THE FRATERNITY

Nigel Ford has contributed stories, poetry, plays to literary magazines in UK, USA, Germany, Ireland and Norway. His books include One Dog Barking (stories), Serf (a short novel) and Angel's Road (novel). His most recent novel is The Fraternity working together with his good friend Professor Timo. As seems to be the norm for kings ruling over the Middle East, King Assap Juma sends his son Haffy to Broadlands to be gifted with a supreme education and to meet up with other similar young men of his sort to be found in a preparatory school for boys in West Sussex Without being completely certain he wonders if his son is either a girl or a boy or perhaps something in the middle. Brushing away such nonsense, King Adab hopes for the best and proceeds with the process, saying that one way or another we are sure this will turn out well. The British are well versed in this kind of conundrum. Haffy, who is keen on biology as she/him is called, adapts swiftly into the norms and takes a sudden liking to newts. King Adab sighs with relief and hopes fervently that all will turn out well for his offspring. If not, sighs King Adab, I can always send Haffy to a public school for young ladies I suppose.