Third Road Incident This Month699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXc3CdfIMcV
The busy streets of Maytown have claimed their third life last Sunday. A 17 year old boy (who has been requested by his family to not be identified) was run over while crossing Hampton St. The driver of the vehicle stated that it was like the boy 'simply appeared from nowhere'. Pedestrians are encouraged to cross streets with the utmost of care.699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12fJvTY7h6
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First Sunday of the summer holidays. Down at the old dirt track in the forest, with that age old mindset of the world being ours, jumping on bikes like we'd never fall.699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPipr18LeB
I had to bring Charlotte along too - had to look after her, my parents said, but they should know that I wouldn't give a damn about what she did or didn't want to do.699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFHCVwNV30
'I'm bored, Bran.'699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXIPYgWLFQ3
'Shut up. Read your book.' Everyone laughs at my sister, but only momentarily - we paid her little attention.699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSLxzpUWjN
We'd all waited six months to get our RX-4s, and I wasn't going to let Charlotte ruin this day of celebration.699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1pvzDOaOn
'Oy, Brandon, watch this sick flip.' Jake flashes a smile, jumps the bike over a large rock, turning clockwise in a full revolution while airborne.699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNub2aHjf5g
'Yeah?' I start grinding the pedals of my RX towards the lift in the road. Propelled into the air, I take my hands of the bike - clap once, clap twice, oh shit - I land it just in time, absorbing the shock of the ground with a forward lean at the last second.699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPe5csLE5yC
Not to be outdone, Liam does the same, but claps once, twice, again, three times! And lands it with a whoop.699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPKkEDKcHa
Charlotte wails in consternation. 'Bran, mom said that you should be careful.'699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0QWYLfDOpP
'I told you to shut up!' I take the jump again with 4 claps, and pump my fists at Liam and Jake. 'Who's the man?'699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmM8QFZouQx
Jake sneers playfully, and goes down the track a bit to build speed - when he's in the air, he gets one, two, three, four, five, six - shit! He hits the ground with an elegant thud, and, swearing loudly (with some admonishments from Charlotte), we rush over to him.699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZJwTIQUgi
'Crap, did you break anything?'699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZKNv6CDWF
Jake props himself up on our shoulders as he rises with a groan. 'Nah, it'll be fine. Where's the bike?'699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡitPeYSc3M7
It wasn't on the road. 'It... it must have tumbled out somewhere. Charlotte, did you see it?'699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI75tlgWJf4
She let out a 'hmmph' noise in response. I sigh. 'Just sit down here. Liam 'n' I will see if we can find it. It won't be far.' Even as I speak the words, confusion begins to pass over our faces - how did we not see the bike?699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtM49UzOZ0C
Jake settles down on the track and inspects his injuries as Liam and I trek a little bit into the trees. Where could it have gone?699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2nvLM1Z6f
'Bloody hell, guys, take a look at this.'699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkadukWZBj
I sprint over, and -699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡox51M5XiWp
A bike, in the middle of a tree trunk, rusted and bent, frozen in the clutches of the tree. 'Holy shit.' I grab a stick to scrape off the rust. Just visible, almost entirely worn away, is the engraving RX-4.699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwczPrVAKPq
'Get away from it.' Liam was staring at the tree. 'I don't like this...' I back off. It was making me uneasy.699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSv6dWFgzR
We head back to the track. Jake looks up at us.699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjh8NDIReF
Liam is the first to speak. 'We couldn't find it.' I give him a quick glance of surprise. He swallows. 'I dunno where it's gone.'699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3VOXjF4mc
'Whaaaat? That's my frigging bike!' Jake attempts to stand in shock but collapses on his still unstable legs. 'It can't just have disappeared!'699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujfJhry0NZ
'We'll come back tomorrow to find it.' I manage. 'It'll be somewhere.'699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2Z738wICB
Jake stares at us in disbelief. 'You guys are crazy. That's my bike.'699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpMBlHnfKy
Liam is pale. 'You can search if you want. Bran and I are going.'699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0ustRvdRh
'Charlotte, come on, we're going.' Pause. 'Charlotte?' Crap. 'Jake, where the fuck did she go?'699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPLmR6yHE2
'I don't give a bloody damn!' He stumbled off into the trees. 'I'm going to find what's mine, you find what's yours.'699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLAUgu6t6x
'Jake, you can't just go off and - Jake! Come back.' He disappears into the thicket.699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24JMT5upNw
Liam tugs at my arm. 'Let's just go, Bran, I don't - ' His voice trails off.699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhhivzQ1yGL
I pause. Shout out for Jake once more. Shout out for Charlotte. Nothing. I nod.699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8q2FBOPqRo
We get onto our bikes and go as fast as we can back to Liam's place, breathless and dragged down by drenched clothes.699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjh2DiABepj
'They're gonna be okay, aren't they?' Liam asks.699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9Mrh0bxTn
I don't know. I really don't. 'They'll be fine.' He heads into his house, and, calmer now, I cycle slowly back home.699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYwuarCrKI
From across the street, I can see Charlotte sitting on the front porch. How did she get back so fast? It doesn't matter - at least mom isn't going to kill me now. I get off my bike and wait on the curb.699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QJqMKlmWj
'Charlotte! Why the fuck did you go?' She doesn't answer. 'CHARLOTTE!' Bloody hell. Hopeless girl. She'd better be ready for another beating after the next car passes.699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNL2NYmpBFg
She raises a hand - but it's not in greeting. Flick - 699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEYHiEmIi2
The world spins.699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnEuUNR3zV
The screeching of tires.699Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNbXJmSCUH
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