Free Screen of Deceit by Nick Oldham

half-eaten chicken drumstick down and squinted thoughtfully at his brother. ‘Jack, you won’t be here to do anything. I mean, once you’ve gone, you’ve gone, if you know what I mean. I mean, thanks for leatherin’ them, but they’ll get me sometime. It’s just how they are. The way of the world. And you won’t be here, because your life’s not here.’ Mark interlocked his fingers on the table in front of him.
    â€˜No!’ It was barked harshly, making Mark jump a little. Jack placed a big hand over Mark’s hands and squeezed reassuringly. He leaned forward, looking closely into Mark’s eyes. A strange, hard, determined expression came over Jack’s face, a bit scary, even. Mark’s eyes narrowed. Jack said, ‘I mean it – they won’t bother you again.’
    â€˜You can say that, Jack, but—’
    â€˜Yeah, I can.’ Jack sat back, pulling away from Mark. There was another look on his face now which made Mark feel slightly edgy.
    â€˜How?’
    â€˜Trust me … I might not be here in person, but I’ll be here in spirit.’
    â€˜Mm, OK, then,’ Mark said, not wanting to fall out with him, but knowing that as soon as Jack hopped into his fancy motor, he, Mark, would be alone again and would have to rely on his own wits and cunning to avoid Jonny Sparks and the Hyenas.
    â€˜Don’t believe me, do you?’ Jack said.
    â€˜Jack …’ Mark shrugged, opening his arms, wiggling his fingers as he tried to put his doubt into words that wouldn’t offend Jack.
    â€˜You’ll be all right, mate. I’ll be watching over you.’
    â€˜If you say so,’ Mark conceded, not wanting to fall out.
    Jack’s mobile phone rang. It was on the table between them. He picked it up and inspected the caller display. ‘Need to get this – sorry.’ He pushed himself to his feet, putting the phone to his ear and walking out of the restaurant in to the car park out front.
    Mark watched him leave as he folded more chips into his mouth and washed them down with Fanta Orange.
    God, he thought, it was fantastic to see Jack. He always did this: didn’t see him for weeks on end and then, when you least expected it – bam! – turned up out of the blue. Mark loved it when he came, even if it was only for a fleeting visit. And he hated it when he left, drove off into the sunset, back to his business, his girlfriend and his own life. Mark really looked up to Jack, seeing what his elder brother had achieved, having dragged himself up and away from a shitty council estate and made something of his life. Good job, great car, some fantastic women, too. What Mark wanted was just to be happy and have a family of his own some day – a steady, dull family. Even at the tender age of fourteen he knew that was what he ultimately wanted and that’s what he was working towards. Get the education, get the degree, get the job, have a ball, see the world and leave this sink-hole and people like Jonny Sparks behind.
    Mark’s thoughts skittered to Bethany and his face darkened.
    Mark needed to speak to Jack about her. Maybe he could do something. But he knew that Jack didn’t hold much sway over Beth. No one did. She was hot-headed and independent, didn’t listen, knew best, didn’t like being told. Mark just hoped she wasn’t a lost cause.
    He would speak to Jack.
    Jack was in deep, animated conversation on the phone, gesticulating, emphasizing points with his hands, stomping around in circles, looking at the ground. Probably pulling off some business deal or other, Mark thought. Jack seemed pretty annoyed at something, but Mark could not hear any words, nor even guess at what was being said.
    Mark’s eyes roved round at the other customers. There were only a few people in the place. A young couple, all gooey-eyed, lovey-dovey, feeding chips to each other making Mark want to retch; one bloke