Tuesday, 25 December 2012
Monday, 24 December 2012
395
The Watcher was
again monitoring the group sitting in the sun in the garden opposite. A Nest of Evil, he thought with
satisfaction. Vipers and scorpions. The two old ladies no better than the
twinks. Encouraging evil ways and abominations. They should have forbidden the twinks the
house until they’d accepted Jesus and given up their gayness. Instead, they encouraged it. Look at them laughing together! Who
shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord,
and from the glory of his power.
He would extirpate
the lot of them, corrupt homo filth.
Sunday, 23 December 2012
394
Lucasta saw the
exchange and was both amused and touched by it.
Such a sweet boy flirting in front
of me like that full of trust I suppose they shared the bed last night yet once
that wouldn’t have been scandalous long ago it’s our world so obsessed by sex
but Jason and Brent were in love and loved each other and if it hadn’t all
happened so sad they would have got married and really marriage is about more
than sex though sex is important and I did love Harold would he have minded I suppose
he would have but I would have given him a sharp talking to I’m too old to worry
about what society thinks that’s one of the privileges of old age not to care
about idiotic beliefs and stuff and nonsense but I do hope dear Jason finds
love because it does make the world go round I’m so glad I came and I do love
him dear boy so good and Luigi so beautiful extraordinary really I hope he
doesn’t break Jason’s heart I couldn’t bear it if it were to happen again poor
dear boy.
Aloud, Lucasta
observed, “Such a lovely day autumn really is the best season especially here
so much warmer than London not to mention the countryside all those
old-fashioned houses so badly heated so you roasted on the side facing the fire
and froze on the other side and got chilblains.”
“So dispiriting,
chilblains,” observed Eleanor, luxuriating in the warmth of the sun and the
still slightly chilly air.
“My dear, such a
torment at school the dormitories never properly heated quite Victorian
really.”
“What are
chilblains?” asked Luigi.
Lucasta
smiled. “Vile itchy lumps on your hands
and fingers which you get in winter quite horrid I assure you.”
Friday, 21 December 2012
393
Luigi woke to the smells
of breakfast and the sounds of chat and laughter drifting through the half-open
window. He threw off the bedclothes and
pulled his jeans on over his thong. He
sniffed the armpits of his shirt. A bit
niffy. Couldn’t be helped. He went through to the bathroom and washed
his face. The smell of cooking reminded
him of his grandmother, of staying at home, of being happy. I’ll
give it a go, he thought. It’s not like I’m alone any more. I have Jace and Key and maybe this whole
thing with Cody will work out. I’ll be
happy. I’ll make myself happy.
He traced the
smell and conversation to the kitchen, and emerged into bright autumn
sunlight. As he was greeting and being
greeted, he couldn’t help looking again and again at Cody to see how he
was. There was some reserve, some
sadness and grief, but he looked far better than he had when Luigi had picked
him up the day before (only one day ago!) in Mt Macedon. Between him and Jason there was the hint of
some discomfort, yet reading their body languages, he sensed that they might
become friends. He had to fetch a chair
from the kitchen for himself. Jason went
inside and brought out two teas and gave them to Luigi and Jason.
“This is your tea,
isn’t it?” Luigi asked Jason, touched.
“Well I can make
myself another. Go on, drink up. It’s good for what ails you!”
“Which is?”
Jason winked
salaciously, and Luigi felt himself colour.
For Heaven’s sake, not in front of the old ladies! Dio! Che scandalo!
Thursday, 20 December 2012
392
The Watcher lifted
his binoculars and looked again at the tableau in the garden of the house on
the other side of the block. His heart
began to beat and he felt dizzy. For
many heartbeats he could not believe what he was seeing. The twink!
Right there. Nearby. God had delivered him into his hands. All his doubts had been wrong. It was a clear sign that God wanted him to go
on with his work, to rid the world of these abominations. He would get them all; the twink; his
handsome friend; the old ladies too. Father
McAlister’s Irish burr sounded in his head.
Oh, good boy!
Tears trickling
down his cheek, the binoculars falling unheeded to the floor, he fell to his
knees and began to pray.
Wednesday, 19 December 2012
391
Cody had been standing just out of sight behind Jason, feeling more and more uncomfortable. He stepped forward, his expression bleak.
“Oh, there you
are, Cody! There’s bacon and toast in
the kitchen.” Eleanor had wondered
whether Luigi and Cody would stay and was pleased that they had.
Cody was warmed at
the genuine welcome in her voice. He
greeted both of the old ladies.
“I slept so late
this morning as if I were young again on the razzle dancing till dawn but Mrs
Cumberledge explained that it’s really jetlag so barbarous and tiresome but I
feel much more alert than I did yesterday morning such a long flight even from
Kuala Lumpur and dear Lucy Anstruthers looked after me so well but then I’m not
as young as I used to be, am I?” She
smiled beatifically at them. Cody was
reassured by all this benevolent nonsense.
When he turned to look to see how Jason was taking it, he detected a
small quirk to his lips which showed his amusement and affection. Jason caught his gaze and their eyes locked
for what seemed forever but could only have been one or two seconds. In the
other man’s eyes Cody read attraction, goodwill, forgiveness, judgement.
Acceptance.
Acceptance.
Saturday, 8 December 2012
390
There was cooked
bacon in a dish on the table, covered with a cloth, and toast in the rack.
Jason went to door
to the courtyard, where his grandmother and Eleanor Cumberledge were
sitting. “Good mornin’ Grandam. Mornin’ Eleanor.” He sounded more than normally English and
aristocratic.
“Morning
Jason! How are you feeling this
morning?” Eleanor smiled with pleasure.
“Beaut, thank you.”
Lucasta noticed
the Australianism with amusement.
“Um, sorry I
didn’t clean up last night. I meant to,
and we got to talking and then … it slipped
my mind.”
“Oh, please don’t
concern yourself with that, Jason,” entreated Eleanor. “It was our party, anyway.”
“Where more than
half the guests were me and my friends!”
“Well, next time,
then.” Eleanor waved the issue
away. “Help yourself to some bacon and
toast and tea, and come out and join us.
It’s such a beautiful morning.”
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