Wheels and Wings 11

Character List.

Jack Thomas Later AKA Ellie... Transvestite/intersexual and keen cyclist.
Amanda Thomas AKA Amie... Jack's sister.
Charlotte Dawson... Keen girl cyclist and Jack’s soon-to-be girlfriend.
Bob... Cycling club captain.
Mr Thomas Weston... School games master and keen rugby player.
Billy Davies... Rugby ‘jock’, kind to Jack, he fancies Charlotte.
Marjorie Spencer... Holder of unofficial ‘Prettiest-girl-in-the-school’ title.
Miss Elizabeth Postlethwaite... The English Mistress.
Aunty Olwen... Where Jack changes for school and leaves his bike.
Mandy... Olwen’s daughter, Jack’s older cousin.
Mr Griffiths... The County solicitor.

Chapter 11

On Monday, the casualty consultant visited Jack’s bedside with his mother and the interrogation began. The bruise had turned into several spectacular colours and Jack could hardly move his leg. After checking a second set of scans the consultant returned with the blood test results. He frowned at Jack as he studied the undersized fourteen-year-old.

“So young man, you did take some sort of drug. The blood tests show clearly. Would you care to tell us exactly which drug you took?”

Jack bit his lip and lay silent for several seconds. The consultant’s patience outlasted Jack’s intransigence and eventually he looked up nervously as he nodded.

“Yes. Bupivacaine and ... and Keto - Ketorlic, something like that...”

The consultant frowned then corrected Jack.

“Do you mean Ketorolic?”

Jack nodded as the consultant pressed further.

“And would you be prepared to tell me where you got it. Bupivacaine and Ketorolic are prescriptive drugs.”

On this issue, Jack remained silent. He was terrified of somehow getting Charlotte’s dad Doctor Dawson into trouble. After several tense minutes the consultant took his mother aside.

“Your son is obviously not going to reveal his sources. I’d like you to speak to all the possible sources. I’d also ask your permission to make some inquiries of my own.”

Jack’s mum nodded silent agreement; she was as concerned as the consultant about Jack’s reticence. Having gained her consent, as he left Jack’s bedside, the consultant was already on the trail. He phoned Doctor Dawson.

“Can you think of any possible source? Is there anybody in the club who ...?”

“I don’t think so. I’ll run some discreet questions amongst some of the members I know are responsible people. I’m also checking elsewhere.”

Doctor Dawson was already having other thoughts as he remembered that Jack had spent the Saturday evening with Charlotte in their house. His worst suspicions were confirmed when he checked his modest stock of prescriptive drugs and realised the Bupivacaine and Ketorolic was missing. That afternoon, he met Jack as he returned home from hospital on the village bus.

“A word please Jack?”

Jack’s mother sensed her son go tense as he stood resting his injured leg while the bus pulled away.

Doctor Dawson spoke softly and reassuringly for he could see the fear in the boy’s eyes.

“I checked my surgery drugs locker this morning and I was missing the very same drugs found in your blood. Do you know anything about it?”

Jack swallowed then finally nodded slowly. The doctor sighed.

“So when did you take them?”

“When you left the surgery to check the potatoes and make the coffee. You left the surgery door open.”

Doctor Dawson nodded, sighed and wagged his head.

“Oohh Jack, Jack; I’m so disappointed in you. You’ve betrayed my trust. You realise I have to report this. If I don’t, it could affect my licence to hold drugs at the surgery.”

“I’m sorry.” Jack answered tearfully. “Does this mean I won’t be able to see Charlotte again?”

Doctor Dawson thought long and hard then he eventually replied.

“You haven’t been very impressive have you? You broke a serious trust and you stole drugs. Can it get much worse?”

Jack silently wondered why Doctor Dawson had not mentioned his transvestism as well and he apologised again as he gave up attempting a plea.

“I’m sorry, Doctor Dawson. I won’t bother Charlotte again. I’ll not trouble you again. I’ll stay away from the club rides as well. That way there won’t be any trouble. I can always train on my own; that is if the national team accept me.”

Doctor Dawson was secretly glad the boy had shown remorse but there were still other issues. Technically, by using pain-killers, Jack had used drugs to enhance his performance and that was a very serious issue at all competitive cycling levels. Cycling as a sport had only just managed to finally get it’s house in order. Taking drugs at junior level had become virtually a criminal offence in cycling. It was more than probable that the national team would refuse to accept him. The boy’s hopes could be smashed before they even started. He didn’t mention his thoughts to Jack or his mother. It was pointless loading the boy with worse worries.

~~ooo000ooo~