5 September 2012
THIS IS NOT A TRUE STORY Worth It? By Mary Bradshaw We were running round the playground – the cool kids. The only cool kids. I liked that, being cool.
Just how I wanted it. Everyone knowing your name and who you are.
“Christie. You ever stolen?”
“N – Yes. ‘Course.”
A lie. A stupid, stupid lie. They knew it, too.
“Definitely. ‘Cos your cool ‘n all that…”
Oh. God.
Although I liked this ‘cool’ thing, I’m not actually sure whether I was that keen on my ‘friends’. They never sounded like they believed me, I suppose that’s not hard. I sometimes… lie?
“Comin’ out wiv’ us tonight?” “Yeah,” “Good. See ya’ at…. Six-ish. East Street.”
Why didn’t I realise? Why didn’t I guess what they were going to make – force me to do? I’m so foolish.
Six o’clock. They were already there. Waiting, cigarettes in hand. Complaining they only had a few left, they requested that I went and got them some fags.
Act. Cool.
“You shouldn’t really smoke… It’s bad for you. Makes your nails go yellow, your teeth disgusting, and…”
“For crissake! We just want one packet. Not an ‘uge lecture! Jesus…” “Right. One packet. Fine. Give me the money then,” “Sheesh. Don’t ‘ya know why we’re ‘ere?”
Yes, I did. Sadly. They wanted me to steal. It was too late. Too late to go back. I ran out of excuses weeks ago. They were always trying to make me do things. Things I didn’t want to do. Bad, naughty things.
I walked into the newsagent’s.
“Hello,” “Hi, do you have any spearmint chewing gum? There doesn’t appear to be any here.” “I’ve got some at the back. I’ll fetch you some, Love. Won’t be a minute.”
With her distracted, the coast was clear. I had the perfect chance. The cigarettes were just there. If only I could…
“Gotcha!”
I spun round. Who on earth was that?
Oh. No.
The short, round shopkeeper looked up at me, her eyes glaring. Completely different to how I’d seen before… The look on her face was haunting. It would be in my mind forever.
My ‘friends’ had gone. Obviously. I’ll never try to be ‘cool’ again. Because the people that are? They’re just not worth it. They’re really not.
Opuss № I