Dorothy was reading. Suddenly her peace was shattered by a noise. It sounded like a small train rattling along, clickety clack, then a loud click, a crash, then the train rattle again. Sometimes it would dwindle into the distance, then back again, rattle, click, crash. Over and over again. She got up and went to the French doors to look outside. A teenage boy in baggy shorts, cap on backwards, on a skateboard hurtling along the pavement. Clickety clack, a sharp turn and up the slight rise into her neighbour's section. His momentum slowed, a leap across the grass strip between the two driveways - crash down onto Dorothy's drive and away. Back up the pavement, a turn, and return to do the same thing, again and again and again. She opened her door, called out to him, "Please, go and play somewhere else." "OK" he called back. Bent down, picked up the offending skateboard, tucked it under one arm and walked sadly away. Dorothy closed her door. Sighed, and thought to herself, it's been a long time since I was a child.

Copyright © Doreen Jones