A strange silence filled the little shed.

Billy stared at Alex in astonishment. He wanted to say something, but the thousand questions danced just out of reach and so the two children continued to sit, looking at each other. When Billy looked closely into Alex's shining green eyes he realised that there was no need for questions. The silence had triggered a wave of mutual understanding. It was the kind of silence that suddenly descends as if all sounds have been blocked out, concentrating the mind on a tiny point in space, a bit like the way the shadows usually descended on Billy when he was made to stop playing his fantasy games. The sort of silence where you almost expect to hear the sudden crack of a dry twig followed by a sharp intake of breath as the man outside realises he is not hidden any more.  ...read more »