My parents didn’t speak to me over breakfast. They were following police orders. I could tell they were dying to know what happened. My mam fidgeted a lot. My dad pretended to read the newspaper. Rich sang to himself.
No one spoke to me and I spoke to no one. Instead I did what Rich told me to do. I kept my head down.
Johnny J and his Uncle Ted were in the police station when my dad and I arrived.
‘Hi, Johnny J,’ I said, but he ignored me.
Dad pointed to a chair and I sat in it.
‘How’s Vanessa today, Ted?’ he said.
‘They’re talking about bringing her into the hospital.’
‘I’m sorry,’ my dad said.
‘Thanks,’ Uncle Ted said.
I stared at Johnny J. In my head I was pleading with him to look back at me, but he just sat facing the wall.
Walker came in wearing a suit and tie and holding his mother’s hand. Charlie soon followed, but this time she was with her father. I’d seen her mam loads of times, going in and out of Johnny J’s house, taking care of Johnny J’s mam, but I’d never seen her dad close up before. He was a stocky build and he had a massive long red beard. He reminded me of Santa, if Santa wasn’t jolly at all.
‘Lads,’ he said to the men in the room. ‘Hello, Sheila.’
‘Hello, Declan,’ she said.
‘So which one of you little toerags is responsible for my daughter robbing a garage and van and running away from home?’ he said to us kids.
‘Ah now, come on, Declan. I’m sure it’s not like that,’ Uncle Ted said.
‘It certainly is,’ Declan Eastman said.
‘From what I hear, it’s that little girl who caused all of this,’ Sheila said.
My head shot up. I was shocked. Why would Walker tell his mam that Charlie was the cause of all this when it was clearly my fault?!
‘Ah now, here,’ Declan Eastman said, and he stood up.
Denis Brown stood up as well. He stood, arms folded, while Sheila Brown pointed in Declan Eastman’s face.
‘She’s not as saintly as she looks, so if you want to start pointing a finger, I’d start with pointing fingers at my own if I were you.’
‘Don’t you dare point at me, Sheila Brown.’
‘We weren’t supposed to question the kids,’ Dad said.
‘I’ll question my child when and where I want,’ Sheila Brown said without even looking at him.
Walker played with his tie and sniffed. He had a big white plaster across his nose and a haunted look in his eye. He was exhausted and probably terrorised. I felt sorry for him. Sheila Brown could frighten a gladiator.
‘Now come on, everyone,’ Uncle Ted said. ‘Just calm down.’
‘Can we all be civil now?’ my dad said, and I could tell he was uncomfortable.
The kids just sat there, mesmerised and half terrified by the adults fighting. Sheila and Denis Brown sat back down beside Walker. He kept his head low to avoid glares from Johnny J and Charlie. I was a little relieved I wasn’t the only one they were annoyed with. I tried to make eye contact with him but he refused to look my way. I began to wonder what all the others had told their parents. Why Sheila Brown thought Charlie was at fault. What did Walker say? Why would he blame her? It’s all down to me. This was my plan. I did this.
Sumo and his parents arrived last. I thought maybe if any of my friends would forgive me Sumo would. I looked up at him, but he just shook his head from side to side and sat beside Johnny J. His parents didn’t say hello, they didn’t nod or wave, instead they just sat down and looked at the floor. It was unsettling to see Mary and Gerry Lane so low. Normally they were so friendly and chatty. I realised we probably wouldn’t be welcome in their son’s den any more. Gutted. Then again, even if the others were, I wouldn’t be. Nobody liked me now. Really gutted. Of course, that probably didn’t matter anyway, because I’d be locked up in a cell with Stab-a-Rasher. Really, really gutted.
Everyone waited in the silence for a guard to come and tell us what was to happen next. My stomach twirled and swirled and I wondered whether or not I’d be sick. Can I be charged with vomiting in a police station? Is it illegal to vomit in a police station? Can they put me in a cell? If they do, I hope they give me a bucket.
When Johnny J’s Auntie Alison swanned in, she wasn’t alone; she had a man with her. He wore an expensive suit and round spectacles and he carried a briefcase. I guessed he was a solicitor. He immediately went to the duty officer’s window. No one was there. He rang the bell.
Johnny J’s Auntie Alison stood in the middle of the room looking around at everyone and it was clear she wasn’t impressed by what she saw. We all just stared at her like she was some kind of exotic animal until Uncle Ted stood up.
‘What are you doing here, Alison?’
‘My nephew’s in trouble, Ted.’
‘Who’s with Vanessa?’
‘I’ve hired a nurse.’
‘You shouldn’t be here,’ he said, and he looked upset.
She ignored him. ‘Well, isn’t this just perfect?’ she said to everyone and no one. ‘It’s not like we don’t have enough problems.’
‘Auntie Alison …’ Johnny J said, but she put her hand up to stop him from speaking.
‘You’ve done enough, thank you, Johnny.’fn1
‘Leave the boy alone,’ Uncle Ted said.
‘Why not let him get away with robbery while his mother –’ She stopped herself, pursed her lips, took a deep breath and calmed herself. ‘He needs structure,’ she said. ‘Stability. Someone to teach him right from wrong.’
‘Don’t you dare …’ Ted said, and he looked really angry.
‘He’s coming with me, Ted,’ she said, and I looked over at Johnny J and his eyes were bulging to the point of bursting. He was genuinely scared. I was scared too. My stomach twisted into a knot. I might need that bucket. Charlie’s hand started to shake. I wanted to say something to her to make her feel OK, but I couldn’t. It wasn’t OK and she hated me.
‘You need to stop talking now,’ Uncle Ted warned Auntie Alison in a quiet but firm voice, and she stopped talking. Ted sat down.
‘Ted?’ Johnny J said, and his voice sounded weird, like it was broken.
‘It’s OK, Johnny J. You’re going nowhere.’
‘Except maybe to prison,’ Auntie Alison said, under her breath, but everybody heard.
‘Ah now, hold on, there’s no need for that,’ my dad said.
‘There’s every need,’ she said. ‘They’re a bad influence.’ She pointed to Uncle Ted. ‘In fact, you’re a bad influence.’ I thought that was harsh. Uncle Ted hadn’t robbed any garages (that I knew of). Uncle Ted hung his head, but my dad stood up.
‘Ted Tulsi has been a father figure to that boy all his life. He’s one of the best men I know,’ he said. ‘I will not hear one word against him.’
Mr Brown stood up and so did Mr Lane. Mr Eastman stood up and even Sheila Brown. Every adult in the room was on their feet and standing beside Uncle Ted, facing Auntie Alison down.
I have no idea what they were planning next, but I was in a panic, so I stood up and I blurted out, ‘It wasn’t Johnny J. It wasn’t Uncle Ted or Charlie or Walker or Sumo. It was me! I made them do it!’ The whole room turned to stare at me and I thought I might faint. Just then two detectives walked out of a side door.
‘Fair enough, sunshine, we’ll start with you then.’
Ah nuts!