Tammas was smoking. He took the cigarette from his mouth with his left hand and he gripped the neck of the vodka bottle with his right. What was that? he asked.
You got a light? A match?
A match. . He sniffed. He passed the cigarette to him.
The youth used it to light his own cigarette then passed it back. Ta, he said.
Tammas nodded. He looked at them for a moment. He walked on at the same pace, without looking back. About five minutes after this a taxi slowed to round a corner at a junction ahead of him. He hesitated, then began running, following it along the street. It halted halfway up and a couple got out. They paid the driver. Tammas shouted: Hey! Taxi!
The man and woman stared at him. They were entering a garden, walking the path to the door of a semi detached bungalow.
Can you take me to this address? he said, showing the driver the bit of paper.
Ah sorry son, replied the driver, I’m going back to Glasgow.
Come on and take us eh? I’m walking in circles.
The driver shook his head. Sorry.
Aw come on eh? I’m lost. I’ve got to get. Honest.
The driver looked at him. He sighed. Okay, but hurry up.
Aw ta, thanks a lot.
Where is it?
Tammas handed him the bit of paper.
Less than five minutes later and they were there. A garden surrounded the house and when he pushed open the gate it swung back smoothly. There was a porch at the front door and a light was on in it; lights were also on inside the house. But no noise could be heard. After a moment he uncapped his bottle and swigged at the vodka. He said, Fuck — and then he pressed the doorbell.
Vi opened the door. She gazed at him. He was grinning. Tammas, she said. What you doing here?
First-footing! He brandished the vodka. . Am I to get allowed in?
She shook her head slightly, released the doorhandle and stepped to the side so that he could enter. She shut the door softly and guided him into a kitchen. They stood in silence. Tammas stared about at the different things. Then she said, They were lovely presents you got. You shouldnt’ve bothered.
Ach! He shrugged. He added, Christ! What a time I had getting here! Terrible! He nodded at her. He laid the bottle on top of one of the cupboard units and he took out his cigarettes, offering her one but she shook her head. He struck a match for his own, staring about the room again. Big place, he said. Milly’s?
Belongs to Joe actually.
Aw. Aw aye.
It’s worth a lot. . What did you no get in touch with me for?
Sorry, it was just eh. He sniffed and inhaled on the cigarette.
Vi had folded her arms; she was gazing at him. She shook her head and she turned and walked slowly to the window over the sink and she looked out through the slats in the blind. How did you know where to come?
Cathy. I thought you might’ve been there if you werent in your own place. .
Vi made no answer.
There was a few people in her house.
You shouldnt’ve come Tammas.
What?
You shouldnt’ve come. Vi was still looking out through the slats in the blind. She had spoken very quietly.
After a moment he said: What’s up?
She sighed. You know you never even told me you wanted to see me again — when you went away; you never even said you wanted to see me again.
What?
She turned to face him; her arms were still folded and she was leaning with the small of her back against the sink. I mean you didnt even get in touch with me.
He nodded.
Vi sighed again and she smiled slightly, shaking her head. She strolled to the cupboard unit next to the refrigerator and she handled some of the glasses there. She was wearing a longish dress. She stood about three yards from him. He cleared his throat and dragged on the cigarette. I’m sorry, he said. He nodded. That’s a nice dress Vi, it’s nice.
She glanced at him. What did you come for?
Just first-footing you! He grinned.
She shook her head and looked away.
That was daft, no getting in touch with you, honest Vi, I’m sorry.
She nodded. What made you come away out here?
I told you first-footing.
It’s a long way.
Aye you’re no kidding — even worse when you’ve got to hoof it!
Hoof it?
Aye, Christ, took us ages to get a taxi. Walked for miles!
She nodded, looking at him.
D’you want a vodka? He patted his jacket pocket.
I’m drinking gin — I’ve got one through the room.
Aw. .
Vi glanced at her wristwatch.
Is Joe and Milly in there?
Milly is but Joe’s in his bed.
In his bed! Tammas grinned.
Vi shrugged. He said he was tired — and he’s going to Ayr Races the morrow afternoon.
Christ aye, I forgot it was on. You going as well?
Hh! Sitting about in that bar! She glanced at the wristwatch again.
After a moment he said: Is there something up?
No.
He nodded. Sure you dont want a vodka?
No, I told you.
Aye, sorry. Tammas glanced at the length of grey ash at the end of his cigarette and he tapped it onto the palm of his left hand, walked to deposit it into the sink. He took another puff on the cigarette then doused it; he pushed it through the drain. When he returned to where he had been standing he did so without looking at her. And took out his cigarette packet.
You’ve just put one out, she said.
Aye it’s this drinking, makes you thirsty. . He glanced at her before striking the match. He blew it out and put it back inside the matchbox. I dont suppose you’ve got a can of beer at all?
I’ll get you one.
He watched her walk round him and out through the doorway, shutting it behind herself. Minutes passed. He was across by the window looking out by the time she returned. Remaining by the door she gestured him over: Come on ben.
He frowned at her.
It’ll be okay.
He sniffed and followed her without speaking.
It was very warm in the other room and the lighting was dim. Charlie, the guy who had backed the losers at the racetrack, was dozing in an armchair and Vi’s brother-in-law Stan was sitting next to Ann on a long sofa. Milly was there and so too were half a dozen other people. There was a hi-fi system and a Frank Sinatra song was playing quietly. Vi patted him on the wrist, indicating a laden dining table in one corner of the room. She gave him a can of export and pointed at the empty glasses, then left him; she walked over to sit down behind Stan. Another man who was sitting nearby leaned closer to begin chatting. The others were talking among themselves. One of the men was accompanying the singer on the record, but only by mouthing the words.
Once he had poured the can of beer Tammas stuck the empty beside a pile of others and he hesitated for a moment, looking across at the folk, and he waited there, before going slowly to a dining chair at the side of the table. He nodded at Stan who had gazed at him. He sipped the froth off the beer, inhaled on his cigarette and lifted an ashtray down from the table, placing it on the floor near his feet. Eventually he glanced around the room at the different things on display, at the pictures on the wall and the large curtains reaching from the ceiling to the floor. The song ended and another one started, also by Frank Sinatra. And then one of the woman stood to her feet; she was saying something to Milly about the weather and she finished saying it before coming across to the table. She smiled at Tammas as she lifted a large plateful of sandwiches in one hand and a smaller plateful of cakes in the other. She offered them about to the people in the room. When she returned the plates to the table she said to Tammas: Help yourself.
No thanks, he replied. He continued sipping at the beer, not gazing at the others in the room. When the record ended one of the men put on another one in the same style. Tammas brought out his cigarette packet then returned it immediately. He shifted on his chair and glanced at the assortment of stuff on the table. Then Vi was rising from the sofa. Her feet were bare. She yawned, coming over to the table, to lift a sandwich; she bit a piece, looking at him. It’s warm in here, she said.