by DaNeo Duran
Inside he slipped passed Helga and sat on his bunk to look at the instrument he’d won.
Saturday 09th June 1984
The band reached Albuquerque.
Dane milled around Jefferson Starship’s stage unaware of Johnny staring him down as a cobra would its prey.
Johnny’s mind, a desert of ideas concluded nothing; nothing other than Dane knowing something about who’d stitched him up.
Putting his guitar on its stand he jogged over to where Dane stood alone.
‘Hey, any news on Vanquar’s reshuffle yet?’
Dane’s head darted side to side as he held up silencing hands. ‘Johnny, please moral’s low enough.’
‘Well?’
‘Well what?’
‘Have you heard anything?’
‘No, shush. We won’t know until the start of July.’
Johnny nodded searching his face for signs of nervousness but Dane looked no more so than usual. ‘There’s no gossip then?’
‘Gossip? I’m not privy to the whispers that go on in Vanquar’s corridors.’
Johnny couldn’t believe it. ‘You knew about the reshuffle.’
‘That was common knowledge.’
‘So you’ve not heard anything else?’
Dane’s shoulders dropped. ‘Nothing, I wish I’d never told you.’
Johnny let him go and returning to his corner of the stage picked his guitar off the stand.
Sitting on the edge of the stage he looked to it hoping for guidance but only finding feelings of loneliness as deep as he’d felt since secondary school. He glanced at the technicians.
Jack laughed at something Quinn said. Still feeling sure they couldn’t know a thing his mind came back to Dane.
Quietly focusing on his guitar he reminded himself of the next album’s money. He’d been ripped off at poker – struck by lightning. That had shaken his confidence but poker had been his first plan should Vanquar wish to drop them.
Blotting everything but the guitar from his mind he dared himself to return to the tables.
Thursday 04th July 1974
Johnny weighed the risk of taking his new guitar to school. Not trusting the cover’s inhabitants he decided to keep the instrument with him.
He stopped at the school gate observing his nervousness. Pressing his hand to his chest he felt his tiger heart beating and marched on.
But, if Mrs Millican had discovered who’d written the note in her class it hadn’t dissuaded Tooly who, even before registration lashed him with barbed insults.
Wide-eyed Johnny gripped the guitar Tooly threatened to wrap round his head.
He struggled through the day feeling the class’s scorn building like thunderclouds.
At the day’s end Tooly mercifully vanished.
Joining the kids trekking towards the school gate, Johnny sensed crowds gathering by a nearby side street. He would have walked on but Max and Marbles found him.
‘Alright Johnny,’ Max said ushering him off the main street,’ Tooly wants a quick word.’
‘It’s punching time,’ Marbles shouted as Johnny saw Tooly standing on someone’s garden wall.
Spinning, Johnny searched faces. He spied two female classmates in the front row.
‘Take these,’ he said thrusting guitar and bag towards the first girl.
‘Get that scabby stuff away from me,’ she said.
The next girl held her hands up. ‘Don’t look at me.’
His heart sank until …
‘Hey Johnny.’
He wheeled round seeking the voice shouting over the swelling noise. His spirits soared. ‘Shaun?’
‘Of course. Your stuff’s safe with me.’
‘I’ve never seen you round here.’
‘You either, but it’s a big school,’ Shaun said grinning. ‘Aw, I can’t wait to see you clobber this pillock.’
‘Not this time sorry, I’m afraid.’
‘What, why?’
‘Don’t want a reputation.’
‘So what, you’re gonna let him win?’
‘We’ll see. Back in a minute,’ Johnny said turning.
‘Hurry up,’ Tooly shouted, ‘some of us have homes to go to.’
‘Right, and I know where yours is.’
Tooly’s expression faltered but he redirected the doubt and charged. Not wanting to get hurt Johnny deflected the attack with judo realising his internalised combat experience would make losing somewhat difficult.
After instinctively dodging uncountable face shots he soon heard Tooly’s breath, unaccustomed to adrenal overdose labouring.
Catching body blows Johnny fooled Tooly’s supporters until another ragged assault saw Tooly tripped and clatter into the tarmac.
Pretending Tooly’s attack hadn’t been totally wasted Johnny staggered backwards but trampled someone’s toe.
‘Touch me again and I’ll tear your head off.’
With Tooly still on the ground Johnny faced Marbles, the reputed second-hardest lad in his class. He looked into the curiously patterned eyes.
Unlike Tooly, Johnny buzzed on his adrenalin and ignoring Max and stepped so close to Marbles their noses brushed.
Clearly Marbles itched for an excuse to join the fight but an un-seeable uppercut rocketed between the two lads blitzing Marbles’ jaw, crushing his tongue and throat.
‘Not your fight, okay?’
‘Okay,’ Marbles gurgled plaintively.
Johnny retuned his attention to Tooly but heard Max ask what had happened and Marbles say he didn’t know but would sit down.
Soon, back on the floor Johnny slowed his attacker’s wearying kicks with defensive techniques before Tooly yelled, ‘You had enough?’
‘Like I asked for any of this.’
Tooly went to stamp Johnny’s stomach having given up aiming for the head. Catching it Johnny let Tooly leave with his friends before getting to his feet.
Shaun arrived at his side. ‘You alright?’
‘Fine. Cheers for guarding my stuff.’
‘I still don’t get why you didn’t batter him.’
Johnny straightened but didn’t answer.
Shaun handed the guitar over. ‘So, you’re a guitarist?’
‘Why, are you a musician?’
‘Bass guitar.’
‘You in a band?’ Johnny asked feeling for non-existent injuries.
‘Yeah, we rehearse at school after lessons.’
‘I didn’t know the school allowed anything like that?’
‘There’s a few amps in storage. They just let you get on with it. I’ll keep an eye open for bands needing guitarists if you like.’
* * *
That evening Johnny left his guitar and bag next to the Toulson van and stood knocking on their door knowing they’d be sitting to eat.
Mrs Toulson came to the door. ‘Oh my days what are you doing here? I thought we agreed—’
‘The guitar’s great. It’s Kenneth I’m after.’
‘Why?’
‘You know why. He thinks I’m weak and now he’s—’
‘Get over it.’
Johnny shook his head. ‘That was your agreement, not mine. He ambushed me in front of half the school. I let him save face and that I’m here instead of trouncing him in front of his crowd is more than he deserves.’
She turned to her son standing behind her, ‘Is this true?’
‘He needed a hiding. He stole from us,’ Tooly said in protest.
‘Didn’t I tell you to leave him alone?’
‘Well I would’ve if you hadn’t allowed him to rob us.’
‘He’s right,’ Mr Toulson said accusingly. ‘I got this. Sit down love.’
‘I’ll do no such thing.’ Jabbing a finger she said, ‘I won’t allow fighting.’
‘Leave it.’ Mr Toulson glared stunning his wife who marched towards the stairs.
‘Better it happens now than school,’ Johnny called after her.
Mr Toulson turned to his son. ‘I’m not pr
oud of you for fighting.’
‘Sorry Dad.’
Johnny sighed and looked up seeing Tooly’s mum and sister at a bedroom window. He waved.
‘Doesn’t matter now,’ Mr Toulson continued. ‘Did you beat this lad fair and square?’
‘Yeah.’
‘You sure, because he seems to think differently?’
‘Well, I think so, everyone saw me.’
‘Then you better get out there and properly convince him.’
Hearing this Johnny positioned himself at the lawn’s far corner where he could keep an eye on the dad should he be unable to allow his son’s fate to unravel naturally.
Tooly stepped onto the front lawn.
‘Go get him son. His overconfidence is his weaknesses.’
When Tooly squared up with sulky shoulders Johnny repositioned himself should Tooly try running back indoors.
‘Give me everything you’ve got and remember there’s no shame in tapping out.’
‘What d’you mean?’ Tooly’s voice quivered.
‘Just tap the floor when you’ve had enough.’
‘Would you shut up?’ Mr Toulson bellowed.
‘Yeah,’ Tooly said lunging with flailing fists.
Johnny used kung fu; the defensive strike causing as much pain as his simultaneous attacking one.
Tooly rubbed both chest and bicep.
When Tooly charged again Johnny performed a judo throw and pinned him to the lawn. Locking Tooly’s arm Johnny pressed his face into the grass and said, ‘Just so as you know, it’s not an accident.’
‘What’s not?’ Tooly said getting to his feet when Johnny released him.
He didn’t answer. If he didn’t act fast Tooly would run. He adopted a Thai stance.
‘You’re doing fine,’ came Mr Toulson’s mis-assessment. ‘Stick with it son.’
Once more Tooly brought the fight.
Johnny unleashed a rapid five piece combination of punches and knees to the midriff knocking the wind and confidence out his opponent.
Tooly started falling. He’d surely tap out but not before Johnny’s right fist chased the falling head and connected with its left eye socket.
‘That, that’s not an accident,’ he said as Tooly clutched his head.
‘Enough.’ Mr Toulson yelled.
‘How do you know? He hasn’t tapped out.’
‘I’m tapping,’ Tooly said despite his proud father’s proximity. ‘You win.’
‘No more trouble at school?’ Johnny said.
‘None.’
Johnny bowed to the unhappy parents and picked his guitar and bag up and headed to Meuxng Ti to let Keith know he’d conquered bullying.
Saturday 09th June 1984
From behind the curtains at the back of the stage Christine had watched Dane leave and Johnny settle into reverie with his guitar. Though she felt for Johnny she also felt for Dane.
Chasing after him she tugged his sleeve.
‘Christine,’ he said.
‘Can me and Mazz have a quiet word?’ When he huffed and looked at his watch she added, ‘It won’t take long.’
She found Mazz in the dressing room. ‘You alone?’
‘Yup, no sign of Stu,’ she said.
Christine lead them to the venue’s front of house foyer.
‘What can I do for you ladies?’ Dane said sitting opposite them.
Christine took a deep breath. ‘How’s the USed bank account?’
‘Bruised since I hit it with a T-shirt order,’ Dane chuckled.
Christine searched his face for lies. ‘Otherwise it’s fine?’
‘Yeah, why?’
‘You’ve not noticed any unusual transactions?’
His eyebrows knotted. ‘No, what sort of transactions? D’you wanna check? Everything I’ve authorised can be accounted for.’
The girls looked at each other.
Christine faced Dane again and asked, ‘Have you been expecting a large amount to leave the account without your authorisation?’
‘What sort of large amount?’
Looking nervous but clueless he pulled out the band’s chequebook and flicked through the stubs.
Christine looked away and asked Mazz, ‘You believe him?’
She pulled a face and nodded.
‘Dane,’ Christine said facing him again, ‘is there any chance you might have the slightest idea what’s going on here?’
‘I’m totally lost. No one’s written a cheque that’s for sure.’
‘Alright.’
‘Alright what?’
Mazz leaned forwards. ‘We know managing us has been difficult.’
‘Wait a minute,’ he said, ‘you’re not firing me – are you – I’m not sure you can, Vanquar wouldn’t allow it?’
‘We’re complimenting you,’ Christine said. ‘You’re doing an alright job.’
‘Really?’ He looked between the two girls.
‘Really,’ Mazz said. ‘But we’ve got a problem and we need to know you’re not part of it.’
‘Problem – you mean the reason you’ve all looked so miserable recently?’
‘Johnny told us about Vanquar,’ Christine said.
Dane looked down shaking his head.
‘Don’t blame Johnny,’ Mazz pleaded.
‘If you knew him better you’d know he’d tell us sooner than later,’ Christine said.
‘Okay.’ Dane rubbed his forehead. ‘I gotta tell you girls it’s good to know I’m finally appreciated. And, this Vanquar stuff, it probably won’t affect us.’
‘Even if someone gets the job and wants us gone?’
‘It’s true, someone in the running has a chip on his shoulder about British bands in America but plenty of bands will be on tenterhooks. When someone retires someone else fills the position and over time things change.’
‘What’s the chances this guy will get the job?’
‘I don’t know. I don’t know who else is being considered.’
‘Well, Johnny ain’t a guy to sit waiting for something to happen.’
Nobody spoke until Mazz said, ‘We’ve been robbed.’
‘Robbed?’
When he didn’t get an answer Dane asked, ‘Is that why you were asking about the USed account?’
Friday 05th July 1974
Johnny wondered whether Tooly would show up at school the next day. But before registration Tooly stood less bold than brass with his black eye.
When their teacher let the class in he hung back and offered Johnny his hand.
Johnny took it and said, ‘I’m sorry – about everything.’
‘Nah, I’m sorry I dropped your guitar. It was stupid of me to take it.’
As no school kids saw Johnny give him the black eye Tooly could have made up any story about how he got it. But at the start of break Johnny wandered out the classroom and felt a hand on his shoulder.
‘Max,’ he said turning round.
‘Johnny, Tooly told me what happened.’
‘Did he now?’
‘Yeah, and Marbles isn’t off with tonsillitis. His tongue’s the size of a corky. Look, I need to know who’s hardest in our class.’
‘D’you actually want a fight or is this just something you feel you have to do?’
Max thought a moment. ‘I just have to know.’
‘Forget it; I ain’t into playground brawls.’
Max didn’t move.
Johnny said, ‘But if you really can’t let it go …’ He went into his bag and tore a page from an exercise book and wrote the cover’s address, ‘… don’t bring a crowd.’
* * *
That evening Johnny sat in the cover’s dining room amongst housemates.
Before he’d managed two forkfuls of potato Mike appeared at his side. ‘There’s a couple of lads waiting in the common room for you.’
‘I’ll deal with it now. It’ll only take a sec,’ he said putting his cutlery down.
In the common room he found Max with Tooly.
&nb
sp; ‘I tried talking him out of it,’ Tooly said.
Johnny turned to Max. ‘Get your fists up then. Tap out when you’re ready.’
‘Shouldn’t we take this outside?’
‘Nah, let’s just get on with it.’ He read Max’s determined but defeated expression.
Johnny matched his opponent’s boxing stance correctly predicting Max’s left jab which he parried and retaliated with a cutting round kick to his left thigh.
Predictably Max’s guard vanished from a face crumpled with pain. Not wishing to waste time or protect any parents’ feelings Johnny re-struck the same thigh which then struggled to support his weight.
‘Tap out,’ Johnny said.
Max’s fists reappeared but Johnny struck with the same kick to the same leg. Down came Max’s guard. This time Johnny’s right fist filled the hole in Max’s defence. The punch contained plenty of hook.
It slammed Max’s jaw and sent his eyes rolling out of sight. The tatty carpet caught him before Johnny or Tooly could reach him.
‘Mate?’ Tooly asked getting on his knees.
Groaning Max tapped the floor. ‘I’m out. You’re a great fighter …’
‘Let’s get him on the settee,’ Johnny said.
Together they heaved him into a lying position. Johnny fetched Helga.
After his tea he asked, ‘How you feeling?’
‘Like I’m not here,’ Max said sipping water.
‘Lightheaded, it’ll take a while to wear off.’
‘You ever been lightheaded?’
‘Me?’ he said, ‘many, many times.’
Max gave him a pitiful look.
‘You should spend tonight by the tele with your folks. You up to walking?’
‘I guess.’
With Tooly, Johnny helped Max hobble home.
‘You know I didn’t want this,’ Johnny said before reaching Max’s garden gate.
‘I know,’ Max said. ‘I guess I should thank you.’
‘How about keeping this a secret?’
With their agreement Johnny felt peculiarly at ease.
At his gatepost Max said, ‘We know we’ve been horrible to you Johnny.’
‘It’s okay, I know you all think I’m a weirdo.’
‘Only because you keep yourself to yourself.’
‘Nobody in the class’ll talk to me.’
‘So you think the whole class’s horrible?’
‘Maybe, I don’t know.’
Max put a hand on his shoulder. ‘It’s time things changed. Come in for a cuppa.’
Johnny laughed. ‘You know that’s nice of you. Maybe you’re not so bad after all.’
‘So, how about it?’
‘Cheers but, I’m off to Meuxng Ti.’ He patted his bag.
‘Meuxng, what?’ Tooly asked.
When Johnny explained the two lads laughed unable to believe how naive they’d been.
‘What?’ Johnny laughed with them. ‘Your acting like you were duped. I tried warning you.’
