Someone's Son Chapter 8

CHAPTER EIGHT     

It seems today was meant to be one of those days. Sheldon was in a nasty mood. It was as if his freckles were on fire.

          He pedaled his precious bike into the yard before jumping off. Wobbling crazily, it hit the garage door with a bang, putting a little dent in the green paint. It was almost like a physical blow to the boy. Thankfully, the anger inside of him began to spill out.

          It seems the bike had a will of its own before falling and banging on the ground. Hard. The memory was a good one the day mom bought it for his twelfth birthday. Imagine, having your own mountain bike. "All the kids have one mom," he said.

          He really didn’t mean it like that, but they could never afford one. 

          And so they had set off to Home Hardware in Debert. As soon as Sheldon saw the brand name 'Free Spirit' he knew that was for him. A Free Spirit with no shackles; that was for him. No tough rules to follow either for the model kid.

          Mom had looked at the price and gasped. "One hundred fifty dollars!"

          "Plus tax," Sheldon added.

          He didn't care if it was a lot of money. He had to have it. The sleek back seat needed someone like himself to guide it down country roads, gold-rimmed frame glistening in the sun.

          Mom was pleased he kept his part of the bargain; to pay for half of it.

          Now the bike lay sprawled on it's side, front wheel turning listlessly. A scrape showed on the frame where it had fallen on the asphalt. He could kick himself for being so rough. It wasn't his bike's fault he felt so miserable.

          It was a combination of things. It was his mother's fault for not really listening to him anymore. It was Larry for butting into his life and asking why Sheldon didn't phone him as much lately. But, it was probably more Troy's fault for Sheldon’s misery.

          And what about his father? He had come out of nowhere to interfere with the boy’s cozy life. So many thoughts flew around. It's true that Larry and Sheldon didn't go out much now, only for a hamburger now and then. And Troy. How could he be so foolish? He was more than stupid to pick on Larry. And now the cops would be checking on everything.

          What if they found out it was Troy? Would he go to jail or back to training school? The enormity of the moment was almost too much for him. His shoulders heaved with the pressure.

          There were so many things to worry about.

          His attention was diverted by the presence of an RCMP car pulling into the driveway next to his home. His heart skipped a beat. The RCMP! Both officers got out of the car and walked up to the front door. Just then his mom drove into their driveway, stopping a few feet short of his bike.

          "What happened? Have an accident son?" she called, looking at his bike with concern in her voice.

          "Yes a little," he lied. He couldn't tell her the truth. She would ask a hundred questions. He'd explain later, then apologize. Better to keep her in a good mood for now.

          "Help me Hon," his mom said handing Sheldon a bag of groceries. "What's up?"

          "I don't know mom. They just arrived before you did."

          "Hold on a minute Sheldon. Officers, excuse me," and she was off.

          Why doesn't she mind her own business? Sheldon thought. Good ole mom always wanting to find out things so she could help out. When she returned, Sheldon told her about visiting Larry to warn him about Troy.

          "Son, why didn't you say anything before?"

          "Well, I suppose you're going to tell," he said looking at the ground.

          "That's the case they're investigating. It seems they found a footprint with a distinctive running shoe mark," his mom said. "Don't you think you should tell them it was Troy?"

          Sheldon stood off to one side clutching tightly to a bag of groceries. He barely spoke in a whisper. "I'll be inside mom," and went into the house. His mom didn't see Sheldon leave by the back door, then bike to the ocean harbor, a mile away. He always enjoyed hikes along the ocean shore, especially at low tide, like right now. It was time to do some serious thinking.

          His bare feet were sensitive to the red colored shore sand. Broken bits of seashell scattered by the tidewater scratched at his soles. It was a shame to see the beautiful shells without their original form. He searched intently for a conch shell as he wandered without destination along the beach.

          The first time Sheldon found a conch had been a special moment. Its spirals and contours were like highways. He still kept it on his dresser.

          Walking on the shore was always a blast searching for something interesting. Crabs skulked in the sand. He wasn't going in any special pattern. Just ambling along.

          Jellyfish clumps bobbed close to shore. You had to be careful of the larger ones. Their trailing tendrils were like fingers that wrapped quickly around bare skin. Sheldon felt their stings many times in the past.

          Smaller ones didn't seem to be a problem. Once, Sheldon had been brave and touched its soft top. Finally its mass of jelly bobbed away with the next receding wave. It was one of the victories he had achieved in his growing up. Like finally not believing lobsters would chase after you. Or that crabs scurrying across the sand wouldn't bite.

          He saw Troy on his blanket further down the beach, soaking up the sun. "Hey man, this is hot," his friend gasped.

          Sheldon didn't pay any attention. He had other things to worry about. How about his conversation with his mom a short while ago? How could Troy be such a wet head? He didn't know why he would want to scare Larry. That man was Sheldon’s friend. Besides, he wouldn't hurt a fly.

          "What's the matter pal?" Troy asked, punching Sheldon playfully on the shoulder. "What are you thinking about? Wait let me guess. You're worrying about Mr. Reynolds."

          Sheldon kicked at the sand. It was uncanny how his friend could almost read his thoughts. "Well... it does tee me off. I really like him. Larry has been like a father to me. I think you were a mean jerk smashing his window like that."

          "Hey. Hold it! Don't you go calling me a jerk! If you weren't my best pal, I'd bop ya one."

          "Well go ahead. I still think you're a jerk. A stinking jerk."

          "You're asking for it Sheldon. Lay off!"

          "What did Larry do to you? Why'd you go and do it? You're my best friend. And you've been staying out of trouble so far. I don't want you to go back to the Training School. Come on Troy, I wish you'd smarten up."

          "You little twerp. I don't mean it Sheldon, about bopping you. Sometimes my mouth runs off. But, I have a rep too. If you talked to me like that in front of my friends, I don't know what would happen."

          Both boys sauntered down the beach, each caught up in their own thoughts.

          Sheldon studied his friend carefully. He felt things closing in. He wasn't sure if his friend really would smack him. Should he tell him what Larry said? Also what his mom said about Troy being a bad influence? Even about the cops coming around?

          Troy was always in trouble in the past because of his temper. What if the RCMP should find out it was Troy who threw the rock? What if Sheldon told them like his mom said he should? He could get him in serious trouble, and end up losing a friend. Not long ago, Troy had confided, "I ain't never going back there. That dumb judge sure has it in for me. He said don't mess up this time."

          What was the right thing to do? Sheldon wondered.

          If he told, Troy would pay and so would he. If he didn't, well how could he face Larry and the suspicious RCMP? Even his mom would be furious at him for not telling who threw the rock.

          Larry might even stop being his friend. Would his father not come on Saturday's anymore? What to do? Maybe he should run away after all.

The idea kept coming back lately as things began to pile up. Maybe that wasn't such a bad idea, even if it was a chicken way out of his problem. There was a lot of pressure on him these days. Like, having to give up Saturdays with Larry. And Larry upset with Sheldon for having a juvenile delinquent for a friend. Add the possibility of Troy getting into serious trouble with the RCMP. It was too much of a burden for his shoulders.

          Both boys were lost in their own private thoughts as they headed home. Sheldon walked slowly behind his friend. He was thinking serious plans that were scary, yet exciting in their possibility.