THE WOODEN SWORDS CHAPTER 6. - THE FIRST CONTACT

We had a map. It was the first thing we all saw and admired on Monday after school. Anne is so good at drawing that she made it after James, George and Perry had walked around the neighborhood collecting all the necessary information on Sunday morning. She had spent the whole of Sunday afternoon drawing it.

We were sitting in the small park next to the school watching the young kids playing in the sand waiting for Anne to arrive. She had wanted to put some finishing touches to it, such as coloring our houses different colors and putting a Swiss flag on Timmy’s house.

I was annoyed I could not join in the making of the battle map. My dad had kept every word of his promise and we had spent all Sunday morning cutting the grass in the garden and then collecting it in big black bags. When I thought I was free, my Mum decided we should visit my grandparents for a few hours and then after dinner, when I just wanted to go to my room and play, Dad decided to give me a surprise math test.

We went through all my books! And then through some other exercises and then through some more exercises he could remember from his school years. I think school used to be more difficult when my dad was a kid. I was so glad when my mother stopped him because I couldn’t understand anything after one point.

- You can stop now, Alex! Even Socrates started later than that!

I didn’t know who Socrates is, but I decided to ask Timmy on Monday morning. Anyway, I have never been very keen with foreign football.

It was a perfect battle map. Kings Road was there and Elm Street. Pine Street, Island Road, Indian Street, even River Road and Emperor Road. Anne had put different colored marks where our houses were and she had drawn a few other details, such as the local park, the school and candy shop.

- Our territory begins from Pine Street. The park in Queens Road is neutral, as are all the buildings between Pine Street and River Road.

- What about the candy shop? That’s not neutral, that’s mine. I like shopping there!

- But it’s in between.

- Nobody gets between me and my sweets!

- But they are after…

- After! The candy shop is my territory!

- Are you going to tell them?

- Of course I am!

Actually, Ralph had given me an idea. The weather was good and our parents didn’t expect us back home for another hour, so we could actually walk there and check our borders. Our school is just around the corner from my house, so I decided to go around from Prince Road in case my mum spotted me and wanted me home earlier.

Off we went, Ralph and James led the way since they are the biggest, then Adam walked with me and Anne was behind us - we always give her extra protection because she is our secret weapon. Anne is not only an excellent mapmaker, but she also has amazing fighting skills, probably from having to battle her brother Perry all the time. Perry and Timmy guarded the rear and George walked a few steps behind them in case we are ambushed.

We marched all the way to the corner of Prince Road and Pine Street and then we turned on to Pine Street until we reached the junction of Queens Road. I was amazed. I had never noticed the names of all the roads. Knowing the name of the street we were on, knowing where to turn and the name of the street we would find after two roads was amazing. It was like a new world, but we still didn’t get to the candy shop any faster!

- Ok, how much money do you have?

- Why?

- So I can tell you what you can get.

- We didn’t come here to buy candies!

- Why did we walk all the way, if not to buy candies?

- I bought an apple flapjack during playtime…

- An apple flapjack? You spent money on something that has apples? You are funny, Anne!

- What’s wrong with apples? I like apple pies!

- You are a girl!

- I have some money!

- So what?

- Yeah, so what?

We would have continued arguing forever if they hadn’t appeared on the other side of the road. I’m not sure where they came from, I think it was from River Road, but we were suddenly face to face with the enemy - three boys and one girl.

 - It’s them!

- Only girls like apple pies!

- Boys like apple pies too!

- Can’t you hear me? I said it’s them, they are there!

They stopped arguing and looked at the three boys and girl on the other side of the road. We all just stood there looking at one another waiting for somebody to break the silence. I knew from the movies that you should never be the one to say something first.

- Who are you?

- We are the Kings Road Knights!

My throat felt dry as I shouted my answer across the road. I was trying to be the strong leader for my knights in front of the enemy. One of the boys walked to the edge of the pavement.

- Where are your horses then?

- We left them in the park!

- I want a big chocolate cake!

I was angry that Ralph wasn’t paying attention; he was my second-in-command after all. He had his nose pressed against the candy shop window looking at the sweets and cakes inside. They knew who we are, so I had to find out who they are.

- Who are you?

- We are the Elm Street Cowboys!

-Where are your horses?

- Back there!

- I want a chocolate cake too!

It seemed they had a Ralph of their own and their leader seemed as angry as I had been with our Ralph.

- What are you doing here!

- It’s our area!

- This is our area! We have a map showing it is our area.

- Well, we have a map as well.

- Where is your map?

- We’re not showing you our map. It is top secret.

- This is our area and nobody touches my chocolate cake!

- That’s my chocolate cake!

Ralph was now paying attention because his chocolate cake was in danger. I was just staring at their leader and trying hard not to blink. He had brown eyes, brown hair, everything seemed brown and he was slightly taller than me. I wanted to check his shoes because sometimes shoes have higher heels to make you look taller, but there was no way I could look away first. I had learned that in a film; the general never takes his eyes off the enemy.

- My name is Alex and I'm the leader of Kings Road Knights!

- I'm Simon, the leader of the Elm Street Cowboys.

- And Cowgirl!

The girl in their group had shouted the addition to Simon's introduction and now Anne was staring at her. I don't know how Anne can look so scary, but the girl quickly hid behind the other boys.

- My Name is Adam.

- My name is Tom.

- My name is Timmy and I believe we can negotiate…

- My name is Ron and if you touch my cake I will punch…

- The chocolate cake belongs to Ralph!

- I want the chocolate cake!

Nobody moved!

- Ok, this is a neutral area. The candy shop will be a neutral area.

- Ok, Kings Road Knights, but never dare to cross this road.

- And don’t you dare cross this road!

- But how are we supposed to get to the candy shop, which is a neutral area?

- Errr, ok. You can cross the road and use the candy shop.

Ralph growled and walked into the candy shop. Ron, the Cowboy’s ‘Ralph’, ran across the road and followed him inside. It was a tense few minutes while we waited for them to leave, nobody said anything. Eventually, they both left eating a slice of chocolate cakes…thankfully there had been two!