‘Why did you do it?’ I asked.

‘It wasn’t me, sir.’ Jack slouched on the armchair, picking at a piece of thread.

‘I found your cap there. The scuffed red one.’

‘That doesn’t prove anything.’

Photos of Jack and his family are lined up above the fireplace. To the police, they’d look like a happy family of four. They wouldn’t see the scars behind the frame. They’d take Jack away, and he wouldn’t look back.

‘Why did you do it?’

‘I didn’t.’

‘I could go to the pol…’

‘Don’t,’ he snapped. He tugged at his thick, tousled hair, and rubbed the dark bruise on his forehead. 

I edged forward, keeping one eye out the window. ‘Did he do it again?’

Jack looked up with dull eyes.

My heart sank. ‘Jack…’

‘I told you, Mr Reed. It wasn’t me.’ He shrugged. ‘There were these guys…’

I ignored his half-hearted attempt. ‘Do you want to end up like him?’

Jack frowned.

‘So why did you do it?’

‘Because I can.’ He laughed.

‘Is that what he says to you?’

He shook his head. ‘You wouldn’t understand.’

‘Then help me to,’ I implore. ‘You keep pushing me away. Jack, this is serious. My car was torched. I can’t just ignore it.’

He stares at me. ‘You have no proof.’

‘I didn’t deserve it.’

His dull eyes met mine, and for a moment there was a flash of remorse, right before the lounge door swung open and his brother appeared, out of breath.

‘Jack.’ He glanced at me. ‘Oh. Hi.’

‘Hello, Luke.’

‘What d’you want?’ Jack rolled his eyes.

‘We have to go,’ Luke said, peering out the window.

Their mum was in the car, her hands wrapped around the steering wheel like they were stitched on.

‘Go where?’ Jack asked.

I stood up.

Jack looked at us both. ‘What is going on?’

‘She’s leaving him,’ Luke said, his shoulders falling. ‘Come on, we’ve got your stuff, we need to go.’

‘Wait. Why? What’s happened?’

‘Who cares?’ He waves his hand at me. ‘Thank your teacher. He dobbed on you to Mum, and she just, like, snapped. She wants us away from him. Come on.’

Jack slowly rose, watching us all with caution as though we were pulling his leg.  

‘I probably won’t see you again,’ I said, wishing these two boys didn’t have to give up their life here for their own safety. ‘Take care of your mum. Take care of each other.’ I stretched my hand out.

He stared at it. ‘But Sir…’

‘I never liked that car.’ I smiled.

Jack shook my hand, and in that moment, I could see the little boy whose prayers had just been answered.

‘Thank you,’ he said.