The Boy Who Had Nothing

by Gareth Parker

  I look up at another one of the boys getting ready to throw a snow ball at my mum so I leap up and charge at him even harder. I force my elbow into his back pushing him over, then jumped on his back and pushed his face down into the snow and enjoyed hearing him cry in pain. After about three seconds I climb off him, standing there looking at these three kids. I give all three of them a smile. The third one just stands there looking at me, not sure what to do. I open my arms as an invitation to come and have a good which he declines. Again I look at all three of them and open my mouth to say something I've wanted to say for a long time.

  ‘You guys are the losers. Now leave me alone.’ They say nothing back. The two on the floor get to their feet and run off down the road.

  I turn round and look at my mum. She bursts into tears but there was no reason to be sad.

  ‘Mum, why are you crying?’

  ‘I'm just so proud of you.’ She opens her arms and I run in for a hug. I whisper three words into her ear.

  ‘I love you.’

  ‘I love you too Toby. Come on let’s get home.’ We sing Christmas songs until we get home.

  ‘What do you fancy for dinner tonight Toby?’

  ‘Anything mum, I don’t mind.’

  ‘How about for once in our lives we get a takeaway? How does that sound?’

  ‘Aww mum, that’s amazing!’ I feel so happy and jump up punching the air.

  ***

  Chapter 6

  We are both sitting watching a Christmas film when I decide I'm too tired to finish till the end.

  ‘I'm going to go to bed mum, I'm so tired.’

  ‘Ok, darling. Sweet dreams and thank you for protecting me today.’

  ‘That’s ok. It’s natural. You’re my mum.’ I give her a big squeeze and a kiss on the cheek. I brush my teeth and give myself a wash in the bath room and then climb into bed.

  I lie there sleepy but can’t sleep. It must be the adrenaline still flowing through me. I felt like superman today and really showed those bullies who was boss. I jump out of bed and pull my shoe box out from underneath. I pour all the coins onto my bed and begin to count.

  To my absolute amazement I managed to collect one hundred and twenty pounds from clearing the snow off all the cars. I place the money back in the box feeling very pleased with myself, along with a photo of my mum standing before she had her car accident all those years back. I look up to the ceiling, close my eyes tight and whisper the words;

  ‘One day, mum, I promise, I will save enough to get you your new legs.’

  ***

  Greed

  by Gareth Parker

  A thrilling novel, which will keep you turning every page until the end. This is about an average office worker called Josh Bennett who gets caught up with the wrong people. At the same time Josh starts to earn some extra cash. Although Josh knows what he's doing is wrong, Josh gets greedy but slowly realises money isn’t everything and his world dramatically spirals out of control with no escape.

  ***

  Thank you for taking your time to read. Please have a read of more of my work. Thank you for your support.

  Gareth Parker