The Ashton Road Gang Chapter 7. July Part 2

All the buses had gone, as had the ambulance. Mr. Peach was bent over a car talking to someone inside. As I ran up, the door opened and Mr Plunkett got out.

"Well?" snapped Mr. Peach at me.

"Lewis is stuck in a drainpipe. And Miss Trumpeter she’s.............!" I did not know how to tell them.

Mr. Peach gave a groan and started running across the field to her. Mr. Plunkett stayed, he looked down at me. "What about Miss Trumpeter?" he asked.

"She’s.... she’s laughing, Sir." I said.

"That!" said Mr Plunkett "That is something I must see. You get in the car and do not move or touch anything."

Five minutes later Mr. Plunkett returned. "Mr. Peach and Miss Trumpeter will stay here until the rescue services arrive. I think we’d better get you home before I have two sets of parents knocking on my door."

That suited me fine. He dropped me off at the bottom of Ashton Road. Despite all the events of the afternoon I was going to arrive home at the same time as usual. I said "Thank-you!" to Mr. Plunkett. "Perhaps," he replied. "I’ll see you in the morning in my office. We will discuss your little escapade further then"

I was expecting that "Yes sir, Goodnight sir."

Next morning Mr. Plunkett told the whole school how Lewis had been rescued. Council workmen had to uncover the drain, then the fire brigade had to cut Lewis free. The head lectured us at length once again about telling Lewis to do things.

Later that morning I was sent for, The interview was short and painful. Not that I cared much for that though. Nothing that Mr. Plunkett could do as punishment could outweigh the honour which Mr. Chambers class had given me. They had carried me, shoulder high, round the playground cheering all the way. Mr Chambers would not be back in school until after the summer holidays.

The school sports? I did not have to take part in them, after all. I broke two fingers on my spoon carrying hand the day before. I got them trapped in my bicycle chain trying to fix my bike. Instead of suffering the indignity of coming last in the race, I could sit on the grass with all my family and watch all the other idiots making themselves hot, while I relaxed.