The Trouble with Perfect

by Helena Duggan

“We’ve just gone through all this, Violet. I’m growing weary. Get out of the way,” Edward growled.

  She needed to get him talking properly.

  “You have the wrong twin. That’s Boy, and he’ll never lie for you!” Violet shouted the first thing that sprung into her mind, then pointed directly at Tom, as she stood her ground between Edward and the door.

  “No I’m not,” Tom cried, as George reached out with his spare hand and grabbed his collar.

  “You trying to trick us?” the taller twin grumbled, shaking him hard.

  “She’s right. I’m Tom,” Boy exclaimed, stepping forward. “He’s pretending to be me!”

  The crowd gasped again.

  Tom swung his head round to glare at his brother.

  “You can’t steal my family and then steal my name as well,” he spat.

  “Boy didn’t steal your family, Tom,” Macula said softly, searching her son’s face. “Myself and your dad have been searching for you, ever since Perfect fell. The nurse – she took you away and told lies about your real family. Please don’t believe her lies. We love you so much, son.”

  “No! You’re the one lying,” Tom roared, bursting with anger.

  “ENOUGH!” Edward cried. He strode forward and grabbed Violet by her pigtail. “Not another sound, or I’ll wring her little neck!”

  Everyone froze.

  Violet tried to wriggle and kick her way free from his grasp, but she couldn’t.

  “Let her go, Edward. It’s me you want – you don’t need to get others involved in this,” William pleaded.

  “Oh shut up, brother, your heroism is insufferable. Now, whichever one of you is the real Boy, step forward, or I promise I will terminate your best friend!” Edward roared. “I have lost but a morsel of my patience.”

  Horrified cries rang round the crowd outside, strangely mixed with what sounded like laughter. Boy moved, and Violet glared at him, willing him not to step forward any further. She needed just a little more time.

  “You planned the robberies around Town and got Tom, Boy’s twin, to kidnap Conor and Beatrice, pretending he was Boy,” she shouted. She had to lure Edward into admitting the truth while they still had an audience. “You poisoned the rain, controlling how we all felt. And then you pretended to be a hero, saving the kidnapped children before telling everyone that William and the No-Man’s-Landers did it for revenge. You’re trying to turn the Perfectionists against the No-Man’s-Landers, so you can get back Perfect. So you can control everyone again.”

  “Oh, you’ve figured it out. Very clever, Violet Brown, but it’s a little too late, I’m afraid.” Edward Archer moved his free hand round her neck and began to squeeze.

  “Stop it, Edward,” William shouted, struggling to get away from George. “Leave her out of this!”

  Violet’s lungs burned as she tried to suck in air. The crowd had gone silent outside.

  “I’m…I am Tom!” Boy’s twin squirmed away from George and removed his contact lenses, revealing ice-blue eyes.

  A gasp rushed in from outside.

  “Perfect,” the stout twin replied, tossing Violet aside.

  She crashed onto the Committee Room floor. Violet had almost forgotten her injury from the white room, until her foot seared again in pain. Macula, Iris and Boy rushed forward to help her.

  “I knew we should have released the Watchers, Edward. Beating that lot into submission would be a lot easier than these silly games,” George spat impatiently, as he dragged William towards the door. “This is another one of your stupid ideas!”

  “I told you already, we can’t release the Watchers yet. We need to gain the trust of those fools outside, otherwise we face another battle like Perfect, and you know how that turned out!” Edward shouted. “For once, use your thick head to think, George. It’s true, the Townspeople have mush for brains, but for now, they still have brains. We can’t feed them any old rubbish just yet. They have to believe us and like us! Now smile when we face those idiots outside – try a little charm, George.”

  A crash rang through the air outside, rattling the windows in the Town Hall.

  “He’s put too much of that stuff in the rain this time. The people sound like they’re going completely crazy. I can’t tell if they’re laughing or crying. We’ve made them wait too long.” George tutted.

  “Well, let’s get going then,” Edward snapped, pulling Tom with him as he opened the door. “The sooner William is found gui…”

  Jovial voices filtered inside from the bottom of the spiral staircase, as though the Town Hall was packing up with people. Edward stopped and retreated, confused as the door flew open.

  “You’ve messed with the wrong person this time.” Rose Brown laughed as she threw herself at the stout twin.

  Edward stumbled to the side and Violet watched from the floor as Boy, Iris and Macula raced over and helped her mother wrestle Edward.

  Hordes of Town people now barged into the Committee Room, filling up the space.

  Robert Blot flashed his camera wildly, while Edward and George were restrained by a mob of half-laughing, half-crying Townsfolk.

  Iris and Macula had their arms round William, their heads buried in his chest. He was hugging them both tightly.

  “You did it, Violet! Everyone in Town heard. They heard the Archers tell the truth!” Jack laughed, sliding down onto the floor beside her.

  Violet lay back, breathing heavily, as relief flooded her body.

  Well-wishers bent down to tap her shoulders in congratulations, but she barely registered them. Her heartbeat slowed properly for the first time in ages, and she closed her eyes.

  They’d done it again, except this time they’d saved Town.

  A feeling formed deep in her belly. She giggled quietly at first, and the sensation grew until she was heartily laughing out loud. The mood was contagious and the whole room exploded in uncontrollable laughter.

  The throbbing in her foot had eased, and Violet was just playing with the thought of getting up from the floor, when someone tugged on her sleeve.

  “I looked for him, but he’s not here. Neither of them are, and I saw her in the crowd.” Anna Nunn was standing above her, sounding panic-stricken.

  “What are you talking about, Anna?” Violet asked, easing onto her elbows.

  “The nurse, Powick! I saw her outside, and she came in here with the crowd. Now Boy is gone. I checked everywhere and I can’t find him – and Tom is gone, and Hugo. I think she’s taken them!”

  Violet jumped to her feet and raced to the window. She quickly scanned the streets outside. Most people were still congregating around the Town Hall, gathered in groups, talking. Violet’s eyes fell on Hugo’s huge frame as he stomped behind Powick and Tom, who was now wearing a hat. In the Child Snatcher’s arms was a hooded figure.

  “Boy!” Violet gasped, recognizing the clothes.

  “I got Jack!” Anna shouted, pulling him across the Committee Room to her side.

  “They have Boy,” Violet said urgently. “Nurse Powick and Tom – they have Boy! Hugo is carrying him. They’re on Rag Lane, heading towards Forgotten Road.”

  She looked around for William or Macula, or anyone who could help, but the room was still packed tightly and she couldn’t spot them in the crowd.

  “Anna, get help,” she said, already running towards the door with Jack in tow. “I bet they’re heading for the Outskirts. We’ll try to stop them.”

  Violet pushed her way through the people, down the stairs and outside. As the crowd thinned, Jack raced ahead, and Violet’s legs were on fire as she tried to keep up with him. They sprinted down Edward Street, onto Archers’ Avenue and Rag Lane, turning left onto Forgotten Road.

  There was no sign of Hugo, Powick or the two boys.

  Violet and Jack then turned down the first laneway that led to Market Yard, and spotted Powick and her posse just passing by the Rag Tree.

  “I’ll try to stop them here, and you race around and cut off Wickham Terrace, Jack.” />
  “What’s the plan?” he asked quickly.

  Violet shook her head. “I don’t have one,” she said, “but we’ll figure it out.”

  The new rain was making everything seem a lot less scary.

  Jack nodded, before sneaking out into the market and turning left, to skirt quietly around the edges.

  Violet waited until he was out of sight. Then she stepped from the shadows.

  “Stop!” she cried, her voice cutting across the air.

  Tom and Nurse Powick pivoted on the spot. Hugo stopped dead near the Rag Tree and turned. Boy was limp in his arms.

  “Oh – for a minute, I thought I’d something to worry about. Now I know why Edward always referred to you as a thorn in his side, Violet Brown. However, you’re only a child. What can you really do to stop me?” The nurse laughed.

  “Tom,” Violet pleaded, “please, Tom. Boy is your brother. Please don’t hurt him! Everything Powick told you about your family is lies.”

  “How do you know what she’s told me?” Tom asked, not looking at the nurse.

  “Tom, don’t even answer her,” Powick said dismissively, turning back around.

  “Macula loves you, so does William. They’re your family!”

  “How would you know anything?” Tom snapped.

  “I know Macula put you and Boy in the orphanage to protect you from your uncles,” Violet said urgently. “She knew they hated William and if they found out he’d had children, you wouldn’t be safe. She found out what they were doing in Perfect, and about No-Man’s-Land, and thought you’d be safe there. She wrote you both letters every day, hundreds of letters. I’ve seen them, she’ll show you the letters. She thought of you every second of every day.”

  Tom hesitated.

  “She’s lying!” Powick snapped, facing Violet again. “Your mother never loved you. I was the only one who took pity on your poor soul. I saved you. I reared you. You owe me everything, Tom!”

  “That’s not true, Priscilla,” someone shouted.

  Violet turned around. Macula was standing at the bottom of the laneway behind her.

  “Thou shall not bear false witness against your neighbour; it’s one of the ten commandments, Macula. Do look it up! I don’t lie,” the nurse snapped.

  Macula strode across the marketplace. Tom’s face softened a little as he watched his mother walk towards him.

  “Why did you take my son?” Macula demanded.

  “Which one?” Powick laughed, gesturing round to Boy in Hugo’s arms. “I have both of them now, you know.”

  “Boy will never be yours, and Tom…you may have reared him, but he is my child. You are a good boy, Tom. She is not your family. Come back to us, please…”

  Powick laughed. “You seem to have forgotten you gave them both up, now you’re all high and mighty, Macula. How does it feel to give away your own flesh and blood?”

  Macula ignored Powick, all the time looking at Tom.

  “You left them on the doorstep of the orphanage, with nothing but a glasses box as company. You’re a fool to ask me why I took your son!” Powick spat. “What kind of a mother are you?”

  “I did it for you, to protect you. It is the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I thought about both of you every day. I wrote to you every day. I love you, Tom. I love you so deeply, son. A mother’s love is strong, I know you feel it too,” Macula said. She took a step towards him, with her arms outstretched.

  Tom mirrored her movement, stepping forward too.

  “Don’t go near that woman. You’re my son, Tom,” the nurse said, dragging him back. “After all these years of neglect, Macula thinks she can have you, just like that! I told you, she loves your brother more – don’t go listening to her lies, now…”

  “Enough,” Macula fumed. She strode towards them until she was just in front of Tom and Powick, under the barren branches of the Rag Tree. “You will give me back both my sons, and then you will leave us alone. If you go now, without any more trouble, we won’t follow you. Edward and George have been caught. Your game is up.”

  “Oh, Mummy’s come out fighting.” Powick laughed. “Edward and George are only a distraction, dearest – there are much bigger fish than those two in these oceans!”

  Macula reached for Tom.

  “Enough,” the nurse roared, “don’t take another step!”

  “Stop, please, she’ll hurt you,” Tom begged his mother. There were tears in his ice-blue eyes.

  Macula smiled, and opened her arms.

  “Don’t be scared, Tom,” she soothed. “I’m bringing you home, son!”

  “No you’re not!” Powick cried.

  The nurse grabbed Macula viciously by the front of her coat, and threw her roughly to the side. Boy’s mam stumbled backward and fell, knocking her head hard against the side of the Rag Tree.

  “Macula!” Violet cried, racing to her side.

  “I told you not to move, you silly woman.” The nurse laughed.

  Powick grabbed Tom’s hand as he stood, stunned, above his mother.

  “Don’t get sentimental on me now,” she warned, pulling him away towards Wickham Terrace. Hugo, with Boy still in his arms, followed behind obediently.

  William and Merrill broke out into the yard, followed by Anna.

  “I got more help!” The little girl smiled, running towards them.

  “Macula,” William whispered, kneeling down by his wife’s side. “What’s happened? What has that woman done?”

  “Macula hit her head on the Rag Tree,” Violet said. There was blood on her hands.

  Macula opened her eyes, her breathing laboured. “I told him, William… I told Tom we love him…”

  “That’s great, Macula. Stay awake, now. Tell me more about Tom?” William encouraged her, lifting his wife into his arms.

  “We have to get her to a doctor’s, quickly, Merrill,” William whispered, as the toymaker stepped in to help, and the pair made their way carefully towards Forgotten Road.

  “Where’s Boy?” Anna asked, looking around.

  After Macula’s accident, Violet had momentarily forgotten Boy. Hugo still had him!

  Feeling calm and relaxed, given the circumstances, she climbed up from the ground and was about to chase after Powick, when Jack came towards them across Market Yard. He was half-carrying, half-dragging a semi-conscious Boy.

  “What happened? How did you get him back?” Violet smiled, surprised.

  “I’m not sure,” Jack panted. “I tried to stop them all going over the footbridge. The nurse laughed at me and pushed by. She had gone on when Tom whispered to the Child Snatcher to give me Boy. It was weird. Hugo just handed him over and continued on. I didn’t have to do anything.”

  “What did the nurse say?” Violet asked, confused.

  “Nothing.” Jack shook his head, disbelieving. “She was a good bit ahead and still hadn’t noticed by the time I turned up Wickham Terrace… I’m sure Tom will get in trouble. He said something strange though…”

  “What?” Anna was wide-eyed.

  “He said, ‘Tell Mam, I do feel it sometimes.’”

  “Feel what?” Anna asked, shaking her head.

  “I don’t know…” Jack shrugged.

  Violet smiled. She had an idea what Tom meant and she couldn’t wait to tell Macula, when she got better.

  They stopped for a while in the middle of Market Yard, enjoying their new-found feelings of relief. Each filled the other in on any missed details of their adventure, while Boy slowly came round to join the conversation.

  “We’ve done it again.” Anna smiled excitedly. “I’m only seven and I’ve already helped save Town twice!”

  “We have?” Boy slurred.

  Violet and Jack burst out laughing as they lifted their still-groggy friend from the ground, and climbed under a shoulder each. Then the foursome made their way towards the lane onto Forgotten Road. The rain still drizzled down around them, bringing a lightness to their step.

  They neared Rag Lane, and Vi
olet began to notice people acting strangely. Instead of the earlier smiles and congratulations from those they met in Market Yard, now no one seemed to want to meet her eye.

  “What’s going on?” she whispered. “Nobody will look at me.”

  “Me neither. Maybe they’re embarrassed.” Boy coughed, able to walk on his own now. “The people in Town did go a little nuts!”

  “Maybe.” Violet shrugged. “But we all went nuts.”

  “You were always nuts, Violet.” Boy laughed, as they turned onto Archers’ Avenue and then Edward Street.

  Anna and Jack joined in the laughter and Violet was just about to respond, when she spotted a crowd gathered ahead, by the steps of the Town Hall. They were all looking at something on the ground. Everyone was silent.

  She saw her parents in the middle of the congregation.

  “Mam, Dad!” Violet exclaimed, running towards them.

  The pair broke quickly from the group and made their way towards her.

  “Oh, pet,” her dad said, burying his head in her shoulder as she jumped into his arms.

  He was crying. She’d never seen her dad cry before, not even after all the awful things that had happened to him in Perfect.

  “Come this way,” Rose said, grabbing Boy by the arm. “Let’s go to Iris’s.”

  “But…but we won. We have Town back, don’t we? I know Powick and Tom got away, but we can go to the Outskirts and catch them. The Archers are caught, aren’t they, and it’s half-happy rain. Why are you all so sad?” Violet mumbled, confused, her heart thumping a little stronger.

  Boy looked at the crowd, then back at Violet, as Rose tried to restrain him from moving further.

  “What’s going on?” Violet asked again.

  Over her dad’s shoulder, she could see Madeleine and Iris, solemn in the crowd. Aided by Merrill, they were helping William Archer to his feet.

  Panic rose in Violet’s chest. She turned round to look at Boy.

  He seemed confused as his dad, red-eyed, strode out from the middle of the crowd towards him.

  “I’m so sorry, Boy,” William sobbed, wrapping his son in his arms.

  “Mam? Dad?” Violet looked back at her parents. “But it’s happy rain. Please don’t be sad. What’s happening?”