The sound of a brick thrown through the bedroom window was enough to spur the old fellow into action, crime was a problem in this area and home invasions were on the increase. He had no intention of becoming just a victim and certainly not a statistic he was not going to be another newspaper headline ‘Great-Grandfather Bashed and Robbed in his Home.’ He was prepared for the invaders, the scum of the earth he liked to call them, miserable dregs of a sick society who thought themselves to be above the law when they took whatever they wanted from the old and defenceless. He was determined not to give up without a struggle; he would protect what was his no matter what the cost.
He hadn’t fought in two wars helping to safeguard the wellbeing of the good citizens of the world to have his final years plagued by this pathetic sub-culture spawned from drug-soaked dropouts from generations past. He remembered well the so-called free spirits and their slogans that signalled the beginning of the end as he knew it, ’Make Love Not War.’ ‘Live for today, take what you want.’ Free love and drugs would have to be paid for later ‘but not by us’… that was their philosophy. But he was not going to be intimidated by the mongrels he would fight to the end as he had always done.
He knew the system had worked well in the past, it was uncomplicated and simple, you worked hard, saved your cash and bought what you could afford and did not expect anything for nothing. Society acknowledged the rights of the owner to protect his own and back then a man’s home was indeed his castle, but alas in the present society the law-abiding citizens had been ignored and had become the forgotten… they had become almost second-class citizens. The rights of the criminals were protected to the detriment of the good people who had worked hard to make the world a better place. Especially affected were the elderly who just wanted to live a peaceful life and to enjoy their last few remaining years safe and secure in their own homes.
He would protect the home he and his dear wife had worked so hard to achieve. It was all he had left since she passed away six months ago, it was his castle and a man must defend his castle against all invaders. He had fathered three sons and was grandfather to a dozen grandchildren and many great-grandchildren but they were too busy buying the newest cars and bigger and better houses to worry much about him, he was on his own as were many of his age group. We are like dinosaurs in a modern world, he thought. ‘He’s way past his use-by date.’ he once heard himself described as being. The times and the values of society change rapidly and the old ways no longer apply.
He knew how to use the half-meter long club he always kept under the bed in anticipation of a situation such as was now presented. He had learnt a few things throughout his long military service. He knew it required but a few strategically placed light blows to render most individuals incapable. The collarbone was a fragile bone and could snap easily so putting the attacker out of action without causing too much damage. That was his target as the head and shoulders of the intruder immerged through the shattered windowpane, unfortunately for the would-be raider, the old fellow ignored the shoulder completely and delivered a savage blow directly to the back of the unprotected skull. The intruder collapsed unconscious, bleeding badly; amongst the broken glass where he lay until the police and ambulance arrived.
The old fellow was questioned at length then he was taken away to the police station where he was charged with unlawful wounding. He was warned that it might well be upgraded to the more serious charge of attempted murder.
The fact that he had kept a weapon on hand and had intended to use it could be considered as a calculated act in using unreasonable force against an unarmed housebreaker.
He smiled at the irony of the situation as he tried to imagine defenders of the castles of old asking their attackers if they were able to swim because there was a moat around the place or if they had protection against the boiling oil pouring down from the battlements.
Sure they could lock him away if they choose; it was probably safer to be in jail these days. He had achieved two objectives in this rash act, one was to highlight the unfairness in the law, and the other was to shake-up the uncaring family member’s who would almost certainly find time to think of the old fellow now. They would all gather round to assist him in his time of need especially as there was property and cash to squabble over when he was gone. He had not made a will so he could visualise the battles to be fought in court as they all claimed a share, he would wait for the cancer to end it all…soon.
He smiled and voiced a prayer ‘Thank-you Lord.’
Many others would follow his example. There would be no stopping the Grey Warriors now as they battled to reclaim the status and protection from the law. They had paid their dues and deserved protection… it was their right.
Aged 84 years and eleven months he was the first of the group to take some positive action.
He was a fighter right to the end.