The Long Way Home

  ****

  Simon, Craig and Brian didn’t see the group of four boys at the far end of the small shopping strip on Brisbane Water Drive. As Simon leant his bike against one of the rubbish bins on the sidewalk and disappeared inside the newsagency, Craig and Brian slowly rode toward the other end of the row of shops, unaware that they were being watched from a distance.

  “Isn’t that the kid who got you suspended when you were in grade six?” Christopher asked his younger brother.

  “Yeah, I s’pose it is.” Max Abbott Jnr tried to brush the fact aside. “C’mon, let’s go somewhere else.”

  “Why are you scared of him?” Chris pressed him further. “He’s just a skinny little kid that couldn’t hurt anyone. Ever since you got suspended for beating him up you’ve been afraid to go near him.”

  “I told you the same thing I told Mum and Dad a million times, I didn’t do it! I never went near him that day, he lied about the whole thing and I got the blame for it. I never even touched him!”

  “So why are you still scared of him then? If it was me, I’d want to make him pay for it.” Chris cracked his knuckles. “Maybe it’s time I talked to him.”

  “I wouldn’t if I was you.” Max Jnr tried to talk him out of it. “Have you seen the size of his friends?”

  “What, those two little dweebs up there on their bikes?” Chris pointed to where Brian and Craig both circled at the far end of the shopping strip. “I’m not scared of them, why should you be?”

  “No, there’s usually another one.” Max frowned, staring in the direction of Brian and Craig. “At school there are always four of them, Simon, those two and this other kid who’s as big as a Mack truck.”

  “Well I didn’t see him with anyone like that a minute ago. Who is this guy, did he threaten you?” Chris asked acting like the typical older brother Max had hidden behind all his life. He was now in grade 10 and one of the school’s biggest thugs. If there was anyone fitting that description at school, then he at least wanted to know who he was, just so he could keep an eye on him.

  “Well he’s never said anything to me at all.” Max thought for a moment. “He just stands behind Simon like his bodyguard or something and glares at me every time we cross paths. I don’t know his name but the two of them are always together, it’s like they’re each other’s shadows or something. He just freaks me out.”

  “Yeah, well he’s only got his shadow to hide behind now.” Chris laughed for the benefit of his two other grade 10 cronies. “C’mon boys, let’s go say hello to this Simon kid and see what he’s doing this far from home.”