back in the red: MISSPENT YOUTH
written by Kelly Cowley:

November 11th 2167

George McGee rode the late night streets of Liverpool on a stolen BMX. As the school bully he liked to spend most evenings this way- prowling for sickly losers to bait. But tonight it seemed as if all his potential victims were snuggled up safe and warm in their cowardly beds. George was about to admit defeat, when he suddenly caught sight of a lone kid and his dog sitting upon the curb. It was the shortarse with weird hair.

"Hey, Fat boy!" he jeered "Eat smeg!" And he skidded through a puddle, sending a cascade of gutter sludge over his victim. George sniggered though buckteeth and waited for the little gimboid to cry. But the kid didn't even look up. Nonplussed, George relented and rode home to torture his hamsters.

"Life..." muttered the mud soaked child, "...sucks."

David was feeling blue. The day had started out well. His art teacher had given him a big tick for his sketch of Jim Bexley Speed. He had eaten chilli kebabs for lunch and Duncan had told him three great 'Knock, knock" jokes. In fact they were so funny, he had run home from school to tell them his dad. But the lousy smegger hadn't laughed once! So (as revenge) David had flushed shepherds pie and compost down the toilet bowl. When Granny Lister caught him in the act, she had kicked him out saying-

"You can get your arse back to the orphanage, millado!"

He gazed into the infinity of the night sky. He thought about all the universes and dimensions which could exist up there. He would never get to see them, of course- when you're a scouse foundling its lucky for you to see Swindon! But regardless, he would rather be anywhere than that smegging home. Squeaky Gibson was in the throws of puberty now and sleep would be next to impossible.

"Come on, Hannah" he whispered to his father's mongrel "Lets find you a dustbin and me somewhere to kip."

David took to his Skateboard and the old dog trailed behind him. He was aware the Mersey had reasons for running though Liverpool. If it walked it would get mugged! So for his own safety he decided to head down to the Lime Street Shuttle Docks and see if he could squeeze his podgy bum into a luggage locker for the night.

"Georgie boy! Is that you?"

He looked up to see a teenage girl staggering across the road towards him. It was Michelle Fisher; winner of the school bikini contest. He swallowed hard.

"Hi Shelly! Its not Georgie...its David Lister."

"Yeah and I'm Chelsea Brown!" she snorted "Anyway, there's bog all to do around here- you wanna game of golf?"

"Golf! It's like the middle of the night- what are you on?"

"Titan Mushrooms!" she giggled.

David's bright, young eyes widened with awe, then without warning her tongue plunged deep into his halitosis ridden mouth. He felt a tingly sensation in his favourite boxer shorts. Michelle surfaced from the snog and began leading him to Bootle.

"You're covered in smeg..." she muttered.

"Yeah sorry- I am a bit messy" he mono-toned in shock.

"Well maybe when we reach the golf course you could take those dirty clothes off before we play. Sound alright, Georgie baby?"

"David." he corrected.

"Whatever."

THE END