Two Young Lads

John and Brian were different from the rest of the boys in their year at high school. They were both quite short and still had such innocent baby faces that they were often mistaken for 10 or 11 year olds although they were actually just over 15 years old. No school bully ever tried to bully either one of them because a few who had tried, were suddenly confronted by not one victim but two very capable attackers. The two boys thought as one and coordinated their attacks without any apparent communication. In all aspects they were alike. They thought alike, they had the same interests and they were both determined to make the bigger boys respect them. As a result, they were often the ring-leaders in any mischief in the neighbourhood.

This particular afternoon after school, found them walking down the side of the house.

“Righto, John. The bathroom window is always unlocked, so I’ll get in that way and then let you in through the back door,” remarked Brian.

“OK then. You stand on my shoulders and you’ll be able to climb in with no trouble,” was the reply.

As Brian was about to climb through the window which he’d opened, a deep masculine voice from over the other side of the fence asked, “Hey! What are you young fellows up to?”

Both turned to see a policeman peering over the fence at them.

Brian immediately responded, “Oh you gave me a fright! It’s OK officer, I live here and I’ve lost my key somewhere at school and Mum and Dad are at work and I have to get inside because Mum wants me to go down to the butchers and buy some meat for dinner.”

“That’s fine then son. Do you need a hand to get through the window?”

“No thanks. I can get in easily from here. I know the way because I’ve had to do it a couple of times before this,” Brian answered as the policeman walked away.

In a very short time, Brian was inside, had opened the back door and John stepped inside and closed the door.

“Phew! That was close! I thought we’d really been rumbled this time, but that stupid copper believed everything you told him,” exclaimed John as the two of them nearly split their sides with subdued laughter.

“Let’s get going then,” was Brian’s response. “Let’s get hold of Mister Namby Pamby’s toys before he comes home from his piano lesson. I know where his bedroom is and I know where he keeps everything.”

“Cripes! Look at this! There’s his iPod, Nintendo and a stack of CDs. Hang on! He’s got a new iPad and a new Mac laptop. Let’s grab the lot and stuff them into our backpacks!” It was hard to tell which one said what as they excitedly grabbed items from the desk and then began searching the drawers where they found a few dollars which quickly found their way into their pockets to be shared later.

“His Dad’s got his own study so we’ll go in there and see if there’s anything worth knocking off,” was John’s next comment.

Another iPad and laptop computer swiftly disappeared into the backpacks before they discovered a stack of five and ten dollar notes in a drawer.

“Let’s go mate! We’ve got enough! We’ll see how My Hoity Toity feels after this lot. Him and his superior airs just because his Dad’s got a good job!” was Brian’s spiteful commentary as they opened the door and quietly closed it before turning to leave.

As they turned the corner of the house, they walked right into the arms of the waiting “Stupid copper!” They turned to run, only to find their way barred by another couple of younger policemen who were obviously hoping that the boys would try to run.

“Oh yes, you little buggers! I knew you were up to no good and that you were just a pair of young liars. You see, I live next door and I know the Johnstones really well and their lad, Anthony, always comes into our place to get the key when he comes him because his aunty gives him some afternoon tea before he goes home,” laughed the officer.

“Take ‘em and put them in the paddy wagon fellers and we’ll send for their parents,” commanded the senior constable. “I’ve a pretty good idea that we’ll find quite a few stolen items at their homes and these two prize specimens won’t be going back to their school for quite a while. I wonder how they’ll like juvenile detention.”