Sunshine Days - Chapter 28
Avery waited outside of Pastor Durham's office, which also doubled as a cabin for the Camp Leaders as well as Durham himself. The office portion was a room in the middle of the cabin with a short hallway / waiting area leading up to it. There were doors on both sides of the office door, one leading to the bathrooms and the other leading to the beds were the Leaders stayed.
He was sitting on the wooden bench in the hallway, kicking his legs idly and looking down at his paws with an expression of deep contemplation. They still ached a bit from when he'd beaten that queer cat, something he should have felt proud about but didn't. The satisfaction that he got, the exhilarating rush he felt after hurting Jonathan and making him sing like a canary, was long gone and replaced with a sour feeling in his chest. It didn't feel as good as he thought it would.
He hated Jonathan. He absolutely hated him. In truth, he didn't really care much about him to begin with until David starting hanging out with him. And he hated David more than anything in the world.
Just the thought of seeing David and Jonathan hanging out with one another, seeing them exchanging faggy looks and sneaking away to kiss or hold paws, made him sick with anger. When Joey had texted him that picture of the two 'mos going at it, he'd felt a surge of seething jealously before smiling at the thought that he now had something to blackmail them with.
He had the time for introspection while he waited for Pastor Durham to get back. He still wasn't as proud that he was going to help stop the Shindig once and all but it felt good to know that this would be the last of David and Jonathan. And Vince as well, the smug prick.
He remembered that there once was a time when he didn't hate David. He thought back to those times when they snuck comic books under the blanket and stayed up late to get naked...
He shook his head, trying to clear that image out before he started to enjoy it.
When his mom had come down and caught them both cuddling was one of the worst moments he'd had in his young life. First he'd gotten a spanking from his mom but the worse punishment came a day later when he dad came back from a work trip.
He'd felt sick to his stomach while he waited for his father to come in, knowing that further punishment awaited him. And sure enough, when his father came home that evening and his mother relayed everything she'd seen when she walked in on the nude, cuddling cubs, he went straight upstairs towards Avery's bedroom.
He got a belt across his bare ass, leaving bright red strap marks across his fur for days. But first came the shouting.
His father always started off with a low, controlled voice, where he could still hear the rage being restrained. Slowly it would build until the fury was spilling over, shouting at the crying pup before eventually tapering off.
His father had stood in his doorway for a moment, saying, "What did I tell you about being a Sinner?"
To his father, a 'Sinner' referred to just about anyone. Gays, atheists, liberals, perverts... He told him that 'Sinners' where also 'Bad Influences' for him, usually relating to sex, drugs, or loud secular music.
As he was getting his tail whipped, his father shouted at him things like, "This is for your own good!" and "I will not tolerate Sinners in this house!" When his father was done, he could barely sit down at the dinner table and had to sleep on his belly for a while. It wasn't a surprise that Avery lived in fear of his parents but also yearned for their approval. When they told him that he was no longer allowed to see David, he took it to heart and made sure David got the idea as well.
He taught himself to hate David and everything associated with him. He told everyone at school that David had forced himself upon him, to get everyone else to hate him as well. After turning everyone against his former best friend, he'd felt a momentary righteousness before it became a feeling of guilt and remorse.
As much as he truly wanted to loathe the bull terrier, he was always reminded of how good David was to him. David took a chance on him when no one else did. Being around David had always made him happy. He felt like he'd showed him love and kindness when no one else at school did. Even his parent's, whom he loved and strived to be the best for, seemed cold and distant towards him.
And now David was showing that love and companionship towards Jonathan. For that, he despised that tabby cat and he was going to make an example of him and David. He was going to show them that faggots didn't get happy endings. That God didn't have sympathy for Sinners and neither would he.
He had lied to Jonathan when he told him that he wouldn't show the picture to anyone if he told him about the Shindig. The truth was he had already shown the pictures to Pastor Durham before their little interrogation behind the cabin. He had been hoping that Durham would instantly kick the two out and send them home, letting each of their parents know what a Bad Influence they were being. It went a little differently than he had expected.
He remembered Durham looking at the screen of his flip phone, squinting with concentration as he studied the low quality picture. Avery had sat in front of his desk, trying not to wiggle with excitement.
Durham's reaction had been different from what he expected. The fox got a little smirk on his face and handed the phone back. He said, "Thank you very much for showing me this, Avery."
_Avery had taken the phone back, his smile faltering a little. There was something about the way the fox smiled he didn't like. _
Durham stood up and walked around the desk towards him and said, "You're a very good boy, Avery. A child of God who surely knows right from wrong as he knows his right from his left, correct?"
Avery had nodded, still bemused.
_"I'm sure you know by now there's an unofficial camp tradition called the 'Shin-dig'." Durham looked at the boy questioningly. _
Avery looked down and said, "I've...heard of it. But I've never gone to it!"
Durham gave another dry grin. "I'm sure you haven't, Avery. You're a good boy. You wouldn't have anything to do with those delinquents and heathens."
Durham paced around the small office while Avery sat there, feeling a little apprehensive. "I've been trying to put an end to the 'Shindig' for years. Each and every time though they somehow manage to find a way to make it happen. Even when they don't leave evidence, I know it's being held." He tapped the side of his muzzle with his finger. "I can smell it."
Durham had placed his paws on the back of Avery's chair and said, "I know what a righteous person you are, Avery. I know you and I are both righteous men...Soldiers of God."
_Avery had glanced up to see the elder fox standing over him, feeling a swell of pride in his chest. He could feel God starting to work through him, helping them fight the war against Sinners and Bad Influences. _
"That's why I need your help," Durham said, "You and I both know that David and Jonathan are involved with the Shindig. We have the proof, now we just need the details so we can finally dispel the evil that has plagued this camp since it was started." He added with a little melodramatic flair.
Durham paced back around to the front of his desk and reached down, pulling a Pepsi out of the little mini fridge he kept under there, and offered the chilled can to the pup. Avery smiled gratefully and took the beverage, drinking it down quickly while the fox smiled warmly and continued.
"What we need to know is when and where it's being held and all the people involved. Now...I'm not going to tell you how you can get the information out of them..." He gave a wry little grin, "But I'm sure I don't need to explain to you how strong-willed David is. Jonathan on the other hand..."
Durham chuckled, leaned back in his chair and swiveled it a little. "Find out what you can about the Shindig from him. I would suggest bringing a few friends along to persuade young Jonathan to tell us find out what we need to know."
Avery downed the soda and gave a little burp, covering his mouth with the back of his wrist. "Yes, sir!"
"That's a good boy."
And that's exactly what he did. He beat the snot out of the queer little crybaby and got everything they needed to know about the Shindig. He felt a sense of pride in knowing that not only would his parents be proud of him but his friends and Pastor Durham would be as well. Even God himself would be proud of what he did.
He definitely couldn't' have done it alone, thanks to Henry and his little brother Joey. He knew that Joey looked up to him and was eager to join in on hating David. He could tell how proud Joey was of himself when he got pictures of Jonathan and David having sex. He had congratulated him as soon as he got back from the camping trip. He was also eager to help beat up Jonathan as well. Everything Joey did, he did in order to please his big brother.
Henry on the other hand...There was something a little off-putting about him. Henry was just as happy to help in grilling Jonathan but there was something a little unsettling about the way he had enjoyed it. He knew as well as everyone else that Henry wasn't the brightest bulb. He was slow but he was definitely powerful. But he went too far when he punched Jonathan in the face.
Everyone knew that breaking someone's muzzle was not a joking matter. He'd heard of people who had gotten their snouts or jaws broken and how serious of a situation it was. While it wasn't always fatal, it was definitely something you didn't want to do to somebody unless you really wanted to cause some harm.
He didn't really like Henry that much as a friend but he was pretty useful. He was obedient for someone built like a truck. He certainly helped get the information he needed out of Jonathan. As time went on, Avery would stop hanging out around Henry and they'd go their separate ways. Which was good because years from then, Henry would get caught raping a cheerleader and would subsequently get arrested for assaulting her boyfriend right after when confronted about it.
These thoughts came and went as he waited for Pastor Durham to arrive back at his office. The sounds of cubs playing outside was muffled by the walls and the stuffy heat of the hallway, accompanied by the metallic clicking of the clock as the second hand made its way around.
When the door opened, Avery jumped up from his seat with a proud grin spread over his muzzle. Pastor Durham stepped inside, giving the boy a surprised and expectant look.
"Pastor Durham." He said, puffing out his chest a little, "I got everything you need to know about the Shindig!"
The fox gave a warm, proud smile and ushered him into his office to talk.