Writing for Fun
June 2016
Breaking Away - Diane Silverston
[Conclusion - continued from April & May]
Once again the friends were sitting in Don’s flat. Sitting in their usual places, with Patrick’s empty chair by the fireside. Three days had passed since the court case and this was the first time all met since then. They were sitting in silence, not looking at each other, looking down at the floor, waiting for Jon to arrive. What mood would he be in? This worried them all, he was so volatile, so unpredictable. There was a nervous tension in the room.
Suddenly the door slammed and footsteps could be heard coming along the hallway. Each of the friends looked up and around the room at each other. Well the time had come, what was going to happen?
‘Well it worked,’ Jon’s voice came across the room.
‘What worked?’ asked Kit nervously.
‘What Don said. If we kept our calm and spoke reasonably, we would get the correct result. They got what they deserved, 10 years each,’ continued Jon, ‘We won!’
‘What did we win?’ Charlie blurted out, ‘We have still lost Patrick.’
‘Didn’t you listen to the judge’s comments at all, Jon?’
Asked Dom, ‘We didn’t win anything.’
‘Well they’re in jail and we’re not. To my mind that’s winning,’ Jon said as he stood in front of Dom, ‘You of all of us should really be pleased. After all Patrick was your cousin.’
‘Yes he was and I shall always miss him, as I’m sure we all will, but I realise that it could so easily have been us in the dock. We have got to change our ways and do as the judge said, make the most of all opportunities for the best.’
‘Oh come on, Don, you are not going weak now are you?’ Jon was beginning to show his anger. ‘After all we’re the top gang now, we need to show our strength.’
‘Stop it.’ David was almost crying.’ I’ve had enough of this. My Mum was so upset and angry. She says I must change and I need to get back to my education and work hard to get to college. That’s what I want too.’
‘And me,’ piped up Kit. ‘I’m going to enrol in some classes.’
‘Good for you two.’ Don’s voice sounded different, more grown up and matter of fact. ‘I’m going tomorrow to the job centre to try and find work.’
‘You’re all so feeble,’ Jon was now really angry. ‘You’re just giving up, letting others take over your lives and our patch.’
‘Jon be reasonable.’ Peter had at last found his voice. ‘We can’t go on like this, we need to grow up and be responsible. Charlie and I are going to work with Dad at his garage. He says we are both practical and could become good mechanics if we work at it.’
‘So you are all going to become respectable are you?’
Jon sneered, ‘Just because of what a judge said. I don’t believe it. You’ll soon revert. As they say a leopard can’t change his spots.’
‘But we can try,’ Don commented, ‘and we can show our parents that we can be reliable. If you feel unable to give it a go, perhaps you need to find a new group of friends.’
‘So I’m being thrown out on my own, am I?’ Jon looked around the room as he spoke. Apart from Don the others were once again looking at the floor.
‘It’s up to you, Jon. You can stay if you want to, but you need to change your attitude.’
‘Forget it. I don’t need you. I don’t need anyone.’ Jon shouted as he stormed out of the room.
When they heard the front door slam, the friends looked at each other. A look of relief on their faces. The tension in the room had lifted.
‘Will he be alright?’ asked David.
‘Well that’s rather up to him, isn’t it?’ Don replied. ‘I’m so proud of you all. I know Patrick tended to provoke people and Jon was so quick to take offence. They couldn’t help it. They were made that way, but we have a chance to be different and improve our lives and we should take it.’
‘Oh yes,’ the other four friends said in unison, ‘but let’s stay friends and help each other.’
‘Of course we will,’ Don said.