Fresh (15 page)

Archie slapped Sean on the arm.

It’ll no be long. We’ll have somebody else in a couple of months.

So how come he cannay do them now?

The wee bastard’s in Glenochil. He’ll no be out till April.

What am Ah goin to tell Maggie?

She’s yer wife isn’t she? Just get her telt.

Sean sighed and had a swig on his Coke. It wasn’t very tasty. He pushed it away and went to stand up.

So when d’ye want me?

We’ll gie ye a bell later.

Sean nodded to the barman on his way past.

When he stepped outside, he noticed it was getting dark. He pulled his jacket close and headed down the street. He saw a movement at the side of the pavement and realised it was an old man hunched up on a set of steps. He had a blanket round his shoulders and a can
of beer by his side. The guy asked him for the time. Sean stopped.

It’s about half four.

Have ye got ten bob for a cup of tea son?

The old man’s eyes lit up as Sean searched in his pockets. But all he had was four pence. He handed them over.

Sorry pal that’s all Ah’ve got.

The old man turned the coppers over in his palm and muttered something. Sean felt bad. He didn’t know whether to give the guy the tenner from the machine or tell him to get a fuckin job like the rest of us. Sean turned and walked down the road. He heard the coppers jingle on the pavement. The old man called after him.

Stick yer money ya tight-arsed cunt.

Sean kept walking.

He got to the post office and the lassies were waiting for him. He pointed at Donna’s plastic bags.

So what did ye get?

Donna swung the bags.

A top and some make-up.

Magic.

Maggie grabbed Sean by the arm and whispered in his ear.

Where are ye takin me the night then?

Sean felt cold air hit his eyes as he fixed them on the street ahead.

We need to talk about that.

She let his arm go.

How come?

Sean coughed to clear his throat.

Ah’m doin a wee job for Archie.

Maggie looked disgusted.

Jesus Sean.

She walked ahead and linked her arm into Donna’s. Sean put his hands in his pockets as he followed. He kicked a stone across the pavement. It hit the kerb and twitched and bounced into the road.

He opened the front door and stood in the hall. Donna rushed straight into the living room and turned the telly on. After Maggie came in, Sean closed the front door. He went into the back lobby and hung up his jacket. When he got back through, Maggie was leaning on the door jamb looking into the living room.

Get yer mucky feet off the furniture. Tell her Sean.

Listen to yer mammy.

Donna took off her shoes and put them at the side of the couch.

And don’t tut at me said Maggie.

Donna leaned towards the telly and turned it up. Maggie looked at Sean, pushed her body from the door and walked into the kitchen.

Suppose Ah better start cookin. Nobody else is goin to do it.

Sean gave the door the fingers. He turned to the living room and noticed Donna watching him with a smile on her face.

What’s wrong with her?

Christ knows.

Donna turned to the telly. Sean picked at his knuckle.

Did she say anythin on the way home?

She didn’t turn away from the telly.

No.

He didn’t look up from his knuckle.

Don’t be gettin too attached to the telly missus. Ye’ll need to get changed out of that uniform so it can get washed for Monday.

He went into the kitchen and sat by the table while Maggie prepared the dinner. He watched the muscles on the back of her arms twitch as the knife scraped the peel off the potatoes.

Ah’m sorry doll.

Maggie faced him.

Ye should tell him to get somebody else.

Ah tried but –

It’s about time you put me and Donna first.

She turned her back on him and got on with peeling the potatoes. He looked at her and knew they had to get out of here. Move to England, or somewhere a bloke could have half a chance at a decent life. Maybe get a wee house like the ones next to the factory. In some of them places down south they have council houses in the middle of nowhere. They’ve got huge gardens with roses climbing up the walls. Nice wee hedges. Maybe a greenhouse full of tomatoes. A washing line with white sheets hanging from it. And good schools where the kids have a desk each and the teachers can give them a bit of time.

Ah’ll phone Gambo.

Maggie dropped a potato into the sink.

D’ye think he’ll be able to sort it out?

Ah fuckin hope so.

He sat at the table and made himself a roll-up. He took his time with it. Made sure it was perfect. He lit it and had a couple of slow puffs. Maggie turned from the sink.

Ah thought ye were goin to use the phone.

He looked at her through the smoke.

Right.

He felt like an old man as he got up from the table and went through to the living room.

Ah need to make a phone call hen.

Don’t let me stop ye.

In private.

But Ah’m watchin this. Sean growled.

Just get out the fuckin way.

She slammed the door on her way out. He heard her stomp up the stairs and her bedroom door bang shut.

He had a deep drag and picked up the phone. He dialled half the numbers, let a puff of smoke out, then dialled the rest. It rang a couple of times before a woman answered.

Baird Street.

Would there be any chance of speakin to Detective Sergeant Gambol?

I’ll see if he’s in the building. Who shall I say is calling? Sean wanted to put the phone down at that question, but he never.

Sean O’Grady.

The phone went quiet for a bit. Then it clicked and rung twice before it was picked up.

Gambol speaking.

Alright Gambo? It’s Sean.

Alright wee man?

No, no really.

What’s up?

Can we talk?

Aye talk away son.

Archie’s back.

Have ye spoke to him?

Sean’s toes dug into the carpet.

Aye.

What about?

The money he left me when he went in the jail.

Sean heard Gambo laughing.

Have ye spent it ya prick?

Aye but Ah got it back.

Gambo laughed some more then stopped.

Does he know about our wee secret?

No, Ah shouldnay think so.

What’s the problem then?

He’s asked me to do some deliveries.

There was a couple of seconds’ silence before Gambo spoke.

So?

Sean blew smoke into the handset.

Ah don’t want anythin to do with them.

Well tell him to fuck off.

Easier said than done.

Gambo laughed again.

It is with that cunt.

So what am Ah goin to do?

When’s the first delivery?

Sean looked out the window.

The night.

Where?

Ah don’t know exactly. They’ll phone me later with the details.

Hold the line a minute.

Sean didn’t just hold it. He played it round his fingers into little knots.

Sean?

Aye.

Ah’ll set up a wee team. Gie’s a bell when ye know what’s happenin.

OK.

The phone went dead and Sean put it down. He sat next to it, smoking and gazing at the wallpaper.

Ah was strugglin with money. Maggie didnay have a job at the time and the factory work didnay seem to cover all the expenses. It was a choice between new shoes for the wean or a coupla beers after work on a Friday. Fuckin nightmare coz ye have to buy the shoes but at the same time yer hangin out for a pint. Especially when all yer mates are havin one. Ye end up takin out wee loans with the provvy just so ye can have a drink. Before ye know it, yer neck-deep in shite.

Ah went to see Archie coz he seemed to be doin alright. He was drivin a Golf GTi and he always seemed
to have loads of dosh. Ye havenay got a wee job Ah could do for ye? Ah asked him. He gave me a look and laughed and said no. Ah begged him. Telt him Ah’d do anything. He looked at Sammy. Gie the boy a wee earner said Sammy. Archie said he’d think about it.

A coupla weeks later Ah got a phone call off Sammy. He said Ah was to meet him outside the garages at the end of the street. He pulled up in a motor and telt me to get in. We drove back near his. On the way he telt me there was a packet under the seat Ah was to take to a house in Penilee. The guy in the house would gie me a parcel to bring back. It shouldnay take me more than an hour. If everythin went alright, he’d gie me fifty bar when Ah got back.

The journey went OK and that weekend Ah took Maggie out for a wee drink. Easy money Ah thought, so Ah started droppin packages off once a week. Ah’d meet up with guys in car parks or service stations and swap parcels with a nod of the head and say hello to yer brother. Sometimes Ah got close to Edinburgh. Maggie started to notice that Ah had more money. But Ah just telt her Ah was doin a wee bit of overtime and took her out now and again. That kept her quiet. Ah was even takin drivin lessons.

One Friday a polis stopped me. He asked me my name and Ah gied him a false one. He radioed it in and everythin seemed sweet until this CID motor drew up. Ah almost didnay recognise him coz he’d put on so much weight. All Ah saw was a fat boy gettin out and sayin Sean, what have ye been up to? The traffic copper said Sean, Ah thought yer name was
John? Fuck sake Ah thought, and looked at the CID. It was Gambo. Ah asked him if Ah could have a word in the motor.

He asked me what the fuck was goin on and who the fuck was John Brady. Ah telt him Ah was drivin the motor without a licence and could he gie me a break. At first he wasnay havin it. Said he’d have to report me. But Ah begged him. Gied him the old-pals act. He wasnay even standin for that so Ah mentioned the fire Ah dragged him out of when we were weans. He went a bit quiet. Looked at his nails and pressed round them with his car keys. Alright Sean he said.

He telt the traffic cop Ah was an important snout of his and Ah was on a job that shouldnay be interrupted. As quick as ye can say Mason’s handshake, the deal was done and dusted and Ah was free to deliver my package. Well no quite. Gambo wanted a wee word before Ah went.

He got back into the motor and asked me what the fuck Ah was up to. Ah said thanks for doin me the favour but Ah couldnay say anything. He asked if Ah was doin some runnin for Archie. Ah shook my head but he didnay believe me. He said Archie was gettin too big for his boots and Ah should stay clear, coz before long they were goin to nick him.

Gambo got out the motor and was about to close the door when he pulled it back open and poked his head in. He pointed at me. Ye’ve been lucky this time Sean. Lucky Ah was passin and lucky Ah didnay forget a good deed. It’s paid now though. Ye’ll be on the same terms as any other cunt the next time we meet, so if
ye ever need a favour from me remember they’ll be a price to pay. Ah nodded but didnay say anything.

Sean got up from the telephone and went back through to the kitchen. He sat by the table while Maggie prepared the dinner.

Well that’s my bed made.

Ah heard.

She lifted the lid off the boiling potatoes, looked inside, and put the lid back on. Sean shuddered at the sound of the metal lids scraping the sides of the pans.

Sean reached for his roll-ups. He hunched over the pouch as he rolled a fag.

Archie’s goin to kill me when he finds out about this. Maggie sat opposite Sean and reached out to touch his hands.

By that time he’ll be in the jail.

Ah’m feart he’ll get it out of me before.

How?

Sometimes Ah get the feelin he can look into my eyes and tell exactly what’s goin on in my head.

Maggie dropped Sean’s hands.

Don’t be daft.

No seriously. Ever since we’ve been kids Ah’ve felt it.

Next thing ye’ll be tellin me he can see into the future.

Sean laughed.

Christ knows why Ah’m laughin, coz Ah’m shittin myself.

Maggie reached her hands out again.

It’ll be alright. This time the morra we’ll be sittin here safe and he’ll be locked up where he belongs.

Ah fuckin hope so.

The potatoes hissed. Sean looked and saw a head of foam travelling down the side of the pan and onto the cooker. Maggie got up and turned the gas down. She lifted the lid off the mince and stirred the pan with a wooden spoon. She tested the potatoes with a fork.

These are nearly done.

She went into the pantry and brought out a tin.

Beans she said.

Aye lovely said Sean.

Maggie opened the tin, pulled another pan from under the sink and poured the beans into it. She put the pan on the cooker and clicked on the gas.

Five minutes. Gie Donna a shout.

Sean got up and went into the lobby.

Donna.

Aye Daddy.

Yer tea’s about ready.

Ah’m comin.

Sean went back into the kitchen and got three plates out of the cupboard. He put them on the worktop next to the cooker. He went into the cutlery drawer and got three sets of knives and forks out. He put them in the middle of the table. He got a bottle of brown sauce, the salt and a bottle of tomato ketchup out and put them next to the cutlery.

Ye’ve forgot the spoons said Maggie.

Sean looked at the cutlery on the table.

Oh shit. Sorry love, Ah’m good for fuck-all the day. He pulled three spoons out of the cutlery drawer and put them next to the knives and forks on the table. He got three bowls out of the cupboard and put them on the draining board. He went into the pantry for a tin of Carnation milk and a tin of peaches. He opened the peaches and shared them between the bowls. Then he opened the milk and poured it over the peaches.

Peaches and cream he said.

Aye lovely.

Maggie put piles of steaming food on the plates. Sean went into the lobby and called up the stairs.

Donna.

What?

Yer fuckin tea’s out.

Aye OK, Ah’m comin.

Well get a move on.

Sean went back into the kitchen. The plates were on the table and he realised he was starving. He pulled his chair out and sat next to the biggest pile of food. He poured a load of salt on it and splattered a dollop of brown sauce on the side of his plate. He dug his fork into the mince and it was on its way to his mouth.

Careful it’s hot said Maggie.

Sean blew on his mince for a bit and put it in his mouth. It was hot. He breathed air into his mouth to cool it down. He swallowed it. He should let it cool for a bit but he was so hungry he had to have some more. Donna
joined them at the table. She grabbed a fork and dug it into the mince.

Careful it’s hot said Maggie.

Donna looked at her daddy.

It’s fuckin roastin said Sean.

Donna picked a little mince on the end of her fork and blew on it. She put it in her mouth and coughed.

It’s roastin she said.

Ah telt ye said Sean.

Ye’d be complainin if it was cold said Maggie.

Sean laughed and nodded at Donna.

Aye.

Shut up Dad.

So are ye lookin forward to the night?

Donna’s eyes almost glazed over.

Aye.

Ah hope ye don’t disappear up the toon dancin.

Shut up Dad.

Sean looked at Maggie.

D’ye hear that?

Aye Ah know. God knows where she gets it.

Maggie looked at Donna and they burst out laughing. Sean thought they were laughing at him. He tried a forkful of food and it was cool enough so he started shovelling it into his mouth. Before long he was scraping the last of his dinner from his plate. He watched Maggie and Donna finish theirs, then collected their plates and put them in the sink. He put the pudding in front of them.

Would madam like some more cream?

Shut up Dad.

The pudding was ate and Sean put the dishes in the sink. He re-boiled the kettle and made them a cup of tea each. He went into the pantry and took out a packet of chocolate biscuits. When they had finished, he stretched and nodded Donna to the sink.

What? she said.

Dishes.

Oh Dad.

Listen, if ye want any money for the youth club, best ye get them dishes done.

Donna tutted but she got up and got on with the dishes. Sean reached over and touched Donna’s arm.

And watch that knife hen. It’s fuckin sharp.