Mrs Beech watched the train leave the station. Tears formed in her eyes. She reached for a white, clean smooth handkerchief from her newly ironed coat and wiped them fiercely away. She didn’t know why she was crying. She was glad to see the back of the boy, wasn’t she? No more cheekiness and no more being answered back to. Pure bliss. She knew her young William was going to be safer, and maybe even happier, but she dared not to think it. She needed him, maybe even more than he needed her. I won’t admit it though, she thought, I need to show those nosy neighbours that I’m perfectly capable. That’s what everyone thought nowadays, she heard them gossiping outside her door, thinking she couldn’t hear. Gossiping about the late night noises in her little basement flat. She sniffed one last time and replaced the handkerchief back into her pocket carefully, trying to forget what rumours were spreading and how long it would take for Child Services to come knocking on her door. Maybe it was just as well Willie was being sent away.

She turned around quickly, but as she did so, she felt a light kick at her stomach. She looked around, but there was nobody near her. She’d left the other parents, who were still there, possibly hoping that the train would suddenly stop and come rushing back with each ones child on board. Mrs Beech was completely alone, so she hadn’t understood were the kick had come from. Fresh tears formed in her eyes, as she prodded about on her stomach, she had felt a small hard bump there. Have to go to the hospital and get that checked out she thought, assuming the worst. The last thing she wanted was a stomach tumour. Maybe it was the stress from having the boy around so much? Maybe. Most likely. He was always causing her trouble; she hoped his new carers in the country would find the belt useful as she had done. Young William always went quiet, just how she liked him, when he had just had it being hit on his bare skin. It gave her a sort of pleasure. But she didn’t want to think about that now, this was her time, she needed to get home, safe from the bombs, and enjoy herself while she could. She was alone and it was peaceful, exactly how she liked life.