They Called Him Bruiser 5 - End

Part 4 here. Index here.

Bossman’s gaze swivels like a hawk. “Oh? Are you volunteering the money out of your sick pay?”

That folds Sam. Another hand - I don’t know his name, just his foul breath - steps in. Starts spitting fire. I recognise the quotes from our contracts and the local employment laws, but half of it sounds like poetry. Halitosis’s? Or maybe one of those wandering organisers.

I remember seeing Hali sitting with a gaggle at the drink house. Never wondered what they were talking so serious about. Reading to each other.

The lyrical way he’s ranting helps me find my calm again, and Bruiser follows suit.

It’s buoyed Sam up too. So’s the fact that every hand is behind him and Hali, leaving Bossman pinned against the sale block. I nudge Bruiser so we’re standing right to the side, in the corner of Bossman’s eye. And able to see the whole show.

Words fly like a ball in hot potato. Sam to me, me to Bossman, Bossman to me - Hali intercepts and bounces it back to Bossman. I lob another at Bossman, so they hit one-two. The crowd goes wild and Bruiser’s head does the wave. He doesn’t know the game but understands we’re winning.

No, I didn’t shirk no duties.

No, I didn’t take nothing from company stores.

No, I had nothing to do with Sam getting hurt.

Yeah, Bossman never signed nothing about the reward, but every hand was told it. Sam asked him afore trying that stunt and Bossman confirmed it - and that was in front of six guys. Witnesses.

I plant my feet and puff my chest. “If you think I didn’t do nothing, you wanna try leading him back?”

For a moment I think the fool’s considering it - then all the whooping and clapping makes Bruiser snort and shake his head and glower. Bossman winces.

“I ain’t gonna.” Sam declares, prompting howls of laughter.

“Aright, aright.” Hali flaps his hands for silence. “We get it. You don’t have the money with you.”

Bossman’s pale and haggard, so flushing with rage leaves him blotched. Hali doesn’t falter. “Thas fine, thas fine. But. We all agree that you owe young Theo that reward. Aye?”

I jerk my chin up. “Aye!” Every voice choruses with me.

“So here’s this. You give Theo the writ for Bruiser right now. Then you got a month to get that money ready. Otherwise we walkout.”

The oldest geezer speaks up. “And Theo gets stabling for Bruiser on you ’til then, ‘cause you’re the one delaying.”

“That’s right! That’s right.” Hali bobs his head in a bow of thanks, as do I.

I add “I’ll take care of him, a’course. On my own time. Him being my animal and all.”

Nods and rumbles and Bossman’s mouth is tight, his eyes stabbing into me. I don’t blink.

Then he sighs and turns away. Scribbles a hasty writ for me - and an IOU.

“Fine.” He spits the word. “Now get your asses back to work!”