Chapter 4: Gregg Builds A Boat

Later that evening Lewis got a text. ‘Hi, it’s Gregg, I can take your call anytime in the next half hour. Thanks.’ Gregg had gone out after dinner saying he was going for a walk.

Ten minutes later his phone rang as he was sitting at a deserted bus stop. ‘Hello?’ he answered. ‘Hi Gregg, it’s Lewis. Nice to speak to you. I’d like to help you with your problem. Up to now I’ve been very successful, but unless you really want me to solve it for you, it’s not likely to work.’

‘I have a room I use behind the shop where I work on a Saturday. The boss goes home then, so we would be alone. No one can hear anything you say, and I never repeat anything you tell me.’

‘If you come and meet me, ask any questions you like, and then decide you don’t want to stay, it’s fine. You don’t need to give any reasons, just get up and walk out. No one’s done it yet, but if you did, at least you would have met me. Then you could return anytime you wanted to and not be coming to a total stranger.’

‘One thing I can tell you is something shared by almost everyone who comes to see me. They all start off believing that their problem is so embarrassing that they couldn’t possibly tell another soul about it. But so far everyone has managed to. Possibly because I don’t ask them anything about it for ages. Getting you feeling at ease with me comes first.’

Gregg had been worrying about it for weeks. He knew it was affecting his schoolwork and his life. He struggled to get to sleep, and he could see that his mum was upset at seeing him upset. He had given a lot of thought to what Sarah next door had told him. She had always been like a second mum to him.

‘I’d like to try, please.’ he said. ‘Well done,’ Lewis said. ‘The first step in any journey is the hardest and you’ve just taken the first and the second step. I’ll explain that when I see you.’

He gave him the address of the shop and told him, ‘You can arrive just before five, but now I know you’re coming, if you’re delayed, I’ll hang on. If the shop is shut just knock on the door or text me. If you change your mind in the meantime just text ‘Not coming,’ you don’t need to say why. I’ll look forward to meeting you.’ Lewis told him, ‘See you Saturday.’

Gregg sat for a little longer. He had liked the sound of Lewis and there didn’t seem to be any pressure. He got up and returned home feeling a lot better already. His mum noticed a change already but followed Sarahs advice and said nothing.

SATURDAY

Another busy day in the shop with a visit from Valerie and Catherine for lunch. Catherine was taking a lot more interest in things around her now and seemed to recognise Lewis right away. She went to him happily and was very content to sit on his knee.

They chatted about the difference a baby had made to their lives and how delighted they were to be parents. ‘We’re going to have a night out soon,’ they said, ‘So we’ll be asking you and Ella to babysit.’

‘Anytime.’ Lewis told them. Lewis became aware of a bad smell under his nose. ‘I think she needs her nappy changing.’ he said. ‘Well, I better teach you ready.’ Valerie said.

She put the changing mat on the table and Lewis laid Catherine down on it. As he took her dirty nappy off, she was quite content to lie there smiling at him. He washed her and put the new one on under Valeries instruction.

‘Perfect,’ she said, ‘You’re a natural. One more lesson, then you’re ready to go. Catherine gurgled happily as Lewis gave her a goodbye kiss then burst into tears as she was handed back. ‘Oh, to be so popular.’ Valerie told him as she gave him a goodbye hug and a kiss. After they had gone Lewis and Mike only had time for a very quick hug and a kiss before they opened up the shop. Lewis had already told Mike about the possibility of someone coming that evening.

At ten to five a young lad came in and stood by the door looking around. Lewis waved him over and asked, ‘Gregg?’ When he said yes, he told him to go through and make two coffees. ‘I’ll be in shortly.’ he told him.

They served the last customers and as Mike locked up the front door, Lewis went into the back room. He shook hands with Gregg and said, ‘Glad you managed to make it. Mike will be going home in a few minutes, so we’ll start then.’

Mike came through soon after and was introduced. As he shook hands with him Mike said, ‘Whatever your problem is, you’re in the right place to get rid of it. If anyone can solve it for you, Lewis will.’

‘Well, I’m off,’ he said, ‘Good luck Gregg. Go home happy.’ Lewis saw him out with their usual hug and a kiss then he called Gregg through to show him the key in the lock.

Back at the table with their coffees Lewis told him all about getting him at ease with him. About asking all about him and his life. About saying ‘Pass’ or ‘Stop’ and leaving anytime he wanted to.

As they finished their coffees Lewis asked him if he had any questions?’ ‘Is it really true that no one will ever know anything that I tell you?’ he asked. ‘Yes,’ Lewis said. ‘For two reasons. First, I give you my word it is so. Secondly, if it wasn’t true, no one would ever trust me again so I wouldn’t be able to help anyone else.’

‘Now its decision time. If you want to try, I want you to go over to the settee, take your shoes off and lie down. I’ll come and sit beside you and tell you what happens next. If you don’t, you know where the door is. But remember, you are always welcome to return.’

Gregg was feeling much easier with Lewis than he had expected, he got up, went over to the settee, took his shoes off and lay down. Lewis went over and sat at his side.

‘Well done,’ he said. ‘Let me explain what I said on the phone.’ He told him about the five steps and that he was now on step three. He explained about nothing hurting him or taking him by surprise, then told him about turning over, being massaged, and answering loads of questions.

Gregg felt a lot happier to know he wasn’t going to be quizzed about his problem immediately. Much as he was feeling at ease with Lewis the idea of being able to tell him what had happened still seemed very unlikely.

Lewis studied him, he was average size for his age, he wasn’t fat, but wasn’t slim either. He had lots of dark hair and a moustache forming on his top lip.

He seemed a nice enough person, but he didn’t give the impression of being physically or mentally strong. ‘Now,’ Lewis told him, ‘All I know about you so far, is that you are fourteen, your name is Gregg, and you live next door to someone my pal Danny has helped. And of course, you have a problem, otherwise you wouldn’t be here.’

‘So, I am going to start off by asking you lots of easy questions about you and your life and experiences. Whilst I do that, I’ll ask you to turn over. Then I’ll massage from your head to your feet and back again. The massage will relax you and the questions will let me get to know all about you.’

‘Between the two we will eventually reach a stage where you will be able to tell me all about your problem. That’s the hard part. Solving it is usually fairly easy.’

‘Really?’ Gregg said looking surprised. ‘Yes,’ Lewis told him, ‘Because it’s your problem and affects you, it’s hard for you to see a way out. But a fresh pair of eyes can usually find a solution.’

‘But that is only if I know every intimate detail of what happened. Believe me, nothing you tell me is likely to be something I haven’t heard before or a slight variation of it.’

‘So, when you’re ready I want you to turn over. I will then massage the back of your head. I won’t move from there or start asking questions until you say you’re ready by saying go. Ok?’ ‘Ok,’ Gregg said turning over.

Lewis put his hands on his head and massaged gently. Gregg found it strange but pleasant and enjoyed it. He lay there relaxing for a while then said, ‘Go.’