Three boys who lived on the streets of Melbourne became unlikely friends. Now one of them was in serious trouble and now he really need help from his friends. The reason they ended up in a mess was because they felt that as long as they stuck together in the streets of Melbourne, they would be able to get away with anything. Boy was Snowy, Lockie and Ryan wrong about that.
Snowy Grimshaw was 18 and had been out living on the streets for three years, he was the unappointed leader of the group. He had bleached blonde hair and was really strong. He was an excellent full forward footy player, but was accused of taking drugs, so he was banned from the AFL. The other two were 16 and had just dropped out of school.
Lockie Walker was naturally blonde and shortish for his age. He had small girlish facial features and looked as misplaced in the streets as a pony up a tree. He walked like he was pacing himself in time with a tune. He leaned back while his legs looked like they were too fast for the rest of his body. He had dropped out of school and his parents abandoned him in a laneway, with only two dollars he had found behind the back seat of their car, and the clothes on his back.
Ryan Johnson was second tallest to Snowy, though he was really skinny. He had scruffy brown hair and sometimes wore a tattered black beanie. He was ghostly pale with sunken eyes and a bony face. He was the quietest out the three and was Snowy's favourite to pick on. Ryan's parents had gone on a weekend away and vanished, leaving him all alone in the house. Two days later he was robbed, bashed and thrown out of his family home. He had a scar running from the bottom of his nose to his chin from the assault on him. The three unlikely friends now lived in a laneway, all their possessions together in one old cardboard box.
Snowy was sitting on a cold plastic chair inside a police station, looking up at some wanted criminal posters. A photo of his face sneered at him from his wanted poster for petty theft and graffiti. Oh no, there is no way I'm getting out of this one,he mumbled to himself.
Snowy, Ryan and Lockie had broken into a jewellery shop in the opulent Collins Street of Melbourne. Snowy had been in the main area of the store while Ryan and Lockie were in the back room, so when the police van screeched to a stop outside a suspicious looking broken window, Snowy was the only one seen and was taken to the station. A police woman came out and called his real name in a gruff manly voice, Shaun Grimshaw, come in. Snowy went into a small room that had lights that blinded him. He was questioned and was sentenced to five years in prison starting from tonight. No court or lawyers for him…nothing.
Ryan and Lockie were feeling pretty guilty about leaving Snowy that night and escaping. That guilt led them to being at the back of the jail, looking towards the cold dark block of cells that Snowy was kept in. They had a backpack full of stolen matches, ropes and a can of petrol. They were ready to pull off a huge escape plan.
You know what to do Ryan, go to Snowy's cell and pull the bars free with the rope so Snowy can get out, I'll get this fire going and then be back for you guys, Lockie instructed. And Ryan, what ever you do, don't stuff up or we'll be joining Snowy in jail. Lockie gave Ryan a cold hard stare. I'll do the best I can, Ryan mumbled, and then they parted ways.
Ryan crept towards the cell they had established as Snowy's earlier that day. He could hear the faint murmur of the inmates talking to each other. Ryan picked up a rock and threw it at Snowy's cell window and Snowy's head popped up and peered through the dirty pane of glass. Snowy mouthed to Ryan, Throw another rock, smash the glass! Ryan threw a bigger rock and smashed the glass, showering Snowy with bits of the broken window.
Lockie's creating a diversion, he's lighting a fire sirens stopped Ryan speaking and he felt the heat of the flames that shot up towards the night sky. There he is right now, Ryan confirmed. Quick Snowy, tie this rope to the bars and I'll pull them free. Can't wait to see that, you're too weak, Snowy snorted. Do you want to get out of here? Ryan yelled at him through the window. We are risking our lives for you! Ryan chucked the rope at him and Snowy wrapped the rope tightly around the bars. Ryan pulled and pulled but the bars were way to strong for Ryan's stick-like arms.
Great Ryan! Now we're stuffed! Snowy punched the wall in frustration. Ryan sunk to the ground and ran his fingers through his hair. He had failed Snowy and Lockie and could not think of any way to fix the problem. Just then they heard a cars tyres screech to a stop in front of Ryan. He jumped up then froze like a rabbit caught in headlights. Lockie was in the driver's seat. Lockie! Back the car up so I can tie the rope to the back! I can't pull the bars free myself! Please hurry! Ryan pleaded with Lockie.
Lockie backed up and Ryan tied the rope to the tow bar. The car strained as it moved forward, spraying gravel in Ryan's eyes. The bars came free and Snowy squeezed out of the small window. He jumped into the car just as two policemen appeared from the darkness and hit Ryan over the head with a baton, his legs gave way and he crumpled to the ground. They thought Ryan was responsible for the attack on the jail and saw him as a threat to them. Snowy hesitated as he was going to the car, Lockie was screaming at him to hurry and then amongst the commotion he heard a soft whisper.
Go Snowy, you're free don't waste your chance, don't worry about me, Ryan's voice was barley audible. Snowy took one quick last look at him and Ryan looked at him with fear in his eyes and nodded a 'yes'. Snowy jumped into the car and Lockie drove away at top speed. A few seconds later they heard a gunshot and Snowy knew that Ryan's short life was over.
The next afternoon Snowy and Lockie were hiding up in bushland when the heard a buzzing sound. Oh great, it must be the police! Let's get out of here! Lockie yelled over the now visible helicopter. 'Lockie, I've been thinking a lot about what Ryan did for us and I don't want him to have lost his life for nothing'. I'll explain later, but I'm sure you'll understand, Snowy stepped out from the dense cover of the bushes, he was in full view of the helicopter. 'I give up! 'Snowy screamed. "Snowy! What are you doing?" Lockie ran around in confused circles.
That night they were in a jail cell and that would be their home for the next ten years. Snowy, what did you say I would understand before when you gave in asked Lockie curiously. The death of Ryan made me realise that we should be punished for our crime as well. Ryan payed the ultimate price, and I was never really a good friend to him. I want to establish a charity for the homeless teenagers in the city. It will occupy us for our jail sentence and mean that something good will come our of Ryan's death, Snowy stared out of the small window of the jail cell.
That is a great idea and I didn't expect you to think up such a smart plan, Lockie stared up at Snowy in awe. It's one small way we can repay Ryan, Snowy shrugged and they both sat down on their hard, dirty beds and thought of the ten long years that lay ahead.
They now knew that with Ryan gone and there were only two of them now, they couldn't get away with anything, but could make something good come out of a terrible situation. Snowy and Lockie were right about that.
