THE SILVER PH
The wind was howling and the rain had started to fall again.
It was 5 o’clock and the good residents of Bigglesworth were all busy going about their business and most of them wanted to get home out of this horrid weather all except one.
Freddy Fingers Lafferty watched the little old lady in front of him just like a cat does with an unsuspecting mouse and decided "now" was as good a time as any.
The minute Mrs Tinkle placed her handbag on the post office counter so she could open the door, Freddy Fingers leapt into action.
The minute Mrs Tinkle placed her handbag on the post office counter so she could open the door, Freddy Fingers leapt into action.
Freddy had, in the blink of an eye darted toward the unsuspecting Mrs Tinkle and snatched the brown calfskin handbag.
Even an accomplished athlete would have had trouble-catching Freddy; he really was that fast, so unfortunately, the 76-year-old pensioner had absolutely no chance.
As Mrs Tinkle cried out for help all seemed lost as most of the people around just didn’t seem interested or were all of a similar age and disposition to Mrs Tinkle.
Freddy fingers stopped roughly about two hundred yards away down a back ally, placing the brown calfskin handbag down on top of a wheelie bin. Freddy gleefully rubbed both hands together in eager anticipation.
Freddy fingers stopped roughly about two hundred yards away down a back ally, placing the brown calfskin handbag down on top of a wheelie bin. Freddy gleefully rubbed both hands together in eager anticipation.
“Now then,” he chuckled, “what little treasures are you hiding?” And just as Freddy reached toward the zipper on the bag the most amazing thing happened.
Freddy’s fingers were literally inches away from the bag when something flew past him and the bag disappeared! “What the flaming heck.” cried Freddy. He couldn’t believe it and Freddy continued to stare at the spot were only seconds ago sat his ill-gotten prize.
Freddy looked up and down the ally and immediately the moment he did so Freddy Fingers Lafferty nearly fell backwards in utter disbelief.
Freddy looked up and down the ally and immediately the moment he did so Freddy Fingers Lafferty nearly fell backwards in utter disbelief.
There directly in front of him was what looked like a small person, dressed in some kind of silver outfit, however it’s what the strange figure was doing that completely froze Freddy to the spot.
Freddy rubbed his eyes then pinched himself, no the silver suited figure hadn’t gone away and yes, this person if indeed it was a person, was actually floating in mid-air about what must have been twenty feet off the ground.
Freddy rubbed his eyes then pinched himself, no the silver suited figure hadn’t gone away and yes, this person if indeed it was a person, was actually floating in mid-air about what must have been twenty feet off the ground.
He/it now had the brown calfskin handbag, it was also dangling it in a sort of taunting manner.
The floating figure then began to speak.
“Looking for something thief, is this what you’re looking for?”
“Looking for something thief, is this what you’re looking for?”
The floating figure hovered toward Freddy, again dangling the brown bag in front of the disbelieving bag snatcher.
The floating figure spoke again, “oh, you want this?” as it said those words the silver clad figure lowered the bag down towards Freddy but every time Freddy reached up to grab the bag the silver suited figure snatched it away.
This jape carried on for about ten minutes until suddenly there came the sound of running footsteps.
Freddy had no chance of escape. Two burly Policemen soon had Freddy in handcuffs and as Freddy was being led away, he stopped briefly to ask whom or what the hovering silver figure was?
Freddy had no chance of escape. Two burly Policemen soon had Freddy in handcuffs and as Freddy was being led away, he stopped briefly to ask whom or what the hovering silver figure was?
The large Policeman started laughing, reaching into his tunic pocket, he produced a small card.
The Policeman then handed it over to Freddy fingers. “There you go,” said the constable, “that’s especially for you."
Freddy stared at the card, again in utter astonishment.
On the card was a small picture of a flying figure dressed in a silver suit, under the figure read the words.
“Congratulations" You have just been caught by the Silver Phantom! Have a nice day.
*************
Six months prior to the incident involving Freddy fingers Lafferty, Jack Muggleton brushed his teeth and got ready for school.
“Hurry up Jack you’re going to be late,” shouted Samantha Muggleton (Jack’s mum)
“I goi as fas as I ca,” replied Jack which wasn’t easy when you had a mouthful of toothpaste and water.
After swilling his mouth out Jack grabbed his rucksack and scampered down stairs.
Just as Jack was about to exit the house, Samantha Muggleton shouted out, “just a minute there young man, you know the drill, kit inspection."
“Awww Muuuum, I’m ten years old now is this really necessary?” Jack’s mum reached out with the palm of her hand and then proceeded to flick her fingers back toward herself and said; “give.” Jack reluctantly handed the bag over and waited for the inevitable fall out.
Jack sometimes really worried about his mum it was as if she could never switch off from work. Jack’s mum was a customs and excise officer at Paxton and Bigglesworth international.
So out came the Mars-bars, Flumps, Drumsticks, Wham bars and Jack’s favourite, Fizz bombs.
Samantha Muggleton began clicking her tongue disapprovingly. “Oh dear, what have we here Jack Muggleton?
Obviously I’m going to have to keep hold of these,” said Jack’s mum clutching a fistful of goodies “and I’m going to replace them with these.” Jack watched desperately as his beloved sweets were exchanged for Fruit, that was now being deposited into his rucksack. One Apple one Banana and of course the obligatory Orange.
“OK, everything else seems to be in order.” Jacks mum then handed the rucksack back to Jack and just as she did so, she said, “haven’t you forgotten something?”
Jack groaned out loud, “Muuuum” and at that point Samantha Muggleton tenderly kissed her son on the forehead. “now" you can go and remember, no short cuts through the park.”
Jack had already gone and Jack’s mum now turned her attention to the shopping list and right at the top of that list was, yes you guessed it, “fruit.”
Bigglesworth primary school was situated roughly two miles from where the Muggleton’s lived; however if you were to cut through the park it was only one mile thus cutting the distance in half.
Jack spotted his best pal tall Tommy Ashcroft, so called because of his unusual height even though he was only ten years old and tall Tommy looked excited.
“Hey,” said Jack,
“Hey,” replied Tommy.
“Why are you looking so happy,” said Jack.
“This,” said tall Tommy and he produced the biggest conker Jack had ever seen in his life. Indeed if you were to put your forefinger and thumb together the giant conker still wouldn’t have fit through.
“Wow” that’s a monster,” cried Jack.
“I know,” said tall Tommy “and it’s going to win me lots of pocket money.
How do mean?” said Jack,
“There’s a conker match in the school playground in,” tall Tommy produced a mobile phone and said, “exactly fifteen minutes.”
“We’ll never make it to the school in time,” said a concerned Jack, he was just as anxious to see the monster conker in action as tall Tommy was. “We will if we go through the park,” said tall Tommy with a wicked gleam in his eye.
“Oh,” said Jack, “I can’t mum said not too.”
“Well,” sighed tall Tommy “it’d be a shame not to see this big boy in action.” Both boys stared at the huge conker and then at each other. “Well, I suppose if we hurried up and stayed to the paths,” said Jack, at that point both boys smiled and together ran full pelt toward the park entrance.
About five minutes into the park tall Tommy suddenly stopped and tugged on Jack’s sleeve. “Hear that,” Tommy said?
“Hear what,” replied Jack?
“Shush,” urged tall Tommy and Jack noticed he had a worried look on his face.
“What’s the matter,” said Jack? Tall Tommy looked at his pal and made the quiet sign with a finger.
Jack now knew why tall Tommy had a worried expression on his face because Jack also heard and he also knew whose voices were coming from behind the boating lake shed.
Jack and tall Tommy both looked at each other and silently mouthed the same words, “The Ronson twins.”
The Ronson twins were feared by all of the pupils at Bigglesworth primary school and with good reason.
The two twin brothers were twice the size of any boy or girl at the school and had absolutely no problem in dishing out severe punishment to who ever disobeyed them.
As Jack and tall Tommy cautiously peered round the side of the boating shed a voice spoke behind them.
“Well, well, well, if it isn’t Jack and his faithful Beanstalk.”
As Jack and tall Tommy swiftly turned around they saw with dread standing in front of them were” The Ronson Twins.” Standing along side the twins were a couple of lackeys.
Spotty faced Billy Smith and Maurice Maniac. Maurice’s last name was actually Maney, however the nickname was acquired due to Maurice always getting into trouble usually by following the twins instructions no matter what.
Patrick Ronson spoke first, “I heard your mum works at the airport as a customs cop,” he said staring at Jack. Jack wasn’t afraid of the Ronson’s even though his pal was and he could physically feel tall Tommy shaking with fear at the side of him.
“What’s “that” got to do with you,” answered Jack defiantly?
“Because,” said a smirking Patrick, “I’ve been wanting to say this, for ages."
At that moment all four of the Ronson gang held out their hands toward the two pals and together said. “What’s In the bag’s and empty your pockets, You're Busted!”
Spotty faced Billy stepped forward and in a sneering manner said, “meaning, mobile phones, lunch money in fact everything, so cough up.”
“yea, cough up,” said Maurice maniac and as he menacingly stepped forward, Maurice balled one hand into a fist and then started to softly punch the other hand with it.
Jack had to do something and quick, there were too many for him and tall Tommy to tackle, however, Jack wasn’t going to give in to these bullies, then suddenly Jack had an idea.
He nudged tall Tommy and said, “hand me the Monster Tommy,” tall Tommy glared at Jack in horror, but he trusted his best friend and duly produced the huge conker.
All four pairs of eyes in front of Jack and tall Tommy lit up like Jack O Lanterns and the other Ronson twin Graham greedily licked his lips. “wow” that’s mine;” he said and started forward, hand outstretched toward the monster conker.
“Wait just a minute,” said Patrick Ronson, “I saw it first, so it’s mine.”
“Hey that’s a lie,” cried Maurice maniac, “I saw it first.”
“No no no, I think you’ll find I saw it first.”
Right at that moment both twins and Maurice maniac stopped and glared at spotty faced Billy, Billy cringed and then said; “now you mention it, maybe I didn’t.”
While the Ronson gang were arguing over who should have the prize conker, Jack had spotted, then surreptitiously retrieved a pebble roughly the same size as the conker.
As soon as the gang of four turned their attentions back toward the two pals, Jack, placing the conker in his left hand so every one could see, then pulled his arm back in the throwing position.
Jack cried at the top of his voice “fetch” releasing what the Ronson gang believed to be the giant conker.
The second the bogus conker flew through the air the Ronson gang rushed toward it like a pack of ravenous wolves. Jack and tall Tommy swiftly headed in the other direction and to safety along of course with tall Tommy’s prize conker!!
It was Patrick Ronson who first realised the gang had been duped and he suddenly stopped and quickly looked round, only to see Jack and tall Tommy disappearing into the distance.
“We’ve been tricked,” snarled Patrick. His brother Graham snatched up the pebble and he too shouted, “its only a pebble.” Maurice maniac whirled round towards where Jack and tall Tommy stood seconds before and screamed at the top of his voice “get em!!”
Just as Jack and tall Tommy were drawing breath they both heard Maurice and the rest of the Ronson gang mount their pursuit. “We’ll have to go another way instead of sticking to the paths,” said Jack,
“I think you’re right,” panted tall Tommy, “it just might throw them off the scent. Do you know the way to the park exit,” asked tall Tommy as they both quickly headed toward a gap in the pathway fence?
“Not sure,” replied Jack “and even if we get lost and are late, at least it’s better then being caught by the Ronson’s.” Tall Tommy vigorously nodded his head; anything was better than being caught by the dreaded Ronson’s.
After walking for about ten minutes Jack noticed something rather odd, “hey look at that” and he placed a hand on tall Tommy’s left shoulder.
Both boys stared at a large oak tree and leaning against the tree was a spade. “It’s probably just a Gardner who’s left his spade behind,” said tall Tommy.
“Or someone who’s just buried something,” replied Jack.
As Jack said those words he pointed at a spot just to the left of the tree with the spade leaning against it.
As both boys walked over, they saw that the spade had obviously recently been used to dig a hole. Jack tapped his left trainer on a flattened patch of freshly dug earth and said out loud, “I wonder what’s under there?”
“Well there’s only one way to find out,” said tall Tommy.
“Wait,” said Jack, “it could be anything, a dead squirrel or something else dead that the park keepers have just buried?”
“Or it could be treasure, replied tall Tommy, again with that familiar gleam in his eye.
“I don’t know,” said Jack warily, “what about the Ronson’s?”
At the mention of that dreaded name both boys glanced nervously around cocking their ears whilst they did so.
“It looks like we’ve thrown them,” said tall Tommy and Jack could clearly see tall Tommy wanted to dig whatever had recently been buried by the excitable state he was in.
Just as Jack was about to say well, I suppose it’s OK just to look, he realised tall Tommy had grabbed the spade and had already removed a substantial amount of topsoil.
About four feet down tall Tommy heard a thud as the spade made contact with what ever was down there.
“What is it?” cried Jack; suddenly realising he was just as excited as his best pal was.
“Not sure,” said tall Tommy, “but it looks like a wooden box.”
A few minutes later the two pals had managed to dig out what looked like a small wooden crate about double the size of a shoebox.
Neither boy said anything at first; they just stared at the wooden box, “wow.” What do you think is inside,” eventually cried Jack?
“I don’t have a clue” replied Tall Tommy, “but it must be something important look what it’s got written on the box.”
Emblazoned all over the box in large block capitals were the words. TOP SECRET and GOVERNMENT PROPERTY. Jack looked at tall Tommy and said, “I think we ought to put it back don’t you?”
“Don’t you want to know what’s inside,” said tall Tommy?
“Of course I do,” said Jack, “but I know from mum that anything with top secret and government property on it means we shouldn’t be looking inside.”
Tall Tommy pulled a face and said, “not even a little peek?” Jack vigorously shook his head and said, “no way,” grabbing the spade Jack walked toward the wooden box.
Just as Jack reached down toward the box the most incredible thing happened! The wooden crate lifted two feet of the ground and amazingly floated back away from Jack then plopped down.
Both chums froze and any passer-by would have sworn they were looking at two statues staring at a small wooden crate.
Jack was the first to react and he did so by turning slowly around and pointing wide eyed at tall Tommy. Jack then spoke. “Did, did, did, you just see that?” Tall Tommy was stood still, frozen to the spot, and then he started to shake, which concerned Jack because he was well aware his best pal suffered from the occasional epileptic fit.
Jack did what he always did when seeing the onset of a fit and leapt toward tall Tommy, making sure he wasn’t near anything that could harm him whilst the fit took its course.
However Jack needn’t have worried, the reason tall Tommy was shaking was simply just the shock of seeing a wooden box float two feet up in the air and then plop down. “Are you OK,” said a concerned Jack?
“I think, think so,” stammered an ashen faced Tommy. Jack looked at tall Tommy as if to telepathically say (shall I try again) tall Tommy nodded in agreeance and slowly, very slowly Jack reached out with the spade as if to prod the strange wooden box.
Just as the spade got to within a foot of the box, it lifted up again only this time it didn’t land back down on the ground it stayed there, hovering in mid air!!!
Jack and Tall Tommy had seen enough and fled the scene as fast as if they possibly could. In fact even tall Tommy’s father’s prize greyhound wouldn’t have caught either boy as they both crashed through bushes and flower beds in an effort to get away from the weird goings on back at the oak tree.
About a half a mile away from the tree both boys collapsed to the ground and caught their breaths.
Jack had a quick look at his pal to make sure he was OK and then tried to make sense of what they had just witnessed.
Tall Tommy spoke first. “I thought the Ronson’s were scary, but man, that was just off the chart” and he exaggeratedly waved an arm up in the air as if to demonstrate what he had just said. Jack agreed, but he still couldn’t help wondering what was in that box.
A few moments later both tall Tommy and his best pal Jack arrived at the school gates. Even with the encounter with the Ronson twins and the floating wooden box, by some minor miracle they still managed to get to assembly on time.
All through the morning, Jack Muggleton had one thing on his mind, “that floating box.” What was it? Why had someone buried it? Were they coming back for it later? Who actually owned the box and the biggest question of all, what in the world made it float around in the air?
And another thing how did it know to move away whenever Jack went close to it?
All these unanswered questions were driving Jack crazy; he had an inquisitive mind to start with, so all of what had happened earlier today was just simply sending Jack’s brain into overload.
In fact Jack was so deep in thought he hadn’t noticed while he was just about to bite into an apple, four figures sneaking up on him from behind.
“I’ll take that.”
Seconds before Jack was about to sink his teeth in the Golden Delicious a hand plucked it away and as Jack looked up he realised he was surrounded.
“We meet again,” said a sneering Patrick Ronson “and so soon.” Jack usually would have come up with a plan even at such short notice. But with all what was going on inside his head he just hadn’t been thinking straight and almost certainly wouldn’t have allowed himself to be ambushed like this.
“What shall we do with him?” Said a leering Maurice maniac, again in his trademark punching a fist into the other hand pose.
“Lets just give him a good kicking,” said a smiling Graham Ronson.
“Or torture him for making fools of us back at the park,” said a sniggering spotty faced Billy.
Patrick Ronson who obviously seemed to be the self appointed leader of the Ronson gang raised his hand in the air and said. “I know, we’ll play a game and the name of this game is, fetch little doggy fetch.”
Patrick Ronson stared down at Jack and said, “meaning, whenever I throw this and he looked at the big green apple, “you," fetch it back to me like a good little doggy.” At those words all the rest of the Ronson gang fell about laughing and high fived each other, Patrick Ronson continued on.
“And when you bring it back to me, I also want it in your mouth just like a good little obedient doggy.”
That remark again triggered the same hoots of delight along with more high fives from the rest of the other gang members.
Jack just kept his cool, thinking all the time, his mind had cleared now and unbeknown to the Ronson gang Mr Jackson (the history teacher) had silently arrived in the classroom. And as he always did, he started to wipe the white board off in preparation for the next lesson.
As the Ronson gang were all stood facing Jack they couldn’t possibly have known there was a teacher with them in the classroom.
Arms folded and armed with a stern expression on his face Mr Jackson had now taken an interest in the unfolding events in front of him and Jack milked it for all it was worth.
“Pleeeeze don’t make me do this Patrick Pleeeeze. I’m really sorry for tricking you in the park and I know now I should have given you "all" my pocket money as well as my mobile phone. Pleeeeze I'm begging you," shouted Jack as loud as he could. He wanted to make sure Mr Jackson heard everything.
“Well- well- well this is a turn up,” said Patrick. “The great I’m so smarter than everyone else Jack Muggleton pleading for mercy,” he glanced at the other gang members and said, “I love it when they beg don’t you?”
Maurice maniac, spotty faced Billy and Graham Ronson all vigorously nodded in agreement. Patrick Ronson turned around to stare at Jack again who, incidentally had now pretended to cry, for added effect of course
“Ooh well,” said Patrick, “now you mention it and the fact that the little wuss has started to cry, no go fetch,” and a laughing Patrick Ronson casually flicked the large golden delicious over his right shoulder.
Jack stayed exactly where he was and suddenly started to smile.
“I said go fetch,” growled Patrick Ronson and just as the rest of the Ronson gang were about to remind Jack why he should do as he was told, a loud voice bellowed across the classroom “Ronson.”
Quicker than a hiccup the Ronson gang all turned to see Mr Jackson (the history teacher) standing in front of them holding the golden delicious.
Mr Jackson knew all about the Ronson’s and their history of bullying and intimidation, indeed all the teachers and headmistress knew, but had never been able to prove anything, that was up until now.
Mr Jackson pointed at the Ronson gang and said, “I think it’s time we all went to see Miss Brown don’t you boys?”
Mr Jackson carried on, “yes indeed I think it will make for a nice cosy chat and guess what the subject will be, errrm you can answer that one Maurice?"
“Bullying,” muttered Maurice under his breath.
“What's that?” cried Mr Jackson, “I can’t hear you boy, speak up"
“Bullying sir,” answered Maurice, as he said those words he could feel the wrath burning into him from the other three-gang members.
“Correct,” said Mr Jackson, “bullying” as well as intimidation and possibly extortion, which I may add are "all" offences you can be expelled for, now follow me.”
At that moment, heads bowed, all four of the Ronson gang trudged disconsolately toward the classroom exit, but not before they heard a loud “Ah Hem.”
As the gang of four turned around to see what had made that sound, there, sat a now laughing Jack Muggleton and with both hands, he was waving goodbye!!!
Jack wasn’t one normally to rush out of school, however on this occasion he did and the reason of course was? "That box," Jack didn’t inform tall Tommy this time, it wasn’t because he wanted the wooden box all to himself it was mainly because of tall Tommy’s health.
Indeed if anything else unexpected happened back at the oak tree it could trigger a seizure and even though Jack’s mum had told Jack how to deal with someone having a fit, if he could prevent it from happening, then Jack felt it was his duty to do so.
On exiting the school gates Jack proceeded to back track his way through the park which was fairly easy as both Jack and tall Tommy on previously fleeing the scene had left a trail of broken branches and various trainer prints in the flowerbeds.
As Jack approached the oak tree he glanced at his mobile phone. 4.10pm, Jack figured he had another two hours of daylight so the park wouldn’t be closing just yet and in any case he would have to be back home soon or his mum would send a search party to look for him.
Jack arrived at the same spot where earlier both boys had witnessed those amazing scenes with the floating box, Jack looked around and then suddenly stepped back in shock!
There wasn’t any box floating around, it’s just that Jack hadn’t expected to see the hole they dug before had now been filled in and the spade had disappeared.
Jack’s first inclination was to find something, anything and dig out the hole again, but as quickly that urge came, it went away.
Jack knew if someone had replaced the wooden box in that hole, then it must be for a good reason, so with a heavy heart Jack trudged back towards the paths out of the park and home.
“How was school son?” said Roger Muggleton (Jack’s dad) later at dinner.
“Ok,” replied Jack, he was still a little down and disappointed that he didn’t find the box and both Jack’s mum and dad were picking up the vibe.
“Someone been picking on you?” said dad, as he vigorously attacked a baked potato.
“No what made you think that?” replied Jack.
“Oh you know, it’s just you seem a little down hearted that’s all, said dad.
“No I’m OK,” said Jack. “please may I be excused from the table?” Requested Jack.
“Have you eaten all your salad?” Asked mum. Jack lifted his plate up in the air then tipped it upside down whilst shaking it. “Yes I get the point young man,” smiled Samantha Muggleton.
Jack was a good boy and he always ate everything that was put in front of him, which made Samantha’s life a whole lot easier, unlike some of the kids the Muggleton’s knew.
“Scram,” said mum and Jack hot tailed up to his room to reflect on the day’s events. Before he did that however, Jack grabbed the remote and pressed play. As Jack watched the Power Rangers defend mankind for the umpteenth time he dozed off.
TAP TAP TAP. Jack suddenly opened his eyes and glancing toward his bedroom door shouted, "come in." Nothing happened. "Come in," repeated Jack, again nothing.
TAP TAP TAP, it was then Jack realised the tapping wasn’t coming from the door it was coming from the window!
Jack sprang off the bed and ran the toward the window, it must be tall Tommy knocking on his bedroom window with a long pole or something. Though why his best pal would want to do that didn’t make any sense at all, tall Tommy always knocked on the door and came up the stairs like everyone else.
Jack pulled the blind up quickly and then dropped it even quicker making little whimpering noises as he did so.
Jack felt his heart racing and he suddenly became very warm like he was having a fever. He muttered softly to himself “no way, I don't believe it!!”
Jack somehow gathered himself together and then again, slowly very slowly proceeded to reopen the blind.
There it was, Jack wasn’t imagining it. There, hovering directly outside Jack Muggleton’s bedroom window was the floating wooden box and judging by the constant tapping, it looked like it wanted to come in!!
Making sure no one else had witnessed the bizarre goings on outside his window, Jack gathered every ounce of courage he had and proceeded to let the strange visitor into his room.
Both windows now open, Jack retreated to the back of the bedroom and waited. There was a short pause and then slowly but surely the two foot by one foot wooden box glided effortlessly into Jack Muggleton’s bedroom.
Having closed the windows and drawn the blind, Jack left his room to inform his parents he was having an early night.
“You sure you’re feeling OK,” quizzed his dad again?
“I’m just tired dad that‘s all, we did a lot of running today and Tommy’s out with his parents tonight so I thought I would just chill out in my room.” Jack never lied to his parents, he just never did, so the answer he gave to his dad really wasn’t a million miles away from the truth.
So on kissing mum goodnight and saying goodnight to his dad, Jack didn’t just walk back to his room he nearly ran. When Jack arrived back in his room he nearly ran back out again.
The wooden box was now in the middle of the bedroom floor, however it wasn’t still, in fact it seemed to be vibrating, sort of jumping up and down and then shaking.
As Jack peered out from behind the bedroom door he half expected a weird scary monster to escape out of the box like in one of the Power Ranger episodes.
However no scary monster came out and the box had now stopped vibrating. Then something unexplainable happened and to this day Jack Muggleton, for the life of him couldn’t fathom why he did what he did next.
Gathering courage from heaven knows where, Jack stepped slowly toward the 2x1ft wooden box, standing only a few inches from the box now, Jack started to speak.
“If you can understand me then make two taps for yes and one tap for no.” Just as Jack was thinking, I can’t believe I’m talking to a wooden box, the strange wooden box slowly lifted up about an inch from the floor and plopped back down, "twice!!"
Jack Muggleton summoned every ounce of self control to stay where he was because his brain and every sinew in his young body were screaming at him to run.
Taking deep breaths Jack spoke again and said, “can you understand me?” TAP TAP. Even though Jack was sort of through the initial extreme shock barrier, he still had to fight hard against the urge to leg it when he saw for the second time the wooden box respond to a request from Jack.
Inch by inch Jack was starting to gain control and somehow didn’t feel the box posed any kind of threat to him or anyone else, well not yet anyway.
Jack carried on. “How did you know where I live?” This time there was no response from the box, so Jack tried another question, “did you follow me home from the park?”
TAP TAP, Jack continued on. “Do you want to go back to the hole in the park?” TAP, “do you want to stay here in my room with me?” TAP TAP.
Jack then asked the million-dollar question, “Do you want to come out of that box?” There was another pause and Jack felt his heart sinking, he just had to know what was in this amazing wooden case, he just had to.
Just as Jack was about to repeat the question, TAP. Jack was desperate, at least no taps meant there was still a chance of the whatever it was that was in there wanting to come out, but now, one tap, well that signified a no.
TAP, Jack was confused, was that two no’s or what? “Is that a yes or a no?” asked Jack. TAP TAP.
Jack punched the air and quietly shouted yessss, then suddenly a thought occurred to young Jack and again staring at the box said. “You were teasing me just before weren’t you?” TAP TAP. Jack just shook his head and with a big smile on his face went to find a screw driver from his bicycle tool box he kept under his bed.
As Jack retrieved the medium sized screwdriver he realised he was shaking. It wasn’t with fear, he’d gotten past that stage, it was just the pure thrill of expectation in finally finding out what was in that strange wooden box, well, he was about to find out.
Jack approached the box and slowly, still shaking, proceeded to prise off the wooden lid.
Whilst Jack got to work on the box, he tried to be as gentle as possible which when you think about it is very weird, how could you possibly harm a wooden box?
But incredibly since being introduced to the floating box it was as though Jack had developed a sort of respect for it. Of course though it wasn’t the actual box doing all the weird stuff, it was what was inside and just at that precise moment the lid popped off and for the first time Jack Muggleton saw for himself what was inside.
Jack didn’t know what to think, he was almost disappointed, though he hadn’t a clue what he was going to find. He certainly hadn’t expected to find, sat there as innocent as you like, a pair of trainers.”
Nothing moved there wasn’t any noise or special effects, nothing, just an ordinary pair of silver coloured trainers.
Before Jack did or touched anything he leaned forward toward the wooden box holding the trainers and said, “are you OK?”
Nothing, no response, Jack tried again, “are you able to hear me?”
Again no response not even a twitch. Jack began to have that same (what the hell am I doing talking to a pair of trainers feeling) only before it was the box.
Jack then decided he would have to take the initiative and he gently picked the silver coloured trainers up out of the box.
As Jack examined the strange footwear he noticed firstly there were no lace holes and secondly the material the trainers were made of was like no other Jack had ever come across before and Jack had owned plenty of trainers even at 10 years old.
It sort of felt soft and if Jack hadn’t known differently he could have sworn it felt like he was touching another person bizarre as it sounds. In fact the feeling was so weird Jack immediately dropped the trainers to the floor and stepped back slightly. “Oh my word,” said Jack out loud, “where on earth have you come from?”
Well if Jack was expecting some kind of response he didn’t get one.
Jack continued to stare at the strange silver boots and suddenly a thought occurred to him. Surely it wouldn’t do any harm and that’s what they were meant for anyway.
Jack then kicked off his own Nike Astro Turfs and tentatively, very carefully fitted his left foot into one of the silver trainers. Jack noticed immediately the moment his foot entered the silver boot, the material it was made from moulded itself around Jack’s foot, it wasn’t too tight though in fact it was just perfect.
Exactly the same thing happened with the right foot, Jack wiggled his feet around in a sort of modelling pose admiring what where extremely top looking kickers to say the least.
Jack then stood up and walked around his bedroom, he could have sworn he was walking on air and he quickly checked to see if there any pressure gauges on the silver boots to indicate that fact, strangely enough, there wasn’t.
Knowing his parents were visiting the Simon’s (the next door neighbours) Jack then decided to give the strange new trainers the ultimate suspension test and he jumped up in the air!
The second Jack Muggleton landed back down on the bedroom floor the most incredible thing happened!!
Jack felt a strange sensation coming from the boots and to his horror saw that there seemed to be some kind of weird silver material materializing out of the trainers and literally covering his entire body.
Before Jack had even got a chance to get the silver boots off he’d been completely covered from boot to head in what looked like a shiny silver suit!
When I say boot to head I mean literally "boot to head". Jack was completely encased in some kind of strange silver outfit, including his head, which was inside some kind of helmet.
The first thing Jack did was panic, who wouldn’t? It’s not every day you get completely covered inside some bizarre silver suit on discovering an equally bizarre pair of trainers.
Jack’s first instinct was to try and rip the helmet off his head so he could breath, adding to Jack’s panic was the fact he couldn’t see.
As Jack grabbed both sides of the helmet in an effort to tear it off, more strange stuff started happening, as if anything could get weirder than this.
Firstly Jack wondered by this time why he hadn’t already suffocated? He was actually breathing as easily as if he hadn’t been wearing a helmet and all of a sudden he could See.
The problem was, it wasn’t like looking through a normal helmet, not that Jack had worn that many space helmets and the image he was now looking at was his bedroom and everything that was in there, so he hadn’t been suddenly whisked off to another planet or some strange dimension.
Another thing was that everything he saw had data or words and numbers streaming down either side of whatever he looked at, a bit like when you look at a computer screen. Jack suddenly decided to speak though like before he really didn’t know why.
“Who are you and why am I in this suit?”
The answer was instant, “I am you Jack and it was "you" who activated the tactical suit.”
As crazy as everything had been in the last 12 hours this had to be the craziest, again Jack was struggling to regain his composure as well hang on to his sanity.
“What, what, what do, do you mean I am you?, stuttered a now absolutely terrified Jack. Before the whatever it was answered back, Jack interrupted. “hey, how did you know my name,” cried Jack?
“Would you prefer communication audibly or by visual data?” Said the voice.
“Errrm, speaking, like you are now,” replied Jack, still in a state of shock that he was in some crazy silver suit and talking to a voice he couldn’t see. He desperately hoped his parents didn’t come in they’d’ ground him forever.
The disembodied voice began to speak again. “Bio data is recorded from you Jack and fed into the main neuro processor, meaning the suit knows who the owner is, instantly enhancing biocompatibility.”
“Come again,” replied an incredulous Jack, “by the way I’m a ten year old kid not Stephen flipping Hawking.”
The voice spoke again; “do you require data on the eminent Astro physicist Professor Stephen Hawking?”
“What?” cried Jack “no, no, no just tell me why I’m in this suit and what’s a tactical suit when it’s at home?”
“Affirmative,” said the voice and then continued talking. “The second a human subject places the bio footwear onto the feet, biological readings of the subject are taken to enhance compatibility.
The tactical suit can be activated by a series of commands the main one being feet to ground impact.”
Jack continued to listen, all the time completely gob smacked. “Data analysis on the tactical suit is as follows.
The suit is, airtight and equipped with bio compatible breathable and recyclable atmosphere. It's also radiation proof and has full anti gravitational systems.”
“Wait,” said Jack, the voice paused. “What in the world is anti grava what’s a ma call It?”
“You mean anti gravitational systems?” Replied the voice.
“that’s the one,” said Jack “and in terms a ten year old can understand please.,” There was a short pause, it was as if the voice was thinking of a suitable reply, then it answered.
“It means you can fly Jack!!"
Jack Muggleton was simply speechless and it took a whole minute to digest what he had just heard and then issue a reply.
“Did you just say this suit could fly?” Uttered an absolutely astounded Jack.
“Affirmative,” replied the voice.
Jack paused for a few seconds and then said, “how?”
“Do you require a demonstration?” said the voice?
“Errm yea,” said Jack.
“Please state destination?” Jack glanced around the room and decided to play it safe first off and wasn’t really sure this suit could fly anyway. Even after having witnessed everything else, I mean come on, a suit that can fly??”
As Jack informed the voice he wanted to fly from where he was now to his bedroom window and back it suddenly dawned on him how the box had reached him in the first place.
Too late!!
“Flight plan initiated.” As soon as the voice said those words Jack Muggleton lifted up into the air roughly about three feet off the ground.
“Whoa,” cried Jack and just as Jack got to the end of shouting “Holly Crap,” he’d already zoomed to the window, swiftly turned 180° and zoomed back again to exactly the same position as he was in before.
“Oh my word, oh my word, unbelievable, it really can fly.”
“Affirmative,” said the voice. Jack started to ask questions, lots of questions, “so it can fly anywhere, I mean outside, to the park, to school?”
“Affirmative.” said the voice.
“How far can it fly, errrm how far can “I” fly in this suit?” Said Jack and he could feel himself trembling with excitement.
“Data information imminent.” Just as the voice said those words a 3 D image of the Earth flashed up on the screen and scrolling down either side were the names of hundreds of countries.
Jack again was totally gob smacked, “are you telling me this suit can fly to all those countries around the world?”
“Affirmative.” Jack was about to tell the voice he didn’t believe it but by now Jack was beginning to think this suit was capable of anything.
Suddenly there was a loud bleeping noise and the voice inside the helmet spoke. “Intruder alert, sensors have detected two humanoids approximately 200 meters from this position and closing, do you require a visual image?”
A concerned Jack said, “oh my God can you do that?
Affirmative,” again said the suit.
“Errrm yes please, “instantly and as crystal clear as his DVD player Jack saw his parents unlocking the front gate and then heading toward the house.
“Hey it’s my mum and dad, how, how did you do that?” said, again a totally blown away Jack.
“The suit is equipped with a visual, audio and radar detection system up to within a 10 kilometre radius,” replied the voice.
Normally Jack would still be trying to get his head round what was going on and it was all happening so fast, but his mum would be coming in to check on Jack, as she always did. Thankfully Jack’s bedroom wasn’t at the front of the house so mum wouldn’t have seen the light still on.
“Quick,” cried Jack now in an urgent tone, “I have to get out of the suit mum’s on the way.”
“Do you wish to initiate defence mechanisms?”
“What,” cried Jack, “the suit’s got weapons?”
“Only to protect the subject, there is no attack programming.”
“No” It’s my parents; I just need to get the flipping suit off, Pleeeeze.”
“You require suit deactivation?”
“Da, errr yea,” said Jack.
“Do not understand the word "da", searching Oxford English dictionary now.”
“ Yes, yes, please deactivate suit “now,” screamed Jack.
“Deactivation process activated.”
The very second the voice said those words the strange silver suit disappeared and Jack was exactly the same as he was before. Carefully slipping the silver coloured trainers off his feet, Jack whipped off the bedroom light and dived under the duvet.
The second the duvet landed over Jack’s head, his bedroom door gently clicked open and a smiling Samantha Muggleton air kissed her son goodnight.
Jack had waited long enough, glancing at his alarm clock, 00.20am, Jack stealthily cracked open his bedroom door. He cocked an ear, satisfied both his parents were safely in the land of nod Jack crept over to where those incredible silver trainers were now sat.
Jack suddenly had a thought, who in the world, just looking at these harmless looking trainers would even begin to believe what they were actually capable of? Absolutely amazing.
Jack hadn’t undressed he was still in his t-shirt and trackie bottoms, I suppose it didn’t really matter what he wore just as long as he had some item of clothing on when he deactivated the suit.
On went the trainers and again came the familiar moulding sensation around his foot, when both boots were on Jack paused a little in concern, how would he activate the suit?
He couldn’t jump up in the air he’d wake his parents up and that wouldn’t do at all, no, he had to think.
Then Jack remembered what the voice had said earlier, what was it? Oh yes, you can activate the suit with a series of commands, feet to ground was one and he couldn’t do that, then it dawned on Jack how he’d gotten out of the suit, staring at the trainers Jack softly said, “activate. ”
Even though Jack knew what was coming, the buzz and thrill of being completely covered inside this amazing suit and the speed in which it happened was just too awesome for words. “Good morning Jack,” said the voice.
“Wow,” errrm yea, morning,” replied Jack.
“Do you have any requests?” Asked the voice.
“Errm, yes, for starters do you have a name?” asked Jack.
“Name? Why, I am you Jack,” answered the voice.
“No, no, no,” said Jack, “by the way my parents can’t hear me talking can they?”
“Are you referring to the two sleeping adult humanoids situated 6 meters from this location?”
“Errrm I think that would definitely be a yes.”
“Do you require a visual scan?”
“Oh yes please,” said a gleeful Jack, this was incredible, what kid wouldn’t give to be able to (at any time) see what their parents were up to, “wow,” does it get any better than this?”
Instantly and again crystal clear images of his parents blinked onto the suits viewing screen. “How come It’s so light?” Enquired a puzzled Jack.
“Sensors are equipped with advanced ultra violet imaging systems thus enhancing the electro magnetic spectrum.”
“Come again? You’re doing it again by the way, you know, the Stephen Hawking bit.”
“My apologies Jack, the term I believe is called night vision!!”
“Oh my word,” said Jack, still staring at his slumbering parents, “so we’re, sorry, I’m,
able to see in the dark?”
“Affirmative.”
“So,” said Jack, “you still need a name, there can’t be two Jack’s it’d be too confusing. I know, I think I’ll call you suit, seems appropriate don’t you think?”
There wasn’t any reply from the voice this time, but Jack had decided and that was that.
“Now then suit,” said Jack, “I would like to try out the flying bit, you know have a quick whiz round the block.”
“Do you require anti gravitational activation Jack?”
“Yes please,” said Jack, he knew the suit meant flying.
“Please state destination,” again a 3D image of the Earth blinked onto the screen along with the scrolling countries names.
“Bigglesworth,” said Jack. Instantly the city of Bigglesworth came on screen and that was in 3D too, Jack spoke again. “What about flying around the city once and then coming back to my room, how long will that take suit?”
Approximately 22 minutes and 12 seconds.” Jack couldn’t believe it he was probably about to become the first human being to fly and he wasn’t sure he was shaking because he was overcome with excitement or it was sheer terror at the prospect of literally jumping out through his bedroom window.
“Flight plan initiated.” Jack was just about to shout, wait I haven’t opened the window when he realised it was already open! Jack’s cries of how did you do that swiftly turned into an inaudible scream as he hurtled, horizontally through the open bedroom window at what seemed an incredible rate of knots!
“Do you require status report Jack?” said the suit. Jack really wasn’t in any position to answer, would you be?
He was absolutely terrified and even though Jack knew the suit could hover off the ground, like the short trip to his bedroom window and back and of course the floating box. However nothing had prepared Jack Muggleton for this.
As Jack looked down he could see all of the city of Bigglesworth below and Jack felt like he was on the scariest roller coaster on earth and then some.
The suit spoke again, “bio readings are indicating high heart rate and increased levels of blood pressure, do you require abort command?”
“ What do you mean?” Gasped Jack, finally finding his voice, he was certain it was still back in his bedroom along with his stomach.
“Return back to your house Jack,”
“No,” said jack, “but can we slow down a bit please?”
“Activating deceleration process, do you still require status report Jack?”
“Go on,” replied Jack, “Whatever that is.”
“Systems analysis indicates speed now reduced to 60 kilometres per hour,”
“ What’s that in miles?” Interrupted Jack “and can you say speeds in English from now on please suit?”
“Affirmative Jack, we are currently flying at 37.2822715 miles per hour, altitude is 500 feet and the outside air temperature is 55° Fahrenheit, visibility is 20 miles, do you require bio readings Jack?”
“What’s that, me,” said Jack?
“Affirmative.”
“ Well, I’m talking to you so I must be OK?”
“Affirmative Jack, blood pressure has significantly reduced as well as a declining heart rate.”
That last bit the suit said Jack wasn’t really listening to. Indeed for the first time Jack had started to pay attention to what was going on below him and Jack still had to pinch himself that he, Jack Muggleton was flying through the air, 500 feet off the ground and at nearly 40 miles an hour, talk about mint!!
Jack saw motorways lit up like sprawling spider’s webs and all the buildings seemed so small from where he was.
Jack suddenly heard a distant police siren and said out loud, “I wonder if someone’s in trouble?”
“Do you require visual and audio scan on the chasing police vehicle Jack?”
“Can you do that,” said Jack?
“Affirmative Jack.” The moment the suit said that he could hear radio chatter between the chasing Police vehicle and Headquarters.
Jack now knew that the Police car was chasing a stolen car with a single occupant and due to mechanical problems the Bigglesworth Police helicopter was temporally out of service. And the car the Police were chasing was a Porsche which was a lot faster than it’s pursuer.
“Is there anything we can do?” Said Jack.
“Affirmative,”
“Like what?” asked a puzzled Jack?
“Do you require intervention mode Jack?” For the umpteenth time Jack asked what
was that and the suit, again for the umpteenth time gave a reply. “Stop the car!!”
“Wow, Isn’t that dangerous?” Said a now quite nervous Jack.
“Negative Jack, the suit is equipped to withstand a small nuclear strike as well as having protective weapons systems.”
“Oh yea,” said Jack, “I forgot about those.” His eyes lit up as he smiled and said, “we’ll have to have a practice with those later, start intervention mode then,” requested Jack.
“Intervention mode initiated, cloaking device initiated.” Just as Jack was about to ask what in the world was a cloaking device, he felt a sudden increase in acceleration and yet again Jack’s heart leapt out of his mouth as the suit suddenly plummeted toward the speeding Porsche.
What had happened up until now was of course just absolutely incredible, however what was about to happen was even more so, even though it all ended in seconds.
Just before Jack actually made contact with the red Porsche he’d been in the superman position-flying straight and even into the decent toward the Porsche until just before contact. Then the suit sort of did a braking motion and Jack was now in the standing position as he gently landed on top of the red Porsche.
The second Jack landed on top of the still speeding Porsche he noticed immediately that he seemed to be slowing down, it was then Jack realised that it was the car that was actually slowing down and not just slowing down it was actually coming to a stop.
How on earth did the suit do this?
“By using an electromagnetic force field Jack.”
“Hey,” said Jack; “did you just read my mind?”
“You are able to communicate by thought as well as speech Jack.”
“Oh my gosh,” is there anything this suit can’t do,” muttered an incredulous Jack?
By this time the pursuing Police car had pulled up alongside Jack and the now stationary red Porsche.
“You sure they can’t see us?” Said a concerned Jack, suddenly feeling very foolish standing on top of a Porsche at twenty to one in the morning. “And why can’t the guy get out,” enquired Jack?
“The electro magnetic field acts as a barrier preventing escape Jack.” As two burly Police officers approached the offending vehicle and it has to be said wearing extremely puzzled expressions on their faces. The suit deactivated the magnetic field and the inevitable arrest soon took place as a completely overwhelmed Jack witnessed it all still standing on top of the Red Porsche.
As the man was dragged from the car he turned and viciously kicked a wheel and cried, “what stinking rotten luck running out of petrol.” If only he had known the real reason why he’d suddenly and unexpectedly come to a stop.
Jack suddenly had an idea and smiled that same smile that he had earlier smiled at the unfortunate Ronson gang on being led off to the headmistress and their fate.
Jack noticed that the car thief was facing Jack and the two Policemen were looking in the opposite direction, one was talking on his radio and the other one was searching the car thief.
“Suit can you deactivate the cloaking device for exactly five seconds and reactivate it?”
“Affirmative, please state when?” Jack smiled again and waited until the unfortunate car thief was looking in the general direction of Jack. “Now,” said Jack.
A second counter came onto the screen and the suit also audibly counted “5-4-3-2-1
cloak reactivated.”
There was an immediate reaction, as soon as the cloak deactivated the Porsche thief started to jump around and point at Jack wildly as if he’d just been possessed.
The two Policemen immediately brought out the handcuffs and informed the arrested man he was in danger of having pepper spray used on him if he didn’t calm down.
“But I’m telling you,” he shouted, “there’s an alien standing on top of the Porsche in a silver space suit,”
“That’s quite enough,” said one the Police officers, “you’ve obviously had to much to drink or taken something else you shouldn’t have” and just at that moment a large van appeared to take the man to jail.
Jack was beside himself and was still chuckling five minutes later. “I think we’re just about done here suit do you?”
“Affirmative Jack, do you require re commencement of the flight?”
“Yes,” said a beaming Jack and this time he "was" ready.
Just before it was time to head back to the house, Jack noticed a large billboard advertising a new movie that was being shown at the Bigglesworth Odeon.
“Wait,” cried Jack, “lets go and have a look at that billboard, the one advertising that film.”
“Affirmative Jack.” As Jack slowed down and floated toward the giant figure on the billboard, his heart nearly leapt out of his mouth again. “Bio systems indicate high pulse rate and increased blood pressure Jack, is everything all right?”
“Do you see what I see?” Cried Jack.
“Scanning 45x50 ft advertising billboard constructed from light polyester vinyl,”
“No,” said Jack, “I mean what’s on it?”
Directly in front of Jack was a huge action figure and the figure was flying through the air dressed in a silver suit exactly like the one Jack was wearing and emblazoned in huge letters were the words.
HE’S HERE!
VILLAINS BEWARE!!!
BREAK THE LAW AND THE PHANTOM WILL TRACK YOU DOWN!
ATTENTION LAWBREAKERS, THERE IS NO ESCAPE FROM PLANET EARTHS NEWEST CRIME FIGHTER AND SUPER HERO.
THE SILVER PHANTOM!!
Jack just stared and then slowly began to smile. “You know what suit, I think I’ve just found myself a new name?”
“You already have a name Jack, it’s called Jack.”
“I know,” said Jack, “but I think I’m about to become someone else.”
To be continued…
*************
Six months prior to the incident involving Freddy fingers Lafferty, Jack Muggleton brushed his teeth and got ready for school.
“Hurry up Jack you’re going to be late,” shouted Samantha Muggleton (Jack’s mum)
“I goi as fas as I ca,” replied Jack which wasn’t easy when you had a mouthful of toothpaste and water.
After swilling his mouth out Jack grabbed his rucksack and scampered down stairs.
Just as Jack was about to exit the house, Samantha Muggleton shouted out, “just a minute there young man, you know the drill, kit inspection."
“Awww Muuuum, I’m ten years old now is this really necessary?” Jack’s mum reached out with the palm of her hand and then proceeded to flick her fingers back toward herself and said; “give.” Jack reluctantly handed the bag over and waited for the inevitable fall out.
Jack sometimes really worried about his mum it was as if she could never switch off from work. Jack’s mum was a customs and excise officer at Paxton and Bigglesworth international.
So out came the Mars-bars, Flumps, Drumsticks, Wham bars and Jack’s favourite, Fizz bombs.
Samantha Muggleton began clicking her tongue disapprovingly. “Oh dear, what have we here Jack Muggleton?
Obviously I’m going to have to keep hold of these,” said Jack’s mum clutching a fistful of goodies “and I’m going to replace them with these.” Jack watched desperately as his beloved sweets were exchanged for Fruit, that was now being deposited into his rucksack. One Apple one Banana and of course the obligatory Orange.
“OK, everything else seems to be in order.” Jacks mum then handed the rucksack back to Jack and just as she did so, she said, “haven’t you forgotten something?”
Jack groaned out loud, “Muuuum” and at that point Samantha Muggleton tenderly kissed her son on the forehead. “now" you can go and remember, no short cuts through the park.”
Jack had already gone and Jack’s mum now turned her attention to the shopping list and right at the top of that list was, yes you guessed it, “fruit.”
Bigglesworth primary school was situated roughly two miles from where the Muggleton’s lived; however if you were to cut through the park it was only one mile thus cutting the distance in half.
Jack spotted his best pal tall Tommy Ashcroft, so called because of his unusual height even though he was only ten years old and tall Tommy looked excited.
“Hey,” said Jack,
“Hey,” replied Tommy.
“Why are you looking so happy,” said Jack.
“This,” said tall Tommy and he produced the biggest conker Jack had ever seen in his life. Indeed if you were to put your forefinger and thumb together the giant conker still wouldn’t have fit through.
“Wow” that’s a monster,” cried Jack.
“I know,” said tall Tommy “and it’s going to win me lots of pocket money.
How do mean?” said Jack,
“There’s a conker match in the school playground in,” tall Tommy produced a mobile phone and said, “exactly fifteen minutes.”
“We’ll never make it to the school in time,” said a concerned Jack, he was just as anxious to see the monster conker in action as tall Tommy was. “We will if we go through the park,” said tall Tommy with a wicked gleam in his eye.
“Oh,” said Jack, “I can’t mum said not too.”
“Well,” sighed tall Tommy “it’d be a shame not to see this big boy in action.” Both boys stared at the huge conker and then at each other. “Well, I suppose if we hurried up and stayed to the paths,” said Jack, at that point both boys smiled and together ran full pelt toward the park entrance.
About five minutes into the park tall Tommy suddenly stopped and tugged on Jack’s sleeve. “Hear that,” Tommy said?
“Hear what,” replied Jack?
“Shush,” urged tall Tommy and Jack noticed he had a worried look on his face.
“What’s the matter,” said Jack? Tall Tommy looked at his pal and made the quiet sign with a finger.
Jack now knew why tall Tommy had a worried expression on his face because Jack also heard and he also knew whose voices were coming from behind the boating lake shed.
Jack and tall Tommy both looked at each other and silently mouthed the same words, “The Ronson twins.”
The Ronson twins were feared by all of the pupils at Bigglesworth primary school and with good reason.
The two twin brothers were twice the size of any boy or girl at the school and had absolutely no problem in dishing out severe punishment to who ever disobeyed them.
As Jack and tall Tommy cautiously peered round the side of the boating shed a voice spoke behind them.
“Well, well, well, if it isn’t Jack and his faithful Beanstalk.”
As Jack and tall Tommy swiftly turned around they saw with dread standing in front of them were” The Ronson Twins.” Standing along side the twins were a couple of lackeys.
Spotty faced Billy Smith and Maurice Maniac. Maurice’s last name was actually Maney, however the nickname was acquired due to Maurice always getting into trouble usually by following the twins instructions no matter what.
Patrick Ronson spoke first, “I heard your mum works at the airport as a customs cop,” he said staring at Jack. Jack wasn’t afraid of the Ronson’s even though his pal was and he could physically feel tall Tommy shaking with fear at the side of him.
“What’s “that” got to do with you,” answered Jack defiantly?
“Because,” said a smirking Patrick, “I’ve been wanting to say this, for ages."
At that moment all four of the Ronson gang held out their hands toward the two pals and together said. “What’s In the bag’s and empty your pockets, You're Busted!”
Spotty faced Billy stepped forward and in a sneering manner said, “meaning, mobile phones, lunch money in fact everything, so cough up.”
“yea, cough up,” said Maurice maniac and as he menacingly stepped forward, Maurice balled one hand into a fist and then started to softly punch the other hand with it.
Jack had to do something and quick, there were too many for him and tall Tommy to tackle, however, Jack wasn’t going to give in to these bullies, then suddenly Jack had an idea.
He nudged tall Tommy and said, “hand me the Monster Tommy,” tall Tommy glared at Jack in horror, but he trusted his best friend and duly produced the huge conker.
All four pairs of eyes in front of Jack and tall Tommy lit up like Jack O Lanterns and the other Ronson twin Graham greedily licked his lips. “wow” that’s mine;” he said and started forward, hand outstretched toward the monster conker.
“Wait just a minute,” said Patrick Ronson, “I saw it first, so it’s mine.”
“Hey that’s a lie,” cried Maurice maniac, “I saw it first.”
“No no no, I think you’ll find I saw it first.”
Right at that moment both twins and Maurice maniac stopped and glared at spotty faced Billy, Billy cringed and then said; “now you mention it, maybe I didn’t.”
While the Ronson gang were arguing over who should have the prize conker, Jack had spotted, then surreptitiously retrieved a pebble roughly the same size as the conker.
As soon as the gang of four turned their attentions back toward the two pals, Jack, placing the conker in his left hand so every one could see, then pulled his arm back in the throwing position.
Jack cried at the top of his voice “fetch” releasing what the Ronson gang believed to be the giant conker.
The second the bogus conker flew through the air the Ronson gang rushed toward it like a pack of ravenous wolves. Jack and tall Tommy swiftly headed in the other direction and to safety along of course with tall Tommy’s prize conker!!
It was Patrick Ronson who first realised the gang had been duped and he suddenly stopped and quickly looked round, only to see Jack and tall Tommy disappearing into the distance.
“We’ve been tricked,” snarled Patrick. His brother Graham snatched up the pebble and he too shouted, “its only a pebble.” Maurice maniac whirled round towards where Jack and tall Tommy stood seconds before and screamed at the top of his voice “get em!!”
Just as Jack and tall Tommy were drawing breath they both heard Maurice and the rest of the Ronson gang mount their pursuit. “We’ll have to go another way instead of sticking to the paths,” said Jack,
“I think you’re right,” panted tall Tommy, “it just might throw them off the scent. Do you know the way to the park exit,” asked tall Tommy as they both quickly headed toward a gap in the pathway fence?
“Not sure,” replied Jack “and even if we get lost and are late, at least it’s better then being caught by the Ronson’s.” Tall Tommy vigorously nodded his head; anything was better than being caught by the dreaded Ronson’s.
After walking for about ten minutes Jack noticed something rather odd, “hey look at that” and he placed a hand on tall Tommy’s left shoulder.
Both boys stared at a large oak tree and leaning against the tree was a spade. “It’s probably just a Gardner who’s left his spade behind,” said tall Tommy.
“Or someone who’s just buried something,” replied Jack.
As Jack said those words he pointed at a spot just to the left of the tree with the spade leaning against it.
As both boys walked over, they saw that the spade had obviously recently been used to dig a hole. Jack tapped his left trainer on a flattened patch of freshly dug earth and said out loud, “I wonder what’s under there?”
“Well there’s only one way to find out,” said tall Tommy.
“Wait,” said Jack, “it could be anything, a dead squirrel or something else dead that the park keepers have just buried?”
“Or it could be treasure, replied tall Tommy, again with that familiar gleam in his eye.
“I don’t know,” said Jack warily, “what about the Ronson’s?”
At the mention of that dreaded name both boys glanced nervously around cocking their ears whilst they did so.
“It looks like we’ve thrown them,” said tall Tommy and Jack could clearly see tall Tommy wanted to dig whatever had recently been buried by the excitable state he was in.
Just as Jack was about to say well, I suppose it’s OK just to look, he realised tall Tommy had grabbed the spade and had already removed a substantial amount of topsoil.
About four feet down tall Tommy heard a thud as the spade made contact with what ever was down there.
“What is it?” cried Jack; suddenly realising he was just as excited as his best pal was.
“Not sure,” said tall Tommy, “but it looks like a wooden box.”
A few minutes later the two pals had managed to dig out what looked like a small wooden crate about double the size of a shoebox.
Neither boy said anything at first; they just stared at the wooden box, “wow.” What do you think is inside,” eventually cried Jack?
“I don’t have a clue” replied Tall Tommy, “but it must be something important look what it’s got written on the box.”
Emblazoned all over the box in large block capitals were the words. TOP SECRET and GOVERNMENT PROPERTY. Jack looked at tall Tommy and said, “I think we ought to put it back don’t you?”
“Don’t you want to know what’s inside,” said tall Tommy?
“Of course I do,” said Jack, “but I know from mum that anything with top secret and government property on it means we shouldn’t be looking inside.”
Tall Tommy pulled a face and said, “not even a little peek?” Jack vigorously shook his head and said, “no way,” grabbing the spade Jack walked toward the wooden box.
Just as Jack reached down toward the box the most incredible thing happened! The wooden crate lifted two feet of the ground and amazingly floated back away from Jack then plopped down.
Both chums froze and any passer-by would have sworn they were looking at two statues staring at a small wooden crate.
Jack was the first to react and he did so by turning slowly around and pointing wide eyed at tall Tommy. Jack then spoke. “Did, did, did, you just see that?” Tall Tommy was stood still, frozen to the spot, and then he started to shake, which concerned Jack because he was well aware his best pal suffered from the occasional epileptic fit.
Jack did what he always did when seeing the onset of a fit and leapt toward tall Tommy, making sure he wasn’t near anything that could harm him whilst the fit took its course.
However Jack needn’t have worried, the reason tall Tommy was shaking was simply just the shock of seeing a wooden box float two feet up in the air and then plop down. “Are you OK,” said a concerned Jack?
“I think, think so,” stammered an ashen faced Tommy. Jack looked at tall Tommy as if to telepathically say (shall I try again) tall Tommy nodded in agreeance and slowly, very slowly Jack reached out with the spade as if to prod the strange wooden box.
Just as the spade got to within a foot of the box, it lifted up again only this time it didn’t land back down on the ground it stayed there, hovering in mid air!!!
Jack and Tall Tommy had seen enough and fled the scene as fast as if they possibly could. In fact even tall Tommy’s father’s prize greyhound wouldn’t have caught either boy as they both crashed through bushes and flower beds in an effort to get away from the weird goings on back at the oak tree.
About a half a mile away from the tree both boys collapsed to the ground and caught their breaths.
Jack had a quick look at his pal to make sure he was OK and then tried to make sense of what they had just witnessed.
Tall Tommy spoke first. “I thought the Ronson’s were scary, but man, that was just off the chart” and he exaggeratedly waved an arm up in the air as if to demonstrate what he had just said. Jack agreed, but he still couldn’t help wondering what was in that box.
A few moments later both tall Tommy and his best pal Jack arrived at the school gates. Even with the encounter with the Ronson twins and the floating wooden box, by some minor miracle they still managed to get to assembly on time.
All through the morning, Jack Muggleton had one thing on his mind, “that floating box.” What was it? Why had someone buried it? Were they coming back for it later? Who actually owned the box and the biggest question of all, what in the world made it float around in the air?
And another thing how did it know to move away whenever Jack went close to it?
All these unanswered questions were driving Jack crazy; he had an inquisitive mind to start with, so all of what had happened earlier today was just simply sending Jack’s brain into overload.
In fact Jack was so deep in thought he hadn’t noticed while he was just about to bite into an apple, four figures sneaking up on him from behind.
“I’ll take that.”
Seconds before Jack was about to sink his teeth in the Golden Delicious a hand plucked it away and as Jack looked up he realised he was surrounded.
“We meet again,” said a sneering Patrick Ronson “and so soon.” Jack usually would have come up with a plan even at such short notice. But with all what was going on inside his head he just hadn’t been thinking straight and almost certainly wouldn’t have allowed himself to be ambushed like this.
“What shall we do with him?” Said a leering Maurice maniac, again in his trademark punching a fist into the other hand pose.
“Lets just give him a good kicking,” said a smiling Graham Ronson.
“Or torture him for making fools of us back at the park,” said a sniggering spotty faced Billy.
Patrick Ronson who obviously seemed to be the self appointed leader of the Ronson gang raised his hand in the air and said. “I know, we’ll play a game and the name of this game is, fetch little doggy fetch.”
Patrick Ronson stared down at Jack and said, “meaning, whenever I throw this and he looked at the big green apple, “you," fetch it back to me like a good little doggy.” At those words all the rest of the Ronson gang fell about laughing and high fived each other, Patrick Ronson continued on.
“And when you bring it back to me, I also want it in your mouth just like a good little obedient doggy.”
That remark again triggered the same hoots of delight along with more high fives from the rest of the other gang members.
Jack just kept his cool, thinking all the time, his mind had cleared now and unbeknown to the Ronson gang Mr Jackson (the history teacher) had silently arrived in the classroom. And as he always did, he started to wipe the white board off in preparation for the next lesson.
As the Ronson gang were all stood facing Jack they couldn’t possibly have known there was a teacher with them in the classroom.
Arms folded and armed with a stern expression on his face Mr Jackson had now taken an interest in the unfolding events in front of him and Jack milked it for all it was worth.
“Pleeeeze don’t make me do this Patrick Pleeeeze. I’m really sorry for tricking you in the park and I know now I should have given you "all" my pocket money as well as my mobile phone. Pleeeeze I'm begging you," shouted Jack as loud as he could. He wanted to make sure Mr Jackson heard everything.
“Well- well- well this is a turn up,” said Patrick. “The great I’m so smarter than everyone else Jack Muggleton pleading for mercy,” he glanced at the other gang members and said, “I love it when they beg don’t you?”
Maurice maniac, spotty faced Billy and Graham Ronson all vigorously nodded in agreement. Patrick Ronson turned around to stare at Jack again who, incidentally had now pretended to cry, for added effect of course
“Ooh well,” said Patrick, “now you mention it and the fact that the little wuss has started to cry, no go fetch,” and a laughing Patrick Ronson casually flicked the large golden delicious over his right shoulder.
Jack stayed exactly where he was and suddenly started to smile.
“I said go fetch,” growled Patrick Ronson and just as the rest of the Ronson gang were about to remind Jack why he should do as he was told, a loud voice bellowed across the classroom “Ronson.”
Quicker than a hiccup the Ronson gang all turned to see Mr Jackson (the history teacher) standing in front of them holding the golden delicious.
Mr Jackson knew all about the Ronson’s and their history of bullying and intimidation, indeed all the teachers and headmistress knew, but had never been able to prove anything, that was up until now.
Mr Jackson pointed at the Ronson gang and said, “I think it’s time we all went to see Miss Brown don’t you boys?”
Mr Jackson carried on, “yes indeed I think it will make for a nice cosy chat and guess what the subject will be, errrm you can answer that one Maurice?"
“Bullying,” muttered Maurice under his breath.
“What's that?” cried Mr Jackson, “I can’t hear you boy, speak up"
“Bullying sir,” answered Maurice, as he said those words he could feel the wrath burning into him from the other three-gang members.
“Correct,” said Mr Jackson, “bullying” as well as intimidation and possibly extortion, which I may add are "all" offences you can be expelled for, now follow me.”
At that moment, heads bowed, all four of the Ronson gang trudged disconsolately toward the classroom exit, but not before they heard a loud “Ah Hem.”
As the gang of four turned around to see what had made that sound, there, sat a now laughing Jack Muggleton and with both hands, he was waving goodbye!!!
Jack wasn’t one normally to rush out of school, however on this occasion he did and the reason of course was? "That box," Jack didn’t inform tall Tommy this time, it wasn’t because he wanted the wooden box all to himself it was mainly because of tall Tommy’s health.
Indeed if anything else unexpected happened back at the oak tree it could trigger a seizure and even though Jack’s mum had told Jack how to deal with someone having a fit, if he could prevent it from happening, then Jack felt it was his duty to do so.
On exiting the school gates Jack proceeded to back track his way through the park which was fairly easy as both Jack and tall Tommy on previously fleeing the scene had left a trail of broken branches and various trainer prints in the flowerbeds.
As Jack approached the oak tree he glanced at his mobile phone. 4.10pm, Jack figured he had another two hours of daylight so the park wouldn’t be closing just yet and in any case he would have to be back home soon or his mum would send a search party to look for him.
Jack arrived at the same spot where earlier both boys had witnessed those amazing scenes with the floating box, Jack looked around and then suddenly stepped back in shock!
There wasn’t any box floating around, it’s just that Jack hadn’t expected to see the hole they dug before had now been filled in and the spade had disappeared.
Jack’s first inclination was to find something, anything and dig out the hole again, but as quickly that urge came, it went away.
Jack knew if someone had replaced the wooden box in that hole, then it must be for a good reason, so with a heavy heart Jack trudged back towards the paths out of the park and home.
“How was school son?” said Roger Muggleton (Jack’s dad) later at dinner.
“Ok,” replied Jack, he was still a little down and disappointed that he didn’t find the box and both Jack’s mum and dad were picking up the vibe.
“Someone been picking on you?” said dad, as he vigorously attacked a baked potato.
“No what made you think that?” replied Jack.
“Oh you know, it’s just you seem a little down hearted that’s all, said dad.
“No I’m OK,” said Jack. “please may I be excused from the table?” Requested Jack.
“Have you eaten all your salad?” Asked mum. Jack lifted his plate up in the air then tipped it upside down whilst shaking it. “Yes I get the point young man,” smiled Samantha Muggleton.
Jack was a good boy and he always ate everything that was put in front of him, which made Samantha’s life a whole lot easier, unlike some of the kids the Muggleton’s knew.
“Scram,” said mum and Jack hot tailed up to his room to reflect on the day’s events. Before he did that however, Jack grabbed the remote and pressed play. As Jack watched the Power Rangers defend mankind for the umpteenth time he dozed off.
TAP TAP TAP. Jack suddenly opened his eyes and glancing toward his bedroom door shouted, "come in." Nothing happened. "Come in," repeated Jack, again nothing.
TAP TAP TAP, it was then Jack realised the tapping wasn’t coming from the door it was coming from the window!
Jack sprang off the bed and ran the toward the window, it must be tall Tommy knocking on his bedroom window with a long pole or something. Though why his best pal would want to do that didn’t make any sense at all, tall Tommy always knocked on the door and came up the stairs like everyone else.
Jack pulled the blind up quickly and then dropped it even quicker making little whimpering noises as he did so.
Jack felt his heart racing and he suddenly became very warm like he was having a fever. He muttered softly to himself “no way, I don't believe it!!”
Jack somehow gathered himself together and then again, slowly very slowly proceeded to reopen the blind.
There it was, Jack wasn’t imagining it. There, hovering directly outside Jack Muggleton’s bedroom window was the floating wooden box and judging by the constant tapping, it looked like it wanted to come in!!
Making sure no one else had witnessed the bizarre goings on outside his window, Jack gathered every ounce of courage he had and proceeded to let the strange visitor into his room.
Both windows now open, Jack retreated to the back of the bedroom and waited. There was a short pause and then slowly but surely the two foot by one foot wooden box glided effortlessly into Jack Muggleton’s bedroom.
Having closed the windows and drawn the blind, Jack left his room to inform his parents he was having an early night.
“You sure you’re feeling OK,” quizzed his dad again?
“I’m just tired dad that‘s all, we did a lot of running today and Tommy’s out with his parents tonight so I thought I would just chill out in my room.” Jack never lied to his parents, he just never did, so the answer he gave to his dad really wasn’t a million miles away from the truth.
So on kissing mum goodnight and saying goodnight to his dad, Jack didn’t just walk back to his room he nearly ran. When Jack arrived back in his room he nearly ran back out again.
The wooden box was now in the middle of the bedroom floor, however it wasn’t still, in fact it seemed to be vibrating, sort of jumping up and down and then shaking.
As Jack peered out from behind the bedroom door he half expected a weird scary monster to escape out of the box like in one of the Power Ranger episodes.
However no scary monster came out and the box had now stopped vibrating. Then something unexplainable happened and to this day Jack Muggleton, for the life of him couldn’t fathom why he did what he did next.
Gathering courage from heaven knows where, Jack stepped slowly toward the 2x1ft wooden box, standing only a few inches from the box now, Jack started to speak.
“If you can understand me then make two taps for yes and one tap for no.” Just as Jack was thinking, I can’t believe I’m talking to a wooden box, the strange wooden box slowly lifted up about an inch from the floor and plopped back down, "twice!!"
Jack Muggleton summoned every ounce of self control to stay where he was because his brain and every sinew in his young body were screaming at him to run.
Taking deep breaths Jack spoke again and said, “can you understand me?” TAP TAP. Even though Jack was sort of through the initial extreme shock barrier, he still had to fight hard against the urge to leg it when he saw for the second time the wooden box respond to a request from Jack.
Inch by inch Jack was starting to gain control and somehow didn’t feel the box posed any kind of threat to him or anyone else, well not yet anyway.
Jack carried on. “How did you know where I live?” This time there was no response from the box, so Jack tried another question, “did you follow me home from the park?”
TAP TAP, Jack continued on. “Do you want to go back to the hole in the park?” TAP, “do you want to stay here in my room with me?” TAP TAP.
Jack then asked the million-dollar question, “Do you want to come out of that box?” There was another pause and Jack felt his heart sinking, he just had to know what was in this amazing wooden case, he just had to.
Just as Jack was about to repeat the question, TAP. Jack was desperate, at least no taps meant there was still a chance of the whatever it was that was in there wanting to come out, but now, one tap, well that signified a no.
TAP, Jack was confused, was that two no’s or what? “Is that a yes or a no?” asked Jack. TAP TAP.
Jack punched the air and quietly shouted yessss, then suddenly a thought occurred to young Jack and again staring at the box said. “You were teasing me just before weren’t you?” TAP TAP. Jack just shook his head and with a big smile on his face went to find a screw driver from his bicycle tool box he kept under his bed.
As Jack retrieved the medium sized screwdriver he realised he was shaking. It wasn’t with fear, he’d gotten past that stage, it was just the pure thrill of expectation in finally finding out what was in that strange wooden box, well, he was about to find out.
Jack approached the box and slowly, still shaking, proceeded to prise off the wooden lid.
Whilst Jack got to work on the box, he tried to be as gentle as possible which when you think about it is very weird, how could you possibly harm a wooden box?
But incredibly since being introduced to the floating box it was as though Jack had developed a sort of respect for it. Of course though it wasn’t the actual box doing all the weird stuff, it was what was inside and just at that precise moment the lid popped off and for the first time Jack Muggleton saw for himself what was inside.
Jack didn’t know what to think, he was almost disappointed, though he hadn’t a clue what he was going to find. He certainly hadn’t expected to find, sat there as innocent as you like, a pair of trainers.”
Nothing moved there wasn’t any noise or special effects, nothing, just an ordinary pair of silver coloured trainers.
Before Jack did or touched anything he leaned forward toward the wooden box holding the trainers and said, “are you OK?”
Nothing, no response, Jack tried again, “are you able to hear me?”
Again no response not even a twitch. Jack began to have that same (what the hell am I doing talking to a pair of trainers feeling) only before it was the box.
Jack then decided he would have to take the initiative and he gently picked the silver coloured trainers up out of the box.
As Jack examined the strange footwear he noticed firstly there were no lace holes and secondly the material the trainers were made of was like no other Jack had ever come across before and Jack had owned plenty of trainers even at 10 years old.
It sort of felt soft and if Jack hadn’t known differently he could have sworn it felt like he was touching another person bizarre as it sounds. In fact the feeling was so weird Jack immediately dropped the trainers to the floor and stepped back slightly. “Oh my word,” said Jack out loud, “where on earth have you come from?”
Well if Jack was expecting some kind of response he didn’t get one.
Jack continued to stare at the strange silver boots and suddenly a thought occurred to him. Surely it wouldn’t do any harm and that’s what they were meant for anyway.
Jack then kicked off his own Nike Astro Turfs and tentatively, very carefully fitted his left foot into one of the silver trainers. Jack noticed immediately the moment his foot entered the silver boot, the material it was made from moulded itself around Jack’s foot, it wasn’t too tight though in fact it was just perfect.
Exactly the same thing happened with the right foot, Jack wiggled his feet around in a sort of modelling pose admiring what where extremely top looking kickers to say the least.
Jack then stood up and walked around his bedroom, he could have sworn he was walking on air and he quickly checked to see if there any pressure gauges on the silver boots to indicate that fact, strangely enough, there wasn’t.
Knowing his parents were visiting the Simon’s (the next door neighbours) Jack then decided to give the strange new trainers the ultimate suspension test and he jumped up in the air!
The second Jack Muggleton landed back down on the bedroom floor the most incredible thing happened!!
Jack felt a strange sensation coming from the boots and to his horror saw that there seemed to be some kind of weird silver material materializing out of the trainers and literally covering his entire body.
Before Jack had even got a chance to get the silver boots off he’d been completely covered from boot to head in what looked like a shiny silver suit!
When I say boot to head I mean literally "boot to head". Jack was completely encased in some kind of strange silver outfit, including his head, which was inside some kind of helmet.
The first thing Jack did was panic, who wouldn’t? It’s not every day you get completely covered inside some bizarre silver suit on discovering an equally bizarre pair of trainers.
Jack’s first instinct was to try and rip the helmet off his head so he could breath, adding to Jack’s panic was the fact he couldn’t see.
As Jack grabbed both sides of the helmet in an effort to tear it off, more strange stuff started happening, as if anything could get weirder than this.
Firstly Jack wondered by this time why he hadn’t already suffocated? He was actually breathing as easily as if he hadn’t been wearing a helmet and all of a sudden he could See.
The problem was, it wasn’t like looking through a normal helmet, not that Jack had worn that many space helmets and the image he was now looking at was his bedroom and everything that was in there, so he hadn’t been suddenly whisked off to another planet or some strange dimension.
Another thing was that everything he saw had data or words and numbers streaming down either side of whatever he looked at, a bit like when you look at a computer screen. Jack suddenly decided to speak though like before he really didn’t know why.
“Who are you and why am I in this suit?”
The answer was instant, “I am you Jack and it was "you" who activated the tactical suit.”
As crazy as everything had been in the last 12 hours this had to be the craziest, again Jack was struggling to regain his composure as well hang on to his sanity.
“What, what, what do, do you mean I am you?, stuttered a now absolutely terrified Jack. Before the whatever it was answered back, Jack interrupted. “hey, how did you know my name,” cried Jack?
“Would you prefer communication audibly or by visual data?” Said the voice.
“Errrm, speaking, like you are now,” replied Jack, still in a state of shock that he was in some crazy silver suit and talking to a voice he couldn’t see. He desperately hoped his parents didn’t come in they’d’ ground him forever.
The disembodied voice began to speak again. “Bio data is recorded from you Jack and fed into the main neuro processor, meaning the suit knows who the owner is, instantly enhancing biocompatibility.”
“Come again,” replied an incredulous Jack, “by the way I’m a ten year old kid not Stephen flipping Hawking.”
The voice spoke again; “do you require data on the eminent Astro physicist Professor Stephen Hawking?”
“What?” cried Jack “no, no, no just tell me why I’m in this suit and what’s a tactical suit when it’s at home?”
“Affirmative,” said the voice and then continued talking. “The second a human subject places the bio footwear onto the feet, biological readings of the subject are taken to enhance compatibility.
The tactical suit can be activated by a series of commands the main one being feet to ground impact.”
Jack continued to listen, all the time completely gob smacked. “Data analysis on the tactical suit is as follows.
The suit is, airtight and equipped with bio compatible breathable and recyclable atmosphere. It's also radiation proof and has full anti gravitational systems.”
“Wait,” said Jack, the voice paused. “What in the world is anti grava what’s a ma call It?”
“You mean anti gravitational systems?” Replied the voice.
“that’s the one,” said Jack “and in terms a ten year old can understand please.,” There was a short pause, it was as if the voice was thinking of a suitable reply, then it answered.
“It means you can fly Jack!!"
Jack Muggleton was simply speechless and it took a whole minute to digest what he had just heard and then issue a reply.
“Did you just say this suit could fly?” Uttered an absolutely astounded Jack.
“Affirmative,” replied the voice.
Jack paused for a few seconds and then said, “how?”
“Do you require a demonstration?” said the voice?
“Errm yea,” said Jack.
“Please state destination?” Jack glanced around the room and decided to play it safe first off and wasn’t really sure this suit could fly anyway. Even after having witnessed everything else, I mean come on, a suit that can fly??”
As Jack informed the voice he wanted to fly from where he was now to his bedroom window and back it suddenly dawned on him how the box had reached him in the first place.
Too late!!
“Flight plan initiated.” As soon as the voice said those words Jack Muggleton lifted up into the air roughly about three feet off the ground.
“Whoa,” cried Jack and just as Jack got to the end of shouting “Holly Crap,” he’d already zoomed to the window, swiftly turned 180° and zoomed back again to exactly the same position as he was in before.
“Oh my word, oh my word, unbelievable, it really can fly.”
“Affirmative,” said the voice. Jack started to ask questions, lots of questions, “so it can fly anywhere, I mean outside, to the park, to school?”
“Affirmative.” said the voice.
“How far can it fly, errrm how far can “I” fly in this suit?” Said Jack and he could feel himself trembling with excitement.
“Data information imminent.” Just as the voice said those words a 3 D image of the Earth flashed up on the screen and scrolling down either side were the names of hundreds of countries.
Jack again was totally gob smacked, “are you telling me this suit can fly to all those countries around the world?”
“Affirmative.” Jack was about to tell the voice he didn’t believe it but by now Jack was beginning to think this suit was capable of anything.
Suddenly there was a loud bleeping noise and the voice inside the helmet spoke. “Intruder alert, sensors have detected two humanoids approximately 200 meters from this position and closing, do you require a visual image?”
A concerned Jack said, “oh my God can you do that?
Affirmative,” again said the suit.
“Errrm yes please, “instantly and as crystal clear as his DVD player Jack saw his parents unlocking the front gate and then heading toward the house.
“Hey it’s my mum and dad, how, how did you do that?” said, again a totally blown away Jack.
“The suit is equipped with a visual, audio and radar detection system up to within a 10 kilometre radius,” replied the voice.
Normally Jack would still be trying to get his head round what was going on and it was all happening so fast, but his mum would be coming in to check on Jack, as she always did. Thankfully Jack’s bedroom wasn’t at the front of the house so mum wouldn’t have seen the light still on.
“Quick,” cried Jack now in an urgent tone, “I have to get out of the suit mum’s on the way.”
“Do you wish to initiate defence mechanisms?”
“What,” cried Jack, “the suit’s got weapons?”
“Only to protect the subject, there is no attack programming.”
“No” It’s my parents; I just need to get the flipping suit off, Pleeeeze.”
“You require suit deactivation?”
“Da, errr yea,” said Jack.
“Do not understand the word "da", searching Oxford English dictionary now.”
“ Yes, yes, please deactivate suit “now,” screamed Jack.
“Deactivation process activated.”
The very second the voice said those words the strange silver suit disappeared and Jack was exactly the same as he was before. Carefully slipping the silver coloured trainers off his feet, Jack whipped off the bedroom light and dived under the duvet.
The second the duvet landed over Jack’s head, his bedroom door gently clicked open and a smiling Samantha Muggleton air kissed her son goodnight.
Jack had waited long enough, glancing at his alarm clock, 00.20am, Jack stealthily cracked open his bedroom door. He cocked an ear, satisfied both his parents were safely in the land of nod Jack crept over to where those incredible silver trainers were now sat.
Jack suddenly had a thought, who in the world, just looking at these harmless looking trainers would even begin to believe what they were actually capable of? Absolutely amazing.
Jack hadn’t undressed he was still in his t-shirt and trackie bottoms, I suppose it didn’t really matter what he wore just as long as he had some item of clothing on when he deactivated the suit.
On went the trainers and again came the familiar moulding sensation around his foot, when both boots were on Jack paused a little in concern, how would he activate the suit?
He couldn’t jump up in the air he’d wake his parents up and that wouldn’t do at all, no, he had to think.
Then Jack remembered what the voice had said earlier, what was it? Oh yes, you can activate the suit with a series of commands, feet to ground was one and he couldn’t do that, then it dawned on Jack how he’d gotten out of the suit, staring at the trainers Jack softly said, “activate. ”
Even though Jack knew what was coming, the buzz and thrill of being completely covered inside this amazing suit and the speed in which it happened was just too awesome for words. “Good morning Jack,” said the voice.
“Wow,” errrm yea, morning,” replied Jack.
“Do you have any requests?” Asked the voice.
“Errm, yes, for starters do you have a name?” asked Jack.
“Name? Why, I am you Jack,” answered the voice.
“No, no, no,” said Jack, “by the way my parents can’t hear me talking can they?”
“Are you referring to the two sleeping adult humanoids situated 6 meters from this location?”
“Errrm I think that would definitely be a yes.”
“Do you require a visual scan?”
“Oh yes please,” said a gleeful Jack, this was incredible, what kid wouldn’t give to be able to (at any time) see what their parents were up to, “wow,” does it get any better than this?”
Instantly and again crystal clear images of his parents blinked onto the suits viewing screen. “How come It’s so light?” Enquired a puzzled Jack.
“Sensors are equipped with advanced ultra violet imaging systems thus enhancing the electro magnetic spectrum.”
“Come again? You’re doing it again by the way, you know, the Stephen Hawking bit.”
“My apologies Jack, the term I believe is called night vision!!”
“Oh my word,” said Jack, still staring at his slumbering parents, “so we’re, sorry, I’m,
able to see in the dark?”
“Affirmative.”
“So,” said Jack, “you still need a name, there can’t be two Jack’s it’d be too confusing. I know, I think I’ll call you suit, seems appropriate don’t you think?”
There wasn’t any reply from the voice this time, but Jack had decided and that was that.
“Now then suit,” said Jack, “I would like to try out the flying bit, you know have a quick whiz round the block.”
“Do you require anti gravitational activation Jack?”
“Yes please,” said Jack, he knew the suit meant flying.
“Please state destination,” again a 3D image of the Earth blinked onto the screen along with the scrolling countries names.
“Bigglesworth,” said Jack. Instantly the city of Bigglesworth came on screen and that was in 3D too, Jack spoke again. “What about flying around the city once and then coming back to my room, how long will that take suit?”
Approximately 22 minutes and 12 seconds.” Jack couldn’t believe it he was probably about to become the first human being to fly and he wasn’t sure he was shaking because he was overcome with excitement or it was sheer terror at the prospect of literally jumping out through his bedroom window.
“Flight plan initiated.” Jack was just about to shout, wait I haven’t opened the window when he realised it was already open! Jack’s cries of how did you do that swiftly turned into an inaudible scream as he hurtled, horizontally through the open bedroom window at what seemed an incredible rate of knots!
“Do you require status report Jack?” said the suit. Jack really wasn’t in any position to answer, would you be?
He was absolutely terrified and even though Jack knew the suit could hover off the ground, like the short trip to his bedroom window and back and of course the floating box. However nothing had prepared Jack Muggleton for this.
As Jack looked down he could see all of the city of Bigglesworth below and Jack felt like he was on the scariest roller coaster on earth and then some.
The suit spoke again, “bio readings are indicating high heart rate and increased levels of blood pressure, do you require abort command?”
“ What do you mean?” Gasped Jack, finally finding his voice, he was certain it was still back in his bedroom along with his stomach.
“Return back to your house Jack,”
“No,” said jack, “but can we slow down a bit please?”
“Activating deceleration process, do you still require status report Jack?”
“Go on,” replied Jack, “Whatever that is.”
“Systems analysis indicates speed now reduced to 60 kilometres per hour,”
“ What’s that in miles?” Interrupted Jack “and can you say speeds in English from now on please suit?”
“Affirmative Jack, we are currently flying at 37.2822715 miles per hour, altitude is 500 feet and the outside air temperature is 55° Fahrenheit, visibility is 20 miles, do you require bio readings Jack?”
“What’s that, me,” said Jack?
“Affirmative.”
“ Well, I’m talking to you so I must be OK?”
“Affirmative Jack, blood pressure has significantly reduced as well as a declining heart rate.”
That last bit the suit said Jack wasn’t really listening to. Indeed for the first time Jack had started to pay attention to what was going on below him and Jack still had to pinch himself that he, Jack Muggleton was flying through the air, 500 feet off the ground and at nearly 40 miles an hour, talk about mint!!
Jack saw motorways lit up like sprawling spider’s webs and all the buildings seemed so small from where he was.
Jack suddenly heard a distant police siren and said out loud, “I wonder if someone’s in trouble?”
“Do you require visual and audio scan on the chasing police vehicle Jack?”
“Can you do that,” said Jack?
“Affirmative Jack.” The moment the suit said that he could hear radio chatter between the chasing Police vehicle and Headquarters.
Jack now knew that the Police car was chasing a stolen car with a single occupant and due to mechanical problems the Bigglesworth Police helicopter was temporally out of service. And the car the Police were chasing was a Porsche which was a lot faster than it’s pursuer.
“Is there anything we can do?” Said Jack.
“Affirmative,”
“Like what?” asked a puzzled Jack?
“Do you require intervention mode Jack?” For the umpteenth time Jack asked what
was that and the suit, again for the umpteenth time gave a reply. “Stop the car!!”
“Wow, Isn’t that dangerous?” Said a now quite nervous Jack.
“Negative Jack, the suit is equipped to withstand a small nuclear strike as well as having protective weapons systems.”
“Oh yea,” said Jack, “I forgot about those.” His eyes lit up as he smiled and said, “we’ll have to have a practice with those later, start intervention mode then,” requested Jack.
“Intervention mode initiated, cloaking device initiated.” Just as Jack was about to ask what in the world was a cloaking device, he felt a sudden increase in acceleration and yet again Jack’s heart leapt out of his mouth as the suit suddenly plummeted toward the speeding Porsche.
What had happened up until now was of course just absolutely incredible, however what was about to happen was even more so, even though it all ended in seconds.
Just before Jack actually made contact with the red Porsche he’d been in the superman position-flying straight and even into the decent toward the Porsche until just before contact. Then the suit sort of did a braking motion and Jack was now in the standing position as he gently landed on top of the red Porsche.
The second Jack landed on top of the still speeding Porsche he noticed immediately that he seemed to be slowing down, it was then Jack realised that it was the car that was actually slowing down and not just slowing down it was actually coming to a stop.
How on earth did the suit do this?
“By using an electromagnetic force field Jack.”
“Hey,” said Jack; “did you just read my mind?”
“You are able to communicate by thought as well as speech Jack.”
“Oh my gosh,” is there anything this suit can’t do,” muttered an incredulous Jack?
By this time the pursuing Police car had pulled up alongside Jack and the now stationary red Porsche.
“You sure they can’t see us?” Said a concerned Jack, suddenly feeling very foolish standing on top of a Porsche at twenty to one in the morning. “And why can’t the guy get out,” enquired Jack?
“The electro magnetic field acts as a barrier preventing escape Jack.” As two burly Police officers approached the offending vehicle and it has to be said wearing extremely puzzled expressions on their faces. The suit deactivated the magnetic field and the inevitable arrest soon took place as a completely overwhelmed Jack witnessed it all still standing on top of the Red Porsche.
As the man was dragged from the car he turned and viciously kicked a wheel and cried, “what stinking rotten luck running out of petrol.” If only he had known the real reason why he’d suddenly and unexpectedly come to a stop.
Jack suddenly had an idea and smiled that same smile that he had earlier smiled at the unfortunate Ronson gang on being led off to the headmistress and their fate.
Jack noticed that the car thief was facing Jack and the two Policemen were looking in the opposite direction, one was talking on his radio and the other one was searching the car thief.
“Suit can you deactivate the cloaking device for exactly five seconds and reactivate it?”
“Affirmative, please state when?” Jack smiled again and waited until the unfortunate car thief was looking in the general direction of Jack. “Now,” said Jack.
A second counter came onto the screen and the suit also audibly counted “5-4-3-2-1
cloak reactivated.”
There was an immediate reaction, as soon as the cloak deactivated the Porsche thief started to jump around and point at Jack wildly as if he’d just been possessed.
The two Policemen immediately brought out the handcuffs and informed the arrested man he was in danger of having pepper spray used on him if he didn’t calm down.
“But I’m telling you,” he shouted, “there’s an alien standing on top of the Porsche in a silver space suit,”
“That’s quite enough,” said one the Police officers, “you’ve obviously had to much to drink or taken something else you shouldn’t have” and just at that moment a large van appeared to take the man to jail.
Jack was beside himself and was still chuckling five minutes later. “I think we’re just about done here suit do you?”
“Affirmative Jack, do you require re commencement of the flight?”
“Yes,” said a beaming Jack and this time he "was" ready.
Just before it was time to head back to the house, Jack noticed a large billboard advertising a new movie that was being shown at the Bigglesworth Odeon.
“Wait,” cried Jack, “lets go and have a look at that billboard, the one advertising that film.”
“Affirmative Jack.” As Jack slowed down and floated toward the giant figure on the billboard, his heart nearly leapt out of his mouth again. “Bio systems indicate high pulse rate and increased blood pressure Jack, is everything all right?”
“Do you see what I see?” Cried Jack.
“Scanning 45x50 ft advertising billboard constructed from light polyester vinyl,”
“No,” said Jack, “I mean what’s on it?”
Directly in front of Jack was a huge action figure and the figure was flying through the air dressed in a silver suit exactly like the one Jack was wearing and emblazoned in huge letters were the words.
HE’S HERE!
VILLAINS BEWARE!!!
BREAK THE LAW AND THE PHANTOM WILL TRACK YOU DOWN!
ATTENTION LAWBREAKERS, THERE IS NO ESCAPE FROM PLANET EARTHS NEWEST CRIME FIGHTER AND SUPER HERO.
THE SILVER PHANTOM!!
Jack just stared and then slowly began to smile. “You know what suit, I think I’ve just found myself a new name?”
“You already have a name Jack, it’s called Jack.”
“I know,” said Jack, “but I think I’m about to become someone else.”
To be continued…
wow awesome story
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