by David Barron
Chapter Seven Roland makes Amends
The day of the start of the new term, molly was up early, but not looking forward to school, as much as she should have been. She was still worrying about meeting up with Roland again, and what he might say to her, now his brother was in the jail. Fluff had told her the night before to hold her head up and to march into school, as she hadn’t done any wrong, and besides he’d be close by just in case. She needn’t have worried when she finally got into her class and sat down at her usual desk, Roland was absent, and she soon learned that the whole school knew about his brother, with the teacher even commenting before lessons began, on the shocking news, and asking that Molly give her best to her parents. They’d settled down to their books about nine and at about quarter to ten, Roland had entered looking quite sheepish, and had been asked by the teacher the reason for his lateness. Roland had muttered something about, his father having to go down to the police station to pick something up, and been told to sit down and get on with the work, with the teacher commenting that if he was anything to go by, no wonder his brother was in jail. At the break they had all filed out into the playground, and molly had went across to speak to her friends, when Roland had come over and asked to speak to her for a minute. One of the boys said go on molly it’ll be all right, he won’t try anything as we’ll get him if he does. So molly went over into the corner with him and, was a bit shocked to see tears running down his face. He told her that he was very sorry for all the grief that he’d given her before, and that he never knew that his brother had broken into her house and that he just wanted to be friends. Molly said she didn’t bear any grudges and said that he could as long as he didn’t bully anyone anymore. Roland said that he wouldn’t and she believed him, so Roland joined molly’s new group of friends. Molly told them all of Roland’s change of heart and some of the boys welcomed him back and giving him a slap on the back, said well-done Roland for apologising, you know molly’s a nice girl, but it’s a real shame about your brother you know. Roland told them then that he hadn’t known anything about it, or he would have told Molly’s mum and dad. He was just happy that molly believed him. He said he’d been frightened no one from the school would ever speak to him again. He also said that from now on the bullying was over, and true to his word he never again bullied anyone, even going so far as to save other kids from bullies.
Life at school could not have been better then and molly really enjoyed her time at school. One day molly was sent into the village on the week-end to meet up with her mum at the post office, and had taken her bicycle. On the way she had been looking over the little dykes into the fields, and day dreaming, and hadn’t noticed that she was being followed by a strange car. Fluff was back in Fluffa to see his family, so she didn’t have his usual protection, and his instinct for trouble. As she approached the big bend that leads into the village, she was thrown from her bike by the car coming up too close, and lay on the verge but was quite unhurt, just some minor scrapes on her legs. She then noticed that the car had stopped, probably she thought to check that she was all right. A man appeared and asked if she was ok, then said that he would give her a lift into the village. Molly said she was ok and that she was only going round the corner. The man had a funny look on his face then and grabbing hold of her tried to bundle her into the backseat of his car. Molly screamed but the man was very strong and with a great shove had her in, he then jumped in the front and gunned his engine. They sped round the corner into the village with molly battering on the windows. As they passed the post office molly got the window open just a little and screamed. Roland who was just coming out of the post office saw her and ran back in and told her mum who called the police. Roland jumped on his bike and followed the car. As it turned the last bend to leave the village the car had to slow down for some tractors coming the other way, and by that time Roland had caught them up. He jumped off his bike yanked the back door open and dragged molly out. The man was seething and looked over his shoulder right at Roland, who pulled a face at him. He got molly to her feet, but the man sped off after the tractors had passed, and they hadn’t managed to get his number. Molly was in floods of tears as Roland helped her back down the road to the post office.
Her mother was outside now and was frantic with worry, but beamed when she saw molly being helped down the road by Roland. Molly then told her mother what Roland had done and how brave he had been, and molly’s mum thanked him and even gave him a kiss on the cheek. Roland blushed bright red, and said that it was nothing and that he would have helped anybody really. The police arrived minutes later and took down all the particulars that they could get from the scant witness’s, for there were never many people in the village at that time of day. They asked molly and Roland if they had noted the man’s number and both said that they hadn’t, it all happened so quickly.
"Damn said the sergeant, that’s a pity", but just then Roland said that he knew the type of car it was and that it was brand new. The sergeant asked him how he knew and Roland said he collected cars, and knew all the types.
"Great said the sergeant can’t be too many with that model around here then; we’ll get him if we’re quick." The sergeant put out an APB and within an hour the man had been stopped about fifty miles from where he had been seen. Next day molly her mother and her father had to attend at the police station, along with Roland and his father to identify the driver. They met up outside the station and molly’s dad then went over to have a word with Roland’s dad to thank him and his son for his bravery. Roland’s dad was a little taken aback by that knowing that his other son had not long ago robbed his house, but dad had told him to forget it, that it wasn’t his fault, he had a wayward son, and the two had walked into the station together, whilst Roland and molly took up the rear with her mother. Roland and molly were taken into a room and the sergeant explained what he wanted them to do, and that they were to take their time and have a good look at each man then say the number of the man they recognised. Molly and Roland’s dad watched as they went down a line of men who were standing holding cards with numbers on, but when they reached the driver of the car both knew that it was him and shouted number six. The rest of the men were thanked and allowed to go, and the driver was taken away to be formally charged. Dad was very happy and told Roland that he was a very brave little boy, and that he was to come over on Saturday, for he was going to lay on a picnic in the garden to thank him. Roland blushed again and said that he would come and thanked molly’s dad. The sergeant also came out and thanked him and said, "You know son I wouldn’t be surprised if you get a commendation for this."
Roland was feeling wonderful; he had never been given a pat on the back for anything before in his life. Molly walked over and she gave him a kiss on the cheek and also thanked him for saving her life most probably. That Saturday molly was in the garden with all her friends, and her mum had supplied cakes and biscuits and cola, and they had games, and even a few goes on the swing at the bottom of the garden. Everyone really enjoyed themselves and Roland said he had never had so much fun in his life, and could they do this every Saturday. Molly’s mum laughed and said,
"We’ll see Roland now off you go home, and before you go here are some cakes and biscuits for you and your father." Molly had never asked Roland why he didn’t seem to have a mother, but thought that was his business, and if he wanted too he would tell her perhaps someday. Roland thanked molly’s mum and went home just a little sad that the picnic was over, but molly said she would see him at school on Monday, and he had left her house feeling a bit better.