Divided City

by Theresa Breslin

  They walked on for a bit, then Joe said, ‘From where I live I can see the high flats where lots of the asylum seekers have been placed. They’ve had two suicides over there in the last year.’

  ‘I spoke to a refugee boy in our school this afternoon,’ said Graham. ‘We don’t have very many asylum seekers, but when they arrived, the teachers did projects with us so we’d share information and experiences. But I never listened properly to what they were saying. This boy told me why his family left his own country. His father worked in education and he spoke out for civil rights. One day men came to their house. They killed his father and his older brother while they were having dinner. Beat them and shot them. Right in front of him and his mother and his baby sister. An uncle paid smugglers to help them escape. They’d to leave everything behind. Everything. He and his mum and his wee sister walked every night for hours and hours, across half the world. During the day they were put in a hole in the ground to hide. His sister has asthma. One night the smugglers threatened to kill her because she couldn’t stop coughing. They’ve been waiting two years since they got here to see if they can stay. His mum never goes out. She hardly speaks to anyone.’ Graham spoke the next sentence fiercely. ‘That’s why I’m not doing it for the money.’

  Joe sighed. ‘I suppose you’ll be wanting me to go with you again?’

  ‘You look after the envelope with the information until Thursday,’ said Graham. ‘I don’t want my parents to find it. My mum can be a real nuisance sometimes. She comes in my room all the time to tidy up and collect my washing.’

  ‘Yeh, that must be a real nuisance,’ said Joe in an even voice.

  Graham glanced at him. ‘I need to get back.’ He checked his watch. ‘I want to get home before they do.’

  Chapter 34

  All through dinner that night Graham knew that his mum was studying him. But it wasn’t until the end of the meal that she began.

  ‘Your granda was trying to get in touch with you today. Did you know that?’

  ‘No,’ said Graham. He could imagine why though. It would be to see if he was going to come to the Walk on Saturday.

  ‘He called me at work to say that you weren’t answering your mobile.’

  Graham groaned silently. ‘The power’s low on my mobile,’ he said.

  ‘That’s not strictly true,’ his mum said in a patient tone. ‘I put it on the charge for you every night. Last night was no exception.’

  ‘I think I forgot to switch it on when I left school.’

  ‘Your granda says he called here too a few times and got no reply.’

  Graham said nothing.

  ‘Where were you after school today?’

  ‘With friends. Nobody you know,’ he added quickly to forestall the next question.

  ‘I know all your friends, Graham.’ His mum waited, but as Graham didn’t speak, she said, ‘I worry if I don’t know where you are. Your dad and I are concerned for you. I don’t mind if you go somewhere after school but we want you to stay away from trouble.’

  ‘Where did you go after school today, Graham?’ his dad asked him in a very firm voice.

  ‘Into the city centre,’ said Graham reluctantly.

  ‘With?’

  ‘I met Joe.’

  ‘Where did you go?’ asked his mum.

  ‘The music shops,’ Graham lied, thinking if he told the truth and said the Gallery of Modern Art they’d never believe him.

  His mum sighed. ‘Why didn’t you ask us first?’

  ‘’Cos you probably would’ve said no.’

  ‘Well, I can’t say as I like you going into the city on your own,’ said his mum.

  ‘I wasn’t on my own. I was with Joe.’

  ‘I haven’t met Joe.’

  ‘But Dad has.’

  ‘That’s not the main point,’ said Graham’s dad. ‘You went off somewhere and we didn’t know where you were. When you’re young it seems a bit neurotic to always let someone know where you’re going. But if something had happened to you – say a traffic accident – and you hadn’t turned up for dinner tonight, we wouldn’t have a clue as to your whereabouts. You’re old enough to read the newspapers and see the news on TV. You know things can happen to young people when they’re out on their own, just by being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I mean, there was a young man stabbed in the city centre only a few days ago.’

  Graham’s throat closed.

  ‘You see where we’re coming from?’ said his dad.

  Graham nodded. He didn’t trust his voice enough to speak.

  ‘We don’t mind if you go out with your friends, even new ones like Joe that we don’t know so well.’

  Graham’s mum frowned at this but she didn’t say anything.

  ‘We need to be told where you’re going in advance.’

  ‘And who you’re with,’ his mum added.

  ‘We’re not stopping you doing anything you want to do, are we?’ his dad asked.

  Graham didn’t reply.

  ‘Talk to me, son,’ said his dad. ‘We’re not spoiling anything for you, are we?’

  Graham shook his head.

  ‘What is it then?’

  He should tell them, Graham thought suddenly. It would be such a relief. Tears were collecting behind his eyelids. For an awful moment he thought he was going to cry. Then he remembered Leanne crying. He couldn’t tell his parents. He’d promised Leanne he wouldn’t.

  ‘I – I . . .’ Graham began. ‘I’d like to do more things on my own.’

  ‘Like what?’ asked his mum.

  ‘Don’t know.’ Graham shrugged. ‘Just things. Like buy my own clothes. Maybe go with my friends to get them. Go for a haircut myself. I mean it’s nice that Dad always comes with me, but . . .’

  ‘Fair enough,’ said his dad. ‘I don’t mind.’ He patted the top of his head where he was beginning to lose his hair. ‘It lets me off the hook. I don’t need to go as often as you do anyway.’

  ‘And go out with my friends a bit more.’

  ‘Only if you make sure you keep up with your school work,’ said his mum.

  ‘Into the city centre?’ Graham knew he was pushing his luck.

  ‘As long as it’s not too late at night,’ said his mum.

  ‘I suppose we have to recognize that you’re becoming an adult,’ said his dad.

  ‘Yes,’ said Graham.

  His mum smiled at him. ‘You can plug in your own mobile phone tonight,’ she said.

  Graham got up from the table to leave the room.

  ‘And with all this new-found freedom, don’t be doing anything too daft,’ his dad called after him.

  Chapter 35

  But he had done something daft.

  Well, not daft exactly, more stupid. Exactly the kind of thing that his parents had warned him against. Put himself in the wrong place at the wrong time. Maybe he wasn’t old enough to act like an adult. As Graham got ready for bed the thought was bringing him down and he tried to shake it off. Joe Flaherty was taking care of himself and his dad. He had to. If his own parents would only let the lead off then he, Graham, could be equally responsible. Part of the reason he took the dodgy short cut every Friday was to get some free time, to have some extra cash to spend, and be on his own for a little while. The way his mum flapped about doing every little thing for him annoyed him. He didn’t find it helpful. It was irritating when she did things like coming into his room every night to plug in his mobile phone.

  Graham sat up in bed. He’d forgotten to put his phone on the charger. He got up and rooted around in his school bag until he found it. He took it to his desk at the window and plugged it in. Looking at it made him think of Leanne. She’d have got rid of her phone by now so she didn’t have to worry that it might be traced. No one knew of her connection to Kyoul. Whereas he, Graham, was probably on a CCTV camera somewhere, and despite Joe’s reassurances he was uneasy. Perhaps he should tell his parents the whole thing and get it over with.

  What would they say
? What would they do? They’d call the police. Then what? He’d be grounded. For sure. Or they’d think of a suitable punishment. When he was younger they’d confiscated his computer games for a day or two; when he was older his TV or his personal stereo. Once he’d had to go straight to his room after school for a whole week. He couldn’t even remember what that was for. Whatever it had been, it was nothing on this scale. For this they’d have to come up with something that really hurt. Take away something that mattered to him. The only thing that he cared about at the moment was the football.

  Graham leaned forward and put his head in his hands.

  They’d stop him going to the training. Even if he was picked for the team he’d be banned from playing in the tournament.

  He’d just won some personal space. Won it and lost it in the same breath. He desperately wanted to play. He wanted to be chosen for the team that would represent his city. What Joe said was true. They had something. They’d won their first competitive game and beaten a team they’d expected to maul them. And it was due to him and Joe. The coach Jack Burns had noticed that they played well together. Both of them had a chance of being picked for the team. More than a slim chance. When he’d seen them playing on Sunday Joe’s Uncle Desmond had pointed out that together they were strong. They might be able to do it. Represent Glasgow. Play for the city at the finals. The same turf the greats had played on – Souness, Dalglish; Pele had chosen Dalglish as one of the top one hundred football players of all time. Graham could be there, like them.

  And then . . . there was Leanne and Kyoul. Graham couldn’t betray them. He’d told Leanne that he’d let her know first if he decided to tell anyone, like his parents, about the situation. Giving your word was an adult responsibility. Life was full of trouble – that was what his dad had told him. It was how you handled the trouble that tested whether you were mature. He’d made the mistake of taking the short cut. Now he would have to deal with the consequences of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

  But . . . Graham raised his head and stared out of the window. The lights of the city reflected back into his room. He hadn’t been in the wrong place for Kyoul.

  If he hadn’t been in that street, at that time, Kyoul would be dead.

  In a different part of the city Joe too was being questioned.

  ‘It’s not drugs, is it?’

  ‘Da—aad!’

  Joe’s dad heaved a huge sigh. ‘I suppose that’s a stupid thing to ask. If you were into blowing your mind there’s plenty of stuff lying about this house for you to choose from without you having to buy it outside.’

  ‘Aye,’ said Joe. ‘Though the street value of your sleeping tablets has fallen away, Dad. I’d get more for the anti-depressants. Nowadays folk are into uppers more than downers.’

  Joe’s dad put his head on one side but didn’t take his eyes from his son’s face.

  ‘Mind you,’ Joe went on, ‘since you’ve been getting better and the doctor’s cut your prescription, I’d not make so much. It’s good that you’re getting better though, Dad, isn’t it?’

  Joe’s dad was not to be deflected. He pointed to a new CD lying on Joe’s desk. ‘You do seem to have more money lately.’

  ‘I earned it, honestly.’ Joe grinned at his dad. ‘I earned it honestly.’

  Joe’s dad smiled. ‘You’ve got the gift of the gab, I’ll say that. But I’m being serious here.’

  ‘I know fine,’ said Joe. ‘There’s nothing to worry about.’

  ‘My sister Kathleen and you were making with the heavy discussions on Sunday. She phoned me today and said you’ll have a talk with me soon.’

  Joe groaned. You couldn’t trust adults, could you? ‘I told her that I’d speak to you this weekend coming. I’ll tell you all of it then.’

  ‘Why not until next weekend?’

  ‘It’s when they’ll pick the team and hopefully I’ll be playing in the tournament. The first games are being held next Sunday. Glasgow’s playing Liverpool here in Glasgow. I need to get that over before I deal with anything else.’

  ‘Are you being bullied?’

  ‘I’m not. Really,’ Joe insisted. ‘I mean, c’mon. Who would bully anybody in this family with Jammy riding shotgun?’

  ‘Aye, right enough.’ His dad continued to look at him intently. ‘There’s nothing I can help you with?’

  Joe shook his head.

  ‘Talk about?’

  ‘Naw.’

  ‘We did all thon facts of life stuff a while ago, didn’t we?’

  Joe nodded. ‘Yeh, I think I told you everything you needed to know.’

  ‘Ha ha.’ Joe’s dad leaned over and ruffled his hair. ‘Too old for a hug?’

  ‘Just a bit.’

  ‘Well I’m not.’ Joe’s dad grabbed him and pulled him against his chest.

  Chapter 36

  For the next two days every time the classroom door opened or the phone rang at home, Graham half expected it to be the police.

  He spent most of his free time in his room, using schoolwork to keep him from fretting over his planned visit to Kyoul in hospital on Thursday afternoon. His parents obviously thought he’d taken seriously their advice about adult behaviour. At one point he overheard his dad saying this to his mum, commenting on the fact that giving Graham more freedom had resulted in a more mature response to his studies.

  On Tuesday night his Granda Reid came over for a visit. He had his own key for the house and was already there when Graham got in from school.

  ‘You’re later home from school tonight,’ he said as Graham came into the house.

  ‘I do supported study on a Tuesday,’ Graham explained.

  ‘Not skiving off into the town like last night?’ The old man laughed. ‘I’m really sorry if I got you into trouble with your mum and dad.’

  ‘It’s OK, Granda.’ Graham went to the fridge to get himself a drink.

  His granda’s eyes followed him. ‘You look a bit out of sorts,’ he said. ‘Are you working too hard at school?’

  Graham shook his head. Here was the one person he should be able to share his worries with but he couldn’t.

  ‘I didn’t come to nag you about Saturday, if that’s what’s bothering you.’ He grinned at Graham, then added, ‘Or maybe just a wee bit.’

  ‘Oh no, Granda!’ Graham exclaimed. ‘It’s not that.’

  ‘So there is something?’ his granda observed shrewdly.

  ‘No, no,’ said Graham. He searched for something to satisfy his granda’s concern. ‘The football training,’ he said. ‘We’ve got another session tomorrow. It’ll be practically the last time for me to show some skills before the final selection is made.’

  ‘Och! Is that all? Your coach would be mad not to choose you.’ His granda clapped Graham on the shoulder. ‘Look at you. A fine upstanding young man. When I look at you sometimes, I see myself sixty-odd year ago. You’re from the best stock, Graham. Good breeding shows. And you’re a thoroughbred.’

  It was a speech his granda often made to Graham. The old man had been saying this to him from when he could first stand up, and in the past it’d always given Graham a warm glow to be the object of the old man’s pride. But now, as he listened to his granda’s familiar words, a thin thread of uncertainty entered his mind.

  The next evening, Wednesday, when Graham met Joe at football training he told him of an idea he’d been turning over in his head of maybe telling his parents part of the story about Kyoul and Leanne.

  ‘I’ve been thinking,’ he said to Joe. ‘My mum works for a firm of lawyers. Sometimes they deal with asylum cases. If I told my parents that we’d met Leanne by chance and she’d talked about Kyoul maybe they would agree to help him.’

  ‘It’s not likely though, is it?’ said Joe. ‘They’d want to know more.’

  ‘I’d tell them most of it,’ said Graham. ‘But leave out the bit where I was in Reglan Street and went with Kyoul in the ambulance to the hospital.’

  ‘But they’d ask where and
when we met Leanne and why she spoke to us. You know what it’s like when they start on at you.’

  ‘You’re right,’ Graham admitted. ‘And I don’t think I’m very good at telling lies. My parents would see through me.’

  ‘Me too,’ said Joe. ‘In fact my da had a go at me the other night. My Auntie Kathleen let him know I’d something to tell him.’

  ‘You didn’t say anything, did you?’ said Graham in alarm.

  ‘As if !’

  ‘Please don’t,’ said Graham anxiously. ‘If it’s all going to come out I want to be the one to break the news to my parents.’

  ‘If that happens we’ll do it together, if you like.’

  ‘Would you?’ said Graham.

  ‘Well, you got yourself into the situation. But I guess I persuaded you to go and see Kyoul in the hospital. And we’re both kind of stuck with it because we gave Leanne our word that we wouldn’t tell.’

  ‘You make it seem reasonable.’

  ‘You saved someone’s life,’ said Joe. ‘Don’t forget that. It would’ve been simpler to leave him.’

  ‘I think they’ll track us eventually. They’ll go round the schools with the grey uniforms again.’

  ‘I’m not so sure,’ said Joe. ‘Half the schools in the city have got grey uniforms. And if they had anything solid on the CCTV they would have got to you by now. Tomorrow’s Thursday. We’ll meet up after school and go to the hospital and give Kyoul the envelope. Then we’ll see Leanne like we said, on Friday, to tell her that he got the package safely. And that’ll be us definitely finished with the whole thing. Now’ – Joe punched Graham on the arm – ‘we’ve training to do with a game at the end of it, and a coach to impress so that we get chosen to play for Glasgow.’

  Jack Burns was waiting for them.

  ‘What gives with you two?’ he said.

  ‘Nothing,’ said Graham and Joe together.

  ‘Why does that worry me?’ said Jack Burns. ‘When boys of your age answer “nothing” to a question about what they’re doing I have this deep feeling of foreboding.’ He watched Joe and Graham as they ran out to warm up, glad that they seemed to be forming a friendship away from the football field. He was aware of how difficult it might be for them, given their differences in background and culture, but this vibrant mixture was the essence of Glasgow.