Date: Mon, 24 Oct 2005 09:31:37 +0000
From: Jeffrey Fletcher <jeffyrks@hotmail.com>
Subject: Malcolm's Boys 10

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

Malcolm's Boys  Chapter 10.


Saturday  2 July 2005 Afternoon and Evening.

The weather changed while Malcolm and Kevin were eating their lunch.  When
they had finished, it was beginning to spit with rain.  They would have to
remain indoors.

"Tea or coffee, Kev?"  asked Malcolm as he finished putting the used
crockery and cutlery into the dishwasher.

"Coffee, please.  Thanks, Dad, for the way you've listened to my story.
For not passing judgment.  I was dreading have to tell you all about it.
You've made it so much easier."

"That's alright.  I reckon that's what Dad's are for."

"Dad?  Can I ask you a personal question?  A very personal question?"

"I suppose so.  Can I reserve the right not to answer?"  Malcolm remembered
some the warnings that Simon had given him over the previous few days.

"Okay.  Have you ever felt attracted to a male?  When you were a lad?"

Malcolm looked at Kevin, who from that look immediately realised the truth,
whatever answer his father actually gave him.

"Can I trust you?  Your ears alone?"

"Of course.  Cross my heart and hope to die."

Malcolm smiled at Kevin making the child's oath to secrecy.  "The simple
answer to your question is, `yes'."

"Did you?  Did you ever do anything?"

Malcolm just nodded.

"How old were you?"

"Late teens."

"Before you knew Mum?"

"Oh yes."

"Was there a special guy?"

"Yes, his name was Ben."  Malcolm memory went back to the years when his
parents were both alive, and he'd started working in the family shop.  He
gave a faint smile as he remembered how Ben had come in wanting to use
nails to fasten a shelf, and how he had told him to use screws.

"Can I ask what happened?"

"You've told me your story, I suppose I should be honest with you."

"Does Mum know?"  interrupted Kevin.

"Good Lord, no.  I've never told her.  This is just between us."

"Yes, Dad.  I've promised."

Malcolm told Kevin how Ben had come into the shop asking for tools and
advice.  How he'd gone round to help Ben put up some shelves for his
landlady.  And their common interest in cricket.  "Ben played cricket for
Whitgest.  He introduced me to this village.  I played for the village for
several years before moving here."

"I didn't know that.  He was in the same team?"

"Yes."

Kevin got up and went across to the cupboard in the sitting room where all
the old photograph albums were kept.  He knew exactly what he was looking
for.  There was an album of photographs of the Whitgest cricket teams taken
each year.
  In the later ones Michael, Stephen and finally himself appeared.
 That particular album was at the bottom of a pile.  He pulled it out, and
took it over to where Malcolm was sitting.  He opened it at the first page.
There, now slightly faded, was the team of 1958.

"Is he in this photo?"

"Yes, He will be somewhere."  Malcolm had to get up and find his glasses.
He looked carefully at the photograph, while Kevin peered over this
shoulder.

"There he is."  Malcolm pointed to a guy in the back row.

"With you standing next to him."

"I was the most junior member of the team that year."

"Before your famous century?"

"Yes, several years before."

They looked at the photographs for the following two years.  Often Ben and
Malcolm were standing together.

"I notice you're always standing together.  People knew about your
friendship?"

"Everyone knew we were friends.  He'd introduced me to the team.  But no
one knew what we did together."

"Did any one guess?"

"I doubt it.  Things were different then.  Two men could have a very close
friendship and no one suspected that they were having sex together.  Things
have changed.  Young men in close friendships are often suspected, I
gather."

"So what happened to Ben."

"He worked for Luton Airport, and he got a much better job up in
Manchester."

"Was that the end of the relationship?"

"Not straight away. I visited him up in Manchester two or three times.
Then it just faded."

"Did Grandma know him?"

"Oh yes.  So did your Grandfather, he was still alive then."

"But Mum doesn't know what went on?"

"She knows about the friendship, but as you say, not what went on."

"That was the one and only for you?"

Malcolm was silent and looked at Kevin.

"It wasn't?"

"No."  Malcolm now realised the slippery path he was on.  The time he had
already spent that Saturday morning listening to Kevin's story had made him
realise just how much he loved this youngest son.  He felt close to him in
a way he had never felt before.  Kevin had been very open with him: should
he not also be open in return?  Simon's cautionary words several days
before had warned him of possible perils.  He decided to trust Kevin with
the truth.

"I had several casual relationships after Ben went north."

"Before you were married?"

"Yes.  Things moved quite quickly, for me, once your mother started as my
secretary.  In fact I more or less offered her the job the first time I met
her.  It was at the annual cricket club dinner."

"That was the year of the famous ton?"

"Yes, and also the year my father, your grandfather, died.  I was suddenly
landed with the family firm.  I needed a secretary.  Your gran was a great
help.  She thought I moved slowly, but it was fast for me.  She'd paired us
up the first time she met Jan.  We got married, and then came three
bouncing boys, thick and fast.  Your mother said three was enough.  She
became very wary of sex, not wanting to get pregnant again.  In spite of
caps, condoms, and later the pill she was not very keen."

"You began to look elsewhere?"

Malcolm nodded.

"Can I ask you, Dad?  When did you last have it off with a man?"

Malcolm looked straight at Kevin.  "Do you really want to know?"

Kevin gave an eager nod.

"Nine days ago."

"Nine days ago!" said Kevin a note of amazement and admiration in his
voice.  "Cor!"  There was a moment of tense silence.  "Who with?"

"You've met him."

Kevin thought for a moment.  "Simon?  Simon who was here?"

"Come a bit later and you might have caught us as Katie nearly caught you."

"And Mum has no idea?"

"I don't think so.  I'm sure not, from all that we have said since finding
out about you."

"I think it would destroy her if she knew."

"I think, you're right.  That means you hold the future for Jan and me in
your hands, Kev."

"Dad.  I am surprised.  Shocked in some ways.  Admiration that you can
still get it up at your age.  Or do you have to use viagra?"

"Thank you, young man.  I'm not quite into the viagra years yet."

"I think all children find it difficult to imagine their parents having
sex.  Yet without it they wouldn't exist."  Kevin sat for a minute or two
deep in thought.  He looked up at his father.  "Thank you, Dad, for being
so open with me.  I don't think I've ever felt so close to you, or loved
you more."

"I feel exactly the same, Kev."

Kevin came and knelt at the side of Malcolm's chair, and put his arms round
his father.  They hugged for several minutes, and tears ran down their
cheeks.

"I'm glad for a further reason that what happened did happen," said Kevin,
getting up from his knees, and resuming sitting in a chair.

"What do you mean?"

"Us.  I think every son would like to be close to his father.  We've got a
lot closer today."

"What about a drink?  Something cold?  Or a cup of tea?"

"Tea, please."

Malcolm hauled himself up out of the chair and made his way into the
kitchen.

Kevin followed.  "How long have you and Simon been getting together?"

"About four years.  We first met at the Millennium firework celebrations.
He trod on my toe."

"A good beginning!"

"Then we discovered we both liked cricket.  We both had tickets to the
Lord's Test so we travelled up together, though we were not able to sit
together.  Then we decided to go away for a night and watch two days of the
Old Trafford Test.  Neither of us had the slightest idea that we might be
into the same thing.  It was in an Indian restaurant, and us both admiring
a very sexy young Indian waiter, that made me realise that Simon was like
me.  I tackled him.  He denied it at first.  But then admitted it."

"And you went back to your hotel and spent the night in hot fervent sex."

"More or less."

"How often can you get together?"

"Not as often as we would like.  We are both into computers and we have a
make-believe computer friend in Luton, who we call Fred. We have to go and
see him fairly frequently.  Neither Jan or Patricia know the slightest
thing about computers so we can make up any excuse.  We go to the
Greenhouse sauna, and spend most of the time together in one of their rest
rooms."

"I went with Bill several times to the Greenhouse in Barnsley."

"Similar arrangement?"

"Yes."

By this time the tea was made, and the pot, mugs and milk were carried into
the sitting room.  They sat and talked for several minutes.  The rain was
showing signs of stopping, but for the moment they were unable to go back
outside.

The front door bell went, and Malcolm got up to go to the door.  Kevin
continued to sit in one of the easy chairs in the sitting room.

Malcolm opened the door, and there in front of him stood Bruce Perkins, the
vicar.  Malcolm hesitated for the briefest of moments because he knew Bruce
was about to come face to face with Kevin.  He was unable to warn Kevin, he
only hoped Kevin could hear what he said.

"Hallo, Bruce."  His good manners prevailed, after all Bruce was the vicar
and a friend, though Malcolm was not as regular at church as Janice he was
there at least once a month.  Bruce was also a social visitor to the
Pridham home, as was Malcolm to the vicarage.  He opened the front door
wide to let Bruce in.  "Come on in."

Bruce as was his custom made his was immediately into the sitting room.
Occasionally when calling he had gone straight into the kitchen when it was
obvious that that was where activity was taking place.  Bruce entered the
room, and saw Kevin sitting in the chair.

Kevin looked up.  "Vicar!"

"Kevin.  I did not expect to see you sitting there taking your ease."

"Kevin arrived unexpectedly this morning," explained Malcolm.  His
traditional hospitality came to the fore.  "Tea or coffee, or a cold drink,
Bruce?"

"Tea, please, Malcolm."

Kevin gave his father a despairing glance at the thought of being left
alone with Bruce.

Malcolm left the room, but soon returned, - he would hear when the electric
kettle boiled for making the tea.

"I was very sorry to hear about what you've been up to.  You've brought
shame on your family, and distress on your parents, not to say what pain
you must have caused Katie."  Bruce sat down, so that he was no longer
talking down to the still-seated Kevin.

Kevin hung his head.

"I was saying to your mother last week," continued Bruce, "the door is
always open for repentance and amendment of life."  Bruce turned to
Malcolm, "I hope you've pointed out to him the error of his ways.  But he
probably realises that in any case.  He cannot simply go against the whole
of his Christian upbringing."  He turned back to Kevin.  "I think what
you've done places you in the category of, in the words of the good old
Prayer Book, `an open and notorious evil liver'."

"I am aware of the pain and suffering that I have caused to those nearest
dearest to me.  I am sorry for that.  Don't think I am not aware of that.
If you want to know, though I don't know that it is any of your business, I
intend to fulfill my responsibilities to Katie and my unborn child as much
as I am able."

"I am glad to hear it."

"And amendment of life?"

"And what exactly does that involve?"

"The Bible, and the whole Christian tradition condemns homosexuality as a
serious and grievous sin.  It is seen as an abomination in the sight of the
Lord. But I am sure you know and realise that.  You need to repent of what
you've done.  That involves asking for God's forgiveness, and the
forgiveness of those you hurt so badly.  You need to try and get back with
Katie, if she will have you.  Resume normal relations if you can; and be a
real, present father to that baby that is due to arrive in the autumn."

Malcolm left the room to make the tea.

"By normal relations, Vicar, do you mean sexual relations?"

"Yes, that among other things."

Kevin sat in thought for a while before answering quietly.  "Do you
remember that two years ago I had to go out to New Zealand for nearly three
months to do some particular job."

"I think I do, now that you mention it."

"It was out there that I discovered the truth about myself.  It was
something that lay deep with in me, buried deep.  Perhaps it would be
better to say, suppressed, suppressed by my background, my upbringing, the
Church teaching I had been given over the years.  The truth was that I was
intrinsically gay, or homosexual - call it what you will.  I met a man, we
fell in love, yes, we made love together."

"How awful.  That's terrible Kevin.  That you can openly, brazenly, speak
about such things."

"What is also true, Vicar, is that I now believe that God made me that
way."

"You cannot say that!  God's word says it is a sin for two men to lie
together as a man does with a woman.  God's works and God's Word cannot be
in diametrical opposition. God cannot do wrong; and His Word says what you
did is wrong."

Malcolm came back into the room carrying a tray with three mugs and some
biscuits, as well as the tea pot and milk jug.
 He poured out the tea, and handed the mugs round.  "Jan will tell me off,
Bruce, giving you tea in a mug in the sitting room."

"What do you think, Mal? That we only drink out of bone china in the
vicarage," said Bruce with a laugh.

"I thought clergy were not up to hoi polloi practices like drinking out of
mugs."

"If you think that, little do you know, on a clergy stipend!"


They sat sipping their tea, and nibbling their chocolate biscuits.  The
atmosphere lightened, but only for a moment.

Bruce turned to look at Kevin.  "So what are you going to do?"

"I don't think Katie would have me back, even if I wanted to go back to
living with her.  I am sorry, desperately sorry about the baby."  Kevin
wondered whether to tell Bruce that the baby was a deliberate decision made
by Katie without any consultation.

"What if I were to see her, and see what I could do.  Has there never been
any love between you?"

"Oh yes, there has been.  In some way perhaps there still is,
 something there."

"Well, let me see what I can do."

"You would call yourself an Evangelical, I believe?"

Bruce nodded in agreement.

"You believe and understand a conversion experience."

Bruce nodded again, but much less so, because he could see what was coming.

"What happened to me in New Zealand was like a conversion experience.  I
was changed by what happened.  I saw the light about myself.  Everything
seemed new, at least about relationships and my sexuality."

"Kevin, how can you equate sinning by having sordid sex with another man,
with the glorious new birth and experience of the Gospel?  What you're
saying is blasphemous!"

"I'm trying, Bruce, to use language that you might be able to understand.
If you think what I said was blasphemous, I'm sorry.  What happened in New
Zealand was a life-transforming experience.  I cannot go back to what there
was with Katie.  It would be impossible.  Katie and I are now history."

"I'm very sorry, Kevin, to hear you talk like that.  I think we could go on
for a long while, and still not get anywhere.
 If ever you want to talk further, if you want any help, any spiritual
help, then I'm always available."

"Thank you, Bruce, I appreciate that.  If ever I do want help, and I don't
think I will on that score, I'll remember your offer.  I know that you want
what you consider the very best for me.  We just differ on the way I should
go."

Bruce nodded, and gave Kevin a rather bleak smile, before turning to
Malcolm.  "I came round. Mal, to ask Janice if she would read a lesson
tomorrow.  Elsie Kimpton who was due to read has got a cold."

"Jan is up in town today, and not expected back until late this evening.  I
dare not commit her over something like that.
 She'll be very tired when she gets in, and I know she likes to read the
passage through several times before getting up in church and reading
aloud."

At that moment the front door bell rang again.

"This place is getting more and more like King's Cross station," muttered
Malcolm as he went to answer the door.  He opened it to see Stephen and
Paula.

"Paula's parents said they would look after the kids for two or three hours
so we thought we'd pop over to see how you and Mum are."

"Jan's in town."  Malcolm stepped outside and pulled the door almost closed
behind him.  "Kevin's here, and Bruce has called round.  They're both in
the sitting room."

"Oh!" said Paula, a determined look forming on her face.  She pushed the
door open and made her way inside.

Kevin raised his eyes heavenwards as much as to say, `Now we're for it.'

Malcolm grinned and gave his middle son a wink.

They both followed.

Paula saw Kevin seated straight in front of her as she entered the room.
"Kev, how wonderful to see you."

Kevin stood up, and they gave each other a warm hug and a kiss.  Paula then
saw a movement out of the corner of her eye,
 and turned towards Bruce.

"Bruce!  What a surprise!"

Later that evening Malcolm told Janice that the confrontation between Paula
and Bruce at that moment was like a couple of cats, tails raised, fur
bristling, claw sharpened, preparing to fight.

Paula turned so as to face Bruce.  "Why is it that there are those within
the Anglican Communion who are making the matter of homosexuality a
defining issue?"

"What do you mean exactly?"

"It has always seemed to me that the Anglican Communion has been a
tolerant, broad-minded Church.  One of its strengths and attractions is
that it has held together people of widely differing views."

"Unfortunately its so called tolerance has involved accepting error."

"But it coped with serious isagreements, over the ordination of women,
women bishops, and so on."

"Unfortunately!  That was because there were not men around to stand up for
Biblical truth."

"When, what's his name, Jenkins was appointed Bishop of Durham, and all the
debate about the resurrection of Jesus it coped with that.  Surely that was
something far more basic than what a few men do together in bed."

"But this issue is absolutely clear.  It is wrong.  We cannot compromise."

"I expect if you go back far enough there were those who resisted the
abolition of slavery," muttered Paula.  "But now the American and Canadian
branch are on the verge of being expelled from the Communion over the issue
of homosexuality."


"Fortunately we live in a time which has seen a growing emphasis on the
Gospel truth as revealed in the scriptures."

"The increase of fundamentalism, you mean?"

"That's your word.  Fundamentalist is a slippery word, often used to
describe anyone who is more theologically conservative than the speaker.
There has been a marked growth in the Communion over the last fifty years,
or so, of those who believe that the Bible is the Word of God, and the
final authority in all matters of faith and conduct.  If you see the Bible
as the final authority then it clearly condemns what we call homosexuality,
though I admit the word itself is not found in the Bible."

"Bruce, you are not answering my question!  Why has this become a defining
issue?  Why are those who do not see eye to eye suddenly having their
Christian faith questioned?  The Anglican Communion is starting to behave
in a way it has not done in the past."

"I'm not so sure about that.  There were some very bitter contests, legal
cases and so forth towards the end of the Nineteenth Century."

"I have two areas of concern over this.  One is what you would call witness
to the world.  Here we again have a group of Christians saying we cannot
agree, and we so strongly disagree that we are wanting to throw out those
with whom we disagree.  And it is your lot who are wanting to throw people
out; the supporters of homosexuality only want to continue to exist."

"We take a strong line because this is a case of going against the clear
teaching of scripture.  The Bible, our foundation document, is clearly
against it."

"As it's against lending money for interest - usury; and it is for ethnic
cleansing and slavery."

"Oh, come off it Paula.  How can you say that?"

"If I were a preacher I reckon I could preach a damn good Biblical sermon
against usury, for slavery, and ethnic cleansing for that matter."

"Perhaps we should be thankful that you're not a preacher!"  said Bruce
with a grin.

"You wouldn't allow me to preach in your church if I were a reader."

"No I wouldn't.  But seriously, I think when it comes to sexual practices
we need to tread carefully.  The reason I say that is, the body is the
temple of the Holy Spirit.  What we do with our bodies as Christians is
vitally important.  Paul talks about this in the last part of One
Corinthians six."

"I must bow to your superior knowledge, you know your Bible better that me.
It seems to me that your position is grossly unfair.  You are married, we
are married.  We can have sex with our partner whenever we both like.
Presumably several years ago you fell in love with Helen, and you wanted to
make love.  So you married her.  You thought it better to marry than to
burn, as the old version of the Bible put it.  [I Cor 7v9] But you say
Kevin can't do that.  No matter how much he may love a man, he cannot show
that love by making love to that man."

"To do so would be to commit an abomination in the sight of the Lord."

"As a matter of interest, Bruce, in your eyes which would be worse, for Kev
to have a series of one night stands, repenting after each one; or to live
in faithfulness with one man?"

"Both would be wrong."

"But which would be more wrong?"

"It is for God to judge that, not me."

"I think you are evading the issue, Bruce.  Why is there such a hatred of
homosexuals among some of you clergy?"

"I don't hate homosexuals," said Bruce defiantly.  "I hate the sin, but
love the sinner.  I hate what Kevin here has done, but I love him, I want
the best for him."

"I think that hating the sin loving the sinner thing is a glib superficial
statement.  What about the Bishop who has said that homosexuals are lower
than dogs?  I think that's a terrible thing to say of a fellow believer,
let alone a fellow Christian.  I think it shows a hatred of the sinner, not
just the sin."

"I admit it is an extreme statement.  I would not say it myself, or attempt
to justify someone who has said it."

"You say you love the sinner.  Why don't you do something in solidarity
with your gay brother here.  Why don't you show your support in an act of
solidarity with him?"

"How do you mean?"

"If Kevin here, because he is gay, is never supposed to engage in any sort
of sex, because he is made to do it with another man, why don't you and
Helen as an act of sympathy and solidarity refrain from love making for the
rest of your life?"

"Paula, you're impossible!  Helen and I are married!"

"Exactly, and you would never allow poor old Kev here to marry, or be in
any established relationship with the man he loves.  That in my book is not
just unfair, it is plainly unjust!"

"Have you had much to do with gay men?" asked Bruce.

"I have a gay uncle, and when I was working at Bart's there were a number
of staff at all levels, from cleaners to consultants, who were gay or
Lesbian.  I talked with some of them, sometimes at length at quiet moments
when on night duty.  Have you talked to many gays or lesbians?"

"I have never spoken to a lesbian about her sexuality.  I am not absolutely
sure I know any lesbians, though I have had my suspicions.  I tried to help
a student who was struggling with his homosexual feelings."

"Poor student, with your hard line attitude."

"I tried to show him his the love and care of the Lord."

Bruce looked at his watch.  "I'm afraid I must be going, I've got a sermon
to prepare.  I meant to pop round for ten minutes, and I've been here for
well over an hour.  Thanks for the tea and biscuits, Mal, give my love to
Jan."

"Kevin, I shall be praying for you."  He shook his hand.

"Goodbye Paula, I think we could continue discussing for a long while.  We
must continue it sometime." He shook hands with her.

He shook hands with Stephen, and Malcolm saw his out of the house.

"Wow," said Malcolm as he came back into the room.  "Well done, Paula."

"I think you've given the dear Vicar something to think over,"
 said Stephen.

"Thanks, Paula.  That was great," said Kevin.

"I think we should have a drink.  Tea, or something stronger?"

"Something stronger for me.  Look I'm shaking!"  She held out an arm which
was trembling.

"Wine, sherry, brandy, whisky?"

"Whisky, please, Pop." said Paula.

"Tea for me, Dad. I'm driving," said Stephen.

When the drinks were ready, they sat and held a post mortem on Bruce
Perkins and his opinions.

After a while Paula and Stephen said that they ought to be leaving.  Paula
stood up, and collected together the various mugs and plates from the tea
and biscuits they had earlier.  "I'll wash these up before we go."

Paula and Malcolm left the room and went out into the kitchen, leaving the
two brothers together.

"How's the new job going?" asked Stephen.

"Fine.  I like it, but I don't know how long I'll stay there."

"Why's that, if you like it?"

"I've got an invite back to New Zealand.  I've got a special friend there!"
Kevin looked at his brother and gave a slight shy smile.

"A man friend?"

Kevin nodded.

"Very special."

"Yes.  We met when I was out there a couple of years ago.  In fact I lived
with him for just over two of the months while I was there."

"You were only there for three months!  That was quick work."

"It was.  It was great.  For both of us."

"You're a dark horse, Kev."

They both laughed.

"I phoned him a couple of days ago, and told him all my news.
 He has made no special friend since I left; and I have no special friend
over here."

"What about the guy you were nearly caught with?"

"A good friend.  he's married, with kids.  We have never lived together,
never even had a night together."

"Mum and Dad'll be upset."

"I know.  But these days it is easy to fly to the other side of the world."

"True."

"Dad says he'll come and see me off, and maybe even weep a tear, as long as
I fly from Luton, and not further afield."

Stephen laughed. "Typical.  But that shows how fond he is of you."

"I know.  I realised that when I told him everything this morning.  I also
realised just how much I love him.  His dry humour, and slightly cynical
view of life is all a cover.  Deep down he loves us all a great deal."

"Just because we've scored centuries for the village cricket tea."

"And that remark show how much you are a chip off the old block."

"I'll miss you too, Kev, if you go.

"I know.  We're not a very demonstrative family.  Lot of stiff upper lip
and all that; but deep down I think there is a love.  Even with old
Michael."

"His religion has spoilt him.  I blame Lois for getting him involved in
that extremist church."

"But he has always been one for the rules and the laws."

"I know."

Malcolm and Paula came back into the room.  The two brothers stood up.
Kevin and Paula gave each other a kiss.  Kevin and Stephen gave each other
a long hug.  Malcolm looked on with surprise at the obvious warmth that
existed between the two.  He had never seen them hug each other like that
before.  What he saw pleased him, there were some good things coming out of
what had happened.

Malcolm and Kevin stood outside and waved good bye to Stephen and Paula.

"I suppose I've got to feed you yet again, son."

"You can leave me to starve, or I can pop into Luton and get myself some
fish and chips."

"What would you like?"

"Don't mind. What you got?"

A wicked glint came into Malcolm's eye.  "Your Mum's away until much later.
What about a good fry up.  All the works.  Bacon, eggs, sausages,
mushrooms, fried bread?"

"Black pudding?"

"This is the south, we don't eat northern food down here!"

They both laughed.

"If we keep the extractor fan on in the kitchen, eat in the kitchen, and
spray the place with deodorant afterwards Jan may not smell it when she
gets back."

"She'll notice when she goes to the fridge for some bacon and so on."

"Give it twenty-four or better forty-eight hours and she'll go to fridge
and just say, `I thought there was some bacon and eggs in here.  I must pop
down to the shop."

"Can I do anything to help?"

"Not at this stage.  I'd like to check my emails first.  I'll start getting
a meal in about half an hour."

"I think I'd like a breath of air, and a time to collect my thoughts.  It's
been an eventful, and emotionally draining day.  The rain has stopped, I'll
go for a wander round the garden."

Kevin wandered out into the garden.  All sorts of memories came flooding
back for this was the garden of his childhood.  The games he had played
with his brothers, often to the exasperation of Michael, and with the help
of Stephen.  In this garden he had first held a cricket bat, and the three
boys had incurred the wrath of their father when plants were damaged.  The
garden smelt fresh after the rain.  He wandered slowly up to the end,
observing the flowers and bushes.  Everywhere good order prevailed, because
Janice and Malcolm spent many hours working in their garden.  He went into
the greenhouse to see how his father's tomatoes, melons and cucumbers were
coming on.

Malcolm was upstairs when the front door bell went yet again.  He made his
way down stairs, and opened the door to see a laden Michael standing in
front of him.

"I've brought some of the plants, and the other things I promised you last
weekend."  He made his way into the house carrying a couple of cardboard
boxes.  "Mum said she wanted some new cheap glasses for everyday and
children's use.  I've bought a dozen.  I've also bought the couple of saws
that you asked me to get sharpened for you."

While that conversation was going on Michael's son Jonathan had taken the
plants which his father had brought and carried them up to the greenhouse.
There he came face to face with his uncle Kevin.  It would be difficult to
say who was the more surprised, or indeed who was the more pleased.  Kevin
had always got on well with his oldest nephew and godson.

"Uncle Kevin!"

"Jonathan."

They gave each other the customary quick hug.

"How's life, boyo?"

"Fine thanks, Kev."  The `uncle' was not in regular use.

"School?"

"Exams coming up."

"You should be all right."

"I don't like French.  The master is a Welshman, and I don't like him."

"And therefore you don't like the subject he teaches?"

Jonathan nodded.  "Kev, is it true what Mum and Dad are saying that you are
gay?"

Kevin nodded.  "Yes, I'm gay."

"How did you know?"

"I found I was more and more liking men, and wanted to make love to them."

"More than to Auntie Katie?"

"I'm afraid so.  So when I first made love to a man, or rather initially he
made love to me, I became absolutely a hundred percent certain.  Does that
cause a problem?"

"No, not really.  There're a couple of chaps in my form at school who are
gay.  We all know about it.  We just accept it."

"Good.  There's some hope for this bigoted world after all."

"Kev."  There was a pause, and then softly Jonathan added, "I think I may
be gay."

"Do your Mum and Dad know?"

"No way.  They'd not just go ballistic, it'd be nuclear as well.  When I
told them that there were a couple of gays in the same class, they thought
about moving me to another school.  They did go to see the head."

Kevin contained an inward smile at this use of language.  "If I can be of
help.  But somehow I don't think your Dad would be at all happy about
that."

"No." said Jonathan with a grin.

They were interrupted by a bellow from the bottom of the garden.
"Jonathan!"  Michael had just learnt from Malcolm that his younger brother
was up the garden, probably talking to his own son.

"That's Dad."  Jonathan turned and went out of the greenhouse and ran down
the garden.

Michael was striding up the garden.  "You here!  What've you been saying to
Jonathan?"

"I have been chatting to my godson about his school.  I asked him how he
was getting on, and we talked about exams, and his dislike of French in
particular.  Does that offend you, Michael?"

"Not if that was all.  Do you know, there are a couple of boys of your sort
in the same class.  Lois and I are fearful about what goes on at that
school."

"What do you mean by `boys of my sort?"

"You know quite well what I mean - homosexuals."

"His probably safer there, in a co-ed school, than he would be at some
snooty expensive single sex school, where the goings on of `my sort', as
you so sweetly put it, are probably more rampant."  The moment he said the
last word, he thought it was not an appropriate one in the circumstances;
but Michael did not notice.

"I don't know how you can have the brazen effrontary
 to show your face here.  The upset you've caused Mum and Dad, causing
division with their friends, and that's to say nothing of your poor wife."

"Brother dear.  I am sorry for all the pain and distress that I have
caused.  But if we lived in a more tolerant and accepting society I would
have discovered the truth about myself much earlier, been accepted by
friends and family, and not got married."

"There must be limits to tolerance and acceptance.  Surely you don't want a
society where absolutely anything and everything goes.  You don't want a
free for all for drugs, booze, child molestation, and so on."

"Of course not.  Those things are harmful."

"A free for all in sex is harmful to everyone."

"I'm not advocating a free for all, even in matters of sex."

"But what you were doing with that man was wrong, sinful, evil, forbidden
and condemned in scripture."

"Yes, I've heard all that already today from Bruce Perkins.  I've only done
what is natural for me."

The Bible says, `Choose you this day who you will serve'.  You have chosen
to serve sin, and `the wages of sin is death'.

"Michael, I didn't choose to be gay.  When I was in New Zealand I
discovered God made me this way."

"What do you mean `God made you that way?'  God does not make a person
inclined to evil."

"What I'm saying is, I no more chose to be gay than you chose to have blue
eyes and ginger hair.  Or indeed chose to be a heterosexual, presuming that
you are not a closeted gay!"

"I'm certainly not gay."

"No; God makes us differently.  Some have black skins, and others yellow,
we have white.  Some are born male, and others female.  Similarly some are
gay, fair enough a minority, and the rest are straight."

"Those examples are different."

"Are they?  Are they really?"

"I didn't choose to be gay, Michael, any more than I chose to be a white,
British male."

"But you chose to get into bed, and have disgusting sex with that man up in
York, and presumably with a man in New Zealand."

"Some gay men think what you and Lois have done at least three times is
revolting and repugnant."

"What we do is perfectly natural, what you've started doing is totally
unnatural."

"Unnatural for you, but not for me."

"But you're married, your wife has just conceived your child.
 How can something very different now suddenly become perfectly natural for
you?"

"Because I have discovered the real truth about myself.  My upbringing, the
whole ethos of our society, and not least the bigoted intolerant religion
you practice made me suppress the truth about myself."

"There you are again, blaming my faith, and going against the plain
teaching of God's Word."

"But you go against the plain and obvious teaching of God's Word, brother
dear."

"I do not.  No way!"

"Do you own your house?"

"Yes."

"Every little bit of it?"

"I have a mortgage, so I presume in some sense the Building Society owns
something of it."

"Exactly.  You are involved in a transaction involving lending money with
interest.  In the Bible that is called usury, and is forbidden for good
little, god fearing people like you."

"That's different!"

"How?"

"It is obviously different."

"How?"  There was now a cynical grin on Kevin's face.

"Usury is an Old Testament law.  We live in a different situation, a
different culture."

"Exactly."

"Sexual ethics are eternal, economic values can change."

"Where does it say that in your Holy Book?"

"You can't just pick and choose what parts of scripture you will keep and
not keep."

"Isn't that exactly what you are doing."

The voices of the two brothers had been slowly rising throughout their
argument.  There were now shouting at each other.  Malcolm came striding up
the garden, closely followed by Jonathan who was intrigued to discover what
all the shouting was about.

"You two sound like a couple of fish wives.  Can't you keep you voices
down?  The village knows enough already, without you two giving them more
to gossip about.  I should think they could hear you both up on the cricket
ground."

"Sorry Dad," they said in unison.

Michael turned to Jonathan.  "Come on, son.  We need to be going.  This is
no place for a lad like you."  Then he turned to Malcolm.  "I thought you
would have knocked some sense into him.  He's confirmed in his evil
ways. I'd have sent him packing."

"You know, Michael, I'm very much reminded today of the parable of the
prodigal son, or perhaps the story of the two sons.  Kevin is my son, and I
love him," said Malcolm very softly.  "You are very much like the older
son, I love you too, just as much.  Kevin's as welcome back to his old
home, as you are.  I'd not close the door to either of you, whatever either
of you did.  Unless you started breaking the place up, or beating up your
mother and me."  He grinned.

"Dad, the parable does not apply.  The younger son came home when he could
say, `Father I have sinned against heaven and before you, and am no more
worthy to be called your son'.  As far as I know that brother of mine has
not done that.  He is still confirmed in his evil ways."

While this conversation was going on Kevin had taken out his wallet, and
extracted a card.  He put it into his pocket.

"Come on, Jonathan.  We must be off."

They set off down the garden.  Michael led the way, Malcolm followed, with
Jonathan behind him, and Kevin bringing up the rear.  They went round to
the front of the house, and to Michael's car.  When Michael opened the door
on the passenger side, his back was turned on the others for a moment.
Kevin tapped Jonathan's shoulder.  He turned towards his uncle.  Kevin
pressed a card into the lad's hand, with a finger to his lips and a nod
towards Michael.  Jonathan nodded and smiled in return.

Malcolm and Kevin stood and watched the car depart.

"I'm sorry about that, Kev.  Poor old Michael.  He talks of being under
grace and not under law, but he gives precious little evidence of it in his
attitudes."

"These ultra religious types can get hard bitten."

"What did you give Jonathan?"

"A card."

"What card?"

"It has my Email address on it."

"Why?"

"I think young Jonathan may be wanting to contact me.  And I can't see old
Michael really approving of that."

Malcolm looked hard at Kevin.  "Am I right in putting two and two together
and making four?"

"Maybe.  Be ready to be a good Grandfather, he may need you."


Malcolm just nodded slowly.

"Not much misses your eyes, Dad."

"Having three sons, made me like that.  They'd `ave run the roost if I
hadn't watched out."  He smiled and winked at Kevin.

"Now for that long delayed fry up.  I'm really peckish now."  He turned to
go into the house.

Kevin turned alongside, and put his arm round his father's shoulder.  "For
a father, you do quite well.  Thanks Dad."

"Any time.  But I don't like the idea of you going off to New Zealand."

"But Dad, think of the holidays out there."

"What, and leave all this for weeks on end, for burglars to break into, and
if we came in the summer the garden would get over run in no time."

"But, you wouldn't come in your summer, you'd come in this part of the
world's coldest darkest months."

"I must say that sounds attractive."

"I could take you to Breaker Bay."

"Where would we leave your Mum."

"I expect she'd want to buy pressies in the Wellington shops."


They went in and had their fry up.

Malcolm and Kevin spent most of the evening sitting on the settee watching
the Wimbledon Women's Finals on the television.  It was an exciting game
which Venus Williams won after a hard struggle.

It was a quarter to eleven when the was the sound of a key in the front
door.  Malcolm jumped to his feet, and went to greet Janice.

"At long last!  I've got a chap here wanting to see you.  I'm no use, it
must be you."  This was all said loud enough for Kevin to hear.

"Who is it?"

"Some chap off the streets I think."

Thoroughly intrigued Janice made her way into the sitting room.

"Kevin!"

With a broad grin, he jumped to his feet and gave his mother a kiss and a
hug.

"What a wonderful surprise.  When did you arrive?"

"Just after you'd gone off on your gad-about this morning."

"Mal, there are a couple of bags on the front door step, could you bring
them in for me, please."

"There you are, a fetcher and carrier, that's all I'm good enough for now,"
said Malcolm to Kevin.  "And if she's spent as much as she usually spends
it will be bread and water for the next six months.  I suppose you two
would like a drink.  I'll leave you to talk."

It was nearly two hours later that the last light went out in the Pridham
house.

***

To be concluded.
Jeff at jeffyrks@hotmail.com