SOMEWHERE TO PARK
A short story by Mick Macve
Part 5
Alan could not believe it. Larry James was crying.
"Please don’t tell on me, sir. I’m sorry, sir. I know I was wrong, sir, but I had to have to the money, sir. I’m sorry! It’s my…it’s my…oh! You wouldn’t understand. Nobody understands me."
Large tears were running down Larry’s cheeks.
Alan kept quiet. He didn’t really know what to say. He thought he should say something.
"I don’t know what to say, Larry. You say that nobody understands you. Try talking to me. I will listen. I might understand you."
"You wouldn’t understand."
Alan kept quiet.
A long silent minute went by. The clock in Alan’s classroom ticked noisily. Shouting and laughter echoed from the playground. It was the mid morning break and Alan had asked Larry to wait behind at the end of the lesson.
Eventually, Larry broke the silence.
"Do you want to see a photo of my sister, Joanne? She’s disabled."
Larry showed him a crumpled photograph of a sweet looking girl, looking up from her wheelchair and smiling at the camera.
"Took that photo myself. Carry it with me everywhere."
Larry covered his face with his hands.
"Go on," said Alan quietly.
"I love her. I can’t stand to see anyone shout at her. My Dad… My Dad…."
"Your Dad?"
"He’s a policeman. He’s strict. I can’t talk to him. He shouts at me. Says I’m a piece of rubbish. If he shouts at Joanne, she’ll go crazy. I can’t stand it. I CAN’T STAND IT!!!"
Larry was standing up, shouting.
"Larry, calm down. I’m listening. Go on. What happened?" Alan was almost whispering.
Larry sat down and looked intently at Alan. He nodded his head.
"It’s Joanne. She did something silly. She doesn’t know any better. She’s only six. She doesn’t understand."
"What did she do?"
"She took some money from my Mum. Twenty pounds. It was in her purse. She was bullied at school. We’ve got loads of money at home. My Mum wouldn’t mind. But my Dad…..he’d go beserk. These kids…they said that if Joanne didn’t give them twenty pounds, they’d make sure both legs didn’t work. So she took the money. She was scared. So I thought…"
"You wanted to put the money back in your Mum’s purse."
"Yes. I’m sorry. I’M SORRY!! Please don’t tell anyone. Please don’t tell my Dad. Don’t tell Brand. He’ll tell my Dad. Please sir. Please."
Larry broke into hysterical sobbing.
Alan shyly put his hand around Larry’s shoulder.
"Don’t worry. Calm down. Listen. I’ve got an idea."
Somewhere To Park part 6
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last modified: April 24, 1998
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