The Scorpish g**g

Chapter 5

This oak tree is the witness of their friendship for a long time. It has seen them growing up. It knows about every topic they discuss. It knows about their next target even when the other students cannot even guess. Like all other days, today this tree is once again resounded with their presence. Their restlessness enchants the tree from the very first day. And even today these grownups do not lack a single bit of the energy. The boys are talking for a while before starting for school.

Elliott says, “How’s your grandma, Peter?”

Ross says, “Did you call Ms. Catherine today?”

Peter says, “I called her. She said that granny’s condition is continuously improving. At first her condition was very unstable. Now she has started to cope with the situation.”

Jonas says, “That’s pretty good news.”

Peter says, “I got huge relief after hearing all this.”

Ross says, “Did ya talk with your granny?”

Peter says, “No, I couldn’t. She was sleeping by then. I called pretty early in the morning when uncle went there with meals.”

Elliott says, “Did you ask about the visiting hours?”

Peter says, “She said that we can visit her from 3pm to 5 pm.”

Jonas says, “Then how did uncle go there? Isn’t it f*******n?”

Peter says, “Uncle himself told me that the guards didn’t let him in the cardiac ward. Ms. Catherine came down and took the food from the gate.”

Elliott says, “That’s expected. So when you’re gonna visit there?”

Peter says, “I’m thinking of taking chances in the first minute. Wanna come anyone?”

Elliott says, “I’m with you pal.”

Ross says, “I need to go out with my parents for shopping. I wish I could go. Maybe I’ll be able to visit the next day.”

Jonas says, “Guests are at home and I’m only allowed to go out once. I’m out in the morning, so I won’t be able to join you guys in the afternoon. Sorry guys.”

Peter says, “That’s alright. Maybe we can go there together tomorrow. Okay?”

Jonas says, “I’ll try my best.”

Peter says, “Now, let’s get going. We are running late.”

Elliott says, “Hey, your camera?”

Peter says, “It’s in the backpack my friend. Don’t worry I don’t forget these things easily.”

Elliott says, “We know you.”

Ross says, “You didn’t forget Alicia-a-a either, did ya’?”

Peter says, “That’s very very disgusting of you dumb boy. Try to see things in a positive way from now on.”

Ross says, “Ok, boss. Let’s be positive about coupling.”

Peter says, “Oh he’s not gonna change, never ever. May God bless you with some brain.”

Elliott says, “Oooo it was a good one.”

With ongoing jokes they are slowly walking. Enjoying the environment, enjoying each other’s presence. But they are going to have a shock very soon. On the way they notice that the road is pretty busy, which is unusual for a town like this. They barely see a big truck in this way. But today they have already seen four or five of them. Some of them are loaded and some of them are empty.

Peter says, “Why the hell there’s so much trucks today?”

Ross says, “Maybe a construction is going on nearby.”

Elliott says, “Maybe. But there are like logs in those trucks. Although they were covered but I could see some.”

Ross says, "Why would they carry such a huge amount of logs?"

Elliott says, "Who knows? Maybe there are some works or something."

Jonas says, "Whatever guys let's move fast. This sun is very hot even in this month of January. Need some shade quickly."

Peter says, "What's this man? You’re tired already?"

Elliott says, "No surprise for a guy with high cholesterol."

Jonas says, "Shut the s**t up or I'll put all the cholesterol in your stomach."

Peter says, "Ok shut up now Ross. Don't forget that you always take part from his meals ok?"

Ross says, "oops! My bad."

Elliott says, "Let's take the narrow road by left. This road is too much noisy and full of dust. Trucks are coming, going one by one and looks like there's no ending of this."

Peter says, "You're right. Too much dust in the air because of trucks. Let's take the turn guys."

A narrower road which is on the left which also opens up at the school. But one has to cross more path with this road as it opens up some yards far from the school. Besides this is so narrow that a private car cannot even pass through. So it is quite calm and hustle free. They choose to use this way to be safe from all those dust and busy vehicles. They are walking in their own chilling mood. No worries, no hurries. They even take some funny photos in the way in which they are having fun. Finally they reach the junction where the road gets mixed with the main road.

As soon as they see the backside of their school they feel like falling from the sky. There is running a huge destruction of nature. There are bull dozers, cranes, tree loppers, wood chippers, hedge trimmers, axes and wedges and hundreds of people with those equipment. The place is looking disastrous now. Not a single tree is standing nearby. The place is formed a new face, a face of shame, lost.

The forest is being killed slowly. Many birds are anonymously flying around. It does not need to be mentioned what they have lost. The ground is totally green as leaves are all over there. The boys are walking by the side and watching all of these persecution going on.

It has left themselves speechless. The greenery they are familiar with for so many years is dying. They came in front of their school building. The oak trees cannot be seen over the building now. The calmness and restfulness is missing in the environment. Everywhere it feels like suffocating. And there are no authority in the compound. No one is renovating the school.

Elliott says, “Do you guys understand now why there were so many huge trucks on the way?”

Peter says, “Obviously. These suckers are tearing the whole place down. This is awful man! Why do they need to destroy all of these?”

Elliott says, “Business, money. The dirty game is all around here too. But they hardly realize how much they are harming the environment. This is already looking like Crematorium.”

Ross says, “This is unacceptable dude. And this is the renovation going on. Well played school.”

Jonas says, “How much do you expect from this hell? Have you literally seen anything good happening around?”

Elliott says, “Let’s go to the office and talk with Mr. Chris.”

Mr. Chris is the clerk of this school and he has been working here for years. There is no teacher or student in this school who has an older relationship with this school than Mr. Chris. It is also better to know that if there is only one person who yields for the betterment of this school is Mr. Chris. People also say that he was one of the workers who used to work under the founder of this school.

He is almost 75 years old with white all over his head, clean shaved cheeks. The marks of age are everywhere. He always wears khaki pants and black shirts. He is a man of medium height but he has excellence in knowledge in many sectors. Life experience can be said perhaps. And incredibly he has pretty good relation with this Scorpish g**g. He is seeing them for years and has a special place in his heart for them even they have disturbed him many times. When they are going to see him at the office, he is sitting on a wooden chair, smoking a cigar with full taste.

Mr. Chris says, “What are you up to now naughty people?”

Peter says, “Just walking by. How are you doing mister?”

Mr. Chris says, “I do great always. Just feeling a bit lonely without some wicked fellows.”

Elliott says, “Then here we are to disturb you again.”

Mr. Chris says, “Welcome dear! So what’s the big deal here for you little fellas?”

Peter says, “We’re here to have a visit to the empty school and see how well it’s being renovated.”

Mr. Chris smiles sarcastically.

Mr. Chris says, “Improvements are just opposite words for the Great Oak Academy. Everywhere there is ignorance, corruption. Whatever leave those. You won’t get it.”

Elliott says, “We still understand some of it.”

Mr. Chris says, “One day you’ll understand all of it but things would be in someone else’s hand and you’ll be able to do nothing but sigh in despair.”

Peter says, “Don’t start your philosophies again sir. We get it. Now tell us if there is no renovation going on, why the school is closed for four long days!?”

Mr. Chris says, “Oh, about that. An employee from Unique Group of Industries came here with an application to keep the school closed for a couple of days because they are running a project of improvement and this could cause noise which will affect the children’s study vastly. These knuckleheads are calling this destruction ‘Project of Improvement’. Such group of jerks.”

Peter says, “School authority directly agreed with this?”

Mr. Chris says, “Who knows? May be some deals happened under the table. How much we are aware of!”

Elliott says, “So there wouldn’t be any change in the school as renovation.”

Mr. Chris says, “I heard some furniture might come for the office and teachers’ room. That’s all, so called renovation.”

Elliott says, “Ok, sir. We are leaving. Enjoy your peaceful environment. We’ll be here to annoy you soon enough.”

Mr. Chris says, “I love to get annoyed sometimes. One of my favorite things.”

Peter says, “We’ll be back. Farewell old man.”

Mr. Chris says, “Tata bye bye.”

He again becomes busy with his cigar. Enjoying in an annoyed mood. Not with the kids, maybe the system.

Ross says, “Now what?”

Peter says, “Let’s go see the progress of their project of improvement.”

Jonas says, “If they say anything?”

Peter says, “We’ll say we’re just here to walk. We won’t stand at one place much longer.”

Elliott says, “Okay let’s go.”

They are going through an arc of the school building. It is a part of the structure and links to the way to the forest. They enter the forest observing the destruction. The bases of the trees are still there. But the upper parts such as trunks, leaves, branches and others have literally vanished. Though leaves are still on the ground, as a witness of many deaths. There are people walking by busily. Many of them are in yellow construction helmet and other equipment.

At one side a group of people are sitting and having their breakfast. At another side a bunch is smoking and talking among themselves. Suddenly Elliott sees something beside a bush and goes that way. Others are following him. When they get there and take a look down, they make a sound of pity and regret. It was a nest which maybe fell down from the tree when it was being cut down. Total five eggs were there. Two of them already hatched. Other three would have hatched any moment. But fate did not want them to see the light of the day. The hatched ones are dead too.

Peter and others cannot even imagine how many more nests are destroyed like this. Peter takes his camera out and clicks some photos of this disastrous incident. .

Elliott says, “How cruel this world is! Is it very necessary?”

Jonas says, ”I’ve lost words. I didn’t think I’d have to see these scenes today.”

Peter says, “Neither do I.”

Elliott says, “Click photos of them to who are cutting down these.”

Peter says, “I’m clicking, don’t worry.”

Ross says, “This is ridiculous thing.”

Suddenly a suited man comes and stands by them.

Man says, “What are you kids doing here?”

Peter says, “Just roaming around.”

Man says, “This sight could be dangerous for you. Reptiles can attack, branches may fall down. So it is better for you fellas to leave as soon as possible.”

Peter says, “Ok, sir.”

They leave the place without wasting any more words. The morning is not that good what they expected before. Now they are back on the same road and thinking about something.

Peter says, “Let’s visit Uncle Rick.”

Jonas says, “Fine. We have a lot of time left.”

Saying so all of them put their step forward with a view to visiting Uncle Rick.