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From: HMS Victor Victorian <victorvictorian@hushunomail.com>
Newsgroups: alt.fan.prettyboy
Subject: Innocence Chapter 12 Nigel Confronts the Truth
Date: Sun, 01 Jan 2012 13:53:28 -0700
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Chapter 12
Nigel Confronts the Truth, as Do His Parents
Angela gently lifted the wet wash cloth from Nigel's forehead and
dipped it back into the pan of cool water.
"Do you feel better now?" she asked quietly, wringing out the cloth
and laying on her son's brow again.
Nigel looked up at her from his pillow and gave sort of a nod.
"That nasty taste all gone now, sweet heart?"
And Mummy again brought a glass of lemon-lime soda up to his lips so
he could have a little. She gave him her hankie and he blew his nose.
"Is Instigator William angry at me?" the boy asked, "Will he arrest
me?"
"No, dear. Don't be silly," Mummy reassured, "We cleaned him up first
to the laundry."
"Daddy sounds angry."
Angela glanced toward the slightly open bedroom door. A rather
animated discussion between the investigators and Roger was filtering
up to them from downstairs.
"You've got to understand that Daddy and I are very worried," she
explained, "You've never got sick like that before."
"Is he upset with the police instigators?"
"Investigators," Angela corrected, "Yes, he is, I'm afraid to say."
"I don't want to talk to them anymore."
"We'll worry about that later," his mother replied with a tense smile,
turning the wash cloth over and laying it on the boy's tummy.
Nigel heard the front door closing downstairs and then a set of
footsteps tromping up the staircase. He looked towards the hallway,
afraid Investigator William was coming up to take him to jail. But of
course it was Daddy. He opened the door and peeked in.
"How are you doing, son?"
"Are the instigators still here?"
"No, of course not," Roger replied and sat down on the bed beside her,
The man drew in a deep breath and let out a long, resigned sigh. Then
he turned his gaze down at his son.
what happened that day with Ian. Won't you tell us the truth?
Please."
Nigel was silent for a bit. He took the washcloth from his tummy and
brought up to his lips, and began anxiously sucking the tepid water
out of it.
"Did Ian touch your penis, Nigel?" Roger asked directly, "Tell us the
truth."
Tears sprung into the boy's eyes and he nodded. At that moment, both
Roger and Angela seemed to visibly deflate.
"Why didn't you tell us last week, sweet heart?" Angela whispered,
holding back her own tears.
"I was afraid to," Nigel mumbled through the wash cloth.
Roger cleared his throat and laid a gentle hand alongside the boy's
cheek.
"Afraid? Because it was so horrible, son?"
"I don't know," Nigel whispered, "Because you were afraid and I didn't
want to hurt you."
Daddy and Mummy exchanged surprised looks.
boy's cheek, "We were afraid, Nigel. Very afraid."
"But we're afraid for you," Angela interjected, her forehead creased
with worry, "To think you've been carrying all these terrible feelings
about what Ian did?"
Nigel took the wash cloth out of his mouth.
"I don't know. I just forgot," the boy replied, "I just didn't like
him very much and I didn't want to go back to see him again, and you
said I didn't have to, so I just forgot."
"Well, it certainly has been bothering you lately," Mummy said, taking
the wash cloth and draping it back on her son's forehead, "So when did
you start feeling terrible?"
Nigel covered his eyes with the wash cloth, so he'd not see his
parent's expressions.
"When we had the family meeting, but not with Claris," he said.
"Our family meeting?"
"I knew something bad had happened but I didn't know what it was,"
Nigel explained haltingly, "And I told a lie because you were afraid
and then all the trouble started. Evan wouldn't be my friend and then
Mr. Patel said if someone touched you there you got sick and ruined
and your incense got lost and then Evan got sick because of that and I
was afraid I was sick, too, and everyone would find out and I wouldn't
have any friends."
"We're so very sorry, son," Daddy said, "We tried to be careful and
"I don't want to be Evan's friend anymore," Nigel grumbled.
"Why ever not?" Mummy asked.
"He told me a secret today at recess that Ian didn't really touch him,
and I said I would never tell," Nigel pouted, "Then I told him my
then he told the instigators."
Angela lifted the wash cloth from Nigel's eyes.
"Now you listen," she said patiently, "Evan didn't tell. The police
do you think Daddy was able to come back home?"
Nigel took the wash cloth and wiped his eyes.
"Do I have to talk to the policemen again?" he asked.
"I suppose so," his father frowned, "They're convinced that Ian is the
"But I don't want to."
Daddy gave Mummy a concerned glance, and then looked back down at his
son.
"Well, son," Roger began, "They've asked to speak with you tomorrow at
there."
"But I don't WANT to," Nigel complained, "Do I have to?"
"Yes, Nigel," Daddy replied softly, "I understand how upset you are.
It'll be alright. You'll see. Trust me. I'll be there with you
every second. Just tell them what you want to tell them. It'll be up
to you."
HMSVV New Year's Evening 2012
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