Alex needs new friends

I was helping with storing away the bows and arrows. Changing the targets for the new class when a bunch of kids from my class came to me. They had that look in their eyes. I knew it meant trouble.

“Hey Alex, we are going into town. Want to come? “

With a raised eyebrow I look at them.

“Into town, and what exactly is your plan in town? I don’t feel like getting into trouble again. “

Chelsea steps forwards and wraps an arm around my shoulders.

“Oh, don’t be like that we are just going in town drink something watch the ships come and go. Heard part of the fleet is returning, that is always a busy thing. “

After having put the last target away and replaced it with a fresh bale of hay I wipe off my hands and nod

“alright, alright let’s go. Together with the rest we run out of the gates, like we’re sometimes referred to, as a pack of wild squirrels.

We hang out more often we are in quite some classes together. And Bright Edge is a place where a lot of people are. I was surprised when we moved actually towards the harbor, it was impressive to see. The Royal Fleet of Amber. Prince Gerard who leads it. I heard Nick next to me gasp in amazement. And muttering that one day, he would sail on such a ship.

Heh one day I thought to myself. Yeah, if he cleans up his act one day perhaps else the only ships, he’ll see is the inside of the hull of a prisoner transport. We stayed there for an hour or two, watching, talking imagining how it would be to sail the seas.

I already saw it happening, Nick was getting restless. He really is a sweet boy but when he is bored or sits still too long, he comes up with the wildest ideas. Before he could open his mouth to spew one of his crazy and really bad ideas I stood up.

“Shall we go walk into town, see what is happening there? They are only transferring things now on the ships that is just boring. “

Nick looked at me with a grateful look and I nudged my head towards the town. Two of the kids split off and stayed near the harbor. Nick, Chelsea, Dirk and I stayed together. We strolled a bit through the streets, talking laughing joking. Annoying the fancy passerby’s because children are of course annoying, stuck-up folk.

I had not paid enough attention to Nick, and he suddenly turned with that wicked grin of his. Oh, shit here it goes.

“Alright guys, I have an idea. We just passed one of the bars. They are moving things into storage, and they are keeping the doors open because of that. Now we sneak in, and we mess with the drinks. “

At that point I step in.

“oh no no we are not messing with anyone their food or drinks. That is dangerous and that is not okey to do. What if someone gets really sick. Or worse dies. “

Nick looks a bit grumpy at me and then snaps his fingers and the bad thing is his enthusiasm is contagious the other two are now antsy to get some mischief done as well. Nick continues

“alright lets mess things up then, place things in the most illogical places we can in a short time. We are small we can hide easily. No messing with the food just annoys the staff. “

I roll my eyes, but I know I can’t talk them out of it, so I guess I should just make sure they stay safe and not get into trouble. Chelsea and Nick were going to mess things up, I had watch inside at the storage door to the main area and Dirk had watch at the outside doors. We left at the point that they were going to get a new cart full of barrels. I kept a close eye on the door and through the keyhole I made sure I saw no movement near the door inside. I must say those two are efficient and quick and silent. At a point I saw someone coming towards the door. I made a soft whistle sound and the other three scattered and hid away. And so, did I. One of the waitresses came in and looked for a barrel. She looked a bit confused how things were organized but she was clearly in a rush and when she found the little barrel, she moved into the main area again. When I heard the door click closed, I stepped out and nodded to the rest. In whisper I said to the rest

“yeah okey that was close, fun is over we have to go. “Dirk by now was chewing on a dried sausage… I shook my head at him.

“Seriously theft? Jeesh lets go.”

I waved for them to move out and they did one by one making sure no one saw them. When I heard the whistle, it was safe for me to move I moved to the exit of the storage. As I was moving, I heard someone opening the door and I froze a moment. Which was ultimately why I got caught. I took to long to make a decision hide or run for it. I decided to run but quick paces behind me and I felt a big hand in my collar. The bar owner had come back himself at first, I could not really hear what he was shouting at me but quickly I learned that a special ale had been oddly tasting of vinegar. And that must have happened recently since it was perfectly fine yesterday. And If I found it funny to potentially poison his patrons. And that if I knew who drank that ale, I would have thought twice of doing this again. All the while he was scolding me, he dragged me back by my collar. The bar was pretty empty but then again it was usually busier in the evenings. There were some people in the back, but I was too busy dodging the spit of the bar owner. At the end of his scolding tirade, he asked me what I had to say for myself. With a sigh I said in a tone which portraited my own annoyance and perhaps acceptance in the fact that again I was going to be punished for actions of my friends. “I am sorry Sir, I am a stupid twelve-year-old with clearly too much time on their hands, to little respect of the property of others and little grasp of any form of adult behaviour. “

The bar owner sneered at me; it might have come over as if I didn’t take it seriously I did. It is just. Not the first time this happened. With a bang on the counter which actually did startle me and made me jump a little he asked me.

“ Who was with you? You couldn’t have done this alone! I am missing another barrel, some sausages, who were your accomplices.”

Hearing they have stolen my face betrayed me I scowled and closed my eyes. After another deep breath I said again.

“Sir my apologies as I said, I am a stupid 12-year-old with too much time on their hands. I will work for you until debt is repaid. I will clean first the storage put everything back in their right place, which of course does not count with repaying the debt. But I have acted alone. “

The bar owner wanted to start a new tirade; I know he wanted the names of the others, but I could not give it. Then a big shadow loomed over us, looking up I looked right into the face of Prince Gerard. My eyes widened and I think I actually became paler than I already was. In a serious tone he spoke.

“That was my ale. But I respect you do not rat out your friends. “

I swallowed and cursed myself I really need new friends.

In a lighter tone Gerard continued.

“She set her own punishment let her work for you. Perhaps do notify her parents. “

The bar owner nodded to Gerard and scowled at me. He nearly barked.

“Where do you live? Who are your parents? “

I replied in a hushed broken voice as I just got the scare of my live having a giant like that hover over me. “Bright Edge, my mother is Fres Mira. “

I saw Gerard look up, but he said nothing more. The bar owner sends me right to work. Mom is going to kill me. And I need new friends.

It took me quite some days working, when I was finaly done with the cleaning, rearranging, labeling and again cleaning job at the bar I nearly got pushed out the loading doors which I had first entered with my friends. Stretching I wanted to go stroll back to home but I heard a booming voice behind me.

“Well well well, Alexandra with too much time on her hands. “

It startled me. A laugh followed.

“only a guilty conscious startle that easy. “

Slowly I turn around looking up at the giant of a man. I squint against the light of the sun.

“Now you have worked off your debt with the barowner there, time you work of the debt with me.”

I am certain my face became translucent as all blood faded from my face. Turning me as white as a sheet. Again that bellow of a laugh.

“Follow me, “

He turned and started walking I had to fast walk sometime jog to keep pace with him. Walking up the gangplank of a ship eh then points to some buckets and brushes.

“those barrels were mine, I do keep them there so when I am on shore again I have my favorite drinks ready. “

Guess I’ll be home late today. Mom is so going ot kill me. I start scrubbing the deck of the ship and do so in all silence. Halfway Gerard stops me and nods to over the railing. I follow his gaze and see my friends standing there. Not hiding. No they were actually shuffling a bit uneasy back and forth. It is Nick who first steps forward to speak. In a stammering voice.

“Prince Gerard… s.. sir? It was not only Alex who did the thing in the basement. We were all involved. “ The other two nod and keep their heads down.

Without a word Gerard points them to the other buckets and points to the deck. They nod again shuffle up the plank and start to scrub. I wanted to join in again to share punishment but Gerard lifted me up by my arm and put me on my feet.

“you’ve done enough by now. Let them pick up the rest. There is hope for the lot of you still. “

He passes me a watersack and I gratefully take a few big swallows of water. Guess we won’t be doing that soon again.