The Dictator

Chapter Two

Alina stepped off the bus, into the darkness. She wondered about Miles' "Physics homework". It can't have been given to him by his physics teacher. Who would give a year five pupil homework on atomic bombs?
Alina looked at the six former who had got off the bus with her. He was halfway across the road. If he was crossing, it must be safe. She stepped onto the hard tarmac and paced swiftly across. Then she began to walk home, through dim pools of light cast by faint streetlamps, past trees that were shrouded in shadows. Then she arrived at the railway station. This was far from her final destination. Slowly, she walked to the bridge that cast it's shadow onto the tracks. She ran her hand over the smooth yellow railing, and sighed when she saw that yet again someone had spray canned the blue painted supports. How many times had that council had to paint over the swear words that always appeared here? Too many times.
She continued to walk, her heavy rucksack making her back ache. Finally she arrived at the street. As she started down it, she recalled how this street would be in the summer; the little kids with their harsh sounding cries, the boy next door showing off on his skateboard, and the ever-suffering parents attempting to keep an eye on them all. But for now the street was empty, and the only noise was the howling of the wind and the pitter-patter of rain on the pavement.
She walked up her drive. From next door, she heard the familiar drunken "Good morning!" from her next door neighbor. He stood leaning against the wall, cigar in his hand, oblivious to anything and everything.
"You're a pretty girl." he said, smiling at her. "Want to go down to the pub, and have some fun?"
"No thank you." Alina replied, politely. Then she continued up her drive. She reached the porch and knocked on the dirty white door. Her mother opened it, and Alina stepped inside.
"So how was school today?"
"It was ok." Alina replyed, as always. Then she took her coat and shoes off, slung her rucksack onto the bottom stair, and headed upstairs.