Aftershock

After the news, the anguish, the desolation, the recrimination. It was Dan, the boy's father, who copped the lot.

"Why, why, why did you keep that bloody airgun? You know it's illegal! Something was bound to happen. Johnny's always taken after you and he even looks.... looked... up to you; some hero! You've broken my heart, Dan, broken my heart!" John's weeping mother was clear who'd been responsible.

"I'm hurting too, woman!" was all Dan could muster at the top of his voice. "That bloody school. They're s'posed to take care of our kids"

In the blame game everyone loses.