Date: Wed, 31 Jan 2024 07:50:28 +0000 From: Jonah Subject: Harrovian Life chapter 9 Harrovian Life by Jonah It is a few years now since Nifty carried the story "A letter from America". A good few stories have succeded it and the action has moved about a bit too. In this one it is firmly back with Jonah in Harrow, but some twenty years later. Simon, Peter and Luke have grown up and in some cases have children of their own. This story comes immediately after "Whiteout". It is a work of fiction in every sense so, if you think you recognise yourself, or somebody else, in here - you don't. At least one of the characters was originally the creation of another author. I'd like to thank Jacob Lion, in the USA, for permission to use his characters. The story is about love - the real sort - so if you're looking for pornography, you'd best look elsewhere. Nifty doesn't charge either you or I to publish these stories, but it does cost money to publish them. Please consider donating to Nifty at https://donate.nifty.org/ so that he can keep these stories coming. chapter 9 That night Adam slept between Peter and I, while Garret slept in Simon and Peter's old room. Peter had work in the morning - an appointment with an instructing solicitor (not to be confused with a soliciting instructor) concerning a forthcoming case at the Central Criminal Court - so we were up tolerably early. After breakfast I took the opportunity to have a chat with Adam. "Looking forward to getting back to school then champ?" "No. When do I have to go." "Not till we're sure you're ready." "I don't feel ready." "I know you don't. It's early days yet. Crumbs! You've only just come out of hospital." "Why did I have to go in hospital?" "You weren't well so we needed the doctors and nurses to help you." "Billy was helping me." "I think he still is. He's coming round this afternoon." "I like Billy." "Yes, I know, so do I but don't tell him I said so. I think he likes you too." "He calls you Joanie," he giggled. "Not any more he doesn't," I told him firmly, "and he'd better not." "I'll tell him not to." "He'll probably take more notice of you than he does of me," I conceded. "Anyway, tomorrow, we've got a lady from social services coming to see us. She'll want to talk to me, but I expect she'll want to meet you. I've met her. She's a nice lady." "Is she staying for lunch?" "I don't know. Why?" "Because we only have cakes and puddings when we have visitors." "I like cakes and pudding too. I'll see if she'll stay." Well that was easier than I thought it would be. A bit of a surprise that he doesn't remember his suicide attempt though. I'd better have a chat with Mrs. Coleman about that - unless Dana refers him to someone else, that is. After morning coffee, Adam and I went for a walk to Harrow and Wealdstone railway station, where we sat and watched trains for an hour and a half. Peter used to take him down there but, since Peter had become a barrister in hs own right, he had seldom had the time. On the way home I bought pie and chips for the three of us. No sooner had I got our lunch on the table than Garret admitted a visitor. I couldn't complain since I had insisted that he come round. "'Ow's my favourite little Tyke?" he demanded then, as an afterthought, "Morning Mr. Cummings." "It WAS morning Billy," I agreed, "though it hasn't been for the last ten minutes." " I know," he confided. "I lose track so easily. It flies by when you get older." "Sorry Billy," I replied. "I keep forgetting about your advanced years. Have a seat and take the weight off your old legs. Have you had lunch?" "Billy can have some of mine," Adam volunteered. "I won't be able to eat all these." Garret had indeed piled his plate so high with chips that the chicken and mushroom pie was quite invisible. "We haven't another Pie," Garret said, "but I could soon do you a couple of sausages to go with some of Adam's chips." "Just chips will be fine Squire," said the nurse. "i never eat much at lunchtime anyway." Garret reached over and passed another plate onto which Adam began sweeping chips. "Woah there cowboy," said Billy. "You're supposed to eat some of them yourself you know. If you've lost your appetite since you came home, we'll have to 'ave you back in and put you on hospital food." Adam giggled, which I didn't reprove since I had to fight the urge to giggle myself. "How is Mrs. Coleman?" I asked. "She sends her love," he replied. "I think I'm going to have to have a chat with you after dinner." "About me?" asked Adam. "That's right Kiddo," replied Billy. "About you, but not to you." "Ohhhhh!" said the pouting child. "Adam, didn't I always tell you that whenever your dad, or Mr. Cummings, Or Garret are talking about you, it's always for your good, because they love you. You're always the winner." It was news to me that Billy had told Adam that but I couldn't help being touched. After dinner, Billy and I went upstairs. "I gather Mrs Coleman didn't sack you then," I remarked as I sat on my bed. "I'm as surprised as you Squire," he returned. "She looked like she was going to, but then the questions started coming thick and fast. It was, what did Adam think about this and does he ever talk about that. They were coming at me quicker than I could answer them." "Has he talked to you about his suicide attempt?" "Yeah, that was one of...." he looked closely at me. "Oh Gawd," he moaned. "Not you too." "You already told Adam that I love him, so you know know why I'm asking you. You love him too, which is why I trust you to answer." "He's a lovely child," he responded, "which is why I'd die before I ever did anything to hurt him." "If you didn't, you'd certainly die shortly afterwards," I remarked, "and nobody would ever find the body." I glanced down at his well-cared-for bare feet. His flip-flops has been discarded at the door. "I'm not sure he remembers opening that vein," he confided. "I'd like to believe he doesn't remember why he did it." "It wasn't a vein," I said. "It was an artery, but I'm not sure I'd like to believe either of those things. Think about it Billy. If he can only cope with life by blocking out those things, wouldn't you always be worried that, one day, he'll remember?" He looked me square in the face. "He'll always have those thing to remember. We can't take them away for him. It's our job to make sure he has lots of good things to remember too." "My job," I corrected him. "Your job is to be a psychiatric nurse. To be specific, your job is to be at the hospital instead of here but, to be honest mate, I'm glad you're here." Well he was here, and I didn't think I'd have any more success than Mrs Coleman had in preventing it. Garret raised no objections either, which was just as well considering where Billy would have to sleep. We were still up in good time next morning, Peter having to attend court again. Billy was obviously hoping to spend the day with Adam but I insisted he spent it earning his living at the hospital. "Dinner's at half past six," I told him. I was barely breakfasted when the phone went. "Jonah, it's Dana." "Oh Hi Dana!" "What time would it be convenient for me to pop round and see you?" "Well any time really but, it'd help if you had a chance to get to know Adam, so why don't you pop round at about half past eleven and you can stop and have some lunch with us?" "I don't know." "What?" "I don't know why I don't come at half past eleven" "Well do it then. I shall look forward to it." Adam was upstairs on his bed - yes that's right, his bed - not mine. He had spread out his trainspotting books and was marking up the fruits of our visit to Harrow and Wealdstone station. "Now then Sir Copalot!" I greeted him. "How did you do?" "Well I didn't cop a lot," he replied, "but it was only Harrow so I'm not surprised." "Well I'm sure you copped those two sixty-sixes on the railhead treatment train." "No, only one of them." "Never mind. There's always another day" "I suppose so." Dana was prompt upon her hour. "Well aren't you the handsome one," she told Adam as I winced. "Good morning Mrs Kilburn," Adam replied in his politest voice. He's never been good at accepting praise. "It's Miss Kilburn Adam," replied Dana, "and good morning to you too." "I'm Master Khan," Adam responded, "but you can call me Adam." I couldn't help smiling at this bit of typical Adam. Dana wouldn't have expected this. "I think Miss Kilburn already did call you "Adam" Adam." I pointed out. "Oh no," said Dana. "I didn't call him "Adamadam" Jonah." Adam was equal to the situation. "Nobody calls me "Adamadamjonah". That would be a silly name." This sort of banter was kept up during lunch at the risk of everybody's sanity but Adam's. Once the conversation got silly, he could run rings round anyone. "I'll be in touch Jonah," said Dana as I helped her into her coat. "I'd like a psychiatrist to see him." "One already has," I told her. "I'd like details of that," she replied. "He could probably do with regular visits from a psychiatric nurse, for a while at least." "Then have a word with Mrs. Coleman at Northwick Park," I suggested. "She'd probably find someone to send round." In the afternoon Garret drove us to Maida Vale since Adam had not met the twins. Luke and Rikki made a fuss of Adam but the twins stayed resolutely sleeping. Rikki let Adam hold Charlie, but the baby still remained dormant. Adam was fascinated by the tiny human. Before he let Rikki take him back he planted a kiss on the tiny forehead. While I watched this Luke tapped me on the shoulder and motioned for me to follow him. I followed him to his bedroom and sat on the edge of his bed. "What's the matter mate?" said Luke. "How do you mean?" "You're not daft Jonah. You couldn't have done all that you did for us kids if you were, but you are worried. You even left a cup of tea, untouched, on the mantlepiece. That's never been known to happen before." "To be honest, I'm sick with worry over Adam." I replied. "He was obviously affected by what happened. He was affected enough to attempt suicide. He told me the other night that he knew suicide was wrong. This morning he didn't even remember that he did it. How can we address the issue if he doesn't remember it?" "Do you think he wants you to address it?" "He can't if he can't remember it." "His memory's being selective," He said. "He's deliberately not remembering what he needs to remember to enable you to address the issue. Of course, he may be trying to protect Wentworth." "Why would he do that?" "We always put the blame for any adult/child relationship on the adult. Doesn't mean that the child sees it that way. Sometimes, even the adult doesn't." "What does the case against Wentworth look like?" "It's based entirely on his confession. He could get into court and suddenly say, "sorry, I didn't mean it" and the prosecution would be left with no evidence. I don't think that will happen somehow." "But if it does...." "It won't be Adam's problem, so it won't be yours. Nor is it your job to force him to remember things that he'd rather not. You're getting professional help for him right?" "I hope so." "So do I, but it would be a bit pointless if you're going to spend all your time worrying that you can't do their job for them." "You know, I should have left you on that tube train all those years ago." "Given the hard time I gave you, I'm surprised you didn't." "I'm glad I didn't. That's one train journey I've never regretted." Luke and Rikki gave us tea so there was no cooking to do when we got home. There didn't seem any point in making Adam go to bed early, since he didn't have school. As before, his father and I slept either side of him while Garret slept in Simon's old bed. Since there were two beds in the boys' old room, I don't know where Billy slept.