She was older, heavy, with hair that was greying and she walked slowly with a cane. But when a young ruffian came up and tried to be an ass toward her, the individual found that cane could still be quite an effective, painful, deterrent. No one mocked her ever again. -- Anon Guest
Birron was old enough to know better. Many grownups told him that. But he also wanted to fit in with the awesome, older kids. He was willing to do anything to get them to let him into their gang. He'd noticed that they laughed and murmured about Old Lady Rollypoly. None of them knew her name, but they knew that she was plump, old, and weird. That was reason enough to laugh.
Birron decided to run off with the huge bag she always had slung over one shoulder. It was always slipping and making her stop and readjust it so she could waddle on for a few more feet. All so it would happen again. All he needed was the right timing and a good run up.
The strap fell off her shoulder and onto her elbow. He took off, grabbing it off her arm as he passed. "Can't catch me, Rollypoly!"
That thing weighed a TON!
He couldn't stop the grunt as the full weight of the bag almost pulled him to the ground. Its pendulum swing made him stagger forward, then pulled him back.
"Thief! Thief!" Old Lady Rollypoly was faster without the weight of her big bag. Every time Birron staggered backwards, she got a little closer.
The older kids were laughing their socks off, watching it. They nearly died laughing when Old Lady Rollypoly caught up with him.
She snagged his collar with her cane, yanking him off his feet. Once he was down, she started beating anywhere she could reach with the cane. All the time yelling, "Thief! Thief!" at the top of her rollypoly lungs.
The older kids scattered to the four winds at the first whistle from the nearest Watch Officer. Old Lady Rollypoly didn't stop until the officer stilled her cane.
Birron instantly confessed and apologised for his misdeed. Begging to be taken to jail for the rest of his days. It had to be better than suffering an angry senior's wrath.
They did worse than that. The Watch Officer and Old Lady Rollypoly dragged Birron to the Watch House and a cell. Then they called his mum over to harangue him in person. Mum and Old Lady Rollypoly had a marvelous tea and a long discussion about what to do with Birron. What sort of lesson would teach him better manners.
He'd never get good with the older kids now.
[Photo by Tanya Barrow on Unsplash]
If you like my stories, please Check out my blog and Follow me. Or share them with your friends! Or visit my hub site to see what else I'm up to.
Send me a prompt [29 remaining prompts!]