Acid Rain by R.D Rhodes (ebook reader txt) 📕

room. Loud and happy and childish, I hadn’t heard him laugh like that since at the table that first day on the ward. A semblance of joy brightened his black eyes and his shoulders lifted, “Where did you get them from?”

“Uh…Tesco that was mate. Me and ma pal went in and just lifted them off the shelves and walked oot the shop wi them. Ma mate was pissin himsel cause ah was carryin two at the same time, one in each arm.” Gary held out his arms in demonstration and Harry laughed again. I did too. I could just imagine it, and it was always good to get one up on Tesco.

“The kids back tonight?”

“Naw man, they’re stayin wi their aunt. She looks aifter them on Fridays.” Gary made a strange face and smirked. “What about you? You still robbin? Still a little bastard?”

“Nah.” Harry smiled back, “Not really. I’ve kinda stopped that now.”

The conversation went quiet as we sipped our tea. Gary got up, went out the room, and came back in with a pack of biscuits which he offered to us.

“So what yous up ti? Yous doin much tonight?”

Harry took a long sip. He put his cup down on the floor. “Ah was actually wantin to ask a favor.” He paused. “Could you put us up tonight?”

Gary just about jumped off his seat. “Of course, man. Anytime you want. How long ye stayin fir?”

Harry looked at me to check if I minded, and I shrugged and told him with my eyes that I didn’t. He turned back to his old friend, “We’re actually in a bit of trouble, to tell the truth. We have to get goin tomorrow.”

Gary’s eyes flickered between us. His face went serious. “You’re orite aren’t ye?”

“Aye! We’re fine, no big deal. Just got to get out of town pretty fast, that’s all.”

“Yous got somewhere to go?”

“Aye.” Harry sipped his cup. “Yeah.”

“Och, well that’s alright then. Police were keepin tabs on me too for a while there, but ah think they’r aff me now.”

“That’s good. It’s not actually police but..like I said, it’s no big deal. It’ll’ blow over in a few days.”

Gary waited. He smiled conspiringly. “Yous no gonna tell us what it is then, no?”

Harry looked at me, then at the wall, then returned his eyes to his friend. “Aisha split up with this guy, it ended in a bad way. He’s in a gang in Govan, and he’s really pissed off about it. He’s a bit of a nutter and knows quite a few people. Glasgow’s a big place, but we just wanted to be safe. Anyway, I’m goin with her. And we just want to get outa town. That’s all.”

Gary nodded, though he smiled like he didn’t believe it. “Alrite. Aye, no big deal. Hey! Ye guys okay if ah switch on the TV? Ah wanna watch the highlights o the Man U game.”

I shrugged. “No bother.”

“Course.” Harry said.

The TV blinked on. But it was only twenty-five past ten, so the news was on instead. Gary flicked it across to channel three while he waited. He got up from his seat. “Ah’m just goin to the toilet.”

Harry and I sipped our tea and dunked the chocolate digestives. “You don’t mind do you, staying here tonight?” he asked.

“Course. That’s what I thought was happening anyway.”

My answer evidently pacified him, and he relaxed back into his chair, his eyes blinking as the adverts flashed by and tried to sell me shampoo, deodorant, perfume, washing up powder and toothpaste. I looked at what I was wearing. What were they trying to say?

Gary came back and flicked it over to channel one.

I looked out at the night sky.

Chapter 33

I lay in one of the two single beds. Flaking wallpaper curled from damp patches in the walls and mini-sized clothes and various toys were scattered all over the floor. A couple of finger paintings were tacked to the wall above my head, next to another framed photo of Gary and his brothers.

I dug myself under those warm, soft covers. I felt clean and fresh having just had a shower, and away from the cold and wet of the previous wandering nights I felt like I was smothered in luxury, despite the somewhat depressing atmosphere that hung in the room. Harry came in and went to the other bed and Gary stood by the door.

“Ah’m sorry about the mess, guys.” He bent down and picked up a pair of socks.

“It’s fine!” I said, “Don’t worry about it. And thanks very much, we really appreciate everything.”

He smiled embarrassingly at me and stepped out the door, “Alrite then. Well, goodnight guys. Sleep well.” He softly closed it behind him.

I flicked off the lamp and the room fell into blackness. Already I could feel my eyes start to close.

Harry coughed.

“You all-right?” I said.

“Hm? Yeah, I’m fine.”

He yawned.

I lowered my voice- the walls looked thin- “How did he get those scars? Those marks on his face? Was it a knife?”

“Yeah. Gang fight.”

“Oh.”

“How do you know him?”

“We both went to the same care home, when I was fifteen.”

He stayed quiet.

“Where are his parents? Those kids’ parents?”

“Och, they’re junkies. Total smack addicts. They live somewhere else.”

“In Glasgow?”

“Yeah.”

His answers were short. He sounded tired. So across the blackness, I let him sleep. But it was him who spoke next, “We used to shoplift a lot together, when we were younger. About fifteen. I told you I was from Inverness, but I stayed everywhere. Edinburgh. Glasgow. Manchester. Moving. Always moving.”

I waited for him to continue. “Where are your parents?” I asked.

“Fuck knows. Fuck them anyway.” He said hostilely. “I don’t care. I haven’t seen them since I was eight.”

The room fell