the coursework going? Those educators squaring you away?’
‘Yep. They’ve told me they’re going to sort it. I’ve got loads of homework. Toki’s still giving me a hand.’
‘Good news. Listen, if you need any more help, give us a shout. Whatever you need.’ Flash licked the mash off his fingers and was now moving on to the green stuff. Weird how he ate everything in separate portions, never mixing the different foods together.
‘Thanks, but I’m doing all right. Know what? Joining up was the best thing I’ve ever done. Getting educated, being out here, doing the business.’
Someone scored a goal and the TV crowds roared. Si turned his attention back to the screen. He slapped his palm across his forehead, feeling the pain of the goal all over again, then he switched his focus back to us, his mates.
‘If I hadn’t joined up, I reckon I’d be in prison by now. That’s where most of my old mates are. We were always getting into trouble. Just for stupid stuff, shoplifting, nicking cars, nothing serious. But then I started, like, getting pissed off with lads who had new cars, motorbikes, stuff like that. So I started to kick ‘em in instead of nicking ‘em. Smashed people’s shops up just because they had stuff and I didn’t. So I ended up in a detention centre down near Portsmouth when I was sixteen. Soft in the head, or what? Joining up was a good move, know what I mean?’
I nodded as Si started sipping his brew loudly. That was about the longest speech I’d ever heard Si make.
Flash nodded too. ‘You know, the papers really get me ticking, the way they go on about hoodies and how all you kids are the scum of the earth. But you know what? They never write about teenagers like you two, or me boys. You lot have all bothered to get your finger out your arse and make a go of life.’
Si burst out laughing so much his brew came out of his nose. ‘Briggsy’s got two fingers out of his!’
Even I had to laugh at that one. We carried on eating in silence for a bit, and then Si started up again. ‘You were lucky last night, Briggsy. Just think, what if that bullet had gone just a bit the other way? That would’ve been the end of your wedding tackle. Mate, what if it had gone any higher, it would have zapped your spine and you could be in a wheelchair for life. What if …’
I didn’t really want to think about it, so I cut him off quick. ‘Haven’t really thought about it, mate.’
Flash pushed aside his empty plate and immediately reached for his bowl of spotted dick.
‘Well, we’re all pleased you’re not dead, or being tortured by some drugged-up Tali right now.’
Si nodded and pointed his fork in my direction. ‘Mate, you were lucky.’
I probably was, but it didn’t mean I wanted to keep on going over and over it. ‘Yeah, anyway.’ I changed the subject. ‘Anyone know why Toki joined up? If it really was to make his fortune, I reckon he messed up big time.’
Flash was now having trouble with the custard. It had missed his mouth by miles and was beginning to trickle down his chin in big yellow gobs. A little pool of it had even dripped down onto the table. ‘Nah, probably just wants to fight, like all the Fijians. For him, it’s recreation. He’ll be in the army for the full whack. All the Fijians say they’re staying in for life.’
Fortunately, someone shouted out that the welfare phones were back on, which meant I could get away from Flash and the yellow stuff. He’d somehow got it up his nose, so it looked like he had a big yellow bogey hanging out of one nostril.
‘Got to go.’ I scraped back my chair and stood up to leave.
‘Going to phone that bird of yours again?’ Si grinned and cupped his hands in front of his chest as if weighing two melons.
‘Yeah, good one, Si. See ya!’
Chapter Ten
After queuing for about fifteen minutes, it was my turn to push aside the canvas curtain and enter the wooden stall. I picked up the receiver and dialled. Mum picked up the phone so quickly it was like she was hovering over it. She sounded relieved. ‘Thank God you’re OK. I’ve been watching the news all day, and when you didn’t call I got so worried. You know what I’m like, thinking