Mrs Johnstone wants Edward to remember Mickey, so she gives him a
locket, “she removes a locket from around her neck.” Now, this is not unusual, to give some one a locket, but there is some guilt as she tells Edward to keep it a secret, “But keep it a secret eh, Eddie? Jus tour secret, between you an’ me.”
Mrs Johnstone shows affection to Sammy when he burnt down the school. “I know our Sammy burnt down the school, but it’s very easily done, if the teacher lets the silly gets play with magnesium.” She lets him off without an explanation. She blames it all on the teacher.
Right at the end of the book she tells Mickey he has a twin brother. “Mickey. Don’t shoot Eddie. He’s your brother.” She explained the story to Mickey. But the gun accidentally went off and Mickey shot Eddie and then the police officer shot Mickey dead. They both immediately died on the same day.
There are also reasons to help prove that Mrs Johnstone was innocent. At the begging we found out that her husband walked out on her a month or two ago. This makes us sympathises over the fact she is a single mother with seven children. When Mrs Johnstone finds out she is about to have twins, she is shocked and confuse. She loves her children so much, but fears they may be taken away from her as she cannot provide for her nine hungry mouths to feed. Mrs Johnstone is in so much debt, that she cannot feed the children let alone another two more.
“Next week i’ll be earnin’,” Mrs Johnstone told her children.
Mrs Johnstone believes, by giving up her son to Mrs Lyons, she will give a better life to the twin. “It’s lovely son, he’ll be well looked after there. He’ll have everything he wants.”
As soon as the town hears Mrs Johnstone is moving away, everyone is happy. “Praise the lord, he has delivered us at last.” The policeman says “I can predict a sharp drop in crime rate.” (All of Sammy’s bad doings.)
Mrs Johnstone is very happy that they are starting a new life and they are very happy it. “We’re goin’ away, oh, bright new day.” They are all very optimistic.
When Mrs Johnstone moved to the country, she discovered Mrs Lyons has moved to the same area as they have. One day Mrs Lyons went to Mrs Johnstone’s house.
“Mrs Lyons has opened the knife draw and has a lethal looking knife in her hand.” Mrs Lyons attacks Mrs Johnstone, because she is jealous Mrs Johnstone is the real mother of the twins.
Mrs Lyons is also a guilty character. She is willing to deceive her husband by telling Mrs Johnstone “He need never guess.” When they are making the deal Mrs Lyons tells Mrs Johnstone “you’d be able to see him everyday.” That is a promise she will break. Mrs Lyons forces Mrs Johnstone to swear upon the Bible.
“Mrs Lyons shows the Bible to Mrs Johnstone, who is at first reluctant and then lays her hand on it.” Mrs Lyons will use this to see she gets her child. Mrs Lyons has also broken a promise, “if he needs picking up, I shall pick him up, alright?” Here Mrs Lyons goes back on her promise of letting her see Edward everyday. Mrs Lyons gets very angry and stoops to a low level,
“She pushes the money in Mrs Johnstone’s hands.” Mrs Lyons gives her £50 for the child. Mrs Lyons also threatens Mrs Johnstone, “you sold your baby. Don’t you realise what a crime that is. You will be locked up. You sold your baby.”
Mrs Lyons used the power of money again, “I’ll give you money, if you move away from here. How much?”
A further example of guilt is when Mrs Lyons attacks Mrs Johnstone and tries to murder her in cold blood. “Mrs Lyons has opened the knife drawer and has a lethal kitchen knife in her hand. She lashes out at Mrs Johnston.” She also abuses Mrs Johnston verbally “I curse the day I meet you.”
Mrs Lyons is quiet evil because when Linda and Edward were in the park, Mrs Lyons pointed them out to Mickey, which obviously made him more heated, more envious and more on the threshold of contemplating suicide. This made Mickey feel very insecure.
There is also evidence to suggest that Mrs Lyons is innocent too. Mrs Lyons was depressed as she couldn’t have any children, “But I didn’t tell him in case I miscarriage.” Mrs Lyons tries very hard to be good mother, “Mummy will read you the story, Edward. I have got to go to work for an hour”, but Mr Lyons is preoccupied with his work. Mrs Lyons is protective of Edward. “I’ve told you never to go where that boy – boys like that live.” Mrs Lyons cannot cope with Edward’s behaviour, playing with Mickey and Linda. She feels he is being taken away from her, Mrs Lyons wants to move. “I don’t want to live here anymore. I want to move.” Mrs Lyons has side effects from purchasing Edward. She does not believe that Edward is hers anymore. “I never made him mine.”
In conclusion I think Mrs Lyons is the guiltiest one; because of all the crimes she has committed. She is more to blame because she has money, power and good looks. She should have stopped all the problems by telling the truth, being honest to everyone. The worst crime she committed was attempted murder. Mrs Johnston didn’t commit any crimes. Mrs Lyons is guilty.
By Veenesh Halai
