Sweet Revenge.
Five Oaks is a quiet place built up of ten pensioners bungalows.
The bungalows are protected with a cluster of the finest Oak and Silver Birch trees.
They surround the home boundaries on the outskirts of Liverpool, with a beautiful residential rose
garden.
During the summer months we come together and sit in the garden drinking tea and eating cakes.
Home made cakes or biscuits as we each take a turn in baking. We look out for each other.
Sunday's are always a busy and noisy time for most of us as this is a family day.
Fred at number four and Joan at number two don't have any family members close by.
Fred's daughter Mary move out to Scotland three years ago. She comes at Christmas to visit her dad.
Joan never married but she does have a nephew living in Ireland. They write but he never comes to
see her which is sad. When the weather permits we all sit out in the garden encouraging Fred and
Joan to join us. There had been a storm around nine o'clock so I decided to retire to my bed early.
I watch television for a bit and must have nodded off when I was suddenly disturbed by a constant
banging on my front door. It's so loud it shakes me up a bit. I glance over at the clock on my
bedside table, 23.00 hrs. I begin to panic muttering to myself.
"Who the hell is it at this time of night?"
As I grab my dressing gown from the bottom of my bed walking gingerly to the front door.
I look through the peep hole first but couldn't see who it was. I made sure the safety chain was on
before I called out.
"Hello, who's there, what do you want?"
"Sorry gran, It's me Stevie. Can you let me in I need to talk to you. Gran please let me in"
He sounds upset I thought as I get the keys to the front door and let him in.
I could see straight away Stevie's bruises and his swollen left eye with a cut lip.
As he enters he falls into the hall clutching his chest, his clothes torn and muddy.
"Thanks gran." He stumbles his six foot frame into the kitchen and flops onto a chair.
I gasp and catch my breath,"Oh! My goodness, Stevie what has happened to you? You look
terrible." He's bleeding from his left leg and both knuckles.
"I will be fine gran, don't worry about me. I do however have a favour to ask of you, but shall we
have a brew first?" He says looking exhausted and wiping his brow with his shirt sleeve he adds,
"Sorry for the late hour Gran."
"Don't fuss about the hour Stevie, here let me clean your eye up. I think maybe you should go to
hospital with these wounds sweetheart. Are you in much pain? I ask as I open the medic box.
"No gran, I am alright really. It looks worse than it is. Don't fret now let's have that cuppa.
Have you any paracetamol gran I do have a bit of a headache that's all?"
"Yes love I will get you a couple." I give him the paras and a glass of water as the kettle comes to a
boil. "So come on tell your old gran what has happened to get you in such a state?
I hope you're not in trouble with the police?" I fill up at the thought.
Stevie is the eldest of two grandsons and the closest to me. I never see his brother David.
Stevie is twenty years old and had lived with me since his high school days. He was bullied at school
so his mum asked if I would take him in through his G.C.S.E's. I never had a problem with this as
it mean't I would get to see him everyday.It also took him away from the thugs living in his
neighbourhood. That was four years ago when I had a house. Now I see this strapping handsome
young man who earns his living teaching Thai-Boxing. So I wonder, why do he look such a mess!
Getting up from the kitchen chair he follows me into the lounge as I carry a tray with tea and
biscuits. "I put a towel over the chair so you can sit down love, come on sit here next to me and tell
me all about it."
"Firstly gran, can I stay with you for a couple of days? He asks taking a biscuit from the plate.
"You have to ask?" I say.
"Yeah, well there has been some trouble. You know I was living with Karen."
I nod in agreement as he carries on. It's evident his heart has been broken and full of pain.
I just want to wrap him up in a blanket and take his pain away.
"Karen told me today that she is pregnant and she doesn't want the baby. She said she will have
an abortion. I guess I just flipped my lid and lost it. Then in walks Mark, her older brother.
He is only one of the gang that used to bully me at school. I never knew she was related to that
scum bag.When I saw him gran I really lost it. Nothing said I walked up to him and punched him.
Then all hell let loose. He shouted for Slug and Sully his cohorts in crime. I know I look a mess gran
but you should see those guys. Karen kept screaming and said she would call the police.
Sully and Mark had to go to hospital. Slug ran off before the ambulance and police arrived."
He stops to sip his tea.
"Oh Stevie, are you in trouble?" I ask worryingly.
"No gran, it alright. I had to go to the station to make a statement. They took my statement and said
they have been after these lads for some time. They are connected to big drug ring leaders, West
and Briggs. They have been arrested. Then they let me go.I thought the world of Karen and she hurts
me like this." He drops his head in his hands and cries. My heart goes out to him and I hug him.
"There now lad, it sound to me like you've had a lucky escape from that family. Why don't you go and
freshen up then get some sleep in the back room. You'll find the bed is made up. Tomorrow is a new
day and we can talk over breakfast."
"OK gran, goodnight and God bless."
The remainder of the night passes peacefully but I can't rest knowing my darling Stevie's heart is
broken.
"Good morning gran, let me make you some breakfast." He says walking across the kitchen to
kiss me on the cheek..
"Good morning sweetheart, my you look brighter this morning, but you will have a right shiner for a few
days. His left eye has puffed up. I continue with, "Coffee and two toasts please."
"OKY-DOKY! Two coffee's and toast coming right up." He caught my look of sympathy.
"Gran don't fret, it's a black eye and bruised ribs I am fine really. I'll get over it. It could have been
a lot worse I was the lucky one. I took all three of them on I just thank God they didn't have any
weapons on them other than fists and feet.My Thai- Boxing helped me gran.
Stevie had taken up Thai-Boxing from the age of eleven and it stood him in good stead when he
needed it most.
"I can't help get my head round the fact I got those bully boys who tormented me for years at school.
Now I find not only did I get them but I have helped to get the thug druggies off our streets.
I know it's cost me my girl and our baby, but you know gran you were right." He looks at me with a big
grin on his face.
"Oh yeah, and what did I say that hit home with you?" I grin back feeling proud.
"You said gran, that I have had a lucky escape. I do feel sorry it will cost me my unborn child.
I do feel lucky in more ways than one I am well out of that family now." he grins at me through his
pain. He can't hide that from me no matter how hard he tries.
"Stevie when you have finished your breakfast would you mind running over to Dixon's paper shop
and pick up my daily paper."
"Consider it done gran, I'll go in a minute just finishing up."
I wash the dishes while he's gone just I wipe my hands the phone rings.
"Hi mum, have you seen this mornings paper? Our Stevie is a hero. I can't believe it.
Have you seen him? He's not answering his phone."
She pauses for breath.
"Good morning Mary, no I haven't seen the paper yet and yes Stevie stayed with me last night.
he's gone to get my paper from Dixon's."
"Why is he at yours mum? I thought he was with Karen. What do you know I don't?"
"Well Mary, wait until Stevie comes back and we will come round to see you. He can tell you
everything then. He is staying with me for a while until he sorts himself out."
"How long will that be?" Mary asks.
"For as long as it takes Mary. We will see you in half an hour get the kettle ready. Bye love."
I hang up as Stevie comes bounding through the door all excited. "Most of your old cronies are out
shouting 'BRAVO' at me. Gran you will never guess what?"
I didn't want to steal his thunder. "Go on lad why are my fossil friends shouting bravo at you?"
He doesn't talk but shout in and excited way, " I AM ONLY IN THE PAPER FOR AIDING THE
POLICE ARRESTING TWO DRUG PUSHERS CONNECTED TO A BIG DRUG RING LEAD BY
TERRENCE WEST AND RAYMOND BRIGGS. THE HEADLINES READ, (OUR LOCAL HERO
SAVES THE DAY). It goes on to say, as Stevie begins to take a breath and calm down.
Stevie Taylor aids the police by capturing local drug kings and helps make our schools and streets
a safer place. Apparently gran they've been selling drugs to school kids or getting them to sell them
on. Shocking when you think about it gran." He says.
"Yes love I agree, how ironic that these lads where your school bullies. What in the world did they
learn in life. What did school teach them? I look at you Stevie and count my blessings. How you have
turned out
. You are a wonderful grandson with a genuine heart for people. Listen love I told your mum we
would go round. She has been on the phone and demands an explanation so let's go." I grab my
coat.
Stevie changes quickly. "You know gran it's a good job I had a change of clothes left here."
"Yes Stevie i know. now can we go." He laughs as we walk round to his mums house.
As we arrive at Mary's her neighbours are out busy with one thing or another.
Mary lives in Acorn avenue. There are kids playing ball at one end of about twenty houses.
It's quite friendly like Five Oaks as everyone knows everyone. A caring community.
Mary came running down the path shouting, "Where's my boy? Oh Stevie look at you. Are you alright
love? Gran say's you've moved into hers for a while, and what's this I hear, you're going to be a
daddy! You best get inside my boy and tell me what's what. Where is Karen and .... hello Janet."
Janet is her nosiest neighbour and no doubt later when we've gone will be round for a good gossip and
cuppa. At last Mary stops to get her breath and puts the kettle on. "Oh and by the way your brother
rang he wants to know what all the fuss is about."
"Tell him to read the news paper mum. Right sit down and I will start at the beginning. She's not going
to believe me though, is she gran?" We look at each other and laugh.
I say, "What goes around come around. What do you say Stevie?"
"Yes gran you of course are right again. I'd call it sweet revenge gran."
We look at each other and know that's just what it is.
It wasn't long before the whole street knew.
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