The Secret Catamite Bk 1, The Book of Daniel

by Patrick C Notchtree

  "You always say that," said Frances crossly. Simon looked in awe, waiting for the explosion that would surely follow this backchat, as Daddy called it. But Frances could get away with it, she always did. There was no explosion. Daddy simply got up and left the room. Both Simon and Frances looked at Mummy. She had said nothing during this exchange.

  "Don't worry, loves," she said, "I've an idea."

  The idea matured a couple of weeks later. Daddy was going to be late, as usual, and Mummy came home with a large black box. She set it down on the table, and then produced another bag. The black box had a catch on the side and a lid. It also had a hole in the side with a square thing in it.

  "What is it?" Frances asked. Mummy smiled, and undid the catch, and lifted the lid.

  "A radiogram!" shouted Simon.

  "Don't be silly," said Frances. "Radiograms are big. It's a gramophone."

  It was undeniably a gramophone. There was a turntable and a needle arm and a big hole where the sound would come out. The function of the hole on the side now became clear. It was to wind it up.

  Simon was jumping and down, excited. "Come on then, let's play it. How do you play it?"

  "I thought you might ask that," said Mummy smiling even more at her children's happiness. She reached for the other bag and took out some records. There were some twelve inch records of Eine kleine Nachtmusik and a couple of ten inch records – Frankie Vaughan! Soon the music was basting out.

  There's an old piano and they play it hot behind the green door!

  Mummy grabbed Simon and Frances by the hands and they danced round the room, hand in hand in a small circle, filling the sitting room.

  Soon Simon was swaggering round the room, mimicking Frankie Vaughan from the television,

  Give Me The Moonlight Give Me The Girl, and leave rest, ho ho ho, to me.

  Mummy and Frances were laughing at Simon's impersonation. Mummy, Frances and Simon, happy together, forgetting the outside world. Mummy was smiling, so Simon kept on clowning. They played Green Door again and Simon was kicking his legs up in imitation of Frankie Vaughan. Mummy was laughing now. Simon wanted to keep the moment going forever.

  "I think we'd better pack it way now, darlings," said Mummy. "Daddy will be home soon," she added by way of explanation. No further explanation was needed. Simon knew that Daddy would think it was a waste of money, even though Mummy had bought it herself from her job with the newspaper and radio. But nobody wanted the confrontation that would ensue. So the gramophone was packed away.

  Slowly the record collection built up, and Simon would listen to the records, sometimes alone, as long he remembered to change the needle every two records. They came in small tin boxes of a hundred. Simon even got to listen to the Mozart and grew to like it. Apart from the music Daniel played for him on the piano, it was his first introduction to classical music, a taste which lasted a lifetime. But Noël Coward (Señorita Nina, from Argentina) and Phil Harris (Dark Town Poker Club and Woodman Spare that Tree) were favourites.

  There were a couple of close calls. One evening they were all four sitting watching the television. Suddenly Daddy said, "What's that?" He was looking at the worn carpet. Simon followed the direction of the look. There, catching the light, was a gramophone needle. Daddy started to get up, but quick as a flash, Frances jumped up and picked it up.

  "It's mine," she said. "It's from my needlework set," she added, thinking quickly to forestall the inevitable question. Daddy sat down again and looked again at the television. Simon, Frances and Mummy exchanged glances. Mummy winked at Frances, Frances glared at Simon, who in her mind almost certainly had dropped the needle.

  Daddy very often stayed out late, ostensibly late at work. Mummy used to cry sometimes and Simon hated it when Mummy cried. Frances got upset sometimes too and tried to comfort Mummy. Only later did Simon find out what they both already knew, that Daddy wasn't working late, but playing late, with a series of lady friends. He must have cut a dash, the minor war hero, good looking, a prestigious job. Any job with the BBC was prestigious but Simon gathered Daddy was some kind of boss. This of course, as he later found, was the cause of the diversion of so much of his ample salary, and of Mummy's developing drive for financial independence.

  They were playing the gramophone one winter evening, it was only eight o'clock when suddenly Mummy lifted the needle.

  "Sshh!" she commanded.

  They listened, and heard the sound of the side gates being opened and the car engine running. Panic set in.

  "Quick!" said Mummy. Hastily, they started packing up the records.

  "Simon, the needle box! Frances, put the television on."

  Simon grabbed the box and put it in its place under the lid. The television started to warm up. The car moved down the side of the house. Frances was packing up the records, Mummy closed the lid on the gramophone. She heaved it off the table and rushed to the cupboard where it hid behind mundane stuff. The back door opened. Frances pushed the records behind the settee. Would the television warm up in time? Please, hurry up! Daddy was in the hall, taking off his coat. The sound was now coming from the television, but the picture wasn't there yet. Footsteps, but going up the stairs. While they heard the toilet flush and the taps run, the picture came on. They sat back in their accustomed seats to watch it. Daddy came in.

  "Hello, darling," said Mummy brightly. "Finished earlier than expected?"

  "Yes," said Daddy. "McLaren has to go to London early in the morning to see the DG."

  The DG came up occasionally in conversation, and was usually spoken about in reverent terms. Simon's DG was Daniel Gray of course, but he wasn't sure who this DG was, but Daddy knew and had met the DG, who he was sure was a Very Important Man. So this was obviously a good reason for the meeting to finish early.

  Daddy sat down as Mummy got up.

  "I'll get us some supper then," she said. The crisis had passed.

  1956/5 Daniel's new potency

  It was a fine Spring Saturday afternoon, Daniel was back from swimming club and the two were out walking, going nowhere in particular, but heading for the Parade. Daniel jumped onto a wall and started to walk along the top in typical daredevil fashion, his feet now level with Simon's shoulders, who ever cautious had stayed safely on the ground.

  "Careful. You'll fall off and break your neck," said Simon.

  "Like Bert Trautmann. He played in the Cup Final with a broken neck."

  "Only the last bit though, wasn't it?" said Simon, who didn't follow sports as closely as Daniel, mainly because he wasn't any good at sports, and Daniel was.

  "That's enough though," said Daniel. "He was a paratrooper and you have to be brave to do that. Won medals."

  "Yes, but that was for the Germans."

  "So? Still got to be brave, haven't you?"

  "S'pose so," admitted Simon, who thought Daniel was brave.

  Daniel had now reached the end of the wall and contemplated how to get down. Simon stopped. "How're you going to get down?" he asked.

  "Jump," said Daniel. And he did, landing next to Simon, laughing. They came to the Parade.

  "Got any money?" asked Daniel. Simon shook his head. "I've got a bit, come on," Daniel continued, heading for the newsagent and sweetshop. Simon hung back.

  "What if Cole's in there?"

  "He probably will be, it's his shop," said Daniel. Then remembering why Simon was cautious, he went on, "It'll be OK. It was months ago. He won't even remember you, even if he noticed at the time."

  Simon moved reluctantly forward.

  "Come on, I'll be with you," urged Daniel. Reassured by that confirmation, Simon walked into Cole's shop behind Daniel. They looked at the sweet display, which brought back uncomfortable memories for Simon. He felt Mr Cole looking at him intently, although in fact Mr Cole was busy helping a man settle his paper bill. Only when that was done did Mr Cole turn to the boys; without a trace of recognition, he smiled at them.

  "Well boys, what are you after?" he said in a friendly manne
r, which made Simon feel even more guilty about having stolen from him six months earlier.

  "Refreshers or Spangles?" asked Daniel of Simon.

  "Refreshers."

  Daniel bought a packet of refreshers and they left the shop, to Simon's relief.

  "See, it was OK. I bet he never noticed the stuff you pinched, or that it was you if he did."

  "S'pose so," said Simon, "I've stayed out since."

  "Well, now you can go in again. Come on, let's try the den. I've got something to tell you."

  "What? Is it about school?" Simon knew that Daniel, being clever, had passed his eleven plus exam and in September would not be at the juniors with him but at the posh grammar school, King Henry VII Grammar School for Boys, but known locally as the Hooray Henrys, a nickname originally given by those who had failed to attend, but now adopted by the Henrys kids themselves. There was a technical grammar school in the city, but Hooray Henrys was the elite.

  "No, I'll tell you in the den. It's that kind of thing," said Daniel mysteriously. The two boys made their way to the den, approaching carefully in case anybody else was around. They pushed their way in through the bushes to find the den empty. They sat down on the grass and looked out, nobody was around. Daniel carefully broke the Refresher packet in half and gave one part to Simon.

  "Thanks," said Simon. "So, what is it then?"

  "I can come," said Daniel, looking to gauge Simon's reaction.

  "Where to?" said Simon.

  "No," said Daniel, "I mean come off, get spunk."

  "How do you know?" asked Simon, stupidly.

  "How do you think, idiot?" But Daniel was smiling. Simon flushed at his silliness.

  "When did it happen?"

  "Thursday. I was going to tell you yesterday, but never got the chance at school and I was at Scouts last night."

  "What's it like?" asked Simon, his curiosity about this new facet of Daniel's body enlivening him.

  "Scouts? It's good," said Daniel.

  "No, now you're the idiot. I mean what's it feel like?"

  "It feels fantastic. It's like this great feeling goes right down your cock and round your body, and the spunk comes up."

  Simon looked in awe at his friend, aware that at nearly twelve this was a new phase in Daniel's life.

  Daniel put his arm round Simon. "I was thinking about you, and that made it come," he said.

  "About me?" said Simon, surprised.

  "Who else? I was thinking about us, what we do and that."

  Simon felt pleased that he had been a part of Daniel's feat, and that, coupled with his present closeness, spurred him on. "Do you want to now?" he asked.

  Daniel nodded, and checked their surroundings again. "All clear," he said, and they quickly took off their clothes.

  As they started to feel each other's warm bodies, Simon noticed Daniel's arousal and took it in his hand.

  "I love doing this with you, Simon," said Daniel.

  "Me too," said Simon, thinking of the warmth and comfort it gave him, tempered now a bit by nervousness at this new development that Daniel had revealed.

  Daniel responded in kind to Simon's touch, and they continued to caress and stimulate.

  Then Daniel stopped stroking Simon but said, "Don't stop now, Simon."

  Simon carried on, he could feel the mounting tension in Daniel, his hardness increasing until suddenly, with a sigh, the precious liquid was there, Daniel's moist blue eyes looking into Simon's. Daniel's tension subsided, Simon let go.

  "It's better when you do it," said Daniel, using his hanky to wipe himself with.

  "I'll do it again, if you like," said Simon.

  "Not now," said Daniel. "It takes time to make some more. But you can next time."

  "Why is it better?"

  "Coz you're there, doing it, I s'pose," said Daniel. "It's like – " He tried to find the words – "like a fire, a fire down below that spreads all over."

  Simon started to sing a sea shanty he knew from school.

  "Fire! fire! fire down below;

  Fetch a bucket of water, boys, There's fire down below! "

  Daniel laughed, and joined in. The two stayed for a while, talking, lying close. Simon now aware of something new in Daniel's body, a new power that intrigued and fascinated him, for he knew that he too in time would undergo this transformation. But for the time being he revelled in the new potency of his friend and wondered what it might mean for their friendship.

  They heard the voices of some kids in the spinney. To be on the safe side, they got dressed and left the den, walking back across the allotments.

  "You won't tell anyone, will you," said Daniel.

  "I never have."

  "I mean about me, now. Spunk and that."

  "Course not. They might ask how I know."

  "Good. Come on then." Daniel burst into song, sheer exuberance and happiness radiating from him. Simon joined in, their singing loud and clear in the sunshine.

  "Fire! fire! fire down below;

  Fetch a bucket of water, boys, There's fire down below!

  There's fire in the fore-top, fire in the main,

  Fire in the windlass and fire in the chain

  Fire! fire! fire down below;

  Fetch a bucket of water, boys, There's fire down below! "

  1956/6 Church Parade 17/6/56

  "Will you come? Please?" Daniel looked at Simon sitting on his big bed, hoping for the answer he wanted. Daniel had been going to Scouts on Friday nights for some time and often would talk to Simon at the weekend about it, as well as his triumphs – usually – at the swimming club on Saturday morning, also demonstrating his growing prowess at the piano. Simon had nothing similar about which to tell Daniel, but it didn't seem to matter. But now Daniel was asking him to go to Church the next day, because the scouts were having a church parade and he was carrying the Union Flag when they marched into church and when they marched out. Daniel wanted his best friend there.

  "I'm carrying the Union Flag. It's an honour to be picked, you know." Since joining scouts, Daniel had never referred to the Union Jack and corrected Simon if he did. Simon was unsure.

  "Well, make sure it's the right way up then," joked Simon. He had never thought about there being a right way and wrong way up for the flag until Daniel had pointed it out. Now, when out in the city or on their bikes, if they saw one flying upside down, they would go and point this out to the owners, who were often disbelieving.

  "Course it will be. Well? My parents are going, maybe Louise. You can sit with them if yours aren't going."

  The prospect of his parents going together to church struck Simon as odd. Mummy he knew didn't like the church because of something that had happened before he was born, Daddy just said he had seen enough in the war to know there was no God. Simon found that disturbing because he was sure deep down that God was real, and anyway Daniel said he was.

  "OK then," said Simon, smiling. Daniel returned the smile and gave Simon a hug.

  "Mummy, I'm going to church in the morning."

  "Oh? What's brought this on?" asked Mummy.

  "The Scouts are having a parade and Daniel is carrying the Union Flag."

  Frances looked up from her tea. "For a moment I thought my little brother had found Jesus. But it's just Daniel after all."

  Simon chose to ignore that. "Can I, Mummy?"

  "I expect so, I'd better make sure you've got clean clothes. You don't want me to come with you, do you?" At this Frances looked up sharply.

  But Simon recoiled from the idea. "No, it's OK, Mummy. Daniel's Mummy and Daddy are going, so I can sit with them I expect." Frances resumed her tea.

  "Fine then, dear. You had better wear a shirt and tie."

  Simon accepted this as the price of going, and anyway he wasn't sure what one wore at church, so he was prepared to be guided by Mummy on this one.

  "Are you going to come with me? We've got to meet half an hour before, but you could watch," asked Daniel. Simon, spruced up, had gone round to Da
niel's in good time.

  "Do that if you want to, Simon," said Mrs Gray. "We'll come down a bit later."

  "OK then," said Simon, whose eyes were firmly on Daniel, dressed in his scout uniform. Simon had seen Daniel in uniform before, but somehow today, freshly ironed, it seemed to invest him with a new authority, somehow emphasising Daniel's new potency.

  "Super!" said Daniel, and went through to the hall mirror to make final adjustments to his uniform, making sure the neckerchief was even and positioning his beret correctly. He turned back to Simon. "How do I look?"

  "Perfect," said Simon, wishing he too could look as good. But Daniel had a natural poise that meant he looked good in the scruffiest clothes. In his uniform to Simon the effect was stunning.

  "I was supposed to get my hair cut, so I hope Skip isn't cross," said Daniel. In the heyday of short back and sides, Daniel had his hair a bit longer. It brushed his ears and just reached down to his collar, thick and dark. Simon thought Daniel's hair was good, and wished he could let his grow a bit more. Daniel took pains with his appearance, and Simon knew there was no way he would ever have a short back and sides.

  The two walked down over the footbridge to the church. Simon felt a bit nervous because there were several other scouts there, all bigger boys, but they knew Daniel.

  "Hiya Daniel. Who's this?" asked a bigger boy who had two white bars on his shirt pocket.

  "Simon. He's my friend and he's going to join when he's old enough."

  Daniel had said this before and Simon knew it was true. The day he was eleven, he would join and follow in Daniel's footsteps. So he just nodded.

  "You'll be very welcome. We'll have you in Harriers if we can," said the boy moving off to talk to some others.

  "That's Miles Evans, my Patrol Leader," said Daniel, proudly, "and Harriers is my patrol. He's at Henrys, where I'm going. Be good if we could be in the same patrol."

  "Troop, fall in!" came a shouted command. Simon looked round to see more scouts now, and two men also in scout uniform. But the order had come from a big boy, who Simon noticed had three bars on his shirt pocket, the middle one went under his scout badge.