THE WOODEN SWORDS CHAPTER 2 - GOING BACK TO THE HOUSE

My mum noticed straight away that there was something wrong. I could not really hide my t-shirt covered with blood and some of it had dried on my face.

- I hope you didn’t have a fight!

She had warned me before that if I have a fight, I would be punished. Punishment from my mum meant that for the next few days I wouldn’t be able to go out in the afternoons. She knew how to punish me in the worst way possible and she always included the weekends.

That was bad, especially since today was Thursday and the weekend was coming. There was no way I could miss a meeting with the rest of the knights. We had a very serious meeting this Saturday because a new group had appeared at the end of Elm Street.

- No, no! It was not a fight! It was an accident. I just fell and hit my nose!

- I hope you didn’t ‘just fall’ on somebody’s fist!

- Mum! Why would I do that? Anyway, nobody can hit ME!

I said it loud because it was true, but not all the time, since today had proved that.

-Ok! Ok! Go and wash and then we can talk about it! Take off your t-shirt, so I can start soaking it. Blood and mud can be so hard to get out. Is this a rip?

I was a little disappointed because it would great to have a t-shirt soaked in blood, with battle scars; it would scare my enemies. My mum is very good, most of the time, so is my dad. I know that I make mistakes, not very often but we have a very good relationship. Mum occasionally lets me hold our meetings in my bedroom and she always makes tasty sandwiches and gives biscuits to all of us.

While in the bathroom I started talking to myself. I always found that talking out loud gave me ideas and helped me with my thoughts:

- That shield today wasn’t good at all, but it was Ralph’s idea. I should never use an astrofighter’s shield; they are for protection against space lasers, not a knight’s sword.

My ripped t-shirt was more proof of the uselessness of the shield. I suddenly realized my mistake, when we play space wars I should use the astrofighter’s shield and when we play knights I need the usual iron shield!

I decided to announce that at the next meeting. There were no excuses. I had been killed and that happened because of the shield. If I had used an iron one then I would have probably been wounded, but Anne could have taken care of my wounds and I would have been back in battle.

- Alex! Come on, food is on the table!

- Coming, Mum!

First I went to my room to write a note in my special knights’ notebook, in which I always write very important conclusions and ideas that I will mention at our meetings. After all, it had been a practice battle and we had to learn something from it and this time I had learnt the hard way.

I changed my t-shirt and went to the dining room. My dad had arrived back from work while I had been upstairs and he was sitting at the table reading the newspaper.

- What’s up, son! Your mum told me you had some troubles.

- No, Dad! It was just an accident! Honestly!

- Honestly?

- James was a Black Knight and…

- It was James, huh? Did he apologise?

- Yes, Dad! It was an accident and we are friends again. He really didn’t mean it, we were in the middle of a battle and I had been killed by another Black Knight, and then we lost.

- So you lost the battle, maybe you'll win the war!

My dad always said these strange things and I never really understood. I thought a battle was a war…Anyway, Dad was happy with my explanation of the injury and, since it was the truth, I wouldn’t have to remember any complicated lies. I learnt it is easier to tell the truth because I would always forget what I had made-up and would get even further into trouble.

- Alex! Start your dinner before it goes cold!

Mum had cooked some sort of fish, but I didn’t know what because there are so many different types. I liked fish with chips, but she had made salad tonight. She believes that potatoes should be either boiled or cooked in the oven, not fried.

I had to stay at the table until everybody had finished and Dad would make me eat everything on my plate; he would say that I would have to take it to school for my lunch if I didn’t eat it and I always believed everything my Dad said, even if I didn't understand it all.

Maria, my younger sister, didn’t have to eat everything, but she is five and I am nine. I forgot to tell you that I have a sister! She is too young to join in our battles or adventures, but when my friends come to my place Mum always forces me to let her join in. She usually becomes bored when she’s with us and Anne is not interest in playing with her dolls; Anne is an equal member of our team, so she has to follow the meetings.

- Dad, do you know what type of shields knights wear?

- Pardon?

The problem of my shield’s failure was still on my mind and I definitely needed the advice of an adult, plus Dad always seemed to have an answer for problems.

- What type of shield does a knight have?

- You have that book; the one we bought you for your birthday last year! Check it after dinner!

He was right. They had given me that book for my birthday last year. It was a beautiful big and heavy book, full of knights, horses, armour, weapons, castles and dungeons. He always had an answer for every situation; I wonder if I will ever be as wise as him.

- Do you think the book will have anything about astrofighter shields?

- What is an astrofighter?

- You know! Fighters who battle in space!

- Oh! Do they come from the future?

- Of course, Dad!

- Then the book can’t tell you because it is about the past.

- Oh.

- But if it is the future, then it hasn’t been invented yet, has it?

- Err, no.

- So, invent one that does what you want it to. But before you start inventing make sure you have finished your homework.

- Yes, Dad.

- I suppose that I have to believe you that this coincidence with your bleeding nose was an accident.

- It was Dad!

- Let’s say that I do believe you. There is no punishment, but…

I hated it when my Dad would end a sentence with ‘but’. I knew that what followed was never good and I think he knew I hated it because he would always pause for a few seconds before continuing.

- On Sunday morning, after you help me with some bit and pieces in the garden, we are going to have a math test on what you have learnt over the past few months.

- But Dad…

-You’d better accept that, otherwise there will be no going out for the next week.

Arguing with Dad’s decisions only made the punishment worse and there was no time for punishments. We had a meeting after school tomorrow to find out who these Elm Street boys are. We had to discuss the last battle, especially the shield issue, and I had to explain to James about the rules of the game because I didn’t want anymore bloody noses or punishments for them.

- Sorry Dad!

- Fine! That’s a good lad. What about you, pumpkin? Are you going to help your daddy and your big brother in the garden on Sunday?

- Yap!