The Scorpish g**g

Chapter 16

The g**g is praising each other’s work and also criticizing Elliott sometimes for some lazy deeds. Meantime a very unexpected incident takes place for which no one was prepared at all. They all hear a loud voice yelling “WHAT’S GOING ON IN THERE?” A sudden shout like this scared them at once and they stop talking. “Respond outside or I’ll come in!” again a different sentence with the same voice.

They are looking at each other’s faces and cannot utter a single word. Peter, gathering a bit of courage, steps up and gets out from the office beside the fence. His frightened face vanishes as he looks at a very familiar face. It is Robert, a police officer from the nearest police station. He used to live by Peter’s house some months ago and recently has moved to different area about which Peter is not aware. But he gets relief thinking that they did not fall into any kind of trouble and if he tells him everything he will understand them. The other three come out of the office one by one after Peter called them outside.

Robert says, “What are you guys doing there my boy?”

Peter says, “Uncle, they are our classmates. There is a small place behind this tree. We sometimes get in there and chill out. We’ve made benches and stuffs there too, all by ourselves.”

Robert says, “What are you doing with shovels and those stuffs then?”

Peter says, “Actually there were too much grass, creepers and such tares everywhere. So we thought to clean this place up. And we’re almost done cleaning it up!”

Robert says, “That’s great job boys! Let’s have a look inside.”

Peter says, “By the way how did you know that there are shovel and all other things?”

Robert smiles and replies, “I got a call that a bunch of teens are doing something wrong in there and they have digging tools. Haha.”

Peter says, “How rubbish is this!”

Robert says, “You need to be careful now a days boys. You’re growing up.” Then he takes a look inside, better seeks from the back of the tree and a clean short place pleases his mind to leave the boys. After he departs, the others get some courage to speak up.

Elliott says, “What just happened man? I though we’re damn dead now.”

Peter says, “Why fear when Peter is here?”

Ross says, “Enough drama now. How do you know this policeman?”

Peter says, “He was in an apartment beside our house some months ago. So I know him quite well.”

Jonas says, “Dude, that voice! I literally got goosebumps in daylight.”

Peter says, “Unique one, I also agree.”

Jonas says, “Scary too”

Peter says, “Now we can leave all these, can’t we? No more dangers.”

Elliott says, “Yes, please. Let’s move on to Uncle Rick’s. I’m hungry as hell.”

Jonas says, “If it needs to walk a mile to get Aunt Sarah’s foods, I’m walking baby. Let’s go.”

Peter says, “That’s the spirit boys.”

Ross says, “Elliott, take the scissor now at least. Lazy grandpa!”

Elliott says, “Stop shouting. Give it to me.”

He takes the scissor from Ross’s hand and all of them are heading for Uncle Rick’s. When they arrive in front of his garden, he was watering his plants. He does this job with very care and full of love. Like he is nurturing a human baby. He does not need to move much for the watering job because he has made canals across the whole garden. He just needs to start the tap and hold on the pipe over the starting of the canal. Slowly all of it gets full with water. Uncle Rick’s tricks always make them wonder.

Uncle Rick notices them coming.

Uncle Rick says, “I heard you guys were trying to dig a hole and cover a dead body up?”

Everyone takes time to understand this and Ross is the first one to speak out about it.

Ross says, “What the hell is happening? Who told you all these shitty stuffs?”

Uncle Rick says, “I got know by air haha.”

Although Uncle Rick is laughing, everyone is still hanging in suspense and their minds cannot calculate what is happening here. Seeing their dull faces Uncle Rick decides to break the joke out and save them from suspense.

Uncle Rick says, “Don’t worry dear! I’m telling you everything.”

Peter says, “What is it?”

Uncle Rick says, “Actually I know Mr. Robert from a long time. I joined the Special Forces and he joined the police academy on the same year. Whenever we meet we talk about things like what’s going on in the area and such other stuffs. He used to live beside Peter’s and knows him well.”

Peter says, “Yeah, he left the house several months ago. He’s been there for most likely 4 years.”

Uncle Rick says, “Yeah and he lives behind the block of my house, holding no 132. And every day he passes my house to go to his home. He saw you guys come here a lot of times. So he used to talk with me about Peter and others at times. Today he started like this that Peter was trying to hide a dead body in a hole. I was like WHAT THE HELL!!! Then he slowly told me about your little space beside block-D, behind that oak tree. You guys have done well by cleaning it up. Bravo boys!!”

Elliott says, “I thought heart attack might come any time. I guess I’m still alive, aren’t I?”

Uncle Rick says, “Of course you are. I was kidding man! No worries.”

Ross says, “The day isn’t good at all. That police uncle scared the freak out of us just a bit ago and now you’ve put all the masala in it. How nice!”

Uncle Rick says, “Calm down my boy! I knew about it all. Great job.”

Peter says, “Come and visit it if you get some time.”

Uncle Rick says, “Robert said that you need to climb a tree to hop inside. How’d I climb it?”

Ross says, “Leave that to me.”

Peter says, “You should’ve thought about Jonas in this time. Guess how he gets inside.”

Uncle Rick says, “Good point though. So, Jonas how do you do it?”

Jonas says, ”Umm…”

Ross does not let him finish his sentence. Ross says, “Leave it to me uncle. You’ll see that tomorrow. You must come.”

Uncle Rick says, “Ok boys. Let me take my permission from madam and then I’ll let you know.”

Peter says, “That’s it. She won’t disagree. You’ll like that place.”

Jonas says, “And we’ve named it too. It’s our Oak Office.”

Uncle Rick says, “Oak Office! That’s fantastic. Pretty unique as well. So it has been named after that oak tree right?”

Peter says, “Exactly.”

Uncle Rick says, “I wanna see that now more eagerly haha.”

Elliott says, “Tomorrow for sure. We’ll be there from most likely 8.30 in the morning. We may stay an hour or a bit more there. You’ll see us there for sure if you pay a small visit.”

Ross says, “There will be a new person uncle.”

Uncle Rick says, “What? Finally the Scorpish g**g is expanding?”

Peter says, “No, no. He’s still not a part of the g**g. The thing is he is a newbie, poor boy. His father used to work in a wood factory. The company you said, Unique Group of Industries or something. He recently died of an accident in the factory. So, the boy is all alone and we saw him working at the factory after the death. I think he earns his own bread now. So, we are just trying to give him a bit company. Nothing much.”

Uncle Rick says, “That’s really awful. I’m feeling very pity for that boy now. If he comes tomorrow, I’ll sure visit you guys. At your Oak Office!”

Peter says, “We’ll be really grateful then uncle.”

Uncle Rick says, “Is it the boy who came first in the 400 meters?”

Ross says, “Damn you! How did ya’ know this?!”

Uncle Rick laughs and replies, “I met Mr. Arnold today at the groceries. He’s just simply a known person to me. I was asking about his school and he said that on the second day of sports events a newbie from 8th standard beat the boys from 9th and 10th standard. And there are only one admission this year. So it must be him.”

Peter says, “Yes, it is him. He couldn’t even afford a sports kit. Jonas lent him his ones.”

Uncle Rick says, “Very well done lads. Do you know where he lives?”

At this question all of them get a bit surprised about what to answer. Elliott comes to the rescue.

Elliott says, “He said that he lives a little away from the factory his father used to work. We know the factory. So I guess we can find out where he lives easily. There are not too much residences around there.”

Uncle Rick says, “Ok, I’m eagerly waiting to see the boy.”

Peter says, “We need you to do another thing for us.”

Uncle Rick says, “What’s that?”

Peter says, “There’s one corner of the office open. The sky is visible clearly from there. So we want to make anything that will work as a shade.”

Uncle Rick says, “Isn’t the tree huge? Why do you need more shade?”

Elliott says, “Actually the thing is if it rains, the tree cannot save us from water properly. So we decided to make something there. Besides it will add more beauty to the place. Like we can go there and spend some time together.”

Uncle Rick says, “Umm…Let me think about it first. I’ll tell you what to do after seeing the place. Just I’ll let you know that you shouldn’t cover up that little place where sun comes.”

Peter says, “We’ll follow your instructions.”

Elliott says, “Yeah, obviously.”

Uncle Rick says, “I am waiting to see that place and also that boy.” His desperation can be seen in his eyes.

Ross says, “It’s worth waiting.”

When they talk about all these Aunt Sarah comes out of home and yells at Uncle Rick because he has made the boys stand up and does not inform her about them.

Sarah says, “What kind of behavior is this Rick? You could’ve let me know at least that they are here. I’d prepare some snacks for them. Besides they are standing there for long time. C’mon boys, get freshen up and rest in the living room.”

Uncle Rick remains silent as it is the safest way when your mistress is on fire. He signals the boys to get in and follows the other boys on the way to the living room. Their things are continuing in a common way, like all other days. A lot of fun together, delicious snacks fill up their stomach as well as their minds.

In the end after talking with Uncle Rick finally, they move on to their houses. It is almost evening. So they do not delay any more in unnecessary gossips and reach their homes safely.

Another important day awaits for them. Peter spends the whole evening with his grandmother. He has been busy the whole day outside. So he speaks to her about a lot of things. She is slightly disappointed that he has not managed to make sure any rewards in the events. In the end she tells Peter that she has forgot her medicines again. Peter has started to believe now that his grandmother forgets her medicines intentionally just to have him around her for sometimes. As she was on a good pace of recovery he did not bother about this at all.

The possibilities and incidents that might happen the next day and such thoughts are running in his mind and he falls asleep in his room. The other three are not that much worried about the next day. Jonas is quite happy that he will not have to walk much tomorrow. Ross is totally indifferent to what is going to happen. Elliott thinks about what shed can be used there. Mostly Uncle Rick is very excited to see the place. The reason could be meeting that boy but it cannot be said surely. Time will tell what is in their fate.