NO NO BALL GAMES

the fireseed cannot sleep

disturbed by the small figure beside him

endlessly tossing and turning

rolling over and slapping him in the face

kicking away the duvet

finally he gets up

parts the curtains

and gazes out at a leaden sky

that betrays no sign of the full moon

silently he throws on some warm clothes

and steals out of the room

down the stairs

and out into the back garden

where he grabs an axe from the shed

now he puts on his boots

and ventures out into the starless night

under the cover of thick black cloud

the streets are eerily empty

and he meets nobody

shortly he arrives at the place

then taking a quick look over his shoulder

he takes a mighty swing at the bottom of the post

splinters fly

the post lurches

to one side

the noise sounds momentarily deafening

but in the houses no-one stirs

two more powerful swings are enough

the post teeters and falls

flat on its back

satisfied with his handywork

our hero stomps home through the silent suburban streets

the next morning

as day breaks

he takes his camera

and returns to the scene of the crime

where the victim still lies prone

staring unblinking up at the stubborn sky

fireseed takes a few quick snaps

then heads once again for home

from across the road

a face is watching through the net curtains

but fireseed gives nothing away

as he departs with a friendly wave