We reach the top park n clock it. A wooden fence, flakin n exposed, runs the length ae the back perimeter ae the park. The message is scrawled in four-foot white spray-painted letters.

KENZIES, AZZY, BROONIE – DEAD MEN WALKING
Y TOI IN YER AREA!

Big Kenzie laughs n marches up tae it. ‘Fuckin shoddy work, boys. Typical lazy YTB job!’ We’re no really laughin. That twinge ae paranoia has spread through us. There’s nae names left, but we knew fur sure they hud been here, a full squad up lookin fur us. Big Kenzie pulls oot a roller tray fae his bag n starts pourin the creosote over it. It splashes ontae the paint tray in big fat glugs. He hands me a glove n paint brush n Wee Kenzie the wire brush. ‘Mind yi arms n eyes noo, boays. The eld creosote kin be nippy.’ It smells like fire, pure brimstone in yir nostrils, thick chemicals chokin yi, but it takes me back years tae ma gran’s shed. We start sloppin the thick brown liquid aw over the fence n Wee Kenzie scrapes the hard wirey brush against the flakin surface n scrubs the paint aff till it’s dusty n faded. The dark brown creosote covers the remnants ae the paint n our death threat begins tae disappear. A glance towards Wee Kenzie, whose face must be like a mirror image ae ma own. This wis far fur them tae come n we knew that.

‘Right boys, nice even brush strokes noo! Aw in the wan direction!’ Big Kenzie says wae a fag hangin oot his mouth, laughin casual. The two ae us ir lookin at him. ‘Wit?’ he says wae a shrug. Wee Kenzie goes back tae scrubbin the plank wae the wire brush.

‘Dae yi no care, Tam?’ A say.

He turns n gees me a look n A see his sore-lookin scar. ‘Azzy, wee man, we aw care. But it’s no just a case ae carin or no. A’m no gonnae sit n shite maself fae these fuckin cunts. Bit ae paint’s no gonnae hurt us.’ Big Kenzie’s face hud healed but it left him wae a big tan mark, ear tae fuckin lip. He lits a couple ae days’ stubble grow in before he shaves noo n often hus a patchy beard tae hide the mark.

‘You’re a daft cunt, Tam,’ Wee Kenzie says.

We both turn tae look at him, surprised. He hud barely spoke aw day.

‘Wit you talkin aboot, kid?’

‘Yir no invincible, ya stupid prick! Dae yi no realise you’ve broke ma maw’s fuckin heart comin hame wae a face like that? It scares hur tae look at yi noo!’

‘WELL, FUCKIN PARDON ME FUR GITTIN SLASHED! Ya wee fuckin dick!’

‘If yi hudnae started wae Div n Matty it wouldnae huv happened!’

‘You listen tae me, wee bro. They cunts ir fuckin animals n if it hudnae happened tae me it wid ae happened tae wan ae yooz. So A’m fuckin glad it happened tae me. Yees ir still wee guys, man, A wid ae felt bad.’