

"Well, Jonathan and I will be on our way. Be back soon, I suspect. Let's
get it over with Jonathan," I said, taking him by the hand.

Mr. Dennison had phoned Mr. Anderson, the deputy district attorney (DDA),
and he was expecting us. When we reached his office, he said, "Douglas,
seen any kung fu movies lately" and we both laughed.

"Not recently," I replied and then said, "Mr. Anderson, this is
Jonathan. Mr. Dennison called you about him, right?"

"Right. Have a seat guys and let's talk."

I thought Mr. Anderson would have had some information about what had
happened to Jonathan, but when the judge who had taken care of the
situation said he was sealing the records, he meant it.

Jonathan told him, briefly, what had happened to him without saying
why. When he finished, Mr. Anderson told Jonathan all he needed from him
was testimony about being beaten. "I'll need approval to get the hospital
records and that may take care of the situation. If not, I would like for
you to testify in court."

Jonathan told him what he had concluded about testifying and the DDA agreed
with him. "I guess that about wraps it up," Mr. Anderson said and stood up.

When we stood, I saw two men in handcuffs being brought into the
courthouse. Jonathan saw them as well, turned snow-white and started
shaking. I put my arms around his shoulders and hugged him to myself. "It's
ok, Jonathan. I'm here," I said as I eased him back to a chair and put his
head between his legs, fearing he was about to faint.

"Gertrude, would you get Mr. Henderson a glass of water or something," the
DDA called to his secretary. She came quickly with water and a coke.

"What has upset you, Mr. Henderson?" he asked as he handed Jonathan the
coke.

"Please, call me Jonathan. Mark Grey, he's one of the men in
handcuffs. He's Minister of Youth for The Circle of God's Chosen. He's
mean, really mean."

"How?"

"I know he kicks and hits kids who don't do what he says. He hit me and
knocked me down once, then kicked me, because I turned the wrong way when
we were marching to a work detail."

"He kicked you? Really kicked you?" the DDA asked.

"Yes, sir. He kicked me so hard that I threw up. But that's not the
worse. The worse thing he does is to do things with kids. Have sex I mean."

"Do you know that for a fact? That he did, I mean."

"No, I just know what they, boys and girls, said. Some of the boys and
girls say there are others involved--Abel Mitchell and Noah Holland do
things with boys. Some other men do things with girls. That's what some of
the kids said when there were no adults listening. I always tried to do
what he said so I didn't get hurt."

"Well, he can't hurt you now. He's on his way to be arraigned and then to
jail."

A few minutes later Jonathan said, "I'm ok."

"Sure?" I asked.

"Yes, are you sure you're ok?" Mr. Anderson asked. "You can stay here as
long as you like." He was standing beside Jonathan's chair and had his hand
on the young man's shoulder.

"I'm ok," Jonathan said. "I need to get with the guys and see if we can
play together."

"Play together?" the DDA asked.

Jonathan told him about the guys thinking about forming a group to play
mountain music. I was pleased Mr. Anderson kept asking questions because it
took Jonathan's mind off of Mark Grey and made me feel better about the
DDA. I feared he was interested in Jonathan only because he could help him
win a high profile case, but he seemed genuinely interested in Jonathan as
a person. I should have known he would be a people person from the dinner
and movie we had together some time ago.

As we were ready to go, Gertrude walked in and handed some blue covered
papers to Mr. Anderson. He unfolded the papers, read the top sheet quickly,
looked up at Gertrude and said, "Fun time. This is a motion to dismiss,
based on the separation of church and state from Robert E. Lee, esquire."

"The segregationist lawyer?" Gertrude asked.

"Well, he was until that issue was settled. Now he seems to be finding
survivalists, white supremacists, skinheads who want to prove the
Constitution protects them regardless of what they want to do and offers no
protection to anyone else."

"He plans to argue first, that parents have absolute rights in regard to
their children--that they could, I suppose, beat them to death and the
state would have no right to intervene. Second, he'll argue that the
punishment of children by parents is a part of their belief system and the
state cannot interfere with religious practices. Well, he can't win in the
end, but I suspect what would have been a short and swift road to justice
just got longer. But it changes nothing so far as you are concerned,
Jonathan.

Jonathan said, somewhat wearily, "I just want it all to be over. I thought
it was. I had just about forgotten about what it was like at that place. I
began to really think about Hank and Rosemary as my brother and sister and
Mr. and Mrs. Dennison as my mom and dad. Of course, sometimes ...."

I remembered once, when Jonathan first joined the Dennison family, Jason
and I were with Hank, Rosemary and Jonathan. We were waiting for the two
young ones to bring us milkshakes and burgers, when Hank had commented on
how often he had heard Jonathan crying late at night. Jason said, "If
you're not too macho, you can try the McElrath medicine--holding him and
maybe even singing a lullaby to him. Works for me when Douglas does it."

"Yeah," Hank had said, "but you're in love with him and you're gay."

"That has nothing to do with it," Jason had responded, a bit hotly. "It
makes me feel safe and cared for. There's nothing sexual about it."

A couple days after we had talked, Jason said Hank had come up with a silly
grin on his face and said, "Thanks for telling me about the McElrath
treatment for hurting young men. It works."

"How long can I be tortured?" Jonathan asked, near tears, calling me back
to the present. "I know every time I get to feeling safe and forgetting
some terrible things, they will be back, making my life miserable. I don't
like being frightened."

"I understand," Mr. Anderson said. "I wish as deputy district attorney I
could assure you it would all be over quickly and I can only hope it is. In
the meantime, no-one has challenged Mr. Dennison's guardianship, so try not
to worry."

Jonathan was pretty glum as we walked back to the music store. When we
walked in, our cohorts were in the back of the store making music. Not the
best I had ever heard, but definitely music.

As we walked toward them, they gradually stopped playing and Hank quickly
put down his banjo and met Jonathan, put his arm around his shoulders and
said, "It's ok, Lil' Bro. It's ok." Jonathan grabbed him and started
crying.

"What's happened?" Hank asked, clearly concerned, as he held Jonathan's
head on his shoulder and stroked his hair. I didn't say anything, but
thought about what had been said about my holding Jason. In my book, Hank
was no longer an often unthinking boy, but a very caring, very mature young
man.

Hank finally sat down on the floor and pulled Jonathan down beside
him. Soon we were all seated on the floor, talking about Jonathan's
situation and trying to assure him he had nothing to worry about. All
hoping, I suspect, that our seeming confidence would hide our concern and
worry from Jonathan.