A New Term By Jonah
We're once more at the Norwich City Technology College with Simon. Not that there is any such place. None of the people in any of my stories are real. Many of the places are, though the people attached to them aren't, but none of the schools are real either. There are some things you don't want to inflict on real people or institutions by writing stories about them. Although I invented most of the people in this story, one of them - Garret - is the invention of another author - of Jacob Lion in the United States - as are some characters that only get a mention. I want to thank Jacob for his kind permission to use his characters in my story. If you've enjoyed my previous stories from 'A Letter from America', to 'On Sea and Sand', I hope you'll enjoy this one. if you do enjoy it, please spare a thought for the kind man who published it for you. Nifty doesn't charge you to read these stories, and he doesn't charge us authors either, but it does cost money to publish them. He bears this cost from his own pocket and from donations via https://donate.nifty.org/ . Please consider donating.
Chapter 12
"Daddy?"
"Philip".
"Daddy, what does the compilation lever do?"
"Combination lever Philip".
"Yes, that. What does it do?"
"Well, it's the rod that actually drives the valve spindle so that the steam doesn't just come in at one end of the cylinder. Its attached to the crosshead at one end, and to the reversing rod at the other end and the valve spindle is attached about a quarter of the way down from the top. It's called a combination lever because it combines the motion of the crosshead with the motion of the reversing gear".
"Why does it do that?"
"Well it has to have movement from both. If it was just driven by the crosshead, it would have a good, positive action that always went the right way and couldn't be affected by the movement of the axleboxes on the springs. The only thing is it would be the same all the time. The driver would have no way of altering the cut-off, and no way of making the engine go backwards. On the other hand the movement of the reversing gear does include controls so that the driver can control the cut-off as well as reverse the engine. The only thing is, it is driven by the wheels, so it could easily be affected by the movement of the axleboxes. Driving the valve spindle from the combination lever means it gets both types of action. Why do you need to know that Philip? "
"We've got the competition today, and Barry and Lloyd both know everything about it".
Of course! Saturday meant that my partner would be taking the boys to the junior club at the railway and they would have the competition that Barry helped him set last Sunday night.
"I don't remember any questions on valve gear in the competition Philip", I said, "but Barry was asking you questions about the WD's valve gear last week, wasn't he? Come on, lets get up and get breakfast before the others stir. You can have the shower first".
Philip slid from the bed and made for the bathroom while I slipped on a dressing gown and tiptoed downstairs.
"There's tea in the pot", said Jonah.
This man always beat me to everything.
"Thanks! Philip's already up and about. I don't suppose the others will be long".
Jonah placed a bowl of cereal in front of me and sat down to eat his own.
"Are you off to the railway today?"
"No, but Garret is. He'll be taking the boys with him. I'm going to be nosy and look into a few things. I think I'm going to start at North Earlham police station, but I'll need Garret to re-unite me with my car, which is still at school".
"I'd better see about getting breakfast started then".
"You'd better do nothing of the sort. That's my job".
"That's something I've missed since you left home", he remarked. "Peter just doesn't do the same job".
I couldn't help grinning.
"He'd have to do it in his sleep".
"You're right there", he said. "Who can that be at this time of the morning?"
I reached for the telephone.
"I'll be able to tell you in a moment. Simon Ito", I said to the mouthpiece.
"Mr. Ito, it's Dave Trent - Neil's father", said the earpiece.
"Hallo Mr. Trent", I said. "How is Neil? I hope he's doing OK".
"Oh yes. We've got him back home now, since yesterday. Only he's been asking for you. I think he'd hoped you'd visit him in hospital".
"They wouldn't let me", I replied. "Said it was family members only".
"I suppose it was at first", he said. "He's been out of danger for a few days now. I don't suppose they'd tell you that".
"He's out of the other sort of danger too", I said. "The ringleader of the gang that attacked him is in a secure ward at Hellesdon now".
"Oh, I don't think there was ever too much danger there", he said. "Just a schoolboy prank that went wrong is all".
"It turned out to be pretty serious Mr. Trent".
"I think you should come and see Neil", he responded. "He can tell you all about it better than I can".
"I'd like to. I don't have a car this morning though, since it's at school. I can come when I get it back".
"Why don't I pick you up and you can collect your car? Where are you?"
"Newton St. Faith. One forty Newton Road".
"Perfect. I have to drop Neil's mum off in Horsham so I can pick you up on the way back. I'll see you in a little while".
"Thanks Mr. Trent. See you soon".
"What's for breakfast?" said Lloyd.
"Scrambled egg on toast and it'll be ready when you are", replied Jonah. "So long as you're showered, you can grab yourself a bowl of cereal".
"We're off to the railway so I'll shower when I get back".
"Yes, we don't want to wash you away with too many showers", Jonah remarked but then let the matter drop.
Within half an hour Garret and the entire clan were fed and on their way to Sheringham. Jonah went with them. He would sooner have stopped with me, but he realised he couldn't invite himself to Neil's home.
Dave Trent (he insisted that I drop the Mr.) proved to be a friendly chap of about four or five years more than me. He was florid faced and thinning on top with a light ginger moustache. He looked like a used car salesman, but didn't act or speak like one. His gentle Norfolk accent made him sound like a well-to-do farmer. In fact, I discovered, he was neither of those things. On the way into the city he avoided talking about his son and told me all about himself. Oh, in case you're wondering, he was a civil servant working for the Department of Work and Pensions. He lived out near the Hospital in a rather large detached house.
"Hallo Sir", said Neil shyly as Dave ushered me in.
I arranged my features into a smile and said,
"Hallo Neil. It's good to see you up and about".
The boy turned to his father who answered his unspoken question with,
"Not a word Neil. I've left it entirely up to you. Now I'm going to put the kettle on and then I'll be upstairs in my office, if you need me".
As soon as his father pulled the door shut behind him, Neil sat down and became very serious.
"I'm glad you came Sir", he said quietly. "All the while I was in hospital I was worried because I knew what it must look like. I knew Shawn was in trouble because the police told me so, but they didn't listen to what I tried to tell them".
"So what really happened that morning then Neil".
"Well first you need to understand Shawn, and how we were. Did you know Ben and his mate were gay?"
"No, but it probably isn't any of my business".
"They both are, but Shawn makes sure nobody picks on them. I'm gay too but he's always looked out for me too. He never hurts anybody but, if people start trying to make trouble for us, Shawn knows how to make himself seem more dangerous than he is".
"Is Shawn gay... sorry, still none of my business".
"No, but he isn't anyway. He just tries to do what he thinks is right, which includes sticking up for people who aren't as good at it as he is".
"Neil, when you say he is good at making himself seem more dangerous than he is..."
"It's hard to explain. He always knows what to say to make people frightened of him. He never actually does anything , because he never needs to. Like I said, it's hard to explain".
"No, I think you explained it perfectly. I know exactly what you mean; only, this time, he might have overdone it. So what happened?"
"We were on our way to school and we were messing about on that waste-land. Ben's mate said you gave me a lift home and Shawn said something about consorting with the enemy. We were only larking about. Anyway, Shawn held me down and said they'd better do something about it, so Ben's mate started stripping me. I think he was getting turned on by it but Shawn wasn't. The two second- years tied me up and Ben said we should set my pants on fire, but Shawn said it wouldn't work. You couldn't get much of a fire from one pair of nylon underpants. He threw them up into the tree. I said it was time to untie me because it was ten to nine. Shawn said they'd better shift. They thought it was funny leaving me naked like that but I don't think they realised how cold it was. I expect they thought somebody would untie me. They were right, but they didn't know I would pass out before someone did".
"The hospital said you'd been beaten".
"Ben hit me a few times with a stick, but he didn't do it hard. I did more damage myself getting caught in some brambles when I tried to get free".
"So you think the police over-reacted?"
"Yes, but it wasn't their fault. They didn't know how convincing Shawn could be".
"They over-reacted enough to make Shawn try to take his own life", I said. "He's on suicide watch and, if we're not careful he could get institutionalised for life".
"But we were only larking about".
"I'm not sure the police will want to believe you. I'll go and talk to them and see what I can do. Have you told your dad what you've just told me?"
"Yes, but I told him I wanted to tell you myself".
"Good boy! If your dad can run me to the college so that I can collect my car, I'll set about trying to convince the police".
"I'll go and tell him. Sir... Thank you".
Well I collected my car and drove to Sprowston police station to talk to Sergeant Robbins. I figured he'd be more likely to believe me that anyone at North Earlham would be. I was right.
"Yes, I was right wasn't I?" he said. "The trouble is, his suicide attempt was genuine enough and that's what will keep him behind bars. There's a superintendent from A division at the Met working at North Elmdon. He's investigating supposed negligence by Alf Collins and Colin Drew. I bet he'll be more likely to listen to us than any of their own officers. I'll give them a ring and ask to see him".
It turned out that the Met officer was an old friend. He remembered me as a teenager, roughly the same age as Shawn was. Superintendent Lake had been a friend of Doctor Rob Rankine, an Australian who had lodged with Jonah for a while. Mr. Lake had only been an inspector then. It transpired that he listened to us and believed us, but said that the outcome of Shawn's suicide attempt might depend on the assault charge currently being pursued by North Earlham officers. We needed a complete about face by the officers at North Earlham and Superintendent Lake said that he thought he knew how to achieve it.
I drove back to the Trent household feeling more positive about the case.
Having made my report to Dave and Neil, I drove home feeling that my day had not been wasted.
When the boys and my father and my partner returned, excitedly swapping facts about steam chests and stuffing glands and insulated block joints, they quickly took over the kitchen.
Jonah sat in the chair opposite me.
"Did you succeed in making the world a better place Simon?" he asked.
"I think so", I replied. "How did you know I was doing that?"
"It's what you do", he responded. "You know I'm proud of you don't you?"
The End