It was two o'clock and Smithy wanted to go home, he knew that if he wasn't there when his Dad came home then there would be trouble.
Louis officially discharged Smithy, telling him not to do anything strenuous and to keep an ice-pack on his shoulder. Smithy left the hospital, he walked Kerry back to her house. They parted with a fond kiss, Smithy felt his spirits hit rock bottom as he went through his own front door.
Smithy saw a post-it note on the kitchen door, he read it quickly "Be home by 8 o'clock. D."
Smithy sighed, he'd forgotten about getting chips. He went over to the fridge, the takeaway menu was stuck on the door. He flicked down it, he picked up the landline.
"Hi, what would you like?" asked a male voice.
"Um, margarita please." said Smithy.
"Okay dokey, address?" said the voice.
Smithy gave his address, the man confirmed the address and rang off.
Smithy went into the sitting room and flicked on the TV, it was some kiddies programme. Some retard called "Sportacus" was running around like an idiot, followed by loads of screaming graphics and a girl with shocking pink hair. Smithy relaxed against the sofa, idly watching "Robbie Rotten" try and cause inane mischief.
The doorbell rang after "Lazy Town" had finished, Smithy was now watching Basil Brush. He got up and answered the door, he took the margarita and paid for it. The delivery man left, Smithy went back to watching Basil Brush laugh irritatingly. He texted Kerry.
Hi,
Do U want 2 come over?
S.
Sounds cool,
cu in 5,
K.
Kerry knocked on the door after carefully tweaking her top just a little lower to show off her cleavage. Smithy heard her knocking over one of the MI High agent's really loud obvious whisper and the sound of a baguette breaking over someone's head.
He answered the door, "Hi, d'you wanna come in?"
Kerry came in, saw his half eaten pizza and said "Ooh, can I have some?"
"Sure," said Smithy, passing her a Fanta.
Kerry settled herself on the sofa, watching the blond agent try and do some really lame karate. "What are you watching?" she asked in disbelief.
"I wasn't watching it." said Smithy glancing at the screen.
Kerry gave him an 'of-course-you-weren't' look.
"I wasn't, honest." said Smithy, flicking to F1.
"It's okay, you need to embrace your inner self." said Kerry, mock understandingly. "Even if it means watching kid's TV."
Smithy scowled slightly.
"What d'you wanna do?" asked Kerry a few minutes later after she'd watched cars going round a track for a while.
"I know." said Smithy, then he caught sight of the time, 15:47.
"We could go meet up with the gang." he suggested.
"Where are we meeting?" asked Kerry standing up.
"Swimming pool." said Smithy, turning the TV off and draining the last of his Coke.
When they arrived they saw Callum blowing bubbles, he was sitting on the railings and texting someone. Kerry and Smithy saw Stuart approaching he was on the phone to someone. Phil and Sam were coming from the opposite direction, holding hands and laughing together. Honey, Yvonne, Beth, Mel and Millie were coming, they had armfuls of bags. Max, Neil, Nate, Ben and Mickey were coming out of the swimming pool, judging from their conversation Nate had just successfully chatted up the receptionist.
When the gang had assembled they decided to hit the streets, "Isn't the fair here?" asked Beth.
"Yeah, I heard something about that." said Kerry.
"Yep, it's on now." said Callum reading one of the posters.
"Everyone's got money right?" asked Gina.
Everyone rolled their eyes, "You really think we're dumb enough to come without money?" asked Smithy disparagingly.
"Oh, oh, oh! Look at that!" squeaked Sally, who had just joined them.
"What?" asked Callum.
Sally pointed, two long arms were spinning round, high above them.
"I am so going on that!" said Zain.
"Me too!" agreed Mickey fervently.
Everyone wanted to go on it, they joined a massive queue.
Callum heard Sally's stomach rumble, "Hey does anyone want a hot dog?" he asked.
Several people nodded, including Sally.
Callum took their money and their orders then went off and bought the hot dogs, with assorted mustard, ketchup, onions and horse radish sauce.
Then Neil, Andrea, Mickey and Zain got onto the ride. They strapped themselves in, Andrea was feeling nervous now. She was trying to smile and failing slightly.
Neil noticed and enclosed her hand in his, squeezing gently. Andrea looked at him, Neil smiled reassuringly at her.
Then the man came along to push in the harnesses, Andrea was nervous, she felt like she needed the toilet now. Then the ride started, the gang on the ground watched enviously, happily anticipating their turn.
Andrea opened her mouth and screamed, the ground kept on hurtling away from her at a terrifying speed. Neil was shouting, Andrea couldn't hear what he was saying but she tightened her already crushing grip on his hand. Andrea could hear Mickey whooping at the top of his voice.
Then suddenly the ride juddered to a halt, they were at the highest point of their ride, Neil looked over at her. "You OK?" he shouted.
Andrea nodded, Mickey whooped. Shouting to the gang at the bottom of the ride looking no bigger than ants, Zain raised his hands in the air.
Andrea looked at the ground, she could see Honey, Kerry and Millie waving at her. She waved back, then noticed that they were increasing in size alarmingly. She was plummeting earthwards, she screamed louder than she had ever screamed before. Then the ride stopped dead, the assistant came out and let them out. Everyone got off, staggering slightly and looking a little windswept.
The sky was darkening, Kerry clung on to Smithy and said "You know what I'd love Smiffy?"
Smithy shook his head and wrapped an arm round her, "What'd you love? Apart from me, obviously."
"I'd love to go to the park." said Kerry, snuggling against him.
"Oi, guys is it cool with you if we go to the park?" Smithy asked the group in general.
There was a general movement towards the park.
Kerry sat down on one of the swings, "Push me Smiffy." she said, in her best spoilt child voice.
Smithy obliged.
Kerry and Sally got into a competition to see who could swing the highest, Kerry was laughing and shrieking for Smithy to push her higher.
Sally was being pushed gently by Callum who was being incredibly careful with her. Kerry went so high that her swing tipped over, she screamed and fell.
Smithy didn't think about it, he leapt forwards to catch her. He broke her fall. Kerry was lying on top of him screaming her head off. Smithy let out a torrent of swear words, he pushed Kerry off and sat up.
Kerry realized that she wasn't dying and decided to check that Smithy was okay. She reached out for his arm, "Let's have a look." she said.
Smithy shook his head and held his arm closer to his body, cradling it protectively. Gina came over, "What happened?" she asked.
Smithy shook his head and didn't volunteer any information, Kerry was crying so much that her explanation was almost unintelligible anyway.
Gina quickly sussed out that Kerry wasn't actually hurt much beyond a few bruises and scrapes. She was more worried about Smithy.
Then a loud belligerent voice hailed them from across the park, it was the class below them. A gang of maybe 20 kids was approaching, among them were the gobby girl and the little blonde.
"What're you doing here?" asked one of them.
"Fuck off." said Mickey.
"Who says?" asked a tallish boy argumentatively.
"We do." said Neil moving forwards to stand shoulder to shoulder with Mickey.
"What? You gonna make us?" asked the gobby girl.
"Yeah." said Zain, "If you put it like that."
The group of kids swaggered forwards, "Bring it on." said one of the boys.
The gang boys went to meet them, Smithy got to his feet. There was no way he was being left out of a scrap with that group of kids.
Most of the boys in the group chickened, they started to slow down. Some of them even turned and walked away.
The gang members squared up to the remaining kids and the remaining kids ran away.
Mickey and Zain chased them, they caught a boy with short sandy hair. He was almost as tall as them.
Mickey and Zain dragged him back over to the gang, the boy was struggling and swearing at them.
The boys in the group worked him over then let him go, the kid sprinted off across the field. The gang laughed, "Who's scared now pussy? Here puss, puss, puss. Here pussy." their taunts reached the kid and made his blood boil.
Gina had persuaded Kerry to shut up, the gang moved on towards the rides again.
Most of the gang had used up their money after a few more rides, it was about 10 o'clock.
"I'm starved, whose up for a raid?" said Zain, looking around for nearest chippy.
Nearly everyone agreed that a raid was a good idea, in one sense anyway.
Gina wanted no part of it, "You're all going to get caught one day, then you'll be in trouble with the police."
"Yeah, one day, maybe in your dreams." said Callum, "But if you're not going to help then you can buy some stuff and distract the guy."
Gina was happy to do that. She went up to the chippy and asked for a portion of chips, a Coke and a packet of crisps. When the chippy turned his back to fetch the Coke and crisps Zain, Mickey and Neil leapt forwards and snatched a packet of rolls, a handful of sausages and a crate of fizzy drinks.
The chippy turned round and saw them making off with the stuff, Gina looked after them in horror. "Shall I call the police?" she asked innocently.
Mickey was swearing and juggling the sausages, he'd snatched them straight off the cooker and they were spitting. They reached the rest of the gang and they made off together towards the park.
Gina finished answering questions for the police and departed the scene hurriedly. She saw a pair of legs hanging down and realized that the gang were hanging out in the trees.
She looked up and saw Stuart casually jumping from one branch to another, chased by Phil.
"Oi, can I come up?" she shouted at them.
"Sure." said Max, he let down the rope ladder and hung it tantalizingly out of reach. Gina jumped up and caught hold of it, she climbed up it and sat down on one of the lower branches, leaning back against the trunk. Max pulled the ladder back up, Smithy and Kerry were kissing.
"Oi get a room." shouted Gabriel.
Smithy gave him the finger, Gabriel threw his empty can at them. It hit the back of Kerry's head, Smithy broke away from Kerry and said "Gabriel, if you do that again I'm gonna come over there and rip your head off."
Gabriel laughed and swigged too much coke and choked. Smithy laughed, Gabriel scowled and snapped a twig off the tree. Gina glared at him and Gabriel hastily dropped the twig.