This is a story that involves sex between males. If such a story is offensive, or illegal for you to read where you live, then do not continue, go and surf elsewhere.
This is a work of fiction and in no way draws on the lives of any specific person or persons. If there is any similarity to any real persons or events it is entirely coincidental.
The work is copyrighted (c) by the author and may not be reproduced in any form without the specific written permission of the author. It is assigned to the Nifty Archives under the terms of their submission agreement but it may not be copied or archived on any other site without the written permission of the author.
My thanks to John and Brian who have read this through and made a number of corrections and suggestions. Any remaining errors , grammatical, spelling historical or whatever are entirely my fault.
Thank you to those who have commented on my stories. If you want to comment on the story then do contact me on Jeffyrks@hotmail.com. I aim to reply to all message.
Jonathan 30 September - November 2009
Jonathan slept for most of the flight, for a large part of the time with his head resting on Malcolm's shoulder. As for Malcolm, he dozed. This was interrupted by times of consciousness thinking just how close he felt to his grandson, and how much he would miss him if he stayed in New Zealand. His home at Whitgest would seem very quiet. The other interruption was when he had to go to the loo.
Jonathan had a window seat. Jonathan woke as breakfast was being served and as the sun came up in the east. Jonathan looked out of the window and saw the blue Pacific far below. Then the engines changed their sound and long descent to Auckland began. Then land appeared, his first sight of New Zealand. There were islands and headlands of the indented coast line. It seemed a very green and wooded land. The plane flew lower and there were houses and roads. Then the plane landed. The interior of the plane was sprayed with an insecticide.
"I expect we'll have to hang around for ages, Kev's bound to be still on his way to meet us," said Malcolm.
Jonathan just smiled, now well used to his grandfather's pessimistic comments.
They were soon going through the airport procedures. Questions were asked about their foot-wear, as New Zealand did not want nasties like `foot and mouth' and other things brought into the country. Too many bad things had been brought in from abroad in the past. Malcolm was tempted to remind the official that the boot was now on the other foot, and a nasty Kiwi earthworm was causing problems in the UK.
Soon they were through passport control, and united with their luggage on their way out. They immediately saw Kevin with a taller man standing alongside him. `That must be Owen,' thought Kevin. Owen looked a typical Kiwi. He was tall and thin, without an ounce of superfluous weight on him. He looked bronzed and fit. All the Pridham men carried a few pounds of extra weight as they got into middle age. Jonathan knew that he too would probably put on that few pounds in a few years time.
Malcolm gave Kevin a quick hug and then turned to hug Owen. Jonathan gave Kevin a hug.
"Good to see you, Jon. You're looking well. The good cricket season you've had, I presume."
"And working for Dad as a slave in one of his shops!"
Kevin laughed, recognising that particular brand of humour.
Kevin turned to introduce Jonathan to Owen.
Jonathan held out a hand to be shaken.
"Don't I get a hug too?" exclaimed Owen, as he grabbed Jonathan and pulled him into his arms. "Good to meet you, at long last, Jon. I've heard so much about you, and worried so much for you when you went missing. Welcome to New Zealand, the most beautiful country on this planet."
"I look forward to finding out just how beautiful it is. Even Gramps said it was `Not bad!'"
They all laughed.
The plans had been made that they would all go on a trip to the north of Auckland for a week, before going to Kevin and Owen's home in Napier. Kevin had booked them all into a motel for a couple of nights, so giving them time to see something of Auckland. Kevin and Owen had spent the night already at the motel, so they were able to go back there straight away.
"I thought we'd give you the morning to rest, and refresh yourselves before going off to see something of the city," announced Kevin.
They went to their motel and settled in. It was a family apartment that Kevin had arranged for them all. Kevin and Owen were to sleep in a double bed in one room, and Malcolm and Jonathan on single beds in the other bedroom. There was a large living room with the usual easy chairs, television, and small kitchen area.
Mugs of coffee were drunk, Malcolm and Jonathan shaved and showered, and then they all went out for lunch. There was a lot of talking, often with them forming couples in one combination or another.
At one stage after lunch Kevin whispered in Jonathan's ear. "Owen thinks you're sexy."
Jonathan laughed. "Perhaps he is particularly attracted to Pridhams!"
"I think he would like to remove your kit, and have some fun with you."
"But what about you? How would you feel if we did?"
"Oh, we have rules and boundaries. We only fuck each other, but a romp and some fun with someone else is allowed, as long as there is a report back afterwards."
"So you would have a report of every intimate detail?"
"Of course!"
They laughed.
"How long do you think you might be staying, Jon?"
"I think at least six months, if that's alright with you. I will try to get a job. And I want to see something of the South Island, if I'm not going to stay."
"So you are seriously thinking of staying?"
"Yes. But it all depends."
"How would Michael and Lois think about you staying?"
"They know that it's a possibility. Mum is more unhappy about that as a possibility than Dad. Though I think he has still some residual hopes that I'll join him in the family business."
"That sounds as though he's not as bigotedly anti-gay as he was."
"Yes, he's mellowing. Mum's been working on him. Even when I was out of contact, she was reading and finding out a bit about homosexuality. When I reappeared the two of us talked, and she talked with Dad. But Dad's changed quite a lot in the last couple of months. You know they've left the church they were going to. They are now going to an Anglican church."
"So there is some hope for him after all. Why did they leave?"
"Didn't I tell you? Their pastor recommended a pro-family, anti-gay article, that had been written by my last punter before I escaped."
"The hypocrite! But I remember now."
"Dad was so disgusted that he left that church. The vicar of their new church has just discovered that a close and old friend of his is gay. He just talked about it all with Dad, and of his problems reconciling his regard for his friend and the official hard line. Such a change after Pastor Willis, when black is pitch black, and white shining, and with nothing in between."
Kevin laughed. "What will decide whether you stay on or not?"
"Getting a job."
"We must set about getting you a work permit as soon as we get back to Napier."
"And of course, if I meet someone!"
"A narrower field in New Zealand. Only three million Kiwis, something like sixty million Brits, and much of Europe nearer than Australia, and Sydney in particular."
"I hear there is a lot of gay life there."
"You can say that again."
"I must go there sometime."
"What sort of guy do you think you would like? An older man?"
"Why an older man?"
"Most of your experience has been with older men at Bill's Club."
"No, I would like someone about my own age. Don't worry about hair or eye colour, but he must have a good sexy body. Some of your bronzed sportsmen might do! Oh, and he must be interested in cricket. There must be some who are gay."
"Well, you should have an easy access into New Zealand sport. You play rugger and cricket. Should find no difficulty playing for a team. You were in the first fifteen and first eleven at school, and scored your Pridham ton for Whitgest."
"Yes, proud of that; and at a younger age than Gramps and Dad, Stephen and you!"
"No need to rub it in! Well, I hope you find this Adonis, with perfect body, good at games, and as sexy as you make'em."
They both laughed.
It was a couple of days later, Malcolm and Kevin had gone out to do some shopping getting things for their lunch, while Jonathan and Owen left behind in their motel room packing up and getting ready for their departure.
"So Jon, I haven't had a chance to ask how you are after your ordeal at Bert's Place."
"Bill's Place," said Jonathan softly. "I'm fine. The worst part was in the cell naked, with light on, and being watched on one of those cameras. I still get some nightmares about that. Not so many now, but still every few weeks."
"Are they bad?"
"Can be. Gramps is wonderful, helps me settle down back to sleep. He hears me cry out, or moving around."
"If you get a bad one when he's gone, don't hesitate to come in to Kev and me. There is nothing worse than being on your own in the middle of the night after a nightmare."
"You won't want me breaking into your beauty sleep."
Owen laughed. "I hear from Kev you're hoping to meet a sexy Kiwi."
"I've had enough of sex with a lot of guys. I must confess that some of the times at Bill's were fun and enjoyable. Some of the punters were really nice guys. But others were nasty pieces of work. The Boys were great, usually so supportive and helpful. There were the occasional arguments, but we all knew that the more we worked together the better.
"Working together? Threesomes? Group sex?"
"Sometimes threesomes, I never encountered or had any group sex. I think most of the punters were either wanting sexual release or some physical affection, or a mixture of both."
"Sad really!"
"In what way?"
"I think it is sad that men, or anyone for that matter, should have to pay for affection; it almost seems a contradiction in terms."
They all enjoyed their time in the far north of New Zealand. Jonathan was immediately struck with the beauty of the country. The sea was never far away, with a mixture of rugged cliffs, small off shore islands, and sandy beaches, including the famous Ninety Mile Beach. There were no long stretches of coastal resorts with their promenades and other seaside attractions that stretch along so many miles of the English coast. The rich variety of the flora, with the different trees and ferns, all entranced Jonathan, who wanted to know the name of everything.
"He's not just dead-gorgeous, he's got a brain as well. I don't know the answer to half the questions he is asking, and I have lived here all my life," said Owen to Kevin.
They made the walk through the bush to see Tane Mahuta, (The God of the Forest) the huge two thousand year old kauri tree.
One their way back they stopped another night in Auckland and Malcolm and Jonathan picked up their luggage, a large part of which they had left in the motel.
Then they went to Rotoroa for two nights, visiting the thermal sites. Everywhere there was the pervading smell of sulphur, and they saw the boiling mud and geysers.
"Smells too much like Whitgest's vicar's description back home of hell for my liking," was Malcolm's comment.
They the made their way across to Napier in the afternoon, arriving at Kevin and Owen's house just before it got dark.
A few days later Malcolm and Jonathan rented a car and went off for ten days. They made their way to Wellington, and stayed there for a couple of days. It had been decided that at some later stage Kevin and Owen would go with Jonathan to the South Island.
All too quickly Malcolm's time in New Zealand drew to a close. He was wanting to get back to his house, his garden and to Simon. He was going to catch a night flight back to Los Angeles, and have three nights there staying with an old friend and his family, before taking another night flight back to London. This meant they would be leaving Napier in the morning.
On the last evening Malcolm and Jonathan sat out on the deck watching the sun sinking lower in the sky. Kevin and Owen tactfully stayed indoors, knowing that this would be a special time for them.
For a while they sat in silence.
"I'm going to miss you when I get home, Jon. The house is going to seem horribly quiet. It's going to be back to what it was like after Jan died, and you were at Bill's Place."
"You will be free, Gramps, to have Simon round whenever you want."
"True. I'm looking forward to that. But I'll miss you, boy."
Jonathan shuffled up closer to Malcolm and put his arm round him. "I don't think I could ever thank you enough for what you've done over the last few months."
"What any Grandparent would do."
"No. Not what any Grandparent would do. You came up to town and invited me back to Whitgest. You were vital in my relationship with Mum and Dad. You gave me advice. You helped me deal with my nightmares."
"Yes. My bed is going to feel cold and empty, especially with an English winter coming on."
"It won't be all that bad with all this global warming!"
"I still think, I'd like to have your naked body as my bed warmer."
"Seriously Gramps, thanks for that. I'm glad we kept it as it was, and didn't go any further."
"So am I. We did nothing we will ever regret. For me it was a good, precious time, something I could do for you. And I have no guilt or shame about it."
"Same here. I have always loved you, Gramps, but these last few months have made me realise just how much, and now how much more. I am privileged to know my Grandfather in a way few Grandsons ever do."
"Thanks Jon. Thank God for telephones, Emails and other means of communication. The early settlers out here left knowing they would possibly never hear anything about their folk back home, and vice versa."
They sat for a few moments watching the sun sink to the horizon.
"I hope things work out for you here. This is a good land. There is space, opportunity."
"Opportunity to find that special guy?"
"Yes, there might be one that will even approach your exacting standards among the three and a half million Kiwis."
"Time will tell. I am still very conscious that my past at Bill's Place may put some guys off."
"It'll put some guys off. But it won't put the worth while guy off, who can see what sort of chap you really are. You'll need wisdom to know the right moment to bring all that out into the open."
"I've not had any luck on that score so far."
"And they probably weren't right for you, anyway."
Again they sat watching the colours fading from the sky.
"I've been thinking, Jon." Malcolm paused before continuing. "I've been thinking about joining Bill's Club."
"What?" said Jonathan loudly.
"I've been thinking about my financial position. With poor old Jan gone, my expenditure is so much less. With you gone, I will be paying less Council Tax. I only have one car to run, only my own body to clothe, though I do miss her refrain, `I'll need a new dress', or I'll need a new hat'. I reckon I could afford the membership fee and so on."
"What would Simon say?"
"I've talked about it to him. He's encouraging me to go ahead. He won't join because of Tricia. But when I've seen your naked body, there has been the thought of those other delectable young men at Bill's Place. I can still get it up, I would enjoy a session once a month or so there. I was wondering if that solicitor friend of yours, Seb, would propose me."
Jonathan thought for a moment. "I reckon Bill would accept a recommendation from me. But are you really serious, Gramps?"
"When I heard what he'd done to you I was very, very angry. But even your record keeping time in that cell does not seems to have done any lasting damage to you. Your nightmares are now much less frequent. The Boys seem to be well cared for, and looked after when they are released."
"I had to escape. Most of them just decide to move on. They tell Bill, and if he can fit them up with something he does. He knows all sorts of people. Sometimes one of the punters finds them a job."
"It is all a much safer way of going about things than cottaging, or anything else. Even if it is a lot more expensive."
"I'll tell you what! I'll go and type and print out a letter now, and you can take it with you, and if you want to, you can post it off to Bill whenever you like."
They sat watching the stars come out. The moon was riding high in the sky.
"At least it is the same moon in England and here, down under."
It began to get cool, so they rose and went back into the house. Malcolm joined Kevin and Owen while Jonathan went off to produce the letter. Ten minutes later Jonathan came back into the room and showed the letter to Malcolm.
"Will that do, Gramps?"
Malcolm read the letter. Dear Bill, I expect you are surprised to be hearing from me. I am now out in New Zealand visiting my uncle [gay!]. I may well stay out here as it is a beautiful country, just want to find the right guy. But I am not just writing to tell you my news. I believe for a person to be a member of your Club he has to be proposed by another member. I know I am not a member, but have been involved, and know what it is like and all that is involved. The person I would like to propose is Mr. Malcolm Pridham. He is my grandfather, and I have discovered he too likes the same things as us. I believe he would greatly enjoy the facilities you have to offer at the Club. His address is ... Tel No:-................. I hope all is well with you. Please give my news and greetings to any of the boys I knew, especially to Andy, Chink and Ba if they are still with you. Yours sincerely Jon Pridham
"Fine. Thanks for that." He looked up at Jonathan, smiled, and gave him a wink. "I'll keep you posted."
It was the following day, after they had seen Malcolm off at the airport and arrived back in Napier that Kevin asked Jonathan what the letter had been all about.
"Gramps wanted a letter of recommendation for membership of Bill's Place."
"What!" Kevin collapsed with laughter. "The cunning old bugger."
Jeffrey at jeffyrks@hotmail.com