Run Johnboy Run: The Glasgow Chronicles 2 (47 page)

  Fredrick Kelly, aged fourteen, known as Freckles on account of his freckly face.  In and out of remand homes, etc, etc…same as the rest.  Not thick, but not a rocket scientist either.  Tends to blow with the wind, so to speak, but prone to unprovoked violence if he feels the others are under threat.  There’s no evidence that he appears to instigate aggressive behaviour, but is usually the first one to participate, once it flares up. Excessively violent.  Average intelligence.  Kitchen.

  Patrick McSwiggan, aged fourteen, known as Patsy.  Would start a fight in an empty house and would fight with his own shadow if he could.  He’s the one that instigates and causes most of the violent behaviour, usually over nothing, although we believe that either McManus or Gucci are usually instrumental in setting him off.  McSwiggan doesn’t appear to relate to or attempt to socialise outside his immediate peer group.  Out of the fifteen fights associated with the group over the past month, he’s started nine of them.  We’ve matched him up to a job where he’ll have limited
contact with other boys. Excessively violent.  Low level intelligence.  Greenhouse.

  Samuel Smith, aged thirteen and known as Silent.  Speaks very little, even amongst his peers, hence the nickname.  He’s the odd one out of them all, although I can confirm that Smith is not a mute,” Fanny said, looking across at the deputy heidmaster.  “His incarceration is as a result of a Care and Protection order. Our background research highlights that someone with Smith’s background would not tend to be associated or accepted by a recidivist group such as this.  So far, we haven’t been able to establish what the bonding connection is, given the differences in domestic and geographic backgrounds.  He was taken into care as a CP at age ten, due to both parents being deceased. His elderly grandparents challenged the decision to take him into care, going as far as seeking legal advice, but due to their age and failure to respond to his welfare needs, their challenge was unsuccessful.
 
He’s an habitual absconder, with no recorded history of being violent.  He’s very close to Taylor.  Average intelligence.  Concert party.

  John Taylor, aged thirteen and known as Johnboy.  Hard to figure this boy out.  Both Mr Duponcie and I have struggled with categorising his delinquency…as yet.  The most recent psychologist’s report hasn’t come up with a definitive conclusion as to where he’s at most of the time either.  The psychologist in Larchgrove labelled him as easily led and distracted, which he is, but he knows what he’s doing.  Once focussed, he tends to pursue whatever it is that happens to be in his head at any given time.  Taylor comes across as amiable and friendly, but it’s as if he’s on some sort of a journey or en-route to his holidays, would you believe?” Fanny said, smiling.

  “Ye mean a typical sheep?” Rolled Back Neck scoffed.

  “That reminds me ae the time when Ah worked in The Grove,
back in Glesga a few years ago.  Fur aboot three weeks, any time any ae the staff spoke or asked anywan tae dae something, aw the wee neds in the place wid aw start bleating like sheep, so they wid.  It wis funny tae start wae, bit efter a couple ae days, it drove everywan nuts,” The Grand Master said.

  “Baa!” Rolled Back Neck snorted, as everywan roond the table laughed, except fur Fanny.

  “Taylor appears to take a keen interest in his surroundings, does what he wants, when he wants and responds to the rules when it suits him,” she continued. “Unlike the others, there’s strong family ties, particularly with the mother, who has a reputation for challenging the authorities over their dealings concerning him.  I don’t necessarily concur with this next part myself, but it’s believed that out of them all, Taylor appears to be the one that could be susceptible to targeted support and responsive to a rehabilitation programme.  However, he’s very close to Gucci and McManus.  As you will be well aware, Taylor requires constant watching due to his habitual absconding tendencies.  Above average intelligence.  Concert party.

  Joseph McManus, aged fourteen, no known nickname.  He would be considered the right hand man of Gucci…at least, here within the school.  Same criminal path as the others.  In and out of remand homes from an early age.  If anyone within the group were to question Gucci’s decisions, it would be him…but nine times out of ten, goes along with what’s been decided by Gucci.  His violence towards anyone who he deems to have upset him or who gets in his way, is far more measured and extreme than the others.  And, as some of you may have picked up on, his use of violence towards others doesn’t appear, at least on the surface, to be indiscriminate, although, as you also know, he isn’t shy in inflicting it on others.  Mr Duponcie and I would highly recommend that we keep him and Gucci together and away from the short-tempered ones as much as possible, due to this pair’s influence over the rest of them.  McManus and Gucci tend to feed off one another.  Extremely dangerous and violent.  Above average intelligence.  Concert party.

  Anthony Gucci, aged fourteen…known as Tony.  I’ve kept the worst until last.  He’s the one that all the others look up to.  What he says goes.  He comes from an Italian immigrant background.  His father, a small businessman, runs his own barbershop in Glasgow.  Gucci can come across as extremely charming and accommodating, although he isn’t shy in attempting to take advantage of any situation…just as long as he believes that it’s in his interests.  He’s highly manipulative. In and out of remand homes since he was old enough to be charged.  It’s only his age that allows him to be incarcerated within this establishment. He’s the criminally habitual one and he’s also the one that’s considered the most dangerous out of them all.  Mr Duponcie stated that Gucci really should be in a closed unit or adult prison.  Extremely dangerous and violent.  Above average intelligence.  Concert party.”

  “Why is he classed as extremely dangerous, Fanny?  If ye ask me, he’s the least troublesome wan oot ae them aw.  Ah’ve never heard a bad word fae him,” Rolled Back Neck said, tae nods fae a few ae the other hoosemasters.

  “Perhaps it’s because he doesn’t need to, Mr Burns.  As I’ve already stated, he is extremely manipulative.”

  “Is that some kind ae a warning at the bottom ae the sheet, Fanny?” Alvin Jack asked her, as aw eyes drapped back oan tae the sheet in front ae them.

  “Mr Duponcie has recommended that Gucci undertake further assessment as a matter of urgency,” Fanny replied.  “He highlighted that recommendation in red on the original sheet that I have here,” she replied, haudin up her copy.

  “Aye, Ah kin see that, bit whit dis ‘psychopathic when angry’ mean?”

  “I’m really not too sure.”

  “Well, Ah still think we’re pandering tae them and this will come back and bite us in the auld hee-haws,” Rolled Neck volunteered miserably.

  “Right then, that’s settled, gentlemen.  We’ll implement Mr Duponcie and Miss Flaw’s plan immediately.  Rehabilitation it is,” Francis Gordon announced, staunin up and heiding back tae his swanky office fur a wee cup ae tea.

Chapter Seven

  The four ae them stood in a row in front ae the big desk, wondering whit they wur being accused ae noo.  Nowan said a word.  Johnboy wondered whit the reaction wid be if Tony, Joe, Silent or himsel let oot a fart.  This wis the fourth time that Johnboy hid met the heidmaster, although never in his fancy office.  The other three times hid been when that arse ae his wis being belted fur getting caught, trying tae escape.

  “We, I, have decided to try and start afresh.  I’m about to hand over responsibility to you all.  What that means is that you’ll be allowed out of the education block and allowed to contribute to the positive efforts that all the staff and most of the boys are currently engaged in
to make life a little more bearable in here.  You’ll be allowed free association with the other boys and placed in work details where, if you haven’t already got any, you can develop new skills that will no doubt stand you in good stead for when you are eventually released.  That doesn’t mean to say that you won’t be keenly observed, to ensure that you are all taking advantage of this generous offer.  So, if you want to start turning your lives around, the opportunities and jobs are yours.  If you don’t, then it’s back to the education block.”

  Education block?  That wis a bloody laugh, Johnboy thought tae himsel.  He’d been in the joint fur o’er five months noo and every day, efter polishing boots, they’d sat him in a classroom and switched oan the telly and left them tae watch the school programmes.  The two teachers that wur in charge ae them sat and smoked fags and played pontoon aw day.  The only time they spoke tae the boys wis when they telt them tae sit oan their arses, when wan ae them started tae fuck aboot because they wur bored.  The only time that they wur allowed oot wis tae go tae the toilet and even then, they’d tae wait until a teacher came across fae the main building tae escort them. The only other people that wur ever in the hut wis the dentist and his assistant, who came every second Tuesday.  Wan day, everywan, apart fae Johnboy and Silent, hid been lying wae their heids oan their desks, snoring away quite blissfully.  Johnboy could hear the drilling and the bloodcurdling screeching coming fae the room alang the corridor.  He’d been bored shitless and hid stuck up his haun.

  “Whit?”

  “Ah need tae see the dentist.  Ah’ve goat toothache,” he’d lied.

  “Ye’ve goat toothache?”

  “Aye, this wan at the front,” he’d said, tapping wan ae his perfectly good incisors.

  “Any other volunteers?” the lazy basturt hid asked the sleeping dugs.

  Silent hid put up his haun.

  “Whit’s wrang wae yours?”

    Silence.

  “Right, hing oan,” Speedy Gonzales hid said, getting up aff that bone lazy arse ae his.

  He’d stretched and slowly disappeared oot ae the door, returning five minutes later.

  “Right, Taylor, come wae me.”

  He hidnae looked like a butcher. It wisnae as if he’d been wearing an apron splattered full ae blood or anything like that.  He’d looked tae Johnboy like any other dentist…oiled doon hair, parted in the middle, pencil clipped grey moustache, German accent, mad eyes, gap between his front teeth, smelly breath when he leaned o’er Johnboy muttering ‘Uh-huh, Uh-huh,’ sounding like Elvis when he let rip, nicotine-stained fingers and a funny glazed look tae they eyes ae his when he wis poking aboot in Johnboy’s gub.  Johnboy hid fucked up big time oan that occasion.  It hid been the dentist’s assistant that hid gied Johnboy the warning signals, bit he’d been too distracted by they nicotine-stained fingers being pushed doon the back ae his gullet tae fully notice.  The assistant wis a strapping big blonde wae ice blue eyes and a plump arse, while the dentist wis built like a garden rake.  It hid been the big cheesy grin and the look ae pure pleasure oan that coupon ae hers, when she’d haunded the dentist o’er the big syringe, efter squirting some ae its contents oot ae the spiked end, which should’ve lit up Johnboy’s radar.  Within two minutes, Johnboy hid been sent packing, staggering oot the door, haudin his mooth wae baith hauns, back tae the sanctuary ae the classroom. The basturt hid yanked oot Johnboy’s good front tooth wae a pair ae walnut nutcracker pliers. The blood hid been pishing oot everywhere.

  “Right, your turn,” Speedy, the Mexican runner hid said tae Silent.

  Silent hid jist gulped, turned away and found something interesting tae look at oot ae the windae, the cowardly wee basturt that he wis, Johnboy remembered thinking at the time.

  “We, I, have decided that you should have the benefit of rehabilitation.  Of course, I need some reassurances from you all before I finally instigate this privilege,” The Heidmaster wis saying, bringing Johnboy back tae where he wis before he’d drifted aff.

  “Well, say something,” Beanpole Wilson snapped, admonishing their obvious lack ae gratitude. 

  Beanpole Wilson wis wan ae the lazy basturts who goat paid tae sit in the classroom, playing cards, kidding oan he wis teaching them.  It hid only been five minutes earlier that him and Rolled Back neck hid been sitting playing their fifteenth game ae snap and it wisnae even hauf ten in the morning.

  “Like whit?”  Joe said, turning tae Beanpole.

  “Like, whit dae ye think ae the heidmaster’s good offer?”

  “Whit offer?”

  “The generous offer that the heidmaster his jist offered youse.”

  “I can understand why the boys could be wondering what it is I’m offering them and asking them in return, Mr Wilson,” the auld arse-belter said fae his side ae the desk.

  Well, whitever it wis, Johnboy hid awready made up his mind he wisnae volunteering fur anything, no matter who put his name forward.

  “Right then, you lot.  Listen tae whit the heidmaster his tae say,” Beanpole scowled at them, sounding like the crawling basturt that he obviously wis.

  “You’ll all be aware that auditions have been taking place for this year’s Christmas Show.”

  Silence.

  “And I see that none of you have put your names forward to be part of it.  Is there any particular reason that I should know about?”

  “Aye, apart fae Tony here, who’s a bit ae a ballroom dancer, none ae us kin sing,” Joe said tae smiles aw roond and a filthy look fae Beanpole.

  “I was hoping that you would all volunteer to help build the set for the show.  We haven’t got much time.  The opening is only seven weeks away tomorrow and it would get you out of that dreadful classroom.”

  Silence.

  “So? Whit dae ye think then, boys?” Crawler Arse asked them.

   “Ah thought there wis boys awready picked tae dae that?  The same wans as last year,” Tony said, ignoring Beanpole, bit looking at the arse belter.

  “Seeing as it’s a well sought after job, I thought that I would share it this year, to give other boys an opportunity, if you get my drift? Those already chosen have all been reassigned.”

  “Dis that mean we’ll get hame oan weekend leave then?” Tony asked.

  “Oh, I don’t think we’re at that stage,” Arse Belter replied, as Beanpole jist aboot hid a flaky at the thought ae them being even considered fur hame leave.

  Silence.

  “It’ll mean ye’ll learn a trade that’ll come in handy fur when ye get oot,” Beanpole said encouragingly, as everywan turned and looked at him as if he wis a diddy.

  “Of course, it would mean you would be working on in the evenings if called upon, as well as during the day.  Think of all that freedom?” The Heidmaster cooed fae behind the desk, raising they bushy eyebrows ae his.

  “Dis that mean if we’re working at night, we’ll no hiv tae dae the boots first thing in the mornings then?” Tony came back wae, as aw their eyes focused oan the auld badger behind the desk wae keen interest.

  Silence.

  “Oh, I’m sure we could review those tasks.  Isn’t that right, Mr Wilson?”

  “Er, aye, heidmaster,” Beanpole muttered, looking as sick as a hauf drunk parrot.

   “Of course, I would still need some guarantees and assurances,” Belter said, gieing Johnboy a fleeting glance, before turning back tae Tony.

   “Guarantees?”

  “That you learn to use the tools for the purpose which they were intended for and not use them as weapons on the walls, furniture, other boys or staff.  You agree not to fart about when you are requested to carry out a work task by Mr Button.  And lastly, you must promise me that you will desist from attempting to abscond from my school,” he said, looking straight at Johnboy this time.

  Silence.

  “Fine,” Tony agreed, volunteering them, efter gieing it a wee bit ae thought.

  “Good, that’s settled then.  You can all start your new positions first thing tomorrow morning, although there is one other thing.  Everyone has to take up this offer.  Show these boys out and bring the other lot in, Mr Wilson.”