‘What do you mean?’ Mum asks.

‘I mean there will be conditions attached to your readmittance to this school, boys.’

‘Oh anything, Mr McGiver,’ Addison’s tearful mum retorts.

‘You will all be suspended for twenty days, the maximum available to me. This is necessary to demonstrate the severity of this matter to the rest of my pupils. It is also the only way I can keep a lid on those who would have you all expelled and in front of the education authority looking for a new school. However, I am fully aware of the consequences of extending the boys’ Christmas break by a month. Not only will this put immense pressure on yourselves and other family members, but it will leave them open to the other consequences of these actions – and for that I apologise unreservedly.’

‘Other consequences? What do you mean?’

Broonie’s da is shakin his heed. ‘They’re aw gonnae be lookin fur them. God’s sake, Liz. Use yir heed, wuman!’

She just doesnae get it. This world is alien tae hur n she’s nae concept ae gang violence or retribution.

‘But who is?’

‘Every other young team in the town. Folk wull be huntin fur them. Yees ir gonnae huv tae be careful, boays. Keep yir heeds doon fur a while.’

‘Unfortunately, Mr Brown is absolutely correct. In my experience of gang violence, such actions are widely whispered about and there will be revenge for this stunt.’

‘Oh my God!’

‘So, back to my request. I’m willing to settle at twenty days’ suspension if the boys are willing to come to an arrangement with me.’

‘They’ll do anything,’ Liz Addison shoots.

‘What is it?’ ma maw asks.

‘I want to arrange a meeting with the other gang, the Young Toi, within school. This is a new restorative method they’ve tried in Glasgow, which started in Boston in the US. We bring them together in a secure environment, with teachers and our community police officers, for a one-day gang workshop. They talk and shake hands – that’s it. Perhaps a game of football on the ash park afterwards.

‘The second part of this treaty is that the boys promise to endeavour to stay out of harm’s way during the holidays. I realise this suspension could not have come at a worse time, but there is no suitable alternative. Does this sound acceptable?’

‘That’s very decent of you, Mr McGiver.’

‘Of course, Paul will do anything you ask.’

‘N so wull Shaun.’

That wis McGiver’s bright idea. Aw respect tae the big man, he tried his best. We sit n wait on the Friday morning. The three ae us huv been sent up in our smartest uniforms, polished shoes, ties the proper length n tight roon our necks instead ae stuffed in a blazer pocket. McGiver hus gone tae some trouble fur the occasion. He’s set plastic chairs oot in a circle wae a table ae snacks in the middle. There’s plastic cups wae fizzy ginger n sandwiches oot the canteen. The nuts n crisps must huv been his own doing. He’s put two whiteboards wae pens in the holders at each side n stuck up aw the posters aboot gangs, knives n bullyin he could find, like an alternative wallpaper. They hud slogans like ‘Bin a Knife, Save a Life’ n aw sorts ae other stuff. There’s wan ae a boy wae stab wounds in surgery n it makes us shudder tae look at it.