‘Azzy? It’s Tam, fuck. Did A wake yi?’

‘Naw, man. Wit’s happnin?’

‘A’m doon at the hospital.’

‘Aye, fuck sake, everyhin awright? Michelle?’

‘Aye she’s good, son. Wee Scarlett is anaw.’

‘Aw no way, mate! Congrats!’

‘A know, kid. It’s fuckin mad.’

‘So a wee lassie then?’

‘Aye, mate. She wis right aw along!’

‘Fuck. A’ll git a quick wash n head doon tae see yees.’

‘Sound, wee buddy. Ma maw n that’s been doon fur a few hours. She’s gittin kept in the night n maybe the morra, then we should be hame. But come doon n see us.’

A’m floatin through the foyer ae Wishaw General, lookin fur the maternity ward. A grabbed a bunch ae flowers n a card which A scribbled on wae a biro in the motor, courtesy ae Coatbridge Asda. Big Kenzie is the first wan ae ma guy mates tae huv a wean. Loads ae the lassies A knew already did, probably more than half ae the girls A went tae primary wae. It’s true, young wans aboot here wur poppin them oot. Big Kenzie n Michelle ir a bit elder, more stable n huv a home n a credible relationship. They’re ready fur a new addition. A cannae imagine a wee Azzy runnin aboot. No yit anyways. It’s a mad thought.

A reach the ward n ask fur Baby McKenzie. The wee nurse tells me that it’s just ‘mum and dad’ wae the baby n starts marchin doon the corridor wae me trailin after. It’s mad tae hear, mad tae think that Big Kenzie is somebody’s fuckin da. Ma phone starts buzzin n she tells me tae turn it aff. A mutter sorry n huv a quick look. Private Caller. Those fuckin fannies ir still phonin me. A turn it on vibrate n stick it back intae ma jeans pocket. The wee nurse points me doon another identical corridor towards the room. A kin make oot Michelle standin at the bottom. She’s lookin through the glass wae a wee plastic coffee cup in hur hand. ‘Wit you dain oot ae bed?’ She turns, laughin, wae a big smile on hur face.

‘Hi, Alan son. Awk A’m fine honestly. It wis a really easy labour, only five hours. We came in really early yesterday mornin. Ma waters broke in the house n Tam drove me straight doon in the work van.’ The McKenzie pumpkin tae the ball – a Tough Construction Transit van.

‘That’s brilliant. How yi doing?’

‘Wee bit exhausted n sore but apart fae that … A’m good.’

‘How come yir oot here?’

She holds up hur wee coffee cup. ‘No a good patient, son, but they wanted tae keep me in a day. They for me?’ Michelle says, noddin at the flowers n card.

‘Aye!’ A say, laughin, n hand them over.

‘You’re a wee sweetheart! Thanks, Alan.’

‘Where’s Tam n the wee yin?’

Michelle stands oot the way ae the glass panel on the door. A walk up n look through. Tam is asleep on the chair wae the wee one next tae him in a cot. Big Kenzie’s part in our story is over noo. A feel emotional lookin at them. It’s a beautiful thing. At the end, yi huv new beginnings n that is truly the circle ae life.