He’s just round the corner in the bloody chip shop! cried Rab.
What. . what was that? The first policeman frowned and he stepped closer to Rab. What was that? What d’you say there? I never really heard you right son what was it?
Rab looked away.
Naw I thought you might’ve swore there son but I’m no sure. Did you I mean? Did you swear?
After a moment the other policeman asked: Where d’you stay?
Just along the road, said Billy.
I’m no asking you I’m asking him. The policeman pointed to Rab. It’s you I’m asking.
Rab sniffed. He was standing away from the window now. He replied, Scotstoun.
Scotstoun. Fine, right, the bus-stop’s over the road.
Aye but he’s coming up to my house, said Billy.
Naw he’s no, no the night he’s no, he’s changed his mind, he’s just going home.
I’m no, said Rab.
Aye you are, you’ve changed your mind.
I have not changed my mind.
The first policeman grinned: He’s steamboats anyhow, look at him, he can hardly stand.
If you ask me they’re all steamboats. . The policeman shook his head. He glanced at Rab: What’s wrong? Can you no hold your drink or something?
Tammas stepped over, nearby Rab, and he said to him: Come on man time we were moving.
I’ll tell you something, said the policeman, it’s time yous were all moving; and if yous are no out of here in five minutes flat I’ll do the lot of yous. Ye listening now? D’yous understand?
After a brief silence the other policeman gestured with his thumb: On your way.
Move! said the first one. Then his attention was attracted to John who was pointing along the street. Donnie had appeared. He was walking quite quickly, then he slowed. He was holding the bag of fish and chips in his left hand and in his right he held a chip. He continued on towards them, putting the chip into his mouth.
John said, It’s the mate.
Just keep walking, grunted the policeman, just keep walking. And yous go with him, and dont stop, dont even look back.
Tammas nudged Rab with his elbow and the five of them continued on along the street in silence. It was Donnie who spoke first. What the fuck happened?
Billy replied, Tell you in the house.
Dirty bastards, muttered Rab, the dirty fucking bastards.
Tammas nodded. I’m leaving this dump man I’m definitely leaving, definitely fucking leaving.
Okay Tammas you can take my place! Donnie gestured at him with a chip and grinned: You go to New Zealand and I’ll just stay here.
Rab swivelled round and grabbed him by the shoulder and shouted: You dont go to New Zealand man and I’ll fucking have ye, I’ll fucking have ye man. .
What! Donnie moved forwards, turning and picking off his hand: What d’you say ya cunt?
You fucking heard what I said!
Aye I fucking heard alright!
Ya bastard. .
What? Donnie was glaring at him, the bag of chips and fish clutched in his left hand.
This is fucking hopeless, cried Billy.
Well what’s up with him then? shouted Donnie.
He just had bother with the fucking polis! Tammas said, Did you no notice?
Donnie glanced at him, then poked himself on the chest: Well he shouldnt get fucking onto me that’s all I’m fucking saying.
Tammas nodded.
John said, Come on, we better go, just in case they come.
I agree, said Billy.
You always fucking agree, muttered Tammas.
Aye, just get onto me now.
What?
Well, fuck sake. .
Tammas looked at him. Then he added, Right, sorry; sorry.
Let’s just go up the house out the road.
Tammas nodded.
Donnie said, I think I’ll just go home.
Naw you’re no, you’re fucking coming — eh Tammas?
Tammas smiled.
Come on, said Rab. Donnie. . I shouldnt’ve fucking. . He sniffed: Sorry about that. I mean I shouldnt’ve fucking. . He shook his head.
Donnie nodded, he squashed the bag of fish and chips into a ball and he threw it into the gutter.
•••
They travelled by hoist up to the 2nd floor. It was quiet here, hardly any machinery. Most of the workers were female. A transistor radio was playing pop music. Ralphie grinned and nudged Tammas; they walked in the direction of the foreman’s office, down between rows of long workbenches where women were cutting rectangular sections out of ragged, flat pieces of plastic, the discarded bits being tossed into wide containers beneath the benches. Ralphie paused by one of the women for a chat. Beside her two girls were working and talking together while slicing through the plastic with short stubby knives.
They continued on to the office. Ralphie chapped the door and opened it and entered immediately. The foreman had been studying sheets of paper. He squinted up at them and said: It’s yourself Ralphie?
Aye.
Hh! So how’s life?
No bad, no bad. Wee McCreadie’s retired.
I heard, I heard. He’ll be dead in a month!
Ralphie smiled.
Shouldnt say that I suppose! The foreman raised his eyebrows; he folded his arms then sat back on his chair. So. . what can I do for you?
Ralphie shrugged. Me and the boy here were told to report to you.
Were you? Hh, well well well. He unfolded his arms and sat forwards again, took a tipped cigarette from the packet on the desk; and when he had it alight he sat back, resting his elbows on the chair-arms. He said: Know who I saw last week?
Ralphie shook his head.
Thompson. Mind of him?
Thompson?
Over your way he worked.
Eh. .
Big heavy set kind of fellow.
Thompson?
Aye, no mind of him?
Eh. . naw, cant say I do, cant say I do, to be honest.
The foreman grinned. You’re getting auld son you’re getting auld!
Thanks a lot!
Naw, so. . The foreman leaned forwards and said: Yous’ve lost the Belgian order eh! Pity, pity.
Ralphie shrugged.
So what d’you do now?
Ah they’re talking about the nightshift coming off for good.
Are they? Aye, I heard that.
Ralphie nodded.
Aye, it’s a game! So, yous’ve to report to me eh! He glanced at Tammas. It must be the shifting they want you on. Nothing else I can think of. The two of yous Ralphie, on the shifting, the lassies’ bins — got to shift them out the road when they get full otherwise they cant get working properly. He paused and he took a long drag on his cigarette. When he exhaled he blew the smoke onto the desk, scattering ash from out the ashtray. You take the bins out the back yard, he said. You’ll see the pitch when you get there. Okay?
Okay, aye. . Ralphie paused then turned to leave.
The foreman said: So how d’you fancy this neck of the woods?
In here you mean?
Aye. . The foreman winked. The lassies and that. . They’re good workers mind you, I’ll say that for them!
Ralphie nodded. I know what you mean. By the way, I take it we use a bogie or something?
O aye, aye. You’ll get one up in the storeroom maybe, or out in the yard. And Ralphie, mind the bins — you know what like they are in this bloody place! Steal the braces off your trousers if you gave them the chance!
On their way back down between the row of benches Ralphie paused to say something to the woman he had spoken to earlier but she contorted her face and continued to stare at the plastic in front of her, and she whispered: Dont look now but he’s keeking out the window!
O Jesus Christ. . Ralphie smothered a laugh and they walked on at once.
At the top end of the section the two girls were now assisting another woman load a flat trolley with cut plastic sections. The woman said something to them and they laughed loudly.
The hoist arrived and Tammas pulled open the gates; and when Ralphie stepped inside he closed the gates, and pressed the button for the ground floor.