THE CUP BEARER
By DJ
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Don didn’t go into the ward with Emilio but sat on a chair just outside, where he could still see the boy and his mother. Rita sat in an easy chair by her bed with a honeycomb blanket over her knees. Her face was grey and drawn, and an oxygen mask lay near to hand on the bed, but the doctor had assured them she was well enough to hear what the boy had to say.
Don and Emilio had hunted around till they found the biggest bunch of spring blooms they could buy and Rita’s face had lit up when Emilio carried them into the ward. He kissed her on the cheek then drew up one of the visitor’s chairs and sat down as close to her as he could. He began to talk, and ended up with his head in his hands with Rita stroking his hair. Sometimes Rita interrupted him with a question and the boy either shook his head or nodded in reply. Don felt a lump in his throat as he walked into the ward, to draw the curtains round the bed to give them a little privacy. When Emilio finally drew the curtains back, Don had to blow his nose to hide the fact that his own eyes were moist.
“I told Mum about the hypnotism idea,” Emilio said as Don stood up. “She agrees, we ought to check it out.”
“How is she?”
“Fine. But I still feel it’s my fault she’s in here. I acted pretty stupid, didn’t I?”
“You did what you thought was right. Feeling guilty isn’t going to make things any easier. Have you told her everything?”
“Almost. We’ll talk some more when she’s home.”
Don patted his shoulder. “You’ll be okay, kid, now what do you want to do, head for home?”
Emilio shook his head. “No. I think I’m ready to go and see Bryn.” When Don raised his eyebrows, he added, “It’s what my mother wants, and there’s not much point putting it off. I think it’s best, don’t you?”
Don wisely saw the boy was near to breaking point after such an emotional time with his mother. He put an arm round the boy’s shoulders. “Yeah, mothers are always right, most of the time, so my own mother tells me.” He began to walk Emilio down the corridor. “You know, kid, you and I are blessed with two of the nicest mother’s in the world.”
Looking a little peaky, Emilio gave him a faint smile. “Did your mother tell you that as well?”
* * *
The Northern Rosscroft Private Clinic, Cheshire.
“Most interesting, this one, eh, Bryn? You’re Don Clooney, aren’t you? Very sharp of you to spot this.” Don and Emilio sat in Bryn Adams’ office with Bryn and his hypnotherapist colleague, Horace Jones who had opened the proceedings without waiting for Adam’s preliminary invitation.
Don eyed him warily, and noticed Emilio, still looking rather pale, doing the same. Don decided he did not like the portly man with his over friendly smile. He had just run a tape of his session with Emilio. He tapped the tape recorder on Bryn’s desk. “There’s your answer, Bryn, he was well and truly hypnotised.”
“Can you guarantee I’m clean now?” Emilio asked him.
“Absolutely wiped, lad,” Horace beamed with confidence. “If someone mentions the name Ganymede again, you’ll just remember it as something from your English literature lessons on Greek Mythology.” Turning back to Bryn, he said, “The second tape, which I’ll keep to myself for the time being, is of our patient telling me all the sordid details of his life, under hypnosis of course. If you ever catch this Munante fellow, Mr. Clooney, let me know where he is and I’ll personally come down and shove something up his own backside that’ll teach him a lesson he‘ll never forget in a hurry. Then we’ll see how he likes being shafted, by the biggest vibrator ever made and firmly attached to the nearest electric power plant.”
When he’d gone, Bryn chuckled. “Crude, I’ll agree, but that’s Horace. Knowing him, he’d do it as well!”
“Knowing Munante, he’d enjoy it,” Don heard Emilio mutter under his breath.
“Are you going to let Emilio hear the tapes?” Don asked.
“Only if he really wants to, but not today. Not tomorrow either, I’ll wait till he’s more stable.”
Don caught the look of disgust Emilio cast towards Bryn and quickly steered the conversation to something else, before Emilio’s dark mood got the better of him. “What about Guido?”
Bryn frowned at him. “What about him?”
“Emilio and I talked a lot last night.”
“I can well believe that.”
“Guido used this hypnosis technique on him, which means he must have been connected with Munante.”
Bryn stared, first at Emilio then at Don. “You have me there, Don. That needs looking into, but not now. You can tell Rudkin from me, I want Emilio to have as much rest as possible. With that in mind I’ve arranged for you to be admitted for at least forty eight hours where I can keep my eye on you.”
Emilio got ready to blast the man, but Don, thinking fast, placed a restraining hand on his arm. The boy had been more tired than usual after rehearsals over the last few weeks. Both he and Don had put it down to his heavy practice schedule taking its toll. With hindsight, Don realised the boy had also been losing valuable sleep, thanks to Guido, and Don thought he had been losing weight as well. Don gave Emilio’s arm a friendly squeeze. “I agree with Bryn, for once.”
Emilio rewarded him with a withering look. “Thanks for your support.”
“Do you want me to get Grafton on the phone?”
Emilio subsided into a sullen silence and Don said to Bryn, “What about the complaint he’s made against certain employees of yours?”
Bryn smiled. “Two male nurses and a doctor have been suspended till a hearing can be arranged. I don’t expect them to remain employed here or find another post so easily. Emilio’s is the second such complaint. The first could not be substantially proven. Now we’ve got this complaint as well, we’ll reopen the first one and investigate them together.”
Satisfied, Emilio nodded glumly, and Don suspected he wanted to get out of the Rosscroft as soon as possible, most of all away from Bryn Adams. His dislike for the guy showed in his coolness towards him. Don wondered why, but now was not the time to ask questions. Had he done so, he would have had his head bitten off.
* * *
Saturday 6th April 1995
Dear Diary, Sandy began, Well! What an Easter holiday this is going to be! The whole of Trentham has been in a flap since the news got out, despite the press ban Mr. Grafton engineered. With Visick Street invaded by the press and nosy public, the Gomez family have been taken to West Houghton for the holiday. There was no chance of Emilio going with them, he’s still at the Rosscroft where they’re running some test on him, don’t know what for. Then hopefully he’ll be staying at our place and the press would be wise not to come round here. Dad will soon send them away with a more than a flea in their ears. They haven’t found Guido yet but Emmie’s neighbours have been having a field day, getting their five pence worth in, all except Mrs. Cole from next door. It turns out she got in touch with the police a couple of weeks ago about sounds in the night, but she had no firm evidence for them to check up on, so they put her report on file. My poor mate, how he must have suffered. It’s taken me best part of the week to calm down. Still, it’s over now, I hope. I also hope I won’t have a load of ghouls after me, expecting me to reveal all the sordid details when we go back to school after next week. Guido had better not come into my sights ever again or I’ll do more than smack him on the jaw. Thank God the photos came out okay. Rudkin gave me back the part of the film he didn’t need. Just as well, it had some good ones of Mam and Dad on it.
Signed Sandy
* * *
Saturday 13th April 1995
Emilio saw nets move at the windows of nearby houses as Don parked the Volvo outside the Visick Street house. The walk from the car, up the path to the door of the house, was only a matter of twenty feet or so, but for Emilio it was going to be the longest walk he’d ever made. He stared up at the house, remembering, and knowing he had to decide whether he wanted to live here any more. It was a difficult choice to make, and his alone. Edward had said he didn’t have to stay at Visick Street if he’d rather live elsewhere. Maybe it was best if he did move away. That way, he and his family wouldn’t be plagued with gossip and rumour, but there wasn’t much point moving unless it was away from the area and that would mean uprooting the family again and the house was perfect for his needs.
Don nudged him out of his daydream and pointed towards the front door of the house where his mother was waiting to welcome him home with Perquita and the rest of the family. Suddenly he felt very unsure about having to face them again. He was okay with his mother now; he’d made his peace with her at the hospital, but what about the others, especially Jose? Don sensed his hesitancy. “Come on, kid, no use sitting and thinking about it. Best get it over and done with. Remember, you’ve done nothing wrong. Your family know that now, so quit worrying. And remember what that book said about your star sign. You have to step out into the sun and show people you’re stronger than the shell you’re hiding in. Your other character is the eagle; that’s what you have to become if you want to survive.”
They got out of the car and Don opened the gate, stepping aside to let him walk up the path ahead of him. Lucia broke away from Perquita’s grasp and flung herself towards him with a squeal of delight. As he scooped her up and cuddled her, as she demanded to know where he had been, that she had missed him.
“I’ve been in hospital.”
“Have you been poorly?”
“Yes.”
“And are you better now?”
“Not quite, but I will be soon. Thanks for letting me borrow Grey Rabbit.”
At this she gave him a wide smile. “Did he give you lots of lovins’?
“Yes, he did, thank you.” Emilio kissed her and put her down and found Maria reaching for him. She hugged him tightly and Emilio whispered, “Thank you, Sis. I couldn’t have done it without you.” Ramon was next, leaping up into his arms like a jubilant footballer.
Jose was standing beside his mother, staring solemnly at him till Rita gave him a push. As he walked towards him, Emilio saw the hostility in Jose’s eyes, and he realised his brother was hurting because he’d taken his father away from him.
Emilio shook hands with him. “Hi Sport!” His brother was as tall as him already and he was going to be a lot like Guido, in looks if not in temperament.
“Hi, Gypsy. I’m sorry about what happened,” Jose replied a little stiffly, as if he had carefully rehearsed what he was going to say; or had Rita coached him? “But I can’t hate him, he’s still my dad.”
Emilio nodded. “That’s okay, I understand. Let’s hope it’s all over now, and we can get back to normal. We’ve got to carry on for Mum’s sake. We’re the men of the family now, you and me.” Then, releasing Jose’s hand, he punched him gently on the chin. “I need you with me, bro.”
Perquita came next with tears running down her face as she flung her arms round him. They stood for a long time in a fond embrace, not saying anything, before she led him up the steps to where his mother was waiting. Giving him a quick kiss, Rita led him into the house with the others dragging Don in behind him. What met him was a jumble of furniture and clutter in the hallway and everyone tried to tell him all at once what was happening.
“We’re doing what you suggested.” Ramon dragged Emilio into what had been the rumpus room opposite the back living room. “Mum can’t climb the stairs anymore, the doctors said so. So we’re turning this into her bedroom.”
“In other words you two are after Mum’s old room,” Emilio teased, to which the two brothers glanced at each other before beaming and saying in chorus, “Yes, please!”
“Well, I’ve got a better idea. Let Maria have Mum’s room. Lucia’s big enough to have her own room now, and you can have mine.”
Immediately there was a loud cheer as the boys danced around in delight till Perquita yelled for quiet. “That’s the younger ones sorted but what about you, where will you sleep?”
“Simple. I’ll take the boys’ room. It’s big enough for me. There’s something else we can do too. What about turning the other front room back into a rehearsal room? Maria’s doing well with her music lessons at school, and she can’t really practice properly with our lot turning the front lounge into Euston Station, and there’s no way we can get the piano upstairs to her room, is there? I also need a place to practice my stuff. It’ll mean taking up the carpet again but Mum’s wanted to show off that lovely parquet flooring for ages, now’s her chance. We can put a board down so you and Maria and I can practice our taps without ruining it.”
Emilio saw Mum’s frown disappear. “All right, then, a music room it is. Thank God it’s next to the back living room and not my new bedroom.” There were giggles all round and for the first time in two weeks Emilio felt like smiling. Without knowing it, the family had made up his mind about moving. There was no way he could move anywhere now. Thanks to his brothers, the uneasiness about sleeping in a room full of bad memories had gone. He’d been worrying for nothing. He spotted Don watching him from a distance and they exchanged looks of friendship that eliminated the need for words. “All right, that’s what we’ll do, but on one condition.”
“What’s that?” was the chorused reply.
“You all help to get the place redecorated.” This brought a cheer and Ramon was the first to race upstairs to claim their new bedroom, shouting at the top of his voice about how he wanted it painted. Emilio glanced up at the old fashioned brown and yellow wallpaper on the hall and stairs walls. Yes, it was time for a change. The place needed decorating in lighter colours.
Don waved a hand at Emilio and stepped out through the front door, leaving Emilio to enjoy the love that radiated towards him from a family that understood at last the reasons for his hatred of their father, and his moods over the past weeks. His mother drew him into the back living room and closed the door. Sitting down on the settee with him, she took a deep breath and closed her hands over his. “Son, I’m truly sorry for what happened to you, and I want to make it up to you in any way I can. What kind of future do you want?”
“Stardom, as high as I can get, if only to stick it to every jerk who’s helped ruin my life. ‘High Street’s’ a good enough launch pad so I’ll stick with them till something better comes along. It sounds like I’m using them, so what! People have used me, now it’s my turn. I’ve been in touch with Brian; we’ve got the gig at the youth Club tonight, don’t forget. As for skating, I know you wanted me to go for the British and European but it’s too late for this year’s entry, so I’m going to shelve the skating for a while and concentrate on my stage work.”
“But what about your health, Emilio?”
“I’m fine, Mum. I get tired easy but that can be dealt with. I’ll see what I can ditch and what I can’t. In any case, I have to make room for the group because I’m going to be helping Don and the group catch some slippery fish.
“How on earth are you going to do that?”
“They need bait.”
“Bait?” Rita looked horrified.
“I have the looks, Mum, and I know what creeps to go for, don’t I? Kids hang around the arcades and places like that, some of them on the run from kids homes or even their own homes, and these animals come along and offer them money or a place to hide. I’ll go in as bait, and the group will be watching close by with cameras and stuff, so I’ll be safe enough. I’ll go along with the guy for a bit to let him think he’s got a good one, then I’ll make an excuse and split. The group will keep him under surveillance till they’ve got enough evidence to hand to the police.”
“Are you sure you’re feeling up to it, so soon?”
“I’m fine Mum, honestly.”
“All right, if you feel you must.”
“I’ve got to, Mum. That’s my aim in life, to save other kids from what I went through and put as many of these creeps behind bars as I can. That’s why I’ve got to make a name for myself so I can earn the kind of money that will pay for all this.”
“Have you thought about a stage name for yourself yet?”
“I don’t need one!”
“Of course you do! Emilio Gomez is too much of a mouthful and I don’t think you want to use the name of Gomez for much longer. You need something that rolls off the tongue and people can remember. How about Gypsy? I heard Jose call you that just now and I think Gypsy Diaz sounds quite nice.”
“Who told him about me being a gypsy?”
“I did. The kids and I had a long talk this morning. I thought it was time your brothers and sisters knew about your father. I showed them his picture and I’m glad I did because Maria showed me something in one of her music magazines. I cut the article out and it’s in the left sideboard drawer.”
Puzzled, Emilio crossed the room and opened the top drawer of the old fashioned sideboard. There he found a folded newspaper clipping. He unfolded it and his jaw dropped as he stared at the photograph.
To be continued