James Kelman - A Chancer

He nodded.

It’s this weather; you feel as if it’s going to last forever.

Ach it’ll be spring soon now Cathy, and you’ll be out and about. There’s that big park up the road.

Mm. . She glanced at her mug of coffee and lifting it to show him she said, Cold as usual look! She walked to the sink and refilled the electric kettle: Want another yin?

Eh. .

I’m making it for myself.

Okay, he smiled, passed her his mug.

Those presents you got Vi and Kirsty at Christmas, they were lovely so they were.

Ah!

No, honest, and that bracelet!

Hh — she never wears it!

Because she’s scared of losing it; she’s accident prone — or so she says. It must’ve cost a fortune though!

Och!

Cathy left the sink, returning to the armchair; but after a moment she got up and picked the cushion off, putting it on the carpet, and sitting down there, arranging the cushion between her back and the front of the chair. She sighed, kicking off her shoes. It’s good to relax at times.

Aye.

With the kids you dont always get the chance.

He nodded. When the kettle of water began boiling he rose: I’ll do it. . D’you take sugar?

No just milk.

She had already put the coffee into the mugs and he poured on the boiling water, the milk; the sugar into his own. Then he handed hers down, carefully, leaning over the top of the settee. As he sat back on the settee with his own mug he said, Were you wearing that skirt at the New Year?

The skirt?

Aye, I seem to remember it.

No. Cathy smiled. I wore a dress. She looked at her skirt and smoothed it out. I’ve had this yin for ages.

I thought you were wearing it.

No, definitely, I wasnt. I know the dress I was wearing, it’s one I dont wear very often.

Mm.

I keep it for best really.

Aw aye. Tammas grinned, And you didnt even end up getting drunk either eh!

I didnt, no.

Ah you let me down — Hogmanay!

Hogmanay, yeh, and you let me down!

Tammas smiled then added: How d’you mean? let you down?

Well, you said you were going to come back!

O aye — and I would’ve!

No you wouldnt’ve!

I would’ve, honest!

Cathy laughed.

Tammas nodded. If I hadnt’ve found Milly’s place. Honest, honest Cathy, I would’ve.

You wouldnt even take a drink!

What!

Well you wouldnt! I offered you one and you wouldnt take it.

Naw, because I didnt want to get involved in the company. You know how it is.

Cathy looked at him. I’ll believe you this time!

Well it’s true. He grinned: And you were calling me Thomas.

I thought that was your name though.

Did you. .

Yeh.

Honest?

Yeh, of course, what d’you think?

I dont know what to think!

Cathy frowned then grinned.

Tammas laughed and lifted his coffee from the table. Cathy lifted hers from the floor. She shivered suddenly, replaced the mug where it had been; she stretched forwards a little, to put her hands closer to the fire, and she switched on the other electric bar.

It’ll be too hot, he said.

Cathy shook her head. This place is always freezing. I had the two bars on just before you came in. And sometimes I put the oven on as well.

Christ!

It’s damp, the whole building. That’s how I go about looking like a tramp all the time, it’s to keep warm.

He nodded.

After a moment she asked, D’you no feel it cold?

Naw, no really.

Well, men dont get as cold as women.

He looked at her.

It’s true.

What!

That’s how little you know.

Hh! He chuckled.

Honest Tammas I’m no kidding, feel my hand! She moved to kneel, putting forwards her hand and he took it in his and held it for a few seconds, gazing at the fireplace. She asked, Well?

He nodded.

She gave him her other hand and he took it, and she withdrew the first. And eventually she asked, Well?

Aye, hh. He opened his hand and she withdrew hers, placing it on the edge of the settee, balancing herself; then she rested back the way, sitting on her heels. He reached forwards to her and said, Give us your hand again. . just till I see. .

When he took her hand this time he cupped both of his round it. She stared at it. He looked at her but she continued to stare at her hand inside his two. Then he opened them and she withdrew it again, and she sat back against the armchair once more. He picked his cigarettes up from the coffee table, lighted one.

Vi’s started again. Smoking I mean.

Has she?

Cathy nodded, shifting her position a little, stretching to hold her hands to the fire. Even more now than she used to. . or so she says.

Hh.

Cathy was gazing into the electric fire, and without taking her gaze from it she asked, Can I make you a sandwich?

He cleared his throat. Naw it’s okay.

Sure?

He nodded. He glanced at his wristwatch: Actually I better be going.

Are you sure you dont want something?

Honest, I had quite a big dinner — a pub lunch; soup and all that.

It wouldnt be any trouble.

Naw, thanks but. He drank a mouthful of coffee and then collected the cigarettes and matches and got to his feet.

Cathy also stood up. D’you want me to give her a message?

Naw eh. .

Just tell her you were here like?

Aye, that’ll be fine, ta.

It’s no bother. .

Out in the lobby he paused as she opened the front door and stood aside for him. And remember, she said, if you come up and she’s no in again just knock the door and you can always come in and wait.

Thanks.

It’s no bother. I’m nearly always in.

Thanks. . He nodded. Cheerio then.

Cheerio. Cathy shut the door immediately.

•••

The wad amounted to £40 of which £10 was to play about with forecasts as well as pay expenses; the other thirty was for the nap. He arrived in plenty of time for the first race. The nap would not be running until the third. While the dogs were being paraded he wandered around, glancing at the Adviser and the tips in the Evening Times. Most of the runners in the first were returning after lengthy absences and their fitness had to be taken on trust. He laid a small bet on the tote for a forecast, choosing the two dogs he expected to be the biggest outsiders. He placed a similar sort of bet on the second race. A couple of minutes before the off on the third he finished the export he had been drinking and strolled out of the bar and along to the betting enclosure. The bookies were making his nap a 4 to 1 chance and he moved up immediately, gripping the wad as he went, and bringing it out and passing it up to the bookie: Four thirties the bottom, he said quietly. And the bookie had taken it without returning him a betting-ticket and repeated the bet to his scribbler while dropping the notes into the big money bag, and he said, Down to Tam. He turned and glanced along the row, rubbed out the chalked 4/1, leaving the space blank. But shortly before heading up the Stand Tammas saw the guy chalking the 4/1 back in again.

He read the Adviser while climbing the steps. He had napped the dog the previous night and reading today’s newspapers had only strengthened his conviction. It was running from trap 5 and going from its best handicap in weeks; but even more importantly, there was a 3 yard gap between it and the 4 dog. 4 dog was much the faster out of the boxes and would be up with 5 at the 1st bend, but getting this 3 yard start meant 5 would have started racing by that time, and if it managed to keep 4 off round the 1st bend then it had a great chance of maintaining its head in front till the winning post. Anyway, dog 4 was not the real danger. The real danger was the 2 dog. If there was any trouble in running at all then this one’s chance was outstanding. But they were making dog 4 the favourite, in the belief it would lead the 1st bend.