Jay hadn’t heard from his boss for a few days, he checked his messages and emails, but nothing. So he sent him a message midweek, hoping his boss would want to visit him again. But he didn’t reply for some time and when he did it was only to say, see you at work on Saturday. Something between them had changed and Mr Evans seemed to be getting colder and more distant with him all the time. Jay emailed the account he thought was his boss’ alter ego, trying to keep things light and cheerful, but really looking to meet up. Again he got no reply at first, but on the Friday afternoon a short message arrived. “Be at the flat for 7pm.” was all it said. Jay knew the flat in question was Mr Parkes’ so he was excited and a little scared in equal measure and he guessed they had plans for him.
“Good morning Mr Evans,” Jay said as he got into work on the Saturday morning. “Hi Jay,” the old man replied, just glancing up at him then getting back to his work. All that day Jay couldn’t help feeling his boss was avoiding him and they exchanged no more than two sentences before Mr Evans left the shop as usual in the afternoon. He got back in time to lock up at the end of the day, said goodbye to Jay and that he would see him tomorrow, giving him one of those little brown envelopes as he left. Though he was young and a little naive, Jay knew when he was being given the cold shoulder. He took the envelope, stuffed it in his pocket and walked home. On the way home he managed to convince himself that those dirty old men didn’t control him, he could take them or leave them. Mr Evans couldn’t just use him for sex then act like nothing happened, he would stay home tonight, that would show them.
That idea lasted almost an hour, after watching some crap on TV with his mum and her boyfriend for a while, Jay got bored, went back up to his room and found the little brown envelope in his jacket pocket. He opened it and pulled the folded fifty pound notes from inside. His fingers trembled with excitement as he fanned them out and a small piece of paper fell from the fold. He picked it up and read it, “For services rendered, thanks for a great night.” Suddenly he regretted the decision to stay home, he wanted to play and if he was going to get paid for it as well. Jay checked the time on his phone, it was just gone 7 already. He didn’t know what to do, but decided he should email explaining, but explaining what?
Jay had been sat staring at his phone for a while, struggling with what to put in the email, when the phone started to ring. He didn’t recognize the number, but answered it anyway.
“Hello?” he asked.
“Jay?” came the reply, he recognized Mr Parkes’ voice right away, “are you on your way?”
“ummm, no,” Jay stammered, “I umm, just woke up, I fell asleep,” he lied.
“Well get ready quick, I’ll meet you at he end of your road in 15,” barked down the phone at Jay.
“W what should I wear?” Jay asked.
“Doesn’t matter, whatever you like, 15 minutes,” and he hung up. Jay stripped off and quickly had a shower before putting on clean jeans and a clean T shirt. Clutching his hoody he said see you later to his mum and told he he may stay over at a friends, he didn’t know, and left the house. It was cold and dark outside, Jay pushed his arms into the hoody and fastened it as he trotted to the corner. He hadn’t brought a coat and he wondered if he should have. Mr Parkes pulled up in a big dark Range Rover as Jay approached the corner. He jogged the last few yards and climbed inside the warm comfy car.
“Hi,” Mr Parkes said. And Jay replied “Hi.” They set off and remained in silence for a few minutes, soon they were heading out of town onto the motorway and Jay’s curiosity got the better of him.
“Where are we going?” Jay asked.
“The West End,” Mr Parkes replied and glanced over at Jay to gauge his reaction, spotting the concern right away. “It’s just you and me tonight Jay, I’m taking you for a night out, we are going to have some fun, spend some money and live a little.” He grinned over at Jay who suddenly felt very small and out of his depth in the big flash car. “Don’t worry,” the old man continued, “you’ll love it, honest.” The big car hushed along the motorway at speed, pretty soon they were in London and heading for the centre. Jay gazed from the window like a child on a school trip. He had been to London loads of times, he lived less than an hour away after all. But this time it felt different, looked different. He started to recognize streets and landmarks and after what was the fastest trip to London Jay had ever made, they arrived in Soho. They drove for a few minutes, this way and that way, twisting down tight narrow back roads that seemed impossible for the big car. Then suddenly turned down a ramp and into an underground car park.
The streets were full of people, the noise was constant and the lights flooded the streets and reflected off the puddles and the wet roads. The smell of exotic foods filled the air along with some strange smelling smoke from one or two passers by, and Jay felt butterflies in his stomach as he trotted along the narrow pavements with Mr Parkes. People seemed to step aside for him, but bumped Jay until he ended up walking behind the old man.
“You OK?” Mr Parkes asked, stopping and turning to face the youngster. “Jay nodded, but it was clear from his expression that he was feeling overwhelmed by his surroundings. “Come on,” the old man continued,” wrapping one arm around Jays narrow shoulders and holding him close. “This place can be a bit full on, but you’ll get used to it.” He said and with an arm around him he guided Jay through the chaotic streets and down a little side alley to a shop. The door was open, but the windows were completely black. They stepped inside, through a silver chain curtain, under a warm heater and Jays eyes nearly popped out of his head as he gazed at shelves and shelves full of sex paraphernalia.
The shop was much bigger on the inside than it had looked from the outside. And, despite the fact you could walk by without noticing it, it was very busy. Mr Parkes looked totally at home, he wore a gray suit with no tie and a crisp white shirt with the top two buttons unfastened. He took hold of Jay’s hand and lead him through the shop to the clothing section. Jay felt like everyone was looking at him, and to be honest, some people were.
“I thought it was time we got you something other than your mothers cast offs to wear,” The old man announced, a little too loudly for Jay’s comfort. “Have a look around, see if there is anything you fancy,” and Jay began sort of looking at clothes. He didn’t really know what he was doing and felt like a fish out of water. It was all so alien to him, he kind of looked at items hanging from the racks, but his eyes darted all around the shop, watching everything and everyone. He made eye contact with a guy just a couple of years older than him, stood on the far side of a display unit. The guy looked at Mr Parkes, then back at Jay and winked. Jay felt his face flush bright red and had to turn away. A moment later he saw a middle aged guy, who looked like he had just left the office, watching him. The guy didn’t seem to realize he had been noticed, or he didn’t care, his eyes just roamed up and down Jay’s body and Jay almost felt naked under his stare.
Jay turned his back, and something caught his eye, a flash of pink in a sea of black PVC. He reached up and took it from the rack. It looked like a long pink vest made of a heavy, thick material, but surely this was a child’s dress, it was tiny. “What’s that you’ve found?” Mr Parkes inquired as he arrived at Jay’s side.
“I think it’s a dress, or a vest,” Jay replied, “but I think it’s for a kid.” He continued in a whisper.
“No no,” the old man chuckled, it’s a dress, it’s just very stretchy.” As he spoke Mr Parkes took the dress from the youngster, turning it around and inspecting it, “and you know what?” he continued “it’s perfect, it’s your size and it’s you to a T. I found just the thing to go with it as well.” He took Jay’s arm and lead him back down the shop to the lingerie area. He held up a tiny pair of panties, and Jay glanced around the shop feeling ridiculously uncomfortable. They were white, satin and similar to the string Jay already had, but were a tanga. “They have a matching bra as well,” the old man continued, flicking through the hangers until he found the one he was looking for and holding it up, “Oh yes, these are perfect.” he declared, then turned to Jay and said, “Shoes, also pink I think.” With three hangers in one hand and Jay in the other the old man lead the way across the shop to shelves full of shoes. “What size are you again?” he asked Jay.
“ummm seven.” Jay answered, not really following what was going on.
“Wait here,” Mr Parkes said handing the bundle of clothes to Jay, and disappeared. He returned a moment later with a shop assistant in tow. A buxom middle aged woman, dressed like a teenager in a thin loose fitting top and very short skirt, who looked like she could eat Jay for breakfast. He took the clothes from Jay and help up the dress.
“To go with this, in a 7.” he said to her.
“OK I go look.” she replied a thick accent and, looking totally disinterested, she disappeared.
“Mr Parkes?” Jay asked in a whisper.
“Call me Jonny,” he answered quickly, then added “or Daddy if you prefer,” and winked at Jay. The youngster took a moment to process what the old man had just said, then continued timidly.