A Chance Encounter

This story is completely fictional. Any similarities to any persons or events, past or present are purely coincidental. This story may contain scenes which involve sexual situations between young males. If this type of material is offensive to you, or it is not legal for you to be reading this type of material, please do not read any further. This story is copyright © 2007 by Jason Finigan. Please do not copy this story for distribution or post on any online server without the author's permission. Please send all your comments to: jasonfinigan@yahoo.com. You can also visit my site at: www.jasonfinigan.net. Thanks and enjoy the story.

From the last chapter:

"You boys ready?" my father asked.

"Yep. I just want to brush my teeth," I told him.

"Good idea. I'll meet the two of you outside when you're done," he said. Terry and I rushed up the stairs and into our bathroom where we shared the sink, brushing our teeth. We didn't waste any time, and were soon done, racing back down the stairs, and putting our shoes on. Opening the front door, we went over to the car where we saw my father standing beside it. He wasn't looking at us however, instead, he was looking at a small group of people carrying signs across the street.

"Dad, what's going on?" I asked him, confused.

"Get back inside Son," my Dad said, looking at us.

"What's wrong, Dad?"

"The man from the other day is back, and he brought some of his friends. Go back inside and tell your mother to call the police."

Chapter 12

"Mom! Dad says to call the police. That man is back outside with some people," I yelled, running through the front door. My mother and everyone else came out to the front hall as soon as those words had left my mouth.

"Oh my!" She exclaimed, going over to the living room window and looking outside. Then rushing over to the phone she picked it up as well as the business card that Constable Vivian Caldwel had given her, and dialed the number. Several seconds later, my mother began speaking into the phone, telling whoever it was on the other end that she wanted to speak with Vivian. She waited a few more seconds before she began to speak again.

"Vivian? Hi, it's Anna Campbell... Yes, we had called you earlier about the man snooping around our house... Well, he's back, and I'm looking outside our window now and it looks like he's set up some sort of protest outside our home... Thank you Vivian, we'll be waiting." With that she hung up the phone and turned to face the rest of us.

"Is she coming, Mom?" I asked her.

"Yes she is, honey," my mother replied.

"What is this guy's problem?" Tim asked.

"I honestly don't know," my mother said.

"Well, if it's that same guy that my mother took me to go see one day, I know what his problem is. He's full of hatred and it looks like he's got quite a gathering," Darryl said, looking out the window and seeing more and more people coming out of their homes.

"Great, just what we needed!" my mother said sharply.

"It's because of Terry and me, isn't it Mom?" I said, looking over at Terry.

"Now I want you to listen to me carefully," she said, her tone of voice making me look up at her. "There is nothing, and I repeat, nothing that you've done to deserve this from anyone. You hear me?"

"Yes," I answered meekly.

"That man outside is sick, and your father and I are going to do whatever it takes to make sure you are safe from people like that man outside. Just you watch. I bet when Vivian comes over, she makes that man go away, and he won't be coming by any more."

"You sure?" I asked her.

"No, but something is going to be done, I promise you that," my mother said.

Several minutes went by and the crowd outside seemed to grow as people from all over the neighborhood began to come out of their homes.

"Your mother is right, Simon," Darryl said. People like that have issues. It's not you that's the problem, it's him. All you've done is fall in love with your boyfriend, and there is nothing wrong with that."

"I do love you, Simon," Terry said, giving my hand a squeeze.

"I love you too, Terry," I answered back, smiling at him. Thankful that he was with me.

"I have an idea though," Terry said.

"What's that?" I asked him.

"Let's go outside."

"Are you sure that's such a good idea?" Kathy asked, also noticing the large gathering outside.

"The way I see it, we can do one of two things. We can sit inside here and hide, thus admitting that they are right, or we can go outside and show them that nothing they say will change who we are, and that we're proud to be who we are."

"How in the world did I manage to find myself such a smart boyfriend?" I asked, giving Terry a kiss on his cheek.

"Just lucky I guess," he said, blushing.

"More than just luck if you ask me," Kathy said, smiling at the two of us.

"Are we going to do this, then?" my mother asked.

"Why not?" Tim answered. "I myself would love to get a chance to put that man in his place, even if it's just to take a stand."

"I'm with you on that one, dear," Darryl said, putting an arm around Tim's shoulders.

"Then let's all go outside," My mother said, and left for the front door. Everyone followed her and put on their shoes, even Sam and Emily. Once we were all ready, my mother opened the door, and the lot of us went outside and stood beside my father.

"What are you guys doing out here? That mob is getting very unfriendly right now," my father said.

"Terry had a point, Dad," I told him.

"And what was that?"

"We can either stay inside and hide, or come out here and stand up for ourselves."

"I'm proud of you Terry, and you too Simon, but if things begin to get out of hand, I want you and Terry inside, and take Sam and Emily in with you."

"Don't worry, Dad. We don't want to get into a fight or anything like that. Mom already called the police and they should be here soon."

"I'm glad, because this is beginning to get ridiculous," my father said, shaking his head as he looked at the growing group of protesters.

At that moment, several police cruisers came around the bend on our street, stopping along the side of the curb outside our house. I could see the same woman that came by earlier get out of her car, followed by a couple other officers. Vivian walked up to us, while the two other officers stood by the cruisers, looking on at the crowd across the street.

"Good morning everyone," Vivian said.

"Good morning, Vivian," my mother said. "Or it would be if it wasn't for that," she said, pointing to the protesters.

"Can you see the man from before among them?" Vivian asked.

"Yeah, that's him in the front staring at us," I said, pointing him out to her. Vivian looked over at the man I was pointing to, and nodded her head.

"Alright, I'll see what's going on. I want you to stay right here unless I say otherwise. Things are a little tense right now and we don't need to make things any worse," she told us.

"Trust me, Vivian, we want to have nothing to do with these people," my father said.

"That's good to know. I would like Simon and Terry to come with me."

"What? You want them to go with you to that mob?" my mother exclaimed.

"I promise you that your sons will be safe Anna, Kathy," Vivian said. "We have more officers on their way soon, and trust me, that man does not want to mess with me."

"Okay," my mother reluctantly agreed. "But you two be careful. I want you back here if anything should get out of hand."

"Those two officers over there will bring them back personally, I guarantee you that," Vivian promised.

I looked over at Terry who was as nervous as I was about confronting that man again, but then I remembered what he said and decided that I wasn't going to let that man scare me any more.

"Come on, Terry. Let's go put that man in his place," I said, a wicked smile creeping across my face. He saw that smile, and smiled back at me, nodding his head. Together, the three of us walked down to the curb, and were joined by the other two officers who stood on either side of Terry and me. Vivian walked out up front, and led us directly for the man, who I could clearly see now was indeed Mr. Powell.

Mr. Powell was standing there, a smirk on his face. As we drew closer I could see several of the protesters stop their chanting, and look at us. The hatred that was in their eyes was something I had never seen before, and it scared me. Terry saw this and held my hand.

"Look upon the sinners!" Mr. Powell cried out. "Look upon those who defy god's word and allow the devil to take up residence in their souls."

"Oh would you shut up!" Terry said, rolling his eyes at the man. "Just what is it about us that you hate so much?"

"Terry, please, let me handle this," Vivian said. "Sir, I am going to have to ask you and your group to leave."

"I'm sorry officer, I cannot do that. God has given me a mission, and I must do as he directs."

"And just what is it you hope to accomplish out here?"

"We pray for the souls of these two young boys. We pray that the evil that has come over them will leave."

"Oh you are so full of it!" I almost shouted to the man. "Love is not evil!"

"Homosexuality is a sin. It goes against the word of God and can not be permitted. We must drive away the evil inside you so you will sin no more."

"What are you talking about?" I exclaimed.

"Leviticus 18:22 'Thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind: it is abomination'," the man said proudly, as if reading scripture was enough to justify his actions.

"Mr. Powell," Terry said, smiling at the man for the first time. "Do you happen to believe in everything the bible tells you?"

"I do," he replied, stiffening at Terry's question.

"Then you must break a lot of laws in this country, and maybe the police should look into your past a little closer," Terry said smugly.

"Excuse me?" the man said, perplexed.

"You know, babe, I think you are correct. Mr. Powell. That certainly is a very nice looking suite you are wearing. But I have to ask you, what is it made of?"

"What has that got anything to do with this?" he said, scowling at me.

"Does not the bible also say it is wrong to wear cloth made from two different materials? And I suppose the fact that my father grows tomatoes and raspberries in our backyard gives you the moral obligation to kill my father?" Terry asked, smiling smugly at the man.

"How many slaves do you own, and are they Americans?" I asked, continuing to assault this man with his own religious beliefs.

"And what about football players, because I believe the bible also says that touching the skin of a dead pig makes them unclean. That means that they must be engaging in abomination unless they're wear gloves on the field," Terry said.

"I do not have to stand here an listen to these two faggots!" Mr. Powell said angrily.

"And these two young men do not have to stand here and allow their street to be used by a hate filled man to incite others to hatred. Inciting hatred is against Canadian law sir, which is the only law I'm concerned about right now," Vivian countered back.

"I have the right to my religion."

"You're right you do. But you do not have the right to impose your views on anyone else. I am placing you under arrest for holding an unlawful demonstration on public property, and for inciting hatred." One of the officers that had accompanied her took a hold of Mr. Powell's hands and cuffed them behind his back.

"You are no better than the Godless sinners who stand before you!" he shouted, being led away by the officer towards one of the cruisers.

"The rest of you, I would suggest go home. Anyone still lingering will be arrested for holding an unlawful demonstration," Vivian said loudly.

"And what about those two? We don't want homosexuals living here!" a man shouted from the back.

"If you have a problem with who people are, then I suggest you move out. Any further action against these two boys or their family will be dealt with by the law, and I promise you, we don't put up with that prejudicial garbage sir. You want to be intolerant of people's differences, go to where they accept that kind of behavior."

She stood there watching the crowd as it slowly began to disperse. Several of the original crowd who had come with Mr. Powell lingered for a few minutes, before they too made their way to their cars. A couple of neighbors did not however, and they approached us carefully.

"Simon," said a woman I recognized as one my mother used to talk to on a regular basis. Her name was Shirley Gordon. "I'm so sorry for what has happened here today."

"Mrs. Gordon, you're not responsible for how other people think."

"I know, but I'm still sorry for what my husband said."

"That was your husband?" I asked her, referring to the man that had spoken up after Mr. Powell had been arrested.

"Unfortunately, yes. I don't know what's come over him lately. Ever since he started going to see that Priest, he hasn't been acting himself."

"You mean Mr. Powell?" Vivian asked her.

"Yes."

"He's not a priest, Mrs. Gordon. He was defrocked by the church last year."

"Oh, I didn't know that."

"How long has your husband been seeing him?" Vivian asked her.

"I'm not quite sure, but at least a couple months now. At first he didn't even tell me he was going to these meetings with him. I found out quite by accident one day and he told me it was true. I didn't think much of it at first, but now, I don't know."

"This is Mr. Powell's second arrest for inciting hatred Mrs. Gordon. I hope, for your husband's sake, that he doesn't follow down the same path that Mr. Powell has."

"To be honest with you, I don't know what to think any more. He used to be so compassionate and understanding. We have a couple of friends who we know are gay, but now he won't have anything to do with them."

"Mrs. Gordon, if you want, you could come over to our house and talk to my Mom and Dad," I told her.

"Why that's so sweet of you Simon. I remember seeing you playing around when you were just a little boy. I even baby sat you a couple times."

"Really? I don't remember that," I said.

"You were just a baby, honey. I think I will come over and talk to your parents. It's been a while since Anna and I have had a chance to talk."

"Okay, let's all go back. There are a few things I need to discuss with your parents too," Vivian said.

Together the four of us returned to my parents, who were waiting with Terry's parents, Darryl and Tim, and Mrs. McKendrick. Sam and Emily were nowhere to be found though.

"Mom, where are Sam and Emily?" I asked her.

"They went inside, dear," my mother replied.

"Oh."

"They didn't need to see this," she said.

"We should all go inside so we can talk," Vivian said.

"I agree. Hi, Shirley," my mother said, noticing Shirley.

"Hi, Anna. You don't mind if I join you guys?" Shirley asked.

"No, of course not," My mother replied. "It's been a while since we've had the chance to talk. Come on in."

"Thanks. I was a little surprised at your son's invitation, but after what happened here today, I'm glad he did. He's grown into a very remarkable young man."

"I couldn't agree with you more, Shirley," my mother replied, and led us all into the house. She had everyone take off their shoes, and meet in the living room. "Simon, would you please go downstairs to grab some more chairs?" my mother said, noticing that we'd need more chairs to fit everyone that was now in the room.

"Sure, Mom," I said, and rushed down the stairs with Terry right behind me. Together we found three more chairs, and brought them upstairs, sitting them down beside the others. It was now getting really crowded in the living room. Sam and Emily were in the dining room, busily working on some of my old colouring books which I figured my mother had somehow managed to find. Vivian was just beginning to explain to everyone what had happened with Mr. Powell when she saw us coming back into the room.

"It was a good thing I had Simon and Terry come with me to confront Mr. Powell, otherwise, I wouldn't have had the chance to see what they did to that man. It was all I could do to stop myself from laughing!" Vivian said as she finally began to laugh hysterically, along with everyone else.

"Why, what'd they do?" my father asked Vivian, who was struggling to bring herself under control.

"They threw the bible right back at that man," Vivian said. She took another look at Terry and me and began to laugh again, needing to sit down on the window ledge and wiping away a couple tears that were falling from her eyes.

"Dad, what she meant was that Terry and I used certain passages that are in the old testament, which is what Mr. Powell was referring to when talking about Terry and me, against him. We asked him if he believed in everything the bible said, and well, in it are passages that condone murder and slavery and other things that the law doesn't allow."

"I don't get it. Where'd you read the bible? We've never gone to church," my father pointed out.

"Well, a while ago, I overheard some students from school talking about gay people, and how their parents told them that homosexuality was a sin. They didn't use the term 'homosexuality' of course. I wanted to find out what the bible did say, and I came across those verses."

"Yeah, it's pretty much the same as me," Terry said. "I couldn't believe the amount of prejudice and intolerance that people show towards another and use their religion to justify their actions."

"You should have seen the look on Mr. Powell's face though, Dad. It was really funny. He began to turn red and everything," I said, finally beginning laugh along with Vivian.

"And did you see his reaction when I told him about how football players must be committing an abomination by playing with the football?" Terry said.

"What has football got to do with the bible?" David asked.

"Dad, according to the bible, it's considered unclean for someone to touch the skin of a dead pig, which is what a football is made off," Terry said, himself suddenly losing it, and beginning to laugh hysterically.

"Oh my God!" my father exclaimed, bursting out in laughter, which was joined by everyone else. "You didn't!"

"Yep!" Terry and I said at the same time.

"You boys are so evil!" Darryl said.

"Thank you," We replied.

"So what happens now?" my mother asked.

"Well," Vivian said, finally able to get herself under control again. "I've arrested Frank Powell, that's his name, for inciting hatred, and holding an illegal demonstration. He'll be processed, and released on his own recognizance until his first court appearance."

"When's that going to be?" my mother asked.

"Usually a first appearance will happen within a month of the charges being laid, but that will depend on how busy the courts are."

"Will our boys have to go to court?" Kathy asked.

"Most likely, unless Mr. Powell pleads guilty to all the charges, there will most likely be a trial, and both Terry and Simon would be called as witnesses."

"If he's going to be released though, what's to stop him from coming back?" I asked her.

"A part of the conditions for his release will be a requirement that he not be within a hundred yards of you without supervision by a court appointed attorney, or officer."

"And the group of people who were with him at the time?" Terry asked.

"As you heard me out there say, Terry, anyone who harasses you in any way is going to have to answer for it."

"We were going to have a party today, I don't know if we should now," my mother was saying.

"Mom, no. We have to have this party."

"But after what happened today, we're going to be watched closely by everyone on the street. It's going to seem like we're celebrating someone getting arrested."

"Mom, I'm not going to let a few ignorant people ruin things for any of us. Why should we live our lives differently because of them?"

"He's got a point, dear," my father pointed out. "And why not? Why shouldn't we celebrate the removal of trash like that man? Let the neighbors see that we are a normal family, and that we are having fun. It'd do them some good."

Leave it to my father to see the positive in everything. He and my Uncle Darryl are so much alike in that way, it's almost uncanny. If it wasn't for the fact that they don't look anything alike, I'd swear they were actually twins.

"What about you Shirley," my mother asked. "It's been ages since we've talked."

"I'm sorry about that, Anna. I really am."

"It's okay, Shirley. I just want to know what happened."

"Ever since Ken started up with that group of religious bigots, he's not been the same man that I married. This has been going on for quite some time, and I've felt that he and I have been growing more distant with each other every day. I was even contemplating getting a divorce. Some of the things he's been saying and doing quite frankly scare me. The reason I haven't been able to talk to you is because he's been watching my every move, and he seems to think that your son is gay, so wouldn't let me talk to you."

"What?!" my mother exclaimed. "That's ridiculous. How could he have gotten the idea that Simon was gay?"

"I can only guess that it's from that Mr. Powell character that was arrested today."

"Couldn't you just find time to talk to me when he was gone out or something?"

"No, I couldn't. Some of our neighbors are also in the same group as my husband is, and he would have found out."

"There's something you're not telling me, Shirley. You can't tell me that you just went along with whatever he said. There's more too it than that."

"I don't want to cause any problems though," Shirley said, looking down in embarrassment.

"There are already problems, Shirley. Come on. We've never kept anything secret from each other before," my mother said gently.

"He's hit me," Shirley admitted, tears beginning to fall from her eyes.

"Oh honey, I'm so sorry!" my mother said, moving closer towards her and drawing her into a comforting hug. I guess all the emotions she's had bottled up inside her were suddenly coming to the surface, as she was just sitting there, crying on my mother's shoulder, letting my mother hold onto her.

"What kind of monster hits his own wife?" Kathy asked, the shock evident on her face.

"Obviously a very sick man," my father said, who was now even more angry than I had seen him before. "Vivian, that man has committed an assault and should be behind bars."

"I agree, Craig. But unfortunately, I can't just go and arrest him. Not unless Shirley wants to press charges."

"I don't know..." Shirley started.

"Shirley! You can't even be thinking of going back to that man. He hit you, and that was just for you wanting to come over here. What's he going to do when you get home and he learns that you've been here talking to us?"

"Maybe he won't notice," Shirley said.

"Oh please. You've already said that he has several of the neighbors looking out for him. No, he'll notice, and then what do you think he'll do to you?"

"Anna, he's not a bad man," Shirley said defiantly.

"I know, but he's not in his right mind right now, and a person like that is dangerous. Let Vivian take care of him for you. Trust me."

"I don't know."

"Have I ever steered you wrong before?" my mother asked.

"No."

"So then?" my mother asked pointedly, giving Shirley the same look she used to give me whenever I had done something foolish.

"Very well," Shirley sighed. "I don't want to get hurt any more, and you're right, Anna. He'd hit me when I got back home."

"I'll be right back," Vivian said, and got up, leaving the living room. I heard the front door open and close shortly after that, and looked at my mother who was still comforting Shirley.

"Simon, do you and Terry still want to come with me to the store to pick up some things for the party today?" my father asked me.

"Sure, Dad."

"Okay, let's go then," he said, and also headed for the front door. Terry and I got up and followed after him. After we put on our shoes, the three of us went out to the car and climbed in. My father started the car, and soon we were going down the street towards whatever store it was he was headed for, which surprisingly enough, turned out to be Home Depot.

I couldn't remember the number of trips my father and I had made to this store when we were renovating the rooms upstairs, in what was once the attic. What I did remember was the fun he and I had picking out all the materials we needed to get everything done.

"Dad, what are we getting here?" I asked him.

"Well, your mother wanted us to get some of those mosquito torches, some paper plates, and plastic forks and knives. After this, we need to head over to Wal-Mart for the rest."

"So you think we can do some swimming later on?" I asked him.

"Of course. It's almost like a pool Party. Do you have your swimming trunks Terry?" my father asked.

"Yeah, I have the ones from when we were at the Park."

"Oh yes, I had almost forgotten about that," my father said.

"I didn't. I don't think I'll ever forget that day either," I said, looking over fondly at Terry.

"Neither will I babe. Neither will I."

"Okay you two lovebirds, let's get this stuff and get home. We've got a party to get ready for."

It didn't take us long to get everything that was on the list that my mother had made before everything with Mr. Powell had started. Leave it to my mother to come up with things I wouldn't have thought we would have needed, but as usual, she was right on top of things. Before heading back home, we had picked up the torches, a new propane tank for the bar-b-q, and a lot of food, especially snacks like chips and pretzels and things like that. When we put everything in the trunk, I thought the whole thing was going to explode, and I definitely didn't think that the door would close. My father had to force it closed, but he finally managed to get it shut.

"Hey babe," Terry said turning to look at me. We were on our way home, and were almost there. "When do I get to meet some of your friends. You know, like this Brad guy you were talking to me about."

"I don't know. I think I'll give him a call sometime tomorrow, and see what he's doing. I'd love for him to meet you too."

"You think he'll be okay with us being a couple?" Terry asked.

"I'm sure of it. He's been trying to get me with someone for ages, but I never had the courage to ask anyone out. It was different with you. I just fell in love with you, and I couldn't help myself."

"Any regrets?" Terry asked.

"Not a one, babe," I told him, and leaned over to give him a kiss.

"Alright boys," my father called back to us. "We're home," he said as he pulled the car into the driveway.