Martin had sensed the tension brewing with the teenagers for some time. They had been watching his movements, and though they hadn't done anything overtly threatening, he knew better than to wait for trouble to come knocking.
The last thing he wanted was to get entangled in petty town politics while his goals stretched far beyond this small corner of the world.
So, the night before, Martin had quietly tipped off their parents. By the time the teenagers were ready to execute whatever mischief they had planned, they found their parents waiting for them at home, armed with stern warnings and promises of consequences.
Martin's subtle move diffused the situation before it could even begin, leaving the kids with no room to retaliate.
Satisfied with his handling of the matter, Martin rose early the next morning, packed up his things, and headed out of the small town, leaving behind the lingering resentments and unspoken tensions.
