‘It’s just a bruise. Look.’ Ryan waggled his arm to prove his point.
‘All the same. It’s the rules.’
They met the others back at the minibus, Spencer thanking the rock-climbing team for a great day and for being so efficient when it came to Ryan’s tumble.
The boys were in good spirits on the drive back to camp for lunch, even if Ryan was a tad fed up he had missed out on climbing again.
Back at the camp, Spencer filled out the incident report, then checked in with Debra to let her know they were heading back to the centre soon.
Will got the lads to help pack up, and it wasn’t long before they were on the road.
The children chatted excitedly about their adventure, the spider that crawled on Leo, the marshmallows they’d roasted, sleeping in a tent, and how they had survived knee grazes and bruised arms.
Leo said it was his idea to try to balance on the small boulder, and that he had paid attention to the health and safety chat back at the rock-climbing centre, but he didn’t think standing on a low piece of rock would be dangerous.
‘At least I can tell my mum my arm is too bruised to swim now,’ said Ryan, staring out the minibus window.
Spencer held back a frown but found he couldn’t bite back his thoughts any longer. ‘Ryan, it sounds like you don’t want to swim at all.’
Leo placed a piece of his cape over Ryan’s leg. ‘I thought it was just your anxiety about racing.’
Ryan shook his head. ‘It’s stressful, not fun, but my mum wants me to be an Olympic swimmer one day.’ He sounded deflated.
‘And what do you want?’ asked Spencer.
The boy sighed quietly. ‘Not to swim again.’
Spencer knew he couldn’t get involved in the boy’s life outside of the centre, but he figured it wouldn’t hurt to give one piece of advice. ‘Have you spoken to your mum about this, Ryan?’
‘She’s not easy to talk to.’
‘Perhaps you could try again.’
Ryan gave a small head bob, then turned to his friends to talk about the kindness festival, showing Spencer he wanted a subject change.
It quietened down a bit as they neared the centre, with the exception of the odd rustle of crisp packets.
‘Sorry,’ said Ryan suddenly, gaining everyone’s attention. ‘My mum will probably shout when she finds out I bruised my arm.’
Spencer shook his head. ‘It was just an accident, that’s all. I’m sure she’ll understand. She’ll just be pleased to see you’re fine.’
‘It’s all right,’ said Leo.
‘No, it’s not,’ said Ryan quietly, turning to the window, steaming the pane with his breath. He didn’t need to say another word. Spencer already got the memo: Ryan’s swimming was the most important thing in the world.
Debra was standing in the main entrance of the Sunshine Centre when they pulled up, giving them a welcome wave.
Spencer said a warm hello as they all headed inside where the parents were waiting to take their children home.
Leo’s mum was the first to cradle her child. ‘How was your adventure, my little lion?’
Leo beamed. ‘A huge spider walked over my face, and we told ghost stories, and I climbed the tallest mountain, and Ryan bruised his arm, and—’
Annette gasped. ‘What?’ She scanned Ryan’s arm, not rushing to comfort him or ask after his wellbeing. Her icy glare chilled the room. ‘How did he bruise his arm? Have you any idea how important his next race is?’
Bonnie bent to Ryan’s eye level and lightly stroked back his blond locks. ‘You poor thing. How are you feeling?’
Ryan went to say that he was fine, but his mother cut across him.
