(Hey everyone! This is just a quick note to thank those who have favoured, left comments and read my story so far so thank you. The song at the end of this chapter is the full version (as there is a short and long version) of 'The Donkey Serenade' my favourite version of it by Mario Lanza He sung the short version often but if you have seen the film 'Heavenly Creatures' then you've heard the full version. If you are looking for it I'm sure you can find it on You Tube if you search for it! So enjoy and let me know what you think! TKAMB aka Becky)
Chapter 7:
"Come on Roger, they'll be here any minute" Mark said as he finished tidying the kitchen. It had been a few days since Amy fell ill who was now fully recovered. However now was their true test, their first social services visit. They had gotten their buzzer fixed the day before thanks to Tom's wiring abilities so they didn't have to embarrass themselves by having to throw down heir keys to the people who could take Amy away from them
"Which do you think is better? The blue top or the green?" Amy asked holding up two different tops of hers towards Mark
"Blue" Mark said as Roger entered the room
"Second opinion, Roger?" Amy held up the tops to him
"Blue" Amy smiled and went into her room to change
"Nervous?" Mark asked
"Me? No, why ... what makes you think I'm nervous? ... Is it hot in here or is it me?" he asked fidgeting with his leather jacket
"Relax! It'll be fine, just a bit of a chat, a doctor's check up, it'll be fine!" Mark replied. It was then the buzzer went off startling them both. Amy re-entered the room carrying George as Roger crossed the apartment and hit the intercom on the wall
"Hello?" Roger asked
"Hi, this is Tamsin from social services" they heard and Amy held Mark's hand
"Come on up" Roger replied and hit the door release button. Roger looked at Amy and smiled. "It'll be ok sweetie" Amy smiled but it quickly faded when a knock came at the door. Roger opened the door and Amy clung to George and Mark's hand like her life depended on it
"Roger Davis?" the woman in front of him asked
"Yes, hi" Roger said holding out his hand which she shook
"Hi I'm Tamsin O'Connell" Tamsin was dressed in a grey skirt and jacket suit combination with a white blouse underneath. Her shoes were black with a small heel and she had on a black trench coat on and was carrying a black handbag and a bunch of files. Her long hair was tied up in a French bun and she wore thin rimmed glasses
"Nice to meet you, do come in" Roger stood aside so she could walk in and she approached Mark. "This is my roommate Mark Cohen" Tamsin shook his hand
"Nice to meet you Mark ... Wait a minute. Mark Cohen? From Buzzline?"
"Yes, yes I am" Mark responded
"I just watched your piece last week on the treatment of the homeless in the city. It was fantastic; you did really well with it. The government really need to listen to people like those in your piece"
"Thank you" he smiled
"And you must be Miss Amy Rose?" Tamsin asked looking down at Amy. Amy's nerves over took her and she hid behind Mark's legs
"She's a little shy of strangers" Mark explained
"Well I hope we become friends Amy, I like your teddy bear" Amy peered from behind Mark's legs and smiled
"Thank you" she said before hiding once more. "Well I like your apartment, lovely views of the city" she said turning to Roger. "Is guess it helps with your artistic skills"
"I wouldn't call them skills exactly! But I guess it does help. Can I get you a drink? Tea? Coffee? Water?" Roger asked
"Coffee would be great thank you. White, no sugar" Tamsin explained and felt someone take her hand. She looked down and saw Amy which made her smile
"Do you want to see my room? It's really pretty! Tom and Maureen set it up for me" Amy asked
"I'd love to" Tamsin said and smiled towards Mark
"Can I take your coat?" Mark asked
"Thank you" Tamsin handed over the coat before turning to Amy. "So you like living here then Amy?" Tamsin asked and Amy led her to her room. Mark and Roger looked at each other and let out a sigh of relief
"At least she's nice" Roger muttered
"Yeah and Amy likes her" Mark said hanging up Tamsin's coat. Roger let out a small laugh as he boiled the kettle making Mark raise an eyebrow. "And what, pray tell is so funny?"
"You ... 'Can I take your coat?' You sounded like one of those guys from the 1950s Hollywood or something" Roger explained
"It's called being a Gentleman" Mark explained
"It's called you like her" Mark was going to respond but Tamsin and Amy re-entered the room stopping him from doing so. For the next couple of hours the four of them remained in the apartment discussing the living arrangements
"Well I had better get going; I have an appointment to get to. I'm pleased to say I am happy with the arrangements her. It would seem everything is going well" Tamsin explained standing up. "So I'll see you at Amy's health check next Thursday?" she asked
"Yes, the appointment is scheduled. I'll show you out" Roger said and grabbed Tamsin's coat
"It was nice to meet you Mark" Tamsin shook his hand. "And you look after yourself Amy, I want to see how much further you've gotten with that book your reading when I next see you ok?"
"Ok, I'll tell you everything" Amy smiled
"Not everything though! I may want to read it" Tamsin giggled and followed Roger out of the loft. "I meant what I said, you are coping extremely well"
"Yeah, sometimes I'm surprised myself. I guess I have to take each day as it comes"
"Best way really. Look I'm fine with your living arrangement but just so you know others would not be. The area you live in, the people who live in the building, generally this whole area is considered a big no no for any child"
"Full of drug addicts and drunks?" Roger asked
"Yes, many would explain it, that and the dark side of Bohemia but I would not. You have to be very careful Roger, the smallest slip up and you could be facing the biggest battle of a lifetime" Tamsin warned him
"Amy has been having bad dreams about the boogie man behind a door. She never sees his face but he makes her feel uncomfortable. I think that is why she clings to George. He's become her only friend and security blanket in a sense. How I can help her with that?"
"I'll organise a psychiatrist to talk to her when she's having her check up at the hospital. Maybe there is someplace you know that can help her. It's surprising how much a child will open up when he or she feels most safe. Here's my phone number" she handed over a business card. "If you have any problems call me, anytime"
"Thanks"
"No problem. You need to keep going Roger, she trusts you more than anyone. She's very lucky" Roger watched Tamsin leave and thought about what to do. When he re – entered the apartment he grabbed Amy's coat from the nearby coat stand
"Amy, get your shoes on" he said
"Where are we going?" Amy asked holding Roger's hand as they walked through the streets of New York
"Well I had an idea that may help you" Roger said. After a trip on the subway and a further ten minute walk they approached a familiar building
"The community centre?" she asked looking at the old building. "Why are we here?" Amy asked and Roger sat on the steps in front of Amy to be at her eye level
"Inside is a group of people who get together every few days and just talk. You don't have to talk and if you do you can say anything you want. It's called Life Support and it's a place where we can feel safe and happy" Roger explained
"Why do they feel unhappy when they are inside?" Amy asked
"The people in there have the same illness as we do" he explained and Amy instantly understood. "Amy, I need you to understand something. When you are in there no one can hurt you, no one can make you feel uncomfortable and the boogie man from your dreams can't hurt you" Roger explained taking her hands in his
"You promise? Cross your heart?" she asked to which he made a cross over his chest with his right index finger. "Let's go then" she said and he led her inside. At first Amy felt uncomfortable being around a bunch of strangers but when she recognised a few from the Life Cafe she soon relaxed. She didn't really focus on what was being said apart from when everyone was having a laugh and she knew Roger had kept his promise
-----
"Ok so what are we going to say to get into the Cafe this time?" Joanne asked
"Any good ideas Amy?" Roger asked
"I don't know"
"Well we can't just stand out here all day can we?" Tom asked and the group entered the building. As soon as they stepped in everyone sat up and took notice whilst the group took notice of the manager approaching them. "Roger, Mark, good to see you! Come on in and feel free to move the tables for you assembly" he said indicating to the middle of the table area. The group couldn't move, just looked at each other
"Sorry ... have we entered an episode of the Twilight Zone? Or the X Files?" Mark suggested
"No of course not. Sine your little friend performed the other night I've been getting customers constantly asking about her. People have been coming in night after night wanting to see and hear her perform. She's doubled my usually daily profits in the space of a few days. Look, usually I wouldn't do this but how about I strike up a deal with you. You guys come here whenever you want, you can have anything you want for you and your friends for a discount price if every now and then she plays for everyone?" the manager asked
"I don't know" Roger said
"I don't mean every night Roger! Just now and then"
"Please Roger? Can I? It may help me like Life Support does?" Amy suggested and Roger knelt down to her level
"I'll only say yes if you want to" he explained to her. Amy smiled and turned to the manager
"How much of a discount?" she asked making everyone laugh. They walked to their usual seating place and re-arranged the tables so their friends could sit with them. As the adults did so Amy looked around and saw a familiar face in the corner. "TAMSIN!" she yelled who looked up. Amy ran over as Tamsin smiled
"Hello Amy, what are you doing here?" she asked
"We came here to eat"
"Hey Tamsin, having fun?" Mark asked approaching the pair
"Yes thank you, coffee and a good book – my way of unwinding after a load of meetings. I've never been here before, Amy told me about it" Tamsin explained
"Well there is a whole load of us having dinner if you'd like to join us?" Mark asked
"Oh no, it's ok. I don't want to intrude" she explained
"You won't be intruding at all" Amy said holding out her hand towards Tamsin
"You're sure you don't mind?" she asked and mark shook his head. "Alright then" she stood up and followed them
"Hey Roger, set up another seat. A friend was hiding in the corner" mark said to Roger
"Hey Tamsin, guys this is Tamsin, Amy's social worker. Tamsin this is Maureen, Joanne and Tom" Roger introduced them
"Nice to meet you, where shall I sit?" Tamsin asked
"Next to me!" Amy said to which Tamsin nodded. She sat between Amy and Mark whist Roger, Maureen, Joanne and Tom sat opposite them. Amy looked at Mark and Tamsin together before turning and winking at Roger who smiled. As the time passed Amy watched as Tamsin and mark talked and laughed with each other
"Amy was telling me earlier that you've been writing a new song Roger" Tamsin said to him
"Well it is in the early stages, hardly anything worthwhile yet" Roger explained
"You should hear him sig, he's really good and so is Mark"
"Really?" Tamsin asked looking towards Amy
"No I'm not I" Mark tried to defend himself
"Yeah you should hear him, he sounds like –" Maureen said and thought for a few seconds
"I think he sounds like Mario Lanza although with not such a deep voice" Amy said
"Who?" Tom asked
"Mario Lanza! Only the greatest tenor of the 1950's or perhaps you could say ever! He truly was astonishing. His operatic pieces as well as those performed for" Tamsin explained
"1950's?" Roger asked looking at Mark who kicked him under the table
"Mario Lanza sings my favourite song, The Donkey Serenade!" Amy explained smiling broadly
"Is that the song you keep on playing on your walkman?" Joanne asked to which Amy nodded
"Mark, why don't you sing it for us?" Roger asked
"No I couldn't" he protested to which everyone moaned. "I don't have any music!" Mark tried to protest again
"I do! There is an instrumental track of it on my walkman" Amy explained pulling the walkman from her bag and passed it to the waiter who nodded and took it to the stereo. "I'm not doing it!"
"Oh come on Mark, live a little" Maureen said
"Besides it can be something to add to your movie" Roger said picking up Mark's camera from the table
"It would be nice to hear Mario Lanza here!" Tamsin said and Mark nodded and walked to the stage to the applause of everyone in the room. As the music began Maureen grabbed Amy and began to dance with her around the table and everyone soon followed. Roger began filming the piece and everyone had a go at playing camera man
MARK:
There's a song in the air,
But the fair senorita
Doesn't seem to care
For the song in the air.
So I'll sing to the mule
If you're sure she won't think that I am just a fool
Serenading a mule.
(Tom jumped up onto the table followed by Roger)
TOM:
Amigo mio, does she not have a dainty bray?
ROGER:
She listens carefully to each little tune you play.
(Joanne and Maureen appeared in front of the boys)
JOANNE AND MAUREEN:
La bella senorita?
MARK:
Si, si, mi muchachito,
She'd love to sing it too if only she knew the way.
(They all jumped down and Roger began to dance with Amy)
MARK:
But try as she may,
In her voice there's a flaw!
And all that the lady can say Is "e-e-aw!"
MARK, ROGER, TOM AND AMY:
Senorita donkey sita, not so fleet as a mosquito,
But so sweet like my Chiquita,
You're the one for me.
(The whole room began to sing along and Mark began to dance with Tamsin)
GROUP:
There's a light in her eye,
Tho' she may try to hide it,
She cannot deny,
There's a light in her eye.
(Mark stopped dancing and took his position at the stage once more)
MARK:
Oh! The charm of her smile
So beguiled Don Diego
That he rode a mile
For the charm of her smile.
Amigo mio, is she listenin' to my song?
(Tom appeared next to Mark)
TOM:
No, no, mi muchachito, how could you be so wrong?
(Roger stood on the other side of Mark to where Tom stood)
ROGER:
La bella senorita?
MARK:
Si, si, la senorita
(The boys walk towards the table where Amy stood smiling and laughing)
MARK AND ROGER:
She loves to sing it to
If only she knew the way
(Roger began to dance with Amy once more whilst Tom filmed them)
MARK:
Her face is a dream
Like an angel I saw!
But all that my darlin' can scream
Is: "e-e-aw!"
(Roger knelt on the table whilst Amy stood in front of him smiling)
ROGER AND AMY:
Senorita donkey sita, not so fleet as a mosquito,
But so sweet like my Chiquita,
You're the one for me!
(Amy through her arms around Roger's neck who hugged her back)
GROUP:
O – Lay!
Everyone fell about laughing and Amy gave Mark a hug and a kiss as other applauded. "Bravo! Bravo!" Tamsin said clapping to which Mark smiled. Amy had never felt so happy and was glad she was with the people she trust the most when feeling so