Barefoot and Lost

by Brian Francis Cox

  ‘I will, I don’t have a costume anymore.’

  ‘We can help with that, there are three of Michael’s in his room, haven’t got around to clearing out, in fact, not had the heart for it, I’m sure one will fit you come around in the morning and try them on.’

  ‘That’s very kind of you Tess, when shall he call?’

  ‘It will have to be early; the public session is from eight till ten. I have two free periods at school in the morning, so I can come with you if you like’

  ‘I would love that Pop.’

  ‘Right, agreed, so be at our house at seven thirty.’

  ‘More reason for you to be in bed Phil, off you go night, night, see you in the morning.’

  ‘Good night, every one.’ I get up to leave the room, June grabs my hand,

  ‘Got a kiss for your new mum? I throw my arms around her and give her the biggest hug.

  ‘Thanks for taking me away from St S’s, can I say I love you?’

  ‘You can but only if you mean it.’

  ‘I mean it.’

  ‘We had better be going too, good night Phil.’

  ‘Would you care for another for the road Sam?’

  ‘No thanks Reg, I might get a liking for it, better be off.’

  I climb to the top of the stairs, passing the spot where Gran died. It hasn’t scared me this time because I have decided to let her be there at night, guarding me. Winding the alarm clock I notice the minute hand is still lying at the bottom of the face.

  Giving the B52 a swing as I get into bed with my hands behind my head I watch, as the circles it makes get smaller. I wonder how Rachel and the others are getting on at Barnardos, I wonder if they are thinking of me, are they worried that I have been kidnapped or worse, killed, how am I going to tell them I am the luckiest boy in the whole wide world?

  As I turn the corner I can see Pop, waiting for me on the footpath outside his house, standing in a shaft of sunlight that makes him look like he is on stage. He sees me and indicates I should wait, ‘Good morning Phil, I was making the most of the sunshine.’

  ‘Morning Pop, you looked like you were in a spotlight.’

  Me? Goodness me Phil, you are the one in the spotlight, a very lucky person, talk about rags to riches. Overnight you have gone from a poor orphan to the potential son of two people that have no other kin, who are not rich but comfortably off, and want to lavish their love and money on you. I know you won’t, but don’t let them down they have fought so hard to foster you.’

  ‘I won’t Pop; I was thinking in bed how lucky I am.

  ‘Did you remember to bring the costume?’

  ‘All three, take your pick, just hope they fit. I think they will, I know it is only six weeks, but I do believe you have grown.’

  Lorraine is not in the ticket office, an older lady is there. She looks at my card, and takes my money, without a change in her expression. I’m sure if she tried to smile her face would crack in two. ‘She’s so miserable, Lorraine is, at least always happy. Where is she, has she left?’

  ‘Phil, these are sad times, you shouldn’t judge people so; for all you know her husband has been killed, or he has chosen not to come back from the war. ‘There are many reasons why she doesn’t appear happy, it could be this is the first time she has had to work in the whole of her life, and now has to support a family, so don’t judge, unless you know the circumstances’

  ‘Sorry Pop, I didn’t think, I didn’t mean any harm.’

  ‘I know you didn’t, as for Lorraine, she is expecting a baby and has not been too well.’

  ‘Race you a length, ‘I’ll give you five yards start.’ Pop shouts go, I take off as fast as I can, but I have not completed half the length before he passes me, he then slows down but, as I try to close the gap, he just moves ahead of me, beating me, by a touch. Leaning over the edge is Len,

  ‘Who taught you to swim like that?’

  ‘Hello Len, you did.’

  ‘Not like that, you were terrible, all over the place, no style at all; you looked like you were attempting to splash all of the water out of the pool.’

  ‘Sorry Len, this is the first time I have been swimming since the gala.’

  ‘That is no excuse; are you here to stay, or are you going to be like the bloody Pimpernel and disappear again?’

  ‘That’s hardly fair Len; it was not Phil’s fault he went away.’

  ‘I know; I’m only teasing you Phil, welcome back are you coming to club tomorrow night?’

  ‘I expect so but I’ll have to ask June’

  ‘Do your best, I will soon have you knocked back into shape.’ Len gives a long blast on his whistle then shouts ‘Stop that running about; come here’; under his breath, ‘Little buggers- sorry about that, see you tomorrow, try to get here.’

  ‘I’ll do my best Len.’

  ‘Do half a dozen slow lengths, concentrate on your style.’ The little B’s have run into the changing rooms, with Len in hot pursuit. Pop swam three lengths with me, on the fourth he let me go on my own, choosing to try his diving skills on the low spring board.

  We are passing the book shop at the bottom of the steps to Robertson Street. ‘Do you remember how you helped Gran up here she told you to get your hands off her bum.’

  “How could I forget, that is one of the memories I cherish about Beth, a fine lady. I expect you miss her?’

  ‘I wouldn’t say I miss her, because, every day something is said or something happens that makes me think about her, so she is always with me. But I do miss her hugs and the way she told me off but didn’t really mean it. Well she did really, it just seemed she didn’t’

  ‘Phil I don’t think you have explained that very well but I know what you mean.’

  ‘Do you think I could join the library? I was reading The Talisman at St S’s, I was up to chapter twenty two, but the police wouldn’t let me take it away and I would like to finish it?’

  ‘The one by Sir Walter Scott, do you not find that hard to read?’

  ‘Yes, that’s the one, some of it, but words I don’t understand I look up in the dictionary.’

  ‘Well it just so happens I have a copy at home. I shouldn’t have when but I left University I was half way through reading it, like you I couldn’t finish it in time, so I concealed it in my suitcase and took it home and, do you know what I still haven’t finished it. That was over thirty years ago, perhaps we could read it together, what do you think?’

  ‘I’d like that. Pop’

  ‘Good, that’s a date then

  Chapter Thirteen

  On my way to the baths this morning I had to sneak out of the front door to avoid Jet. Now that he has found me he is not letting me out of his sight, once again his head is on my knee as I eat my porridge and toast.

  ‘Phillip why don’t you take that animal for a walk, he missed you so much all he wanted to do was lay around and has become fat in the process. Reg and I have only been taking him to the end of the road or around the block that is when he was lucky, that’s not enough for a Labrador, and while you are doing that I’m going to see if I can get you a replacement ration book’.

  ‘Want to go for a walk Jet?” His ears prick up he turns his head to look at me as if to say, do you mean it. ‘Go on then, get your lead.’ He starts to wag his tail, does a couple of circuits as if he is chasing it, then goes to the hook where his lead is hanging. He can’t get it, the loop is over the hook and won’t come free, he starts to growl, and tugs the lead, the Welsh dresser the hook is attached to, is in danger of being toppled.

  ‘Hold on, let me get it.’ It has now become a game, with me holding one end, Jet holding the other as we skid around the kitchen floor.

  ‘Stop it you two, you’ll smash the place up, take him outside and don’t come back for at least a couple of hours.’

  Jet is pulling so hard my arms are in danger of being pulled out of their sockets, I have to keep checking him, ‘Jet walk nicely,’ but Jet has a mind of his own and seems hell b
ent on racing along. Turning into South Terrace I start to run down the gradient. Jet is charging along, without warning he suddenly stops to have a pee, and I fall headlong over him banging my shoulder on the cricket ground wall as I fall. Sitting on the ground, rubbing my shoulder, Jet looks at me as if to say sorry and licks my face, I rub his ears and give him a kiss on top of his head, and we resume our walk with Jet walking sedately beside me, now I am convinced he has some human blood in him.

  The steps from Queens Road to Millward Gardens has us both panting, we turn right along Priory road passing my old school; there is no one to see they are all in lessons. I can’t help wondering if Keith Smith is still bullying; maybe he has learnt his lesson.

  I can’t believe it is only six weeks since I was here, it seems like years. When we reach West Hill I let Jet off the lead and sit on the grass, when I think he is getting too far away I call and, without any hesitation he comes to me. We are having a bit of rough and tumble, he grabs my wrist, but he is so gentle his teeth don’t even mark my skin. ‘Let me put your lead back on Jet, we are going down into the town.’

  The steps beside the lift are quite steep and are in need of repair, they are easier to walk up than down, but between us, we manage. I think it would have been easier if I had let Jet off the lead again, but I’m afraid he might run off into the traffic in the High Street at the bottom of the steps. I wonder when they will repair the bomb damage and get the lift working again?

  The penny arcade is open, I can’t ever remember seeing it closed, but I suppose it must close sometime. As we pass I can see a couple of men playing the slot machines. The lady that sits in the kiosk, where you get change, is still there. The pennies and sixpences stacked in front of her. Her very red hair piled on top of her head is held in place with ivory combs. A lit cigarette, with it’s half an inch of ash, is still hanging from her very red lips, how it does not drop, from the movement of filing her nails, I do not know.

  At the junction of the promenade and High street, Jet makes a dash to the horse trough, with his two front paws up on the edge, he takes a very long drink, and I wish I could join him but the water looks very dirty to me. Crossing the road to the seafront, Jet has the time of his life, the lamp posts are about fifty yards apart and he sniffs and pees on most of them, progress is very slow, but I am glad of the rest.

  We have stopped at a set of steps leading down onto the beach; Jet is having a very prolonged sniff. I’m looking at a fishing boat making its way to the beach, where it will then be winched up, above the tide line. Two men, wearing waders, are ready with the steel cable to attach to the front of it; the large wooden sleepers are already in position greased, ready for the keel to slide over them. I love to watch them, although I have seen it, several times it always gives me a thrill.

  ‘I hope you don’t intend taking that dog on the beach.’ I turn to see Constable Harper looking at me with a smirk on his face.

  ‘Of course not Constable, I remember that you told me dogs are not allowed on the beach, the first time we met when you caught us playing in the sea’

  ‘Oh it’s you; Reg Milligan’s boy; how could I forget how that pesky animal shook himself and drenched me. Why aren’t you at school, hope you’re not playing truant; what’s your excuse?’

  ‘Really, Constable Harper, I can’t tell you why because it’s a secret.’

  ‘Don’t get smart with me- Master Milligan, I demand to know.’

  ‘I’m Phillip Snell, not Reg’s son, I honestly can’t tell you, it’s a secret, you will have to ask Superintendent Langdon, he knows all about it.’

  ‘I will have to report this, woe betide you if you are telling me lies, the authorities will be down on you like a ton of bricks, now, be off with you and keep that dog off the beach.’ As I leave he produces his note book and pencil, pauses a moment, then starts to write furiously.

  ‘What a stupid man, he is Jet, I bet he doesn’t speak to adults like that; if he did they would laugh at him, what did Mr. M call him, A draft dodger, said he wouldn’t be a policeman if real men were here to do the job instead of fighting for their country. Jet gives me a knowing look, I’m convinced he is human or perhaps I have some dog in me.

  We have walked as far as Plummer’s and are waiting to cross the road. On the other side is a very well dressed, elderly lady, carrying a small dog. As we meet in the middle of the road, her dog starts to yap at, Jet, he in turn ignores it. The lady stops and shouts at me, ‘Yield, Yield I say, keep that brute away from my Fifi.’ I look at her, I’m about to say your dog is safe, Jet’s already had his lunch, but think better of it, as, clearly, the old lady is mentally, not quite right, she continues shouting at me. ‘That brute should have a muzzle, a savage animal like that should not be on the streets.’ Jet still ignores her ranting and her dog’s yapping, she only becomes silent when a bus sounds his horn at her, she then flounces onto the pavement where she starts shouting at the bus, the conductor doffs his cap and bows to her.

  Arriving at number twelve, Jet goes to his water bowl, takes a long drink curls up in his basket, his eyes slowly close. I’m certain he has a smile on his face. On the table is a note:

  In the larder Phillip, is a sandwich wrapped in paper, get yourself a glass of milk, I will be back around two thirty.

  Love June. I look at the clock; it is five minutes to two.

  After eating my cheese sandwich I go looking for Reg, I find him in a deck chair, watching a cricket match. ‘Who’s playing?’

  ‘I have no idea Phil, I think it is a schools match but, whoever they are they are pretty good, especially that fast bowler, he’s had two out in the last two over’s, one clean bowled, the other caught behind. A shout of ‘Owszatt’ comes from the pitch, the umpire raises his finger, and another batsman starts the long walk back to the pavilion.

  ‘Did you find your sandwich?’

  ‘Yes thanks, Reg, when do you think I will go to school?’

  ‘Ah yes, I have arranged an interview at the Grammar with the Principal, nine thirty Monday. After my discussion with him I got the impression it was only a formality, he knew who you were from your swimming success, he seemed quite keen to get you. The Grammar is very big in sport you know, so it is almost certain you will start there and then.’

  ‘I’m not very good now, I’m out of practice, I saw Len this morning, and he wants me to go to the club tomorrow night; ca0n I?’

  ‘I see no reason why you shouldn’t, talent is only talent if you work at it; oh yes, another thing, this afternoon, at four thirty, that is to allow time for Sam to finish school and get home, the three of us have an appointment with John Langdon at the police station.’

  ‘What is that about?’

  ‘Your statement, apparently Sam has translated it from Hebrew; it is to be read so you can agree that it is correct. Sam is there in case further translation is required and, because you are a minor, I am there as your legal guardian. John Langdon is there representing the police. When we all agree it is correct it will then becomes a legal document.’

  ‘So that is where you are, I thought the place was deserted, honestly Reg you should make sure the doors are locked, you don’t know who’s about.’

  ‘You’re right June, won’t let it happen again. Which reminds me Phil, we will have to sort you out your own front door key; Success on the ration book June?’

  ‘Yes, but what a ruddy palaver, you’d have thought I was asking for the crown jewels.

  It’s clothes shopping for you tomorrow young man, got to try and stop you looking like an orphan, Oh Phillip, I’m sorry I didn’t mean to, I just meant.’

  ‘It’s okay, I know what you meant. Anyway, I’m not anymore am I? I have you haven’t I?’ June gives me a hug.

  ‘You know you’re a real charmer, you always manage to say the right thing.’

  ‘I’m only being nice because I want something; can I have a new swimming costume? Michael’s are very old and a bit big; I’m frightened of loosing them when I div
e in.’

  ‘Yes, of course you can, if we can find any, can’t have nudity in the public baths, can we?’

  There are six of us in the interview room, Pop, Reg, and me on one side of the table, John Langdon and WPC Maisy on the other side. In a corner behind Maisy is a lady with a machine that looks a bit like a typewriter. The Superintendent shuffles some papers in front of him, ‘I will just run through what is going to take place: I will begin by introducing all of us in this room, for the benefit of our stenographer, who will record everything that is said.

  You Phil; will read your statement out aloud. If there is anything that any of us do not agree to we are to speak there and then, so the correction can be made, it is no good if you leave it to the end, is that clear.’ We all nod I’m frightened to speak in case she writes it down.

  ‘Superintendent, will I have to read very slowly so the lady can write it down.’

  ‘No Phil, speak as fast as you like, this lady can type on her Stenotype machine, at three hundred words a minute, I doubt if you can speak as fast, and be understood, just speak clearly, shall we begin.’ Once again we nod.

  ‘The time is sixteen forty seven, September thirteenth nineteen forty six. Present in interview room two is Myself, Superintendent John Langdon, WPC Clarke, of the Kent and Sussex Constabulary, Samuel Cohen, who has translated the original statement from Hebrew to English, Reginald Milligan, guardian and representing the interviewee, Phillip Snell; Phillip, will you please start to read your statement, beginning with your name and date of birth.’