The Noose

“You wanna go play? Let’s take your soccer ball. Maybe we’ll get picked for the team this year.”

“HEY, MOM! Rich and I are gonna go to the park and practice soccer. IS THAT OKAY?”

“Hi rich, how’s your mother?r”

“She’s fine Mrs. Sanderson.”

“Okay, you be careful, Bobby, you too Rich, don’t chase balls into the street.”

“Yes mother.”

“Yes Mrs. Sanderson.”

“Run along and have fun.”

“Wow! Your mom’s as bad as mine.”

“Yeah. I hope the field is dry, I hate getting my shoes soaked. I get blisters.”

“Me too. Mine bleed.”

“So do mine.”

“I’ll kick it over there and you run get it and try to get it between those trees. They’ll be the goal.”

“Okay .. . Wow, good kick.”

“Go get it.”

“Gimme a second. I need to retire my shoe.”

“Okay. Hurry, we’re wasting time. I have to be home in 2 hours.”

“It’s not over here. I think it went in these trees. I’ll look.”

“BOBBY? WHERE ARE YOU,”

“IM HERE. FOUND IT . . . AAAIIEEEEE! HELP ME RICH, SOMETHING’S GOT MY FOOT!”

“COMING . . . what happened, where’s your foot?”

“In the bush, somethings around my ankle . . . it really hurts.”

“I see it, it’s a wire of some kind. I’ll try to—.”

“AAAIIEEE, don’t touch it.”

“What’s wrong? You guys okay? I heard someone yell.”

“Don’t know mister, Bobby’s foot is caught in a wire.”

“Son of a . . . a noose. What the hell is that doing here? Hold still buddy, my leather man has cutters—.”

“Oh god, don’t touch it, it hurts a lot . . . OUCH!”

“It’s cut. It’s not that deep, you’ll be fine. I’m calling an ambulance and the police. What’s your name and number, is someone home?”

“My mom. She’s gonna kill me.”

“I doubt it. Here, squeeze my hand hard.”

“Thanks mister.”