Caught and let go

The slope of the road increased from gentle to steep half way down the hill. The old lady was walking home from the supermarket carrying her groceries, when she heard screams and bicycle bells. Three boys came racing by. As they passed she made quick steps to the side to make room and almost fell over. The boys were roaring with laughter.

As they came to the bottom of the hill, they slammed on their breaks so the tires skidded. Peter had fallen slightly behind the two others and now he was going extra fast to catch up. When he finally applied the breaks, the bicycle swerved out of control and he tumbled off, landing hard on his hands and knees. Dennis and Alex were laughing again. Peter made a big effort not to cry. “Did you see how that old woman jumped,” Alex said and started laughing again. The other boy snickered. 

Then came an awkward silence and the boys did not quite know what to do next. Alex jumped on his bicycle and signaled to the others to come along. He led them further down the hill, by little winding paths. Finally they came to the doctor’s house. They had often helped themselves to fruits and berries in the garden, but it was spring so there was nothing to eat. 

Alex grabbed a stone and flung it at the greenhouse, and they all laughed when the stone smashed one of the windows. Alex picked up another stone. Dennis joined in. Peter had also picked up a stone, but hesitated to throw it. Alex turned to him and said, “Well, come on then.”  Peter froze. He could neither throw the stone nor let it go. When Alex asked something it could be very hard not to do it. Alex was about to mock him, but now a big man was coming running towards them. The boys jumped on their bicycles. Alex and Dennis were off in a flash, but as Peter was trying to set off, the big hand grabbed the handle bar. It was the smith. “You are coming with me,” he said. The smith walked Peter to the police, and his dad picked him up at the police station.

The next day, the three boys met in school during lunch break. Alex and Dennis were anxious to hear what had happened to Peter. Peter enjoyed the attention and tried to drag it out as much as possible, though there was nothing much to say really. “So what did the police do to you? Did they lock you up?” Alex wanted to know. Peter shook his head, “No they just asked for my name and address.” “What about your parents, what did they do?”, Alex asked. Peter shook his head again, “Nothing much. The insurance is going to pay for the broken glass. I suppose nobody realy minds.”

After school, the three boys met at the school gate. Peter said, “So what are we going to do today?” They all laughed and set off on their bicycles.