They drove back to Hayes in silence, exhausted and cold. They just wanted to get home and then they could discuss everything. They were cold, hungry and still in a state of shock. With light traffic on the roads it didn't take long to get there and they were soon pulling up outside 'The Crown'.
Victoria was waiting anxiously and as they all piled into the kitchen the aroma of the roast dinner comforted them. It had been a long hard day but in no time they cheered up as they all sat around the table tucking into the roast.
They recounted the day's events to Victoria.
'I can't believe they arrested you or detained you maybe you should press charges,' she said, absolutely shocked at what had happened.
'This is what is happening at every demonstration,' said Darren. 'We spoke to so many people as we waited for Darren and everyone had the same story.' Sakura explained. 'The Police just suddenly appear from nowhere and arrest you. Most of the people who were arrested were either well known in the freedom movement or were being vocal in some way, like Darren on his channel. So they target people and make an example of them. The brutality was shocking!'
'They are not the police I remember growing up,' Jan said, 'and some of them didn't even seem to speak English. It's strange,' she mused.
They told Victoria about the young girl they had seen at the beginning of the march who was slammed to the ground by the police and dragged off into a waiting Police van.
'We met her sister outside the police station,' said Jan 'she was in bits, crying her eyes out. Her name is Sarah and her sister who was arrested is called Jo. We all ended up making friends. They had come down from Cardiff for the day and Jo who was arrested is quite well known in the freedom movement. I said they could come and stay here at the next protest and Darren could also to do an interview with Jo.'
'Oh Vic we met such wonderful people today it was one of the best experiences I've ever had.' said Jan.
'I watched it all online, it looked amazing, there was so many people there,' said Victoria. 'It looked like thousands and I've checked the mainstream but they hardly mention that it even took place.'
'More and more people are waking up,' said Darren.
As they continued chatting excitedly about the day there was a long low howl from under the table and they all laughed.
'Oh Spice have we all forgotten you?' said Jan, jumping up to get her some scraps.
Spice responded with an angry bark and they all laughed again as she waddled over to her bowl.
'I've never met a dog like Spice,' said Sakura 'She's such a character.'
Victoria then recounted the story of Spice eating a whole pound of butter. She's a greedy little dog said Jan as she ruffled Spice's soft golden curls but we love her.
'Is that apple crumble I see in the oven?' squealed Jan as she made her way back to the table.
'Yes mum I know its your favorite,' laughed Victoria.
Sakura was helping Darren clear the plates and Victoria brought the apple crumble in its traditional spotty serving dish and sat it down in the center of the table she spooned out huge comforting portions, pouring custard from the blue striped jug.
They all tucked in to the delicious desert. When they had scoffed the lot they got into a conversation about the vaccine and the immune system.
'That virologist from Ireland was a powerful interesting woman,' said Jan. 'What she said made sense and that German doctor who got arrested, poor man' said Sakura.
They all spoke about how they would never get the vaccine and that night a pact was made between them that no matter what happened they would never take this experimental jab. It was late in the evening by the time they had cleared away the kitchen and by that stage they were all exhausted. Teddy had woken up for a short time and they were all able to give her a cuddle. She settled down again until early the next morning.
They all went to bed that night feeling hopeful and inspired despite the violence and chaos they had witnessed at the protest. Each of them knew that they would fight to the end and not accept tyranny or be coerced into a vaccine. They felt united and this gave them strength.
Darren wanted to make a quick video but ended up awake for hours editing the march footage and then making a video about his arrest. Naturally he got an immediate response with his followers sending messages of support and posting videos of his arrest. He and Sakura sat side by side reading the messages and reliving the day. It was in the early hours by the time they fell into bed absolutely exhausted.
'I'm going to have to think about going home,' Sakura said and Darren instantly replied 'No please not yet.'
The next morning was a late start for them all except Victoria. She had a routine with the baby and was up every morning at six o'clock. It was dark when she came down to the kitchen where she sat quietly on the sofa wearing her red pajamas feeding the baby. She somehow loved that time they had together. It was so peaceful with Spice curled up in her basket and her baby in her arms as she watched the dawn break through the kitchen window.
That morning as she looked at little Teddy in her arms she wondered what future her child would have and what kind of a world it would be when she was grown up. A world where everyone was digitally controlled? Where you had no freedom? Where they took away your very soul...these thoughts rose and fell through her mind and she hugged her baby close.
All they could do was refuse it and fight every step of the way.
It was eleven before everyone was up and sitting around the table again. Jan was on her iPad watching the video that Darren had posted with Victoria watching it over her shoulder. She had combed her hair back into a pony tail and was dressed in a hooded navy sweatshirt and matching leggings. She looked almost the same age as Victoria. The two of them beamed across the table at Darren and Sakura.
'I'm so proud of you son,' Jan said and Victoria agreed. 'You're amazing Darren I can't believe how you and Emma knew from the start and saw through all this fake pandemic bullshit.'
Then Jan's phone started to ring loudly.
'Oh god its Andy,' she groaned. 'I'd better answer it.'
'Morning Andy,' she said brightly, 'Happy New Year.'
Then she heard Andy's stressed out voice on the other end.
'So why didn't you pick up your calls yesterday?' he said quite abruptly.
'Oh sorry about that Andy we were on the Freedom March that took place yesterday. Thousands of people marched for freedom,' she said, and then added a bit sarcastically 'even for your freedom too.' 'What are you talking about?' Andy said, his voice going up an octave. 'What do you mean you went out and marched? Are you crazy? I bet you weren't even wearing a mask!'
'No Andy, nobody was wearing a mask. Thousands of us.' Jan replied.
'Oh for God' sake!' he shrieked, 'What the fuck is wrong with you all? Why can't you believe in the science?'
Jan laughed at this and then tried to tell Andy about the Irish Virologist but Andy was screaming down the phone at this point.
'Were you all wearing your tin foil hats? I'm ashamed of you all! Happy Fucking New Year!' and he then cut her off in mid-sentence.
They all sat in silence for a few minutes stunned at the outburst. 'Let him calm down for a bit and I'll try and call him back,' said Victoria.
'I wouldn't bother,' said Jan 'really there is no telling him. He could just respect our difference of opinion but no he won't listen to anything but the mainstream media.'
Andy stood in the kitchen in Camden staring at a crack in the yellow paint on the wall. He was shaking with rage.
'Now, now Andy come on,' said Maggie 'Calm down love.'
'My whole family are conspiracy nuts,' he said, getting red in the face now. 'They are the ones spreading this virus. Jan just told me that they all marched with thousands of people not wearing masks.'
'She's exaggerating anyway because I saw something on the BBC that said it was hundreds of covid deniers not thousands.'
'Good God mum, I mean they could give the virus to the baby. Quite honestly they should have little Teddy removed from their care,' he ranted.
His phone rang and he saw it was Victoria so he answered and continued with his rant about how the baby was in danger and what kind of a mother was she.
'Dad calm down look at the facts.' said Victoria.
'You look at the facts!' he retorted 'the government facts, the science, the truth for God's sake. I suppose none of you believe in the vaccine either!' he shouted.
'No Dad, none of us are taking that poison and I beg of you please reconsider taking it yourself.' said Victoria calmly.
'What are you talking about Vic are you mad? Of course we're going to take it and actually we can't bloody wait.' At that he cut Victoria off as she pleaded with her dad not to take it.
There seemed to be nothing that would stop Maggie and Andy taking this experimental jab no matter what anybody in the family said.