Ali

Chapter 1

PASSING ON THE CHURCHILL WARD.

A MAN OF FIFTY plus lies on his death-bed dropping in and out of consciousness knowing full well the end is near. His face is all twisted and he looks twice his age. The blond haired woman and her little girl enter the room and a nurse smile’s at them then says softly. I will be outside if you need anything. then quietly closes the door behind her. The man opens his eyes and looks from the woman to the child. He looks across the room towards the little girl totally ignoring the woman. The little girl stares at the man as his eyes become transfixed on her innocent face. The little girl is shaken and seems to be unable to move as her eyes meet the man’s rigid stare. Seconds pass that seems like minutes when the woman seeing what’s going on jumps between the two. John she cries out and on hearing his name the man turns to face the woman. He tries to speak but cannot then jerks back on his pillow and dies. The woman kisses the man on the forehead then quickly leaves the room half dragging the little girl with her. Back in the taxi the child playing with her ponytail asks her downcast mother. Who was that man mummy, and why did he stare at me so?

The mother nervously answers her daughter. That was your Uncle John, Alison, your father’s older brother; he has been ill for some time now, nothing to worry your little head about darling, The child not satisfied with her mother’s answer then says. But mummy, how come I never saw him before, if he is father’s brother, how come I never saw him before? Before her mother could answer her the child then says. And mummy, how come father never brought him to our house, like he did his other two brothers Steven and Frank? The mother saddened now turns to look out the window then turns back to her daughter and says.

Your Uncle John has been sick darling, a long time now, and he and your father did not really get on, it’s best not to ask child, something’s are best left unsaid, She bends over to kiss her little girl on the nose and says to her. Don’t worry darling . . . and please don’t tell your father where we were this afternoon, he wouldn’t understand, John was well, kind of special, he stood out from them all, The little girl then says to her mother. What do you mean mummy, how was he special?

The mother sighs then said. Well Alison darling, he was different, holy even you could say, he would say and do things that made others fell very uncomfortable, you know, uneasy, people don’t like that kind of thing, that’s why you mustn’t tell your father where we were today, he would not like to hear that we went to see John, so please darling say nothing, The little girl says. Okay mummy, I won’t, mum’s the word. They both laughed.

That’s my girl.

The mother says giving her little girl a hug.

It is our little secret.

The mother turns again to look out the cab window and her mind goes back to the time she and John had had an affair. It was so silly really; not a proper affair more a brief encounter than an affair. It had happened when her husband James went down south to London to see his brother Frank who had had an accident in work and was in hospital with a broken leg and some very sore and badly bruised ribs.

She had not been out socializing for such a long time so when John called around to see his brother and finding him not in took her round to the local pub for a few drinks she couldn’t say no and of course one drink led to another and the more she drank the less control she had of herself and inevitably she and John ended up making love on the sofa.

That was before Alison was born. Nine months before in fact and when she was born she looked the spitting image of John and she knew in her heart that James knew that Ali wasn’t his but his brothers. He never said anything but she just knew he knew and things were never the same between them again. The magic had gone and life lost its beauty. Alison on the other hand more than made up for any affection she was missing and she kept herself busy in the house even took up a little gardening to keep herself busy.

James Dunne however took to the drink and came home less and less and when he did manage to find his way home he was usually too drunk to do or even say anything but he never again brought his brother John back to the house.

It was only by chance she found out where he was a couple of years later as she visiting her sister in Birmingham she came across him in the Bull Ring. He was standing on a wooden box shouting at the top of his voice that the Lord Jesus was coming back soon to bring us all home to his heavenly kingdom. Embarrassed she disappeared into the crowd but was astonished to read in the papers some month’s later that he had healed some poor old lady that had terminal cancer.

It was in all the papers but her husband grabbed the one she was reading and threw it on the open fire then growling to himself stormed out of the room. She felt a cold chill come over her as she recalled the memories of that night she and John made love and how it had changed her life forever. The doctors had no explanation about the curing the woman from cancer but would not give John any credit saying it was just one of those things that cannot be explained but happened a lot more than people realized. Then out of the blue while watching channel 4 one evening she came across him again.

Apparently he had developed some sort of healing power. He only had to lay his hands on someone with a medical complaint and instantly they got better. Mesmerized she watched as the camera’s followed him around the city healing this person then that person and all the time giving thanks to Jesus for the wonderful gift of his healing ministry. The more she watched his facial expressions the more she saw the face of Jesus. Her body would tingle as she watched him yet would go numb as some preacher or other would come on the TV and criticize John for doing thing things that he could not.

His wavy brown hair and his piercing blue eyes and shaggy beard could not hide the fact that this was John Dunne, her husband’s brother. This was amazing stuff she told herself for it was not too long ago in their family one would be locked up for doing or even just saying such things yet here he was not only saying very spiritual things but was also curing people with terrible illnesses. Unheard of in this or any other city since the time of Jesus and also like those times there was always somebody willing to crucify him also.

Just by laying his hands on them and saying things to the people like. Jesus loves us all, it matters not what sins one has committed, it matters not how much money one has or even what horrible things one has done, come to him, the master of forgiveness, full of mercy and compassion, come and be loved by the greatest lover of all time, bring him your poor . . . you’re sick, even your dead . . . it is never too late to repent, never too late to change your wicked ways, you’re never too far gone . . . too old or too poor, kings or paupers it make no difference to him . . . repent, come to him that loves you so much he gave his very life for you. John was so open about all things religious but James had such a hatred for the church.

Sara could not explain it but she was quickly falling in love with John; She and every other woman that saw him on TV or heard him on radio. This man that only eight years ago was buck naked on her sitting room sofa giving her the attention her body craved. The father of her beautiful daughter and now here he was on national television preaching the word of God and even more amazingly healing people just by laying his hands on their heads. There were crowds gathering everywhere he went. Drug addicts, wino’s on the street, and others so ill that the doctors had given them no other option but to go home and die, all were healed and in full view of the television camera’s so no one could say that John was a fake. Miracles were happening all around him so much so that the people began to call him John the Baptist. He began to appear on talk shows on television and radio so much so that soon he was not able to go anywhere without being recognized and mobbed.

Within days he could not go anywhere without someone there by his side to protect him from the crowds. James was furious on seeing his brother every time he turned the television on every time he turned around in the shops for John was on the cover of nearly every magazine; in newspapers on television and radio and even when he went to get petrol for his car, there were posters of John everywhere. People wanted to reach out and touch John as he passed them doing what they did all those years ago when St Peter passed or even when Jesus himself passed through those huge crowds wanting even his shadow to fall upon them just like the woman with the blood decease. It was now clear to anyone that came anyway near him that John had the gift of healing either with the word or the laying on of hands.

It seemed the whole world was talking about his brother. Now every night when he came home and looked at little Ali he was reminded of the time John betrayed him. The more he saw or heard of John the more he drank and the more he drank the angrier he became towards Sara and Alison even to the point of hitting his wife in front of her. She no longer felt safe in this house in West Bromwich.

On more than one occasion he went to strike Alison stopping only at the last micro second as if some invisible force-shield or hand stopped him in his tracks from hurting her. Sara knew it was only a matter of time before she herself would be beaten to death or she would end up killing James.

More than once she had to take hold of Ali and run for their lives over to her sister’s house on the Lozzalle’s road in Handsworth. Staying away from her home as long as she could knowing full well that James would drink every penny he had then come home and wreck the place. It was as if he was possessed by the devil while John had the spirit of God in him and went around doing good deeds while his brother did the complete opposite.

Cain and Abel.

Yet when it was all over he would be ever so humble crying buckets of tears for the damage done only to revert to his old ways as soon as he got some more money in his pocket. Sara knew as long as Ali and he were in the same house there would never be peace yet deep down she knew he loved her as a child but not as a daughter.

Then one night there was the most terrible fire. In his drunken state had set the house on fire and it turned out later that it was deliberately set as there was a petrol can in every room downstairs. She cried for him that night as she now realized the pain and torment he must have been in had driven him to suicide and that she had been the reason for him taking his own life.

She also cried for herself not only in sorrow but in joy as she now was free from James Dunne’s drunken violence and though tinged with great sadness there was also great relief. She and Alison could stay in her sister Dora’s house as long as they wanted but Sara had made up her mind to move out after the funeral maybe even go further south to London.

She had always wanted to go to London and now this was her chance. There would be a little money left over from the insurance and it would be enough to set the two of them up in a little apartment and once Alison was settled in school she would find herself a nice little job and things at last would begin to look better and brighter after the dark days weeks, months, and years with James. Yes a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders at last thank you Jesus.

John however was another matter entirely.

He had become as famous as any pop-star. Everybody wanted to be seen with him and night after night he was on television. People were bringing their sick children to him and he would lay his hands on them and right before their eyes they would become well and if they were lame would stand up and walk around the large studio.

Before the end of the show the people would be dancing and singing and praising the Lord to such an extent that anyone watching would do the same no matter what religion they were. These were strange times indeed and the more she saw of John the more she loved him. The funeral came and went quickly as only James brothers Frank and Steven turned up along with their wife’s and children. John had to come in disguise to the service and also to the grave as there were just too many people following him around.

Not a large sending off but then again alcoholics don’t have too many friends.

She was glad it was over as now she could make plans to go to London and start to live her life the way she wanted to.

Yet she could not get John out of her mind.

It was in the massive Palladium shopping center in London that they met. He was surrounded by a large crowd of shoppers while she was on the floor above. He looked up and there she was and he whispered to some man to go and bring her down and when she came down he hugged her close and said to her.

Sara, oh Sara, I missed you so, how have you been managing darling? the last few years, I know . . . how hard, it was terrible about James but that’s what the drink does for you?’ she told him about Alison and the way it had affected James turning him into a vicious animal and drunken bully. He said in reply. I’m was sorry to hear that James had died, but I know what he was like when he got angry . . . he was my brother after all, he was a troubled soul but he is at peace now, praise be to God, and this little girl, my little girl . . . Alison, where is she now? and Sara said. She is in school now, but you can meet her later, do come round to the house this evening John, she will be pleased to meet you, although she thinks you’re her uncle but I know she’ll be glad you came, I know she will because she loves meeting people,"

John said to her. Sara, I am so busy these days, but give me your address and I promise I will come round first chance I get, he held her tightly to his body so tight that he didn’t see a tear fall from her eye. She knew in her heart she would not see him again and as she hugged him she could feel great power coming from him.

In no time at all he was lost in the crowds and drifted further and further away.

Chapter 2

FINDING HER FEET

ALISON CAME HOME from school one afternoon all upset and told her mum some kids out in the yard had pushed and pulled her around until she fell on her knees and made them bleed. They were badly scratched with a good deal of skin missing. The teacher bathed them in cold water and had watched in amazement as they healed right before her eyes.

She gave her a note inviting her mother to come and see her any evening after class. There would be many times like that in Alison’s young life when she would display some kind of strange power and it worried Sara. As Ali lay on her bed one afternoon after school and thought about her Uncle John and her mind went back to the first time she set eyes on him in the hospice.

That strange look he gave her and the power she felt coming from him and filling her up as he lay dying right before her eyes will always be there in her memory. Just like that big fat bully in her class in school; Noreen Mac Crawley, always chasing her around and pulling her hair and generally making fun of her in front of all the other kids. That was until Ali had to face her one day when the bully had her trapped in the basement in some storage room.

Noreen a fat slob of a girl came strolling up to Ali calling her all kinds of nasty names and saying what she was going to do to her when she got her hands around Ali’s scrawny neck. Poor Ali was out of breath and could run no further and had her back to the wall. The other kids following like sheep behind the fat girl stopped when Ali reached out her hand and stopped the bully in her tracks leaving her unable to move. Ali raised her hand upwards and the bully levitated up towards the ceiling. All the other girls were mortified when they saw the bully begin to spin round and round then they all ran for the door screaming and shouting. Ali seeing Noreen turning white lowered her hand and let her spin slowly down to the basement floor. The bully collapsed in a heap on the floor crying like a baby. Unknown to Ali though Ms Johnson, one of the teachers, was watching all this unfold before her very eyes in wonder and amazement. Ali was overjoyed at herself for facing down the bully and vowed no more to anyone’s doormat. That was magic that was and Ali knew there would be a lot more times like that.

Though it was scary yet exciting at the same time she knew she had some kind of power but as yet had no understanding of it.

She was contemplating all these things when she noticed she was not alone in the room for standing in the corner was a young boy child. Silent and very still for a child yet she was not frightened for she felt the child posed no danger. She got off the bed and went over to him and said.

Hello, my name is Ali, what’s yours?

Addio the boy replied without moving. Ali said to him.

That’s a nice name, why are you here? She asked him.

Still the boy never moved. She asked again. Why are you here in my room and how did you get here?

The boy said. You must invite me in before I can move,

I see said Ali.

Well then do come in and welcome, instantly the boy came to life and walked over to the window saying. So why am I here? He went and sat down on the chair by the bed. Well I’m here to teach you a few things!

He smiled as he said that.

What kind of things? Like magic things? Like disappearing and all that kind of stuff? Ali asked him joyfully sitting on the bed beside him. Well things like this,

He made the window slide up and down and the door open and close by itself. That’s easy, said Ali as she made the chair he was sitting on rise to the ceiling then move slowly back down to the floor. Yes, very good said the boy. But can you cross?

Ali looked puzzled.

Cross, what’s that when it’s at home?

Well it’s this, said he getting up and levitating half way up the wall then walking straight through it then sticking his head back inside saying.

Impressed? Ali was impressed and tried to do it herself without success.

How do you do that? she tried a second time and failed. It’s not something that comes to you it has to be shown to you and explained why it needs doing; that is why I’m here? he came back into the room and sat down on the chair and nodded for Ali to sit on the bed.

Now said he. Close your eyes then open them real quick, do that a few times and if you can focus on where it is you want to go through and keep squinting your eyes you will see first a white mist form around the portal that you will use, nothing may happen the first few times until you see a blue mist then you will be able to come and go at will, but you must be really careful how long you spend on the other side. At least until you master the hang of it, he said smiling to her as she opened and closed her eyes real tight.

Careful, he said to her. You must only go at night and must return before morning,’ now stop doing that or you will give yourself a headache,

"Addio, tell me please, what is on the other side?

Is it spirits and ghosts and all that kind of scary stuff?"

It is the boy said then added. Some are good, some not so good, it can be really frightening at first, all the time really, I find it very hard to get used to it, but you can get used to it after doing it a few times and being very brave, he became quite and still.

What’s the matter? Ali asked him taking hold of his hand and recoiling with surprise at her hand going right through his hand.

Addio smiled when he saw that and said to Ali.

You can’t feel my spirit not unless your spirit also, I wish you could but it can’t be done not until you cross over even then I’m not too sure if it applies to you, not being dead and all, Ali was puzzled and said to him.

Why have you come to me, Addio? And if I’m not dead how can you see me?

He said to her. Every now and then Ali someone special comes along and that someone special was your Uncle John, well he wasn’t really your uncle but that’s another story. He could have been really someone great . . . maybe even another John the Baptist, better even, he could have even been another person with the same power of Jesus but alas, his spirit did not rise above the ground, true he spoke and did great things but he could not unite his mind with his spirit, always in conflict with each other, but you are here now it is your turn but as you are so young I have been sent to guide you along the right path, but first I must ask you a question, may I do that now? Ali walked over to the window and paused for a few seconds before saying.

What is going to happen to me now, are they going to hate me like some of them hated Uncle John? I do not think I would like that, Addio walked over to her and said calmly for one so young.

"There will always be people that hate you, no matter what you do in life