The Boy by The Lake - 3. Chapter 3

The next morning as I was leaving for my morning walk, Toby came dressed in the bear coat. “If it’s okay, I’d like to go with you.”

“It’s fine. I appreciate the company. Let’s go.”

Walking we made what is colloquially known as small talk. He told me that now he knew he had money for college, he wanted to study engineering. We chatted about the various disciplines that would be included under the broad title of engineering. I really enjoyed this discussion and I just couldn’t get my head around why on earth would his family essentially disown this young man.

“Let’s sit here and wait for the sunrise. It won’t be long.” It wasn’t long, in about 5 minutes you could see the first light and then over the next 20 minutes the sun was up.

While we sat there, Toby’s eyes stared at the lake until I mentioned the sun rising. I wondered what he was thinking. When I looked at him, there were tears in his eyes. I put my arm around him and pulled him toward me. Once the sun was up, we walked home.

As we fixed our coffee, “Toby, after breakfast I suggest you make a list of what you want to bring here from your bedroom. Mr. Stevens will be going there today.”

About 10 AM I got a call from Jim saying they were on there way to pick up Toby’s things. I asked Toby for his list and read it to him. I think he got the idea and probably would use his judgment if he saw something he thinks should be included on the list.

At 11:30 Jim and police officer Jones arrived at Toby’s old home with a van and several packing boxes. “Are you Mrs. MacDougal?”

“Yes”

“We’re here to gather your son Tobias’s personal belongings. If you’ll show us his bedroom we’ll begin to remove his personal effects.”

“I’m not sure you can do that. My husband isn’t home”

“Mrs. MacDougal, I have a court order permitting us to do this. Officer Jones is here to enforce that court order.” She took the order, read it and led the men to Toby’s room.

“Jones, check under the bed, behind the dresser and between the mattress and springs. The young man is gay and may have hidden things from his parents.”

The two men began packing up Toby’s belongings. When they had finished the bedroom, “Mrs. MacDougal, is there any other place where Tobias might have his personal belongings?”

“No, only his room.”

As the men finished loading the small van, a young man came by and asked them what they were doing and did they know where Toby was. He wasn’t in school the last few days. “And you are?”

“I’m Ronald Southern, Toby’s best friend.”

Just then Mrs. MacDougal, who had been watching from the living room window, opened the door, “Ronald, Tobias doesn’t live here anymore. So go on home.”

On a hunch, “Ronald, we just finished packing up Toby’s belongings from his room, you wouldn’t know of anything else which is his?”

“Did you get his bike from the garage? He bought that by working odd jobs. He was quite proud about buying it.”

“Can you show it to me?”

As the men and Ronald headed towards the garage Mrs. MaxDougal yelled at them. “You can’t go there. Your warrant doesn’t mention the garage.”

“Mrs. MacDougal, the warrant is for any and all of Tobias’s belongings in and on this property. Please open the garage doors.”

She slammed the door, but soon the garage door opened. Ronald led the way. While Ronald and Officer Jones began to remove Toby’s things, Jim went to get Mrs. MacDougal’s signature on a form releasing custody of Tobias.

“Mrs. MacDougal, I need your signature on these forms releasing custody of your son. Also I’ll need your husbands signature. If you tell me where he works, I’ll go there to get his signature.”

“He’s on his way here and should be here in another 10 minutes.”

“I’ll wait but I suggest you read over these papers while we wait.” Jim knew that when they saw that they’d have to pay a monthly stipend until Toby reached the age of 18, they would be very upset.

Jim went and waited at the van as the last of the garage items were added to what was already there. “So tell me Ronald, how long have you and Toby been best friends.”

“Since kindergarten, we’re the only two boys on this street. I live three houses in that direction. What happened with Toby and why are you collecting his things?”

“If you have time, I suggest you come with us and let him tell you.”

“So he’s okay? I was worried and when I asked his mother. She said he was visiting his grandfather who was very ill. I need to tell my mom that I’m going."

Jim watched Ronald leave as he headed home. Just as Ronald reached his home, Mr. MacDougal pulled into the driveway. Jim introduced himself and Officer Jones.

“I have a parental release form for you and your wife to sign. It relinquishes your responsibility for your son, Tobias. Your wife has the forms.”

The three men headed inside. As Toby’s dad read the first set of forms, he immediately signed them. Those forms released them of custody of their son, essentially surrender all responsibility for their son. The second paper did not need their signature, it was a court order ordering them to pay a monthly support fee of 750 dollars per month until Toby reaches the age of 18. Toby’s father was very angry, “I’m not paying one damn red cent to that abomination.”

“Mr. MacDougal, this is a court order, you have no choice. If you don’t pay, you’ll go to jail. There are consequences when you disown a minor. I’ll send you a statement to prorate this month and then from then on you’ll send your check to my attention at this address.” Jim picked up the signed papers, leaving a copy behind for them.

“Let’s go and deliver these boxes. There’s Ronald running. Ready to go?”

“Yes, could you stop at my house and tell my mom where we’re going?”

“Sure, no problem”

Arriving back at Jeff’s, Toby came out to meet the truck. When he saw Ronald, he forgot about everything except Ronald, “Ron, what are you doing here? Man, I‘m so glad to see you. I thought I’d never see you again.” Jeff watched them hugging, he thought, there was more there than just a friendship. It didn’t take long for his thoughts to be true.

“Uncle Jeff, this is Ron, he’s my boyfriend. I thought I’d never see him again.”

“It’s nice to meet you Ron. Toby, why don’t you help unload the van and show Ron your room. Jim, how did it go?”

“I think it went fairly well. His mother didn’t want to let us in until we told her we had a court order. Ronald helped us, his mother said there was nothing else when we finished his room, Ronald said Tobias had a bike in the garage. So we checked that area out as well. I gave them a copy of the court order demanding they pay 750 dollars per month until he reaches 18. You’ll have to think what you’re going to do with that money. As guardian, it’s yours.”

“Well, as you know I don’t need the money. I’ll give him an allowance and bank the rest. I hope you have something else for me?”

“You have a court appointment on Friday at 1 concerning the guardianship. I’ll be there and you'll have to bring Tobias with you.”

“I need to inform the school as well.”

“I suggest you do that after Friday. Call the school and explain that Tobias is staying with you and is ill.”

“I also need to find out which school he was attending. If word got out that he was tossed out, he may want to change schools. So he and I need to talk.”

As the bike was placed in the garage, “How about some late lunch? I have chicken soup and hot beef sandwiches on a hoagie roll.”

“Jones, you hungry?”

“Is water wet?”

“Let’s go.”

Entering the kitchen, Jeff set the table. What is it about a teenager’s nose, as soon as food is put on the table, they know. Toby and Ron walked into the kitchen holding hands. Toby had a big smile on his face, Ron was blushing.

“Well, is everything sorted in your bedroom? Ronald do you need to call your mother and let her know where you are? Here’s my address and phone number.” I handed him one of my business cards. “You can use the phone in my wife’s office.”

The soup was hot, the buns for the sandwiches were warming in the oven, the beef was in the slow cooker and ready to be sliced. I set out cheese slices, sliced onions and condiments. “Coffee or soda, I have no beer in fact I have no alcohol.”

I enjoyed lunch, we listened to Ron and Toby tell us about their school and friends. It seemed that their friends knew they were gay but they weren’t being bullied about it. I thought how times have changed. I remembered a young man who was in high school with me, the kids were very cruel to him. He didn’t have nice clothing and was pretty much a loner. I remember telling my mom and dad about him. My dad made sure that I befriended him, I remember his words as if he said them yesterday. “Children aren’t responsible for their parents inability to provide. They are the victim of society and when they are mocked, they hurt deeply. They want to have friends just as you want to have friends, be his friend.”

I was his friend and even today we exchange cards, he went on to become a school teacher. I know my dad and his friends paid for his college, I remember when I asked my dad if he contributed to his college fund, he said, ‘maybe’.

Looking at the boys, I decided then to start a scholarship for high school students that are treated as outcasts but have the intelligence to attend college. I’ll call it the Clair Foundation for Deserving Students. When everything is finalized with Toby, I’ll discuss this with Jim.

With lunch being over, I said goodbye to Jim and Officer Jones. “Sir, my mother said it would be okay to stay over if it’s okay with you.”

“Don’t you have school tomorrow?”

“Yes, but I can skip.”

“How about you not staying tonight but come over on Friday and you can stay the week-end. Don’t you think that would be better?”

“Yes, Uncle Jeff that would be better. We have to take Ron home.”

“How about we take him home after dinner? I’m sure his parents will want to meet me.”

I could see the disappointment in their eyes but I knew they’d eventually agree