Book One of Five

coincidental.

Dragon Lady

Who would imagine that the old lady in the wheelchair was the drug baron of the housing estate?

She is the manipulator of her family and heartlessly makes use of her young grandson as an unsuspecting drug mule for her business!

Introduction

Doreen and her son Kevin live on an estate just a few miles from a small village that was expanded after the Second World War by the number of prefabs required for persons to live. The estate where Doreen and Kevin lived was a new build and was surrounded by fields and a river and was a good safe playground for all of the children on the estate. The Bigwood family lived almost opposite Doreen and Kevin and were lifelong friends, Brian was a very strong physical boy of the same age as Kevin. Brian was not a bad boy he was just headstrong and was a bit too forward in his beliefs and ideas for Doreen’s liking. Doreen always believed he was a bad influence on Kevin as he did not always seem to know the difference between right and wrong! Had Doreen been more honestly aware she would have realised that Kevin was just the same as Brian, neither was good and neither was bad, they were both mischievous and would lead each other on in every which way,

The nearest town was fifteen miles away. For persons with no cars the only transport was the local bus service. Kevin’s father, Doreen’s husband, had left the area to find work and was at first away for months on end and would come back to see his family now and then. It wasn’t long before the now and then become now and a long then; the long then become longer and longer and the visits became less and less frequent until they stopped and were replaced with the occasional brief letters and cards. The supply of money also became less and less and finally stopped. Apart from the very occasional brief visit nothing more was seen of Doreen’s husband.

After the death of her husband Doreen’s mother had married a Chinese man of all people and had spent a good many years living in China.

Doreen had never known her father; he was killed in the war. That was what her mother had told her. Doreen’s mother had had to leave China when her husband was killed, which Doreen found out sometime after her mother moved back to the UK. Her stepfather had been murdered and her mum had to flee China for her life. Her husband had been involved in some sort of gang society like the Triads but Doreen did not find out what they had been involved in, something to do with the underworld and dragons... Doreen found out sometime later that her mother had dragons tattooed up both her arms and legs as well as front and back and was herself quite a high rank in her husband’s gang.

Chapter One

Kevin have you finished your tea?

Yes Mum can I go out now?

Not yet I have something to tell you.

Oh yes what about? I know it wasn’t me who damaged the bus shelter I have never had a spray can in my life.

No, no you are not in trouble for once! I have made a decision! After talking to Nan and listening to her I have decided we are going to move into the town and be nearer to her.

Oh my God I don’t want to move I am happy here, my friends are here! I don’t have any friends in the town I hate the town.

Now listen here my lad whenever we’ve been to stay with Nan you have had a good time! Only the last time you said how good it would be if we lived in the town! Am I right or am I wrong?

Oh that was just then! I did not mean we have to move right away.

Well I’ve decided! Not only that but it will be the best for you! Best for the future I can get a job there! There is no work round this area! Just a bit of cleaning now and then! In the town I could get a proper job we could afford more things.

What could I have a PlayStation and games?

I expect so!

What about my friend Brian could he come and stay?

I am not sure about that.

Oh Mum he is my best friend why do you hate him all of the time?

Look Kevin he has been a bad influence on you! Five times this term I’ve had to come up the school to see the head! Each time it was because the two of you had been up to no good! The sooner you are away from that Brian Bigwood the better!

Oh Mum you are always moaning; not my fault if the teachers are stupid.

See there you go again! The school and teachers are better in the town! You mark my words young man you will thank me one day you just see if you don’t!

Chapter Two

Kevin I want you home on time after school today! Kevin! Are you listening to me? I said I want you home straight from school no messing about you come straight home!

I will! Why is somebody coming? Is Dad coming?

No! Nobody is coming! Your dad has been once this year he won’t come again for another year if you are lucky! You can’t expect miracles I have told you what he is like often enough! No we are getting the bus to go into town to see Nan.

Why are we doing that is she ill or something?

No she is OK I think! You remember I told you we are moving into town.

What today, we are moving today?

No don’t be silly! She has found us a flat, not only that but she has a friend who can probably sort out a job for me, a proper job at a supermarket on the edge of town. So we need to go and have a look at this flat to see if it’s OK.

What sort of flat is it? Not one of those pokey ones like Nan lives in, I hope.

No it’s not on the estate where Nan lives I wouldn’t want one of them it’s like a blooming rabbit warren there! No it’s over a shop in the high street about half a mile from Nan’s flat.

Hello Nan.

Hi Kevin, are you OK? You been good at school, no more trouble? Here have these sweets.

Oh Mum you spoil him all the time.

Don’t go on Doreen it’s the only bit of pleasure I have these days.

So what’s this flat about Mum? You said it’s not too far away!

That’s right it’s in the high street not far! I haven’t been to see it myself as I wouldn’t be able to get up the stairs! But Rose said it was quite nice. The couple who had it before have moved to Bristol, it’s fully furnished so you could move in straight away!

Wait a minute how much is the rent? I can’t afford that much.

Doreen you don’t have to fret about that if you take it I will pay the rent for six months so you can get on your feet!

Mum I can’t expect you to do that how would you afford it?

Doreen you don’t have to worry about that I have some put by for a rainy day and I have insurance for my funeral!

Mum you shouldn’t talk like that you will probably outlive me!

That’s sorted then here are the address directions and the keys! You take the boy over and have a look then come back and tell me if you want it!

All right, come on Kevin!

It’s not bad is it Kev?

No it’s all right I suppose, bigger than what we have at the moment and it’s good having a separate loo to the bathroom! Means I won’t have to go and pee out the back when you are in the bath!

No you won’t! So I can spend as long as I want having a good soak without you banging on the door every five minutes!

Hi Mum we are back!

Well Doreen what do you think, is it a goer?

Yes we had a good look around. I like the service road so the entrance is separate from the shop! Don’t think I could put up with walking through the shop all the time! And we both liked it didn’t we Kev?

Yeah it was OK Nan!

We found the school as well; it looked a bit more modern than the village one didn’t it Kev?

Yeah I suppose so!

So Doreen you want to take it then?

Yes Mum it might be a new start for us! What about that job you said might be available?

Well tomorrow I will sort out the flat and see Elsie about the job! She owes me a few favours so should be able to get that sorted! You will probably have to go for an interview so if you ring me tomorrow after 4 o’clock I should have some details!

Great Mum many thanks! Come on Kev wipe your face you are dribbling sweets! Don’t put so much in your mouth at one time! You will choke yourself one of these days!

Hi Kev was school all right?

Yeah was easy no trouble!

There’s a can of drink in the fridge and I am doing a special tea! I bought some stuff from the shop in town!

You were in town then?

Yes I went to the shop for that interview Nan had arranged! And I got the job; will start as soon as we move! And it’s more money so we can pay off the loans and then start living properly! Nan’s sorted the flat so we can move as soon as we can.

Like when do you think?

I think the weekend would be best so I could come up the school on Friday and see the head then next Monday we can go to that other school and get you sorted! My job will mean I won’t finish till 7 p.m. in the evening on some days so Nan said when you finish school you can go there and she will give you your tea, then I can collect you when I leave work!

If I have to work at weekends I can drop you off at Nan’s on the way to work! Nan said there are a lot of boys who live near her who go to the school so you should soon make new friends! You probably already know some of them from when you have been there before! But no trouble do you hear, no more Brian Bigwood! I don’t want Nan upset OK!

Oh Mum you said Brian could come and stay! You promised!

No Kevin I didn’t promise I said he could possibly come! His mum might not want him to and anyway you might have new friends and he might not fit in! But perhaps at maybe like half-term we could arrange something just wait and see OK!

Yeah all right I have told him about my big bedroom at the flat so there would be plenty of room for him!

Hi Nan.

Kevin how was school on first day?

It was OK. I already knew some of the boys from before so had a good time I walked here with Colin and Paul they only live across the way! Can I go out and play?

Yes of course you can, tea is ready in an hour and a half so make sure you are in I can’t go out chasing you!

OK Nan I will be back in the hour!

Hi Mum you OK? Has Kevin been a good boy?

Doreen, was the first day at work OK?

Yes I enjoyed it, felt like a proper job for once! Been on the go all day quite a lot to take in! Made some nice friends! Think they thought I was a bit simple at first, sort of a country yokel! But it was all right so looking forward to tomorrow! I saw Kevin outside he seemed happy and was involved with some boys more his size and age!

Yes he was quite talkative when he had his tea! Make yourself and me a cup of tea and take your shoes off, and rest your feet!

"That’s one thing I found a problem! Being on your feet all day! Not used to that! I’ve got some flat bottom slip-ons at home,