Free Wee Rockets by Gerard Brennan

slowly. Joe shuffled in, expecting trouble. His body language went from hangdog to guard dog as soon as he spotted Stephen sitting beside Louise and drinking a beer.
    "You came home, then," Louise said.
    "What's he doing here?" Joe barked his words, glaring at Stephen.
    "His name's Stephen."
    "I know who he is. What the fuck's he doing here?"
    "You watch your mouth, wee boy." Louise stood up and Joe back-stepped.
    Her own son, flinching away from her. How could things have gotten so out of hand?
    "Maybe I should go," Stephen said.
    "I don't want you to."
    "It's okay, Louise. I can understand why Joe's upset." He turned to Joe. "I'm a friend of you ma's, but I don't want to rock the boat. If you want me to, I'll leave. It's up to you."
    Joe looked at Stephen, then Louise. He pushed out his lower lip. A childish expression Louise hadn't seen on him in years. "Do what you want."
    Joe stomped up the stairs and slammed his bedroom door shut.
    "I'm sorry about that," she said.
    "It's okay."
    "You're so nice. Thank you."
    "Ach, wise up. I'll be okay here for a bit if you want to go talk to him. You probably should."
    Louise almost welled up. She nodded and followed her son up the stairs.
    She found Joe lying on his bed with his duvet pulled up over his head. His Nike Airs poked out at the end of his bed. The smell of dirty socks and cigarette smoke filled the room. Louise opened a window then knelt by the side of Joe's bed.
    "We have to talk, son."
    No response.
    "Come on, Joe. I don't want to fight. I want us to get on."
    "Humpf!"
    Louise gently pulled the duvet away from Joe's face. He looked at her with brown puppy-dog eyes.
    "I'm sorry for losing the bap with you yesterday, son. But you're not completely blameless yourself. What you said... it really hurt me."
    Joe nodded. "I know mum. It just slipped out. I don't really think you're a... you know... one of those."
    "I appreciate that, love. I'll work on my temper." She should have said she would never hit him again, but she didn't want to say it out loud. It still felt too raw.
    Joe sat up in the bed and Louise gave him an awkward hug. He squeezed back for a second then patted her back to let her know he'd finished. She kissed his cheek and stood up.
    "So why is McVeigh here, then?"
    "I met him last night. He seems nice, so we're watching a DVD and having a wee drink. You can join us if you like."
    Joe shook his head.
    "You sure? We were about to get a takeaway. You're probably starving."
    He shook his head again.
    There was no point pushing the topic. Judging by his glazed eyes and silence, he was off somewhere in his head. He'd left the conversation to have a think.
    "Okay, son. But if you get bored later, come on down."
    He nodded.
    The doorbell ding-donged.
    Joe snapped out of his daze and looked at Louise.
    "Are you expecting someone?" Louise asked.
    "No."
    "Could be Karen, I suppose. Better go see."
    As she stepped out onto the landing she heard Stephen answer the door. What sounded like a pleasant greeting got a sharp return. Stephen raised his voice.
    "Why? Who the fuck are you ?"
    Louise stalled at the top of the stairs, afraid of what she might walk into. Joe stood on the landing with his head cocked, concentrating on the rising voices below.
    "No, you tell me yours." Stephen said.
    The mystery caller mumbled something.
    "Like fuck you will. You may dander on now while your legs still work."
    The anger in Stephen's voice broke her paralysis. She bolted down the stairs. Joe called her back, but she couldn't stand by.
    She found Stephen blocking the door. The back of his neck burned bright red. "Stephen. What's going on?"
    Stephen didn't turn around. "There's a wanker at the door saying he lives here. Won't believe me that he's got the wrong house and he's getting close to an awful hiding."
    Louise couldn't see past Stephen's wide shoulders. But she heard the mystery man's voice. She took a dizzy spell at the sound of it.
    "Louise, tell this ginger cunt to get out of my