sare face

When you get a shout to the A&E it can be a worry.
So I approached this one with a wee bit of trepidation and, yup, when I get there and call out the name this young lad stands up in the waiting area with a face covered in dried in blood and has obviously had a good doin'.
Nearly did an about turn but immediately felt sorry for the guy so I help him into the car (this was at Christmas and it was bitter cold and snowing).
Turns out he's been home from University and out in Kirrie for a drink with his pals, when two local toerags start picking on him for no reason. He reckons they were jealous of him as someone who had made it out of the wee town. Anyway the two of them beat him up get themselves arrested and here he is bruised and bewildered. He lives away out in the country and he's a really good kid, we end up having a laugh as he kind of tries to forget the night's incidents. Wee lesson for me, never jump to conclusions about people.
I drop him and make my way back to the city, the moon is as bright as a searchlight and the fields are brilliant white with frost and snow. Joni Mitchell comes on the radio right on cue.

It's coming on Christmas


They're cutting down trees

They're putting up reindeer

And singing songs of joy and peace

Oh I wish I had a river I could skate away on

God bless ye Joni .................... And the place the young guy lived? ......... Jericho

The case came up in the paper a couple of months later and the two tubes who turned out to be brothers got the customary slap on the wrist. Grrrrrrrr!!