There was a family that lived down the road from us br Seven kids and two scruffy mongrels br We looked down our noses at them and talked about them a lot br Their front yard was littered with rubbish and scrap cars br No curtains, how common! br Fights would spill out regularly onto the street br and every Sunday they'd all disappear into a battered old car br and disappear for hours on end br We'd relish the quiet br Always over too quickly br br Then one day, back in the October I think br We woke up and they'd gone br Just like that br The house was left a shambles, graffiti on every wall br The street watched as one while the council came and cleaned br New people moved in, Mr and Mrs Average,2.4 children br No more noise, or shouting, no pavement battles br Twisted hulks of metal removed and flowers in their place br Quite normal looking br Life went on br br A month later, the local priest came round br Called a community meeting, all invited, tea and cakes provided br Nodding to neighbours, gossiping with friends br We gathered at the Hall br The priest needed help, more volunteers, more aid br He was short by nine pairs of hands... br The family we had all been so quick to condemn br had not been idle, giving their very all br Literally br Whilst we judged.