What’re you talking about, knew? Knew what!
Vi looked at him and he laughed.
He peered down at her when she spoke; he had his hands beneath his head on the pillow and she with her head on his chest, lying almost on top of him. About the crisps, she said, that first time we met — what was it you said again?
Pardon?
Vi was grinning. You said something when you dished out the crisps, that first time we met, down at Ayr Races. Remember? You went up and bought a round of drinks for everybody and then dished up a pile of crisps. Vi laughed. And you said something — I dont remember. Just the way you said it but. You should’ve seen Charlie’s face.
How what d’you mean?
I dont know, it was just funny.
What I said?
Well aye, and the way Charlie looked. And he made a face behind your back.
What?
Honest! Vi laughed.
Christ. He had shifted to see her more fully: What kind of face?
It was as if he thought you thought you were somebody, because you’d won the money.
Hh! That’s f — that’s terrible.
Vi chuckled.
Naw, Christ, all I did was buy a round up.
I know but it was the way you did it, and all these crisps!
Christ. Tammas shook his head, and he twisted sideways, leaning out the bed to collect the cigarettes and box of matches from the floor.
It’s okay; it was just funny.
She had her hand on his back as he struck the match, keeping the action outside of the bed, and he blew out the flame while lifting the ashtray to dump in the spent match. He lay higher up on the pillow, his head against the headboard. Who is that guy anyway Vi?
Charlie you mean? I dont know really. He’s married to Ann — she’s a good pal of Milly’s.
So he’s no actually mates with Joe?
I’m no sure. How?
He shrugged.
Maybe he is. What do you want to know for?
Naw I was just wondering.
Vi gazed up at him and indicated the cigarette; and he gave her a drag of it, holding it for her.
I was going to ask you, he said, and he sniffed. . It might sound daft. It was just — see Joe and that? Tammas inhaled on the cigarette; he exhaled and asked, What does he actually do?
Joe?
Aye I mean just how he, I was wondering, how he makes a living and that. .
Och he does different things.
Tammas nodded.
Vi was lying side on to him once more, her left arm on his chest, looking up at him. He just does different things.
What like but I mean?
Vi chuckled.
Naw I was just wondering. . He leaned to flick the ash down into the ashtray on the floor.
I dont know.
You dont know what he does?
No really, no.
Honest?
Aye honest, of course honest! Vi slapped him on the chest.
He smiled, holding onto her wrist.
Well — I’ll bloody honest ye!
Sorry!
You should be and all! She slapped him on the chest again.
Ssshh. . he pointed over to the cot.
And you should be glad anyway, cause he sticks up for you.
Joe?
Aye.
Hh.
He says you’re just young! Vi laughed.
Tammas looked at her.
She slapped him on the chest: Milly doesnt think I should be seeing you. She says you’re a chancer.
What?
Vi laughed.
But he shook his head. That’s terrible. Naw, no kidding ye Vi. . He shook his head again.
She was still laughing.
Naw, he said, hh, that’s really terrible. I mean she doesnt even know me Christ, that’s no fair. It’s no.
Vi was smiling.
Naw but. . It’s just no fair.
O come on! dont worry about it — that’s just Milly! Tch! Vi gripped him by the arm; and he leaned to stub the cigarette in the ashtray. She just looks after my interests. She worries about me.
Tammas exhaled the last puff of smoke and sat back.
It was her got me this place you know. And she’s done other things. She’s been good; a good friend.
Fine, I’m no saying anything. . He lay down with his head on the pillow. He slipped his arm under her neck and she rested her head on his chest, turning side on to him; he took her hand in his.
She helped me out when I was in trouble. And I mean trouble! Vi peered up at him and he nodded.
They were silent for a while. Vi’s eyelids were closed. Tammas had been staring across at the sink; now he shifted position slightly and he murmured, I’m no hurting you?
No.
He cupped his hand in below her left breast and raised it a bit. It’s really soft, he said, and yet it’s heavy at the same time.
Mm.
And these wee kind of bumps round the nipple.
Thanks.
Naw Vi, just the way — just the way. . Hh — even your actual skin feels different.
She nodded.
Naw I mean. . He had his left arm round her back and he started smoothing the palm of his hand up and down her side, between her thigh and shoulder blade and eventually she sighed and yawned. He squinted across at the sink, to where the light had changed at the sides of the venetian blind. Dawn’s coming, he said.
Vi smiled, her eyelids shut.
This room’s different from mine, where it’s facing; you’ll get the sun in the morning, I get it in the afternoon. Sometimes I just lie on my bed looking out, keeping the curtains open to see the sunsets, the way the sky goes, although you cant see the stars properly. But here you’ll get good dawns, sunrises.
He began smoothing her skin again, still gazing across.
•••
Kirsty was rattling the frame of the cot. When he stared at her she looked away but continued pulling and pushing at it. It was just after nine o’clock and the shop round the corner would be selling Sunday papers. But his clothes were lying over the back of the settee and it was not possible to get there without being seen by the wee girl. Single-ends were hopeless. She should at least have had a room and kitchen. Plus that heavy smell of dampness at times, especially over at the corner of the room near the sink — in fact the whole window area. Even a good lick of paint might have helped. And getting rid of the striped wallpaper. A fresh gloss on all the woodwork. There were other ways of brightening the place up. The venetian blind for instance, it only stopped the light coming in.
Kirsty was now rattling the cot frame quite loudly and he whispered, Ssh! But she continued doing it and there was a movement from Vi. She was on her side, facing away from him into the recess wall. He turned over and snuggled up onto her, got an erection and backed off. What time is it? she said.
Mummy!
Shut up Kirsty.
Mummy. And she began rattling the frame even more loudly.
You’re a pest. Shut up.
She’s been awake for ages, whispered Tammas.
She’s a pest.
Kirsty continued rattling the frame till soon Vi sighed and turned, rising halfways up and calling, Shut up. Just shut up. Lie down and read your book.
No.
Just do it when I tell you Kirsty come on now, lie down — eh? Just till Mummy’s ready?
No.
Come on, just for a wee while. . Vi lay back down and Tammas laid his left arm out as she did so; they settled in close together. And he whispered, You could do with an extra room eh?
Mm.
Could you no apply for a council house?
Mm, suppose so.
All you need to do is put your name down, just wait your turn.
Mm.
I mean you’d get a bathroom and that, a separate room for Kirsty.
I know.
Well?
Well what?
You should put your name down.
O, thanks for telling me.
Well you should, you’d get a house sooner or later.
I know I’d get a house sooner or later, God — I know better than you. I mean tch, d’you think I dont know!