A fall on ma side n whack ma face aff the kerb. Within a second it starts. A’m gittin volleyed n kicked fuck oot ae. Ma arms n fists ir drawn intae ma chest n up, protectin ma face n the back ae ma heed fae the ensuin blows. It’s been a while since A’ve seen this kinda kickin. It never changes, dull thuds n adrenaline, fear, confusion. Pain wull follow. ‘That’s fur earlier, ya prick!’ JP says as he draws a final boot aff me. A’m left lyin at the entrance tae a garden on ma back. A spark a fag n taste nicotine combined wae the iron ae ma blood. A kin feel a few lumps n bumps but on the whole A think A’m awright n nae broken teeth. Draggin maself oot the dirt, A git tae ma knees n pull maself tae ma feet, holdin the fence. A smoke oot the side ae ma lips as A limp doon towards ma hoose in the dark. Wit goes around, n aw that.

Gentle Sins

Monica text us earlier the day n asked us doon tae her bit. Wumen rarely do anyhin by accident. If A hud tae guess, it would be tae ask us aboot Patricia. We’ve been in here aw day. The door’s been gawn constant wae weans oot guisin fur Halloween. The wee cunts ir leavin bagless but, cos hur maw n da ir oot fur the night. If anyhin, it adds possibility tae our meetin – empty gaff n aw that. There’s still an atmosphere between us n that eld energy addin tae it, so yi huv tae wonder. Hur face is the same but more gorgeous. It’s the subtle details that draw yi in. The light eyeshadow n mascara makin hur green eyes look darker. Yi miss aw these things as a wee guy. Yir too busy lookin at other areas tae notice the effort in hur appearance, the constraint n hur natural beauty. The tiny flick ae the eye pencil at the side, like an Egyptian queen.

‘Sah, yi been seein anybody?’

‘Ahh, wouldn’t you like to know. Could ask you the same thing.’

Here we go. ‘Take it you’ve heard then?’

‘Aye, A heard. Don’t think she could wait to tell me. So how did that happen?’

‘Just bumped intae hur.’

‘N fell into bed with hur?’

‘No quite, Monica.’

‘You know she’s been chasin you for years?’

‘Naw, no really.’

‘Guys can never tell. You always chase the ones who aren’t interested.’

‘A chased you for a while,’ A say wae a half-smile.

‘No hard enough, obviously!’

‘So … are yi seein anybody?’

‘I’ve been out a couple of times with a guy from college.’

‘How’s that goin?’

She rolls hur eyes n lights a fag, directin the smoke vaguely towards the windae. ‘No sure, really. Still feel we’re kind of different to all the college types.’

‘Wit yi mean? That they’re gimps n we’re still neds?’

Takin a puff n laughin, she nods. ‘Kinda. A don’t think we’re still neds. Even you’ve got jeans on the day!’