Sunshine Days - Chapter 32
Thursday arrived quickly enough and the night of the Shindig grew closer by the hour. The day went by as normally as it did though Pastor Durham threw in an extra message after his Daily Lesson. After wrapping up the story on how Moses had parted the Red Seas and lead the Israelites out of Egypt towards the Promised Land, he made a point that throwing any parties or get-togethers after hours was strictly prohibited and those caught breaking the rules would be subsequently punished. Some of the younger cubs seemed a little confused by the ominous, suspicious tone in the pastor's voice though Jonathan noticed that quite a few of the older boys seemed to grin. He even caught the vulpine staring right at his cousin when he said, "Absolutely No parties, whatsoever!" Vince had his arms folded and was smirking back at Durham, looking very smug.
Jonathan also noted that Durham looked very tired, like he hadn't slept well over the course of a few nights. His lesson had seemed very quick and to the point and any energy that he'd put into his past services seemed gone. He skipped the storytelling and got right to the point, reading passages and explaining them as simply as he could. Jonathan had also noticed that Leader Eddie was absent from the Main Lodge. He'd seen him during breakfast in the Main Lodge so he knew he was most likely still at camp but he hadn't shown up to the daily service or prayer.
David seemed to be in high spirits though. He'd actually woken him up with a kiss that morning, thankfully after everyone had left for breakfast first. He seemed very excited and antsy, barely able to keep still in his seat while Durham spoke.
Without needing to guess, he knew exactly what David was excited about. It was the same thing Jonathan had been dreading since the moment he'd heard about it. The Shindig.
Vince reminded him that it was optional and he didn't need to feel pressured to show up. But he did, and for several reasons. It was obvious that David was going to be disappointed if Jonathan didn't show up. David denied it but he could tell that David really, reeeeally wanted him to go. David would still have fun without him, but he felt that he'd still be a little hurt. Vince seemed more understanding, though he could tell that he was secretly rooting for him to show up.
There was also the need to satisfy his own curiosity. As much as the thought of being naked around other naked people, doing naked people things, tied his stomach into knots, he also kind of wanted that experience. Not so that he could say that he did but so that he wouldn't know what he was missing out on. He could easily spare himself the anxiety and stress by staying in bed that night but he would most likely spend the rest of his life wondering what could have been.
The general vibe around camp was divided between excited and tense. While some were getting themselves hyped up for the Shindig, others were feeling a little on edge after everything that had transpired. Jonathan in particular seemed apprehensive, unable to shake the feeling that something was still amiss. In the meantime, he avoided Avery and Pastor Durham as much as he could while he counted down the hours until nightfall.
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Durham spent a lot of the day locked in his office. Aside from shuffling a few papers, not much else had been accomplished since Vince Mitchell had threatened to expose him. He hadn't gotten much sleep either. He alternated between blazing, quiet anger; agonizing stress and paranoia, depending on what his train of thought was at the time. He was furious that a little brat like Vince would dare threaten him but also fearful of what would happen if those transgressions came to light. The image of the tabby cat's sneering face kept surfacing in his mind, making him clench his fists in anger. He still wondered who was behind it all. Who was the one pulling the strings?
The idea of that person being Eddie crossed his mind, since Eddie was the only one at Redding's First Baptist that Durham ever slept with. It wouldn't have been hard for him to track his behavior, follow him to his meetings and conventions down south, or hire a private detective to spy on him. Then again, Eddie was a married man with kids. He had a lot to lose as well if word got out about their activities.
It wouldn't be impossible for any of his fellow deacons to track him either. For all he knew, there was probably a conspiracy to have his ousted from his position and expose his homosexuality and hypocrisy. Who knew how far they'd go. As far as Durham was concerned, everyone was a suspect. Everyone could be in on it.
His paws shook a little bit as he contemplated these things. He reached into his mini fridge for a bottle of beer to calm his nerves.
He swiveled in his chair to gaze intently out the window behind his desk. The view of the trees and brush behind his cabin wasn't spectacular but it was enough as he mulled over his options on how to proceed.
Obviously, he was being blackmailed into being quiet. So whoever it was had ties to the Shindig in some way. There was really no two-ways about it. Why else would Vince give him the ultimatum that he did? The idea sickened him. Someone, one of his peers, was covering for a bunch of little deviants desecrating his campsite that he'd put so much of his time and effort into. But he couldn't place a finger on anyone who would have a connection to the Shindig.
The gears started turning in his head as a plan began to emerge. He was certain that the individual who may or may not be orchestrating the Shindig had incriminating evidence on him. But how valid would that evidence be if the person providing it was also behind the corruption of innocents? Maybe this person was also filming them or having sex with the cubs themselves.
This gave Durham a dark little smile. It hadn't been a stalemate after all for him. If he could sacrifice a little bit of his dignity, he could expose the bastard who threatened to bring him down. He already had the time and place the Shindig was being held. With any luck, the person behind the whole ordeal will likely be there, defiling and raping the innocents. Even if that information about his using of funds to hire gay prostitutes got out, it would surely be forgiven by the community. The atrocities at the Shindig would no doubt outshine any crime he ever committed.
The alcohol seemed to grease the gears in his head as details came together and formed a coherent plan. He'd call up Sheriff Lowery that evening while Vince and the anonymous cubophile were setting up the Shindig. He'd complain about the noise or better yet! He'd tell them that they were possibly having a sex and drug party! If the noise and sex didn't get them off their ass, the prospect of a drug bust most likely would. Then, when the boys in blue showed up, he'd take them down to Cabin A. He'd open the door and BAM! Arrest that pervert, boys! The party is over! Parent's would be called and punishments would be doled out respectively.
His smile widened. His day was starting to look a lot brighter already.