Keeping Tom

This story does contain homosexual pairings, if you don't like that kind of thing, do not read this story.

***

A month later Tom was being wheeled towards the courtroom by Andrew. Phil and his wife were already in the courtroom because Phil would have to testify as well. The twins were being watched by their grandparents. When they were right outside the door a young boy came running towards him. “Tom! You are awesome.”

Tom instantly remembered the boy. On occasions he had been made to deliver food to the other boys that Frank kept. This little boy, Johnny, was one of Frank’s new acquisitions. “Hi Johnny. How are you?”

“Great! Meet my new mommy!” Johnny ran over and pulled a woman over to them. “Mommy, this is Tom, the guy who got Frank put in jail!”

The woman smiled warmly and said, “I have to thank you then. I’m Clerine. I adopted little Johnny here. He’s been great to have around these past months. I don’t know how he stays so upbeat after everything but he does. You’re all he can talk about most of the time. He calls you his hero.”

Tom blushed slightly and looked down at Johnny, “Did he ever give you away?”

Johnny understood right away and shook his head, “Nope, he was about to but then the cops showed up. Thanks to you!” Johnny couldn’t keep his excitement at bay anymore and pulled Tom forward and hugged him.

Tom returned the hug as best as he could. “I’m glad to hear that Johnny. Now I have to go into court. Are you testifying as well?”

“No, he’s just here so the jury can see him because he was the youngest there at the time. He’s only 8.”

Tom’s eyes bulged slightly, that was younger than he was when he had been sold. “Well, stay positive Johnny. I hope I can be as positive and upbeat as you are someday.”

Johnny gave him a look that showed so much understanding it surprised all the adults around him. “I know Tom. I know they hurt you, but it’s over now. Life is new now. Life is better now. Think about that, not them. It’s what I do.”

Tom blinked a few times and then pulled Johnny into another hug. “I will try. I’ll see you later Johnny.”

Johnny smiled brightly and said, “Okay. Good luck!”

Andrew finished wheeling Tom into the courtroom. There were many boys testifying but Tom was the main focus since he was the one the cops had found almost dead on the street. Andrew set Tom’s wheelchair up next to the attorney who smiled at him. Andrew leaned down and whispered in Tom’s ear, “I’ll be here the whole time just remember that. After this, we’re off to Australia.” Tom nodded and Andrew went to go sit next to Phil and Jolene.

The first part of the trial seemed to go by in a blur. Tom was too nervous about his time on the stand to care about much else. When he got called to the stand and sworn in he was shaking with nerves. The defense attorney was the first one to question him. “When and how did you meet my client?”

“The day my parents sold me to him.”

“Sold you to him? How old were you?”

“10”

“Is it possible they just left you with him for safe keeping?”

“No, I saw him give them money and a lot of it.”

“How can you be sure you remember this?”

“I remember it because that was the day Frank marked me as his. I will never forget that day.”

“Marked you as his?”

“He… he raped me and carved his initials into my leg.”

“Do you have proof of this?”

“Well I could pull down my pants if you really want to see it.”

The judge cleared his throat, “Young man, please remain civil.” Then he turned towards Tom’s attorney. “Do you have pictures of this?”

“Yes, your honor. The doctors took pictures of all of the injuries he had the night he was found, and they got a picture of the scar he’s talking about.”

“Please show it to me and the jury.”

The attorney looked through the pictures he had and then walked it up to the judge who worked hard to keep an impassive face. The initials were carved right were the boy’s buttocks met his legs and in this picture the skin all around it was bruised and covered in fresh or dried blood. The jurors showed various levels of disgust at the picture. The defense attorney was starting to look nervous as he saw the jurors’ reactions.
He cleared his throat and said, “Other than that, do you have any evidence of the harm Frank himself did to you?”

“Other than that he tried not to scar me and he tried to make sure none of the men scarred me either.”

“And why would he do that if he didn’t care for you on some level?”

“Because he wanted me unscarred so I could strip in his club and make him money.”

“You stripped in his club under age?”

“Look buddy, I’ve been in this guy’s control since I was 10 years old. Do you think I really knew it was illegal? Do you really think I had a choice?”

The judge cleared his throat and said, “Young man, I know this is trying for you but please do remain respectful to the officers of the court. This is your last warning.”

Tom sighed and nodded. The defense attorney at this point seemed to have given up as it was clear he wouldn’t get anything that would help his client out of this witness. “No further questions your honor.”

Next up was the prosecutor. “Tom, what was it like living in Frank’s club?”

“It was horrible at first but after a while you just sort of give in and stop fighting it. A few of the guys killed themselves but the rest of us just kind of did what we were told knowing that fighting wouldn’t get us anywhere.”

“How do you know other boys killed themselves?” His attorney was as curious about this as everyone else. This was an aspect of Tom’s life that even he hadn’t been told about yet.

“We had to carry the bodies out of their rooms and out to a truck that would take them away.”

“Do you know where the truck took them?”

“No. It just drove away and then we had to go back inside.”

“Can you estimate how many times you were made to sleep with men against your will?”

Tom spoke about all of this with a level of detachment that bothered everyone there. For him it was the only way to get through this without turning into a sobbing mess. “I’d say somewhere around 400 and some of them wanted to see me more than once.”

“Were any of these men violent aside from the four men who beat you the night you were found by Officer Jamison?”

“They were but they’d hurt me in ways that wouldn’t be seen on stage. They’d pull my hair and scratch at my head until I’d bleed knowing that my hair would cover it up. They would f-rape me so roughly it would hurt to sit for weeks but none of it would show. If they ever did leave marks they had to pay extra and I had to stay chained to my bed until the bruises or cuts faded.”

“The chains he referred to can be seen in these pictures.” The attorney handed a series of pictures to the judge and then to the jurors. “What kinds of other duties were you and the others required to do?”

“We had to clean the club up after closing if we weren’t occupied with one of the men. We had to cook for each other. If one of us got hurt we had to take care of that boy but we weren’t allowed to talk to each other. If we got caught talking he’d beat us.”

“Why wouldn’t he let you talk to each other?”

“I heard him talking to one of the men who wanted two of us at once. He said that he feared we would make plans if we got to talk to each other. He feared that we would make plans to escape.”

“Is there anything else you can specifically remember about your time there?”

“I heard about a few boys that he kept specifically for the more twisted men. I saw one once. He looked terrible. He was so skinny you could count his ribs and he had bruises everywhere. I took food to him once and the room he was in was filled with whips and things like that. He only got to eat three times a week.” Tom looked over towards the area where other witnesses were sitting and spotted the boy. “It was him.” He pointed at the boy who studied his hands intently.

“Thank you Tom.” One of the officers wheeled him back to the table his attorney was once again sitting at. Court was ended for the day after his testimony and Andrew came to wheel him out of the courtroom. When they were outside a haunted looking young man approached them.

“I… I just w-wanted to say th-thanks.”

Tom recognized him right away. “I don’t need thanks Damien. I’m just glad everyone got out of there. How are you doing?”

“I… I’ve been in th-therapy since I g-got out. I’m 20 so unlike the others I c-can’t be adopted. I-I don’t know what t-to do with myself when I’m n-not seeing my therapist.” He had a nervous twitch that caused him to blink his eyes rapidly when he spoke and he looked at every person who approached like they were about to attack him.

“I’m sorry to hear that man. I’ve been in therapy too. I think we’ve given the therapists of this city a sudden surge of business.” The young man laughed nervously. “Hey, do you want to come to our place tonight? You could eat dinner with us if you want to.”

The young man’s eyes lit up, “Seriously?”

Andrew smiled and joined the conversation at this point, “Of course. Tom lives with me and you and any of the boys from that horrid place are welcome to spend time at our place. Come with us… what’s your name?”

“Oh, I’m Damien.”

“Nice to meet you Damien, I’m Andrew. Just let me go tell my brother we can’t watch the twins tonight.” The two younger men watched Andrew walk over to Phil.

Damien’s eyes bulged and said, “His b-brother is that c-cop?”

“Yeah, that’s Phil. How do you know him?”

“He’s the one who ar-arrested F-frank. He… he was so angry b-but he took it out on F-frank not us. It surprised all of us who were still there. He’s the one who unch-chained me and g-gave me clothes.” Damien had hoped to see that man again. “Do you th-think he would let me thank him?”

“Of course. Just wheel me over there.” Damien nodded and wheeled Tom towards Phil, Jolene and Andrew.

“Phil? Damien wants to say something to you.”

Phil smiled warmly at the boy having recognized him right away. He was looking better, not great, but better. He wasn’t as unnaturally thin anymore and even though he was still jumpy he wasn’t near as jumpy as he had been that first night. “How are you Damien?”

“I’m b-better. St-still scared but better. I just w-wanted to say thanks. You w-were so patient that night and so g-gentle. I… just… thanks.”

“You are most welcome Damien. My brother tells me you’re going to hang out with these two tonight, but come by my place anytime. Just like him, I’ve got an open invitation to any of you boys.”

Damien smiled slightly and said, “Thank you.”

“Well we better get going so I can make some dinner for us. Bring the twins by tomorrow and we’ll watch them alright?” Phil nodded and walked with Andrew, Damien and Tom to Andrew’s car.

***

Damien nervously followed the other two men up to Andrew’s apartment. He hadn’t really talked to anyone other than his therapist since he had gotten out of that place. He was nervous he’d make a fool out of himself but he craved normalcy and friends were normal. It gave him hope that he could be friends with them since one of them had come from the same place as Damien. He was led into the living room where Tom was helped onto the couch. Damien sat down in a chair next to the couch.

Tom saw how nervous Damien was and said, “I know how you’re feeling now but all of the Jamisons are nice people and Andrew had a start at life similar to ours. If you decide to stay here tonight you’ll meet two cute little boys, Drew’s nephews. These people are good people. At first I didn’t trust them either but after a month around them I can’t help but trust them. They’ve taken such good care of me.”

Damien smiled slightly, “It’s good to know there are still g-good people out there.” His stutter got worse the more nervous he got and better as he relaxed and Tom’s words had started to relax him.

“I didn’t think there were any until I met these people. Phil, the cop, is a great guy. He stayed with me at the hospital for the first two nights I was there. Then he made sure that every cop who got put on watch outside my door was someone trustworthy. Just give them all a chance and they’ll show you there are good people left.”

“I had lost all faith in good people until I got out of that place. Do you really think they’ll all g-get locked up?”

“I think so. The DA refused to take any plea bargains or to make deals with any of them. This is something that bothers pretty much everyone I’m starting to find out. I don’t think anyone on that jury will be sympathetic to any of those men.”

“Why… why didn’t y-you t-tell the truth… about w-when you first m-met me?”

Tom sighed, “I didn’t want to put you through that. I mean, it’s bad enough that every person in that courtroom knows who each of us are, they don’t need to know every little detail. You were in rough shape that day and I can’t imagine you’d like all those people to hear about that.”

“Th-thanks for that. I… I was really afraid you were going to. I… my therapist said I-I can’t testify… Could I really stay here tonight?”

Andrew came back in the room in time to hear that question. “Yes, of course you can. I've got plenty of space here and a spare room for guests."

Damien smiled the first real, big smile he had smiled since he was 7 and sold to Frank. “Thanks, both of you.”

“Well dinner’s almost ready. Just relax and I’ll bring it in.”

***

A/N: The short story I have that relates to Keeping Tom goes more in depth about Damien's experience.