All For One...

I looked at all the wonderful foods on display, pausing momentarily as my eyes passed over the box of chocolate marshmallow fish on the counter and the memory (no, not going there again). I even ignored my all time favourite pastry ‘the matchstick’. I passed by the counter and went to the freezer. I was after ice-cream. It was another hot day. I had intended to enjoy my ill gotten gains, in the way I would never normally have done so. There I examined the list and worked out the maths and realised, I didn’t have enough. Part D of the plan was not looking good. I scanned down the list from the best to another option. I worked that out, and and despite the surprised expression from the shop keeper I made my purchase. He had asked what I was doing, and I confidently gave him false information by way of an answer. It must have appeared confident, because was satisfied with the answer I provided him with. I returned to the school to enjoy the spoils.

The sun was hot as I walked back up the side gate and to the lunch area, where, much to everyone’s pleasure, I started handing out free ice blocks to all the kids in my class. It wasn’t long before a small group had gathered round me, including a few from the other class next to us, all only too happy to take an ice block. It wasn’t much later that I had another person walk up to where I sat. Mr Walsh. He looked around the playground at all the children with their ice blocks and looked at me hard. “Mr Dwyer.” I looked up, no doubt swallowing hard. “Would you come with me please.” He politely asked me. I stood up, passing what was left of the two boxes of ice blocks to another student to finish giving out. Mr Walsh did not look at the boxes, he just looked towards his room. I moved away and approached the stairs.

I knew I was in trouble. I knew I was going to get into trouble when I did it. So there were no surprises there. I knew that, compared to other punishments I had received for much lesser faults, I was likely to be in for one hell of a hiding, from my father. Worse, I had realised that I was likely facing one hell of a hiding from the principal (in those days the cane was in use as a form of punishment, plus probably suspension, if not expulsion from the school. A primary school no less. That in itself was pretty unusual. But I wasn’t going to regret what I had done. The other children were all delighted with ice blocks on such a hot day. Even ‘E’ & ‘K’ (and their followers) had happily taken an ice block (unaware they had in fact bought them). But, this time, everyone got something from the twins. That was my idea. That was the ‘Robin Hood’ effect I was trying for. Taking from the rich, to give to the poor. Us. Those of us, that were always being categorised by the ‘rich kids’ as poor at least. 

(Continued tomorrow)