Chapter 2: A Well Deserved Taser

RUPERTS SUNDAY

Sunday morning there was a gentle knock on their bedroom door. ‘Come in.’ Ernie called. Rupert’s face appeared round the door. He gave them a big beaming smile. ‘I’m sorry to disturb you,’ he said, ‘I woke up and I just couldn’t believe that I was here. Now I’ve seen you I know it’s true.’

Ernie and Susan were sitting up in bed. ‘We were just about to get up,’ Ernie said as Rupert started to back out. ‘Come and join us for a few minutes.’ He threw the covers off himself and said, ‘Come in the middle here.’ Rupert happily clambered in with them and Ernie pulled the covers back in place.

Susan put her arm around him and gave him a hug and a kiss. ‘Did you sleep ok.’ she asked. ‘Yes, thank you,’ Rupert said. ‘I woke up once wondering where I was. Then when I remembered I felt so happy and went straight back to sleep.’

Ernie gave him a hug and a kiss too. ‘Matron said we can visit in the morning anytime we want to he told him. Then it doesn’t break up the day. So, we’ll go and see your mum after breakfast, then decide where we go for the rest of the day.’

Ernie had put his arm around Susan’s shoulders and Rupert was snuggled up in between them. It was difficult to tell who was the happiest.’

Then Rupert went back to his room and got dressed. Over breakfast, Ernie said, ‘We’ve got the keys to our new house. We are allowed to visit to look around, but we can’t move anything in until the legal stuff is sorted. We thought we’d show you round inside on our way.’

‘That would be nice.’ Rupert said. When they pulled up outside the bungalow, Rupert said, ‘I remember this one, we looked at it before.’ ‘Yes,’ Susan said, ‘It was one of the three we looked at a few weeks ago.’ Then to Ernie she said, ‘I’m so glad you decided you liked it after all.’

They went in and looked around. When they came to the bedrooms, there were two. Although one was smaller than the other, even the smallest one was big enough for a double bed. ‘This will be your room whenever you are here.’ Ernie told him, ‘So as you will be spending the most time in it, you can choose the carpet and decorations.’

‘I’ve never done anything like that before.’ Rupert said sounding worried. ‘Don’t worry,’ Ernie told him, ‘We’ll give you several to choose from and you can pick the one you like best.’ After a further look around and a stroll around the garden, they set off for the nursing home.

Ernie and Susan went in with him. Matron spotted them and came over. ‘You’re looking very smart today, Rupert.’ she said. ‘It’s my new suit for the wedding.’ he said. ‘Uncle Ernie is going to take a photo of me with mum.’ ‘That’s a lovely idea.’ she said smiling at his excitement.

They went in and Rupert gave his mum a hug and a kiss. Looking at Ernie and Susan she said, ‘Hello, I’ve seen you before.’ ‘Yes, we’re friends of Rupert’s,’ Susan said, ‘We visited you a few weeks ago. Ernie is going to take a photo of you and Rupert, is that ok?’

‘That would be nice,’ she said, ‘He looks very smart.’ ‘It’s my new suit for the wedding mum,’ Rupert told her, ‘Susan and Ernie are getting married next week.’ Rupert went and stood by her whilst Ernie took numerous pictures from all angles.

‘That should do it,’ he said at last. ‘Next week,’ Ernie told her, ‘Rupert will bring you a copy of the photo in a frame for you.’ ‘Thank you, you’re so kind.’ she said. ‘We’ll leave you with Rupert now,’ they said, ‘Bye, bye.’

As they went out Matron was hovering waiting. As she walked out with them, she said, ‘There were another couple of minor attacks during the week but remarkably she seems to be coping with them. I’m sure it’s the extra visits from Rupert, that’s bucking her up.’

‘We should tell you,’ Ernie said, ‘That we’ve just been approved for Rupert to stay overnight with us. In a fortnight we hope to get the ok to foster him long term. Rupert doesn’t know about the fostering yet,’ he added, ‘We didn’t want to raise his hopes then us get rejected.’

‘I’m so pleased,’ she said, ‘He deserves some happiness in his life.’ They went into town and looked around one of the big stores, eyeing up some furniture and carpets. ‘I’ll leave all that to you,’ Ernie said, ‘I’m no use deciding colours and stuff. I’ll only say no if it’s something I really hate the look of.’

When they returned and collected Rupert, he told them his mum had been really bright today. ‘She didn’t start getting confused until I was about to leave,’ he said. ‘As I left, she asked where I was going dressed up so smartly. I just said I was going to a wedding.’

They had a lovely afternoon out, then went back to Susan’s for a Sunday Roast. Later on after they gave him a hug and a kiss Rupert said, ‘Thank you so much, that was the happiest weekend I can ever remember.’

Ernie took him back to the home at quarter to nine. ‘I’ll pick you up just after five next Friday on my way home from work.’ Ernie told him.

They were in Ernie’s truck, Rupert liked riding in it. He climbed over the seat and put his arms around Ernie. Giving him a hug and a kiss, he thanked him for a lovely weekend. ‘I’ll have the best of the photos in a frame by next week,’ Ernie told him, ‘One for you and one for your mum.’

He watched Rupert into the house, then as he drove away, he hardly dared to hope that next Friday might be the last time he had to collect him.

LEWIS’S SUNDAY

The next day, Lewis had been out for the day with Ella. He had returned early just in case. Arriving home at six, he had barely had time to say hello when a few minutes after six, Lewis got a text from Daryl. ‘I’ve just got home. Jake is passed out on the settee. Mum said he came in drunk about two o’clock and has been out ever since. He looks to be in a most uncomfortable position, so he’s bound to be mad when he wakes up.’

‘Ok, go to your room and keep out of his way.’ Lewis replied. ‘I’ll let you know when we’re in position.’ He rang Aiden who said he’d meet him outside the block in half an hour. Lewis’s mum ran him over with his laptop, after ringing Mr Kendrick to forewarn him. Ten minutes after they arrived, Aiden pulled up.

Sergeant Cline was with him. They all trooped upstairs as Lewis’s mum returned home. Lewis knocked gently on Mr Kendricks door. He had been waiting for them, so it opened right away. They all trooped in, then Lewis introduced everyone.

Mr Kendrick made them all a coffee and Lewis set his laptop up on the table. He signed in and saw Daryl sitting up on top of his bed. He was just in his shorts and reading. Lewis sent him a text. ‘We’re in place.’ He saw Daryl open his phone and read it. He couldn’t see his face but knew he would feel much better knowing.

The four of them chatted. Sergeant Cline had brought a statement form with him, so he whiled away the time by getting Mr Kendricks statement. Lewis kept one eye on Daryl. At seven o’clock, Daryl left the room. He returned five minutes later. Lewis watched him typing a message. A few seconds later his phone pinged.

‘I just had to go to the toilet,’ Daryl said. ‘Everywhere was quiet so I peeped very carefully through the lounge door. I think mum has gone to bed. Jake is still dead to the world on the settee.’ Lewis sent back an ok thanks and a thumbs up. He watched Daryl hide his phone away under the bed and settle down again.

He told the others what was happening. Eight o’clock came and went. They had yet another coffee. Lewis saw that Daryl had fallen asleep and dropped over on his side. As nine o’clock passed and yet another coffee, Lewis rang home to let his mum know he was ok and might be late.

A discussion followed. Lewis said that all previous assaults had been around eight o’clock. They agreed that Jake could well sleep all night as no one knew how much he had drunk. They decided they would set ten o’clock as the limit then pack up until another night.

As ten o’clock approached, they got ready to leave. They thanked Mr Kendrick for his hospitality and promised him they’d bring some coffee and biscuits next time to re-stock him. Lewis set his laptop to record before closing it down.

They all headed for the front door. As they stood out on the balcony, saying goodnight and thank you to Mr Kendrick, they all became aware of the muffled sound of an angry voice screaming out nearby.