McKay's Decision

Ashley overhears Admiral Dovedale and his mother talking about sending him to boarding school

Ashley managed to sneak out through the back door without being seen. He hoped that none of the others had been caught as he made his way across the fields in the direction of the woods near his home.

The clubs HQ was a tree house they had built in the woods. They had chosen the biggest tree they could find to support their platform and hut that served as the club HQ. They had camouflaged the hut by sticking leaves all over the structure and they had protected the HQ by putting up booby traps around the area of the hideout. In a clearing a little way off from the hideout was a lookout post. Ashley had provided the telescope for the lookout; an item that he had borrowed from his elder brother, his brother just didn’t know that Ashley had borrowed it yet. When Ashley had reached the lookout post he felt very uneasy he had a feeling that someone might be trailing him he scanned the area around him to make sure no one had followed him but there was nothing, no one not a soul around. Ashley chided himself mentally, reasoning that he must have imagined it. Ashley peered up into the tree that was next to him. He could see that ‘peeps’ was there and called up to his friend “Oy! Peeps! You there?”

“Where else would I be! Your late Locky the others are back at HQ already!”

“I better hurry then! Bye!”

“Bye!”

Ashley made his way the hideout avoiding all the ‘traps’ that were scattered around. He felt a great sense of relief now that he was here protected behind the safety of the hideouts defences. When Ashley reached the base of the tree in which the hideout was situated he heard Scarlett the club leader call down to him from the platform high up in the tree. “At last you’re here! You took your time. Were you, taking a holiday? We thought you got caught!”

“I took a detour through my house, but my mum caught me!” at this statement Ashley herd jeering coming from the hut and mocking cries of ‘Ooh! Mummy’s boy!’ he cringed and felt very embarrassed wishing he hadn’t said anything.

“Stow it you scrag’s!” shouted Scarlett to his companions. Then turned his attentions back to Ashley,  “you had better come up and tell us what happened then!”

“Alright!” Ashley cried back. He swallowed hard as he looked up at how far he had to climb. Now that he had to climb it the tree seemed somewhat taller than it had first appeared to be. As he found the first foot and hand holds he pulled himself up, but when he went to reach out for the next handhold he saw that his hand was shaking. Ashley took a deep breath and muttered to himself ‘its all right its not that far just don’t look down. Your not going to let go and fall and break your neck its all perfectly fine,’ but Ashley didn’t feel fine. This always happened, every single time. He never had been never was and felt he never would be good with heights.

‘Lightfoot’ leaned over the edge of the platform and called out, “Come on Locky! Hurry up! What’s taking you so long?”

Behind him another face appeared it was ‘Fingers’ and called down “The trick is to not look down! Or is it to look down? I’m not sure,”

“Well that’s a fat lot of good that advice is!” Ashley snapped back.

“You would find you would get to the top if you actually tried moving! And closing your eyes doesn’t exactly help!” shouted down Scarlett. “Hey I have an idea! Wait there and don’t move. I’ll be back in a minute!” Scarlett and the others disappeared.

Ashley called back “I can’t really go anywhere anyway! Guys! Where are you? You can’t just leave me here! Hello!”

Then he heard Scarlett’s voice from below, “Don’t worry we wont leave you hanging!”

A rope came over the side of the platform past Ashley. He heard Scarlett climb up behind him, “What are you doing?” asked Ashley feeling rather uneasy.

“Its alright. I'm just going to tie this rope around you so Fingers and Lightfoot can haul you up.” Replied Scarlett tying the rope round Ashley’s waist.

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” asked Ashley feeling rather worried at this point.

“Of course it’s a good idea, it’s my idea isn’t it. Now just hold onto the rope,” Ashley slowly let go with one hand and grabbed the rope, gripping it tightly then grabbed it with his other hand. Scarlett called up to lightfoot and fingers “Now haul him up! Heave!” Ashley felt himself rising being pulled up; he had to use his feet to push himself away from the branches. When he finally reached the top he grabbed onto the platform and dragged himself as far away from the edge as possible. When he at last sat down his heart was beating at a much faster pace than Ashley felt was normal. Shortly after he reached the ‘summit’ Scarlett appeared over the edge of the precipice grinning from ear to ear.

“See I told you it would work. I'm a genius.”

“In your dreams Scarlett!” replied Fingers sarcastically.

They all went inside the hut that was on the platform. Inside they sat around on the cushions they had borrowed from Mr Jenkins the farmer.

“So what happened?” asked Fingers.

“Did your mum get really mad?” interjected Lightfoot.

“She didn’t really say much. She just sighed and told me to go to my room and think about what I had done.” Ashley looked around at the expectant faces peering back at him then continued even though he was rather wary of telling them everything, “Grandfather was there you see, they were having this conversation well argument really.”

“What was it about?” asked Scarlett suddenly looking rather serious, which was very strange for him.

“Me. They want to send me away to boarding school, well granddad does at least,” replied Ashley. There was a collective gasp of horror.

“They cant do that! They can’t send you away! They can’t force you to go!” exclaimed Scarlett looking rather worried.

“That’s why I have decided, I'm going to join the navy.” He replied.

“You what? Are you mad?” exclaimed Lightfoot.

“Well I’d rather go to sea than some snotty school. At least in the navy I would have a chance of being in charge.”

“Well I think your crazy!” said Fingers folding his arms and pouting, he sat in the corner his face like thunder.

“You can’t join the navy you might be killed and you’ll get picked on, there will be no one to protect you. What will happen to the gang?” said Lightfoot.

“Are you certain? Are you determined in this course you have chosen?” asked Scarlett.

“I am certain of my mind and my decision. It is the only way I can see out of my predicament.” Replied Ashley. All this questioning by his friends was only making his convictions firmer, now he would persevere with his choice.

“Well then I can’t let my best friend go alone. You are my friend Ashley and I will support your decision. I will join too.” Replied Scarlett.

“I thought I was your best friend.” Said Fingers and Lightfoot almost simultaneously.

Both Scarlett and Ashley ignored them, “Will you really?” he asked questioningly.

“Yes I will, and what’s more I will go first.”

“What?”

“I will go first and see how the land or should it be sea lays. That way when you join I can help you fit in.”

“But what about you?”

“Oh I will be fine. I can look after myself.”

“What about the club? How are we going to replace you two?” asked Lightfoot but before anyone could reply there was a loud scream.

They all went running out of the hut to see what had happened. Ashley forgot his fear of heights in his hurry to see what was happening. He climbed down the tree quickly and agilely. Then all ran full pelt to where the scream came from. When they arrived the clearing they all stopped and laughed at the sight before them.

Hanging upside down by her feet caught by one of the traps was Charlotte. She was wearing some of Ashley’s clothes, the britches were covered in grass stains, her face was smeared with mud and she had leaves stuck in her hair. When she saw them she let out a cry and shouted at them “Let me down you horrid little brats! I should of known this was your doing!”

“Been sneaking out again have you? Tried to follow me,” taunted Ashley enjoying seeing Charlotte get her comeuppance.

“Ashley you little squirt let me down or I’ll tell mother!”

“How are you going to tell anybody anything if I leave you hanging?”

“Oooh! If I was-, I’ll get you Ashley. I’ll get my revenge just you wait!” she struggled trying to get free. “Let me go! You’re being positively beastly!”

“What to you say lads should we let her down?” said Scarlett smiling smugly.

There were several cries to leave her there but in the end Scarlett took out the hunting knife he had in his belt and cut the rope. When the rope was cut Charlotte fell to the floor landing heavily. She untied the rope that was tied round her ankles then preceded to launch herself at Scarlett and pounded him with her fists. “I hate you Christopher Scarlett! You no good, dishonest cove!”

As Lightfoot and Fingers dragged Charlotte away from him she was kicking, punching and screaming. Scarlett just laughed and replied, “I know you love me really!”

“You arrogant pig! You lot are horrid brutes!” she exclaimed tears welling up in her eyes. She shrugged of Fingers and Lightfoot’s hold and ran off into the woods in the direction the house. Ashley decided it would be better if he were to reach home before Charlotte got there, he may yet be able to talk his way out of trouble.