(aka Bike) Part 1059 by Angharad Copyright © 2010 Angharad
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“When will I get my phone back, Mummy?” asked Trish.
“I don’t know, sweetheart,” I replied, hoping it wouldn’t be very long, as they can copy these things so quickly these days, and I could see no merit in keeping the original but then maybe that’s why I’m not a policewoman.
“’Snot fair, I help them and they keep my phone,” she sulked and pouted as we walked into the house.
“We saw a mugging, Gramps,” Livvie excitedly told Tom.
“An’ the rotten police kept my phone.”
“Whit fa did thae polis keep yer phone?”
“’Cos I filmed the man bash the old woman, Mummy gave it to the policeman, Gramps–it’s snot fair.”
“They’ll gi’ it back when thae money’s run oot,” he teased her.
“They’d better not, I spent last week’s pocket money topping it up.”
“Och, they’ll love ye, bonnie lassie.”
Trish didn’t approve of his teasing and flounced off, much to his surprise. “We saw the dirty rotten mugger, run away and Mummy said the old lady’s brains were all over the pavement.”
“A slight exaggeration,” I added as I went to make some tea.
“Oh the police phoned, Mummy, can you pop down t'the nick to give a statement?”
Tom looked anxiously at me. He was aware that I’d been beaten up by some rogue coppers some while ago.
“No, if they want to speak to me, they can come here. Did they leave a number?” Julie nodded and handed me the scrap of paper on which she’d written it. I dialled the number and was eventually put through to an inspector.
“Thanks for calling, Lady Cameron, when could you pop in to make a statement?”
“When hell freezes over plus a few millennia.”
“Oh, did I say something wrong?”
“No you didn’t, but I was badly beaten while under false arrest by two of your colleagues. The settlement I got pays for my children to attend private school, but there is no way I will ever set foot in your HQ again.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realise, I’m fairly new here. Do you mind if I send someone to your house to take one?”
“Not at all, Inspector Plummer. By the way any chance they could return my little girl’s phone, she’s nagging me about it already.”
“I’ll see what I can do to expedite things, my kids are as bad, if I threaten to confiscate their mobiles, they soon toe the line.”
I thanked him and informed Trish they would return it as soon as they could. She thanked me and went upstairs to change. I got on with sorting the meal, a cheese soufflé and salad.
We hadn’t long finished eating when the doorbell rang and Julie who answered it called me. I went along to find two police officers standing there. I invited them in and we went into the dining room.
They were direct and to the point, I made the statement and then called in the three girls. Mima saw nothing much, as she was looking out the other side of the car. Livvie was sitting in the middle seat only watched when Trish started filming it, and Trish asked where her phone was.
“Is this it?” asked the younger of the two coppers, producing her Nokia from his pocket. She looked at it, then took it and switched it on. The film was missing but she still had all her credit and her address book.
“Thank you,” she said, “What do you want to know?”
She actually described in detail what she saw, which was more than I remembered. I suppose she did have slightly less to think about than I did. After she spoke to them I signed it on her behalf and she skipped away very happy with her recovered property.
“She’s a live wire,” said the woman police officer.
“Don’t tell her you play chess. She’s warming up to take on the world champion next week.”
The WPC laughed, “She’s just learned to play has she?”
“In school, today. I think I’ve got a computer programme somewhere if she gets really bored.”
“She sounds pretty bright,” commented the younger one.
“She is extremely bright, IQ well above the norm, makes me feel inadequate at times.”
“What? I thought you were a university teacher?” he said, looking aghast.
“I am, but even I know when I’m outgunned. Fortunately she doesn’t know it yet. When she gets to her teens, she will be a real trial, I suspect.”
“Yeah, I guess she will.”
“How is the old lady who was mugged.”
“If I say this now a murder enquiry, does that answer your question?”
“Oh no,” I gasped and felt myself go cold.
“I’m afraid so, she died from a nasty head wound–brought on a stroke.”
“I am sorry.”
“You did all you could, ma’am, but you’ll appreciate we’re looking for this guy as a priority now.”
“I can imagine. Did the film help?”
“Oh definitely, but it’s not quite clear enough to identify him. His hoodie hides most of his face.”
I frowned, could I have done more for her? Was it her time to go? Oh boy–I wish I’d tried now.
“We have to go, there’ll be a big press conference tomorrow. We hope someone saw or knows him. They’ll show the film then and hope it brings in some help from the public.”
“How old was the lady?”
“Seventy nine, I think, her husband was rushed into hospital when he was told. She only went out to get an echo. He’s apparently in a bad way, heart attack, poor bugger.”
“So in a single act of violence, he could have killed two people.” I observed and felt even worse for not trying to save her.
“Yeah, these punks are a real pain, usually feeding a habit of some sort. I’d hang the bloody lot of them.”
After expressing his opinion and radical solution, the two coppers left, taking the statements with them. I felt very guilty, I had declined to use my healing because a crowd was gathering. I sat at the table and felt a tear run down my face.
Trish came in, “Wassup, Mummy?”
“That old lady died.”
“The one we saw pushed over?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, that shouldn’ta happened, I sent her blue light.”
“Sweetheart, it doesn’t always work like that.”
“What’s the point then?”
“I don’t know, I really don’t.”
“She should be gettin’ better, not deader.”
“I shouldn’t think the police made a mistake.”
“But I sent her blue light, Mummy. She should have got better.”
“Sometimes people die anyway, darling.”
“But they shouldn’t, not when I heal on them.” She was quite indignant, as if the old lady dying was an affront to her specialness.
“These things happen.”
“But they shouldn’t–did you heal on her?”
“No, I didn’t, I was too busy trying to organise help.”
“Oh well that’s why, if you had she’d have been okay.”
“Trish, you can’t possibly know that.”
“Seems that’s what happened, oh well, better luck next time.” She went off again completely devoid of any guilt or sense of loss or even failure.
I was left wondering if she or I had the more correct attitude.
Comments
Another funeral...
...for Cathy to attend, with possibly later attendance in court and all the ensuant publicity.
And if the perp is tried for his actions, no doubt it'll be manslaughter.
For me, this line summed it up: “So in a single act of violence, he could have killed two people.†Certainly we don't often consider the widespread flow on effects of criminal activity.
Thanks A+B, you've certainly brought the gritty reality of daily life into this episode.
Public Scrutiny
Bike Resources
Possibly So, But…
…I think it will warrant a charge of murder, because the old lady died as a result of injuries received during the course of a robbery. I seem to have something lurking in the back of my brain to that effect, but I am no authority on the Law of England (Scottish law, of which I know more, is different, Scotland having a totally different legal system to the rest of UK, which is why the UK government could not prevent the Scottish parliament releasing the Lockerbie bomber; it was done under Scots’ Law).
If I am wrong, no doubt somebody (small and six-years-old) will correct me. I wish my Trish was as bright as "wee Trish" in Bike. However I am sure there must be someone around BC who could confirm this legal question.
Interesting chapter, Ang,
Love
Hilary
Felony Murder
Hilary,
On this side of the big salty pond, what would otherwise be Manslaughter is elevated to Murder, when committed in conjunction with certain enumerated other crimes, like robbery. Such a homicide is known as Felony Murder. I take it from your remarks that English Law has the same concept.
Felony Murder can be punished by death in some states, such as Utah and Texas.
G/R
New vocabulary.
Alright! I'm thick! Somebody! Heeeelp!!!!
What is 'a perp' and what are 'peeps'?
I see people using them all the time on blogs and comments.
Right now that's out of the way, back to the comment.
Was this death a warning to Cathy to not think she can choose when to use the blue light or not. The gift uses her, she doesn't use the gift. Perhaps Trish understands this better as a young child having come to it earlier in her life. If there is a specialness associated with this gift then the earlier a possessor comes to be aware of it, the better they understand.
I'm wondering if Angharad connects the possesion of the gift with that private specialness some of us TG people feel because of our transgenderism.
Nice thought Angharad, kinda makes us feel special. A sort of 'coming to terms' with our condition and being finally proud of it and using it to strengthen our resolve.
I think I can see where you are coming from.
I was up in The Royal Welsh show today and I was chatting about my transgenderism to some members of a mental health charity.
We were discussing exactly this issue of acceptance and pride and how it seemed to reflect the incremental but important changes that accrue every year in our fight to get acceptance.
Tonight, I doubly beseech you to carry on writing. This story has lot's of sublimal messages being put out either consciously or subconsciously.
Thanks for everything Angharad.
Love and Hugs.
OXOXOX
Beverly.
Vocab
Perp = perpetrator (offender)
Peeps I presume is a contraction of people.
Prosaic Stuff
Bike Resources
Perps and peeps
Well in some places 'peeps' are those marginally tasty marshmallow chickens, but in this case it's probably slang for "my people," like family, clan or neighborhood friends. Perp is short for perpetrator. :)
She was born for all the wrong reasons but grew up for all the right ones.
Con grande amore e di affetto, Andrea Lena
Love, Andrea Lena
Explanations
It is short for perpetrator and people.
Peeps and Perps
They're only slightly related.
Peeps is short for People, but had originally a familial emphasis, as in "my people," so was an "urban" stand-in for "parents." The term spread out to cover other relationships, including one's extended family, one's racial group (as "My peeps were slaves."), from thence, friends, and then to fellow gang members, who might in fact be perps, but "perps" is a police term, short for perpetrator, referring to a person alleged to have committed one or more criminal activities.
In the gang sense, "peeps" are those who back one up in altercations, so it also has the sense of "comrades-in-arms."
Cheers,
Puddin'
-
Cheers,
Puddin'
A tender heart is an asset to an editor: it helps us be ruthless in a tactful way.
--- The Chicago Manual of Style
That was a rough Shot
so will Cathy find a way to use her "Gift of Healing" more often. Trish is going to be a tough conscious. Well written, just gets better each day. The Police need to keep better track of who they are chatting with too, I would think by now the Name Cameron they need to tread lightly.
Goddess Bless you
Love Desiree
Goddess Bless you
Love Desiree
Most probably
when they key in the name Cathy Cameron, Lights flash, Bells ring, And a big warning comes up on the screen; BEWARE APPROACH THIS LADY IN THE WRONG WAY AND IT CAN COST YOU YOUR CAREER!... As they say, Forewarned is forearmed.
Kirri
There's some kids...
There's some kids (& older folks too) that don't seem to care if their actions might endanger someone else. A week and a half ago, my wife was almost killed by some kids dropping rocks from an overpass. The rock hit the rear window of the car she was driving, shattering it... IMO it was a miracle she wasn't killed! Imagine if the rock had been dropped just a moment earlier, and it'd have been the front window! I'm very thankful she made it!!!!!
I'm sure the guy that did the assault never even thought that his action might have resulted in the ladies death. Nor, at the time at least, do I think he cared. I've been wondering if the lady knew her attacker though... As I recall, she and her assailant were arguing a bit before he pushed her and took the bag.
Trish is interesting. Glad Cathy experienced some good examples of police officers again...
Thanks,
Anne
That actually happened
a few years ago here in Tennessee. Some teenagers were tossing rocks off an Interstate overpass, when one of them threw a rather large rock that landed on a car's windshield. Injured the driver,but the poor woman in the front seat beside him was killed. As I recall, their children were in the back seat. All in all, a very bad and sad thing to happen.
I believe that the "perps" were underage, but ended up tried as adults. There've been a number of appeals, and I don't remember what the final out come was.
Janice
Happens here as well
I don't know if anyone's been killed, but dropping bricks and stones off bridges has happened over here as well - a quick google for "brick dropped motorway" reveals several incidents, and there have even been incidents where bricks have been dropped onto moving trains, or (even worse) objects deliberately placed on the rails, presumably to trigger a derailment.
-oOo-
Unfortunately, in today's risk-averse society, it's quite probable that our perpetrator will get away with it. Although dozens of people are likely to have seen the youth running away with the bag, it's almost certain nobody would have intervened, preferring to ignore it as "somebody else's problem". It doesn't help that if, in the process of capturing the youth, they injure him, they're likely to get arrested as well - for the simple reason they stayed around and so it can be proved that they injured the perperator (something not helped by police having to report the number of arrests and convictions they make as part of performance measures - so some PCs deliberately arrest people for trivial offences to boost their arrest rate and make their force look better in the statistics).
It's amazing how often I have to remind myself that the great sage Trish is only 6 years old - she often displays moments of such brilliance you'd expect them from a much older child. Heck, even most teens would probably kick up a fuss if their mobile was removed from them for more than a few minutes - and despite her affectionate terms for chess pieces ("horsey" for the knight, and presumably "castle" for the rook), she's already demonstrating skill in it. It'll be interesting to see what level she reaches versus the chess computer program - and how that compares to the rest of the family!
EAFOAB Episode Summaries
As the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, then only left-handers are in their right mind!
Driver killed in Auckland, NZ
A NZ driver in 2005 was not so fortunate when an 8kg slab of concrete thrown from a motorway bridge struck his windscreen. The perp was tried and found guilty of manslaughter, and sentenced to four years:
The last of these three links has a photo of the car.
Pretty Senseless
Bike Resources
It's nothing new
and sadly, seems international and not restricted to boys.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/660562.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/southern_counties/2947130...
Angharad
Angharad
Three of the boys were evidently convicted...
http://lubbockonline.com/stories/122300/wor_122300036.shtml
Lucky for them they were in Germany, although they were Americans, as they could have been executed in the USA, and only got up to eight years in German prison.
Malicious little twits.
I find it hard to conceive of anyone so stupid as to think that an eighteen-pound boulder wouldn't hurt anyone if hurled from a height, but voting records regularly prove the opposite.
The case of Michael Little, mentioned at the bottom of the story about the little girls, had a more definitive ending:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-255934/Man-jailed-lo...
The "perp" was clapped in irons.
Cheers,
Puddin'
-
Cheers,
Puddin'
A tender heart is an asset to an editor: it helps us be ruthless in a tactful way.
--- The Chicago Manual of Style
It happened here in Dallas
About 10 years ago. The woman was killed, and they were tried as adults.
The odd thing is, these kids had been in the news several times before someone got killed. I remember another story with the same kids where they cut the guy wires to a big antenna, and it came crashing to the ground, squashing a car. No one got hurt that time, so it was considered no big deal.
I am not a believer in trying kids as adults, but these specimens needed help badly. Too bad they didn't get it, just juvie followed by adult prison (they were older teens). Welcome to Texas.
So did Cathy blow it?
Don't know, it is always easy to second guess. She was in to public of a place and Cathy is right, it probably was that poor woman's time. Cathy would have been outed big time if she had done the blue thing and FWIW, the light has always been protective of Cathy so there is the probability that the light would have refused to let itself be used ( channeled ) at that point.
Kim
Bike pt 1059
Well, glad that her phonwis returned.
May Your Light Forever Shine
May Your Light Forever Shine
Trish knows that she did her
best and the rest was up to where-ever the light comes from. Probably a healthy attitude. Perhaps Cathy can learn a bit from her extremely bright daughter.
Still waiting for the day when after some kind of conversation Trish says, "Mummy, you really can't have a baby? I so want a little brother or sister... let me see why... Oh! ... ok, it's all fixed now. When will you and Daddy have a baby for us?" And that will be the end of Cathy's doubts about being completely female.
And a new religion
Will be formed that day.
I tend to agree though, Trish has the right attitude.
Interesting subject
Wow a lot of perp/peep answers, the best is the marshmello like candy in the shape of bunny rabbits.
It's Felony Murder even if a bad guy dies, as long as a death occurs as a result of the felony, it's murder. Texas has a speed lane for murderers, don't commit murder in Texas.
Cefin