Chris Collett - [Tom Mariner 01] by The Worm in The Bud (txt)

‘Jamie’s much better at picking up visual clues than auditory ones so we use a lot of pictures to help him. Eddie had photographs showing things like getting dressed, eating, going out, so that Jamie could see what’s about to happen and what he’s meant to do. If he knows what’s going on he’s much more likely to cooperate.’
    By way of a demonstration, Francine took Jamie by the hand and led him over to a wall that was covered in strips of photographs. ‘This is his timetable,’ she told Anna, then, turning back to Jamie, ‘Jamie look,’ she said. Familiar with the routine, Jamie followed her point.
    ‘Work first, then drink.’ As she spoke, Francine moved her finger to a photograph or line drawing that illustrated each activity while Jamie watched her out of the corner of his eye. She went back to the first. ‘Work now. Jamie, sit down.’
    Without hesitation Jamie went to sit at one of the tables set up with light packing work for which the clients at the centre were paid a token wage.
    Anna couldn’t help but be impressed. If they achieved that kind of result pictures might be good, even in the short-term. ‘I’ll see you this afternoon,’ she said to Francine. ‘And this time I’ll try not to be late.’

    Waiting for Jamie to drop off to sleep last night had given Anna an opportunity to plan her strategy and her first stop this morning was the surgery of the man who had been their family doctor for years. Eddie had stuck with him because it was easier to continue with someone who knew Jamie well, and it was equally important to Jamie to visit someone he trusted. Dr Owen Payne, whose name had provoked a lifetime of hilarious quips, had always been more like a family friend than a GP as Anna was growing up, and she was hoping that today he would be able to offer some advice. Although Anna had long since transferred to a more local practice, walking into Dr Payne’s waiting room was an oddly familiar experience. During her childhood years, she’d spent countless mornings here helping to keep Jamie occupied and out of trouble whilst awaiting consultations.
    Today, Anna queued at reception with the intention of merely making an appointment, but while she was standing in line, Dr Payne emerged from his consulting room, and, seeing her, did a double take. ‘Anna?’
    Anna returned the smile, ‘Hello, Dr Payne.’ She was amazed that he’d recognised her so quickly, it must have been at least fifteen years since they’d last met. Although the Celtic, dark good looks were fading to grey and the raw Scots brogue had softened to a southerner’s lilt, he remained as engaging as ever.
    ‘Are you here to see me?’
    ‘It’s Eddie.’
    ‘Eddie?’
    ‘He’s … he …’ Suddenly her predicament was impossible to describe, but seeing her distress, Dr Payne stepped out and put an arm around her. It felt like coming home.
    Even after all this time he was more comforting than Anna could have imagined, the nearest she could get to sharing the awful news with Mum or Dad.
    ‘Come with me.’ Looking over Anna’s shoulder the doctor squared things with his receptionist. ‘Give us a few minutes, would you?’ Always accommodating, nothing had ever been too much trouble for Dr Payne. When Jamie was first diagnosed, he’d been a constant visitor to the Barham household at all hours of the day and night, and again at the onset of the epilepsy, becoming virtually an honorary member of the family. Anna could recall Mum joking on more than one occasion that Dr Payne should have his own front door key, or be initiated into hiding place of the spare one. That was back in the days when doctors made twenty-four-hour house calls themselves, without relying on night-time deputising services.
    On top of that, Dr Payne had been a brilliant support to Anna and Eddie too, at a time when they had needed someone to listen but Mum and Dad were too busy with Jamie. As a consequence Anna had developed quite a teenage crush