Sample

Thomas had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, as he knew he was going to do it again, despite promising his mummy that he never would. It wasn't that he really wanted to do it, but if he did, then he thought it would save him from a big telling off, from his mummy, which she was so good at giving him.

Thomas gave a deep sigh, thinking how things never seemed to work out, the way he hoped. Somehow, and he didn't know how, his mummy always seemed to find out. Then he got into even more trouble, with her, for telling the lie.

But he had no daddy. There was just his sister and mummy besides himself in their house. He knew his mummy was often sad and he'd heard her crying in the night, when she was in bed all alone. So he thought if he told the lies, and she didn't get to know what he'd done, then he'd not upset his mummy any more.

He loved his mummy very much and didn't want to do things to hurt her. He wasn't always sure if his mummy loved him as much as Jessica, his sister, because Jessica never seemed to get into as much trouble as he did.

He couldn't see why it mattered, so much to his mummy, that he went a bike ride into the woods. It was good fun to play there because there was so much to do. Besides, his friend's mummy let him go, so he wasn't going to be called a mummy's boy, just because his own mummy wouldn't let him do things like that.

When Daniel had asked him, \"Coming for a ride into the woods today?\" Thomas had been quick to reply, \"Of course.\" He never gave a thought to the possible consequences of such an action.

\"Great, I overheard my big brother mention, to his friend, there's a good rope swing been put up. He says it's just off the main path, through the woods. How about if we try to find it?\"

\"Fantastic,\" agreed Thomas. Yet all the time hating himself for once more breaking his promise to his mummy. But it was just too tempting, so he had to go and play there. Besides, he bet if he'd got a daddy he'd let him go. He'd have understood, because, after all, he'd have once been a young boy himself. That was the trouble with mummy, she just didn't understand the games boys liked to play. She only understood Jessica, who always wanted to play with her Barbie dolls and such things.

Thomas often wondered what it would have been like if he'd a daddy. In the past, he'd questioned his mummy a lot about what had happened to daddy, because he couldn't remember him ever being there. But as he grew older, he knew his questioning really upset his mummy, as he saw the tears come quickly to her eyes, when he mentioned the lack of a daddy. She'd never really told him what had happened to his daddy, only said he'd had to go away just after Thomas was born and never came back. That had left his mummy all alone, to look after two children.

He couldn't understand why Jessica never seemed as bothered as him, that there was no daddy. Maybe she thought mummy wouldn't have cared so much about her, if daddy had been there. Jessica was only two years older than Thomas, but he thought she was a real pain, as she tried to act like a mummy to him, always telling him what to do.

When she did this Thomas would snap at her, \"Leave me alone, you're not my mummy.\"

But now Thomas forgot all about this, as he excitedly set off on his bicycle ride with Daniel. As they got near the woods Daniel threw a challenge out to him, \"Race you to see who can find the rope swing first.\"

Thomas didn't answer, instead pushed his bike off and got a head start on Daniel. But he didn't keep that lead long, as Daniel had a very smart, new suspension bicycle and was soon ahead of Thomas's old, rusty bike, that made weird noises as it moved along, like it was falling to pieces. Thomas felt a slight sob in his throat at the injustice of it all. He'd wanted a new bicycle for Christmas, but instead he'd just got this rusty heap.

Mummy had tried to explain that she'd not a lot of pennies spare to send for Father Christmas to buy the presents. So this must have been the best bicycle he could find with the money sent. Daniel was lucky, he had a mummy and daddy and got all the things he asked for off Father Christmas.

Thomas had lost sight of Daniel, as he speeded on ahead, and the dust from the dry track rose into Thomas's face and eyes. But he soon heard a shout, \"It's over here.\"

Thomas just followed the sound of Daniel's voice until he found him at the tree and already swinging on the rope. His lovely, shiny, new bicycle had just been flung on the ground, as if it was any old one, like Thomas's. Thomas knew if that lovely bicycle was his, he'd have found a proper place to put it, like resting it up against a nearby tree. It made Thomas sad to see his friend treat his nice, new possessions like this. He did it with everything he got. Thomas decided Daniel had no idea how lucky a boy he really was.

Not that Thomas was unhappy. Mummy was very good to him in many ways and he knew she did really love him a lot. It was just her sadness he found so upsetting.

He came out of his thoughts to shout at Daniel. \"Hey, let me have a go now.\"

\"One more swing,\" he shouted back and as he finished the swing he leapt off the rope, whilst it was still high in the air. Thomas's heart went into his mouth, as he was sure Daniel must have hurt himself. But he jumped back up quickly and laughed, \"That was great. Your turn now. When you've finished jump off like that. That's great fun.\"

Thomas wasn't sure about that. It wasn't that he was a coward, but he didn't like the thought of doing things that could cause him some injury. He'd once dropped a heavy pan on his foot, when his mummy had told him not to pick it up. He'd screamed with pain and mummy had to rush him to hospital. He'd never forgotten that pain and he never wanted pain like that again. What made it worse was, that he didn't get a lot of sympathy from his grandma, when he told her about it. She'd only said it was his own fault for disobeying his mummy, and that's what happens if you don't do as you're told.

Thomas enjoyed the swinging and lost all sense of time. He didn't want to get off the rope when Daniel shouted it was his turn again. For once Thomas did as his instinct told him and he gently stopped the rope and let go. Daniel sneered at him, \"Who's a coward then. Just watch this.\"

With that he went higher and higher into the air. Thomas felt as if his heart was in his mouth, in panic, that something horrible would happen to Daniel. He heard a small scream as he saw Daniel let go of the rope, at a great height, in order to jump down. He realized the sound had come from himself. He only heard Daniel laugh as he hurtled towards the ground.

But suddenly the sound changed to an ear piercing scream and Thomas wasn't sure if Daniel was screaming in pleasure of what he'd just done, or in deep pain.

Thomas soon forgave Daniel for his nasty comments about him being a coward as he quickly ran to his side. One look at his friend was enough to tell him that he was indeed crying in pain. Daniel's face was screwed up and tears streaming down his face as he muttered to Thomas. \"Get help, my leg, I think I've broken it.\"

\"Oh no,\" whispered Thomas, not quite sure what to do, because he was frightened the cat would be out of the bag, what he'd got up to that afternoon. Then he'd have to face his mummy's anger once more.

Daniel muttered again, \"What are you waiting for? Can't you see I'm in great pain.\"

\"Yes, of course. I'll just get my bicycle and go and find a house with a telephone, to ring for help.\"

\"Take my bicycle. It's quicker than yours .\"

Thomas felt a slight lift of his sprits at the thought he'd now got a chance to have a ride on Daniel's bicycle. Despite all his begging to have a go, Daniel had always refused. But then he felt slightly insulted that Daniel was once more criticizing the speed of his old, rusty bicycle.

By the time he got to the nearest house, he was so worked up that the lady who answered the door gave him a very strange look. She made as if to shut the door in his face, but Thomas pulled himself back together. \"Please, it's my friend. I think he's broken his leg.\"

\"I see, so where is he?\"

Thomas mumbled quietly, \"In the woods.\"

\"I see. I suppose you weren't supposed to be playing there.\"

\"Yes.\"

\"Oh well, never mind that for the moment. We'd better see to your friend. I'll just phone for an ambulance, then you can take me to him. I've got my first aid certificate so I might be able to make him more comfortable until the ambulance gets here.\"

In no time at all, she came back around the house and Thomas wanted to let out a small laugh when he saw she was wheeling a rusty, shabby bicycle that looked as bad as his.

Seeing his look she challenged. \"I know it's not as posh a bicycle as yours, but it will get me there.\"

Thomas kept quiet, he didn't want to own up that his own bicycle was as shabby as her's.

Soon they were back at Daniel's side and Thomas felt terrible when he heard his friend groaning in pain as they approached him. But the kindly lady, seeing Thomas's look of distress, comforted him. \"Don't worry, the ambulance will soon be here, then they'll make your friend comfortable. As soon as they've taken him to hospital you'd better come back to my house, so we can telephone his mummy to tell her what's happened.

Thomas's heart sank at these words, now he'd be in for it. Daniel's mummy would know his voice, even if he didn't give his name.

Before he'd chance to worry any more about that, he heard the siren announcing the arrival of the ambulance.

\"See, I told you they wouldn't be long,\" said the kindly lady, as if speaking to both of the boys.

The ambulance man was full of sympathy as he looked at Daniel. \"Don't worry young man, they'll soon have you fixed up as right as rain at the hospital.\"

The lady moved to the side of the ambulance man, \"Have we to ring his mummy and tell her what's happened?\"

\"No that's alright, just leave it all to us.\"

Suddenly Thomas felt a lot better and quickly asked. \"Can I go in the ambulance to say good-bye to Daniel.\"

\"If you want.\" Thomas could see the man give him a funny look, as if this was unusual.

Once at Daniel's side Thomas whispered in his ear, \"Please don't tell your mummy I was with you this afternoon.\"

Daniel mumbled something and Thomas took it to mean that he'd not tell his mummy. Now he felt a lot better. His friend was in good hands and his own mummy would never know where he'd spent the afternoon and what had happened.

He saw the kind lady looking at the two bicycles. \"I'll take them,\" Daniel quickly said, before she could suggest anything else.

\"If you're sure you can manage.\"

\"Of course.\"

Thomas wasn't going to let her see his was the old, rusty bicycle, so he made as to pick up the nice new bicycle making it appear it was his own, then he asked her if she'd pass him the other bicycle. Holding both handle bars he set off home, already planning his next course of action.

He'd go to Daniel's house, on the way home, and if nobody was in sight he'd quickly put Daniel's bicycle in the drive, then get away before he was seen.

Luck seemed to be really with him, as nobody was around at all, as he put Daniel's bicycle safely in his drive then set off home himself. He started to whistle a tune under his breath as he peddled along. He felt happy again.

As he arrived home he hoped he didn't look flustered, so his mummy would notice anything amiss. She shouted to him, from the kitchen, as she heard him enter the house, \"Had a good afternoon at Daniel's?\"

Thomas managed a cheery reply, \"Yes thanks,\" as he moved into the lounge to watch television.

That was it home and dry, he could forget all about the incident and at last he'd got away with a lie.

View Synopsis View Information Purchase Options