O.
He nodded, gazing at her. Eventually she changed her stance, adjusting the cardboard box, and he moved to her. Eh Vi let us hold it a minute. .
What’re you going to work at?
It’s a guy I know that’s fixing me up, he’s a spark — an electrician — he’s going to get me in labouring to him. He glanced along the close in the direction of the staircase; a door had opened and banged shut somewhere above. Eh Vi can I tell you up in the house?
She made no answer. A person was coming down the stairs, a woman; she came walking through, head bowed, muttering, Hullo Violet.
Hullo.
When the woman had gone Tammas pointed at the cardboard box but Vi shook her head, leant her shoulder against the wall, readjusting the weight distribution. And she said, When you coming back?
I dont know. No that long I dont think — it depends.
She nodded; and sighed.
If it’s rubbish I’ll no stay.
Is it the North Sea?
Naw, it’s just a building site — a big yin right enough. I’m no sure what it’s for.
Maybe it’s another prison.
Hh.
And do you want to go?
He shrugged.
Is the money good?
Supposed to be, aye. He sniffed. D’you have to meet Stan?
He’s expecting me.
Could you no phone him or something?
No, no really.
Aw. . he moved a step to her, put his hand up to her face, curved onto her cheek; when she looked at him he bent to kiss her on the lips. Soon she broke from him.
O Tammas. She closed her eyelids, shaking her head slightly.
He glanced away, inhaled on the cigarette.
When is it you’re leaving?
I’m no sure. Soon.
How soon?
I dont know — just depends. The guy. . He glanced at her: What time’ll you be back at? The night I mean.
Vi did not respond for a while, then she sighed and looked out the close
I could come back later.
No.
Hh; Vi. . He shook his head and he moved to her again, putting his right arm round her shoulder, standing side on to her, and then leaning to put his cheek to hers. She made no movement, still looking in the direction of the street. You smell great. . he whispered.
Vi began to say something but did not.
Have you got to go out with him?
She nodded.
Could you no phone him?
No.
You sure?
Honest Tammas.
Okay. He raised the cigarette to his mouth and dragged deeply, and as he exhaled he moved away from her. She shifted the weight of her body onto the other foot, adjusting the cardboard box in her arms. And she said, I better go up.
What about the morrow night then?
Okay.
Okay?
Aye.
Hh. He grinned. The morrow night?
Okay, She nodded, smiling.
The morrow night? It’s a Saturday remember!
Aye, okay.
Hh. He grinned, shaking his head.
What time?
What time? Eh. .
I’ll be home about sevenish.
Sevenish?
Aye, we’re always later on Saturdays. You could just come up then, say about half past.
Aye Christ.
She smiled as she walked past him and he watched her to the foot of the stairs where she half turned to smile again.
•••
He went into the cafe on the way home, buying a sausage supper to take up the stair with him. The lobby was in darkness, no lights showing beneath any of the doors. He switched on the radio and made a pot of tea, ate the sausages and chips off the greaseproof paper wrapping, the Evening Times spread out on the table at the sports’ pages. Some dirty crockery and things were on the draining board and he stacked them in the washing-up bowl and boiled water. He was at the sink when the front door opened. It was Margaret and Robert; they went straight along to their bedroom then one of them came out and across to the bathroom. A few minutes later Robert appeared in the doorway, calling: Hullo.
Hullo. . Tammas glanced round at him, his hands still in the bowl of sudsy water. And when his brother-in-law gave an exaggerated sniff he said, I’ve just finished my tea — chips I had; a sausage supper.
Mm, smell it a mile away. I’ll just see if eh. . Robert nodded, backing out and shutting over the door.
Tammas frowned; he stared at the door, puffing on the cigarette, using two fingers carefully on the tip while withdrawing it from his mouth. He carried on washing the dishes with the cigarette wedged in at the corner of his mouth, screwing his eyebrows upward to avoid the drifting smoke.
The two of them entered together, Robert sitting down at the table and Margaret coming to the sink area and lifting a kettle. Tammas stepped to the side to allow her in to the tap. There’s some tea in the pot, he said. Probably only lukewarm now right enough.
She nodded.
Were yous out?
We went for a meal, called Robert; that new steakhouse place at Charing Cross.
Aw. Any good?
No bad. A wee bit pricey but I thought.
Margaret was standing with the teapot in her hand. Can you let me in to rinse it? she asked.
Sorry. . He lifted the bowl out to make way for her.
Have you ever been in it yourself? called Robert.
Once or twice, aye.
How long’s it been open then?
Eh, I’m no sure. About six month maybe.
Robert nodded; and while Tammas moved to return the bowl his attention was attracted to the Evening Times. Tammas said, I think there’s no a bad picture coming on. . He had his hands back in the bowl now then he lifted over a dirty pot and dipped it in, reached for a brillo pad.
No, said Margaret, it’s non-stick, you’ll just scratch it.
Aw aye, sorry.
You’re best just filling it with water and leaving it to soak — it’s the porridge one anyway isnt it?
Aye.
Well just leave it to soak.
Okay. He puffed on the cigarette and some ash fell into the water. There was another pot on the draining board with the remains of scrambled egg on its inside. He dried his right hand on the teatowel and took the cigarette out his mouth, inhaled and exhaled, tapping ash into the rubbish bin. Then he filled the other pot with water and muttered, I’ll just leave this yin to soak as well I think.
Margaret and Robert had been exchanging looks. And it was Robert who said, Aye eh could you sit down for a minute Tammas, me and Margaret, we were wanting a word with you.
Aw aye.
It’s nothing bad.
Tammas sniffed. Margaret was looking at him. He nodded, but continued to stand there, the small of his back leaning against the sink. Shifting his weight onto his right foot he folded his arms. Robert said, D’you mind if I turn the radio down a bit?
Naw — turn it off all the gether if you like.
You sure?
Tammas shrugged. He had a last couple of puffs on the fag before dousing it in the sink and sticking it into the rubbish bin. The kettle of water began boiling; he filled the teapot. Margaret said, Tammas. . and then stopped.
Robert glanced at her.
Tammas asked, Is it to do with the job? I mean because I chucked it and that?
Well. . Margaret sighed. It’s no really only to do with that Tammas.
Cause it was really terrible you know I mean God sake, hh, terrible. You’d have to be crazy to work at it, that rolling machine — terrible!
Robert shrugged.
Naw Robert I’m no kidding ye.
Aye fair enough I’m no saying anything, except maybe if once you’d get used to it and that.
I would never’ve got used to it.
Robert shrugged again.
But what about Billy’s dad? Margaret asked. Is it no a showing up for him after getting you in like that?
Well Margaret he never really got me in so much as well just the form and that I mean so I could fill it in.