The Boy From Sweden

by Craig Smith

cards to fit in all the well wishes. He was amazed by how many people were with him in wishing that Siswe got better. He visited Siswe that night again. The nurses said that he had been awake that day, but for only a very short while. Gunter placed the cards and some of the gifts he and the Johnsons had bought for him by his bedside. Siswe was in a deep sleep the whole visit. Gunter was a little disappointed that he didn’t get to speak to his friend, but he was sure that Siswe would be up and about in no time. He was also told that he had just missed seeing Siswe’s mother, who had left several minutes before Gunter and James had arrived. Since she was family she was able to visit Siswe at any time during the day.

  Thursday 28th March

  A buzzing noise rang in his ears. Gunter rolled over, and tried to go back to sleep. He realized it must be his phone. He opened the phone to answer the call. He expected to hear his mother. She and his father had phoned him everyday since the incident, he had been having a hard time calming them down since he told them about the whole thing.

  “Hello,” he said groggily.

  “Hello, Gunter!”

  “Siswe!” replied Gunter. He felt so happy to hear his friend’s voice once again. Fred rolled over in his bed across the room. Gunter went down to a whisper. “How are you?”

  “Still in pain, but a lot better thanks and you?”

  “Great now that you’re doing better.”

  “Thanks so much for the cards and the gifts, I felt so happy to see them!”

  “It’s a pleasure, my friend.”

  “I’m so sorry, about everything, you should never have been involved. I hope you can forgive me? I would understand if you never wanted to talk to me again.” Siswe’s voice had gone from very happy to sad in a few moments.

  “Don’t be silly, my friend,” said Gunter with a small laugh. “I should be the one who is apologizing. I should have trusted you.”

  “Now you’re the one who is being silly, I would have done the same thing in your situation! Everything is my fault!”

  Gunter sighed. “We can spend forever saying we’re sorry or we can let the past stay in the past and be friends again, what do you say?”

  “I say that is a very good idea.” Gunter could hear the happiness inside his friend’s voice.

  “Agreed, friends forever.”

  Saturday 30th March 11:00am

  They picked Siswe up from the hospital. He was almost fully recovered, and was going to spend the next few days with his mom recovering. Gunter and Siswe sat in the back of the car and they spoke the whole way. Amy had come along for the ride.

  “You two are like girls, you never shut up,” she said.

  They both laughed and carried on chatting . Amy rolled her eyes and turned back to her cellphone. They reached Siswe’s mom’s place. Gunter took Siswe’s good arm over his shoulder, and walked him over to his mother’s place. She was really happy to see him, and rushed over to give him a big hug.

  “Oww... My arm, Mom.”

  “Sorry, honey,” she cooed. Siswe couldn’t help but notice there was a huge box behind his mother. It had a red bow on it.

  “What is that?” he asked.

  Gunter went over to the side of box. “Why don’t you find out?”

  Siswe looked at them all one by one, but none of them would give the game away. He walked over to the bow and pulled it. The side of the box collapsed away. Siswe couldn’t believe what was standing before him. It was a Super Streamer 3300. A bike he thought he would never be able to afford in a hundred years. Next to the bike was all the gear he would ever need. He was about to thank his mother when he realized she wouldn’t have been able to afford it either. He turned to Gunter and the Johnsons. He looked at Mary. “You really shouldn’t have.”

  Mary smiled. “We chipped in a little bit, but it was all Gunter’s doing.”

  “Gunter.” Siswe hobbled over and gave his friend a quick hug. “You’re the best friend ever.”

  Gunter patted his friend on the back. “It was the least I could do, but I’m afraid there is bad news.”

  “What is that?” asked Siswe his face dropping. “You’re not really giving me the bike?”

  “No, don’t be silly. Once you’re fully recovered you have to ride your bike every day. Is that a deal?”

  Siswe grinned from ear to ear like it was silly a question. “I’ll be riding this beauty every chance I get!”

  7:00pm

  Siswe and his mother had just eaten their dinner. Even though Siswe was happy to be back home, and well on his way to recovery he couldn’t help but notice that his mother hadn’t mentioned what had happened to Thomas. He hadn’t mentioned it to her. He found it hard talking about it himself, but surely the police had let her know that he had been killed? He couldn’t let it go.

  “Mom, did they tell you about...?”

  His mom rushed over and hugged him. She started to sob softly. “I know about your brother, I got a letter from the prison and police the day Jacobs attacked you.”

  “It’s horrible, Mom. I miss him so much!”

  “I do to, I do to.”

  They silently hugged each other.

  Monday 1st April 10:15am

  It was first break and Gunter, Fred and Ryan sat around a table eating their snacks. They were chatting about general things when Ryan seemed to have an idea.

  “Gunter?” asked Ryan with a raised eyebrow.

  “Yes?” Gunter mimicked Ryan’s facial movement and everyone laughed.

  “I was thinking, you said you were into sports when you were back home, right?”

  “Yes, I’m in the rowing team.”

  “So you must have good upper body strength? I was wondering if you would be interested in joining the Rugby team?”

  “Mmm... It would be a good way to make new friends, but I don’t know how to play rugby.”

  “Don’t worry I’m in the rugby team,” proclaimed Ryan, it seemed to be something he was very proud of.

  “Nice, it sounds like fun.”

  “Are you sure?” queried Fred. “It’s a pretty tough sport. A lot of people get injured.”

  “I’m sure he’ll do fine. Only people who don’t know what they’re doing get hurt. Gunter is a fast learner and will know everything he needs to in no time. Right, Gunter?”

  “Sure,” shrugged Gunter. “I enjoy a new challenge.”

  “Great, see you on the sports field after school today.”

  “Today?” Gunter was a little worried about the short notice. Would he be ready for it? More importantly would his body be ready for the challenge?

  “Sorry for not mentioning it before, but the only try outs for the next few months is today. Not a problem is it?”

  “No problem at all.” Gunter smiled. There was nothing like the present to do something. “Fred, could you phone your mom and ask her to bring my training kit when she comes to pick us up?”

  “Sure.” Fred got out his phone and sent his mom a quick text message. “My mother won’t be too pleased about this. She says it’s a sport for ruffians and hooligans.”

  “Chicks don’t understand these sort of things,” said Ryan shaking his head.

  2:15pm

  Gunter met Fred and Amy at Mary’s car.

  “Fred says you need your sports kit?” asked Mary.

  “Yes, I’m going to try out for the Rugby team.”

  “Gunter!” The familiar look of concern on her face once again. “It’s a very dangerous sport. Are you sure you want to do this?”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He smiled. He knew his blue eyes and blond hair worked on her to some extent.

  “You’re a fighter. Okay, if this is what you really want. I would love to watch you play, but I have something to do at the office. Is it okay if you give me a call once you’re finished? Would you like Fred or Amy to join you?”

  “Don’t worry, I’m sure I’ll be okay. Ryan is going to be there.”

  “Okay, good luck and see you later.”

 
; Gunter went over to changing rooms and got into his kit. Most of the other boys were outside on the field waiting for the coach. Once he was outside he went over to Ryan’s side.

  “You all ready?”

  “I think so.”

  Ryan took one look at Gunter’s trainers. “Ummm... I forgot you might not have rugby boots.”

  “Ah oh...” Gunter looked up and down at the other boys. They all had rugby boots.

  “Don’t worry, you can borrow mine.”

  “Are you sure? Don’t you need them?”

  “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.”

  Gunter put the boots on. They were a bit big, but they were comfortable enough. Ryan seemed to be content to wear no shoes or socks at all. The coach appeared. He was just under six feet tall, had huge shoulders and an immense chest. He must have been in very good shape in his prime, but now it seemed to be dropping off quite a bit.

  “Good afternoon, men.”

  “Afternoon, sir,” they replied in unison. There were about twenty boys in total.

  The coach went up and down the line and looked at them one by one, he lingered over Gunter a little, but carried on.

  “Ryan, where are your shoes?”

  “Don’t need them, sir!”

  “Don’t need them? Are you mad?”

  “No, sir, just the best player you got.”

  “True,” said the man with a chuckle, “but if you don’t bring your boots next time it will be the bench for you!”

  “Yes, sir!”

  Gunter was about to say something. It was a little unfair that his friend was getting into trouble because of something he did, but before he could Ryan turned to him and give him a quick wink. Gunter smiled back. Ryan was quite the character.

  “Alright, men, I want everyone to do five minutes of stretches and a lap around the field before we begin. We