The Malloys, 10

(What do you Guys think of this - does it work?)

Michael dropped his purchases on his bed, got the mower out of the garage and looked down the back lawns with a sigh. They were way bigger than the ones out at the front. Oh well, he knew what he wanted for Christmas - a bloody motor-mower! He started mowing.

Big Mike arrived home from school and stood at the end of the yard, watching him. Michael grinned when he saw him there and he pushed the mower back up to him.

"Hey Big Mike. How's your day been?"

"Pretty good so far and it'll get better. I'm going swimming, with Maxie. You want to come?"

"No. Thanks but I'm not, I don't want to crowd your romance."

"You wouldn't be crowding, we're just swimming. Ben might be there too," Big Mike grinned.

"Good for him. I'm not. Stop trying to set me up with Ben. If it happens, it happens."

"I'm not setting you up!"

"Are too."

"Okay, maybe I'm trying to help things along a bit. Ben's a nice guy and he's interested."

"Just leave it, Big Mike. I don't know if I'm ready."

"Well get ready! Sheesh, you don't want to be a 30 year-old virgin, do you?"

"Shut up."

"I'm shutting. Want me to finish the lawns?"

"No thanks. I'm nearly done anyway."

"Please yourself. See you later, Brother."

"Later Big Mike. Have fun."

"Oh we will!"

He finished the lawn and put the mower away. He came out of the garage and Hori was standing there, holding his frisbee and looking hopeful.

"Frisbee time, Hori? Yeah, we can do that. Do you want to play here or will we go to the park?"

Hori flashed a grin and headed out to the street..

"Okay, we're going to the park."

He smiled as he watched Hori dancing along the sidewalk all the way up to the park at the end of the street. It didn't take much to make the boy happy. Was he ever that full of the joy of life himself? He didn't think so.

They reached the park and there was no-one there, which was great. They had the place to themselves. Michael ran out on to the field and threw the frisbee back to him. They'd only been playing there for a few minutes when trouble arrived. The McCutcheons walked out on to the field, blocking their game.

There were 5 of them, 1 kid, 2 teens and 2 men. The family resemblance was strong. They were all big, hard and rough-looking. They looked like different stages of the same thug and they were not smiling.

"Well! Look who's here, all on his own and still in our town. You were told to fuck off, Malloy."

"Fuck off yourself. We're not hurting anyone. Anyway, you said I had until tonight to think about it."

"I changed my mind."

The teenage McCutcheon hit him. Michael almost avoided it, but the fist caught the side of his face, knocking him backwards. He recovered and attacked back but was tackled by a bigger one. Two of them hauled him upright and stood holding him while the first one punched him in the guts. He struggled to get free but couldn't. They were too strong for him. He hit him again, and then turned to the younger brother.

"There y'go, Lenny. It's all yours. Work the bastard over."

The kid started hitting him, not as hard as his brother but it still flaming hurt - especially the one in the nuts. Hori came rushing in, roaring, and he attacked the one punching Michael. He brushed him aside and a bigger one picked him up and flung him away.

"Piss off, ya Fucking Dummy!"

"He's a little kid! Leave the boy alone, you Bastard!" Supercharged with rage, Michael broke free and attacked the one who'd hurt Hori. He got in some good hits before the many hands pulled him down again.

"You're dead, Malloy. You're a dead man walking."

"Make that a dead Queer. He's another fucking Faggot."

Even while he was struggling, Michael was worrying about his little friend. "Hori, run!" he yelled. "Go home, Hori. Run!"

Hori took off out of the park, heading for home and screaming his head off, so that was one less thing he had to worry about and he carried on trying to fight them off. They held his arms so he couldn't use them, but he used his legs to good effect. He booted one in the face and kneed another in the nuts. When they finally subdued him, they hauled him up and two of them held him, pinned against the goal-post with his arms pulled behind him.

Hori left the park, running faster than he ever had in his life. Roaring and crying he ran down the sidewalk to home, arriving there just as Big Mike came from the other direction. Hori ran up and grabbed him, pulling on his clothes.

"Whoah, Hori! Settle down. What's the matter with you?"

Hori pulled hard. "Aargh! Michael. Help Michael!"

"What?" Big Mike bent down to look closer. "Hori, you spoke! You talked to me."

"Michael! In the Park. Fighting. Help Michael - go!"

"Michael's in trouble? Bloody McCutcheons is it? Right, I'm there!"

Big Mike pounded down the sidewalk.

Hori ran inside and burst into the kitchen, still roaring. Nancy was standing at the stove, Sarah by the sink-bench and Tommy and his mother were sitting at the table. Tommy was nursing his head over a steaming mug of coffee. They all looked around at him.

"Hori, I've told you not to run in the house," Nancy snapped.

He ignored her, ran to Tommy and pulled on his hand. "Tommy, you go! The Park. Michael. Help Michael - go Tommy!"

"What?" Tommy looked at him in amazement. "Hori, what did you say?"

"You heard him," Nancy said. "Go to the park and help Michael."

"But he's talking! Hori, what's wrong with Michael?"

"Fighting. Cutcheons. Tommy go!"

"McCutcheons? Well, . . I . . Hori, you're talking!"

"For fuck's sake!" Nancy exploded. "Never mind that now. Your boy's in trouble. Get your arse down to the Park."

"Well," he stood up and looked down at his mother who was frowning at him. "Mother, I have to."

"You promised, Thomas. You said you wouldn't, ever again."

"Tommy!" Nancy growled.

He looked at her, looked at Hori and back at his mother. "I have to."

"Thomas, you can not."

"Oh, shut up, Old Woman! My boy needs me." He left the room running.

Tommy Malloy pounded down the sidewalk and the ground trembled beneath his feet.

He strode into the park and took in the scene at a glance. Big Mike was on his back with a McCutcheon sitting on him and punching him while another younger one was standing putting the boot in. Two were holding Michael, battered and bleeding, back against a goal-post and another was pummelling him. Tommy's rage burnt white-hot. He could kill someone here and he didn't fucking care if he did!

Big Mike was the closest, so he went to him first. A well-placed kick sent the yobbo flying off his son. He spun around, swatted the younger one aside, and then went to Michael.

The oldest McCutcheon looked over Michael's shoulder. "Tommy Malloy! You must be fucking joking, Old Man."

A flying kick smashed his teeth in. He reeled back and let Michael go. The other one let go as well and stepped back with his hands up in submission. Michael lunged at him and Tommy turned on the other who pulled out a knife and brandished it.

"Yeah, right!" Tommy scoffed. A foot flashed out, connected with his wrist and the knife went flying.

"Yowww!" he screamed and clutched the wrist with his other hand. "You've broken my hand!"

"Good." Tommy smashed an elbow into his face and knocked him down. He lay, whimpering and curled around his hands.

The other one broke away from Michael and started running. Tommy stood, hands up in front of him and scanning around for more threats. There weren't any. He forced himself to calm down.

"Now, you Bastards listen to me. You ever touch one of my boys again, you even look at them, and you're dead! I've killed with my bare hands before and, for my boys, I'll do it again. Get the fuck out of my sight!"

The McCutcheons left the park as fast as they could manage. They passed Sarah, Nancy and Hori on ther way in. Sarah went to Big Mike who was still sitting on the ground. Nancy focussed on Tommy and hugged him like he was a little kid. Hori ran at Michael and wrapped himself around him, sobbing.

Michael sobbed and hugged him back. "Thanks, Hori. You're my Hero."

"Love you, Michael," Hori cried.

"Wow! I love you too, Little One. I love you a lot."

He looked over at Tommy who was extricating himself from Nancy's embrace. "Thanks, Tommy. Fantastic! How did you?"

Tommy just shrugged and grinned. "Welcome, Son."

Nancy, smiling wider than he'd ever seen her before, said, "My Tommy was not much older than you when he was Australasian Kick-Boxing Champion, 3 years in a row. He's never been beaten."

"Really? Wow. But, why didn't you use it when you were beaten-up yourself?"

"I said I wouldn't. I killed my best friend, in a competition. I lost my temper, kicked him in the head and snapped his neck. It really screwed me up and I swore I'd never do it again. I guess you don't forget what you're good at."

"I'm so glad you didn't."

"So am I. Fighting is not right, but sometimes you have to."

"Thanks Dad." Michael hugged him, with great difficulty, Hori was still clinging to his leg.

"Welcome, Son." Tommy hugged him back. "Let's go home."

The Malloys all pounded down the sidewalk. They went home.