Part two

Those days in that little house with Mum and Dad and Cat were responsible for the fondest of memories. Pugdeon still returned to that place in his dreams.

The days were long and warm, punctuated with winter barbecues, summer thunderstorms and raspberries plucked straight from the bush. They were electric, filled with so much energy that Pugdeon knew with all certainty that great things lay ahead.

Why then the stuff that dreams are made of should include bad news, Pugdeon never quite worked out. At the time of overheard phone conversations he felt sure he was standing still as the world whirred around him. It wasn't how it was meant to be.

The years leading up to that moment had been tumultuous to say the least, for all concerned. Aside from the year that had just passed, and even before he existed, life had taken Pugdeon's family by the nose and twisted it this way and that. "Why" was all he could think. Amidst the newly found serenity Pugdeon heard his Mother say things that shouldn't be said when life is good.

He retreated to his bunk bed and lay there, staring at the wall next to him.