CRYSTALLINE - 21. I Never Thought of it That Way

Lachlan and Thomas took the large SVU to collect the three new staff and their luggage.

All three were waiting eagerly at the meal centre, being force fed cups of tea and biscuits, by an overly attentive Virginia, clucking about like a mother hen.

As Thomas walked in, Virginia called “We’re ready”

“I don’t recall interviewing you or offering a position”

Virginia laughed, then said “You know what I mean, but I am as excited as them. In one way I wish I was going with you, I’d love to see what you have ready for their training”

“You’re welcome if you want to come”

“Maybe not today, but I will make a date when they get settled in, to go and see their progress”

“Ok, is everyone ready?” asked Lachlan.

The three young people stood without replying and grabbed their meagre belongings. “Follow me guys”

***

Fifteen minutes before their arrival at Crystalline, Thomas called Carol to advise of their expected arrival time. He had previously arranged for a welcome lunch in the wisteria pergola with all other household members.

They drove direct to the staff quarters at Arcobaleno Villa and each was shown to a room by Carol, then taken to the pergola for drinks, set up by Dante. Patrick had been assigned to help Rosemary deliver the lunch. When all were present introductions were made.

“Firstly I would like to introduce the owner of this property, Mr Jonathan Price. You can address him as Mr Price or his nickname Mr P is also acceptable”

They all nodded to Jonathan, then Thomas introduced them individually. “Mia will be working with Cook” Thomas then paused and said “Just a sec everyone. Cook we need to settle this matter of your name. What do you want us all to call you?”

“I’ll stick with Cook, I haven’t answered to Rosemary in years”

Carol then added “I think she wants to keep that name for her Mr Suave”

“Thank you Carol for your two cents”

“Ok ladies, I’ll start the introductions again. Everyone meet Mia who will be working with Cook”

“Hello everyone” said Mia “Happy to be here and pleased to meet you Cook”

“Now Nyamba will be working with Carol as assistant housekeeper”

Nyamba reached out to shake hands with Carol and said “Hello, and thank you for this opportunity”

Carol shook hands and smiled, then Jonathan added “You are welcome young lady. May I ask about your background, you seem to have a non familiar accent?”

“Yes, I was born in South Somalia and came here as an unaccompanied refugee when my parents were killed in the fighting”

“Oh, I’m sorry. Please forgive my enquiry”

“That’s alright Sir. I am not ashamed of my heritage and am grateful to the family that took me in when I arrived”

“And you are very welcome here also, Nyam..ba. Is that correct”

“Yes Sir, very good”

Thomas then continued “Now please meet Troy. He has an interest in gardening so he will be working with Dante”

“Hi guys, thanks for giving me a job, but I want to make it clear I’m straight all the way, Ok?”

Understanding where Troy was coming from, Thomas said “You’re welcome here Troy and there will be no further need to state your sexual orientation”

“Just making sure”

Cook then announced “Guys this lunch is not going to serve itself, so everyone grab a plate and eat your fill. Mia you can help me pass out the plates and cutlery”

“Love to”

***

One week later, Thomas called a meeting of the supervisors to check on the progress of the new recruits. Cook and Carol were happy with their assistants, but Dante had just one problem. “His work is great, he’s energetic and keen to learn, but always has the need to mention his sexual preference. Frankly I don’t care whether he’s gay, straight or asexual; I just don’t want to be reminded of it all the time”

“What does he do?”

“Sorry Carol, but I have to mention this. Every time you walk by he makes some sort of Neanderthal grunt or words like, I wouldn’t mind etcetera ...you know what I mean”

“Apart from being offensive to a colleague, that’s probably common behaviour for boys his age” suggested Thomas

“Maybe, but what isn’t common is his constant reference to male and female flowers and how the bees must spread the pollen from the male to the female and then there’s his assertion that he keeps his bedroom door locked at night...just in case”

“Do you want me to counsel him about it?” asked Thomas

“Maybe you could get through to him, I certainly can’t”

“Ok, at the very least he’s got to stop making sexual remarks about fellow staff”

Cook then asked “As he was homeless and presumably living on the streets, do you think he might have been abused during that time?”

“Or even while he was in care” added Carol.

“That may be where this attitude comes from. He seemed a bit homophobic during the interview, but I thought we had sorted that out when I told him his remarks were offensive and he agreed not to do it again. Leave it with me. So other than that, everyone’s happy with progress?”

All agreed, then Thomas thanked everyone for their work.

***

Jonathan was taking a morning walk through his garden when he heard “Fuck” coming from the direction of the pool. He took the short cut through the rose garden that led directly to the pool. As he approached, his first sight was Patrick’s butt. He was bent over, head down wrestling with the leaf basket in the pool filter.

Jonathan’s unconscious reaction was to open his hands wide and as he reached out to grab Patrick’s cheeks, he realised the inappropriateness of his intentions and instead focussed on the movement of Patrick’s back muscles as they worked and glistened with sweat.

Then Patrick said “Fucking cunt of a thing, let go you useless peace of shit”

“Can I help?” Jonathan asked

“What...no...oh hello Mr P, I didn’t know you were there”

“Obviously, but what’s got you in such a state?”

“Just this leaf collector, I think the locking collar’s fucked and I can’t get it out”

“Then maybe it needs servicing or a new part”

“Yes, that’s what I’m trying to do”

“That’s right, you’re just back from a pool maintenance course, aren’t you?”

“Yes, first day back” Patrick then stood up and gave Jonathan a full view of his well-stacked chest and six pack abdomen. His body then disappeared into short cut-off jeans ending with frayed edges hanging over strong thighs. The rest of his legs were well proportioned then they disappeared into rolled down football sox and RM Williams work boots.

While the two stood in silence for a few moments, Jonathan realised he had not before seen Patrick half naked and felt quite strange when he found himself envying Carol, who got to see this and more every night.

Patrick broke the silence by saying “I want to thank you for sending me on the course”

“What?” asked Jonathan as he snapped out of his fantasy.

“I was thanking you for the course. I learned a lot about pools”

“Except how to move that thingamajig”

Patrick laughed, and Jonathan added “No need to thank me, it’s Lachlan and Thomas who make all those decisions”

“Of course, and I have thanked them”

“Good, now I’ll let you get back to your wrestling with that, whatever it is”

“It’s part of the pool filter”

“Oh really”

“Would you mind giving me a hand for a moment?” asked Patrick

“I don’t know the first thing about pool filters”

“That’s ok, I just need you to hold these multigrips tight, while I turn with the spanner”

Jonathan was surprised that he could be of any help in such a situation, but agreed as it gave him more time to take in the view and the opportunity to be closer to Patrick. He did as requested, but almost lost his grip on the tool when Patrick put his sweaty chest in Jonathan’s face as he reached in to loosen the filter basket.

“Sorry about the awkward position Mr P”

“No problem at all. Take your time and get the job done properly”

“Thank you, very generous of you to help the trade”

“Trade?...oh yes, I see what you mean. My pleasure...actually. You know I probably should get my hands dirty, so to speak, more often. A good manager should know more about what their employees are doing”

“Ah finally” Patrick said as the collar let go and he exhaled the breath he had been holding while straining with the spanner.

“Does that mean we’re finished?” asked Jonathan as Patrick sat back from Jonathan and noticed his sweat on his bosses face.

“Oh sorry about that Sir, let me wipe it for you”

“No bother, I rarely work up a sweat myself. Well except when I’m...no matter, you don’t want to hear about that”

A still distracted Patrick innocently asked “Hear about what?”

And a surprised Jonathan said, without thinking, “Sex”

“Is that what we’re talking about?”

“No of course not, I was just confused for a moment. So is that all the help you need for now?”

“I think I can take it from here, but you’re welcome to watch and chat if you like Mr P. It’s so nice to have my boss take an interest in what I’m doing”

“Very well, and maybe you can tell me what you’re doing or talk about yourself. Yes, that’s it, tell me about yourself, where you’re from and how you and Carol are getting on. You just sort of fell into this place and I never got the opportunity to get to know you. A bad oversight on my part”

“Thank you Mr P”

“And about that, please call me Jonathan now we’re brothers in trade”

“Trade? Oh I see” and Patrick laughed.

“Did I say something funny?”

“Yes...Jonathan, you’re quite funny sometimes. I like that in a boss. When I first came here I got the impression you were a bit, should I dare say it...stuffy”

“Me stuffy?...Yes, you may be correct. Years of running my Jewellery business and pretending I was not who I wanted to be, I put up a facade to hide behind. Thank you for saying I’m funny, that’s nice to hear, especially from staff. But I have a question for you”

“Yes, anything”

“What did I say that was funny?”

“Er...it was something about trade, I’ve forgotten now, but it amused me in the moment”

“Fair enough, now tell me about yourself”

<>

Patrick talked briefly about his childhood, told a few anecdotes about being an identical twin and about his mixed Irish and Italian heritage. When he got to the part about his parents he said his father died in a tragic accident and his mother never recovered from the loss and requires constant care. He went quite sombre then and changed the course of the conversation by asking “Tell me about yourself Jonathan, do you have any children?”

<>

The two unlikely friends became so engrossed in conversation, the pool maintenance was forgotten and they had unconsciously moved from the side of the pool to the sun lounges. When Patrick realised how much time had passed he felt guilty about not getting on with the job, but thought better of it since it was his boss who had virtually given him permission to slack off.

Jonathan talked freely about his marriage, the still-birth, his sexual orientation and how he dealt with it until his divorce. He had never before spoken so openly about his private life, especially to staff, not even Thomas, whom he would trust with his life. While Patrick was talking about his recent trip to Italy and his grandmother, Jonathan wasn’t really listening. He was instead trying to work out why he felt so comfortable with Patrick. There was a little guilt about enjoying the company of a young handsome half naked man, but there had to be more than that. Here he was baring his sole to a relatively new acquaintance, an employee in a relationship with another employee and straight. Maybe that’s it, he thought. This is a look but don’t touch situation. That gives me some comfort that it can go no further and so I feel safe talking to him. Could I be that shallow?

“How would you feel in a situation like that Jonathan?” asked Patrick

“Sorry”

“I was telling you about my Nonna trying to match me with all the unattached young women in the village”

“Oh, yes, must have been difficult. How do you get out of it?"

“I said I had to come home for my job, but of course I didn’t have a job to come back to”

“And now you’re here and all’s well”

“Yes....” Patrick replied slowly while wondering if Jonathan was distracted, bored or just trying to give him the hint to get back to work. “It’s been nice chatting to you Jonathan, but I really must get this pool filter fixed”

“Yes, of course. I shouldn’t have kept you so long from your work”

“You’re paying” Patrick replied with a nervous laugh.

“In that case, hop to it” Jonathan said as a mock order.

***

“Come in Troy” said Thomas

“Oh I know what this is about”

“Really? Then would you like to start the conversation”

“Not really just cut to the chase and tell me I’m fired”

“What makes you think that’s what I called you here for?”

“That’s the logical conclusion. Nobody else was called in, so I guess it’s me that’s going to be dumped. It’s ok, I was expecting it”

“Why do you say that?”

“Story of my life. When I’m no use to somebody, I get pushed aside. It’s not fair really, I work my butt off for him and still he complains to you”

“That’s not what this is about. Dante has asked me to talk to you about your attitude, not your work. As far as that is concerned, he’s very pleased, even impressed with your performance and your eagerness to learn. But your do seem to have a homophobic attitude and that is of concern to us. Also in your effort to enforce your image of being hetero you have stepped over the line with your remarks about Carol”

“She’s a good looker and I say so. Isn’t that a compliment?”

“Not the way you do it. I know young men of your age like to comment on passing female talent, but in the workplace it is considered sexual harassment when it goes beyond a compliment and degenerates into toxic male behaviour. Do you understand what I am saying?”

“I suppose so”

“Good, then we need to find what’s causing you to have this attitude. I think your perceived homophobia and sexual comments about women are connected. Did something happen to you in the past that makes you feel this way?”

“Like what?”

“This is delicate, but might you have been approached by men when you were younger, to do something you didn’t want to do?”

“You mean was I abused sexually?”

“To put it bluntly, yes”

“No, but I’ve always been scared of it happening. I was in six different foster homes over the years. Things were always great for the first few months, then when I felt threatened I clammed up and was accused of being un-cooperative. Things would go downhill from there and eventually I was moved on”

“But did anything ever happen”

“No, I was just scared it would”

“Why do you think you always felt like that?”

“Because you hear about it all the time on the TV and the net, that kids get groomed and abused in care homes, churches, schools, sports teams and everywhere. I just couldn’t stop thinking it would eventually happen to me”

“And you’re sure nothing happened to you”

“Sure but the fear was always there. I always got rejected and I know it was my fault”

“I’m sorry you have been made to feel that way, but it is not your fault. It is society’s fault. I know people in authority and the media try to warn children about these things, but maybe the warning should come with some backup advice that not every adult is like that. I don’t know what we do about that in general, but in your case if you want to talk about it I can arrange that for you”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m not a professional counsellor, but it seems to me that the warning about, what is called stranger danger, may have gone too far and now be causing unintended damage. If you would like to talk to a professional, I can sort that for you. Alternatively you can talk to me anytime about anything that bothers you. But please be assured that you are perfectly safe here and we all care for your welfare, happiness and professional development”

“I don’t think I want to talk to a shrink”

“Not necessarily a psychiatrist but a counsellor could help you deal with your feelings”

“Would it be alright if we just talk sometimes? I feel comfortable with you now”

“Thank you and of course that’s fine with me. Come and see me anytime”

“Thanks Thomas. You know this is the first place I have ever felt safe and wanted, despite nearly everyone here being gay”

“I thought that bothered you”

“It did at first, but everyone has been so welcoming and I suppose I don’t really feel threatened when I think about it now”

“I’ll tell you something that may be comforting. This is not a hard and fast rule, and there are always exceptions, but it seems to me, those who abuse children of the same sex are rarely openly gay. Mostly it is those in the closet or men who purport to be straight. Here everyone is open about their sexual orientation, are in relationships and have no need seek gratification in unwanted approaches. Does that make sense?”

“Wow, I never thought of it that way. This has been a good talk, mate”

“See that door... it’s never locked, come and talk anytime, and if I’m not here, call me”

They exchanged numbers. Apart from day to day communication regarding work and household matters or socialising, Troy only once felt the need to have another chat with Thomas about the subject. It was a month later when he stopped Thomas crossing the yard and said “Thomas, I want to talk to you about... you know, what we spoke about before”

“Sure, come to my office”

“No, here will do. I just want to thank you for setting me straight and helping me get my head around my feelings. I thought about what you said that day and realised my feelings were irrational. Once I accepted that, they went away and instead of seeing threats around me, I now only see friends”

Thomas felt a little emotional and wiped his eyes, before saying “Mmm, the sun’s bright today, I should put on my sunnies when I come out”

“Yeah, I know what you mean” Troy replied as he moved towards Thomas and hugged him as he felt his eyes water.

Dante never again had to complain about Troy’s attitude or behaviour either.

***

All three recruits proved to be good workers and eager to learn, so one month later Lachlan and Thomas went to collect the second intake. This time they would all be assigned to Lachlan for waiter training. The renovations at Arcobaleno were complete, so Lachlan set up a few tables and a bar to run his small training school. He also booked them into a Responsible Service of Alcohol course, as required by the Liquor Licensing laws.

*****