Barefoot and Lost (25 page)

     ‘Phillip
, you can’
t go out looking like that, go and put your school uniform on, I’m sure your friends can wait a few moments.’

    
June
squeezes my hand, ‘Go on, we will wait around the front by the car.’ I take the stairs to the dorm two at a time and don’t touch any on the way back down. I’m so excited to be going out I don’t want to miss a minute. Jacket over my shoulder, I round the corner to see Mam still chatting, the gravel crunches under my feet as I approach, Mam turns at the sound,

     ‘
Phillip
, you cannot go like that, put your jacket on stop being so slovenly.’ Without saying a word I slip my arms into the sleeves, I can see
June
wince as she watches me but doesn’t say a word. Awful starts the engine, ‘
Phil
will you sit between
Sam
and
June
you are less likely to be seen there, kids aren’t supposed to ride in military vehicles.’

     ‘I’ll pull that dreadful jacket over his head; no one will ever guess there is a young man under it; where the devil did you get it from
Phillip
?’

     ‘It was Lion’s; Mam says I will grow into it.”

     ‘Maybe you will if you grow up to be deformed.’

     ‘Orville, what make is this car, it is so quiet you don’t even know you’re moving?’

     ‘It’s a nineteen forty three Oldsmobile, pleased you like it.’

     ‘Pop, when are we going to talk about the—you know, the trouble at
Saint
Stephens
?’

     ‘I think we should save that until we meet
Bill
Simmons
but
Phillip
, first we have something to tell you.’ I look at him and then to
June
both have sad looks I know it is something bad, 

     ‘You’re going to tell me my dad is really dead or my uncle, something about him?’

     ‘No
Phillip
, it is worse than that,
Michael
has died.’ I can feel my heart stop and my stomach churns, I feel a lump in my throat, and my mouth is dry. I try to ask why, when, how? But the words won’t come.
June
answers my unasked questions as she does she puts her arm around me.

     ‘Two weeks ago
Michael
suffered breathing difficulties and was put back on a respirator, but he developed pneumonia and died last Monday, I’m so sorry
Phillip
.’ Pop holds my hand.

     ‘These things are never easy, even when you are expecting them it still comes as a blow
.
We don’t believe he suffered; he just stopped breathing in his sleep. I was there so was his mum and dad. One minute he was there, the next he was gone.’ Pops grip tightens; tears are flowing down his cheeks, forming small pools before they disperse through his beard. My voice returns I let out a wail and my tears flow as well.

     ‘I hate God, why does he
always take away the people I l
ove? I am never going to speak to him again, no, not ever.’

     ‘
Phillip,
it has nothing to do with God, Michael was infected by a virus
, his body fought it but he
was not strong enough, that is all there is to it. I’m sure you agree with me
Sam
.’

     ‘To a certain extent, God creates us all so it is his will to do with us as he sees fit, after all we are his servants.’

     ‘Okay
Sam
, I beg to differ with you but let us leave it there;
Phillip
can make up his own mind when he is ready.’

    ‘Anyone know where the train station is?’
Olive
has turned around in her seat, Pop replies,

    ‘I have no idea never been here before.’ 

    ‘I do, it is down, opposite the castle near the river. Stay on this road just before the bridge the station is on your left.’

    ‘
Phillip, h
ow come you know that?’

    ‘First day I was at St’ Ss I came here for a days outing and had to go to the bakers to collect our lunches.’

     As Awful parks the car in the station approach a three wheeler
Morgan
pulls alongside us.
Mr.
Simmons is driving but the car is so small it ap
pears that he is wearing it
as a skirt.

    ‘That was good timing
Bill
.’
Mr.
Simmons
just smiles.

     Pop orders tea and sandwiches for everyone, Awful insists he pays. A light hearted argument breaks out between Pop and Awful. Pop is saying that Awful provided the transport, the least he can do is buy the refreshments. Awful says the transport is down to Uncle Sam and that does not mean
Sam
Cohen
and, if he insists, he will pull rank and leave him in Tonbridge. Pop gives in I have the feeling Pops insistence was only show, he never intended paying.

     ‘
Bill
, before we have any discussion I think it would be a good idea if we rang
Superintendent
John
Langdon
.’

     ‘I agree
Sam
; we can do it from the call box over at the station.’ Pop and Mr. Simmons get up and walk across the road, I can tell Pop is doing all the talking by the way his arms are turning, like windmills.

     ‘
Phillip
, I think you had better eat that last sandwich, you have been eyeing it for the past 15 minutes.’

     ‘
Olive
, are you sure I can have it, doesn’t anyone else want it?’ everyone shakes their head. Devouring the sandwich in two bites,
Olive
then makes me feel guilty,

     ‘You know
June
you cannot, these days get a man with etiquette and style, there was me, desperate for an egg and cress sandwich, which incidentally, is my favourite of all sandwiches. I was only being polite but
Phillip
here; is growing up just like all men, only thinking of themselves, never considering the needs of a woman.’ I’m looking at
Olive
, does she really mean it, she is nearly always joking. Her mouth is turned down looking sad, but it is an exaggerated look and I know now she is, joking.

     ‘That’s not fair, you had me believing you and I felt rotten, are they really your favourite?’

     ‘No Phillip they are not, I hate them really,
I only wanted to tease you that’
s all.’ 

     I can see Pop and
Mr
Simmons
are coming back;
Mr.
Simmons
is doing the talking now
.
Awful and Olive,
push
back
,
their chairs and stand
up,

     ‘We will take ourselves off to the castle and leave you to discuss this terrible business.’

    ‘They head off down the street and turn right at the end of the shops, towards the river.

     ‘Did you get
John
Langdon
Sam
?’

     ‘We did and he has filled
Bill
in; we are to do nothing; that right
Bill
?’ 

     ‘Yes Sam that’s right but how can I go back there and say
nothing when I now know what is
really happening?’  

     ‘I know, it will be hard, but from what
John
was saying, it will not last much longer.’

     ‘I suppose I’ll manage, but the sooner the better.’ Pop turns to me,

     ‘
Phillip
,
John
Langdon
suggests that you tell us all about what happened to you. I know I have your letter but, if you tell me now, in detail, I will write it down word for word then the police can use it as a statement.
John
says it is not entirely legal because a policeman at least should be present, but he has sworn me in as a deputy, he thinks you will be more comfortable amongst friends.’ Pop rummages in a small brown leather briefcase that looks much older than he does, producing a small note pad and pencil he says,

     ‘Off you go, tell me everything, don’t leave anything out and talk normally, I can write as fast as you speak, I use a form of shorthand.’

     ‘Where do I start?’

     ‘At the beginning, it is usually the best place, where else?’

     The next twenty minutes are spent as I tell them about the bathroom incident; Lion pushing
Flynn
in the bath water and how he ran away the first time. Pop is writing so fast I can’t believe he is keeping up with me.

      ‘Pop, are you sure you are writing it all down?’

      ‘I’m sure, even put in the umms and rrrs when you are thinking.’

      ‘That’s not Pitman’s you’re using is it
Sam
?’

      ‘No June its Hebrew I reckon that if anyone doubts what is written, it could only be me and if you and Bill sign it as witnesses everything should be okay ‘ 

     I go on for the next half hour. When I stop someone usually asks a question which sets me off again.
Mr.
Simmons
produces
Doris
and
Enid
’s note and reads it as Pop adds it to my statement.

     ‘Anything to add
Phillip
, you haven’t forgotten anything?’

     ‘No Pop that is everything.’

     ‘Now, if you could sign it
Phillip
, and
June
and
Bill
, if you could do the same’ we all initial each page, then sign where Pop indicates, it looks to me just a lot of lines and squiggles. Pop puts his notes, together with the girls note; in an envelope which he seals and then signs across the seal in two places he then places it in his briefcase.

     ‘There that should do it
John
Langdon
will have this in the morning; now if you will excuse me I must wash and make my peace with God and explain why I am working on the Sabbath.’

     ‘You do that
Sam
and I’ll order so
me more tea and sandwiches.
I’m sure
Phillip
after all that talking, you are ravenous.’
Mr.
Simmons
stands up and pushes his chair back under the table.

     ‘Not for me
June
, I must get back to
Saint
Stephens
.’
Mr.
Simmons
shakes hands with Pop and
June
,

     ‘It has been a pleasure to meet you both and please pass on my best wishes to
Olive
and Orville.’ Pop walks to the back of the shop,
Mr.
Simmons
strides across the road to the
Morgan
reaches inside, fiddles with the controls, and cranks the starter handle. After two swings the V twin engine bursts into life, he then pours himself into the
Morgan
and zooms off up the road. I wave he replies with two honks on his horn.
June
is coming back to the table with a tray laden with two cups of tea, a glass of lemonade and cakes.

     Pop returns and takes his seat; he takes a sip of tea, wipes the moisture from his beard with the back of his hand, and then looks at me.

     ‘
Phillip
, well done, it must have been difficult going through all that again.’

     ‘It wasn’t that bad Pop but, I think, if I had to say it to the
police it would have been a lot
harder.’ June reaches out and takes my hand.

     ‘
Phillip
, both Pop and I have something to tell you; no, discuss with you.’

     ‘Please, not more bad news, who else has died?’