
He'd convinced his mummy to let him wear his best Pumpkin Patch shirt, the one she says he looks like "such a big boy" in. He'd escaped the comb this morning, so his hair was a boyish mop. He sucked the last of the juice from his Fruit Box and threw the carton on the ground, hoping she'd see this blatant act of rebellion.
He was feeling good.
His Spiderman light-up joggers flashed red as he crossed the oval, jumping up and swinging from the monkey bars on his way. He eyed the girl. She was cute, with big brown eyes; her long pigtails tied with ribbon.
He knew he'd have to pull out all the stops if he stood a chance with this one. He grabbed a handful of bark chips and threw them at the girl. Works every time, he thought. She squealed and stuck out her tongue at him. He stuck his out back at her.
I'm in.
He smiled to himself, feeling inside his pocket to check he had what he needed. The bumpy texture inside calmed his nerves, and excited him in a way he wouldn't understand for a few more years to come.
He told the girl she smelled, and she hit him in the arm. He could see her Dora the Explorer drink bottle by her side, and wondered how he'd do it. So he came up with the most elaborate plan he could think of, and ran off with the bottle.
She chased him, but he had the perennial favourite chasey escape plan - the boy's toilets.
He stood inside a cubicle and closed the door, leaning his head against it for a moment to catch his breath. He knelt down to open the bottle, and pulled the Glad bag that had contained yesterday's sandwich from his pocket.
Today it contained the coloured beads his sister played with, Bindeez. He'd be giving them to the girl, but not to play with.
He unsealed the bag, and poured the beads into her bottle, watching as they sank to the bottom, thinking that today was his day.
Today he would do to her what he'd been wanting to since the first time he saw her across the assembly. Today he'd, with the assistance of his sister's recalled toy, realise his boyhood dream.
He was going to take her behind the shelter shed and have his way with her. He was going to hold her hand.
He shook the bottle.
His playdate-rape cocktail was ready.