A M Maxwell - The Boy Who Refused to Die

A M Maxwell

Austin Macauley Publishers

2020-12-10

My thanks go to the Walsh and Dobinson families for their time and patience whilst I researched Albys story and especially for the laughs over dinner whilst trying to put this book together. Also, to my husband, Glynn, for introducing me to Alby, helping with the photographs and supplying endless cups of tea to keep me going. I would also like to thank the team at Austin Macauley for the excellent decision that this book was worthy of publication.

Chapter 1

And So It Begins

Sunday, 16 December 2007

I knew you would want to know, thats all, said Torie as she turned to leave the house.

Thats fine. Im glad you told me. Hes actually with Charlie out playing this afternoon and he knows how I feel about it! Ill speak to him and Charlie as soon as they get back. Dont worry about telling me. Really, Im glad you did. Lisa smiled but inside she was not happy. In fact, she was more than not happy she was furious and Alby would know all about it when he got home. Lisa went straight to the playing field and brought Jimmy, Alby and Charlie home. The boys tumbled into the house, laughing and gasping for a drink. I need a word with you two, said Lisa, fixing them both with her pay attention or else stare. Toms mums been round this afternoon and she told me she saw both of you crossing the road at the traffic lights! Alby, how many times do I have to tell you that you use the underpass? You DONT cross that road! Its dangerous. The traffic is fast and, apart from anything else, because theres an underpass, drivers dont expect to see pedestrians there. Alby, Charlie, are you listening to me? Do you understand just how serious this is? I want you to tell me that you DO understand how serious it is and you WILL be using that underpass, every single time you cross that road, starting tomorrow!

OK, Mum, said Alby, grinning at Charlie. Mum, do I have to go in tomorrow? It is my last day and we wont be doing any work anyway. We always have games and mess about. Its not worth it really.

No, said Lisa, A school day is a school day and, of course, youve got to go. Youll be home before anyone else on Tuesday anyway. You wont be at the orthodontist that long.

The last day of school was the following Tuesday but Alby had an appointment with the orthodontist in the morning and, as the school was finishing at mid-day, he wouldnt be returning to school after his appointment. That meant that his last day of term was the following day, Monday, 17 December 2007.

Monday, 17 December 2007

Mark

5.30am: Mark dragged himself out of bed and into the shower, grateful that he only had a few days left to work before the Christmas break. Morning rituals completed, he grabbed himself some toast before creeping out of the house and heading off to work work he enjoyed but he didnt really like the early start. At least I dont have to compete for the shower, he thought.

Lisa

7.00am: Jimmy Dobinson, get out of bed now! Youll be late! Albys already dressed and having his breakfast. His bus wont wait! Five minutes later, a bleary-eyed Jimmy appeared at the kitchen door.

Sorry, Mum, he said. Its all right for Alby. He doesnt need as much sleep as me. We have to work harder at my school.

As if, said Alby. Just wait til you get to my school. Youll find out what hard work really is.

Their morning ritual of bustle, banter and being chivvied by Lisa came so naturally to all three that they just took it for granted. It was what happened. It was family. It was life.

Eat your breakfast, you two, and stop arguing, said Lisa, or youll be late. Both boys ate their cereal and toast in virtual silence. Hungry boys have more important things to do than talk. While they breakfasted, Lisa prepared their packed lunches of sandwiches, crisps, a chocolate bar and a drink. She did it every morning and had become so used to it that she thought she could have done it with her eyes closed. Alby also took some money, which he later handed to his friend Tommy. Tommy went to another school but he and Alby met up on the bus coming home and ate the food Tommy had bought for them at Kentucky Fried Chicken.

7.50am: Alby walked out of the house. He turned right and went up to the main road to catch the 608 bus to school. He went with Charlie, Connor, Jordan and Tommy, just as he did every school day.

8.30am: Jimmy walked out of the house. He turned left to go to his local primary school. Lisa had just started letting him walk there on his own, just as she hoped he would every school day.

Lisa closed the front door and went back into the kitchen to clear away the breakfast dishes, just as Mark would do for the next eighteen months.

3.45pm: Lisa was just finishing the ironing when the sound of the front door bell echoed around the house. Barefoot, Lisa opened it and smiled at Albys friend Charlie. Charlie was breathless. Albys had an accident! Charlies face was full of messages he couldnt utter. Lisas mind emptied of every thought as the wave of cold outside air hit her.

Stay here Jimmys due home any minute! Her body went into overdrive as sprinted out of the house. Her bare feet tore up the pavement as they bore her far too slowly to the top of the road. Cars had stopped. People had stopped. Time had stopped.

The air was forced from her body as she gasped at the figure lying in the middle of the central reservation of the dual carriageway. Somewhere, someone screamed. She ran over and collapsed beside him. She grabbed his hand. Come on, Alby, wake up! she shrieked, being absolutely certain, somewhere deep in the recesses of her mind, that if she shouted loud enough, it would wake him up. Hes just been knocked out hell come round in a minute, she thought. She had no more rational thoughts.

The ambulance is on its way, someone said. She sat by the central reservation and an icy cold wave washed through her body. She needed to call her dad. Someone handed her a mobile phone but her trembling hands wouldnt hit the right numbers. She couldnt do it. Her fingers wouldnt work. Her mind wouldnt work. What was his number? Her voice wouldnt work properly but she recalled her dads number from her frozen memory and someone phoned him for her.

Lisa looked at the twisted little figure. He was breathing. His leg was bent under him but there was no blood Lisa was grateful for that because it meant he wasnt badly hurt. He was alive and that was a good sign, surely, although his breathing wasnt right. She looked at her son. He was still wearing his school rucksack the rucksack he would fling down when he got home and leave it until Lisa told him to hang it up. How did he end up with his upper body on one side of the barrier and his legs on the other? Wheres the ambulance? Wheres Dad? My son, my precious, beautiful Alby, please dont die. Please God, dont let him die. He cant die. Hes my Alby and you cant let him die.

Someone moved Lisa away and put a duvet around her shoulders. She hadnt felt the cold but she did feel the duvet. Then someone handed her a cup of tea. It was far too sweet.

Mark

3.55pm: Traffic on the M25 was as heavy as usual, but at least it was moving. It hasnt been nicknamed the biggest car park in the world for nothing, mused Mark as he realised that he would reach the turning for the A12 in half a mile. As he flicked the indicator left, he started thinking about Christmas. The weather was dry and cold but not freezing. Christmas decorations were everywhere and each year it seemed that more and more people were trying to outdo their neighbours expressing their delight with the season of goodwill and demonstrating their Christmas cheer with louder and more garish external decorations. Mark was looking forward to having time away from work and having a proper old-fashioned family Christmas with Lisa and the boys. They hadnt made definite plans about seeing Linda and Jim (Lisas parents) or Pauline and Bernie (the parents of Lisas first husband, Scott, and also the other much-loved grandparents of Alby and Jimmy) but he knew that Christmas wouldnt be Christmas without them around too.