Nomads on the Amstel
22. The spider and the fly (Part 1)
Armoured and wary and loaded with old bacon rind, it scuttled along the skirting board, oblivious to anything but the urge to get back to its family. Sensing the change in the atmosphere and instinctively responding to the need for the dark and the damp, it gave the newly installed occupant of its world barely a glance, as it scrambled through a crack in the floor. In insect thinking, it made it just in time as the rain began to patter deliberately against the window and the southwesterly wind signalled the end of the heat wave.
Jacco, stubbed out the joint he’d just finished and totally relaxed, lay back on his bed, watching the weeks of grime being gradually smeared and streaked as the shower got heavier. On the one hand, he was pleased that the weather was taking care of his windows; he just hadn’t had time to get round to them. On the other hand, he regretted the removal of a sort of symbolic privacy that the dirty panes had provided. It also struck him that he should set about cleaning the whole maisonette and start making it his own; personalising it, in the same way the other guys in the house had but that could begin tomorrow. At the moment he was just too mellow for work. As a kid, he’d always loved this sort of heavy, summer rain and he watched fascinated, as the rivulets of water trickled down the glass, turning this way and that and relentlessly sluicing away the accumulated dirt.
He’d moved in with his two big cases, into which he’d hurriedly crammed everything that he’d not long ago moved into Wil and Ruud’s and apart from digging into them for clean, if rumpled clothes, they lay more or less unpacked in the corner. Something had told him to wait a few days, before accepting his new situation, the overflowing bags representing a sort of safety valve that would allow him to escape easily if necessary. Not that he could or would go back to Wil and Ruud’s; that would be out of the question. There was no way he would accept their smothering over-protectiveness again, though after the way he’d treated them, he doubted he would get the chance. Part of him regretted that things had gone wrong there and he was grateful for the opportunity they had provided. After all, it was unlikely that he could have made the step to where he was now, directly from his parents’ house. Then again, in many ways, they’d been even more controlling than his family and it had been made worse by the fact that they knew exactly what he was likely to be getting up to when he was out, which pricked at his conscience far more than it should. Okay, he knew that according to all accepted mores and norms, he appeared to be going off the rails and for that reason, even felt a little thankful that Wil and Ruud had been prepared to go to such lengths to protect him; it was comforting in a funny sort of way. Yet when all was said and done, he wasn’t stupid and knew what he was doing and didn’t feel in the slightest out of control of his own destiny. In fact, he was thoroughly enjoying himself. The one-roomed apartment that Arjan had arranged for him was basic, simply furnished and everything worked. There was a modern shower and a functional kitchen area and these things far outweighed the shabby wallpaper and the damp patches in the corners of the walls. He wouldn’t have to pay any rent for a couple of months until he was earning enough and he didn’t have to pay extra for energy costs, or the telephone up to a certain limit. College was still a possibility in the future and he liked the friendliness of the other boys in the house, so all in all, he felt he’d landed on his feet. The only potential problems on the horizon were the fact that he still had to face his parents and explain what was going on and of course, the job itself.
The former could be awkward, depending on what Wil and Ruud might tell them but he was slowly concocting a parent-friendly tale for himself that would hopefully set aside their concerns. As long as he visited them regularly, he figured there would be no need for them to descend on him at inopportune times, or ask too many awkward questions. Wil and Ruud could be portrayed as intrusive and cloying and therefore, his newfound independence could be shown to be a positive rather than a negative move. His story would still need some fine-tuning but he felt sure he could persuade them to leave him to make his own way in life. He’d have to do it quickly though. He had no idea how long it would take Wil and Ruud to report his moving out but he was sure that they would eventually see it as the right thing to do, so it was important that he was ready with the right excuses for his mother and father.
If he saw his work at the club as a potential problem, then it wasn’t because of the nature of the job; about that, he had no misgivings at all. The only doubts concerned the unknown; would he be good enough? Would he be asked to do things he knew nothing about? Would Arjan be satisfied with him? Was there anything he wouldn’t do? Arjan himself, was coming round in a little while to give him more information and apparently to present him with a set of rules, which he wasn’t sure he liked the sound of but then again, if his new boss was coming round, there was always the chance of another sex session. Jacco was unsure of several things in this rapidly evolving future of his but there was one thing of which he was certain; everything revolved around his feelings for Arjan. He’d do anything the man asked and trusted him implicitly; logic nagged at him that this wasn’t necessarily wise but logic played little part in his present feelings; besides which, Arjan was the key to unlocking Jacco’s sexual potential; that was the most thrilling prospect of all and that he was able to rationalise. He knew the prospect of a relationship with Arjan was remote but it was enough to imagine it. Equally as powerful however, were the feelings of physical awakening and the ecstatic release he was getting from sex. It had surprised and even shocked him to find out that those urges were so strong, leading to the conviction that it didn’t matter which man it was, the need would be satisfied. Working in Arjan’s club would be no problem whatsoever; he would be having sex more often than he could have dreamed and getting paid for it. Wasn’t that every young man’s dream?
Ruud stood in the hallway, with half an eye on the pelting rain and wind that were battering the hanging plant container outside their front door. A gaudy mix of Geranium and Nasturtium petals were plastering themselves on the narrow window like red snow and the basket was swinging too and fro alarmingly, looking as if at any minute, it would wrench itself loose and come crashing through the glass.
“Are you trying to tell us that you have no idea where he is?”
“I’m afraid so, yes. He just collected his things and left while we were both out.”
Ruud felt himself reddening at the thought, even though he was talking to Jacco’s mother on the phone.
“Well, this is just not acceptable Mr. de Bruin. You and Mr. van Rossum assured us that he would be safe with you; we trusted you and now you tell us he’s disappeared without trace.”
“Yes, well you see…”
“I see only too well! Jacco’s father will be home in a few minutes and then we’ll come straight round to discuss this further.”
“Are you sure? The weather is so bad at the moment and…”
“Do you think I care about the weather Mr. de Bruin? I don’t! I only care about Jacco; I want to know where my son is. Goodbye.”
Ruud stared at the phone after it went dead, as if it would miraculously provide him with some answers, then put it down and reluctantly went to tell Wil what had happened.
“You did what?” his partner exploded.
“Of all the stupid, brainless things to do Ruud and now they’re coming round here? What the hell for? What do they think we’re going to do about it? Why couldn’t you keep quiet? He’s only been gone a few days. We need time to ask around and find out what the little bastard’s up to. You didn’t need to involve the parents yet. Fuck me Ruud! You and your sense of duty, conscience, call it what you like; it’s not the first time it’s got us into trouble.”
He was recalling what he saw as Ruud’s biggest mistake all those years ago, when he’d felt he had to tell Wil’s brother about his illness and thus caused a family crisis that Wil had been only too keen to avoid. Ruud gave him a pained look and decided to ignore yet another reference to that slip-up. He’d had the best of intentions then as well and had never really explained to Wil, that at the time he’d looked so bad there was no denying it and the family had already put two and two together.
“I thought they needed to know, that’s all. We promised them we’d keep them up to date didn’t we? Anyway, they’d not heard anything from him for ages, so chances are, they would have been in touch with us pretty soon anyway.”
“Remind me just once more,” Wil snarled sarcastically, “Jacco is how old?”
“It makes no difference Wil. I… sorry… we, made them a promise and they accepted that in good faith. They were entrusting the welfare of their son into our hands so to speak. I didn’t make that promise lightly.”
“Oh puke! I’m going to be sick! That is just so corny.”
“Now listen; I’m just about fed up with you putting me down all the time, for doing the right thing. You’ve been just as worried about Jacco as I’ve been, don’t try to deny it.”
“I’m not denying it Ruud and I admit, I’ve had sleepless nights over him too but enough is enough. We’ve done our best for him; tried to give him advice; tried to look after him a bit but what’s he done? Thrown it in our faces that’s what! Now, as far as I’m concerned, we’ve done our bit and he’s chosen to go his own way and that, after all’s said and done, is what he’s entitled to do but I’m damned if I’m going to get the blame for it. I don’t care if I never see or hear from him again. I know, I know, it sounds harsh but we’ve got our own lives to lead, what’s left of them.”
Wil inhaled deeply, as if all that he’d just said had been done in one breath. His face was bright red and his eyes were bulging and Ruud knew it was time to calm the situation down and change the subject.
“Okay, maybe you’re right; maybe we’ve done all we could. Do you fancy a coffee or a tea or something?”
A half an hour later and in a much calmer frame of mind, they were both sat watching the news on the television, when they heard a crashing noise outside.
“Oh God, there goes the hanging basket I think. You stay there; I’ll go and clear it up.”
Ruud opened the front door in the face of the howling wind and was faced by not only the contents of the plant container strewn across the step but a shocked woman and her husband, who was trying unsuccessfully to brush spattered mud off the hem of her dress. Behind them stood another middle aged man who Ruud didn’t recognise. Jacco’s parents had arrived and they weren’t alone.
In the back of his mind, he heard his name being called, again and again and it took a minute before his subconscious realised that the sound wasn’t imagined and that Arjan was outside his door. He leapt up in the way you do when you’ve been startled out of that state of half sleep, half daydreaming and stumbling over his shoes, he made his way across the room and struggled with the lock. By now, Arjan was hammering impatiently at the door.
“Okay…I’m here…sorry, I was half asleep.”
Arjan strode in, none to pleased at having been kept waiting but when he saw the alarmed expression on Jacco’s face; he controlled his irritation and just smiled.
“Beauty sleep at your age? Not necessary my friend, not necessary. Are you going to put the coffee on then? You’re going to need to be awake and have your wits about you, so you don’t forget anything.”
He took a cursory glance around the room; noted the cases still bulging with clothes and the lack of personal effects and made a mental note to go easy on the boy; he was obviously ready to run should things get tough.
“So, how are you finding it here? Have you settled in alright? Have you got everything you need? Are the others being friendly enough? Any problems?”
Jacco was struggling with an unopened pack of coffee, tugging at it and using his teeth to try to tear the seal. He cursed in frustration, as nothing seemed to work. Arjan moved up behind him, reached over his shoulder into the kitchen drawer and pulled out a pair of scissors.
“These any good?”
Jacco could feel the warmth and slight pressure of the man’s body against his back and immediately relaxed. Arjan was hardly touching him but he sensed his strength and solidity and felt the tension sliding in recurring shivers out of his limbs.
“Yeah…sorry, stupid…should have thought of that…thanks.”
Smiling to himself, Arjan mentally planned how his speech would go. He knew his own power in these situations but explaining how things worked in his operation was complex; each instruction a potential land mine with these essentially naïve and inexperienced kids. They were all different and each one had to be judged on their own merits. He was fairly confident about Jacco; partly because he saw that the boy was clearly in love with him and partly because he had rarely come across a kid with such a natural appetite for extreme sex.
“I asked you a question; has the cat got your tongue?”
Jacco was flustered. He could feel it and stumbled over his words. It was the man’s presence. It always got him excited; not necessarily sexually but Arjan made his nerve endings tingle. He had that way of looking at you, which Jacco interpreted as so many before him had, as a feeling that he was the centre of Arjan’s universe, that he was special and unique.
“No, no problems. I like it here and everybody I’ve met so far is friendly. I think I’ve got everything I need thanks and thanks again for giving me a chance like this.”
“Well, you’re not getting it for nothing you know. You get the first month rent-free but after that, it comes out of your wages. I think I’ve already told you that. How much you earn will depend on how good you are at your job and I already know how good you can be, so that shouldn’t be a problem.”
Jacco blushed deeply and shivered at certain memories.
“I think we’d better be quite clear from the start what your work will entail don’t you? After that, there can be no misunderstandings.”
Arjan clasped his hands together and let the fingers intertwine with each other.
“You’ll be expected to have sex with and generally entertain the clients; all sorts of clients you realise and you’ll be paid for it. Okay so far?”
Jacco nodded, he’d had no illusions on that score and Arjan breathed an inward sigh of relief. Sometimes, when faced with the stark realities of what they were expected to do, the kids panicked and he had to work that much harder on his persuasion techniques.
“There are certain rules of course and I’ve got a sheet with them on for you but I want to go over them first, to make sure you understand why they’re there.”
Again, Jacco nodded.
“First, you’ll go to the clinic every month for a check up and it’ll be registered. That’s not optional, it’s the law and it’s a sensible one. It’s not only you we’re protecting, it’s the clients; it’s a question of trust you see. They need to know they’re not running any risk of getting a disease. Of course, we can’t guarantee that they’re as clean as they might say they are, which is why this is essential for you too. I take it you’ve not had anything up to now?”
”No, nothing. Is it common then?”
Arjan saw the worry in his face and responded appropriately. Of course the chances of him picking up something were pretty high; there’d be a lot of clients but he wasn’t going to alarm the boy with what might happen.
“No, not common at all and anyway, everything can be cured or controlled these days, so you’ve got nothing to worry about. Don’t think that clinic visits are the only way we protect you though. All penetrative sex must be with a condom, again, no options here. If a client refuses to put on a rubber then you’re entitled to refuse to have sex with him and not only entitled but you must. Again, we don’t want it getting around that our boys are bare-backing; it’s bad for business. Now listen carefully here Jacco, this is important. There’ll be times when you’re so far gone, or a client’s so far gone that it’ll seem the most natural thing in the world for it to be slipped in, ‘au naturel’ so to speak. So get it into your subconscious that you never have sex without a condom, now is that clear?”
“Yes, of course. I mean it makes sense doesn’t it, for both sides. I don’t want to catch anything if I can help it; I really don’t.”
”Of course you don’t, who does? Don’t worry. If you take reasonable precautions, you should be able to steer clear of most things.”
Arjan exaggerated to calm the kid’s nerves but he knew that all the boys came down with something sooner or later; herpes, crabs, gonorrhoea, hepatitis; they all came as part of the job but he had no intention of telling Jacco that.
“What do I do about the money and change and stuff like that?”
Another minefield.
“That’s something else you don’t need to worry about. You never see any of the client’s cash; he pays it to one of us beforehand. We also take their wallets off them and put them in the safe, before they meet you. That’s also for your protection. We’ve had cases in the past, where they’ve accused the boys of stealing their money, sometimes rightly I might add and that involves the police, which we want to avoid as much as possible. So their valuables are locked up beforehand, then nobody can be accused of anything. Your wages will be paid into your bank account. We like to do everything properly here, just like a normal job.”
Jacco handed him a mug of coffee and then two paper tubes with creamer and sugar in. He hadn’t really had the time to get himself permanent supplies, or at least that was his excuse. Arjan noted the further evidence of the boy’s readiness to abandon the whole thing if it didn’t work out and wondered if he could summon up the energy to have sex with him, to cement the deal. He hoped it wouldn’t be necessary.
Jacco sat beside him on the bed.
“What happens if the customer, or client, wants to do stuff…uhm, I’m not sure about this…stuff that I don’t want to do. I can refuse can’t I?”
‘Careful,’ Arjan thought to himself, ‘tread carefully here.’
“Hey, you’ve heard of the expression, ‘The customer is king’?”
“Yes,” Jacco replied cautiously.
“Well, in our establishments, he isn’t…you are. That’s not to say that they won’t try it on and it’s more or less up to you what you are prepared to do but as a rule of thumb, it’s best to sort those things out beforehand. Try to talk to them and get a pretty firm idea of what they’re after and then negotiate. We’ll already have discussed it with them and have charged them accordingly, so you’ll already have an idea of what to expect. Any problems; talk to one of us.”
“Who’s ‘Us’?”
“What? Oh, okay, yes, fair question. There are four people, including myself of course, who you should regard as being your boss. You’ve met the barman at the club? Okay, then there’s Jimmy and Andries, who I’ll introduce you to tomorrow. As far as you’re concerned, all of us have equal authority and you should take orders from any one of us. If you ever have any problems with that, you can talk to me, okay? Now these guys are there to look out for you and you can always go to them about clients but remember, they’re also there to watch for any shenanigans on the part of you kids and they won’t stand for any nonsense. I should warn you now; they can look after themselves and they hate disloyalty but I’m sure you’ll be okay.”
He patted Jacco warmly on the back and let his hand linger. Dropping his tone, so that he was quiet and calm and friendly, he asked what he hoped would be more or less his last question; he had an appointment and he was already late.
“Now, I think that’s just about everything for now; you can read through the sheet later in case I’ve missed stuff. Is there anything more you’d like to ask me?”
“No, I don’t think so…oh yes, when do I start? I mean really start the job?”
‘Damn!’ thought Arjan, ’Shit, I forgot the most important thing. I was just about to go and set the whole thing up and I almost forgot there’s no show without Punch.’
“How about tomorrow? You can start in the club and Andries will be behind the bar. He’ll show you the ropes. A couple of clients should be enough for your first night; although I’ve already seen you in that place; should be like water off a duck’s back. You’re not nervous are you?”
He smiled and stroked Jacco’s shoulder.
“No, not really. Well, perhaps a little bit but tomorrow’s fine. Best to get the first day over with I reckon.”
”That’s the spirit. Oh, I almost forgot…”
Arjan knew he had to choose his next words carefully.
“…I think you’ll be wasted if you only work at the club; you’re too good for that. What about working for me, more directly?”
That idea appealed to Jacco.
“What do you mean? What sort of work?”
“Oh, nothing special but for instance, the day after tomorrow, I’ve got some important friends coming round, including a couple of celebrities you may know and I wondered if you could come along as well and maybe help me entertain them. You know, drinks, snacks, and emptying ashtrays, that sort of thing; generally making sure they’re comfortable. There’ll also be ‘sweeties’ available, if you know what I mean?”
He winked broadly at Jacco, who had a rough idea of what he was saying.
“And there’d be a bonus in it for you. What do you think?”
The idea of being close to Arjan was good enough reason for Jacco. It sounded as though he really thought he was special and he felt proud. Arjan must really like him, otherwise, he wouldn’t have been chosen.
“Yeah, I’d like that.”
“I’ll give the details to Andries and he’ll tell you times etcetera tomorrow, okay? Now, I really must go. I’ve got a meeting and I’m already late. So, welcome to the job and best of luck for tomorrow; I’m sure you’ll be fine.”
He gave Jacco a kiss and another pat on the shoulder and left, quietly confident that he’d recruited yet another money-spinner and congratulating himself on another job well done.
Jacco couldn’t stop smiling, he was so happy. A whole exciting new future was opening up in front of him and he was pretty certain that if he played his cards right, it would include Arjan. He didn’t have to start work until the next evening, which left plenty of time to think of the right approach for his parents. He’d go home in the morning and tackle his mother first; she was always the easier of the two.
Armoured and wary and loaded with old bacon rind, it scuttled along the skirting board, oblivious to anything but the urge to get back to its family. Sensing the change in the atmosphere and instinctively responding to the need for the dark and the damp, it gave the newly installed occupant of its world barely a glance, as it scrambled through a crack in the floor. In insect thinking, it made it just in time as the rain began to patter deliberately against the window and the southwesterly wind signalled the end of the heat wave.
Jacco, stubbed out the joint he’d just finished and totally relaxed, lay back on his bed, watching the weeks of grime being gradually smeared and streaked as the shower got heavier. On the one hand, he was pleased that the weather was taking care of his windows; he just hadn’t had time to get round to them. On the other hand, he regretted the removal of a sort of symbolic privacy that the dirty panes had provided. It also struck him that he should set about cleaning the whole maisonette and start making it his own; personalising it, in the same way the other guys in the house had but that could begin tomorrow. At the moment he was just too mellow for work. As a kid, he’d always loved this sort of heavy, summer rain and he watched fascinated, as the rivulets of water trickled down the glass, turning this way and that and relentlessly sluicing away the accumulated dirt.
He’d moved in with his two big cases, into which he’d hurriedly crammed everything that he’d not long ago moved into Wil and Ruud’s and apart from digging into them for clean, if rumpled clothes, they lay more or less unpacked in the corner. Something had told him to wait a few days, before accepting his new situation, the overflowing bags representing a sort of safety valve that would allow him to escape easily if necessary. Not that he could or would go back to Wil and Ruud’s; that would be out of the question. There was no way he would accept their smothering over-protectiveness again, though after the way he’d treated them, he doubted he would get the chance. Part of him regretted that things had gone wrong there and he was grateful for the opportunity they had provided. After all, it was unlikely that he could have made the step to where he was now, directly from his parents’ house. Then again, in many ways, they’d been even more controlling than his family and it had been made worse by the fact that they knew exactly what he was likely to be getting up to when he was out, which pricked at his conscience far more than it should. Okay, he knew that according to all accepted mores and norms, he appeared to be going off the rails and for that reason, even felt a little thankful that Wil and Ruud had been prepared to go to such lengths to protect him; it was comforting in a funny sort of way. Yet when all was said and done, he wasn’t stupid and knew what he was doing and didn’t feel in the slightest out of control of his own destiny. In fact, he was thoroughly enjoying himself. The one-roomed apartment that Arjan had arranged for him was basic, simply furnished and everything worked. There was a modern shower and a functional kitchen area and these things far outweighed the shabby wallpaper and the damp patches in the corners of the walls. He wouldn’t have to pay any rent for a couple of months until he was earning enough and he didn’t have to pay extra for energy costs, or the telephone up to a certain limit. College was still a possibility in the future and he liked the friendliness of the other boys in the house, so all in all, he felt he’d landed on his feet. The only potential problems on the horizon were the fact that he still had to face his parents and explain what was going on and of course, the job itself.
The former could be awkward, depending on what Wil and Ruud might tell them but he was slowly concocting a parent-friendly tale for himself that would hopefully set aside their concerns. As long as he visited them regularly, he figured there would be no need for them to descend on him at inopportune times, or ask too many awkward questions. Wil and Ruud could be portrayed as intrusive and cloying and therefore, his newfound independence could be shown to be a positive rather than a negative move. His story would still need some fine-tuning but he felt sure he could persuade them to leave him to make his own way in life. He’d have to do it quickly though. He had no idea how long it would take Wil and Ruud to report his moving out but he was sure that they would eventually see it as the right thing to do, so it was important that he was ready with the right excuses for his mother and father.
If he saw his work at the club as a potential problem, then it wasn’t because of the nature of the job; about that, he had no misgivings at all. The only doubts concerned the unknown; would he be good enough? Would he be asked to do things he knew nothing about? Would Arjan be satisfied with him? Was there anything he wouldn’t do? Arjan himself, was coming round in a little while to give him more information and apparently to present him with a set of rules, which he wasn’t sure he liked the sound of but then again, if his new boss was coming round, there was always the chance of another sex session. Jacco was unsure of several things in this rapidly evolving future of his but there was one thing of which he was certain; everything revolved around his feelings for Arjan. He’d do anything the man asked and trusted him implicitly; logic nagged at him that this wasn’t necessarily wise but logic played little part in his present feelings; besides which, Arjan was the key to unlocking Jacco’s sexual potential; that was the most thrilling prospect of all and that he was able to rationalise. He knew the prospect of a relationship with Arjan was remote but it was enough to imagine it. Equally as powerful however, were the feelings of physical awakening and the ecstatic release he was getting from sex. It had surprised and even shocked him to find out that those urges were so strong, leading to the conviction that it didn’t matter which man it was, the need would be satisfied. Working in Arjan’s club would be no problem whatsoever; he would be having sex more often than he could have dreamed and getting paid for it. Wasn’t that every young man’s dream?
Ruud stood in the hallway, with half an eye on the pelting rain and wind that were battering the hanging plant container outside their front door. A gaudy mix of Geranium and Nasturtium petals were plastering themselves on the narrow window like red snow and the basket was swinging too and fro alarmingly, looking as if at any minute, it would wrench itself loose and come crashing through the glass.
“Are you trying to tell us that you have no idea where he is?”
“I’m afraid so, yes. He just collected his things and left while we were both out.”
Ruud felt himself reddening at the thought, even though he was talking to Jacco’s mother on the phone.
“Well, this is just not acceptable Mr. de Bruin. You and Mr. van Rossum assured us that he would be safe with you; we trusted you and now you tell us he’s disappeared without trace.”
“Yes, well you see…”
“I see only too well! Jacco’s father will be home in a few minutes and then we’ll come straight round to discuss this further.”
“Are you sure? The weather is so bad at the moment and…”
“Do you think I care about the weather Mr. de Bruin? I don’t! I only care about Jacco; I want to know where my son is. Goodbye.”
Ruud stared at the phone after it went dead, as if it would miraculously provide him with some answers, then put it down and reluctantly went to tell Wil what had happened.
“You did what?” his partner exploded.
“Of all the stupid, brainless things to do Ruud and now they’re coming round here? What the hell for? What do they think we’re going to do about it? Why couldn’t you keep quiet? He’s only been gone a few days. We need time to ask around and find out what the little bastard’s up to. You didn’t need to involve the parents yet. Fuck me Ruud! You and your sense of duty, conscience, call it what you like; it’s not the first time it’s got us into trouble.”
He was recalling what he saw as Ruud’s biggest mistake all those years ago, when he’d felt he had to tell Wil’s brother about his illness and thus caused a family crisis that Wil had been only too keen to avoid. Ruud gave him a pained look and decided to ignore yet another reference to that slip-up. He’d had the best of intentions then as well and had never really explained to Wil, that at the time he’d looked so bad there was no denying it and the family had already put two and two together.
“I thought they needed to know, that’s all. We promised them we’d keep them up to date didn’t we? Anyway, they’d not heard anything from him for ages, so chances are, they would have been in touch with us pretty soon anyway.”
“Remind me just once more,” Wil snarled sarcastically, “Jacco is how old?”
“It makes no difference Wil. I… sorry… we, made them a promise and they accepted that in good faith. They were entrusting the welfare of their son into our hands so to speak. I didn’t make that promise lightly.”
“Oh puke! I’m going to be sick! That is just so corny.”
“Now listen; I’m just about fed up with you putting me down all the time, for doing the right thing. You’ve been just as worried about Jacco as I’ve been, don’t try to deny it.”
“I’m not denying it Ruud and I admit, I’ve had sleepless nights over him too but enough is enough. We’ve done our best for him; tried to give him advice; tried to look after him a bit but what’s he done? Thrown it in our faces that’s what! Now, as far as I’m concerned, we’ve done our bit and he’s chosen to go his own way and that, after all’s said and done, is what he’s entitled to do but I’m damned if I’m going to get the blame for it. I don’t care if I never see or hear from him again. I know, I know, it sounds harsh but we’ve got our own lives to lead, what’s left of them.”
Wil inhaled deeply, as if all that he’d just said had been done in one breath. His face was bright red and his eyes were bulging and Ruud knew it was time to calm the situation down and change the subject.
“Okay, maybe you’re right; maybe we’ve done all we could. Do you fancy a coffee or a tea or something?”
A half an hour later and in a much calmer frame of mind, they were both sat watching the news on the television, when they heard a crashing noise outside.
“Oh God, there goes the hanging basket I think. You stay there; I’ll go and clear it up.”
Ruud opened the front door in the face of the howling wind and was faced by not only the contents of the plant container strewn across the step but a shocked woman and her husband, who was trying unsuccessfully to brush spattered mud off the hem of her dress. Behind them stood another middle aged man who Ruud didn’t recognise. Jacco’s parents had arrived and they weren’t alone.
In the back of his mind, he heard his name being called, again and again and it took a minute before his subconscious realised that the sound wasn’t imagined and that Arjan was outside his door. He leapt up in the way you do when you’ve been startled out of that state of half sleep, half daydreaming and stumbling over his shoes, he made his way across the room and struggled with the lock. By now, Arjan was hammering impatiently at the door.
“Okay…I’m here…sorry, I was half asleep.”
Arjan strode in, none to pleased at having been kept waiting but when he saw the alarmed expression on Jacco’s face; he controlled his irritation and just smiled.
“Beauty sleep at your age? Not necessary my friend, not necessary. Are you going to put the coffee on then? You’re going to need to be awake and have your wits about you, so you don’t forget anything.”
He took a cursory glance around the room; noted the cases still bulging with clothes and the lack of personal effects and made a mental note to go easy on the boy; he was obviously ready to run should things get tough.
“So, how are you finding it here? Have you settled in alright? Have you got everything you need? Are the others being friendly enough? Any problems?”
Jacco was struggling with an unopened pack of coffee, tugging at it and using his teeth to try to tear the seal. He cursed in frustration, as nothing seemed to work. Arjan moved up behind him, reached over his shoulder into the kitchen drawer and pulled out a pair of scissors.
“These any good?”
Jacco could feel the warmth and slight pressure of the man’s body against his back and immediately relaxed. Arjan was hardly touching him but he sensed his strength and solidity and felt the tension sliding in recurring shivers out of his limbs.
“Yeah…sorry, stupid…should have thought of that…thanks.”
Smiling to himself, Arjan mentally planned how his speech would go. He knew his own power in these situations but explaining how things worked in his operation was complex; each instruction a potential land mine with these essentially naïve and inexperienced kids. They were all different and each one had to be judged on their own merits. He was fairly confident about Jacco; partly because he saw that the boy was clearly in love with him and partly because he had rarely come across a kid with such a natural appetite for extreme sex.
“I asked you a question; has the cat got your tongue?”
Jacco was flustered. He could feel it and stumbled over his words. It was the man’s presence. It always got him excited; not necessarily sexually but Arjan made his nerve endings tingle. He had that way of looking at you, which Jacco interpreted as so many before him had, as a feeling that he was the centre of Arjan’s universe, that he was special and unique.
“No, no problems. I like it here and everybody I’ve met so far is friendly. I think I’ve got everything I need thanks and thanks again for giving me a chance like this.”
“Well, you’re not getting it for nothing you know. You get the first month rent-free but after that, it comes out of your wages. I think I’ve already told you that. How much you earn will depend on how good you are at your job and I already know how good you can be, so that shouldn’t be a problem.”
Jacco blushed deeply and shivered at certain memories.
“I think we’d better be quite clear from the start what your work will entail don’t you? After that, there can be no misunderstandings.”
Arjan clasped his hands together and let the fingers intertwine with each other.
“You’ll be expected to have sex with and generally entertain the clients; all sorts of clients you realise and you’ll be paid for it. Okay so far?”
Jacco nodded, he’d had no illusions on that score and Arjan breathed an inward sigh of relief. Sometimes, when faced with the stark realities of what they were expected to do, the kids panicked and he had to work that much harder on his persuasion techniques.
“There are certain rules of course and I’ve got a sheet with them on for you but I want to go over them first, to make sure you understand why they’re there.”
Again, Jacco nodded.
“First, you’ll go to the clinic every month for a check up and it’ll be registered. That’s not optional, it’s the law and it’s a sensible one. It’s not only you we’re protecting, it’s the clients; it’s a question of trust you see. They need to know they’re not running any risk of getting a disease. Of course, we can’t guarantee that they’re as clean as they might say they are, which is why this is essential for you too. I take it you’ve not had anything up to now?”
”No, nothing. Is it common then?”
Arjan saw the worry in his face and responded appropriately. Of course the chances of him picking up something were pretty high; there’d be a lot of clients but he wasn’t going to alarm the boy with what might happen.
“No, not common at all and anyway, everything can be cured or controlled these days, so you’ve got nothing to worry about. Don’t think that clinic visits are the only way we protect you though. All penetrative sex must be with a condom, again, no options here. If a client refuses to put on a rubber then you’re entitled to refuse to have sex with him and not only entitled but you must. Again, we don’t want it getting around that our boys are bare-backing; it’s bad for business. Now listen carefully here Jacco, this is important. There’ll be times when you’re so far gone, or a client’s so far gone that it’ll seem the most natural thing in the world for it to be slipped in, ‘au naturel’ so to speak. So get it into your subconscious that you never have sex without a condom, now is that clear?”
“Yes, of course. I mean it makes sense doesn’t it, for both sides. I don’t want to catch anything if I can help it; I really don’t.”
”Of course you don’t, who does? Don’t worry. If you take reasonable precautions, you should be able to steer clear of most things.”
Arjan exaggerated to calm the kid’s nerves but he knew that all the boys came down with something sooner or later; herpes, crabs, gonorrhoea, hepatitis; they all came as part of the job but he had no intention of telling Jacco that.
“What do I do about the money and change and stuff like that?”
Another minefield.
“That’s something else you don’t need to worry about. You never see any of the client’s cash; he pays it to one of us beforehand. We also take their wallets off them and put them in the safe, before they meet you. That’s also for your protection. We’ve had cases in the past, where they’ve accused the boys of stealing their money, sometimes rightly I might add and that involves the police, which we want to avoid as much as possible. So their valuables are locked up beforehand, then nobody can be accused of anything. Your wages will be paid into your bank account. We like to do everything properly here, just like a normal job.”
Jacco handed him a mug of coffee and then two paper tubes with creamer and sugar in. He hadn’t really had the time to get himself permanent supplies, or at least that was his excuse. Arjan noted the further evidence of the boy’s readiness to abandon the whole thing if it didn’t work out and wondered if he could summon up the energy to have sex with him, to cement the deal. He hoped it wouldn’t be necessary.
Jacco sat beside him on the bed.
“What happens if the customer, or client, wants to do stuff…uhm, I’m not sure about this…stuff that I don’t want to do. I can refuse can’t I?”
‘Careful,’ Arjan thought to himself, ‘tread carefully here.’
“Hey, you’ve heard of the expression, ‘The customer is king’?”
“Yes,” Jacco replied cautiously.
“Well, in our establishments, he isn’t…you are. That’s not to say that they won’t try it on and it’s more or less up to you what you are prepared to do but as a rule of thumb, it’s best to sort those things out beforehand. Try to talk to them and get a pretty firm idea of what they’re after and then negotiate. We’ll already have discussed it with them and have charged them accordingly, so you’ll already have an idea of what to expect. Any problems; talk to one of us.”
“Who’s ‘Us’?”
“What? Oh, okay, yes, fair question. There are four people, including myself of course, who you should regard as being your boss. You’ve met the barman at the club? Okay, then there’s Jimmy and Andries, who I’ll introduce you to tomorrow. As far as you’re concerned, all of us have equal authority and you should take orders from any one of us. If you ever have any problems with that, you can talk to me, okay? Now these guys are there to look out for you and you can always go to them about clients but remember, they’re also there to watch for any shenanigans on the part of you kids and they won’t stand for any nonsense. I should warn you now; they can look after themselves and they hate disloyalty but I’m sure you’ll be okay.”
He patted Jacco warmly on the back and let his hand linger. Dropping his tone, so that he was quiet and calm and friendly, he asked what he hoped would be more or less his last question; he had an appointment and he was already late.
“Now, I think that’s just about everything for now; you can read through the sheet later in case I’ve missed stuff. Is there anything more you’d like to ask me?”
“No, I don’t think so…oh yes, when do I start? I mean really start the job?”
‘Damn!’ thought Arjan, ’Shit, I forgot the most important thing. I was just about to go and set the whole thing up and I almost forgot there’s no show without Punch.’
“How about tomorrow? You can start in the club and Andries will be behind the bar. He’ll show you the ropes. A couple of clients should be enough for your first night; although I’ve already seen you in that place; should be like water off a duck’s back. You’re not nervous are you?”
He smiled and stroked Jacco’s shoulder.
“No, not really. Well, perhaps a little bit but tomorrow’s fine. Best to get the first day over with I reckon.”
”That’s the spirit. Oh, I almost forgot…”
Arjan knew he had to choose his next words carefully.
“…I think you’ll be wasted if you only work at the club; you’re too good for that. What about working for me, more directly?”
That idea appealed to Jacco.
“What do you mean? What sort of work?”
“Oh, nothing special but for instance, the day after tomorrow, I’ve got some important friends coming round, including a couple of celebrities you may know and I wondered if you could come along as well and maybe help me entertain them. You know, drinks, snacks, and emptying ashtrays, that sort of thing; generally making sure they’re comfortable. There’ll also be ‘sweeties’ available, if you know what I mean?”
He winked broadly at Jacco, who had a rough idea of what he was saying.
“And there’d be a bonus in it for you. What do you think?”
The idea of being close to Arjan was good enough reason for Jacco. It sounded as though he really thought he was special and he felt proud. Arjan must really like him, otherwise, he wouldn’t have been chosen.
“Yeah, I’d like that.”
“I’ll give the details to Andries and he’ll tell you times etcetera tomorrow, okay? Now, I really must go. I’ve got a meeting and I’m already late. So, welcome to the job and best of luck for tomorrow; I’m sure you’ll be fine.”
He gave Jacco a kiss and another pat on the shoulder and left, quietly confident that he’d recruited yet another money-spinner and congratulating himself on another job well done.
Jacco couldn’t stop smiling, he was so happy. A whole exciting new future was opening up in front of him and he was pretty certain that if he played his cards right, it would include Arjan. He didn’t have to start work until the next evening, which left plenty of time to think of the right approach for his parents. He’d go home in the morning and tackle his mother first; she was always the easier of the two.
22. The spider and the fly (Part 2)
As it happened, his mother was proving to be anything but the easier of the two and she harangued Ruud from the moment she stepped through the door.
“Some explanations please Mr. de Bruin. What on earth has been going on with my son? I want some answers and I want them now!”
“Uhm…”
Just then, Wil rushed into the hall and took over.
“Out! I want you out of here. How dare you come barging in and talking to us like that? Unless you’re prepared to discuss this matter in a reasonable manner, like civilised human beings, you don’t set foot in this apartment. Is that clear and who is this might I ask?”
He was referring to the sober looking man standing just behind the Verhagens. Jacco’s father stepped forward and spoke for the first time.
“This is Simon Langevoort. He’s our neighbour and friend and he also happens to be a policeman.”
“What’s that supposed to mean? Is that supposed to be some sort of threat? Well, forget it, there’s no way we’re going to talk to you now. I don’t know what you hope to achieve by bringing the police into this but whatever it is, then I think I’d prefer to talk to my lawyer first.”
Simon Langevoort stepped forward and introduced himself by shaking Wil’s reluctant hand.
“I’m not here in any sort of official position Mr. van Rossum. Jacco’s parents just asked me to come along for moral support and to give them advice. Please don’t take it the wrong way. Nobody is accusing you of any wrongdoing. We’re just here to find out what happened and to see if we can’t do something to help Jacco, that’s all.”
“I can’t see any harm in it Wil,” interrupted Ruud, “We’ve got nothing to hide. Anyway, arguing on the doorstep in this weather is not going to do anyone any good. Please come in everybody and let’s talk over some coffee. I’m sure Jacco’s welfare is at the forefront of all our thoughts.”
Wil glared at him but moved out of the way nevertheless and took their visitors’ wet coats, remaining tight-lipped. He knew Ruud was right but he bitterly resented what he saw as the invasion of their privacy.
It wasn’t an easy conversation, with the threads of misunderstanding on both sides causing all sorts of problems. More than once, Jacco’s mother was reduced to tears as she heard things about her son’s new lifestyle that upset her. His father stayed quiet most of the time and Ruud felt some sympathy for the way he was dealing with some painful truths. Simon Langevoort was the one with the most questions but they were logical and relevant and despite Wil’s misgivings, the two men found themselves responding to him as being an impartial observer.
“When all’s said and done Mrs. Verhagen, Jacco is nineteen. If he chooses to disappear and go his own way, then there’s nothing we can do to stop him.”
There was still a hard edge to Wil’s voice. He was trying to be sympathetic but part of him saw why Jacco had needed to escape the family home like so many young gay men in the past, himself included.
“He may be nineteen Mr. van Rossum but he’s a very young nineteen. He’s not mature enough to cope in this sort of world. He’s not long out of school for goodness sake. You promised us you would look after him; we trusted you and now look what’s happened. He’s too naive; anybody could take advantage of him. He could be persuaded to take drugs, do anything. He could be lying in a gutter somewhere…oh God…it doesn’t bear thinking about.”
Her eyes filled with tears again and she clutched her husband’s hand for support. Ruud decided to use the policeman’s obvious influence.
“As far as the law is concerned, he’s an adult isn’t he? If he chooses to go missing, there’s nothing any of us can do is there?”
“You’re right of course,” answered the policeman, “but that’s surely not the point here. As far as I can see, you took on a degree of moral responsibility by letting Jacco move in with you. Surely, there’s something you know which might help us find him?”
“With all due respect, that’s bullshit,” snapped Wil, “There was always going to be a limit to what influence we had over the boy. We didn’t know him that well but were prepared to offer him a home because he seemed like a nice lad, who needed a modicum of independence. In retrospect, it was a stupid thing to do. We were as surprised as you are that he went his own way but let it be clearly understood, he abused our hospitality and ignored our house rules and I for one, feel like washing my hands of the whole subject. You say he is immature and I agree with you there but maybe it’s because you’ve been over protective of him, hemming him in until he began to feel trapped. It’s little wonder that he’s rebelled!”
“That’s not helpful Wil.”
Ruud saw an immediate need for damage limitation but it was too late. Jacco’s father stood up and through gritted teeth showed his anger.
“How dare you! Who the hell are you to tell us how to bring up a child? You know nothing about our family, nothing! We made the mistake, in thinking it was a good idea to trust strangers with our son’s life and now look what’s happened. You people make me sick! In just a few weeks, we’ve learned that our son is not the person we thought he was all his life and we’ve had to try to understand it. You made us think that it was okay that he should leave home. You convinced us that he would be safe with you. Instead, he’s disappeared and doing God knows what sort of unnatural things and for all we know, you encouraged him! You’re right, in the eyes of the law, he’s an adult and he can do what he wants and you don’t have to bear any responsibility at all for what’s happened but he’s our son and as far as I’m concerned, everything that’s happened to him is your fault and if I could take you to court and hold you officially responsible, I damn well would. Come on Mieke, we’re going. I feel dirty in this place.”
“Just as well; I’d be throwing you out anyway,” hissed Wil, “I’ve never met such a pair of bigots. No wonder Jacco’s gone off the rails.”
For a minute, Ruud thought Jacco’s father was going to hit Wil but fortunately, his wife grasped his arm and urged him out. Wil went into the next room and slammed the door, leaving Ruud to see the equally irate Verhagens out into the worsening rainstorm. As he stepped outside, Simon Langevoort turned around.
“Things seem to have got out of hand. It’s a pity but I think everyone’s just a bit too emotional at the moment. You seem a reasonable man Mr. de Bruin; maybe you and I can talk later, privately and try to find a way of helping the situation. Here’s my card, give me a call. By the way, as far as I’m concerned, you two aren’t to blame for this mess. I’m not sure if anyone is actually; Jacco obviously has a mind of his own.”
He pressed his card into Ruud’s palm and shook his hand at the same time. He didn’t know why but Ruud had the distinct impression that there was more to the handshake than met the eye. He closed the door thoughtfully and prepared to face Wil.
Jacco stepped into the shower for the second time in an hour. He wanted to be clean before he went to Arjan’s but more than anything, he just wanted to be clean. Since the first two clients of the day before, he was determined to scrub away all traces of his job. It wasn’t really that he felt dirty from what he was doing, or even that somewhere at the back of his mind, he was afraid of mysterious diseases but maybe there was an element of both in his new obsession. Suddenly personal hygiene became irrationally important to him.
Actually, he was relieved the first night was over; relieved and slightly disappointed. Andries had been friendly and efficient and everything had gone without a hitch. Maybe it was an anticlimax after all the build up but he felt that because it was little more than masturbation by hand and mouth, the sex had been uninspiring and dull and to some extent, he also felt that he must be in some way at fault. The first man had been a fat, bald and singularly unattractive American who did most of the talking and seemed more nervous than Jacco. After a short chat, it was straight down to business but his demands hadn’t been too great and it was all over fairly quickly. The second guy was Asian; a first for Jacco but once more, easy to handle and after only a couple of hours’ work, he found himself propping up the bar and chatting to Andries who, after giving him a drink and the time at which he was expected the next evening, more or less told him to go home and get some sleep.
Perhaps fortunately for him, the idea of going home that day had been abandoned. It was partly due to the fact that he’d been so preoccupied with thoughts of his first night at work but mainly because he’d been told he had to visit a clinic on the other side of town, to have a medical examination, including various tests. As it turned out, it was a thorough examination that took much longer than Jacco had imagined and he had to wait for the results before he could go. Apparently, it was a place used by many prostitutes and as such, had facilities for speedy analysis but it still surprised him how relieved he felt to be given the all clear. He’d thought about going to face his parents today as well but had talked himself out of it. It was nearly the weekend and apparently he wasn’t due to work the next day, so there’d be plenty of time for a home-visit then.
After satisfying himself that he looked as good as he could, in the dark chinos and white polo shirt he’d thought smart and suitable, he arrived at the bar about ten minutes early. The place was pretty full and more than one person craned their neck to appraise the newcomer but Jacco was oblivious to attention from the hoi-polloi; he felt proud to be moving in different circles now. The barman caught sight of him and beckoned him over.
“He says, you’re supposed to go up as soon as you arrive. I’ll open the door for you.”
With that, he pressed a switch under the counter and Jacco was able to push open the door leading upstairs and make his way up to Arjan’s flat. It was a familiar journey but one, which at the back of his mind, gave him slight misgivings. They’d been groundbreaking but not what you would necessarily call comfortable visits and he couldn’t help a shudder of déjà vu as he reached the top step. Arjan however, looked genuinely pleased to see him
“There you are; nice and early, good. I’ll show you where everything is.”
He leaned over and whispered in Jacco’s ear,
“How did it go yesterday? Everything okay? Good, good. Listen, there’s only one person here at the moment; the rest will come later but I’ll introduce you. You might recognise him.”
Jacco followed his employer into the loft-type living area and gave a short gasp. He did indeed recognise Arjan’s first guest.
Jacco, this is Onno…Onno Huizinga, as I‘m sure you know. Onno, this is Jacco; he’ll be helping out tonight.”
As it happened, his mother was proving to be anything but the easier of the two and she harangued Ruud from the moment she stepped through the door.
“Some explanations please Mr. de Bruin. What on earth has been going on with my son? I want some answers and I want them now!”
“Uhm…”
Just then, Wil rushed into the hall and took over.
“Out! I want you out of here. How dare you come barging in and talking to us like that? Unless you’re prepared to discuss this matter in a reasonable manner, like civilised human beings, you don’t set foot in this apartment. Is that clear and who is this might I ask?”
He was referring to the sober looking man standing just behind the Verhagens. Jacco’s father stepped forward and spoke for the first time.
“This is Simon Langevoort. He’s our neighbour and friend and he also happens to be a policeman.”
“What’s that supposed to mean? Is that supposed to be some sort of threat? Well, forget it, there’s no way we’re going to talk to you now. I don’t know what you hope to achieve by bringing the police into this but whatever it is, then I think I’d prefer to talk to my lawyer first.”
Simon Langevoort stepped forward and introduced himself by shaking Wil’s reluctant hand.
“I’m not here in any sort of official position Mr. van Rossum. Jacco’s parents just asked me to come along for moral support and to give them advice. Please don’t take it the wrong way. Nobody is accusing you of any wrongdoing. We’re just here to find out what happened and to see if we can’t do something to help Jacco, that’s all.”
“I can’t see any harm in it Wil,” interrupted Ruud, “We’ve got nothing to hide. Anyway, arguing on the doorstep in this weather is not going to do anyone any good. Please come in everybody and let’s talk over some coffee. I’m sure Jacco’s welfare is at the forefront of all our thoughts.”
Wil glared at him but moved out of the way nevertheless and took their visitors’ wet coats, remaining tight-lipped. He knew Ruud was right but he bitterly resented what he saw as the invasion of their privacy.
It wasn’t an easy conversation, with the threads of misunderstanding on both sides causing all sorts of problems. More than once, Jacco’s mother was reduced to tears as she heard things about her son’s new lifestyle that upset her. His father stayed quiet most of the time and Ruud felt some sympathy for the way he was dealing with some painful truths. Simon Langevoort was the one with the most questions but they were logical and relevant and despite Wil’s misgivings, the two men found themselves responding to him as being an impartial observer.
“When all’s said and done Mrs. Verhagen, Jacco is nineteen. If he chooses to disappear and go his own way, then there’s nothing we can do to stop him.”
There was still a hard edge to Wil’s voice. He was trying to be sympathetic but part of him saw why Jacco had needed to escape the family home like so many young gay men in the past, himself included.
“He may be nineteen Mr. van Rossum but he’s a very young nineteen. He’s not mature enough to cope in this sort of world. He’s not long out of school for goodness sake. You promised us you would look after him; we trusted you and now look what’s happened. He’s too naive; anybody could take advantage of him. He could be persuaded to take drugs, do anything. He could be lying in a gutter somewhere…oh God…it doesn’t bear thinking about.”
Her eyes filled with tears again and she clutched her husband’s hand for support. Ruud decided to use the policeman’s obvious influence.
“As far as the law is concerned, he’s an adult isn’t he? If he chooses to go missing, there’s nothing any of us can do is there?”
“You’re right of course,” answered the policeman, “but that’s surely not the point here. As far as I can see, you took on a degree of moral responsibility by letting Jacco move in with you. Surely, there’s something you know which might help us find him?”
“With all due respect, that’s bullshit,” snapped Wil, “There was always going to be a limit to what influence we had over the boy. We didn’t know him that well but were prepared to offer him a home because he seemed like a nice lad, who needed a modicum of independence. In retrospect, it was a stupid thing to do. We were as surprised as you are that he went his own way but let it be clearly understood, he abused our hospitality and ignored our house rules and I for one, feel like washing my hands of the whole subject. You say he is immature and I agree with you there but maybe it’s because you’ve been over protective of him, hemming him in until he began to feel trapped. It’s little wonder that he’s rebelled!”
“That’s not helpful Wil.”
Ruud saw an immediate need for damage limitation but it was too late. Jacco’s father stood up and through gritted teeth showed his anger.
“How dare you! Who the hell are you to tell us how to bring up a child? You know nothing about our family, nothing! We made the mistake, in thinking it was a good idea to trust strangers with our son’s life and now look what’s happened. You people make me sick! In just a few weeks, we’ve learned that our son is not the person we thought he was all his life and we’ve had to try to understand it. You made us think that it was okay that he should leave home. You convinced us that he would be safe with you. Instead, he’s disappeared and doing God knows what sort of unnatural things and for all we know, you encouraged him! You’re right, in the eyes of the law, he’s an adult and he can do what he wants and you don’t have to bear any responsibility at all for what’s happened but he’s our son and as far as I’m concerned, everything that’s happened to him is your fault and if I could take you to court and hold you officially responsible, I damn well would. Come on Mieke, we’re going. I feel dirty in this place.”
“Just as well; I’d be throwing you out anyway,” hissed Wil, “I’ve never met such a pair of bigots. No wonder Jacco’s gone off the rails.”
For a minute, Ruud thought Jacco’s father was going to hit Wil but fortunately, his wife grasped his arm and urged him out. Wil went into the next room and slammed the door, leaving Ruud to see the equally irate Verhagens out into the worsening rainstorm. As he stepped outside, Simon Langevoort turned around.
“Things seem to have got out of hand. It’s a pity but I think everyone’s just a bit too emotional at the moment. You seem a reasonable man Mr. de Bruin; maybe you and I can talk later, privately and try to find a way of helping the situation. Here’s my card, give me a call. By the way, as far as I’m concerned, you two aren’t to blame for this mess. I’m not sure if anyone is actually; Jacco obviously has a mind of his own.”
He pressed his card into Ruud’s palm and shook his hand at the same time. He didn’t know why but Ruud had the distinct impression that there was more to the handshake than met the eye. He closed the door thoughtfully and prepared to face Wil.
Jacco stepped into the shower for the second time in an hour. He wanted to be clean before he went to Arjan’s but more than anything, he just wanted to be clean. Since the first two clients of the day before, he was determined to scrub away all traces of his job. It wasn’t really that he felt dirty from what he was doing, or even that somewhere at the back of his mind, he was afraid of mysterious diseases but maybe there was an element of both in his new obsession. Suddenly personal hygiene became irrationally important to him.
Actually, he was relieved the first night was over; relieved and slightly disappointed. Andries had been friendly and efficient and everything had gone without a hitch. Maybe it was an anticlimax after all the build up but he felt that because it was little more than masturbation by hand and mouth, the sex had been uninspiring and dull and to some extent, he also felt that he must be in some way at fault. The first man had been a fat, bald and singularly unattractive American who did most of the talking and seemed more nervous than Jacco. After a short chat, it was straight down to business but his demands hadn’t been too great and it was all over fairly quickly. The second guy was Asian; a first for Jacco but once more, easy to handle and after only a couple of hours’ work, he found himself propping up the bar and chatting to Andries who, after giving him a drink and the time at which he was expected the next evening, more or less told him to go home and get some sleep.
Perhaps fortunately for him, the idea of going home that day had been abandoned. It was partly due to the fact that he’d been so preoccupied with thoughts of his first night at work but mainly because he’d been told he had to visit a clinic on the other side of town, to have a medical examination, including various tests. As it turned out, it was a thorough examination that took much longer than Jacco had imagined and he had to wait for the results before he could go. Apparently, it was a place used by many prostitutes and as such, had facilities for speedy analysis but it still surprised him how relieved he felt to be given the all clear. He’d thought about going to face his parents today as well but had talked himself out of it. It was nearly the weekend and apparently he wasn’t due to work the next day, so there’d be plenty of time for a home-visit then.
After satisfying himself that he looked as good as he could, in the dark chinos and white polo shirt he’d thought smart and suitable, he arrived at the bar about ten minutes early. The place was pretty full and more than one person craned their neck to appraise the newcomer but Jacco was oblivious to attention from the hoi-polloi; he felt proud to be moving in different circles now. The barman caught sight of him and beckoned him over.
“He says, you’re supposed to go up as soon as you arrive. I’ll open the door for you.”
With that, he pressed a switch under the counter and Jacco was able to push open the door leading upstairs and make his way up to Arjan’s flat. It was a familiar journey but one, which at the back of his mind, gave him slight misgivings. They’d been groundbreaking but not what you would necessarily call comfortable visits and he couldn’t help a shudder of déjà vu as he reached the top step. Arjan however, looked genuinely pleased to see him
“There you are; nice and early, good. I’ll show you where everything is.”
He leaned over and whispered in Jacco’s ear,
“How did it go yesterday? Everything okay? Good, good. Listen, there’s only one person here at the moment; the rest will come later but I’ll introduce you. You might recognise him.”
Jacco followed his employer into the loft-type living area and gave a short gasp. He did indeed recognise Arjan’s first guest.
Jacco, this is Onno…Onno Huizinga, as I‘m sure you know. Onno, this is Jacco; he’ll be helping out tonight.”
The Amsterdam Series
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22. The spider and the fly (Part 1)
22. The spider and the fly (Part 2)
