The Secret Catamite Bk 1, The Book of Daniel (24 page)

"Bloody hell! Definitely not!"
said Daniel, pulling a face of disgust. "That's just you and me,"
he continued, "nobody else."

"Me too," said Simon quickly.
"So what is it with Fielding then?"

"Tell you later," said
Daniel.

But the moment passed, and he
never did.

1. 1958/5 First
   Kiss
   

As Spring moved toward summer, the boys'
horizons widened. Scout activities moved more outdoors, the
athletics could get back out on the track in earnest and the bike
rides began again. They would return to the vantage point
overlooking the aerodrome, with sandwiches, drinks and the
groundsheet. Since Simon's first climax, the boys' relationship in
that sense had become reciprocal, and both enjoyed it
more.

Relaxing on the groundsheet
after their mutual release, they were allowing the sun to bathe
their bodies once more.

"I like it much better now that
you come as well," said Daniel.

"How?" said Simon, looking up at
the fluffy clouds dotted across the blue early summer sky.

"Because we're more equal. I
always thought it was unfair before, and I didn't like that. It's
much better now."

"I like it better, too," said
Simon.

Daniel laughed. "Well,
obviously. You're such an idiot."

Simon knew that this was just an
expression Daniel used, and was not at all upset by it. Feeling
Daniel's hand stroke his body, he lay back and closed his eyes. He
could hear the noise of the countryside, some insects, birds, a
tractor in the distance. He could feel Daniel next to him, hear his
breathing. He sensed Daniel's face close to his. He felt the touch,
Daniel's lips against his. Surprised, he opened his eyes, Daniel
drew back, and was looking down at him, framed against the blue
sky, uncertainty on his face, the question ready to be spoken.

"I'm sorry, Simon. I didn't mean
to .. I mean … " Daniel stopped, wondering what Simon would say to
his clumsy attempt to kiss him. What if it was a step too far?
Sometimes that two year gap was too much.

Simon looked up at his friend.
He had been surprised, the feel of another person's lips against
his own was new to him. But now, seeing the anxiety on Daniel's
face, he saw the moist tenderness of Daniel's lips afresh. He
wanted to feel it again. Without speaking, he reached up and drew
Daniel to him again, and they kissed, lips exploring lips, tongues
touching, the effects reaching through each boy's body to fresh
arousal. This was new to both of them, neither had realised the
erogenous consequence of such kissing. They drew apart.

"Was that OK?" asked Simon.

"Super. Fantastic. I'm so glad
you liked it. I was worried you might not've and that I'd spoiled
things."

"You could never spoil things. I
liked it too. Really did. You've done it before, though."

"I haven't, Simon. You're the
first. Who with?"

"Everybody knows you kissed
Cynthia Jackson at the juniors."

"You can't count that," said
Daniel, indignant. "It was just – " and he leaned over and briefly
touched his closed lips against Simon's " – like that. Not a proper
kiss."

"So was that a proper kiss then,
what we just did?"

"You bet." And Daniel kissed
Simon again, as they embraced, rolling on the groundsheet, their
bare skin warm in the sun and against each other.

Simon had always thought of
Daniel's hair as black, but now, running his hands through it,
stroking it in the sunlight, he could see a host of colours, shades
of deep, dark brown as well as black. This variation seemed to
reflect the complexity of his lover's nature. Somehow, the closer
he got to Daniel, the more there was to know. It was an adventure
that would go on forever.

The following week when they
arrived together at Scouts, their Patrol Leader, Miles Evans, met
them.

"Daniel, Simon, I've got some
news for you. I'm leaving scouts. In fact, I'm leaving altogether.
My Dad's got a new job and we're moving to London."

"I'm sorry about that, Miles,"
said Daniel. "When are you going?"

"Next week. All a bit sudden I'm
afraid. Leaving Henrys too. Bit of a blow. My Dad's hoping I can
get a place at Westminster."

"Top notch," said Daniel. Simon
wasn't sure what that meant, so he just waited.

"Might not happen," said Miles
Evans. "But in the meantime, Harriers will get a new Patrol Leader.
I know Skip was thinking of Colley, but I put in a good case for
you Daniel. You've been a very good second."

"When will we find out?" asked
Simon.

"That's up to Skip, Simon. Don't
build your hopes up Daniel, Colley may not have been Second of
Falcons as long as you've been my Second, but you’re still thirteen
and he is older than you."

Both Simon and Daniel knew Nigel
Colley as a keen scout, very good at the practical aspects of
scouting. He was at the Grammar Tech. Daniel knew that this was
perhaps his best chance at being a Patrol Leader, but Colley was a
serious rival.

"I know I'd be good, Miles, and
the patrol know me," said Daniel. Simon nodded encouragingly.

"As I say, I did my best for
you, Daniel. You deserve it, but then so does Nigel. But I think
you have more of something than Colley, and I put that case to Skip
and Jeremy."

Jeremy was the assistant
Scoutmaster, and his view was very important also.

"What's that? First Class
badge?" asked Daniel.

Evans grinned. "No, but that
does give you a big advantage. Colley's not quite there yet. I'll
tell you what I meant if you get it."

As the troop paraded for the
start of the session, Skip made the announcement that Miles Evans
was leaving. He said what a valuable contribution he had made to
the troop and to his patrol. Miles Evans would be missed, but all
the scouts wished him well. Skip said that in the appointment of a
new Patrol Leader for Harriers, he had looked carefully at all the
patrols' Seconds. He had to take account of who already had their
First Class, strongly recommended in P.O.R. for PL status, also the
needs of the troop. He had discussed this with John Riley the Troop
Leader and the Patrol Leaders in the Court of Honour and they had
reached a decision on who would be the next Patrol Leader of
Harriers. Daniel Gray.

Daniel flushed with pleasure and
pride, while the Harriers made their approval known in
whispers.

"Quiet, Harriers," said Miles
Evans.

"We also listened carefully to
what others had to say, especially Miles, on the question of who
would replace Daniel as Second of the Harriers," continued Skip.
"The chosen Scout has proved his worth, has already achieved Second
Class badge and we know he is respected by the scouts of Harriers
Patrol. Simon Scott."

For a moment, Simon couldn't
take it in. There were other kids who had been in scouts a lot
longer, and some had their second class badge too. But Daniel was
now grinning twice as broadly. It was true. Daniel would get his
second bar as PL and he, Simon, would get his single bar as his
Second. Simon looked across to where Falcons patrol stood in line.
Nigel Colley's face was expressionless. He felt sorry for him for a
moment, but his happiness at his and Daniel's promotion swept that
away.

Later, they discussed this with
Miles Evans.

"You said you would tell me
something if I got it," said Daniel.

"I did, yes. In fact you've both
got it, although perhaps you don't realise it. I thought you were
in with a good chance, Daniel. I was less sure about you Simon
because of your age, although I hoped so."

"Yes, but what is it?" repeated
Daniel, agitated.

"Leadership. Pure and simple.
And John Riley agreed with me and backed you both in the Court of
Honour."

Both Daniel and Simon weren't
sure what to make of this, although Simon already knew that Daniel
had it in abundance. But him?

"I felt sorry for Colley
though," said Simon. "What about him? He deserved it as well."

"See what I mean?" joked Evans
to Daniel. "That's the sort of thing I meant. Don't worry about
Colley. Tim Perrett is leaving for Ventures soon, so that will mean
a vacancy as Falcons PL. Not a word, but the job's his. So it all
works out rather nicely."

Daniel and Simon, sworn to
secrecy, just had to agree.

1. 1958/6
   Clothing
   

"Got much homework?" asked
Daniel. They were walking up the hill from the bus stop, hot under
their Henrys blazers in the June heat, school satchels full of
books.

"French, Latin and maths," said
Simon.

"Bring it round mine," said
Daniel decisively. And with a knowing look at Simon, said, "I think
I'm in on my own tonight. I know Dad and Mum are out till late.

"Where are they going?"

"Some police do. They usually
get back about midnight from those."

Simon felt a thrill of
anticipation, but said, "What about Louise?"

"I think she's going out. Mum
asked this morning if I would be OK on my own. 'Course I am old
enough and can look after myself. I said you'd be coming round to
do homework."

"I'll ask. It'll be OK." By this
time they were at the corner.

"See you after tea then," said
Daniel.

"See ya!"

Daniel went in though the back
door into the kitchen. "I'm home!" he called.

"In here, love," came his
mother's voice from the sitting room. Daniel went in and gave his
Mum a hug. "Much homework?"

"Algebra, Geography and
science," said Daniel. "Is it OK if Simon comes round with his. We
can do it together."

"Yes love, of course. He often
does anyway. Be company for you, while we're out."

"What time will you be
back?"

"Late I expect. Eleven at the
earliest, probably a bit later. I don't know what time Louise will
be back."

"Where's she going?"

"She's already gone out with
Graham. I don't know where he's taking her. She said don't wait
up." Graham was Louise's nineteen year old boyfriend. Daniel quite
liked him, but he treated Daniel like a kid sometimes. Daniel felt
excited at the prospect of he and Simon having the house to
themselves. This happened a lot in the school holidays now when
both his Dad and Mum were at work, and Louise was at her holiday
job at the insurance office. They had taken full advantage of it.
But in term time it was more difficult.

"Go and get changed, I'll make
you some tea. Dad and I are eating out of course."

Daniel went upstairs and hung up
his Henry's uniform. In the bathroom he washed himself down as he
felt sweaty and wanted to be clean for Simon. He chose a T shirt
and put on his red socks and blue denim jeans. Feeling cleaner and
cooler, he went downstairs to eat his tea. His Dad had arrived
home.

"Hello son," he said, patting
Daniel's shoulder. "How was school?"

"Good," said Daniel, munching.
"Simon's coming round later with his homework."

"Well, don't spend all your time
helping Simon at the expense of your own work, will you?"

"No, Dad. Anyway, Simon can do
his homework OK."

His Dad nodded and went to take
his own uniform off. Taking his tea things from the kitchen table
to the sink, Daniel rinsed them off, dried them and put them away,
while his parents struggled with evening dress and dinner
jacket.

Simon was late. Daniel went
upstairs and cleaned his teeth. He would normally wait until
bedtime, but after his tea, he wanted to be fresh when Simon came.
Since he had taken the risk of kissing Simon a few weeks earlier,
they had both willingly explored this new aspect of their
friendship. He brushed his hair and decided to make a start on his
homework, tackling the algebra first. He worked steadily on at his
desk, engrossed in the magical way the equations would resolve
themselves.

"Simon's here!" called his
mother, "and we're off now. Don't stay up too late. Lock up when
you go to bed but leave the bolt off, and make sure the
television's unplugged. Oh, and don't forget the Aga."

"Yes, OK. Bye!," called back
Daniel. "Send him up, and have a good time."

Simon came into the room,
dressed now like Daniel in jeans, but retaining his white Henrys
shirt. Daniel knew immediately that all was not well. Simon put
down his satchel and sat on the bed, looking unhappy.

"What's the matter?"

"They were arguing again. I hate
it when my Dad's at home at teatime."

"What about?"

"Dunno. But they were shouting
and Frances tried to stop them, so I did. But then Dad started on
me, so I did what you showed me ages ago and tapped my chest twice
for you, and I told him to stop shouting at me coz I'd done nothing
wrong. But he got madder and said he was going to slipper me, so I
just said I was coming here to do my homework and walked out. Here
I am."

"Does he still slipper you?"

"No. Well, he hasn't for ages
now, but he sometimes says he will."

Daniel left his desk and sat
next to Simon, putting his arm round his troubled friend.

"I'm sorry, Simon," he said. To
Daniel, his own Dad was someone he was proud of. He didn't have a
high up medal like Simon's Dad, he had spent the war in the
military police, but he was high up in the ordinary police now and
Daniel loved him.

"It's OK," said Simon, "I'm used
to it. And I've got you."

"You've always got me," said
Daniel, and leaned toward Simon's face, who responded by meeting
his lips.

"Now?" said Simon, "While
everybody's out?"

"That's just to keep you going,"
said Daniel happily. "I’ve just had a pee, and you know it takes
time after that. We've got all evening, and anyway, homework
first."

"OK," said Simon, accepting
Daniel's lead. "But I mustn't be too late back."