Writers Island - 'Changed'

Shall I go?’ said Justin to himself. Justin said lots of things to himself. Living on his own, it was often the only conversation he got.


Half an hour ago an invitation arrived from an old schoolmate. Actually it was from his only real school mate. He always had trouble fitting in with the other boys. They teased and bullied him. And as for the girls, he viewed them more as an aliens than members of the human race. Strange creatures which he simply didn’t understand. Having said that, he did have weird feelings sometimes, especially when confronted by one Jenny 'Lollita' Slatterley. Anyway, this invitation was to a school reunion, and he thought ‘to hell with it. I’ve changed and I’m going to show them what a success I’ve become.

.And he had. His own business making thermal underwear was booming. His Feel-Warm knickers were selling as fast as his team of out-workers could stitch them. His insulated Cosy-Vests were recommended by the Octogenarians Oracle Magazine and his Long-Johns had become a fashion craze amongst the confused folk in the local homes for the bewildered. He’d arrived and he was going to show them! Tonight was to be his night. A night no one would forget.


Justin strode into the old school hall, head held high and chest puffed out with pride. In a corner he spotted Fabian Sidebottom, the old mate who’d passed him the invitation. At least he thought it was. He’d changed, but then they hadn’t seen each other for twenty years. Yes it was him.


‘Hi Justin’ said Fabian ‘You’ve changed!’


‘For the better Fabian dear boy – for the better’


Then he spotted Jenny 'Lollita' Slatterley. She’d changed too! He gazed at her and tried to imagine her in one of his floral print Hold-In Cosy-Corsets. Perhaps that would help those weird feelings to return! And there was Beefy Big-balls. Not so cocky now. And Allan Pardue! Now he has changed. He used to have problem hair. Now he has none at all! There was Mary from the Dairy. Her spots have cleared up . He was sure she used to wear glasses the thickness of coke bottle bottoms, but not now. Oh, she just bumped into a table!


And who was that quivering wreck sitting dribbling in the corner? Was it? Could it be? It was. The one person he really wanted to meet again. The teacher that tormented him from the day he joined the school. The teacher who constantly put him down. The teacher that caused Justin to withdraw within himself and make him feel inadequate, insignificant and a useless waste of space.


‘Remember me Mister high-and- bloody-mighty Magnuson? asked Justin. ‘Because I’ve not forgotten you. I’ll never forget you.’ A glimmer of recognition registered in the old man’s tired eyes.


‘Patterson. It's you, Justin Patterson’ he said. ‘You’ve changed boy’


‘Mr Patterson’ said Justin. ‘Mr Patterson to you’ and with that Justin pulled a kitchen knife from his pocket. It reflected shafts of bright light into every corner of the hall.


Sudden silence for what seemed an eternity. Then a scream. Lot’s of screams. Then panic as a hundred people shuffled like a flock of frightened sheep towards the door.


‘Now you are taking notice of me’ yelled Justin turning round. ‘You are not laughing at me now - are you children –are you Mister Magnuson’.


******


People still talk about that day, the day Justin Patterson ended his life. A lonesome life. His death still plays on the consciences of those who sought to destroy him all those years ago. In his own sad pathetic way, he was centre stage for a few minutes. He made them take notice of him.


He always knew one day he would.
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