Date: Sun, 25 Jun 2006 20:26:47 +0000 (GMT) From: Nathan Me Subject: James chapter 21 'James' by Nathan New email address nathan7new@yahoo.co.uk Please note that email addresses listed previously are no longer active and I no longer use the groups mentioned there. My stories are now archived at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nathansstories/. This story contains material of a sexual nature and describes sexual acts between adults and children. If you find this kind of material offensive, if you are under the legal age to read such material or if it is illegal in your country, please do not read any further. My stories may contain some factual or autobiographical elements, but they are works of fiction and any apparent similarities of my characters to real people are not intended. This story is protected by copyright. It may not be downloaded, copied, printed or otherwise reproduced in any way other than for your private enjoyment and may not be changed in any way without express written consent of the author, me! I hope you enjoy this story. James: Chapter 21 James was sat with Sam. Sam had seemed to cling to him as they left the police station and had sat beside him in the minibus. James had actually fallen asleep leaning on Sam's arm. He was woken up by a sudden jolt as the bus crossed a large crack where the drive of the house they were approaching crossed the pavement (sidewalk). James had no clue where they were, but everything was green and leafy. The drive up to the house was over a hundred yards through lush lawns and flowerbeds. They obviously were not in inner London anymore. The house was brick, but stone the colour oatmeal cookies surrounded all the windows and doors. In some places the stone had been eaten by the weather, giving it the appearance and texture of a sponge. It was a big house, with many large windows on each side of the large double wooden doors. The bus pulled up in front of the stone steps that lead up to the doors. A stone canopy supported by huge round columns covered the steps right out to the drive. It was imposing and big. The little square pains of glass that made up the huge windows, the weathered stone and the worn steps: everything about the house said it was old. James loved it immediately. Mrs Daniels turned in her seat to face them all. She put on a broad grin that suggested she wanted them to think she was pleased, but secretly was otherwise. "Well, boys, this will be home for a few days. It's not one of ours, but we couldn't find anywhere local to take so many of you on such short notice. This place is a home for children run by a charity. They also have their own school here and plenty of space for you all to enjoy yourselves in. I think they even have a pool." The way she spoke the word pool, James thought she was almost disgusted. It seemed strange, watching her smile. She didn't seem happy at all. They all got out of the minibus and started to climb the steps. By the time they got to the top, an old man wearing a brown cardigan and beige cords had opened the door and stood waiting for them. His hair was almost the same colour as his cord trousers, but with a generous amount of grey showing through. His face was round and pleasantly wrinkled. The kind of face that looks naturally happy, even when the owner isn't smiling. Maybe it's in the eyes. His grey blue eyes seemed, to James, to be alive, excited and almost like those of a child at an amusement park. James immediately took to him, without the man uttering one word. "Mr Chester." Mrs Daniels seemed to use the same distain for his name she had previously used when talking about the pool. James was puzzled. "Mrs Daniels. How wonderful to see you again. Please, please, all of you, come on in." His voice was wonderful. Every word seemed to be released from the very edge of a laugh. There was the same excitement James had perceived in his eyes. This man loved life and was even glad to see Mrs Daniels. James remembered Andy had not been impressed by her presence back at the house and wondered why. James looked round the large hall, which seemed to go all the way up to the roof. At the far end, opposite the doors, was a wide long staircase that reached up between carved wooden banisters to a balcony that ran all round the hall. He looked round to see that they had actually walked under it as they came through the doors, and on the balcony level were large glass doors that must have led out onto the top of the canopy over the stairs. Around the walls on the ground level, large solid wooden doors gave entrance to classrooms, offices and daytime residential areas of the home, on the second level shorter, but still bigger than normal doors led to study rooms and dormitories. Beyond that, on the top floor were more dorms, though they couldn't be seen from down here, they were more modern. Between them hung huge paintings of people that James thought must have lived a very long time ago because of they way they were dressed. While he took it all in, Mr Chester and Mrs Daniels were having what seemed like an animated discussion. Mr Chester kept insisting there was no problem accommodating the boys, but Mrs Daniels was asserting that he must understand it was only temporary. She didn't consider this 'place' as appropriate for a long-term placement. James was intrigued. He thought that if he had to go anywhere, this would be an excellent place to spend a few years. It wasn't Hogwarts, but it was the next best thing. Their conversation ended, Mrs Daniels made a few comments to the boys that James didn't catch, as he was still lost in awe. He did, however, hear Mr Chester invite them all to follow him. His voice pulled James out of his trance, only to pull him along as if by magic. They followed the man up those grand stairs and right, through an arch into a long corridor. On each side were doors almost as large as those in the hall. Half way down they reached another open space and found another staircase leading up. At the top was a more modern fire door with criss-cross wire in the glass. Beside it, on a wall bracket, were a fire extinguisher and a round red fire-alarm panel. James was saddened that the grandeur and magic of the place had been spoiled with such modern functional stuff. Still, the excitement he detected in Mr Chester was catching. He saw Sam smiling. He tried to remember if he had seen Sam smile before. He wasn't sure. Sam seemed such a sad person. Chris caught his eye. He was holding Danny's hand. They all went through the modern door into a wide, but lower, hall. The doors here were painted white, closer together and a more normal size. Each had a small window, high up above the door, that let a little light into the corridor, and each had a number and two small card holders. In most of the holders were people's names: 'Smith and Brooks, Patterson and Cross, Adams and Roberts." "Right boys. These are actually the senior boys rooms, but after your ordeal I thought you'd like a little more privacy than the larger dorms offer. You two are the brothers, yes?" He asked Danny and Chris. They both nodded. "And I guess you will want to share a room together, yes?" Chris looked over as James, then down at Danny and nodded. Maybe he wanted someone his own age, but as big brother he couldn't abandon Danny. "Well, I got some pjs out for you, but don't worry if they are a little big. We'll get your clothes and stuff sorted out later. I just thought you'd all like a little rest this morning, and time to get settled." He grinned round at the tired bunch, trying to reassure them that were safe and that everything would be fine. It was a good try, but Danny wasn't convinced and started to cry. It wasn't the first time, but, exhausted, it flooded out uncontrollably. Chris threw his arms around his brother, but James noticed the tears in his eyes too. Mr Chester stood for just a moment, long enough for the two brothers to comfort each other, before he put a hand on each boy's shoulder and, crouching besides them, whispered to them in a soothing, singsong way. He comforted them and reassured them that he understood how hard this was for them, being apart from their father, but that here they were safe and, for now, the best medicine was sleep. He guided them into the room and asked the others to wait a moment. Through the open door they could see two beds nestled in the converted roof space. The duvets were checked with various shades of orange and matched the curtains, which were tied back in the window dormer. Everything looked new and modern. The door must have been on a self closer, because that was all they saw before it swung shut. James looked across at Philip. He too had tears in his eyes. Andy was picking his nails and Sam, well Sam had slipped his hand into James' with James even realising. He looked back at Philip and raised his eyebrows in an unspoken question. Philip wiped away his tears and offered a weak smile back. From deep within, a huge yawn rumbled up and out, causing James to stretch his mouth wide, just as Mr Chester reappeared. "Well, I guess we know who's next then." He said with a chuckle. He led them down a couple of doors to another where both name plates were blank and opened it for James and by default, Sam, as he was still clinging to James' hand. He led them in, showed them the two beds, with matching blue duvets and curtains, wardrobes where they would hang their clothes when they got them, desks for private studying and how to alter the radiator if it got too hot. He told them that he wouldn't disturb them until lunch, but that if they needed someone before then, they could find him in the office back in the entrance hall. Toilets and showers were at the end of their corridor and they would get a better tour that afternoon. "Any questions? No, ok. I'll call for you at lunch time, but remember I'm here for you if you need someone to talk to." He left and showed Philip and Andy to their room. James looked at Sam. He was still holding his hand. He led Sam over to one of the beds and as Sam made no attempt to let go, he suggested they crash out together. The young teen smiled and they curled up together on top of the blue duvet. James watched the morning light flicker through a small gap in the light blue curtains. The window must have been open as they moved gently, as if stirred by a breeze, causing the light pattern to change and twist. It was hypnotic and he drifted off into a deep sleep thinking the light was trying to send him a message. The morning light played gently on Tom's cheek. Magnified by the window glass, it warmed and tickled it. Tom unconsciously rubbed his cheek to move away whatever was tickling him. It brought him to consciousness slowly as he realised there was nothing there to shew away. Not even the child's hand. He wondered where James was now. What lasting damage his own actions had caused the boy. A tear welled in the corner of his eye and he was truly sorry. He was still Tom and he didn't know if he would ever be a better person or not, but he knew he had a conscience, because it hurt. He decided that today he should go to work. He needed activity and he also needed to make sure he kept his job. Neil was understanding, but the higher up you went, the less people and more bottom line focused the bosses became. He stretched and got out of bed, had a shower, made some breakfast and sat watching the morning BBC news. Two paedophiles had been arrested late the night before. When the police raided the house, tipped off by one of the children, they found six children imprisoned there. A spokesman said they couldn't say too much yet, but this was an extremely grave case involving many children over many years and further arrests were likely. The story made him think of James. Tom wondered if James would ever tell someone what he had done to him and whether the police would come and arrest him. Although he had had a few run ins and telling offs by the local police when he was a young lad, he had never been in any serious trouble and had never been convicted of anything more serious than a speeding ticket or a parking fine. You couldn't live in London without being fined for parking, everyone had been at one time or another. He caught a taxi to work. He couldn't face being squashed in with all those people riding the underground. He paid the driver and crossed the open plaza to his office block. The glass frontage opened onto an enormous atrium with all kinds of exotic plant life disguising the elevators, escalators and seating areas. He crossed to the foot of an escalator that rose three floors, through the vegetation to his companies reception area. He swiped his card to sign in and walked to Neil's office. It was 9am. A little later than his usual start time of 8am. Neil and his secretary were discussing some meeting that afternoon, but the door was open and Neil saw Tom approaching. He asked Shona, his secretary, to bring them coffees and welcomed Tom back to work. "Glad you made today. Can't run this place myself you know." They both smiled. Neil and his three supervisors often claimed that they in actual fact ran the company, not the senior management who spent most of the day on the golf course, allegedly. "Julian will be disappointed. I am sure he was hoping you wouldn't come back so he could become a supervisor." "Yeah, like the whole team wouldn't quit." "Now, now, Tom, don't be unkind," Neil smiled mischievously, "even if it is true." Shona came in with coffee and biscuits. She smiled at Tom, with whom she frequently enjoyed a little banter, but had never yet managed to secure a date. Tom didn't catch it, but Neil did. Once she had left Neil sipped his coffee and said, "She makes a good cup of coffee. She'll make someone an excellent wife, someday." However, tom still hadn't cottoned on. "Oh, Tom, you can be so dense sometimes." "Uh. What?" "Shona. She fancies you rotten." "I'm sure she'll find better." Neil looked over his coffee mug, assessing whether Tom should really be back at work. Tom needed something to refocus him and Neil had spent a couple of hours the previous evening with a friend discussing it. "Tom, you know we talked about getting you something where you could, well, have an opportunity to help others?" "Yeah." "Well I might have something. It would require a CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) check as its working with kids, but that won't be a problem. I saw the one you had done before you started here. No skeletons there. How do you get on with kids?" "Er, ok I guess." His mind flooded with images of James. "Well, my friend works for a Christian charity that runs kids homes all over the country. I think they have about five or six now. They tend to be a bit better than your standard social services places as most of the money comes from private donations rather than just state funding. Anyway, Alan tells me that they are always looking for volunteers to help supervise evening, weekend and frequent outing and trips. Kids can be so honest Tom. If they detect a fraud they aren't afraid to say so to your face." Neil watched Tom slowly sipping his coffee. "I don't know if I'm responsible enough to work with kids, Neil." He was really wondering if the kids would be safe with him. "Nonsense, Tom, but it's true that looking after them shows you what responsibility really is. Anyway. When I cam in this morning Arthur asked about you and I told him you had needed a couple of days to refresh yourself. He was very impressed with your teams performance this quarter and just about gave me carte blanch on incentives so I just passed an idea by him and after a few reservations he thinks it might be a good idea and look good for the company too." Tom offered a cautious, "What?" He felt like he was being set up for something, but wasn't quite sure what for. "Having established what an asset to the company and the bottom line you are and reminded him that he asked us to come up with social and community related schemes that would make the company look good, I suggested we could release you one day a week for a couple of months to work on such a project. He though that on day wouldn't be much use to most charities and community groups, so if you matched it with one of your days off, he would release you one day a week for two months." "So I loose a day off to make you all look good." "Yep. But the way I saw it, you were looking to do something anyway, this was you get to do it and part of the time even get paid for it!" "What about my work?" "Well, come on, your team pretty much manages itself, but I thought we might create the post of deputy in each team, by way of training people up more effectively for management posts they may take in the future. I thought about it when Mary went off on maternity leave. If we had had a deputy in place, we could have just made him or her acting supervisor instead of having to get someone in. What do you think?" "Leigh." "Eh?" "Leigh. She would be ideal, She is smarter than I am and frequently comes up with major ideas and leads before I do. She also has a good rapport with the rest of the team. It might upset Julian, but he'll get over it." "Yeah. I like that. She is good and although the extra money won't be that much, I'm sure now she has bought that big house with her boy friend, it'll be welcome." "So I just have to pass the checks and stuff?" "No, first you have to fill out a load of forms, then you'll have an interview. It'll take a couple of weeks, I would think, to get you started doing something, but I really think it'll be worth it. What do you think? Willing to try?" "Yeah, ok." More to come...