Josh suspiciously scanned the arena park looking for the tall familiar frame of one Troy Cassidy.  He would be easy to identify.  One, he was rather tall almost at six feet high, and two, he was always thronged by a bevy of giggling school girls as if he was the latest singing sensation or something.  As his eyes stretched from left to right, Josh was pleased to affirm Troy’s absence.  He had nothing personally against the guy, but he was determined to keep his fourteen year old crushing sister at more than an arm’s length away from the Casanova.  Just as Josh slanted an approving smile his sister’s way, a voice from behind interrupted Josh.

‘Shanna, hey you made it,’ a familiar voice greeted from behind Josh.  He arched his body towards the sound of the voice from behind.

‘Hi,’ Shanna laughed nervously.  ‘Sorry I had to ask my brother to chaperone me, or my mum would not have allowed me out tonight.  Two pairs of accusing eyes stared intently at Josh.

‘Chris,’ Josh smiled, unfazed by the reproachful glare.  ‘I’m satisfied, it’s you my sister has a date with and not Kingman High School’s resident heartthrob.  He could hear his sister’s embarrassed soft groan next to him, but Chris challenged teasingly.

‘Oh, I thought that was me.’

Josh laughed good naturedly, belatedly joined by Shanna.

He was walking away from his locker the following morning when something he witnessed irked Josh.  As he lifted his head, he studied Kaz in conversation with one of the boys of the school.  From Kaz’s body language, she did not look relaxed.  Her eyes narrowed as she stared at the boy she was conversing with in a discreet corner of the locker room.  A loud gasp escaped Josh’s throat next as he observed Kaz handing the boy some cash.

Shoving the notes into his pocket, the boy strolled away with a satisfied gaiety.  His curiosity piqued, Josh was determined to investigate what Kaz was paying the other student for.

‘Kaz?’

She spun around, surprised to discover she had company.

‘What!’ She answered roughly.

‘Why were you paying Tristan Payne money?’

‘It’s none of your business, Preacher Boy.’

‘Tell me,’ Josh demanded, gripping her wrist.

‘I said, “mind your own business,”’ she snarled.

‘Is he trying to extort money from you?’ Josh probed.  He knew Tristan was an unsavoury character.

‘Back off!’ She stabbed her index finger at his chest, sending him reeling backwards.  ‘I have enough people breathing down my back,’ Kaz stormed away before Josh could respond further.

The encounter with Kaz and Tristan troubled Josh throughout the day.  He had been less than his normal attentive self in his classes.  Even Ms. Shaw had noticed Josh’s preoccupied state in both her math and English classes.  When school ended Josh raced to the car park and speedily climbed onto his bicycle.  Again securing a position of vantage, he followed Kaz, as she raced away in the direction of her block of flats.

Panting and exhausted, Josh had just dismounted his bicycle, when Kaz exited her block of flat in jeans and a T shirt.  She was heading in the general direction of the zoo, probably to do her bird cage duties.  He could not follow her there.  He had to head home or risk his mother’s wrath for being home late from school for no justified reason.

The next day Josh was convinced Kaz was deliberately avoiding him.  He knew all the spots she hung out at all by herself he could find her nowhere try as he may.  She was nowhere to be found.  Oh she attended each class punctually, but pointedly ignored him even during the breaks.  After the last lesson, when the bell signalled the end of school for the day, Kaz was up like a speeding bullet.  Purposefully, Josh took his time packing his books.  The second Kaz was out the door Josh hurriedly pulled out the hoodie from his backpack and slipped it on as he left the class.  He caught sight of Kaz’ slender frame and pony-tailed blonde hair and discreetly followed her.  Keeping his head down and pretending to be busy on his cell phone, his eyes did not lose sight of her. 

Kaz scanned her vicinity as she exited the school hall.  She dipped her hand into her blazer pocket, comforted by the contents she had there.  She looked behind her shoulder twice then continued walking, but not towards the car park where her motor bike was, but instead she walked in the totally opposite direction.  Again she looked over her shoulder before she sprinted to the final few steps of her destination.

Josh kept his head lower as Kaz looked over her shoulder.  Deliberately he turned as they drew nearer to the car park.

Where on earth is she going?

As soon as Kaz turned the corner at the back of the school building, Josh increased his pace.  He panted with his heavy backpack on his shoulders. 

She is so much more physically fit than I am.

Josh was close enough to Kaz.  He could hear movements.  Her floral scent was feint, but he caught a whiff of it as a welcome gentle breeze blew on his face.  Hearing the rustling noise of something being opened, his curiosity sparked, Josh turned the corner to come face to face with the elusive figure he’d followed.

‘Kaz what the hell are you doing!’

Kaz jumped, distracted by the unsuspecting visitor.  The substance from her hand fell.  Josh picked it up.  His eyes widening like saucers, he stared at Kaz dumbfounded.

‘Give it back,’ she demanded.

‘Why Kaz?’

‘Leave me alone,’ Kaz screamed, reaching for his hand, but Josh quickly stepped back.

‘Kaz, this is harmful to your body.  It can ruin you,’ his eyes were troubled.

‘Harmful?  No it’s not,’ she denied.

‘It is not legal,’ Josh reminded her.

‘I don’t care about legal, or the law or walking the straight and narrow,’ she screamed.  ‘It’s my life.  Now give it back,’ she lunged at him.

‘No,’ Josh shook his head, taking another step back.

An angry look filled her contorted face.  Her eyes narrowed with mounting rage, she heaved air into her lungs and without warning, plunged her knee into the unsuspecting Josh’s stomach. Cringing from the excruciating pain, Josh fell to the ground, clutching his stomach.  He was writhing helplessly on the floor, when Kaz kicked him again, this time in the back. She bent down and extricated the sachet of marijuana from Josh’s hand.

Her eyes were murderous, when she softly issued her threat.  ‘Stay away from me or I will kill you.’

In excruciating pain, Josh gripped the wall and pulled himself to his feet still clutching his stomach with one hand.
  Boy she packs a mean punch.  Where on earth did she learn to fight like that? 
The short walk to the car park felt like a ten mile marathon.  Every step Josh took, his body cried out from the pain.  He breathed a sigh of relief as he collapsed onto his bicycle.  Leaning low over the handle bars, Josh pedalled with just enough momentum for the bike to coast all the way to his home.  He’d never been happier to see the unattractive drab kitchen door of their home.  Josh pushed his bike against the rail and went in search of his father.  Josh hesitated by the door of his father’s study, hoping his father was not busy praying.  Father Ralph did not like his prayer time interrupted.

Josh knocked softly and hoped his father would answer.  He needed his father’s wisdom on how to render assistance to Kaz, whether she wanted it or not.

‘Joshua have you been in a fight?’

‘Huh?’

‘Your clothes!  Half your shirt is out of your trousers and you look like you’ve been in a scuffle.’

‘I---,’ Josh looked down at his unkempt attire.  ‘Got beat up by a girl.’

‘What!’  Father Ralph stood up very calmly.   You were involved in a brawl with a girl!’ His one eyebrow arched in his signature questioning manner.  Pastor Ralph’s tone was calm as he reminded his son, ‘Joshua I thought I instilled in you that you do not solve problems with your fists, and since when do you trade blows with one of the fairer sex young man?’

‘I did not get a chance to defend myself, let alone retaliate, not that I had any intention dad,’ Josh smirked.

‘You better come in and explain yourself Joshua Mitchell.’

Looking somewhat uncomfortable, Josh hung his head as he walked to where his father was standing.  He proceeded to tell his father of how he followed Kaz and the illegal substance he caught her red handed with.  Josh described to his father how Kaz violently struck at him when he tried to take the drugs away from her.

‘You have to help Kaz, dad.  I don’t know how, but you got to help her please,’ Josh pleaded earnestly.

Josh’s mum walked to her husband’s study to inform him, Josh was very late from school only to find her son sitting opposite his father.  He still had his backpack strapped over his shoulders.  Eleanor looked from her husband to her son, wondering if she was interrupting a private “man to man” conversation.  Respectfully, she waited at the door.  Pastor Ralph caught a glimpse of his wife.  Josh looked over his shoulder to see who was at the door.  Josh’s eyes swung back to the figure he sat across.  Father and son exchanged a knowing glance.  Josh nodded slightly to his dad.

‘Do join us dear,’ Pastor Ralph invited.  Husband and son stood up courteously.

‘Hi mum,’ Josh smilingly, kissed his mom on the cheek before he held out the chair for her.

‘Hi dear,’ Eleanor greeted her son.  She was curious to know why her son was sitting before his father still in uniform and with his heavy school bag still on his shoulders, yet with the seasoned discipline from years of abiding her time as a pastor’s wife, Eleanor waited until she was brought into the loop.

‘Darling our son was assaulted by a young lady,’ Pastor Ralph stated, trying to hide the threatening smirk.

Eleanor looked to her son with concern, ‘you okay dear?’ She reached a hand out and rested it on his shoulder.

‘Yes mum,’ he pursed his lips awkwardly.  It really did not sound good to hear you’ve been beaten up by a girl.

‘What happened?’ Eleanor gently prompted.

Josh looked at his father supportively.  Ralph relayed to his wife all the details.

‘You say it was Kaz?’ Eleanor questioned, a troubled frown creased her brows, ‘the same girl of the shop lifting incident?’

‘Yes,’ Josh sighed, lowering his head.  He really did not want Kaz getting into more trouble, but Josh was determined to get Kaz help, even if she did not want to be helped.

‘Perhaps mum should have a chat with Kaz,’ Pastor Ralph suggested.

‘No dad!’  Josh shook his head.  ‘You should do it.’

Ralph and Eleanor exchanged a questioning glance.

‘No offence mum,’ Josh shifted in his chair, ‘but Kaz will walk all over you.  She needs somebody with a firm hand.’

Eleanor laughed softly.  Pastor Ralph’s eyebrow shot up.  ‘Are you saying I’m the village villain? He laughed.

‘No dad.  You know what I mean.  Nobody would ever accuse you of being a villain.’

‘Okay,’ Pastor Ralph nodded.  ‘You know where this young lady lives Josh?’

‘Yes,’ Josh avoided looking at his father.
  I know where she lives.  I know her daily schedule and I know her favourite items that she likes lifting from the stores.

‘We’ll pay her a visit tonight,’ Pastor Ralph decided.  ‘Darling would you like to accompany Josh and I?’

‘One of us needs to stay with Shanna.’

‘Very well then Josh.  It will be you and I,’ Pastor Ralph stated. His family took their cue to leave.  They knew Pastor Ralph would like to spend some time in his prayer closet before they visited Kaz Edwards.

‘Was that a family meeting without me?’  Shanna questioned her brother.  She was returning from the kitchen with a can of cola in her hand when she witnessed Josh and their mum leave Pastor Ralph’s study.  ‘Or was I the topic of conversation as usual?’ She enquired.

‘Josh smiled.  ‘Why do you assume you are the most popular topic for discussion?’

‘Are you avoiding answering me brother dearest?’  She demanded, narrowing her eyes at Josh.

‘I wanted dad to counsel one of the students at school, Shanna,’ Josh answered, with a bored expression on his face.

‘Oh,’ Shanna wrinkled her face with disinterest.  Her brother was forever playing the peer psychologist and counsellor.  She wished he would get a life and be a normal sixteen year old.  ‘Got homework to finish,’ she answered indifferently and turned in the direction of her bedroom.

‘What are you doing here?’ Kaz narrowed her eyes angrily at Josh.  It was eight in the evening.  She was even more furious that the wimp had brought his father to deal with her.  ‘Can’t fight your own battles Preacher Boy!’ She jeered.

Josh struggled to hold eye contact her.  ‘May my dad and I come in Kaz?’ He ignored her taunting.

‘If you just listened and minded your own business, I would not have hit you,’ she answered defensively.

‘Kaz,’ Pastor Ralph intervened politely.  ‘We have not come to discuss the hiding you gave Josh,’ he smiled.  Kaz looked away awkwardly.  ‘As you can see Josh has no visible bruises.  ‘I would like to talk with you however,’ Pastor Ralph pressed on.

‘It’s late,’ she offered the first excuse she could think of. 

‘We won’t take up much or your time,’ Pastor Ralph persevered.

Kaz looked over her shoulder at the untidy flat.  It really was not presentable for visitors.

‘We want to help you Kaz,’ Pastor Ralph urged.  ‘You need to know the detrimental effects of the substance you are___.’

‘Look,’ Kaz cut Pastor Ralph of.  ‘I don’t need a lecture from you,’ her chin rose to challenge Pastor Ralph.  ‘I don’t need you and I certainly don’t need your God!’  She meant to slam the door in their faces, but Pastor Ralph had seen it coming and his foot was speedily applied against the door.  Kaz shot an icy glare at Pastor Ralph.

‘I am duty bound to inform Social Services of your experimentation with marijuana,’ he spoke softly.     ‘They may remove you from the care of your guardian,’ he cautioned.

Kaz sliced a scathing scowl at Josh.  Her fingers clenched, itching to pummel Josh’s face to smithereens.  Why the hell did the twit not just leave me be?

  She would have to let the patronizing pastor in.  She could not afford to return to Social Services.  Kaz could not stand her guardian, Myrtle on most occasions, but the old hag was better than returning to the Orphanage, where she had to hand wash all the little children’s clothing every single morning before school and at night, bath about twelve of the undernourished, crying, screaming, runny nosed infants.  She knew they cried because of hunger, but what could she do?  She was treated like a dog, like every one of the other forty eight helpless, parentless children.

Kaz was not prepared to subject herself to that place and the three meals of porridge every day.  Hell no!  Not now that she’d developed an affinity for pizza, chocolate shakes and cheese burgers, hell she was never returning to that dump.  She would take her own life, before she returned to that hellhole. 

Oh, she did make a trip there once every week, when she dropped of milk formula, fruit and bread for the children with the little spare cash that was left over, but she stayed long enough just to hand the groceries to the kind hearted old chef and escaped as fast as she could.  She felt a piercing connection to those helpless children, but she did not want to get too attached to them.  There was not much she could do, when she was barely making ends meet herself. 

Kaz lifted her head now to meet Pastor Ralph’s eyes.  He was patiently waiting, his foot still holding the door from closing.  His eyes were unflinching.  He was going to stand there the entire night Kaz suspected, until she yielded to his demand.

‘Come in,’ she mumbled.  Her hand dropped from the door.

                                                                             -             -end chapter eight-