Chapter 5 - Family History
Where we uncover some of Ewan's family history
Welcome to part 5 of this epic exclusive YA urban fantasy saga. Feel free to reach out or comment if you like this story. Your feedback is what keeps the magic flowing.
Thankfully for Ewan the rest of the morning was uneventful. It felt like the whole school was more focused on the impending summer break than making his life even more of a misery. He’d even decided against bunking off at lunchtime as he was starting to feel a little more buoyant and thought that maybe Smithy had been exaggerating about Mackie. Although walking in to the history class after lunch soon managed to bring him back down to Earth.
“Ah, thank you for joining us Mr Wu - I seem to have misplaced your copy of the assignment that was due in last week…”
“I’m sorry, sir. I have it here.”
“Oh well, better late than never. Hand it over then.”
Opening his bag, Ewan sheepishly handed over the crumpled paper and took his seat.
“Right class, settle down, I know you’re all excited about the last day but I want to hand back your final assignments. We’ll start with Ewan’s and it can be just as much as a surprise for you as it is for me, although judging by the size, this won’t take too long.”
Ewan blushed slightly as the rest of the class sniggered and the teacher begun to read.
“In fact Ewan, why don’t you just come up here and give us the abridged version.”
Slowly walking to the front of the class Ewan collected his assignment. Being naturally left handed Ewan knew he had terrible handwriting and he had to squint at the paper to decipher his own work. He cleared his throat and begin to read,
“The Wu family history. By Ewan Wu.
My dad, Lian Wu known locally as Lenny, arrived in Glasgow in the mid 1980’s after serving for many years as a merchant seaman. He started work as a mechanic for my grandad which is where he met my mum Sally.
I asked him about his family back in China, but he said he was an only child and his parents had died just after the Second World War.
My Mom’s family have been in this area of Scotland for several generations. Sally and her sister Gillian are the only daughters of Gerald and Maureen McCawley who run the oldest chain of fast food restaurants in the city. Gillian has a daughter named Anna who is my first cousin.
And that’s all I know.”
Ewan folded up the paper and returned to his seat.
“Well short and to the point I suppose. Thank you Ewan, but you might want to try to do some more digging over the holidays.”
The teacher continued,
“To be honest class, I have to say I’m more than a little disappointed. In fact, most of the assignments were that short and could have done with a lot more research.”
The teacher paused for a second.
“So that will be your task over the holidays.”
The collective groan from the class was loud and Ewan could imagine half of them blaming him for the extra work.
“First week back in September I want to see a fully documented family tree going back at least three generations. That’ll mean going back to at least your great-grandparents on both sides of your families and I want you to find out as much as you can about each of them.”
As he sat back down Ewan managed to catch the eye of one of Mackie’s cronies and one of the more tenacious trouble makers who regularly took pleasure in making Ewan’s life a misery.
“Hey Wu,” he whispered, “your family tree’s gonna get pruned when Mackie finds youse later, he reckons he’s gonna batter ya more than one o’your daddies fishies.”
The pupils on either side smirked as the mention of Mackie made Ewan shudder.
Seeing his friends distress Dylan was quick to respond. “Yeah well, youse family tree must be a cactus plant ‘cause everyone in it is a prick!”
Hearing that the rest of the class burst out laughing and the bully gave Dylan an evil look.
“And you’ll get yours later as well Dylan Jones, just see if you don’t.”
“Ok, ok, settle down now. That’s enough of that,” the history teacher said as he struggled to regain control of the class.
Sinking down in his chair Ewan began to despair. He’d hoped to be able to make it through the rest of the day with no more reminders about Mackie. His stomach did somersaults as the apprehension for what else today would bring made the remainder of the lesson drag out in to eternity.
The usual mass exodus began again as soon as the bell finally rang. Stepping out in to the corridor Ewan found Dylan waiting for him.
“Hey listen, I was thinking about you and Mackie.”
“What, you mean like what flowers I’d like at my funeral?”
“No stupid, how to avoid him. Listen, it’s the last day and all we’ve got left is that stupid assembly. Why don’t you bunk off early through the back gates? I’ll cover for you and say you’ve gone the loo if anyone asks, then you can skip off home. If you can avoid Mackie outside of school for a couple of weeks, he’ll probably forget all about it.”
“Yeah and if my Dad ever finds out, he’ll kill me more than Mackie will.”
“How will he find out? Just make sure you take the long way back and if he asks why you’re home early, just tell him they let you out early as it’s the last day.”
“But what about Mr Hargreaves? I have a detention with him this afternoon.”
“Yes, you do, and don’t you forget about it Wu. I want to see you at three thirty sharp outside my office. You’ll be picking litter up for at least 30 minutes, that’ll teach you to be late for school.”
Mr Hargreaves’s sudden appearance made Ewan and Dylan jump, as he spoke Ewan could feel himself backing away from the anger in his voice.
“Right, now you pair can get to assembly before you Jones join your friend in detention.”
“Yes sir,” they echoed as they headed off with their heads down.
“Oh, and Wu?”
“Yes sir?”
“Never let me catch you thinking about bunking off again, or else your father will be the least of your worries!”
“Yes sir, sorry sir”
“It’s almost as if he can read our minds.” Ewan whispered to Dylan as they quickly headed off along the corridor without daring to look back.