Tenement Funster

Common Ground....

Freddie sat by his telephone and sipped his tea.  Staring at the telephone and willing it to ring.  Knowing that a call from John at this point was improbable.  Not only did he have a train ride to finish but had to arrive home and deal with his parents first.   Time had not permitted these things to transpire yet.  

If it rang, he was certain it would be Griff.  Calling about their plans tonight to help him pack some more of this things.  Freddie hoped his friend had managed to find a place to actually move to.  He understood that packing felt like Griff was doing something, but without a place to go, it had limited effect.

Roger wouldn't be calling.  The plan was to arrive at the mews house and pack some more clothes and tell Brian in a clear manner that he wanted more time to consider everything and for Brian to think about his behavior and his own future.  Roger would promptly return once he finished and used the taxi fare Freddie had insisted upon.  A few hours at the most.

After taking the last sip of his tea, Freddie stood up and felt resigned to the silence as he walked to the kitchen.  Rinsing his cup as he watched Magda prepare individual meat pies.

"These should be ready around 6..." she informed him.  Freddie nodded and leaned against the counter.  Appreciating the noise in the kitchen in comparison to the silence in the rest of the house.

"Alright..."  Freddie spoke to confirm he heard her.  He watched as she placed the filling on the dough squares and fold the sides over carefully.  So purposeful and meticulous in her work.

"It's a shame John isn't here to enjoy these..."  Magda commented.  Freddie nodded agreement.

"He does love your cooking..." Freddie responded.  "I know he liked these in particular..."

"I'm sure his Mother will keep him fed..."  she told him.  

"I'm afraid his mother wants to keep him..."  Freddie said back.  Knowing only too well his boyfriend was probably being convinced at this very moment to remain home and start anew.  Find himself a girlfriend and forgot his crazy life in London.  Forget about Freddie.

"Mothers have a hard time letting go of their babies..."  Magda said as she picked up her baking sheet and carried it to the oven. 

"My mother had no trouble letting go of me..." Freddie argued with a hint of resentment.  Magda gave him a sympathetic look.

"Then she is a fool!"  she replied and turned and pressed a kiss to Freddie's cheek.  Making a shot of warmth go through Freddie at the affection he received from his housekeeper.  Before he could respond, the telephone rang and Freddie dashed from the kitchen to the nearest phone.  Eager to answer.

"Hello!" Freddie said with a secret hope it was John calling from a train station saying he had changed his mind and needed a ride home.  

"Hey Freddie...it's Roger..."  he heard on the line.  The sound of his subdued tone made him wonder if something tragic had happened.  Freddie sat down in his chair and for a moment worried that Brian had done something dramatic in response to Roger's leaving.

"Are you alright?"  Freddie immediately asked him. 

"I'm fine..."  Roger answered.  "Brian isn't..."  he stated and Freddie felt a rush of concern. 

"What's the matter?"  Freddie questioned.

"I arrived here in time to see his parents leaving..."  Roger explained.  "They showed up unannounced and confronted him about the news story...about everything..."  he advised.

"Oh dear!"  Freddie fretted.  Knowing too well how ugly that scene probably was.  Feeling sympathy for Brian.  

"They told him if he didn't come home with them...he need not bother coming home in the future..."  Roger revealed.  Freddie sighed.