Thieving bastard

I don't know what to say really. Last Tuesday some bastard stole my new red 'stumpjumper' specialized bike from the locked garden shed. They can in and unscrewed to door from its hinges. Fortunately I don't have an emotional attachment to it, except it was the on hat accompanied me on my trip from Edinburgh.

Then, to compound the damn cheek of it, he came back to take whatever else was there. This time though Hamid spotted him and gave chase. He didn't catch as he disappeared down a side street. I'm not sure what Hamid would have done if he'd caught him. Apparently he was a big white guy with a shaved head. I suppose i can get it back on insurance so it's not all bad.

The worst aspect of it is the feeling that I must have been watch with the bike and putting it into the shed. I used to feel very safe here, at least after Sam let. Anyway, mustn't let these things get to you, and I still have my old trusty bike.

***

On a hot summers night in 1974, four or five young men were beging to get ready for a streak.

I was at the front and off came the clothes. 'Come on guys' I beckoned as I ran out through the glass front door. I headed up the path a short way and turned to see how far back my chums were. My colleagues, my compadrays, my fellow travellers.

They weren't anywhere. Well they were, they were just heading back inside and closing the door behind then. Quick as a flash, a streek even, I ran back to prevent them closing the door, and then, no doubt locking me out in my birthday suit.

I stretched out my arm to the wooden frame and missed.

I can remember a lot of lughter from behind the door, then a great shattering sound of splintered glass, more laughter which then sudddenly changed to silence. Smiling faces became ashen.

I looken down to see glass all over the floor, and then saw my left arm. A six inch flat had been sliced to reveal white shinny bone, and higher up a four inch gash also to the bone. I had no pain.

As I looked at the bare flesh it quickly began to turn red, and then to drip blood onto the floor. My brother was lead off to sit down while other sensible people called an ambulance. While waiting for them I had to get some of my clothes back on. With my left arm in the air to try to stem the blood flow i out on my underpant. i gave uo with the rest. Fortunately all function was present and correct. I had missed any major nerves or arteries, and no other exposed part of my anatomy had been damaged.

The ambulance took me to casualty, and the poor registrar was got out of bed. i remember how meticulous he was. The adrenalin pumpng through me had made me high and I was jabbering away to the nurse, telling how I'd been accepted to medical school, what we'ed been up to and all sorts of nonsense until eventually she say 'I think it would be better if we just had quiet while the doctor finishes off'. I got hte message and shut up.

My parents came to see me later that day. Dad had to be given a chair to sit down. Few words were said as the space between anger and relief has no words.

I was in hospital for a week, and had become a legend at school. Jack Addy the teacher in charge of the 'special paper' had come in to see how I was, and thinly disguised his 'disappointment' with me not taking the paper more seriously. As for my friends I got lots of visitors and was briefly a hero.

I don't know what happened to Grahams parents front door. I assume it got mended. Grahams parents never spoke to me again