‘Who yi tryin tae kid?’

‘Don’t you fuckin call me kid.’

Danny sits his cargo doon next tae a wheelie bin sittin on the street. A’m shakin ma heed n tryin tae pull him back. ‘Naw, Azzy, if the cunt fuckin wants his go, he’ll git it. Yi want smashed again dafty?’

‘Aye fuckin mon then!’

‘Yir aboot tae git leathered fur nuhin, Si. Fuckin piss aff, mate. Nane ae us ir tryin tae start wae yi, we’re doon gittin a wee cargo oot the shop n we’re gawn hame. Wit yi fuckin tryin tae start fur?’

‘A’m here the noo. A don’t need anycunt else.’

Danny’s aboot tae go fur him. A kin see him rollin his shoulders n focusin on Si’s nose. ‘Mon, Danny. Fuckin leave him.’

‘Naw, Azzy. Then he’ll be gawn aboot tellin cunts we shat it. Fuckin sit that drink doon n we’ll gee him a fuckin dooin.’

The argument hus lost aw meanin tae me in this moment. Within hours ae ma return A wis awready back tae fightin wae cunts n watchin ma back. The rage buildin within me is aimed at Danny n his stupidity. ‘A DON’T GEE A FUCK WIT HE TELLS CUNTS. Now fuckin move, mate, before A go right aff ma dial.’ Si looks surprised. He hus nae concept ae stoppin fightin wae us. Suhin within me hus changed n A feel heartfelt sorrow that we put that fuckin mark on his face n doomed him forever tae think like this. A’m no gonnae lift ma hand tae the cunt again.

‘Calm doon, Azzy boy, fuck sake. Mon then, fuck him.’

‘A’m gonnae tell fuckin everycunt yooz two girls shat it fae the bold Si O’Connor.’

A sit ma drink doon n walk up tae Si, his confidence ae a second ago retreatin wae every step towards him. He’s no said a thing n he’s no sprung intae attack mode. He’s a miserable, pathetic drunk tryin tae fight in the street.

‘Tell them wit yi fuckin like.’

Si is still shoutin the odds as we walk away but his arguments huv lost conviction n he bumbles intae the chippy. Danny’s lookin at me strangely, like he doesnae quite understand. A know he isnae as far doon the path as me yit. His real troubles only just ended, in the grand scheme ae things. He didnae huv that silver thread yit, the suhin tae lose that is the start ae aw things.

‘Wit the fuck did yi no just smash him fur?’

‘Mate, you better rethink yir fuckin attitude if yi expect tae git intae Oz.’

‘If somecunt starts then A’m no gonnae back doon.’

‘Mate, he’s a fuckin liberty. Who cares wit cunts think, man, honestly? They’re fuckin deadbeats, Danny. Gawn naewhere. You git caught n hut wae a charge before yi go n that’s it fucked.’

‘Listen tae Mr fuckin Sensible!’ he says n winks at me.

A’m home n lyin in ma bed, starin at ma eld posters n chewin over aw the shite ae the last few weeks. The drama wid never end here. A’m driftin aff, wae dreams startin tae flicker intae the room. Ma phone buzzes tae life n wakes us up. ‘Aye?’