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CHAPTER 12: Chapter Twelve

--CHAPTER TWELVE --


The next day, Saturday, dawned bright and beautiful in Basingstoke. The air was crisp and clear, and Steven rose early, and decided to ride his bicycle into town. These days, he did most of his cycling off-road, on weekend trips into the countryside, but on occasion he liked to take the bicycle instead of the car, especially on those weekends when he couldn't cycle in the country.

This morning, he set out for the local Gay and Lesbian Youth Center, where he volunteered on two Saturdays a month as a lay counselor. Steven hated the word "counselor" because he felt it implied that there was something wrong with the person being counseled. In fact, most of the teens who came to the center just needed a friend. The problems were usually with their parents, who often reacted violently at their teen's coming out. Steven didn't consider himself qualified to counsel professionally, but he could listen, he could sympathize, and he could offer a friendly word of advice when needed. It was on this basis that he had been persuaded to first come to the center years ago, and he'd been coming ever since.

He pulled into the parking area, locked his bike, and walked inside. There were a group of adults, most of them very official looking, standing in a circle in the lobby. One of them, a pretty woman in her early forties, saw Steven and broke away from the group, walking toward the door to meet him.

"Steven, thanks for coming a bit early," Rachel Munroe said. "I want you to meet our visitors from the advisory council."

She led Steven up to the group and introduced him to them. "The council is here to visit and look around a bit, then they have a meeting later this morning," she informed Steven. They all shook his hand, several members indicating that they recognized his name from his journalistic work. "I was hoping that our new volunteer legal counsel would be here by now. I don't think I've told you, Steven, but we have a very enthusiastic new solicitor who has volunteered a great deal of his time to help us. I am hoping that we can finally make some progress on some of our parental rights cases."

Steven nodded, and several of the council members chatted about how important it was to have a good legal man on board.

"Oh, here he is now," Rachel said, looking toward the door and once again breaking away from the group.

Steven looked up to see John Dixon entering the building, in full legal regalia: suit, overcoat, briefcase and hat. John Dixon volunteering his time for the Gay and Lesbian Youth Center? Steven could hardly believe it.

"John, these are members of our advisory council here for this morning's meeting," Rachel said as they reached the group. She introduced each one to John individually, and they shook hands all around. Coming to Steven she said, "And this is Steven Carter one of our most helpful lay counselors and associates. Steven this is John Dixon our new volunteer solicitor."

John extended his arm, and the two men shook hands, each wondering for a moment if it wouldn't be best just to play along.

"Hi, Steven," John said.

"Nice to me--" Steven started to respond, when John suddenly turned around to the group and continued, "I've known Steven for, well, for a lot of years. We go all the way back to Belvedere in the 90s," he said.

Steven's mouth hung open in shock.

"Really?" Rachel responded, sounding slightly surprised, but soon recovering the conversational ball with her usual ease. "Steven has been such an inspiration to us locally on gay rights issues. And he's proven to be the best lay counselor we have here at the center. All the kids think him quite the hero, and he's helped and befriended so many of them."

"Oh, I can easily understand that," John replied in a tone of sincere compliment. "The kids are very lucky to have him, and so is the center."

"Quite," replied Rachel sincerely, nodding at Steven. "Steven, if you have a few minutes before you meet with Nathan, perhaps you'd care to show John around our facility while I get the council members settled in the meeting room?"

"Certainly," Steven said, trying not to look as shocked as he felt. "I'd be delighted."

Rachel herded the council members off in one direction while Steven and John went down the hallway in the other.

"I'm surprised!" Steven said as soon as they were out of earshot of the group.

"At what?" John said.

"I can't believe you just did that!"

"Did what?" John replied.

"Voluntarily associated yourself publicly with a known homo."

John laughed. "Well, I'm glad I've still got a few surprises up m' sleeve."

They walked the hallways and Steven pointed out to John the various offices, meeting rooms, and the teen recreation rooms. He also explained to John that most of the teens who come there are having serious problems at home with parents and relatives, and shared with John a few stories of his work there over the years.

"I'm not a counselor, really," Steven said. "Mostly these kids just need a place to go, and someone to listen to them who understands. Someone who will listen without condemning them or judging them."

"Wow," John said, as they neared the end of their little tour. "I sure wish this place had been around when I was a teen." He looked down, reflecting. "I always felt so trapped, so shackled by everyone's expectations. Imprisoned, really. If I'd had an adult to really talk to, things might have been... different." His voice trailed off to a whisper.

"John," Steven said, changing the subject, "I've got to meet a lad this morning, but I'd like for us to talk. What have you got on this afternoon?"

"Nothing," said John, perking back up. "Nothing at all. I'm just going back to my office after the meeting here. Would you like to meet me there when you're done?"

"Yeah. That'd be great."

"Here's my card with the address," John said reaching inside his coat. "It's not far."

"All right, then," Steven nodded. "I'll see you around two."

"Great," replied John, heading off toward his meeting.