A Charitable Day

Jessica’s tutelage of James continued through the week and into what was a hectic weekend. Sex, of course, was a constant lesson keenly taken up by both teacher and student. She also continued showing him the subtleties of seduction. You can win or lose a woman with just one look, much of the seduction is done before you speak a word she told him. She taught him how his body language could do much of the talking and how sitting or standing in a certain way could show his confidence and interest in a woman. Then she showed him how to follow it up with a casual but seductive glance across a room, staring into her eyes.

They practised talking as well, those first words were so important he discovered. And much to his surprise, there was no all-conquering chat-up line that would have women swooning for him. She told him that if a woman doesn’t at least have a hint of your intent before you’ve spoken to her then you’ve already lost the game. Most of this was besides the point though, Jessica would be acting as his wingman and doing much, if not all, of the recruiting for their harem and thus approaching women in a bar or whatever would likely not be needed. But it was all good practice and good for his confidence she told him.

Along with the lessons in seduction were a few more practical things that needed to be learned too. Mainly how to conduct himself in more high-class environments such as restaurants or glamorous parties. She showed him at length how to order food, how to pick the right wine, what cutlery to use, how to discreetly tip the staff and how to engage in small talk. That was a big one, James wasn’t much for small talk and thought himself to have nothing of interest to say, so mastering the art of conversation proved the trickiest of all the lessons she’d taught him.

Saturday lunchtime they went to the barber and trimmed his unkept hair into a short stylish cut. The barber recommended that James keep his beard in what he called a designer stubble, neatly crafted with about three days of growth. They even gave him a manicure. Jessica was so pleased with the results that she booked James in for a regular appointment twice a week to keep his hair, nails and stubble in good order.

James spent much of his spare time brushing up his web designing skills by working on a website for his newly created company, Whittaker IT LTD. It surprised the hell out James that setting up a new company took only five minutes online, it was ridiculously simple. But that was the easy bit, making it a profitable venture was an entirely different affair. While James had his head in his laptop, Jessica seemed to be dealing with a never-ending stream of deliveries.

She’d spent a lot of time buying things online, mainly sex toys and lingerie, including the butt plugs she’d mentioned. Most of what she’d bought she stashed away in a cupboard, telling James she’d get them out at the appropriate time. She did show him a dazzling array of stockings that she’d ordered though, which pleased him no end.

On Sunday, just after lunch, James was busy at his laptop in the study. Jessica had just finished clearing up the dishes when she came in and spoke to him.

“There’s something I need to do this afternoon, you can stay here and carry on working on your website if you want, I’ll only be a few hours.”

“Yeah, I think I’ll stay here, I’d like to get this finished before tomorrow’s meeting with this client. Speaking of which, when will you tell me who we’re meeting?”

“We’re meeting my friend, Dani. She owns a fine art gallery in Fulham. Her website is pretty basic, she needs an upgrade.”

“Why didn’t you tell me before now?”

“I wanted to make sure you were ready before I booked anything with her, I only arranged our meeting with her this morning.”

“But you told me a few days ago that we’re seeing her tomorrow?”

“As I said, she’s a friend, I often pop in to see her for lunch.”

“Does she know I’m coming?”

“Oh yes, she’s keen to meet you. Right, must dash, I’ll be back…”

“Hang on a minute, why are you being so coy? What aren’t you telling me?”

Jessica blushed, “I’ve told her we’re just popping in for lunch so that she can meet you. I may have omitted to tell her that we’re going to propose a business transaction of sorts.”

“Ah, Jess, come on, that’s not fair, she doesn’t even know why we’re going to see her?”

“James, trust me, Dani is my best friend, I’ve known her since we were at boarding school together. It’ll be fine, I promise.”

“Well if you’re sure, but I’d rather she knew.”

“It’ll be better this way. Right, now I really do have to go.”

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going to lend a hand at the charity I help out at.”

“Oh, I thought you were going shopping or something. I’ll come along and help too,” he said, closing the lid on his laptop.

“I thought you wanted to get the website done before tomorrow?”

“I do, but it’s pretty much done, I’m just tinkering with it. I’d rather help out with whatever it is you’re doing.”

“Oh James, that’s kind but you don’t have to, honestly, stay here and finish your website.”

James’ shoulders dropped and a sullen look swept over his face.

Jessica sighed, “Gosh, you look like a puppy that’s just been kicked. It’s nothing glamorous, it’s just a homeless shelter, I help serve the food and talk to the guests.”

“Then why don’t you want me to come with you? Are you embarrassed to be seen with me?”

“Is that what you think? Oh James, I promise you, nothing could be further from the truth.”

She leaned in and kissed him, “I’m sorry I gave you that impression, I’m proud to be seen with you. I thought it might be best for you to stay here because the shelter is in Sutton, quite close to your house. I thought that might be a bit awkward for you.”

“A bit awkward? Ah, I see, you’re worried I’ll bump into my father?”

“Yes.”

“Well I need to go home anyway, I want to get some stuff from my room. Maybe we can stop there after we’ve finished at the shelter?”

“James I’m not sure that’s a good idea, not after what happened the last time you saw your father. And besides, we’ll buy you new things.”

“I want the photo of my mother that’s in my bedroom. That’s all I want, there’s nothing else there I care about.”

Jessica sighed, “Okay, we’ll stop by after we’ve finished at the shelter. But promise me, if it looks like he’ll turn violent you’ll walk away, we’ll figure out another way to get the picture.”

“Okay, I promise.”

---

All his life James had lived on the estate in Sutton yet he’d never known that the church at the end of his road provided a service for the homeless. Jessica was right though, it was very close to his home, just a hundred metres away. Although the chances of bumping into his father were slim at best, he only ever left the house to go to the betting shop or the off-licence for ****. Or to meet his dealer to buy cannabis. None of which would take him near the church.

The small church hall had a queue of homeless people, guests Jessica called them, waiting outside when they arrived. As they walked in several of the guests waved and shouted joyful hellos at Jessica.

“Don’t worry, we’ll be ready soon,” she told them with a wide grin.

As they entered the hall, a small building next to the church, James saw tables and chairs laid out with a few people milling about putting out condiments and jugs of water. At the far end was the kitchen, with a serving hatch presumably where the guests would line up for their food thought James.

As they went through the hall Jessica greeted the other helpers warmly, introducing James so quickly that he completely lost track of their names. He did remember Kevin though, a tall, thin chap in his fifties who ran this branch of the charity. As they neared the kitchen the smell of something savoury was wafting out towards them.

“Come on,” she said to James, “Let’s get in the kitchen, we’ll help serve the food.”

As they walked into the kitchen an attractive blonde woman who looked to be around the same age as Jessica turned and smiled widely when she saw her.

“Jessica!” The woman yelled loudly.

“Sarah!” Screamed Jessica and the two women hugged tightly.

“It’s been ages since I’ve seen you,” said Jessica.

“Sorry to leave you in the lurch darling, I had to help mum and dad move house. Lucy’s moved out too and is in London now.”

“Lucy’s moved out? How old is she now?”

“Nineteen, she finished her A-levels and got a job as a receptionist at a fancy PR company near Liverpool Street.”

“I can’t believe that, the last time I saw her she was still in primary school.”

“She’ll be here on Wednesday night to help out, you can say hi then if you like?”

“Oh I’d love that,” then Jessica spotted Sarah looking at James, “Oh I’m so sorry, where are my manners, Sarah, this is my friend James, he’s come to help out.”

James shook Sarah’s hand when she offered it and confidently said, “It’s a pleasure to meet you. How do you two know each other?”

Jessica grinned at James, he’d used one of the lines she gave him to start small talk in social situations, he’s a quick learner she noted.

“Jess and I were at Cambridge together,” Said Sarah with a smile.

“It was Sarah who got me helping out down here, what was it, two years ago Sarah?”

“Yes, something like that. We were…”

“FIVE MINUTES TO OPENING,” shouted Kevin from the front of the hall.

“Okay, we’d better get moving,” Said Sarah. “Are you two okay serving the mains and I’ll do the veggies?”

“Sounds good, what have we got?”

“Chicken stew or Veggie curry, both with rice. There are loads of vegetables to go on the side too if they want. Right then, aprons on, doors are opening up soon,” said Sarah, handing James an apron and a big serving spoon.

Forty-five minutes later the hall was full up with the guests tucking into their meals and the hot food was all but gone, although there were plenty of fruit and snacks still available on a table in one corner. Jessica told James that would be empty by the time they closed up as the guests would take whatever they could with them.

When they had finished cleaning the kitchen Jessica took James out into the hall to start clearing away the paper plates and bowls as the guests finished eating. When that was done they grabbed a cup of tea each and walked around the hall speaking to the guests. Jessica chatted away with them like they were old friends, covering an array of subjects from football to the weather. James was fixated on her as she worked the room, giving her full attention to each person she spoke to and listening intently to whatever it was they wanted to chat about before moving on to speak to someone else. Over the next hour she made sure she gave everyone there a little of her time until one by one they drifted away, back out onto the streets with their pockets full of fruit and snacks.

Once they had packed everything away they said warm goodbyes to the other helpers, especially Sarah, whom Jessica promised she see again on Wednesday, then headed out towards the car.

“What did you think?” Asked Jessica.

“I think you’re an angel, they love you so much. Every time you speak to them their eyes light up.”

“They’re a nice bunch really.”

“Yeah, it takes a bit of getting used to but, yeah, they’re alright. I like Sarah, she’s nice.”

“Sarah is lovely, and very married I’m afraid.”

“Oh, I didn’t mean it like that, I was only…”

“It’s okay, she’s a very attractive woman, if she was free then I’d have no qualms in asking her to join our little project. We used to have sex when were at Cambridge.”

“Really?”

“Uh-huh, and Dani too. There was a group of us that played around with being in a poly.”

“A poly?”

“Polyamorous. Poly is the short term for a group of people in a relationship. There were seven of us at one point, four girls and three guys. It was a lot of fun but hard work too, especially while trying to study. So,” she said with a big sigh, “shall we go home, or do you still want to go and get your picture?”

“I’d like to get my picture please.”

“Come on then, but let’s walk, it’s not far.”

When they got to his home Jessica waited a few paces behind James, about six feet from the front door as he rang the bell.

“Haven’t you got a key?”

“No, I left it in my room last time I was here.”

James’ father opened the door, and if Jessica remembered correctly he was still wearing the same clothes as the last time she saw him, perhaps with a few more stains added to the ensemble though.

“Where the fuck ‘ave you been boy? And more importantly, where the fucking hell is my rent?” he said, making no attempt to make space for James to enter.

“I’ve just come back to pick up some of my things, then I’ll be gone,” Said James.

“Gone? Gone where?,” Then he looked at Jessica, “To live with that fancy slag?”

“DON’T CALL HER THAT…”

“Or what? Eh boy? What’ll you do?”

“Just let me get my things and I’ll be gone.”

“You ain’t coming in here until I get my rent. Until then you can fuck off back to wherever that fucking slag lives and…”

James’ face flushed red and his fists clenched.

“Oooh, fancy a bit of me then do ya boy?” said his father, taking a step towards him with his fist held high.

James moved back and but held his fist up high too.

“James, it’s time we were going, come on, leave it…please” Said Jessica.

“Best listen to your slag boy, before you get yourself hurt again.”

His father took a step towards James who didn’t move, and thus was now within punching range.

“JAMES. PLEASE,” shouted Jessica.

James looked over his shoulder at her, then back to his father.

“I’ll be back for my stuff another day.”

James turned and walked off with Jessica, leaving his father scowling at them as they made their way up the road.

Neither Jessica, James nor his father had seen the bedraggled, bearded figure leaning against a lamppost on the opposite side of the road, watching intently as James and his father had argued.