Session Six:
Mequi was pacing already and only two minutes had passed since his client had left. Chance would be there in only thirteen minutes and Mequi had no idea what would occur. He knew that Chance was just entering into the part of Mequi’s life that included the boy losing more than he would have wanted, but Mequi was not worried about that part yet. He was most worried about how he would be able to survive the whole two hours staring at Chance. Last week, Chance’s exposed body had nearly caused him to lose to his predator side. He had wanted to be closer to the young man, but he knew that would have been the worst. This was his client!
“Are you okay?” A voice caused Mequi to jump and, at first, he turned in hopes of Chance, but he recognized the voice in mid-turn and almost disgustedly looked into the eyes of the landlord that owned the offices he and his coworkers worked within.
“I’m fine.” Mequi replied, trying to hide his disappointment. “Is something wrong?”
“No…no…” The man shrugged as he turned away. “I’ll see you around, Mequi. Oh, and do remember not to yell in the hallways.”
“I will.” Mequi replied cheerfully, but silently cursed Greg and Danielle for tattling on him.
Anxiously, he walked to the window and peered out, hoping to spy Chance entering the building.
“You’re a little late there.” Chance’s voice flittered into the room and Mequi once more whipped around. “I’m already in the room.”
Mequi blushed at Chance’s words, knowing he looked suspicious, and then he blushed at the sight of how handsome Chance looked in a gray pinstripe suit with a pink tie.
“Sorry.” Chance let out an uneasy sigh, his own cheeks turning pink with an embarrassed look that Mequi thought he would have never seen on the young man. “I had an interview and it was exceptionally formal so I had to dress up like this. I’m not accustomed to suits.”
Mequi nearly laughed. Of all the things that Chance had put on, he suddenly looked the most awkward in a suit. Mequi realized that his thesis had been right: Chance looked good in whatever he wore as long as his confidence was high and his attitude one that held an air of carefree.
“Well, I think you look charming.” Mequi complimented and then rethought his statement. Had he flirted with the young man?
“Thank you.” Chance smiled broadly and he instantly looked better in the outfit. “Now, are we going to settle down to business?”
“If you would like.” Mequi took his seat as Chance moved towards the couch. “Or we could talk about something else, if you have something else on your mind.”
“No.” Chance shook his head too quickly for Mequi’s liking. “Um…I left off with you having talked to Vienza about boys kissing being okay and normal…after that the topic went silent…until your mother found out about Vienza being gay…”
~~*~~
“I can’t believe it!” Mequi heard Barbara gasp and he instantly rushed to the door to peer inside.
Vienza was standing there, his cheeks red, as both Barbara and John glared at him accusingly. He started to speak, but Barbara instantly cut him off.
“You’re gay!” She yelped, her eyes frantic. “What have you been doing to my son?”
“I would never hurt him.” Vienza reassured her, but she would have nothing to do with his words.
“You’ve done something to him!” She screamed. “He’s always hugging on you! He’s always touching you and hanging around you! It’s sick! It’s sick!”
“He’s like a little brother.” Vienza tried to explain. “I would never do anything that would jeopardize him in any way, shape, or form. I don’t want to see him hurt.”
“Pervert!” She screamed. “Pervert! What have you done to him?”
“Relax, Barb.” John placed a hand upon his wife’s shoulder. “I don’t think Vienza would do anything that would hurt or frighten Mequi. Still, I wonder if he’s had a form of influence because of you. Would you like to tell us if he has, Vienza?”
“He…” Vienza started, his cheeks turning even more crimson. “My boyfriend came over one day, even though I had told him not to, and Mequi saw him…kiss me…”
“No!” Barbara screamed hysterically, her eyes filling with tears. “No! My poor baby!”
“And?” John’s face had paled and grown more serious.
“He asked about it.” Vienza stated. “I’m sorry. He was not scared, but more curious. I didn’t want for him to be either scared or interested in it, but he was interested. I finally told him it was normal…which was probably not the best answer either…but I didn’t want him to be scared.”
“You pervert!” Barbara shrieked, her face red with rage. “How dare you tell him that it was normal! You sick man!”
“And after that?” John’s eyes had grown fierce now and his features were darker than they had been a moment prior.
“He didn’t ask for any more of it.” Vienza replied, glancing down at the ground in shame. “I didn’t want to influence him. I’m sorry. You can blame me.”
“Don’t worry.” John growled in a tone that made Mequi’s heart shatter. “We blame you, Vienza. He has two weeks left of school. After that, you are to never see him again! If I see you anywhere near him, I’ll call the police!”
“No!” Mequi shouted as he ran out from his hiding place and threw his arms around Vienza’s legs. “Don’t chase him away! He’s my friend! He said it was normal! He’s a teacher! He would know!”
“Let go of him, Mequi!” Barbara shrieked as she took a hold of her son’s wrist and tugged him away from Vienza. “He’s a bad man!”
Vienza flinched at her words as if they had slammed into his body physically. “I’m not bad. I see things differently, Mrs. Tobbinson. I’m sorry. Mequi has actually finished his schoolwork for the year. If you would prefer, I will leave now and not come back.”
“No!” Mequi screamed as tears filled his eyes. He had never felt so desperate before, but the thought of losing Vienza forever was driving him crazy. “No! Vienza! Stay! Stay!”
“What have you done to him?” Barbara yelled as she held Mequi to her before pushing him out to arm’s length. “Mequi, what has he done to you?”
“He’s never done anything!” Mequi wailed, trying to escape her. “He’s my big brother!”
“He’s not related to you!” Barbara immediately screamed. “He’s just a teacher…and a bad one at that!”
“He’s the best teacher!” Mequi cried, trembling inside her grasp. “Don’t make him leave.”
“Go.” John said, glaring at Vienza. “If you have nothing more to give Mequi then leave. If you’re here, you’ll only hurt him.”
“No!” Mequi sobbed, his heart throbbing quickly inside his chest as his throat thickened. Tears were running down his face and he could not stop them. “No! You’re hurting me, daddy! You’re hurting me!”
“If that is the case,” Vienza murmured, his voice silencing Mequi instantly. The boy had never heard the teacher sound so sad before. “Than I advice you find him a tutor for junior high. He needs a junior high tutor. I can only do elementary anyway so, I guess, this ending is as good as any. I recommend Mr. Jim Burkhart. He’s an exceptional teacher. Mrs. Wuthering, Ms. Stanley, and Mr. Craig are also good teachers, but Burkhart is the best in my opinion. After junior high, he can attend the high school, even at his age. I hope that has helped you.”
Turning, Vienza silently gathered his briefcase, coat, and hat. The whole time, he was silent and did not even dare glance in Mequi’s direction. The boy could not stop trembling as he gazed upon his teacher, knowing that he would never see him again.
“Vienza!” He shouted when the tutor turned to go. “Vienza! No! Say good-bye! Say good-bye! Come back! Come back! Give me a hug! Don’t leave! Don’t leave! Come back!”
The man refused to listen, but the boy noticed the sudden slumping of Vienza’s shoulders as he started away.
“Come back!” Mequi screamed, his voice growing hoarse as he stared after his teacher’s retreating back. “No! Come back! Come back!”
The door opened and Mequi watched, tears poisoning his eyes, as Vienza disappeared through the doorway, the door slamming after him. He never saw him again.
~~*~~
“Mequi…” Chance reached out a hand and touched it to his therapist’s shoulder. “Are you all right?”
“No…” Mequi had his head down and he was quivering. “I…I’m crying…”
Chance’s brows pinched. “I’m sorry. I’ll stop.”
“No…” Mequi murmured, his voice moist. “Continue…please…”
Chance felt his own tears surfacing. “All right…”
~~*~~
“It’s for the best anyway.” Barbara reassured her son with a sigh of relief. “That way he can’t hurt you anymore.”
“He never hurt me!” Mequi screamed, wrenching from his mother’s grasp. “He never hurt me!”
“He was a bad man!” Barbara insisted. “He would have if given more of an opportunity!”
“He was alone with me for ten hours every day for two years!” Mequi shouted, trying to use his logic. “He never hurt me! He never hurt me!”
“Son,” John cut in. “There are things you’re too young to know about. That’s one of them. He was a bad man, you just didn’t know it. One day, you’ll see.”
“I’ll never see!” Mequi shouted as he ran away to his room. “I hate you!”
~~*~~
“You were right, you know.” Chance whispered, staring at Mequi. “You never did see it their way. You knew Vienza was good. You knew it and you hated that they were saying he was evil. I’m sorry, Mequi. My time is up. I’ll go now…and I’ll see you next week.”
Mequi nodded, refusing to look at Chance and allow the young man see him cry.
“Call him!” Chance hollered back as he left through the door.
Hesitantly, Mequi looked up from where he sat and stared at the door through which Chance had gone. How many times would he have to watch someone leave through a doorway? He realized that he never watched anyone leave through a doorway. He could not bare it. Had he been that traumatized by Vienza leaving him?
Slowly, he pulled his laptop to him. It took him only a few minutes to find the information he wanted and then he was reaching for the phone. Shaking uncontrollably, he dialed a number and then waited.
“Hello?” An older voice lit into Mequi’s ear and his heart leapt. He recognized the voice instantly.
“Vienza…” Mequi whispered, his voice choked. “It’s Mequi. Mequi Tobbinson.”