An hour later I was by his bed and I had told him that I had got his stuff, the clothes were in the washing machine and his bag was on his bed, with that he looked at me questionably.

Well he was excited and kept thanking me and telling me he won't be any trouble and he could get a job ......

On the way back to Zachire my phone went, it was only Jim asking if I had told him and telling me everyone was happy for me to take him in for a while.

Thursday

The doctor checked him over and gave him a prescription for some pain killers, Jim was there and he took us down in his car, James was quite but I could see excitement in his eyes.

I opened up Zachire and was nearly knocked down by Scruffy fighting to get to James, James bent and hugged the dog tears freely flowing down his face. I left them on the bank.

We sat at the table drinking tea and I had also put some sausage rolls out and we scoffed the lot. He had picked up his bag and brought it with him.

I cooked dinner, James helped and we just seemed to get on so well it was a warm evening and once we had tidied up we took the dogs for a walk, the opposite way to his old house. He talked a lot, it seemed that he was doing well at school all though he had missed the last to weeks. He told me about how he got money for food, he was really ashamed about it but he said it had never gone any further than blow jobs. One guy had even given him some extra money to help him out. He talked about his mum and dad and got very sad, he wondered if he would ever be allowed back home. We got back to Zachire at about 9 and he was very tired, he was still on pain killers.

I woke to the smell of bacon and it took me a couple of minutes to remember that I had a guest. I got out of bed and headed to the loo then back to the kitchen.

We washed up the dishes and got dressed, it was not very warm yet as I opened up the back of the boat. Zac must of sensed that we were moving off because he got up onto the roof and laid down, Scruffy joined him. I showed James how to check the oil and other daily jobs that had to be done before the Zachire was started. I unplugged the mains lead to the shore supply, James undid the ropes and pushed the front out a little as I picked up the engine reve's, he ran down the tow path and jumped onto the stern with me. We pulled away from the side. I loved this bit, the start of a journey, I turned and looked at James as his smile was as big as mine. We must have looked like two kids on Christmas day.

The first set of gates were just a few minutes away, James had been on a canal holiday with his parents so he knew a bit about it all. As I nosed the front of Zachire into the gates he jumped off with a windlass, the lock was empty so we would have to fill it before going in. The dogs were with him sniffing everything in site. I let Zachire drift and popped down to put the kettle on, it was time for a cuppa.

I cam out to see James holding his side, dam I had forgotten about his ribs he saw me looking and shook his head. I ran to the front and caught a rope as I jumped off quickly tying the boat up.

There was one more lock before we moored up at Sainsburys, we left the dogs inside and went shopping, mince for a shepherds pie this evening, veg, beer and some more odds and ends. There was a Matalan clothing store so once we had packed the food back on Zachire I talked James in to letting me get him a few things. I said that we could get an allowance of of Jim for stuff like that, as yet I had not told him about my lottery win.

I made him try on the trousers in the shop much to his embarrassment and my amusement, I didn't know that he was so shy. We got some jeans and a couple of pairs of shorts, some boxer shorts, socks and t-shirts and a waterproof jacket and trousers.

We moved Zachire across the other side of the Canal and I got the hose out and started to fill the water tank and then went down to help James put things away. Once all that was done and the tank was toped up we started off again. The sun was out and it was getting nice and hot, we both changed into shorts. We sat at the back, I was steering and we were listing to the radio, the dogs were flat out asleep on the roof.

I made a couple of sandwiches for lunch and by 2oc we rounded the corner on the approach to Cassiobury Park lock. I think Scruffy gave it away, we were coming into the bank when I heard a shriek from the bridge ahead of us. Scruffy was straight off the roof and onto the tow path, James was not to far behind and I could see this kid, it had to be Dan running off the bridge towards us. Scruffy was nearly crushed as the two meet, I saw James lift his brother, who was not much smaller than himself, in to a hug then his ribs must have hurt because he nearly fell. I had just finished with the mooring rope when I saw James stagger his brother looked horrified. I was by his side and helping him to stand again, I could see the pain on James face.

I made dinner at about six and we chanted for sometime about anything and everything, Dan wanted to stay and run away with his brother, I put my adult head on and said no and also explained that James was not running away but he was in my care which brought a serious note to the proceedings. Dan agreed in the end and then Peter said that he had to go as he was under orders to be home by 8, it seems he had been playing truant from school and his parents had put him on a curfew. Dan said that he had better go, he promised James that he would not say anything to he his mum or dad although I pointed out, dam this serious head of mine, that we would have to sort something out soon. I then had an idea about how we might get something moving.

Well thats it for now, sorry but thats the way I write, let me know what you think. The next chapter may be about a week but it should be a good one.

TTFN.