Over The Top: The Suck

No-one goes near the Suck.

No-one even takes a dare to go near it. Only a fool would swim near that place.

It is Sunday. At least, for me it is Sunday. It may not be Sunday for other people. I'm walking home from the waterhole. The sun is going down behind the trees and its Sunday. I know I've already said that. I just have to keep reminding myself. Sunday. Sunday. For me it is Sunday. For lots of other people it is Sunday. For nearly the whole world it is Sunday, at least on my side.

We had a good swim today, me and Fly, and Mitch and the others. The sun was as hot as, and the stream was high as. We found the best waterhole all summer. Sand all round one side, deep in the middle, and some branches to jump off. Kids came all day to try it out. Even Mums and Dads came, with their little kids.

But just down from the pool is the Suck. We call it that because it is always slurping and sucking and dragging at the water. There's a huge tree trunk across the stream. It makes a good dam. The water pushes against it and bubbles underneath, like water on the boil. On the other side of the trunk is a heap of branches, and blackberry and gorse. If anyone goes under the Suck they will never come out again. They will disappear forever. Well that's what us kids reckon anyway.

Today we had some trouble with Peter Bogarivitch. We call him Bog for short. He and his mates came to the waterhole for a swim. They also came to spoil our fun.

"Get out of there, you creeps!"

That's how Bog always talks. He thinks he owns everything.

We stayed in the water and wondered what to do. Bog is bigger than us, and stronger. He learned martial arts, so no-one messes with him. He's broken other kid's arms but his Dad never gets in trouble for his son's behaviour. Funny that?

Bog throws our towels into the water. His mates start to throw stones at us.

"Leave us alone!" says Mitch.

"Make me!" says Bog.

A big stone lands near Mitch. He looks scared.

"Can't you guys share anything?" I ask.