‘FUCKIN OVER THE FENCE, TROOPS!’ Big Kenzie shouts, givin us a footy up n over on his cupped hands. A follow his example n dae the same fur Broonie n Addison. Polis ir comin fae both sides as A pull maself over the fence n hide ma face wae ma tracky tap. ‘There’s nae point runnin, wee man!’ the polis is shoutin as A bounce the fence. A don’t stop tae chat. We’re aff runnin through the Catholic cemetery n towards the woods n golf course. Big Kenzie’s buzzin oot his nut, shoutin tae aw us fae the front ae the pack. ‘Keep those knees high, boys,’ joggin like he’s no even puffed oot.

We reach the beginnin ae the woods n we’re aw fucked. We’ve made it right intae the trees n under the darker canopy. Danny’s handin fags oot ae a Mayfair packet. None ae us kin even smoke them, but we light them anyway. Wan ae the wee team in first year texts us, Wee Lucas Toffey.

Teachers ir gawn mad here, polis aw over eh school n ther headin up eh golfy

We’re aff again. A kin hear sirens in the distance. There’s fear among us, but the adrenaline is still flowin. Once we git across the golfy intae our ain woods, we’re safe. They’d never follow us that far n even if they did they wouldn’t catch us in our own area. As fur ever goin back intae school, we’re aw fucked.

We reach the wee burn n jump over it. Aw our uniforms ir boggin n we’re lookin worse fur wear fae runnin cross-country in the wet, wintery woods. Most ae us play fitbaw but we’ve ran at least two miles, clamberin around steep embankments and jumpin burns. We reach the eld conker tree n stop tae catch our breaths. Yi feel safer as the familiar fields, paths n trees welcome yi back tae home territory.

‘Look it yees, ya puffed oot wee cunts! Never been up the school causin a riot before? Fuck sakes!’ Naebody answers but we aw laugh. We’re aw buzzin n finally catch our breaths n light more fags up. Everybody sits doon on a fallen tree n seems tae slow doon. We’re aw soakin n filthy noo fae jungle trekkin. Danny sums up aw our fears n realisations.

‘Thank fuck A don’t go tae your school,’ he says under a smile n a Mayfair. Finnegan n both Kenzies laugh n nod. Broonie is smilin like fuck but Addison is lookin mad para. ‘Fuck it,’ they say in unison.

‘They’re never gonnae forget yooz, boys, yooz huv just went doon in history. The maddest, fuckin baddest younger wans there ever wis,’ Big Kenzie says wae his arms roon me n Broonie.

‘Did yi see that cunt Owen’s fuckin face?’ Danny says.

‘Don’t hit me, Kenzie, big man … phffft, nappy full.’

‘Fuckin gimps, man.’

‘Imagine that Si hinkin he’s mental. He got whacked n shat it. Fuckin miniature heroes, every wan ae they Toi wans. You wee cunts ir well madder. Proud ae it, man.’