Secrets - Vow Of Silence

They say the bike race was my idea, that you and the others would have preferred to stay indoors that August Bank Holiday Monday. In the shade where it was nice and cool. But your mum agreed with me. It's a lovely day, she said, why don't you go out and play in the park before school starts again? 

Except I lied, according to the evidence. I suggested the local park; that's true. But once we got out, I came up with the idea of going in the opposite direction, to Whaley Hill. Our parents didn't like us going to Whaley Hill, especially the reservoir at the top. They thought the hill area was a bit gloomy and secluded, not the safest place for ten-year-olds to play. But we used to sneak there fairly often.

Five of us rode to Whaley Hill on the Bank Holiday Monday.  You. Me. Gordon. Callum Jenkins. And Callum's cousin Shane Jenkins. Or Skinny Shane, as we called him. We left about one o'clock and took bottles of squash. 
           
I won the bike race, like always. The others grumbled on the clearing, but we'd agreed a bet and you and the others each handed me five pence. Apparently, you were the only one who didn't grumble, but then you rarely did. You were always happy and you never bore a grudge. I had twenty pence now, plus the twenty Mum and Dad had given me at the start of the day. I was rich.
           
They say I led the way up Whaley Hill, telling ghost stories as we steered the bikes up the twisting path to the reservoir. That Gordon got angry at the top of the hill and stormed off in tears because Callum and Shane had upset him again. I went after Gordon and brought him back to the reservoir, returned the five pence piece to him, as he had nothing. He wouldn't stop crying, but I remember none of it. 
           
For me, there was only confusion. Glimpses of trees in the stillness while the sun beat down upon my head and the sweat poured down my face, onto my t-shirt. The school caretaker Vince Macarthur appeared suddenly by the reservoir and made towards you – but that must have come afterwards, once Gordon, Callum and Shane had gone. I think I took my t-shirt off at some point, but I can't be sure about that, as witnesses saw me with it on later. I know I felt dizzy and sick from the heat.    
           
The five of us played a few games of hide and seek in the woods. Then, Gordon, Callum and Shane got bored, took their bikes and left you and me there. They said they never saw a thing. 

And that's the problem, Craig. I told the police what I saw – or what I thought I saw –  but no one really knows what happened that day. Only Vince Macarthur.
And he's locked up and has taken a vow of silence.