Absentee

Rufus had always been decisive. He had to, any indecision or wavering and his father would thrash him.

Deciding not to attend his mother's funeral was easy. He thought she was probably better off dead - she hadn't had much of a life - and she wouldn't miss him anyway. And importantly, it was just too dangerous to go; he would either be collared by the police or hounded by the media. Two bad ideas!

The Goss headline the following day:

BETRAYED BY HER SKIN; SHUNNED BY HER KIN!

CAT JOHNSON RIP.

The Goss enjoyed another bumper sales run.

Meanwhile, Rufus ran.