The Boot - Three Years On - 8. Chapter 8

Over the course of the next week there had been a lot going on at The Boot and in the lives of its guests, staff and in the Barton household.

Ian and Kevin had maintained twice daily visits to The Major who had been moved from ICU to a medical ward where he continued to receive treatment and was slowly regaining his strength. He had received visits from Jeff and Andy as well as Kate and Steve who had been keeping him informed of most of the events as they occurred at the shelter. Kate and Steve had also told him about the new addition to their ‘family’. The Major asked if he could meet Danny as some point in the future, his spirits were lifted greatly when they agreed and told him that they had stopped seeing him as a guest but as a valued friend some time ago. He had been helping out and working as a volunteer at The Boot for nearly three years, many of the long term guests approached him before speaking with the staff. Even Beccy and Jim looked up to him, often seeking his opinion and respecting his judgement.

Beccy and Jim felt that they had to visit The Major after seeing the doctor at the local walk-in medical centre. Beccy’s pregnancy had been confirmed and not having a father that she knew of she wanted to tell the man that been a father figure to her since her first visit to The Little Boot. As The Major gave Jim a stern but friendly talking too about how he now had to do even more to look after Beccy and her unborn baby, and step up his efforts to get them off the street, Beccy’s mind began to wander remembering her first meeting with the down and out military gentleman, and he was a gentleman.

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The night was a wet and windy one typical for April in the UK, nearly four years ago before the shelter existed. She had heard a few others on the street talking about meeting at The Boot so she went to find out what was so important, it was fitting as what they were talking about was this big man who would park his Volvo Estate car on a side street and after putting out a camping table would serve them hot drinks and sandwiches from the boot of his car, hence the term ‘The Boot’ was born. This man, Jeff, was soon joined by others who would help him from time to time. After a few months he was regularly joined by a couple, Kate and Steve, They helped him and Kate would bake them savoury and sweet pies and cakes. The food was always welcome, but so were the friendly people that spoke to them and treated them with respect.

That first night every time she got near the front of the queue someone pushed her back before she got any food, at that time she was the only woman there. As she got near the front again a small wiry older man with weasel like features pushed her out of the way shouting, “Get out of my way bitch.” She fell and hit her head on the pavement, it hurt and she could feel blood running through her hair.

Suddenly Beccy was scooped up in strong arms, there was a strong smell of alcohol on the breath of the man who came to her aid and she heard a loud booming voice, “Move, get out of the way, have you all lost your sense of decency and manners along with everything else. Get out of the way and let this lady get some food too.” As Beccy looked at the man who had the look and air of authority him he addressed the people serving the food, “Do you have any first aid equipment so that I can clean this lady’s wound, she needs something to eat and drink too if there enough left, if not she can have mine.” Spinning around he shouted, almost barking at a small weasel featured man, “You, I might have guessed, Bill you’re an arsehole you treat everyone like shit. Well I’ve had enough you have reached a low that no man should ever reach.” Addressing everyone around he continued, “We might have lost everything we have but we still have our dignity, if I ever see anyone behave like this again and treat any of our fellow street people badly you will have me to deal with.” This scruffy but smart, if that’s possible, man returned to speaking to the people with the food, “I’m sorry but I have standards and nobody especially a lady should be treated the way that everyone, especially Bill, has treated this lady tonight.”

As a round of applause broke out among the street people Jeff spoke, “Please don’t apologise for being a good man, there is plenty here for everyone. I’m sorry but I don’t have a first aid kit, I only have some cleansing wipes and tissues but you are welcome to use them. I wish that we could do more.”

That was the first time that Beccy had met The Major, the memory brought a tear to her eye. Sometime later she met this hunk of a man who took her fancy and he felt the same way about her, but first he had to pass the test of The Major and ask his permission.

Unknown to them there was an extra 'helper' that night, a young man who ran home to a house without the parents that he loved, they had passed away. Even in his grief He felt guilty that he had so much and these people had so little, he cried himself to sleep vowing to do what he could to help. In his sleep he dreamt of, or did he remember, a friend of his parents, Michael Langford, his Uncle Michael, he had opened a house with communal accommodation and independent flats to help get homeless teenagers off the streets, it was called Edward Langford House. When he woke in the morning he knew what he wanted to do and approached Jeff.

It took some planning and obviously some time, but with help from Kate and Steve a shelter was opened. The first night Jeff went to the usual spot where he parked up, he still had food and hot drinks to hand out but he also had news for everyone that came. An old disused church was open for them to sleep in and take shelter and hot food was available. Kate and Steve were there and heard the first group of homeless people, their first ‘guests’ talking as they arrived. The comment that stuck in their minds was, “Wow, we thought The Boot was good, this great, this is like a bigger boot.” That gave them the name that they were looking for and ‘The Boot’ was born. ‘The Little Boot’ is still going, even though it is a little bigger now, it’s a mobile kitchen run from a converted Ford Transit Van.

“Beccy, sweetheart, what’s wrong why are you crying?” Jim was worried, he didn’t like to see the love of his life upset.

Beccy smiled, “I’m not crying, I’m remembering and its good memories that make me feel emotional. It’s probably just my hormones being all over the place with being pregnant, that’s all.” Leaning in she gave Jim a kiss on the cheek.

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Kate and Steve soon realised that Danny was in no shape to return to the home that he had been placed in and called Danny’s Social Worker. After a long conversation it was agreed that Danny would not return to the Children’s Home, well he would, but only to pack all his belongings as he needed them in his new home.

As the week passed Danny got more comfortable and learned more about what his new ‘parents’ interests were and what Steve did at The Boot. He enjoyed helping Kate in the kitchen and cooking food that Steve took to the shelter. In some ways he was like the child that’s constantly asks, why? But Kate and Steve took it all in their stride and enjoyed it.

While it was too soon to say that they loved each other a bond was being formed and feelings were beginning to develop. If the truth was to be known Kate and Steve could no longer imagine their lives without Danny being with them and for the first time that he could remember Danny felt like this was home.

As happy as Danny was they did notice that sometimes he had that faraway look in his eyes, they guessed correctly what it was, he missed his JJ and they knew that that was one thing they couldn’t give him. They could only be there to give him support when he was ready for it.

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After some trepidation there had been a series of group meetings of guests and staff at The Boot and John had come clean about his true identity. As expected there was a mixed response to John’s admittance of his true identity, there appeared to be a three way split in reactions. Led by Beccy and Jim there were those that accepted the explanation with little or no fuss. There were others who on the face of it appeared to be indifferent, but there was a noticeable difference to the amount of trust shown although as time progressed this lessened as they accepted the 'new John' who was now known by his true name, Christian or Chris as he preferred it. The third group though small and with a sub group led by Bill were very distrusting, making it clear that they were only there as they no other place to go and depended on The Boot. The sub group led by Bill, stayed away but even they were slowly reappearing, with the noticeable absence of Bill.

The remainder of the staff and volunteers, who had not previously been told the facts relating to John were in awe of the young man who had done and given so much. Even Andy who had known of John’s secret was looking at him in a new light, it did no harm to his feelings as he had felt drawn to John from the first time that he had met him. He hadn’t made any move or approach as it wouldn’t be right to get involved with a guest as he first thought John was, even when he found out different he was aware that John’s guest status had to be maintained to the other guests and what would be the point anyway. John was attractive but hopelessly straight which along with his wealth and that in a roundabout sort of way John was his boss just made more reasons why he shouldn’t make a fool of himself. What did hurt was he had these feelings but couldn’t act on them, this caused Andy to fall into a slump and he started to distance himself from John.

As the week progressed the persona of ‘John’ disappeared and Christian ‘came out of the closet’.