The Doctor

I arrived 10 minutes early and was met by the mother, a cumbersome looking woman, very clean and apologetic with a huge bosom.

‘You must excuse us, doctor, we have her in the kitchen where it is warm.’

She thumbed a packet of cards nervously as I explained that ‘doctor’ was not exactly the correct term, understanding she knew little English I hushed over my particulars and asked to see the girl.

The child was fully dressed and sitting on her father's lap near the kitchen table.

There was a small boy doing a handstand against a pear tree in the garden. Even though I was twenty feet away I could see his arms trembling quite clearly. At the time I held the cold weather responsible for his quaking but in hindsight I was more likely to have been fatigue.

I could see that they were all rather uneasy, eyeing me up and down. They were telling me no more than they had to and, as often in these cases, they didn’t want the police involved.

took off my sweater and put on my horn-rimmed spectacles.

She did not move at all but her soft blue eyes followed all my movements, she was an unusually attractive little thing. I smiled kindly from the doorway of the kitchen as I accepted a mug of warm Vimto from her mother. She the had glorious golden hair of a well paid centerfold.

”My wife has given her things, you know, for the season.”, her father reassured me

“Come on, do what he tells you to. He won't hurt you.”

I shuddered and turned my head away from them, clenching my teeth. If only they wouldn't use the word "hurt" I might be able to get somewhere. Not allowing myself to be hurried or disturbed I spoke softly as I cautiously approached the child.

Her head convulsed back and her nails clawed instinctively for my eyes, my glasses were flung across the room and I yelled out for protection. Restrained by her father she quickly returned to her calm whilst I cleaned my lens with my handkerchief.

Oh yeah? I had to smile to myself. I had already fallen in love with the girl.

“Put her in front of you, on your lap”, I ordered, “and hold both her wrists.”

“Oh do be careful!” said the mother in broken English

In a final unreasoning assault I overpowered the child's neck and jaws. I forced a heavy splint into her mouth and down the back of her throat till she gagged. She had fought bravely to keep us from knowing the truth but now I was about to find out if towns awful suspicions were correct

As I squeezed my knuckle pass her windpipe my fingers caught hold of something.

My blood ran cold and a sharp stab of terror hit my stomach in realisation that the parents had gone. I knew why.

I turned to the garden where the young boy, still doing a headstand was crying and screaming at me as his armpits bled onto the turf. The freshly lain turf.