A watch, peppermints, and a push

Robby leaned against a sapling, gasping for air. The little tree bent, then broke, and he fell to the ground, cursing. Pain searedhis abdomen. He lifted his shirt to see a scrape across his right side where the shattered sapling had rubbed against him. At least it wasn’t bleeding. A moment’s rest more, and he was on his feet again, running as fast as he could, his thoughts whirlingwith fear and anguish.

All he’d wanted was a couple of peppermints from his friend; why couldn’t Jamie share? He always shared with Jamie. His lunch, his answers for their homework, a spare coat in chilly weather. And did Jamie ever say thank you or share with him? No. Peppermints were Robby’s favorite candy, and Jamie knew it. He had a whole bag of them, and he wouldn’t even give Robby two. He just tauntedRobby and called him a loser. 

He offered to let Jamie use his prized possession—the wristwatch his grandfather had given him—if he could have even one peppermint candy. Jamie said yes, and when Robby gave him the watch, Jamie just crushed it with a rock and that’s when Robby lost it. He gave Jamie a push, and then another one. Jamie laughed at him, called him a loser again, and shoved him back. When Robby fell down, Jamie turned and walked away. He didn’t see Robby getting up again and running at him. When Robby hit him, the boys were near the ravine. Jamie stumbled and fell out of sight with a scream. Robby was so shocked at what he’d done that he turned and ran for home. 

Several hours later, there was a knock at the door of Robby’s house. His mother answered and then called her son to join her immediately. A police officer stood before him, wanting to know if he’d been to the ravine today, wanting to know if he knew a boy named Jamie, wanting to know if he knew anything about what happened to him.