‘Ok, well Max. The Pharaohs lived five thousand years ago.’
‘He frowned, ‘What’s a ph, pha, saro?’ I looked to Stacy for help but none was forthcoming, she simply smiled and went down stairs.
‘Errm, like a king?’
‘A king, I like kings,’
‘Good, well these kings lived in a very hot place called the desert.’
‘Did they have space ships?’
‘Err, no. No space ships,’ he looked very disappointed. ‘Well maybe they did and we just don’t know it yet?’ I tried, that got a smile. ‘So anyway, they built these huge buildings called Pyramids,’ he was staring intently at me now but there was no sign of any laughter. ‘Inside these pyramids was where they put…’ Oh lord I was in danger of giving him nightmares.
‘Put what?’
‘Errrm, silly people?’ I was drowning already.
‘Would they put me there?’
‘Oh no! You are a good boy, anyway this was a very, very long time ago.’
‘Mummy said I was silly for drawing on the wall,’ he said pointing at the fresh paintwork above his bed. ‘I drew a space ship.’
‘Well funnily enough, inside the pyramids there were lots and lots on drawings and paintings on the walls.’
‘Ohhh, did they get told off?’
‘No,’ I had a flash of inspiration, ‘In fact the drawings were all done by the mummies of little boys.’ His eyes were wide in amazement, ‘You see, if a mummy told off her little boy for drawing on the wall she had to go and do a drawing herself inside the pyramid.’
He laughed at this, thank god. I just hoped Stacy had heard it.
‘What did they look like?’
‘The Mummies?’
‘No the place where they did drawings.’
I picked up his chalk board and drew a rough pyramid then I added a figure of a person to show the scale of them.
‘That’s where the space ships landed,’ he told me.
‘Really? On a pyramid?’
‘Yes!’ He was getting quite excited and took great pleasure in describing; complete with whooshing noises how the space ships would have landed on top of the pyramid. He had obviously thought this through as he went on to explain what the aliens looked like and the horrible things they did to the ancient Egyptians.
We were so engrossed in our story that we failed to notice Stacy standing in the doorway. ‘Ok, buddy, time for sleep,’ after a minimal amount of protest Max settled down and we returned to the living room.
‘So what were you two talking about?’ she asked seemingly amused. ‘I could hear him laughing so you are off the hook, washing up and walking home wise.’
‘Oh, er Max has just developed a whole new branch of Egyptology.’ She raised her eye brow as if to indicate I should elaborate further. ‘Yeah, it involves aliens, spaceships and mummies.’
She frowned, ‘You didn’t tell him about mummies? He’ll wet the bed!’
‘Well, only about the silly ones who tell their little boys off for being creative on their bedroom walls and then as a result have to do some artwork of their own inside the pyramid. Which by the way is where the spaceships land.’
‘Blimey, so I am going to be in trouble now?’
‘Oh yeah, first class trip to Cairo. Pencil in hand,’ I said. I was gratified that she laughed at this.
‘Ok, that’s good to know. Foods ready by the way.’
We sat at her small dining table as we ate, ‘You were trying to tell me something earlier?’ she suddenly said.
Was I ready? No I was not, but here it was. I could feel my heart pounding yet didn’t know why. What was causing me so much anxiety about this situation; I had done nothing wrong I told myself again.
‘Yeah, the thing is….. I need to be honest with you.’
‘Ok,’ she said staring intently at me.
‘Well, look…it’s not going to easy to say.’
‘Ok,’ she repeated.
‘I am probably, almost certainly going to get a job at a University soon.’
‘Oh, I see.’
Was she going to get angry at me now? Accuse me of letting her down? Become upset? I was not sure how to deal with any of those reactions.
‘Well, congratulations.’
What?
‘You’re not angry?’
‘Why would I be angry?’
‘Well, y’know. The new course and all that stuff.’
‘I am sure we can get someone else,’ she was smiling now. ‘Have you been really worried about this?’ I nodded. ‘You dipstick, why didn’t you just tell me?’
‘I don’ t know,’ I said telling the truth.
‘Well, that’s good for you! You can get somewhere decent to live. Is it still in London?’
‘No.’
‘Where then?’
‘Texas.’
‘Oh, that is a long way away.’
Chapter 17.
Once I had recovered from the surprise at Stacy’s reaction we were able to have a much more relaxed conversation. She told me that her ex-boyfriend had run for the hills as soon as she had discovered she was pregnant with Max and that she had no idea where he was now, nor did she want to know.
The conversation then moved onto Hank and the prospect of a job in Texas, she seemed grateful that I had not simply dropped everything and left at the first opportunity but had decided to wait until the current course was completed. I was appreciative of her comments but had to admit to myself that I had no real idea why I had done that.
‘So I guess I will need to find someone new if we are to put the services course on then?’
‘Yeah, sorry.’
‘Why are you sorry, I would have done exactly the same thing.’
‘Would you?’
‘No, but you don’t love the centre. I do.’
For some reason that comment caused a slightly hostile reaction in me, I realised she wasn’t criticising me and in fact it was almost certainly true. It just didn’t seem fair somehow.
‘Well I will do all I can to help,’ I said fighting back my annoyance.
‘That’s good to know. So we have got two weeks left then you’re off?’
‘That’s right,’ I felt like a great weight had been lifted from me. Stacy knew what was happening and everything was going to be alright it seemed.
‘The kids will miss you, I will miss you,’ she said. I had not been expecting that, how did I respond when I was not even sure of my own feelings.
‘Well, I will miss you guys as well. I’m sure we can keep in touch.’
‘I hope so.’
As we talked it became evident that she had invested a lot of herself into the centre.
‘You should be proud of what you have achieved,’ I told her.
‘I just wish I could do more, the centre is such a great resource but the money is so tight I can’t use it to its full potential, I have already had one offer for it from a bookmaker. Can you believe it, just what this area needs, do away with a community centre and create yet another bookie!’ She was getting animated now, waving her arms about. ‘I mean there is little enough for kids like Kurt and Jade to do anyway, so we give them the option of becoming gamblers? It just seems ……..wrong somehow.’
Yes it did, I told myself that none of this mattered to me now as I was free and clear to get on with my life. This had always only ever been a temporary situation, so why did the prospect of the centre closing bother me so much?
‘I am sure that with the new course things will be fine,’ I said.
‘I hope so, although even then it could be tight. Without it we are sunk.’
For the first time the enormity of the situation hit me, Stacy had put her heart, her soul and her finances into the centre and it was in a perilous situation. A situation I had blundered into the middle of and was now simply walking away from. No matter how much I told myself it was not my problem I still could not shake of the feeling that I was being selfish.
Stacy ordered me a taxi as she had to stay with Max and I was in no position to argue when she insisted she pay for it, I mulled over the situation in my head as I rode home only ending up feeling frustrated.
The following day I made my way to see Jon, ‘Morning Marc, you’ve been busy then?’
For some reason I just felt tried and jaded, the tone my response reflected that, ‘I guess so.’
‘So,’ he carried on seemingly as enthused as ever. ‘You are half way through your placement and have settled in to your new home. How are you finding things?’
‘Tiring.’
He was obviously expecting more as said, ‘Ok, errm, what do you plan to do when your placement is over?’
‘I’m going to America.’
He sat up at this, ‘Really? How come?’
‘A job interview.’ I was aware I sounded very resigned saying this, what on earth was going on? I should have been extremely pleased to be able to pass on my good news; I just did not feel it though.
‘Wow! Doing what?’
I explained the situation to Jon and that once I had secured my position I would email him in order for my benefits to be stopped, I also advised him that I would inform Sharon in housing but he insisted that he would do this himself. ‘Sure’ was all I could say.
Lunch at the centre just did not seem to appeal to me so I elected to have an extremely unhealthy fast food burger and fries before returning to my room. Later on I got a text from Stacy.
Hi Marcus,
Just to let you know that Kurt & Jade have decided to go and visit the Army recruitment office tomorrow. As the others are off as well then you can have the day off again. Do come in for Breakfast or Lunch or both???
See ya tomorrow?
Stacy.
The following day I made my way to the public library armed with the relevant documentation, having joined and signed on for IT access I logged into my email account. There was a new message from Hank.
Hi Buddy,
Tickets are on the way so keep an eye out for them! In the letter is you itinerary but basically a car is going to pick you up from your house and take you to the airport. Once here I will be waiting for you and show your to your apartment.
You will have a few days to look around, meet the guys etc. Then you will do a presentation followed by your interview the next day.
Hope this is all ok?
Hank.
There, it was happening. I started to feel better about the situation and resolved to do everything I could before I left to help Stacy and the centre. As I wandered back towards my room I started to mull over the problem, what was needed was a secure solution that would be in keeping with the centre’s ethos.
As I walked I barely noticed Kurt and Jade, hand in hand crossing the road in front of me. They quickly let go of each other when they realised I had seen them.
‘Hey Prof!’ Kurt called.
‘Hello guys. How did the recruitment office go?’
They looked at each other, ‘We’re both gonna join, as regular soldiers ,’ Jade said.
‘Really? Not as an officer?’
‘Nah, the services course will be great to get in as a soldier but you need way too many qualifications to become an officer. Anyhow the geezer in the office said once we are in we could do qualifications and stuff and get paid for it.’
‘Well that sounds good. You too Kurt?
‘Yeah, me an all. I just liked the look of it.’
‘So your both still going to do the course then apply?’
‘Yeah there’s nothing else to do round here is there?’ Jade said.
We parted company and I had a crafty look over my shoulder to see they were holding hands again. I had something nagging at the corner of my mind as I walked, Jade had said something that triggered a memory or was it an idea? Trouble was I could not remember what it was that she had said in order to pin down the thought. A group of lads passed me going the other way but in no particular hurry, later I saw a group of girls sitting on a wall smoking cigarettes. Both of these events reinforced the nagging feeling I had that there was an idea in the corner of my mind but I could not quite reach it.
My mind drifted back to the evening before and my relief at having come clean to Stacy but also to my feelings of guilt at leaving. I was sure it was her passion for the centre, the area and its people that was making me feel bad. I simply did not have it, actually I did I realised just not to the same extent as Stacy. No one could have it to the same extent as her, be it providing free places for those in need to worrying about local kids going to the bookmakers as there was nothing else for them to do.
That was it!
There was nothing for the local young people to do, that was the problem and the solution. I changed direction and headed for the centre.
‘We need to talk!’ I said somewhat out of breath, had I been running? I was not sure.
‘Ok? Calm down and have a drink first, you look fit to drop.’ Stacy replied.
I sat at her desk and eventually she brought in two mugs of tea, one Earl grey the other builders.
‘So what’s the drama?’ she said sitting down.
‘There is nothing for the youth of the area to do.’
‘Hmm, yeah I know that. Is that why you have half killed yourself to get here?’
‘Yes, no, well yes and no.’
‘Ok, well that’s cleared that up!’
‘What I mean is I know you know that there is nothing for them to do. But what you don’t know is that this is the solution!’
‘Solution?’
‘Yes! To our… your problem. Don’t you see?’
‘To be honest Marcus, no. Are you speaking academic or English right now?’
Taking a breath I said ‘Ok, if we provide something for them to do we not only help them but could bring in the extra funds the centre needs.’
‘We?’
‘Yes! Well you. You know what I mean.’
‘Provide what exactly?’
‘I don’t know! Some kind of social distraction, something for them to do. Somewhere to go.’
‘Like a youth club?’
‘Like a youth club!’
Chapter 18.
Despite verbally overwhelming her at times I managed to try and control my excitement to the extent where I was able to explain to Stacy what I was thinking. Once I finished she sat for a moment with her elbows resting on the desk and her mug of tea held in both hands in front of her mouth. At length she placed the mug on its coaster, which was in actual fact a bit of scrap paper and looked at me.
‘I like it.’
‘Well of course you do it’s a brilliant idea!’
‘Modesty not one of your strong points is it Marcus?’ she said with a neutral expression on her face.
Her reaction caused me to become a little defensive, ‘Well, yeah. I mean it was my idea and it is a pretty good one.’
She beamed at me, ‘I am messing with you! Let’s do it!’
We went through the desired outcomes for my current group and with a little bit of flexibility in our thinking agreed that by having Tommo, Sam and Zeke attend job interviews as well as Kurt and Jade now having concrete plans for the future we had discharged our responsibilities towards achieving positive outcomes, in a roundabout sort of a way. So, we theorised, we could engage the group in planning a new out of hour’s youth club for the remainder of the course.
Before we knew it, it was five pm. Stacy gave me a lift home and we agreed to begin in earnest on Monday, I would head up the Social Club project and she would start on the new services course idea. That evening I felt very enthused about my plan, at least that way I could leave with my head held high.
Trying to sleep was difficult, I had too many thoughts that needed to be filed away until Monday; I was already planning how I was going to try and get Kurt and the guys onside to attempt this. The last time I looked at my watch before I fell asleep it was one am. The next time it was one forty five and the dust
bin banging chimps were back, as I lay there I realised that in fact the noise was one long monotonous drone, an alarm.
Anxious that it may have been a fire I ventured out onto the landing barefoot in my shorts and T shirt; there was no sign of a fire and no smell of smoke. The noise seemed to becoming from Alfie’s flat, initially I knocked on the door but there was no way anyone was going to hear me. I shouted his name but that too was drowned out by the alarm, in frustration I tried the door and it opened. Creeping inside it was evident that the alarm was in his flat as the noise level increased dramatically. Instinctively I shut the door behind me and made my way through the dark feeling for a light switch.
This proved difficult as I had never been in the flat before and the deafening noise was also proving to be a distraction, so much so that I stubbed my toe on something hard in the dark. I hopped around for a second or two, had there been any light I would have looked like some demented disco goer. I reached down and found that I had kicked what felt like a bag, I picked it up to move it out of my way in order to find a light switch, what was in this thing? Rocks? Suddenly a flash light illuminated me but as it was directed at my face it was impossible to see anything.
‘Police! Put the bag down, put your hands behind your head and don’t move!’ a harsh voice bellowed out of the darkness.
What?!
I stood rooted to the spot, was he talking to me? The lights came on as he must have found the light switch, I was totally blind as a result.
‘I said put the bag down! NOW!’
My eyes were starting to focus and I was able to place the bag on a smart looking leather sofa, mercifully the alarm noise abruptly stopped. I could see there were two police officers one was pointing at me with a small object in his hand the other was standing behind him holding a long black stick of some kind.
It was the second one who spoke first ‘Mute button,’ he said to his colleague who nodded without taking his eyes off me.
The first one then said ‘I told you to put your hands behind your head, do it now!’
This was preposterous; I was acting as a Good Samaritan and was being confronted by two storm troopers for my trouble. I attempted to explain the situation to them ‘Listen this is a mistake I…’
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