CHAPTER 19
Interrogated by Letch
The fog of secrecy that surrounded SWA was slowly being lifted, at least for Alex. Though not an official member he was now on the inside. “What my brother taught me,” Steve said, “is that we can’t trust anyone in authority. Teachers, cops, judges — they all exist to keep us in our place. To keep us down. We started SWA to stand up for ourselves.”
“Why don’t you just talk to them?” said Alex.
“Who?”
“The teachers and cops.”
“They don’t listen. But we’re going to make ’em listen. And skateboarding is our microphone.”
“Come along on Friday,” Kim said. “We’re gonna make you part of our gang.”
“Yeah, we can use a grommet like you,” said Steve. “People listen when you’ve got something they want. All of us skate hard. Every kid in the school wants to be like us.”
“Soon, every kid in the school will know us,” said Kim. “We’re going to be famous.”
“Infamous more like it,” said Steve with a grin.
* * *
Each afternoon Alex stopped by the library, and each day he became more frustrated that Becky hadn’t written back. If nothing was going on, surely she would have denied it by now?
At home Chief was almost ready for his big trip. He asked Alex to read him the travel list that Queensland Boxing had given him.
“Passport and plane tickets?” said Alex.
“Check,” said Chief.
“Travellers cheques in US dollars?”
“Check.”
“I said cheques.”
“Very funny.”
“Seven sets of training clothes, including socks, underwear and the team tracksuit?”
“Check.”
“Boxing kit, including first aid stuff?”
“Check.”
“A very warm jacket.”
“Check. I’ve got my 80s leather jacket.”
“A new brain so you won’t forget everything?” Alex had to skip away when Chief tried to punch him in the stomach.
* * *
Kim and Steve were right. At school on Friday everybody was talking about SWA. Their initials were sprayed across the Block 4 wall — in humungous writing. Not only that but they had left a message addressed to the school principal:
DEAR MR STAHL
IT’S OUR TIME NOW
SWA
The outside clock — donated by the police and proudly hung at the top of the Block 4 wall — was gone. It looked like someone had scaled 10 metres clinging to the outside drainpipe to get it down. A crazy thing to do unless your name was Spider-man. The school was taking the theft seriously — two police had arrived and were inspecting the scene. Alex thought he recognised one of them from Friday night. He slipped to the back of the crowd. Dozens of kids were milling around, talking about SWA.
“It stands for Satan Worshippers Association,” said Peter Callaghan.
“No, it’s Students who Want Acceptance,” said a Year 11 girl. “The nerds are striking back.”
A Year 10 boy spoke up. “It’s Skateboarders With Attitude, you idiots. You know, Steve and the gang.”
“Good on ’em,” said another student.
“Yeah, sucked in, Mr Stahl,” said someone else. “When does he ever listen to what we want?”
Later in Religion, while Alex was trying to figure out the difference between Paul and Saul, the classroom phone rang.
“Alex, you are wanted in the office,” said Mr Bath. “Go forth young man and speak the truth.”
The truth was what worried him.
He walked into the office expecting to see Mr Dowden, but instead was face to face with Letch.
“ALEX, DO YOU KNOW WHY YOU ARE HERE?”
Letch had two volumes. Loud and louder.
“No sir.”
“HAVE YOU SEEN THE DISGRACEFUL ACT OF THEFT AND VANDALISM IN OUR SCHOOL?”
“You mean the clock?”
“AND THE GRAFFITI.”
“Yes sir.”
“MR DOWDEN IS AWAY FOR A FEW DAYS SO I WILL BE GETTING TO THE BOTTOM OF IT. I’LL ASK YOU AGAIN, WHY ARE YOU HERE?”
“Because you rang me up in religion, sir.”
Letch’s voice went up a few decibels.
“ARE YOU PLAYING GAMES WITH ME, SON?”
“No sir.”
“DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH WHAT HAPPENED?"
“No sir.”
“DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS SWA GANG?”
Alex hesitated for a second.
“No sir.”
“DO YOU KNOW WHAT SWA MEANS, ALEX?”
“I’m not sure, sir. I’ve heard some kids say it means Satan Worshippers Association.”
“WELL, I’VE HEARD IT MEANS SKATEBOARDERS WANTING ATTITUDE. I’VE ALSO HEARD THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE SOME SORT OF LINK WITH THIS GROUP. IS THAT TRUE, ALEX?”
Alex looked down.
“IS IT TRUE?”
He looked straight at Letch. “I don’t know anything about it.”
Letch stared at him. Alex felt like there was a flashing sign across his forehead that said “LIAR”.
“I have always found you to be truthful, Alex,” he said, more quietly. “I hope there is no reason for me to change my opinion of you.”
“Yes sir.”
“Yes, there is a reason?”
“I mean, no sir.”
Steve was sitting on the chair outside and he winked as Alex walked past. Alex couldn’t believe it. He looked as cool as a Kelvinator.
“Alex,” Letch called out.
“Sir?”
“How’s Becky doing in Italy?”
“Umm, I’m really not sure, sir.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
As Alex walked back to class he could hear Letch interrogating Steve. Probably the whole school could. “HOW DARE YOU SMIRK AT ME LIKE THAT, BOY!”
After school the gang went straight to Kim’s place. Alex had told his mum the same story about staying at Jimmy’s house, and although she wasn’t keen, she eventually agreed. Jimmy also wasn’t keen.
“If you keep playing with fire, mate, you’re gonna get burned,” he said.
“Yeah, especially when someone’s mate lights the match.”
“I told you, I couldn’t think of anything else to say.”
“Well, you could have changed the initials at least. Why did you have to use SWA?”
“How was I supposed to know they were going to flog the school’s clock? I can’t believe you want to be a skateboarder with attitude, anyway. It’s such a stupid name.”
“Shut up, bent nose.”
At Kim’s they cross-checked the day’s events. Everyone except Goof had been called up to the office and questioned about the incident. They all had denied it, of course. Goof felt left out.
“When did you steal the clock?” Alex asked.
“The less you know, the better,” said Steve. “We’ll all be questioned again, I reckon, when Dowden gets back.”
“You did well, Alex,” said Kim, blowing out a steady stream of smoke. “I bet that’s the first time you’ve ever been in trouble.”
“No, it’s not.”
“First time you’ve ever had to lie, then.”
He paused. “Are we going skating or what?”