Tug Turner

by Brian Taylor.

Chapter 5.

The climb proved harder than either of the boys had expected. The hill might not be very high, but it was steep. It was just before 3pm when Neil and Tug arrived puffing and panting on the big round dome that was the summit of Moel Winion. They threw themselves flat out on the ground to get their breath back and to soak up the warmth of the afternoon sun.
Mr Downs, who kept a periodic watch on the pair using his binoculars, saw the conquering pair just arriving at their destination. "They're safely at the top." he shouted to his wife.
When he got his breath back, Tug stood up and looked around. "Wow! What a view. It was sure worth the climb."
Then he looked down at the cottage nestled at the foot of the mountain and waved hoping the ants at the cottage might see him.
"Okay! Time for some tuck." said Neil opening the rucksack. As he and Tug sat enjoying the view and munching on Granny Smith apples. Tug said, "Once or twice, when I've woken up, I've noticed you reading a book. Is it good ?"
"It sure is. It's The Bible. I have what Christians call a quiet time."
"A quiet time? What’s that?"
"I try to spend 10 to 15 minutes every morning reading and praying."
"What do you do that for?" questioned Tug.
"Well, it's one of ways I learn about God … about myself …and how I should be."
"Give me an example."
"Okay. The day of Gemma's party and your accident. That morning I was reading a Psalm, that's just the Bible's word for an ancient type of hymn. Anyway, in it it says, 'God does not treat us as our sins deserve.' That told me how kind God is and just how bad I am because I do tend to treat people the way I think they deserve. So, I learned that I must try not reacting to people the way I normally would."
Tug interrupted. "So what your saying is that you're being nice to me even though you don't like me!"
"At first it was like that, I admit. But not any more. I've actually grown to like you. We've been getting on fine haven't we?"
"Yeah!" agreed Tug, "And I'm sorry for calling you a Jesus freak."
"And I accept your apology," chipped in Neil, "as far as I'm concerned it never happened."
"I wonder if I could change?" mused Tug.
"With God's help I'm sure you could." answered Neil, "But I think that's a chat for another time. It's half past three - time we were getting back to the cottage."
"Going down'll be quicker than coming up." said Tug.
"And I know a way of making it even quicker." said Neil, "We'll slide down the scree slope over there."
On the way up Neil had pointed out to Tug a scree slope about 70 metres to their right
"What's a scree slope?" Tug had asked.
"It's like a bank of little stones that move when you walk on them."
"I've never slid down anything like that before." said Tug apprehensively, "What do you do?"
Neil began to explain, then continued, "Look just watch me and copy … it's great."
They pair walked to the top of the slope then Neil said, "Here I go." and off he set, running down the slope. He was going great guns and whooping with delight. It looked almost like skiing on your boots. Tug was starting to look forward to following Neil when all of a sudden Neil was tumbling and rolling and screaming down the hillside. He didn't stop until he almost reached the bottom of the scree then he just lay there. Tug yelled at the top of his voice, "Neil! … Neil! … Are you okay?" but there was no response. Neil didn't move.

Having watched Neil tumble headlong down the scree slope Tug wisely decided not to take the same route. Instead he skirted to the right of it all the time trying to watch where he was putting his feet and, at the same time, trying to keep an eye on his friend. He hadn't descended far when he saw Neil move and try to sit up. "Neil! Don't move till I get there." bellowed Tug.
Neil raised an arm in response and lay back down. Tug was extra careful. He didn't know what injuries Neil had suffered and didn't want to get hurt himself. It took Tug a full ten minutes to descend to Neil's level and then cross the slope to where he lay. "What's the damage?" he called as he got close.
"Couple of cuts and bruises on my hands, a jarred body, hurt pride and a twisted ankle … I think."
"You sure you don't hurt anywhere else?"
"Sure."
"Okay! let's see if we can sit you up."
Neil had no trouble sitting up. "Now let's have a look at your hands." said Tug. Neil showed them to him. "Mmmm! They don't look too bad. They'll look better when we've washed the dirt and blood away. Now, let's have a look at your ankle."
"I don't think that's a good idea." said Neil, "If it's swollen, I might not get my boot on again."
"True." said Tug, "Let's clean those hands then …" He took the rucksack off Neil's back and took out a bottle of water. "I'll pour, you wash!"
While they were busy doing this, Tug asked Neil what had happened. "I was doing great … as you must have seen. And then I think there must have been a rock under the stones 'cos all of a sudden my foot didn't slide and I went over …"
"And continued in a spectacular manner to the bottom." finished Tug.
"Something like that." muttered Neil. Neil's hands were fairly clean by now and it was clear that he had only a couple of minor cuts. "I think I ought to see if I can stand." he said, "Help me up."
Tug put Neil's left arm around his neck and shoulder then said "On 3. One … two … three …Hup!" Neil came up taking his weight mainly on his good foot. Once he was steady, he slowly put his weight on both feet.
"My left ankle does hurt a bit." winced Neil.
"What sort of pain is it." asked Tug.
"Derrrr! The sort that hurts of course!"
"What I meant was, is it a sharp pain or more of an ache?"
"An ache."
"Then my guess is it's sprained not broken. Still, it isn't going to be easy going downhill. Shall I go for help or do you think you could make it with me acting as a crutch?"
"Let's give it a try first," said Neil, "and see how we go."
Tug went just in front and Neil followed limping down the slope sideways. He led with his good leg but progress was very slow. They were hardly half way down the mountain when Neil groaned and made a controlled collapse onto the hillside, "It's just too painful. I don't think I can go any further."
"I've an idea." said Tug, "As the slope is still fairly steep, try going down on your bottom. Like a baby going down stairs. If you could do that for about 70 metres the slope starts to level out and I might be able to give you a piggy back from there."
Neil agreed to give it a try. Their progress was now even slower than before, but at least Neil's ankle didn't hurt so much. Eventually, they got to the place where the slope wasn't quite so steep and Neil got on Tug's back. Although he was quite strong, Tug only managed to carry Neil about 50 metres then had to give up. By 5pm the pair were still making their way down when Tug noticed a figure hurrying up towards them. "Looks like your dad." he said.
Neil waved and when the figure waved back Neil said, "You're right. Let's wait here. I'm done in and could do with a rest."
10minutes later Neil's dad reached them. "What's up?" he asked, "I saw you were having trouble when I checked through my binoculars."
"I've twisted my ankle." said Neil.
Mr Downs went one side of Neil and Tug the other. Neil put his arms around their necks and they put their arms behind his back. Neil swung his way along.
It was almost six when Neil sank into an armchair in the cottage and his dad removed his boots and socks. The ankle looked like a football and the bruising was starting to come out.
"I'm going to take you to the C & A in Bangor just to make sure it's only a sprain." said Neil's dad.
"Why are you taking me to a shop?" queried Neil, "Surely it'll be shut!"
"Silly boy! The C & A is the Caernarfon & Anglesey Hospital."
Mrs Downs insisted they all had something to eat first and, during the meal, Neil and Tug told the family what had happened.
At 7pm Mr Downs, Neil and Tug set off on the 15-mile drive to Bangor. By 10pm they were back at Carnedd View Cottage. Neil's ankle and foot had been X-rayed and nothing was broken. A nurse had strapped it up and ordered Neil to rest it for a few days.

At 2pm on Saturday afternoon, the Downs dropped Tug outside the block of flats and said their goodbyes. As the car pulled away, Neil mouthed, "Come and see me tomorrow afternoon." Tug responded with a thumbs up.
On Sunday afternoon, Tug rang the Downs' front-door bell. He clutched a box of Dairy Milk chocolates in one hand and a small bottle of Lucozade in the other. "Hello, Mrs Downs, these are for you and Mr Downs." Tug handed the box to Neil's mum. "Just a little something to say thanks for a great holiday. It was the best ever. Really great!"
"Well thank you Tug, that's so kind and thoughtful." Mrs Downs accepted the proffered chocolates.
"And how's Neil?"
"He's through here." Mrs Downs pushed open the sitting room door. "Go and ask him for yourself."
Tug peered around the open door. "Hi! How's big chief swollen ankle?"
"Coping." replied Neil cheerily , "Come in. Shut the door and sit down."
As Tug sank into the black leather settee, he put the Lucozade on the table, "Thought you must like this as you gave some to me"’
"Thanks." said Neil, "For the drink and of course your help last Friday."
"Least I could do for a friend … for my best friend ... my only friend."
Neil put on his most serious face. "Look, Tug, do you mind if I say something?"
Tugged shrugged his shoulders. He knew that nothing he said would stop Neil anyway.
"A month or two ago, you and I were far from being mates. Right?"
"Right!"
"And. to be totally honest that was your fault … because you were a bully. But as I told you on 'old onion', I realised that God didn't want me to treat people as I thought they deserved and so I started with you … that's what made the difference. Now, none of the kids at school deserve to be grabbed, wrestled to the ground and sat on. Do they?"
Tug didn't reply. He was staring shame-faced at the carpet.
Neil continued. "You know, you don't get any respect from being a bully. You make people afraid and they don't like you. In fact, they do all they can to avoid you. That's why you end up without any friends … and very lonely. You've proved to me this last five or six weeks that you can be an okay guy. Now you have to prove it to others."
There was a long silence and Neil began to wonder if he'd done the right thing. Perhaps he'd been too blunt. After a long pause, Tug spoke. "You know I asked you if I could change and you said I could with God's help?"
"Yeah! I remember."
"I haven't changed my mind you know. I do want to change. I just don't know where to start."
"Are you sure about this? It won't be easy." said Neil.
"I would like to give it a try. But I don't know anything about God and Jesus … not like you do."
"We all have to start somewhere. So, why don't you, my good friend, start coming to church with me on Sundays and to Seekers, and to the club on a Thursday? And one other thing, I think it would help if you said sorry to people at school."
"You're on." said Tug now sounding much more cheerful.

The following Monday morning Tug put his hand up immediately after Mr Morton had taken the register. "What do you want Turner?" said Mr Morton with more than a hint of irritation in his voice.
"Please Sir! May I say something."
"If you must but keep it snappy."
"Thank you sir." Tug took a piece of crumpled paper from his pocket and read from it to the rest of the class. "I just want to say to you all that I know I've been a bit of a bully since I came to this school. I'm really sorry for making your lives a misery and I promise not to hurt anyone again. Also, I'd like you all to give me a chance to show that I've changed …though I'll understand if that's too hard for some of you. And I promise you, Mr Morton, that I'll try my hardest not to let the class or school down anymore." With that Tug sat down and turned and looked knowingly at Neil. Neil smiled back and nodded approval. You could have heard a pin drop, everyone was speechless, including Mr Morton. Finally he said, "Well, Turner, this is pleasant surprise. I think we'll keep you to that. Won't we class?"
"Yes!" came a chorus of replies.
The following Sunday, true to his promise, Tug went to church with Neil and his family. And that did prove to be the start of a change in Tug. Neil made himself available to help Tug keep his promises to Mr Morton and 9NM. His fellow students marvelled at the new Tug and his transformation was the talk of the school for weeks afterwards.

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