The Mammoth Book Of Vampire Stories Written By Women

His mother looked to his aunt and back to him. His aunt was the lenient one, over-feeding and over-loving him, while his mother was bitter and restrictive. His aunt gave his mum a pleading look. Sometimes it worked, and sometimes it didn't.

"Finish the scone and cocoa, then you and your Aunt Molly can go take a look while I start supper."

"Me? You want me to go with him. Bernadette, I look like I've been in all day cleaning, which I have. Can't he go on his own?"

"It's almost dark."

"Please, Mum, I just want to take a look. I won't stay. Really, I promise."

"You'll wear a coat?"

"Yeah, yeah, I will. Promise."

"Go, then, but don't dawdle."

Andrew grabbed the unfinished scone and ran upstairs to get a jacket. He knew it was the pretty boy. Just knew. It could be any one of the boys he knew, but there was more of a reason for a stranger to be hit. The triangle confused tourists. They often got caught out in the traffic. He hoped that the boy wasn't hurt too badly.

He shouted goodbye to his mum and aunt as he raced out the front door. He ran down Green Street to Bridge Street until he reached the triangle. There were two police cars and a casualty van. The crowd was large and traffic backed up Bridge Street as far as he could see in both directions. Frank Delaney rushed over when he saw Andrew at the edge of the crowd.

"Did you see it happen?" Frank shivered in just a football jersey.

"You mean the accident. No, my mum just told me about it. She heard about it in Safeway. Did you see?"

"No, dammit. I was doing my report for Ol' Noddy Bennett. Who d'you think it was?"

Andrew rose up on his toes as the attendants lifted the stretcher into the van. The body was entirely covered by a sheet. "Dunno. He's dead. Can't see his face." His throat was tight and his eyes burned to cry.

As he surveyed the crowd, Andrew saw the old man with a police officer, his bony hand over his face, hiding his tears, shaking his head. When he took his hand away from his face to get a handkerchief, he turned to look right at Andrew, as if he knew the boy was there. His eyes lingered on him until Andrew felt his stomach clench. Then the old man turned back to the police officer and blew his nose.

"I hate missing all the blood and guts," Frank complained. "Bet it's someone from school. Probably that big baby, Tim Broadbank. His mum won't let him cross the street without holding her hand still . He's a year ahead of us, you know."

"Tim? No. Don't think so. I saw a boy with his granddad an hour ago up by my house. They were standing at the nailer's cottage. The granddad is right over there with the police crying his bloody eyes out. It had to be his grandson."

"D'you know them?" Frank rubbed his hands together.

Andrew shook his head. "Tourists. They had the look."

"Just think. You go on a trip with your granddad and end up going home in a coffin. That's a sodding awful vacation if I ever heard"

Andrew couldn't take his eyes off the old man. Frank went on talking but he didn't really hear. The old man didn't look at him again, but Andrew watched for his eyes to wash over him again. He shivered.

" so they stuck these big pins in his eyes."

"Pins?" He turned to see Frank going on. "Hey, Frank, I had better get on. Supper'll be ready and my mum wasn't happy to let me come out here as it is."

"Yeah, well, all right. If I find anything out, I'll tell you Monday. See you."

"Right, see you." He gave the old man one more lingering glance, then walked away. Just as Andrew turned up Green Street thinking of his supper, the old man searched the crowd.

Andrew's legs felt leaden as he trudged up his street. He wanted to go to the old man, comfort him. Even as he felt it, he knew it was unreasonable. He didn't know this stranger about who everything seemed suspiciously odd. As he reached his door, he wondered if he had just spoken to the old man, kept them a few minutes more, the boy might not have been killed.

The next morning, Andrew grabbed up the Belper News from the doorstep. He was certain there would be a report of the accident. Not much qualified as news in town. This was frontpage stuff. And there it was.

Visitor Accident

By Rosalie Bishop

A man and his ten-year-old ward, travelling through England, stopped in Belper on their way to Matlock Baths. At approximately 5.00 p.m., they were crossing at the triangle near the Mill Park when a lorry, on its way to Derby, hit the boy who was killed on impact. The two visitors were unfamiliar with the traffic patterns in that area and the boy stepped out in front of the lorry. The driver was not at fault in this tragic accident. The boy's guardian plans to return to his native Turkey within the week. Local families have rallied to give the man a place to stay and meals until his plane departs from Heathrow on Thursday. Anyone interested in giving aid or expressing sympathies can contact Elizabeth Horner at the Methodist Chapel.