Bagheads

by Woods, Karen

  “Right when we get into town we’ll get some Evo. We can sniff it when we get back to the home.” Shaky agreed and led him to the shops that sold the trainers he wanted. He looked apprehensive but didn’t let his mate know he was shitting himself inside.

  The town centre wasn’t that busy and they both walked around it as if they owned the place. As they walked towards the shops they barged past people without a care in the world. To look at them you would have thought they had stones in their shoes that made them walk with a limp.

  Entering the sports shop they headed straight for the footwear section. The music was pumping and Shaun nodded his head to the beat. Picking up nearly every pair of trainers Shaun examined them fully. Finally he got the assistant to get him the pair he wanted to try in a size seven. Once the assistant returned he left the trainers with Shaun and went to deal with another customer. The shop was mad busy.

  Shaun walked up and down the store in his new sneaks. He looked in the mirror turning his feet this way and that. Shaky gave a nod of approval and his choice was made. Bending down to take the shoes off Shaun froze. Looking round he saw everyone was busy. He stood straight away and nudged Shaky in the waist.

  “Come on let’s get off.” Shaky looked around the store and followed him pulling his hood up as they left the shop. They both set off running and never looked back. Shaun was in front and kept dodging people to get into the side streets. Once they were out of sight Shaky placed his hands on his knees and tried to regain his breath .Shaun was panting for breath too but the rush he was feeling inside made him feel strong.

  “Fucking hell, that was mad wasn’t it?” Shaky smiled and called him a dickhead, as he carried on blowing through his mouth. Shaun walked up to the end of the alley way and peeped out just to make sure they weren’t being followed. Once he knew they were safe he called Shaky to join him.

  “Come on let’s go and get high. Where’s the DIY shops around here?” Shaky sunk his hands into his coat pocket and led him.

  Shaun poured the glue into two bags as they got back into the care home. They headed into the gardens and found a quiet place where they wouldn’t be disturbed. Shaky was nervous and you could tell by his actions he was shitting himself. He watched the plastic bag inflate as Shaun placed his mouth around it. His eyes focused as Shaun took a deep breath from it. Shaky copied him as he passed the bag to him.

  Shaky loved the glue. His body fell back onto the grass as his head exploded with the buzz from it. Shaun smiled and felt like he’d introduced him to some great fun. The bags of glue were held in their hands like trophies and both of them were off their heads on it.

  Hours passed before they both headed back into the home. Bernard was looking at them with suspicion as they walked passed him. He was talking to another boy as they passed him and he got a whiff of something strong. He stopped them and asked them if they had magic markers on them. They both looked at him and shook their heads but Bernard was on to them and followed them as they walked into the kitchen. Shaun went straight to the fridge and grabbed a jar of pickles. He quickly drank the juice from it and passed it to Shaky. He sniggered as he spoke.

  “Hurry up and get a drink of that. It takes the smell of glue from your breath.” Grabbing it with both hands Shaky lifted it up to his mouth and took a gob full. As he turned his head he could see Bernard stood at the door. Bernard wasn’t happy as he raised his eyes at them.

  “I don’t know what you two are up to but believe me I’m watching you. Where have you been all day?” Shaky remained quiet as Shaun took over. He pulled the bottom of his pants up and revealed his new trainers.

  “We went into town for my trainers didn’t we? I told you where we were going before. Did you forget?” Bernard looked to the ceiling and he had a blank look on his face. He came to where they stood and looked down at the trainers more closely.

  “Smart them aren’t they?” He bragged. Bernard held his hand out to him. “Did you bring a receipt back for me?” Shaun dipped his hands into his pocket and pretended to search for a receipt that he knew wasn’t there. After a few minutes he came up with the answer.

  “It’s in the box that I threw away. I put my old trainers in it and launched it. Sorry did you need it?”

  Bernard studied Shaun’s face and could tell he was lying. He knew he was up to something and promised them both he would be on their case if he ever caught them trying to have him over. As he left he turned and watched them whispering to each other. He knew they were up to no good and set his mind to keep a close eye on them both in the future.

  “Fucking tosser isn’t he?” Shaun laughed. “Good job I’m a quick thinker otherwise he would have been onto us?” Shaky nudged him with his arm and nodded his head. He looked quite white in the face and looked like he was going to be sick. Shaun looked closer at him as he pulled him nearer.

  “You okay?” Shaun asked. He now watched as he Shaky ran to the kitchen sink. He was spewing his ring up. The noise of retching made Shaun screw his face screw up. He came to his side and patted his mate on the back.

  “It’s the glue that mate. First time I had it I was the same.” Shaky lifted his head and wiped his mouth on his sleeve. His eyes were glassy and his words hesitant.

  “Orr I feel ruff as a bear’s arse. I need to get into bed. Don’t think that glue agrees with me.” Shaun’s face dropped and he quickly assured him that it was normal to be sick after his first sniff. Panic took over Shaun now and he ran to get him a cold drink of water. Shaky was his new sniffing mate and he didn’t want to lose him.

  Once Shaky drank the cold water they both headed for the bedroom. Shaky fell onto his bed and pulled the covers over his head. Colby was in the room and saw something was wrong and went to Shaun’s bed to see what was going on. Shaun sprawled on his bed and kicked his shoes off. When he saw Colby at his side he nodded his head slowly. He could see he was after something and sat watching him like a hawk.

  “What’s up with him?” Colby whispered as his eyes shot over to Shaky’s bed. Shaun remained still and told him his new mate didn’t feel well. Colby smiled and you could see he was enjoying every minute of his pain. He sat on the empty bed next to him and laughed.

  “Hope he’s up all night shitting and spewing. It what he deserves the prick. It bugs me how he thinks he can speak to us all like pieces of shit.” Shaun giggled and turned to face him.

  “Nar he’s alright you know. Why don’t you like him?” Colby gritted his teeth as he looked at Shaky lay asleep on the nearby bed.

  “I have my reasons. He’s a turd. One of these days he’ll get my fist in his face the prick.”

  Shaun liked Colby, he made him laugh. He couldn’t understand the hate he showed in his eyes when he looked at Shaky. Colby turned his head back to him and kicked his feet on the floor. He seemed like he wanted to tell him something but he couldn’t get the words out. Shaun looked at him and waited. Colby fidgeted about with his clothing and you could see he was nervous. His words were angry as he whispered.

  “Don’t trust him Shaun. He’s a snidey twat.” Shaun sat up from his bed as Colby continued.

  “I’m not saying anymore, but watch ya arse. And I mean that in more ways than one,” he snarled. Colby’s eyes were wide open now and he watched as Shaun pulled his knees to his chest.

  “What do you mean? Watch my arse?” Colby tipped his head back and laughed. He quickly changed the subject and left Shaun with a puzzled look on his face. The conversation carried on but no more was mentioned about Shaky’s antics.

  Darkness fell and Shaun lay in his bed tossing and turning. He struggled to sleep as Colby’s words played on his mind. As he fidgeted in his bed he looked over to his new found friend’s bed and stared at the body in front of him. He decided that the following day he would find out more about his history. Closing his eyes he pulled the quilt tightly around his body. In his grip he held his pebble and twisted it in his fingertips until he drifted off to sleep.

  Morning came quickly a
nd the noise of two boys woke Shaun from his sleep. As he opened his eyes his vision was blurred. He twisted his knuckles in his eyes. Colby was pinned up against the wall and Shaky was in his face shouting insults at him calling him a “black fucker.” Shaun watched for a moment and could see it was getting out of hand. As he watched Colby’s face he knew he needed to help him. Kicking the sheets back from the bed he came to their side.

  “What’s going on?” Shaun growled. Shaky’s face was screwed up as he touched noses with Colby.

  “It’s this nobhead thinking he can chat shit to me.” Colby tried to free Shaky’s hands from his body but he was struggling. Clenching his fist he connected with Shaky’s chin. Shaky punched him back but a lot harder and was livid that the cheeky bastard had even thought he could take his title. Colby now screamed out and went for him with rage in his eyes. The other lads in the room all sat up from their bed and couldn’t believe someone was challenging Shaky. They huddled together and watched with amazement. Colby was now bouncing about with his hands up in the air shouting at the top of his voice.

  “Think you can chat shit to me do ya? Well come on then let’s have it.” His body jumped up into the air as he flung himself at Shaky with his arms spinning like a windmill. Shaun stood back and chewed on his bottom lip unsure of what to do. Colby was standing his ground and within minutes he was sat on top punching him from left, right and centre. Shaky’s head seemed lifeless as each punch sent his head to the other side. Shaun knew he had to stop the fight and pulled Colby up by his arms but he just stared him down with an evil look and shouted “Fuck off and don’t get involved.”

  He grabbed Shaky by the hair. The silence in the room was eerie and you could have heard a pin drop at that moment. Colby sprung up from the floor and gave him one last kick into his stomach. The others cringed as they felt the force of it. One lad bit into his pillow as he closed his eyes with all the trauma. Colby stood tall as he walked away. For months Shaky had made his life a misery and now he didn’t have to be scared anymore. He had defeated him. The boys nodded at Colby as he went to his bed. Flinging his body onto it he let out an enormous scream.

  “I knew he was a fucking shit-bag. He thought I was just another nobhead who he could terrorize. Well he knows different now, doesn’t he?” Shaun leant down to Shaky and pulled him up from the floor. His face was covered in blood and his eye was swollen. Shaun shook his head, but didn’t want to take sides. He liked both of the lads and found it hard not to get in the middle of it.

  Shaky was like a wounded animal. His pride was hurt and the image he’d set for himself in the home was shattered. He could hear the comments from the others in the room and knew his life was going to be a nightmare from this day forward. He struggled to get to his bed. Pulling the blankets over his head he hid his shame from the others. Shaun held his hands up in desperation waiting for one of the others to give him some support. One lad who wasn’t a fan of Shaky’s spoke out. His reign of terror was over now and he wasn’t afraid to voice his opinion anymore.

  “Leave him there the shit stabber.” He ranted as he looked at Shaky’s bed. Colby snarled. He was exploding with temper.

  “It’s about time he got a taste of his own medicine.” Shaun could see the anger in the lad’s faces and looked at Colby lying on his bed looking like he’d conquered the world. Watching him sit up he trudged over to him. Finally Shaun turned to Colby.

  “What was all that about then?”

  Colby threw his eyes to a smaller lad at the end of the bedroom and gritted his teeth. Looking over to the lad Shaun could see the young lad shaking in his bed. He looked like he’d cried a thousand tears. As he focused on his face closer he seemed to have black circles around his eyes. The youngster’s face looked gaunt and lifeless. Shaun could tell the youth was scared and looked away from him quickly. As he turned his head back Colby stood up from the bed and told him to follow him to the bathroom.

  The bathroom was cold as he walked inside it. Shaun rubbed his arms. You could see goose bumps starting to appear on his skin. Six sinks sat on the wall at the side of room. Colby walked to them and started throwing cold water all over his face. Jumping on the ledge at the end of the bathroom, Shaun kicked his legs as he watched him clean his face up. Colby dried his face with his t-shirt and stood looking in the mirror. He felt the cut on his face and growled. At first he just looked over at Shaun but remained silent. Walking to the bathroom door he closed it firmly and walked back. He looked distressed and you could see tears forming in the corner of his eye. Taking a deep breath he began.

  “Shaky’s a liberty taker. He’s been doing it for ages and everyone just lets him get away with it.”

  “Why what’s he done?”

  Colby’s face looked tormented. “I heard the pervert at it last night. I just couldn’t take it anymore.” Shaun jumped from the side and stood next to him. His face looked as if he didn’t understand what he was saying. He asked him again what he meant. Colby turned his face away from him and couldn’t stand the shame he was feeling inside. Tears trickled down his cheeks as his body fell to the floor.

  “He’s only done it to me once. But as soon as a new lad comes in the home he’s on them like a rash. The young lad in our room has been here for about two months and I know he’s been in his bed more than once. He’s a wrong ‘un ya know?” Shaun sat beside him. He knew what he was saying about Shaky now but just couldn’t get a grip of what it exactly meant. Feeling stupid he asked for more details.

  “What does he get in bed with em for? Is he scared at night or summit like that?”

  Colby raised his head from his knees and screwed up his face. “He gets a wank from ‘em ya nobhead.”

  Shaun’s face froze. His eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. He felt sick inside and blew his breath out through his mouth. Colby sat shaking his head.

  “It’s a wonder he wasn’t in your bed the first night you came. He must have thought he would befriend you first.”

  Shaun stood up and ran to the sink and vomited. The sound of his retching brought more shame onto Colby. He’d been a victim too. Shaun was the first person he’d ever told. As he stood up he made his way over to Shaun. Placing his hand on his back he rubbed it slowly.

  “I feel like shit ya know. I feel dirty inside. Every time I look at him I want to end my life. He’s fucked my head up big time.” Shaun turned to face him. His face looked white and he gritted his teeth as he shook his head.

  “He seemed an alright lad. Why didn’t you tell me he was a queer fucker? If I would have known what he was like, do you think for one minute I would have been chilling with him?”

  Colby was lost for words. His own secret was out now and he was waiting for Shaun to comment about what Shaky had done to him. Colby felt like a cloak of despair had been lifted from his shoulders as he walked to the door to leave. Shaun watched him like a hawk as he left.

  “Wait a minute. Where you going? I mean erm…” Shaun followed him to the door and ranted. “He needs to be fucked off now doesn’t he? Surely he can’t stay here with us lot. He’s a dirty scum-bag. I want fuck all to do with him. How can I look at him the same now I know what he’s been up to? Ewww he makes my skin crawl.”

  Colby agreed and they both left the bathroom. They were united now and a friendship was formed that no one would ever break. As they walked back into the room everyone stared at them. They were the new leaders and the lads sat like soldiers awaiting their instructions. Shaun looked over to Shaky’s bed and noticed he was missing. He quickly ran to his bed and pulled the covers from it throwing them onto the floor.

  “Where’s nobhead gone?” he shouted out at the top of his voice. One of the lads walked over to him and told him that as soon as they went into the bathroom Shaky got off. Shaun kicked at the bed-frame. Grabbing the bedding from the floor he wrapped the sheets up into a ball. His face looked angry and he wiped his hands on his clothes as if the sheets were carrying some kind of disease.

  Colby picke
d up the bundle of bedding and opened the bedroom window. At first he struggled to get it through but as Shaun helped him they launched the lot outside. Shaun wanted to smash Shaky’s bed up but Colby made him see sense, and calmed him down.

  The others lads were all gathered round his bed and Shaun needed to tell them just how much of a tosser Shaky really was. As he started to tell them what he’d been doing to some of the lads, a few of them sank their heads onto their chests. As he looked at them closer it was obvious Shaky had messed about with them too. Shaun continued speaking to the group.

  “Listen up yeah. We all know what the ginger faggot has been up to don’t we? Well it’s all over now. If any of you are thinking of doing the same, think again coz I’ll personally chop ya fucking dick off. We’re all in the same boat and need to stick together don’t we?” The lads agreed and one by one they left his bedside.

  Bernard’s voice could be heard in the hallway and everyone pretended to be busy. He stuck his head into the room.

  “Colby, Shaun, office now!” Shaun looked at Colby and had a worried look on his face. As they started walking from the bedroom Shaun was mumbling under his breath.

  “Bet he’s grassed you up hasn’t he? What ya gonna say?”

  Colby was quiet and remained silent. As they reached the office they entered it with worried looks on their faces. Bernard and Marion were sat at the table. Marion was tapping her pen on her teeth as she spoke.

  “Right you two get in here and take a seat.” Shaun shrugged his shoulders and shoved his hands down the front of his pants. He stood at the table and didn’t sit down until Colby was seated first. Marion looked at them both in disgust as Bernard began.