There’s me, Danny, Finnegan, Wee Kenzie, Addison, Broonie, Rab, Stacey, Monica, Patricia, Amanda, Big Kenzie n Whytey. Tunes ir blarin oot the system n we’re aw swallyin our first bottles n tannin cans anaw. We’re aw aboot tae take our first ecktos n git right oot our barnets. We aw huv reason tae celebrate the night. Big Eck hud woken up n seems tae be on the mend. He’s kept in fur observation but he’s defo gonnae make it. Me n Big Kenzie still huv our stitches in. Ma arm is healin up but it’s itchy n the gauze is fuckin stinkin. A hud been doon every day tae git it re-dressed n cleaned oot so it didnae go infected. Wee Broonie is weird. Yi kin see suhin’s changed inside our pal. He’s git a glazed look n his eyes huv been replaced wae two marbles wae a red swirl. The hurt hidden somewhere deep behind them.

‘Yass, troops! We’re gonnae be flyin shortly portly!’ Danny shouts. The pills huv just started their journey. Nae goin back noo. Orally ingested. Travellin doon yir gullet n oesophagus intae yir stomach. Mixin wae wine n beer. Absorbed through yir small intestine. Straight intae the bloodstream. Pupils dilate. Heart rate increases. Yi start sweatin. Momentary paranoia n feelings ae slight discomfort ir replaced wae a sense ae orgasm, euphoria. Senses ir increased n heightened. The couch yir sittin on feels good tae yir hands. The floor feels good tae yir feet. The tune playin oot the system sounds fuckin magic tae yir ears. Even yir fuckin baws tingle tae the beat when yi glance in the direction ae a burd. When yi inhale yi feel like yi kin breathe in the full fuckin room. Yir feet start tappin the rhythm n yir heed starts bobbin. Yi might feel sick as yi come up but yi don’t care cos yir flyin noo.

Yi feel light, manoeuvrable, irritable, sexual, sensual. Yi huv overwhelmin feelins ae brotherhood wae yir own sex n absolute love n affection fur members ae the opposite sex. It turns no bad tae fuckin stunnin. Yi wanty kiss, cuddle n roll aboot in pleasure. Even a lassie yi barely know touchin yir skin or kissin yi feels like you’ve been wae hur forever, such is the romantic readiness ae the swedgers. Yi close yir eyes n just breathe in, at the peak ae that eckto mountain. The tunes ir carryin yi away somewhere else, takin yi tae heights higher than yi ever thought possible. Yir worries, fears n issues melt away tae nuhin. Yi kin tell aw yir secrets n no care, nae judgement here. Arguments aw resolved, those beautiful strings that bind us strengthened. The ecstasy flows through yir circulation n yir up dancin. Yir flyin high above the clouds n yir free, repeatin yirsel through drug-inspired confusion n trippin in yir ain heed. These parties last days n we’re locked in, curtains shut, more swally, more pills on this mad XTC journey intae chemicals n sound n the soul. Nae purgatory. Straight tae heaven on sharks, windmills, speckled shamrocks, playstations, crowns, cherries, smileys, pumas, rockets, Xboxes, Mercedes, lovehearts n fuckin Mitsubishi double-dunters.