Date: Sun, 28 Jan 2024 13:00:24 +0000 From: Jonah Subject: Harrovian life chapter 6 Harrovian Life by Jonah It is a few years now since Nifty carried the story "A letter from America". A good few stories have succeded it and the action has moved about a bit too. In this one it is firmly back with Jonah in Harrow, but some twenty years later. Simon, Peter and Luke have grown up and in some cases have children of their own. This story comes immediately after "Whiteout". It is a work of fiction in every sense so, if you think you recognise yourself, or somebody else, in here - you don't. At least one of the characters was originally the creation of another author. I'd like to thank Jacob Lion, in the USA, for permission to use his characters. The story is about love - the real sort - so if you're looking for pornography, you'd best look elsewhere. Nifty doesn't charge either you or I to publish these stories, but it does cost money to publish them. Please consider donating to Nifty at https://donate.nifty.org/ so that he can keep these stories coming. chapter 6 I can't say whether I was surprised or not. I don't even know whether the police had told Peter anything they hadn't told me. "Mr. Wentworth...." "He told me to call him Steve," interupted Adam. "Steve got himself into trouble. " I told him. "We're quite proud of you because you were honest with the police - just as you should be. You also saved some other little boys from going through what you had to, so well done." "Steve wasn't bad, or mean, or anything." "No, but he shouldn't have done what he did. He knows that now." "I don't want to see him again." "Not ever?" "No." "I think he feels the same way." "Does he hate me for getting him into trouble?" "I already told you that you didn't get him into trouble and he doesn't hate you. He's told the police that everything you told them is true, and he says he doesn't want you to have to go to court. He knows you won't want to see him again." "So it's all over?" "Not quite, but almost. You tried to hurt yourself, which would have upset us all a lot, because we love you lot. I think Mrs. Coleman will want to talk to you about that. Then, if the doctors think you're ready, you can come home." "I wanted to kill myself. That's a bad thing to do isn't it?" "Yes, it is, but Mrs. Coleman will talk to you about it. I think you should talk to your dad about it too. You'd be surprised how much he understands." Well that could have gone a lot worse.I returned to the flat to find Peter, Garret and Flash entertaining Luke. "Have you brought the cigars Luke?" "I didn't think you'd ever smoked Jonah." "I haven't, and neither, so far as I know, have either of these two reprobates. Flash, on the other hand, is a different matter. I've often had to speak to him about it." "You have to make allowances for Flash," said Luke. "He's had a tough life." "Hey," said Peter, "I have to share a flat with Jonah as well." I couldn't help grinning. "I might have that cigar after all, Luke," I said. "Too bad I haven't got any then," he replied. "I've never smoked either, though I might take it up when the lady of the house comes home tomorrow." "Night-shift again tonight?" "Yup! For the next three nights. I'm going to middle turn on Thursday." "I'm going to have to come up to Maida Vale to see the twins." "Oh, I think they're likely to be visiting Harrow before long - probably before Garret goes home." "Don't know when that's likely to be yet," said Garret. "I'm going with Peter to see Adam tomorrow. I should know better after that." "Yes, well, give him my love," said Luke. "I believe South Harrow have got it all tied up, but it isn't all over for Adam yet. You wouldn't believe how long something like that can affect you." He stood up. "I'll be seeing you all again before the week's out," he said as he made for the door. "Hey! You haven't finished doing the rounds yet. Us four are headed for Pinner. You're more than welcome to come too." "If I hadn't got a night shift to do, I'd take you up on that. See you later." With that he was gone and, with that, Peter and Garret began applying shoes, coats, leads and other ephemera. Flash enjoyed his walk through Pinner Woods and we enjoyed Flash enjoying it. The little bungalow on the corner of lulworth Drive was a welcome sight when we got there. When we knocked, Jacob opened to us and welcomed us inside. I liked Jacob. He had made mistakes in the past, but which of us hasn't? To be honest, he reminded me of my other son, Simon. He had been a moody teenager but had grown into a wonderful person. Jacob had done the same. If Jacob's godfather could see him now, he would be proud. Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing Jacob's godfather but, while I had often heard of Jake recently, I had not heard from him for some time. The other respect in which Jacob resembled Simon was the rapidity with which the kettle was pressed into service as soon as guests appeared. There was even a bowl of water for Flash. "So what's the news then Jonah," Joe Davis asked as he rose from his place on the sofa. I divested myself of my coat, which Miriam promptly took, before answering him. "Well, I'm a grandfather again," I told him. "Twins - one of each. They're going home tomorrow." "Congratulations Jonah," said Joe, " though I don't suppose you had much to do with it." "I don't suppose I had anything to do with it, which doesn't explain why I still feel proud." "It's a wonderful life mate" "Yes, I suppose it is." "No, I mean the film. "It's a wonderful life". Me, Miriam, Jacob, Luke and now the twins - none of us would be here if you'd never been born. Peter and Simon's lives would have been very different. You've got every right to be proud. Have you lot had tea yet?" "We're going to get some on the way back." "You're not. I'm making pizza for tea and there'll be plenty. I'll take requests for toppings but don't ask for seafood because it spoils the flavour of everything else in the oven." You will not be surprised to learn, dear reader, that, when a professional chef offers to cook for us, our will to resist crumbles away. In consequence, it was dark when we made our way back to Harrow. It was also cold, though not chilly, and clear. Stars twinkled that had twinkled when the world was new. The speckled band of the Milky Way stretched across the firmament. As I gazed into the depths of the universe, I couldn't help but think that Joe was right. It's a wonderful life.