Читать книгу The Young Gangsters - E.J.P Murphy - Страница 4

THEY STOOD INSIDE THE SHOP, ONE GUARDING THE DOOR, THE REST MILLING AROUND THE COUNTER. EIGHT OF THEM, ALL WEARING THE SAME CLOTHES – JEANS, SWEATSHIRTS, WHITE PUMPS AND LONG BLACK COATS HANGING DOWN TO THEIR ANKLES. ON THEIR HEADS THEY WORE BASEBALL CAPS WITH THE MONOGRAM ‘TYG’ ON THE PEAK, SHORT FOR ‘THE YOUNG GANGSTERS’.

The one who was talking was called Jimmy ‘The Feet’ Day. The ‘Feet’ because he loved dancing. He said to the shopkeeper,

“Now… mister, I ain’t going to tell you again, 20 quid a day or we’re going to ruin your stock. You ever smelt petrol when it’s doused all around you?” Jimmy looked to his left and spoke to the person beside him. “Right, Dave, douse the counter first, then the store room, then him.”

“No, no, please.” The shopkeeper grabbed his arm. “I’ll pay, please don’t; you’ll ruin me. Please, please.”

Dave looked at his leader. Jimmy nodded, “OK, mister.” He looked at the owner again. “140 a week, 100 up front, right?”

“OK, OK, I’ll pay, I’ll pay,” the owner replied. He ran around the counter, opened the till, took out £100 and passed it over to Jimmy.

Jimmy counted it, put it in his pocket and said to the owner,

“You miss one week and we’ll be back … try to go to the police and we’ll burn your house down with your family in it. Got it?”

The owner looked at him, now really frightened. “You’ll get your money.”

“Yeah,” Jimmy said to him, reading his thoughts. “We know where you live, we’ll be watching all the time, remember that. Let’s go boys.”

Jimmy moved to the door. Opening it, he looked back at the the owner. “One of my boys will come to see you every Friday night; don’t let me down, and remember,” he put his finger to his lips, “not a word.”

Jimmy walked out of the door followed by the rest of the gang. Outside, they walked down the pavement, four abreast, pushing past people. They were noticeable in their long black coats and caps, but much more noticeable were their young faces.

Jimmy was the eldest, he was 16. The youngest, Sammy ‘Bellows’ Jones was only 14. His nickname ‘Bellows’ was because he was always farting. Dave ‘Mack the Knife’ Smith, was also 16 – he always carried a knife and used it a lot. Paul ‘Gummy’ White, 15, lost his teeth in a punch-up when he got hit with a baseball bat. Micky ‘The Ferret’ Taret, 15, could get into any window, hence the nickname. Bertie ‘Knuckles’ Cooney, 16, could fight like any fully grown six-footer. He worshipped Jimmy and would do anything for him and did. Jackie Sweeney ‘Todd’, 14, loved trouble and hated school with a vengeance – he never went. Paul ‘Looney Tunes’ Higgins, 14, was mad as a hatter; would do anything for the gang.

These were the young gangsters – terrifying, cold-blooded. They terrified their neighbourhood and those beyond. Some people said they were only kids and would grow out of it. Little did they know the power of friendship and what they would do for it.

This is the story of eight mates who didn’t care for anyone but each other. A story of hate, lust, robbery and power.

Eight boys from the slums – it could only end one way.