Little Pete comes home from school early. This is not the first time he has been bullied, but he vows it will be the last! He rushes through the kitchen where his mother is baking bread, sniffs appreciatively, knowing that when the bread has cooked, he will get the warm crust dripping with butter. That was a privilige that had always been afforded to the man of the house. Pete’s father had died two years ago, and now Pete was the man of the house! Pete’s mother was slight in build, pale, with golden hair, usually tied back in a bun, but for some reason today  it hung loose around her pretty face. Pete was so proud of his mum, and the way that she held the remaining family together. He took the steps of the stairs two at a time, nearly bumping into his younger sister who stood motionless at the head of the stairs. Pete brushed gently passed her and rushed into his room. bolting the door behind him, he headed for a cardboard box secreted under his bed.

As Pete slowly opened the box, the noon day sun slanted in through the window, the rays bouncing off the shiny metal handle of his fathers pistol. A slow, lazy smile spread across Pete’s face as he removed the pistol with care. He sat there for seconds almost transfixed before deciding what to do. Pete left his room. The pistol had been safely secured beneath his worn out wooly jumper. Nobody would notice one more lump or bump. Nobody would even care! Pete’s sister was still standing at the head of the stair case, he patted her on the head, and moved gently passed her.

This time Pete walked slowly down the stairs, inhaling that bread baking in the second hand oven, donated by the church charity organisation, he took a deep breath in almost savouring the very  taste of it all. He looked sideways at his mother,  looking at her like he had never seen her before. Pete actually noticed for the very first time how beautifully blue her eyes were. How thin she was getting, and how worn her hands were. Pete drew himself up to his full height as he approached his mother, and kissed her tenderly. He then turned and left the house.