Chapter 5
Spencer
‘Flower arranging badge?’ questioned Leo. ‘I didn’t think you were serious about that.’
Spencer held back his laugh. ‘It’s still arts and crafts. I find it quite relaxing. Afterwards we can pop in the café and have hot chocolate.’
‘I’m for the hot chocolate part,’ said Jax.
Ryan quirked one eyebrow. ‘It’s Valentine’s Day tomorrow?’ He turned to his friends. ‘It’s the busiest time for flower shops. My dad told me.’ He motioned towards Spencer. ‘We can help you with that.’
‘That’s two badges then,’ said Leo.
‘How is it two?’ asked Spencer.
Leo flipped his cape off his shoulder. ‘One for flower arranging, and one for being kind by helping you.’
Spencer chuckled. There was no arguing with that. ‘Yes, great idea. A kindness badge it is.’
Jax removed his coat. ‘So, what do we have to do?’
Lottie came out of the back room of the shop. ‘Ooh, hello.’
Spencer raised a finger. ‘And . . .’
On cue, the lads started singing ‘Happy Birthday’, making her smile stretch as wide as possible.
‘Well, thank you,’ said Lottie. ‘But my birthday is tomorrow.’
‘But we won’t see you then,’ said Leo, chewing his cape.
‘In that case, and after that wonderful performance, you can all take a small bouquet home with you later.’
Leo and Jax followed her into the back room while Ryan stayed in the shopfront with Spencer.
‘There is so much red in here.’ Ryan was gazing up at hanging paper love hearts.
Spencer grinned. ‘It doesn’t always look like this. We’re just getting ready for the big day.’
Ryan gestured at the back room. ‘Not sure Jax will like it out here when the customers come in. You know he has to get to know people first.’
‘We’re making flower arrangements out back, and it’s only Lottie working today. He won’t be asked to do anything else or be out the front.’
Ryan nodded his approval, then joined the others, leaving Spencer feeling proud of how the boy looked out for his friends. They were a small circle but had bonded well at the Sunshine Centre. There was real trust between them, and it was nice to witness, especially seeing Leo put his trust in any child.
Debra had told Spencer that Leo wouldn’t make friends with any children at first. His nerves were too rattled from being bullied at school.
Spencer remembered the fights he’d get into himself, and how often his aunt was called to the school. Rebecca was so lovely, talking things through with him, rather than shouting. Sometimes he was sure it was only the love from her that held him together.
He entered the back room to see the boys gathered around the large table, with Lottie handing out instructions. She too was a member of the Sunshine Centre, so it was easy for the children to settle with her, having seen her around often.
Had it not been for Lottie’s accident, he would have never entered the place. He’d heard of it, most had, but it wasn’t something he’d thought about. Perhaps he should have joined a long time ago so he had somewhere to go to help clear his head, rather than a pub and a one-night stand. He was so glad he had moved on from that chapter of his life.
‘We’ve had another idea for a badge,’ said Leo.
Spencer was loving the enthusiasm. ‘Let’s hear it then.’
Leo let the cord from his cape slip from his mouth. ‘Festival badge.’
Spencer had to laugh. ‘You want me to take you to a festival?’
Ryan shook his head. ‘No, he means we organize one.’
That idea was even more bizarre.
‘Hear them out,’ said Lottie.
Leo raised his index finger. ‘There are lots of people at the centre who need help.’ He moved his finger to his chest. ‘So we could have an awareness day. Mum always says the world needs more love. So how about a kindness festival?’
Jax agreed. ‘I wish everyone was kind.’
‘A kindness awareness day,’ said Lottie.
Leo beamed. ‘We can make noise at our festival.’
Spencer raised his brow. ‘Noise?’
Leo shrugged and started cutting some ribbon. ‘Mum says you have to make noise sometimes to be heard. She likes to go on protests at times.’ He turned sharply to Jax. ‘Oh, my mum’s going to give your dad information on home-schooling for you. She’s been speaking to your dad.’
Jax turned to Ryan as though asking for his thoughts.
‘It’s up to you, Jax,’ he told him.
Jax nodded. ‘Yes, I’d like to do that.’
Spencer pulled some of the stems towards him as he sat. ‘That’s nice of your mum, Leo.’
‘Wish I could be home-schooled,’ said Ryan. ‘My school is boring.’
Jax frowned. ‘Your school has its own swimming pool.’
Judging by the scowl on Ryan’s face, Spencer thought it best to change the subject.
‘So, Lottie, where you off to for your birthday?’
The boys all looked up.
‘Once we’ve finished here on Valentine’s Day, we’re off to a hotel in Devon for a couple of nights. But I already can’t wait to come back and help you lot organize the festival of the century.’
Leo giggled. ‘Mum knows a man who plays in a band. Has a banjo and everything. We can ask him to play songs at the festival.’
‘Good idea,’ said Lottie. ‘And we can put up a notice in the Hub asking for volunteers.’
‘And set up stalls,’ said Spencer. ‘I’ll talk to Debra first. See if we can make our festival part of the Sunshine Centre’s fundraising events.’
Leo fist-bumped the air, then stayed in a superhero pose for a moment before reaching out for some flowers.
Spencer made a mental note to tell Luna more badges had been invented.
‘We’re better than any other team,’ scoffed Jax.
‘Yeah,’ cheered Ryan. ‘We’re the . . . What are we called?’
Silence loomed for a moment while everyone put their thinking caps on.
‘The Sunshine Superheroes,’ said Leo, looking mighty chuffed with himself.
Jax turned to him, frowning.
Ryan laughed. ‘I’m not wearing a badge that says that, but if it makes Leo happy, we can have that name.’
‘Yes!’ cheered Leo, once more adopting his pose.
Spencer looked around the table and smiled. He was so happy with his life now, and having a kindness awareness event to organize lifted his spirits just that little bit more, especially as the idea had come from the children, who seemed happy to make plans, even Jax.
Lottie caught his eye and smiled. ‘Remember the pop-up stand we had for the Hub at the Port Berry Craft Fayre? We could have more of those dotted around filled with info on all sorts. The more educated people are about things, the easier it is for them to have compassion.’
He had to agree. ‘Yes, we can have information on mental health as well as physical disabilities, and let’s not forget those with invisible disabilities, like Alice. She has to wear a badge asking for a seat when she’s using public transport, as no one can see how she might be feeling that day from fibromyalgia.’
‘She can’t always stand for too long,’ Lottie told the boys.
‘My mum had a row with a woman on the bus once about those badges,’ said Leo. ‘Another woman told a boy off for not giving up his seat to the lady with a badge, and his mum had a go at her because her son had problems with his hips. That’s why he didn’t get up. Hypomobil-something.’ He shrugged. ‘Anyway, my mum told the woman not to judge people. They might have their own reasons for not giving up their seat. The driver got involved in the end because there was lots of shouting.’
Spencer sighed, louder than he’d intended. ‘It makes me feel as though we should all have badges.’
Lottie blew upwards at her fringe. ‘If people were less judgemental and more kind, we wouldn’t have these problems.’
‘We should ask Debra to have the kindness festival at the centre, then more people will see how helpful being kind is,’ said Ryan. ‘I’m always happy there.’
‘That’s a good point,’ said Spencer, ‘but she’d have to close the quiet areas down for the day, and she won’t want to do that in case they’re needed. No, best we ask Councillor Seabridge for use of Old Market Square and Anchorage Park, once we’ve got Debra on board, that is.’
‘She’ll say yes,’ said Leo. ‘She loves kindness.’
The boys started to mutter among themselves about the festival while Spencer and Lottie shared a smile. He could tell by the way she looked at him that she was proud of him too. It was a good feeling, finally having purpose. What with the Happy to Help Hub and the Sunshine Centre, Spencer felt he’d found somewhere he was needed.
Once Rebecca had taken over as their parent, Lottie no longer needed him to feed and wash her. It was good for his little sister. Two-year-olds needed care, and even though his aunt fussed him, making sure he never had to lift a finger in her home, part of him was at a loose end. It seemed to stay with him as he grew. He spent many years feeling useless, and nobody knew.