Lawn Boy, Chapter 6
After their finals were over on Tuesday, the guys felt light as feathers. They hadn't realized the extent of the pressure they'd been under until it was lifted.
Liam's only obligations were in the form of a few lawns to mow, and Perrin went along to help. With the two of them working, things moved along very quickly. Instead of dividing up the money, they opened a joint savings account with it. It pleased both to take a step that was symbolic of a shared life.
On Wednesday morning, Perrin had an appointment with a lawyer to see if he had a solid enough case to take Ted Bachmann to court over invading his privacy by planting at least one of the cameras. Mr. Charles Dudley, attorney at law, was the perfect choice because he had little time for anyone connected with the Gospel Tabernacle, and didn't care for Mr. Bachmann because of his attitude and his hypocrisy.
Liam went along because he had more than a passing interest in it too.
"So, Perrin, you say that your friend and you discovered a camera attached to the ceiling fan in your room. Do you have any proof of that?"
"Well, sir, our search was recorded by it, and so was the image of the guy who evidently installed it. You'll see he's standing on my bed to make adjustments in positioning the camera. My friend also took a video of me finding the receiver and extracting this thumb-drive."
Mr. Dudley put the device in his computer and they watched the footage together.
"This seems pretty convincing to me. I happen to know Ted Bachmann, and there's no denying that's who it is. Now what about the phone video?"
"May I email a copy to you," Liam asked. I can do it right now, or you can view it on my phone if you want."
"Send it to this address," the lawyer said, handing Liam one of his cards, "and we can blow it up larger on my screen."
Moments later, they watched it. The audio was as clear as the picture. Perrin blushed as they heard his remark about someone being able to catch him jacking off.
Chuck grinned in empathy at his discomfort.
"Perrin, please don't be embarrassed, we're all guys here. On top of that, your remark indicates how invasive this is, and how stressful it could be for the person being spied upon.
"Do you have any more?"
"We have a security camera video showing Bachmann entering the front door on the day we found my room had been bugged. It's grainy, but it shows him coming in and leaving later. The date and times are imprinted on it.
"Um, there is another one that caught us skinny-dipping and it definitely contains nudity. We're both over 18, but we'd rather not have someone, um, perving on us."
"I won't ask you to share that with me if you don't want to, but a judge would probably need to view it if we want to show how its very existence could impact your lives."
Perrin looked at Liam with a question in his eyes, and Liam shrugged before nodding his assent. He wasn't ashamed of his body.
"We can look at it now, and you may have a copy, but we'd like to keep the original. I'm sure you're trustworthy and I hope you aren't offended by my hesitancy to leave all the evidence."
"Good heavens no! You should never trust anyone that you don't know well. I have no time for the likes of Ted Bachmann, but for all YOU know we could be bosom-buddies and I could cover for him."
The video wasn't pornographic, but it was erotic. The level of grab-ass wasn't any higher than what takes place in many school locker rooms, so their sexual relationship wasn't obvious.
Watching it took Chuck back to his college days when he and his buds did similar things on a canoeing trip. He suspected that the young men got out of the pool with erections, but this camera had covered them from behind, so their state of arousal wasn't conspicuous.
"Gentlemen, this could be your lucky day. I'm such a crusader against invasion of privacy, that I'll be happy to take the case for the flat rate of 10%. Whatever settlement you get, 90% will be yours to keep. In the unlikely event that we lose, I will bill you nothing."
"That's great! Is there anything else we need to do?"
"It would be best if you could show the police the cameras and recording devices. Is there any way to do that, or will your parents object to having them search the house?"
"They would likely object, but I've been left in charge for the summer. My father even signed a power of attorney form in case I had to make an important decision in his absence. Of course, he assumed I'd confer with him first, but that isn't stipulated. I've always been the obedient son."
"Excellent! Get this done immediately, before he gets wind of what you're up to and revokes your authority."
On Thursday morning around 10:30, Officers Marjory Shipman and Darrel Garwood arrived in response to Perrin's complaint about someone's planting cameras in the house. Perrin showed them the videos they'd shared with the lawyer, after warning that one of the recordings contained male nudity. Ms. Shipman assured them that she was over the legal age and wouldn't be offended.
"Those certainly qualify for making this a crime," Darrel said, when they'd finished. "Who had access to the house?"
"Supposedly, I was the only one. We have a housecleaning service, but I always arrange to be here when they are. They don't have a key, but as you see from the security camera footage, Ted Bachmann entered the house with no problem. My parents trust him, so he must have a key, and know the alarm code. I've since changed the code, along with the one to open the gate, so it will be pretty obvious if he or any other unauthorized person tries to gain entrance."
"Did he also steal things from your room? I noticed the closet is standing empty."
"No, I moved in with Liam's family because I felt paranoid after discovering I was being spied on."
"That makes good sense," Ms. Shipman nodded. "As a woman, I would feel particularly vulnerable, but I suspect a young man would be creeped out as well! You have no idea what kind of person you're dealing with. He could be a pornographer or a molester."
After signing receipts for the equipment that they were taking, the officers left.
"Well, we should finish mowing that little bit we have to do in back, and go out for lunch. There's nothing in the house to eat. Since your parents have been feeding me a lot even before I moved in, I haven't bought anything but milk to go on my cereal in the morning."
"Okay, do you think we can come back to play in the pool? It might not be as stimulating without the cameras."
"That's okay, I always enjoy being naked with you, we have some good footage which can inspire a lot of hot sessions later."
While the guys were having a sandwich and a bowl of soup on the patio at Panera, Perrin's phone began to vibrate. He wasn't going to answer it, but it was from the police.
"Hello."
"Is this Perrin Prichard? This is Sergeant Parnell."
"Yes, what can I do for you?"
"ADT called us about a possible break-in at your house and we arrested a man who had scaled the fence. He claims to be a friend, and says he's supposed to have access, but his code wouldn't work, so he figured the alarm system must have malfunctioned."
"I'm in charge while my parents are in Europe, and I haven't given anyone permission to be in the house. They were quite adamant that I was to protect our property. May I ask his name?"
"It's Theodor Bachmann, and he's demanding to talk to you."
"Perhaps he'd like to visit with Officers Shipman and Garwood instead. I'm sure they'd like to speak with him. He evidently planted spy cameras in the house recently when I was out. I've since changed the codes so I'm the only one who can get in. I have no desire to talk to him."
"Then you won't vouch for him?"
"Absolutely not!"
"Thanks, we'll handle it from here. Good bye."
"Good bye, Sergeant, and thanks."
Perrin's grin turned into a giggle, and Liam joined him. Pretty soon, they were laughing so hard that they didn't dare try to eat or drink anything lest they choke. It was good that they were outside, and that most people had elected to sit in the airconditioned interior, or it might have been disturbing to someone. However, an older couple at a nearby table began to laugh with them. It was contagious.
"My arthritis has been killing me today and I was depressed," the man said, "but you boys have made me feel better! A good laugh is like a miracle drug. I don't know what was so funny, and I won't ask, but I do thank you."
"Thanks for not complaining to the manager about us. We were afraid we might upset you," Perrin replied.
"No, you've brought us joy," the lady smiled, as her husband and she rose to leave.
When the guys got ready to go a few minutes later, the manager came to their table.
"I'm refunding the price of your lunches because the older couple insisted they wanted to treat. So here it is. Let me check your receipt to make sure I didn't short you."
"Gee, thanks!" Liam exclaimed. "We'd love to thank them if we could."
"I'll pass it along next time I see them; they're fairly regular customers. It's a pleasure to have you also. I hope you'll come back soon."
At Charles De Gaulle airport, Perrin's family had just gone through security and were heading for their departure gate. Max said he needed to use the restroom the minute they got near it. His father was none too pleased to have him out of sight, but didn't have too much choice.
Max locked himself in a stall and sat on the stool. Peter Prichard lingered nearby to keep tabs on him. Max peed and made grunting noises to cover what he was really doing.
He sent a quick text message to Perrin so he'd know their schedule. This was the first time he'd had the opportunity since his parents had surprised his sister and him about their travel plans. They hadn't been told until a few minutes before they checked out of the hotel, and had all been together since.
"Hurry up in there," his father demanded. "Our flight leaves soon!"
"According to the sign at the gate, boarding won't begin for half an hour," Max answered. "You don't want me to crap my pants waiting to use a bathroom on the plane, do you? There's no telling how long it will be before we're allowed to use them."
"Be quiet, and do your business."
Max lingered a bit longer, because after his straining, he found that he actually did have to poop. When he finished, he made sure to delete the message from his phone in case his father checked it.
It was nearing midnight when Perrin's phone vibrated, signaling that a text was coming in. He was drifting off, and thought he might ignore it, but curiosity got the better of him.
"Oh boy!" he exclaimed.
"What is it?" Liam asked, sitting up beside him.
"Max says they're leaving Paris in less than an hour. I suppose I should text them the new codes to the gate and the alarm."
"Can't we just change them in the morning and put them back to what they were?"
"Duh! Why didn't I think of that? You younger boys are better at technology," he teased.
"It's not age, it's environment. My high school was up-to-date on stuff like that, and on logic and problem-solving too, while you guys were memorizing bible verses."
"That would be funny, if it weren't so true!"
"So, is this stressing you out? Would you like a backrub to help you settle down?"
"I think a front rub would work better. Are you game?"
"Not only am I game, but I'm in season!" Liam joked.
"Could you just rub my bone, and leave my funny-bone alone?"
"Eew! Your jokes are lamer than mine."
Fifteen minutes later, they were drained and relaxed.
A full hour before his family's connecting flight was scheduled to land, Perrin had all the codes back to what they had been originally. Then Liam and he went to mow a couple of yards. There was no sense in wasting time while awaiting Peter's wrath.
With Perrin's family expected home soon, the boys had no desire to be found using the pool. Instead, they packed a lunch and went to the reservoir to swim after their chores were finished. It was a public place, so they would have to keep on swimsuits, but they wore very skimpy ones. And, if they applied enough insect repellant, they could go into the nearby woods later to sun nude. They would always take advantage of any opportunity to get naked.
They were lying bare-assed in the woods when Perrin's phone began to vibrate again. He looked at the screen and noted that it was his father's cell number. Evidently, they were back in town.
"Perrin here."
"You have a lot of explaining to do! Ted Bachmann is out on bail after being arrested on some trumped up charge, and I'm expected to answer questions from the police about some invasion of privacy thing. What kind of trouble have you been causing? What if this gets aired by the media?"
"I didn't start anything, I was only trying to protect my privacy. I have proof that your buddy, Ted, planted a camera in my bedroom where I change clothes and sleep. There were others around the pool and patio. Does he have a thing for my body, or was he trying to catch me masturbating or something? You wouldn't know anything about what he was doing, would you?"
"What are you talking about? What proof is there, and who has it? I don't want this to go public!"
"Oh, it's too late to stop that. The police have copies of several videos, and my lawyer does too, plus Liam and I have more stashed safely away, lest someone with influence in the community might try to destroy the evidence to protect him. You need to ask Mr. Bachmann what his motives were. That's assuming you didn't put him up to it. I feel violated by what he did!"
"Bosh! Boys like you enjoy an audience! Another thing," Peter, Sr. went on without responding to Perrin's questions, "where ARE you? Your closet's been cleaned out, and I want to know where you're living, and who you're with."
"That's none of your business. You don't really give a shit, other than wanting to control me. Remember, I'm 19 and you don't have to house me, feed me, or pay for my education. That's pretty much a quote from last month.
"You were planning to kick me out when you came home from Europe, only I beat you to the punch. I've already let it be known to several people in your church that I chose to leave, so you can't claim to have thrown out your godless son and use me as an example in a sermon."
"You're a true spawn of Satan! He is causing havoc here just as he did abroad. I'll make sure Max doesn't turn out like you!"
"You leave Max alone! I still have the photos of the bruises you left on him last time, and I know the people to call. If you so much as lay a finger on him, I'll see to it that you go to jail! I will protect him at all costs!"
"Alas! The days spoken of in the book of Revelation are upon us. The end is near!"
"Oh, save that claptrap for your mindless followers! Now, unless you have something important to say, I'm gonna go back to giving my boyfriend a massage."
And with that, Perrin ended the call.
"Well," Liam grinned, "are you gonna do it?"
"Do what?"
"Give your boyfriend a massage. You don't want to be guilty of lying! You seem to be breaking the Ten Commandments right and left, especially the one about honoring thy father."
"Yeah, well, respect is a two-way street. He has never shown any interest in me other than to force me to obey. I'm done with that!"
"Somebody could use a little TLC, and I'm just the one to administer it."
Liam leaned over Perrin and gave him a tender kiss on the lips. Perrin's body responded immediately. Liam did his best to distract his lover's mind.
Author's notes: Thanks to John S, Paul R, Max P, Tony C, Chandra B, Walt Sz, Randy Mac, Ott H, Wayne, Avid R, Eddie C, Bill DeW, Joe W, Gordon, John L, David H, Geoff S, Al B, Tim T, Bill K, Tom A, Mendy D, Harry H, Marty H, Jake C, Jim W, Keith F, Bill T, John D, Neal C, Doug S, Lance C, Josh R, Zero M, Paul F, and JLF who emailed me this week. If you haven't contacted me, please feel free to at dlee169@hotmail.com .
Thanks to David for editing
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Love and peace,
David