Date: Mon, 9 Mar 2009 16:45:00 +0000
From: Jeffrey Fletcher <jeffyrks@hotmail.com>
Subject: Jonathan 17

This is a story that involves sex between males.  If such a story is
offensive, or illegal for you to read where you live, then do not continue,
go and surf elsewhere.

This is a work of fiction and in no way draws on the lives of any specific
person or persons.  If there is any similarity to any real persons or
events it is entirely coincidental.

The work is copyrighted (c) by the author and may not be reproduced in any
form without the specific written permission of the author.  It is assigned
to the Nifty Archives under the terms of their submission agreement but it
may not be copied or archived on any other site without the written
permission of the author.

My thanks to John and Brian who have read this through and made a number of
corrections and suggestions.  Any remaining errors , grammatical, spelling
historical or whatever are entirely my fault.

Thank you to those who have commented on my stories.  If you want to
comment on the story then do contact me on Jeffyrks@hotmail.com.  I aim to
reply to all message.


Jonathan 17  February 13-16   2009

Malcolm was the first to wake the next morning.  Like many retired men he
retained the habits of a lifetime and began the day early, shortly after
6.00am.  He looked in on Jonathan who was sleeping soundly.

He had breakfast, and read the newspaper, a habit acquired since
retirement! He checked his computer for emails.  As he had hoped, there was
a reply from Kevin in New Zealand.

Hi Dad,

Thanks for the news of young Jonathan.  We were very pleased that he is
staying with you, especially after all he has been through.  What a thing
to happen to him!  The imprisonment in that cell sounds awful.  I do hope
it has not psychologically damaged him.  A person in his situation has such
a variety of emotions; there's the guilt and shame, but that's battling
with those occasions of pleasure, and the camaraderie with those working
alongside him.  I am sure a healthy youngster like him, aided by your love
and wise counsel, will be able to sort him out.

Does he know about you?  If he doesn't already know, will you tell him?

Owen joins me in sending our love to Jonathan and you.

Love Kev.

Malcolm read this a couple of times, and then hearing movement upstairs, he
quickly deleted the message as he needed to think carefully about the
question Kevin had raised.  It had been at the back of his mind, but the
day before he had been so taken up with Jonathan's story that he had not
given any further thought about coming out to his grandson himself.

It was ten o'clock when a still bleary-eyed Jonathan appeared downstairs.

"What time do you call this, young man.  I've been up and slaving away for
hours."

"Looks like it."  Jonathan nodded towards the obviously fully read paper
and the almost completed crossword, and the debris of breakfast still on
the table.

"Did you sleep well, Jon?"

He had slept well.  He said he wanted a light breakfast, and sat down at
the table in the kitchen to eat some cereals and toast and marmalade, all
washed down with a mug of milky sweet coffee.

Malcolm was elsewhere in the house when the garden door opened and Simon
entered.  There was a look of surprise on both their faces.  Both had to do
a quick consultation of their mental files as they recognised, but could
not immediately place each other.

Simon got there first.  "You're Jonathan, Mal's grandson aren't you?  You
read a lesson at Janice's funeral?"

"That's right.  I recognise you, but I've have forgotten your name."

"I'm Simon.  Is your grandfather around?"

Jonathan got up and opened the door into the rest of the house, "Gramps,
Simon here to see you."

Half a minute later Malcolm came into the room.

"Hi Simon, I was wondering whether you'd call round."

This was one of those, `where do we start' situations.  Simon had heard of
Jonathan's disappearance, shared Malcolm's worry over the previous six
months, and knew the reason why Jonathan had left home.  There was a
moment's awkward silence.

"I came round yesterday and was surprised not to find you in.  You hadn't
said you'd be out for the day."

"I didn't know myself until late the previous evening.  I had to go and
meet this young man.  He's going to be staying with me for a while.  Would
you like a coffee?"

By this time Jonathan had finished his breakfast, he rose from the table
and muttered something about needing make his bed, and left the room.

Malcolm and Simon had a quick hug.

"What's happened, Mal?"

"It's a long story.  He's been through a lot, some of it really grim."

"He looks well enough.  He's certainly a sexy young man.  You said he was
gay.  I wouldn't mind a session or two with him."

"You're just a horny old queen.  I think his presence here is likely to
curtail our activities, certainly in the short term.  I think he's going to
take up a lot of my time for the next couple of weeks.  There are a number
of big issues he needs to think through very carefully.  I want to try and
help him, and to see that he doesn't make some foolish hasty decision."

"I was hoping we could get in a round of golf tomorrow morning if the
weather's fine."

"That sounds a good idea.  Jon is just starting to play the game.  It'd do
him good to get out."

"Bring him along, and I can lose a ball, and he can come into the bushes to
help me look for it!"

"No way!  I shall be keeping a strict eye on you, Si."

They both laughed.  Malcolm called upstairs to Jonathan, and asked him
about playing golf the next day.  It was all arranged.

"I had hoped for something else as well this morning."

"That would've been good, but as you see it is out of the question here,"
answered Malcolm.

Malcolm needed to do some extra shopping and Jonathan walked with him into
the village.

"I'm dreading telling Mum and Dad about what has happened.  I think they
need to know, but I fear they will regard it as all my fault.  I shouldn't
have run off.  I should've held out in the cell.  I should've persisted in
saying no."

"Jon, they weren't there.  They've never been in anything like a similar
situation.  I think your Dad will take a lot of the blame for you running
off on himself."

"Maybe.  But with their religion everything is so black and white.  What
I've been doing over the last six months is very, very black.  I fear that
once I start, the condemnation will just pour out of them."

"They do love you, Jon.  Very much."

"But will they when they learn that I've been working as a sex worker for
the last six months?"

"I agree they will be put in a difficult position.  They love you, yet they
will see what you were doing as totally wrong."

"But Gramps, you go to church.  You haven't said a word telling me how
terribly sinful I've been.  You've listened, and I think you've
understood."

"I'm older than they are, perhaps a little wiser, certainly more tolerant.
I'm unhappy about what you've been doing because of its long term effects
on you.  If I'd gone off at the deep end with you yesterday, what would you
have done?"

"Run a mile," said Jonathan with a laugh.

"Exactly.  I am concerned about your long term future, not your immediate
past.  You didn't leave home and say to yourself, `I'm going to be a sex
worker', did you?  You were forced into it.  You may have enjoyed some of
it, maybe even quite a lot of it; that's because you are a young man with a
high sex drive.  If you'd been straight and it was with the lasses, you'd
have found enjoyment in at least some it.  Then there was the companionship
with the Boys, as you call them."

"Thanks, Gramps, but I am still dreading putting into actual words what
I've been doing.  Dad'll understand, and probably blow his top again, Mum
won't understand at all.  She probably doesn't know what a sex worker is.
Male prostitution is right outside her ken."

"You're right in seeing this as something to be done.  And probably sooner
rather than later.  The prospect gets worse the longer we postpone doing
such difficult things."

The rest of the day was spent at Malcolm's home.  Jonathan increasingly
relaxed as the day went on.  He now had greater confidence in telling his
grandfather what had happened.  He told him about some of the more amusing
incidents, and the fun with the Boys.  He explained to him the nature of
the relationship with Chink.  He told him of his respect and the help he
had received from Andy.  He told him Ron's story.

Malcolm listened, believing that getting Jonathan to talk was therapeutic.

At one stage he asked.  "Jon, do you need a health check, with the threat
of AIDS and other STDs?"

"We had a health check every week.  A doc came and examined us all
carefully, and took a blood sample for testing.  I would need to have
another test in three or four months time to know that I was completely in
the clear.  We were a surprisingly healthy lot.  There was one case of the
crabs, but otherwise we were fine.  I think most of the punters came just
to the club, and didn't go cruising, or cottaging or even to saunas.  Those
things were far too risky for them."

It was in the middle of the evening when they were sitting together on the
sofa watching television.  "Jon, I've had a thought.  What do you say to me
going over to see your parents and me telling them your story?  They can
react and will be prepared for meeting you.  They will want to hear it all
from you, from the horse's mouth, as it were.  But hearing it first from me
will prepare them.  What do you think?"

"Gramps, I can't let you do that."

"Why not?  They can't get angry with me.  If the worse comes to the worse
they can be angry with me for taking you in."

"If they get angry over that, will you throw me out?"

"Of course not.  This can be your home for as long as it takes.  No way
will I throw you out; unless you start beating up your poor old
grandfather."

"That's an idea."  Jonathan turned and started tickling Malcolm.

"Stop it.  You haven't done that since you were a small child.  Now stop
it."

They both laughed.

"You're making me feel younger," said Malcolm.

"Down to the nineties?"

"I'll give you down to the nineties.  Seriously, what do you think?"

"I think that would be wonderful.  They will then know what is coming when
I tell them, if they want to hear it all again."

"Shall I go and ring them now, and suggest I go over tomorrow evening?"

Malcolm went and phoned.  Michael and Lois were eager to know what had
happened that day.  Malcolm rather tantalisingly gave a full and rather
mundane account of the day, before asking if they would be in tomorrow
evening. He said he would come to collect some things of Jonathan's, and
tell them how things were going. So it was fixed.

***

Malcolm left for Luton shortly after he and Jonathan had eaten their main
meal.  Jonathan set about clearing up after the meal, but his thoughts were
elsewhere.  He spent the whole evening on tenterhooks, wondering how things
were going at his home in Luton.

Malcolm was greeted as usual with delight by Abigail and Thomas.  Abigail
was now a young teenager of thirteen and Thomas ten.  They asked after
Jonathan.

"He is doing well, and looking forward to seeing both of you."

"I'm looking forward to seeing him," said Thomas solemnly, "Even though he
is a pain in the butt when he's around."  This brought a disapproving look
from Lois.

Jonathan had drawn up a list of things he would like Malcolm to bring back
with him.  They were mostly clothes, but also consisted of his mobile phone
and computer.  It did not take long for these to be collected and loaded
into the car.  Abigail and Thomas were sent to do homework, or in Thomas'
case to go to his room and read.  It was explained that Michael and Lois
had some serious talking to do with their grandfather.  This brought a
protest from Thomas, and a shrug of grudging acceptance from Abigail.

The three adults adjourned to the lounge with a cup of coffee.

Malcolm started.  "Jonathan is rather dreading telling you face to face the
events of the last six months so I have volunteered to tell you his story.
That will mean that when you see him you will know, and he can either fill
in some of the details or whatever you want.  In fact, he is fearful you
might not want to see him again."

"Is it that bad?" asked Lois, putting a hand to her mouth.

"It is not a pleasant story.  Let me tell you it briefly, and then you can
ask about any of the details that you do not understand."

The two of them nodded.

"As you know, on that evening in August Jon climbed out of his bedroom and
down the garage roof.  He went to the station and there caught a train to
King's Cross.  When he arrived there his eye was hurting and puffing up,
but he was feeling in need of a drink and a bite to eat before looking for
somewhere to spend the night.  He was just going into the main line station
when a man approached him.  He could see that Jon had a black eye.  He
asked if he was in trouble, and whether the eye was caused by a street
fight or domestic.  Jon said it was domestic.  He said he was looking for
somewhere for the night.  The man said that he had a spare bed.  Jon took
up the offer.  He was very grateful to this man, Keith.  In the morning his
eye was looking very bad.  Keith said he might find difficulty finding
somewhere to stay, and definitely would find difficulty in getting a job
with a black eye.  He said Jon could stay.  Now you will probably not be
surprised to learn that this man was gay, and yes, you can guess what
happened."

"How did this Keith know that Jon might be like that?" asked Lois.

"There is something called gaydar.  Apparently it is a sort of way
homosexuals have of recognising each other.  Sometimes there are little
evidences, a limp wrist, a manner of speech, but often it seems to be pure
intuition.  Jon stayed with Keith while his eye healed."

"It's all my fault," said Michael, "I shouldn't have hit him."

"We've got to make sure that what happened does not permanently damage Jon.
He is a surprisingly tough young man.  He has matured a lot in these few
months."

"Why didn't he phone us?"

"His lasting regret is that he didn't phone in those few days.  He was
fearful of you sending him off to be cured of his homosexuality.  Your
hitting him, Michael, shook him in more ways than the obvious one.  He was,
and still is, in someway uncertain about how you will regard him."

Lois sobbed, "Poor Jon, my poor dear Jonny."

"The story goes on.  Keith and Jon were invited down to a farm in the Weald
somewhere.  It was a sort of weekend house party."

"I can guess.  A gay one?" said Michael.

Malcolm nodded.  "I think in all that happened Jon was a very inexperienced
young man in the ways of the world.  His upbringing has been sheltered.  He
has had a secure loving family.  His schools have had little or no
discipline problems.  He has done well, been looked up to.  His church and
his school life is where he has found most of his friends.  Has he had any
friends from the tougher parts of Luton?  He has known little of the ways
of the world."

"So he went on this weekend houseparty?"

"Yes.  One of the men there was a very successful solicitor from a midland
town."

"A solicitor?"

"Oh yes, a solicitor.  It was decided that Jon should not travel back to
London with Keith, but with Bill the owner of the farm.  Jonathan was
drugged just before he left the farm, and came to somewhere else, Bill's
home.  Bill offered him a job.  Bill has a number of business interests.
One is a gentlemen's club somewhere around the West End.  Outwardly it is
very respectable, but there is a part of it, that can only be described as
a male brothel."

"Oh no," said Lois, tears now forming in her eyes.

"Did he accept?" asked Michael.

"Not initially.  He was given twenty four hours to think it over.  He was
put in a small windowless room, with light on twenty-four hour a day, and a
CCTV camera watching him.  When he said `no' the next day he was taken back
to the `cell' as he calls it, and forcibly stripped stark naked.  They
deliberately confused him over time, by giving him irregular meals, and
giving him things like four or five breakfast type meals running.  He
totally lost any account of time.  There were two guards, one brute of a
fellow, who enjoyed physically abusing Jonathan.  At times he was taken to
another room, and strung up and beaten with various implements.  Often his
own belt was applied to him.  Remember in all this he was totally naked.
The other was different, not quite so violent, kinder in some ways, more
considerate."

As Malcolm narrated the story a look of utter horror spread over the faces
of Michael and Lois.  This too was something totally outside their
experience of life in England.

"It is now I think that we see Jon's sheltered upbringing.  He should have
seen more telly.  He would have known that one of the techniques for
breaking down prisoners is for one guard to play the `nice' gay, and the
other to play the `bad' guy.  After a time Bill apparently gave the word
that the two guards could have their sexual way with him.  The nice guy was
considerate, allowed him to prepare himself."

"What do you mean?" asked Lois.

"If something is going to be pushed up your rectum it helps if it has been
lubricated. This guy was gentle and considerate.  Later the other guy had
his way, but Jonathan says he was lucky, as though the man was big his
endowment was small."

That expression had to be explained to Lois.

"So it went on.  Jonathan saw no way out.  He thought if he held out he
might be done in.  So he eventually said `Yes'."

"How long had all that gone on?" asked Michael.

"Three weeks."

"Three weeks, that doesn't seem very long."

"No one had ever held out that long.  Jon holds the record.  I think Bill
has a soft spot for Jon.  He congratulated him for holding out so long.  He
was to show Jon several acts of kindness.  So Jon went and started working
at Bill's Place."

"How sordid!" said Michael.

"I'm not sure that is the best word.  There was a group of some twelve to
fifteen lads.  They called themselves the Boys, who worked there.  They
were very well fed.  They were examined by a doctor and blood tested every
week.  They were well paid, they earned something in the region of a grand
a month.  Bill started paying Jon a small weekly wage when he went down
into the cell, he got paid so much for each client – or punter – as
he calls them, and then there were tips.  Often very generous tips."

"A lot of money involved."

"These clients were top people from every section of London life, press
men, financiers from the City, lawyers, barristers, solicitors, and even a
high court judge. There were MPs and Lords, footballers.  In any
profession, if you had the money, you could be a member of Bill's Club.
(Malcolm wisely left out the ecclesiastical punters) They were men of all
ages, one or two of the footballers younger than Jon, to an old man well
into his eighties."

"I had no idea that this sort of thing went on," said Lois.

"I suppose at the back of my mind there was the realisation that something
like it might go on somewhere, France or Thailand," said Michael.

Malcolm smiled.  "Quite a high percentage of the punters were married."

"Married?" said Michael and Lois in unison.

"Yes married."

"How come?"

"I think that'd be better gone into another time, that is not essential to
Jonathan's story."

"The man, the man who phoned us several times.  Was he one of those?"

"Yes.  He was very understanding.  He'd worked for Bill and used his
accumulated earnings to set up in his own business, and has done well.
Well enough to be able to pay for the services of Bill's club.  Bill kept
the Boys in strict conditions, certainly to begin with.  When he felt he
could trust them they were allowed out.  Two or three times Jonathan was
taken down to the farm for an event there.  Bill allowed Jonathan to go out
walking, because he realised he both liked doing it, and it was something
about which Jon felt most deprived.  But before Jon went out Bill extracted
a two fold promise, no running off, and no attempt to phone you.  Jon felt
honour bound to keep his promise.  You will be interested to know that Jon
managed to go to a midnight communion service on Christmas Eve."

"That man phoned on Christmas Eve evening, I remember," said Lois.

"That was the only way open for Jon to say something to you."

There was a pause while Lois and Michael thought over all that they had
heard.

"What happened the other day that Jon was suddenly able to make contact
again?"

"There's a rear door to the premises.  It is always locked, and when opened
always someone on guard.  That afternoon the door was open as something was
being taken away or delivered, and there was no guard.  The coast was clear
and Jonathan ran."

"Did he have any money?"

"Just twenty-five pound in tips from that morning's work."

"Not much for London.  So he rang you?"

"Not straight away.  He went into a coffee bar, and an Anglican woman
priest came in and sat alongside him.  She took him back to her flat, and
she and her husband gave him a meal, and she talked to him.  I think we owe
a lot to her that Jon rang me.  The rest you know."

Malcolm sat back and looked at Michael and Lois.

"That's Jon's story in brief.  There is a lot more.  The fact that he got
messages out to you I think shows that he wants to be reconciled.  I think
you can understand his hesitation about telling you all of it face to
face."

"He needs to go somewhere where his problems can be dealt with.  Pastor
Willis says the best places are in the States, where Bob Fox is at the
moment.  He is getting seen to."

"I'm not sure that Jon will consent to being sent to the States," said
Malcolm quietly.

"It's not a question of his consent.  He'll have to do as he is told."

"I think you're forgetting Michael that your elder son had a significant
birthday last summer.  He's now eighteen.  I don't think you can make him
do anything.  He's now an adult."

"Surely he wants to be free of this whole gay thing?"

"I don't think he does.  I don't think the bad experiences of that cell,
and at Bill's Club have changed him in that respect.  I think, Michael, you
have got to reconcile yourself to the fact that your eldest son in gay."

"I'm not sure about that.  It is all an abomination in the sight of the
Lord.  He needs to come to repentance, and seek forgiveness and healing."

"Michael, dear, I know that you didn't approve," said Lois, "but as you
know since we discovered about Jon I have been finding out a little more
about this condition.  I believe it is now reckoned something like four
percent of the population are gay.  That means that there are something
like four times more homosexuals than there are Jews.  As I have heard Pop
tell us what has been happening to Jon there is a part of me that is
horrified, disgusted; but there is another part of me that want to put my
arms round him and hug him."

Michael looked at Lois with shocked amazement. "But it is an abomination."

"Perhaps, Michael, you have come to the place where you have to choose
between your religion and your elder son," said Malcolm.

"Michael, what would you do if Jon walked into the room now?  Would you
carry on condemning or accept the fact that he is as he is?" asked Lois.

Michael lent forward and buried his head in his hands.

Lois put her arms round Michael.  "He is bone of our bone, flesh of our
flesh.  At the end of the day blood is thicker than water."

"But the word of God."

"I don't think the word of God wants us to cut off our son.  Jon will
always know that we do not approve, but he is our son."  Lois turned to
Malcolm.  "Pop, I want to see Jon as soon as possible."

"Lois, I forbid you."

"Michael, on this matter I'm not going to obey you.  Jon is my son, and
whatever he has done, I still love him." She paused.  "I rather think that
if he'd committed a bank robbery, or murdered someone, your attitude to him
would not be so hostile."

Michael again buried his head in his hands.  He sat there with Lois' arm
still round him, while Malcolm looked on.  After what seemed an age Michael
looked up.

"I think you may be right.  He could have done far worse things.  I need to
see him to ask his forgiveness for punching him.  It was my act that sent
him off, and into all this."

The atmosphere in the room immediately relaxed.  Malcolm said that he
needed to consult Jon about when he felt prepared to meet his parents.

When the time came for him to go Lois put her arms round her father-in-law.
"Thank you, Pop, for everything.  For getting Jon back, for not being
judgmental.  When you get back give Jon a hug from me."

Michael gave his father a quick hug.  "Thanks, Dad." But he was still
thinking everything through.

***

Jonathan spent a restless evening.  He was unable to settle at anything.
The television seemed trivial, and a book could not keep his attention.  He
kept looking at the clock, his watch was still somewhere at Bill's place.
He walked round the house, made himself a coffee he did not need.  The time
seemed to drag; he once wondered if the clock had stopped.  There was a
grandfather clock in the hall.  It struck the quarters, but for Jonathan
the quarters seemed like hours.

At long last, just after ten o'clock Jonathan heard a car draw up outside.
He jumped up and met Malcolm as he came in.

"How did it go, Gramps?"

"Quite well, considering.  I've got your things, help me bring them in."

Jonathan was itching to know more, but knew that his grandfather would not
say much more until the car was unloaded and put away in the garage.

"I need a drink.  A stiff drink.  I think a whisky after that.  You get one
for me, and get yourself whatever you want, while I put the car away."

Jonathan knew how his grandfather liked his whisky, and he poured himself
one too, but with more water than his grandfather took.

Jonathan handed Malcolm the glass of whisky when he entered the sitting
room.

They sat down on the sofa, and Malcolm took a couple of sips of his whisky.

"So how did you get on?  Any phone calls? Or callers?"

"No, it was all quiet on the Western Front.  But I was like a cat on hot
bricks wondering how you were getting on."

Malcolm decided to be his most obtuse.  He described the route he took to
Luton and the heaviness of the traffic.  Jonathan knew that his grandfather
could be like this, and that any attempt to hurry him on would be
counterproductive.  At long last Malcolm got to the matters that Jonathan
wanted to hear.

"I told them your story, much as you had told it to me.  Naturally they
were both horrified at what you'd been up to.  I think they both felt for
you in Bill's cell.  I think Michael felt you should have held out longer,
until I told him you had made a new record for endurance in the cell.
There were one or two things that had to be explained to Lois.

"Such as?"

"I said the first gaoler who had you sexually allowed you to prepare
yourself, that needed to be explained.  When I said that the endowment of
the second guy was small, that too needed to be explained to your Mum."

"Poor Mum!"

"But she has done some reading to find out about homosexuality, somewhat to
your father's disapproval.  She said there were four times more homosexuals
in the community than there were Jews."

"I didn't know that!"

"Your Dad was still talking about sending you over to the States to be
cured; but I pointed out you were now eighteen and as an adult could not be
forced."

"Thanks, Gramps." Jonathan gave his grandfather a hug.  "What happens now?"

"They'd like to see you."

"Really, knowing all that?  Even Dad?"

"Your Mum said she was going to see you even if it meant disobeying your
father."

"Did she?  Obedience of wives to husbands is strictly laid down by Pastor
Willis."

"Your Dad was more hesitant.  I think that what really persuaded him was
when your Mum said he would have accepted your committing a murder or
breaking into a bank more readily than what did happen.  Yes, they both
want to see you."

"When?"

"I think sooner rather than later, Jon.  Shall I ring to suggest tomorrow
evening out here?"


"Why here?"

"Abigail and Thomas won't be around."

"See your point."

Malcolm got up and went off to phone.  Jonathan saw that there was no point
in delaying the meeting.  He still had a lot of apprehension about coming
face to face with his parents.

"I think I'm off to bed," said Malcolm when he came back into the room.

"I'll see if I can get my computer up and running.  I don't suppose you
found out anything about Bob Fox."

"Oh yes, in passing they mentioned he was in the States being cured."

"Poor chap!"

***

Jonathan quickly got his computer wired up and connected.  Everything
seemed to be working well, in spite of the six month interval since it was
last used.

He checked his Emails.  There was nothing of any consequence, and certainly
nothing from Bob Fox.

He found Kevin's email address.

Dear Kev, It is six months since I typed anything, so please forgive any
mistakes.  I believe Gramps has told you my news.  Parts of it were grim,
to say the least, especially the time spent in the cell.  Three weeks.  I
came out of that with a lot of bruises.  They were careful not to cut my
skin with the cane or strap, (didn't want to mar my beauty?)  They took
some days to disappear. I was fortunate to escape when I did; it was the
first chance in the whole of my time at the club.  Gramps has been over to
Luton to see my folks and tell them the story.  I am expecting to meet them
tomorrow evening.  Gramps doing the initial telling means that they know
the gist of the story, but Dad has such fixed bigoted ideas I am rather
dreading tomorrow evening.  The trouble is there are parts of what went on
that I really enjoyed.  I mean the sex.  Some of the punters were nasty
pieces of work, but the majority were fine, and some really nice guys.
There is a part of me that feels guilty that I enjoyed some of the time at
the club.  Any advice?  Gramps has been great.  So understanding and non-
judgmental.  Hope you and Owen are fine.  It would be great if I could have
a real long chat with you both.  You are the only person I am in contact
with who I feel really understands what it means to be gay.  Lots of love
Jon XX

***

It was seven o'clock on the Sunday evening when Jonathan was seated in the
sitting room, there was the sound of a car drawing up outside.  Malcolm got
up to go to the door.  Jonathan heard voices, and then in walked his mother
closely followed by his father.  Jonathan jumped to his feet, he rushed
across to his mother's open arms.  They stood there hugging each other.

Michael hesitated for the briefest of moments before he put his arms round
both of them.

"I'll get some coffee," said Malcolm softly backing out of the room with a
relieved expression on his face.  When he came back Jonathan and Lois were
sitting together on the sofa.  Michael sat in the nearest arm chair, and
had just finishing apologising for the black eye he had given Jonathan in
the summer.

"Dad, I reckon I was pretty provocative.  That's all in the past; you
haven't marred my beauty.  No permanent damage was done."

"But if I'd not hit you all those terrible things would not have happened."

"Probably not.  But what happened has happened.  It is now a question of
moving on from all that."

"Jon, what do you think about going to the States and getting cured of all
this homosexual thing.  Bob is over there at the moment."

"Dad, I know from what has happened, in spite of what has happened, I am
gay.  I don't want to be healed."

"Don't you want to be like the majority?  Wouldn't you like to get married
and have a family?"

"Dad, please," said Jonathan softly but firmly.  "This is where we fell out
in the summer.  I know what I am, and I don't want to be altered."

"But after all those horrible men," said Lois.

"Mum, they were not a lot of horrible men.  I agree some were nicer than
others.  They were the sort of men you would be happy to have round for
dinner.  I am now on speaking terms with a high court judge, three MPs,
several managing directors, as well as couple of Premier Division football
players, and some exceedingly wealthy Middle Eastern businessmen.  If you
invited them round for dinner quite a number of them would come with their
wives."

"That is something I just cannot understand," said Michael.

"Well, it's so.  I sometimes wondered if someone I knew, one of your
friends, Dad, would come into Bill's place."

"I am sure I don't know any homosexuals."

"I just wouldn't be so sure," said Jonathan with a grin.

"Are you going to sue this Bill chap for wrongful imprisonment and so on?"

"I'm thinking about that.  I have got to think very carefully about all
that.  There are so many things involved."

Malcolm looked at Jonathan; though this was a matter that had been in his
own mind, he had not discussed it with Jonathan.  Again he was impressed
with the way his grandson had developed over the last few months.

Jonathan answered several other questions from his parents before he asked
one. "What do Abi and Thomas know?  When can I see them?"

"We had to explain to them," said Lois.

"And that was no easy task," added Michael.  "They know why you left.
We've told them you are here now.  We haven't told them what you've been
doing.  I think they're both too young to hear that."

"I agree," said Jonathan, "I can always say I was doing some secret work.
Which is true in a way."

"Why don't you come over for a meal tomorrow?  We'll let it be a surprise,"
said Lois.

So it was arranged.

***

The next afternoon Jonathan borrowed his grandfather's car and drove over
to Luton.  He arrived before Abigail and Thomas arrived home from
school. He sat in the kitchen talking to his mother for a while.

"Do you want to come back here, Jon?"

"I am not sure.  I must say I rather like it at Gramps'.  I would always
feel I was living under the rather hostile eyes of Dad."

"What does your Gramps say to you living with him?"

"I don't know.  We've not discussed it.  A lot of our talk has been about
what has happened, and so on."

"You've changed a lot.  Strangely enough you've grown up a lot.  You are
more independent, more your own man.  These months have marked your leaving
home. You are always, and always will be welcome, but I think you are
right.  You need to find your own feet now, and Gramps' will give you
somewhere where you think over how you want to go on."

"Thanks, Mum."

"Only don't break contact.  We love you, Jon.  Yes, your Dad really loves
you and wants the best for you.  It is going to be very hard for him to
accept that his elder son is, ...  er ...a homosexual."

Jonathan got up and walked over to Lois and gave her a long hug.

"Why don't you go and meet Thomas from school.  It will be a complete
surprise."

Jonathan went round to the school which was a ten minute walk away.  There
were a few mothers who had come in cars to collect the younger children.
When the avalanche of youngsters came out Jonathan spotted Thomas.  His
young brother didn't see him at first.  When he saw Jonathan there was a
whoop of delight as he ran as quickly as he could and jumped up, flinging
his arms round his older brother.  They walked home slowly with arms round
each other.  Lois saw them coming along the road, and was pleased.

Twenty minutes later Abigail arrived home.  Her welcome was less
demonstrative, but just as genuine.  She asked Jonathan if he was coming
back to live.

"I'm not sure.  I am enjoying being with Gramps.  And I think he's enjoying
the company."

"He's been very miserable since you went off."

The evening went well.  The atmosphere was slightly more difficult when
Michael arrived him from work.  When the younger two had gone off to do
homework he asked Jonathan if he had thought any more about taking legal
action against Bill.  Jonathan said that he was still thinking it over.

"I really think you should, Jon.  A great wrong was done to you."

"I know it was, Dad.  But there are a lot of things involved.  I want to
think it all through very carefully.  I'll let you know what I decide."

All this was said very calmly and emphatically.  Jonathan was now much more
his own person.

On the way back to Whitgest, Jonathan pulled into a field entrance and sat
thinking.  He thought over the evening, which he thought had gone well, and
he began carefully weighing up the pros and cons of legal action against
Bill.

****


Jeffrey Fletcher at jeffyrks@hotmail.com