Neither am I.
Aw. He nodded, took two cigarettes out and gave one to her; he struck a match and she leaned to take a light from its flame. And she asked: Did you get home alright the other time?
The other time?
You were away so bloody fast! I didnt even know if you had enough for a taxi.
I did. Hey d’you fancy something to eat?
I’m no hungry at all. You do if you want but, you get something.
I’m no bothering. But I mean if you wanted something. . He shrugged.
I dont, thanks.
Mm. He sniffed, dragged on the cigarette and exhaled at the floor.
Are you playing poker the night?
Ah I’m no sure.
Joe says you carry a bit of luck.
Does he?
Aye.
Honest?
Vi nodded. She lifted her handbag onto her lap and opened it, and footered with something inside.
Actually I was going to play — give it a try anyway.
He says it’s quite hard, Joe — a lot of good players.
Hh.
It’ll be right if Joe says it.
O aye I know, I wasnt meaning that I just — it doesnt really matter if I go skint, I’m no really worried.
Vi looked at him.
He sniffed, inhaled on his cigarette. What I mean is that I’ve got enough to lose without worrying about it.
She shrugged slightly, gazed back down into her handbag.
I’m no actually bothered anyway. About playing I mean.
Vi’s cigarette had been smouldering on the edge of the ashtray and when she lifted it a length of grey ash remained behind. She glanced at him and then across at the counter.
D’you fancy going like?
What d’you say?
Tammas shrugged. I was just wondering, whether you fancy just going, just now I mean.
Vi made no answer.
Is that guy Stan with you?
No.
Good then I could see you home. Eh? Eh Vi?
She shrugged.
Can I see you home?
If you like.
•••
With the door unlocked she paused before pushing it open and stepping inside, into a tiny lobby. She waited until he was beside her then put on the light, closed and locked the door. He followed her into a room; it was a kitchen, with a bed in a wall recess. There were a small table with two wooden chairs, a two-seater settee and a television set on its own legs.
Vi filled a kettle at the sink, switched on the electric cooker and put the kettle on a ring.
On the bed, at the foot of it, sat a big doll and a weer one. Other toys were on the floor to the side of the fireplace. Things belonging to a girl. On the mantelpiece was a photograph of a baby in a sort of babychair.
Vi had switched on the electric fire and was now preparing two mugs of coffee. Tammas was sitting on the edge of the settee, he turned to say: Does she sleep ben the room? the wee lassie?
Vi frowned. Ben what room! Anyhow, d’you really think I’d leave her by herself while I was away out gallivanting?
He nodded.
She passed him a mug of coffee and came round to sit down on the other side of the settee, putting the mug down on the floor. She kicked off her shoes and reached to massage her toes. She’s across the landing. . In with Cathy, my neighbour.
Aw aye.
In fact, I think I better go in and see how she is. Vi pulled a pair of slippers from beneath the settee and she slipped them on. She took a key from the mantelpiece. I’ll just be a minute.
Fine, aye.
When she had gone he took off his jacket and then took off his shoes, and he lighted a cigarette, stretched his legs so that his feet were just to the front of the fire. Then he nipped the cigarette into an ashtray. His coffee was untouched. He carried it to the sink and emptied it down the drain. Back on the settee he put a cushion in at the small of his back and he stretched out once more.
It was nearly half an hour she was gone. He heard the outside door being unlocked, opened, closing and being locked again; all very quietly. Vi entered. He had his eyelids shut and he did not move. She waited by the door for a long time. She came forwards, very quietly. Another few seconds and she began humming a tune, began moving about the room. On two occasions he was aware of a breeze when she passed close bye, her skirt perhaps.
Then the click of the light switch and he opened his eyelids. He could hear her undressing behind the settee. And then the mattress jolting. And after she had settled he listened to her breathing, irregular at first.
When he awakened he felt really stiff, his shoulders and neck and legs all cramped. And he had been lying on his cigarette packet. He leaned to turn off the electric fire, sitting until the bars stopped glowing. He lifted the half cigarette from the ashtray and found his matches on the floor. He did not smoke it. He knelt on the floor and stared across at the bed. Vi’s shape was easily recognisable though he could not hear her breathing. He stood up.
She was on her back, and the shape of her breasts, rise falling pause, rise falling pause. She lay close in to the wall. After a moment he returned to between the fire and the settee and he took off his clothes but left on his underpants. At the bedside he raised the blankets and the sheet very carefully, very slowly, until there was enough space for him to climb inside. He lay on his back close to the edge without moving for a period, gradually inclining his head in her direction, becoming more aware of her warmth, a smell of perfume or soap. Then he turned a little, to touch her shoulder with his left hand, the material of her nightdress nudging his forefingernail.
He watched her and listened but except for her breathing there was neither sound nor movement. She was asleep. He kept on watching her.
The next he woke up the kettle was boiling, whistling; and the smell of bread toasting beneath the grill. He lay in the same position as he had awakened, watching her. She did not notice. He continued to watch her for a wee while then he said, Hullo Vi. And he raised himself up to rest on his elbows.
She poked her tongue out at him, turned to check the toast. He grinned and got out of bed. About time too, she said and she glanced at him, and glanced away immediately. He had an erection. He coughed and grabbed his trousers, pulled them on at once and went ben the lavatory. He pissed eventually but got another erection. After a moment he took out the wad of notes from his hip pocket and he counted it, studied the numbers of each one.
When he returned to the kitchen she was sitting on the settee munching a slice of toast. Yours is under the grill, she told him. Tea’s in the pot — unless you want a coffee. .
Doesnt matter, thanks; tea’s great. He lifted his shirt from the wooden chair and took it with him to the sink. He washed his hands and face and neck. There was a mirror to the side. When he glanced in it he saw Vi looking at him. Then she looked away. He smoothed his hair down with his hands. What time is it? he asked.
Ten, about.
Is that all. That’s good. He had turned to the oven, bending slightly to pull out the grill-pan. It made a sort of grating noise.
Vi smiled at him for a moment then she looked at the fire.
He put the toast back down. He stepped towards her and he took both of her hands in his and leaned to her but she rose from the settee. They put their arms round each other, clinging together, then he kissed her neck, and upwards to the lobe of her ear, and she moved her head a little, till they were kissing each other’s lips; then they broke away and clung with their arms round each other again and Vi chuckled.
Vi, he said. He sighed and lifted her up off the floor, walked forwards still holding her.
Put me down, she said and she had to raise her feet to avoid kicking something.
He laughed but continued towards the recess and as she toppled onto the bed he went with her, landing almost on top of her and they were kissing again. She arched her back from him when he attempted to unloosen the strap of her bra but tugged her jumper back down when he pulled it up. She pushed him from her and he stood down. It’s okay, she said. Just. . we’ll go into bed first.