Ugly Beautiful

by Sean-Paul Thomas

  'We usually head down for around four, just as the weather cools.'

  'And how do I get there?'

  'Head for the Cesac beach at the bottom of the barracks road. Head towards the shop and we play on the beach park, just a bit up from the shop.'

  'All right. Cheers Steve.'

  Steve patted me on the back and started jogging towards the classrooms.

  'See you in class.'

  I made my way over towards the edge of the playing fields to collect my things.

  Chapter 3

  I walked home after school taking a shortcut dirt path which lead towards the back of my house. I was kind of minding my own business and looking forward to sitting outside in the sunshine in our back garden for the next few hours. I was actually thinking about working on my new model tank Mum had purchased for me yesterday. I'd already built up an old spitfire World War Two aircraft on my first day here and was really looking forward to adding to the collection. When to my distant right, I spotted Michael standing beside an old and abandoned army storage building. He was smoking and larking around with some older boys. I tried not to make it too obvious I'd seen him and continued walking, looking straight ahead. Of course he noticed me right away and quickly left the older boys to jog after me, throwing his cigarette to the ground as he came over.

  'Oih! Chunk. Wait up mate, wait up.'

  There was little else I could do but slow down and reluctantly wait.

  'You're an all right player chunk. You surprised me today.'

  'It's Liam.' I said determined. I rolled my eyes, trying to show my annoyance at this new nickname.

  'Okay! Liam then. Gees! So who's your favourite football team Liam?'

  I let out a strange stare. It wasn't a bizarre question by any means, just a little sporadic. I kept thinking it was some kind of trick question and if I gave the wrong answer then it would cost me a dead arm.

  'Cat got your tongue chunk.'

  'My Dad's from Glasgow in Scotland. So I follow his team, Celtic.'

  'Celtic!' Bellowed Michael a little bit too theatrical and looking completely disgusted. 'They're crap mate! You want to support a decent team like Man United.'

  'They're the crap team.' I retaliated. I'd taken his bate and lost my cool, swooping myself down to his level. 'Celtic would easily beat them.'

  'Maybe! It'd be a good game. But Man U would still come out on top put it that way.'

  I let out a deep and frustrated sigh. I glanced over towards my back garden fence which was only fifty yards away. I started walking.

  'I need to get home Michael. My Mum's expecting me.'

  'That's cool'

  He then unexpectedly started walking along beside me.

  'I live next door to you anyway. So I'll walk with you.'

  My heart nearly froze when he said this. Of all the rotten luck! There's no way he could be living next door to me. It just couldn't be true. Maybe it was another one of his teasing wind ups.

  'What do you actually want anyway?' I said upping my pace.

  'What makes you think I want anything! I'm just going home. I live next door to you like I said.'

  'Why did you push me over at school today after I scored?'

  'I was just messing about mate. I get fired up playing footy. It was only a joke. I didn't mean anything by it. I just lost my head buddy.'

  'Well it was sore.'

  I rubbed my arm where no-doubt there would be a bruise showing by tomorrow morning.

  'Well next time I'll pre warn you before I do it then, you big wuss.'

  I reached my garden and put my hands on top of the wire mesh fencing, ready to hoist myself over. I noticed Michael putting his hands upon next doors fence, ready to jump too. Damn, it must be true.

  'Hey! Do you fancy coming down the Bondoo later on for a muck about.'

  'What the hell's the Bondoo?' I said, not really interested at all. I just wanted to get Michael as far away from my sight as possible.

  'You'll see.' He winked.

  'Well I can't today. We've still got a lot of unpacking to do in the house.'

  'Well tomorrow then, after school. I'll come round for you.'

  He jumped over his garden fence using only one hand to support himself.

  'I'll see if I'm allowed' I replied uncaring. I tried to match Michael for athleticism and used one hand to support myself while jumping. I wasn't strong enough or tall enough though and nearly fell hard on my backside. I ended up using both hands and feet to climb over the fence instead. By the time I clambered over to the other side Michael was already entering through the back door to his own house.