Summer Mischief

Three boys check out the views from above

Despite Warren's warnings we headed out. He reluctantly followed; nothing better to do. But every time I looked back at him he had a look on his face that was etched in skepticism. The boy was a menace. Always so bloody negative. Why'd we hang out with him again?

"Come on you guys. We ain't got that much time," Silas called back to us from his perch up on the water tower.

I scrambled up. My heart played a staccato beat in time to the steps I took. I listened for Warren to follow half expecting him to bail, but he didn't. His footsteps up the metal ladder were slower, but definitely there.

When I reached the top I felt the exhilaration of being on the top of the world.

"This is bloody amazing," I wheezed out as soon as I was able to stand free of the ladder.

"Over here," Silas called already seated with his legs hanging out over the edge of the tower.

My butt twinged at the height. Still I slipped in beside him my hands tight on the rail that seemed almost flimsy. My head swirled. I closed my eyes for a moment, then shook my head to clear the hints of vertigo.

Warren slipped in beside me. I could hear him breathing - a rasping, really.

"Ain't this the bomb," Silas yelled his hands flung up in the air as he kicked his feet. "Freedom."

"I don't know about freedom," Warren began.

The sound of sirens cut the air and we watched as a cruiser made a right and pulled into the gravel path leading up to the tower.

"Oh crap," Silas muttered.

"I told you this would happen." Warren muttered back. "My brother said to always go at night. They can't see you then."



Word Count = 300 words.

Notes ▼

Written for "Daily Flash Fiction Challenge"  on July 19, 2025
No edits - I hit 300 on my first attempt.