That Summer Chapter 2

It’s Monday morning, the sun breaks the influence of the clouds and streams through the small crack in my curtains. I notice how such a small gap instantly lights the room, and it strikes me that just a little joy and sanctity in somebody’s life can make a considerable difference. I role over to see Darren slumped against the crumbling mustard coloured wall, and in my review I notice he’s in the same position as I remembered him; just before I had retired into my dreams. We had been eagerly talking about the trip to the lake, but he must have watched me fall asleep in exhaustion. I feel that the covers are placed around me enough to give me warmth through the night, I know it was Darren he does the same every night. I sit there in appreciation of the small things; birds singing, the sunshine and the soft creaking of the house, I peacefully lie there and I loose all sense of time. I contemplate waiting Darren so the he can acknowledge and share the way I’m feeling because although he may act tuff I know that there’s another side to him, but I decide not to wake him.

We spent the morning washing, packing bags and finding a tent, neither of us exposes it but I know me and Darren are thrilled about the week to come. We stroll down Wesley Street which is full of run down shops, which seem to beckon as our future to come. Suddenly I feel a sharp pain as arm is wrenched behind my back and the chain around my neck is snatched. I panic and struggle but muscles around my arms tighten. Then I glimpse Drew Jackson, he’s in the year above and has a reputation of being the strong leader of his gang. Before I know it Darren squares up to him and violently seizes my chain back. Drew stands there in bewilderment for a few seconds, in shock that somebody had actually stood up to him, but it isn’t long before he regains his arrogance and his posture.

"Do you know who I am!?" He laughs as he looms over Darren, who stays quite and maintains his dark blue eyes locked on Drew.
"Well … cmon’ are you going to talk!?" Drew spits out in frustration at Darren’s ignorance.
"Well cmom’ Daddy’s boy" He repeats in desperation to get a reaction out of Darren. I notice the sudden look of pain in Darren’s face and he almost physically flinches, and in the corner of my eyesight I can see Drew feeding off his pain. Darren’s sorrowful face reaches my eye level in a plea for help and reassurance but before I can speak or act; Drew cheaply and venomously pushes Darren over into a heap on the floor and his gang disappears around the corner. I’m released from the grip and I rush to Darren’s side in guilt and remorse, originally I thought he was badly hurt as he is heaped in a ball on the floor but with close inspection I can see tears splashing on the dusty pavement. I try to help him to his feet but those foundations are as far as I get as much of his bulk I cannot hold and I quiver under the strain until he props himself up with his own strength. I try to help but I feel useless. He looks me in the eyes and he has already erased any signs of his emotions, he doesn’t think I noticed but I’m in no hurry to remind him of what just happened.

"I believe this is yours’ kiddo’" A smile breaks out around his mouth. He replaces the chain around my neck, and in that split second I recall my older brother giving me this chain before he left home. In a way Darren and my older brother look similar, but since my brother left Darren has tried his best to compensate for him. Although he will never replace my brother, he tries and that inspires me, but at the same time I think it makes Darren proud. I just thank him and smile, I don’t say anything but I don’t think I have to; we both have an understanding which we cannot put it into words like Andy.

As usual we all meet upon the hill, and I take control by making sure everyone has a tent to stay in, and then before we know it we begin our journey. We vaguely know the direction is to follow a dirt path but we don’t care to follow it directly. Mike challenges Darren to a race down into the forest, Mike’s very competitive and is always trying to beat Darren. I’m strolling behind with Andy and for once he isn’t reading or writing, and we burst into laughter at the sound of Mike complaining in disapproval that Darren beat him again. But it isn’t long until Andy is scribbling away again.
"What are you writing now Andy?" We all take interest in his talent, although Mike had to pretend.

"I’m writing about Candice" He murmurs, this is the new lady that has taken Andy’s fancy, he could have almost any girl he wanted as he is good looking with long dark hair that is swept across his face. But as soon as girls hear his poetry they fall for him, I must admit that I am highly jealous. But although he could have almost any girl from our area; but he restricts himself to only the genuine and honest girls. He won’t just write a poem for anybody which he often reminds me, and I respect that although I wish he would share some of the girls with me, this thought makes me chuckle out loud but Andy is too absorbed in his writing. I haven’t had much luck with girls; I don’t think any of us have except for Andy. You see me, Mike and Darren aren’t what the girls look for, we won’t achieve anything in life and we aren’t the best looking, girls look for well dressed pretty boys who go the posh schools, they don’t look twice at us unless you are as talented as Andy.

Suddenly I snap out of thought to the sound of bellowing laughter coming from ahead, me and Andy scramble through the trees in urgency, and I loose all need for thoughts.