Barefoot and Lost

by Brian Francis Cox

  The room is silent, I start to speak, Super asks me to speak louder, I stumble over a couple of words. Taking a deep breath I start to read, as I do I can feel myself gaining confidence. Super interrupts a couple of times, asking me to clarify something I have just read. It takes me ten minutes to read the whole thing. When I finish the Super asks me, was this statement the one that you had made to Samuel Cohen? I told him it was. ‘Well done Phillip, thank you Mrs. Conrad, if you could get that transcribed as soon as possible I’d be grateful; Constable could you please arrange tea for every one?’

  ‘Yes Sir, would that be sugar and milk for everyone?’ Pop says black no sugar, Reg asks for milk, no sugar and I tell Maisy I want both. ‘Thanks, all of you; this terrible business has turned out to be a lot bigger than we first thought. I can’t go into details but, so far, we, and the Met have arrested eight people and there is likely to be more.’

  ‘Have you arrested Mr. Flynn?’

  ‘Not by that name, he is in custody under his real name of Murdock. It was only when we took his finger prints that we realized he was known to the Met, as a serial child molester, who they thought had been killed in the London bombing and, all the time he was still at it in our patch.’

  ‘How the devil did he get a position in a children’s home?’

  ‘Because, we now know, it was all part of an organized set up, grooming kids for sex dens. Look I have said too much, please don’t repeat any of this, the whole thing sickens me, we just need to clear out the whole rotten thing, I will say this though, we have requested to exhume Lionel Bates, we suspect his death was not an accident.’

  The door opens, WPC Maisy comes, in placing a tray with four mugs on the table, ‘Sorry, there are no biscuits gentlemen,’ she says, as she retraces her steps closing the door behind her.

  ‘Well Phil, will you be at the club tomorrow night?’

  ‘Yes Captain, I’m not very good though, I went swimming this morning, for the first time since the gala.’

  ‘John, I told Phil, that he would soon be up to scratch, what is more, it looks like Phil has been accepted at the Grammar, couldn’t wait to snap him up.’

  ‘That’s good, between them and Len you could become world champion.’

  ‘Sorry, but as a school teacher don’t you think you are missing the point, surely school is to make the best of Phil’s academic qualities?’

  ‘You are probably right Sam, but I think Phil is bright enough to excel at both.’

  ‘Do I have a say in this?’

  ‘Of course you do, what will be will be, all you have to do is go through life doing your, best no one can ask more than that. Well gentlemen, thank you once again, I must get back to work. See you tomorrow night Phil.’

  Okay, by the way Superintendent, Constable Harper stopped me this morning asked me why I wasn’t at school.’

  ‘And you told him it was a secret, I believe.’

  ‘Yes, I thought it was.’

  ‘Well, not really, PC Harper was only doing his job, don’t you worry about it, see you tomorrow.’

  We walk the short distance up Station Road to Pop’s house, without saying a word.

  ‘Coming in for a drink Reg?’

  ‘No thanks Sam must get home and give June a hand.’ We turn the corner into Devonshire Road,

  ‘Reg, does exhume mean dig up Lionel’s body?’

  ‘It does, what a grizzly business, suspected murder, who would have thought it.’

  Chapter Fourteen

  ‘Good Morning Phil, have you washed?’

  ‘Morning June, yes I did.’

  ‘Well it doesn’t look like it to me so, after breakfast, you will go and try again, and this time use soap and water.’ June has a smile around her mouth, so I know she means it, but is not cross.’ I snap to attention and salute,

  ‘Yes Captain, your orders will be carried out.’

  ‘I’m pleased to hear that, now stop wasting time; we have a lot to do today.’

  ‘I thought we were going shopping.’

  ‘We are, but first we must go through your things to see what you really need They have only given me an emergency ration book so, what we will be able to buy is very limited.’

  I eat my boiled egg, but it is hard, not runny like Gran cooked them, but I don’t like to say so, any egg is better than the bread and jam at St. S’s

  ‘Phil, hurry up, when you’ve finished go and wash first, then take everything you have and lay them neatly on your bed, I will be up in half an hour.’

  ‘Okay June; is that wet stuff in the tap, water?’

  ‘I’m not even going to answer that, just hurry.’

  Laid out there is not much to see, two white shirts, two vests, two pairs of underpants, six socks, three with holes in the heels and toes, a navy blue pullover with long sleeves, which has a hole at the elbow. The tie from St. S’s that has been lengthened with a piece of pillow case, when they made two out of one, my running shorts and vest, Michael’s three swimming costumes and one pair of black shoes.

  ‘My God Phil, is that all you have?’

  ‘Yes and what I am wearing now.’ June turns me around, you’re wearing underwear?’

  ‘Of course I am.’

  So that is three pairs, they look in quite good order so we won’t worry about them. This shirt is the same as those, they’re made from pillow cases I’ll be bound, we will see if we can get three of those. These old ones you can wear to run about in, she tugs at the fair isle pullover I’m wearing, where did you get this hideous thing?’

  ‘Gran got that at the Red Cross, after we were bombed.’

  ‘Is that the only pair of shoes you have?’

  ‘And the gym shoes I’ve got on.’

  ‘What about a jacket?’

  ‘I told you I left the Dracula blazer behind.’

  ‘So you did, and thank God for that.’

  ‘We are never going to be able to replace all this with the coupons we have, I think we will have to go to the Salvation Army and see what we can get there.’

  Out on the street, June, although not very tall, walks quite fast and I find I am trotting to keep up with her. Our first stop is the department store, Plummer Rodis, where we are only able to buy one shirt. It is too big in the collar and the sleeves are too long, but June thinks she can alter it and anyway, she says, I will grow into it. In the old town we find a second hand shop where we get two jumpers, one black and the other blue. June says they can replace the ones I have, the Fair Isle can be used for dusting and she will unravel the other one and knit me mittens, she says it has to be mittens, as she can’t knit fingers. At the Salvation Army I get a pair of shoes that are almost new, they are a little big but, with an inner sole they will be fine. We are unable to get a jacket or trousers that fit, she says that Reg has a suit that he never wears; she will take it to a tailor and get it altered.

  Carrying our purchases I find it even harder to keep up; at the corner of Queens Road and Wellington Place June suddenly stops, and turns to me, ‘My little donkey, would you fancy a cup of tea and a cake?’

  ‘Yes please, but could I have lemonade instead?’

  ‘If you wish, lemonade it is’ June opens the door of Lyon’s corner house, selecting a table in the window. ‘We haven’t done too well on the jacket have we? God knows what you are going to wear to school on Monday, I’m pretty sure I can’t get Reg’s suit altered by then.’

  ‘Can I not just wear a shirt and tie?’

  ‘Well you could, but I wanted you spruced up for the interview.’

  ‘From what Reg was saying, about them wanting me at the Grammar, I could go in my swimming costume.’

  ‘You probably could, but not very practical where would you put your hanky or dinner money, there are no pockets.’ My look makes June laugh,

  ‘I’m only joking; just thinking, what happened to the jacket you had when you went to Saint Stephens?’

  ‘They took it away when I got the Dracula blazer; June, when can I w
rite or see my friends at Barnardos, I really miss them, especially Rachel?’

  ‘Rachel, Oh yes I remember, is she your girl friend?’

  ‘I think so; I kissed her once and can’t stop thinking about her.’

  ‘Then I would say it definitely sounds like love to me.’ I can feel my ears going hot,

  ‘Phil, I think Mr. Langdon wants to keep your whereabouts a secret until this nasty business is over, that is why he spirited you away from Saint Stephens, I’m sure that, when it is all over we will be able to go there one weekend, will that do you?’

  ‘I suppose so; do you think he did that so I wouldn’t be murdered?’

  ‘That is a strange thing to say, why would anyone want to kill you?’

  ‘I don’t know, but they now think that Lion was murdered.’

  ‘Well that’s as maybe but it is nothing for you to worry about. John Langdon’s motive I’m sure, was to do with having you close to him and not having to go through that bloody woman, Peabody, each time he wanted to speak to you, that is all there is to it so get those silly ideas out of your head and drink your lemonade before it gets hot.’

  ‘Hot, why would it get hot?’

  ‘Well, my tea has gone cold and heat transfer works both ways.’ How can her tea make my lemonade cold, I think she must be mad, oh, is June joking? I never know when she is or when she isn’t being serious.

  Reg’s suit is twice my size and will take a lot of tailoring to make it fit, ‘Phil, I think that idea is out of the window I will have to think of something else.’

  ‘June, I wonder what happened to Michael’s clothes? He went straight from here to hospital so his clothes are probably still at Sam’s.’

  ‘Reg, I never thought of that, I wonder if they would mind if we asked.’

  ‘I’ll telephone them now.’

  ‘No, let me go and ask.’

  ‘No Phil, it would be less personal on the phone. If they didn’t want to, it would be easier for them to make an excuse. If you went and asked they may feel duty bound to oblige, even if they didn’t want to.’ Reg gets up from the table and dials Pop’s number. It is difficult to know what the outcome is; only hearing one side of the conversation.

  ‘Right you are Sam, I understand, I’ll await your call then, thank you that is very kind of you, bye.’

  ‘Sam says, and quite rightly too, that Michael’s clothes are not his to dispose of but, he will ring Michael’s father and call me back.’

  Three quarters of an hour have passed the phone rings Reg answers. ‘Yes Sam, that is wonderful, when would be- this evening, are you sure-yes, I understand in about half an hour then. No Sam, June will come with Phil, I wouldn’t have much idea – thank you that would be very nice, see you shortly. They have Michael’s complete wardrobe and his father is willing for Sam to dispose of them. Sam told him they were going to boys at his school; he said that you, June, would remember his attitude to Gentiles’

  ‘Yes he was very rude to Phil at the hospital.’

  ‘We are to go around in half an hour, I have to come as well as he has a special drop of something or other that he would like me to try.’

  ‘Why the rush Reg, tomorrow will do?’

  ‘Friday is a bad day, as Tess has to clean and prepare everything tomorrow, for the Sabbath.’

  ‘Right, never thought of that, Phillip, will you go and get your suitcase it will be easier to carry them home?’

  Tess has all Michael’s clothes bundled up in a corner, ‘Everything is there except, his Yarmulke; his father wishes to keep it. Michael had many clothes, all good quality, and his father being in the trade as it were. I am so pleased they are going to be put to good use’

  ‘Tess, that is so kind, most things will fit Phillip I’m sure, but we must pay you for them.’

  ‘Do not offend us June by offering money, this is a charitable thing Michael’s father is doing. To appease him, please return the things that are not suitable, so I can then, without falsehood, tell him the clothes have gone to good Jewish boys.’

  ‘Are you sure Sam?’

  ‘June, I will hear no more of it, if your conscience is disturbed donate money to your favourite charity?’

  ‘I will do that Sam, you name the charity.’

  ‘I suggest the Red Cross, it is non denominational.’

  ‘The Red Cross it is, first thing Monday.’

  ‘Now that is settled, how about that drink Reg; I just happen to have a bottle of French Cognac which dates from nineteen thirty two, don’t ask how I acquired it, then I won’t have to tell you any lies.’

  ‘Mums the word, but I know, the milkman left it on the doorstep this morning.’

  ‘My God Reg, I do believe you have been spying on me.’ The pair of them slaps each other on the back and roar with laughter.

  ‘June, Tess, would you like one?’

  ‘No Sam, June and I will have tea, sorry June, I didn’t mean to – by all means have a Cognac if you wish.’

  ‘Tea will be fine Tess; Cognac is not my favourite tipple.’

  Making our way home Reg is carrying the suitcase, there are too many clothes to go in it. I have a heavy black overcoat over my arm and June is carrying a shopping bag, she also has a small bundle under her arm.

  ‘Phillip, Michael’s older clothes fit you better. I’m not sure you want his underwear and that heavy overcoat. Although it will be very warm, I can’t see you wearing it, Michael would have only used it for Synagogue.’

  ‘I wouldn’t want it even if you said I should, it made Michael look like an old man’

  ‘Everything else would be fine but, I think we should only take what you really need, so we hand back the overcoat, underwear, the shoes, because the ones we bought are fine. One jacket, choose which one you want to keep, and that’s about it. Happy with that, are you?’

  ‘Yes, but I don’t know how I will feel wearing a dead persons clothes.’

  ‘You won’t feel anything, you will be wearing your best friends clothes and be proud to do so.’

  ‘I’m going to have to set my alarm half an hour earlier, to give me time to decide what to wear; I’ve never had so many clothes.’

  ‘For the next couple of days wear the rubbish you have on, save the new stuff for school and special days.’

  ‘Oh bloody hell----’

  ‘Phillip! Do not use language like that; you are not at Saint Stephen’s now.’

  ‘Sorry, but I have forgotten to go to the swimming club. Captain and Len were expecting me, now I have let them down.’

  ‘Never mind, there are other nights, it was more important to get you clothed.’

  ‘I don’t think so.’

  ‘It doesn’t matter what you think, you are not paid to think, I do all the thinking around here, and if I say it was more important to clothe you then that is the end of the matter, understood?’

  ‘But, June.’

  ‘Phillip, even if you had remembered you still would not have gone, the clothes were more important so that is the finish; take your clothes up to your room, put them away neatly, and get yourself ready for bed, understood.’ June’s mouth is not smiling; I know she means it, no point in arguing. Reg looks at me with an expression that says do as you are told. I have the last word though, as I kiss them both goodnight I can feel them melt as I walk out of the kitchen, this is my secret weapon, it always worked with Gran.

  I wish I had The Talisman, I would love to read, but there are no books in my room. I will ask Reg if I can have a book shelf. I’m not tired, I’ve swung both the Spitfire and the B52, and counted the revolutions they do before they just swing backward and forward, I am bored with that.

  Looking at the clock I can see it still has the minute hand lying at the bottom of the face, it is nine something. Wondering if I can shake the minute hand back on I give it half a dozen shakes. I can see it’s not possible but then realize that the glass and surround will screw off. One and a half turns is all it takes for the glass to come off suddenl
y taking me by surprise, only to find the hand has fallen out. After stripping the bed I realize it is not there, it must be on the floor. Another fifteen minutes of searching I eventually find it on edge, in a crack in the floorboards. In a few seconds the hand is replaced, and then I realize it is on upside down and is touching the face of the clock. Carefully prizing it off with my finger nail, I refit it, noticing there is a small notch that locates it in the right position at seven minutes to ten. With the glass screwed back on I put out the light, I drop off to sleep instantly.

  The alarm wakes me at six twenty five; I’ve decided that I’m going swimming this morning. Downstairs I find I’m the only one up, except for Jet, he only stirs when he sees me, first with a stretch then a tail wag, followed by his whole rump. I rub his ears ‘Jet, I can’t take you out now I’m going swimming, I’ll take you for a long walk when I come back.’ He gives one short bark as if to say okay, and then curls up in his bed again. There is no one to ask if I can go. To save time I find the towel I used the other day, clean and folded in the linen cupboard, wrapping my costume in it I sit back down waiting for someone to appear, surely June must get up to make breakfast for the guests.

  In the bread bin there is half a loaf, I cut a slice, and spread it with jam and sit back down to wait. Fifteen minutes have slipped by since I came down; if I don’t go soon I will miss the session. On the table is Reg’s notepad and pencil, I’ll leave a note and go, they won’t be cross I’m sure; I write very neatly, ‘Good Morning June I have gone swimming will be back soon. Love, Phillip.’

  Len is not on duty, much to my disappointment and there is only one of the lady attendants here. After doing six lengths concentrating on my style, my arms ache, I’m becoming bored.

  I get out, but as I go to the changing room a man follows me in, he stands beside me and starts to dry himself, which I think is strange because he has not been in the water, and is not even wet. I can see out of the corner of my eye, he is looking at me which makes me feel creepy and reluctant to take off my costume. I gather up my things and go into the toilet, locking the door behind me. Quickly getting dressed, I listen at the door to hear if he is still there. Looking through the gap under the toilet door I can see a pair of mans legs in black trousers but I am not sure if it is him or not. The legs move away towards the changing room exit and pass out of view. Has he gone? I can’t hear anything. Gingerly opening the door, I gasp as I see he is still standing there. ‘I know you, you’re Phillip Snell.’