2. Scraps and Scrapes
'Parents try to wrap their kids in cotton wool and freak out at the mere sight of blood. As kids we were forever hurting ourselves but very rarely was it serious' - jp
There was an unwritten code in the village. A boy didn't tittle-tattle, grass, snitch, or however else it is termed. Parents would say 'nobody likes a tell-tale', then in the next breath tell the boys not to lie. This confused Joel and gave him his first taste of double standards. For most of the village boys, lying would result in a beating and they soon learnt how to be 'conservative' with the truth. As harsh as the regime within the village may seem to some, it didn't feel that way to the boys. Almost without exception they considered beatings justified as they were a result of some transgression. The boys knew nothing else, they knew the potential risks, rewards, and / or penalties for misdemeanours.
Sometimes this schoolboy 'code of silence' could be dangerous. Today was one of those days. A whole gang of boys made their way out to Haunted Wood. They had to pass through a lot of fields which varied considerably in nature. A field full of ripening spring onions was too good to pass up. Each boy gathered up handfuls and climbed over the fence into the next field to eat them. The next field was a meadow with cows some distance away, there was no sign of the rumoured bull. It was difficult to tell apart from a distance because the cows had horns as well.. The bull might well have been a myth conjured up in the minds of imaginative youngsters as none of the boys could recall seeing it for certain
They had done this for months without a problem and had many turns this day. All was well until dusk was upon them and it was time to hurry home. The long summer days meant it was late already and there would be trouble at home. Taking one last turn Joel swung out fearlessly and it was then the rope broke. He plunged thirty feet to the ground below. Joel was fortunate in the respect he landed on a bush which broke his fall a little and may have saved his life. The other boys looked down in horror. Joel wasn't moving and didn't make a sound, his small frame twisted at unnatural angles.
"He's dead" Ashley said eyes wide.
"What are we going to do?" Nathan asked close to tears.
The boys quickly thought about it, deciding they would all go home and say they hadn't seen Joel if asked.
"Shouldn't we climb down and make sure he's...... you know, just in case" Xander suggested.
The boys looked at Joel again. He hadn't moved. To the bunch of ten year olds it could only mean one thing.
"You go check then" Jamie said to Xander.
It was getting darker by the second and it wasn't an easy climb. Xander decided not to chance it, nobody could have survived such a fall. The boys hurried off back across the fields unaware Joel was beginning to stir. The wind had been knocked out of him. His friends had long since departed when Joel finally managed to extricate himself from the bush. Seeing the darkness of the fields, Joel opted to walk home following the road. Concussed and disorientated, he started walking the wrong way.
The darkness descended quickly. There were no roadside lights and Joel didn't recognise the country road he staggered along. Cloud cover blocked out the stars on the moonless night. Joel just wanted to lie down and go to sleep but the thought of the beating he would get drove him on. At some point Joel's parents began to worry and his mother went round to see several of his friends. She questioned the boys but all held true to their word, thinking they would get into trouble. Joel's father didn't have a clue where to start looking for the boy. Even if the friends had told Joel's mother about being in the woods it wouldn't have helped. He had long since left and was unwittingly heading for the next village several miles away.
Eventually Joel saw the beginning of street lights up ahead and thought his ordeal was over. Not a chance! Joel was confused when he saw the street. It wasn't at all familiar. Further and further he walked unable to understand why he didn't recognise the surroundings. In desperation Joel wandered into a pub and became the object of curious stares. Puzzled why the boy was out so late on his own, the landlord asked:
"What do you want boy?"
"Where am I?" Joel asked weakly:
"The Rose and Crown. Are you hurt?" the man asked, concerned Joel didn't know where he was.
"No" Joel answered honestly.
He was trying to be brave. He wasn't really hurt as such just concussed, but of course he didn't know that. Joel gauged if he was hurt by how much pain he was in and right then he just felt tired not hurt. He felt a little bruised but that was nothing out of the ordinary.
"Where do you live?" the landlord asked.
Joel told the landlord the street name, but the man didn't recognise it. Feeling really sleepy Joel's head began to nod as he sat in the chair. The landlord telephoned the police. It took a long time before two stern looking policemen walked into the pub. Joel only vaguely registered them telling him off and they too asked where he lived. Fortunately one of them realised Joel was from the neighbouring village, confirmed after a couple of pertinent questions.
The policemen put Joel in the back of the car and drove him home. Joel's mother went nuts saying how she was worried sick. The story the police gave his father about wandering into a pub late at night did little to ease the boy's plight. Joel knew he was in trouble. When the police left Joel was subjected to an interrogation and quickly told his father what had happened, except for the part about the swing. It wouldn't help his case admitting to doing dangerous stuff and getting hurt because of it, or so Joel believed.
Being late wasn't a beating offence but being brought home by two policemen didn't look good, and Joel didn't want to make things worse. Lying WAS a beating offence. Joel thought he could still maybe get a lesser punishment for telling the truth. He just told his father he had been to the woods with his friends and as it got dark he got lost. It did sound quite lame.
"What have I told you about lying? Now tell me the truth!" Joel's father demanded sternly.
There was nothing else Joel could think to say and his silence just served to fuel his father's suspicions he had been up to no good.
"Your mother has been round to all your friends and they said they hadn't seen you" Joel was told.
The panic in the boy's eyes was almost an admission of guilt as far as Joel's father was concerned, not as the lack of comprehension at the denials of his friends, and the realisation of impending doom because of it. The most severe beatings were meted out when caught lying. Joel received what his father termed as a 'damn good hiding' and was sent to bed without supper. There were no shortage of tears that night as Joel silently cried himself to sleep.
* * * * *
The summer passed in the blink of an eye and the boys were growing fast. Joel joined the local judo club and with the summer behind them, the boys who attended the Catholic school went to the church run youth club which was an annex to the church. November 5th was approaching and Joel hatched a plan with best friend Scott.
They would go and get Lawrence out of bed and dress him up as a 'Guy'. It had to be Lawrence. He was a little younger than them and very small. Last year Scott had been used by his older brothers for a similar purpose. They had selfishly kept the bulk of the money collected, giving Scott just a small amount. Consequently Scott and Joel discussed how they would cut the older boys out of the equation and share the money evenly between the three of them. It was usual for boys to make up a dummy or Guy from old clothes stuffed with newspaper and straw. The Guy would be placed on top of a bonfire on November 5th and burnt.
Making a Guy was okay for the bonfire but collecting pennies, dressing up the smallest boy was far easier. It was the 1st of November and Guy Fawkes or Bonfire Night was on the 5th. They had four days to get as many pennies as possible. The licensed extortion that was Trick or Treat may not have reached the village yet but Penny for the Guy was alive and kicking.
Lawrence's sister Lizzy answered the door to Scott and Joel. She was a couple of years older than the boys and was just going out. Lizzy was as disinterested in the boys as they were in her, even though she was fast becoming the centre of attention for older boys.
"He's still in bed, go and get the little git up" Lizzy said allowing the boys into the house as she left.
The parents were at work so the boys saw an opportunity to tease the younger boy. They crept up the stairs silently and saw Lawrence through the half open door to his bedroom.
"Let's throw water on him" Scott whispered.
"No, he might get into trouble if his bed is wet"
"He probably still wets the bed anyway" Scott sniggered but Joel cringed, thinking about his own problem in that area.
"Elephants and ants?" Joel suggested and Scott agreed.
The two boys crept into the room and as one jumped on their friend.
"Aargh! What the...."
Scott sat on Lawrence's stomach and hammered out a drum beat on the boy's chest with his fists, whilst Joel sat on the younger boy's ankles and nipped his legs with thumb and fore-finger.
"I give, I give, get off you gits!" pleaded Lawrence.
"Not till you say you smell" Scott demanded.
"You smell!" Lawrence said defiantly and Joel laughed.
"Aw now you're gonna pay" Scott told Lawrence and pounded on the boy's chest with renewed gusto.
Joel let Lawrence go and turned on Scott. He didn't know the younger boy that well and felt sorry for him. The three boys wrestled around on the bed for another five minutes before flopping back exhausted.
"We've got a job for you" Scott said finally.
"What is it?" Lawrence asked with suspicion.
"Penny for the Guy, you're the Guy" Joel piped up.
"Okayyyy" Lawrence was a little unsure "but why me?"
"You've got a mum, a rabbit, and you're small" Scott said as if that explained everything but even Joel looked confused
"What's a rabbit got to do with it?" he asked.
"And my mum?" Lawrence added.
"We need straw for padding and make-up for the mask, come on get dressed or we won't get a spot.
The best spot to be was outside the pub at weekends but during the week it was best to be outside a shop. Often the adults would hand over their loose change on leaving the shop, but when leaving the pub they were often more generous and it could reap big rewards, especially if one of the men had too much to drink.
Lawrence dressed quickly and the three boys went to the bedroom of his parents. They looked through his mother's make-up drawer. Joel and Scott went to work as Lawrence sat back passively. Scott used the red lipstick to make scars on the boy's face. When they were satisfied with their labour the boys went to the back garden to get some straw and started stuffing it into Lawrence's clothes.
"Not in my trousers it's all scratchy!" he complained.
"Stop moaning it'll keep you warm" Scott laughed.
For a finishing touch Lawrence put a balaclava on and that too was stuffed with straw around the neck and face. They went to the local shop and were relieved to see no other boys had taken their spot. All morning the boys accosted adults going in and out of the shop. It was a tradition and almost without exception the adults would hand over a few pence. The boys did well, the only glitch was when Shaun appeared at the shop. Shaun was Ashley's older brother and a bully. Nobody liked him but it didn't bother Shaun in the slightest. All the younger boys had suffered at his hands at one time or another but none as much as Ashley himself.
Shaun looked the Guy up and down. He had a malevolent glint in his eye. Lawrence sat motionless as he had whenever someone came. There was no doubt the adults knew it was a boy dressed up as a Guy but at least the boys made an effort.
"That's a good Guy" Shaun said amicably.
"Thanks" Joel muttered hoping the older boy would go away.
"Real life-like" Shaun mused.
Lawrence didn't move and Shaun put his foot against the boy's groin gradually pushing down. Trying to keep up the charade that he was indeed a Guy, Lawrence bravely remained motionless. Shaun pushed harder.
"Aargh" Lawrence wailed as the pain became unbearable and Shaun laughed.
"Serves you right for cheating" he sneered and went into the shop.
Shaun just couldn't help himself, he always had to be mean. The boys shared the money out shortly after, then went to meet the others who were playing football. Using the same trick the boys collected more money for the Guy the next day. but a spate of rainy days quite literally put the dampers on things. The money collected wasn't wasted on chocolate or sweets. It went on fireworks which were shared around all the boys. Jamie was unofficial leader of the boys due to his wild older brothers, one of them would buy the fireworks for the younger boys. Sixteen was the legal age to buy fireworks but a tall fourteen year old could generally get them without a problem. The shopkeepers had for generations sold them, and although there was always the odd casualty with misuse, it was looked upon as part of growing up and gaining experience.
The boys would have a tarpaulin muster whereby they all threw whatever money they had collected onto a cloth. It was counted, knotted, and hauled off to the shop. Most of the boys contributed but the likes of Ashley and Joel rarely had money. With Ashley it was because he came from a big family and was poor. Joel's poverty was a little different. His parents had bought into the government's ideal of purchasing their own home instead of renting.
It meant both his parents had to work and there was little money left after the mortgage was paid. Like so many other families duped into this scheme they couldn't possibly foresee that soon after, the Iron Lady would remove the ability to continue payments, by closing the mines and selling off the industries to companies unconcerned about the welfare of workers. They would end up owing in interest more than the house was worth. This year Joel had managed to contribute more with collecting Guy money and a bunch of excited nine and ten year olds looked at the fireworks with wide eyes.
The most common purchases were bangers, Roman Candles and a few rockets. These were shared out and the boys would go to the woods to play war. They would hurl bangers at each other, similar to a grenade, timing the throw was crucial. If it was thrown too early the target boy could pick it up and throw it back, too late and it would explode in the hand. The most common cause of injury was the former. It was always risky throwing one back because the fuse had been fizzing a few seconds already.
To have a banger explode in the hand resulted in bruising and sometimes the odd burn, but the boys dealt with it. The more timid boys wouldn't pick up a lit firework anyway, so it was only the tougher boys that were most often hurt, Alan had more than his fair share of mishaps. Rockets were no problem, even though the boys would set them off at 30 degree angles instead of vertically as manufacturers intended. As Joel was to find out, Roman Candles were perhaps the most dangerous.
They would shoot four to six fireballs out of the ends. Ignoring the written warnings on the side, the boys held the Roman Candles and pointed them at each other. Usually the distance involved enabled the target boy to comfortably avoid the flaming missile. The boys had a lot of fun running around the rain dampened woods throwing bangers at each other, and the stock of fireworks were almost exhausted without mishap when Joel came rushing into a clearing. His heart sank. He was faced by three of the boys from the hostile army and one had just lit a Roman Candle. Joel turned and ran but knew he was in trouble. Joel was too close to put any suitable distance between him and his foes.
The first shot hit Joel square in the back and the fireball burnt itself out on his jumper. As soon as it hit and his back started heating up, Joel pulled his jumper, shirt, and vest off in one swift motion. It wasn't fast enough and Joel's back was burning. It hurt. Hurt bad, but Joel was more concerned with the problem he would have when his parents saw the holes in his clothes. Alan looked at the big red mark in the middle of Joel's back and lightly ran a finger around the circular burn.
"Damn, you better get that looked at"
"S'alright" Joel said as he tried to rub the black marks off his shirt and vest.
It just made it worse and the black marks became holes. On the surface Joel was calm but inside his stomach was churning and he had to fight back the tears. Joel didn't go home straight away, preferring to watch the remaining rockets and delay the inevitable. He was just glad he was staying with his grandmother. At least it would just be a couple of clouts round the head with a wooden spoon instead of the dreaded belt.
"S'pose that makes it my turn" Alan laughed trying to cheer Joel up.
He didn't realise how prophetic his words were to prove. Nor how soon they were to come to fruition. It was the last - and biggest - rocket that was the cause. The boys decided to set it off as intended because very often the ones set off at an angle would crash into trees and spoil the effect. The boys found a gap in the tree branches overhead. They pushed the piece of pipe they had into the ground to support the rocket. The stick on the end of the rocket was fatter than the others and had to be forced into the tube. They lit the firework and watched. The rocket started fizzing away but wasn't taking off, the stick wedged firmly in the tube. For several seconds the boys watched the rocket trying to take off. It was as if they all asked themselves the same question at the same time. What happens when the rocket gets into the sky? As one the boys turned and ran.
The rocket exploded in a shower of sparks and stars. Alan's words may have been for Joel's benefit and in jest but one star went into his thick curly blond hair and smouldered.
"Aargh, aargh" he yelled and the other boys ran over to him slapping his head.
He was quite fortunate that only a small portion of his hair singed, thanks largely to the speedy reaction of the other boys. Joel and Alan walked back in silence licking their wounds as the other boys chattered animatedly. They were the focal point and heroes of the moment. It didn't make Joel feel any better as he walked back shivering, unable to put his clothes back on now his back had really started to smart.
Fortunately he was spared the wooden spoon treatment, possibly because of the nasty weeping wound in the middle of his back, but out came the dreaded TCP and he howled in pain as his grandmother dabbed it on.
"Don't be such a baby" his grandmother chided as he squealed, sympathy was in short supply when injuries were a result of stupid behaviour.
Alan had to have his head shaved to even his hair up and he looked odd without his long blond curls. At least they had a whole year to forget how dangerous irresponsible use of fireworks could be.
* * * * *
The Odeon was the entertainment centre of the village. It was a cinema, bingo hall, theatre, and community centre all rolled into one. As a cinema it only opened twice a week, on a Tuesday evening and a Sunday matinee. There was one other occasion on Saturday mornings and it was then the cinema was packed for the only time during the week. Saturday morning pictures were for the kids of the village.
Joel and Ashley never had the money to go even though the prices were just pence. It didn't matter because Jamie and Mattie would sneak down behind the curtain and open the fire escape door to let them in. Ashley had to wear his balaclava inside because even in amongst the scores of kids his flaming red hair stuck out like a sore thumb and a floor manager patrolled the aisles.
The 'pictures' would go on for about three hours, and were a saviour for many parents. It allowed them to go shopping, safe in the knowledge the kids weren't getting up to mischief, or having lots of friends in the house while they were out. There were one or two five-minute information films scattered in amongst a plethora of Looney Tunes, and old black and white films from the cinema archives. Lord of the Flies seemed to be on once every month and Laurel and Hardy were well worn. The cinema didn't have the revenue to show the modern films, a trip into the neighbouring town was needed to see a new release.
As the Ovaltiney song came on signalling the end of the show, the kids would rush out of the exits and to the pub across the road, piling into the off-sales area where the landlord opened a box of salted peanuts. He would throw the small bags out to the children who eagerly tried to catch them. It was a kindness the kids took for granted and they never went back to thank the man, much to their shame.
Even inside the pictures there was a hierarchy and regular seats were unofficially reserved. As the older boys stopped going to the cinema, the younger ones gradually moved to the back where it was considered the best place to be. The void left by the older boys who went to big school after summer meant a race to get the best seats, as happened every year. It was then Joel and his friends came into conflict with the boys from the other end of the village. It was all over one seat which overlapped the two groups. There had always been a rivalry between the two sets of boys who once a week played football against each other. On occasion scuffles broke out, but it was never serious. Joel had just sat down when a boy approached him.
"That's Ozzie's seat" the boy warned.
"I don't see his name on it" Joel said looking around mockingly.
"You better move" the boy advised.
"Or what?"
Joel wasn't bothered, he was now one of the older boys who went to Saturday morning pictures so didn't see any reason to fear anyone, even though he didn't know who this Ozzie boy was. He soon found out. A blond headed boy approached him as the other boy made way and Joel looked at him. The boy was about the same height as Joel but thicker set. Ozzie looked quite angelic on the surface but looks could deceive, as Joel found out to his cost on many occasions. He told Joel to move and swore at him for effect.
"Make me" Joel responded annoyed at the boy's rudeness.
Ozzie grabbed Joel and hauled him to his feet as boys scattered in every direction. Ozzie's first hit split Joel's lip, drawing blood. Joel went mad, fists flailing in every direction, but none found their target as Ozzie easily parried then countered with another solid hit of his own. Ozzie may only have been the same age as Joel but his father was a boxer and had passed his knowledge on to his son. Joel had recently started taking judo lessons but for the first few months all he was taught was how to fall over.
Blow after blow found their target, but Joel was used to pain and could take a knock. Ozzie was getting a little worried. He had hit the boy numerous times with some of his best shots, yet still Joel kept coming back and Ozzie was beginning to have doubts. A moment of hesitancy and Joel leapt on his protagonist, both boys going over the seats into the next row. Ozzie yelped in pain as Joel landed on top of him. He may have been hurt but Ozzie was no quitter and even though Joel had him in a headlock he continued to fight. Four times Ozzie pushed Joel's head into the floor. Joel wasn't letting go of Ozzie's neck and squeezed harder and harder.
"I give, I give" howled Ozzie but Joel didn't ease up straight away.
"Whose seat is it?" he demanded.
"Yours, it's your seat"
"And that's the end of it?"
"Yes, yes"
Joel let the boy go relieved at the outcome. Ozzie trudged off rubbing his neck and holding the small of his back. There wasn't a visible mark on Ozzie, although his back might have had one where he landed awkwardly, but Joel had blood running from one nostril, a fat lip, swelling under one eye that would turn black the next day, and an egg sized lump on his forehead. He sat back in the seat victorious and it all seemed worthwhile.
"I knew you would win" Jamie said.
It was then Joel was told about Ozzie and his boxer father. Joel wished he had known beforehand, he might have given up the seat willingly. Nah!
* * * * *
Over the year ahead things began to change for the boys. Some changes were more significant than others. The judo club he joined was to help Joel significantly, particularly in the next few years. The confidence it gave served him well straight away. Gardening had given Joel a strength which belied his stature and judo was the perfect discipline to suit his rough-and-tumble style of self-defence.
Jake was a bully. In their idyllic little school he was the only one and as was to be a trait of Joel's, he became a deadly enemy of the bully. Jake had been Joel's second fight and bar two, his next thirty as well. Give Jake credit for trying, he never won one, but it didn't stop him starting another. Joel lost count how many times they fought in the end, but it was all too frequently. To make matters worse the boys lived near each other and the conflict began from an early age.
Joel's first fight was at the tender age of six years old. A boy three years his senior started pushing him in the chest. Every time Joel stood back up the boy would push him over again. Reduced to tears, Joel ran home.
"What's the matter love?" his mother soothed.
"A-big-boy-keeps-pushing-me" Joel blurted out between sobs.
"Don't fuss the boy! Are you trying to raise a sissy" growled Joel's father.
He looked out of the window and saw several boys playing rough on the green opposite.
"Which one was it?" Joel's father asked.
Joel pointed to the boy in question and his father looked then went to the cupboard where the dreaded belt hung. Joel's father picked it up and placed it on the kitchen table.
"Now get back out there and hit him or I'll give you something to cry for"
Panic was in Joel's tear-stained eyes and he looked to his mother for help, but she turned away and busied herself at the sink. Joel was scared but one look at the belt on the table made up his mind for him. His father didn't make idle threats and Joel was in no doubt what would happen if he didn't do as he was told. As he approached the boys, the one who had been pushing Joel saw him coming and laughed.
"What's up runt want some more or you gonna go crying to mama again?"
Joel knotted his little fist into a ball, closed his eyes and swung with all his might. More by luck than judgement, Joel caught the boy square on the nose and heard a satisfying crack. A split second later and blood gushed from both of the boy's nostrils. He turned and ran home in tears. Joel went back to the house a little nervously. The first thing he noticed was that the belt had been put away.
"I don't want to see you crying again. If you want to cry you go to your room and do it" his father said mildly.
"Yes dad"
Just when Joel thought it was the end of the matter there was a knock at the door. It was the boy he had hit, holding a blood soaked hanky over his nose. The boy's father was with him and looking angry.
"Yes?" Joel's father asked calmly.
"Your son has broken my son's nose" the boy's father said angrily.
"Boys will be boys" Mr. Phillips stated matter-of-factly.
"It's not on given the difference in ages, what are you going to do about it?"
"Hmm, I think we better hear my son's side of it. Joel come here"
Joel thought he was in trouble again. He had heard the boy's father say about a broken nose and was fearful once more. Joel's father had realised something from the other father's words. The parents knew each other and their families. The boy's father had assumed it was Joel's older brother who had hit his son. When Joel appeared in the doorway the man looked shocked, Joel's father smiled inwardly..
"Why did you hit this boy?" he asked mildly.
"He kept pushing me over" Joel said, panic in his eyes.
"Him?" the boy's father demanded from his son who looked at the floor and nodded, still holding the hanky to his nose.
The man grabbed the boy roughly and practically dragged him to the gate. Joel's father watched them depart and put a hand on Joel's shoulder. Joel looked up at his father who continued to watch the departing duo. It was all a little confusing. It was another two years before Joel and Jake clashed for the first time.
Not once did Jake get the better of Joel in the respect he was always the one who ran off. However if the boys were put side by side after a fight, anybody would swear Jake had won such was the damage he inflicted. Only Joel's stubborn streak saw him through on many occasions, and once or twice Jake hadn't realised how close he had been to winning. Their first clash happened right outside Joel's front gate, and unknown to the boys they had an audience. Joel's father, mother, and older brother watched from the kitchen window as the boys rolled around on the concrete path.
Jake was bigger and heavier but had never handled a spade or scuttle full of coal to hone his muscles. Joel managed in the end to get Jake in a headlock and in the manner which was to become customary of Joel's primary school bouts, he choked his opponent into submission. Jake ran home crying and Joel went indoors to a hero's welcome, his father handing him a big shiny fifty pence piece. Both his mother and brother thought it was a mismatch when the fight started and wanted to intervene.
"Leave them be!" Joel's father growled and the pair watched anxiously.
The problem Joel had was he couldn't stand seeing somebody being upset by another person for no other reason than to be mean. Unfortunately for Jake he couldn't help himself. A girl named Jane came from the scruffiest family in the village. Her clothes were always dirty, her hair matted, and she smelled bad. She was teased often by a lot of the kids but it was generally just odd comments, Jake always went too far. Having reduced the girl to tears for the umpteenth time Joel stepped in.
"Leave her alone Jake"
Jake swore at Joel, telling him to mind his own business. Joel jumped on Jake and the other kids gathered round as they rolled around the playground.
"Fight, fight, fight, fight" the others chanted.
It alerted the nuns and for once the fight didn't reach a conclusion as they stepped in and pulled the boys apart. Both boys received four raps across the knuckles with a ruler, but were unrepentant and arranged to meet outside the school gates afterwards to settle the matter. Jamie, Ashley, Alan, and Jane gathered to watch and the fight resumed. As the boys fought a man saw them.
"Leave him alone, fight one on one" the man barked thinking all the boys were attacking Jake.
"It is one on one" Joel protested and Jake taking advantage of the distraction hit Joel in the mouth, rattling his teeth.
"Go on lad" the man called encouraging Jake.
Having lost the momentum it took Joel a little while to regain control and in spite of the support from the man it was Jake who ran off in tears. The man looked disgusted.
"Hope you're proud you little hooligans" he spat.
"Please mister, he started it. He was picking on Jane" Joel said feeling upset he was being accused of bullying.
The man didn't answer and stormed off. It wasn't the only problem. Joel had an admirer after the incident. He was Jane's knight in shining armour and he had to work hard to avoid her. On the plus side it made everybody else think twice before being mean to her again.
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