by Deb McEwan
‘After all, he is a pillar of the community.’
‘Mrs Gibson. Your husband has freely admitted to assaulting this…person. He’s lucky we’re not arresting him.’
Caroline looked sheepish and turned to Phil.
‘Give me a call later and we’ll come and get you.’ She then turned her full attention to the children. ‘In the car, let’s get you home.’
They both looked frightened. The business with the police had taken the attention from their adventure and Jack and Sophie had optimistically hoped they wouldn’t be in too much trouble. When they saw how quiet Caroline was on the journey home they realised how wrong they were and became more worried as each mile passed. Jack sat in the front next to his mother and when Jemima had told them both that they were in lots of trouble, their mother uncharacteristically told her to be quiet or she would be grounded for the next two weeks. Jemima went to complain but the look on her mother’s face warned her not to.
Caroline parked outside Sophie’s house and they all got out of the car; Sophie clutching her football like a security blanket. A lounge curtain twitched and Gail came running out of her house and hugged Sophie like she’d not seen her for a hundred years. When she let go she put a little distance between them.
‘Oh, darling, I was so worried about you.’ Sophie stood there devoid of emotion, still holding her football.
‘I’m not going to Australia.’
‘Now don’t be so silly, darling, we’ve been through all this. You’ll love it when you get there.’
Gail laughed nervously and turned to Caroline. ‘Thanks for bringing Sophie back, but if it wasn’t for Jack this wouldn’t have happened.’
‘It was my idea.’ Sophie blurted before Caroline had a chance to reply. ‘Jack didn’t want to do it but I talked him into it.’
Jack said nothing. He was studying the pavement as if it was the most interesting thing he’d ever seen.
Gail wasn’t happy but didn’t want to get into an argument.
‘Let’s get you inside then, Sophie.’
‘See you later Jack.’ They said their goodbyes and got back in the car to drive home. Caroline was silent until they entered the house.
‘Jemima, go and play in your room or the garden please and, Jack come and sit in the kitchen.’
There was no objection from Jemima and she went upstairs to play on her Wii.
Jack sat down and started fidgeting. Caroline phoned Donna and explained what had happened. She hung up the phone and sat opposite Jack.
‘Well, son, let’s hear it.’
‘I wanted to help Sophie. She really doesn’t want to leave, Mam and we couldn’t think of anything else to do.’
‘Do you know how worried me and your father were? Anything could have happened to you. You’re 10 years old for goodness sake, it’s not safe in most towns, never mind the big cities.’
‘I’m nearly 11 and everyone says I look older.’
Caroline banged her fist on the table. ‘You’re still 10, Jack and I don’t know when or if we’ll be able to trust you again.’
She composed herself then came the real stinger.
‘We’re really disappointed in you, Jack.’
Jack burst into tears and put his head in his arms on the table. ‘I’ll discuss your punishment with your father later. That’s if he doesn’t have to spend the entire night in the cells!’
Jack didn’t think he could feel any more guilty than he already did, but his mother’s last comment did the trick.
‘Now go to your room.’
Jack ran up the stairs and threw himself down on the bed thinking that his parents would never forgive him.
Max. ‘Jack was grounded for two weeks and his pocket money was also withdrawn, even though he still had to do lots of chores. Phil had to go up in front of a Magistrate because he was charged with assault. Magistrates are pillars of the community who are appointed to preside over those people who commit misdemeanours in society. The government gives them the power to award punishments appropriate to the crime committed. Phil was given community service and ordered to pay costs of £75. As it was the summer holidays by the time the case came to court, and a lot of the local councillors were on holiday, there wasn’t much worthy of note happening in Graylesford. The Graylesford Express therefore decided to run a story about Phil’s crime.’
‘Local Man Counts the Cost of Tackling Tramp’
A man attacked local vagrant ‘Mac the Drunk’ a week last Sunday and was given Community Service by the local Magistrate. Philip Gibson, a 6’ 5’Accountant and well respected Graylesford citizen was remorseful of his behaviour. ‘I lost it when I thought the vagrant was going to harm my son.’ Said Phil 33 of Willow Street. ‘Although I can now see that the tramp was harmless, I didn’t know this at the time and was concerned for the safety of my son and his friend.’ The Magistrate took the mitigating circumstances into account but said that Mr Gibson still needed to learn a lesson. Phil who already helps the community by coaching youth rugby, will spend his Community Service assisting the Graylesford Park Ranger, Sean Rogers in moving felled trees. ‘He’s a big strapping fella and it’ll save me putting my back out again.’ Said 68 year old Mr Rogers who was delighted with the news. ‘Mac the Drunk’ who was being treated at the Institute of Inexplicable Illnesses and Injuries in London due to the unexplained marks on his arm which caused paralysis, has recently disappeared without trace.
Meanwhile, the second case to be heard at the Magistrate’s court that morning was that of Adam Childs who’s been charged with organising the country-wide theft of thousands of footballs. Mr Childs denies the charge, his main defence being that he’s short and white and the perpetrators are allegedly very tall and blue, orange or a variety of other different colours. When the lawyer for the prosecution mentioned that Mr Childs was ‘a little on the orange spectrum’. Mr Childs explained that his fake tan had gone wrong and commented. ‘I do look a bit like that orange bloke off the telly, but you haven’t charged him have you?’ The case has been remanded for trial at the Crown Court in January next year.
‘You’re in the paper, darling.’ Caroline waved the Graylesford Express in front of her husband.
‘I take it it’s not complimentary?’ Phil was getting ready to go the park. Used to working in an office he found working in the great outdoors at the weekends exhausting. Caroline was also shattered; she wasn’t getting the fantastic support from Phil that she was used to so was a bit tetchy. Fair play to Jack though, he’d tried his best to make up for his bad behaviour and was helping round the house without being asked most of the time.
Phil read the story and groaned. It was only a matter of time before his mother rang and he wasn’t looking forward to that.
‘Phone for you, Phil.’ Caroline held the handset and mouthed ‘It’s your mother.’ Phil took a deep breath and tried to put on a light voice.
‘Hi, Mam. How are you both?’
‘How are you both? How are we? I’ll tell you how we are, my son, embarrassed and ashamed. You can’t imagine…’
‘Actually, Mam, we’ve already been through all this, when I told you about my sentence. Remember?’
‘Yes of course I remember.’ Stiffly polite. ‘But I don’t remember you telling me it would be in the papers and I certainly don’t remember thinking I’d be hanging my head in shame in front of the Bingo crowd.’
‘Let me get this right, it’s only the fact that it’s public that you’re actually bothered about?’
Phil could hear his mother hrumpfing on the other end of the phone, followed by silence then his father’s voice.
‘Your mother’s upset son, you’ve disappointed her. Ow, I mean us, you’ve disappointed us.’
Phil knew that his father wouldn’t be that bothered and was agreeing with his mother for an easy life.
‘Well, Dad I’m sorry. I really thought he was a threat to Jack and Sophie and instinct kind of took over. I’m paying my dues to society now though
. I’m absolutely knackered!’
Phil heard his father laugh followed by an ow; another elbowing he supposed.
‘All I can say, Dad is that if I thought any of my family were under threat, I wouldn’t hesitate to do the same again.’
‘Fair enough, son. I’ll explain to your mother. We’ll see you when you’ve finished your Community Service eh?’
‘OK, Dad and tell Mam I hope Bingo isn’t too hellish for her.’
His Dad said he would but Phil knew very well that if his father valued his peace, he wouldn’t tell his mother any such thing.
Max. ‘Although Phil enjoyed working out doors, he was really glad when his Community Service was finished. Life soon returned to normal in the Gibson household and Jack’s parents eventually forgave him for causing them such worry. The summer holidays passed slowly for the adults and quickly for the children. Although Jack and Sophie enjoyed each other’s company as much as they did every other summer holiday, this time it was tinged with lasts. The last picnic, the last day out together, the last time they would both wind Jemima up and the last game of Keepy Uppy.’
‘Well that brings us to the end of another episode Terries. Join us next time for the last in this series. Cheerio and remember, don’t try any of this at home.’
Chapter 27
Max wanted to start the final episode by updating the viewers on Sophie Byrne’s situation.
The day of Sophie’s departure to Australia soon came around and having said goodbye to her father the previous weekend and all her other friends, Sophie’s mother let her go to Jack’s house to say goodbye to him and his family.’
Caroline looked out of the kitchen window into the garden. Jack and Sophie were leaning towards each other engaged in conversation and looking very serious. They got up and hugged and Caroline was amazed to see that they kissed each other on the lips, with closed mouths thank goodness. They were only ten for God’s sake! They walked into the kitchen hand in hand, tears trickling down both faces. It broke Caroline’s heart. Jemima came running down the stairs and grabbed Sophie in a tight hug. That did it and now they were all crying. Their misery was interrupted by the doorbell ringing, followed by raised voices.
‘I’ll get it.’ Shouted Jemima who quickly let go of Sophie and was already halfway to the front door.
The next thing Caroline heard were raised voices, both male and female, travelling through the hallway into the kitchen. Sophie whispered as if to herself.
‘Dad?’
Both her parents’ heads appeared around the kitchen door, followed by their bodies. ‘It is you, Dad!’
Sophie ran to her father and he picked her up and squeezed her tightly.
‘Hello everyone.’ He looked at them all, a beaming smile on his face.
‘You don’t have to go to Australia, Sophie. You can come and live with me.’
‘Yippee!’
Sophie was over the moon and she hugged her father even tighter. A slow smile spread across Jack’s face and Caroline was relieved, until she saw the look on Gail’s face. Uh oh, Sophie was still going to Australia if Gail had any choice in the matter. Gail spoke up.
‘Sophie, we’re still going to Australia, darling. You’ll soon make lots of new friends and really enjoy it once we settle in.’
‘But you said I don’t have to go, Dad?’
Confused now, Sophie didn’t have a clue what was going on. Her parents had the ability to ignore everyone else and started going at it. The gist of it was that Bill had left his new girlfriend because she wasn’t willing to accommodate Sophie and he was going to move back to Graylesford to look after his daughter. Gail was going to start a new life in Australia with her new boyfriend and was taking her daughter with her. It was getting very messy, like one of Caroline’s unsuccessful dinners, and the children were looking in awe at the adults screaming at each other. Caroline decided it was time to put a stop to it.
‘OK, why don’t you discuss this like grown-ups and let Sophie know once you’ve come to a decision that has her best interests at heart.’
Nothing, not even an acknowledgement that Caroline had spoken. She tried again. ‘Come on, guys. Calm down, you’re upsetting the children.’
This time they deigned to look at her but still ignored her.
‘Eeeeeeenough!’
Caroline had shouted at the top of her voice and had their attention at last, and that of the children.
‘Jack, Jemima, Sophie, go and play in the garden, and behave yourselves.’
They all knew better than to argue with her so off they went.
‘Gail, Bill, you need to discuss this like proper adults and do what’s best for Sophie. If you can’t do that without biting each other’s heads off, the courts will have to decide. Now go into the living room and sit down. I’ll put the kettle on then we’ll see if we can sort something out.’
‘She’s my daughter.’ Said Gail, each word forced out of her mouth.
‘And this is my house and my rules, so either do what I say or take your flaming arguments elsewhere.’ Caroline looked venomous and it did the trick.
Bill and Gail walked into the living room glaring at each other. At least they’re quiet for a minute thought Caroline as she put the kettle on. Caroline loaded the tea and accessories onto the tray and Elvis decided to accompany her into the living room for moral support. He nosed the door open and Caroline laid the tray on the coffee table. She gave Elvis a pat and was grateful for his company; a little sanity in the mad world she was about to enter. Elvis got comfortable in front of the fire and Caroline looked at the Byrnes. Now she had an idea of how Kofi Annan felt, negotiating during a fragile ceasefire.
They were sitting on opposite sides of the room, Gail looking out of the window and Bill staring into space.
‘Here we are then. Have you managed to get anywhere yet?’ Doh, what a stupid question thought Caroline.
‘OK, so Bill you want to move back here and look after Sophie, and Gail you want to take her to Australia with you and err, umm I forget his name.’
‘Bruce.’ Said Gail.
‘You’re kidding me right?’ Caroline laughed and Bill chuckled. Shit, that wasn’t the plan.
‘It’s not that funny.’ But this seemed to lighten the mood as even Gail cracked a smile.
‘OK it is that funny but that’s his real name.’
Max. ‘Bruce and Sheila are stereotypical names that foreigners call Australians. Australians call English people Poms. We don’t know why as poms are actually woollen hats worn by leprechauns to protect their ears in the cold winters. If leprechauns get cold ears they suffer with diseases similar to humans and can be out of action for up to three months. This is why leprechauns are difficult to find and film. If they wore the Poms, we would be able to see more of them and film them for your entertainment.
We believe that Bruce and Sheila are actually proper names for humans, and not just Australian humans.’
‘Have either of you thought what might be best for Sophie?’ Caroline didn’t particularly want to start another fight, but that seemed the crux of the matter to her. ‘Sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind.’ Said Gail. ‘Australia will give her a better life than she has here and she’s coming with me, whatever you say.’
‘Fair enough, Gail.’
She looked suspiciously at her ex. ‘You agree that I have Sophie’s best interests at heart then?’
‘Gail.’ Bill put his hand in his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. ‘As long as I’ve known you the only person you’ve ever considered is yourself. That’s why I’ve got this.’ Bill slammed the paper down onto the table. The milk jar shuddered and Elvis got up and went to sit down near Caroline.
‘You don’t have to take any notice of me but you have to abide by the law. This is a Court Order stopping you from taking my daughter out of this country.’
‘I can’t believe that you’ve done this.’ Each word was practically spat out by Gail.
‘If you love h
er, why did you find it so easy to leave?’
‘Because I couldn’t stand being in the same house as you God forgive me. But I’ll do right by my girl and she’s happy here. You can’t just up and move her to Australia because you fancy some young toned lifeguard type.’
Bill had promised himself he wouldn’t lose his temper, but ten minutes or more in the company of his ex-wife drove him to distraction. He took a deep breath and vowed to try reasoning with her.
‘Look. It seems to me that you want a bit of an adventure. That’s no problem. I’m a free agent and work has transferred me back to Graylesford. I can devote all my spare time to Sophie and if you want to come back here, no worries. If you decide to stay in Australia, Sophie can come out and see you in the summer holidays.’
Gail didn’t see it that way. ‘She’s coming with me and that’s that!’
Caroline wanted to bang their heads together but resisted the urge.
‘Guys. Sophie isn’t just a bargaining chip, she’s flesh and blood with feelings. Might it be better to get a Social Worker involved rather than the courts?’
‘Can we have a drink please, Mrs Gibson?’ Sophie asked, her voice quavering. Caroline didn’t know how long she’d been standing there listening. ‘Of course.’ Caroline and Elvis left the room and followed Sophie into the kitchen.
As Caroline suspected, Sophie was trying to keep the tears at bay.
‘I don’t want to go. I love them both but I want to stay here.’
Caroline’s heart went out to the child; she could see that Sophie was trying her hardest not to cry.
‘Do you think you could tell both your parents how you feel?’
It was a lot to ask of a ten year old but Sophie knew what she had to do. They entered the living room and both her parents looked at her. Elvis walked to Sophie and wrapped himself around her legs. She gave the dog a cuddle while Caroline watched. She knew it was a daft thought but if Elvis was a person he’d probably work for the Samaritans.
‘I’m not making a choice between you because I love both of you.’