James Kelman - A Chancer

Tammas shrugged.

You chucked your job on the first day; you never gave it a chance. It’ll get kept against you. It’ll be down in black and white.

Mm.

It will but Tammas that’s what bloody happens I mean we just want to know you’re going to be okay. And I’m talking about the future.

I’ll be fine. He glanced at Margaret: Honest, I’ll be fine. I’ve got a girlfriend by the way.

God Tammas we know you’ve got a girlfriend.

Aye well. . sometimes that’s how I’m away.

Margaret nodded. It’s good you’ve got a girlfriend; we’re no saying anything about that.

Mm.

But in some ways that just adds to it Tammas. Cause how’re you going to live? That’s how I end up getting worried. You’re my wee brother ye know!

Tch Margaret, God sake.

Well, you are!

He dragged on the cigarette, turning to face the window as he blew out the smoke. It was dark outside, light glinting on the wet roof opposite. He dragged on the cigarette again, started gnawing at the edge of his right thumbnail.

It’s a big world out there you know!

It was Margaret had spoken. She was smiling. Tammas smiled back at her, and he added: To be honest, I’m going to be going away quite soon.

Are you?

Aye. He shrugged.

Margaret was gazing at him.

Robert glanced at her before asking, Whereabouts?

Eh, Peterhead probably.

Probably?

Tammas nodded. He lifted the teapot, put it back down again. I’ve been considering going to England as well — Manchester.

Manchester? said Margaret.

Aye.

What for?

To work. That’s where John is. He’s been trying to get me and Billy to go and stay with him. There’s bags of jobs down there he says. Mainly factories right enough. That’s how I’d rather go to Peterhead, because of the actual job. Getting into the building game I mean I’d really like to get into it. You make good money and then you can move about as well. Plus cause you’re up there you might hear about the North Sea.

Are you talking about the rigs? said Robert — cause if you are you’re talking about really hard graft. Really hard graft. Aye and the conditions arent that good either!

Tammas nodded, he cleared his throat.

It’s no all it’s cracked up to be, that’s all I’m saying.

Are you just going to go yourself? asked Margaret.

Eh, naw I’ll probably be going with somebody. No mind? I was telling you a wee while ago — a guy called McCann.

O. Is he working?

What do you mean just now?

Margaret nodded.

Naw, he’s been on the broo a few months. That’s how he’s looking for a job. He’s an electrician.

Mm, I see.

Robert said, What’s his name again?

McCann; I’m no sure if you know him. He drinks in Simpson’s.

I might’ve seen him around.

Probably have.

Robert nodded.

Tammas inhaled on the cigarette, tapped the grey ash into the rubbish bin, and he said, I think I’ll go ben the room. . Okay?

Margaret shrugged after a moment.

•••

He had waited until past midnight before leaving the house and he left without bidding Goodnight; his sister and brother-in-law had been watching a picture on television.

Although the rain had stopped the street was wet, quite a few puddles on the pavement. At the corner he bought a Daily Record from a paperboy and he got a taxi in less than five minutes. When he arrived down the lane the door of the club opened and two guys came out. They seemed a bit drunk and were talking back to Deefy. But Deefy was not paying much attention. He spotted Tammas and called: How’s it going son?

No bad Deefy, no bad — how’s yourself?

Deefy shrugged, pursed his lips. He stared after the two till they reached the end of the lane, before replying. Fucking horses! He stepped back inside the doorway, staying there until Tammas had entered. . See the results the day!

Naw, I never had a bet.

You never had a bet?

Naw.

Wise man — fucking murder! He followed Tammas along the corridor and into the snacks’ room. It was quite busy, a few men but mainly women. Deefy had paused to speak to an old fellow Tammas recognised as a newspaper vendor who had a pitch near Queen Street Station. He carried on, straight through into the gaming room. It was busy here also and he could see Joe standing over by the corner of the horseshoe table, on the fringes of the spectators; he was smoking a cigar. There was a man beside him and whispering something to him. Joe’s head was lowered as he listened, one hand in his overcoat pocket, the other holding the cigar behind his back. It seemed as if nobody else was talking in the entire room.

Tammas waited a short period. He crossed the floor to the corner opposite where Joe was; and he nodded to him but Joe appeared not to notice. There were no cards out on the table. They were all in the shoe. And the dealer was sitting back on his chair, arms folded, a cigarette dangling from the corner of his mouth. He had on a waistcoat which was unbuttoned and his braces were showing, old fashioned ones that functioned with buttons instead of clips. His two workers were both sitting with their hands clasped on the table and not looking anywhere in particular. Eventually the dealer yawned and said: I’ll wait here all fucking night.

Nobody answered.

The dealer was gazing at the ceiling when he had spoken, but now he unfolded his arms and took the cigarette from his mouth, inhaling as he did so. He looked round the room and sighed, and he put the cigarette back into his mouth and clasped and unclasped his hands; he looked at a man sitting amongst the players and said: See Jimmy I know it was you.

It wasnt me Jake.

Jimmy. It was you. I fucking know it was you.

It wasnt.

The dealer sniffed and muttered, It fucking was you.

Honest Jake it wasnt.

The dealer shook his head and he sighed, and he clasped his hands and stared straight at the man. The two boys had their money out on the fucking table, he said. And they had a fucking tenner. Next thing it was a fiver. And it was you that fucking took it.

It wasnt me at all.

It fucking was Jimmy.

It wasnt but honest, honest Jake.

I dont believe you. I just dont believe you — they werent that fucking drunk! The dealer continued to sit looking in the direction of the man. And the silence continued for several seconds. Eventually he said, I think you should just go home out the road Jimmy.

But I never fucking took the money.

Course you fucking took the money! The dealer smiled and sat back on the chair again. He folded his arms and glanced at the worker to his right. Then he sniffed and took the fag from his mouth and he jerked his thumb at the door into the snacks’ room. Jimmy, he said, fuck off.

The man cleared his throat as though about to reply.

Okay? Just fuck off. . The dealer turned his head away, his eyelids flickering shut. He dragged deeply on the cigarette, gazing vaguely in the direction of where Tammas was standing.

Suddenly the man stood up from his seat and the guys behind stepped out of his path as he strode to the exit, staring straight ahead.

Somebody strolled to close the door behind him. A moment passed, then several conversations broke out. The dealer was muttering to the worker on his right: It fucking sickens me when that happens but I’m no kidding ye, it just fucking sickens me.

Should’ve his fucking hands cut off.

The dealer nodded, reaching to the shoe; and he began lifting out all the cards. Here, he said, shuffle them for a new deck. . He glanced towards the punters and asked, Where’s the bank got to? I’ve bloody forgot with all this carry on.

There was some laughter. Eventually it was sorted out. The two workers were still shuffling the cards and different conversations continued. Across the other side from Tammas Joe was moving away and he and the man with him walked to the door. Tammas stepped out from the row of spectators and gave him a wave. Joe grinned. How you doing Tammas?