An Intangible Pattern - Fate Bound.

Think of others.

Alex drummed her fingers nervously on the steering wheel.  Her eyes scanned from face to face among the pedestrians, looking for familiar but frightening features. 

I can't keep putting it off - She took a deep breath and opened the door of Cat’s car, which she had borrowed for the weekend. 

The hazy orange glow of the street lamps lit the path to a small grocery store in Wisterlea. It was the first time she had ventured into town alone for several months. She kept her eyes down on the pavement and forced her legs to move.

In, out and then home. 

She wanted to get it over quickly and get back to a safe place as soon as possible. However, she was unfamiliar with the layout of the shop and the fluorescent lights dazzled her. A rising wave of panic threatened to swallow her.

I’m just picking up groceries. This is normal. The car is just out there. Nothing will happen. It's a normal thing normal people do. I should be able to  get groceries just like everyone else. 

She tried to slow her breathing, focusing on the items on the shelves.

“Excuse me dear?” Alex jumped and whipped around.

Two tiny, old women blinked in surprise at her reaction. One of them laughed and said, “I’m sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. I was wondering if you could reach the ironing starch up on that shelf there. They always put it too high!”

She pointed up and Alex mumbled that she could. She stood on tip toe and reached up.

“Ahh, thank you love,” she smiled, as she took the can from Alex.

“You're welcome.” She replied and selected a packet of toilet paper and tossed it into her basket.

The women resumed their conversation.

“...What were we talking about?”

“That body they found down in London?”

“Oh yes! Awful business. So our Sharon's youngest told her that his friend at school has a half brother down in London. A real handful. His mother couldn't cope, you see, so she sent him down to live with his father for a bit. Well he says that his friend says that his brother is at school with the kids who found the body.”

“Never!”

“Aye!”

“Oh, that's awful Rose. Imagine finding something like that!”

“Well hold on a minute, Anne. Don't be too quick to feel sorry for them,” she added with a dark look,”These ‘little darlings’ took photographs of the poor man and they spread them through the whole school! Apparently it's all over that stupid internet thing.”

“They never did! Kids today! They're completely out of control! We'd never have even thought about doing such a thing when we were young.”

“I know, it's bloody awful! Not an ounce of respect for the dead!”

“You know what I think? I think they should bring back the belt. That's what's needed. People won't smack their children these days and look where it's got them. Well we got the belt whenever we did wrong and we sure as eggs never did it again. And there's all these new fangled phones with cameras these days. They're a nuisance! Davie bought me one at Christmas, but I never use it. I did fine without it for eighty years and I don't need it now.”

“Oh I quite agree Anne! But wait till I tell you, there's more to the story. Our Sharon says, the man was shot! Right in the head! He was murdered!” Rose said in a loud conspiratorial whisper that anyone within ear shot could hear.