Chapter 5: Zach's Double Problem

Danny arrived at Johns at his usual time. He let himself in as usual and went through to the kitchen. He had just put the kettle on when John appeared. They had their usual hug and kiss. Sitting around the table with their coffees, they chatted about what they had been doing during the past week.

‘Do you realise it’s six weeks since Tanya came to see you,’ John said. ‘Is it really that long?’ Danny said, ‘It only seems a few weeks ago. No one can have any problems at the moment he added with a laugh.’

‘Er, well,’ John started. Danny looked at him with a grin, guessing that was about to change. ‘I had a call from Harry the other day,’ he said. ‘Do you remember that he told us about the changes at work that brought Maureen into his life?’ ‘Yes, I remember,’ Danny replied, ‘Are they both ok?’ ‘Oh yes they’re fine and Harry sends his thanks again.’ he said.

‘As well as Maureen, he had another assistant, Zach who is now nineteen. Apparently, he had a quiet word with Harry a few days ago and asked him if he could help him with a problem. Harry asked him if he felt it was a serious problem, very embarrassing, involved his feelings, sex, or something bad that had happened to him. When Zach told him Yes, Harry told him that he didn’t think he would be any use. But I have a friend nearer your age, he told him, who is an expert at solving problems.’

‘He solved a major problem for me, Harry has told him. If you agree he said to him, I’ll ask him to see you. If you meet him and you don’t feel comfortable with him for any reason at all, he won’t mind if you say no and leave.’

‘He agreed, so Harry rang me two days ago. I said I’d check with you and let him know this morning.’ ‘It’s fine with me,’ Danny told him, ‘I’m always happy to help anyone.’ ‘I’ll give Harry a ring shortly.’ John said. ‘Is it ok if he wants to come today?’ ‘Of course,’ Danny said.

Finishing his drink, Danny gave John a hug then went out to start his gardening. He didn’t have a great deal to do as not having any problems to solve in recent weeks, he had brought everything in the garden up to date.

John rang and spoke to Harry. He rang Zach then rang John back to say he had given Zach Johns address. ‘He’ll be with you within the hour,’ he said. ‘I’ve told him I’ll be very surprised if he still has a problem when he comes home.’

Three quarters of an hour later, there was a knock on the door. John opened it to find a young man with a pleasant smile on the doorstep. ‘You must be Zach,’ John said, ‘Come on in and I’ll give Danny a shout.’

He took him through to the kitchen. ‘Have a seat,’ John told him indicating the kitchen table. He stuck his head out of the back door and called Danny. ‘I’ll make you both a coffee in a moment,’ John said as he closed the back door. ‘Then I’ll go out and leave you with Danny. Just let me tell you he’s helped lots of people. He never reveals anything that you tell him and although you probably won’t believe it right now, within the hour you will be so at ease with him, you will be telling him things about you that you’ve never told a soul.’

As John started to make the coffee, Danny came in. He said, ‘Hi,’ to Zach, adding, ‘Just let me wash my hands.’ Then he came back to him to shake hands. They both sat down at the table as John served their coffee’s.

‘I’m off now,’ he said, ‘Text me when your through.’ Then to Zach with a big smile, ‘I won’t be back until after your problem is sorted.’

A few minutes later they heard the front door close. ‘Right, Zach,’ Danny said, ‘Before you decide if you want to continue, let me tell you a few things. No one will ever know anything you say to me this morning. You are here because you want to be, you can leave anytime you want. If you do, you don’t need to give a reason, its entirely your choice. I may be young, but I doubt that your problem is much different than many of the others I have dealt with. Everyone who comes here thinks their problem is more embarrassing or difficult than anyone else’s. Also, most problems involve sex of some sort, so I’m used to dealing with that too.’

‘In a moment I’ll ask you if you want to try or if you want to keep your problem and leave. If you stay, we will go through to the lounge where we will not deal with your problem until you feel relaxed enough with me to do so. Before that happens, I’ll find out all about you.’

‘But first, have you any questions?’ ‘Is there anyone else in the house?’ Zach asked? ‘No, just the two of us. John won’t return until I text him to say we’re done.’ ‘How do I know you won’t tell anyone anything that I tell you?’ Zach asked. ‘You have to trust my promise,’ Danny told him, ‘Like everyone else has done. If you think about it no one would recommend me if I had ever done that.’

‘Did you solve a problem for Harry?’ Zach asked. ‘I can’t answer that,’ Danny replied. ‘I’ve met Harry because he’s a friend of Johns. I’ve met you because you’re a friend of Harry’s.’

After a few moments silence Danny asked, ‘So do you want to try?’ ‘Yes please.’ came the reply in a very a quiet voice.

They went through into the lounge. Zach sat on the settee as Danny instructed, whilst Danny sat on the chair. ‘In a moment I will ask you to take your shoes off and lie down.’ Danny told him. ‘I will then come over and sit on the edge of the settee to explain the first stage. So far all I know about you is that your name is Zach, you’re nineteen, a friend of Harry’s, you work with him and Maureen, and now have a problem.’

‘Before we can even look at that problem, I need you to feel able to relax and tell me a lot more about yourself. Remember that even if you start, you can at any stage just get up and leave. So, take as much time as you need to decide.’

Zach sat silently for a few moments, then he reached down and took his shoes off. Lying down on the settee he gave Danny a weak smile. ‘Well done,’ Danny told him as he got up and came over. Sitting on the edge of the settee by Zach’s knees he looked towards him and said, ‘Now you have started to do something about your problem, the only thing that can stop us solving it together is if you decide to stop trying.’

‘Next, I want you to turn over on your front. Then I am going to put my hands on your head, massage down your back to your feet and back up again. As I do, I will ask you questions about you, your family, friends, workmates and your life in general.’

‘Now, as I don’t yet know what your problem is, I might inadvertently ask you something connected with it that you find too embarrassing to answer just yet. If that happens, just say pass and we’ll move on, ok?’ Zach nodded as he said, ‘ok’

‘Just turn over and make yourself comfortable if you feel ready to start,’ Danny said. Zach only paused for a couple of seconds then he turned over. He was already starting to feel at ease.

Resting his hands on the back of Zach’s head, Danny massaged his head as he said, ‘Remember when you’re answering, how little I know about you, so tell me as much as you possibly can. Describe your present living accommodation,’ Danny said as he moved down onto his shoulders. ‘I live in a two-bedroom flat which I share with a school pal called Gregory,’ Zach said. ‘We have a bathroom, a kitchen and a lounge. It’s on the fourth floor and it’s near where I work.’

‘How long have you lived there and how did it happen?’ Danny asked as he massaged over his cheeks and on down the back of his legs. ‘Two years,’ Zach answered, ‘We had been at school together then we both started work at the same time at my previous job. He was telling me he had the offer of a flat, but he needed to share it with someone to be able to afford it. I was living in a hostel at the time because I was too young to rent. He had managed to get the offer because his parents were standing guarantor.’

Danny reached his feet and started back up. He was massaging Zach’s cheeks as he continued, ‘We hadn’t been close at school, but we had got on ok. Then since we had worked together, we got on well, so I went to see it. We both moved in the following week. We split the rent and all the bills, and it worked out well.’