Dropping In by Geoff Havel Read Free Book Online Page A

spend half my time watching Ranga do his stuff anyway, trying to figure out how he does it. I wait at the end of James’ driveway while he tells his mum where he’s going and then we head on down to Ranga’s house. James’ chair must be fully charged because it’s a long way to the skate park. We have to go down a big hill and through an underpass and then it’s still a fair way up to the shops and around behind them where the skate park is.
    Ranga’s mum opens the door. She looks tired but she gives us this big beaming smile. ‘Hi boys,’ she says. She turns around and yells back into the house. ‘Warren, it’s Ian and James.’
    Ranga comes bounding up the passageway. It’s the old Ranga back again. He’s been inside too long and he’s overcharged. Energy is sparking out of him. He’s ready to go — now.

11
    When we roll up to the skate park all the usual guys are sitting around watching while a couple of the older guys are flying all over the ramps doing tricks I can only dream about. Even if I had the guts I wouldn’t be able to do that stuff, ever. It used to annoy me, but now I guess I’ve just got used to it. Ranga is a bit of a hero here. The older guys treat him like he’s one of them, knuckles and stuff. I’m lucky to get a grunt.
    James though, they’re interested in him. What happened to you? Can you move your legs? Can I have a go of your chair? He handles it well, answering their questions and not getting angry, even when they grab the controls of his chair and make it jerk back and forth. He won’t let them have a go on it though.
    I’m just about to step in and try to stop them before they break something when Ranga speaks up. He tellsthem to leave James alone, that James is his friend and they actually do leave him alone. I’m relieved because I’m scared; really scared. It doesn’t take much for them to turn on you, and then one of them figures he needs to beat you up — especially if you’re a small kid, or weak or a bit fat, or you’re wearing green. It doesn’t matter what it is, one of them will shove you around to prove how tough they are. All the others laugh like you’re a waste of skin and you don’t matter.
    They might be leaving James alone, but this tall kid with long, greasy hair, who used to go to school a few years ago, decides that I need to be picked on. He walks across and sticks his face right next to mine. ‘What are you looking at?’
    I know where this is heading. If I say, ‘Nothing,’ then he’ll get mad and say, ‘Who are you calling nothing?’ Then he’ll beat me up.
    I don’t want that to happen so I say, ‘My hero.’
    He looks confused and all his mates laugh. That makes him embarrassed and mad — at me. He glares and I realise that I’m in deep trouble but then Ranga steps between us.
    â€˜Leave him alone,’ Ranga says. ‘He’s just a kid. Pick on someone your own size.’
    â€˜Yeah Luke, leave him alone. He’s funny,’ says one of the big guys.
    He still wants to get me but his mates will think he’s weak if he picks on me. I can see him trying to decide if it’s worth it anyway. Then he gives this fake laugh and says, ‘Yeah, he’s funny.’ But his stare says, ‘Watch your back,’ before he swaggers over to the other guys.
    Ranga puts on a show that day. He’s upside down in the air half the time, spinning like a top as well. I’ve seen him do the same moves before but now he’s linking them together and each one seems to give him more speed into the next one. I almost feel like not skating myself because Ranga is so good and I’m so bad. I’m sitting down to watch when he flies up the wall, flips his board into his hand, and lands lightly on his feet next to James and me.
    â€˜Come on, Sticks,’ he says. ‘Get into