THE ANTICS OF ‘MICKY MOLLOY’ EPISODE III “testing the water”

All things considered Micky’s recent experiences had not all been bad ones. Jacko and Wilf were becoming good mates and school was going OK. Today was quite an easy day with English and Science this morning and P.E. this afternoon. The bell sounded for lunch. Micky got his lunch from his locker and took it out into the playground. A couple of Fifth Form lads sat at the same bench with their lunch.

“Alright Molloy?” one of the lads asked.

“Wot you got this afternoon?”

“Double P.E. down on the playing field,” Micky told him.

“Jammy sod! French and Maths for us.”

Micky just laughed, finished his apple and then joined in the 20 minute football frenzy that goes on every lunch time. It usually finishes up around 30 a-side with plenty of goals.

After lunch, in the changing room, Micky’s class were getting ready when Mr. Delaney, the P.E. teacher, told some of the boys, Micky included, they would not need football boots – trainers would do as they are concentrating on track and field today. Moans and groans filled the changing room!

“Right, come on, you might just have some fun.”

On the way to the playing field all the boys were talking about who was faster than whom and who could throw the javelin furthest. Down by the track Mr. Delaney had a bit of a shock in store – Cross Country!! This time the moans and groans were serious. The playing field backed onto local woods with a disused railway line round the outside of them and, of course, a brook ran through the woods. Mr. Delaney had devised a 3 mile course taking in all of those and, being such a trusting soul, he had borrowed a couple of Fifth Form pupils who just happened to be runners from the local club. Mr. Delaney gathered all the boys together on the track.

“Right lads, it’s not too tough but quite muddy in the woods and the railway embankment is steep and a bit slippy. I’ll be at the front.”

John stayed around mid-section right behind Mr. Delaney whilst they did a lap of the track and then headed out on a big loop of the playing field. Micky and a group of about five others had pulled away from the main group as they headed into the woods.

“Watch out for the tree roots,” warned Mr. Delaney.

“OK sir!” replied Micky, who was going well so far.

“Water hazard coming up lads!” But the warning came too late for Micky and the lad next to him. The leaves on the slope down to the brook took them both into the cold water. Luckily they suffered nothing but hurt pride.

“You both OK?” Mr. Delaney asked. Both said they were.

The main group had reached the brook with John, the Fifth Form boy, telling Micky to get a move on. Mr. Delaney let John take over at the front with his group and waited for Micky and his mate. The three of them set off before the back markers, with Billy, reached the brook. They reached the edge of the woods with a few of the front group slowing down. The main group was just starting to go down the railway embankment.

“Come on sir, we can catch them,” Micky said as they passed a couple.

“This is a tough section, save your energy for the flat part on the way back,” Mr. Delaney told them. “Just follow me.”

Down the railway embankment and alongside the track they went just before a steep climb up the other side. Micky was breathing hard and his legs were hurting. Mr. Delaney slowed the pace as they cross a bridge back over the railway and headed back for the woods. They passed two more lads who were doing a bit of walking and Micky could see John and the lead group. Mr. Delaney had to look after the middle section of runners but he could see what’s on Micky’s mind.

“Think you can catch ‘em Molloy?”

“Yes sir,” Micky said.

“What are you waiting for then lad?”

Micky broke away and the chase was on. John and a group of six were ahead and crossing the brook for the second time. Micky started counting and he reached the brook after 48 seconds. Not wanting to finish on his backside he took the water obstacle again very carefully. Winding his way through the woods, chasing the group in front, breathing faster and hurting, Micky suddenly felt good about himself. He forgot the pain; he was enjoying all of this. He came out of the woods and could hear the group in front.

“I can get them,” he said to himself.

John had spotted Micky catching up and was worried enough to break away from the group. With just a circuit of the playing field and a lap of the track left, John was away but Micky was closing in on the leading group. He overtook two on the final turn before taking to the track. Four hundred metres to go, three lads in front of him and he was ready to explode! John crossed the finish line then turned round and shouted to Micky.

“Come on Molloy – big finish!”

Round the last bend and Micky could touch the lads in front but his legs wouldn’t take him past them. The finish line came all too soon. Micky crossed in 4^th place – not more than 3 seconds behind the winner. They all fell in a heap on the track. John, the Fifth Former, sat on top of them laughing and asked, “Did you enjoy that lads?”

None of the boys had enough strength for a reply but just lay down smiling. Mr. Delaney came running in with the next group then it was about 10/15 minutes before Billy brought home a sorry looking bunch of stragglers and informed Mr. Delaney that next time he would prefer to do French and Maths. Mr. Delaney laughed. “Right lads, back to the showers. You look like you need them.”

Walking back to school, John got talking to the lads who has come in the first four places. Two of the lads were keen cyclists but Micky and the other boy mainly just played football. John told the lads he was impressed with their run.

“You should join a club and start doing it properly,”

“You must be joking. It’s only a bit of fun,” Micky replied.

“You tell me you didn’t try your hardest to win that race?”

“’Course I did,” Micky replied.

“I think you would make a decent runner if you wanted to have a go.”

“We’ll see,” said Micky.

After the showers Micky’s class had twenty minutes before school finished so Mr. Delaney took them to the canteen for a coffee – good bloke that he was. The bell sounded and, instead of the usual mad rush, a small group of lads were taking it a bit easier than normal.

Micky headed off to his Grandad’s allotment and, for once, the old man never got a word in. Micky was really excited about his cross country performance though he wouldn’t tell just anyone! After Grandad, he had to go home and tell Mum, Dad and Sally and then he was meeting Jacko and Wilf tomorrow after school. You see, behind the little tough guy was a little boy who gets excited when ‘good stuff’ happens.

Now, what’s wrong with that?

What next? Wait for the next episode in the Antics of Micky Molloy.

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