Hope you enjoy this next instalment. Thanks for your reviews it means a lot
to me that you take the time to post your thoughts. They have all been so encouraging!!
Chapter 5...
Monday's are the worst
"Ephram, Delia, Sam hurry up" Nina shouted to the children to get a move on. It was Monday mourning and tomorrow Andy Brown was back. Ephram had his first session with Dr Edwards he was nervous but relieved that he could talk about his problems. Grabbing is Walkman and bag he went into the kitchen and grabbed a piece of toast. "I better get going." Nina opened the fridge and looked inside it, there was some juice, vegetables, spreads but no bread. "Juice it is then" she said pulling out the carton. "Okay but remember your counselling session, I can come and pick you up if you want" Ephram paused "No, its in the town. Right?" Nina nodded "Yeah by the hairdressers. Oh and that reminds me do you have your inhaler?" Ephram finished of his toast "Yes, I'll bike it from school, I need to do this by myself but thanks anyway." "Okay well-" Ephram cut Nina of "I'll call if there's any problems" he said before heading out the door. Nina smiled and carried on pouring her juice.
Nina took a sip of her fresh orange juice, "Delia, Sam I will not tell you again." Delia ran in to the kitchen "Where's Sam?" Nina asked. "He said he's sick and is staying home." Nina sighed, "Sam, get down here." Nina waited for a response "Delia wait here." Nina went towards the spare room, where Nina and Sam had been sleeping for the past few months. "Sam this isn't funny I am going to be late opening the shop," Nina waltzed up to the double bed and pulled the covers off Sam. Sam lay there pretending to have his eyes shut "Honey, mommy really needs to get to work and you really need to get to school." Sam grumbled "But I don't feel so good." "What's the matter?" Sam rolled on to his back "I have a tummy ache" Nina smiled "Yeah, well I think its just anti-schoolitus. But we could just take you to the doctors." Sam bolted up "But I don't like the doctors, I feel a lot better now mommy thank you." He said rushing off. Nina laughed "Oh that was a quick recovery, now get dressed!"
Honk, Honk! Nina grabbed her bag, and the kid's lunches, giving them to Delia and Sam she ushered them out the door and on to the sandy coloured bus. She kissed them both and waved them off before setting in her car to work. Cutting it very fine, Nina pulled up outside her new shop, ever since her husband had left she felt the need to do something for herself so she opened the shop, the shop she had always dreamed of. It was only small but it was just right for her needs. She sold beauty products and health care ranges. Putting the sign as open on her front door she went to do some stock checks. Bring Bring! Bring Bring! Pausing Nina got up from her crouching position and went to walk over to the desk where the phone and till were side by side. Picking up the receiver she had a conversation with the person on the other end "He did WHAT? I will be down there straight away." Nina grabbed her bag and headed out the door.
Pulling up outside a tall large building she climbed out her vehicle and went inside. Heading towards the principals she argued with the idea's of how she was going to handle the situation in her head. When she was there she was shocked to find Ephram with an ice pack over his left cheek and a guy next to him with an ice pack over his knuckles. Ephram looked at her then looked back down "Did you do this?" she asked the lad who was sitting next to Ephram "Yes but he started it" Nina walked up to him "How dare you, you can't just go round hitting people when your parents get here I am-" Ephram stopped her "Nina, just leave it!" "No Ephram, I will not just leave it!" The principal came out of his office and signalled for Ephram and Nina to come in to his office.
The Principal clasped his hands and leant forward on his desk, Nina and Ephram were on seats infront of his desk watching the principal put his glasses on then clasping his hands again. "Now from what I understand it hasn't been an easy time for Ephram but this has happened before and I have said it before, I wont say it again I will not and I mean will not tolerate this kind of behaviour!" Nina looked at Ephram then back at the principal "Excuse me but from what I hear that guy out there hit Ephram first, so I don't think you should be having this conversation with me but his parents instead!" Nina arose from her chair. "Please sit down, Mrs Brown" Nina stood there shocked, Ephram froze, and tears welled up in his eyes, feeling the impulse of the moment he ran out.
The principal looked on perplexed. "Did I say something?" Nina looked at him angrily. "If you had checked his notes probably you would have found that his mom died last year, I am just a friend of the families. Ephram's dad has gone away for a few days because of the Harts business so I have been looking after Ephram and his sister." "Oh sorry I had no idea, Please- " "Nina Feeney please call me Nina" "Please Nina take a seat" Nina obliged and took a seat "Ephram provoked the attack, from what I heard from other members of the staff he made a comment about Mr Davies, so mr Davies retaliated" "Well you can tell your Mr Davies that he is being suspended." The principal nodded "I will but I will also have to tell you that Mr brown will be being excluded for this next week." Nina sighed "Please he is under a lot of stress he needs school." "I'm sorry I have to be fair." Nina got up from the chair "I understand but please, Ephram has to see a counsellor about his problems tonight and its his first time he is nervous" "Miss Feeney, I'm sorry but I will be sure to pass this on to the counsellor if you feel its something Ephram needs to talk about?" Nina smiled sarcastically "Oh save me the caring routine, how long is he suspended for?" The principal gaze focused on Nina's blue eyes "I'm sorry, I genuinely do care" Nina nodded "I know, how long?" "A week, Mr Davies will get the same." "Well sorry about all of this" Nina said turning round "Miss Feeney can you tell Ephram I'm sorry about the Mrs Brown incidence I had no idea." Nina turned her body round "Sure" she smiled before exiting.
Nina gave a sly look towards the other pupil and walked out the building in a huff, she needed to find Ephram, tell him how sorry she was. She got in her car and drove around a bit, she tried the house and the town centre but couldn't find him anywhere she remembered Ephram saying that when he was younger he always use to hide and his mom could never find him. She knew the feeling. But there was one place she hadn't tried walking over the road she walked towards Andy's surgery a sign on the door read out of town for the weekend the surgery will open on Monday, only it was Wednesday that it would be open now. Nina didn't have a key but she felt no harm in trying the door. A gold handle stood out from the brown wooden door. Nina turned it and expected to find it locked but instead the handle turned all the way and to her surprise the door opened.
Walking in she found Ephram at his father's desk, slumped in the chair a bruise had formed on his cheek, his eyes were closed and he appeared to be asleep. Nina sat for a while on the chair infront of the desk watching the young boys chest rise and fall in a rhythmic pattern. She noticed his hand clasped round the inhaler, she was worried at first and then realised the inhaler must have worked. Checking the time she sat there for an hour pondering on her thoughts.
Ephram slowly came to and remembered where he was; he could feel a sharp pain running through his cheek. Opening his eyes he saw a blonde figure staring at him he soon found it to be Nina. "Hey Champ" Ephram cleared his throat "Hey" Nina moved the chair in further "Your principal told me to say sorry for well you know." Ephram looked down "Look Nina its not that you haven't been great because you have its just hearing someone say Mrs Brown especially to another woman it just it made me feel." Nina stopped Ephram "Ephram I am not about to replace your mom, far from it. And I can't begin to know how you feel but you don't have to explain yourself to me, I wont let you." Ephram looked back up, Nina's blue eyes looked solemnly at him "Thanks Nina, I guess I better get back to school." Nina ah at him "What?" "Well you have been suspended for a week over your little argument, don't worry the other guy has got the same, I made sure of that." Ephram shook his head "This is a great welcome home present for dad huh?" Nina stood up "Oh I'm sure he will forgive you, now you had better go home, get something to eat and then come and help me in the shop." Ephram sighed "Okay I will meet you at about twelve?" "Eleven?" Nina argued "twelve!" Nina walked up to him "Eleven thirty and no later." "Done" Ephram said shaking her hand they shared a laugh and then walked out the office, Ephram locked the door as they went.
Once Ephram was freshened up, he stuck to the deal and went to work at Nina's shop the hours passed and Ephram soon found himself facing the most dreaded hour of the day. "Nina it's three thirty I better get going" Nina came out from the back "I thought your appointment was at four?" Ephram nodded "It is but I need o see someone first" Nina saw Amy Abbot waiting anxiously outside the shop window "Okay" she relented "And Ephram, good luck" Ephram thanked her and went outside to greet Amy.
Amy was relieved to find Ephram come out of the shop door. "Ephram hi, whoa nice shiner" "Hey Amy, it's a long story" he replied, "I only have half an hour I have an appointment." Amy looked at him curiously "Where?" "Your dad, he gave me a name of a counsellor, thought I might try him out." Amy agreed. "Nervous?" Ephram smiled "Actually I'm pretty prepared for a change." Amy giggled "That does make a change, are you feeling okay?" Ephram smiled "Well I must admit things just got a lot better." Amy paused "What do you mean." "Well I am going to get my head sorted out and were talking again, I've missed that," Amy got closer to him "Me to" she opened her arms and hugged him "Good luck, call me, I'll see you at school" Ephram grinned, "Yeah I will, and no you wont I was suspended for a week but lets save that for the call" She nodded. He watched Amy cross the road and walk over to her dad's surgery.
Ephram turned his attention from Amy and headed towards a small counsellors building next to the hairdressers. Looking through the opening of the blinds through the door he saw a woman at the reception and prepared himself for his session. Opening the door he filled out some forms and sat down in the waiting area. "Ephram Brown?" a tall brown haired man walked I to the waiting room. Ephram got up and gazed at the man, his brown eyes felt like they were piercing into him. "Follow Me," he said. Ephram obliged and followed him into to a large room. A black Leather settee could be found opposite a black desk. Gaps of white could be seen through picture frames filled with awards and photos. Ephram sat on the couch awkwardly and watched the man grab a notebook and pen. Ephram geared himself up for a grilling.
"So Ephram, Dr Abbot has told me all about you. Quite the young man I believe." Ephram laughed then looked back down. "Awkward isn't it, don't worry it will get better you know." Ephram looked at him "It's just I'm new to this. This morning I was all equipped and ready for this session and now I'm in here I feel really nervous." Dr Edwards wrote down the information onto a clipboard. "Do I get to see that?" Dr Edwards snapped his head up "No, this is for Dr Abbot's eyes." "Why Dr Abbot?" "Well he is your family doctor I believe?" "Oh no, my dad is a doctor we tend just to go to him." "Right, well I heard you were having problems with your dad so for now I will class your doctor as Dr Abbot." "Okay" Dr Edwards looked at Ephram's darkened cheek "Lets start with how you got that shiner shall we?" Ephram manoeuvred his hand to his cheek, wincing as his hand went over the bruise. "It was a misunderstanding at school." "Quite a dramatic understanding" Ephram nodded "Yeah well I made a comment about him and he took it the wrong way." "What was the comment?" Ephram looked at him curiously "Is that important?" "Yes it is, I want to determine why he hit you" "I called him a dumb jock" "And he hit you for a comment like that, Ephram this session isn't going to work if you don't cooperate and tell me the truth." "He has a sister who is a bit of a tart, he started on me by saying things about my family and I flipped. I told him he was a dumb jock, his sister was a tart and is family were a bunch of wasters so he hit me." "What do you think made you so angry?" "Aren't you supposed to know that?" Dr Edwards moved his head up and down "Yes but I want to know if you know why you got angry, was it protection or was it about getting even?" Ephram dwelled on that comment "What do you mean even?" "Ephram your family have been turned on, maybe you thought for once the attention can turn to someone else's family the taunting can stop about yours and divert to someone else's." Ephram thought about it "Maybe" he replied gravely.
to me that you take the time to post your thoughts. They have all been so encouraging!!
Chapter 5...
Monday's are the worst
"Ephram, Delia, Sam hurry up" Nina shouted to the children to get a move on. It was Monday mourning and tomorrow Andy Brown was back. Ephram had his first session with Dr Edwards he was nervous but relieved that he could talk about his problems. Grabbing is Walkman and bag he went into the kitchen and grabbed a piece of toast. "I better get going." Nina opened the fridge and looked inside it, there was some juice, vegetables, spreads but no bread. "Juice it is then" she said pulling out the carton. "Okay but remember your counselling session, I can come and pick you up if you want" Ephram paused "No, its in the town. Right?" Nina nodded "Yeah by the hairdressers. Oh and that reminds me do you have your inhaler?" Ephram finished of his toast "Yes, I'll bike it from school, I need to do this by myself but thanks anyway." "Okay well-" Ephram cut Nina of "I'll call if there's any problems" he said before heading out the door. Nina smiled and carried on pouring her juice.
Nina took a sip of her fresh orange juice, "Delia, Sam I will not tell you again." Delia ran in to the kitchen "Where's Sam?" Nina asked. "He said he's sick and is staying home." Nina sighed, "Sam, get down here." Nina waited for a response "Delia wait here." Nina went towards the spare room, where Nina and Sam had been sleeping for the past few months. "Sam this isn't funny I am going to be late opening the shop," Nina waltzed up to the double bed and pulled the covers off Sam. Sam lay there pretending to have his eyes shut "Honey, mommy really needs to get to work and you really need to get to school." Sam grumbled "But I don't feel so good." "What's the matter?" Sam rolled on to his back "I have a tummy ache" Nina smiled "Yeah, well I think its just anti-schoolitus. But we could just take you to the doctors." Sam bolted up "But I don't like the doctors, I feel a lot better now mommy thank you." He said rushing off. Nina laughed "Oh that was a quick recovery, now get dressed!"
Honk, Honk! Nina grabbed her bag, and the kid's lunches, giving them to Delia and Sam she ushered them out the door and on to the sandy coloured bus. She kissed them both and waved them off before setting in her car to work. Cutting it very fine, Nina pulled up outside her new shop, ever since her husband had left she felt the need to do something for herself so she opened the shop, the shop she had always dreamed of. It was only small but it was just right for her needs. She sold beauty products and health care ranges. Putting the sign as open on her front door she went to do some stock checks. Bring Bring! Bring Bring! Pausing Nina got up from her crouching position and went to walk over to the desk where the phone and till were side by side. Picking up the receiver she had a conversation with the person on the other end "He did WHAT? I will be down there straight away." Nina grabbed her bag and headed out the door.
Pulling up outside a tall large building she climbed out her vehicle and went inside. Heading towards the principals she argued with the idea's of how she was going to handle the situation in her head. When she was there she was shocked to find Ephram with an ice pack over his left cheek and a guy next to him with an ice pack over his knuckles. Ephram looked at her then looked back down "Did you do this?" she asked the lad who was sitting next to Ephram "Yes but he started it" Nina walked up to him "How dare you, you can't just go round hitting people when your parents get here I am-" Ephram stopped her "Nina, just leave it!" "No Ephram, I will not just leave it!" The principal came out of his office and signalled for Ephram and Nina to come in to his office.
The Principal clasped his hands and leant forward on his desk, Nina and Ephram were on seats infront of his desk watching the principal put his glasses on then clasping his hands again. "Now from what I understand it hasn't been an easy time for Ephram but this has happened before and I have said it before, I wont say it again I will not and I mean will not tolerate this kind of behaviour!" Nina looked at Ephram then back at the principal "Excuse me but from what I hear that guy out there hit Ephram first, so I don't think you should be having this conversation with me but his parents instead!" Nina arose from her chair. "Please sit down, Mrs Brown" Nina stood there shocked, Ephram froze, and tears welled up in his eyes, feeling the impulse of the moment he ran out.
The principal looked on perplexed. "Did I say something?" Nina looked at him angrily. "If you had checked his notes probably you would have found that his mom died last year, I am just a friend of the families. Ephram's dad has gone away for a few days because of the Harts business so I have been looking after Ephram and his sister." "Oh sorry I had no idea, Please- " "Nina Feeney please call me Nina" "Please Nina take a seat" Nina obliged and took a seat "Ephram provoked the attack, from what I heard from other members of the staff he made a comment about Mr Davies, so mr Davies retaliated" "Well you can tell your Mr Davies that he is being suspended." The principal nodded "I will but I will also have to tell you that Mr brown will be being excluded for this next week." Nina sighed "Please he is under a lot of stress he needs school." "I'm sorry I have to be fair." Nina got up from the chair "I understand but please, Ephram has to see a counsellor about his problems tonight and its his first time he is nervous" "Miss Feeney, I'm sorry but I will be sure to pass this on to the counsellor if you feel its something Ephram needs to talk about?" Nina smiled sarcastically "Oh save me the caring routine, how long is he suspended for?" The principal gaze focused on Nina's blue eyes "I'm sorry, I genuinely do care" Nina nodded "I know, how long?" "A week, Mr Davies will get the same." "Well sorry about all of this" Nina said turning round "Miss Feeney can you tell Ephram I'm sorry about the Mrs Brown incidence I had no idea." Nina turned her body round "Sure" she smiled before exiting.
Nina gave a sly look towards the other pupil and walked out the building in a huff, she needed to find Ephram, tell him how sorry she was. She got in her car and drove around a bit, she tried the house and the town centre but couldn't find him anywhere she remembered Ephram saying that when he was younger he always use to hide and his mom could never find him. She knew the feeling. But there was one place she hadn't tried walking over the road she walked towards Andy's surgery a sign on the door read out of town for the weekend the surgery will open on Monday, only it was Wednesday that it would be open now. Nina didn't have a key but she felt no harm in trying the door. A gold handle stood out from the brown wooden door. Nina turned it and expected to find it locked but instead the handle turned all the way and to her surprise the door opened.
Walking in she found Ephram at his father's desk, slumped in the chair a bruise had formed on his cheek, his eyes were closed and he appeared to be asleep. Nina sat for a while on the chair infront of the desk watching the young boys chest rise and fall in a rhythmic pattern. She noticed his hand clasped round the inhaler, she was worried at first and then realised the inhaler must have worked. Checking the time she sat there for an hour pondering on her thoughts.
Ephram slowly came to and remembered where he was; he could feel a sharp pain running through his cheek. Opening his eyes he saw a blonde figure staring at him he soon found it to be Nina. "Hey Champ" Ephram cleared his throat "Hey" Nina moved the chair in further "Your principal told me to say sorry for well you know." Ephram looked down "Look Nina its not that you haven't been great because you have its just hearing someone say Mrs Brown especially to another woman it just it made me feel." Nina stopped Ephram "Ephram I am not about to replace your mom, far from it. And I can't begin to know how you feel but you don't have to explain yourself to me, I wont let you." Ephram looked back up, Nina's blue eyes looked solemnly at him "Thanks Nina, I guess I better get back to school." Nina ah at him "What?" "Well you have been suspended for a week over your little argument, don't worry the other guy has got the same, I made sure of that." Ephram shook his head "This is a great welcome home present for dad huh?" Nina stood up "Oh I'm sure he will forgive you, now you had better go home, get something to eat and then come and help me in the shop." Ephram sighed "Okay I will meet you at about twelve?" "Eleven?" Nina argued "twelve!" Nina walked up to him "Eleven thirty and no later." "Done" Ephram said shaking her hand they shared a laugh and then walked out the office, Ephram locked the door as they went.
Once Ephram was freshened up, he stuck to the deal and went to work at Nina's shop the hours passed and Ephram soon found himself facing the most dreaded hour of the day. "Nina it's three thirty I better get going" Nina came out from the back "I thought your appointment was at four?" Ephram nodded "It is but I need o see someone first" Nina saw Amy Abbot waiting anxiously outside the shop window "Okay" she relented "And Ephram, good luck" Ephram thanked her and went outside to greet Amy.
Amy was relieved to find Ephram come out of the shop door. "Ephram hi, whoa nice shiner" "Hey Amy, it's a long story" he replied, "I only have half an hour I have an appointment." Amy looked at him curiously "Where?" "Your dad, he gave me a name of a counsellor, thought I might try him out." Amy agreed. "Nervous?" Ephram smiled "Actually I'm pretty prepared for a change." Amy giggled "That does make a change, are you feeling okay?" Ephram smiled "Well I must admit things just got a lot better." Amy paused "What do you mean." "Well I am going to get my head sorted out and were talking again, I've missed that," Amy got closer to him "Me to" she opened her arms and hugged him "Good luck, call me, I'll see you at school" Ephram grinned, "Yeah I will, and no you wont I was suspended for a week but lets save that for the call" She nodded. He watched Amy cross the road and walk over to her dad's surgery.
Ephram turned his attention from Amy and headed towards a small counsellors building next to the hairdressers. Looking through the opening of the blinds through the door he saw a woman at the reception and prepared himself for his session. Opening the door he filled out some forms and sat down in the waiting area. "Ephram Brown?" a tall brown haired man walked I to the waiting room. Ephram got up and gazed at the man, his brown eyes felt like they were piercing into him. "Follow Me," he said. Ephram obliged and followed him into to a large room. A black Leather settee could be found opposite a black desk. Gaps of white could be seen through picture frames filled with awards and photos. Ephram sat on the couch awkwardly and watched the man grab a notebook and pen. Ephram geared himself up for a grilling.
"So Ephram, Dr Abbot has told me all about you. Quite the young man I believe." Ephram laughed then looked back down. "Awkward isn't it, don't worry it will get better you know." Ephram looked at him "It's just I'm new to this. This morning I was all equipped and ready for this session and now I'm in here I feel really nervous." Dr Edwards wrote down the information onto a clipboard. "Do I get to see that?" Dr Edwards snapped his head up "No, this is for Dr Abbot's eyes." "Why Dr Abbot?" "Well he is your family doctor I believe?" "Oh no, my dad is a doctor we tend just to go to him." "Right, well I heard you were having problems with your dad so for now I will class your doctor as Dr Abbot." "Okay" Dr Edwards looked at Ephram's darkened cheek "Lets start with how you got that shiner shall we?" Ephram manoeuvred his hand to his cheek, wincing as his hand went over the bruise. "It was a misunderstanding at school." "Quite a dramatic understanding" Ephram nodded "Yeah well I made a comment about him and he took it the wrong way." "What was the comment?" Ephram looked at him curiously "Is that important?" "Yes it is, I want to determine why he hit you" "I called him a dumb jock" "And he hit you for a comment like that, Ephram this session isn't going to work if you don't cooperate and tell me the truth." "He has a sister who is a bit of a tart, he started on me by saying things about my family and I flipped. I told him he was a dumb jock, his sister was a tart and is family were a bunch of wasters so he hit me." "What do you think made you so angry?" "Aren't you supposed to know that?" Dr Edwards moved his head up and down "Yes but I want to know if you know why you got angry, was it protection or was it about getting even?" Ephram dwelled on that comment "What do you mean even?" "Ephram your family have been turned on, maybe you thought for once the attention can turn to someone else's family the taunting can stop about yours and divert to someone else's." Ephram thought about it "Maybe" he replied gravely.