Out of Promises Read Online Free PDF Page A

hanging way above from a high ceiling, the room was cold and detached.  Every so often a cook would send a deafening clang as metal on metal collided followed by, ‘God dammit.  God fucking dammit.’
    Shuffling past Freddie with his head low, the boy from last night stood at the back of the line.  He was filthy in the daylight.  Freddie watched him move along to where the cook poured a ladle full of lumpy slop that resembled porridge soup made yesterday into a bowl with a bread roll.  At the end of the line, he took a glass of water and walked with the tray shaking in his hands.
    He sat alone, away from everyone keeping his head down, ignoring Freddie moving over to him.
    Unaware they were being watched, Freddie sat beside him.  He asked, ‘Where did you go last night?’
    He didn’t answer, concentrating on his food, desperately trying not to acknowledge him.
    ‘What’s your name?’
    Still no response.
    ‘The bread rolls are nice you know.  Have you tried?’
    The boy picked his up and passed it to Freddie.
    ‘Thanks.’  He took a bite and asked with a mouthful, ‘Why won’t you speak?’
    ‘Doug,’ he whispered.  ‘My name is Doug.’
    ‘I’m Freddie.  Why won’t you tell me where you went?’
    Doug started crying.  ‘Because I don’t want to stay here forever.’
    ‘Don’t be scared,’ said Freddie.  ‘Why are you crying?’
    ‘I can’t say.’
    Freddie took another bite of the bread and waited.
    ‘They touched me.’
    ‘Where?’
    A man stood up and walked over.
    Doug moved his hand to show him when he was grabbed by the arm and dragged out of the canteen.  ‘I don’t want to stay here forever!’ he screamed.  ‘Please, let me go.’  He cried and yelled as he tried to kick free.  Everybody was watching.  Some other carers followed them out of the room which left Freddie alone in a fearful panic.
     
    Walking back to his bed, Freddie was stopped by the same man who winked at him last night.
    ‘Hello, Frederick,’ he said with a hint of menace.  ‘What were you talking about with Doug?  You can trust me.’
    ‘We didn’t talk about anything.’
    He grabbed Freddie’s shoulders and shook him.  ‘I think you did.’
    ‘We didn’t!’ he shouted and broke free, running back to his room.

 
     
     
     
    iii
     
    Freddie spent the next two days looking over his shoulder, just waiting for his turn.  It didn’t happen and he hadn’t seen Doug since he was dragged away.  That was until he found him in the canteen again, bruised and in even more of a sorry state than before.  He sat alone with his head down like last time, reliving some horrors of the last two days.
    Freddie wanted to move over and ask him where he’d been, thinking better of it when he saw eyes on him.  He had to find the right moment.
    He also knew he had to escape.
     
    That night, when Doug had been returned, Freddie took his chance.  He carefully climbed out of his bed and over to Doug, who was still awake and curled into a ball.
    In a loud whisper, he said, ‘Doug?  Are you all right?’
    ‘Leave me alone.’
    ‘Doug, please tell me.’
    He pushed him away.
    ‘Doug, please.  I’m your friend.’
    Doug shouted, ‘I said leave me alone!’
    Freddie backed off and returned to his bed in case they came again.
    For twenty minutes Doug cried, wailing loudly.
    As he lay on his back, Freddie had no option but to listen and wait, knowing they’d hear.
    Footsteps echoed from the corridor.
    The cries were relentless.  Freddie feared the worst.
    Please stop crying.
    A carer entered the room and looked around.
    Freddie covered his face with his sheet.
    ‘No, please don’t,’ Doug shouted out.
    The other children watched, some of them beginning to cry.
    From under the sheet Freddie heard it all, covering his ears.
    Doug screamed and kicked violently.  ‘Please, don’t take me there again,’ he bellowed before letting out another ear piercing scream as he was yanked from the bed.  Freddie