everybody else has a computer and goes on holiday." He whined as though he had reverted back to being a six year old. "You never give me anything; I never even had a birthday party. I hate you; it's all your fault."
It took a while for her to process what Adrian had said but now Jocasta thought she could see what had happened. It was her fault. She hadn't looked after Adrian's needs properly; of course he needed a computer just like all the other kids his age. This incident with the girl was a cry for help, his way of getting attention from her. She believed she knew what she had to do.
"Oh Adrian, I am so sorry, please don't be upset with me. Listen I've been putting money away for emergencies but maybe this is one. Come on, let's go to Cambells Electrics and order you a computer. You don't need to worry any more, this is just a glitch. We will sort it out."
She gave him a quick embrace and stepped out in the direction of the electrical store on High Street. She didn't notice the sly smirk on Adrian's face which may have given her a different view of Adrian's true nature.
-x-
20 th October 2003
Jocasta opened the envelope with the Metropolitan Police emblem on the top left corner. She felt bile rising into her mouth as the letter opened, this was Adrian's life on the line, the thing that would determine his liberty for the foreseeable future. She unfolded the letter and read its contents.
Mrs Jocasta Brown
731 Summer vale Road
Elisworth
West London
T W0 5PV
19 th October 2003
Dear Mrs Brown
We write this letter to advise you Adrian Brown's bail conditions have been cancelled. Due to insufficient evidence we have decided to take no further action in this matter.
If you have any personal property at the police station, please attend with this letter between 9 and 5pm so it can be restored.
Yours faithfully
PC JUDD 234TX
And that was it, insufficient evidence the letter said. Jocasta knew that something had happened because of Adrian's admission but the girl was obviously unable to give a statement; he had been lucky.
She was confident that nothing like this would ever happen again as Adrian was now happily ensconced in his bedroom with his new computer playing a Crime Scene video game which was ironic. It had been an expensive gift considering it also meant a phone line being installed for internet access, but it was worth every penny if it meant Jocasta was doing the right thing by her precious boy.
Chapter 8
'We grow neither better nor worse as we ge t old but more like ourselves.'
Mary Lamberton Becker
August 2008.
"Happy birthday Adrian, you're an adult now." Jocasta knocked on Adrian's bedroom door; she no longer went into Adrian's room as he had told her he needed his privacy now that he was older.
-x-
Jocasta remembered the day the computer had arrived, she saw it as a boy turning into a young man but was sad to see the bags of Lego, teddies and action men coming out of the room to be replaced with metal, wire and video games.
For the last five years since then Adrian had spent most of his home time in his room. Jocasta insisted he came out to eat meals with her as this was the only way she could spend any time with him. Adrian refused the day trips they used to enjoy together, choosing instead to sit in his room. The only days out they would have together were to the doctor's for regular testosterone injections and to the school for parent consultations. Adrian had also been expected to attend counselling since the incident at the school and although no further action had been taken, the school stated that they had to look after the rights of Charmaine, so asked if Adrian could be relocated to another school. Since then he had had to make the forty minute trek each day to Cranesford. Jocasta had been desperate to accompany her son but he insisted on maintaining some independence and refused any company she had offered.
After Adrian's accusations about having no birthday party,
It took a while for her to process what Adrian had said but now Jocasta thought she could see what had happened. It was her fault. She hadn't looked after Adrian's needs properly; of course he needed a computer just like all the other kids his age. This incident with the girl was a cry for help, his way of getting attention from her. She believed she knew what she had to do.
"Oh Adrian, I am so sorry, please don't be upset with me. Listen I've been putting money away for emergencies but maybe this is one. Come on, let's go to Cambells Electrics and order you a computer. You don't need to worry any more, this is just a glitch. We will sort it out."
She gave him a quick embrace and stepped out in the direction of the electrical store on High Street. She didn't notice the sly smirk on Adrian's face which may have given her a different view of Adrian's true nature.
-x-
20 th October 2003
Jocasta opened the envelope with the Metropolitan Police emblem on the top left corner. She felt bile rising into her mouth as the letter opened, this was Adrian's life on the line, the thing that would determine his liberty for the foreseeable future. She unfolded the letter and read its contents.
Mrs Jocasta Brown
731 Summer vale Road
Elisworth
West London
T W0 5PV
19 th October 2003
Dear Mrs Brown
We write this letter to advise you Adrian Brown's bail conditions have been cancelled. Due to insufficient evidence we have decided to take no further action in this matter.
If you have any personal property at the police station, please attend with this letter between 9 and 5pm so it can be restored.
Yours faithfully
PC JUDD 234TX
And that was it, insufficient evidence the letter said. Jocasta knew that something had happened because of Adrian's admission but the girl was obviously unable to give a statement; he had been lucky.
She was confident that nothing like this would ever happen again as Adrian was now happily ensconced in his bedroom with his new computer playing a Crime Scene video game which was ironic. It had been an expensive gift considering it also meant a phone line being installed for internet access, but it was worth every penny if it meant Jocasta was doing the right thing by her precious boy.
Chapter 8
'We grow neither better nor worse as we ge t old but more like ourselves.'
Mary Lamberton Becker
August 2008.
"Happy birthday Adrian, you're an adult now." Jocasta knocked on Adrian's bedroom door; she no longer went into Adrian's room as he had told her he needed his privacy now that he was older.
-x-
Jocasta remembered the day the computer had arrived, she saw it as a boy turning into a young man but was sad to see the bags of Lego, teddies and action men coming out of the room to be replaced with metal, wire and video games.
For the last five years since then Adrian had spent most of his home time in his room. Jocasta insisted he came out to eat meals with her as this was the only way she could spend any time with him. Adrian refused the day trips they used to enjoy together, choosing instead to sit in his room. The only days out they would have together were to the doctor's for regular testosterone injections and to the school for parent consultations. Adrian had also been expected to attend counselling since the incident at the school and although no further action had been taken, the school stated that they had to look after the rights of Charmaine, so asked if Adrian could be relocated to another school. Since then he had had to make the forty minute trek each day to Cranesford. Jocasta had been desperate to accompany her son but he insisted on maintaining some independence and refused any company she had offered.
After Adrian's accusations about having no birthday party,
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