Dodger

Thanks Tim. It's an all too familiar theme I'm afraid and even though we seem to have made big progress with LGBT rights, very little has changed with regard to alcohol. He seems to be taking things on board gradually and has shown that he's not willing to put Simon in danger, even if it creates problems at home. He still see's himself as being the protector and standing up for the disadvantaged against an aggressor.

Jon obviously has a problem with Simon but I think it's more out of ignorance than anything else. He hasn't had much in the way of guidance and schools weren't as accepting as they are now about these issues. Thanks @Wesley8890

Todd took David to work on Tuesday but once again, I was too sick to make it. Too much booze during the day and not enough sleep at night. It was becoming a vicious circle I couldn’t seem to break. It was around lunchtime when I received a call from the police. They told me they had a young man in custody named Simon Morrison and they wanted to know if we were related. “Simon? No. He’s not a relative but he’s a friend of the family. Is he in trouble?” It sounded like a ridiculous questio

This was really impressive, Tim. Worth staying up late to read. Now top of the hit parade.

Thank you AC. It's always an honour to see a comment from you but I'm not sure if you'll find any answers just yet in this story.

Thank you @JeffreyL Simon is the one who , it seems, is most at risk. We will find out more this Sunday. Thank you for reading.

Religion is the cause of so many problems particularly cults. The one you refer to is notoriously unforgiving. There are many stories like the one you tell and of course these people are able to hide within the organization. They close ranks and make it difficult for the victim. If someone chooses to leave they are shunned by their family and friends. They have destroyed a lot of families over the years. Thank you @Bft

Thank you for pointing this out I will look this up.

Hey Rigby. Thank you so much for commenting. It does get a less depressing but not for a while, I'm afraid. I took a bit of a chance with this. Definitely not a feel good kind of story but it has its moments.

You're right of course. I wasn't sure if Boston had a place like that (okay I know that all large cities have somewhere). I was shocked to read about it and the name was interesting. I probably should have guessed that you would know about it. I'm not suggesting that you had any connection with the place of course, but you know a lot about Boston. Thanks.

@Sweetlion @empresslovesreading @droughtquake No one has yet mentioned this but I'm interested to know if anyone understood what Jeff was referring to when he mentions the 'Combat Zone' in the following statement. It was somewhere in downtown Boston. A fresh-faced gay boy like him could probably make a lot of money in the Combat Zone but it was a dangerous place to be. If something happened to him, David would never forgive me. I discovered this on google. Apparently it was quite infamous in its day although I understand that it no longer exists.

Yes, David would probably be thinking of leaving by now. He must have a good idea of where Simon is. Thanks @Sweetlion

While the two fathers blame each other for their son's homosexuality, poor David and possibly Simon too may be feeling the only way out is to end it all. It's sad that this happens in real life all too often. Thanks @Edward

@Israfil You explain this a lot better than I could and I had forgotten about Frank Gallagher from Shameless. Jeff's probably a little more sinister than Frank.

I'm not sure if Jeff is more concerned about Simon's welfare or more concerned about his kid's reaction if anything untoward were to happen to him. " If something happened to him, David would never forgive me." Having said that Jeff is showing signs that he is a little concerned for his safety. Thanks @Ivor Slipper

The kids are always the most vulnerable. It's a horrible and unnecessary situation that doesn't look like being easily resolved. Thanks @Okiegrad

I was hoping t would be from that period. The Somerville Asylum. It gets better. I wouldn't like to think what kind of things went on in there in the early days or even the not so early days. Thanks for your help @empresslovesreading

Thanks Gary. This period fascinates me but it was also quite daunting to write about because it's not that long ago and I knew that a lot of people reading would be able to remember what it was like. I needed the dialogue to be as believable as possible to avoid making a total fool of myself. I've talked to a lot of people and I was surprised by how different things were and how much things have changed in such a short period of time. It's easy to research buildings, cars, music, etc but not so easy to find out how the average 'Jeff' type person viewed gay people. Views on race issues at the time and even gender equality are easier to research. Jeff probably wouldn't see himself as a particularly bad person but as a normal guy protecting his family from something that was unnatural, damaging, and preventable. Something which was becoming more prevalent in society encouraged by television, pop music, and movies. it would be interesting to go back 40 years and see exactly how much attitudes and laws have changed. I think most people born after this time would be shocked. I need a Tardis!

Thanks the info about McLean Hospital. The story is already written but I may be tempted to slip this is providing it fits in with the timing of the story, late seventies. No good if it was built in the eighties of course. I very nearly fell foul of this kind of thing in the opening chapter when I was going to use the Orange Line as Jeff's transport home only to find out from @Sweetlion that the section I was referring to wasn't added until 1987. Information from you people living in the area is priceless although I would never refer to you as the Boston bitch. Thanks @empresslovesreading

It's hard to imagine what state Jeff would be in if he didn't have Todd to push him in certain directions but despite his best efforts, there is only so much his brother can do without Jeff's compliance. He needs to wake up fast! Thanks @Wesley8890

You're right. At this stage Jeff would probably have difficulty picking his family out of an identity parade. He seems to know so little about them. He is at risk and has the tools at his disposal to do the job. Thanks @Israfil

I fear it may take something as drastic as this to make him understand. Thanks @Canuck

Thanks for spotting this @droughtquake This one managed to sneak through but you're quite right even in Canada he would normally be referred to as having red hair. Ginger is very British. This is the problem you get when working on 3 stories based in 3 different countries at the same time but it's a challenge. Interesting point on alcoholism which even today does not receive the publicity that you would expect from something that destroys so many lives each year and has reached epidemic proportions. I don't want to be cynical by pointing out how much revenue this industry brings in each year. This is after all, only a story but I worked hard on the research. (except with the ginger).

“I’m not gonna say I told you so.” “You just did, Todd.” My brother had answered my distress call. I needed to talk to someone my own age, who I could trust to keep a secret and he was the only one who fit the bill. He was there when I got back from dropping Jon at the game. “But he’s not gay.” “Then what’s the problem?” “He thinks he is.” “And you think he’s making it up?” “No, he isn’t. I mean he’s just confused. You know what I mean?” I waved my arms in frustration. The ha

Same thing. Watch out for Darcy Morrison! 😨