Chapter 3: Amelias Alarming Adventure

Wednesday as he was leaving school Danny got a text. He opened it and read, ‘Hi, is this the Danny who helps people with their problems. Thank you, Amelia.’

He found somewhere to sit down and replied, ‘Hi, Amelia, yes, it is, can I ring you and sort out when to meet up?’ A few moments later he got a reply. ‘Yes please.’

When he rang, a nervous sounding young lady answered. Danny said, ‘Hi, Amelia. Can I suggest you just listen to what I have to say first. Then you can either just hang up or ask me any questions you might have.’

‘Ok.’ she said thinking that was much easier than she had anticipated.

Danny told her about meeting up on a Saturday morning. That he wouldn’t ask about her problem until she felt relaxed enough and all the other details.

‘I can do this Saturday at ten o’clock if that suits you,’ he said. ‘Do you have any questions?’ ‘I’m not completely sure that I will be able to actually tell anyone about it,’ she said, ‘I don’t want to waste your time.’

‘Don’t worry about it,’ Danny said, ‘Everyone feels like that to start with. So far, everyone has seen it through. But if by any chance you really couldn’t, you can leave. Then if you come back and try again in future, at least you won’t be coming to a complete stranger.’

Amelia decided that she was liking the sound of Danny and there didn’t seem to be any pressure. ‘If you don’t mind, I’d like to try this Saturday please.’ she said.

Danny gave her Johns address. ‘Oh, that’s quite near to me,’ she said, ‘I can walk there. I’ll see you on Saturday.’ ‘Ok.’ Danny said. ‘If by any chance you change your mind, just text, ‘Not coming.’ No explanation is needed and if you should do that, you will always be welcome to return in the future.’

‘I’m sure I’ll be there.’ she said as she hung up. Danny rang John to warn him. ‘No problem,’ he said, ‘I’ll do my usual shopping.’

On Saturday, Danny arrived at half nine. He had a coffee and a chat with John after they had had a good hug and a kiss. Then as John was getting ready to go out, the doorbell rang. John was right by it, so he opened it. ‘Hello,’ he said to the young lady standing there, ‘Are you here for Danny?’

When she said yes, he invited her in and called Danny. ‘I’m just going out,’ he told her, ‘Danny is an expert at solving problems. Whatever it is, he will sort it out for you.’

Danny came through and shook her hand. ‘Welcome,’ he said, ‘Come on through to the kitchen and we’ll have a coffee.’ ‘I’m off,’ John said, ‘Let me know when you’re through.’ He smiled at Amelia and left.

As he made their coffees Danny explained that John wouldn’t return until he let him know they had finished. ‘So, no one will hear anything we discuss,’ he told her. ‘I promise you that I will never tell anyone anything you tell me unless you give me specific permission.’

As they had their coffees, he explained how it worked and all about saying ‘Pass’ and ‘Stop’. ‘Have you helped a lot of people?’ Amelia asked. ‘Yes,’ Danny said. ‘So many now that I can’t tell you, because I don’t keep any records.’

That sounded good. ‘I should also tell you,’ Danny said, ‘That most people’s problems involve sex of some sort somewhere along the line. I’m used to it, and it won’t bother me, so you don’t need to feel embarrassed.’

‘Now, when we finish our coffees, it’s decision time. I want you to either walk out or follow me through to the lounge. In the lounge I want you to take your shoes off and lie down. Then I’ll tell you what happens next.’

‘Nothing we do will hurt you or take you by surprise. Before we do anything, I’ll tell you what we’re going to do, why we’re doing it and what I’m doing it for. Even then, until you say, ‘Yes, go ahead,’ nothing happens.’

He got up and headed for the door. Amelia followed him through to the lounge. Danny indicated the settee, so she took her shoes off and lay down. ‘Are you ok if I sit here,’ he asked pointing to the edge of the settee.

‘Yes,’ she said. She had been feeling nervous at the idea of lying down, but now she felt quite settled. Plus, with Danny seeming so nice, she was surprised at how relaxed she felt.

‘What we are going to do,’ Danny told her, ‘Is to get you feeling relaxed with me, and at the same time get you to tell me all about yourself. We’re going to do that in two ways. One is I’m going to ask you questions about you, your life, your family, home, work, everything. At the same time, I’m going to ask you to turn over. Whilst I ask you questions, I will massage your back from your head to your feet and back again.’

‘Between the two, we should end up with you feeling so at ease with me that you can tell me all about your problem.’ He gave her a nice smile.

Amelia wasn’t sure about being massaged, but she decided that as she had come, she should at least give it a try. At Danny’s request she turned over. He rested his hands on the back of her head and massaged gently.

He felt her tense up at his touch, but it eased almost instantly. He massaged for a while, then she said, ‘Go.’ He moved down onto her shoulders and asked, ‘How old are you.’

As she felt the nice sensation of his gentle touch on her shoulders, she said, ‘I’m twenty-one.’ As he massaged down her back he asked, ‘Can you tell me how you got my number.’ ‘I’m a waitress at the Red Bull,’ she said. ‘A short while ago, the boss called everyone together and told us that the previous head waiter had been arrested for rape. He said it was at the Manor Hotel where he had moved to.’

‘He just said he was only telling us in case he had attacked anyone whilst he was at the Red Bull. He told us that his friend the manager of the Manor had given him the name of an excellent young counsellor. He handed out cards with your name and number on.’

As Danny massaged over her cheeks with no adverse response, she continued, ‘He just said that he was giving out your name and phone number as a lot of the present staff had been working there at the same time. Like most people that I knew there, I had never liked Malik. However, I had had no actual problem with him. It seems he went for males anyway.’ she added. ‘But I have had this problem for a while. So, I kept the card he handed out.’

‘I felt that someone the boss was recommending must be good. But even so it’s taken me until now to pluck up the courage to ring you.’ As Danny reached her feet and started back up again, he asked, ‘How do you feel now you are here?’

‘So far, it’s nowhere near as bad as I thought it might be,’ she told him. ‘Also, I feel far more relaxed than I thought I would.’ ‘That’s good to hear,’ Danny said. ‘I’m also starting to feel that just possibly this will be the answer.’ she added.

‘How long have you worked at the Red Bull?’ Danny asked. ‘Four years,’ she replied. ‘I went there from school.’ As Danny massaged over her cheeks once more, there was still no sign of any reaction to his touch. ‘How do you get on with all the other staff?’ he asked.

‘Apart from Malik, everyone who’s worked there in my time has been lovely.’ she said. As Danny massaged up her back he asked, ‘Are you able to tell me, does your problem involve anyone connected with the hotel?’ ‘No.’ she said, ‘Not at all, although it did occur during the time I worked there.’ As he reached her shoulders he said, ‘Can you tell me when the cause of your problem began and finished?’

As he massaged her head she told him, ‘It started three years ago this month. It lasted around three months.’ ‘Turn over.’ Danny said.

Amelia turned onto her back. Danny smiled at her and said, ‘You are doing well. Thank you for what you have told me so far. Now I’m going to go down your front exactly the same. Like before I will massage your head and wait until you say go.’

He put his hand on her head, massaged briefly, then moved to her temples. That always relaxed people. As he massaged, he looked down her front. She was about an inch shorter than himself. She was very slim and had short fair hair. She looked quite pretty and had small but firm looking breasts. She also had a nice smile.