Companions All
by:
Will B
(Copyright
2007 by the Author)
Advisor: E Walk
The author retains all rights. No reproductions are
allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...
The Companions had been invited to sing the National Anthem at an Orioles game at Memorial Stadium. At the end of the game a young boy was seen running to the top wall of the Stadium trying to get away from his foster father, who identified himself as the Reverend Mill Stone. Luckily, Timmy Heckman was able to reach the boy and talk him out of climbing over the wall where there was a long drop to the parking lot below.
Chapter 7
At the Stadium
Back at the top of the
stops, Timmy said to Jimmy, “I can’t believe you’re a miserable sinner. Why do
you say that?”
Jimmy replied, “Because he. . . . . he caught me . . . “
Jimmy went on, “He caught me touching myself, and said I was a sinner like some character in the Bible named Onan. He was going to beat the sin out of me, and he was going to have the congregation pray over me.”
Timmy looked at him, “Jimmy, my Dad told me that it was perfectly natural for men to touch themselves, sometimes because it made them feel good, and sometimes just because they had to scratch.”
“But Reverend Stone showed me in the Bible that God was very angry with this guy because he would not marry his brother’s widow, and he cast his seed on the ground, whatever that means.”
Timmy said, “You know, buddy, I don’t think your foster father makes sense. Onan was a man and maybe he should have married his brother’s widow. I don’t know. You’re just a young kid like me. I don’t think God is angry with us for doing something all men and boys do sometimes.”
Matt and Gary came up the steps to the boys and knelt down so they were on eye level with Jimmy and Timmy. Matt spoke first, “Timmy do you think your friend would come down and talk to Judge Jones? He’s very good at solving problems.”
“Mr. Matt, this is my friend Jimmy. I think he needs somebody smart like the Judge to help him,” Timmy said. “Jimmy, these two guys helped me and my sister when we were about to runaway from home. You can trust them.”
Jimmy looked at Matt and Gary, and then said, “Can Timmy come with me? He’s a good friend of mine!”
“Sure he can. Let’s go down and meet Judge Jones,” said Gary.
The four went down the steps.
“Just wait until I get my hands on you, you miserable. . . ,” started the Reverend.
“We all have just heard you utter a threat against this child. You’re not ‘getting your hands’ on him now or any time soon,” Judge Jones declared. “Officer, take this man away and lock him up for the night. Have him in my chambers at 9:30 tomorrow.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Now, young man, what are we going to do with you?”
“Could I please stay with Timmy for tonight? Oh, if it’s all right with his folks, that is,” Jimmy pleaded.
“It certainly is OK with us,” Dave and Mary assured the Judge.
“That’s fine, then. Please have him in my chambers at 9:30 tomorrow.”
Timmy looked at Jimmy, and said, “Hey! You can see my train layout. My Dad and my brother John are helping me set it up.”
“Cool!” said Jimmy.
Tammy looked around from behind her mother’s skirt and said “Mommy, I think he’s kind of cute!”
There was one other event that night. As the officer led the Reverend away, Uncle Ed, who had been talking with Pete and Joe, turned away, and as he did so, his cane “accidentally” caught the Reverend Stone on the butt.
“I do beg your pardon, sir. I didn’t mean to do that,” Uncle Ed apologized abjectly, but when he looked at Jimmy and Timmy there was a twinkle in his eye.
The next morning: In the Judge’s Court Room.
So many people had shown up for the hearing that Judge Jones decided to use an empty courtroom instead of his chambers. The Court Room was rather full at 9:30. Reverend Stone was there with a few members of his congregation. Dave and Mary Heckman were there with Jimmy and Timmy. Matt and Gary, Pete and Joe, Alicia Cross and Adele Pritchett were there. The Judge came in and sat down. The Security Officer from the stadium, Pastor and Mrs. Glendy, Rev. Chet, Uncle Ed, and Jess were also there.
“I am going to ask everyone to be silent. Only the person I am talking to is to speak,” Judge Jones admonished the spectators.
He called Reverend Stone to the stand. “How did you come to be the boy’s foster father?” the Judge asked.
“His parents were members of my congregation, and before they died they made wills making me the boy’s guardian,” was Stone’s answer.
“How have you carried out that guardianship?”
“I have given the boy a home, and have been having him home schooled. I don’t want him to be infected with the sinful, perverse ideas that are running amok in our schools, Why, I could tell you….”
“Thank you. I think we understand your reasons,” Judge Jones said. “Why do you think the boy tried to get away from you at the stadium?”
“Why, I caught him in a shameful action, and when I endeavored to bring him to an understanding of God’s will, he resisted. The devil prompted him to try to escape from my care.”
“I’m curious,” said the Judge. “Just what was this shameful action? Was he kicking a cat or dog?”
“Oh, no, Your Honor. It was much worse than that.”
“Was he smoking marijuana?”
“No sir, he was …., he was…., he was engaging in the sin of Onanism?”
The Judge was taken aback. “I know the story of Onan. Tell me, Reverend Stone, had your son refused to marry his brother’s widow?”
A chuckle went through the courtroom, but some murmurs of “Sinful!” and “Perversion!” came from some of the members of the Stone’s congregation.
“Of course not, Your Honor, he was, he was touching himself, so that his seed would spill on the ground. It clearly says in the Bible……”
Judge Jones went on, “Quite so! Now that we have established what this sinful, shameful, perverted act was, tell me how you planned to stop the boy from doing it again?”
“ I was going to tell him of the dangers of HELL FIRE and ETERNAL DAMNATION that awaits all those who violate the commandments of the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY. I CAN TELL YOU . .”
“And if the boy didn’t listen?”
“It grieves me to say so, but I would have to take the strap to him. Why the HOLY SCRIPTURE says to “Spare the rod and spoil the child.”
“I see. And you believe you must carry out all of the commandments in the Bible? Tell me Reverend Stone, why do you shave and have your hair cut? Do you abstain from eating ham, bacon, or pork? You obviously believe you have the right to stone sinners.”
Judge Jones’ voice was almost scornful.
“No, Your Honor, most people realize that those were customs of the time, but in this case, it clearly states. . . “
“You mean you interpret the Bible the way you want?”
“You’re twisting my words. I have been appointed to PREACH THE HOLY WORD OF GOD. I am his spokesman. . . .”
Judge Jones banged his gavel on the bench. “Yes, your words are twisted. You have picked and chosen the Words of Scripture you would enforce, and ignored the other ones. What about the injunction to Judge not? What about the warning to those who would harm little children?”
“But, but, but.”
“But me no buts, Preacher Stone. Gentlemen, I do not wish to embarrass anyone but I would like to demonstrate something. I am going to ask the ladies to leave the room for a few minutes.”
The women filed out, and Judge Jones continued, “Will any man who has ever committed the “terrible, sinful, shameful, perverted” sin of Onan at any time in his life, please stand.”
There was silence in the courtroom. Silence. Silence.
Dave Heckman was the first to stand, followed by Pastor Glendy. John Heckman, Matt and Gary got to their feet. Rev. Chet, Uncle Ed, and Jess Mercer stood. Pete and Joe, and Al and Steve stood erect. Jimmy and Timmy stood up, the members of Stone’s congregation stood and looked down at their shoes, and last of all Judge Jones stood up.
Reverend Stone remained seated. Judge Jones looked at him, and said “What, never?”
Looking mighty shame faced, Stone stood up too.
“Thank you, gentlemen. You may be seated. Well, Reverend Stone, by your own admonition, all of us, including yourself, are doomed to hell,” Judge Jones said.
“Well, I didn’t quite mean. . . “
“No,” said Judge Jones. “You didn’t mean that you were going to Hell. You just meant to frighten a young boy into submitting to your teaching. A young boy who was placed in your care because his parents mistakenly believed you could love him and care for him as a father should.”
“Well, I. . .I . . . “
“Bailiff, ask the ladies to come back into the court room, if they will.”
When the women had reentered the courtroom, Judge Jones continued, “Your name sir is Mill Stone, and can you tell me what the Bible, that you claim to take so literally, says will happen to anyone who harms a child?”
“I’m not . . . sure . . .”
“It says, sir, that it were better that a mill stone be hung about that person’s neck and he be cast into the sea. You, Reverend Stone, stand in danger of the very fate you preach against.”
(pause)
“Reverend Stone, I am taking Jimmy Porter away from you on the grounds that you have needlessly inflicted psychological damage to this child. Do you have anything to say?”
“No, sir, I . . I’m sorry.”
“Next I am going to appoint a team of accountants to look into the financial affairs of Jimmy’s deceased parents, and audit your church’s accounts.”
“Oh, no, you . . . you can’t . .”
“I can, sir, and I will.”
A member of the congregation called out, “Try to find out where he got the money to buy that fancy new car. Our church sure doesn’t pay that much.”
“Order in the Court—but thank you for that suggestion, sir.”
Judge Jones rapped his gavel, and said, “Finally I am appointing the Division of Social Services as temporary guardians of Jimmy Porter until such time as he can be placed in a suitable foster home. Mrs. Pritchett, do you think you will be able to find such a home for Jimmy?”
Adele Pritchett approached the bench. “Yes, Your Honor. While we were in the corridor, Alicia Cross told me they had just approved Dr. Paul Smith and his wife, Sally, to be foster parents. I think they would be happy to take Jimmy into their home.”
There were the beginnings of complaints from Timmy and Jimmy, “I want to . . ., “ and “Why can’t . . ?”
Adele went on, “The Smiths live a block away from the Heckmans, and so Jimmy will be able to see his friend Timmy quite often.”
“Excellent, Mrs. Pritchett. Once again your division has come with a good solution to a problem,” Turning to Jimmy, the Judge went on, “Jimmy, I know you have found a good friend in Timmy Heckman, and I am going to suggest that if it is agreeable with the Smiths, and with David and Mary Heckman, that Timmy Heckman go with you to your new home, and stay for a day to help you get moved in. Would hat be agreeable to the Heckmans? (nods of agreement from Dave and Mary) IS it agreeable to you, Timmy and Jimmy? (enthusiastic nods and smiles from the two boys). “If there is nothing else, I will declare this session over!”
Outside the Courtroom
Reverend Chet went over to the Reverend Stone, and said, “Brother clergyman, I will pray that you learn to be a little more tolerant and understanding.”
Later that night
Alicia Cross and John Heckman were having dinner in a quiet restaurant, when John said, “Alicia, my prospects are not great, but the Navy has promised to help me get a prosthesis for my missing hand, and they say they have a job in Washington counseling other naval personnel who have lost a limb.”
“That’s wonderful, John, I’m so happy for you.’
“Alicia, I am not going to be rich, but I will be able to . . . to . . . “ Here, John suddenly became very shy and stopped talking for a minute.
“John, I have faith in you. You can do anything you want if you want to do it badly enough.”
“Alicia, I wanted to ask you . . . to ask you if you would . . . if you could . . . accept this?”
John pulled out a small box and gave it to Alicia. Alicia opened it and saw a ring with a small diamond.
“It’s not very big, and I could probably get a bigger one if you would like.”
“John Heckman, don’t you dare get me ‘something bigger.’ I will cherish this one and I accept your proposal gladly.”
Alicia stretched her left hand across the table and took John’s right hand in hers. The she put her right hand across the table, and clasped the stump of John’s left arm n hers.
10:00 at Milford Avenue
“Sally, that’s great
news. I am so happy for you and Paul. I know Steve will be ecstatic also,” said
Al Johnson as he hung up the phone.
“Steve, guess what! Paul and Sally have a foster son. It’s Jimmy Porter, the boy that Timmy talked down off the wall at the Stadium last night.”
“Yahoo,” said Steve. “I think we should celebrate, this calls for a drink.”
“Should I open a bottle of wine?” Al asked.
“No, my love. I think we should share each other’s man-nectar, and I mean right now!”
“That is an interesting suggestion, sweetheart. But let’s make it a real party. We can peel each other’s bananas.”
Steve: “We can tweak each other’s malted milk balls.”
Al: “Don’t forget we can savor each other’s frankfurters.”
Steve was really getting into the spirit of this exchange, “We can test the texture of our buns.”
Al: “OK, OK, Let’s do it. Eat me, Al, while I sip a man-milk shake through your luscious straw!”
* * * * *
At Pete and Joe’s house, the two lovers were in bed. Joe’s tumescent tool was tidily but turgidly tucked into Pete’s tuckus.
* * * * *
At Matt and Gary’s house, the two young studs were lying on their bed, facing each other, their firm, muscular bodies held close to each other by their encircling arms.
“Gary,” Matt said, “I want to feel you in me. I want to feel your manhood massaging my inner self. Give it to me, love. Give it to me. Let me have the root of your matter in me!”
And so, three pairs of lovers were enjoying their partners to the fullest. Their friends were all well, and life was good.
(Is This) THE END (of the story?)
Advisor’s Comments: Talk about romantics, Will has gone beyond the barrier. So is there or isn’t there going to be follow on story. I hope that “Reverend” Mill Stone gets his just reward. Why do I have a gut feeling that maybe Jimmy’s parents had some money and Mill Stone is going to be fed to the dogs? I figure if we plant some seeds in the fertile mind of our author we can motivate him to get him writing again. Hey, maybe Mill Stone could be a closeted gay person.
Author’s note: No, my friends, a closeted gay person doesn’t have to be hypocritical. “Reverend Stone” is just plain despicable. Gay people are born that way. Stone chose to act the way he has.
Conan-Doyle tried to kill off his detective by having him drown in the Reichenbach Falls. A contemporary writer has said that seven books are enough, enough do you hear--but she is going to write an encyclopedia about all of the characters.
Am I going to leave my characters here? I think my advisor would disown me if I tried to do that. I think there might be a sequel sooner or later—if enough readers contact me and say “Please, sir, may we have some more?”
I would like to acknowledge the hot works of my fellow authors that inspired me to add that recipe for a picnic in the last scene with Al and Steve.
Posted: 11/16/07