The Devil Came to Abbeville

by Marian Phair

  In his dreams, he and Stanley were always together, and doing all the things he had seen other boys doing. Playing football, and wrestling each other, laughing and generally messing around. On Sundays, when he went to church, Percy would ask God to make Stanley his friend.

  Three weeks after he caught Percy peeing, his grandfather, whilst working on his allotment, had an accident with a garden fork. He had driven its prongs through his boot, and they were deeply embedded in his foot. On returning from the hospital, his foot heavily bandaged, and leaning on a walking stick, George Grimes, called Percy to his bedroom.

  When Percy entered the room, his grandfather was standing by the bed, with his trousers around his ankles, and holding up his shirt tail, exposing his shrivelled white buttocks.

  “Come here boy, I want you to look at my backside, its bloody sore! Can you see where they gave me a Tetanus shot, in my left cheek?” he asked. “If its not the bloody injection they gave me, something else is amiss!”

  Percy tried not to look at his grandfather’s face as he crossed the room.

  His grandmother should be doing this, not him! Gertrude had trouble climbing the stairs now, with her Arthritic hip, and tried not to come back up them until bedtime. Percy couldn’t see anything wrong, no sore spots, nothing amiss that he could see, and he told his grandfather so. Then as quickly as he could, Percy made his exit, and hurried outside to get on with his chores.

  That same night, Percy awoke to the sound of a ‘tap-tap-tap.’ He thought the sound was getting louder, and he held his breath in order to hear more clearly.

  The noise grew louder. As it got closer, he realised it was his grandfather’s walking stick, tap-tapping on the linoleum as he approached his room. He heard the rattle of the door-knob, as he lay with bated breath. The door opened, and his grandfather stood silhouetted by candle light, in the doorway of the room. Percy quickly shut his eyes, feigning sleep, as his grandfather entered the room and closed the door behind him. Percy’s heart was beating fast. He heard the ‘tap-shuffle, tap-shuffle, and tap-shuffle’ as his grandfather came across the room, and the small gust of cool air as his bedcovers were lifted, exposing his nakedness.

  The mattress moved under the extra weight, as his grandfather slipped under the covers, and moved closer. Frightened out of his wits, but afraid to utter a sound, Percy stifled a cry as a rough, calloused hand reached round and took his penis, and began stroking it. He almost cried out in fear when a voice whispered in his ear.

  “I know you’re not asleep my boy, I saw you from the doorway, and I saw you close your eyes.” Percy felt the rasp of his grandfather’s unshaven cheek against his ear as he whispered to him. “You like this boy, I can tell, your little dick’s getting nice and stiff. Old gramps will have another surprise for you in a minute!”

  Something hard was pressing into Percy’s back, and he could feel his penis stiffening, despite all his efforts not to let it. He felt ashamed for enjoying the feeling of being fondled by a more experienced hand than he had been, with his own exploratory fumbling. The calloused hand moved back and forth, until with a muffled cry, Percy climaxed over the old mans fingers. A few seconds later Percy was screaming into his pillow, as the hand that had just masturbated him, wiped the wetness from it’s fingers around his anus, and the ‘hard thing’ that had been prodding him in the back while the act was going on, swiftly entered him.

  George Grimes was impervious to his grandson cries of pain, and his pleas to stop hurting him. As he sodomized him, he whispered in his ear, “Get used to it boy, someone has to replace your grandmother, she hasn’t let me touch her in months.

  A man has certain needs. It’s not the same using old lady five-fingers. It’s you and me now, boy, you never know, you may get to like it!”

  George’s parting remark before leaving the sobbing child, who lay curled up in agony on the bed, blood seeping from his anus, was to tell him, “I’ll be back for more of the same tomorrow night, and the night after that, and the next, if I’ve a mind to.”

  In her bedroom, Gertrude, listening to the cries of her grandson, turned over onto her side and pulled a pillow over her head to cut out the noise. If she tried to intervene, she knew George would turn on her and give her a beating. George had a wicked temper, and had vented his anger out on her many times over the years. She too lived in fear of George Grimes. The boy could look out for himself.

  Night after night, Percy lay awake, dreading the sound of the ‘tap-tap-tapping’ of his grandfather’s walking stick, as he came down the corridor to his room. Young Percy would cringe in fear when the tapping stopped outside his door, until one fateful night, when after celebrating their fiftieth anniversary with two bottles of cheap Vodka, the old couple fell into a drunken sleep.

  That was the night fourteen year old Percy accidentally knocked over his bedside candle, setting fire to the old netting hanging across his window behind the bed head. Within seconds it had fallen, blazing, onto his bed, setting it alight. For a few moments he stood frozen to the spot, watching in fascination as the flames quickly spread, before turning and running away from the house as fast as his legs could carry him. From a safe distance, hidden by a tree, Percy watched the house burning.

  He continued to watch, as the fire brigade, called out by a neighbour, fought in vain to put out the flames. When the roof caved in, sending even more showers of sparks into the night sky, Percy turned, and slipped away into the darkness of the night…free from their clutches at last!

  The burnt remains of the two bodies were removed and taken to the mortuary.

  The fire brigade spent hours sifting through the wreckage, then ascertained that no accelerant had been used to start the fire; therefore they could rule out arson.

  George and Gertrude Grimes deaths’ were recorded as being accidental, and their remains buried in Abbeville churchyard, with the local council footing the bill.

  Bill Kershaw, a local farmer, took pity on Percy, and took him under his wing.

  Both, Bill and his wife, Connie, cared for Percy, helping him through the difficult days after the death of his grandparents. Bill, having no sons, raised Percy as if he were his own. For the first time in his young life, Percy was shown kindness, was well fed, and had decent clothes on his back. He was also paid one pound a week pocket money for his help around the farm.

  When Saturday came around, Percy would go into town and buy a comic and two gob-stoppers from his pocket money. Percy would go to his room and carefully store the change from his purchases in an empty shoe box, which he kept under his bed.

  He would go out into one of the fields where he would lay, looking at his comic and sucking on the gob-stoppers. Percy remained a loner all through his teenage years and into manhood. The only people who had any time for him, were Bill and Connie Kershaw, and the local priest, Father Patrick. Percy was still considered a weirdo by the children in the town, except for one.

  Liam Findley was the most popular boy in school. A handsome lad, much sort after by the girls, who would stand around in groups in the playground, whispering to each other and giggling whenever Liam spoke to one of them. Percy, would observe Liam from a distance, watching in admiration as he kicked a football around with other boys. Liam would always greet Percy in passing, despite the fact he was told to stay away from him. Liam felt sorry for Percy, and secretly hated they way most people would cross the road, or slip into a nearby shop, just to avoid him.

  Children would pelt Percy with stones, and call out rude insults, and Percy, with his head down, would hurry away as fast as he could, to get away from them; never once retaliating. If Liam came across any of the youngsters tormenting Percy, he put a stop to it. Knowing as young as he was, how cruel and hurtful these acts were, and hoping that he would never find himself so disliked and hated, as poor Percy Grimes.

  When Percy reached the age of twenty-one, Bill Kershaw gave him the deeds to an old farm labourer’s cottage, on the edge of his farmland, to mark Percy’s coming of age.
Percy now had a place to call his own, somewhere he could come and go as he pleased, and do as he wished, without answering to anyone, or seeking their permission first. He was king of his very own castle!

  CHAPTER 3

  It was the end of June when widowed, Ruth Ferguson, moved into the Rectory with her eight year old daughter, Sally. Ruth widowed this past three years when a hit-and-run driver robbed her of her husband, Jack, and left her injured five year old daughter Sally, blind, and their family pet dead.

  An elderly couple who had witnessed the accident, told the police officer’s making inquiries, that they had seen a black car come careering out of control, around the corner on Manning Way. They were unable to tell the police the make of the vehicle, or who was driving, because everything had happened so fast. The car had mounted the pavement where Jack Ferguson was walking with his young daughter and the family pet, Sally’s little mongrel dog, Skip. The vehicle drove into them, sending Sally flying through the air over its bonnet, and smashing Jack into a neighbour’s garden wall, before swerving back onto the road and driving off at speed.

  Police enquires failed to come up with any evidence leading to the vehicle or its driver. Their appeal on the local news channel for help from the public also yielded nothing. Both driver and vehicle had disappeared without a trace, and the case was filed, ‘Unsolved,’ along with several other unsolved cases it would remain, gathering dust, until someone came forward with a new lead for them to follow.

  Jack had died at the scene. Skip’s little body had been crushed under the cars wheels; when sensing the danger, he had tried to protect them with his body. Because of his heroic act, Father Patrick, had given permission for the little dog to be buried in a remote corner of the churchyard, and a small wooden cross bearing his name was erected at the head of his grave. Every weekend, Ruth and Sally put fresh flowers on the graves.

  For the past four weeks since Martha Higgins retirement, Father Patrick had to fend for himself. He had lost weight due to his diet of biscuits, sandwiches, and the odd bag of chips, which had served as his meals. His culinary skills ended at scrambled eggs, and beans on toast. He was delighted to get tucked into the delicious homemade steak and kidney pie Ruth had made for dinner. He usually ate alone, but was happy to have both Ruth and Sally share his table.

  Sometimes, young Liam Findley, Sally’s friend and playmate, would join them, and mealtimes became a happy get-together. Liam was a joker, who also loved playing tricks, harmless ones admittedly, and Father Patrick found himself looking forward to dinner, and the banter that passed between them on these occasions.

  Liam had taken on the role of Sally’s protector, sticking up for her when any of the local children pulled faces or made rude gestures in front of her. Getting away with liberties because she could not see what they were doing, Liam would step in and defend her.

  “Don’t worry about those idiots, Sal,” he told her. “Who needs them? I’ll be your eyes, I’ll take care of you, and you can trust me.” They became inseparable, where one was found; you would always find the other.

  Sally was pretty, with dark blonde, curly hair, that hung in ringlets to her shoulders. Her big blue-gray eyes appeared to ‘see’ everything. Liam was curious enough to ask Ruth about this. Sally couldn’t remember much about the accident.

  “Mrs Ferguson, I know Sally can’t see me. Was it the accident that made her blind?”

  For a moment or two, Ruth was silent, looking off into the distance remembering what the specialist had told her. He had found no physical reason for Sally’s blindness. What was the word he’d used? ‘Conversion.’ That was it!

  The specialist had taken her into his office and then he had told her the bad news.

  “Mrs Ferguson, it’s my opinion that Sally is suffering from Psychological Blindness.

  I can find no other cause for Sally’s loss of sight, other than this.” He sat studying her face as he gave her this news.

  “I’m sorry!” She had been shocked that a man of his position could be so heartless. She stood before him, trembling with rage. “Are you telling me Sally is only ‘pretending’ to be blind? Why would she want to do such a thing? With all due respect, I don’t believe that. Not for one minute!” The specialist had offered her a seat.

  “Please, sit down Mrs Ferguson. I will explain what I mean by this.”

  Ruth sat down on the hard wooden chair, and waited for him to continue.

  “The Psychological effects of an extremely emotional or stressful situation can result in a condition known as Temporary Blindness.” Before he could explain this condition more fully to her, she had asked,

  “Does that mean Sally will eventually get her eyesight back? How long will she be like this?” Her heart had quickened at his words.

  “If you will allow me to continue, I will try to explain as simply as possible the concept of Temporary Blindness. It’s known as ‘Conversion,’ it relates to the fact that a person’s brain will alter the psychological impact into a physical abnormality, such as blindness. Maybe, one day in the future, something else will trigger a switch in Sally’s brain, and her sight will return.”

  Ruth was brought back out of her reverie by a small hand clasping hers, and Liam asking if she was okay. She tried to explain to the young boy that one day, maybe, Sally would be able to see again, if something in her brain were to reverse what had happened to cause her blindness. The puzzled look on Liam’s face was swiftly replaced by a huge smile.

  “If that happens, Sally will be able to see me.” This thought made him very happy. “When we grow up we are going to be married!” He stated emphatically.

  Ruth turned away before Liam could see she was smiling at his remark.

  There was no school for the blind within five hundred miles of Abbeville, and Ruth could not bring herself to be parted from her daughter by bordering her in a facility of learning so far away. Neither could she afford the boarding fees, and all the other items that Sally would require. So it was Father Patrick who stepped in and took charge of Sally’s education, setting aside a few hours each day for the task, much to Ruth’s relief.

  The priest taught Sally to ‘read’ with her fingers, to touch, feel, smell, and taste the things around her, to learn of the world through her senses, and learn she did. She also learnt through the stories Father Patrick told her while they waited impatiently for the books in Braille he had sent for, to arrive. Sally learnt something of history through the stories he told, but her favourite stories came from the bible, and she never tired of hearing these. When Father Patrick told the story of Ruth, Sally could picture in her mind, her own mother, walking in Ruth’s shoes. Thus, her days were filled with learning and playing with Liam.

  On one of her trips to Lucas Bradley’s, the butcher, Ruth had noticed Percy Grimes furtively watching Liam, and several other local boys, playing football on the green. Percy had his hands in his trouser pockets and appeared to be playing with himself. His attention seemed to be fixated more on young Liam than on any of the other boys. Percy’s behaviour struck a note of fear momentarily in Ruth’s mind, but she brushed it aside. Everyone knew Percy wasn’t right in the head. One of the boys kicked the ball with such force it almost landed at Percy’s feet, where he stood watching, partially hidden from view by bushes. A young boy in a blue and white striped jumper ran over to retrieve the ball, and Ruth heard the boy’s “Fuck off, weirdo” to Percy, before hurrying off to do her errands.

  When she got back to the rectory, she mentioned the incident to Father Patrick and told him she didn’t like what she had seen, and how it had disturbed her.

  “I’ll have a word with Percy about this, don’t you worry,” he told her. “It’s not the first time Percy’s been caught playing pocket-billiards in public. I’ll tell him if it happens again he can expect a call from the police.” Satisfied, Ruth went off to prepare their evening meal.

  Sally knelt beside the tiny grave tucked away in the corner of the churchyard.

  H
er fingers traced the name ‘Skip’ carved into the small wooden cross. She still missed the little mongrel dog that had paid the ultimate price when trying to protect his family. She held the single lily up to her nose, breathing in its heavy scent before placing it on the grave, then felt Liam’s hand on her arm, as he helped her to her feet. She wiped away a tear as he led her away from the church. They walked along, Sally feeling her way with her white cane, Liam’s hand on her arm guiding her.

  “Come on Sal, cheer up. Hey! I’ve got a new joke for yer. What do you call a man with a slice of ham on his head?” Sally played along with him.

  “I don’t know. What do you call a man with a slice of ham on his head?”

  “Mohamed. Get it? Mo-ham-ed.” They burst out laughing at the silly joke.

  “Where shall we go today?” she asked him.

  “If you’ve got your CD player with you, we could go to the cornfield and listen to some music, if you like? I don’t feel like doing any more studying today. Father Patrick has a visitor anyway. That man who talks funny. Mum said he’s from America, so Father Patrick will be busy with him.”

  Since Molly Fleming had introduced her Criminal Profiler cousin Scott Holden, to Father Patrick, they were in each others’ company whenever time from his clerical duties and teaching allowed. They spent hours in the evenings exchanging stories, and learning from each others’ vast store of knowledge. Sally was very wary around strangers, but she was fine once she got to know them.

  Liam guided Sally along the lane. “Yep, I’ve got my CD player with me and a surprise for you, but I’m not telling you what it is yet,” he told her. Reaching the cornfield, Liam opened the gate, and guided Sally through, closing it behind him.

  This was their favourite place, where they were free to enjoy each others’ company, without putting up with the taunts from other neighbourhood children.