Before the Artful Dodger

Drunken drama

"Jack! Where's my little Jack-Jack?"

It was 2 years on from when we last set eyes upon Master Jack Dawkins, and by this time, he had quite grown. His eyes had turned from baby blue to a sort of golden shade, his hair had gotten rather thick, and he was pelting around his house, running from his elder sister,Lil, who was trying, unsuccessfully to catch him.

"Jack, come on!" then, "Ha! Gotcha!" as she grabbed him, into the air, so that his chubby legs were flailing about at nothing. "Jack, listen. This morning, I had my bracelet, the one with the little doll on it, on my wrist. But now, in the evening, it's gone. Have you seen it?"

With thosewords ringing in his ears, Jack felt some form of pride in himself, as he reached into his trouser pocket, and produced a miniture wooden person attached to a blue string.

"Took it when oo  wa eatin' bweky." He stretched out his hand, to give Lil her charm back.

"No.....you take it.......butJack.......when I was eating breakfast! I didn't feel a thing! Wow......oh no......."

The cause of Lil's last phrase was, as she had stood praising her young brother, the sound of a man's footsteps had sounded up the stairs. Mr Dawkins was back. He had been out at the pub, you see, drinking, attempting to drown his sorrows in alchahol. He had done this every day, ever since the death of Mrs Dawkins, the birth of Jack Dawkins, the birth of dark days.

Drunk, Thomas Dawkins marched straight up to the children. Shoving Lil aside, he turned on his two-year-old son. A huge, flat, hairy hand sailed through the air-

SMACK!

And landed on Jack.

"Aaahhhooowwwww!!!!!!!! Dad stop! I didn't do nofin' wrong!"

"Exactly! Double negatives Jack! Why not learn some proper grammer?"

"Father!" screamed Lil, "he's only two! Leave him alone! If you must hit anyone, hit me! Hit me, not him, please Father!"

"No......" replied the, usually respectable gentleman. The Dawkins family had always been high in society, but when Jack's father's drinking got serious,that changed things. Yes, they were still one of the richest families in London, but they were looked down on by all, even the street urchins. "No, Lil, it's Jack's fault we're in this position......."

With that, Jack received another blow to the head, nearly knocking him out. Thinking it rather a good idea, and only fair, the dazed toddler punched his father in the leg, the highest point he could reach. 

"Oww.......dad, you 'urt me fist......"

"Too right, you little nitwit! Now you'll learn......"

He curled his hand into a fist and struck.....when Lil jumped in front of Jack- and Jack sprung before Lil, both of them wanting to protect the other from the drunk. As it turned out, Jack, as planned, was hit across his face. Then, for the young boy, all went black.

💩'Ow ya doin', me flash mates? 'Ope yer likin' dis! Tell me in da famous comment section, will ya? I'm leavin' for now, but I'll be back soon! So long, fare thee well, pip pip, cheerio, I'll be back soon! 💖💋