Next thing, the back door flies open, and Daddy Ivan’s there telling us to come on, get inside, now, now, now, come on! Nobody moved, so he comes out into the yard and grabs me by the arm, and Daddy George gets a holt of the Mummies, one hand each, and we’re all dragged inside.

When we were in the kitchen, on our way to the door downstairs, I looked out the window to the front, and I saw the car. I’d seen a car before, Daddy Ivan had one, but this wasn’t like his auld thing. This one was new and shiny. And here, didn’t a man get out of it? Right in front of the window where we could all see him. He had this uniform on him, dark green, and a tie. And he lifted a hat out of the car and put it on his head. I mind it had a peak to it. I’d never seen a policeman before, but I knew that’s what he was. And he was awful handsome. The only men I’d ever laid eyes on before was the Daddies, and they was all big auld lumps, but this man, he was beautiful. I thought he was, anyway, and here I froze to the spot and I wouldn’t move because I wanted to watch this man.

And Mummy Joy, she wanted to see him too. That’s what I thought at the time. I know that’s not true now, but sure, I didn’t know any better. I mind she opened her mouth and breathed in like she was going to shout hello to him, only Daddy George took holt of her and put his hand over her mouth. She tried to shout anyway, but he helt her so tight she couldn’t make a sound.

And he leans in, and he says to her, They’ll kill you. They’ll kill him and they’ll kill you and the wee girl, they’ll kill all of yous, so, for God’s sake, be quiet. And she was. She went still and quiet and she took me by the hand and we all went downstairs into the dark and Daddy George closed the door behind us.

That wasn’t the last time I saw thon policeman. I wish it was the last time, for I still have dreams about thon man. About what they did to him.

5: Sara

5: Sara