THE OTHER TOM BROWN'S SCHOOLDAYS Chapter 13
By Pueros

copyright 2006 by Pueros, all rights reserved
pueros@hotmail.com

This story is intended for ADULTS ONLY

Chapter 13 – Hogmanay

(Abernethy Hall, near Sodomhall School, Northumberland,
England, New Year's Eve, December 1803)

Dr. Strappem must have been in unusually pleasant
seasonal spirits, as he had again allowed Tom,
Christopher and Jonathan to go to visit Abernethy Hall,
even though the day was not a Sunday. New Year's Eve of
1803 fell on a Saturday.

Dr. Strappem was actually generous for three reasons.
First, his seasonal spirits had proved pleasant because
of much consumption of the alcoholic kind, especially
whisky of which he was particularly fond. Second, Tom,
Christopher and Jonathan would be staying overnight at
Abernethy Hall for the first time and so their absence
from Sodomhall School would spill over to a Sunday.
Third, the Headmaster too had received a kind invitation
to enjoy Sir James' traditional New Year's Eve Hogmanay
celebrations, the nature of which owed much to the
Baronet's Scottish connections.

Dr. Strappem, who would also stay overnight, would
therefore enjoy the customary Hogmanay banquet Sir James
Abernethy arranged annually for local dignitaries in his
stately home's ornate main dining room. At the same time,
a plainer but nevertheless excellent buffet would be
provided in one of the huge residence's larger halls for
the Baronet's staff, tenants, trade suppliers and other
less important acquaintances.

Dr. Strappem greatly appreciated that Sir James Abernethy
apparently now considered him to be sufficiently
dignified to attend the banquet. The Headmaster had only
previously been invited to the buffet.

The buffet had been pleasant, with plenty of decent food
and ale, plus joyful musical accompaniment, provided by
hired artistes who normally performed at local taverns.
However, there was usually no prospect of the invitees to
the more plebeian party sleeping off their inevitable New
Year hangovers in one of Abernethy Hall's guest bedrooms,
which were exclusively reserved for those attending the
banquet. The best overnight accommodation that could
instead be anticipated was sleeping on some straw in the
stables or barns associated with the stately home. 

Dr. Strappem could now look forward to luxurious
overnight accommodation. The Headmaster would also be
sampling the many courses of delicious exotic delicacies
customarily provided at the banquet, many of which were
testament to the host's Scottish connections and to the
time that he had spent as the colonel of his own army
regiment in India. These dishes, which of course
therefore included the strange mix of haggis and curries,
would be accompanied by expensive fine wines and
classical music played by a hired professional string
quartet.

Dr. Strappem was also eagerly anticipating the subsequent
billiards and card-playing indulged by the gentlemen
amongst the guests, whilst the ladies chatted elsewhere.
However, the Headmaster's attitude did not arise from any
particular affection for these pastimes or the loss of
the women's company, although, being a misogynist, he did
welcome the latter development. He was instead looking
forward much more to consuming the generous amounts of
expensive whisky that accompanied participation,
especially the famed Abernethy malt, distilled in
Scotland by the senior branch of the host's family.

In actuality, Dr. Strappem was to enjoy his undiluted
malt whisky much more than he anticipated. However, this
phenomenon did not arise from the splendid taste but from
the accompanying conversation with his host. This
discussion was also to lead to the Headmaster relishing
future Abernethy hospitality in a totally unexpected but
nevertheless literally greatly gratifying manner. 

Meanwhile, the young subject of the conversation, James
Abernethy, had been excused his customary attendance at
the Hogmanay banquet, at which he was invariably the only
child, in favour of being present at the buffet with Tom,
Christopher and Jonathan. His new friends were only
deemed important enough to be invited to the more
informal and plainer plebeian celebration and the host's
son of course wanted to be with them.

James' father had relented and agreed to this arrangement
because of the boy's entreaties. The man might have been
a traditionalist and disciplinarian but his only son
generally only had to display his invariably completely
disarming smile whilst pleading to achieve his aims.

James, Tom, Christopher and Jonathan were, however, not
currently consuming food or playing at the buffet. The
very pretty young quartet, all of whom would reach their
11th birthdays by the time that Easter of 1804 arrived,
were instead engaged in as earnest a conversation as that
simultaneously taking place in the nearby billiards' room
between Sir James Abernethy and Dr. Strappem.

"You can't!" Tom suggested in desperation to James. "Why
can't I, old bean?" the puzzled young heir to the
Abernethy Baronetcy asked in reply.

"The place is simply not appropriate for someone of your
background, as it caters for the lower middle and not
upper class," Tom answered. "I don't care, old bean,
because, despite my posh accent, I'm not a snob," James
responded.

What the boys were arguing about was also the subject of
the conversation between the fulsomely moustached Sir
James Abernethy and Dr. Strappem in the nearby billiards'
room. "As the war with France and that upstart Napoleon
Bonaparte has resumed," the Baronet advised the
Headmaster, "I decided to reactivate my regiment and
offer my reassembled Northumberland Yeomanry to the
government to defend the country. We've now been ordered
to the south coast of England to help reinforce the
garrisons of some of the forts there. The Prime Minister,
Henry Addington, is a personal friend of mine and he
tells me that the deployment is necessary because he
fears that the French might attempt to invade."

Dr. Strappem knew that Sir James Abernethy was a very
important man in the county of Northumberland. However,
the revelation that the Baronet was a friend of the
current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom suggested
that he was also a person of national significance.

"I was therefore in a quandary," Sir James Abernethy
continued, "as to what I should do about my son in my
absence. It's impractical for me to take him with me
because I'll be living peripatetically in military
establishments and camps that are entirely unsuitable for
a child. I could, of course, simply leave him here under
the tutelage of his tutor but I believe that, even though
he now receives weekly Sunday visits from his new friends
attending your school, he's lonely enough here without
losing the company of his father."

Dr. Strappem believed that he knew what Sir James
Abernethy would say next. The Baronet would surely advise
that he intended finally to despatch his son to some
prestigious boarding school. In fact the Headmaster
wondered why the young heir had not yet been sent to such
an educational establishment, as was customary for upper
class boys.

Dr. Strappem was proved to be partially correct, and also
had his wonderment answered, when Sir James Abernethy
added "I've therefore been considering sending my son to
a boarding school. I've been reluctant to do so before
because I did not enjoy the experience when I attended
Eton. It wasn't the harsh discipline that troubled me, as
all boys generally deserve a good thrashing now and then,
but was instead…….."

Sir James Abernethy had stopped what he was saying
because he suddenly realised that he was unthinkingly
about to reveal unpleasant truths about his time at Eton
that he considered were best kept private. However,
having come so far in conversation, he also appreciated
that he had somehow to complete his intended latest
statement.

"Look, you're a man of the world, Dr. Strappem, and also
an undoubtedly good headmaster," Sir James Abernethy
therefore said in alteration to what he had first
intended more bluntly to reveal, "whom I'm positive
ensures that such nefarious activities never occur at
Sodomhall. However, I have no doubt that you'll know what
I'm inferring when I tell you that I was a rather
handsome schoolboy and was therefore the subject of much
unwanted attention from older pupils and even one teacher
when I was at Eton."

Dr. Strappem, of course, did indeed know what Sir James
Abernethy was inferring. The Headmaster also could not
help but laugh inwardly, albeit without any external sign
of his secret amusement, at the Baronet's suggestion that
he ensured that 'such nefarious activities never occur at
Sodomhall'. 

Dr. Strappem additionally intuitively and correctly
inferred something else from Sir James Abernethy's rather
cryptic confession. The former Eton schoolboy had in
adulthood inherited a rich and distinguished Baronetcy
and all the trappings that came with such an exalted
position. He had also accumulated a brave and successful
military record of which he could be proud. His whole
appearance and demeanour, with his noble bearing and
accent, fulsome masculine moustache and clothing
generally associated with wealthy country squires, seemed
to depict the very epitome of heterosexual English
aristocracy. 

Remembrance of having been forced or seduced as a boy
into homosexual relationships, including possibly even
being raped, would surely consequently be very painful
for such as man as Sir James Abernethy. Dr. Strappem
could therefore fully appreciate why, given such
experiences, the Baronet disliked the idea of sending his
young son and heir to Eton too, despite the fact that the
school was the most prestigious in the country.

"I've therefore discounted Eton as a possibility for my
son," Sir James Abernethy actually next confirmed to Dr.
Strappem, "as I have no reason to believe that the sort
of awful practices to which I was subjected have yet
ceased. I instead began considering such schools as
Harrow and Rugby." 

Dr. Strappem now believed that Sir James Abernethy was
about to ask his opinion about these two famous schools,
which were almost as prestigious as Eton. The
Headmaster's assumption proved incorrect after the
Baronet added "However, I changed my mind when I spoke at
length to my son about the issue and I eventually came
round to accepting his suggestion."

Sir James Abernethy went on to explain to Dr. Strappem
what the suggestion from his son, which he had accepted,
entailed. In reaction, the Headmaster dropped the glass
of expensive malt whisky, which he had just brought to
his lips in order to sip, onto the floor of the
billiards' room.

What the suggestion entailed was simultaneously apparent
in the conversation taking place at the same time between
Tom and the young James Abernethy, held in the nearby
large noisy crowded hall that was hosting the buffet.
Christopher and Jonathan were essentially just witnesses
to the argument.

"The discipline's very severe," retorted Tom, who was
becoming increasingly anxious that his best efforts to
try to dissuade the young heir to the Abernethy Baronetcy
from his intent might fail, "and you can therefore expect
many beatings, which are also often inflicted unjustly!"
"I don't care about that either, old bean, because I'm
not a coward," James responded, causing his friend's
exasperation and panic to increase, "and anyway I'm sure
such punishments and injustice happen in other similar
places!"

The desperate Tom therefore felt compelled to play his
last conversational card. He had kept the disclosure in
reserve because, like all of his fellow pupils at
Sodomhall School, he was usually too ashamed and
frightened to speak about the topic to outsiders.

"There's also a lot of other abuse of the boys by the
staff," Tom finally confessed in a virtual whisper. "What
kind?" James asked.

"I'll only answer that question," Tom replied, "if you
promise not to tell anyone else." James briefly looked a
little perplexed at the request for confidentiality but
nevertheless provided the necessary reassurance.

Tom subsequently swallowed hard and summoned enough
bravery to answer James' question with one word, namely
"Sexual!" The boy's shame at being forced into this
whispered confession was simultaneously given away when
his very pretty face blushed into a vivid scarlet hue.

There was then a brief silence between the boys after Tom
had uttered his humiliating disclosure, which he believed
would permanently bring to an end James' declared intent.
However, his assumption was subsequently shattered when
the young heir to the Abernethy Baronetcy retorted "I
don't care about that either, old bean, because I'm not a
prude, and anyway I'm sure such abuse happens in other
similar places!"

Of course, James did not make his own confession to Tom,
which would have provided full elucidation of his latest
retort. The young heir to the Abernethy Baronetcy still
had aspirations to indulge in sexual experimentation with
his new friends, which was the private reason amongst
several openly expressed ones motivating him to suggest
to his father that he become a boarder with them at
Sodomhall School. 

The possibility that James' secret desire for sexual
experimentation might extend to being involved in similar
activities with adults at Sodomhall School did not deter
the boy at all. He was instead somehow rather guiltily
thrilled at the prospect, as was testified by some hidden
growth in his groin simultaneous to hearing Tom's
disclosure. The young heir to the Abernethy Baronetcy was
currently insufficiently mature and experienced to know
that playing with man-size cocks could be very
anguishing.  

James had previously aired with his father his more open
and innocent motives for wanting to board at Sodomhall.
He had begun by commenting "I know, Pater, that the
school does not normally cater for our social class.
However, I don't mind mixing with boys from the lower
orders." 

James had advised his widower parent, whom he always, as
was common in his class, addressed as 'Pater', which is
Latin for 'father', of his attitude to mixing with boys
of a lower social strata not as a result of any personal
condescension or snobbishness. He genuinely did not
possess these unlikeable characteristics. He instead
hoped to overcome any snootiness that the adult might
have in respect of the issue. 

"After all, Pater," James had added for his father's
consideration, "I already count Brown, West and Morton as
my best friends. Sodomhall School also has the advantage,
in addition to having these three boys as boarders, of
being close to Abernethy Hall. I additionally understand
that the place has a reputation for providing a good
disciplined education." 

James relayed this latter comment because he recognised
that his father liked his son to behave and wanted a
sound education for him. The boy's remark was also
actually correct and the academic reputation was
deserved. However, outside adults might have been less
enamoured if they had been made aware of the nature of
some of Sodomhall School's extra-curricula activities.

At the Hogmanay buffet, James now frowned at Tom before
announcing "I am, though, beginning to care that your
attempts to dissuade me from boarding with you at
Sodomhall School might result from the fact that you
don't really like me." The young heir to the Abernethy
Baronetcy was fully aware that his expressed fear was
wrong. However, he had been spurred into making the
comment in order to try to put an end to his friend's
counter-arguments, which were clearly well meaning but
nevertheless unwanted.

Tom naturally protested his innocence in respect of the
accusation. He also realised that his attempts to
dissuade James from joining him as a boarder at Sodomhall
School had failed. He reluctantly recognised that he
could not continue to argue in the face of a charge that
he was only doing so because he disliked the boy. 

Tom was perceptively not deceived that James'
aristocratic status or, for a pupil of Sodomhall School,
his unusual closeness with an important and loving father
would help his friend avoid the worst experiences of life
at the educational establishment. He realised that the
boy would be prevented from telling his parent about what
was happening through blackmail if not shame.

Tom had by now become well acquainted with Dr. Strappem's
scheming ways, not least from his own experience of the
blackmail practised to prevent all pupils from telling
tales to outsiders. Such intimidation was verbally
inflicted on all new boys as a precaution, even though
most would never complain anyway because of fear, shame
and the lack of anyone to whom they could realistically
protest and expect help, given that all possessed
completely uncaring parents or guardians.
 
Each new boy was menaced with expulsion if, in Dr.
Strappem's own frequently uttered words, "You tell
untruths about what happens in this school to outsiders.
You'll also be branded as an outrageous liar, eligible
for prosecution for malicious slander, and homosexual,
imprisonable for extreme perversion, both of which I'm
sure will displease your parents or guardians. Meanwhile,
I'll also be compelled to punish severely the close
friends you leave behind for harbouring such a viper as
you in their midst!"

No pupil considered expulsion in such a manner desirable,
regardless of how much they would love to leave
Sodomhall. Their invariably cold and selfish parents and
guardians would probably believe Dr. Strappem's
accusations rather than any made by the boys and so the
expelled students could expect immense trouble. Even if
the adults thought otherwise, they would be too uncaring
or unimportant to provoke much trouble, in an era without
police and school inspectors, when litigation about such
matters was unheard of and stories in the embryonic press
were often condemned as scurrilous and so ignored. The
idea that the friends left behind would also suffer
severely was also highly discouraging.

Ex-pupils who had become adults, some in very important
professions, additionally maintained their meek silence
for similar reasons. They all also appreciated that, if
they did somehow try to pursue their grievances, counter-
accusations from Dr. Strappem and his staff at Sodomhall
School about them being liars and the actual perverts
could be very damaging. Collective action, such as that
undertaken by modern victim pressure groups, was
additionally unknown in early the 19th century.     

Sir James Abernethy was, however, an unprecedented kind
of parent for a pupil of Sodomhall School. He would
probably have believed any accusations made by his son
and was caring and important enough to provoke a lot of
trouble. Nevertheless, Tom perceptively appreciated that
the man's son would never want his father to have to
tackle counter-charges that his young heir was a liar and
pervert or have his friends suffering because he had
complained of abuse.

Tom therefore knew that James would, after joining
Sodomhall School, compliantly suffer physical and sexual
abuse without complaint, as he already had to do. In
fact, given his exceptional red-headed prettiness and
unusually exalted status for a pupil, the boy would
surely be the popular subject of much maltreatment of
this kind.

These assumptions had originally encouraged Tom to try to
dissuade James from his unwise intent. However, his
efforts had now obviously failed.

Tom, completely disarmed by James' accusation that he
might not have any real affection for his new
aristocratic friend, gave up arguing by sombrely
confirming "I won't contest the issue with you anymore."
He subsequently briefly contemplated how the young heir
to the Abernethy Baronetcy would soon have to suffer the
sad consequences of his oratorical victory.

Tom then sighed before adding "I'll just say instead that
Christopher, Jonathan and I do truly like you. We'll
prove it by doing our best to help make your imminent
introduction to Sodomhall School as painless as
possible."

James naturally assumed that Tom's use of the word
'painless' referred to overcoming any difficulties that
he might encounter when he started at Sodomhall School at
the imminent beginning of the new winter term. The boy
still naively did not realise, despite his friend's
warnings, that the expression had been utilised
literally. 

"Well, as the issue is settled, old beans, old chaps, old
superlatives, let's go and tuck into the buffet" James
happily suggested to his three friends after winning the
debate, which was a victory that he would have cause
later to regret on many occasions. The hungry Tom,
Christopher and Jonathan eagerly complied, as the fare on
offer was far more plentiful, varied and tasty than the
disgusting gruel inevitably served for dinner at their
school. 

Temporarily forgetting about what horrors the imminently
forthcoming year of 1804 might bring to their lives at
their school, Tom, Christopher and Jonathan subsequently
happily indulged in a variety of enjoyable party games
with James. To the latter boy's disappointment, these
pastimes still did not include sex play but he hoped that
his arrival as a boarder at Sodomhall would eventually
change this undesirable situation. His wish was, of
course, to be granted in a very comprehensive manner.   

Like Tom, Sir James Abernethy had also eventually acceded
to his son's persuasive arguments. He was therefore
currently agreeing with Dr. Strappem, whose whisky glass
had been restored to the shocked but pleased Headmaster's
hands and generously re-filled, the arrangements for his
young heir to start at Sodomhall School. 

After all, Sir James Abernethy had heard nothing but good
about Sodomhall School from local people. Unfortunately,
those whom he had questioned on the subject proved to be
rather biased and untruthful commentators, all in some
way gaining from the educational establishment's
activities.

Sir James Abernethy had, in the course of his normal
business, asked the opinion of his tenant farmers,
Allcock and Loveboy, about Sodomhall School. He did the
same with the local publican, Dickup, and the trader who
supplied his stately home with linen and staff uniforms,
Coxhead. All praised the educational establishment.

Sir James Abernethy's own butler, Rambottom, also
provided a glowing verbal reference, which was not
surprising because he was a regular participant in
Sodomhall School's special annual hunt. He always
relished the reward gained by catching the current year's
boy-bait. 

Sir James Abernethy's wider garnering of views also
unfortunately somehow managed to target similar
beneficiaries of Sodomhall School's naughty activities.
However, this phenomenon was actually not surprising, as
he was guided on whom to ask by his butler.    

Sir James Abernethy therefore concluded that Sodomhall
School had to be better than Eton in respect of ensuring
the moral welfare of the pupils. 

How wrong could a man be?

(To be continued in chapter 14 – 'Newts')


  
TOTBS13_The_Other_Tom_Browns_Schooldays_Chapter_13