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'I don't understand ' it's just not like him ' to get mixed up in all of this'
'Yes Ms. Dixon, this must all seem very confusing to you.'
'Yes'
'We'll put you in touch with our councillor, and we'll be in touch to talk more- you know ' after you've gotten over the initial shock'.

Janet looked down, but she couldn't see anything, it was a complete moment of stillness that overcame her. And she just sat there, although, everything seemed to be moving so fast past her, and she still couldn't comprehend that she had ironed his shirt this morning, for school and that he wasn't looking forward to his maths test. She hung on to her husband's hand. 'Don't let go' she thought to herself, but, then restlessly she wanted to see her son.
'I need to see him. Just to make sure ' I think it's best if we're sure ' because I don't think he'd be able to'' her thoughts trailed off and she knew as well as anyone else, but it wasn't her fault, nor her sons, which was the most frustrating element of the whole event; she nor her son nor her family did anything, ever, to provoke such an event and yet here we are
'One son down' muttered Paul. Janet was outraged, but she was too distraught to comment on her husband's irreverence. He continued to comfort her. And Janet wasn't sure if she'd ever get over 'the initial shock'.

***
The street was cold and dank and the sound of wind filled the space around him. He didn't really want it, he just wanted to be safe, because, well these days, and he suddenly distanced himself from everything he believed in ' and it wasn't about life and death anymore ' it wasn't about fighting the stereotypes or giving two fingers to Gordon Brown, it was about submission to all that, it was about being accepted ' which, at this point and after all that went on was the most important thing to him. He felt it close to him, and contemplated the heritage of the weapon, where it had been ' who had made it and who the hell wanted to use it now? A swirl of smoke billowed around him and the small orange flame was the only thing that glowed as he popped up his hood and moved forward, overcome by a cowardly march ' and as he felt his trainers squelch into the spotted pavement, despite all his doubts it was somewhat liberating. He was somewhat liberated, by the mindless action he was about to commit.

***
It was late and Richard was coming back from Lauren's ' totally besotted and thoroughly relieved that after hearing so much about her pugnacious dad, he had taken quite a shine to Richard ' and he was pretty certain this was going to work ' not like that embarrassing Emily fiasco again. No. The bus took ages ' and Richard was getting regular updates from his mum saying things like 'don't stay too late' and 'remember you've got school tomorrow' so he walked, it wasn't a far walk. Just a little way ' and it made perfect sense to him as he thought that he perhaps shouldn't have had that pudding' and maybe Lauren was right when she said he was getting a bit podgy, well, no she was joking. It's a bit rough round here ' but Richard didn't mind it ' and he'd always kept out of trouble, to be honest, he didn't see the point in it all. And he just cut through, past the post office leading into the railway bridge. And it was dark and dank and he could smell the slow burning of Mayfair cigarettes. And then a figure appeared which he couldn't establish as a person really ' just a grim-reaper-like figure that hangs in the cold, bitter air' but around the figure was an aura of fear smothered by coolness. The hooded figure moved. And that was when Richard's eyes met his. The eyes moved closer to meet his more intensely. Richard stood there like a stunned gazelle, not knowing what to do, yet pretty certain that he was going to die. And to know that is almost beyond human understanding. He felt the tip of the blade on his grooved belly which Lauren had earlier commented on as 'the sexiest thing she had ever seen' ' and Richard felt like he had done and was doing nothing. He felt the breath of the boy as the icy blade retracted and quickly rebounded into his stomach, winding him. Simultaneously a train flew by overhead and Richard thought to himself 'if only ' if only they knew', but the hypnotic rattling of the train smothered Richard's silent cries for help and the hooded beast just stood there, with the eyes. Yet something had gone that was there before. Something that said things will never be the same again.