This was originally a one chapter story, but I thought it was important to add this chapter. Someone showed me kindness once when I was really upset and years later, I've never forgotten how much that kindness touched me and how much better it made me feel at the time.

Thomas Barrow Gets A Friend - Chapter 2

"Are you going to the flower show Jimmy?" Ivy asked him with a shy half-smile.

"Probably" he answered with blushing cheeks.

Thomas entered the kitchen and joined the little gathering of house staff. "Where's everyone going?" he asked, blankly scanning their faces.

"The flower show" Daisy answered him. "Are you coming?"

"Well, I..."

"You don't have to" Alfred cut in.

"Well I think I might just come..." Thomas replied challengingly. Instinct always led him to defy anyone who willed him otherwise.

Alfred winced.

Thomas' eyes glided over in Jimmy's direction.

Jimmy gave him a kind smile. "It'll get us away from this place" he offered with a chuckle.

"Quite" Thomas agreed.

-0-

Later that day the servants left Downton Abbey to attend the flower show. Thomas closed the back door and followed the small crowd of servants. He sighed as he donned his hat and trundled his way across the courtyard, his hands in his pockets; alone, as usual.

He glanced ahead at Jimmy; Jimmy's arm was linked through Ivy's and he was being decidedly pulled along at her will.

Another dull and tedious afternoon out he thought to himself. He had experienced occassions like this so many times before that he had even got used to feeling lonely among a crowd. But today was different for some reason. Today it really got at him and stung him. Why was that?

He glanced at Jimmy again. Jimmy was right in the thick of the crowd and seemed to be the subject of both Ivy and Daisy's attention now. Thomas drew a short deep breath, his lungs felt like they were filling with bitter poison. Everyone seemed to like Jimmy; no one liked him.

The staff joined the lane that led to Downton village. It was a beautiful Summer's afternoon and the lane was an avenue of bright verdant foliage. It should have been a joyous occasion; Thomas heard merry laughter from the crowd ahead; but instead he found himself hating this day already. He stopped in his tracks and gave a heavy sigh as he stared at the ground. Why couldn't he be part of the laughter for once? Why did no one like him? Why did his heart hurt so much?

-0-

"Now Jimmy, whose hat is prettiest? Mine or Daisy's?" Ivy asked him with a grin.

"That's not fair! You know your hat is prettier than mine!" Daisy complained.

"Shhh!" Ivy interjected. "Let's see what Jimmy says" she giggled.

"Well...they're both pretty" Jimmy tried, not wanting to offend either girl.

"Ah, that's kind!" Daisy replied.

"You're so sweet Jimmy" Ivy remarked. "Much too sweet!"

He halted suddenly. "Oh, I need to check I brought any money" he declared. He unlinked his arms from the girls and dipped his hands into his pockets. "I think I've lost me money!" he exclaimed, panic on his face.

"What do you need money for?" Ivy challenged him.

"In case I want to buy something!" Jimmy explained.

"What it is Jimmy?" Anna asked as she and Mr Bates who were following behind neared them.

"I've lost me money!" Jimmy said distraught.

Anna reached into her coat pocket. "Lucky I picked this up then, isn't it?" she said with a wry smile as she handed him the note she had found on the ground moments earlier.

"Ah, thanks Anna!" Jimmy exclaimed, blowing out a sigh.

"Now, be more careful in future!" Anna warned him. She gave a chuckle and fluffed his hair as she and Mr Bates walked around the little group.

Jimmy still looked worried.

"What is it?" Daisy asked him.

"I had a shilling coin as well" he declared, glancing frantically at the ground around him. "Help me find it, will you?"

Both girls tried to help.

"What's going on?" Mr Carson asked, as he and Mrs Hughes and Alfred approached.

"Jimmy's lost some money" Daisy answered.

"A shilling" Jimmy added. "You haven't seen it in the lane?"

"Sorry" Mrs Hughes replied. "But if you need anything, come and see me. I'll see what I can do."

"Thank you Mrs Hughes...but I'd like to find it all the same" Jimmy informed her.

"Well, don't make yourself late" Mrs Hughes added as her little group strolled on.

"I can't see it" Ivy said after a while. "You'll just have to give up." She looked up. "Jimmy, where are you going now?" she called after him. "You can't search the whole lane! It'll take forever!"

-0-

Thomas trundled back along the lane, his heart in despair. He couldn't bear to be by himself today while everyone else had company. It was grossly unfair! Why was he going to see a stupid flower show anyway? And with people he didn't like!

As he turned into the long driveway leading up to Downton Abbey he was sure he heard his name being called.

"Mr Barrow!" it came again. "Mr Barrow, wait!"

Thomas turned.

Jimmy ran up to him. "Mr Barrow...Thomas..." he puffed, "...where are you going?" He bent forward and placed his hands on his knees to support himself, breathing hard.

"You came back" Thomas remarked under his breath. He stared at the young footman in disbelief.

Jimmy caught his breath and stood up. "I wondered where you were. I knew you must be somewhere behind us, but when I couldn't see you...what is it Thomas? What's wrong?"

Tears had once again begun to well up in Thomas' eyes. "I...don't want to be in the way..." he mumbled, hardly able to speak.

"What do you mean, in the way?"

"No one...no one likes me" Thomas explained woefully, the words tearing at his heart as he spoke them.

Jimmy winced. He placed a hand on Thomas' arm consolingly. "I like you" he said softly, "and I'll walk with you to the show if you like...so you don't have to be alone."

Thomas almost choked. Jimmy's words were so kind it almost crippled him.

"I...asked you if you needed a friend" Jimmy said slowly. "I think you do, don't you?"

Thomas could only nod.

"Come on then" Jimmy said kindly, as he guided Thomas back down the lane towards Downton village and the flower show.