Run Johnboy Run: The Glasgow Chronicles 2

by Todd, Ian

  “It disnae seem so, sir.”

  “Mr Wilson?”

  “Oh, Ah think it’s working fine, heidmaster. The problem seems tae stem fae when they’re no oan permanent lock-doon o’er in the education block. Ye’ll notice that the fights ur always either in the yard at break times or during evening recreation.”

  “Ye’ll also find that it isnae always the whole lot ae them that’s involved in the fighting either. It’s only some ae them that ur getting tore in when it comes tae it,” The Deputy interjected, backing up Mr Wilson’s logic.

  “Why do you think that is, Miss Flaw? You’ve been studying the situation for a while now. What’s the social work angle here?” The Heidmaster asked Fanny Flaw, who wis sitting, nervously chewing oan her pencil at the far end ae the table, wae her glasses hinging aff the end ae her nose, looking forty plus insteid ae her actual twenty two years.

  Guaranteed church spinster material, The Heidmaster thought tae himsel.

  “Well, only yesterday, I spoke to Mr Duponcie, the psychologist, about our meeting today and we went over the action plan again, making a few small adjustments. Overall, we think it could succeed,” she replied, looking fur and failing tae get positive nods fae aroond the table.

  “And?”

  “Oh, yes, sorry. He agrees with me that there appears to be a classic gang culture mind-set that is influencing the actions of these particular delinquents.”

  “Christ, Ah could’ve telt ye that, Fanny. Oot ae the hunner and eighty neds in here, at least a hunner and seventy ae them ur aw signed up members ae gangs fae Glesga,” chipped in Brian Burns, senior hoosemaster, sometimes referred tae as Rolled Back Neck by the boys oan a day they wur being polite aboot him.

  “So, what’s the significance of what you are saying, Miss Flaw?” asked The Heidmaster, ignoring Rolled Back Neck.

  “We need to try and split them up…break them apart and try to communicate with them individually. We need to instigate individual rehabilitation programmes for each of them, whilst at the same time, take cognisance of the fact that they operate as a collective. ‘Split and divide’ was the term that Mr Duponcie used.”

  “Ah think we need tae ship them oot and up tae they cosy cells in Rossie Farm and no fanny aboot wae them,” Rolled Back Neck declared, looking aboot fur confirmation that he wisnae the only wan in the room that hid the solution.

  “Well, Ah’m afraid that isnae gonnae happen anytime soon. We’ve tried, bit nowan will take them. The cells up in Rossie are full tae the gunnels. Aw the other schools across the country hiv pointed oot that the reason they’re here in the first place is that we hiv the facilities tae stamp doon oan them…that and the fact they’ve goat enough bother wae the wans they’ve awready goat, withoot us gieing them mair,” Harry Bick pointed oot.

  “Whit? St Ninian’s and St Joseph’s don’t want them? Dae they no know they’re aw left footers? Ah think they’ve goat a bloody cheek. Why should we hiv tae put up wae them if they won’t,” Billy Campbell, Barrheid Loyal Orange Order member, Grand Master and senior-hoosemaster huffed and puffed indignantly oan his wobbly chair beside the windae.

  Ah’ll need tae get that chair fixed, The Heidmaster thought tae himsel.

  “We also hiv the problem ae cost. We cannae continue tae hiv staff stuck tae them every day, aw day long. We jist don’t hiv the manpower or resources,” Alvin Jack, president ae the local Wild West Re-enactment Club and the school administrator declared, looking aroond the table.

  “Ah don’t think they’re any better or worse than any ae the rest ae the sleekit wee gits running aboot in here, apart fae that sleekit Tally wan and that sidekick ae his, McManus. Take them oot ae the picture and ye’ve solved the problem,” Beanpole Wilson chipped in wae nods ae approval fae roond the table.

  “I think we need to run with Miss Flaw’s carefully constructed plan, which we have discussed at our previous two meetings, whilst at the same time, continue to keep them on a short lease. The suggestion to put the four worst ones to work inside the main building, on assembling the stage for the Christmas concert, whilst dispersing the rest around the place sounds promising. That way, they’ll always be under supervision and it’ll free up the staff over in the education block,” The Heidmaster said, looking roond the table.

  “That won’t go doon well wae Sandy Button. He’s awready goat his wee squad picked fur the stage. It’s the same wans he hid last year who done a really good job,” The Grand Master said. “Let them oot ae that hut and it’ll be like trying tae herd a bunch ae cats, so it will.”

  “Ah don’t know why we’re gieing them special treatment. Everywan in here will be wrecking the place noo tae get rewarded wae the cream ae the jobs,” Rolled Back Neck declared, realising that his cushy wee number ae sitting back oan that fat arse ae his, across in the education block, wis aboot tae disappear if he didnae dae something aboot it.

  “They are already getting special treatment, Mr Burns,” The Heidmaster reminded him.

  “Right, so whit jobs ur available and who’s gaun where then?” Alvin Jack, the administrator asked, getting in there quick before the heidmaster wis persuaded tae change his mind. “Mr Wilson?”

  “Well, if we wur tae put four ae them wae Sandy, we could put wan in the kitchen, wan in the boiler hoose and two intae the gardens and look aboot fur a fifth place fur McSwiggan, which Ah cannae think ae at this particular moment in time.”

  “So, so far, that’s wan in amongst the knives, wan tae blow us and the school up, two tae be let loose in amongst lethal farm machinery, including scythes, and four tae get access tae hammers and chisels tae take wee Sandy Button and anywan else that happens tae be hinging aboot within the vicinity, hostage. Dae ye think this will work?” asked Rolled Back Neck sarcastically.

  “Oh, I’m sure we’ll be able to match the most appropriate job to everyone, Mr Burns. Over to you, Miss Flaw.”

  “Thank you, Headmaster. As you have just highlighted, headmaster, Mr Duponcie and I have matched the profile of each boy to the job we think will work best. Obviously, this is not an exact science, but I think it’s the best we can come up with, under the circumstances. After speaking with Mr Duponcie at length, we’ve taken various factors into consideration, such as separating the violent ones from the less violent. Whilst most boys in the school are not shy in using aggressive behaviour as a means of, er, persuasion or resolving conflict, these particular boys tend to strike out without any semblance of justification and actually seem to relish fighting. Compared to the majority of the boys in the school, our analysis highlights these ones as having excessively violent tendencies. Another point we picked up was that, although they’re all identified as coming from the Townhead area of Glasgow, deeper research shows that half of them actually come from the Garngad, a Catholic enclave neighbouring Townhead proper. The ones from the Garngad are all well-known members of The Shamrock, one of the biggest street gangs in Glasgow. The other four, Gucci, McManus, Smith and Taylor are commonly referred to as The Mankys by the other boys in the school. There are references to that nametag in all of their background reports from Larchgrove. I’ve looked up the City of Glasgow Police gang reference book and whilst The Shamrock are well-documented, I couldn’t find any reference to a gang called The Mankys. Armed with that information, we’ve split them into their natural geographic split, which we’ve then further split up, as much as we can, so they don’t feed off of each other negatively. Interestingly enough, it’s the Garngad boys that are prone to inflicting unprovoked assaults on other boys in the school. We need to isolate the natural leaders from the followers and lastly, keep the habitual absconders, Smith and Taylor, inside and under strict supervision at all times,” she said proudly, haunin roond a sheet wae names and allocated jobs oan it.

  “It all sounds very technical, this plan of yours, Miss Flaw, but I think you could be on to something here. So, on that positive note, please state what job you think would suit each particular boy.”

  “Ah cannae
bloody-well believe this,” muttered Rolled Back Neck under his breath, looking doon at his list, as Fanny took a deep breath.

  “Thank you, headmaster,” Fanny said, clearing her throat before continuing. “Michael Flanagan, aged fourteen, known as Minky. In and out of remand homes since he wis old enough to be legally charged at eight years old. Denies everything and blames everyone other than himself. Excessively violent. Low level intelligence. Garden squad.

  Joseph O’Hara, aged fourteen, known as Baby Huey. Like Flanagan, he’s been in and out of remand homes since he wis eight years old. Loud and disruptive, typical bully, very immature, strikes out first and doesn’t bother to ask questions later. Out of the fifteen fights associated with this group over the last month, he’s been involved in six of them. Excessively violent. Low level intelligence. Boiler house.

  Thomas O’Malley, aged fourteen, known as Tottie…don’t ask me why,” she said smiling, looking roond the table. “In and out of remand homes, same traits as the rest, disrupts anything that resembles normality. Excessively violent. Low level intelligence. Garden.

  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 bei
ng 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.