Lost and Found
by Jack Kendle
Part 2
Foreword
'Jack Kendle' is, of course, a nom-de-plume. This work is entirely fiction; the author's original intent was to try and describe his own feelings as a teen boy in love with another boy but somehow the story took over and assumed a life of its own!
The author draws on his own experiences, especially regarding the character Peter Forbes (although the real 'Pete' is alive and well and happily married!)
The story deals with a number of issues, some of them perhaps contentious: first and foremost society's perception of homosexuality, in particular paedophilia. It also touches on religion, Art, (with a capital 'A'), politics and the dichotomy that comes about when a person (in this case Jack) is committed to educating young people - he feels it is his sacred duty - but at the same time is attracted to teen boys.
The story follows Jack as he wrestles with his feelings and his conscience. Here too, the author draws on personal experience. How can one balance these two overwhelming needs in one and the same person?
Jack is a self-confessed boylover. At the beginning of the book, he is 'in the closet' and we follow his journey from a false, loveless marriage to his coming-out and commitment to another man. He is not the type who lusts after prepubescent children, or younger - he admits his predilections lie in adolescent boys who have reached sexual maturity. He (and by extension, the author) are strongly against what are known as sexual predators, those who procure very young children for sexual gratification. The story addresses this issue as well; in fact one could say it is a very major part of the story.
At many points in the story, Jack is overcome by self-doubts; how can he have these feelings at the same time as decrying the molesters of very young children? Isn't he just the same as these men? (And the vast majority of sexual predators are men.) For the record, as well as for legal reasons, I should point out that the boys involved in sexual acts in the book are aged 16 or over.
The author also wishes to make clear that the scenes of sexual behaviour between Jack and the young protegés he meets on the way are pure fantasy and would like to make clear that, as a teacher himself, he is against the abuse of power - involvement in sexual acts with a teen boy, his pupil amongst others, is strictly off-limits. Even if the boy attempts to initiate the sexual encounter.
And of course, in this day and age of AIDs, unprotected sex is a definite 'no-no.'
Having said all that, this book is also an unashamed piece of friction in places; a lot of sex (Jack is somewhat of a sexual athelete!) which some might find unbelievable, or at best, the fantasies of an oversexed author!
