The leaves on the trees in their street had not been given the chance to change from green to orange before they were blown away by chilly winter winds. One morning her family had simply woken up and it was winter. There was no such thing as Autumn or Spring any more these days. Big corporations and oil companies had taken care of that. "Another one to add to the list" Emma thought, trying to keep all three children close to her while crossing to the entrance of their school. The "list" referred to Emma's own personal Waste Of A Life list. It was not an ambitious list. It had local scum on it, such as the local drug lord Jacob Levine, who stalked the local high schools getting the kids while they are young and experimental and setting up clients for life. Emma dreaded the time her three angles would hit puberty and have to deal with the shit she never had to. Growing up in the 80’s was dramaticly different from today. Or so Emma thought, her childhood was a bit sketchy.
McKenzie gave her mom a firm hug and slobbery kiss then ran inside her class greeting her friends with shreaking giggles.
Kyle and Joshua were at the age when kisses where only acceptable if no friends where near by. Both boys gave their mom a quick peck on the cheek and ran off to their group of friends. There was a 13 month age gap between the boys and they had been best friends from the day Kyle was born. Emma nodded to the teachers chatting over coffee and headed for the gate. On her way to the car Emma noticed Stacy in her car talking on her cell phone. She motioned urgently for Emma to join her in her car. Emma jumped into the passengers side and was grateful to feel Stacy's car heater on full blast. She defrosted her icy finger in front of the vent while Stacy finished her conversation. " I understand that it was not the agreement but plans have changed and I need it done. I will pay what ever he wants, please just get it organised." Stacy hung up and turned to face Emma with a frustrated look on her face. "My god babe, you look like Smurfet! You wont believe what happened to me!" as soon as Stacy started a conversation this way, Emma knew she was in for a long story. This one took the cake when it came to Stacy Cooper. It turned out that one of the other moms at the school had mentioned that she had organised a new magician and entire bus-full of entertainment for her daughters birthday party. Stacy was not one to be outdone. She had called the exact same bus entertainment company and had organised the next most expensive thing. "How are we supposed to compete with that!" Stacy said in a exhausted and agitated voice. Emma didn't know she was meant to be competing. "So what are you doing for your boys this year?" Emma was afraid that this would be her next question. "Probably just a small get together. A few of their friends to a movie or something. Haven't planned anything yet." "Oh my god Em, you will never get any venue if you don't book it like today sweety. You want to a few phone numbers? Really sweety, the kids look so forward to these parties. We cant let them down." Emma seriously doubted any of the mothers did the parties for the kids. "Oh sorry Stacy, I would love to stay, but I have to get home. I am having my in-laws round tonight." "Oh shit, I am already late. When are you coming round to my shop so I can sort those split ends out?" Stacy owned a beauty salon in a upmarket mall, which was exactly the kind of job that suited her. She could talk none stop and with constant women around, she could always find a willing ear. "I will make some time later this week." Emma quickly said ciao and jumped out Stacy's car and headed across the parking lot to her own car. Emma had very few friends amongst the mothers of her children's school but she did find Stacy very entertaining. Most of the moms where stay at home or own business owners. But they still seem to have too much time on their hands. If there was any gossip, they all knew it. If there was anything worth talking about, then they would be all over it.
Emma had never been the type of woman to stress about the small shit, so very little of the gossip interested her. She would simply nod and move on, playing the part, adapting to her surroundings like a predator.
Emma climbed in her car and immediately turned on the motor to try and warm up again. The cold, how she hated being cold. She sat in the car, in no rush to leave. She had no where to be in a rush and felt secure in the schools parking lot. It was one of the few places she did feel safe. The school had recently hired a security guard at the front gate of the school. He stood guard as the parents dropped off their precious treasures, the gate was then locked until pick up time again. This extreme precaution had only recently been implemented as a result of a shooting at the near by high school. A young boy in grade 10 had taken a knife to school. It was intended to scare off a local bully and drug pusher. Unfortunately for him, he took a knife to a gun fight. The bully was armed with a small caliber .32 H&R Magnum. The bully was so high when he decided to assault the boy, he didn't even look where he was pointing the gun. He managed to shoot his girlfriend in the arm before raging out, shooting the poor boy with the knife in the head then running. The boy died instantly, and the worst that happened to the girl was that she had a miscarriage. She was 6 months pregnant with the Bully/junkies baby. She is 15. The bully was Jock Boon. An unfortunate name, but one that was on her list none the less.
Like so many, Emma and her husband Graham had discussed just packing up and leaving the country, but this as their home. It has to get better, mustn't it? And graham was eternally the optimist. Living in a bubble which consisted of his wok, his family and nothing else. He was barely aware of what happened in the world let alone their own city. This was the reason for Emma's rash decision. She refused to become a vistim. Just waiting around while their children are preyed on and women are afraid to leave the house alone. She was getting a gun. Nothing too big, just big enough to only have to use it once. She was going to a small place she noticed in the east where they asked no questions and were willing to "forget" the waiting period for the right price.
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