Barefoot and Lost (12 page)

     ‘But I’m supposed to be keeping guard.’

     ‘You can do it from down there, as soon as someone starts to come up the stairs talk to them, shout out, whatever to let me know.’

      ‘Okay sorry, see you later.’
Peter
disappears downstairs, it is nice and quiet, I still can’t think of what to write. 

     Opening the Talisman I read again how the Crusader, knight of the Sleeping Leopard, met
the Saracen at the oasis
,
and
after a bit of a battle
agree to
travel across the
Syrian Desert
together.

     I can’t
read
,
all that keeps going though my mind is what I have to write in the letter. Pop won’t mind if it is not perfect, so I’m just going to say what is in my head, he will understand.       

Dear
Pop and Tess

Please excuse the envelope but I can’t get one here because we aren’t allowed to write to anybody unless we are supervised, in case we say something bad about Saint Stephen’s and if we do we have to rewrite the letter or it doesn’t get sent. This letter I have written in secret and sent using a stamp from another letter I hope it gets to you because the stamp may fall off.

The letter is secret because we have to tell somebody and I think you are the best person to do something for us, you have to stop him. There is a House Father here called
Mr.
Flynn
who lives outside of
St
Stephens
but stays overnight to supervise meal times, bedtimes and bath times. What he does is very bad Lionel he is the oldest in our dormitory, calls him a pervert because he chooses boys about my age and when they are in the bathroom, he
comes in and grabs hold of their penis, and tells them, they
must stretch it to be a man
. H
e did it to me the first night I was here
.
Lionel stopped him when he hit him, then Lionel
had to run away but he was
caught and is back now and got a beating from the Reverend with his cane. Anyway we have all been talking about it and found out he is doing it to a lot of other boys in his bedroom. He calls it PT, penis therapy. When Lionel
was younger one night when
Mr. Flynn was giving Lionel PT he
forced his
penis into
Lionel
’s
mouth. We can’t tell anybody because nobody here will believe us they might all know but make out it is not h
appening. Please help us Pop don’
t write to me because they read all the letters.

I hope you and Tess are well and
that Michael is getting better. P
lease tell June to tell Len I’m sorry I can’t swim anymore.

All my love

Phillip Snell

P.S. Please believe me I am not making this up it is all true

P.P.S. Please tell
June
I miss her, and Mr. M and Jet and ask her please if she will try to foster me. I hate it here, I have met some good friends here, but I still hate it.

P.P.P.S. I bet you are pleased the war is
over; will there be a V.J party?
  

I have folded the letter like Lion said, he is right it looks like a letter and shouldn’t come undone, all I have to do now is soak, off the stamp. I have hidden the letter in the book and asked the Knight to look after it.

     I make my way down to the games room to look for
Peter
, I’m shocked to find him in a corner playing chess with
Flynn
, and I’m not sure what to do. I have decided the best thing is to stay hidden from them and if
Peter
leaves with
Flynn
I will shout are
they going to his room for PT.
I have my back to them watching them
in the big mirror on the wall.
I can see Flynn is being very nice to Peter,
smiling, laughing,
and prai
sing him when he makes a move.
I wonder if Peter knows this is Flynn and is keeping him occupied so he won’t come up and catch me writing. Their game is almost finished;
Flynn
is white and is nearly out of men, I wonder has he let
Peter
win to get on his good side. 

    
Flynn
stands up and puts his hand on
Peter
’s shoulder,
Peter
is smiling he can’t know it is
Flynn
or he would be pulling back. Peter is packing away the chess set Flynn is laughing and

patting Peter’s back,
as
they both move to the cupboard to put the chess set away Flynn still has his arm around Peter. They leave the games room together, is
Peter
leading him away from
me.

     Following at a distance I can’t hear what
Flynn
is saying but he is doing a lot of talking, it is when they both pass our dorm in the direction of
Flynn
’s room I start to get worried, should I run up now and shout? They have stopped outside
Flynn
’s room;
Flynn
is pointing at the door he then gives
Peter
a slap on the back and strides of
f towards the main stair case.
Peter
turns and makes his way back, he then sees me hiding in the doorway of our dorm. ‘
Peter
that was
Flynn
’ with a huge smile he said

     ‘I know what a creep; I was keeping him away from you, he was about to come up the stairs to the library. I knew it was him because someone had told me he limped, so I called out, excuse me sir I
am new here, what is up there?
Don’t you think that was clever of me, I said it real loud so you would hear me’

     ‘Ye
ah
, it was good
thinking but I never heard you. H
ow did you get him to play chess?’

     ‘I was playing a game by myself, on the table at the bottom of the stairs. He saw me
when he turned, came over,
and asked would I like a game?’

     ‘You weren’t at the bottom of the stairs when I saw you playing.’

     ‘I know, he suggested that we go to the back corner where it was quieter’

     ‘The creep, that was to get you to himself so no one could overhear him, what was he saying?’

     ‘All the things you and the others have been saying how he knows how lost and lonely we are when we arrive especially if we have come from a foster home and that he wants to be a father to me and
because he understood if I ever needed to talk, or have a cry, his door is always open. All I have to do is knock, anytime; night or day, and he would be that parent that I
missed so much
.’ 

     ‘Why did you go to his door, was he trying to get you in there?’

     ‘No, he was just showing me where it was. Do you know the thing I dislike most about him is, he can’t keep his hands off you
,
he is always touching and patting, it’s even worse now I know what he does with his hands.’

     ‘Yeah
he is creepy,
just looking at him makes my skin crawl, you did really well.’

     ‘Do you think so? D
id you finish the letter?’

     ‘Yeah
all done, all we need is to soak the stamp and find a way to post it.’

     We are gathered on Peter’s bed, having our
pow
wow, everyone thinks Peter was great the way he dealt with Flynn. Lion says, ‘We will really have to watch
Peter
because
Flynn
now thinks
Peter
is an easy touch.

     ‘Meal times will be okay Lion, we can all be together its bath time that will be the problem’.

     ‘Its bath night tomorrow isn’t
it,
Mam said I must have one on Friday, will Flynn be on duty?’

     ‘He usually is on Friday nights.’

     ‘Okay, if he is we make sure
Peter
you are never in the bathroom on your own.’

     ‘Yeah
, but h
ow are we going to do that, we’
re not allowed to hang around in the bathroom.’

     ‘That’s easy
Jack
, we take it in turns, and make sure someone is always queuing behind
Peter
.’

      ‘What are you all talking about queuing, why do I have to queue?’

      ‘Its procedure,
Phil
will explain it to you; now what about the letter?’

      ‘I finished
it;
all it needs is the stamp.
Peter
did I see that you had a soap dish in your things?’

      ‘Yes why?’

      ‘If we put a drop of water in the lid we can soak the stamp overnight, then it will peel off easily.’

      ‘You won’t get the envelope in my soap dish.’

      ‘I know that, I’m going to tear around the stamp so there is only a small piece of
paper to soak off, get your dish and fill it with water for me and I’ll tear the stamp.
’

    
This morning, while the others are cleaning the dorm,’ using Peters pen knife I have lifted a corner of the stamp, it peeled away perfectl
y and now seems to be stuck fast
to my letter, which is now being guarded by the Knight and the Saracen. We have moved to the other side of the house for our gardening, there are fewer weeds here so, between us, we have made a good job in removing all of them.

     Lunch is the usual, tasteless food, I always looked forward to meals when Gran cooked but now I just eat because I am hungry. Mam has announced that every boy is to gather on the sports field at two thirty wearing singlet, shorts, and gym shoes for Physical training. We all laughed when she said that, we were then told to behave, all I can imagine is all the boys on the sports field holding their willies.

     I’m pleased to say it is not at all like that, a man, none of us has seen before, is blowing a whistle and sh
outing for us to ‘Come down by ‘
ere and line up and to pay attention.’ I think I am the only one doing as he says I am also the only one, I think who wants to be here.

     Speaking with a welsh accent,
‘That is better now’  our new member of staff stands before us, his powerful arms folded across a massive chest, his short legs, standing astride, cause, the muscles on his thighs to ripple as he rocks on the balls of his feet. His balding head appears to sit on his broad shoulders; he seems to have no neck at all. The lack of hair on his head is offset by a greying beard. He looks like that advert for
Charles
Atlas
, all muscle, with his head on upside down. ‘Now look you, my name is Gareth Jones, I am your physical training instructor, and you will call me Coach.

     We will be meeting like this twice a week during the school holidays and then it will be every Saturday morning, come rain or shine. It is my job to improve your physique and your minds, the first by exercise, the second by discipline. You will hate me but, as time goes by and we begin to understand each other, you may even like me. All you have to do is do everything I tell you with enthusiasm and remember, don’t argue with me I am never wrong. Now before you get cold, on the sound of my whistle you will run two circuits of the playing field in a clockwise direction.’

     I have completed my two, some of the kids haven’t completed one yet, “Do another one and make it slower.’

     ‘Yes Coach.’ As I start my third circuit Coach blows his whistle and runs alongside the stragglers shouting. I think it is wonderful but, clearly, there are a few kids that are not cut out for this sort of thing. Coach has now split us into two groups under ten and over ten 

     ‘What’s your name boyo
?’

     ‘
Phillip
Snell
, Coach.’

     ‘You have obviously done this before so I’m putting you in charge of the younger group.’

     ‘
But I don’t know what to do Coach.
’

     ‘You don’t have to, just follow me, and do as I do.’

    
For the past half hour we have been doing exercises. ‘Okay that’s enough.’ Coach dismisses us saying he will be back Tuesday morning. On the way back to our dorm’ I have sneaked up to the library to see if the stamp has stuck, it has it looks like a proper letter.

         
Flynn
is standing at the dining room door patting shoulders slapping backs, smiling and chatting to his favourite boys
as we file out. ‘
Peter
, you stay here, we will drop back a couple of places don’t want
Flynn
to see you are with us.’
Flynn
notices
Peter
a huge smile spreads across his face he puts his arm around
Peter
’s shoulders, ‘
Ahh
Peter
, how are you settling in, have you made any friends yet? Don’t forget what I told you I am always here for you; you only have to ask.’
Peter
is looking a bit uncomfortable attempting to pull away, but
Flynn
’s hand is gripping him firmly. Lion calls out and the four of us join in, “WHERE IS PT TONIGHT MR,
FLYNN
, IS IT IN YOUR ROOM OR THE BATHROOM?” Flynn’s head jolts upright from its position beside Peter’s ear, the colour has draine
d from his face, his arm flies
f
rom
Peter’s shoulder as though some giant monster has dragged it off.

     ‘Stop that, be quiet, or I’ll have you all in the Reverends office’ Lion quickly replies in a loud voice

     “PT IN THE REVERENDS OFFICE, IS HE JOINING IN?”
Flynn
quickly turns and limps off down the corridor putting as much distance from us as he can. Lion says,

     ‘I don’t think we will need to guard
Peter
at bath time tonight, he won’t take the risk.’

     ‘Lion, he gives me the creeps just in case will you still come to the bathroom with me?’

     ‘Yeah
of course, but don’t worry, we won’t let anything happen to you.’ Lion is right, bath time passes without incident. Flynn has stayed away from our bathroom; instead he has concentrated on the other one along the corridor.

     This morning is dorm’ cleaning. Lion has told me to show
Peter
what to do in the toilet and bathroom because now, he is the youngest. But I haven’t the heart to make him do it on his own; anyway there is a risk that
Flynn
might catch him on his own, so I have decided to help. It is a lot better with two, it is not done in half the time but a lot quicker, and, when
Peter
gets better at it, it will take no time at all.

     At lunch time the Reverend asked did we enjoy the PT yesterday. I shouted yes, and then I heard a few giggles. Looking around me I could see one or two of the older boys giving me a knowing look, I wanted to say no, I didn’t mean that, but I could feel my ears burning so I looked at my feet to hide my embarrassment. The Reverend went on to say that tomorrow, after chapel, boys and girls above the age of ten will be going to Long Thatch Farm for our annual outing. Then, on Thursday the twenty third, in spite of the unfortunate incident last year, we will return to
Maidstone
for our day trip. ‘Lion, that trip to the farm tomorrow, is that the one you said was slave labour?’

     ‘No, that’s in October, apples aren’t ready until then. Long Thatch is a hop farm with a few pigs and half a dozen cows. As well as hops they grow potatoes and strawberries. If we are lucky we will pick strawberries, if we’re not we dig spuds.’

     ‘Will we pick hops?’

     ‘No, they get picked in September; anyway, we wouldn’t be able to reach them.’

     ‘I don’t think I have ever had a strawberry, have you, what are they like?’

     ‘Strawberries, that’s what they’re like. I dunno they’re red soft and taste sweet.’

     ‘Do they have many trees?’

     ‘A few, I dunno, you don’t half ask a lot of questions.’

     ‘I’m sorry, do you have to climb the trees or do you use a ladder?’

     ‘
Phil
what the hell are you talking about?’

     ‘To pick the strawberries, do we have to use a ladder?’

     ‘You bloody idiot
Phil
, strawberries grow on the ground.’

     ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t know, I have never seen a real one, only seen them in a picture book.’

     ‘Shall I bring the letter tomorrow?’

     ‘No, you won’t get a chance to post it on the way, or at the farm, leave it till we go to
Maidstone
.’

     Toby,
Jack
and
Brian
have gone to play cricket. Lion has gone off somewhere on his own, said he wanted to be by himself so he could think
.
Peter
and
I
are playing chess,
he is good, we are into our second game, and no matter what I do, as quick as a flash, he counter moves. He thrashed me in the first and it looks like it is about to happen again. ‘
Peter
, where did you learn to play?’

     ‘When I was six, my mum taught me and my sister. We used to play every night and, if they didn’t want to play, I would have a game on my own, I love it.’

     ‘Well, I hate getting beaten all the time, could you teach me to play better?’

     ‘You are not a bad player, what you are doing wrong is you spend too long on each move. You wait until I finish my move then work out what you are going to do. While you’re doing that I look at all the options you have and work out a move for each one so, as soon as you do it I know my move. This gives me an advantage, because you think I am a better player you are beaten before you start’

      ‘Okay I’m going to try that.’ I make a move quickly;
Peter
makes his ‘Check Mate.’

      ‘That’s not fair; do you mind if we don’t play anymore, I would like to read my book?’

      ‘It was fair, you made a stupid move, but no, I don’t mind I’m just as happy playing me, and then I’m always sure of winning.’

       ‘You always win anyway, did you beat
Flynn
, or did he let you win?’

       ‘No, he was easy to beat, you would beat him easily’

       ‘I would love to, with a bloody big stick.’ We both burst into laughter and can’t stop, and now
Peter
is having a fit of coughing. Thinking he is going to choke I run and get him a glass of water, after a few sips he stops looking exhausted his face all red his good side matching his red scar. ‘Are you okay?’

     ‘Yes, sorry about that, since the fire I get terrible coughing fits. The doctors said it was because the smoke has affected my lungs, but it only hurts when I laugh.’ I look at him then realize, he is joking.

     ‘You better not laugh then, you will have to go around like the Reverend looking miserable all the time.’
Peter
pulls a sad face, we start to laugh again. Taking “The Talisman” from its place between the encyclopaedias I show
Peter
the letter with the stamp now fixed to it, we both think it is stuck fast, and agree it shouldn’t come off in the post.

     Chapel is very short this morning, not like the usual Sunday service. The Reverend is coming to the end or his sermon, which is always about respect and always so boring. ‘Before we finish today’s service with the Lords Prayer I have an announcement to make, listen carefully, this affects all of you: next Saturday there will be a combined party, including the children from Saint Gabriel’s, here at Saint Stephen’s to commemorate V.J day, the end of the war in Japan. This will be an open day with visitors from our head office in
London
, members of the Tonbridge Town Council and members of the public. Therefore everyone will be on their best behaviour; I will not tolerate anyone misbehaving. It is imperative that
Saint
Stephen
’s presents a good image so you will, each and, every one of you, be involved in a cleaning programme, commencing Monday morning. Everything and everywhere will be cleaned. You will have no recreation time this next week until the clean is completed to my satisfaction. If
it
takes until five minutes before the arrival of our guests so be it. The trip to Long Thatch farm goes ahead as planned today. The trip to
Maidstone
is now rescheduled for Tuesday the twenty eighth.
Now, bow you’re heads, let us
pray, Our Father who art in heaven--------”       

     There are two green and cream A.E.C coaches waiting this morning, one is already half full. I can see
Rachel
waving to me, I’m dying to talk to her, but we are put on the other coach. The one we are on is supervised by
Flynn
and
Mr.
Simmons
, we are at the back.
Flynn
has stayed at the front, it appears he is avoiding us; he has neither spoken to nor looked at
Peter
. ‘
Phillip
.’
Mr.
Simmons
has crouched down beside me in the aisle. ‘Gareth Jones tells me that, before you came to
Saint
Stephens
you were involved with gymnastics and boxing is that correct?’

     ‘Yes, but it really was swimming; I am the
Sussex
, under twelve, fifty metres breast stroke record holder.’

   
‘Are you now, and when did you achieve that?’