Summer
by Robert Symes
Chapter 5
This story is set in rural England in 1982. The cultural references are from that time and place so I hope that references to cars, TV shows or music won't spoil the story for those who don't know them. Follow the links provided for more information or just ignore them. (And yes, I know you can use a search engine just as well as I can. The links are for convenience, not to insult anyone.)
In some chapters controversial opinions will be expressed. Some are opinions I profoundly disagree with but I've tried to state them fairly, not parody them. It is this author's policy to have no opinions about anything, or at least not to state them. Any opinions you see on these pages are those of the characters or the site owner respectively and I neither endorse nor oppose them.
A Family Affair
Summer Term at Andrew Porter's university ended on 11 th June 1982 and he packed up his stuff as he had to vacate his room on campus at the end of the first year and would be in a house share with friends when he came back in September. He had too much for public transport to be an option so his dad had agreed to pick him up next morning and take him home, where he would only get a few hours to catch up before starting a six week adventure interrailing round Europe with a couple of school friends he hadn't seen since Easter.
His father picked him up, drove out of the city and got onto the motorway. He accelerated to cruising speed, relaxed and stated to devote most of his attention to his son, asking him about university life and how he was getting on. Andrew realised how much he'd missed his family, this was the first time he'd lived away from home.
Andrew would have enjoyed some time with his family, even if his brother's friend Tony seemed to be a permanent weekend house guest these days. A little irritating but he got the impression Tony's home life wasn't that great and Mum and Dad treated him like part of the family. But he barely had time to pack and get ready before going off to spend Saturday night and Sunday at Stuart's house and then on Monday he was off inter-railing with Stuart and Clive, having made sure to rub David's nose in the fact that he'd be in Paris and Cologne while David was in Physics and Chemistry.
After six weeks in Europe followed by a few days in London staying with an uncle of Stuart's he got home late in the afternoon on Saturday 31 st July, greeting his family plus the ubiquitous Tony. Did that boy ever go home?
After dinner Andrew meant to meet some other friends at the village pub but was asked to stay for a 'serious family discussion' first. To his surprise and annoyance Tony tagged along as they went into the living room. " He's part of the family now is he?" asked Andrew sarcastically.
"Actually, yes" his father answered. "He lives here full time now but we'll get to that in a minute. First, though, David has something to tell you, and it's not easy for him so please just sit quietly and hear him out."
David sat between his mother and Tony on the sofa looking really apprehensive. Andrew and his father took the armchairs. David cleared his throat nervously. "I... Look, I've been psyching myself up for this all day but there's no easy way to say this so I'll just say it." He paused and took a deep breath. "You've probably noticed Tony's been here a lot lately. Well... Look, I'm gay, alright? And so is Tony. He's my boyfriend. I'm sorry I didn't tell you before but I wasn't brave enough. Mum and Dad only found out a few weeks ago by accident, but they'd already guessed. When Tony's dad found out he got really violent so Mum and Dad said he can stay here with us. So, that's it. We're a couple now and I hope you'll be happy for us. Any questions or anything?"
Andrew stared at him. Blatantly sat there next to his boyfriend like it's normal for God's sake! " Questions ? Yeah, I've got questions . Like who the hell thought this was okay? It's not even legal , they're not twenty one are they? And they're what, shacked up together... doing that... a few feet from where I'm sleeping? That's sick!" He pointed at Tony. "And this cuckoo in the nest has got his feet right under the table. And a pretty luxurious table too compared to what he's used to! And he gets it by corrupting my little brother? And fucking him under our noses? When are you going to come to your senses and throw him the hell out?"
" SHUT UP !" shouted his father. David looked miserable, Tony and Mrs Porter shocked, but Gerald Porter was angrier than anyone had ever seen him. "You just shut the hell up right now. You will not talk that way under my roof!"
"Okay," began Andrew, "I'm sorry I swore but..."
"You're sorry you swore ? My God that's the least of it! I'm sorry I fathered a bigot! When are you joining the National Front ? How dare you talk about your brother like that? And the person he loves? And tell me what to do in my own house? Well I'm telling you that everyone in this house, paid for by me and your mother not you, will be treated with respect and if you don't like it you can get the hell out!"
Now Andrew looked shocked. "Okay, I will" he muttered, then stood up. "I'm going to the pub. I'll probably crash at Nick's unless I get a better offer. A female offer, that is." He walked out of the house, slamming the front door behind him.
"Well, that went well didn't it?" David was trying to blink back tears but reached for a tissue to dab at his eyes. "I never thought he'd be like that."
"Neither would I" said his mother. "That's not like him at all. So cruel. Perhaps it's the shock. Perhaps we all say things we don't really mean sometimes. Don't take it to heart just yet darling, he may feel different when he's thought about it. And Tony, no-one thinks that about you so please don't worry. With any luck this will all blow over."
"I hope you're right" said her husband. "Because I meant what I said. He doesn't have to agree with us but he does have to be civil and he can respect our values or find somewhere else to live. He's over eighteen now. But I hope it won't come to that."
Andrew didn't come home that night and came in very late Sunday after everyone had gone to bed and didn't surface on Monday until long after his father and brother had left. He spent the week avoiding his father as much as possible but couldn't get out of the family party on the Sunday. On Friday evening he arranged to meet his cousin Jeremy for a drink and to tip him off about what to expect. And got a bit of a shock. What's that saying about some people don't see the light until they feel the heat? Something like that anyway.
On Sunday David and Tony grew increasingly nervous on the way home, wondering what to expect. As soon as they walked into the living room Andrew stood up and walked out. "Shit," muttered Tony quietly, "it looks like this won't be easy. I'm sorry, I know how it hurts."
But Andrew returned, having asked both his parents to join him. "To paraphrase Dad a few days ago, I have something to tell you, and it's not easy for me so please just sit quietly and hear me out."
They braced themselves, unsure what was to come. Was this to be the day Andrew left home permanently?
"I want to apologise to all of you. The things I said when I heard about David and Tony were unforgivable and I'm truly ashamed. I really wasn't thinking straight, no pun intended. I told Jeremy about it to warn him and the first thing he said was 'Yes, I already knew that. But they're not hurting you so why are you being such a dick about it?' And I couldn't answer the question. Maybe I was a bit shocked. And maybe I didn't like the idea of Tony doing that to my little brother but..."
"He's not doing anything I don't want" interrupted David. His father gave him a look. "Oh sorry, I'll shut up."
"Don't be. Are you and Jeremy psychic? That's exactly what he said, word for word. Then I said I couldn't understand why anyone would want that and he asked me why I chose to like girls. Of course I didn't choose to, it just comes natural and he said exactly, it's the same for you. Then he said Tony didn't corrupt you, that's stupid and impossible, could he talk me into bed? And he asked if I think it was wrong to rescue Tony from a violent, abusive father. And then he said your sex life is none of my... er, flipping business anyway, except he didn't say 'flipping' though. He had a right go at me, but I needed it and I couldn't answer any of his questions. He talks a lot of sense when he's not pretending to be Che Guevara.
"Anyway he made me see I really was being a total dick, in his words. And I know it hurt you, I could see it in your faces. So I just wanted to apologise and say I was wrong. Funny thing is, what Jeremy told me is what I always thought anyway until it was my own family. But when it is... well, we all know how gays get treated, don't we? They're either hated or pitied and they spend their lives looking over their shoulders and I don't want that for anyone I care about.
"So, I've been doing some thinking and I think that when you told me I just didn't want it to be true so I lashed out without thinking and blamed Tony and invented a non-sexual reason. Stupid, I know, and I'm sorry. And I won't be joining the NF, I can't stand them. Now I've said it I'll just keep my head down for a while and hope eventually you can forgive the unforgivable."
"I said this would happen, didn't I?" said his mother, happily, into the silence. "I said that's not like Andrew at all to be so cruel and perhaps it's the shock."
"And I said I hope you're right" said her husband. "And I'm glad you were. Well done son, it's not easy accepting you were wrong and saying so. We love both our sons but we can't have one bully the other. It wasn't so much what you thought as the way you expressed it, that's what made me angry. And I already told David I wasn't thrilled when I found out, for exactly that reason. But we just have to accept it."
Andrew had remained standing while he spoke. Now David stood up. "I just want my big brother back. Give me a hug, you big spaz, of course I forgive you. Welcome back Dr Jekyll, let's hope we don't see Mr Hyde again."
Tony stood and extended his hand. "You know, as dicks go you're not much of one if I can put it like that." Suddenly he laughed. "So you should be safe from gays. Sorry, couldn't resist it! But seriously if you want unforgivable, check out my old man. He'll never learn or apologise in a million years. And there's a couple of people we met again last night... but that's a long story. If Dave's happy then I'm happy."
"Thank you all." Andrew looked very relieved. "That's very decent of you, and probably more than I deserve. I worried I'd blown it with my family, or perhaps Mr Hyde had if you're kind enough to put it like that. I still don't really know where he came from but he's not me and I don't think we'll see him again.
"Oh, and Jeremy said he won't say anything to his family about you because he promised not to but if you want him to explain it to them so you don't have to he will. Just ask him."
"It's a bit late for that now isn't it?" observed David. "They must be on their way by now. I suppose he could tell them in the car on the way to the pub but I think it's probably better if I do it myself. Asking someone else looks like a cop out, as if I'm ashamed or something."
"I agree" said his dad. "But you don't need to worry about Steve and Jenny, I'm sure they'll be fine. I don't know about Charlotte but I expect she'll be okay too." Charlotte was Jeremy's younger sister, aged seventeen.
Steve and family soon arrived and they drove in convoy, one family in Gerald's Rover, the other in Steve's Citroën, to a nice country pub a few miles away for Sunday lunch. "We thought this was easier than Mary cooking for nine and then some having to eat in the kitchen as there's not enough space in the dining room" explained Gerald. He didn't add that it would be easier to be on neutral territory if things didn't go well but it had been a consideration.
"Yes, about that." Steve looked curiously at Tony. "You seem to have acquired a third child, little brother." He turned to Gerald. "I know I'm getting senile and my memory's not what it was but I'm sure you only had two last time I saw you."
Gerald laughed. "Yes, I sort of have." He raised his voice. "Everybody, meet Tony Jackson, my new foster child. Tony lives with us now."
They went in and ordered and made small talk waiting for the food to arrive. Steve noticed the pub served his favourite beer and, after a brief conversation, handed Jenny the car keys. Gerald hoped he wouldn't overdo it.
They enjoyed their meal and moved on to coffee. Gerald tapped a spoon on his cup to get attention. "Thank you all for coming. I hope you've all had a nice time, I know I have. But we asked you here for a reason. David has something he wants you all to know. Over to you son."
David stood and looked around nervously. But their table was in a sort of alcove, well away from anyone else. Gerald had booked that particular table at that particular pub for precisely that reason. "Right then" he began. "As Dad said, there's something I wanted to tell you. You may think it's nothing to do with you and you don't want to know but you're my extended family and we're close and it feels wrong to keep it from you. And you may find out some other way and feel hurt that I didn't trust you. All I ask is that you keep this to yourselves, we're not ready to go public.
"Dad said Tony was his foster son. Son-in-law might have been more accurate. Tony is with me. I'm gay. He's my partner, for life I hope, not just a fling. We've known for a while, Mum and Dad and Andrew just recently and now you know as well. I don't see Mum's brothers or my other cousins much so you're all my family really and now you know who I am. Well, that's it really. There's not much else to say unless you have questions."
There was an awkward silence. Then Jenny said "Well, it's hard to think what to say isn't it? It's really not our business and it's certainly a surprise but if that's what makes you happy then good luck to you. Welcome to the family, Tony. If you need a surrogate aunt I'm here."
"You're like Boy George, or that Marc Almond from Soft Cell" exclaimed Charlotte. "That's so cool! I wish I could tell my friends they'd be so jealous. But I won't if you don't want it" she reassured him.
"How about your family, Tony?" asked Jenny. "Are they supportive?"
"When my dad found out he beat me up and disowned me. No-one tried to stop him" said Tony bitterly. "That's why I live with the Porters now. Oh, you're the Porters too aren't you? But you know what I mean. I don't care if I never see them again, I'd much rather be part of this family. Sorry if that sounds nasty."
"You don't miss a trick do you?" Steve addressed Gerald. "Take in your son's boyfriend and claim fostering money." He turned to David. "You should ask for commission, son, you earned it!"
"What the hell does that mean, earned it?" asked David angrily.
"How much of that beer have you had?" asked Jenny. "You must be drunk talking about your own nephew like that."
"Yeah, Dad, not cool!" added Jeremy.
"Sorry, sorry, I didn't mean it like that, I just meant that it's because of David that he's there and Social Services pay really well for foster carers. No offence intended."
"Okay" said David. "In that case none taken. What are you grinning at?" he asked Tony.
"I'll tell you later, it's not for family. Think of Rob and Mr Bigelow." David understood, and both grinned and blushed.
"And just for the record I'm not touching that money" added Gerald. "I keep enough to pay the tax, his food and clothes and allowance, and the rest goes in a savings account for their future. I'm not out to make a profit. After the childhood he's had it's the least I can do."
The party broke up not long afterwards and the families went their separate ways in their separate cars. David was pleased with how it had gone, despite Uncle Steve's faux pas, which he was sure was accidental, he'd been ribbing Dad, not trying to insult him.
Mum and Dad wanted to visit other friends that afternoon, and Andrew was meeting his friend Nick and, knowing those two, any girls who might be around, so David and Tony had the house to themselves for a while. They headed straight for the bedroom.
"I could have jumped you on the spot when Steve said that" gushed Tony. "What a turn on! Time to earn your keep, nasty dirty little rent boy slut! Just remember the customer is always right. And Mrs Thatcher is paying for it. I wish she could know."
David laughed. "I think it's the County Council actually. But why let reality interfere with a good fantasy? Please be gentle with me, kind sir, I'm a good boy really. My cruel father rents me out so he can live in drunken idleness instead of working."
"Silence, slut! Your father will return within the hour but I bought that hour and I own it. Cease your whining and strip for your master." Tony sat on the bed and watched David strip. Then he stood up. "Now undress your master, and be quick about it lest you feel the back of my hand." Soon they were both naked. "Get on the bed, slut. Down on all fours like the dirty dog that you are."
David spread an old towel on the bed, having learned from experience, and crouched on top of it. And then felt Tony's tongue licking and probing him, getting him lubed up with spit and even more excited. "Oh please, kind sir, you've found me out. I'm a cock-loving slut. Give me what I want, I beg of you."
So he did. Fast and hard. They knew they didn't have much time and didn't need or want it either, they were too turned on by the fantasy. Within a relatively short time Tony was slamming into David as fast and hard as he could, desperate to climax. Soon he succeeded, sending spurt after spurt into David, who grabbed his own dick and desperately raced to finish himself off, squirting onto the towel.
"Wow, that was amazing" gasped David.
"One of our best" agreed Tony.
After a minute or two gasping until their breathing returned to normal they separated, washed the towel under the bathroom tap, wrung it out as much as possible and hung it at the back of the wardrobe to dry, hopefully unseen. Then they showered, dressed, and were sitting innocently in the living room when Mum and Dad returned.
After a quick post mortem on the lunch party, which they all agreed had gone well, Dad drove them back to Bamford's Mill, dropping them at the main entrance.
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