Chapter 7: It Felt Even Bigger Now

Reg asked for the name of the man causing the problem and Mike gave it him. ‘He seems to have a connection with Deva Ward at the local hospital.’ Mike told him. He listened for a bit, wrote down an address and thanked him.

‘Reg will check up on what Dereks position actually is, without arousing any suspicion.’ Mike told Cliff as he hung up. ‘Here’s the address of the social services office. If you go there on Wednesday afternoon at two o’clock and ask at reception, they’ll take you up to see Reg, it’s the only time he can fit you in.’

‘But I’ll be at school.’ Cliff objected. Mike told him what to do about that, and they locked up and left.

TUESDAY – SCHOOL – CLIFF

The first lesson of the day was always with their form master until morning break. As everyone poured out, Cliff hung back. When there was no one else left in the room, he went over to Mr Jackson. ‘Yes, Cliff.’ he said having spotted him hanging back, ‘What can I do for you?’

‘I have a Saturday job now,’ Cliff told him, ‘I took over from Lewis at the video shop.’ ‘Really?’ he said suddenly sounding very interested. ‘Last week a boy came in looking for help from Lewis.’ Cliff explained. ‘Who is now at university.’ Mr Jackson said. Cliff nodded.

‘The boy was so upset that Mike volunteered me to help him instead. So, I saw him on Saturday. He’s really suffering and to help him I need to go and speak to someone in social services. But he can only fit me in at two o’clock tomorrow afternoon.’

‘Ok,’ Mr Jackson told him, ‘Just disappear quietly at lunchtime and don’t return until the next day. I’ll see that you’re marked present for the afternoon.’ ‘Thank you, sir,’ Cliff said, sounding surprised that it had been so easy.’

‘One thing you should know Cliff,’ he added, ‘Just between the two of us, I helped Lewis on a few occasions, so don’t hesitate to ask me if you need any help, or even just another body.’ ‘Thank you, sir,’ Cliff told him, ‘I’ll remember that.’

‘Good luck with whatever you’re up to,’ he said, ‘Are you planning on having as interesting a life as Lewis did?’ Cliff grinned, ‘I didn’t plan on this,’ he said, ‘But I’m beginning to think it’s quite possible.’

WEDNESDAY – SOCIAL SERVICES OFFICE – CLIFF & REG

Just before two Cliff presented himself at reception. Reg had alerted them, so he was taken up right away. Reg welcomed him and offered him a drink. ‘In a moment, you can tell me how I can help you,’ Reg said, ‘But before you do, I have some information for you.’

‘The social services have no record of anyone of that name in their employ.’ Seeing Cliffs startled look, he continued, ‘So I had a word with a friend of mine who works in admin at the local hospital. On Deva ward is a male nursing assistant of that name.’

‘That explains an awful lot,’ Cliff told him, ‘Thank you. I’d like to tell you a story if I may about a fictional young man who is about to leave school and has a mother that requires occasional psychiatric care.’ Cliff told him Peters story without any names and addresses.

‘He sounds a remarkable young man,’ Reg said. ‘It sounds to me as if the boy’s mother, or someone else, is messing with her medication,’ Reg told him. ‘It does happen and that on its own wouldn’t get Social Services involved.’

‘If the ward decided she was a danger to her family, she would be put into a secure unit, and the boy would have to go into care. No one could stop that happening. But with regards to him being on his own at other times, there are two options.’

‘If he can get his neighbour to formally agree to him staying with her when his mum is in hospital, it would satisfy us. Whether he stayed with her or remained at home would be entirely up to them at the time. The other option would require you to trust me with the boy’s name and address.’

‘I can put it in our system with a marker on it. Then if anyone made any attempt to put the mother in a secure unit or the son in care, they would need my approval. But we don’t know what sort of contacts your villain has. He might learn of that.’

‘So, I would suggest your boy looks into the first one for now, and you can come back to me about the other one when everything you are doing is sorted out, if you feel you need to. Reg gave him his card and wrote his personal number on it too.