Riot! Aftermath
A Story Every Day in 2024 August 10th 223/366
The day after the riot, Billy woke feeling heavier, in heart and head, and very hungry.
He got up, trudged to the kitchen. No sign of Darren. Relieved, he went to the fridge. No milk. Went to the bread bin. No loaf. Nothing to eat. He should get some, from the shop.
A spasm of sharp guilt. Raaj's wouldn't be open today. A picture sprang into his head; the shattering of the glass and the roar his brother made; his shock at his audacity to do it and a sense of power at being able to follow through; Raaj, raising his hands to his face to shield himself as shards propelled themselves towards him.
He recalled surveying what he had done, before being dragged away by Darren.
He didn't want to return and yet, there was a curiosity about how the streets looked. He had tagged his name under a railway bridge once, proud of his creation, when the local community officer had shouted out to him and he had run away before he could be challenged. It was a similar feeling to that, that he had left his mark, he was not impotent but this was more intense. He put on his coat. His shame was not enough to keep him away.
There was still a police presence.
The streets were quiet. Debris littered his way: bottles strewn and cans in the gutters; abandoned banners, like flattened tombstones; small tubular firework papers, like fat confetti, rolling, colouring the pavements.
His home town was unattractive, a grey bunker, but today, it looked like an old lady who had been punched, mugged and left on the floor to fade away. He thrust away his involvement and this, its result. It wasn't just him. He was a very small part of it.
And then he was outside of Raaj's shop, face-to-face with the consequences of his actions. Raaj was sweeping on the pavement. He looked tired and stooped as he bent to scoop glass into paper. The tinkling penetrated Billy's conscience.
Raaj glanced over. Stopped. He didn't smile, just stood, staring and then he went back to his task.
Billy gulped. Raaj knew what he had done.
***
366 words
This links to Riot which I wrote in response to the unrest which is currently swarming over Britain, aimed at asylum seekers and which is tearing apart communities. It also seems to be uniting them, which is a positiveness but this situation should never have arisen in the first place.
You can read Riot here:
Thanks for stopping by! If you do read this, please leave a comment as I love to interact with my readers.
223/366
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Comments (13)
This is a great read. It's very human.
Ha! I’m with Donna✅ I love how vividly you depict the scene: “ My mom knew sorrow, but she never let it beat her. She knew there was also joy in life that was worth celebrating. The joy she found in reading, which she tried to pass on not only to her own kids but to all the kids that passed through the libraries she worked in.”💙
Part three???? I'd love to know what Raaj will do with this information.... but also, where is Darren?
Had to come back to read again for context as I (forgive me) had little clue what I was reading yesterday. Those last few paragraphs are quite powerful Rachel. I am impressed by this piece as it’s more than a story.
This was excellent and I particularly loved: His home town was unattractive, a grey bunker, but today, it looked like an old lady who had been punched, mugged and left on the floor to fade away.
Oh man, Raaj knows. Gosh that's even more heartbreaking
So interesting
Ah, facing the consequences... I hope he will think long and hard about what he has done.
No words. Wonderful.
This is an exceptional follow up to the first, Rachel. Your capacity to express the complexity of emotion in situations like this never ceases to amazes me.
Going to London in November. Should I bring riot gear? Your story paints two worlds--divided by time and mob dissipation. How different. Scout Finch knew about mobs.
I knew Raaj would have to pick up the pieces and go on. Most immigrants do. Great piece, Rachel!
I’ve not read riot yet, nor have I read about what is going on in the UK, so I think I will come back to this one tomorrow, Rachel. Was hoping for something light before bed. 😴 At least I never know what I’m going to get with you.