Lay Low 'Missing' Chapters

Dislocated

"Shit."

"What happened?" asked one of the girls.

"I'm so clumsy,"  I plastered a smile on my face.

They all laughed.

"If only you were clumsy on the pitch, I might have got a goal past you," jibed Ben.

"Never from a St John's player..."

"Ooh!" They threw a few empty cans playfully in my direction.

"We'll see about that at next week's game," said Ben.

I picked one up to toss it back when I noticed one of them looking behind me.

"Isn't that guy a policeman?" One of the girls asked.

I turned to see Tony striding towards us, his face filled with rage.  His hand clamped onto my shoulder like a vice, but he looked past me.

"Is there underage drinking going on here?"

Everyone stayed silent. I stood staring at him, paralysed.

"Well?"

"No officer," replied Ben.

"No?"

He pulled the crumpled can out of my hand and held it up as evidence.  He focused back on Ben.

"I know you, don't I?  Picked you up round here before?"

Ben shrugged.

"What is your name?"

Ben said nothing.

"All of you, I want all your names."

I could see some of them looking nervously at each other.  They were going to get in trouble now because of me. And I was now in trouble anyway...

"They didn't do anything wrong," I piped up, "I had the beer."

Tony turned to me and looked like he would strangle me there and then.

"I will deal with you at home," he said through gritted teeth.  My stomach sank into my feet but I ploughed on.

"They were just going home too, right?"

I turned to them, my eyes pleading with them.  I hoped they'd have the sense to leave. I was pretty sure he couldn't arrest them for underage drinking, but it would be like him to call his mates on duty and inform their parents.

"See you guys."  I put my hand up in a wave in case they weren't sure of my intention.

Tony tried to seem in control of the situation.

"Get out of here before I change my mind," he growled.

They quickly gathered their stuff;  shooting me sympathetic looks as they drove off.

As soon as they were out of sight, Tony grabbed me by the collar and pulled me across the grass; throwing me on the bonnet of his car.  The area was secluded and darkly lit, not that I think he noticed the ideal conditions: he was too riled up.

"How dare you embarrass me in front of those yobs.  What the hell are you doing hanging around with them drinking?"

"They aren't yobs" I blurted out.

"You little..."

The rest of whatever was said, I didn't hear as his fist flew into my face.   He tore into me: pummelling me like the punch bag in his gym.  The only moment I remember was when the force of his punch pushed me over the side of the car.  I felt my shoulder give way as I landed.  I cried out in agony and he stopped.  

He wiped his brow and bent down on the floor next to me.  I yelped as he moved my arm.

"Shit," he mumbled.  It was strange to see worry on his face rather than anger or indifference.

"Get in the car," he said, grabbing me under the other shoulder and pulling me up.

He drove away at speed.  I must have closed my eyes for a few minutes because when I felt the car stop, I found we were in an unfamiliar car park.

"Come on," he grunted, getting out of the car.

As I got out, I saw A&E ahead of me.  My arm must be bad for him to bring me here.  He looped his arm around my shoulder as we walked up to the desk.

"My son has been attacked by a gang and I think his shoulder is dislocated," I heard Tony tell the nurse behind the counter.

------

I cheered from the sidelines at Thursday's game.   Even without me, we were a pretty good team.   In fact they didn't seem to miss me, which I hoped the coach wouldn't notice.

Today had been my first day back at school.  Word of my being beaten up by a gang had spread fast and I had been forced to make a tale up about being mugged to satisfy people out for the story.  I bet Tony was well pleased with that excuse.  It made me more uncomfortable to outright make up lies to people.  But it more than explained my arm in a sling and two black eyes, let along everything else hidden underneath my school shirt.

The whistle signalled the end of the game and we had won 3-1.  I congratulated a few of my teammates as they came off the pitch.

Ben jogged over to me.

"Hey Ben, great goal."  He shook my free hand.

"It was easy without you there," he grinned. "What happened to you?"

"Oh, I got mugged."

"Shit, they did a number on you."

I nodded.

"Thanks for saving us from hassle from that guy – is he your Dad?"

"No. Step Dad," I clarified hastily.  I didn't want to be thought of as his kid.

"Sorry for almost getting you in trouble.  He was after me," I said.

Lyla came over from her friends and I introduced her to Ben.

"Jake was just telling me his war story."

"Awful isn't it?   You can't even go for a walk on a Sunday night without trouble."

"Sunday?" said Ben, looking at me.

"Yeah, it was Sunday wasn't it babe?"

I nodded.  I looked at Ben and I saw his eyes widen as he came to a realisation.

Some teammates called his name.

"Well, I gotta go. Try to keep safe mate," he said, patting me on the shoulder.