Juvenile Detention

By: Rick Masters
(© 2015-2016 by the author)

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...

masters@tickiestories.us

Chapter 54
The Celebration

Josh was euphoric as he walked out of the court room. As soon as they passed through the door Karl, Stephen, and Esther all began to congratulate him at the same time. Their praise increased the smile on his face. Karl grabbed him and lifted him off the floor as he gave Josh a giant hug which nearly squeezed the life out of him. Stephen bent slightly and kissed him on the cheek.

"Thank you, all of you. Without you I would not be standing here feeling like this huge pressure has been taken off of me. Karl, if you had not believed me from the start, and you too, Stephen, I would probably not have had the courage to try and do something on my own. I know I said I would, but the nerves I have felt going through this would probably have stopped me long before there was a retrial. David, how could I have afforded you on part time work? And Esther, you were there when I needed a mum and didn't have my own. Thank you, thank you, thank you."

Karl quickly pulled a hanky out of his pocket and passed it to Esther because she had started to tear up with Josh's words. "Don't sell yourself short, Josh. I believed you because you were telling the truth, and we could see that you were. Stephen will tell you the same thing. Yes, you were nervous, but you were nervous when they took you to a cell with two boys who could do to you just about whatever they wanted, and you withstood that. I don't believe for one minute that you would have bottled at the crunch. You are too strong for that."

"I was not at liberty to tell the judge or any of you until now," David said. "Vincent Lee, from the Crown Prosecution Service, has already put his case together to bring charges against both your defence counsel and the judge. He was awaiting the outcome of this case, although he, like me, knew it was a foregone conclusion. By this time next week he will have received a copy of the transcript of today's hearing and the judge's verdict and he will indict both of those guys, who will then be arrested and charged. They will be brought before the Supreme Court in a matter of months. The IPCC have already begun their investigation thanks to some carefully placed comments by certain people whom I shall leave nameless. I also have a contact in that commission. All the preparation for the investigation to begin has been completed and with the Judge's words today they will kick into action. The officers concerned will have little time to fabricate a story to protect themselves. As soon as I'm back in my office, which will be in the next half hour, I will make a phone call, and the officer who interviewed you and the investigator who supplied the evidence for the trials of the others and Josh will be leaving work today suspended and with a gag order. They will not be allowed to talk to anyone else or each other about this case. Josh, I will begin the preliminary work on the civil case for compensation today and hopefully there will not be many more weeks before that is being assessed. And with that I must take my leave of you. I have a lot of work to get on with and a very important telephone call to make. I will be in touch soon."

Josh moved over and gave David a big hug and then shook his hand. "Thank you, you are a special person."

"I have got time for a quick coffee before I head off back home. I would very much like it if you all could join me for that," Stephen asked.

Karl looked at Esther who was back under control and she nodded. "Josh, you ready for a coffee? We will like that very much, thank you." Karl did not have to wait for a reply from Josh because he knew that he would be wanting to spend some more time with Stephen.

The four of them headed out the building and turned left to walk a short distance to one of the Coffee House chains' store. Stephen looked at Josh. "Is it still a large latte?"

Josh just nodded his head in affirmation. Stephen got the Silvey's choices from them and then placed the order. For the next half hour there was laughter and happy talk at their table. Stephen announced that he needed to hit the road and stood. Josh stood too and moved around the table to give Stephen a hug. As they parted Stephen reached in his pocket and pulled out an envelope. "This one has not been past the censors. I used a pretext to get Sam into my office to do some work and left him with a pad, a pen and an envelope. I would suggest you only open it when you are private. I have no idea what he has written, but there might just be something you may not want others to see." Stephen had stepped closer to Josh and whispered in his ear. "And if you ever make mention of it I shall know absolutely nothing. I don't need to tell you why." Stephen shook hands with Karl and Esther, pulled Josh into another quick hug and was away.

"It is nearly time for Simon to finish school. What say we go and pick him up and then go off somewhere for a bit of a drive and get an early supper to celebrate?"

"That sounds nice dear. Where had you thought of going?"

"I hadn't got that far yet. Maybe a coastal town and we can have some fish and chips on the beach or something. How do you feel, Josh? Or do you want to get home and rest?"

"No, that sounds great. But what if Simon has a lot of homework to do?"

"We can make a final decision after we pick up Simon."

Simon was quite amazed to get a text message as the bell went to indicate the end of the school day. The text from Karl told him to meet them in the car park rather than going to get his bus home. Karl had not told him the outcome of the case though and Simon guessed he could get to the car park and hear the news faster than he could text and then wait for a response. He shouted a quick goodbye to his friend and dashed off at the fastest pace he could go without getting into trouble. At the car park he quickly scanned and then ran to the car. Puffing slightly when he got there he asked, "How did it go?"

"What no 'hallo mum, or dad'?" Esther asked before anyone could answer his question.

"Sorry, hi guys, how did it go?"

"It went well, I won and got commended by the judge."

"Whoopee! But we knew that anyway. But it is good to know that it is official now. You are no longer a jailbird."

"Well actually, I will always be a jailbird, just not a convicted one."

"Shit! I never thought of that ..."

"Simon! Language!" Esther interrupted him.

"Oops! Sorry." Simon did look suitably embarrassed. "Look, I'll never call you that again. I don't want to stir up the pain."

"Actually, knowing that my conviction has been nullified now makes being a jailbird just part of my experience, and look how I have benefitted from it."

"What do you mean benefitted? What did you gain out of being sent to jail wrongly?" Simon asked.

"I have got some good friends out of it, including a boyfriend. I have got a new family in you guys, because you are more than just friends. I am going to get a fair bit of money too, and I am still able to hold my head up high and say I never failed; faltered sometimes, but never failed."

"Thank you, Josh. That's a very nice thing to say about us. It seems we have all benefitted from it. We have got you and your friendship and love, and we can be as proud of you as if you were our son. Now, back to business. Simon, do you have much homework to do?" Karl brought things back to order.

"I don't have a lot, but some of it is maths, and you know how I struggle with that."

"Do you think I could help you with it? You know maths is one of my strong subjects."

"Well, it's all that applied maths with those formulas like you get in physics."

"Will you let me look at it and see if I can help you?"

"Of course, but why?"

"We thought a little mild celebration was in order and were thinking of going to a beach somewhere for an early fish and chip supper," Karl said.

"If we're not out too late I think I could manage, because some of the homework doesn't need to be in until next week. In fact it's just the maths that I really need to tackle tonight."

"Right! Southend, Brightlingsea, or Clacton? Josh, it's your celebration, so you choose."

"There used to be a little café right near the pier in Southend that my dad would take me to when he had me for a weekend after mum left him. It was nothing much of a place but the food was good and I haven't been there since dad died. If it's still there I think I would like to share my victory with him there."

"Right. Let's get going then. We'll hit the evening rush hour traffic, so it won't be that much of an early dinner."

They had all been standing around the car in the school car park, but it took only seconds for them to get in and belted up. Karl began to negotiate the traffic as they headed towards the A12 and then onto the A131 to get to Southend. He had been right about the traffic, and with the low speed limit for the long run into Southend it was almost six before they found a parking near the pier. Josh led the way and was delighted to find that the little café was still there and was open.

"You're right. It doesn't look like much, but if your father thought it was okay then it must be."

"We always sat by the window so we could look out across the street at the people enjoying their time on the beach."

"That table will take the four of us. Do they offer waiter service or do we have to go to the counter?"

"I can't remember, but there are menus on the table, so maybe you look and then go and order."

They sat down at the table and before they really had had a chance to look at the menu a young girl was at their table offering to take a drinks order. They gave their order and by the time she returned with the drinks they were ready for her to take their food order. Once she had gone off Simon offered, "Do you want to tell us about your dad?"

"I do, but I don't know if I can."

"Why don't you start, and if it gets too much then stop and we will understand. I know your father was very special to you," Esther suggested.

"Yeah, okay." Josh agreed and then sat silent for a while, gathering his thoughts and preparing his heart. "I know dad was no saint, but he was very good to me and mum. Before they split up dad would sometimes take me away for a weekend. We would leave early on Saturday and come home on Sunday. Sometimes we would camp in a tent and other times we would stay in a hotel for the night. A couple of times when we had a tent we slept outside the tent. Dad called it sleeping under the stars and I really liked that because when it got cold I would snuggle up close to dad and he would hug me for the rest of the night. Sometimes we would go fishing, but we never really caught anything, because we usually ended up swimming in the river or lake. If there was no one around we would skinny dip; dad said mum would be upset over the extra laundry we made with wet clothes. But I think he was just trying to show me that I did not need to be shy, and that has helped me since. But when we were alone together like that, even though I was still a kid he talked to me like I was an equal, and that meant a lot to me. After he and mum split, sometimes I would spend the weekend at his home and we wouldn't go away. Those were the times he taught me more about using the computer than the school ever taught me, because he was showing me how to make the computer help me with what I wanted. He also taught me about bookkeeping and accountancy. I know I don't know it all, but that helped me get some extra points at the Academy, when I was able to set up the cell blocks' expenses spreadsheets and teach them how to use them. But until all this happened I never understood why dad said I had to forgive mum for leaving him and how if I didn't it would tear me up inside and hurt me more than her. And then there were the times we would come here. When I was smaller it would just be for the afternoon and we would spend time in the amusement park on the rides, but for the last couple of years we would go on some rides, but we spent more time just walking along the beach talking and ended up here for food. It was here that he first told me that he was sick and that the cancer would kill him." Josh had to stop then, because he could feel himself losing control. Esther put her hand over his as it rested on the table and Simon, sitting the other side of him, put his hand onto Josh's leg.

"Well, he taught you well, and I know he is very proud of you right now," Karl said across the table.

Those kind words were enough to break the dam, and Josh lowered his head and put a hand to his eyes to hide the tears that were trickling out. His shaking shoulders betraying the silent sobs. Simon squeezed his leg a bit tighter and Esther started to fumble in her bag. She pulled out two tissues and gave one to Josh while she used the other to dab at her own eyes. After a few minutes they both managed to get control and dried their eyes one last time.

"I'm sorry," Josh said softly.

"What are you sorry for? For having a heart? With love and feelings? There is nothing to be sorry for. Nothing to apologize for, my boy," Karl said.

They sat quietly for a minute or two until their meals arrived and they started to eat. "Now I know why your dad would bring you here. This is good," Karl said. The others agreed and silence descended once more as they concentrated on eating.

Once they had finished eating they strolled along the sea front for a while, then got back in the car and headed home. Karl suggested the two boys get their showers done and then work on Simon's homework. He and Esther went to the lounge to relax and watch the tellie. Simon went to shower while Josh went to his room and took the envelope out of his pocket. Opening it carefully he pulled out the paper inside and began to read.

To be continued...
 

Posted: 10/28/16