Bram thought. "And we'll smear dog poo all over them," he added with a smile. "That's a good idea!"

Clover wrinkled his nose. It seemed there would be no getting out of this one. "Fine, you can do that, and I'll keep watch." His logic was that if he didn't see it and didn't touch it, he wasn't a part of it.

Bram shrugged. "Fine. We need someone to keep watch. And you're not so brave yet, because you're a little child. So you can do that," said Bram, sticking his nose up, because he was already nine.

Clover nodded, relieved to have an idea agreed upon. He shifted on his feet, a shy but mischievous smile coming to his face. "Let's go, then!" he declared and started back toward the school, peeking around the corner to see if any of the bigger boys were nearby. They were all on the field, playing with a ball, and Clover relayed this information to Bram, taking his new duty as lookout very seriously.

Bram ran after Clover and looked around. The coats had been put on the ground at the edge of the field while the boys were playing. Bram sneaked towards them, took one coat and ran to a little alley behind the school. Then he came back for another coat, putting his thumb up at Clover.

Clover rocked on his feet and kept a careful eye on the boys playing in the field from the side of the alley by the school. He also watched out for their teacher or any adults of authority passing by. The coast was clear and his doubt started to fade as the excitement of the prank came over his young mind.

Bram fetched the other coats and started looking for dog poo further on.

Suddenly one of the boys spotted Clover. "Oi! Clover, what are ye up to?" he shouted.

One of the other boys looked to where they had put their coats. "Where are our coats?"

"Did ye take 'em, ye little twit?"

Clover's face paled and he quickly shook his head. "I dunno where yer coats 'ave gone!" he shouted back, arms crossed, but he was trying not to tremble at the threatening looks of the older, bigger boys. "And if I did, I wouldn't tell ye!" He hoped Bram was out of sight.

Indeed, Bram was out of sight, but the coats lay behind Clover in the alley, and as the boys approached him, they spotted them.

"What do you think you're up to, ey?" said one of the older boys, grabbing Clover by the collar and pulling him forward.

Clover struggled against the boy's grip and manage to stumble back without ripping his collar. He crossed his arms, regretting that he'd ever agreed to Bram's idea, forgetting that half of it was his own design. "Nothing!" he protested and stepped away from the alley, eyes darting to and fro for Bram.