The Spirit Takers: Part 1: the Battle for the Outer Reaches

By MSA Blackwell

An adventure story involving two teenage students, who visit a mansion of a mysterious owner, whose ancestors were big game hunters in Africa. The mansion had many glass cases filled with stuffed animals.

 

                    One night, they were asked to accompany two strange minders and the son of

the owner’s butler, to help carry the spirits of the animals back to Africa, where a ceremony was to be held.

 

                  On their way, their craft was attacked by some evil aliens called jungoes, who were after the spirits. They were forced to take a short-cut through a world called ‘The Outer Reaches.’

 

                 On arrival, they found that the world had been taken over by the jungoes, who had built an electro-magnetic shield around the world to stop everyone entering or leaving, plus a plant, designed to change the atmosphere to a gas, which would kill all the creatures.

 

                 After many adventures, they escape, with a promise to return and reach the ceremony site.

 

                They return later, together with volunteers, to rid the world of the jungoes and destroy both the shield and the gas plant.

 

               Upon returning to earth, Sammy was attacked by a jungo.

 

               This added a potentially horrific twist to the story.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris AU
• Release date: Mar 22, 2013
• ISBN: 9781483609928

MSA Blackwell

Mr. Safiee Blackwell, a London born, International business man, has spent years enduring the loneliness and heat of the desert, the wars in Africa and the jungles of Asia, protecting idle equipment and essential industries from the indignity of not working, when they are most needed. He now resides in Asia, together with his caring wife, a model and actress who insists he should live forever.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Samuel (Sammy to his friends) Tenant was the only son of Mr and Mrs Tenant, and lived in a village in the south of England, not unlike the ones you may have seen. The village was several hundreds of years old and little had been done to update it. The Tenant’s lived in an old thatched roofed cottage, passed down to them by Sammy’s grandfather.

It was a double story building with three bedrooms. The kitchen was huge and the cooking was done not by gas or electric, but by an old wood-burning unit. Sammy’s father always said that the cooking tasted better. The house had quite a large garden, with a small drive leading to the main road.

The village had a church and a few dozen shops and about five hundred inhabitants, plus a number of pubs where all the fathers would go in the evening and come out looking very sick and singing loudly.

If they made too much noise, the local constable would make them sleep in the local lock-up and pay a fine in the morning.

It had a community centre, where dances and parties would be held. The people there were part of a farming community and the news of the day would be the drought or the rains or the price of beef.

The nearest town was called Roxborough and was about seven miles away. It was far bigger and had a few schools and two cinemas as well as a library and a number of supermarkets. Sammy’s mum usually did her shopping there and if her husband couldn’t take her on his bike, she would catch the bus.

Sammy was a sturdy young man for his age, brought about by his love for football and his regular training. He was above average height with a shock of blonde hair falling over his face.

He studied at the secondary school which was in Roxborough and was getting on quite well.

He had a few mates, but his best friend was Mary Holmes, a young lady the same age who lived a few houses down the lane. She was of average height and had long dark hair way past her shoulders.

She was a pretty girl, but not beautiful. She and Sammy had gone to school together right from the primary school and were now classmates. Mary was an orphan who was looked after by her grandparents. She loved Sammy’s mum and was always round there helping with the cooking or doing her homework with Sammy.

*     *     *

Since a young age they talked of what they’d like to be in the future. Mary wanted to be a technical illustrator and was quite an accomplished artist. She took her sketchbook wherever she went and could make lightning drawings.

Sammy would say he’d love to be a vet. Apart from his sports, Sammy loved animals. This love started when his grandfather used to take him out into the fields when he was young, to pick mushrooms at six o clock in the morning. His grandfather would point out that mushrooms were dark on the underside, whilst toad stalls were a light colour on the underside and were very poisonous. Bringing them back home, they made part of a delicious breakfast.

To get to the fields, they walked through the local farm where Sammy would see the animals jumping and galloping out of their pens and start to enjoy the day.

The farmer used to let him help to clean out the animals pens which, although smelly, brought him close to them. There was nothing he liked doing better than to be there when the local vet visited the farm to check on a sick animal. After a while the vet let Sammy try to diagnose the problems with the animals and occasionally give them a vaccination.

At home, his own pets would be cleaned and fed every day. He taught them tricks and the cats could be made to lie on the ground and roll over when he indicated.

If they were wild animals, he would ensure there were crumbs or leftovers for them. He even tried to feed a crow that had appeared outside his bedroom window a few days earlier, but although the crow stayed for a few minutes and looked at him; when he opened the window, it soon flew off.

*     *     *

Sammy’s dad was a postman of small statue, with a small blonde moustache and thinning hair. He had a jovial face and smiled a lot. He would get up early to collect the mail from the sorting office and take it on his motorbike to the different addresses around the area.

The post office had given Sammy’s dad a small motorbike called a BSA. It didn’t have a large engine and couldn’t go very fast.

The bike was very special, because it had a large box attached to the bike, at the side, supported by a separate wheel. The box could open for large parcels and it had a seat that could be used to ferry passengers about. When he used it, the engine would give out a ‘phut’ phut’ sound and was quite distinctive.

During the holidays Sammy’s father would take his wife and Sammy to the seaside near Southampton with Sammy sitting behind his father and his mother sitting in the box (called a side- car.)

*     *     *

On this particular day, Sammy and Mary were doing some work for school when his dad came home for lunch. He carried a letter that needed a signature and he handled it carefully throughout lunchtime.

As his dad was about to go, Sammy him where he as going.

‘I’ve got a special delivery to Hamble lodge, the big house on the hill.’

Sammy glanced at Mary who nodded approvingly. ‘Can we come?’ he asked.

His father looked at him and on a sudden impulse, replied ‘Oh, very well, but you’ll have to sit behind me and Mary can sit in the side-car with the other letters I have to deliver today.’

With that, they gathered up their work and went outside. Mary held on to her sketchbook and scrambled into the side car and Sammy climbed behind his father on the pillion seat.

‘Right. We’re off now, mother.’ he called to his wife. ‘And Sammy and Mary are coming with me.’

‘Be careful,’ she replied. Mrs Tenant a home-loving lady, who always seemed to be wearing a pinafore and did all the household chores herself. She loved her family and did her best for them.

His father checked that the letter was in his post bag which he hung around his shoulder, turned his head and shouted. ‘Off we go,’ Then, kicking the engine into life, made his way to the main road, then into the long lane that led to the big house on the hill.

*     *     *

The big house on the hill was originally built several hundred years previously, as a mansion for the local squire. It had acres of grounds and a lake. It was surrounded by high walls to keep out unwanted visitors and was owned by a very mysterious man called Doctor Portman-Brown who, with his father, grandfather and great grandfather, it was said, had been big game hunters in Africa.

He was feared by all the young boys and no-one would dare to climb over the wall to steal apples, for it was said that if he caught one, he would cut off his head and hang it on the wall in his house, alongside the other animals that hung there. Sammy thought about this and the dreadful thoughts he had had when he was small and began to laugh.

‘Dad,’ he shouted. ‘When I was younger, I was scared in case if I was caught by the owner of the house, he would cut off my head. All my friends thought the same.

His father smiled and looked at him as the bike proceeded along the lane. ‘I see,’ he shouted back. ‘I’ve heard he only does it to naughty young men, and as you’re good, he won’t do that to you. Anyway, where did you get that idea?’

‘Oh, nowhere,’ replied Sammy, remembering the fear he used to have about the place.

‘I expect he put that story around to prevent boys from stealing his apples, don’t you?’

Sammy didn’t answer. He just wondered what would happen when he got there. He liked riding with his father, as he could look around see what was going on in the vicinity. Also he could and wave to the passers by going about their business.

Sometimes his dad would see Miss Pringle at the crossroads and she would wave her hand for him to stop and collect some letters she had written.

Having been a school principle, she would talk to Sammy and if he didn’t pronounce properly, she would ask him to read a passage from a book she carried. Sammy hated seeing her especially as he was grown-up, but didn’t want to upset her, so always obeyed her instructions.

Then off she would go with skirts flying in the breeze looking like a witch he had seen in a picture when his parents took him to the cinema some years earlier.

He tried to imagine what it was like to deliver letters to Mr Mar, the local funeral man. He was a funeral Director. He was a tall thin middle aged man, who always wore black with a top hat and his fingers were always moving, as he grasped his coat collar, like someone who plays the piano.

His partner, Mr Tombs was usually with him. Mr Tombs was quite short and fat and also wore black, but his waistcoat was too tight and was always undone. He had a thick moustache and always carried a tape measure with him around his neck. If someone coughed or looked sick, he would quickly hand over a calling card and if that person was also old, he would do a quick measurement with his tape measure and go back, it was said, to make a coffin in which to put a dead body.

People usually did their shopping in the village, but no-one would dare cough or sneeze near them. The thought of such people made him shudder. Sammy’s dad sometimes had to deliver letters to the funeral parlour. Sammy wondered whether his father had ever been measured, which made him shiver.

‘Are you cold?’ his dad shouted, noticing that Sammy was trembling.

‘No.’ he replied, but thought that his dad was very brave going to such places, especially if he didn’t feel well.

Mary just sat back enjoying the ride. Her long dark hair streamed behind her as the wind blew in her face. The weather was warm and she liked Sammy and his parents

With that, the journey was made in silence, broken only by the honking of vehicle horns as Sammy’s dad hogged the road and impatient folks could not pass. The motor bike chugged away as they reached the hill that led to the big house.

As they approached, Sammy looked at it and decided it was the biggest house he had ever seen. It was surrounded by a big high wall and there were big iron gates at the front that dwarfed a normal-sized man.

As they stopped outside the gate, Sammy looked through the bars and saw a long winding drive leading to the house. On each side of the drive, the grass had been cut short and looked very neat and he could see life-like animals standing in amongst the gardens.

His dad got off the bike and spoke through some sort of telephone at the side of the gates. ‘We’ve come to deliver a registered letter to Doctor Portman—Brown,’ he said, in an important voice.

Sammy couldn’t hear what else was said, but suddenly, the gates slowly opened, with a loud creak.

‘Come on, nippers,’ he said as drove the bike up the drive as he drove, he and Sammy were shaken when they heard a low growl. It was quite distinctive. Mary ducked down in the sidecar.

Then from behind a bush a large dog bounded out. As it raced towards them Sammy cried out for his dad to speed up. Mary screamed.

Just then a voice rang out. ‘Stop,’ it said. The dog immediately sat down. ‘Heel,’ the voice repeated and the dog turned around and disappeared into the bushes.

‘That gave me a scare,’ shouted Sammy to his dad, looking round, but couldn’t see anyone.

‘You’re right there, lad!’

*     *     *

They proceeded to a large half circle in the driveway that stood in front of the door.

His dad parked his bike and banged on the knocker on the front door. It sounded like a peal of thunder, so loud was the noise. Sammy stood back looking for the dog and wondering whether he had made the right decision to come.

Mary climbed out and stood behind him. Slowly the door opened and a dark face peered out at them. This shook Tommy, because there weren’t any coloured people near his village, as far as he knew.

‘Yes?’ the voice asked

‘We have a registered letter that a Doctor Portman-Brown needs to sign,’ his father said, in an important voice.

Just then a booming voice shouted out in a gruff voice. ‘Who is it, James?’

‘It’s the postman, bwana. He has a registered letter for you.’

‘Well. Let them in then and bring them to the study.’

The door opened. Sammy briefly saw the back of a large man as he disappeared into a room.

A very tall coloured man stood there dressed in a butlers outfit with a black bow tie.

Sammy noticed this, because his father had worn one once, when they all went to a family wedding.

‘Take off your shoes please,’ said the butler.

Taking off their shoes, they stood up facing him.

‘You may come in now.’

Filled with awe, Mary and Sammy followed Mr Tenant into the big entrance hall.

*     *     *

Chapter 2

Once inside, the butler pointed to slippers and asked them to put them on.

This they did.

The hall was the biggest entrance hall that Sammy had ever seen. It was bigger than his school hall or the church hall and had two sweeping stairs at the rear, one on the left and one on the right. The floor was marble and the walls were painted a blue colour. Large pictures hung on the walls and an enormous chandelier hung overhead. There were lots of doors leading to other rooms.

In the centre of the hall, facing the main door was a big glass case and as they walked past, Sammy could see a full size model of a man dressed as a hunter, sitting on a canvas stool in a glass case, holding an enormous gun on his hand.

‘Dad,’ he said. ‘Look at that gun. It’s enormous!’

His father, who was also amazed at the size of the hall, but knowing about these things, replied that it was an elephant gun and was bigger because elephants needed a bigger gun to shoot them.

The butler led them through a large door into a room that looked very comfortable. It had lots of settees and carpets and bookcases full of books that took up the whole side of two walls. A large window with doors that were open looked out on the spacious grounds and the curtains, of a bright purple colour, billowed as the door opened.

Outside, Sammy could see the grounds that seemed to extend for ever. Looking around he could see there were lots of pictures and animal heads on the walls. There were many animal heads that he didn’t recognize, but smiled to himself when he couldn’t see any boy’s heads.

*     *     *

Standing in front of a big fire was an elderly, man with his back to them. He turned around. He was tall, but overweight with a podgy stomach. Casually dressed in white trousers and a smoking jacket, he looked every bit the part of a successful business man. He had grey hair which was combed back and extended to his shoulders and a large handlebar moustache, much bigger than his fathers.

He was holding a book and upon their entrance. He put it onto a small table and faced them.

It’s hot in here, thought Sammy, loosening his collar.

‘I like to see an open fire.’ he said, reading Sammy’s thoughts. ‘It reminds me of the jungle. How do you do?’ he continued, ‘I’m Doctor Portland-Brown. What can I do for you?’ His voice was rich and deep and Sammy waited for his father to answer.

‘How do you do?’ replied Sammy’s dad. ‘My name is Tenant, and I’m the local postman. I’ve a registered letter for you, sir.’

‘And who is this?’ continued the doctor, looking at Sammy.

‘This is my son, Sammy, ‘he replied. ‘And this is Miss Mary, his friend.’

Looking at Mary, the doctor smiled and held out his hand. ‘How do you do young lady?’

‘How do you do?’ she replied, gently returning the hand shake.

He then looked at Sam. ‘How do you do, young man?’ holding his hand out.

Sammy shook his hand. ‘How do you do, sir?’ replied Sammy respectfully.

‘Fine looking young people,’ declared the doctor. ‘Right, sit down and let me have the letter.’

Mr Tenant handed the letter over and the doctor signed the piece of paper and retired to another settee.

Turning to the butler, he asked that two cups of tea and two glasses of lemonade and some of cream cakes be brought in. He leant over to Sammy. ‘You don’t smoke, do you?’ he asked, with a smile on his face.

Sammy shook his head. ‘No.’

‘Do you like cream cakes?’

‘Yes,’ he replied, for he was always hungry.

Sammy had been looking around him when he came into the room and liked in particular the heads of the animals hanging on the walls.

The doctor saw him looking around.

You like my animals?’ he enquired.

‘Yes, said Sammy, who had always been interested in wild life. ‘Is that an antelope?’

The doctor laughed. ‘Nearly right. It’s a stag.’

Sammy continued. That’s a tiger.’

‘Right, boy. You know your animals. But what’s that one?’ pointing at a head behind him.

Sammy looked. ‘I think it’s a Hyena.’

‘Very good,’ replied the doctor. Turning to Sammy’s dad, he remarked. ‘Your boy’s clever.

Where did he learn about animals?’

‘Oh, he’s always been interested in them,’ replied Mr Tenant. He’s got books on them in his bedroom and model ones on his table and has a lot of pets.’

‘MN,’ he replied, rubbing his small beard.

Turning to Mary and looking at her sketch pad. ‘And what do we have there?’

‘My sketch-pad. I like drawing.’

‘Let me see.’ He held out his hand. Mary handed them over. The doctor looked at each page. ‘These are very good,’ he commented, before handing them back. ‘Now come on, drink up and eat your cream cakes. If you don’t like cream cakes young lady, there are some biscuits in the container.’

He turned to Sammy’s dad, ‘How long have you been a postman, Mr Tenant?’

‘About ten years.’

‘Well it’s a healthy job and it gets you out.’

‘It’s alright when it’s not raining,’ he laughed

The doctor looked at Sammy and Mary. ‘And what do you do?’ he asked.

‘We are studying in secondary school. I want to be a vet and Mary wants to be an artist.’

‘Very good.’ He then paused and looked hard at Sammy’s dad. ‘Are you in a hurry?’

‘No.’

‘Would the youngsters like to look around at my animals?’

Mr Tenant looked at his son and he could see the excitement in his son’s eyes. I can deliver the other letters later. he thought. ‘It would be an honour,’ he replied.

‘Right.’ Pulling on a long cord, the coloured butler appeared. ‘This is James, my butler. He comes from Africa and he’s here for a few months to help me out. He’s got his wife and son here. I’ll introduce them to you soon. Come drink up, before we walk around.’

Turning to the butler. ‘James?’ he said. ‘Please ensure the lights are on in the museum rooms.’

‘Yes bwana.’ The butler turned and left the room.

‘Right, drink up and then we’ll see what we’ve got here.’ Looking at Sammy, the doctor said with a wink. ‘I expect you to know the animals.

Before we go, I think I’d better explain what you are going to see and the significance of them. You see, my great grandfather was Colonel Portman-Brown, a big game hunter in Africa for fifteen years and during that time he captured and killed many animals and put them on show. Many of them were brought back here for the doctors and scientists to examine.

The ones you are able to see today, have been shown to the public in London for many years now, but when it was decided to build a new museum, I had the animals returned here for safe keeping. I keep them in the glass cases and try to display them as if they were attacking, but don’t be scared, they won’t bite you,’ he added with a smile. ‘You may think it’s cruel but was the only way of studying the creatures and deciding how evolution created them, besides, there are many people who had never seen wild animals except in a zoo.

I was trained to be an animal scientist of a sort. I used to go to Africa with my father and make notes of any diseases the animals had and send them to London for analysis. If you want to be an animal doctor, Master Sammy, then we must have some more talks.’

‘Is that you in the hall?’ enquired Sammy, changing the subject.

‘No. That’s my great-grandfather in his hunting outfit. He wore it for many years in the bush.’

‘Gosh!’ said Sammy. ‘Who is the man beside him?’

‘He was one of the pathfinders and his grandson saved my life. He’s here with his mother and son. His son’s name is Amogo. James is the father. His real name is Aldo, but I prefer James.

He turned towards the door, ‘James,’ he called. ‘Please tell Amogo to come to the animal room 3.’

‘Yes bwana,’ came the reply from another room.

‘Come. Let’s look at our animals.’

The doctor led the way out of his study into the hall. As they walked past the glass display case showing his grandfather when he was younger, Sammy stopped and commented. ‘Did you kill many animals?’

‘No, not many. By the time I had finished my studies and joined my father the world was a different place and it wasn’t the right thing to do to kill off the animals.’

Sammy continued to look at the scene in the case. ‘Did you have many native helpers?’

‘Yes hundreds. James, as I call him, is a relation of one of my best men. That’s why he’s here with his son and wife.’

*     *     *

They followed the doctor into a large room in which was a number of glass cases scattered around the room, not in any particular order. ‘These are some of the animals we keep here. The others are in adjoining rooms.’

‘What do you think of these, Mary?’ Sammy asked.

‘I’ve never seen so many in one place,’ she replied.

‘Most impressive,’ commented Mr Tenant.

Just then another door opened and a coloured boy stood there.

‘Come here,’ said the doctor. ‘Here’s some people I’d like you to meet.’

The young man, who was the same height as Sammy, came over shyly and stood before the doctor. ‘Now, this is Amogo.’ Then, turning to Sammy. ‘This young man’s name is Sammy. This young lady is Mary and this is Sammy’s father, pointing to Mr Tenant.

Amogo was about Sammy’s age and was very dark. His hair was cut short, his teeth shone brightly and he looked quite strong. He wore a simple pair of shorts and a ‘T’ shirt that read. ‘Manchester United for ever.’

‘Hello,’ replied Amogo.

‘Hi,’ said Amogo, looking at Mary.

Mary felt quite shy. She hadn’t been so near to a coloured boy before and she marvelled at his shiny skin, short curly black hair, his bright eyes and beautiful teeth. She decided he was very handsome. ‘Hello,’ she replied softly

‘Now these young people are here to see the animals. I want you to take Sammy and Mary round, while I have a word with his dad. OK? By the way Miss Mary, you are welcome to do a quick sketch of whatever you see.’

‘Ok,’ said Amogo and he led the way through the large display rooms. The doctor stopped and looked at Mr Tenant. ‘We don’t get many visitors,’ he said. ‘Come into the library and tell me about yourself.’

*     *     *

Amogo, with Sammy and Mary following, continued their way through the enormous room where there were dozens of glass cases, some bigger than Sammy. He had never seen so many animals close up, other than those in the zoo and you couldn’t get close because some of them were dangerous. Some glass cases were so close to each other that Sammy couldn’t walk between them.

Amogo explained that they were only put there temporarily and would be moved elsewhere, eventually.

Looking at some smaller cases piled on each other Mary peered at the snakes and spiders inside. She shuddered. ‘Ugh!’ she said. ‘These look horrid.’

‘Oh there are loads of those in Africa,’ said Amogo. ‘Would you like to hold one?’ he asked. lightly. ‘We have some live ones in the hot house.’

‘No thanks. Looking at them gives me the frights.’

Looking into one case, Sammy enquired. ‘What’s this one? It looks like a pig with tusks.’

‘It’s a wild boar.’

‘We have them here, but they’re not as big as these and the tusks are smaller,’ he commented.

They walked around the cases with Sammy becoming more impressed, as he looked at them.

‘I don’t like that one,’ commented Mary, pointing at a bison case. ‘It looks so angry.’

‘It’s a native of America and Africa,’ explained Amogo. ‘But the American ones are being killed off by the settlers.’

‘What a shame.’

‘How long have you been here? Sammy asked suddenly.

‘About two months.’

‘You come from Africa, Right?’

‘Yes.’

‘I haven’t seen you around town. Do you go to school here?’

‘No, I’m here for a holiday. I go back in about three months.’

Sammy thought about it. ‘I’ll ask my dad if he can find out if you can come to my school for a while.’

‘That sounds nice. It gets boring here.’

Sammy felt sorry for him. ‘You must come to our house,’ he said.

‘I’ll ask my dad.’

Mary stood at the gorilla case, observing a full grown gorilla sitting beside the stump of a tree, holding a branch in its hand. ‘Can I do a quick sketch?’ she asked.

‘Of course.’ replied Amogo. ‘We’ll be back in about twenty minutes. Is that enough time?’

‘Yes.’

They continued the tour of the room. There were so many different kinds of animals there, all looking out of the cases as if very angry. The tiger was bigger than Sammy and he marvelled thinking how easy it would be for the tiger to catch large animals. The claws were long and sharp and its teeth curved out and upwards.

‘We’ve got lots of other animals. I’ll ask bwana if you can see them another time,’ said Amogo.

‘I’d like that.’

After collecting Mary who was sketching urgently outside the cage, they turned and made their way back to the library

The doctor and Mr Tenant were sitting on the sofa deep in discussion. The doctor looked up. ‘OH, you’re back.’

‘I thought I wouldn’t take too much time,’ said Amogo.

‘Good lad. Now sit down both of you. I’ve been talking to Mr Tenant and spoken with Mary’s grandmother and they said that if you like, you can come and stay with us to keep Amogo company, then in a few days,’ looking at Amogo, ‘You can go later and stay with Sammy’s family if there’s time You can all get to know each other and how we live. What do you think?’

Sammy stood still and looked at Amogo. He looked at Sammy. They both felt that they could both be good friends.

‘Yes, please,’ he said, enthusiastically.

‘I like it,’ said Amogo.

‘How about you, young lady?’

‘Well, if my grandmother said it was OK and Mr Tenant thinks it will be safe, then I’d like to stay to do some drawings.’

‘Don’t worry, Amogo’s mother, Sheba, is here for company, if you need it.’

Mary nodded in approval.

‘Right, that’s settled,’ said the doctor. ‘Did you do any drawings?’

‘Yes, but I didn’t have much time.’

‘Let me see.’ Taking the drawings, the doctor put on his glasses and pulled at the small beard at his chin. He viewed them intently.

‘This is very, very good,’ he commented. ‘You must spend some time here. I will try to get the drawings put up in the museum and who knows, you may even sell some,’ he added, with his eyes twinkling, handing the book back to Mary.

He looked at Mr Tenant. ‘I’ll pick them up at your house at ten tomorrow. They can bring what clothes they like, except for dinner every night, when we dress up, but we have everything else.’

‘Lovely. What time shall I bring them here?’

‘No, no,’ insisted the doctor. ‘I’ll send my rather old lorry round.’

Sammy could have jumped with joy. What a super way to spend a holiday, he thought

‘And the boy can stay with us then?’

‘Of course,’ replied the doctor. ‘If his mother and father agree. He’ll like the change and it won’t be so lonely for him. Now let me just clear things with his mother and father. Help yourselves to the cakes and drinks. I’m sure Amogo will be pleased to tell you all about his home.’

He went out of the room.

*     *     *

Sammy’s father, not wishing to sit quietly, opened the conversation with Amogo. ‘Which part of Africa do you come from?’

‘Kenya. It’s on the east side.’

‘Oh yes,’ he replied. ‘Tell me Amogo, your English is very good.’

‘I learnt it at an English school near where I live.’

‘And what do you think of England?’

‘Oh, it’s very nice, but the weather can be cold.’

Sammy finished his mouthful of cream cake and asked. ‘What do you like doing in your spare time?’

‘Oh, I don’t get much spare time. I have to study in the mornings and tidy up my room then help my mum brush the floors in the display rooms.’

‘That keeps you busy. Do you play football?’

‘Whenever I can, otherwise it’s not much fun on your own.’

‘I’ll bring my football and spare Manchester United shirt, if you like.’

‘Ok,’ replied Amogo. ‘That’ll be fun.’

Just then the doctor returned. ‘All solved,’ he boomed. ‘We’ll see how you get on here for a few days, then,’ looking at Mr Tenant, ‘we’ll see!’

‘Good idea.’

Mr Tenant looked at his watch. ‘I think I had better be moving along. It’s very kind of you, Doctor.’

‘No problem,’ he replied.

He looked at Sammy and Mary. ‘See you tomorrow, then.’

‘Yes,’ said Sammy. ‘See you Amogo.’

‘See you.’

‘Goodbye,’ said Mary shyly.

‘Goodbye.’

With that, the two men shook hands and were led to the front door by James. He smiled as he bid them goodbye, showing off a mouthful of white teeth. ‘See you tomorrow.’

The door closed and they put on their shoes and jumped on the motorbike. Mr Tenant turned to Mary and asked softly if everything was OK.

‘Yes,’ she replied. ‘I’m looking forward to staying there. As long