n the summer of 1984, a tragic car accident occurred in London. A large truck crashed into a car, killing the Williams family instantly. However, when the police arrived at the scene, they discovered that a ten-year-old boy had miraculously survived under the protection of his mother...
"Peter Williams?"
"Yes, officer, this is Peter Williams!"
"I'm very sorry, Mr. Williams. I have some unfortunate news to share," Officer Charlie said, pausing to shake his head slightly before continuing in a sympathetic tone, "Yesterday afternoon, in London, your brother and sister-in-law were killed in a car accident..."
Peter Williams had sunken eye sockets, his expression tense as he reeked of cheap tobacco. It was evident he had smoked heavily on his way to the police station. He wondered why the officer had summoned him so urgently. He didn't think he had done anything wrong recently that warranted such a call. Feeling uneasy, he had hastily dressed in a light blue work uniform that carried a hint of oil. He never expected to arrive at the police station to hear about his brother's tragic fate.
"Oh, how unfortunate!" Peter exclaimed, shock evident on his face, though he secretly breathed a sigh of relief—now he understood why he had been called in.
His demeanor shifted; Peter was no longer as restrained as when he first arrived at the police station. He shifted in his seat, attempting to get comfortable in the old chair.
Officer Charlie frowned. As a seasoned officer with over ten years of experience, he quickly noticed that Mr. Peter Williams didn't seem very distressed upon learning about his brother's death. Nevertheless, Peter was still a relative of the deceased. Officer Charlie said, "The good news is that Serena Williams survived—Henry Williams, your brother's son, managed to escape the accident!"
"Oh, that's a blessing in disguise!" Peter replied, genuinely surprised.
"Yes," Officer Charlie continued, "But it is Henry's mother who deserves the most admiration! She saved her child with her own body."
"Oh, so she truly is a remarkable mother. However, she is an American Jew…" Peter's mouth twisted into a slight smirk, and a hint of sarcasm seeped into his tone.
Officer Charlie was taken aback by Peter's reaction and shook his head internally, forming a poor impression of him. He then pulled a document from his drawer. "Mr. Peter Williams, Henry Williams Jr. is now your only living relative. I need to know if you would be willing to take him in. Otherwise, he will have to go into an orphanage."
Peter hesitated before responding, "Oh, well, you know, Mr. Officer, I have my own child to raise, and my wife is currently unemployed…"
Officer Charlie quickly interjected, "The best thing in the world is family! Mr. Williams, we can't abandon family ties because of a bit of difficulty, can we?"
"Yes, you're right, officer! But it's not something I can decide alone. I need to discuss it with my wife, Rosa… her full name is Rosa Bennett," Peter evaded.
"Of course, please talk to her as soon as possible and let us know!" Officer Charlie shook his head, secretly worrying about the future of young Henry Williams. His uncle didn't seem to be a reliable option. The orphanage might not be the best place for him, but neither did living with Peter appear promising.
---
In a somewhat dilapidated old house near the London railway station, Peter turned to his wife Rosa and said, "Rosa, my brother's family was in a car accident yesterday afternoon. My brother and his wife were killed almost instantly!"
Rosa Bennett, thirty-five years old and three years older than Peter, wore a large white dress with splashes of cream and powder that looked rather gaudy. She was taken aback by the news. "Oh, this is the worst news I've heard all year!"
"Yes, Rosa. However, my nephew, Henry Williams Jr., survived miraculously, and the police officer wants us to adopt him!"
"What?!! Oh, damn, that's the worst news ever!!! How can we accommodate that little guy?!!!" Rosa shouted, "Peter, I absolutely refuse! A ten-year-old will drag us down!!!"
"Thinking about school, clothes, food… when I imagine all of that, I want to scream!!!" Rosa ranted, her nerves getting the better of her.
"Well… how do we respond to Officer Charlie?" Peter asked hesitantly.
"What else can we say? We must refuse outright! Just send little Henry to an orphanage…" Rosa said, raising her hand dramatically.
The next morning, a thick white fog covered the city as Peter and Rosa woke up early. After breakfast, their anxiety pushed them to rush to the police station. They wanted to resolve their uncomfortable dilemma as soon as possible.
When they arrived, Officer Charlie had not yet come in. A young officer who had just been hired attended to Peter and Rosa. After a few brief exchanges, the officer realized they were family members of the previous day's accident victims.
"Mr. Williams, you don't look well," the young officer observed.
"Oh, I'm fine; I just didn't get much rest last night."
The young officer offered his condolences. "No one can predict these tragedies. Those who have passed are gone, but you must take care of yourselves. I extend my deepest sympathies for your brother's family. Please be assured that British law is fair, and justice will be served. The driver of the truck that caused the accident was drunk, and the judge will likely award you at least £100,000 in compensation."
One hundred thousand pounds! Hearing this, Peter and Rosa exchanged looks, their eyes glistening with greed.
"Yes, that dreadful truck driver deserves harsh punishment!" Rosa exclaimed, her demeanor shifting dramatically.
"Yes, he must face severe consequences!" Peter echoed, clenching his fists.
At that moment, Officer Charlie entered from outside. Spotting him, Peter quickly assumed a flattering posture and approached, "Inspector Charlie, hello!"
"Oh, Mr. Williams, you're here early!" Officer Charlie remarked, glancing at his watch. "It's a quarter to eight."
"Well, officer, I was so worried about my nephew that I thought I'd come early."
"Are you considering adopting Henry?" Charlie asked, surprised by Peter's seemingly sudden shift in attitude.
"Of course! I'm his uncle and his only legal guardian!" Peter declared, emphasizing the phrase "only legal" to stress that no one else had the right to adopt Henry.
Charlie frowned slightly, puzzled by Peter's rapid change of heart, fearing his intentions were self-serving. "Mr. Peter Williams, are you certain you want to adopt Henry Williams?"
"Yes, I'm certain!!!" Peter asserted loudly.
Charlie nodded. "Well, I'll guide you through the necessary formalities."
An hour later, Peter and Rosa returned home. With a loud "bang," he slammed the door shut, and they immediately erupted into cheers.
"One hundred thousand pounds! Oh my God, I've never seen so much money!!!" Rosa exclaimed, dancing in excitement.
"Indeed, my dear! We are about to become £100,000 richer!" Peter laughed as he retrieved a bottle of fine red wine. "Let's toast to our fortune!!!"
"Cheers to being rich!!!"
The day after the adoption paperwork was finalized, the Peter family eagerly welcomed Henry into their home.
As the lawsuits progressed, Peter and Rosa attended court several times, insisting that the truck driver pay them no less than £100,000, vowing not to relent until they received it!
However, before the verdict was delivered, Peter and Rosa had already begun spending lavishly. Rosa treated herself to expensive dresses, Peter bought a Baume & Mercier watch, and they even splurged on an Atari game console for their eight-year-old son, also named Peter Williams.
It seemed overnight that the Peter family had transformed into the picture of wealth, diving headfirst into a lifestyle of luxury.
"Hi, Peter! Look at you, splurging on a German watch!"
"Oh, Mrs. Williams, that outfit looks stunning! You look like an aristocrat from England!"
With every compliment, Peter and Rosa swelled with pride, their vanity thoroughly satisfied.
However, their high spirits came crashing down one day when Officer Charlie knocked on their door, bringing grim news that shattered their bubble of bliss.
"Mr. Williams, the judge has delivered a verdict regarding the truck driver."
"Really? That's fantastic!!!" Peter gasped, excitement coursing through him.
Meanwhile, Rosa, lounging on the sofa and nonchalantly snacking on melon seeds, heard the commotion and jumped to her feet. "Mr. Officer, did the judge award us the £100,000 compensation?!"
"I'm sorry, ma'am, but that's not the case…"
"How is that possible?!!!" Rosa shrieked, her face exposing sheer disbelief, "Mr. Officer, we cannot accept any verdict other than the £100,000 compensation!!!"
"Mrs. Williams, I'm afraid that's impossible," Officer Charlie replied calmly.
"Why is it impossible? A young officer at the station said we would receive at least that much!" Rosa screamed in frustration.
"Sorry, ma'am, that officer is a temporary worker. Generally speaking, they don't have a full grasp of British law!" Charlie explained.
Hearing this, Peter and Rosa's expressions morphed into a turbulent whirlwind of shock, disbelief, anger, and despair. They stood dumbfounded, their heads spinning as if struck by lightning. Charlie shook his head subtly, concerned for the couple, understanding the gravity of their mistaken hopes. "Even if the judge had decided in your favor for £100,000, you should know that the truck driver is utterly penniless. He doesn't have a dime to his name; in fact, he owes the bank over £1,000. How could he possibly compensate you with a hundred thousand pounds?"
The reality of the situation crashed down on Peter and Rosa like a tidal wave, leaving them in a daze and completely numb.