On the home front, it had been hell on wheels for the three boys, Tom and Ann, and of course Tony himself. The start was Russ and Brewster. Russ didn't think his father would beat him, but he was sure there would be other punishments that would be more onerous than a sore butt. Brewster didn't dare go home. He knew that his father would beat him unconscious.
"In that case you two boys will stay in the guest bedroom until we can sort something else. If we can't get anymore clothes for you we'll have to do some quick turn round washes and see how much we can adapt Ripley's clothes to fit you."
The boys thought this was a great hoot and spent an hour doing a fashion show for Tony, Tom and Ann, mostly dressed in Ripley's clothes. Trousers too short, waist too big, things that they could emphasise to get a laugh.They didn't do much laughing after that night. Brewster's father was taken away by the police the next day and charged with criminal damage as he tried to force his way into Tom's house. The up side of that was Brewster being able to get into his house and pack some more clothes and personal effects.
Russ wasn't so lucky. His mother didn't work and wouldn't allow Russ in without his father's permission. He was the tallest so shirts and Ts were ok from the other boys, but long trousers had to be worn low slung if they weren't his own.
The press were relentless and Tom nearly lost his job because of the disruption caused at his place of work. A court injunction secured that problem, but as soon as he was clear of his work place he was besieged. He eventually got cornered and agreed to an interview.
"Is it true that Tony Forrester is co-habiting with your sixteen year old son in your own home."
Tom wasn't going to answer that the way the obnoxious reporter wanted it with her wording of the question.
"My sixteen year old son fell in love with a twenty three year old man. Both of them can legally do that. My son is a very mature sixteen year old and although at the time I was unhappy with the life style he was choosing I love him more than enough to support his choice. Now, that has changed more than a little. Tony Forrester is a fine young man. He is a brilliant teacher and I hope he will be allowed to continue doing that. While that is sorting itself out he is living with my family as part of that family and increasingly my wife and I think of him as a second son.
"Would you advocate changing regulations to allow teachers to have sex with their pupils then Mr. York?"
"You make that sound dirty, and I know you meant to. You have a nasty mind and I won't grace you with an answer"
Another reporter jumped in.
"Would you sanction teacher/pupil relationships then?"
"You and I both know that the answer to that question is hugely complicated. As a general rule I guess my answer would have to be no, but Tony and my son are close enough in age for their relationship to be considered a healthy one. If it was a man my age I might be less supportive, but I'm not clever enough to decide where you would have to draw the line, or whether every case should be taken on merit. I have friends with wives young enough to be their daughters, and they are happy. I guess the same thing could happen, and probably does happen between same sex couples so you will need to talk to professional, but unbiased people about that."
There were a few more questions and Tom answered them very diplomatically. That night, many stations carried the story edited in different ways to express the bias of the station. Channel 7 news played it unedited and the national newspapers were full of praise for Tom York the next morning. `Perhaps the Minster for Education should invite Tom York to take up a senior position in regulating relationships in our schools'. That headline story ran for a few days and then the papers were back on Tom's doorstep for further comments from him as the story gathered momentum. Tony had almost been sidelined by Tom's comments. He was keeping a low profile because he didn't want the spotlight to fall on Ripley. That situation changed big time with the student strike. Ripley, Russ and Brewster were pictured on the picket lines.
One dissenting adult screamed at Ripley, "Shouldn't you be at home being fucked by your teacher?"
The cameras picked up the tornado that hit that guy. Madi had thrown herself at him and would have clawed his eyes out if he hadn't flinched, the sound men picked up her comment.
"You filthy animal, I'll kill you if you speak to my friend again."
The word kill was expunged from the tape when it was shown and the man never appeared again.
During the next two weeks all of the main characters were cornered at different times and answered questions. They were getting briefings from Tony and Peter Douglas designed to keep the public on side. It worked, the strain built but so did public support. Tony was painted as some misunderstood genius and Ripley as a victim of bigoted bias. Brewster's dad made a fool of himself in court with his ranting and ended up in prison. That brought Russ's dad to his senses. He didn't like gays now, anymore than he had a few weeks ago but he realised he didn't want to lose his son the way his neighbour had. Before the march on Downing Street, Russ and Brewster were returned home to parents that were learning to compromise to keep their sons. It was made clear to Brewster that if his dad hadn't changed his attitude by the time he came out of prison he could move in with Russ. Tony had made it clear that all three boys university bills were safely paid for with the money he had got for the exclusive, if the parents didn't or couldn't fund them.
The day Tony was re-instated Tom did something he never thought he would. He bought two bottles of Champagne and that night supper was for him and his wife, Tony, Ripley and R&B. The toast that they all enjoyed was in champagne and was to Tony for his guts and fortitude in doing what he thought was right.
The story moved to page two but Peter kept an eye on the inquiry set up. When it became clear it was going to be loaded with fossils that had no idea about the modern world he started making some serious noises again which for a change the minister concerned picked up on before they became job threatening. Tom's boss was approached to release him for a period to join the inquiry board. The result of his no nonsense approach to the problem brought him into contact with the prime minister, and before he knew it he was seconded to the prime minister's office as a special advisor. All good things come to those who deserve it, (well they do in the world of fiction). Tom was given a permanent government appointment that would almost certainly keep him employed whatever party was in power because he spoke for common sense, not party politics.
All the good things happening to Tom came quite quickly because Peter, and his paper were pushing. They wouldn't see this important issue slide under the carpet to be forgotten.
An uneasy calm settled on the school and the boys and Tony started getting hate mail. A police liaison was appointed who blocked the nasty stuff. It tailed off of course and soon there was not enough to worry about. Attitudes in the staff room were varied. There was enough support for Tony and Ripley for him not to feel isolated. The ones that didn't support him were wise enough to keep their own counsel.
In class, Madi was the one getting the most enjoyment out of the situation. She thought the world of Ripley and would have been his girlfriend in a trice if he had been straight. As it was she became his best female friend. When you saw Madi around the school you saw Ripley and R&B, they became an almost inseparable foursome. The only nasty was a jealous boy also in the sixth form, but not Madi and the three boy's class, who wanted to date her and couldn't get to first base, so he started calling her a Fag Hag. A trip behind the changing room block with Ripley and R&B ended that little piece of nastiness. The boys grew in confidence as their situation became more acceptable. The number of out gay boys and girls climbed surprising everyone with their numbers. This created the next problem. The press started to get interested and researchers wondered if this school was the bench mark for the country as a whole. Some of the kids couldn't take the pressure of being in the limelight and living in a goldfish bowl as some wag put it so behaviour patterns changed, sometimes for the worse. Tony did all he could, even persuading the school authorities to send him on a counselling course so that he could advise some of the kids and talk to parents as well. He and Ripley were now devoting a good portion of their free time with other gay kids, helping them handle the notoriety of their sexuality. The LGBT meeting room became like a second home almost. Tony would stay behind after school and do his marking and lesson plans there, and Ripley would sit at another desk to do his assignments, both would be interrupted frequently by other students wanting to talk.
Tony decided to use some of his money to turn the room into a comfortable place for the kids. He bought desks and chairs so that the kids could come in to do assignments if things were difficult for them at home. He bought modular furniture so that it could be adapted easily for group or one on one conversations, there were books and life style magazines that Tony paid the subscriptions for when the school wouldn't.
Monitoring performance it was found that the kids that had come out and begun to feel comfortable at school were beginning to perform better at their academics. Soon other teachers would wander in after school and do their marking and lesson plans in between helping the kids with any problems. It took nearly a year, but in Ripley and the other's last term they were delighted to see Tony's efforts on behalf of young gay kids officially recognised by the authorities with an award for teaching excellence and support for the kids in his school.
Peter Douglas took up the baton again and brought Tony's achievements to the notice of a wider public. The hate mail started again, but so did offers of a lecture tour, sometimes to include the original three gay boys. Peter got hold of an agent to work with Tony and the boys, who agreed to do a series of lectures to parents and teachers at schools around the country, but only in school holidays.
"I will not jeopardise the kids education by neglecting my classes, or allowing my three boys to neglect theirs."
He didn't compromise on that statement. But by the time the boys were ready to leave for university they were probably the best known student faces in the country, and Tony the best known teacher. The money they made from the lectures was enough to support all three boys through fairly luxurious college time, all at Cambridge and in the same college.
Knowing the boys were safe and financially secure for their university years Tony, at last used his money to buy a small house in a pleasant tree lined avenue a good ten minute walk from the school. Walk he would on fine days and drive in his new car on inclement ones.
"Mum, Dad, I'll never be able to repay you for these last two years. I love you both more than I can tell you, but now I need to build a home for Ripley and me."
Tom looked with a father's pride on this young man that had become as dear to him as his biological son.
"We know Son, just be aware that this will always be your home if you ever need it again."