My alarm went off at 7.00 a.m. on Monday morning and for a while I just lay there, trying to work out just how little sleep I’d had. I could hear Mike in the shower, so, while I waited for it, I crept out onto the landing, then crossed it and quietly opened Tyler’s door. He, too, was already up, thankfully, though still in his pyjamas, and on his knees rummaging through his little wheelie suitcase.
‘Are my black footy socks in here?’ he asked. ‘As well as my red ones? ’Cos I just checked the list and it says we need both. And now I can’t find them. D’you remember me putting them in?’
‘Stop flapping, worrywart,’ I said, pleased to see him focused on his course again. ‘Everything you need is in there, including a new toothbrush. Speaking of which, have you washed yet? Because time’s getting on.’
‘Just about to,’ he said, jumping up and rushing past me through the door.
Changing my mind – I could shower later – I left Tyler to it and having been back to the bedroom to grab my dressing gown, then went down to the kitchen to boil some eggs for breakfast. I was immediately accosted by Connor, who appeared from behind the kitchen door, going ‘Boo!’
‘Morning, Casey!’ he added, beaming. ‘Did I make you jump? Sorry.’
‘You did indeed, love,’ I confirmed. ‘What you doing up so early?’
His expression changed and he sighed as he pulled out a chair at the table. ‘I couldn’t sleep,’ he said. ‘I was worrying. Wondering where they were going to take me. Has anyone told you yet? Are those men in the van coming again?’
Amazing how you see things differently when someone has turned the lights on for you. And I was glad to be able to answer him truthfully.
‘I don’t know yet, love,’ I said, ‘it’s a bit of a case of we’ll know when we know. But perhaps getting some breakfast inside you will cheer you up a bit, eh?’ I went over to the fridge. ‘Ah, and here’s Mike,’ I added. ‘Hello, love. One egg or two?’
But there was scant time for Mike to tell me because just at that point there was a sharp rapping on the front door.
Tyler had walked in just behind Mike and now looked up at the kitchen clock.
‘That can’t be Denver and his mum, can it?’ he said. ‘God, they’re early.’
They would indeed have been. They were due at 8 and it still wasn’t quite 7.30. ‘Grab yourself some breakfast, love,’ I told him. ‘I’m sure it’s not them. Probably just the postman with a parcel or something.’
I hoped it would be, too, since I wasn’t averse to a bit of online shopping. So I was open-mouthed to see John Fulshaw standing on the doorstep.
‘And a very good morning to you, too,’ he said, as I hauled my jaw up and ushered him into the kitchen. ‘Morning, Mike; morning, lads,’ he said. Then he sniffed. ‘Can I smell coffee? All over the place I am, with this flipping jet-lag nonsense. So I could definitely do with one, if you don’t mind.’
I went to pour him one, making a ‘no, I don’t know either’ face at Mike as I did so.
Who then spoke for me. ‘Good holiday?’ he asked John.
‘Best one in years,’ he said. ‘Brilliant.’ He’d taken his family to Disney World in Florida, so I didn’t doubt it for a moment. But why was he here?
‘So to what do we owe the pleasure?’ Mike added, still as confused as I was.
‘I’m here to pick up this young man,’ he said, turning towards Connor and smiling down at him. ‘Got some transport laid on – picking up from the office,’ he clarified. ‘And in less than an hour from now, so I thought we’d better crack on.’
Connor’s expression was hard to watch as John placed a friendly hand on his shoulder and told him not to bolt his food, but that when he was finished he needed to trot upstairs and get his belongings together. ‘Time and tide wait for no man, I’m afraid, mate,’ he added cheerfully.
Cheerfully, and oddly. ‘What, now?’ Connor said, looking at Mike and me in turn. ‘Now this minute? Like, for deffo? Where are you taking me?’
‘To the seaside,’ John said equably. ‘Well, not me personally, obviously. But that’s where you’re headed. I’ll be able to tell you all about it on the way.’
‘What, now?’ Connor asked again, as though he’d not heard him the first time. ‘But what’s the rush? Why does it have to be today?’
Once again, he looked at me and I struggled to look back at him. He looked as young and vulnerable as a five-year-old, and also close to tears. I felt my resolve slipping down into my boots. Well, my slippers.
‘I’m sorry, son, but yes, it does have to be today,’ John said gently. ‘I can see you’ve enjoyed your time here, but everything’s arranged now, I’m afraid.’
Mike moved towards him. ‘Come on, lad,’ he said. ‘How about I come up and help you get your bits together, eh? And a couple of toys to take with you,’ he added, glancing at me. ‘How about that?’
Connor went with him, exiting the kitchen on very obviously reluctant legs, and no sooner was he headed upstairs, with Mike right behind him, than the door went again. This time is was Denver.
‘I’ll just get off, then,’ Tyler said, the lightness in his legs as he went to grab his case reflected in his voice as well. ‘No need to come to the car, Casey,’ he said. ‘I’ll just leave you to sort everything out.’
‘Not so fast,’ I said, rushing after him and catching up with him on the path. ‘You really think you’re getting out of here without a hug?’ I duly gave him one, while simultaneously waving to Denver’s mum, who was sitting in her car. I then inspected him carefully. ‘Are you okay?’
Tyler grinned. ‘More than okay. Definitely more than okay. Now – please – let me go, woman!’
‘Not so fast,’ I said. ‘You’ve not put in your tea order for Wednesday.’
‘Meatballs and spaghetti, please!’ he yelled back, before jumping in the car. ‘Just like normal!’ he added through the open window.
Having waved the car round the corner I hurried back inside, my mind at sixes and sevens. ‘So where exactly are you taking him?’ I asked John, who had been watching me from the kitchen window.
‘A place in Kent,’ he said. ‘Another semi-secure unit.’ He must have seen my face fall. ‘Casey,’ he said, ‘you have actually read the information you were given, haven’t you?’
I nodded. ‘Read it and digested it but, oh, John, he’s only eight.’
‘I know,’ he said. ‘But it’s not like the picture I know is in your head. Only three other children ever in place there at one time – so we were lucky. Two staff to each child, and a very strict regime. One designed to set firm boundaries and try to prepare children like Connor for living within the confines of a family. A task and a half, but one that’s proved to be just the ticket in the past. He’ll soon get used to it.’ He smiled. ‘He’ll have to, won’t he? Casey, I don’t even know why I’m telling you all this.’ Then he narrowed his eyes. ‘Or – hmm – do I need to tell you it all again?’
But there was no time. Connor was back down and clutching a box Mike had found for him. It was full of toys and games but, from his expression, you’d have thought they were snakes.
‘Tell her what?’ Connor asked, his cherubic face now set and angry.
‘All about your new home, mate,’ John said brightly. ‘As I was just telling Casey, it sounds lovely. Just the ticket. Anyway, we’d better press on. I think you know the fellas who are going to be driving you down there.’
Connor looked appalled. ‘Not them gayers!’ he exclaimed, huffing. ‘I’ve already put the hard word out round about them three. An’ that dark one better watch out ’cos I’ve got a flick knife in me bag.’
John smiled as he put down his coffee mug. ‘Okay, mate. Whatever you say. Say goodbye, then. It’s time we hit the road.’
Connor duly turned to Mike and me. ‘Laters, you two,’ he said. ‘Never wanted to be here anyways with you pair of old farts!’
On which note, he was escorted out of the front door by John, marched down to his car, helped inside and belted up. We followed them down the path, Mike trying hard not to laugh, while all I could think of was that, sometimes, you did have to laugh about stuff like this happening. Or you’d cry.
John walked around the back of the car and opened the driver’s door, smiling at us both over the roof.
‘Sorry about that,’ he said. ‘You know, turning up unannounced so early.’
‘It was certainly a shock,’ Mike said, glancing at me. ‘We were expecting a call from EDT first.’
John met my eye. ‘Jet lag, like I said,’ he explained. Or rather didn’t explain, because actually, he didn’t really need to. ‘Let’s just call it – let me see, now – an “executive decision”,’ he said, dipping down and climbing into the car. He then started the engine and buzzed down the passenger-door window. ‘As me laddo in the back here says, laters!’
‘Are you going to tell me what all that was about?’ Mike asked as we headed back up the path.
‘I think so,’ I said. ‘Well, once I’ve figured it out myself. Which might take some time.’
‘You’re telling me,’ Mike agreed. ‘Still, as they say in Memphis, it would appear that Elvis has left the building.’
As had superwoman. That much I did know.