Chapter 2: Why Is That

‘I suppose so.’ Leslie agreed, not sounding at all concerned. ‘You put the kettle on for the coffees, and I’ll put the food out.’ Cliff instructed. When they were back at the table, Cliff told him what was on the sandwiches and asked if there were any he didn’t like.’

‘When he said no, Cliff opened all four packs of sandwiches and put one of each on each plate. Then he put the cakes on another plate. ‘Now,’ he said, ‘No cakes unless you eat every bit of your sandwiches.’ As they sat eating, it was clear that Leslie was hungry.’

‘He was also enjoying what he was eating. ‘What hours do you work?’ Cliff asked as they ate. ‘Nine until five, for three days each week.’ he answered. ‘What do you do for lunch when you’re at work?’ ‘The boss gets all four of us a meal from the chippy each day.’ Leslie said smiling.

‘Who goes to get them?’ Cliff asked. ‘Usually me.’ he answered. ‘The first week I was terrified, but the man in the chip shop is lovely, and now I’m fine going there.’ ‘So do you get a meal from there on the days you are not working?’ Cliff asked.

He noticed that the sandwiches were disappearing rapidly. ‘No, I don’t go out unless I have to.’ Cliff left two of his sandwiches on the plate. ‘I’ll put these in the kitchen.’ he said, ‘You can have them at teatime.’ He noticed that Leslie looked very pleased at that.

Cliff brought the plate of cakes forward. He had got four. ‘You pick the first one.’ he instructed. Leslie took the chocolate éclair, so Cliff had a slice of cake. ‘How do you get on with everyone at work?’ Cliff asked. ‘Good,’ Leslie told him, ‘They’re all very kind to me.’

‘Pick your next cake,’ Cliff instructed. As he was eating it, Cliff told him, ‘I’ll put this other cake with the biscuits in the kitchen for your tea.’ ‘Thank you,’ Leslie answered, ‘You don’t eat much, do you?’ clearly not realising how funny that sounded, given his own appetite.

‘I’m only a little chap,’ Cliff told him, ‘So I only have a little appetite.’ Leslie seemed to accept that without question. When Leslie had finished eating, they cleared up and washed up. Then Cliff told him to go and sit on the settee.

‘Now Leslie, I don’t know if you realise how ill you look with losing so much weight, or how serious it can be to your health. So next I want to check you all over. I’m not a doctor but I know what I’m doing. So, I’d like you to strip down to your shorts in a moment.’

‘But before you do, let me check your head.’ Cliff felt all over his scalp, checked his eyes and looked in his mouth and ears. Then he felt his neck as Leslie moved his head about. ‘How often do you clean your teeth?’ Cliff asked. ‘Every morning when I get up, and every night before I go to bed,’ he answered. ‘Although there are odd occasions when I forget.’

‘I guessed you did,’ Cliff told him, ‘Do you know how?’ Leslie shook his head. ‘Because when I looked in your mouth, I could see that your teeth were looked after and your breath didn’t smell either.’ Cliff told him. ‘Now let’s have a look at the rest of you.’

‘Put your clothes on the armchair.’ Leslie got up and started getting undressed. He folded each item carefully after he took it off and built up a neat pile on the armchair. ‘Have you always been a tidy person?’ Cliff asked as he watched him.

‘No,’ Leslie told him, ‘Only since I’ve lived here.’ Soon he was standing in nothing but a small pair of white underpants. Cliff was appalled to see how skinny he was. That that wasn’t his normal build was clear by how his bones stuck out, particularly his shoulders and his ribs.

‘Before we start, and whilst you’ve still got your underpants on, I’d like to use your own phone and take a couple of photos of you.’ Cliff told him. ‘If they’re on your phone, no one else can see them. Then at the end of the day when I tell you what you should do about eating more, you can look at them.’

‘I hope that seeing yourself as you are, will encourage you to have regular meals from now on. Because if you don’t, you’re not going to live very long. And after everything you’ve suffered, it would be very sad for you to die just as you’re about to start a new happy life.’

‘Are you ok If I do that?’ Leslie was shocked to hear what cliff had just said and very nervous about the idea of photos, but he felt safe with Cliff by now. Even though it made him remember John Kikham taking photos of him, he nodded and handed Cliff his phone. Please stand facing me, put your feet a foot apart and your hands at your sides.’ Cliff instructed.