A Chancer (26 page)

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.

Aye . . . He took out his cigarettes again, and offered it to her. She shook her head; a moment later she went back to the sofa. Tammas put the cigarette in his mouth, the packet back into his
pocket. He brought out the matches and struck one, lighted the cigarette. He stared at the floor, aware of the blood going to his cheeks. His face was getting really red. He unloosened the knot in
his tie and opened the top two buttons of the shirt. Then he glanced towards the others and bent forwards a little, leaning his forearms on his knees. There was only a wee drop of beer left in the
glass and the bottle of vodka was ben the kitchen; he inhaled on the cigarette, staring at the carpet, at the floral pattern on it; different kinds of flowers with stems and leaves, different
thicknesses of stalks but the green colour was the same throughout. He glanced up at the wall again. There did not seem to be any clocks in the room. He shook his head and stood up, and walked to
the door and out into the lobby; he pulled the door shut. He stood for a moment. It was much cooler, almost cold. He walked along peering into the rooms there for the bathroom; he found it near the
top end. It was large inside and there were magazines on a stool within arms reach of the lavatory seat. He took off his jacket and tugged back his shirt cuffs, and he washed his hands and arms and
his face and neck. The towels were thick and quite rough on his skin. He stared at his face in the mirror, patted his hair down at his ears, then wet his hands again and smoothed his hair. He
tightened his tie and buttoned the shirt up to the top. Vi was standing in the lobby when he left. Is that you going? she asked.

Aye.

She nodded. I’ll see you to the end of the street.

Nah, he said, dont bother.

No, I will.

Nah it’s okay Vi dont bother.

Yes . . . She was nodding as she walked past him, into one of the bedrooms. She came out with her coat over her arm. He entered the kitchen before her. A couple of minutes later and she came in.
She had the coat on and she was wearing her shoes. That’s me ready, she said.

He looked at her. Are you coming with me?

What d’you think I’ve got my coat on for?

Aye, I’m no talking about the end of the street but.

Tammas, it’s past three o’clock in the morning.

Christ sake Vi.

She pulled back her sleeve to see her wristwatch. She glanced at him. How did you no get in touch with me?

He was looking at her.

I mean even writing a letter . . .

A letter?

Even a letter – yes, aye, that would’ve been better than nothing.

I’m sorry.

Tch. She shook her head, frowning.

After a moment he muttered, Nobody even spoke to me in there. He gestured sideways with his thumb. Made me feel as if . . . I dont know. What was it for? I mean how come?

How come?

Aye I mean, Christ, no even saying a word I mean Christ sake – Hogmanay and that and nobody even says a word to you. That’s really out of order. What was it for?

What d’you mean what was it for?

Tammas stared at her until each of them looked away; then he said, Are you coming with me?

No. I’ve just put the coat on cause I was cold.

Christ sake Vi.

Well you’re always asking these stupid bloody questions.

He looked at her.

So you are, stupid bloody questions.

Okay then aye, but all I’m asking is if you’re coming and I’m no talking about the end of the street I mean I’m talking about are you coming with me, if we’re going
out away from here, away from this dump of a bloody place, that’s all I’m asking; it’s a straight question.

Dont lose your temper with me!

I’m no losing my temper!

O are you no!

Tammas sniffed. Then he added: Christ sake Vi. He took out his cigarettes and offered her one.

I’ve stopped. Did you no notice?

Naw, Christ – stopped smoking?

A fortnight ago. Sixteen days to be exact.

Christ sake!

Tch. I wish you’d stop saying that all the time.

He reached out and he took her left hand in his, and he stepped in close enough to kiss her; and they kissed each other on the mouth. Come on Vi, he said; come on we’ll go away.

She gazed at him and closed her eyelids and they kissed again for a longer period. He put his arm round her shoulders and cuddled her tightly. Christ, he said, hh. He shook his head. I’m
sorry I didnt get in touch Vi.

It’s okay Tammas. I just wish you had though so I knew what was happening – I just didnt know.

He pulled her to him, her head over his shoulder, her body tightly to his. He got an erection and moved away from her. Neither spoke for several moments. Then he lifted his bottle of vodka and
inserted it in his side jacket pocket. You ready? he said.

She nodded. Think we’ll get a taxi?

Och aye.

I could phone one from here?

Naw, I’d rather just get out . . . She was looking at him and he shrugged: Okay?

She nodded. Then she raised her hand, put it onto his forehead and she rested it there for a few seconds, and she frowned. Do you know that you’ve got a temperature?

A temperature?

I’m no kidding.

Hh. Must’ve been that room in there, I was beginning to get really sweating – like you’re going to faint or something.

She sighed, shook her head. You’re a poor soul . . .

He looked at her.

She laughed and strode to the door. You’re a wean! she said. Come on!

Are you no going to say cheerio?

She made no reply. He followed her in silence to the front door and once they were outside she closed it very gently, but still its noise was fairly audible. Tammas laughed and cried: Quick! And
he took her hand as they ran down the path to the gate; and out onto the pavement, letting the gate swing back to clatter against its snib lock.

Where’re we going?

I dont know! Tammas was laughing. Somewhere but!

I want a dance!

You’ll get a dance!

I’m no kidding! she cried.

Neither am I!

They carried on running for some forty or so yards until they came to an abrupt halt, both were puffing and panting and Tammas had to hold his sides, gasping in an exaggerated manner.

We’re both crazy! laughed Vi.

He laughed, grabbed her arms and kissed her on the forehead, and they walked on with their arms round each other.

•••

Tammas squinted and moved his head on the pillow. Vi was saying: I’m going for Kirsty now Tammas.

He frowned, raising his head upwards, resting himself on his elbows.