Free Wee Danny by Gerard Brennan Page A

Yes."
    " Because he was really small, right?"
    Miss sighs. "What's your point, Adrian?"
    " Nothing, I just wanted to make sure I had the midget pinned down."
    I know this is a swipe at me and the fact that I'm about six inches shorter than Adrian – maybe more – but I'm not taking the bait. For one, I don't want to fight in Religious Studies. That might get Miss in trouble. And then there's the fact that I've still got a hard-on. I won't forget his wee dig in a hurry, though.
    Miss doesn't let him suck her in either. She looks down at a piece of paper on her desk; gets back to her lesson plan.
    "What about you, Conan?"
    I look to my right. Conan 'The Barbarian' Quinlan is in his usual seat. Front row, like me, opposite corner of the room. His back is straight and his long legs are bent awkwardly, size twelve feet crossed under his chair. There are two empty desks between us. I haven't figured this guy out yet. He's new. All I know is he looks every bit the savage that his name suggests. I'd heard he got built by dragging a plough along his da's field in Crossmaglen. Probably bullshit, but it's what I've heard.
    Conan blinks at Miss. "What?"
    "Do you mean to say pardon, Conan?"
    He scrunches up his face. "Okay?"
    An awkward silence swells. Not even Adrian snickers.
    Miss tugs at one of her perfect earlobes. "Okay. Maybe you could hang back for a minute after the bell, Conan? I've a few thoughts about the rough draft you handed in."
    I want to grab the barbarian by the back of his neck and slam his face into the wall. In fact, I'll pick Adrian up and batter Conan around the head with him for good measure. The two of them get far too much attention from Miss.

Fight, Fight, Fight!
     

    Adrian shoulders into me on purpose on the way out of class. He was on his feet and across the room before the bell stopped ringing, but then he found something of interest on the wall by the door and studied it until I got close to him. I'm not bothered. The nervy bastard looked over his shoulder too many times and I saw it coming. Now Adrian is red-faced and wheezing because one of my elbows found his floating ribs. My older brother, Paul, taught me that trick. He's a GAA All Star who's dropped many a goon on the back line. Never underestimate a Gibson.
    I slip out onto the corridor before Adrian can make a fuss or try and get me into trouble with Miss. He needs to catch his wind before he can start yapping. When I'm far enough away to be caught up in Adrian's bullshit, I try to look over the prick's head to see what's happening with Conan. The barbarian stands slump-shouldered at Miss's desk. She's sitting down and pointing at some hand-written pages with her pen. Conan's face is scrunched up again, like he's trying to crack some sort of code.
    Adrian's brute-ugly head blocks my view. I can see finger smudges on the lenses of his goofy specs. There's dandruff in his number-two haircut. He's taken a ding to his pride and has an urge to retaliate. I was expecting that too, maybe not just as soon. Thought he'd be discouraged by that sweet elbow I landed. He shows his teeth and takes another step forward. I can see up his nose. If we were on the street it'd already be bust by now, but I've to think ahead these days. I'll not get back on the street if I don't.
    I take a couple of steps to the side. Adrian smiles because he thinks he's got me retreating. No chance, mate. I've obscured Miss's view by putting some wall between us. Adrian has slipped his glasses off and tucked them into the neck of his black T-shirt. He fancies himself as some sort of rock star, this one. Skulls and shit printed all over the cheap cotton. First thing I'll do is grab those glasses and chuck them down the hall. See how cool he acts then.
    "I'm sick to the back teeth with you, Wee Danny."
    "Is that why your breath stinks?"
    "No …" Adrian thumbs his nose. "Dickhead."
    This moron is way too easy. He could have said, "No, that's your ma's fanny you can smell." But he's