Soundly Clipped

I was soundly clipped across the ear. My head rang somewhat. Chimed the tolling of the biggest church bell in fact. It hurt. It was quick, somewhat harder than was probably necessary, but that was not a point I wanted to argue. He then crouched down with his face planted firmly in front of mine. Crouching. That was to sit on his haunches. And coming down from his six foot plus height (six foot tall used to be the ‘minimum’ height for police officers) and practically having to fold his immense frame, to my very short four foot two (I was never very tall, especially as a child), was in itself an exhibition of mass and movement. He still had one hand gripping my shoulder firmly. In fact it was the weight of that arm that practically pinned me to the ground. He moved his lips. I could see them moving through the tears that had immediately welled up. I must have looked blank. Actually I must have looked surprised first, then blank. “What? I asked. Then instantly remembering to add “Sir?”  as the ringing in my head subsided.

I was hearing the sound of the crowd again as the impact from the hand passed away. “Now, you listen to me young man.” He began in a soft tone that I could just hear. “Do you think your mother would like to think you were a thief?” I was crying again. I shook my head. He looked at me and raised a quizzical eyebrow. “No, Sir”. I answered realising he was awaiting a verbal confirmation. “And your father? Would you like him to know you were a thief?” I vehemently shook my head. “No!” he answered for me. “Then I suggest to you. If you want something, and, if you don’t have the money to pay for it. Then you don’t touch it.” He looked me hard in the eye. Even though that is just a phrase, it carries a lot of impact, when a large (six foot plus policeman) looks you, an upset (four foot two) eight year old, in the eye. You know you have been looked at ‘hard’. You feel the impact of that look. And strangely, despite the dulled ringing and the equally dulled tone (due to audio exclusion from the whack), that hard stare also does wonders for the hearing. You could almost say, it reaches a deeper more primal area of the brain. No doubt cave men hunting game and coming face to face with a serious predator, as their role of hunter changed to prey, experienced that same ‘hard stare’.

“So, you won’t be stealing from anyone else?’ the policeman glared down at me. “Do we have an understanding?” The policeman asked, speaking sternly. I nodded my head in assertion. “Yes, Sir.” I answered somewhat meekly now. “Do I need to involve your parents in this then?” He asked unnecessarily, reaching for his notebook, as if to take down my name and details. My heart jumped again as panic suddenly took over.

 (Continued tomorrow)