Well. . he nodded.
Charlie shrugged.
Fine then, we’ll go and eat. Joe stepped aside to allow Milly and Ann stand up from their chairs and he said to Tammas: We’re no waiting for the last race son we’re just going for a meal and then I dont know, going up a casino or something — you’re welcome to tag along if you like, eh Charlie?
Aye. Charlie shrugged, stuck his hands in his trouser pockets and he turned, headed the group towards the exit.
Tammas followed at the rear.
Little was said during the walk to the cars. There were two, driven by Joe and Charlie, parked in a side street off the main Glasgow road. After a moment’s discussion Joe waved Tammas into his car, into the rear while Milly got into the passenger’s seat. Vi was first into Charlie’s car, with Charlie holding the door for her. Joe waited for the other to drive off and he said to Milly: We’ll no see him now, no till we reach the restaurant!
Milly chuckled.
From the back seat Tammas reached across with his cigarettes and when Joe slowed to a halt at the junction of the main road he struck a match and they each got a light. Joe said, Eh son if you’re fancying coming along to the casino with us you’ll need to get a shirt and a tie. He laughed briefly: It’s no like eh. . He cleared his throat in a significant way.
Tammas had given Joe instruction on reaching his street. He raced upstairs and put on his good suit and a shirt and tie and he called a cheerio to Margaret who had just returned home from work. Dont make me any tea, he said as she looked out from the kitchen.
She raised her eyebrows but then smiled. He closed the door, trotted back down the stairs and out through the close. Joe had kept the engine ticking over.
The other group had almost finished eating when they arrived. It was at an Indian restaurant on Sauchiehall Street. From there they strolled along to a lounge bar. An hour later they were walking upstairs and into the Royal casino. Tammas had to sign his name and enter his address in a big book that lay open on a table in the entrance lobby. The doorman wore a tuxedo and watched him write.
Inside there were roulette tables and blackjack tables and one for craps but there was no chemin de fer being played, and no table set aside for it. Quite a lot of people were about, both sexes, the women standing mainly at the roulette wheels. Vi and Stan and the other two women were among them. Joe and Charlie had vanished. Tammas walked around for a few minutes but without seeing them. Eventually he stopped by one of the blackjack tables and after watching for a wee while he made a bet. Ten minutes later he had lost about half of what he had returned from the races with. He went to the coffee lounge.
Some time later he looked up from next morning’s Daily Record. Vi was there. Thought you had left, she said, sitting down at the opposite side of the table.
Naw. Sudden death in there! I just came out.
She nodded.
Too fast. You hardly have time to think.
Mm, you’re telling me. . She glanced around the room. After a moment she continued, Ann and Charlie are away home — still fighting.
He smiled, lowered his gaze to the newspaper then added, I thought Joe told me they played poker in this place?
They do but it’ll no be for a wee while yet. Vi yawned; she glanced at the page Tammas was reading and muttered. Horses horses horses — d’you think you could get me a coffee please?
What — sorry, aye. . he slapped the newspaper on the table surface as he rose but she shook her head: Dont bother.
What?
Dont bother I said, I dont want one.
Tammas hesitated.
I dont.
He shrugged, sat back down. He took his cigarettes from his pocket and offered her one. She accepted it and then took the light from him. Did you lose at roulette? he asked.
You must be joking. I dont have any money to lose at gambling. I only came to keep Milly company.
Aw aye.
Not that she ever wins. And then she’s going on at Joe for more money all the time; it gets embarassing.
Are they married like?
Vi laughed.
He shrugged slightly and smiled. He gazed upwards in the direction of the electric wall clock.
Are you playing poker? she asked.
Who me, naw, no the night. He sniffed: What about you? what do you do? Do you wait till they’re finished or what?
Finished! I’d be here all night! No, just till Stan’s lost his money at blackjack or roulette or whatever it is. . She had gestured vaguely in the direction of the gaming room. Now she glanced at him: He’s my brother-in-law — alright?
What?
Vi frowned. I said he’s my brother-in-law. He follows me about like a guard dog. Anyways, she added, I wouldnt worry about it, I dont fancy getting done for babysnatching.
Tammas was staring at her. She had opened her handbag and was looking in at the contents, her head bent to it. Then he was blushing; and he sniffed, inhaled on his cigarette. He shut the newspaper. I’m off eh. . He stood to his feet. If you can tell Joe for me and that I’ll eh, see him again.
Vi looked at him.
Cheerio.
Cheerio. She shrugged.
•••
Donnie was frowning. He looked round the table at the others. I dont know what we wanted to come here for anyhow, he said. He swivelled on his seat, stared across at the counter: I mean imagine going up to that bent shot behind the bar and asking for a set of dominoes! Eh? Can you imagine it! What a fucking dump!
Rab laughed: A place is a dump if they dont play dominoes!
Aye, well. . Donnie raised his pint glass, swallowed the remainder of the lager. Then he placed the empty carefully in the centre of the table; he cleared a space round it amongst the ash and spilled beer.
Hint hint, said Billy.
Aye John come on for fuck sake, muttered Rab.
What d’you mean?
Donnie glanced at him. Dont tell me it’s to be this kind of fucking carry on! Tonight of all nights! My testimonial John — eh, fuck sake!
As far as I knew we were having a kitty.
Aye, said Rab, as soon as you weigh in with your round we’re getting one going.
We still dont have to stay here, said Billy.
Donnie glared at him. We’re no going to fucking start that again. We’re here and we’re staying. I didnt want to come here in the first place but I did, I did, and now I’m going to fucking stay — so sit on your arse.
Tammas grinned. Come on man for Christ sake surely it makes a change from Simpson’s?
Fuck all wrong with Simpson’s.
We dont want you telling every cunt in New Zealand there’s only one pub in Scotland.
Only one pint by the looks of it!
Aye John for Christ sake!
Come on John!
Aye ya cunt ye get the round up.
Fuck off! replied John but he got up and walked in the direction of the bar.
Billy was looking roundabout and he said: Still and all but Donnie, nice to see a couple of birds once in a while. You must admit.
Admit fuck all! What’s up with auld Mattie? Nice as looking a bird as you’ll see anywhere!
Clatty Mattie! Rab gaped at him. Then he laughed: Hey, we should’ve brought her with us. Go down a bomb in here man — a couple of glass of eldee inside her and she’d be up on top of the bent shot’s bar doing tricks with a guiness bottle.
Aw shut up for fuck sake!
They were still laughing when John returned with the beer balanced on a circular tray which he set down. He began passing out the pints. You’ve no to go the bar for the bevy in future, he said, you’ve to get one of the waitresses. The barman told me.
Aw John, you’re as good as a waitress any day!
I’m just telling you what the guy says. I dont give two fucks what you do!