Back in school again, the roll call had been taken. nobody had noticed Pete was missing, if they had, nobody cared. Pete sidled in and took his seat. This afternoon’s lesson was Religious Studies, and the question posed was ” If the Bible teaches us to love thy neighbour, who do we think that means”? One by one the class members had to go up and write their answer on the black board.

George the biggest boy in the class scraped back his chair, and sloped to the black board. He seemed to take an inordinately long time writing, but when he moved to one side to reveal his answer, the whole class dissolved into fits of laughter as they read the boldly written words EVERYBODY EXCEPT PETE JEFFERS!

Pete held his head high as George walked toward him grinning. Slowly raising the pistol at George’s head Pete’s eyes never once waivered. His target was now in sight, and Pete pulled the trigger. George fell to the floor with a sickening thud, the young girl seated next to Pete fainted, and panic spread through the whole room.

Through all the chaos, young Pete Jeffers sat down in his seat, laying the pistol carefully upon his desk, and clasping his hands as if in silent prayer. The sun shining through the narrow windows once more hit the metal handle of his fathers pistol, the reflecting light sending a shower of colours cascading across the now deserted room. All was silent except for the distant police sirens now getting ever closer to the scene of the crime. You could just make out the flashing blue lights now as the police drew ever nearer.Pete sat there waiting.

By now there was a crowd of anxious parents gathering around the school gates, all wondering about the safety of their own offspring. Mrs Jeffers stood on the edge, it was something to do with her son, she just felt it! She knew deep down it was something to do with her gentle loving son, dear sweet Pete.

Mrs Jeffers did not wait to see the police bring her son out in handcuffs. She knew who was responsible for this crime. She bowed her head and walked slowly away, back to her baking!