DISCLAIMER: This is a story out the fantasy that is my mind. It is a story that deals with homosexual material. If you live in a jurisdiction that by some law or reason prohibits you from reading this material then please do not read any further. If homosexual material like this offends you then you should stop reading as well...Though frankly if homosexual material offends you I can't understand why you would be here in the first place.
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Mike
Chapter 3
When his bus was called Gord presented his ticket to the driver who tore off the first sheet of several. "Yer in for a long ride aren't you son?" The driver said pleasantly. "I would take a seat about half way down, least amount of movement there." He advised Gord.
"Thank you sir." He climbed on the bus and did just what was suggested. There were only about a dozen people on the bus as they left so Gord had the seat to himself for the first leg of the journey. It was quite late and he soon fell asleep. Throughout the night he slept fitfully. The bus seat wasn't the most comfortable for sleeping and though he was in the middle of the bus as the driver had suggested he still found that it bounced and moved quite a bit. It also started to hit him that he was away from home and that he was missing his parents more than he thought he would. He wondered what they were doing now. He knew they would be worried about him, and that bothered him. He hoped that John was going to call them as he promised.
About 3 o'clock in the morning the bus pulled into the bus terminal in New York city. Gord had to get off there to change buses. The bus driver showed him which platform he had to be on. The bus wasn't there yet. It would be another half hour. Gord decided to go to the bathroom. He remembered what John had told him and took his packsack with him. When he got into the washroom it was empty. He chose a urinal and relieved himself. He was almost done when another man came in and stood beside him. Gord glanced over at the man. The man smiled at him. Gord could see the man was looking at more than his face. Gord finished what he was doing and quickly left. He was shaking when he came out into the waiting room. It was exactly as John had warned him. Guys would come on to him. He had to be careful. He had his ticket in his shirt pocket with his jacket closed so that no one could see it.
The man in the washroom came out and sat close to Gord, even though there were a lot of other seats available. Gord made it a conscious effort to ignore the man.
"So where are you off to kid?"
Gord looked at the man. He looked to be in his mid thirties, dressed casual; slacks not jeans, dress shirt open at the neck. He was not bad looking
"Alabama" Gord replied, pulling out a Time magazine from his pack
The man seemed to consider that for a moment, "My bus don't go a while yet, do you want to get something to eat somewhere?"
"No thanks." Gord didn't look up from the magazine. He was shaking and he hoped that it wasn't showing. "My bus should be here in a couple minutes."
"You sure? I know a little place just down the street that's still open ... "No thanks." Gord cut him off but he could feel cold sweat dripping down his side from his armpits.
Just then a bus pulled up at the platform the other bus driver had told him was his. He jumped up and went out to the platform, without looking back. He hoped the man wouldn't follow him. He waited till all the passengers disembarked and then stepped up to the bus door.
The driver looked at him. "Where you think yer goin'?" he said rather brusquely
Gord handed him his ticket. The driver looked at it and gave it back to him. "I ain't leavin' for another 15 minutes, so keep yer shorts on and go back into the terminal and wait there." With that the driver turned away.
Gord went back inside the building. He stood just inside the door and waited. Almost immediately the man was beside him, setting his suitcase down at his feet. He put his hand on Gord's shoulder. "Not your bus?"
Gord pulled his shoulder away "Yes, it is but he's not loading for a couple minutes" Gord looked at the man and then around the terminal. By now there were about a hundred people shuffling about, many of them looking tired and half asleep. Two other buses pulled up and he could see people starting to sort themselves out and shuffle toward the platform that they would be leaving by. The man didn't leave Gord's side.
Finally, Gord asked. "Where are you going?"
He smiled at him "I'm goin the same way you are, only just as far as North Carolina. Looks like we'll be seat buddies." He grinned at Gord.
Gord just looked away and stared out the window at the bus that suddenly seemed like a prison to him. What was he going to do? What was this man going to be expecting from him? What was he going to do to him?
The man stayed right with him as they waited for the bus to be called. He continued to talk to Gord who was trying to ignore him. When the bus was finally called Gord allowed the man to go ahead of him and then several others as well. The man looked back at him and grinned as he got on the bus. He watched the man walk up the aisle to a place about halfway down and sit. Gord knew that he was expected to follow him and sit with him. When he got on the bus he saw that some of the seats were already taken from people who were continuing on their trip on the same bus. He walked slowly up the aisle as was going to pass the man by when the man suddenly stood up in front of him and motioned him to get into the window seat where he was sitting. "I saved a seat for you" he said with a hand on Gord's shoulder he guided him into the seat. Gord sat as close to the window as he could, turning his head away from the man. The man pretended not to notice. Then he said "by the way my name is Mickey." he offered his hand to Gord
"I uh.. I'm Gord" taking the man's hand.
"The man whispered "You don't have to be afraid of me I won't hurt you, just want some company for the trip." he grabbed Gord's leg and gave it a squeeze.
The bus finally started to move, and they were on their way. Gord positioned himself sort of have curling up on his seat with his back toward 'Mickey' and both tried and pretended to go to sleep. He actually must have dozed off because when he did open his eyes again the city lights were gone, it was still dark but they were no longer in the city. What woke Gord up was that he was having a very sexy dream. He was feeling really good, he could feel his cock being massaged, and approaching an orgasm. He slowly lifted through the haze, the sound of the bus engine slowly becoming louder. He suddenly realised that he was not dreaming but that there was someone actually fondling his cock through his jeans. He woke and realised that he was now not curled up but sitting back in his seat. Mickey, the man next to him was sitting as though nothing was happening but had his hand on his crotch and was gently rubbing his cock which was rock hard.
Gord looked at Mickey. The man grinned at him "You like that?" he whispered
Gord shook his head "Stop please" he whispered back
The hand was taken away, or at least moved down his leg a bit. "I just want you to feel good, and maybe you can help me feel good too, it will make the trip go faster." Mickey whispered back "No one can see us." he said. He cocked his head for Gord to look past him. There was no one in the seat beside them across the aisle. There were people behind them and in front but they would not be able to see anything. The bus was in total darkness, indeed no one could see them.
The man leaned toward him and repeated "I won't hurt you, and you did like that didn't you?
Gord was feeling somewhat afraid but nodded in spite of himself. Mickey grinned at him
"I was enjoying it too, see?" he took Gord's hand nearest him and placed in on his crotch. Gord could feel that the man was quite hard. "Go ahead squeeze it." he whispered to Gord.
Gord did squeeze it a little and then withdrew his hand. The man adjusted himself a bit, stretched his legs and looking briefly over his shoulder, unzipped his fly. He took Gord's hand again, this time he encouraged him to put it right into the opening.
As his hand went in Gord realised the man didn't have any underwear on. He touched hot bare skin and soft curly hair immediately. "Go ahead" the man encouraged him. He slipped his hand right in, and encircled the hard cock inside with his hand. It felt good. The man groaned softly "Yeah that's it my boy" He moved a bit to give Gord easier access.
Gord gently and carefully moved his hand up and down in a stroking fashion. Then he started to explore the whole length of the man's rod, soon coming in contact with a very well lubricated cockhead. With precum on his finger he withdrew his hand and without thinking brought it to his mouth. He smiled at Mickey.
Mickey reached down, again looking over his shoulder, and pulled his cock out. Gord looked down at it and looking around bent down and let the beautiful rod slide into his mouth. It wasn't long with him moving up and down on the man's cock before he was rewarded with a load of hot man liquid, spurting into his mouth and down his throat. He found it delicious and swallowed swiftly to make sure he didn't loose any of it. Mickey held his head throughout the affair moaning softly how good he felt, and how good Gord was.
When he was done Gord sat up again and Mickey tidied himself up. He leaned over and kissed Gord on the mouth. His hands were now working at Gord's jeans trying to get them open. Gord stretched out a bit and unzipped his pants undoing the top clasp as well, giving the man full access. Mickey quickly had his cock out and in his hand, exploring it with his fingers. He whispered to Gord how beautiful it was, and how much he wanted to suck on it.
Gord reached up and pulled the man down to his cock that was oozing copious amounts of precum. The man licked his lips and slowly opened his mouth as the cock slid in. Then without any further encouragement he proceeded to give Gord a mind blowing job. Gord was seeing fireworks as he was brought to his climax. It was all he could do not to scream out in his pleasure and joy. Mickey swallowed the delicious boy cum that blasted the back of his throat. It came out with a force that surprised him. This kid was hot, and he knew he wanted more. He would have to make sure, they stuck together for the rest of the trip.
They both sat back in their seats and both dozed off. It seemed only a few seconds later when Gord woke up again. It was no longer dark out, but dusky. The bus was coming into some city. The driver turned on the lights in the bus. "Harrisburg!" he called out. "It's comin' on 6:00 AM. For those continuing on to North Carolina and beyond; we will have about a one hour stop here for breakfast. The bus leaves again at 7:00 AM sharp."
The bus pulled into the station and Gord, Mickey and the rest of the passengers got up and filed out. There was a small restaurant, coffee bar in the terminus. Gord nervous about missing the bus turned down Mickey's suggestion to see if there was a restaurant nearby they could go to.
That same morning about the same time John was getting up and preparing for day. One thing that he had to do was make a phone call to Canada, Montreal. He dreaded having to do it and cursed himself for having promised but he knew these people were probably worried sick about their son. The news he had to tell them probably wouldn't help much but at least they would know that he as alright the last time he saw the boy.
He turned the paper over in his hand as he sat by the phone. He palms were sweaty as he steeled himself to make the call. He looked at the clock it was quarter to seven. Gord had told him that his dad left for work by seven. He slowly dialed the number Gord had given him.
There was one ring and then one more. A click and then he heard a female voice on the other end. "Hello?"
John felt his mouth go dry "Uh.. Mrs. Randolph?"
"Yes" he heard the voice falter a bit
"Mrs. Randolph, Gord asked me to call you and tell you that he is OK and he will call you himself in a few days. He wanted you to know that he was ok."
"You know where he is? You talked to him? Where is ..." the voice was cut off, and another voice, a man's voice came on the line. "Who is this and what do you know about Gord?"
"Sir" John began again "I picked your son up hitch-hiking, he asked me to call you to tell you that he is ok, and that he will call you in a few days, when he has done what he has to do. I tried to convince him to go back home but he is determined, and I knew that he would not be kept from his plan, I'm just calling as I promised to tell you that he is ok."
John hung up the phone before any more questions could be asked. He could only imagine what the boy's parents were going through and he fervently hoped that Gord was still ok and would be able to call his folks once he got this march and meeting behind him. He was still shaking a half hour later when he got into his car and drove into town to the store.
The rest of the day was pretty uneventful for Gord. He sat with Mickey the whole day. They were able to enjoy each other's company but it being daylight any contact had to be very carefully done. At one stop they went in to the washroom and Gord went down on Mickey, but it furtive and quick and while Gord found the "drink" delicious and Mickey did have a knee buckling orgasm it was over to quick and the whole rush and the fear of being caught associated with it took some of the pleasure out of it.
Late that afternoon the bus arrived in Charlotte North Carolina, and Mickey got off. Gord was heading for the cafeteria to get a hotdog and a pop and he saw Mickey walking out of the terminal with a small child in his arms and a woman by his side.
Gord looked at the clock in the large waiting room. It was quarter to five. He wondered how the meeting was going with John and the deputy.
Actually, earlier on that day Deputy Mike had stopped by the store and arranged a different location for them to meet. The Chief had an almost continuous surveillance on John's house. It certainly, would not take long for word to get back to the Boss that Mike was visiting the "pervert" on his time off. They decided on meeting in the border town of Derby Line, they would both park and then John would get into Mike's car and they would drive around and talk.
At four fifteen, John told his brother he had a delivery to make and that he would be heading home after that. He grabbed the package that he has prepared for the moment and left the shop and headed north on the highway. He checked his rear-view mirror several times along the way. At least they weren't tailing him. He was starting to formulate a plan to get the George off his back.
He had talked to his brother about the surveillance and the harassment but his brother could only caution him. "John" he said "George is a pompous ass, but he has the law behind him, so be careful, don't get caught doing anything he can charge you with."
"Don't worry brother"
"Someday John you will be able to be what you are without assholes like the sheriff on your back, but until then you have to be careful"
"I know" It was comforting to have the love and support of his family at least.
He pulled into Derby Line and went to the ballpark just off the highway on Baxter Avenue and waited. About ten minutes later another car pulled him beside him. He looked over to see the George grinning at him. It wasn't a friendly grin.
John could feel the blood drain from his face. Would the Officer have told his Boss that they were going to meet? What on earth was he doing here? They sat and looked at each other for a moment. John tried to look as calm as he could. Then the sheriff motioned him to get out of his half-ton. Both men got out of their cars. John stood by his and didn't move.
"What are you doin' here John?" the George asked him in a not too friendly tone.
"Well now George, it a public park and I was just sitting here because it is peaceful. Soon, I'm going to the restaurant over there for a bite to eat."
"HMMPH!" the George glared at him in disgust and disbelief "Lookin' to pick up another kid is more like it." he sneered
John was now angry "Another kid George? What do you mean by that? Another?"
"I know you had that other kid from Canada in your house and who knows what you did to him. So, are you finished with him and now yer lookin' for another?"
John got an idea and smiled at the man "You know George the way you are following me around people would almost think that you and I are an item, maybe you're the one that is looking to hook up with me"
He let that sink in and then before the man could say anything beyond sputtering in surprise and anger. In as level a voice as he could he said. "Unless you have something to charge me with I would call off the dogs `Chief', because what you are doing is harassment, and I will get my Lawyer to make a call down to your boss in Montpellier." With that he got back in his truck and closed the door.
He could see that George was beside himself in rage. He came over to th truck and ripped the door open. "You'll do what???" he screamed "You'll have to do better than that you pervert! You think they'll take some quair's word over mine in the capital? You had better watch yer step, threatening me with yer fancy lawyer!!!" he yelled. He slammed the door shut and stormed back to his patrol car and sped off in a spray of gravel.
John sat there for a few more minutes shaking from the ordeal he had just gone through. Then he left and went home. It was about an hour later at home that he called his lawyer and discussed what had happened.
"Arnie he is threatening me, he has me watched 24 hours of the day. The unmarked car is always parked at the top of the hill. I can't do anything without him or one of the deputies following me. I've had it! What can you do man?"
Arnie thought for a moment. That John was gay was no secret, but he also knew that George obviously had nothing on the man or he would have arrested him by now. He smiled to himself as he thought about George's response to John's suggestion that he was himself looking to get together with John. George was the county's most committed homophobe. In high school he wouldn't shower with the other guys in gym. He always had this huge towel that he wrapped around himself just so that no one would even see his underwear when he changed. The man had some serious issues himself. He would be mortified if word got out that he was trying to get to be with John.
"Well John, this is what I will do to start with. Tomorrow I'm going to pay George a visit, and suggest to him that he back off because I do think that you have a case here. We'll see how he responds to that. I'll let him know that you think he has eyes for you, and suggest that he wouldn't want that to get around, not a threat just a suggestion. I will make it clear to him that if he doesn't back off, I will go to Montpellier and talk to his boss."
"Great Arnie, I would really appreciate that. I'm not sure I would suggest that he likes me, in the 'biblical sense' But I'll leave that up to you." John laughed at the thought in spite of the situation, remembering how George had responded to him.
Arnie laughed "I would have given anything to have seen his face"
"It was a study, John laughed "He was absolutely speechless for a couple minutes... all he could do was sputter; he was so mad"
Arnie laughed again. "Ok I'll call you when I've talked to him, then we can decide if we need to go any further, in the mean time just watch yourself ok?"
"Sounds good Arnie, Thanks"
John looked out his window as he hung up the phone and there on the hill he saw the unmarked car. He went out on the porch and waved at the officer, then he heard the phone ringing so went back in to answer it.
"Hello?"
"John? This is Mike"
John wanted to hang up but didn't, "Yes"
"Listen what happened? I came by the park and saw the Sheriff there."
"Like you didn't know, you probably told him I would be at the park"
"Like hell man! He must have followed you out of town. I had nothing to do with it."
There was silence, then Mike continued. " I want to talk to you John"
"What about or is this just another set up?"
"Hey man I don't like what George is doing. For fuck's sake John, if you are interested, I want to get together with you, I want to go to bed with you! "
The line went silent. John was stunned by the outburst and Mike was dying, this was not the way he had wanted to approach John
"John?" Mike said softly after a few moments.
"You still there?"
"Yeah, I'm here"
"John this is not a set up, I would really like to meet with you, I just don't know how."
"Mike you have to understand that you have a bit of a credibility problem for me, don't you?"
Mike paused, "Yeah I understand that"
"I mean you're a police officer, your boss is out to get me, and you call me up to tell me you want to go to bed with me"
"I realise that John, but John I would like to meet with you to show you that I can be trusted. I would like to get to know you, John I'm gay too."
There was another long-protracted silence on the line. John was weighing what this officer was telling him. If he was being set up he knew that he could be spending a long time in jail. He wouldn't put it past George to do something like this just to get him.
"I would like to trust you." he trailed off
Mike knew that John was struggling, he cursed himself for being so clumsy about it. He cursed George for being such an asshole. He cursed the whole situation.
"John, how about we meet outside the jurisdiction, he can't touch us there"
John thought for a moment "When do you want to meet?
"Well, I'm off on Sunday and Monday"
"Ok how about we go up to Canada, we can meet in Stanstead and then decide what we want to do after that."
"That sounds like a great idea." . "We can meet Sunday morning at Janie's Diner and have breakfast say 8 AM. If we want to do more, we can make a day of it somewhere say in Sherbrooke or something."
John took a deep breathe. Was this a smart idea? He'd have to see. At least in Canada he would be out of George's reach, and away from his spies. And they already all knew he was gay so meeting with Mike would only be the other man's risk.
Mike spoke "I have to go John; I'll see you at Janie's on Sunday morning then at 8 AM"
"Ok I'll see you then"
Both men hung up. Mike was shaking like a leaf. He had made a connection now he had to keep it hidden from his boss.
On Friday morning George got a visit in the Sheriff's office from Arnie Webcock.
"G'day Chief"
George looked at the man warily. Arnie was the local lawyer. It wasn't unusual for him to be coming in to see the Sheriff, but as far as George knew there were no outstanding cases that would require a lawyer unless...
"What can I do for you Arnie?"
"Well now sheriff, I'm following up a harassment complaint, and I want to just bring something to your attention"
"Oh? And who is harrassin' who"
"George the complaint is against you, and it comes from John Grifter."
The bustle around the office stopped and the other people there all turned and looked at the two men.
Arnie watch George turn red, a clear indication that he was getting angry. "That pervert is charging me with harassment?!"
"He tells me that you are having followed where ever he goes, you have unmarked cars watching his house, and on Wednesday you accosted him at the ballpark in Derby Line."
Arnie could see that George was livid with anger. "That bastard quair has some nerve!!!" he sputtered clearly at a loss for words. "He trolls around to pick up young kids and I get a harassment complaint against me!?!" he was almost screaming.
Arnie looked at the man calmly. He had always been able to ignore George's screaming fits. He allowed George to rant until he was done. Everyone in the office pretended not to be listening.
"You about finished George? Unless you have any evidence that John is, as you say it "trolling around to pick up young kids" you have no business to be following or having John followed and monitored. He and his family are upstanding members of our community and area, so unless you are going to charge the man with a valid charge you had need to back off.
"Is that a threat Arnie?" George growled at the lawyer, "No one threatens me."
"No George it is not a threat, it is a statement. I will promise you this that if you do not back off the next person you will be hearing from will be your commanding officer in Montpellier, that is also not a threat, that is a promise."
Arnie turned to leave. At the door he paused, and looked back at the Chief, "John tells me that it almost looks like you are interested in him the way you follow him around and show up at his house unannounced. You oughta know yer probably not his type."
He smiled at George and the others in the office and left. He laughed to himself as he got into his car and drove away. It would not be pleasant in that office the rest of the day but he also knew that everyone there would have enjoyed George's discomfort and it wouldn't be more than 24 hours before it would be all around town.
George looked around the office and hollered for everyone to get to work then he stormed out of the office, squealed off in the patrol car.
Meanwhile much further south, Gord continued on his journey after he parted with Mickey. When he got back on his bus he noticed that there were a lot more coloured people on it. Many of them were headed like he was to Montgomery. He heard them talking about "Martin" and marching. He was sitting alone for sometime halfway up the bus. There were some whites near the front, but he seemed to be alone where he was. The coloured people were sitting in the back behind him.
He must have dozed off because when he opened his eyes again it was dark out and he realised they had stopped somewhere and were taking on more people. The seats had filled up around him and it looked like some were going to be standing.
The bus left the station and Gord noticed that right by his seat were two women. An older woman and another younger one holding a young child. He had a seat all to himself, and while some of the other people were looking at him and his seat no one said much of anything. Gord did what he had been taught by his mother, he got up and offered the ladies his seat. The women at first refused but he insisted. They thanked him and he could hear some whispering and murmuring around him
What happened next shocked Gord to the core. The bus driver looked up to see a white boy standing with coloured folk sitting. He pulled the bus over and got up. "Where were you sittin' son?"
Gord pointed the seat now occupied by the women, "There sir, I gave these women my seat."
"Yer not from around here are you?"
"No sir, I'm..."
He was cut off "In this part of the country nigras stand and we sit, they give us a seat"
The bus driver turned to the women and quite rudely told them to get up, or they could get off the bus.
"Sir" began Gord again "It's ok they can have my seat"
The women by now were getting up again, the bus driver was obviously flustered, and getting angry. The elder of the two women turned to Gord and said "It's ok son it was good of you to offer"
"No!" returned Gord firmly. "It is not ok. My mother taught me that I don't let women stand when I am sitting, it is rude and inconsiderate." He was shaking by now, nervous and scared, but he continued on. "I paid for this seat and I can use it or let someone else use it"
The bus driver looked at him in disbelief and anger, but just as he was going to speak another man stood up and offered his seat to Gord if the women could continue to sit. Gord was going to protest but the man shook his head and let Gord sit. The bus driver thought better of continuing the scene and grudgingly agreed.
From the front Gord heard comments about "Some Nigger loving kid" and similar comments. The man, a coloured man, in his mid twenties extended his hand to Gord, and in a low voice said "Thank you, my name is Lyle"
"Thank you Lyle, I'm Gord." he replied in an equally low voice "But this is your seat"
"Don't worry about it." Lyle smiled at Gord.
Gord felt another hand extended to him from the seat beside him, "I'm Joe, Lyle's brotha, you ain't from around here are you?"
Gord took the hand. "I'm Gord, no I'm from up North... " he hesitated, "I'm from Canada"
"Well now that explains everything." Laughed Joe. "I'm told that you folk up there don't have this kinda problem, and the folk can sit where ever they wants ta."
"For the most part that is right, there are people up there that are prejudiced but not like down here. We don't have segregated schools and hotels and stuff like that." Gord replied.
He suddenly became aware that the people around him had gotten very quiet. He smiled at Lyle. They could hear some snickering toward the front of the bus but behind him and all around him there was just silence.
"So, you means to tell us that If'n I wanted to sit in the front of the bus ah could, an if'n I didn't want ta give up mah seat to a ... anyone I wouldn't have ta?" A woman's voice came from behind him.
Gord looked back "That's right ma'am" he said
A voice hollered from the front "Then why don't y'all move to Canada then." There was actually laughter through out the bus at that comment, although Gord wasn't sure it was meant to be funny.
For the next couple hours Gord was bombarded with questions about civil rights in Canada. He was asked how he felt about the civil rights movement in the States.
When he was asked what he was doing going to Montgomery, he glanced at Lyle, and hesitated, then thinking about John's warning earlier he said "I'm going to visit my uncle John who lives down there, I'm s'posed to call him when I get in"
He found out that many of the people on the bus were on their way to the march that he was hoping to be part of. He decided however not to say anything about this to these people.
He did find that he suddenly had a half a busload of friends and another half with people that hated him without even knowing him.
While they travelled Lyle and Joe changed places, Gord offered to stand too but they told him it wouldn't work. He did however move over to the window seat so that there would be less clambering over each other. Joe sat on the arm of the seat for a while until the bus driver took offence at that as well. Gord couldn't believe what he was seeing. Why would people treat others like this?
When they finally stopped for a meal break he noticed that there was no restaurant for the 'coloureds' and he also noticed the "Whites Only " signs on the bathrooms and even the water fountain. It made him sick. He stayed out with his new friends. Lyle seeing his discomfort told him not to worry about it, and go and get something to eat. Gord noticed that several of the people had their own food with them as did Lyle and Joe. So he went into the restaurant and ordered a coffee and a ham sandwich to go. He paid for the sandwich and left. He could feel the people staring at him as he stood waiting. He also heard the comments that were being passed back and forth about his "nigger loving ways" and why didn't he just go back home. He knew that he was blushing deep red and was happy to get out of there.
So, with sandwich and coffee in hand he went out and found Lyle and Joe and sat with them. Several of the other people came and joined them. They chatted quite amiably while they ate and waited for the bus to board.
When they boarded again, as he walked up the aisle, he suddenly found himself tripped and sprawling on his face. While down he received several kicks and punches. He scrambled up and got away. Several of the men in the front were laughing. Joe sat beside him and asked if he was alright. He just nodded. Shortly after the bus got back on the highway, a large brute of a man came back to his seat. He told Joe to take a hike, and he sat down beside Gord. He grabbed him by the shoulder and jerked him around so that their faces were closer than Gord cared for
"Ok you little shit," the man spat out "maybe in Canada you don't mind yer niggra's bein' all uppity and thinkin' they's equal, but down here they knows their place. If you want to survive yer visit with yer uncle you'll pay attention to that. Y'understand me boy?" he gave Gord a shake, then got up and went back to his seat, to the cheers of the others in the front including the bus driver.
Gord sat there with tears in his eyes shaking from the experience. Joe sat back down beside him and gently patted his shoulder. "Yer doin' alright kid." He said softly so only Gord could hear.
There was only silence in the back portion of the bus for a long time. Gord lay against the window and just closed his eyes. He was scared and suddenly this didn't seem like such an adventure anymore.
The rest of the trip was generally uneventful, except for the taunting from one half of the bus and friendly chatter from the other.
As they were coming into Montgomery, Lyle was sitting beside him. Gord tapped the young man on the shoulder and motioned him to silence. He was in this, there was no turning back. He looked into Lyle's eyes, and whispering told him what he was down there for. "I'm here to walk with Dr. King, I don't have an Uncle John." He took out the paper with the name and phone number on it. "I have to call this person when we get to the station"
Lyle looked at him and smiled "I thought as much" he whispered back. He got up, asked if he could have the paper and went back a few seats to one of the women sitting back there. They talked for several moments, and then he came back. Joe who had taken his place got up again and let Lyle back in. Lyle leaned to talk into Gord's ear.
"You just stay with us. Aunty Mabel says she is gonna take care of you, she knows the person on this paper and she'll make sure that everything is ok."
Gord looked back to the woman that Lyle had been talking to, and smiled. She smiled back.
Lyle leaned over to him again. "Now when the bus arrives stick with us, those guys up there don't like you much. I wouldn't be surprised if they try to jump you or somethin' when you get off the bus.
The bus pulled up to the bay in the terminal and everyone got up to get their things and disembark. Gord's heart was pounding. He hoped he was doing the right thing. Right then he wasn't so sure that he wanted to be there. This was not at all what he had fancied. He was terrified.
Lyle waited till some of the other people had gotten off before he moved into the aisle and allowed Gord to follow. This put Gord at least in a somewhat surrounded state of safety. The bus driver just sneered at him as he got off. Gord thanked him anyway, for bringing him safely to Montgomery. The other man that had accosted him was no where to be seen.
Lyle guided Gord to his "Aunty Mabel" some of the others also gathered around him and encouraged him. Gord smiled but he was scared. He now understood what John had warned him about.