What Friends Are For (1st Place)

Here comes ‘Five foot nothing’ my grandpa used to say. He would know. He’d be looking me in the eye each time he said it. “Stand up for yourself, Ricky.” That’s all I could remember, as I stood looking up at the tower of a boy called Nicholas Petrovic.

Nick’s nostrils flared. His fists tightened. His eyes squinted. I held my ground. I knew Mrs. Ferguson lie stationed just around the corner. So, I called his bluff.

“We can play on the monkey bars. It’s for all the kids to play on." I jabbed my finger into his sternum. "Not just you.”

John, my best friend, seemed antsy. He stared at his feet with an “I can’t believe he just said that” look. He swallowed hard a few times, trying his best to back me up, but keeping his hands in his pockets.

“This ain’t over, stubby. You and your girlfriend are invited to fight after school. I know Mrs. Ferguson is over there. Meet me behind Steinman’s garage right after school,” He sneered. “If you need me to draw you a map, I’d be happy to. Oh, and I’ll come looking for ya, if you don’t show.”

He sucker punched me and all the wind expelled from my lungs in a heartbeat. I dropped to the ground gasping in pain.

Nick put his finger to his lips, and no one said a word.

John fell to a knee, and helped me up.

“You ain’t going are you?”

“I have to.” I rasped.

……………..

After school, I marched to the garage and waited. John came sauntering up.

“Where is he?”

“He’s not coming. After I sent the recording off my phone to his mother, she grounded him.”

“You sneaky devil.”

“Better than watching you become a puddle of blood.”


299 Words
Flash Story Must Contain: Tower, Map, Feet