LITMIR.BIZ

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lady, was following close on my heels. She was worried, though. ‘Be careful,’ I heard her say. ‘Don’t try to deal with things that you know nothing about.’

      Being young and foolish, I paid no heed to Milly’s warning and opened the door to the next room. As I entered, I felt a sudden swooping rush of air and saw the spirit form of a man rushing towards me. The force of his energy pinned me against the wall. I felt as though he was towering over me. I could feel the venom of his emotion as he swore and cursed and called me terrible names. I heard a loud shout and realized that it was me crying out in horror. I gabbled desperately, trying to explain that I meant no harm to this tormented soul who wanted to wreak revenge for what he had suffered whilst incarcerated in the institution.

      Slowly I felt myself become calmer – more empowered. I knew that my guides and guardians were drawing closer to me in protection. I had put myself in a terribly dangerous situation, but they were there to help me.

      The spirit man’s raving calmed down and he backed slowly away from me. He seemed to realize that I was no threat to him.

      ‘What is your name?’ I asked him.

      He said nothing, merely glowered at me from across the room.

      I heard Milly’s voice. ‘His name’s Alex,’ she said, ‘and he was here for years and years – even before I arrived. He suffered some terrible things in the name of treatment. We all did, but it affected Alex more. In the end he got the opportunity and he hanged himself. Me and Jim have been trying to coax him to come over to the light side, but he’s afraid that things will be bad for him – that he’ll be hurt again. Pray for him, Derek, and we’ll make sure that he comes over to the heavenly side with us.’

      I promised that I would do just that.

      I went back into David’s room and explained to him that both Jim and Milly were going to help the poor suffering soul next door and that he needn’t be afraid any longer.

      David was looking puzzled. ‘You can see Jim and Milly and other people just like I can. You can hear them too. Why aren’t you in here with me?’

      I was moved and saddened by his question. ‘I really don’t know, David,’ I replied.

      It was more than time to go. I was already late. When I reached the car park all the other players were waiting on the coach for me. Our team trainer, George Patterson, was very annoyed. ‘Where’ve you been Derek? You’re in trouble on Monday! It’s right to the boss that you’ll be heading.’

      I didn’t mind. I felt happy and elated. We had won the game 6–1 and with my prayers and the assistance of Milly and Jim, poor tormented Alex would find his way to his rightful placed in the world of spirit.

      I occasionally kept in touch with David after I left Liverpool Football Club. I am happy to say that the institution was closed some years later and David was found a home in the community, where he integrated happily. As far as I am aware he is still living a happy and free life.

      I often wonder how many people have been mistakenly diagnosed as mentally ill and incarcerated for their supposed ‘own good and the good of others’ when in fact all they were doing was communicating with the world beyond.

      I was looking forward to the seven-week summer break from playing football. Although I loved my life as a professional footballer, it was nice to have a break from the rigorous training regime. Back in the 1960s the wages for footballers were a far cry from the enormous sums commanded today, so it was not unusual for us young players to take summer jobs to put a few extra pounds into our pockets. The previous year I had taken a job as a football coach at a Pontins Holiday Camp, but this year I did not feel inclined to play at being ‘Uncle Derek’ to a camp full of aspiring young football players and wanted to take the time off to relax and enjoy myself.

      My friends Vinny and Frank planned to take a trip south to visit Vinny’s aunt, who lived in Langley, near Slough, for a week. They then planned to stay on for a further week at a youth hostel in the area. They asked me whether I would like to join them. I was delighted to accept their offer. Vinny and Frank had been my friends since school, but I did not get much time to spend with them due to my football commitments. This would be an ideal opportunity to catch up on old times and enjoy the company of my friends.

      We set off one sunny summer morning, travelling down in Frank’s car, which was an enormous old Humber Sceptre. Although the vehicle was old, it still retained its luxurious interior.

      After making our stately progress south we arrived at Vinny’s aunt’s home in the early evening. The next week was spent thoroughly enjoying ourselves as we explored the areas around Hounslow, Egham and Windsor.

      When the first week was up we gathered our belongings, thanked Vinny’s aunt for putting up with us and moved on to the hostel. It was an old house of enormous proportions, standing in its own grounds. At one time I suppose it must have been a family home, but now it was given over to offering cheap accommodation and sporting activities to youngsters such as myself and my friends who wanted a cheap, clean and cheerful holiday environment away from our parents.

      I have to say that the hostel was not quite what I expected, but I settled in nevertheless. The food was good and wholesome and the communal areas offered table tennis, television and snooker. The bedrooms, however, were in fact dormitories, with six single beds to each room. Next to each bed stood a metal locker/wardrobe in which we could secure our belongings during the time we were out of the hostel either exploring the surrounding area or taking advantage of the activities on offer.

      Although I had never stayed in a large old house before, I thought nothing of it as I settled down for the night. The only strange thing was going to bed with so many other people in the same room.

      On the first night I suppose I must have been asleep for a couple of hours or more when I was jolted awake by a loud banging noise which seemed to be coming from the metal cabinet next to my bed.

      ‘Did anyone hear those banging noises?’ I whispered out into the darkened room.

      A couple of voices answered me from the beds containing lads I did not know, saying, ‘That’s Sparky messing about. Take no notice.’

      Apparently ‘Sparky’ was a young man who was also staying at the hostel and who enjoyed playing practical jokes on the other residents. It was his practice to creep along to a room and pull the covers off people or reach inside the doorway to flash the lights on and off, then beat a hasty retreat back to the room in which he was sleeping.

      Satisfied with this explanation, Vinny and Frank settled back down to sleep, but I was not so sure about it. I could sense psychically that there was more to the banging than met the eye.

      I turned on my bedside light and was amazed to notice a large indentation in the door of the cabinet next to my bed which I was sure had not been there before. I turned the light off once more and lay there listening to the deep breathing of my bedroom companions and the creaks and groans of the old house. Sensing nothing untoward, though, I eventually drifted off to sleep once more.

      The following morning Vinny, Frank and I made our way down to the kitchen area where we would eat our breakfast. The cook, Mrs Marsden, was a kindly lady who fed us well, but you could tell immediately that she would stand no nonsense from anyone staying at the hostel. As she was clearing away our plates, she asked what we planned to do that day. We told her that we were going down to the stables to take part in a trek around the area. ‘Well, you be careful, lads,’ she told us.

      I wanted to ask her about the room in which we were staying, but because she seemed such a no-nonsense woman I thought that I had better keep my questions to myself, especially as they might get ‘Sparky’ into trouble.

      We returned to the hostel later that evening with very sore legs and feeling extremely tired. After our dinner and a gentle game of snooker we decided to turn in early.

      We all fell asleep more or less immediately and were not disturbed by the arrival of the other three residents of the room. But we had only been asleep for around three

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