James Kelman - A Chancer

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.

She nodded.

It’ll no really matter.

Are you sure?

Aye. Billy’s da’s a good auld guy; he doesnt really bother about things.

After a moment Robert shook his head and smiled briefly. Aye but Tammas that’s no the way to look at it. I mean you dont look at it like that — his da’s a good auld guy and so you dont bother — I mean if anything that’s more of a reason for sticking the bloody job, no chucking it.

Margaret was nodding.

No think so yourself?

Eh, aye, to some extent, probably.

Surely it’s more than to some extent? said Margaret.

Tammas sniffed.

Eh? is it no more than to some extent?

What do you want me to get my foot burnt off for the sake of Billy’s auld man?

There’s no need to be cheeky about it Tammas.

Och I’m no being cheeky Margaret, it’s just — God sake. . He turned and faced the window above the sink.

It’s you she’s thinking about, said Robert.

Tammas nodded. He turned back again: Actually I didnt really want the job in the first place. I dont really want to work in factories any more.

Hh! Robert grunted, I doubt if you’re going to have any say in the matter the way things’re going!

Tammas shut his eyelids; then he glanced about for his cigarettes and matches, collected them from the table. Margaret sighed and said, We just want to know you’re going to be alright.

Alright?

Well, God, Tammas, we dont know anything really, not about what you’re doing — just suddenly you’ve got piles of money and we dont see hide nor hair of you for days.

What?

You know what I’m talking about.

I dont.

Tch Tammas, you paid all what you owed and then gave us a month’s rent in advance!

He shrugged.

Well it’s a lot of money.

It’s no that much.

Yes it is, it is.

Margaret, God sake, I just won a few quid on the horses.

Hh! Robert grinned.

Margaret was shaking her head. It’s just too much, she was saying, it’s just too much.

Too much? what d’you mean?

It’s too much, the money, to win on the horses.

Tch Margaret, for goodness sake.

Well it is.

Naw it’s no.

It is.

It isnt but, honest — Robert! Tammas gestured at him.

What?

Naw I mean just, will you tell her?

Tell her?

Naw just Christ the money and that, the horses, if she thinks I’m thieving or something.

She doesnt think you’re bloody thieving! Dont be daft.

Well, Christ. . Tammas had blushed; he inhaled deeply on the cigarette, flicked the grey ash into the sink. He glanced at his sister. Honest, I just won the money on the horses.

Tammas. . Margaret shook her head, stared at the floor.

I’m sorry.

I’m no wanting you to be sorry.

Well what? Hh, I dont know.

Robert frowned at him.

I’m sorry I mean I’m no being cheeky I just dont know, I dont know what I’m supposed to do, I mean, what I should be saying and that.

Look Tammas all your sister’s wanting to know is you’re going to be okay. That’s all; she’s just bloody worried cause of the way things are going. Let’s face it, they’re no going that good. You cant deny that.