A gang of boys prepare to take on the enemy... |
We organised by morning break to convene a Council of War Jimmy Scagg had told all the lads to gather by the bike shed wall There was Jimmy, Ben and Harry Billy Hitchcock, Dave and Steve Christian de Mellville, Stubbsy, Gavin and then me Jimmy Scagg was our General and he told us a sad story about how Scully Jenkins mum had made his sister very poorly Apparently, Scully's brother had stopped kissing her last week, cos his mum had seen Jimmy's sister half undressed with her new boss We all agreed right there and then to sort out this gross confusion and that kicking Scully's head in was the only sensible solution Little Billy Hitchcock was sent, note in hand, to Scully's buddy that if he didn't show at lunch his ugly nose would be made bloody At dinner time we heard the bell and all ten of us skipped the hall We met with Scully Jenkins' gang behind the old assembly hall There were eight of them - that seemed fair cos' they had Joe making them equal He was taller than a twelve year old and wider than two people I weighed up James Jones for myself he was like a rabid terrier all bone and sinew held with snot and a vicious streak of terror "No bitting, kicking in the balls" Jimmy said to Scully's glower "Appart from that anything goes, scream surrender and it's over" With that each General rallied his men and the playground war begun James Jones shot at me like an arrow, bowled me over, left me stunned I scrambled to my feet once more knocked off his glasses in surprise my fist against his doughy face he leered with rhumey eyes His fists flaying in a frenzy a gutteral wail escaped his lips but I was ready for him now and so I kicked him in the ribs Down he went all curled up, whimpering "Please stop. I surrender!" Christian de Mellville laughing whilst chewing on Joe's sweater Scully Jenkins was in a headlock Gavin looked badly winded Stubbsy's grin with bloody teeth Big Dave gone after Sinbad Ben and Harry were Missing in Action and Steve had grazed both of his knees but Jimmy's face was beaming he knew his sister would be pleased We ran off jeering at Jenkins replaying the battle again but this time lots more seemed to happen more blood, more battle, more men After the whistle, in English, we silently thought of our friends remembering all those who had fallen and just what had happened to Ben? The Battle of Jimmy's Sister would stir all our memories Immortalised for all summer as we picked off the scabs on our knees |