Running fast, with the wind in his hair, he pedalled back just that bit
too hard and the wheel locked. As the rubber lost its friction,
overcome by momentum, the rear of the cycle flipped out and its frame
started to fall under gravity. Uncertain, unsure, he hit the gravelly
tarmac face-first, then, in mild shock, picked himself up and ran in
crying and bleeding.
His mother saw the gashed lip, blood pouring out all over the place and
decided not to call the doctors in the first instance but to see how it
went. When he was still having obvious discomfort eating, even drinking
through a straw, she sent up a silent prayer of thanks that this had
happened in the school holidays, so they could get him properly
assessed.
"Yes," the doctor hummed and hahhed, "you did do right to get us in; he
clearly presents a danger to not only himself but to society and in
particular, authority figures. You tell me he was on the actual road
itself? Hmmm, there's no need for that on a child's bike with wheels
that size. Does he not know about road safety? Yes, I know it's
cul-de-sac but you never know when we may need to an emergency vehicle
down there fast, or a lynch mob out at night."
"And, you're right, we'd better have him in for assessment too. Don't
worry, as part of our ongoing commitment to community co-operation
we'll make sure the local Anti-Social Behaviour Response Units are on
permanent vigilance against this marked trait he has. yes, we can't
have people injuring themselves like that without sustained and
long-term intervention. We'll make sure the Police hear about this; as
he's not yet got to Junior School we'll have to rely their memories
but, don't worry, I can vouch they make good coffee down the canteen
there; yes, you were right to call us in, discomfort in eating for over
a week now, yes, if this isn't held in check he could starve, and I
wouldn't be discharging my responsibilities in examination if I left an
op****tunity to sow anorexia unchecked like that...tsk tsk, no you
mustn't feel you've bothered us unduly..."
FCS
COPYRIGHT (C) 2006 F CAMERON SIPSTON
--
|
