Teenage Years Rock

Seven Street park was located at the end of crofters way road. It was a busy road with a lot of access to work flowing through the street but it also had a real community feel to it, everyone knew each other it was a family orientated area with a lot of older people living here. The park itself was a bit of a thing of the past in that the kids of this generation didn't really hang around here which is a pity considering for years and years families grew up in this park and it was a bit of a local get together spot. The park had many stories to it, including "The Jinn of 79".

Back in 1979 teenagers would patrol the park doing what teenagers do drinking, smoking and all other high spirited behaviour. Along the west side of the park was where the most rebellious teenagers would gather around a fire for the night but mostly it was just harmless fun, "Through the smoke of the fire beholds the Jinn of Seven Street Park" this was a legend that was talked about in these parts for decades and one night this legend came to fruition.

Five teenagers aged between 16-18 decided one Saturday night to go down by the fire and smoke some lets just say illegal substances which they obtained from one of the boy's brothers room. The night was flowing smoothly and one of they teenagers suggested they play truth or dare, one of the dares was to go to the darkest area of the park and wait there for ten minutes alone. Off went the tall, skinny awkward looking teen trying to show he wasn't afraid of the dark but if only what went on in his head matched his brave exterior. The ten minutes were up and he returned with his chest pushed out trying to show his macho bravado, everyone chose dare on their first go and in turn they all did what was asked, no one was gonna show weakness here.

As midnight hit the gong of the towns church bells rang out around the park, dogs barked and the wind whistled. The teenagers packed up their shit and were getting ready for the walk home, one of them tried to put out the fire but it wouldn't die, this brought great laughter amongst the other four who just stood there watching their friend struggle over the fire. "You lot have a go then and see for yourself" said the annoyed teen. They threw water all over the fire but it kept coming back and back, they tried throwing clay over it but again it sparked back up, this fire was invincible it seemed.

Suddenly threw a puff of smoke appeared a bald headed figure covered in tattoos, the gang looked perplexed "what the.." said the small pudgy kid. The figure stood there floating telling the kids " I want you all to think of your favourite animal" pudgy thought of a Bear, skinny and awkward thought of a Giraffe, Couldn't put out the fire kid thought of a Tiger, the other two guys - nerd teen thought of a Dolphin and lastly the hyper guy thought of a Monkey. This thought turned them one by one into each animal that they thought of, well each person saw themselves as themselves but saw everyone else as their chosen animal.

The Jinn clicked his fingers and all of them started dancing until he clicked again and they stopped, he said to them all " You all should go home now" his hands clapped and they all returned to their true form once again. The Jinn disappeared into the fire and it then went out, the teenagers all just looked at each other asking what the hell just happened. The next week at school they decided to tell people the events that happened that nigh which turned into a running joke around the school, they were known as "The loopy five of 79" from that moment onward and they never touched another smoke of that stuff again.

Side note: The Jinn/Stoned idea is just a bit of fun seeing as this week was my birthday I wanted to do something a little more lighthearted. In Islamic theology there is a long standing association with the Jinn/Djinn/Genie and these stories are really frightening , I hope to write about some in the near future.