Flowers of Glass

The Scarlet Letter

The Shelby brothers and other associates stood on the snowy street of Watery Lane on a fine morning. The skies were clouded by the winter weather as December set in on the city of Birmingham.

John and Arthur Shelby leaned against the worn bricked wall behind them. John drank and shared a smoke with his brother. The other simply kept company and enjoyed themselves despite the bitter climate.

Despite the unpleasant weather, Thomas Shelby was business as usual. He drove the car around the corner. Eyes focus on the street ahead. Something had been getting under his skin for the past couple of months. Something he would never speak off.

"Oi! Tommy," Arthur called out to his brother. Tommy pretended not to listen so John tossed himself drunkenly on the hood of the car ultimately bringing it to a halt.

"Fucks sake!" Tommy snapped as he slammed the breaks, he smacked the wheel angry at the shock.

"Pissed off, are ya?" Arthur said with his eyebrows furrowed as he eyed his upset sibling.

"Drink with us!" John insisted untouched by the car's hit. He simply dusted off his suit and popped on Tommy's window. "Driiiiiiiiiiink" He persisted.

Tommy slammed the car's door behind him as he adjusted his suit.

Annoyed, Thomas shook his head and snatched the mug of whiskey from Arthur's hand before taking one savage gulp not minding the afterburn of the golden beverage.

The other gang members that were huddled up together drinking all grinned and cheered at Tommy's arrival.

"What's been eating ya, Tommy?" John his hand on his brother's shoulder.

"I've got stuff to do," Thomas changed the subject abruptly and lit a cigarette to calm himself. It had been months...

Arthur pursued his lips and decided to ignore his brother's secrecy. Tommy had always been a private person. It was best to respect his privacy. He figured it was probably family business... The group of men talked about the usual subjects they frequented.

Other gangs, gambling, other gangs, them horses races and of course, a popular topic, the local women in town.

"-I swear. She said she'd do eight of us for a good price!" One of the men exclaimed as he referenced to a bona fide offer one of the town's local prostitutes had made to him.

"She's probably got the clamp mate!" One of them cringed.

"There's no decent woman that will take eight men in one lay for cheap!"

The rest of the men agreed as they shook their heads in disgust.

It was then that the gang fell silent.

From a distance, they saw that pious woman. She walked quietly with her small purse tucked at her side. Her (hair/color) hair was neatly combed as always. She kept to herself as she walked in straight strides. However, this time her head held not as high, and she avoided the prying gazes of the other people in town with shame. Especially the men's.

Like always, she was dressed in light colors and was known to kind, soft-spoken and devoted to her faith. when addressed.

"Can't believe it," One of the men shook his head in disbelief as his eyes remained glued to the woman. "That's somebody who plays a virgin in the light, but has no urgin' in the night," another sniggered mockingly.

The group noticed her swollen stomach which she attempted to hide as she walked.

"Who would've thought the town's prude was just another whore," John commented.