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Monica (Mone) had gone to the Secure unit having started a fire with Isa. She seemed a lovely kid who got lead astray. When I visited her in the Police Station she burst into tears and apologised. Isa asked for a cigarette!It had been a long day. The young folk had been needing to blow off some steam. What better place than a beach where you can see them for miles. We went to Monileven beach for a barbeque. Here were young people fresh from the mean streets of Taybank running about playing in sand.
I sat watching them . Babs sat rigidly smoking at first, then gradually she relaxed and smiled on 2 occasions. Sorry, I've checked the old log, just once. The young folk were frolicking. This was unusual to say the least. It's so uncool for teenagers to frolic, but that was what they were doing. Pushing each other near to the water. Splashing. Wading. On Christmas eve. Babs even laughed! "They will be freezing in a minute" she hoped.
A dog sauntered by .The young folk were ecstatic, each trying to get his attention and throwing sticks (not at him..for him). In the distance I could see the owner making her carefree way towards where I was, not towards her dog. I thought she was caught up in the sight of these lovely teenagers not taking drugs, not beating each other up or mugging old ladies. I had my "Isn't it great to be young" speech ready.
"Are you in charge of these people?" Not what I expected. "Are you with the Home" The "Home" was a bit like the "Orphanage". " I can see you are, I recognize the van." Damn that van that you could see a mile off. "Is there a problem? "
"Don't take that attitude with me". I had not meant to take any attitude but "F... off you old bat" was occurring to me. "They are wet". Oh right! She was concerned about their health . No! " I am a rate payer ...am I to have to pay for the laundering of their clothes." I said that I would launder them myself. She stormed off. I walked back to Babs who asked what she had wanted. I told Babs to get a cigarette ready.
The fire alarm went off at the worst possible time when the children were getting ready for bed and it's always a tricky time in a mixed unit anyway. However, no panic as the toaster often set the alarm off, the young folk would do it deliberately to have a laugh and flirt with the fire-fighters.
"That's funny... the toaster isn't usually in the lounge" I remember thinking. The fire indication panel definitely said the lounge. I saw that someone had left a light on in the lounge. A flickering red light. Panic! Fire! John the night man, got the children out as I went to get the hydrant.
"That's funny.. where's the hydrant...the bloody kids have moved it, I'll give them hell!" I ran to the other unit and got theirs. I opened the door went in and tripped up over a hydrant, I banged my head and sat for a second. I hit the release and a jet of water hit me square in the face. I grabbed the hose and put the fire out in a second, such was the pressure.
I sat, soaked and groggy. I walked out as the fire-fighters arrived. One of the young people said "Were you in the shower when the fire started?" It took me 2 days to realise what he meant.
John had taken the hydrant into the lounge, but a couple of young people came back into the unit to watch the fun and he left it in the room, setting the trap. The next day we were sent to the town hall and publicly congratulated for our actions. The headlines did not read.. "Laurel and Hardy rescue the children of Taybank."
