This is a story involving love between an adult man and a boy. There will be sexually explicit parts in places, though sex is not the central theme. It also explores themes that some may find disturbing. Nobody is forcing you to read anything that you dislike, or to continue reading about matters that upset you. While the story is complete fiction, it is not written in a vacuum.

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By villager@hushmail.me 

Abuse – Part 10

continued from part 9 ...

Steve looked at John gratefully as he saw her approach the woman and speak to her in a friendly way. She responded groggily, and soon he was helping her across the floor. Once outside, she was proving to be a cumbersome package to handle. Jake suggested that she sit on his lap in the wheelchair, and he held her steady with his good arm while John, saving the battery of the wheelchair, pushed the loaded conveyance to where he had discovered Debbie lived in the village.

John had just opened the front door of Debbie's house when he heard the voice of a child coming from within. “I promise I'll be good, Pete, please don't … “ the words choked off and were replaced with a sudden loud and agonising scream of obvious pain. John made a mad dash up the stairs of Debbie's house to where the scream had emanated.

The thug from the pub had his back to the stairs and was squatting over the prone form of a boy in the narrow hallway. He was holding the child on his back against the floor, one knee on the boy's wrist. He had pulled up the sleeve of the boy's shirt, and was pressing the end of a lit cigarette against his inner arm, just below the elbow. The boy was screaming in pain, and struggling to be free of the burning agony.

John took in the scene at a glance as he got to the top of the stairs, the sound of his arrival masked by the boy's cries. The cigarette flew from the thug's hand and skittered along the linoleum floor as John's boot connected forcefully with the man's wrist. The thug was quick, and springing up turned to face John, his fist arcing in a vicious uppercut that, had it connected with John's jaw would have felled him like a log. John however was primed, and his reaction lightening fast. Stepping to one side in the narrow hallway, he grasped the thug's wrist and used his attacker's own momentum to twist the arm backwards as his body continued to turn. The boy's body had prevented the thug from gaining a secure footing, and John pushed hard on the small of his back with his other hand, causing the thug to overbalance. With his right arm held at an angle behind him, the thug's full body weight acted as a force on the lever John had created of his arm, and there was a wet ripping sound from the thug's shoulder. The thug screamed.

Get up,” John commanded, stepping back so that he stood between the boy and his tormentor. The boy had sat up and skittered backwards along the floor away from the adults, and was sat with his back against the door at the end of the passage, his arms wrapped around his drawn-up knees.

The thug struggled painfully to his feet, whimpering, his left hand holding the elbow of his right arm. He moved his left hand gingerly up to his right shoulder, his face taking on a panicked expression as he felt the misshapen bulge at the front.

Your shoulder's dislocated,” John informed him, “It won't heal by itself, I suggest you get to a hospital. If you're not out of the house in three seconds, I'll do the same to your other shoulder.”

The brutish man scampered rapidly down the stairs, sobbing as his movement sent jolts of pain through his injured shoulder.

John turned his attention to the raven-haired boy huddled by the door. He held out his hand, and when the boy took it he helped him to his feet, and took him into the bathroom of Debbie's house, where he ran cold water on the burn. John saw that the boy's inner arm was peppered with round scars – it was obviously not the first time he had been mistreated in such a way. John then led the boy down the stairs and out the door, to where Jake and Debbie were still where he had left them a scant four minutes ago.

What's going on?” Jake asked, “A bloke just came out like a bat from Hell, and disappeared down the road.”

John explained what had happened. “Do you have any other family nearby?” John asked the boy. Then he added, belatedly, “I'm John, this is Jake, we were helping your Mum home.”

I'm Ralph,” said the boy, “My Aunt lives on the other side of the village, by the train station.”

Do you know her phone number?” asked John.

Ralph took a mobile phone from his pocket. “I'll call her” he said, operating the phone. After a few seconds he greeted his Aunt and passed the phone to John.

John explained the situation. The woman at the other end of the phone became agitated and announced that she would come around immediately. A short while later a brown estate car pulled up outside. A woman and a young man got out. John realised with surprise that the young man was the younger of the two pool players he had met the previous day at the pub - he recalled that his name was Brett, and turned out to be the woman's 19 year old son. Ralph ran up to Brett as soon as he saw him, wrapped both his arms around his cousin and started crying. Brett patted Ralph's back comfortingly.

The woman meanwhile was looking at Debbie (her sister) with some disgust. “I knew she was drinking too much, but I had no idea that it had become this bad,” she said to John. Brett told me on the way here that he and Eric often saw her passed out in the pub – they should have said something.”

I have an idea that more than just drink is involved,” John told her, “I think it best if Ralph stays elsewhere tonight, I doubt that thug will be coming back, but you never know.”

The woman thanked John, and assured him that both Ralph and her sister would be returning with her. They swapped phone numbers.

Brett had meanwhile greeted Jake while John had been talking to Ralph's Aunt. He turned to his mother and introduced Jake to her. “Jake's the father of that kid who's been on the news,” he announced.

You mean Matthew?” asked Ralph.

Do you know my son?” Jake asked the boy.

Yes, Matthew's in my class at school,” Ralph informed the group.

It certainly is a small World,” Jake observed.

Or at least a small village!” John chipped in.





You two are late!” Matthew admonished John and Jake as they appeared at the front door.

Jake gave Matthew an account of the evening while John made some hot drinks for the three of them. “Oh – Ralph says he is in your class,” Jake remembered after they had discussed the incident.

Then that must be Ralph Morrison,” Matthew realised, “We sometimes go bike riding together.”

When John came into the living room with the drinks, Matthew insisted that he show him what “move” he had used on the thug, and the following 45 minutes or so was taken up with a continuation of that morning's self defence lessons. Jake went for a shower while John and Matthew were busy in the “training room” – he was able to manage getting from his wheelchair to the seat John had put for him in the wet bathroom, and only needed someone to move his wheelchair out and back into the bathroom. Jake had in fact become independent in most activities, and now required very little help.

Jake was sitting on the sofa watching TV clad only in his boxers when John called an end to the session and headed for the shower himself. Matthew followed John to the bathroom. John was unsure whether he should allow Matthew to join him, but when he saw Jake briefly glance around and smile at them, decided not to say anything. After their mutual shower, Matthew and John joined Jake on the sofa. John had decided to dress (or rather stay undressed) the same as Jake, and was thus wearing only a fresh pair of underpants, while Matthew just had a towel around him. Matthew and his father naturally already had a family dress code, and it was obviously acceptable to Jake for Matthew to be so dressed of an evening in the house. John was pleased that Jake felt comfortable enough in the house to be similarly unconcerned about his state of undress. Matthew sat between Jake and John, snuggling up to John while holding his father's hand as they sat watching TV.

Eventually they all decided to call it a night and get to bed. John waited for Jake to struggle onto his bed (he would not permit any help), and when Jake was laying down, John commenced the therapeutic pummelling of his limbs he had been instructed to carry out. Matthew went to the kitchen and put his towel away in the laundry basket, walking into his father's room completely naked and sitting on the bed waiting for John to finish. They then both said “Goodnight” to Jake, and Matthew took John's hand and led him to their bedroom. Jake was smiling at them as they left his room, completely unconcerned.





New Year's eve passed quietly with the three staying at home all day. Matthew had been permitted a glass of champagne to toast in the year, and after a little persuasion, Jake and John permitted him a second glass. They were all in bed by half past midnight.

Joan and Gareth arrived the following morning as expected, and to their great surprise were accompanied by Bill White. A great deal of activity ensued, mainly centred around Jake. The two doctors examined Jake, announcing their satisfaction at his progress. Another MRI scan had been scheduled for a few days' time, and the doctors saw no reason to bring that forward. When Gareth and Bill had finished, Joan sat with Jake. She discussed various matters with him at length, and then Joan produced some paperwork, which Jake signed.

John asked Gareth about Jake's paralysis. “There's nothing wrong with Jake's body,” explained Gareth, “It's just that the part of his brain that used to control his left arm and leg is damaged. The brain is however remarkably adaptable, and in most of these cases an undamaged part of the brain takes over from the damaged part and full functionality is regained. It's just a question of Jake learning how to control his muscles again, like a new-born baby – sort of growing new connections inside the brain like splicing a new wire around the broken section of a telephone line. Sometimes it happens quite suddenly.”

As mid-afternoon approached, they were all feeling hungry, and took a walk to the “Oak” for lunch. There were very few customers at the pub, and Matthew immediately spotted Ralph, who was with his cousins Brett and Eric, and he joined them around the pool table. John and Jake introduced Steve to Joan, Gareth and Bill, and the six of them sat around a table with the drinks Steve had insisted on buying them.

After they had eaten, John went with Matthew to join the three other youngsters for a while as he wanted to find out the situation regarding Debbie and Ralph. He was told that Ralph was going to live with his Aunt for the foreseeable future, and his mother was also living there for the present, although his Aunt and Uncle were attempting to get her to attend a rehabilitation clinic.

I hope the house is big enough for all of you,” John said.

Yes, it's got four bedrooms - Mum's in the spare room, and I'm sleeping in Brett's room,” Ralph informed John.

John noticed that Brett blushed deep red at that revelation.

Just then Bill's voice boomed out, “Hey John, come here wi' ye fer a wee dram!” John walked back to the table, and Bill said, “Here's to the new year!”

There was a glass each of neat scotch whiskey, which all except Joan tipped back and downed in one swallow. Joan took just a small sip from her glass.

Whew, that's strong!” John gasped. Gareth nodded his agreement.

Another round!” Bill called out.

Gareth, Joan and John declined, but Jake and Steve were game.

Joan shook her head “Uh-oh!” she said, “We'd better watch out – Bill's in a drinking mood!

Ye sassenachs dinae ken how tae celebrate Hogmanay!” Bill said derisively to the abstainers, as Steve signalled one of his staff for another three shots of whiskey.

Bill said he was going to show the “saccenachs” how it was done, and persuaded John to loan him his house keys so he could go back and change into more suitable clothes. He walked out the pub in a surprisingly straight line.

Is it OK for Jake to drink like that?” John asked Gareth quietly.

It's not what I would recommend,” said Gareth, “But its unlikely to be worse for him than for anyone else. His body mass is about as big as Bill's, so I expect they'll pass out together!”

Suddenly Bill was back, dressed in full Scottish regalia, complete with kilt and sporran. Under his arm was a set of bagpipes, which he proceeded to inflate. Soon a loud drone filled the pub, causing the half-dozen other customers to stare at the apparition in amazement.

Bill played remarkably well as he walked slowly around the clear area of the pub. As the strains of “Auld Lang Syne” rent the air, Steve began singing to the tune. One of the elderly women customers joined in, and soon the entire pub was resounding to the traditional refrain. A couple of people made mobile phone calls, and before long more people began arriving at the pub. Two of the new arrivals had brought guitars with them, and when Bill paused to knock back another drink with Steve and Jake, they took over supplying music for the informal singalong.

As darkness began to fall, Gareth nudged John and pointed across to where Bill and Jake were sitting side-by-side at a nearby table, Jake slumped slightly forward in his wheelchair. Bill had his left arm around Jake's shoulder and Jake's right arm was around Bill's shoulder as they swayed and sang along drunkenly with most of the other customers to the guitar music. But that was not what Gareth was pointing out. As John watched, Bill poured yet another shot into Jake's glass from the bottle Steve had left on their table. Jake picked up the glass and raised it to his mouth – using his left hand!



To be continued …

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