Aunt May's Magic - 1. Aunt May's Magic

His boots had seen better days. They were scuffed and tatty. The soles were cracked and had holes that were cardboard covered from the inside, and even the cardboard was wet and soggy. Dirty, worn jeans with tears and holes hid his stick-thin legs. His designer label t-shirt and sweater recovered from a bin, were equally as dirty, and worn, covering ribs and spine that would easily be seen if he removed his clothes. A damp jacket and knitted beanie hat finished off his outfit. Was it him or his clothes that gave off the unpleasant odour? It didn't matter. There was nothing he could do about it. Standing in the middle of the cafe, he glanced around at the full tables. Surprisingly, nobody paid him any attention as he counted the last of his money in his thin grubby hands. He had two pounds and forty-six pence.

Carefully reading the menu, he soon realised that most of it was out of his price range. He could afford two slices of toast and a mug of tea. It would be better than nothing and leave him with some change. He approached the counter and was about to place his order when he spotted at the bottom of the menu Bens Special. He didn't know who Ben was, but his special looked good and cheap too. Two sausages, one egg, beans, two slices of toast and a large mug of tea or coffee. All for one pound!

“Excuse me, sir.” He asked politely, “Is that right, Bens Special, all of that for one pound?”

At eighteen-years-old Charlie wasn't used to being called sir and looked at the man who spoke to him. “Yes sir, it is, but maybe you would like to choose a meal from the friendship menu. It's all good, there is a wider choice of meals, and they all include a drink of your choice.”

The young man behind the counter looked friendly and was smiling at him, but he quietly replied. “I'm sure you're right, but I know what I can afford, then I can afford to eat tomorrow as well.” Shocked and embarrassed, he brought his hand to his mouth. He didn't mean to say the last part.

“I understand. Please, let me ask Aunt May to explain the friendship menu.” Charlie winced as he limped to the kitchen. His leg was sore. “Aunt May, could you explain the friendship menu to this customer, please? You can explain better than me.”

A friendly, fresh-faced, middle-aged woman stepped out of the kitchen. Her greying hair and slightly fuller figure gave her the look of a loving mother. “Charlie, go sit on the stool and take the weight off your feet. You know what the doctor said about overdoing it. Go on, sit.” Then she spoke to the dishevelled man at the counter. “Come and sit with me, and I'll explain.”

Moving to the nearest empty table, she sat and gestured to the empty chair. “We have two menus and one special.”

“I saw the special. I'd like one of those, please. I don't know who Ben is, but his special looks good to me.”

“I'll bet it does. It is popular. But let me explain first. Our standard menu is very reasonably priced, and probably the cheapest around and keeps us busy. The Bens Special isn't named after anyone. Bens is short for benefits and is only available to those who claim benefits and can show proof.”

“That rules me out then. I don't get any.”

“If you really want the Bens Special, I think I can make an exception...”

“No, you can't do that. I don't want you to get into any trouble.”

“Trust me, I won't get in any trouble, but please, hun, let me finish. Then we have the Friendship Menu Board. You can choose anything you want from the Friendship Menu by taking any ticket off there. All of those meals have been paid for in advance by people who can afford to pay for an extra meal and are free to those who need them. All we ask is that if you can afford it in the future, you pay for a meal and put it on the Friendship Menu for someone else. It is not charity. It is a gift from someone who understands.”

May ignored the unpleasant odour and dirty clothes as she reached across the table, gently placing her hand on his arm. “I suggest the Friendship Special for you.”

“What's the Friendship Special?”

“That is any meal on the menu, including dessert, with a hot drink to eat now and a sandwich with either soup or a drink to go so you have something for later. I'm sure there is one left on the board.”

“C... can... I... have that please?” He felt emotional. It had been a long time since he experienced such kindness and made to feel welcome.

“I'll get you the ticket.” May went to the counter and whispered to Charlie as she wrote a Friendship Special ticket. “Charlie, give him whatever he wants. I'll pay for it later.” May made a pretence of removing the ticket from the board and gave it to the unkempt young man.

“Thank you.” He rose and went to the counter. After placing his order, he spoke to Charlie. “She is a wonderful lady. Is she really your Aunt? I would love to have an Aunt like her.”

Charlie smiled. “Aunt May is the best. She isn't my real Aunt. She's taken so many of us under her wing and helped us. We all call her Aunt May out of love and respect. She deserves that and so much more.”

While the man relished his meal, Charlie made up the ordered sandwich and a small thermos of soup.

In the kitchen, May spoke on the phone to The Manager of the shop a few doors down. “Morning Brad sweetie, it's May from the cafe.”

“Morning Aunt May. What can I do for you?”

“If I send a young man to you, could you kit him out with a couple of full changes of clothes? He's in desperate need, but he doesn't have any money. I'll cover any cost.”

“Aunt May, you know I will always do my best for you, and there will be no cost. We have plenty of stock. If it's the guy I gave some money to earlier and sent to the cafe, he definitely needs everything. I'll even let him use the staff facilities to clean himself up.”

“Thank you, Brad, you are a darling. What would we do without you?”

“What would we do without our Aunt May? Give him one of your Friendship Special tickets, and I'll take care of the rest.”

“Thank you, Brad. God bless you.”

“May God bless you too, Aunt May.”

Hanging up the phone, she wrote another Friendship Special ticket, then entered the main body of the cafe. The dishevelled young man was sitting eating, and enjoying a large bowl of trifle.

Charlie made up a takeaway bag for him, a roast beef sandwich, a bag of crisps, some fruit and a thermos of soup, enough to satisfy a young, healthy appetite.

May sat opposite the young man as he finished his meal and passed him the ticket. “How was your meal? Are you feeling any better now?”

“That was the best meal I've ever had. I can't remember the last time I felt so full. Thank you. Is there any way I can repay you?”

“The compliment you just gave me is payment in full, and I will not hear any argument about it. Now, that ticket I just gave you is another Special. It is different to the other one. This one, you take it to The Recycle Shop a few doors down. Ask for Brad and give him the ticket. He knows what to do. He may need some help tidying up the shop if you have the time to help him.” May handed him a card, “After you're done at the shop, go to the address on the card. I'm not sure who will be there tonight, they don't seem to stick to a rota, but they are all good people. Just tell them Aunt May sent you. Hopefully, they can give you a bed for the night. Even if they can't, they can give you a lot of good advice if you want it.”

“I... I don't know what to say. I just, know... I know I don't deserve this.” The young man stood, the tears didn't fall, but they were in his eyes.

“Come, give Aunt May a hug. I love hugs, and I don't get enough of them.”

Ignoring the pungent odour for another time May approached the young man. Placing her arms around him, she gave him a tight hug. Hesitantly at first, the young man returned the hug just as tight.

“Now go, do as I've told you and come see me tomorrow. I want to know that you are okay.” May kissed him on the cheek which caused him to run tearfully from the cafe.

He ran. He felt embarrassed. 'Why did I do that? Why did I let myself cry? I was okay till Aunt May,' that somehow felt good calling her that, 'till Aunt May kissed me.' He touched his hand to that spot on his cheek where Aunt May kissed him. He felt good. Trying to wipe the tears from his cheeks with the back of his sleeve, he only succeeded in smearing his already dirty face. He noticed it when he looked at his reflection in the shop window. It was The Recycle Shop that Aunt May gave him the ticket for.

He could see a man at the back of the shop. It couldn't be, that was the man that gave him some money earlier and told him to go to the cafe for something hot to eat. 'Is that Brad? If I go in, I could say thank you, but if I go in....' He didn't get any further in his thoughts.

Brad looked up and saw him. In a few strides, he was at the front of the shop opening the door. “Welcome, Aunt May told me to expect you. I'm Brad. Please, come in.” Brad held out his hand for a handshake.

He looked at Brad's hand, then at his own and hesitated.

Brad sensed the young man's discomfort and changed his gesture to one of inviting him in. “It's okay, I understand. Please come in so I can help you find what you need.”

Nervously he entered. “Thank you.”

“Think nothing of it... erm, what do I call you? I don't know your name.” Brad inquired.

“Erm... er... George... It's George. My name is George.” He knew it wasn't his real name, but it was the first name to come to mind. It would have to do.

“Okay... er... George, it is then. Aunt May said you need some good clothes. I tend to agree with her. Don't take this the wrong way, but it would be a shame to put on new clothes before cleaning up a bit, wouldn't you agree?”

The young man nodded and gave Brad the ticket Aunt May had given him.

“Good, if you follow me, I'll show you the staff facilities where you can clean up. While you do that, I can get a selection of clothes for you to choose from. Is that okay with you?” After picking up a dressing gown, Brad led the way to the staff room.

“Yeah, yeah sure,” George replied.

“Here we are. This is our staff room. Through that door is the staff bathroom, in there is an electric shower, towels and any toiletries you may need are in there too. If you use this dressing gown, you can leave your clothes out here, and I'll see what I can do with them. Any of your more personal possessions, you know, cash or anything else, you can take in there with you. When you have finished, I'll have some clothes ready for you to choose from.”

“But... but you don't know my size.”

“Trust me, George. I have a good eye for these things. I've got your size.” Leaving George to undress and shower, Brad went to pick out some clothes. The first things he picked up were new socks and underwear. The rest of the clothes may be second-hand, but no one wanted to wear used socks or underwear. They were brand new, still in their packaging.

A few minutes later, Brad entered the staff room. He could hear the shower running and smiled as he laid out the selected clothes. Picking up the clothes that George left on the chair, he knew what to do with them. They were quickly disposed of in the bin.

Fifteen minutes later, George stepped out of the staff room into the shop. Dressed in the clothes Brad picked, he felt and looked much better. His mid-length hair was still damp but combed. After shaving the light growth of his beard off his face, his features were smooth.

Brad did a double-take on seeing George. 'Wow, I know he is too young for me and thin, but he is hot, H.O.T, HOT. If Charlie sees him now he will be all over him.'

Recovering, Brad spoke up. “Looking good young man, veeeery goooood indeed, you, are going to break some hearts.”

George blushed. “I don't know how you did it but you got my size spot on. Thank you, the clothes are really nice.”

“I'm glad you like them. Now, let's get you kitted out.”

“Brad no, it's too much. This is more than okay.”

“It's not enough, you need a coat and one, preferably two, changes of clothes, more socks and underwear and, in case you haven't noticed, you haven't got any shoes yet, plus you need something to put everything in. Stop worrying. It's all covered by your ticket. Plus you don't want to get me in trouble with Aunt May, do you?” Brad knew that he was telling a few white lies, but so what. George needed everything he was being given, and a little emotional blackmail, in this case, was a good thing.

When they finished, George had two more changes of clothes, enough socks and underwear for a week, a coat and a backpack to keep everything in. Brad made sure he also had shaving gear, toiletries and a couple of towels. The backpack may be heavy, but Brad knew it was the right thing to do.

“Aunt May said you needed some help tidying up. What would you like me to do?”

“Yeah, she's right, my help called in sick today, but you don't have to help. It won't be the first time I've done it on my own.”

“I have to. I can't let Aunt May down.”

“She's got to you, hasn't she? I can tell, you're already calling her Aunt May.”

“Yeah, she's special, something really special.” He touched his cheek where Aunt May kissed him earlier.

“Did Aunt May give you a card and tell you where to go later?”

“Yeah, she said to tell them that she sent me, but I don't know where it is or how to get there.”

“Don't worry about that, I'll drop you off when we're done here. If you're coming back to see Aunt May tomorrow, call in here first and we can go to lunch together. I'd like you to stay in touch.”

He stood facing Brad. Tears were in his eyes again, and he held out his hand. “Dale, that's my real name, Dale Roberts. I'm sorry I lied earlier.”

Brad brushed his hand to the side, enveloping Dale in a hug he whispered, “Friends don't need to apologise to friends, and you, Dale Roberts, are my new friend.”

Later that day, Brad parked his Astra and Took Dale to the address on the card. “Hi Andy, Aunt May has sent you a new guest, his name is Dale. Can you look after him?”

“What sort of a question is that? You know I will, especially if Aunt May sent him. I'm not getting on her bad side.” Andy was laughing as he replied.

“Good. Can you make sure he knows how to get back to me in the morning? Dale is my new friend, and you know Aunt May will want to see him.”

“Your's, and Aunt May's wish is my command.” Andy laughed and gave a mock salute as Brad left.

After consulting Chris and The Major, Andy explained the rules of The New Boot and the significance of a private room before he noted a few details and gave Dale a key to his allocated room.

“Monday, Jeff will want to speak to you and help you start a claim for benefits. Aunt May is on your side, so I know you will be okay. Welcome to The New Boot.”

After a good night's sleep, Dale felt better than he had in a long time. He ate a light breakfast of cereal and juice and then left to meet Brad at The Old Shoe Factory Recycle Shop. He spent the morning helping Brad and his assistant in the shop. Later he had lunch with Brad in The Boot Cafe And Drop-In Centre. The highlight of his day was talking to and becoming friends with Charlie.

Over time Dale gained confidence and grew in stature, adding just enough weight to his frame. With the encouragement of Aunt May and his new friends, he studied and qualified as a State Registered Nurse. Moving into Aunt May's spare room was the second-best day of his life.

The best day was when Charlie kissed him and asked him to be his boyfriend.

Aunt May, with the support of The New Boot and The Old Shoe Factory, had performed her magic again, and her family grew by one more.