Breaking Britain (Completed)

Chapter 10

10
Saturday 5th January 2030
17:30

        Junior had decided half an hour ago, he wasn't going to phone his cousin again. He had expected him to have arrived and was now contemplating pulling out one of the meals his mum usually left in the freezer and slipping it in the microwave. Instead, he poured himself a large glass of cola, took it into the lounge and used the remote control to turn on the television.

       The television was a old thirty-two inch flat screen, that his mum had bought off a friend. A week after buying it, the top left hand corner had started to discolor.

       The television came on and he wasn't surprised to see the news on again. The last two or three days, the channels had been forced to cancel so many shows because of the violence that was spreading through the country.

        Junior started flicking through the channels, searching for something to watch, he finally stopped on a show that had grown, as the financial hardship had grown. It was a game show, with opportunities for people to walk out with large sums of money by taking part in macabre acts of depravity, like planting their face in cow's excrement.

         Although it was disgusting what people would do for money, there was so much financial hardship out there, Junior understood it.

         Moments later, there was a knock on the door. Junior peered through the net curtains, seeing Justin's car outside. He went to the door and opened it. Justin, Billy and Clarise stood outside.

        'Damn, it's getting cold out there', Justin said as he greeted Junior with a smile. 'You alright cous'

        Justin stepped in, pulling Junior into a hug, the bag he was holding banged against Junior's back.

        Billy came in afterwards. 'Alright man?'

        'Yeah man. Good'

        They slammed fists. 

         Clarise came in and shut the door behind her.

        'Junior', she said and opened her arms, as an invitation for a hug.

        Junior hugged her, taking in her scent. There was the smell of Switch, a Calvin Klein perfume, one he had chosen, a few months ago, for Justin to buy her. He wanted to hold her longer, but sensed it was getting to that inappropriate length of time. He released her.

        There was a moment of awkwardness that was broken by Justin yelling from the lounge.

        'I'm switching over to the news Junior. Okay?'

        'Sure', Junior responded and followed Clarise towards the sound of the television.
         "Violence continues to spread throughout the UK. We caught up with Police commissioner Douglas Rimmer, based in Warwick"

         "We have been inundated with calls of violence today and have fallen behind on our response to these calls, something we can only apologies for. Police officers from other areas are being seconded to us, although problems in their areas are on the increase"

         "In your view, what do you put this increase in crime down to?"

         "Undoubtedly, it's to do with financial crisis. However, nothing can condone such violence"

         "What measures would you like to see put in place to deal with the increasing violence?", the interviewer, put her hand to her earpiece, "I'm sorry Commissioner, we have to go back to the studio, for breaking news. Thank-you, Commissioner Douglas Rimmer"

         The screen shot back to the television studio.

         "Yes I'm sorry, but we have some more breaking news. We've just learnt that Madu Obinna has been stabbed. It's as yet unclear, as to whether he's been killed or not, but reports say, he was rushed to hospital, having been stabbed on the London Underground.

         "Mr Obinna, leader of the Muti-Cultural British Society, was stabbed on a London Tube heading to his office and has been rushed to Harley Street Clinic, only hours before the talk show pegged the Battle of Britain, involving Percival Granthom of the New England Group...."

         Justin looked around the room. The other three were staring at the television screen.

        'You know this is going to kick off', it was a statement of fact and he relayed it as such.