Chapter 6: A Mountain Rescue

‘Where abouts are you from?’ Danny asked. ‘Llandudno.’ he said. ‘That’s handy, we’re on holiday in a caravan there,’ he told him. ‘Whatever your problem is, are you able to return home and sort it out?’ Julian looked as if he was about to burst into tears again. ‘No, I can’t.’ he said sounding so unhappy.

‘What are you going to do?’ Lorraine asked. ‘I don’t know,’ he said sounding really down. ‘Who lives at home with you?’ Danny asked. ‘My mum and my Uncle Gregory.’ he said. ‘Have you ever run away before?’ Lorraine asked him. ‘Yes, once.’ he told her. ‘Was that for the same reason as this time?’ Danny asked. ‘Yes.’ he admitted.

‘How long were you away from home last time?’ Danny asked him. ‘Three days,’ Julian told them. ‘I was thirteen then, I’m fourteen and a quarter now.’ ‘Why did you go back last time?’ Danny asked. ‘I was scared, hungry and cold,’ he said. ‘I couldn’t think what else to do.’

‘How did your mum react that time?’ Lorraine asked. ‘She was so pleased to see me.’ he said. ‘What did your uncle say?’ Danny asked. ‘He said I was inconsiderate putting them to all that worry and dragged me into the front room and beat me.’

‘How did your mum react to that?’ Lorraine asked him. ‘She didn’t.’ Julian said, ‘I think she’s scared of him too.’ ‘Is it something he did to you that made you run away?’ Danny asked. ‘Yes.’ Julian told him going red.

‘We can’t leave you here for another night alone.’ Lorraine said looking pleadingly over his head at Danny. He nodded to her and smiled. ‘I don’t know if we can do anything to help the situation at home or not.’ Lorraine told him, ‘But for tonight at least, why don’t you come back and stay with us. Our caravan has a spare bedroom.’

Julian had taken an immediate liking to this couple of strangers who were showing such concern over him. He felt at ease and safe with them. ‘That would be lovely,’ he said, ‘Thank you so much, I’m terrified at the idea of spending another night out here.’

‘Come on then,’ Lorraine said, ‘let’s head back to the café and get you something to eat.’ ‘I don’t have any money,’ Julian said looking very dejected, I just ran out as I was.’ Lorraine squeezed his hand, ‘Don’t worry about it,’ she said, ‘I’m sure we can manage a meal for our new friend. Besides, I’d like to feel that if I was ever in the same situation, someone would help me.’

‘Thank you,’ Julian said, ‘You’re so kind.’ ‘Have you got your phone with you?’ Danny asked. ‘No,’ Julian replied, ‘Nothing, not even my house keys.’

‘Does your mum have her own phone?’ Danny asked. ‘Yes,’ Julian said, ‘It’s only an old one but she always carries it with her just in case.’ ‘If she got a text would your uncle know about it?’ Danny asked. ‘Yes,’ Julian said, ‘He would quiz her immediately and find out who was contacting her.’

‘Ok,’ Danny said, ‘Can you tell me which area of Llandudno you live in?’ ‘Up by the Little Orme.’ Julian told him. ‘Good, we’re on South Shore,’ Danny said, ‘So you’re not likely to bump into anyone you know.’

They had reached the main path alongside the river. There were some seats here and there, so they sat down. As they sat Danny spotted Julian wince in pain. He said nothing just then and took his phone out. ‘Now I would like some information from you,’ he told Julian, ‘But I promise you that I won’t contact your mum or your uncle or tell them where you are without your approval first, ok?’

‘Ok,’ Julian replied, he had already decided he could trust these two new friends. He answered Dannys questions as Danny entered it all in his phone. Then they continued walking. Arriving at the café where they would be picked up, they still had an hour and a half left so they decided they’d have their main meal here so Julian wouldn’t feel bad being the only one eating.’

Lorraine and Julian went up to the counter to get food for the three of them whilst Danny found a table. He texted Aiden and sent him Julians uncles name and address and asked if anything was known. Also, if Julian had been reported missing.

He got a reply a few minutes later. Will check shortly. ‘Enjoy your ‘Holiday’ Aiden.’ and a smiley face.

Lorraine and Julian joined him a few minutes later with cutlery and a can of coke each. The waitress brought three plates of fish and chips over soon afterwards, plus a big plate of bread and butter.

Julian did his best to eat politely but it was plain how ravenous he was as he tucked in. Lorraine and Danny made a chip butty each then told Julian to eat up the rest of the bread.

Soon they recognised other people off the coach starting to gather. When the coach pulled into the car park, the driver came into the café and sat down with a coffee. Lewis went over to speak to him. He returned soon afterwards, to say Julian would be able to come back on the coach with them. Lorraine didn’t ask how he’d managed it. Julian looked very relieved.

They were soon back in Llandudno. They went into one of the big stores and bought a couple of pairs of shorts, two T shirts, two pairs of socks and a coat for Julian. When he protested Lorraine said, ‘One day when you are happily settled somewhere, you can repay us by helping someone else in trouble.’

Danny also picked up a pay as you go sim card, a hairbrush and a toothbrush. Lorraine picked up a few food items as well whilst they were there, then going out onto the main street, they soon got a taxi which took them back to the caravan.

‘Right,’ Lorraine said, ‘Let’s all use the toilet then Julian can have a nice hot shower.’ Once Lorraine was in the bathroom, Danny said to Julian, ‘I saw you wince when you sat down on the seat in the woods, is that pain because of your uncle?’

‘Yes,’ Julian said going red. ‘Ok,’ Danny said, ‘I’m sure I know what it is, so I’ll sort that out for you in a moment.’

Whilst Danny was in the bathroom, Lorraine showed him his little bedroom which had a pair of bunk beds in and just enough space to get down one side. There were a couple of cupboards on the wall.

As Julian was going for his shower Lorraine gave him a towel and told him to throw his shorts socks and T shirt on the floor of the shower whilst he was in it. ‘Your feet will push the soap and water into them,’ she told him, ‘Then later I’ll rinse them through in the sink.’

‘I don’t want to put you to any trouble.’ he said. ‘If it was any trouble I wouldn’t have offered.’ Lorraine told him with a smile. ‘Whilst you’re with us, we look after you, ok?’ ‘Thank you,’ Julian said looking close to tears again.

As he went to go to the bathroom, Danny said, ‘I’ll come with you and put some cream on your bruise for you.’ Julian was surprised then realised and said, ‘Thank you.’

Once they were in the bathroom, Danny said, ‘Your bum is sore, and your insides are stinging right?’ ‘Yes,’ Julian admitted. ‘Ok, I can sort that for you,’ Danny told him, ‘It’s quite usual in these situations.’

‘Stand facing the toilet, drop your trousers and shorts then bend over with your hands on the seat,’ Danny instructed. ‘I’ll put some antiseptic cream on your bum and inside to stop the stinging.’

The thought of getting rid of the stinging was enough for Julian, he did as he was told. Danny looked at his tiny little bum and felt so sorry for him. He put a disposable glove on and rubbed some cream around his opening which looked very red.

As he did Julian told him, ‘Oh, that feels lovely.’ ‘Relax as much as you can,’ Danny said, ‘I’m going to push some cream up inside to stop the stinging.’ He put the tube to Julians bum and squeezed some cream into him. Julian felt some of the stinging ease immediately and relaxed more.

Danny pressed his finger gently onto his opening and pushed it in very, very slowly. Julian tensed up immediately, then realising he was safe now, he relaxed. As he felt Dannys finger going up his bum he felt the stinging that he’d suffered all night and all day starting to disappear.

‘It’s working.’ he called out happily. Danny pulled his finger out, squeezed some more cream in and as Julian told him, ‘It’s stopped.’ he told him ‘I’m just going to put another load in to make sure.’ This time Julian was completely relaxed. Dannys finger slid in easily and as he eased out, he moved his tip round to make sure he had put cream everywhere.

As he took his glove off, Julian pulled his things up, turned round and threw his arms round him. As he hugged him, he said, ‘That’s brilliant, all the pain and the stinging has gone.’ Danny kissed the top of his head.

‘Lorraine thinks you have a bruise on your back,’ he told him. ‘Unless you choose to tell her otherwise, she’ll never know from me.’ Julian hugged him once more, ‘Thank you so much.’ he told him.

When he came out of the shower feeling refreshed and in a clean pair of shorts and T shirt, he found Lorraine and Danny dressed the same sitting at the table with a coffee each.

‘Come and sit here,’ Lorraine said patting the seat beside her, ‘I’ll make you a coffee. We’ve all had a hectic day,’ she told him, ‘So we’re ready for an early night and I’m sure you’re ready for some sleep so we’ll go to bed shortly. But if anything bothers you in the night don’t hesitate to wake us.’

As they drank their coffees Dannys phone pinged. The message from Aiden said, ‘Gregory Jones was arrested ten years ago for sexually assaulting several male teenagers. He was put on probation six years ago for a similar offence. Then he got two years for ABH, also on a young teenager. He was released just over a year ago. Nothing known since. As of half an hour ago Julian hasn’t been reported missing.’