Lisa couldn’t believe what she was hearing – and yet she knew without doubt that this boy was telling the truth. The pain in his voice was all too real. Then there was the look of misery and shame on his face. The look of a victim. Suddenly everything had changed.
‘I’m sorry,’ she said. ‘I had no idea. Who did this to you?’
‘Some boys from my class at school. They invited me out to play with them. I thought they were being nice at last. I should have known better.’
‘So have they left you totally, um, naked?’ Lisa asked, feeling her own cheeks burning.
‘I’m in my pants and socks,’ he replied.
Lisa let out a quiet sigh of relief. ‘Any idea what they did with the rest of your stuff?’
He shook his head. ‘Not a clue.’
‘Why were you crying out before? It sounded like you were in pain.’
‘I was. I still am. There are some nettles back here that I stung my legs on, and quite a few creepy-crawlies.’
‘Oh dear.’
‘It’s my glasses I’m most bothered about. My mum will kill me when she finds out. I only just got them. They were a gift for finishing primary school.’
This got Lisa’s attention. ‘Wait. Do you start secondary school next month?’
‘Yes.’
‘You must be eleven like me. I’m Lisa, by the way. What’s your name?’
‘Elliot.’
‘Nice to meet you, Elliot. I’m new in the village.’
‘Oh, are you the girl who’s moved into Christopher’s house?’
‘I think that was the name of the boy who lived there before us. Did you know him?’
‘Yes. He was my best friend.’
Lisa wasn’t sure how to reply. She almost felt like apologising, but of course that would be ridiculous. It was hardly her fault. She’d never have moved here in the first place, if she’d had her way. She felt sorry for Elliot, though. The pickle he was in put her wet jeans and trainer into context. She decided to help him.
‘Okay, Elliot. What can I do to get you out of here?’
A few minutes later she arrived back home, panting after running all the way. She burst through the front door without saying a word and headed straight for her bedroom.
‘Lisa, is that you?’ her mum called from downstairs.
‘Yes,’ she shouted back. ‘I forgot something. I’ll be heading out again in a second.’
She rummaged through her clothes, many of which were still in boxes, looking for something suitable. Elliot was shorter than her, from what she’d been able to make out, but he also looked a bit plump and boys usually had larger feet than girls. Eventually she came across a large yellow T-shirt, which Mum had bought her to wear as a nightie, plus a baggy pair of grey jogging bottoms. They’ll do, she thought, throwing them into a rucksack along with a big pair of hand-me-down flip-flops she’d received from a cousin but never worn.
‘Why don’t you take your brother out with you?’ Mum called. ‘He could do with some fresh air.’
‘I don’t think so,’ Lisa said under her breath. She grabbed the bag and raced past the closed door of Jamie’s bedroom, heading downstairs before he had the chance to emerge.
‘Bye!’ she shouted as she passed the kitchen, where Mum was on her hands and knees loading something into the back of a large corner cupboard. She thought she heard her say something in reply but pretended not to, continuing on her way.
Shortly afterwards, having passed another couple of dog walkers going the other way, Lisa returned to the spot where she’d left Elliot hiding. ‘I’m back,’ she said. ‘I’ll find somewhere to jump across the stream, shall I? Then I can give you these clothes.’
Elliot’s head reappeared, eyes wide with terror at the suggestion. ‘No, don’t do that. Can’t you throw them over to me?’
Imagining herself in the same situation, Lisa understood why Elliot didn’t want her to see him virtually naked. ‘Yes, that’s fine,’ she replied. Removing the rucksack from her shoulders, she moved to the very edge of the stream and tried a few practice swings in the right direction. ‘Right, I think I can make it. I’m going to aim straight for the middle of the bush. On three, okay? One … two … three.’
She threw the bag as best as she could, getting it across the water at least, but not as far as Elliot. It caught in the low-hanging branch of a nearby tree, a metre or so in front of the bush where he was hiding.
‘Sorry,’ she said as Elliot’s face sank. ‘That didn’t go to plan. I can come over there and grab it, if you like.’
‘No, I’ll get it.’ He paused before adding: ‘But would you mind looking the other way?’
This amused Lisa. At primary school, when they’d had to change for PE or games in the classroom, the boys had usually been happy parading around in their underwear. It was the girls who tended to be more self-conscious. ‘No problem,’ she replied. ‘I’m turning around now.’
Lisa noted how peaceful it was down the lane as the noise of every movement Elliot made carried across the stream. By the sound of things, not least his various grunts and groans, he seemed to be struggling to pull the bag free. She was about to ask if he needed a hand when he shouted, ‘got it.’
‘Great. Can I turn around again?’
‘Yes.’
He was back behind the bush when she did so, but a few moments later, he emerged with a look on his face somewhere between sheepish and relieved. He looked odd in the T-shirt and joggers, both of which were tight width-wise but too long in length.
She threw him a smile. ‘Do they fit okay? They were the best I could find at short notice.’
‘They’re fine, thanks.’ Elliot stepped forward in the flip-flops, which actually looked about the right size, and then almost tripped over one of the oversized legs of the jogging bottoms, barely managing to steady himself on a tree trunk. ‘Oops.’
‘Careful,’ Lisa warned. ‘Maybe you ought to roll up the legs a little.’
‘Good idea,’ he replied, bending forward to follow her suggestion. ‘I’m really not very good without my specs.’
He wasn’t exaggerating about this, as Lisa discovered when she had to take back the rucksack and help him across the stream. Then they made their way back to the village.
‘What do you want to do about getting your things back?’ Lisa asked as they neared the start of the lane.
Elliot shrugged. ‘Nothing, I guess. What can I do? They’re gone now.’
‘But your glasses.’
‘I’ll have to wear my old ones again and tell Mum I lost them.’
‘Why not tell her the truth? She could contact the parents of these boys. Then they’d have to return them.’
‘You’re kidding, right? Then I’d be a telltale, which would only make things worse. It’s not like I can prove what they’ve done. It’s their word against mine. And there were three of them. I wouldn’t want to worry my mum, anyway.’
He stopped walking, took hold of Lisa’s arm and looked her in the eye. ‘You’re not going to tell your dad, are you? Please don’t. I’d be dead meat.’
‘No, of course I won’t.’ She grimaced. ‘He’s, um, not actually a policeman. I kind of made that up. Sorry.’
She expected Elliot to be angry with her about this, but instead he started to laugh, making his deep blue eyes sparkle. ‘Really? Wow, I can’t believe I fell for that. I’m so gullible.’
Lisa smiled. ‘It’s understandable. You did have other things on your mind at the time, what with being almost naked and all. I shouldn’t have lied to you.’
‘That’s okay. You rescued me, which more than makes up for it.’
‘True.’ She looked over at Elliot, in her poorly fitting clothes and flip-flops; then down at herself, wet and caked in mud, and it was her turn to laugh.
‘What?’
‘I was thinking how ridiculous we both look, that’s all.’
Her words set Elliot off again, in a fit of giggles this time, and the way he
laughed – which reminded Lisa of a seal – was so contagious that soon she too couldn’t stop.
She lost track of how long they stood there chuckling next to the Victoria Street sign. Several adults walked past in that time and the odd looks they gave the pair only served to make them laugh even more.
Eventually, Elliot announced that he ought to get home. ‘Is it okay if I return your things tomorrow? I could bring them round to your house in the morning, if you like.’
‘Um, sure,’ Lisa replied.
‘Cool.’
‘Not as posh as you’d think, is it, this place?’
‘What do you mean?’
Lisa nodded towards the sign. ‘Victoria Street. It’s a very grand-sounding name.’
‘Oh, right. Yeah, no one actually uses that. Everyone calls it Vicky Lane.’
‘Really?’
‘Yep. Anyway, I’ll see you tomorrow.’
‘Wait. Before you go, you are all right, aren’t you? You know, after everything that happened.’
‘I’m fine, thanks to you. I owe you one.’
‘I was glad to help.’
Lisa could tell that Elliot was itching to leave, no doubt keen to get some of his own clothes back on, so she said goodbye and they headed off in opposite directions.
He seemed a bit odd, she thought. Certainly not a typical boy of her age. But that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, and the laughing together at the end had been good fun.
Maybe they could be friends.
CHAPTER 4
When the man returned to the room, the lapel of his black jacket bore a pressed metal badge, which stated that his name was Will.
Of course. How had he forgotten that?
‘Here you are,’ Will said, handing over a large white mug of tea. ‘Sorry I took a while. It’s hot, so be careful.’
‘Thank you.’
‘Sugar?’ Will asked, opening his palm to reveal some sachets.
‘No, thanks.’
Will, who hadn’t brought a drink for himself, seemed happy to watch him sip the tea in silence. Meanwhile, he scrutinised him with his blue eyes, occasionally running a hand through his thick grey hair. Only when the mug was half empty did Will ask him if he felt more clearheaded.
‘Yes.’ The tea really seemed to have helped. He’d even stopped tapping his fingers and bouncing his leg up and down.
‘Good. You’ve probably got a few questions.’
And of course he did, starting with where he was and how he’d got there.
It was a huge amount to take in, even though some of it was as he’d suspected or remembered. It was devastating and yet also strangely calming. For if the worst thing imaginable had already happened, what else was there to fear?
The last thing he expected was to be presented with a proposal. His unique circumstances and the transitory nature of his current position meant he could help with something, Will explained at length.
‘Is this for real?’ he asked eventually, still absorbing the details. It involved a person who meant a great deal to him – who he’d love nothing more than to help – and an incredible, impossible chance to return to the world he’d thought lost forever only moments ago.
Will responded with a solemn nod. ‘Yes, and so you know, it’s a rare privilege that you’re being offered here. But it will only be for a short time – probably a matter of days.’
‘What do I have to do? How does it work exactly? How would I even get there?’
‘Give me the word and I’ll take care of the details.’
‘It’s that straightforward?’
‘From your perspective, yes. The situation you’d face there is … complex, but we’d provide you with all the necessary information.’
A wave of nervous excitement washed over him. His bouncing leg started up again, vibrating the remaining tea in his mug, as he gave Will his answer. ‘I’m in.’
CHAPTER 5
NOW
Friday, 20 July 2018
Lisa approached the front door, expecting an immediate verbal assault from her husband. She was poised to drag him inside, if necessary, to avoid sharing their inevitable row with the whole neighbourhood. And she was well prepared to fight her corner: to take on his drunken logic in a bid to explain her extreme actions.
She must have cut a strange figure in her dressing gown and smudged make-up when she jerked open the door like a lioness primed to defend her cubs – only to find it wasn’t Mike at all.
A good-looking man in smart jeans and a red polo shirt stared back at her, illuminated by the motion-sensor light on the front of the house. He appeared startled, although that was hardly surprising considering her sudden, violent entrance. ‘Lisa?’ he asked, his big, deep blue eyes scanning her up and down.
‘Who’s asking?’
The man, who looked vaguely familiar, gave her a playful grin, showing off a perfect set of white teeth. ‘That would be telling, wouldn’t it?’
This was an odd answer and he had a strange accent to match, which Lisa couldn’t put her finger on. There was definitely some local in there, but mixed in with something else. It reminded her of that mid-Atlantic twang that US-based British actors sometimes adopted. But that wasn’t it either. Scandinavian? No, she didn’t think so. She’d need to hear him speak some more to work it out.
Wherever he was from – and whatever he wanted – Lisa’s immediate temptation was to give him short shrift, based on the fact it was late on a Friday night to be showing up unannounced. But seeing him standing there on her doorstep, all tanned and muscular with closely cropped dark hair and a chiselled jawline, she hesitated. Could he be someone she recognised off the TV? She found herself looking behind him for a cameraman, but if there was one, he was well hidden.
‘You don’t recognise me, do you?’ he said. ‘That’s understandable. It’s been a long time. I wasn’t totally sure it was you straight away, what with the blonde hair and all, but now I see it. Those gorgeous hazel eyes of yours haven’t changed one bit. Come on, Lisa, have a guess.’
Then the penny dropped and her hands flew to her mouth as she gasped. ‘No, it can’t be!’
‘Yes, it can.’
‘But I was just thinking about …’
‘Go on.’
‘Oh my God. Is that really you, El? You’re so different.’
Her friend beamed a warm smile at her. ‘Same old me on the inside. Now come here and give me a hug.’ He held his arms wide open and, a moment later, Lisa found herself lost in his warm embrace, her troubles temporarily forgotten as her mind flew back to the last time they’d been together.
Tears were streaming down her face, although she’d been determined not to cry any more. Elliot was tearful too and she knew from the tender look in his eyes how touched he was that she’d made the trip.
They’d done this already the night before. He’d called around at her house and stayed for tea one final time. They’d spent ages chatting in her bedroom, focusing as much as possible on the excitement of their respective futures, rather than the obvious negative of them being apart. And then suddenly – far too soon – it was time for him to go. They’d said goodbye then, amid the obvious hugs, kisses, tears and promises to keep in touch. But it hadn’t been enough and, after an awful night of barely sleeping, Lisa had found herself knocking on her parent’s door at 5.30 a.m., begging to borrow the car to drive to the airport.
‘I need to see him one last time,’ she’d bawled. ‘I can’t bear it if I don’t.’
Her mum had taken pity on her. Not wanting Lisa to make the journey alone, as a new driver in an emotional state, Christine had agreed to take the wheel, despite her husband’s tired groans that it was ridiculous. They’d made it in the nick of time, with an out-of-breath Lisa catching up to Elliot right before he and his mother disappeared through security into the departures lounge.
‘Is everything okay?’ Elliot asked, his face a cocktail of surprise, confusion and affection.
‘Don’t worry,’ Lis
a said, looking at Wendy, his mother. ‘I’m not here to try and change his mind, but I had to say goodbye one more time.’
And so she did. They only got a few extra minutes together, but Lisa didn’t regret going there for an instant. Before Elliot finally left on his one-way trip to the other side of the globe, she wanted him to know exactly how important he was to her; how much she’d miss him being around.
‘Don’t forget me.’ That was the last thing she’d whispered in his ear as their wet cheeks pressed together and Wendy’s voice softly insisted that they really had to go.
‘Never,’ he replied. ‘How could I forget the girl who saved my life?’
And then she watched her best friend leave.
How had twenty years passed since that moment? So much had happened in Lisa’s life since then. But the astonishment of seeing Elliot now – feeling his arms around her again – washed away the passage of time, so it felt only a heartbeat ago.
‘When did you get so big and strong, El?’ she asked as she stood back from their embrace and looked him up and down, marvelling at how different he appeared, not least without his trademark specs. ‘But more importantly: what’s going on? How are you here?’
He started to laugh in that way that had always reminded Lisa of a seal: a welcome sound from the past, and one thing about her old friend that didn’t seem to have changed at all.
‘What’s funny?’ she asked.
‘That name,’ he said, still chuckling. ‘El. No one’s ever called me that but you. It’s funny to hear it after so long.’
Lisa blushed. ‘You don’t like it? You never said.’
‘It’s fine. Hearing you say anything is music to my ears after so long apart.’ He rubbed his hands together and shook his head in an exaggerated shiver. ‘So are you going to invite me inside, or what? You might call this summer, but it feels like midwinter out here to me.’
‘Of course. Sorry, come on in. Do you have any luggage or—’
‘Oh no, don’t worry. I’ve got a room at The Grange.’
‘Ooh, very swish,’ Lisa replied.
Elliot grinned. ‘It also happens to be the only hotel in the neighbourhood.’
Stand by Me Page 3
