‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  To everybody in the village he was simply Fixit – or Mr. Fixit when formality was required.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  The tall, portly, man with the heavy eyebrows and thick, greying, curly hair seemed to have no other name.’  In fact if one were to have asked the villagers for another, none would have known.’  ‘œFixit will do it,’’  was a phrase for any one of a hundred things the old man would do for the town council or any one of a hundred kids.’ 
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Fixit also had other meanings for the kids.’  It meant also warmth and friendship.’  They accepted the things that Fixit did with just such candour as receiving a favour from a parent.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Fixit was a happy man.’  Always quick with a smile, his ample paunch showed clearly that he obviously also loved his pint.’  Although a bachelor and living alone, he was never lonely.’  Those that frequented his favourite bar were his family.’  They and the children of the town.’  Most of the materials he used for his work he found discarded in junk heaps: wood,’  wire, metal sheets, plastic and rubber tubes.’  Fixit would even extract nails’  from old wooden frames.’  These he would straighten and re-use to reset a leaning basket-ball net or a goal post that he had set up in an empty lot.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Except for the kitchen and bedroom of his small bungalow,’ ‘  the rest served as his workshop and store for’  the carefully selected’  junk most of which came in useful sooner or later.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œFixit, do somethink w’™this?’.’  The old man turned to face a scruffy looking lad holding out something to the suddenly serious-looking giant.’ ‘  It was a pen- knife with a long, elegant blade.’ ‘  But the pressed metal handle was bent and rendered the knife unusable..
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œHello, Eddie.’’ ‘  The big man’™s face quickly broke into a smile. ‘œCome on then. Let’™s have a look.’.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Fixit examined it carefully.’  Thoughtfully he turned it over this way and that in his large hand.’ ‘  He knelt on one knee in front of the young boy the better to show his intentions.’  ‘œI have some beautiful’  wood, real mahogany it is – from a broken chair,’ he said.’  ‘œI’™ll shape two half- handles from it and rivet them together.’  The knife should be better than new by the time we’™ve done w’™it.’’  He winked at Eddie.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  In saying this, Fixit was both talking to the boy and voicing his thoughts in planning the repair.’  He continued:’  ‘œThe first thing I noticed, Eddie, is the blade.’  Look at it.’  This is a quality steel.’  Not plated.’  Here,’  take hold.’  Try bending it between your fingers.’  Feel it?’  Really good steel that and certainly worth fixing.’  Yours?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œFound it…’  somebody threw it into a roadside drain.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Well, Eddie, that’™s fine.’  Finder’™s keeper’™s, eh?’  Well, leave it with me a few days and we shall see.’’  From his jacket Fixit extracted a well-thumbed, dog-eared note book and a stub of a pencil into which he made a short note.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œGotta get to school, Fixit,’ said Eddie.’  Thanks. G’™bye ‘.’ ‘  With that the boy took off at a trot his satchel bumping this way and that on his back as he ran.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Eltham is ten miles south- east of London. It’™s a drab, suburban town, Fixit being one of the more colourful of its inhabitants.’  The town does, however,’  possess a lovely park in which Fixit, in his brightly coloured shirts and with the blessing of the Town Council, helps in the upkeep of the swings and other games of the playground.’  It was on his way there in the afternoon two days later that he saw Eddie coming at him at a run.’ 
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Fixit extracted from his pocket the pen-knife, his back to the approaching boy.’  Turning it carefully over in his hand he took pride and delight in the job he had done on it: the warmth of the burnished wooden handle with its rich grain under the lacquered finish.’  He anticipated just how much the lad would enjoy it as a possession. He replaced it in his pocket.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œReady, Fixit?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Fixit turned towards Eddie, a sad look on his face. Then, smiling suddenly at Eddie’™s crestfallen look, held out the closed knife to the boy..’ 
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Eddie, turning it this way and that, could hardly believe his good fortune.’  ‘œGee, thanks Fixit!’  This is really great!’  Much better than it was when new!’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Fixit smiled. ‘œOpen it, Eddie. Now move the catch forward. See?’  You’™ve locked the blade.’  Like that it won’™t close accidentally on your fingers!’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œWow! Great!’ and with that the boy made off excitedly in the direction of his home, Fixit smiling after him.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  The following Friday, Fixit holding a doll in his hand of which the head had become separated from the body,’  let into his home a very sad Eddie who had just rung the bell. ‘œWhat’™s up Eddie?’  Why such a look?’ Fixit looked with concern at his young friend.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œIt’™s Frank. Took the knife from me when I showed it to Jack. Said it was his and lost it.’  It’™s such a lovely penknife.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œFrank, eh!’  S’™far as I remember he’™s the bully with the red hair, isn’™t he?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œYeh, that’™s ‘˜im.’  Always picking on guys smaller than himself.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œLeave ‘˜im to me, Eddie.’  I know where he hangs out. I’™ll get that knife back if it’™s the last thing I do.’  You’ll see’, and with that Fixit walked out with Eddie following.’  Closing the door he said. Don’™t come with me, Eddie. I don’™t want you mixed up in this.’  He then took the direction of the football field in the park.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  While still some distance off,’  Fixit could make out the stocky figure of Frank, his crop of bright red hair showing him up like a beacon.’  He was alone – probably waiting for some others to make up a group to play.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Fixit walked over to where Frank was sitting. Frank’™s look was sulky, probably knowing full well the reason for Fixit’™s seeking him out. Fixit came straight to the point.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œFrank, I didn’™t come to be tough with you, but it’™s about a penknife that I fixed for Eddie.’  Did you tell’  Eddie that the knife belongs to you?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œDoes, too. Recognise that blade and catch anywhere.’  Ain’™t another like it.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œBut you threw it away when the handle broke.’  When you chucked it that was the same as allowing anyone who finds it to keep it. Isn’™t that so?’  Finder’™s keeper’™s.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œNever thought anyone could do anything with it.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œBad luck, Frank.’  Eddie found it and in all fairness it is his.’  Don’™t you think so?’  Fair’™s fair!’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Frank removed the knife from his pocket and looked at it, a certain longing in his eyes that rather touched the big man.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œFrank, I’™m truly sorry, but I think it’™s only right that you give it back to Eddie.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  As the purport of Fixit’™s message sank in,’  something seemed to snap in the young boy’™s brain.’ ‘  He stared at Fixit in a strange way and Fixit felt that an overwhelming surge of emotion was overtaking the young man. The boy began shaking.’  Before Fixit realised what was happening, Frank opened, then locked the blade and in a flash struck Fixit – the blade penetrating the big man’™s abdomen to the hilt.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œGive it to him then,’ he screamed at the height of his voice and ran in bewilderment and with all his might away from the scene.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Fixit looked down with unbelieving astonishment at the protruding handle of the knife from his abdomen.’ ‘  A stain of red was beginning to darken the bright red of his shirt.’  Then, bent almost double, his hand steadying the knife that it should not move,’  Fixit gathered his racing thoughts and nerves then began making his way towards the park gate.

*’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  *’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  *

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ 
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Fixit was surprised to wake up and find himself in a hospital bed with a screen drawn about him. For a moment he did not realise why he should have’  been there at all.’  Then, recalling the terrible event he had undergone, he wondered that he did not feel quite as bad as he would have expected.’  He groaned.’  Almost as he did so, a nurse’™s head appeared from behind the screen.’ ‘  Going first to the intravenous solution entering a vein in his arm,’  she then looked down at Fixit’™s pale face.’  She smiled.’ 
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œWhat’™s there to smile at, nurse?’ He croaked.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œYou’™re a very lucky man, Fixit,’ she said as she helped him have a sip from a glass of water.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œI know.’ He managed the weakest of smiles in return.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œIt’™s a good thing you like your beers the way you do. Just a flesh wound. The blade had a long way to go before it hit any vital organ.’  You’™ll be as right as rain in two or three days.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Fixit was very happy to hear the news. ‘œThat long?’, he retorted weakly.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  The nurse flashed him another smile. ‘œThe police want to see you.’  Think you can manage a call?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œI’™ll try.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Fixit had barely closed his eyes to rest a moment, when a head peeped around the curtain.’  ‘œHullo. Fixit, think you could manage a few questions?’’  The man entered, his poileman’™s cap under his arm.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œHello, Jack.’  I hope you’™re feeling better than me.’’  Fixit managed a wan smile. ‘œSure, he continued.’  ‘œWe can try.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œHow did it happen?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œJust a silly accident, Jack. It could happen only to a fool.’  I was adjusting the catch of the blade.’  To do so it was necessary that the blade be towards me.’  While walking, I didn’™t notice the low railing of the grass border. I tripped and in my fall the knife blade went where it did.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œThat all, Fixit?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œAs simple as that,’  Jack.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œThen I shall be running along, Fixit.’  Wish you well soon.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œBe up and about in no time.’  Thanks Jack. ‘˜Bye.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ 
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  *’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  *’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  *
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  The next day the story of Fixit’™s ‘˜accident’™ was all over the local paper with a picture of him in bed wearing his often seen smile.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Over the next two days there were many young and old concerned faces that came visiting, some carrying sweets or chocolates – some flowers. Fixit was quite touched by the stream of well wishers. But there was one visit that was exceptional.’  It was Frank’™s face that had at first peeped around the curtain.’  The boy stepped forward sheepishly, hesitatingly to stand before Fixit ‘“ school cap in hand.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œFrank!’  I’™m surprised to see you here – but, perhaps, a little pleased too.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œI came to tell you how sorry I am, sir.’’  Nobody had ever called Fixit, sir before. ‘œI came to apologise and hope there will come a day that you will forgive me.’’  Upon saying those words, and not waiting for a reply’  the’  boy turned and ran out of the ward.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  That and the other visits contributed to Fixit’™s quick recovery.’  On the third day of his entering the hospital Fixit was again to be seen walking the streets as if he had never left them.
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  As the weeks passed, first from one boy and then another he heard that’  Frank had changed. That he was no longer the bully he once had been. He heard that he even did small favours. He even lent an exercise book from which to copy a lesson that had been missed by a school-mate.’  Frank was’  quite changed, studying hard and keen on making a good impression.’ 
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  But the best of items he heard from Eddie.’  Eddie came up to him one day showing Fixit something he had carved with his penknife from a scrap of wood.’  It was a small elephant and very well made for Eddie’™s young fingers.’ 
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œLovely little elephant that, Eddie.’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œThanks Fixit, coming from you that’™s really nice. You know what the boys are saying about you, Fixit?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œNo Eddie. What are they saying about me?’
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  They say you’™re the best; that maybe there are others around who can fix things, but where’™s the guy who can also fix a bully like Frank?’