?? - Chapter Two

The gravel crunched under his feet; dust flew up into his eyes. As Tom walked, the moonlight illuminated the path before him with an ethereal air that intrigued him. The machete down his pants made it hard for him to walk, but he managed, taking short little steps, one at a time. 1

Coppers were always on the prowl in his suburb; one had to be very careful about what they did and when they did it. The slightest crow, the tiniest hoot made him jump. If they caught him with the knife, they’d haul his ass into the slammer, no questions asked. 2

Hell, he even looked like a criminal. The coppers would be quite disappointed to discover he didn’t deal arms or drugs. Tom didn’t shave his head by choice. It was just the easiest way to keep to lice from crawling back, as he knew they would if given the chance. It was a shame, since he’d really liked his hair. It was his mam’s hair. 3

Footsteps sounded behind him, crunching on the gravel forebodingly. 4

Tom quickened his step. 5

He listened to the sound. There were six of them, at least. 6

He wouldn’t run. He wouldn’t run. They’d just catch him. Pretend, he told himself, you can’t hear anything. No. There’s no one behind you. 7

There’s no one.8

No one.9

No.10

“Oi! Tommy! Whaz ya hurry, man?” A voice boomed. 11

Tom froze in the middle of the road, terror splayed across his face. His arm began to tremble. 12

“Whez ya manners, boy?” another voice called, closer now. 13

Biting his lip, he turned around to face the gang. They looked all the same, wearing dark, baggy clothing, shiny knuckle dusters and a steely gaze that shot right through his chest, leaving him gasping for breath. 14

“Hullo…” Tom murmured, feigning a small smile.15

The Boss, identified by the air of authority and arrogance he emanated, stood before him, one arm touching his shoulder in a sickeningly delicate way. “Good boy.” He smiled. 16

Tom lowered his gaze.17

“Whazzat in ya pants, boy?” The Boss chuckled. “Is that a knife, or are ya juz real glad to see me?”18

As if on cue, the gang laughed an intimate laugh, the dread-evoking sound echoing across the road and into the trees. 19

“It’s my m-machete, sir,” Tom murmured without looking up. 20

“Lezzee it, boy.” He gestured impatiently. 21

Tom pulled it out carefully.22

The Boss took it immediately, holding it up to his nose and inhaling deeply its scent. “There’s blood on this…” He licked his lips, his eyes widening. 23

There was no going back now. The Boss could smell blood. Tom wagered he could even hear the pounding of his heart within his chest, bloodlust growing with each beat. Tom could feel his beady eyes upon his face, his foul breath on his neck. 24

“Yes, sir.” His knees began to tremble. 25

“And ya earnings?” The Boss grinned, flashing his rotten teeth. “Watcha got for me, boy?” He held out his hand expectantly.26

“N-nothing, sir,” Tom said, looking up to meet his harsh gaze.27

“Nuthin’?” he echoed, widening his eyes in mock horror. “Don’t luff ya mam much do ya?”28

“That’s not true!” Tom exclaimed indignantly. 29

“Without us, ya mam’s life’s caput!” The Boss clicked his fingers for effect. “I’m no doc, boy, but I’d say she needs that heart.” He laughed cruelly. “Tick-tick, Tom-Tom!” 30

“I dun need ya h-help anymore, sir,” Tom said slowly, looking away. 31

The Boss glared at him, offended. “No?” 32

“I don’t deserve ya h-help, sir.” 33

“I’LL be the one to decide that, boy!” he replied, fuming. 34

“I’m s-sorry…” Tom mumbled desperately. 35

The Boss chuckled softly, pushing him to the ground. “Are we breakin’ up already, hun?”36

“Puh-please,” he spluttered, crouched pitifully on the ground. 37

The Boss raised his leg, surely, as the wincing Tom knew, about to kick the shit out of him. But then he started laughing. “He’s like a lil’ girl, ain’t he?” He blew him a kiss, winking suggestively, before stomping on his stomach.38

Tom howled, blood foaming in his mouth. He curled into a ball protectively, closing his eyes. Looks like it’s over, he thought bitterly. 39

When Mam died, what would little Louisa do? She was only a child. She couldn’t look after herself, not living in the Westside. 40

What a failure he was. Dad would be ashamed of him, even if he was alive... 41

As quickly as they had come, the gang fled silently into the trees, little black dots dispersing hastily as the coppers came. 42

The two policemen stood above him, barely visible. It was very dark; the moon had retreated behind an array of dark clouds. It was almost pitch-black now. For all Tom knew, they couldn’t see him at all. And that was perfectly fine with him. He shut his eyes, hoping to dream of a better place.43

“There was nine of ‘em, Silvia,” one said. It was a man’s voice.44

“Yeah, so?” Silvia replied.45

“Well, I dunno about you, but I don’t feel like getting sliced up tonight.” 46

“Oh. Damn.” 47

“Yes, damn all right.” 48

“What’s that on the ground there?”49

“Who cares?”50

“I think it’s a dog, a stray perhaps.”51

“Wanna kick it?” 52

“Why would I want to kick a dog? You sadistic pig…”53

Silence.54

“Wait. I think it’s a person. Shit…” Silvia whispered. 55

“Um…”56

“Let’s go get a coffee, Herman.”57

“Yeah…”58

Tom heard footsteps, loud at first, but then dying away until all he could hear was the whistling of the wind and the incessant skittering of the leaves across the gravel. 59

When he’d convinced himself that no one was watching, Tom stood up, brushed himself off and continued the slow trudge home. He couldn’t see a thing, but he knew the way home. 60

Louisa greeted him at the doorway, a smile lighting up her green eyes, spreading gloriously across her freckled face. She gave him a hug, her blonde head nestling softly into his ribs.61

“Owies! Careful, Lulu,” Tom said, laughing. “I’m a bit sore there.”62

She dug in harder, giggling triumphantly. 63

“Why aren’t ya helping Mam with dinner?” Tom asked, walking inside. 64

“I was waitin’ for you to come home,” Louisa said, skipping towards the kitchen.65

Mam was hovering over the stovetop, frying chicken and boiling some rice. 66

“Hey, Mam.” Tom kissed her cheek tenderly. 67

“Welcome home, Tom.” Mam smiled softly, touching his cheek with a gentle stroke of her hand. Her deep, brown eyes were fixed upon the food before her.68

“How’re you feeling today?”69

“Oh, good, very good. Never better.” She turned the heat off with one flick of her wrist. 70

“Really?”71

“Ahuh.”72

“That’s grand, Mam.” Tom grinned at her, taking a seat at the kitchen table, next to Louisa. 73

He looked back at her appreciatively, his eyes taking in the chocolate curls, tinged with grey, which fell past her shoulders. Respectfully, she was a large woman, cuddly like a big bear. Looking at her, she seemed so strong, indestructible almost. 74

But, just like her daddy, she had heart problems. One year was all they gave her. After that, they said, she’d be living on borrowed time. But that was without the surgery, without the new heart. If Tom could just find the money… 75

They lived in the rough side of town. Gangs ran amok like rabid dogs. Death was commonplace. Danny, his father, had died 8 years ago. At 9 years old, Tom knew about death. It was a grown-up thing that people cried about, and it happened a lot. Most of the kids his age had witnessed an act of violence. Yes, death was completely normal. Children were desensitised to accept it as being perfectly fine. But when Danny, stabbed outside a bar, gasped his last breath, something in Tom objected. 76

His father was a good man. He’d had an honest job, worked hard hours to get them by. The life insurance payment covered them for a few years, and then Mam had to get a job somewhere. But she never said where, vaguely referring to it as “the office”. She worked strange hours, often leaving at 10 at night, coming home at two or three in the morning. Sometimes she didn’t turn up until morning, but she was always there when he woke up and always there when he went to sleep.77

Now that Tom was old enough, he’d gotten a job at the local MacDonald’s. The pay was poor, at first, but after a few promotions, he was earning enough to contribute to the running of the family home. 78

Louisa was a smart girl, going to school and all that. School was expensive, but Tom wanted his little sister to finish it completely, and maybe even go to university. She’d make something out of herself, he told himself. She would escape from this place. 79

The cutlery clattered as Mam set dinner up on the table before them. 80

“Thanks, Mam!” Tom and Louisa chorused.81

“You’re welcome, darlings,” she replied, slumping down in a seat opposite us.82

“Aren’t ya eating?” Tom motioned towards her bare placemat. 83

“I’m not hungry…” She wiped her eyes, yawning.84

“Go take a nap, Mam. We’ll clean up.” Tom smiled at her cheerily. 85

“Mmm sounds like a plan. Thanks, Thomas.” Mam retreated to her bedroom, closing the door behind her. “Could you wake me up at quarter to 10?” 86

“Sure.”87

And then the comfortable silence recommenced, punctuated by the clinking of cutlery and plates and the smooth snoring that resonated from the bedroom. Tom and Louisa ate their chicken and rice dinner, grateful for their good fortune. 88