Bottle

Robbie Handy

Ah took the bottle o beer wi ma left hand an opened the fridge wi ma right. Ah put it on the top shelf, between the cheese an butter, like a wee shrine. Ah breathed deep: 'that'll taste good the night', an padded out the kitchen tae get ready for war.

Kitbag: bandages,shorts,boots,gumshield,vest. Ah looked at the vest, it sez DUNFERMLINE ABC. Ah ran the bath hot an deep. The water eased ma bones an ah sooked the steam in slow. Ah prayed; 'Dear God, protect me an ma opponent'. Then ah stood up an shook the water off like a big rabid dug. Let's go!

Ah walked past the street an winked at the sign sez ;ROBERT WILSON COURT. Past Toonhill school an up tae the top o Toonhill Road. Waited at Robby Road for ma lift. Phone rings an ma Dad sez 'mind duck this time son'. Van crunches on the corner an coach Tommy sez 'jump in big yin, we're late'.

Throught tae Falkirk an ah jumped out an stretched ma arms in the fog. The sign sez: HMP POLMONT. Turnkey took us through tae the changin room. Ah was superheavyweight, an ah knew who ma boy wis straight off, the biggest one there, a boy fae Alloa. Ah'd sat wi ma demons all night when Mike, ma second, comes in: '2 minutes mate, ye warm?' -'aye', ah'd shadowboxed for 10 minutes an had a slick sheen o sweat on ma body. Ah stood up wi ma wee razor gloves an walked through. The crowd wis high an rumbled 'ohh, here we go' as ah passed, like impending doom. Mike geen me a wee drink an Tommy sez 'this'll be hard mind' as ah turned an the bell dinged.

Ma southpaw right flicked at his face, an ah wis relived tae be finally leatherin him. Ah like tae draw first blood, so ah hit him wi a left cross, then got caught wi an uppercut as he tried to bull me wi his size. Ah knew ah shouldnae mix it, cos the round wis half up an ah wis knackered.

Puggled an gaspin, ah got caught wi 3 or 4 big,boomin punches. Ah stepped out o range, an ah'm ashmed tae say, but ah had a wee moment o doubt:' what am ah doin here, ah'm too old for this'. But what could ah do? gie up an walk out the ring? no chance, when ye get in, there's only 2 ways out, on yer feet at the last bell, or on a stretcher. So ah gritted ma teeth an rushed headlong intae hell. Ah caught an uppercut wi ma palm under ma chin, tied him up an bulled him intae the corner. Then ah melte him wi a big left hook as the bell dinged again.

In the corner, Tommy laughed :'huv ye anythin left?' as he sponged ma face an ma blood ran down ma chest in wee red rivers. He sez 'huv a blaw in this round'. For once, ah followed orders an stayed outside. The boy kept goadin 'come on son' am wavin me in wi his gloves. After ah smacked him a few times, he shut his mouth. Ah went cornerward well rested. Tommy sez 'that's better Robbie, now ye can chin him'. As ah went out for the last round, raw power bunched in ma hands an ma veins flowed fire. Ah slashed him wi left hooks an uppercuts an even wi his height, ma jab found home. Dinnae get me wrong, he caught me wi some gid yins, specially a straight right that shook me fae ma chin, down ma spine tae the soles o ma boots. He didnae like ma power though, and started runnnin. He'd gone fae bull tae matador. Then ah jabbed and winged intae him wi a wide left hook an caught him flush. Ah knew, cos ah'd aimed 6 inches through his head for power, an ma hand went through his face. He rocked an stumbled, but gie him dues, stayed upright. The final bell rang an the crowd roared up. Ah didnae win, but lost a close decision. Ah patted the boy's shoulder an sez 'good fight mate'.

When ah stepped out the ring, a brunette lassie flashed a smile, :'well done doll' she winked. Ma face wis numb an ah tasted gunmetal blood. Ye see,for us fighters, the broken noses, closed eyes, cracked teeth an sliced lips are the canvas of our bloody art. It's beautiful an visceral, an if ye didnae like it, ye wouldnae buy it. When ah got ma glove off, Tommy shook ma hand an back in the changin room, he sez tae the wee ones 'dae ye see this boy? that's courage'. We left the jail, home tae Fife. Ah crunched up ma steps, shut the door an took off ma t-shirt. Ma left shoulder wis burnin fae the hooks. Ah said a wee prayer tae thank God for protection. Ah opened the fridge door wi ma right hand an took out the bottle o beer wi ma left. Ah bit off the top wi ma teeth an took along , cool draught. It tasted good.

For Diego Corrales R.I.P. warrior