Me n Danny bounce in the motor n head up the tap ae the scheme tae Tam’s bit. Danny is back on his feet n through the most violent week ae withdrawal. The rest is the acceptance, the replacin yir time wae wholesome habits n continuin wae the willpower n positive energy, when those long days start tae kick in n yi realise yi huv nuhin tae dae n nae pals tae dae it wae. It’s the replacement that’s critical tae yir survival aff them. Yi need a hobby, cunts used tae say. Hobbies ir sometimes hard tae conceive after years ae the streets n drugs n drink. Well-meanin people didnae account fur the alienation fae the normal that our lifestyle created. The sufferin of young Scottish males largely untold, behind bravado n the expectation that yi hud tae fulfil the role ae hardman n no even huv the feelings yir meant tae talk aboot.

The big yin bounces straight oot n intae the motor. ‘Hail! Hail! Danny bhoy! Long time no see. How’s life?’

‘No bad, mate,’ Danny says n catches ma eye n winks.

‘Yir lookin well, eld son.’

‘Same tae you, fuck sake. This the baby weight?’

‘AHHH, YA WEE CUNT!’

‘Only jokin, big yin, yir fuckin stunnin!’

‘Cheers, Danny son … So, pleasant as this wee reunion is, A take it this isnae just a wee blether?’

‘Did yi hear aboot Stevie Broon?’

‘Course A did, man. Me n Michelle went n put a card through the door n a bunch ae flowers at the gate.’

‘We’ll dae that later on …’ Danny says, lookin a bit guilty.

A pull three fags oot ma packet n pass them aboot. Then A fill the big man in on gittin caught aff Maynard ootside Broonie’s bit n the hospital.

‘A fuckin telt yees aw! They’re aw fly, fly bastards that use wee boys like yooz. Question is, troops, who fuckin stuck him in tae Maynard?’

Deep breath time. ‘It wis your wee brur, Tam.’ Danny looks shocked. Deep doon he still hus loyalty towards Wee Kenzie, even though he took advantage ae Danny in the same way. It’s his eld partner in crime. They wur at it fur years the-gither.

‘How dae yi know that?’

‘Cos A seen him sneakin aboot wae Jamesy Maynard on the fly.’

‘Aye, that doesnae mean it wis him that stuck him in, Azzy,’ Tam says. ‘Fuck sake, son, yi cannae jump tae conclusions.’

Tam doesnae want tae believe it. He doesnae like John much but it’s still his fuckin brother n blood n water, n aw that. ‘Then yesterday—’

‘Azzy, make sure yir sure before yi say any more, mate. A know there’s nae love lost between yees …’

‘Tam, A wouldnae dare say that if A wisnae sure. A wisnae sure until yesterday.’

‘How, wit happened?’

‘A hud a run in wae a few cunts n A ended up boxin. A took Wee Gunny n Briggy doon the street n your brother showed up wae Matty O’Connor in his BMW.’ Tam’s eyes go dark n his face looks fuckin sullen. He’s a cunt that believes in loyalty tae yir pals n the young team n aw that meant, across aw these years. A suppose A’m the same. A hud never faltered in ma dedication tae ma troops. A hud feared no man, stayed the course, kept the faith.