Ah I’m okay. . he hunched his shoulders, keeping his hands in his trouser pockets. Through the close they walked, the glare of the light reflecting the heavy condensation on the walls.
I enjoyed the night, Betty said.
Did you.
An experience. Quite exciting.
On the first landing she lagged behind, gazing out the window, over the backcourt which was in total darkness. It’s really quiet, she murmured.
He nodded, he put his arm round her shoulder and she turned immediately, and they kissed. When they broke it off Betty was shivering and he drew her in closer. You cold? he said.
She nodded.
Never mind, a nice hot fire up the stair!
She nodded again.
Okay?
Yes.
He stepped back from her, gazed at her eyes, taking out his cigarettes at the same time, and he lighted one.
I wish you could come in the house, she said.
Och.
No I mean Tammas if I could I would, it’s just my mum and dad — they dont, well, they’re not getting on. Sometimes I wish I was away from here altogether.
Torquay.
Just to get away from them, all of them.
Ah! I dont know Betty at least you’ve got company. Half the time I dont see anybody. The sister and brother-in-law — I dont always like to sit in with them you know? give them a bit of privacy and that.
O aye.
He shrugged.
Betty sighed.
Come on. He put his arm round her shoulders. They started to walk towards the next flight of stairs.
•••
The crash of the plug and chain of the toilet cistern awakened him. It was just on 9.30 am. He got out of bed and pulled on his jeans and his socks, and a tee shirt. Robert was supposed to be on a mid shift, beginning at 2 pm. But he would be starting early, doing some overtime. He was drinking tea at the kitchen table when Tammas entered. Cold yin this morning Robert, eh? He rubbed his hands.
Aye. Tea in the pot by the way. Might still be hot enough.
Cheers. . Tammas felt the sides then poured a cupful, gestured with the pot towards Robert’s cup.
Naw no me, I better be shoving off.
Tammas nodded. He sat down facing him. Overtime?
Aye.
Good. Handy. . Tammas sipped at the tea but it was lukewarm only; he drank it all in a oner and made to rise, but he did not; instead he asked, Eh Robert, I was wondering, any chance of a pound till the giro comes?
What?
A pound, any chance of loaning me a pound; just till I get the giro on Friday morning.
You must be joking.
Tammas looked at him.
The way you’ve been carrying on! Hh! Think I dont know the score or something!
What d’you mean?
You know fine well what I mean. You must think I’m a right bloody monkey.
Aw please yourself then.
Aye you’re bloody right I’ll please myself. Working all sorts of hours to try and save a few quid while you’re out wining and dining! Eh? You must think I’m a bloody idiot!
For Christ sake! Tammas sat back on his chair, folded his arms.
You listen son. . Robert stood up, one hand on the edge of the table and pointing at Tammas with the other. You want to go and ask that sister of yours how much I take to myself out the bloody wages!
What you on about? I’m no interested in your bloody pocket money. All I did was ask you for a loan of a pound, that’s all. If you dont have it then fine, fine — but what you handing me all this stuff for? Jesus Christ!
I’ll Jesus Christ you! Dont you use that kind of language in this house!
Tammas got up off the chair and for a second they stood glowering at each other, then he strode out and ben the room where he sat down on the bed. Not many more minutes and the outside door banged shut. Tammas sat on, staring at the wall.
Around 1 pm he was sitting in the living room with the radio playing, drinking coffee. He had checked through every pocket in his bedroom. He considered trying the pawn with his old suit — the new one had gone back in a couple of days ago. But there was no chance of them taking the old one. The radio was the only true possibility; aside from the watch Margaret had given him as a birthday present some months ago. He rarely wore the thing anyway. Usually it lay on top of his bedroom cupboard. In fact he had no real need of a watch. But the problem was she would notice its disappearance.
The meter bowl contained four 10 pence coins. Tammas had dropped in a couple of quid’s worth less than a week since.
He got up from the settee and peered inside again. Then he withdrew three of them and quickly grabbed his jerkin, put on his shoes, and went straight out. He walked into town to a snooker hall he occasionally played in with Billy. It was situated between a pub and a betting shop, down below street level. Before entering he laid a 20 pence bet up in the bookie’s.
The hall was mobbed. Every table occupied and a queue of more than twenty guys for a game. An attendant watched him come in the swing doors; he walked to the cashier’s desk and had his name added to the list.
It’ll be maybe an hour and a half till you get on, she said to him.
Ach well. . he shrugged. He remained for more than an hour, spectating at different games. As he turned to leave he said to the guy next to him: You got a spare fag at all?
The guy brought out a packet and gave him one.
Ta.
The guy made no response.
Upstairs in the bookmaker’s he strolled to the board with the results. His bet had lost. He stared at the results for some time. Then he walked home and thoroughly searched the house, finding a tiny amount of halfpences inside a vase on top of the living room mantelpiece.
He lay outstretched on the settee then got up and went to the bedroom and setting the alarm for 5 o’clock he got undressed and into bed. But he leaned over to the clock and pressed in the alarm stopper a moment later.
•••
He was standing at the bar with the half pint of beer when in walked Phil, the elderly man who did occasional work in the betting shop down the road. They exchanged nods. He glanced at the half pint and gestured at it to the barman. Pint of the same for the boy there, he said.
Right you are Phil.
Tammas smiled. Cheers. How’s it going?
Ah no bad no bad. Yourself?
Eh, struggling, struggling.
Aye. . I thought I saw steam coming out of your beer!
Tammas waited for the barman to serve the drinks before saying, Results are murder!
Results are always murder. You should know that by now. I heard you were getting a turn these days but?
That was last week! They build it out of all proportion anyway.
Phil nodded. He was drinking whisky and a pony of beer; he called for another whisky, swallowed what had been left of his first one. He said. Aye son you’re best to say nothing. Never tell a soul. Nothing. The best way.
Aye.
Phil drank the second whisky, followed it with the remainder of his beer, set the glasses firmly on the counter beside each other. I’m away, he said, before the crowd shows up.
Thanks for the pint.
Phil frowned and raised his right forefinger to across his lips: Ssshh. Then he reached out to shake hands with Tammas, and left two £1 notes inside his palm. Mind now, he said. Say nothing.
Thanks Phil.
He had moved to a table near the darts’ area when John and Billy arrived. Donnie came at their back, pausing to collect the dominoes and the board from behind the bar. Me and you, he said to Tammas. Eh? Will we take them on?
And sitting down he upturned the box onto the board, the dominoes coming tumbling out. He began shuffling them with both hands spread widely, his elbows sticking up in the air. And he said to John: So it’s Manchester eh!
Aye what’s this we’ve been hearing? asked Billy.