Changes: Buckland Gap 2

Charles Stanley Wiltshire

Changes

Buckland Gap2

Copyright © Charles Stanley Wiltshire (2017)

The right of Charles Stanley Wiltshire to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with section 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

www.bucklandgap.com

First Published (2017)

ISBN: 9781973517382

Acknowledgments

A special thanks to my family, friends and the people of Portsmouth who have helped with the creation of this novel.

Chapter 1

It was just after midday on a warm June day and the sun was shining brightly in a clear blue sky. Despite the warmth of the pleasant afternoon sun under the roof of Portsmouth and Southsea railway station, there was still a chill in the air. It was also a very dull and lonely place to be if after many years away there was no one around to welcome a person home.

This is the reality that presented itself to Steven Harding as he stepped from the nearly empty train on to the equally deserted and dirty platform.

Welcome home son, he thought to himself as he walked slowly towards the stairs that led down to the ground level and the station exit.

Steven was twenty-six years of age. He was six feet two inches tall, muscular and very fit. His dark brown hair was shoulder length and with a parting on the left side. His face was ordinary apart from the flat nose which had been broken at least four times during his time in prison. Unlike most people in his family, his body was not covered with tattoos, piercings and scars.

His total possessions in life were with him as he ran down the stairs. Apart from the clothes he was wearing Steven also had a small bag with the rest of his clothes, a small radio and a few essential bathroom items. In his wallet was one hundred pounds in cash and his prison release documents.

He passed his train ticket through the exit machine and walked into the public area of the station. He looked around the old, dirty building. This was as he seemed to remember the station from all those years ago, nothing it appeared had changed.

However, outside of the railway station, it was a different situation, though. The city of Portsmouth had changed totally since he had last been here.

When Steven had left Portsmouth it was a working class city in which life revolved around the shrinking but still important Naval Base. Now, while the naval base still existed, the city had been transformed into a thriving university location.

Steven could not help but notice this transformation as he walked the short distance from the train station to the city courthouse. The sheer number of student buildings and university signposts gave him a hint of just how important the campus now was to the city. Also, the number of students wandering around the numerous coffee houses was a big hint.

As he approached the city court building Steven realised this was also a building that had not changed much since his last visit when he was a mere sixteen years old. The difference now was that during his last visit he was found guilty of armed burglary and sent to prison, this time he had just been released and was due to meet his probation officer for the first time.

Another sign of the changing times was the fact he was thoroughly searched before being allowed admission into the inner area of the courthouse. However once through the security checks, he was quickly able to make his way to the probation reception desk.

Hello, He said to the young woman who was sitting behind the desk

Can I help you? Replied the woman in a slightly off-hand manner

Steven noticed the tone but chose to ignore it, he had become hardened to the way people treated him over the past years and it no longer affected him in any way.

Yes you can He responded in a cheerful manner I have an appointment with Julie Daniels at one, can you tell her I am here please

Hmm sniffed the receptionist It is only five minutes to one but I will see if she is available

Once again Steven ignored the attitude. A few years ago he would have lost his temper and thumped the woman for being so disrespectful and rude. But these days his manner and outlook on life were very, very different. Steven no longer responded to rudeness with violence, these days he pitied those who felt the need to be so discourteous.

What is your name? She added.

Steven Harding

The receptionist picked up her desk telephone and dialled an internal number. After a few seconds wait she started to speak.

Oh hello She then said in a tone very different from the one she had used on Steven I have a Mr Harding for you, first name Steven

There was a pause while she listened to the reply.

Very good She then said before putting the telephone back down.

Room seven She added without looking up at Steven.

Steven looked down the corridor and noted where room seven was.

Thank you very much for your help, He said and then walked down the hallway.

When he reached room seven Steven paused for a moment, took a deep breath and then knocked.

Come in, Said a female voice from inside the office.

Steven did as he was told and stepped into the room.

The room itself was a simple enough affair. In the centre was a medium size desk. On one side of the desk sat Julie Daniels while on the other side was three smaller, less comfortable chairs. Next to the desk was a very well stocked bookcase and next to the window was a small table with a very nicely designed flower vase.

On the desk, there were the usual trappings of a modern office, namely laptop, mobile phone, desk telephone and numerous stationary items.

Julie herself was thirty years old. She was a married woman with one child. She was a tall woman at six foot and also a very attractive person. She had a slim figure and long blonde hair. Her black trouser suit and flat shoes suited her looks and Steven for a moment found her slightly attractive, but only for a moment.

She gave a faint smile as Steven walked into the office and without standing she said.

Hello Mr Harding, please take a seat

Steven nodded and sat in the middle of the three empty seats.

Julie looked up from her notes and then asked.

No problems finding the building I take it?

No He replied It is quite close to the train station

Good, so how are you finding life on the outside?

Steven thought about this for a moment, after all, he had only been a free man for six hours.

Not sure He replied honestly I have only just got out and it has been a very long time

Julie looked at him for a moment. Steven could sense she was studying his facial expressions; he could not help but feel a little uncomfortable with this.

So, do you think it was a harsh sentence? She asked eventually.

No Replied Steven honestly For what I did it was right, I deserved it

So you regret what you did?

Yes. What I did was wrong, it was stupid and I will never do it again, that I can promise you

Well, let us hope so Responded Julia in what appeared to be a doubtful tone.

I really do mean it, Steven then said. He had picked up on her negative tone and decided it was time to explain his plans for the future.

I intend to get a job and then go to university He added.

Julia stared at Steven in disbelief.

You want to go to university? She said after a brief silence.

Yes Responded Steven in a defensive manner. He could not help but feel a little hurt by her negative tone.

I do not mean to put you off, Said Julia But have you got any idea what is involved in getting into a university?

Yes, I do. I have looked into the matter very carefully. I have worked very hard over the last few years and I now have all of the required qualifications

Julia appeared a little taken aback by this reply and she looked back down at his case notes. Steven realised then that this was probably the first time she had really studied his prison record in any great detail.

I see, She said eventually It states here that you have eight GCSE’s at grade B or higher and four A‘Level graded at A Star. How did this happen?

Steven shrugged and explained.

It’s simple, I hated prison and I decided that I am never going back. While I was inside I realised that there had to be more to life. Unlike most of my family, I do not relish a life if crime, courts and prison. I want a life with a future, a life that I can enjoy.

He paused for a moment before continuing.

I also realised that if I wanted a good job I needed formal qualifications. So one year I studied for my GCSE in Maths and English language. I got top grades in both, but also I realised that it was fun, I actually enjoyed learning.

Julia said nothing. She actually appeared to be stunned.

So the next year I took another six GCSE’s and passed them all while still enjoying the experience. It was then that one of the friendlier wardens told me I was good enough to get a degree but first I needed A ‘Levels. So I studied and sat those four as well and as you can see I passed every one of them with high grades

That is impressive Said Julia So have you applied for a place?

Yes, I applied at Portsmouth and also Brighton. Both have accepted me, I can start in October at either Replied Steven with a proud smile on his face.

Portsmouth and Brighton, Responded Julia Why both. Why did you not just choose Portsmouth?

Insurance Explained Steven You see when most of my family find out my plans they are likely to be not very happy. My late brother was a prime example of this. He hated students and took a lot of pleasure in mugging and beating them up

Yes, I remember him very well. Sadly it did not do him much good in the end, though, did it?

No Replied Steven sadly. It had just been under a year since the suicide of his brother, David. He had been found hanging in his cell and a note was on his bed. In the note, he had explained how he could no longer put up with life behind bars and with no chance of remission for years he could go no further.

When Steven had first heard about his brother's suicide he was angry and bitter. A coward’s way out he had thought to himself. But as he calmed down and reflected further upon the news he was forced to admit just how close he had come to succumbing to the same fate on at least three occasions. From that moment on his anger had been replaced with sadness for David.

Yes He added It did not end well for David

Did you ever feel like taking your own life? Asked Julia

Steven noticed a softening in her tone. This made him feel a little more at ease.

Yes He confirmed On at least three occasions I considered topping myself

So what stopped you?

Steven considered this question very carefully for a moment before he answered.

The belief I could be so much more He replied finally The desire to have a better life

Good answer Replied Julia So you feel you may have to leave Portsmouth and get away from your family to achieve your life goals?

Yes, Confirmed Steven if I stay here there could be some serious conflicts. There is also another reason why I might have to leave

Really, and what is that Steven?

I am gay.

Julia stared at Steven for a moment. She looked deeply into his eyes to see if she could detect if he was telling the truth or trying to pull some sort of strange lie. After a few moments, she had to confess he was probably telling the truth.

Steven meanwhile was feeling a little uncomfortable with the way she was looking at him. He averted his gaze to the window and stared up at the blue sky.

Does your family know? Asked Julia eventually

Steven returned his gaze back towards her and replied.

Good god I hope not. He responded If they were to find out the truth about me I would be kicked out of town and probably wheelchair bound for the rest of my life. My family sees gay men as vermin that need to be exterminated.

I see Replied Julia, she was not really that surprised, she knew many of Stevens relatives and she fully understood the type of people they were, how their minds worked and how they dealt with things they did not understand or feared. I can fully understand your reasons for thinking that you may need to move away.

Thank you

Now if you are serious about starting a new life and going to university then everything must be done by the book

How do you mean? Asked Steven

Well firstly if you do go to Brighton then I have to know when and where you will be living. I will have to transfer your papers to the Brighton office. They will assign a new case officer to you. For god’s sake do not leave without telling me, you could end up back inside

Ok, sounds fair enough

Good, I also need to know of any other changes in circumstance while you are under my care.

What sort of changes? Asked Steven

Well, such as change of job or change of address. That sort of thing, common sense really.

Steven nodded his understanding.

I will also need to see you once a week, so let us say this time next week, is that ok? Asked Julia with a warm smile

Sounds good to me Replied Steven, also with a smile.

Good. Now as you know we have sorted out a bedsit for you. Here is the address, Said Julia, as she handed Steven a sheet of paper with an address printed on it. He took the note and read the address. He remembered the road from his childhood and wondered how much it had changed over the years.

Also these are the keys. One for the front door and one for your room Julia added as she handed him two keys Now I will be the first to say it is not the Ritz and please keep your door locked. You should consider this as a temporary place and try to relocate to somewhere better as soon as possible.

Steven did not like the sound of that and simply nodded.

The building used to be a guest house but it now consists of eight bedsits. Four of these have small, en-suite toilet come shower rooms Added Julia We have managed to get you one of those and from what I have seen of the shared toilets you will find that a real blessing

Steven shuddered at the thought of what those toilets would be like. He was used to sharing facilities from prison but he had a feeling these would be a lot worse.

Also Continued Julia as a more serious look appeared on her face You should visit your mother, I hear she is not very well and her health is failing her, she may not have long to go

She then handed Steven the second piece of paper, another address was printed on it. He looked at the address and realised it was a high rise flat. So his mother no longer lived at the maisonette that he grew up in. This saddened him quite a bit. He had good memories of growing up in that home.

So she now lives in a high-rise block of flats, He said sadly.

Yes, I am afraid so Confirmed Julia Apparently she could no longer afford the bedroom tax on a three-bedroomed maisonette when your brother went to prison. It would seem your father moved back in for a while but when he took off again she was left with a lot of debt and very poor health

I have not seen her in a long time, she only visited me once in prison and she never wrote

Did you write to her?

For the first couple of years, I did but gave up when I realised there would be no reply. It hurt me to think she could not be bothered

I can understand that. Still, she is still your mother, perhaps if you visit you can find out why she stopped visiting and did not write

Steven nodded his agreement and then asked.

What is wrong with her health?

Julia looked down at her notes and then explained.

She has very bad angina and a problem with both of her hips. It would also seem she is very overweight and borderline diabetic

Steven was stunned by this news. While it was true that most members of his family tended to live very unhealthy lives and die early he never thought it would happen to his mother. The memories of his grandparents and uncles dying young came flooding back into his mind. These memories, as well as the recent loss of his brother, were a major part of his determination to now change his life and head into a better future.

So she is in a pretty sorry state? He asked.

Yes, and you should see her as soon as you can Steven, as I said she may not have long to go

I will Confirmed Steven I will go round there tomorrow. This afternoon I have an appointment at the jobcentre and then I need to settle into my bedsit, but I will get around there in the morning and see how she is

"Good lad. Now remember, any change in