‘Forgive me, Mrs Williams, but these are angry young men, bound together under a gang identity and who are fiercely opposed to each other. As well as being the victims of violence, they are the perpetrators of similar violence. I am willing to bet that there was a catalyst for Alan’s attack. Is it wrong to assume that someone else has had their toes stepped on?’

‘Well, Paul, is this true? You stupid boy!’

‘Aye, mum.’

‘It’s yes.’

‘OK, Mrs Addison. We’re making progress here. So, you hit them, they catch Alan and give him a proper hiding. Then in retaliation – this leads to the events of yesterday.’

‘What happened exactly, Mr McGiver? I couldn’t get a straight answer out of Alan.’

‘Well, Mrs Williams, let me summarise. The Young Team – Alan, Paul and Shaun from our school, the McKenzie brothers, Mr Stevenson and a Mr Finnegan – organised themselves and besieged the school. They entered armed with a baseball bat, and attacked six other boys, who call themselves the Young Toi, to their injury. Two boys were taken away in ambulances, a member of staff was assaulted and a local resident phoned Strathclyde Police, who attended in number. The boys managed to evade capture and here we are. I’ve got six of my pupils and a teacher with varying injuries and the authority breathing down my neck – not to mention making the local paper.’

Nobody’s smilin noo. Ma mum’s dabbin at tears wae a tissue n even Addison’s maw looks a bit upset. She’s lookin at hur son wae new eyes. Hur facts n figures cannae add up tae explain this wan. She’s provided a nice hoose, pocket money n the best ae gear but nuhin more. Ma maw’s devastated, A kin tell. She takes these things personally, as if she’s failed somehow, n she’s that bitter cocktail ae angry n disappointed. Even Broonie’s da is shakin his heed – he knows we’ve gone too far this time. Stevie Broon speaks fur the first time. ‘Yi dinnae bring bloody weapons tae school! That’s whit yur fists ir fur!’

Liz Addison tuts loudly.

‘Mr Brown is right, to an extent. Fist-fighting is another matter and one which we can deal with in-house. I am afraid the police are pursuing charges. But, I have intervened and made some calls. My counterpart, Ms Donaldson, and I have assured officers that there will be substantial punishments for both sets of boys. She will be pursuing her own line of enquiry, so your friends will be having a similar chat. Mr McKenzie senior will not be so lucky. As he is past sixteen, the police are offering no such leniency. He is beyond my reach.’

‘The boys aren’t being charged?’ Addison’s maw asks, horrified at the thought.

‘No, not this time, but consider yourselves very lucky, because there were some who wanted you to go for this.’

‘Wanted them to go?’

‘As in permanent expulsion, Mrs Williams. This was a particularly serious matter. A teacher was assaulted, seven people injured and a hell of a lot of scared kids in the process. I was inundated with calls from parents preaching fire and brimstone at me about the safety of their children. I have gone out on a limb for your boys … and it is not free of charge.’