I rewrote the section where Brendan makes friends with Colm and Danny, and I think it plays a lot more naturally. Eamonn drags six-year-old Brendan with him as an excuse to get into the house of Colm's aunt. Their upstairs windows overlook the pitch where Derry City football team plays, and he knows Colm's father, Mr. O'Faelan, watches when there is a home game. Eamonn doesn't care about all that; he has a crush on one of Colm's cousins, who lives there. So he tells everyone Brendan wants to watch the match.
Which he doesn't. Brendan's sole interest is in rebuilding and repairing things, and he's irritated he's dragged away from replacing the wheels on a Corgi toy. So while Eamonn is trying to make time with the girl, Brendan is bored and starts criticizing how the football teams are playing. It's almost like taking apart a clock to repair, to him, as he gains a quick idea of the two teams' strategies and can tell what their play will be, from moment to moment.
Danny and Paidrig are also there, watching. They know of Brendan but have never spoken to him thanks to his reputation for being standoffish to the point of loony. But his observations prove to be true and even convince Mr. O'Faelan to call his bookie and bet on Derry City to win. Brendan points out the opposing team's goalie consistently sets himself up wrong, and half the time the only reason a goal isn't made is due to a poor kick or relay.
This starts the boys on a longterm friendship, which helps protect Brendan from some neighborhood bullies and brings him out into the world. He still like to take things apart and put them back together, but it's no longer his only meaning, and now he'll be ready to see Joanna and find a new dream for his life.
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