Chapter 1 : Jason Reveals All

Five minutes before closing Jason came in. He stayed on the far side of the shop looking lost. Lewis caught his eye. Calling him over he told him to go through to the back room and make a coffee for himself and Lewis. Mike was busy serving so he didn’t introduce him just then.

Once the last customer left, Mike locked the door and put the closed sign up. ‘Wow,’ he said, ‘That was an exceptionally busy afternoon. I’ll just come through and get my things then you can lock the door behind me.’ They went into the back room together. Jason was sitting at the table with two cups of coffee in front of him. He stood up as they came in and shook hands with Mike.

As Lewis introduced them, Mike smiled at him saying, ‘I’m not stopping. I know you have a problem otherwise you wouldn’t be here, so just let me tell you that Lewis has never failed to solve one yet. Plus, next time he sees me he’ll no doubt tell me he has solved it for you, but he won’t tell me what it was or anything you said so you’re in good hands.’ He shook hands again and left saying, ‘Good luck.’

Lewis went out with him. In the shop they stood to the side of the door in darkness and had a hug and a kiss then Mike went home. Lewis locked the door behind him, leaving his keys in the lock so even someone with keys couldn’t let themselves in.

Going back to Jason, he sat at the table with him as they drank their coffees. Jason was the same age as Lewis, about five foot seven and fairly strong looking but with some padding around his waist. He was a shy and quiet sort and clearly uncomfortable at being there.

‘Do you think you could tell me about your problem right now?’ Lewis asked. Jason went bright red and stammered, ‘No, I couldn’t tell anyone.’ ‘Yet you’re here,’ Lewis said smiling at him, ‘So clearly you want me to solve it for you. You must realise I can’t do that unless I know what it is, so how do you think we can get round that?’

Jason looked miserable. ‘I don’t know,’ he said. ‘Derek said that once I met you, I would become so relaxed and at ease that I would be able to tell you anything.’ Lewis smiled again, ‘But at the moment you don’t really believe that could happen?’ Lewis asked. ‘No offence,’ Jason said, ‘But no.’

‘That’s ok,’ Lewis told him, ‘None taken. I can tell you that everyone who I have helped has arrived here thinking their problem is so embarrassing that they couldn’t possibly tell me about it.’

‘And did they?’ Jason asked, a modicum of hope in his voice. ‘Every single one.’ Lewis replied, ‘And there have been quite a few. They told me things about themselves which if you told me right now you would want the floor to open up and swallow you, you’d be so embarrassed. That’s why,’ he said, ‘I’m not going to ask you any questions about it just yet.’

As Jason looked puzzled, Lewis explained. ‘First, I’m going to get you to relax and to tell me all about you, your likes and your family. In fact, all sorts of things except about your problem. As we do that you will get more and more relaxed. Only when you feel enough at ease will you tell me your problem. Once you have done that, then together we can solve it.’

As they finished their coffees Jason was already looking a little happier.

‘Now, I want you to take your shoes off and lie on the settee.’ Lewis told him. ‘Then I’m going to sit on the edge. I’ll ask you to turn over, then I’ll massage your back from head to foot to relax you whilst I ask you all about yourself. That doesn’t sound too difficult, does it?’

‘No,’ Jason said shaking his head. He went over to the settee, sat down, took his shoes of and lay down as instructed. Lewis sat on the edge by his knees and smiled at him. ‘I don’t know what your problem is yet,’ he said, ‘So I might unintentionally ask you a question appertaining to it that you don’t feel ready to answer just yet. If I do just say pass. I’ll move on and come back to it later, ok?’ ‘Yes, thanks.’ Jason replied.

‘At each stage I’ll tell you what we are going to do and what we are trying to achieve. At all times remember that you are here because you wanted to come. You do not have to stay if you don’t want to. You can get up and leave at any time you want, understood?’ Jason nodded.

‘Once you have turned over, I will massage down your back. Whilst I do so I want you to tell me a little bit about yourself and all about your home life. Then after that I’ll ask specific questions. Remember I’m the same age as you, so I know all the naughty dreams and thoughts you have had because I have them too, so nothing you tell me is going to upset or embarrass me. Hopefully by then it won’t embarrass you either.’

‘We’ll progress at your speed not mine. We won’t move on to the next stage until you tell me you are ready. So, if you want to give it a try and you’re ready to start, turn over and relax.’

Jason turned over, wriggled a bit then lay still. Lewis rested his hands on his head and said, ‘Start when you’re ready.’ Jason couldn’t think for a moment how to start. As Lewis moved down over his shoulders he started speaking. ‘I’m not very bright,’ he said. ‘And I’m overweight. I like sports but I’m no good at any of them. I like board games and sudoku puzzles.’

As Lewis moved down over his cheeks, he continued, ‘I live at home with my mum and dad and my brother who is three years older than me. He went to Grammar school. When we were little, we got on well, he always looked after me as we were growing up, but now he’s older I hardly ever see him.’

As Lewis went down his legs he continued, ‘Dad is a manager at a local factory and mum works part time in a builder’s merchants as a secretary. We live in a three-bedroom semidetached house. We used to go on holiday as a family every year to a static caravan in Wales, but my brother stopped coming two years ago. Mum and dad and I still go, but I tend to wander off on my own and leave them to do their own thing which seems to suit us all.’

By now Lewis had come back up and as he finished speaking, he had just finished massaging his cheeks and started to move up his back. He noticed there had been no reaction when he massaged his cheeks.

As he went up his back it was clear that Jason had dried up. ‘Well done,’ Lewis told him, ‘You’re off to a good start.’ As he massaged his shoulders Lewis asked, ‘How do you get on with your mum and dad?’ ‘Ok,’ Jason said, ‘They’ve always been good to me but I think I’m a bit of a disappointment to them as they are all clever.’

Finishing massaging his head, Lewis told him to turn over. Once settled, Lewis smiled at him and said, ‘Everyone has a skill hidden somewhere, you just haven’t found yours yet. Anyway, who would keep the world going if everyone was too clever to do ordinary jobs.’ Jason gave him the first smile as he said, ‘I’d never thought of it like that before.’

As Lewis massaged down his chest he asked, ‘How do you get on with all the other boys at school?’ ‘Mainly ok,’ Jason told him, ‘I know I’m no good at sport so if I have to join in any sort of games, I do my best to keep out of the way. I’m a friendly sort and whilst I only have a couple of close friends, I’m pally with many.’