On The Rails Version 2

That bloody rail is slipperier than a bar of wet soap. If I don’t hit it right, I’m gonna bail and splat right at their feet. They’ll never let me in if that happens. I so want to be in. They know all the best spots. I saw them at the park the other day. They know all the cool girls too. I’ve gotta make this count.

The rider stood, left foot on his board and right holding him still, at the top of the driveway leading down to a delivery dock behind a closed supermarket. He nervously rolled the board back and forth under his foot. He looked small and fragile against the landscape around him. In the afternoon sun, his oversized t-shirt was damp where his worry had turned to sweat. He rubbed his forehead on his sleeve and looked at the gang of boys sitting on the dock, waiting for him.

Concentrate, now, stop day dreaming. I’m so glad I’m not wearing those pads the olds gave me. They felt so uncomfortable and I couldn’t bend my knees properly. Besides, if the boys saw them, there is no way they would’ve let me have a crack at the rail. No way, not on your life. They probably woulda belted me and nicked my board. None of them wear pads so why should I? Man, I hope I don’t fall off. Nah, I won’t fall, I’m going to nail it.

He tensed for a moment then pushed off with his right foot. He let the sloping drive help build up his momentum before he gave another push. His body rolled to the left slightly and the board turned towards the dock. He straightened back up and looked at his feet.

Man, this tar is smooth as; hope the board doesn’t slide out on me. I gotta push hard and nail the ollie. Just one more big push and I think I’ll be going fast enough. I’m glad I tightened up the trucks a little before I got here. Okay, need to pull my left foot back a bit and make sure my right is on the tail. Here goes, gotta get the board to pop just right. Push down hard with the right and lift the left, push down and lift, push down and lift… Now!

He lifted his right foot off the board one more time and gave a big push, lifting his leg high to get as much force as possible. The board shot forward and he shifted as he positioned his feet on the board. As he approached the dock, he made one final adjustment to his stance. Again, his body tensed as he popped the board into the air.

Yeah, look at me, I’m flying. Gotta keep it simple, though. Save the frontside show offs for later. Just gotta hit that rail hard go for a simple board slide. Oh sweet, here it comes. Oh yeah, right in the centre of the board. Now, just gotta keep my balance and hope I went hard enough to slide the length.

The rider lifted his knees up almost to his chest. Both board and rider seemingly defied gravity as they flew up and onto the steel rail. The quiet, expectant air broke with the sound of wood hitting and sliding on metal.

I’ve done it, I’ve done it! Oh, yeah, the boys are loving this. Look at ‘em, they’re going sick. Ha ha, lets see what they think of this. Oh, no, oh noooo…!

The rider slid up the rail and onto the flat part of it at the top. Whether cocky or wanting to further impress the gang of boys, he seemed to loose concentration while giving his friends the thumbs up gesture. The board slid off the end of the rail but the rider’s momentum carried him forward and away from the board. There was a sickening thump as he came down on the ground below the dock. The other boys first laughed then went very quiet when he didn’t get up.

…Whoa, where am I? Oh damn, I’m in hospital, I think. Oh no, that’s Mum there. She looks really worried. Aw, hell, I’m in big trouble. Who’s behind her? It’s the boys. Don’t tell me they’re here to give me a hard time? Nah, look, they’re smiling and waving to me. I think I’m in. Oh man, I bailed hard but they’re still going to let me in. Now, all I have to do is convince Mum…