Chapter Twelve
When they were both outside the fenced off area, Tom asked Jodie, ‘What d’you want to do now? Hospital, the police, or your parents - or back to my house to get cleaned up first?’
They were both mentally and physically exhausted and Jodie was now in tears. But Tom knew that she was not injured apart from this and her dehydration and hunger. She failed to answer.
He had a lot of sympathy for her but looking back at the surface building said, ‘You’ve got to decide quickly, the creatures could be here any minute.’ He thought the creatures would not follow them outside of North End; they had not come after him before but did not know for certain.
‘Your house,’ she mumbled. ‘But...must have some water.’
‘Ok. We’ll go to the park on the way. There’s a water fountain there,’ Tom said. They moved off. It was only 2.16 p.m. but it was quite dark because of the rain. Tom constantly looked behind him in case the creatures were following them. He also took off his jacket and put it over Jodie’s head. He did this partly to protect her from the rain and partly because she looked so dirty and unkempt. This might attract unwelcome attention.
They reached the park and then its fountain and toilets, and Jodie finally quenched her thirst. Tom did the same, while Jodie went to the toilet. When she came out he could see that she had cleaned up her face and hair. In fact apart from her dirty clothing she looked almost as if she had just got caught in the rain without an umbrella.
They walked slowly out of the park. It was still raining and there was hardly anyone around. They then went down a short cut alleyway to the upper part of Tom’s road, Hoop lane. As they walked down, they passed Golders Green Crematorium, where Tom remembered that the writer of Dracula, had been cremated. And they say that life can be stranger than fiction, Tom thought.
He looked over at Jodie and asked, ‘So what happened before the creatures kidnapped you?’
But she did not answer him. She looked down and was still sobbing quite a lot. He left her alone, realising that she was obviously physically and mentally exhausted. They finally crossed over the Finchley Road to the lower part of Hoop Lane, and then went to Tom’s house.
When they got there, Tom took Jodie straight to the kitchen and gave her a towel to dry herself. He then gave her some more water, and made her a sandwich, which she quickly ate with a couple of packets of crisps. He also dried himself off.
‘Where’s your bathroom?’ she asked
‘Upstairs. First on the left. I’ll show you,’ he replied.
‘I must get cleaned up and wash my clothes,’ she said.
‘I tell you what. You have a shower and give me your clothes and I’ll wash them. My mother’s got one of those washer-dryers, so it won’t take long,’ Tom suggested.
She nodded and he took her upstairs to the bathroom. She gave him all of her clothes except her underwear. Tom handed her his mother’s dressing gown. He then went downstairs and washed her clothes, something which unlike most male teenagers he knew how to do. He had to with his mother being a busy career woman.
He also made some soup, not really knowing what else to do. Jodie came down about half ‘n hour later. ‘D’you feel better?’ Tom asked.
‘A bit,’ she whimpered and then started to cry again.
Tom did not know what to do. Should I hug her or leave her alone? he wondered. In the end he just touched her shoulder. ‘Come and sit down. I’ve made some soup for you,’ he said.
‘Thanks for saving me,’ she said as she sat down and continued to cry.
‘Don’t be silly. I should have helped you sooner. Have some soup,’ Tom said.
She ate the soup, still hungry. ‘How did you know my name...and that I was in danger?’ she asked no longer crying.
He then gave her a summary of how he had woken up on the tube and heard her screams and been chased by the creatures and then read in the newspaper about her being missing. When he finished he asked ‘So what about you?’
‘I don’t...remember much...don’t want to think of it now,’ she said.
He did not pressure her and knew pretty much what had happened anyway. But he said ‘Jodie, I know you are upset but you’ve got to tell your parents you’re safe. They’ll be worried sick about you.’
‘I’m scared to,’ she eventually responded. ‘They always say that I cause them too many problems and am always getting into trouble. They’ll be angry with me. They think I’m an alcoholic and drug addict.’
‘Yes, but they’re your parents and have a right to know you’re well,’ he said.
‘What shall I say to them?’ she asked.
Well, you could tell them the truth. But it’s unlikely they’ll believe you. As I told you, I tried to get the police to help me after the creatures had chased me but the copper thought I was bonkers. And bearing in mind what your parents think of you they will definitely think you’re lying.’
‘So what do I say then?’ she pleaded.
‘I know; just say you were upset and stayed with a friend but don’t go into details. As you say they will probably think you were up to no good; so it doesn’t matter what you say. If the police want to speak to you just say you are too upset, which you obviously are anyway,’ he said.
‘Let me get dressed first,’ she said. Tom got her clothes from the washer-dryer then left her in the kitchen to get changed alone. She came out a few minutes later where he was waiting in the hall. ‘Ok. I’m ready,’ she said.
Tom took her to the lounge and gave her the phone. ‘Before you dial your number press 141 so they won’t know where you’re calling from,’ he requested. ‘Tell them you’ll make your own way home. I’ll take you there in a taxi. If you need me I’ll be in the kitchen.’
‘Ok. Thanks,’ she said and started to dial her number.
Tom could hear her from the kitchen. She did not say much except for ‘Yes I know. I’m sorry’ a few times. She also cried quite a lot.
When she finished he ordered a taxi and it came about 15 minutes later. During the journey to her house they did not say much. She was obviously still upset and now nervous about seeing her parents. When they got to her street she told the driver to stop, a few houses away from her one.
Tom paid for the taxi and they both got out. ‘I’ll wait here until I see you go in,’ Tom said. Until her parents took her back he still felt responsible for her. ‘Here’s my number. Call me when you feel better,’ he said as he wrote his contact details down, gave her them, and touched her goodbye.
‘I will. Thanks again,’ she said, looking very down, thought Tom.
He then saw her go to her front door where her worried-looking parents met her with relief. He turned around and began to walk home. He was exhausted but did not want to catch a tube from the nearby Brent Cross tube station: he had had enough of tube stations. He could have waited for a bus but did not have the patience. In any event, he did not live far away. On his way back he felt much better about himself: the shame and guilt was now replaced with relief and satisfaction; he even felt a little heroic.
He got in at 6.37 p.m. and went straight to bed.