32) Grabbing Thorns

Their mothers named the Tiny Tykes despite the fact they were ten years old and more than capable of looking after themselves. They let their kids frolic in the field next to the housing estate as long as they came home before six so they could have dinner and didn’t go further than the wooden fence..

Michael always led the way on their adventures because he was scientific binoculars. Louise was aggrieved by this decision: while her binoculars may have been made out of plastic, the only difference she could decipher between hers and Michael’s was that his were heavier. Karen never complained. She liked to follow, whether it be through shrubbery or books. She always took one when they went on a picnic.

Their adventures were mostly created by their imaginations. Yesterday they had fought a herd off devil cows and saved a town of gnomes who spoke in rhyme. As they ran through the bushes they came across a new opening beyond where the wooden fence normally signalled the boundary. Stationary diggers were nearby, as were cement mixers and a brook with a small amount of water flowing through.

‘We should explore,’  Michael said.

Louise grabbed his arm: ‘No, it’s beyond the fence. We can’t go beyond the fence.’

‘There is no fence here,’ Michael said, opening his arms wide, ‘Therefore we can roam!’

They both looked at Karen who shrugged, holding onto a detective novel. Michael ran off before Louise could protest any further. He ran parallel to the brook. The amount of water running over the pebbles was never more than a dribble. They came to a barred gate which had newspaper glued together with sludge. Behind the gate was a tunnel where the water was meant to come from. Michael looked through his binoculars even though he was no more than a few metres from the gate.

‘Team, we must clear this gate for the gnomes to get their water.’

‘And how are we going to do that genius?’ Louise said.

Michael scanned the area, first with his binoculars and then without, the latter proving to be easier. On the other side of the brook was a large tree branch. He skipped down into the river bed, jumped over the forks in the trickling water and grabbed the branch. It was heavy, making him unbalanced. He swung the branch into the gate and both him and the gate recoiled with a shudder.

‘It’s not safe,’ Louise said.

He put his hand up to her. This time he was more careful in his approach and prodded the branch through the gap. There was something heavy behind the sludge which needed to be dislodged. He got the branch underneath it and started levering.

‘Look,’ Karen said.

A large hole of water gushed out around Michael’s feet. His trainers were caked in black water, but he had achieved his goal. As she stood triumphantly, he was taking by surprise at how quick the rest of the water burst out. It was like being hit by a water canon. Michael was knocked over and banged his head on the river bed. Neither Louise nor Karen could react quickly enough to stop Michael submerging underneath the sewage.

Karen went pale. Louise yelled at Michael to quit joking around. His binoculars floated to the top. Michael remained below.