“You’re not,” he says with such firm finality it makes me wonder if I’ve overstepped somehow.
So, I explain. “Sorry, I just didn’t feel right. There’s a lot of this kind of thing in my world, people willing to make you work for free. You wouldn’t believe how fringe theatre productions don’t pay, not even expenses. Because acting is so competitive,actors work for nothing just to get credits on their CV. Actors who spent years training, expensive training, find themselves working for nothing.”
“That doesn’t sound fair at all. But it’s not to the case with Wyn.” He takes off his baseball cap and ruffles fingers through fair hair before replacing it. “It’s actually a sad story. As a sixteen-year-old, he isn’t entitled to benefits help, he could so easily have ended up either sleeping on the streets or falling in with criminal gangs and drug dealing.”
I think about the eager face of the boy who worked so hard cleaning my room and wanted me to choose a beautiful brass bed. “He did mention something about …” I don’t want to say more because it was only a guess and anyway it’s his private story not for gossip. Alex must feel the same because he says. “To cut a long story short, Evan took him in hand, the boy has spirit and energy, he just needed direction. So the deal is he lives here and helps out. In return, he trains with Llewellyn in the Digital Business Hub, just down the corridor from the ballroom. He’s teaching Wyn computer programming but the deal is, Wyn has to prove himself honest, reliable and willing. The more hours he gives to helping others the more hours he gets with Llewellyn.”
Ah-ha that explains why he was so willing to give me most of the day, cleaning and carrying stuff.
“Can’t I at least give him a little something, like a treat?”
“Don’t give him money. You can help him by giving him jobs if you really have the patience, do what Haneen does and help him improve his language. When he first got here it was effing this and effing that every other word. You’re an actor aren’t you? Get him to practice speeches or something to make him more articulate.”
I think about this later when I’m in the shower. The bathroom, unlike the other rooms has already been renovated, so in addition to original features it has a modern shower which has it work cut out with me because the hot water runs grey for a long time before all the dirt is washed off me.
So, this is why I was offered a room, an exchange in kind. A free room in return for making it look nice and restoring the parquet flooring. And this boy, Wyn, lost and homeless gets a chance at a better future. In the process of helping, he picks up soft skills like reliability and communication skills.
I feel a little ashamed for having underestimated Alex. He clearly cares about Wyn and perhaps his random assistance is nothing to do with me but an attempt to keep an eye on Wyn to make sure he’s behaving.
Another thing about the people who live here is they seem to care about one another. Alex is aware of what Wyn might need beyond a roof over his head or job training. He wants Wyn to grow in other ways.
My feelings about Alex have improved a lot and when I go down to after my shower, I’m ready to make friends with him. Until I’m alone in the kitchen and overhear him talking.
“You’re far too young to be thinking about sex, least of all with someone like her.”
“I wasn’t honest.” Wyn argues. “I just said she was beautiful.”
Clearly they’re just behind the door, about to come in. I can’t walk away without passing them, so I’m stuck here listening to a conversation not meant for my ears.
“Shouldn’t you be looking at girls your own age.”
“What’s this?” Another male voice, lighter, gentler, asks.
“Alex’s got the hots for the new girl.”
“Woman not girl.” Alex corrects his wording but not the rest.
“You going to ask her out?”
“None of your business.” Alex chuckles lightly, but his tone suggests he’s more serious.
The other guy asks, “Would this be the blonde I just saw walk into the kitchen?”
“Fuck. She’s in there?” Alex mutters.
There’s a moment of fretful silence just behind the door. I slip as deep into the large kitchen as I can and pretend to wash up the single cup I find in the large Belfast sink. Inspiration comes to my aid and I fish my earbuds from my pocket and insert them into my ear just as the door opens.
“Hi” the new guy calls out, I pretend not to hear until he’s almost beside me then I do a very good – if I say so myself – jump.
“Did I scare startle you?” he asks. He’s another youngish man with dark hair. He looks just like his voice. Gentle serious, glasses.
I make a big show of taking the earbuds from my ears. “Sorry.”
“Hi, I’m Llewellyn.”
Behind him I see Alex’s shoulders drop in relief that I didn’t hear what they said about me. And before long the kitchen fills with people as dinner is ready.
I sit next to Haneen, pretending not to notice the chair next to Alex which he held out for me Everyone chats, it’s a happy noisy group tucking into delicious sausages and mash with lashings of rich gravy. But I’m uncomfortable.
