GANG GIANT BROUGHT DOWN BY UNLIKELY LAD

So as soon as David is anointed with the Spirit of the Lord, the Spirit of the Lord leaves Saul. It’s as if God has moved his favour from one king to the next.

Saul becomes depressed and moody – no wonder – and David is brought in to play the lyre for him. Because we all know the power of music on the soul.

So enter David –

“I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the Lord is with him.”  1 Samuel 16:18

Which sets us up nicely for the story of David and Goliath – paraphrased here by me in a piece I wrote last year in my ‘Addicted to the Drama’ series.

GANG GIANT BROUGHT DOWN BY UNLIKELY LAD
Big G, 31, notorious South London criminal, met his match last night in the form of a young local lad. David King, 13, defeated the gang giant with a single stone from a catapult in front of onlookers on the infamous East Lane Estate. At 19:35, Big G was formally arrested and taken to East Lane Police Station, where he will face numerous charges.
This thirteen-year-old succeeded where the combined police forces of the area have failed. For over a decade, Big G has struck fear into the hearts of local residents as the ruthless henchman of the mighty Hill Street gang. Known to stop at nothing to punish insubordination and keep his enemies in check, his methods reached levels of cruel brutality that caused experienced officers to vomit at crime scenes. No one would stand against him. No one could be persuaded to testify against him. No one would dare even speak his name in public for fear of a merciless beating.
Over the past few months, a local community group has started to inject some community spirit into this forgotten corner of the capital. They’ve secured lottery funding to improve communal areas and breathe some life into the area.
Local resident, Jim Carter, 76, said “The local community centre has opened its doors again. Hope is being restored. Young people are being encouraged to leave the streets and put their talents to good use. Sometimes you even see a smile as you walk by or hear laughter. It’s all good. The East Lane Estate may be finally changing.”
Another resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, had this to say – “The problem is that the Hill Street gang don’t like the changes. From what I’ve heard, they intend to restore terror to the streets of the estate. After all, they rely on the people’s fear and misery. It’s obvious that they need to destroy all hope to stay in control.”
Last Friday, Big G sent out a challenge to the community. Kelly Dews, 21, said “What we heard was this ultimatum – ‘Send one of your do-gooders to come and face me. Just me and him, face to face. If any one of you has the courage to do that and face the consequences, then so be it. We will leave you to carry on your work in peace.’ But of course, no one had the courage. What mother would let her son face Big G head on? Who in their right mind would be prepared to face certain death?”
Over the following days, Dews reports that the taunts and goading from the Hill Street members spread through the community like Chinese whispers. The threats became more and more callous; the consequences more and more unthinkable. Terror coursed like poison through the veins, sucking the life and laughter and hope out of the neighbourhood.
Enter David King, the youngest of eight brothers, left in charge of his Dad’s allotment and chickens.
A neighbour, Edna Jones, 62, describes him in the following way – “David? What a lovely young lad! So gentle and kind. He hasn’t an ounce of bad in him, that one. Keeps himself to himself. Keeps well out of all that gang trouble at the other end of the estate. Just loves his chickens and they love him. Patiently watches his veg grow and guards that allotment with his life.”
So how does a thirteen year old with a love of chickens get involved in all this? Yesterday, young David King visited his brothers who were helping to paint the community centre. He took them a good, healthy lunch prepared by their father, who was worried they were living on crisps and beer. While David was there, Big G himself drove by with his men, shouting his challenge across to the collected gathering.
Volunteer, Jonny Dee, 25, describes the scene – “Silence fell. No one uttered a word. No one raised their eyes from their paint pot. Sam rushed off to the toilet. Andy vomited in a bin. Young David couldn’t believe his eyes and ears.”
Dee goes on to describe the ensuing row between David and his brothers – “David simply couldn’t believe his brothers weren’t standing up to this bully – ‘How can you all stand there and let him talk to you like that? You always taught me to stand up for what is right? What has happened to you?’ The brothers didn’t like that at all. How dare the youngest make them look stupid and weak in front of all of us? They all had something to say. ‘You little freak, what the hell are you doing here anyway? Get back to your pretty flowers and precious chickens, where you belong.’ ‘You know nothing about this situation so keep your nose out of it. Go home and stay away from here until you’ve grown some balls.’”
According to Dee, David didn’t go home. He walked quietly and calmly into the community centre. He knocked on the door of the office. The project co-ordinator opened the door and let him in. No one knows what was said in the office. Dee and the other volunteers all reluctantly returned to their painting. They overheard David’s brothers fretting about what their little brother was up to now. They knew their dad would never forgive them if something happened to him.
David returned home yesterday evening and came back to the centre just before 7 this evening to face Big G.
According to the project co-ordinator, Simon Skinner, 45, no one believed David would survive but not one person stepped forward to stop him.
“He had a quiet assurance that made us all keep our distance. We knew there was no way he would survive and yet we did nothing. The community was sick of this ongoing feud, I guess, and was simply relieved something was finally happening. The mood on the ground was that everyone knew no good would come of this encounter but at least it would hopefully all soon be over.”
So the scene was set. The hardest, cruellest, toughest, most invincible criminal in the whole of South London facing the weediest, gentlest lad you could find. According to Skinner, Big G was furious when he saw his opponent, saying “Who’s this child you’ve sent out to face me? Is this the best you can do? What a joke! I’ve killed men three times the size of him. Are you having a laugh? Well, the final laugh will be on me, that’s for sure. No one will be laughing when I cut him open and leave him strung out alive across these railings for the birds and rats to feed on.”
His blade was long and sharp and everyone gathered knew of the damage it had already inflicted. Many had the scars of their own to prove it. His gun was tucked into the back of his waistband for all to see. There was no way David was going to walk away from this encounter alive.
And yet Skinner describes how David stood his ground, saying “You think that fear and strength will always win the battle but you’re wrong. You will not always be feared. You will not always be strong. Today good is going to triumph over evil. I am not afraid of you. I have faced bullies before. I protect my chickens from foxes every night. You are nothing more than a fox.”
No one could believe their eyes as David took out a catapult and a small stone and aimed at the colossal form before him. Seconds later and this great hulk of a man toppled to the floor, stunned and dazed.
Skinner goes on to say “It was incredible. So quick. So simple. David stood over the man and took the knife from his limp hand. He removed the gun from his waistband. The local hero then said this for all to hear – ‘Now I could kill you. Now I could silence you forever. I won’t but you will now be punished for all that you have done. My neighbours will find the courage to speak out. You are finished. This estate will live in fear of you and your kind no more.’”
Approaching sirens cut through the silence. At 19:35, Big G was taken into police custody and will face trial for numerous counts of grievous bodily harm, attempted murder and murder. The queue outside the community centre waiting to give a statement to the police officers inside will take many hours to clear.
Skinner concludes “The mood on the estate has changed. This young lad has instilled a new confidence and courage into the residents. Life here will never be the same again.”