Chapter 7 - An Unlikely Ally
Ewan finds out that help can come from the most likely of places
Welcome to chapter 7 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.
It was unusually quiet as Ewan walked home, it was if everyone had wanted to get an early start on their summer break. Any ghoulish hangers-on who might have been waiting by the school gates to see the outcome of Mackie’s threats had gotten bored and left to pursue other pleasures.
Ewan left out a sigh of relief. It’s possible that Dylan was right he thought, maybe Mackie had forgotten about him and found something else to occupy his limited mind.
The summer sun was warm on Ewan’s back and he enjoyed the fact that he was able to slow down and enjoy the peace and quiet. Grey squirrels froliced in the trees oblivious to the world around them. However as Ewan dawdled along he noticed something out of the corner of his eye.
There he was again. He was sure it was the same man, the stranger from this morning. He was still wearing the same long dark overcoat, still buttoned up tight despite the rising temperature.
Ewan could hear his dad’s voice telling him that he should pay more attention and look where he was going. If he had he might not have walked straight in to Wayne ‘Mackie’ Mackinson and two of his mates.
Mackie always seemed to be surrounded by a group of mates, minor bullies and wannabe thugs who hung around looking to bask in his aura and increase their own reputations as tough guys.
Oh shit!
That thought raced through Ewan’s mind and snapped him right back to the present moment. He desperately looked round for someone or somewhere where he could get help, but other than the stranger who seems to be watching him even more intently, he was alone, and in trouble.
Ewan briefly considered turning and making a run for it. But he knew with his asthma he wouldn’t have got twenty feet before they caught him, and then he was sure things would be even worse. If that was even possible.
“Well, well, well. Look what's just been delivered from the local Chinese take-a-way,” Mackie sneered as he saw Ewan.
The others laughed and moved to surround him, cutting off any possibility of escape.
Oh crap!
Ewan stood still, frozen in the grip of terror unable to move, unable to even speak.
“I've been looking for you, you ginger twat, where have you been hiding all day?”
Mackie practically spat the words out such was his anger and he grabbed the front of Ewan’s shirt.
“I've got a bone to pick with you.”
“Wh, wh, What's the matter, I haven't done anything,” Ewan stammered, nerves and abject terror affecting his ability to speak.
“Your git of a dad’s frigging poisoned me with his poxy, fish n’ chips and I've had the shit’s all week. Now you're gonna pay!”
Ewan gulped, his eyes widening.
The first slap caught him hard across the face, so fast he didn’t see it coming. The shock knocked his head to the side and left his ears ringing. A second later the stinging started and the heat intensified to a burning sensation that wasn’t cooled by the tears flowing down Ewan’s cheeks. This weak display, this extra humiliation only seems to egg the bullies on even more and they all began to laugh.
Instinctively Ewan knew the second slap was coming and raised his hands to protect his face. It didn’t do any good as the force of the blow just knocked his hand against the side of his head and rattled his teeth.
“Look the mighty Ah Choo is getting ready to fight back, thinks he can go the distance, hit him again Mackie, go on, smack him one.”
Ewan didn’t know which of Mackie’s cronies was taunting him but the two slaps had knocked any thoughts of fighting back clean out of his head, not that he would have known what to do anyway.
Mackie on the other hand was obviously enjoying himself. After being encouraged, he balled his right fist and whilst still holding Ewan’s shirt in his left hand, sunk his right fist deep in to Ewan’s gut knocking all the wind of out him.
Releasing his grip on Ewan’s shirt Mackie laughed as Ewan sank to the floor curling up in to the foetal position and holding his stomach as the tears continued to flow.
From above Ewan could hear Mackie’s continued tirade of abuse.
“I lost money from work ‘cause of your manky food, and I want compensation for all the distress like it sez on the telly, so go on then hand it over!”
“Yeah, where there’s a blame there’s a claim, an Mackie's blaming you, ‘cause your dad served shite food,” one of his cronies added.
Ewan knew that whatever had happened to Mackie it wasn’t down to his dad’s cooking. Lian Wu was meticulous about proper hygiene and making sure everything was cooked properly - he even had certificates to prove it. Also, for the life of him Ewan couldn’t remember even seeing Mackie in their shop. Although he knew that right now he wasn’t in a position to argue that point, or defend what little family honour he thought he had left.
“I haven't got anything to hand over,” was all Ewan could manage to say as he lay on the floor, called up into a ball, terrified that the three of them might start putting the boot in if he tried to get up or escape.
“I want yer phone and twenty quid now!” Demanded Mackie.
All Ewan could think about was how he managed to get caught up in this and how much longer the whole sorry experience was going to last?
“Look in his pockets, he must have something.” Mackie said, directing one of his thugs to rifle through Ewan’s blazers whilst the other one tipped the contents of his schoolbag on the floor.
Spying Ewan’s phone on top of the discarded pile of school books Mackie bent forward to pick it up. For once Ewan was grateful that his dad had always refused to splash out on the latest smart phones. Instead always opting for the cheapest, most basic model - at least it won’t cost too much to replace it.
“What's this piece of crap, call that a phone, it's not even worth nicking, I’d get laughed at for trying to flog that. Are you taking the piss, you ginger monkey. Do you want a kicking as well?”
Ewan nervously shook his head, “It's all I've got, I haven't got any money or anything, please, just take it and leave me alone.”
Looking at the phone again and snorting derisively Mackie threw it on the ground and then stomped on it. From the loud crack Ewan could tell without looking that the screen was smashed beyond repair.
“Now you've really got nothing, but I'll be round later and you better have thirty quid for me, or else,” Mackie said in a threatening tone.
“But you said twenty before,” Ewan said.
“Yeah well that's before you made me have to come back to your stinking chip shop, and, and we’ll all have free chip suppers an all.”
Still frozen with fear Ewan cowered as Mackie drew his foot back, imagining him intending to drive his message home with the toe of his boot. But thankfully the blow never came.
“Oy you lot, what are you doing, leave him alone, you nasty little thugs. I know your mother Wayne Mackinson, and yours Darren Clarke, and yours as well Martin McDowell and I'll be having words with all of them, mark my words if I don't.”
“Piss off you old witch.”
The gang all turned their backs to Ewan and focused their attention towards the old lady out walking her little dog in the park. He took the opportunity to sit up but not daring to try and collect any of his belongings. Looking between their legs Ewan could see it was old Mrs McHenry. A local legend and veritable force of nature, not a person to get on the wrong side of, her or her little dog, Fluffy.
Ewan could see her striding towards them.
“Let that boy up immediately, you little hooligans, or you’ll feel my cane across the back of your legs,” and as if to prove the point she brandished her walking stick like it was some kind of weapon.
Darren, the closest of Mackie's companions to Mrs McHenry responded in kind,
“Yeah, piss off you old bat, or else you’ll end up in the lake.”
He instantly regretted his choice of words as the hard wooden walking stick shot out and thwacked him across the top of his leg. At the same time Mrs McHenry released the slack on Fluffy’s lead and the small dog surged forward, teeth bared and snapping loudly before barking a deep throaty bark that would normally be associated with a much larger, and meaner dog.
Darren screamed in pain and leapt back out of the range of Fluffy’s bite and Martin quickly joined him.
“Bugger this Mackie, I ‘ain't being that things next meal.”
Suddenly, with that Mackie was left on his own. “You better keep that thing on a leash or else I'll have me uncle come round and set his pit-bull on him, and then you’ll be sorry,”
“Not as sorry as you’ll be when I get my hands on ye, ye scutty little bully, now away with ya.”
With that Mrs McHenry waved her stick again and pulled back on Fluffy’s lead so that he snarled again.
Mackie looked down at Ewan, “you're lucky your fairy grandmother turned up Wu. I'll be seeing you later.” With that Mackie headed off quickly following the other two, leaving Ewan on the floor with Fluffy sniffing round his discarded school books. Finally he was able to pick himself up off the floor and quickly looked around to see if anyone else had been witness to his embarrassment. Thankfully the park appeared empty, even the strange looking Chinese man who had been the initial cause of his distraction, had disappeared.
“Are ye ‘aright laddie?” Asked Mrs McHenry.
A few deep breathes later and Ewan began to relax, he raised a hand to his face and could still feel the heat from Mackie’s slap and his ears still rang. Both of these paled in to insignificance compared to embarrassment of being rescued by an old age pension and her dog.
“Thanks to you, yes.”
“No need ta fret laddie, them’s a nasty little group of scunners and ye’d be well advised to steer clear o’them, unless youse has it in ye to stand up and give the biggest bully a smack on the end of his nose. Fluffy can tell a wrong-un and youse can hear it in his bark.”
As if on cue Fluffy bounded forward, sniffing round Ewan’s feet rubbing the side of his body up against his leg.
“Thank you too Fluffy, you're a brave little dog. I just wish I had a treat to give you,” said Ewan scratching the little dog behind the ears. Fluffy smiled and started to lick Ewan’s hand.
“Never you mind him laddie, you best be picking up your things and heading home. I’m sure your pa will be wondering where you've got to. And remember what I said, bullies like them will always back down and leave you alone if you look em square in the eye and give ‘em a great big thump on the nose!” As if to emphasise her point Mrs McHenry lifted both of her arms. Her walking stick hanging in the crook of one elbow, her handbag in the crook of the other. She then proceed to perform a little shadow box dance around Ewan, throwing out jabs and giggling like a schoolgirl.
Ewan finally managed to gather up the contents of his schoolbag, thankful that the phone was the only other casualty - although he had no idea how he was going to be able to explain it’s destruction.
With a final round of thanks and the acceptance of a mint humbug pulled from the depths of Mrs McHenry’s handbag, Ewan hurried off home whilst his elderly saviour and her trusty companion continued on their walk as if nothing had happened.
What can Ewan do against such bullies that seem intent on doing him bodily harm, as much as possible? If this unlikely help hadn’t arrived, I’m not sure he would have gotten away from them before something worse happened.
Your writing is vivid and engaging. I’m looking forward to the next segment of this story!