Rocks on the tracks go 'bang'!

'BANG'! and the cry of laughter consumes and disorientates you for a moment before someone calls out "Run!" It never really makes sense why you did it, it never really made sense when you were on the way to do it, it still doesn't make any sense but gee it's exhilarating. I can't remember the day of the week, I can't remember how old but, I remember the sense of guilt, pride and camaraderie that came with it. It was fun, it was dangerous and if Mum found out we were dead. 

It must of been summer, the air so still all you could hear was the sound of bugs in the air as you chased the haze coming off the metro train tracks. Too young to wear sunglasses and too forgetful to wear a hat so with each step you take your trying to keep the sun from your eyes with one hand while the other over the top of your nogon just in case your head caught on fire. The whole time your walking alongside the tracks with your mates all you can think of is the last thing Mum said as you were slamming the car door in her face: "Don't play near the train tracks". At that age it feels like the trees have eyes and are whispering the same words, with each pace a quick look over the shoulder just to see if you can catch them talking, it was as if they were passing the message back up the line where Mum was waiting for the tip off. 

Growing up near the end of the line there was a lot of track that ran through the bush between each of the last stations. Plenty of bush lands to explore, plenty of mischief to be had. Throwing rocks, throwing sticks, getting mud on your pants, starting the odd fire (if it wasn't fire season of course), building cubbies and if you could combine all of those well, that was a good day! Playing near the tracks was dangerous- Mum said so, everyone heard 'that' story about 'that' kid from 'that' school who got killed doing the same thing last year. 'That story' scared the shit out you but, we were different, we could run faster, hide better and not get caught. It's this difference that now makes you think if it was bravery or naivety. 

I wasn't that big of a kid, in fact I was tiny but I had two undeniable super powers. I was a smart arse and I could throw a rock like a bullet. It all comes down to good rock selection, only idiots pick up massive cinder blocks. C'mon, once you've thrown a 'skimmer' across a dam or into the ocean it doesn't take long to figure out that you look for one that's a little more aero dynamic. Good rock selection skills bleed into other important area's like good stick selection. Good selection was paramount when choosing the right rocks to put on the train tracks. Choose the right one and you get that explosion that shutters your spine as your shaking in your hiding spot.  

While walking beside the track that first train catches you unaware and everyone scammers to find a tree to hide behind, a wombat hole to take cover in or last resort to dive for that high patch of stabbing grass to lay beneath. "Did the driver see us?", "Do you think he's radioing the cops?", all questions that kept the adrenaline going as we plotted for the big one. Exploding rocks on the tracks was a big one. It's one you didn't talk about at school in case a teacher found out, it's one where you're really careful about who's present when you do it, it's borderline international espionage type stuff, the big one. 

It was naughty, it was really naughty. Playing by the train tracks was getting a smack on the arse type material but when you got back into the car at the end of the day and Mum asks what you got up to there is only one response..... "not much". Then you shut up. Try and change the subject, "What's for tea?" was a favourite. The whole time butterfly's raging in your stomach that the tree's got the message up the line and she was just playing with you because she knew. That trip home can seem forever, and then she stops and treats you to fish'n'chips for tea and your thinking "Gees I'm in real trouble now if she finds out". Guilt has settled in for the rest of the night. 

A pivotal point in social development is when a child first figures out how to lie. Rocks on the tracks in hind sight can be viewed as childhood mischief and good social development with maintaing friendships. With that said has pushing boundaries of what you could get away with at that age and the lack corrective punishment have dramatic ramifications on your relationships later in life? Has this continued to where you have a need to keep pushing those boundaries of risk in your personal or professional life to a point of self destruction? Has the naughty kid grown up and learnt their lesson or are they still inside waiting to get caught? 

Mum never found out by the way.... until now.