Stu opened his front door and bent down to pick up the milk that had been delivered. Sitting on the kerb at the front of the house was a boy Stu recognised.
"Phil?" Stu called to the young man, who turned and stood up, "Can I have a quick word?"
"Yes, Mr. Pickles," Phil said walking towards his front door.
"You know you don't have to call me Mr. Pickles," Stu said with a little laugh.
"I just…wasn't sure what to say," Phil replied.
"Look, I want to know what happened last night, with this boy you say turned up?" Stu asked more seriously.
"It was this…really annoying kid, he's younger than I am, 16 I think now." Phil began to explain; "It was Pete, the boy who used to bully Dil a few years ago."
"Oh, I remember him," Stu replied.
"He's been annoying me for weeks now, but he's not really been a bully, not until what he did last night," Phil said, "Is Dil okay?"
"Yeah, yeah, just a few cuts and bruises," Stu sighed.
"I didn't know they would show up," Phil said honestly.
"Yes, well, I may not have seen him for ages, and it may seem we don't love him like we used to, but he's still my 15 year old son," Stu explained.
"I know, I'm sorry, it really shouldn't have happened," Phil said, "You do still love your sons, don't you?"
"Yes, of course, I know I do," Stu said instantly. "But Didi, well, I don't think she can take it. She wanted perfect sons, she just doesn't approve of gay people."
"I think he doesn't realize that you still care," Phil said, hoping to sort out the situation.
"Did you want to see him? He's still asleep," Stu said.
"I'll come back later," Phil replied, "I have a few people to see."
Phil began to walk away and heard the Pickles front door shut. He began walking around town, but knew exactly where he was going. He hadn't been to this part of town that much before. It was dirtier, darker and full of suspicious strangers. Phil counted the houses until he got to number 13, the houses in this street didn't have numbers of the door.
Phil walked up to the front door of this house, but the door was already open.
"Pete?" Phil said as he opened the door wider.
"Who… who is that?" said Pete, who was sat facing the opposite way on the sofa.
"It's Phil, I came to say sorry and check you were okay," Phil said moving into the kitchen. Pete just looked at him confused.
"Why do you care?" Pete asked.
"'Cause I shouldn't have hit you, even though you wouldn't stop," Phil said maturely.
"Erm, thanks," Pete said to Phil's surprise, "You know I haven't seen Tessa and Rod since you hit me." Pete tried to sit up in his chair while holding his head.
"Are you okay, is anyone here looking after you?" Phil asked the younger boy.
"I'm fine, I don't need anyone," Pete snapped.
"Well, I think I'd better be going," Phil said, relieved that Pete wasn't seriously hurt.
"Phil? Thanks," Pete said as Phil walked to the door, "I won't bother you again."
"Thanks," Phil replied then left the house closing the door behind him.
'Two problems solved in one morning,' Phil thought happily to himself. As he walked home he left the dark side of town and passed through the rich part. His eyes were fixed on a house he was set to pass in a couple of seconds. As he passed it he looked forward and walked briskly.
"Phil!" he heard Angelica call from her window, "Phil wait there!"
He did as she said and turned back to look at the house.
"Phil!" Angelica yelled as she came running out the house, no care that it was still late morning.
"Hey Angelica, how are you?" Phil asked nervously.
"Aren't you going to tell me your sorry?" Angelica asked angrily.
"What? Why would I tell you I'm sorry?" Phil asked.
"Because of what happened with Dil! Dil's not your problem anymore," Angelica yelled.
"No, you are my problem!" Phil yelled back.
"What! You were looking after Dil and ignored me!" Angelica said.
"Dil was hurt! And you, the world doesn't revolve around you, you know!" Phil argued.
"Well, maybe we can talk about this later," Angelica said quietly.
"No, look, I don't think this is working," Phil began, "Maybe we should, you know, just be friends again."
"What! No, I mean," Angelica said almost crying.
"I didn't mean to make you cry, please, oh please don't," Phil said, trying to fix another problem.
"You're just selfish," Angelica yelled in defence, "And you can't dump me! I'm higher in the food chain!"
"I'm sorry, we were good as friends, remember?" Phil said.
"It'll never be like that again. You're stupid, a stupid gay boy!" Angelica yelled. She pushed Phil back then ran to her house.
'Maybe I've fixed another problem, or just made it worse' Phil thought watching her run away.
