Date: Tue, 28 Dec 2004 23:58:35 +0000 (GMT)
From: roy p...... <sunbeamtb@yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: Peter Johnson part 6

Here's part 6 of the tale of two young lovers' difficult
times. They will soon realise that this day is a milestone
in their lives, a sort of turning point, a foundation to
build on (how many cliches can you get to the pound?) Thanks
to all who have E-mailed me, I appreciate the feedback.

             Part six

Ten or fifteen minutes later, Nathan pulled away from Peter.
Their tears had stopped, but they were still very much upset
about how the day's events were turning out. They couldn't
hide forever, though, and it was fast becoming time for the
schoolday to resume. "Come on, Pete, we've got to get to
class." He whispered. "I - I can't." Peter stifled another
sob. "I can't face them -" "You can, you're better than
them, you've got me." Nathan reassured him. "Come on." He
stood and, taking Peter's hand, helped him stand. They left
the room and walked hand in hand along the wing corridor,
only separating their hands when a noisy group of first year
boys hurried toward them on their way to the first period of
the afternoon. All too soon they reached the classroom for
their own lesson, Geography. Peter hesitated in the
corridor, freezing at the thought of everyone knowing,
everyone accusing and ridiculing him. Nathan's heart was
breaking, seeing Peter in this state. He would lose him, he
can't take all this, he thought. Nathan opened the door and
turned back to look at Peter, smiled at him to mentally give
him the strength to walk into the room, then turned forward
again to go in. The room was quiet, most of the class were
already in their seats, Mr. Jones stood at the front as
though the lesson had already begun, he looked round as the
two sad faced boys entered. "Nathan, Peter" he said as they
came through the door, his tone was not quite welcoming, but
not stern either. "The headmaster would like to see you
both, straight away please." Nathan glanced quickly round
the faces in the room. No one looked angry, or accusing -
but they didn't look happy either, he thought. He turned to
leave the room, ushering Peter before him.


"So now what?" asked Peter. "How much more do I have to
take?" he felt tearful again, but his anger was stronger. "I
don't know, Pete, I just don't know." Nathan hated himself
for his stupid plan. It had worked, he'd thought, but at
what cost? What had Hunter told the Headmaster? He was
losing Peter and he deserved to. "Well, let's get it over."
He said, meaning more than the Head's interview to himself.
They walked the lonely corridors, passing several classrooms
whose inhabitant's eyes pierced through the door windows at
him. 'Every bloody body knows' he thought.


"Come in, Davies." said the Headmaster. "And you, Johnson."
as Peter followed Nathan slowly through the outer office
door. Mr. Riley was a short, rotund man in his mid 50's who
ran his school in a tight, yet friendly manner. He was
devoutly traditional in his curricular requirements, yet
understanding enough to know when the rules required
adjustment to his pupils' needs. He was approachable, yet
his word was law. He led the way through his office door,
set two chairs for the boys in front of his desk, walked
round and sat in his black leather chair. Leaning slightly
backwards, he started. "I understand there was a
confrontation this morning between a member of staff and
you, Davies. You, Johnson, are here because you were one of
two others present at the forefront of this incident. The
other is no longer on the school premises." 'Shit!' thought
Nathan. 'Ian's suspended before he starts and we're next.'
"Well?" Mr. Riley frowned
questioningly at Nathan. "Yes." Said Nathan, dejectedly.
"But -" "Shush" Mr. Riley said. "I haven't finished yet."
Nathan's heart fell lower. Peter was full of fear. He
struggled to control his bladder. "I have a need" Mr. Riley
continued, "to know what goes on in my school. So I have
contacts, spies if you like, grasses do you call them? to
keep me informed. Unofficially. You are both here for me to
get that information officially. Off the record, I can tell
you that I have had, and accepted, Mr. Hunt's resignation.
Not that it would have done any good if I hadn't accepted
it, he walked out immediately after leaving it with Mrs.
Burns. I can also tell you that I have been on the telephone
to the Headmaster at Northbridge Secondary School, and it is
my opinion that Hunt and Hunter are one and the same man. It
is unfortunate that your colleague Mr. Price had left before
I could talk to him, I will have to see him on Monday,
because I need to hear from him that he recognised Mr. Hunt
as Hunter. Now I need to hear from you, officially, what
transpired in the Gym this morning." Both Nathan and Peter
were relieved to hear that Hunt/Hunter had gone, and Nathan
told Mr Riley what had happened, fairly vaguely. "Come,
come, Nathan, I need to know more accurately than that" Mr.
Riley said, turning over a sheet of paper on his desk, "You
must include where he said 'I'm not going to be blackmailed
by you pair of faggots' and 'you fucking little queer', my
reporters are usually fairly accurate." Nathan looked at
Peter. "You might as well tell him," Peter said, he seems to
know anyway." Nathan looked back at Mr. Riley. "How much do
you know? How much do you want?" he threw at his Headmaster.
"Look," sighed Mr. Riley, "For this report, just the
accurate details of what happened in the Gym this morning.
What happened in the alleyway up the road will be the
concern of your parents and the Police, if they choose to
make a complaint."
Peter shot bolt upright in the chair. "Police? Parents?
Noooo -!" Mr. Riley remained calm, "Don't you think, Mr.
Johnson, that your parents need to know when there is a
'significant other' in your life? They certainly ought to
know when an adult, particularly one in a position of
authority such as one of your tutors, molests you,
physically or mentally." "No, no, not my parents, please
don't tell them!" pleaded Peter, desperate for this all to
end.
"What do you know about the alleyway?" snapped Nathan,
furious that Mr. Riley's spies seemed to be everywhere.
"Originally only that Mr. Hunt and you two had some sort of
argument, but your outburst in the Gym seems to have filled
in some of the details, though, Mr. Davies." Riley leaned
forward in his chair. "Understand this, both of you. I make
it my business to know what goes on because I care. I care
for over three hundred boys in this school, they are my
responsibility and I take my responsibilities very
seriously. And individually. If I didn't care, your parents,
and the police, would be here, in this room, now. If two of
those I care for end up in a personal situation like you two
obviously have, it more than doubles my responsibility to
keep them safe. It's happened before, and you've never
learnt of it. That's how much I care. When you make it as
public as you have this morning, it's impossible to contain.
I'd say that three quarters of the school knows now that you
two are 'an item', I think today's phrase is, and I'll bet
your pocket money to my salary that most of them don't like
the idea. I'll do my utmost to protect you both, but I can
never guarantee it, and my jurisdiction does not stretch
beyond the school grounds, so you're going to need as much
support as you can get. And believe me, that has to start
with your parents." He sat back in the leather chair and let
the boys take it in. "You don't fool me," he added, "I've
seen you two together in school and I can see it in your
eyes. I'm surprised the gossip-mongers here haven't started
on you yet, you are prime targets for them." That stopped
Nathan's desperate idea to deny their feelings for each
other. He couldn't have kept it up, anyway. Between them,
the two boys told Mr. Riley the whole story, well enough of
it that mattered. The essentials of the alleyway incident,
Ian's identification of Hunter from the website photograph,
and the word-for-word details of that morning's
confrontation. Mr. Riley made notes as they spoke.
Afterwards he said "Thank you both for your honesty and co-
operation. Even if no charges are pressed, I'll make sure
Hunter never teaches again. The report I make will be
absolutely confidential, unless the Police become involved,
but the Council Education Department leader will see, not
have, but see the report and he will ensure that man is
never employed with children again. Now, on a more personal
agenda, I intend to call a special assembly of the school
this afternoon, where I will clearly state the school's
stance on toleration and abuse, be it racial,
denominational, or sexually oriented. There is a zero
tolerance policy on these items and I shall make it clear
that any transgressors will face immediate expulsion. I do
not intend for you to have to be in any risk before that
happens, you are free to leave the school now and go home. I
earnestly request that you give due thought to what I have
said about telling your parents, but I can't force you.
Thank you." He stood to indicate the interview was over, but
Nathan and Peter remained seated for a moment, looking at
each other in disbelief. When they stood, Nathan offered his
hand to his Headmaster. "Thank you, Mr. Riley, for being so
understanding. I was sure we were in deep trouble and -"
"What for?" said Mr. Riley, a smile on his round face,
"You've done no wrong in this case, and as I said earlier, I
care, it's part of my job!" Nathan continued shaking the
chubby hand, and added "You do your job very well, Mr.
Riley, very well indeed!"