I stamped my foot into the ground and sped up, trusting my luck, hoping to fuck I’d manage to control it somehow. Fat chance. I was on the ground again, doing a little Riverdance to stop me landing flat on my arse. Gazza and Sammy snatched a quick glance at each other before falling about laughing, really emphasising the ha’s, like, “HHA, HHA, HHA.” Harvey grabbed a plank of wood from a skip, and built a little ramp up the kerb. He got back on his skateboard and shot up the plank. He flipped his board under his feet and landed gracefully on his wheels. He said, “Decent ramp.” All casual, like. Sammy said, “Let’s have a go.” Sammy wasn’t quite as good, but managed to jump a fewfeet without falling over. “Nice one.” He grinned, like he was one of the boys. Gazza went next. Like his little mate, he jumped as though the wheels were an extension of his body. Gazza kicked his board up into his hands, and grinned back at me. “Go on, Trav.” I said, “Fuck off. You knowI’m a beginner.” He said, “What, do you need armbands, or something? Fucking lifejacket? It’s only up the kerb, you spaz. Howhigh is that? Couple of fucking inches?” Harvey was twitching, ready to leave.
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