The Secret Catamite Bk 1, The Book of Daniel (16 page)

"I think I'll take you home
first," said the driver. "I expect your mother will be worrying
about you."

As the car turned off the main
road, Simon looked out for any boys he knew, anxious for his status
to be recognised, best of all Daniel. But nobody was about.

"Here you are, Mrs Scott," said
the policeman, "one errant child delivered."

"Thank you so much," said
Mummy.

Once the policeman had gone,
Mummy turned to Simon.

"What did you think you were
doing, Simon?"

"I wanted to ride on one of the
new diesel trains, and I wanted to go to Coulton-in-the-Bottom.
Just to see what it's like."

"Well, now you know. I don't
know what your father will say." Simon was gripped by fear.

"Please Mummy, don't tell Daddy.
He'll be cross."

"I'll see what mood he's in when
he comes home." Simon had to accept that.

"Can I go round to see if
Daniel's in?"

"Oh yes, he called round about
an hour ago. But don't be long. Tea will be ready soon."

Simon ran round and knocked on
Daniel's back door. To his surprise, Mr Gray opened it. He was
wearing his police uniform.

"Ah, the intrepid explorer," he
said, smiling. "Come in. Daniel's upstairs I think."

Simon went to Daniel's bedroom.
His friend was there.

"What happened?"

Simon explained the whole story,
Daniel listened, chuckling. When Simon said he felt important in
the police car, Daniel pointed out that people would probably think
he was a bad boy who had been arrested.

"Simon, you're such an idiot,"
he said, and then gave him a hug. But Simon was happy.

1. 1956/9 School without
   Daniel
   

It was the last Saturday morning
of the school summer holidays, September already, and it was
raining. Simon was reading in his bedroom trying to take his mind
off school next week. He would be fourth year so that meant he
would be in one of the oldest classes, but Daniel would not be
there anymore. The prospect of facing up to the Spence gang without
Daniel, never mind Miss Harvey whose dislike of Simon remained
tangible, was frightening. Daniel had of course passed his eleven
plus exam, which meant he was going to the Hooray Henrys grammar
school. Most of the other kids who didn't pass went to Victoria
Road Secondary Modern School. As Simon was still struggling at
school and getting extra help, especially with arithmetic, he was
trying to face up to the fact that he would too, and despite
Daniel's confidence that he would follow him to Hooray Henrys,
Simon knew in his heart he would fail and have to go to Victoria
Road, probably with all the Spence gang. Simon's stomach churned at
the thought of his future schooling from this point on.

He was looking forward to
the afternoon when Daniel would be back from his swimming club. So
he carried on reading. One thing that had improved a lot was his
reading, and he was devouring the '
Famous
Five
' books. They were derided by many, but Simon
loved them. He so wanted to be like them, a group of friends and he
also wanted a dog, like Timmy, but Daddy said No. They cost too
much and would need too much looking after.

Simon suddenly felt the presence
of somebody. He turned to look and for a moment could not take in
what he saw. It was Daniel in his bedroom doorway, leaning against
the side, looking somehow taller and elegant, one leg straight, the
other crossing at the ankle with a natural grace, smiling at him.
But it was what he was wearing that had the most effect. Daniel was
wearing his brand new Hooray Henrys school uniform, the green
blazer with the colourful embroidered coat of arms on the pocket,
the white shirt with the school tie, and long, dark grey trousers.
All crisp and new. And long school trousers! Suddenly Daniel looked
so much older than the twelve years old he would be on Monday.
Simon was awestruck.

"What do you think?" Daniel
stood up and advanced into the bedroom, stopped and twirled around,
facing Simon again.

"You look fantastic!" said
Simon, admiring his friend.

Daniel smiled happily. "I had to
beg Mum to let me come round with it on to show you. But you had to
be the first to see."

Simon's feelings were mixed,
pleasure that Daniel had thought of him when trying his new uniform
ready for next week, sadness because it symbolised their parting at
school forever. This must have shown because Daniel's face became
one of concern.

"Simon, what's the matter? Don't
you like it?"

"I think it's super. It's just
that I'll never wear it and I'm back with Spence and them and Miss
Harvey next week without you." At this vocalisation of his fears, a
tear rolled out of Simon's eye. Daniel came and sat on the bed next
to Simon, comforting him with a hug. Simon felt better for the
warmth and strength of Daniel's touch, the scent of his body
mingled with the crisp new smell of his clothes.

Daniel's heart went out to his
sad friend with his uncontrollable emotions. "You'll be fine.
You've got Peter thingummy you're friends with. You don't need me
to stick up for you with Spence. I know you can do that. You've
just got to be strong."

"Peter Holman," corrected Simon,
"I can be when you're there, but not without you."

"Well, I
will
be there," said
Daniel.

"How?" said Simon. "You'll be at
Henrys."

Daniel tapped Simon's chest
twice. "But I'll be in there, all the time. Whenever you need me,
just think of me being there, and I will be."

"Really?" said Simon
hopefully.

"Really. I sometimes think of
you and it's like you're with me. I like to think of you when I'm
in bed at night, specially if I'm having a wank. I always think of
you then."

"Do you? Honest?", said Simon.
To Daniel's nod, he continued, "I think of you too a lot, and
specially in bed. I try to wank and make it come like you, but
nothing happens."

"It will. I'm two years older
than you, remember. But I like it that you think of me when you
try," said Daniel, smiling. "Aren't I sort of there with you then?"
Simon nodded. "So there you are then," said Daniel. "It'll be like
that at school, I'll be there."

Simon smiled, trying hard to
believe it. "But we'll never be at school together again. I won't
be able to go to Henrys, I'll end up at Victoria Road."

"Why? You're going to pass the
eleven plus. If I could, then you can."

"I'm stupid. I'm no good at
school."

"Yes you are. You showed me your
report, remember? It said your English was good. Sums a bit dodgy
though. But we can work on that."

"We?"

"I'll help you. Don't want you
going with the morons to Victoria Road."

"They're not all morons," said
Simon indignantly.

"That's true. There are some
Vicks at scouts, and they're OK. But there's a lot of morons too.
And it's pretty rough."

"You'll really help me with
arithmetic?"

"Of course. A scout has to help
other people at all times, and be loyal. Who better to help and be
loyal to than you?" said Daniel, tightening his hug, "We're best
friends, aren't we."

Real hope started to fill Simon.
If Daniel said it was possible, then it was possible.

"Thanks, Daniel."

"I'd better get back, or I'll be
in trouble," said Daniel, releasing Simon and standing up. "I said
I would just come and show you the uniform and then get straight
back."

"I'm glad you did. How was
swimming?"

"Good. There's this new kid,
Layton. He's almost as fast as me, but he's older."

"So you're still the best
then?"

"Of course. You coming back with
me?"

"Yes," said Simon, leaping up
off the bed. They went downstairs, Simon calling out to Mummy where
he was going. They ran round the corner in the wet, Daniel anxious
not to get his new uniform soaked. Simon was hoping that somehow
they would be able to use Daniel's bedroom, as many times before,
to be alone and intimate together. The two boys came in through the
back door at top speed.

"Slow down," said Mrs Gray at
the arrival of this whirlwind. "Hello Simon."

Mr Gray came into the kitchen at
this point.

"Hello Mrs Gray, Mr Gray," said
Simon politely.

"Daniel, I hope you've not got
that uniform wet. Go and take it off," said Mr Gray.

"OK Dad," said Daniel. "Come
on." This last to Simon, and they ran up the stairs.

"Very smart, bruvver," said
Louise as they reached the landing. She was just going into her
room.

"I look good, don't I?" said
Daniel.

"You sure that cap will fit over
your big head?" jibed Louise, closing her bedroom door.

Daniel threw the green cap with
gold piping onto his bed, and closed the door. He stood in front of
the mirror and adjusted his tie. Simon sat on the bed and watched.
Daniel's pride in his King Henry VII Grammar School for Boys place
and uniform was evident. Simon now had a glimmer of hope that he
too might achieve this.

Daniel turned away from the
mirror. "Better hang this lot up," he said, and started to undress,
carefully hanging the blazer, trousers and shirt up in his
wardrobe. "I've got a hard on now," he said unnecessarily, because
Simon had already noticed the effect on Daniel's underpants.
"That's coz you're here," he added looking at Simon, with a
grin.

Simon looked at the closed
bedroom door, which was not lost on Daniel.

"Better not," Daniel said.
"Everybody's at home. Too risky."

"I don't mind," said Simon,
feeling reckless.

"I do. It would spoil everything
we've got, and we've managed lots of times in the holidays,"
replied Daniel, pulling on some denim jeans. Simon wanted some
denim jeans like Daniel but Daddy said he was not old enough for
long trousers. Daniel pulled on his favourite red socks he liked to
wear when not at school. Simon wanted red socks but Daddy said they
were too flashy.

"Come and listen to my new
piece," said Daniel. He led the way downstairs to the back room.
Daniel opened the keyboard of the piano, and stroked the keys
lovingly, before setting up his music and then starting to play.
Simon watched, spellbound, as Daniel's hands caressed the keys,
bringing the piano alive with sound. Once or twice, Daniel frowned,
hesitated and repeated a section when he made a mistake.
Afterwards, he started again and played the whole piece through
without error. Simon liked the music, but it was the sight of his
friend, in command of this complex mechanism, his power and skill
in converting the lines and dots on the page into sound, that he
loved.

"Did you like it?" said
Daniel.

"It was good," said Simon. He
had asked Daddy and Mummy for a piano, just a little one, not a
grand like this, would do. But nothing had happened.

"Beethoven. It's
called
Für Elise
, but I'm
going to call it
For Simon
,
because I played it for you," said Daniel. "Let's play the note
game."

The two had developed a game on
the piano, one which intrigued Daniel. Simon had to turn his back
on the piano and Daniel would play a single note. Then Simon had to
press the same key on the keyboard. He nearly always got it right.
When it was Daniel's turn, despite his musical talent, he often got
the wrong note. At the succession of single notes, Mrs Gray came
in, curious.

"What are you doing?" she
inquired.

"We play this game, Mum," said
Daniel. "Watch this." The game was demonstrated to Mrs Gray,
herself a skilful pianist. Time and again Simon hit the right
note.

"Fascinating," she said. "Simon,
have you ever thought of music lessons?"

"I would like to learn how to
play the piano, but I've asked."

"Simon can play some tunes by
ear, and he can often repeat chords as well," said Daniel. "He
plays tunes and puts in the chords, just triads, but they match.
Play Greensleeves," he said, turning to Simon.

"I'm useless, it's not proper
playing, like you," said Simon, embarrassed at playing the piano in
front of Mrs Gray.

"I'd like to hear it, Simon, if
you would," said Mrs Gray encouragingly. Daniel was nodding.

Nervously Simon sat at the
keyboard of the big piano. He placed his fingers on the keys and
started to play, watching the keys, his brain somehow telling him
which notes to press next, a single line melody with the right hand
and matching three note chords with the left. Once started he felt
at ease, and completed the piece.

"Very good, Simon," said Mrs
Gray. "Your fingering is pretty much correct, much better than I
was expecting. You're a natural."

"He can tell straight away when
I play a wrong note, just a semitone out," said Daniel.

"I'm not surprised," said Mrs
Gray. "He obviously has a musical ear, and quite likely perfect
pitch. Well, Simon, I hope you get the chance to learn sometime,"
said Mrs Gray. She sighed and left the pair to it.

So the two boys spent the wet
afternoon playing on the piano, talking, playing with Daniel's toys
and sharing his books.

The first day of school arrived.
Simon left home to get the bus to the juniors, to find Daniel
waiting at the corner, as usual, but now wearing his Henrys
uniform. "I thought," he said, "We can still get the bus in the
morning, just you get off before me now." Simon remembered that
there had always been some Henrys boys on the bus.

"Good," said Simon, happy for
the time being as they walked down the hill to the bus stop on the
main road. "Aren't you scared? Starting at Hooray Henrys I
mean."

"I suppose, a bit, but Evans
said he'd meet me and look out for me."