The Laffy Boys Hit Town

Mick Murphy sighed as he glanced at the two early teens cowering in the corner. The two looked back at him with defiant looks but Mick knew from experience they were putting on an act and were fearful of what was ahead of them. A couple of farm kids that had fled from parental abuse and taken up residence down by the town swimming pool. He knew their parents from weekly trips to town and could understand why these kids had decided living on the fringe was better than what life was like for them back at the farm. They’d been in front of him before for theft but because of their age the judge had given them a warning and a sentence of community service that obviously hadn’t been completed. Later they’d been taken to a juvenile correction center but had escaped quickly despite tight security and had gravitated back to this town where they had familiar surroundings to soothe their dysfunctional lives.

But this latest stunt was not something law enforcement could continue to ignore. They’d broken into a used car lot and hot wired a car taking it on a jaunt around town. They’d learned a lot about machinery on the farm keeping old vehicles working so they were smart. They’d filled the car up at the service station and taken off without paying. Video surveillance had picked it up, so their denials didn’t help them. Obviously, they had no money and survived by begging or stealing. Mick felt sorry for them. He’d been a farm kid himself and it was not an easy life, nor were his parents prosperous but they’d instilled good moral principles in him and there was love in the home. These kids had not experienced love and their parents were into illicit activities so had not been good role models apart from the physical abuse they’d suffered.

The two were taken away to the lockup while Stan the police chief considered their next move. They’d have to be presented in front of the judge again tomorrow but at least they’d get a good meal in jail they didn’t have to steal. The chief was just as sorry for these juvenile criminals as Mick was knowing the kind of home, they come from but law was law and the kids had become quite a nuisance around town and citizens were demanding an end to their escapades. After a conference in the chief’s office Stan and Mick visited the cell where they’d been placed. Their questions framed kindly were either answered insolently or met with silence. The two police officers left feeling frustrated.

That evening Mick shared with his wife Mary events of the day and in particular the continuing saga with the two young criminals Tom and his brother Angus. Mary had been on a farm growing up too and she and Mick had shared the school bus together through their high school years. Their friendship developed into romance toward the end of their high school days. Mick went off to learn policing. There were too many siblings in Mick’s family and the farm would not continue to support them all in adulthood so one by one his sisters married farmers they’d met in their school years and at country dances and only one of the boys stayed to help parents run the small farm. Mick had returned to his hometown to join the police force and soon asked Mary to marry him. They had a happy home but were childless.

Mary thought for a few minutes after Mick related the story of the boys’ latest crimes. Her family owned the property next to the Laffy farm and she remembered how the boys would flee to her family for protection after their father’s drunken rampages where they’d be fed and protected until that drunken tirade had ended. Sometimes the boy’s mother Jane would join them, and Mary’s mother would attend to her wounds. The boys had an affinity to Mary’s family who they looked on as saviors in the event of trouble in their home and were always appreciative and respectful when they visited. She felt sorry for them and had watched their descent into crime with sadness.

Mary turned to her husband. “Mick, I know those boys and their background. They were always respectful and appreciative in our home. Would it be OK for me to speak with them tomorrow?”

Mick looked up in surprise. “I don’t know how chief Stan would react to that Mary. He has been sympathetic, but community anger has reached a peak where they must be dealt with, and they’ll be taken before a judge tomorrow.”

“Why don’t you phone him now Mick and see if I can talk with them before they go before the judge?”

Mick shrugged. He reached for his cell phone and punched in chief Stan’s number and heard his familiar voice in response.

“Chief Mary would like to have a talk with the boys before they face the judge tomorrow. Do you see this could be helpful?”

“Mick I’m at the station again because the boys are giving trouble to those on duty. I’d welcome any help from anywhere to get them settled down if that’s possible.”

Mick had left the phone on speaker so Mary could follow chief’s response. She took the phone.

“Chief is it OK if I come down there now to see if I can settle them. They know me from their early childhood days as we would always protect them when they were being abused at home.”

“I’d welcome that Mary, thanks!”

Mary grabbed a protesting husband, and they were soon on their way to the lockup. Mick parked the car while Mary entered the station and was pointed toward a noisy corridor where the boys were being held. They were in angry conversation with two of the night staff who were attempting to keep them quiet.

Mary asked one of the police to open the cell door for her to enter. He protested but chief Stan signaled they should follow her instructions. She entered and the door was slammed behind her while the two police outside watched to see she was safe. The boys quietened down immediately. She sat on the bed and beckoned to the boys to sit beside her, and they obeyed. She addressed the oldest.

“What’s going on Tom, I hear you and Angus have been creating quite a ruckus?”

“Mary the cops locked us up and we’re not happy.”

Mary laughed. “You’ve been creating havoc around the town for some time Tom and the community feels you need to be stopped. How would you feel if someone broke into your business and stole your car or food? I think you would want the cops to stop them doing that. Seems reasonable to me. Now we’re friends aren’t we, so I’d like to understand why you’re doing this.”

“We miss driving the tractor and old car around the farm but can’t stay there because the old man beats mum and us and no one tries to stop him. So, we are on our own and need to eat and have some fun. You’re the only one who gives us food in town, so we must steal to survive.”

“Why didn’t you and Angus stay in the correctional center? They have training there and you get three meals a day. Sounds like a better deal to me than sleeping outside the swimming pool and being in trouble all the time.”

“Mary, you have no idea what goes on in that place. We’re not innocent but what the older boys were trying to do to Angus was not on with me. We had a big fight and I managed to protect him but could see there were too many of them for me to handle so we both needed to get out. It’s not safe. One of the staff took pity on us and left a key unsupervised so we could escape. Then he waited a couple of hours before reporting us missing to give us a head staff. We hitched a ride at night with a truck driver to exit from the freeway to this village. Not going back there again. You think we’re bad, but you have no idea what it’s like there.”

“Tom, I want you to settle down for the night and be nice to these policemen. They have a hard time protecting the public and you don’t need to make their lives more difficult. They are sorry for you otherwise you’d have been back at the correctional center as soon as you arrived back in this village. You’ve not repaid their kindness in not sending you back, so I want you to promise me to settle down and be quiet. You’ll have to face the judge tomorrow and I’ll be there to give you support.”

She reached over and gave both boys a hug and they began to cry. Angus moved closer and put his arms around her. “Your family has always been good to us Mary. I wish we’d been born into your family instead of my drunken dad’s place. Mum left him and I don’t know where she’s gone.”

Mary wiped the tears from her eyes with the back of her hand and signaled to the police guard watching she wanted to leave. She unwound the boys from her and spoke.

“Promise me you’ll be good now and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

The boys now subdued nodded their heads.

To be continued.

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