Chapter 3: Newspapers and Convicts

On Wednesday the local paper came out. After dinner Ernie picked it up and had his usual skim through it. An item caught his eye, mainly because of his own experience.

‘Ray gets Three Years in Prison for the Rape of a Minor’ was the heading. The article below was brief. ‘We can’t report many details because of the age of the victim,’ the paper said. ‘But in his summing up the Judge said that Ray had abused the trust of his relatives and raped a young boy in their care. Because Ray had pleaded guilty and spared his victim attending court, he was only giving him three years in prison. But he would remain on the sex offenders register for ten years. We understand that now six weeks later, the victim has recovered from his ordeal,’ it said, ‘We wish him well.’

Ernie skimmed on, then soon after his brain started sending flags up. ‘Young boy in their care’ Lewis’s comment about ‘Wait a week and the Jeffersons will be on our side’ then Mrs Jefferson not only knowing Lewis who he thought she had never met, but feeling that Lewis was someone who would have connections.

He felt sick in his stomach to think Rupert might have suffered what he himself had done in the past. He was so tempted to take him in his arms and hug him and tell him he understood. ‘But what if I’m reading it all wrong?’ he thought. Then he remembered how he had felt, not wanting anyone to know and suffering with the memory until Lewis had sorted him out.

‘If it was Rupert,’ he thought, ‘At least he’ll be ok, Lewis will have sorted it for him.’ Deciding it was better to let sleeping dogs lie, he read it through once more, decided it could apply to anyone and threw the paper down on the table.

Rupert was in his bedroom doing his homework. An hour later he came and joined them in the lounge. As he sat down, he spotted the paper and picked it up. He glanced at it, then Ernie saw that something had caught his eye. He read it intently. Ernie made sure he wasn’t looking over at him. ‘If it was him, and he thought I knew,’ Ernie thought to himself, ‘He might think that Lewis had broken his trust and told me.’

He was so busy trying to avoid looking, he didn’t realise Rupert had got up until Rupert got up on the settee alongside him. He looked up to find Rupert kneeling on the settee facing him. Rupert gave him a lovely smile and threw his arms around Ernie’s neck. As he hugged him, Ernie asked, ‘What brought that on?’

‘I just wanted to tell you how much I love you and how lucky I am,’ Rupert said giving him a kiss, then another hug. ‘Well, guess what,’ Ernie said, ‘I love you too and I think I’m so lucky to have you as a son.’

Rupert gave him another hug then got down and went over to Susan. ‘The trouble with loving two people,’ Rupert said with a beaming smile, ‘Is that you can’t always hug them both at the same time.’ He gave Susan a hug and a kiss. ‘I love you too,’ he said, ‘And I’m so lucky to have such a lovely mum.’

Susan was struggling not to cry. She hugged him back, kissed him, told him how much she loved him and how proud she was to be able to call him her son.

When Rupert got up, he went out to the kitchen to get a drink. ‘I wonder what brought that on,’ Susan said wiping her eyes. ‘I don’t know,’ Ernie said, ‘But it was lovely.’ He decided he had a good idea, but he would stick to his intention to say nothing. ‘Anyway,’ he thought, ‘He’s clearly very happy so if it was him, Lewis must have worked his magic.’

He got up, picked up the paper and took it outside to the bin.

On Friday Ernie got a call from the man from Social Services who had approved their fostering. ‘Hi,’ he said, ‘I’ve got some more forms I’m afraid, would it be possible to call in over the weekend. Also, if it’s possible, could I meet the extended family Rupert mentioned.’

Ernie did some quick thinking, ‘Would you care to join us for dinner on Saturday evening?’ he said, ‘I’ll invite them all over and introduce you. That would be ideal,’ he said, ‘Thank you.’ ‘Would you like to bring anyone with you?’ Ernie asked. ‘Thank you, but no,’ he said, ‘I’m a widower.’

‘How about coming for half six and we’ll eat at seven?’ Ernie said. That agreed, Ernie texted Julie and Lewis. Both accepted within ten minutes. He waited until Rupert had gone up to bed before telling Susan. ‘He said more forms,’ Ernie told her, ‘But I suspect it’s something to do with our adoption application.’ ‘It’s a bit quick though,’ Susan said, ‘It’s not quite a week since we applied.’

‘Julie was telling me,’ Susan added, ‘That her friend and her husband took ages and had to go in front of a committee of over a dozen people and answer questions. I must admit I’m not looking forward to that bit. A meeting over dinner though is no problem.’ She immediately started thinking what to cook and what she should wear.

SATURDAY

After a busy morning at the shop Mike and Lewis were having their chippy lunch in the back room. ‘You’ve only got a small portion,’ Mike said, ‘Aren’t you feeling well?’ Lewis grinned. ‘I’m going to Ernie and Susan’s for dinner.’ he said.

‘What she calls a dinner, I would call a banquet. I want to make sure I have plenty of room.’ ‘Is it a special occasion?’ Mike asked. ‘Not that I know of,’ Lewis said, ‘Although Ernie did say a friend of his would be joining us.’

‘I need to pop to the shops after lunch,’ Mike said, ‘I shouldn’t be too long but I’m sure you’ll cope.’ ‘You go,’ Lewis said when they had finished eating, ‘I’ll clear up.’ Mike dashed off and Lewis cleared the table. He boiled the kettle and prepared cups ready for a coffee when he returned.

Mike arrived back with ten minutes to spare. They had half a cup each leisurely then took their cups through to the counter and opened up. Neither managed to finish them.

At five-to-five Lewis spotted Dave coming in. He waved him over and told him to go through and make two coffees. ‘Make that three, please.’ Mike called over. Lewis had counselled Dave over three months previously. They had arranged that he would return today.

When they closed up, they went through to the back and Lewis introduced Mike to Dave. As they sat round the table with their coffees, Mike said, ‘Haven’t we met before?’ ‘Yes,’ Dave told him with a grin, ‘I was here three months ago. But I would have been looking very miserable then.’

‘You look very happy now.’ Mike said. ‘Yes,’ Dave said looking over at Lewis and smiling. ‘It’s strange the effect he has on people.’ Mike said spotting his look.

Mike finished his coffee and got up. ‘Nice to see you again,’ he said to Dave shaking hands, ‘Keep smiling.’ ‘I will,’ he said, ‘Thanks to Lewis.’

When he returned from seeing Mike out, Dave stood up and gave him a hug. ‘I’ll never be able to thank you enough for what you did for me and how it’s changed my life.’ he said.

‘Why don’t you strip to your shorts and lie down,’ Lewis said, ‘Then you can tell me all about it. I’ve got some news for you too.’ Dave stripped off, still feeling completely at ease with Lewis. He lay down and put his head on Lewis’s lap. Smiling up at him he said, ‘This takes me back. The start of my new beginning.’

‘Ok,’ Lewis said, ‘Tell me the story of your last three months.’ ‘Well,’ Dave began, ‘I left here feeling wonderful. When I got home mum and dad asked me what had happened, they could see a difference. I just met someone who told me a few home truths,’ I said. ‘I’m going to see my old boss in the morning.’

‘As you know from my text, I went and saw him. He agreed with me that I’d been stupid, but he said everyone’s stupid sometimes. Some like you pay a heavy price for it. Others manage to get away with it.’

‘When you worked here,’ he told me, ‘You were a good employee, and I had no complaints. I was sorry to hear the news when your dad rang to tell me. If you want to come back, you can start tomorrow.’ ‘Wow,’ I said, ‘Thank you.’ ‘I won’t give you another chance though,’ he said, ‘So make the most of it.’