BALLAD OF THE PHILANTHROPIST

In the esteemed Pomona Road and Gardens, N., tranquility and purity adorned each corner, setting a standard of serenity untouched by the common vulgarity found elsewhere. This neighborhood, unmarred by the disturbances of brawling spouses or the threats of burglary, presented itself as a peaceful haven, boasting chapels and churches instead of public houses. Yet, this idyllic setting did not satisfy B. 13, the local policeman, whose thirst for action left him discontent with the lack of criminal activity to engage his detective skills.

The residents of Pomona Road, cultured and refined, rarely faltered into wrongdoing, leaving B. 13 languishing in boredom on his beat. Unacquainted with love and indifferent to its allure, he yearned for a crime to solve, a quest to rejuvenate his spirit. Observing the policeman’s sorrowful state, Howard Fry, a neighboring philanthropist, empathized with B. 13’s plight and pondered on a remedy to end his desolation.

Committing to a drastic solution, Howard Fry vowed to embark on a crime spree, believing that by igniting chaos, he could restore purpose to B. 13’s life. With a reluctant heart, Fry engaged in numerous felonies, executed with a sense of guilt, yet driven by a peculiar aim to aid the dispirited policeman.

As violence and fear swept over Pomona Road, turning it from a sanctuary into a place dreaded by many, B. 13 found his zeal rekindled. The once tranquil neighborhood, now a scene of crime, offered him the challenge he had longed for. Nightly altercations on buses and attacks on unsuspecting individuals gave B. 13 the opportunity to shine in his role, relishing the restoration of his duty to protect and serve.

Pomona Road’s transformation from a peaceful retreat to a notorious hotspot underscored the unforeseen consequences of Howard Fry’s actions, a misguided attempt to inject meaning into another’s existence through the pursuit of mischief, reflecting on the complex interplay between duty, fulfillment, and the unforeseen impacts of well-intended interventions.