James Kelman - A Chancer

He placed his right hand on the other side of the pillow, manoeuvering himself to kiss her on the mouth. Vi, you’re really beautiful. I’m no kidding.

Tch, shut up.

Naw, honest. He moved a little away and stared at her. You are. I’m no kidding.

You’ve said that.

I’ve said that?

She shook her head, smiling, moving to kiss him. It’s alright, I dont mind you telling me I’m beautiful.

Christ Vi. He kissed the tip of her nose, shifting his right leg over her left leg, the knee resting between hers, and she put both her arms round his back, raising herself up into him. Soon he was hard and she lay for him to push entry. He whispered, I really love that feeling. She was looking at him and she nodded; her eyelids opened and closed. He was inside her now and stretching, then he lay taking the weight on his elbows. She was looking at him and he smiled and her eyelids shut, and he started the thrust.

When he had come he remained inside her. She kissed him, pulling him down on top of her and she said, Just lie.

I’ll flatten you.

No you’ll no.

You sure?

She smiled, knocking at his arms until he took the weight off his elbows and settled onto her.

I’m squashing you.

You’re no.

Hh.

I like feeling you.

He smiled and altered the way he was lying just sufficient to face into the hollow of her neck and shoulders, the side of his head resting on the pillow.

Mm.

What is it?

This is nice.

Hh, aye.

And soon she was moving, a sort of circular motion, still with him inside her although still soft. She kept the movement going for a while, until he had become semi hard and able to continue alone, and she shut her eyelids and kissed him on the mouth and he stretched, grinning down at her, now kissing her on the forehead, and her intake of breath when he started thrusting a bit more deeply.

It’s nearly eleven!

What. .

She was reaching across and switching on the bedside lamp. She clambered over him and off the bed onto the floor, and she dressed quickly.

D’you mean in the morning?

It’s no funny. Cathy’ll be wondering if something’s up.

Och naw she’ll no.

She will but you dont know her! Vi was buttoning up her blouse, tucking the hem of it inside her skirt waistband. I’ll need to tell her something. .

Tell her we’re having a marathon!

It’s no funny I’m saying. . Vi had walked to the sink and she turned on the tap. Kirsty as well, she’ll be wondering. And sometimes Cathy’s kids pick on her a wee bit. . She was rubbing her hands on the towel, dropping it onto a dining chair as she passed to the kitchen door. D’you mind getting up?

O aye, sorry.

Naw it’s just. . Vi paused, she smiled. It’s just Kirsty I suppose I just. . She smiled again, shrugging.

Of course — sorry.

Naw, tch! She opened the door and went out.

He got up and put his clothes on. Vi had cooked food for them earlier and all the cutlery and crockery and stuff were still lying about the oven and the sink and on the coffee table beside the settee and armchair. He filled a kettle to start the washing up, and he made himself a cup of coffee. He moved quickly about the place, lifting Kirsty’s toys and putting them in one heap beneath her cot.

The washing up was finished and he had switched on the television by the time she came back. Kirsty was in her arms, thumb in the mouth and eyelids flickering but she stared at Tammas when she saw him.

Vi glanced about at everything and smiled at him. No comment, she said and he grinned and offered her a cigarette. Then she frowned: You could at least have told me I’d forgot to put on my tights!

What?

I forgot to put on my bloody tights! she said, mouthing the last part of the sentence.

Hh.

Aye I know, hh!

He was smiling at her. Want a coffee or tea?

Naw, I had to take one in with Cathy.

Did she say anything?

Naw. But she knew.

She knew?

Vi raised her eyebrows at him and started preparing Kirsty for bed. Aye she knew!

What’re you talking about, knew? Knew what!

Vi looked at him and he laughed.

He peered down at her when she spoke; he had his hands beneath his head on the pillow and she with her head on his chest, lying almost on top of him. About the crisps, she said, that first time we met — what was it you said again?

Pardon?

Vi was grinning. You said something when you dished out the crisps, that first time we met, down at Ayr Races. Remember? You went up and bought a round of drinks for everybody and then dished up a pile of crisps. Vi laughed. And you said something — I dont remember. Just the way you said it but. You should’ve seen Charlie’s face.

How what d’you mean?

I dont know, it was just funny.

What I said?

Well aye, and the way Charlie looked. And he made a face behind your back.

What?

Honest! Vi laughed.

Christ. He had shifted to see her more fully: What kind of face?

It was as if he thought you thought you were somebody, because you’d won the money.

Hh! That’s f — that’s terrible.

Vi chuckled.

Naw, Christ, all I did was buy a round up.

I know but it was the way you did it, and all these crisps!

Christ. Tammas shook his head, and he twisted sideways, leaning out the bed to collect the cigarettes and box of matches from the floor.

It’s okay; it was just funny.

She had her hand on his back as he struck the match, keeping the action outside of the bed, and he blew out the flame while lifting the ashtray to dump in the spent match. He lay higher up on the pillow, his head against the headboard. Who is that guy anyway Vi?

Charlie you mean? I dont know really. He’s married to Ann — she’s a good pal of Milly’s.

So he’s no actually mates with Joe?

I’m no sure. How?

He shrugged.

Maybe he is. What do you want to know for?

Naw I was just wondering.

Vi gazed up at him and indicated the cigarette; and he gave her a drag of it, holding it for her.

I was going to ask you, he said, and he sniffed. . It might sound daft. It was just — see Joe and that? Tammas inhaled on the cigarette; he exhaled and asked, What does he actually do?

Joe?

Aye I mean just how he, I was wondering, how he makes a living and that. .

Och he does different things.

Tammas nodded.

Vi was lying side on to him once more, her left arm on his chest, looking up at him. He just does different things.

What like but I mean?

Vi chuckled.

Naw I was just wondering. . He leaned to flick the ash down into the ashtray on the floor.

I dont know.

You dont know what he does?

No really, no.

Honest?

Aye honest, of course honest! Vi slapped him on the chest.

He smiled, holding onto her wrist.

Well — I’ll bloody honest ye!

Sorry!

You should be and all! She slapped him on the chest again.

Ssshh. . he pointed over to the cot.

And you should be glad anyway, cause he sticks up for you.

Joe?

Aye.

Hh.

He says you’re just young! Vi laughed.

Tammas looked at her.

She slapped him on the chest: Milly doesnt think I should be seeing you. She says you’re a chancer.

What?

Vi laughed.

But he shook his head. That’s terrible. Naw, no kidding ye Vi. . He shook his head again.

She was still laughing.

Naw, he said, hh, that’s really terrible. I mean she doesnt even know me Christ, that’s no fair. It’s no.

Vi was smiling.

Naw but. . It’s just no fair.

O come on! dont worry about it — that’s just Milly! Tch! Vi gripped him by the arm; and he leaned to stub the cigarette in the ashtray. She just looks after my interests. She worries about me.