Save The Soldiers: Chapter Four

Half an hour later, I was sat in her garden sipping tea, and preparing to tell her the rest of my story. She had convinced me that it was better to tell someone rather than keep everything inside. I still wasn’t sure she was right, but something about her made me want to trust her.

“Okay so…what happened in the army?” she asked.
I told her everything, from when I first joined to when I left. She covered her mouth in shock when I told her about Harry, but tried to keep her face emotionless. I had warned her that I didn’t want another breakdown. Then I explained how life at home had changed. How mum had looked after me for the first time since I was young.

“It was like being a little kid again. Mum and I had barely spoken in years. I learnt new things about her. When I was feeling OK, mum would tell me the things going through her head when my dad passed away. Why she felt the way she did. And why even I wasn’t enough to bring her back down to earth. It’s complicated, y’know? But I think I finally understand where she was coming from. Because I felt…feel the same. I just have a different way of getting over things.”
“Like what?”

I thought back to the lonely days, locked in my bedroom alone, curtains closed and my world crumbling around me. But one day, a month or so before I met Leanne, I ventured up to the attic, just to have a nose around. And that was where I found it.

“Music. I found an old guitar. It was my father’s when he was in college,” I said “He had taught me some basic stuff before he died. I picked up where he left off and taught myself. I’ve wrote some songs myself. They’re not very good, I’ll admit that, but I can express my feelings. It’s so much easier than trying to talk to somebody. Conversation doesn’t come easily to me at the best of times.”
“You can talk to me.”

I laughed shakily “Yeah, I guess. You’re easy to talk to. And you don’t get scared when strange men tell you about their crappy lives. Oh, and let’s not forget we met when I was lying on the pavement.”

Leanne smiled “Well, you’re a nice guy. And brave. Not many people could say the things you just said to me aloud. And you know what? I’m not going to judge if you like to sleep on pavements.”
This time, my laugh was real “What strikes me as strange is how well you handle stuff like this.”
“Like I said, I’m not one to judge,” she said, sipping her tea “So. What are you going to do now? To get back on your feet?”

“I’m not sure,” I admitted “It’s going to be hard to find a job. I left school with hardly any qualifications. I don’t have the money to go back to education.”
“Are you prepared to do hard work?”
“I’ll take anything I’m given at this stage.”
“Then I think I know something perfect for you.”

***

Two days later, I was washing dishes in the Antonio’s, a small Italian restaurant near Leanne’s house where she worked as a chef. Stood to the left of me was a surly man named Robert. He had multiple chins and a glare that could turn milk sour. He spoke very little, and kept as far away from me as possible. On my other side was Robert’s complete opposite, an Irish kid called Bernie. He was cheery and bouncy, and quite literally whistled while he worked. He was a few years younger than me, but nowhere near as mature as he should be.

It was my first day, and Bernie was making chit-chat.
“So, how did you end up in a place like this?”
I shrugged “I needed a job. One of the chef’s, Leanne, recommended me. Do you know her?”
“Know her!” he spluttered “Of course I know her! Who doesn’t? Everybody loves Leanne.”
I found myself smiling at this comment. It was true, of course, that Leanne was very…
“She’s likeable,” I said aloud.
“Likeable? Is that the only word you can think of? Try hilarious, delightful, gorgeous…”
“Would you be talking about me there, Bernie?” a voice said from behind. I looked over my shoulder to see the boss, Mr Walsh, looking at Bernie with amusement.
“Ahh, Mr Walsh, you know I love you, but don’t flatter yourself. You ain’t my type.”
“Glad to hear it. How you doing, Sam? These two drove you insane yet?”
“I ain’t said a bloody word to him!” Robert said.
“Take a joke, Robert. I’m messing with you.”
Robert grumbled something before turning back to scrub a plate. Mr Walsh smiled and carried on inspecting his workers. I respected him. He seemed like a very nice guy, and though it was obvious he wouldn’t stand for any nonsense from his employees, he had easy banter with them and treated everyone as a friend. “Enjoy the rest of your shift, Sam! Don’t let me see any dirt on those plates!” he called over his shoulder.

I smiled to myself as I got back to work. To tell the truth, the job was exactly what I wanted. What I needed. It didn’t matter that it wasn’t well paid, and that anybody could do it. It felt good to be able to relax in my job, so different to the army. And of course, here I could spend my breaks with Leanne…

There was a small shed like building out the back of the restaurant. Customers assumed it was just a storage shed, but actually, Mr Walsh had converted it into a very comfortable staff room. So in my lunch break, Bernie and I headed over there to grab a coffee and eat our sandwiches. I was pretending to listen to Bernie going on about football when Leanne entered. She had a chicken and sweetcorn pizza in her hands, still steaming, and she waved to us as she walked over. Bernie wolf whistled.

“Looking good today, Leanne. I hope you’re planning on sharing that delicious looking pizza?”
“Of course I am. Some fussy bugger changed their minds, so it’s going spare. Tuck in guys!” she said, putting the plate on the coffee table and throwing herself down on the sagging couch beside me.
“Phew. I’m exhausted. I could do with having a nap. How’s your first day been so far, Sam?” she asked.
“It’s good. Bernie has been showing me the ropes.”
“You look better today,” she commented quietly. I smiled.
“I feel better, I guess. Work will be good for me.”
“I can see that. Did you start reading Heidi yet?”
I wrinkled my nose “Not yet.”
“Oh, come on! I’m pretty sure you’ve had time!” she teased.
“Oi! Lea! When you having this party you’ve been going on about?” Bernie whined “You said you’d invite some hot girls!”
“Really, Bernie? I don’t remember saying anything about a party.”
“You did!” he insisted “Let me remind you…you were saying how your birthday is coming up, and you were going to do something to celebrate.”
“And what makes you think I’d invite you?”
“Coz I can get the party started! And because you know that we’re made for each other…”
Leanne laughed “Sorry, Bernie. I don’t believe in true love and destiny. Maybe I’m not the one. But I might consider a party…would you be interested, Sam?”

I smiled awkwardly. I had never been one for parties. But I could imagine all too well the crowded rooms, loud chatter and attempts at conversation with complete strangers. Nightmare.
“I think I’ll give it a miss, but thanks for the offer…”
“Oh Sammy!” Bernie cried “You have to come! I need a guy to hang out with so I don’t look like I’m there for the girls!”
“But you are…”
“That’s not the point!”
“It’s up to him, Bernie. But I’d love it if you’d come. It would be a shame for you to miss it,” Leanne said, smiling angelically. I couldn’t resist that smile.
“Okay, I’ll come,” I said grudgingly.
“Great! I’ll text a few people tonight, see if they’re up for it. Both of you come shopping with me for food tomorrow?”

Bernie was practically drooling as he nodded. We finished our shift and I drove Leanne home. It was an arrangement we’d decided on, that we’d car share to work. After all, we lived close to each other, and I certainly wasn’t complaining about sharing a car with Leanne. As I pulled up outside her house, she patted my hand gently.

“Are you sure about the party? I understand if you don’t want to come.”
I desperately wanted to say I would give it a miss, but at the same time, I longed for more time in her company. So I smiled at her, cherishing her touch on my hand.
“I wouldn’t miss it. It’s your birthday! I just need to find something special to get you.”
Leanne laughed “I would decline, but I have a feeling you’re good at buying presents. Don’t tell me what you get, though. I like surprises!”
I chuckled “A surprise it is then.”
Leanne smiled as she unbuckled her seatbelt.
“Cya tomorrow.”
“Cya.”

I watched her wave as she skipped up to the door of her house, her gypsy skirt floating behind her. I smiled to myself and drove away, marvelling at how quickly a girl can turn your life inside out. Or in my case, pick up the pieces.