Echoes in the Woods by Georgina Scott (ebook reader web txt) 📕

way to explain to her parents that Jake was mentally unstable and that she didn’t want to admit it until she picked up the boys from school. Then went on to say what they had told her, “Dad, you are the best person to help Jake. You are a professor of Psychiatry, this is your field; if anyone can help him you can. Dad, the boys are scared of him!”

“He is eleven years old Faith, boys will always fight and scrap,” said Mac.

“We know this Mac, but he has started to kill animals now. He slit a lamb’s throat and to its stomach, he made a right mess. I know I have done wrong but the boy can’t stay here, Mac!” said John.

“Very well, he will come home with us. Make sure all his things are packed because he will not be coming back, ever,” said Mac, with a bad taste in his mouth, again walking out of the kitchen into the front yard, and called Matthew.

“Gramps, I’m coming,” said Matthew, running out from behind the shrubbery towards his grandfather, giving him a big hug and cheesy grin.

“Let’s go for a stroll and a chat shall we, and you can fill me in on everything that has happened, okay?” said Mac.

“Yes, Gramps.”

It was forty minutes until Mac and Matthew returned back to the house. “Mary, I think it’s time we got back on the road. It will be late by the time we get home,” said Mac.

Mary got Jake’s belongings into the truck then went up to her daughter and hugged her, “Are you sure you want to do this?” said Mary again.

“Oh Mum, no, but what can I do. I fear for him if he stays here.”

“I love you. Take care of yourself, my darling girl, we will see you soon and don’t worry he will be fine with us,” said Mary, giving Faith another big hug and kiss. Then went and hugged and kissed Matthew, Henry and Mark.

“Jake, be good now for Nana and Gramps, I love you my darling baby boy,” kissing, hugging and touching him, with tears in her eyes, as though it would be the last time she would lay her eyes on him.

Calling the other boys over to say goodbye, they all had a group hug, “See you later creep,” said all three boys. Jake looked over to see where his father was, and saw him standing on the porch steps with his arms crossed. His father just stared at him, then turned around and walked back into the house.

Mac saw the exchange between the two of them; this sent a chill down his spine. “Right, okay. Let’s go, Jake,” said Mac. Jake ran towards his nana and they both got into the truck.

Mac approached Faith, wrapped his arms around her, “We will take good care of him, baby girl.”

“Oh, Daddy!” she said crying. “I will phone him every night, I promise.”

“Make sure you do. I love you,” said Mac, walking towards the truck. Waving goodbye, Mac, Mary and Jake headed for home. Faith watched them drive away cradling her stomach. In floods of tears she fell to her knees, inconsolable, distraught. Matthew, Henry and Mark hugged and squeezed her tight.

John approached the huddled group. “Go, play now, boys. I’ll see to your mum, she will be alright,” bending down wrapping his arms around her. Faith tried to push him away but couldn’t, and instead, sobbed into his chest and squeezed him tight. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, baby,” said John, kissing the top of her head, holding her tight in his arms.

It was another hour before John and Faith headed into the house. John put Faith to bed then came down stairs and made a late lunch, putting Faith’s lunch in the fridge for later. John and the boys sat down for lunch in silence. After lunch, Henry and Mark played outside for a couple of hours then watched television before heading to their bedroom; Matthew helped his dad tidy up the kitchen then decided he would go and read his comic in his bedroom.

Fatigue hit John like a bolt; he secured the house and headed upstairs to check on Faith. She was fast asleep; her face was puffy from all the crying. John wrapped himself around her and entered into a deep sleep.

Chapter 3

Ella McPherson lived two doors down; she was also eleven years old with brown, long curly hair. She and Jake hit it off straight away and very soon became inseparable, best friends even. She would read stories to him and then help him to read also. They would play hide and go seek and in and out of each other’s houses. Climbing trees, they also made a den out of wood and fallen branches in the back yard of Ella’s house, a sacred place, and all adults are barred from going into the den.

Ella and her mum made wind chimes and placed them all over and around the den. Whilst Jake got an old sleeping bag he found in the loft, he asked Mary to help him clean and wash it, and then placed it into the den. Mac found a plastic tarpaulin about twelve feet square in his garage and wrapped it around the den to protect it from the elements. It was a good solid den.

At first, Jake was intimidated by Ella’s dad, Graham; he was tall, very broad. His muscles looked like they had exploded from his body, but he was a fair, kind man, always had a smile, a very funny man. Over the coming months Jake started to feel at ease with him. Graham and Mac collectively built a barbeque and seating area next to the den, where both families came and spent time together. They got on well.

As they got closer, over the coming months, Jake opened up to Ella on how he was subjected to physical and mental abuse from his bullying father and how he was treated very differently compared to his