Page 187 of Men in Shorts

“That would be dead popular, much more than spreadsheets and word processing. I’ll go and get this year’s forms for you to fill in.” She disappeared into a back office.

Liam felt foolish now for worrying Robert would bristle at the suggestion he spend time on something other than work. The man was nothing if not open-minded.

He leaned his elbows on the desk and tapped his foot against Robert’s. “This challenge should have intrinsic rewards, but if you need an extrinsic one…”

Robert smiled. “Yeah?”

“You can have my admiration.”

“Ah.”

“Demonstrated by a session of long, slow, deliciously deep dicking.”

Robert was still laughing when Janice returned. She set a form in front of him and said, “Just jot down all the courses you’d be willing to teach. We’ll see which have the most interest and then decide together.” She turned to Liam. “And what will you be helping with, Mister Carroll?”

“Unless you’ve got a class in bartending or sliding tackles, I’ll just be your dogsbody as usual—tidy up, move chairs and tables, staff the front desk and all. Whatever needs done.”

“We could always use someone like that.” She gave him a form.

Robert picked up a pen, then paused. “What other courses do you want instructors for? In case I know anyone else who wants to help.”

“Here’s a list of volunteer needs.” Janice brought out a blue sheet from beneath the desk and handed it to him.

Robert perused it, then folded it up when Liam went to look at it over his shoulder.

That was weird, Liam thought, but after a quick glance at the clock, he hurried to finish filling in his form.

Outside the community center, Robert asked, “You’re away to the pub now?”

“Aye, I need to be there early to help get ready for Hannigan’s Burns Night supper. There’s still tickets available on the door at six, so you should come. It won’t be the best haggis in Glasgow, but it’ll beahaggis in Glasgow.”

“Brilliant marketing pitch. ‘Our haggis exists. Come and eat it.’”

Liam chuckled as he pulled on his gloves. “Only if you’ve got time tonight, of course.”

“I haven’t got time.” Robert gave a firm nod. “But for you and a haggis, I’ll make time.”

* * *

A few weeks later

“Are you the yin createdMaximum Dragon?”

Robert looked up from his student roster to see a girl of maybe fourteen gazing up at him. “Aye, that was me.”

“Oh. My. God!” She dashed back to the second row, her long dark braid whipping around her head. “I telt you it was him!”

Her friend was already jumping out of her chair. “Are you gonnae do a Lost Levels release? Pleeeeease? It’s been two years.”

“There’s nae lost levels,” Robert said.

“Don’t believe him.” Liam joined him at the front of the community center computer room. “There are seventeen lost levels, but the government labeled them ‘certifiably mind-blowing’ and deemed them a danger to mental health. We’re still in litigation.” He raised a fist. “Freedom forMaximum Dragon! FreeMax Drag!”

They echoed his call, turning it into a chant. The other twelve students, ranging in age from thirteen to fifty-two—according to Robert’s roster—looked bemused as they took their seats.

He turned to Liam. “If you’re to stay and be a nuisance, maybe give them the syllabus?”

“Aye-aye, teacher.” Liam saluted, then picked up the stack of sheets and passed them around before taking a seat in the back of the class.

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