We all stood with our bikes at the intersection of Cross road, staring across into End Street. The whole neighborhoods kids from all 10 blocks gather in the streets from early morning until the street lamps came on during summer holidays. We would drink water from hosepipes by someone’s yard, then be on our way again, racing each other on bicycles and running.
But the one thing we all did was dare each other to ride down End Street. The only street that scared all of us. It was dark, with thick, tall trees. And for some odd reason, there were no kids living on this street, not even high school kids. End street gave us all the creeps. But there was also a house that too made our hair stand up straight. It also had thick vegetation all around the yard, it’s as though it blended in with the street.
When you went down the road, it felt like something was chasing you. The hair on the back of your neck stood up, and it was always cold, despite the dead heat of summer. We would rather race to the edge of town and get grounded for a month, then ride up End Street. Yet we all dared each other to ride up into End street.
“I’m not going unless someone goes with me.” I stated, leaning on my handlebars after being dared by Sally.
Some high school kids walked past us towards a park at Coronation Street. They snickered, making spooky noises.
“Want to join?” Quin barked; he was like our big brother, always looking out for everyone.
They quickly shut it and picked up the pace.
“Chickens.” We all called out laughing.
“Talking about chicken.” Sally sneered, gesturing towards the task at hand.
“Fine, but when I get back, it’s your turn. I triple dare you.” I sneered back.
She was actually the street’s bully. We just put up with her crap because she was fun to play with until she wasn’t.
“Fine, but then you have to go right to the cul-de-sac.” She said with a smug look.
“Ok, but then so do you, and you have to run, no riding your bike.” I countered, even more smug.
“Then you have to stay there for a whole five seconds.” She snapped back.
I was about to open my mouth to counter back when Kirsty put a stop to us bickering. We would be here all day if we carried on like this and our dares would become beyond ridicules.
“You both will go on bikes till the col-da-sac and come back.” Kirsty stated firmly.
“Fine.” We both agreed.
We readied our bikes at the stop street line and checked for cars. Everyone counted us down, and we took off, racing our bikes down End Street. As soon as we got into the street, the coldness and creepiness started. Sally began freaking out as was I and we pushed ourselves extra hard.
I almost fell when I got to the cul-de-sac as I skidded my bike to turn around and head back to our friends. They seemed so far away, even their cheering sound far away. I started back and realized that I was winning when sally hit a small branch and when head first over her handlebars and landed on the tar road and cried out in pain. But it was more of a terrified cry because the darkness felt like it was closing in on us and I could swear I heard whispers which wasn’t coming from our friends. I turned my bike around and went to help her up so that we could get out of there. Sally pushed me away and climbed on her bike and raced past me.
“Cow!” I shouted, scrambling onto my bike, trying to get it going, but I kept stepping miss on the pedals and get falling off my bike.
Eventually, I got on and raced my bike back to the crowd. The road seemed to stretch on forever as I pedaled as fast as I could. I almost crashed into the group of kids and their bikes, but I fell onto the grass instead. Everyone was laughing and cheering. Shivering, I stared back at the dark street and wiped the sweat out of my eyes while Sally was bragging about winning. I just stared at her in disbelief.
Quin helped me up and Kirsty help wipe off the grass and sand. Both congratulating me for being there so long. I thanked them while glaring at Sally, who was now daring the others to go into End Street. I picked up my bike and decided that I was over it and wanted to go home. Sally had just spoiled the whole day for me.
“I think I’m going home.” I started getting onto my bike.
“Yeah, think I will too.” Quin said, picking up his bike, too. “Besides, my mom is going to be looking for me soon to do chores.”
“I’ll come to. I’m hungry anyway.” Kirsty said, joining us.
We said goodbye and most of the crowd also decided to call it a day. We all agreed to meet up at Kirsty’s house the next day and go riding out to the edge of town and to bring water with. Sally frowned, calling us all cowards. Only her “true friends” Leah and Mark stayed behind.
As we all rode our bikes to everyone’s house and said bye to them, with everyone agreeing, Sally ruined the day for all of us. Louis and Norman decided they were going to carry on riding bike but on the other side of town.
Kirsty, Quin and I all lived across the road from each. I was to go over to Kirsty’s house once we all had lunch and if our parents didn’t need us to do chores. Most times if we came home early, then our parents would need us to help out with something or just wouldn’t let us go out again stating that we have the whole holiday and we can spend a bit of time at home. So, we all knew that we would probably only see each other the next day.
After eating lunch and helping out at home, it was bath time when the landline rang. My Mom answered. A few seconds later she called me and told me it was Sally’s mother.
“Hello.” I answered, wondering what sob story Sally told her mother about her roasties she got from earlier.
Sally’s mom wasn’t happy if her precious daughter got hurt and ruined her skin, yet she didn’t know Sally pushed a lot of us and we would get hurt but our parents never phoned each other to complain about a bruise or scratch. We all went barefoot and scraped our knees, or kicked our toes open, or got roasties. So long as our clothes aren’t torn, or we didn’t break anything, they didn’t really care.
“Is Sally with you?” she asked, sounding worried.
“Uh, no, most of us left earlier after riding up and down the streets. She and Leah and Mark still carried on riding bikes. Louis and Norman went to the other side of town to explore.” I answered, feeling nervous for no reason.
“Well, she’s not home yet,” Sally’s mom snapped at me.
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Preston, but I don’t know where she is. Maybe she’s with Leah or Mark.”
“She’s not there. They said they went home after you all were playing around at End Street.” She growled angrily.
“Yes, we were riding our bikes but most of us left early and Sally, Leah and Mark stayed behind. I don’t know where she is then if she’s not with them. Maybe she went to find Norman and Louis. She might be at their place.” I suggested wondering where Sally got her attitude and behavior from.
She slammed the phone down, and I flinched at the dead tone. My mother stared at me with arms crossed. Great thanks Sally now I’m going to get into trouble I thought angrily at Sally cursing her.
“You are not to ride your bike for the rest of the week.” My mom stated firmly.
I groaned, but quickly stopped when she raised an eyebrow.
“Can I at least still play over by Quin and Kirsty?” I asked, hoping I wasn’t grounded.
“Yes, but you all stay here we I can see you at all times.” She said in full mom mode.
I went to bath and heard the phone ringing the whole time. Finally, my mom came into the bathroom and told me that Sally had been found at the cul-de-sac of End street terrified crying, but she was safe at home and grounded for the rest of the holiday. And all the parents agreed that we now had to play in our streets where we lived or no one plays unless the parents drop off their kids at that person’s house.
The next day, I was up before my usual 9 am and ran over to Kirsty. Quin had been grounded for the rest of the holiday. His mom was beyond unreasonably strict. But he and Kirsty lived next door to each other so we could visit each other over the wall. We discovered that Sally had upset Leah and Mark so much and teasing them that they were chicken because neither of them wanted to go down End Street alone. And when it got darker, she tried to force them to go and when they refused and left; she tried to prove that she wasn’t chicken and went alone and they left her.
Kirsty said that she overheard her mom said that Sally was in shock and kept mumbling something is going to get her and that she fell and got caught in a bush and had a panic attack. We looked at each other and agreed that going down End Street so late was stupid and that if we are ever to dare each other again that we don’t go alone. The rest of that holiday no one went near End Street and Sally left town to go “stay” at her aunt’s house. But Norman said he saw an ambulance that read mental hospital come take her away. And apparently, she kept saying the monsters are coming for her.
At the beginning of the new school year, Sally’s parents had sold the house and left town. Leah and Mark said Sally hasn’t contacted them yet. On the way home one afternoon, we all decided to walk to End Street and stood at the stop street again. No one said a word. We all just stared at the street that stretched on forever with its dark creepy thick tall trees and bushes.
A gust of wind came out of End Street with a scream that sound like Sally’s. the blood in our veins ran ice cold as we all screamed and ran home, never to set foot near End Street ever again.